Come Back to Me

Author: Jody Hedlund
Genre: Time Travel Romance
Series: Waters of Time #1
Release Date: June 1, 2021

The ultimate cure that could heal any disease? Crazy.

That's exactly what research scientist Marian Creighton has always believed about her father's quest, even if it does stem from a desire to save her sister Ellen from the genetic disease that stole their mother from them. But when her father falls into a coma after drinking a vial of holy water believed to contain traces of residue from the Tree of Life, Marian must question all of her assumptions. He's left behind tantalizing clues that suggest he's crossed back in time. Insane. Until Marian tests his theories and finds herself in the Middle Ages during a dangerous peasant uprising.

William Durham, a valiant knight comes to Marian's rescue and offers her protection . . . as his wife. The longer Marian stays in the past, the more she cares about William. Can she ever find her father and make it back to the present to heal her sister? And when the time comes to leave, will she want to?

---

Reviewer: Susan Poll

This was an enjoyable new style of book for me as it is a time travel story. This author put a Tree of Life twist on it and I think it was written well as the reason for it.

William is the quintessential knight hero who protects women and children while Marian was a very stubborn and headstrong heroine which made me want to smack her in the head a few times, but I can see how it helped the storyline and made for good chaos.  I’d recommend this as a good weekender read to escape and for enjoyment.

The secondary characters played their parts well and I know who I am looking forward to reading about in the next one!

Thanks to Revell and Interviews & Reviews for the chance to read this book and this is my own opinion.

---

---

Reviewer: Abigail Harder

Oh my word, I am in LOVE!  This book was so amazing!!  The only reason why I put this down was because of work, but when I got home, I immediately picked it back up! I was hooked from the very first page and I now need MORE. Seriously, time travel books are some of my favorites!! 

Everything about this book was AMAZING! I loved the characters, the plot, the romance....really there wasn’t anything that I really disliked. The whole tree of life thing seemed a little off to me in the beginning, but the more I got into the book, the more I realized how unique of a plot line for a time travel book it was! That was definitely one thing I loved was how unique that plot line was!!

Jody Hedlund hardly ever writes characters that I don’t like, but Mariana and Will are probably my favorite! I LOVED everything about them! Mariana was so headstrong and stubborn but I loved how she was willing to listen to Will (at times...if you know, you know) and follow him. She was so lovable and I loved how she loved everyone so wholeheartedly. I definitely related to her on quite a few things, not a lot but on a few things.

Will....seriously a total heart throb of a fictional guy, lol! I loved him so much! I loved how protective and fervently he loved and protected his family! He also was so gentle and kind. He and Mariana literally were the cutest together!! 

I literally could gush about this book forever, but it’s late so I won’t. All I know is that you NEED to read this especially if you are a Lisa Bergren’s River of Time fan! Ugh, this book was just so good!!  I’m just sad it’s over! 

There was quite a bit of kissing, wanting, and noticing in this book for more romance sensitive readers. I would rate it probably around a PG-13 just because of all the romance and some violence in this book.

I received this book from Revell through Interviews & Reviews in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

---

---

Reviewer: Sara Beth Williams

I went into reading this with a completely different idea of how a Jody Hedlund book would read. She's a popular novelist in both YA and adult with high ratings for many of her novels. 

I will admit the premise of this story was both fascinating and incredibly unbelievable while trying to walk the line of believable. For me, that was the most difficult thing to grasp about the premise. While there are things I did not enjoy about this book, the fact that it blurs the line between reality and fantasy is the sign of a great storyteller.

The story follows Marian, a pharmaceutical scientist, who is every bit the skeptic. I sure related to that throughout, as I think most readers will, with her skepticism toward her scientist Dad's research regarding the powers of the seeds of the Tree of Life (you know the one from the Garden of Eden). 

I appreciated that the story took both Marian and the reader on a journey through her skepticism as she encounters the supernatural powers of holy water and travels through time. I didn't appreciate the subtle hints throughout that this fantastical theory might be a reality. 

I also had a huge problem with how, whenever Marian time traveled, her personality changed completely. It wasn't a matter of adjusting to the 1300s at all. But her personality went from skeptic and standoffish and guarded, to open and emotional and incredibly empathetic - and then back again. 

Lastly, for a Christian fiction story written by a popular Christian fiction author, I really didn't appreciate the very physical-centric mind of the hero and the many risqué scenes. If it were one, I would not complain, but that's not the case. 

Call me picky - but to have an author who also writes YA write a book with such risqué scenes makes me wonder about her other books.

This book was provided courtesy of Revell through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews.

---

---

Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

I love dual-time romances, and Jody Hedlund has created a tale that will not let you go until the last page.

Filled with romance, danger and the impossible, Come Back to Me takes a unique approach to time travel filled with possibilities. What if holy water believed to contain traces of residue from the Tree of Life could not only cure you of all traces of disease but also transport you back in time? 

Marian Creighton had more than a few reservations about her father's beliefs in holy water that contained restorative powers. But when he falls into a coma after drinking some, she is desperate to find out how to save him and where to find more. Her journey takes her back to a time no one would ever wish to visit - the Dark Ages. She meets and is rescued by a knight in shining armour, William Durham. This really is the most incredible fairy-tale romance you will read today. And I guarantee you will be swooning within a few chapters.

I loved how the author gradually introduces us to William and how clearly she describes what is happening as Marian transitions between her time and his. I loved the chemistry they had, the story and the shared urgency of finding more water. The details of the time travel itself are unique as well and something I had never considered before. 

Now a word of warning. Some scenes are meant for adult eyes only. Many scenes involve kissing and caressing, so you have been warned if you don't like that. And while the characters did go to chapel, the lack of Christian content was disheartening. Hence the four stars.

Despite those things, I heartily recommend this book, and I look forward to the next one in the series!

I received a copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

---