Once Again

Author: Deborah Heal
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Fantasy

Professor Merrideth Randall has a tool that other historians can only dream of—computer software that virtually rewinds time! 

It comes in handy for historical research and for her sideline genealogy business. When her colleague physics professor Brett Garrison asks for help with his family tree she can’t resist, even though he’s far too attractive for her peace of mind. And amazingly, he seems to be

pursuing her, despite the fact that everyone knows dating a co-worker is career suicide.

Using her software, Merrideth gets a first-hand look at Brett’s ancestors, the courageous pioneers of the Illinois Country who withstood Indian attacks, hardship, and loneliness to settle there in the 1780s. One of the settlers is James Garretson, who risked his life to take the Gospel to the very tribe that wreaked havoc on his family. Merrideth is amazed that he could forgive a crime so huge.

She would love to tell Brett that he is descended from heroes, and that he inherited his black hair and green eyes from James Garretson. But she is determined to safeguard her program, and discretion is not Brett’s strong suit. She also has secrets about herself that she’d just as soon he didn’t find out either.

One virtue Brett does have is patience, and he’s quite willing to wait for Merrideth to figure things out.

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Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

If you like historical fiction, fantasy and romance, you will probably love this series. I actually read the first book in the series Time and Again (currently free on Kindle) a few years ago, and then had the opportunity to review book four,  A Matter of Time and it was so good I have committed myself to reading the rest of this series. I was rather confused though because this book says it is book one, but in my mind it was really book two because Time and Again was book one and this book picks up from that one, many years later, with the main character Merrideth Randall, all grown up and teaching history. But it doesn't matter - this series is gold.

Merrideth Randall is a history professor, but she has an interesting computer program called Beautiful Houses, that at first glance looks like a computer program of older homes, but is so much more than that. It actually allows you to go back in time and step into the minds of real historical people and discover what happened - way back when. It comes in handy when you teach history and it's even better when you use it to research your ancestry. This is something she is doing for a fellow professor, Brett Garrison. His aunt, wants some research done on an old foundation that is on her property. She thinks it was a home or a fort and so Brett asks Merrideth if she knows anything about the history of the area. Of course, he doesn't know about the Beautiful Houses program and how much Merrideth already knows. And once Merrideth begins her time-surfing journey on Aunt Neddy's property, she learns some terrifying things. But can she trust him with her secret, especially when he is clearly interested in her?

Only time will tell.

Invest yourself in this series. You won't be disappointed.

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