If someone took everything you live for, how far would you go to get it back?
When offered a one-way trip to the past, Isabel sacrifices everything for a chance to change the rapidly deteriorating present – and see her murdered lover one last time. When she arrives 20 years in the past, buck naked and mortally wounded, she has 24 hours to convince a stunned but enraptured 19-year-old to change their future. Definitely easier said than done, as success means losing him to a brainy, smart-mouthed bombshell (her younger self), and that’s a heart breaker, save the world or not.
This offbeat tale is about falling madly in love when one is too cynical for such things, letting go of pessimism when it’s the last life jacket on a sinking ship, and racing against the clock when one doesn’t have the proper footwear. It’s a coming-of-age story for old fogeys, a how-to-make-love guide for diehard celibates, and a laugh-out-loud tragedy with a hopeful twist.
Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Crossing in Time is a captivating novel that intertwines elements of science fiction, romance, and suspense and is the first book in the “Between Two Evils” trilogy. The story follows main characters Isabel and Diego, ex-lovers who are unexpectedly reunited after years apart. Their reunion is interrupted when a catastrophic event shakes the world, and Diego saves Isabel’s life, making their lives irrevocably entwined. Isabel is then offered a one-way trip into the past to help save the world, and forces soon threaten to tear the duo apart. The book is fast-paced, propulsive, and heavy on the romance with some well-crafted spicy scenes that don’t overwhelm the plot. The complex, shifting timelines interwoven into a second-chance romance narrative make for a highly entertaining and original read.
There is good character development in this book. Isabel and Diego have palpable chemistry, and their relationship dynamics are engrossing and complex. Diego is very admirable in his constant efforts to stand by and protect Isabel, despite her being difficult on several occasions—their relationship will take readers on an emotional roller coaster, and their engrossing dialogue may elicit emotional reactions!
Overall, Crossing in Time is a unique time travel romance with a compelling narrative. The book’s strengths are the character development, steamy romance, and the intricate world-building. Narrators Noah Michael Levine and Erin deWard deliver sensational performances of the characters with distinct character voices, using a wide range of emotions and pacing to create a fully immersive and entertaining listen. If you enjoy thought-provoking, genre-bending stories with steamy romances, then add this to your reading list! The twists and exciting conclusion will leave you eager for the next book in the series!
