My Review: Come Back to Me (Waters of Time, Book 1) by Jody Hedlund

The Story (blurb from the publisher's website):

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 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?

Bestselling author Jody Hedlund is your guide down the twisting waters of time to a volatile era of superstition, revolts, and chivalry in this suspenseful story.

Available now!

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Revell Publishers

Visit Jody's website for more fabulous book info.

My Thoughts:

I'm a huge fan of Outlander and Doctor Who, so needless to say a book that promised time travel and romance was right up my alley. I've loved Jody Hedlund's historical romances, so I knew I had to give her new fantasy series a try. I'm so glad I did. The surprising thing for me with Come Back to Me, the first book, I found myself enjoying the contemporary story more than the historical and the historical bits contained the romance! Shocking, I know! I'm romance obsessed. I think the main reason why I didn't connect much with Marian and William was due to the fact that they didn't truly meet until almost the halfway point in the book. By then I was more invested in Marian, Harrison, and Ellen than I was in everything in 1381. 

Since it looks like the storyline is going to continue into book 2, I wish the romance had been more drawn out. I know, I know. There goes Renee again wishing for a little less urgency in the romance. I liked Marian and Will, but for a character who wanted to get to know Will more, she didn't really get to do so on the page before everything wrapped up in the conclusion. 

I do so love a time leap in a love story, and book 2 promises to be excellent. I'm super excited to see more of Ellen and Harrison as I loved Harrison. To be quite honest, I was really thinking that something was going to happen between Marian and Harrison, but alas, it did not. 

One more thing I actually loved about the book, this is probably strange, but the heroine mentions bleeding her and period. It's always a taboo sort of topic, which it shouldn't be, but romance NEVER mentions periods other than briefly to associate menstruation or lack thereof with someone being pregnant or not pregnant.  Hooray for women being allowed to bleed on the page. I'm pretty sure if I ever time-traveled back to 1381, I would realistically be worried to death about feminine hygiene. Ha! 

Come Back to Me was a book I enjoyed. It didn't read quite like her past books, but that was a good thing! It was unique and intriguing with likeable characters and a non-preachy storyline. I look forward to more adventures in time travel with Jody Hedlund. 

~ My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars!~

*I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*

Happy Reading!