Library of Clean Reads: John A. Heldt

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

The Journey by John A. Heldt

The Journey by John A. Heldt
Self-published
Published Nov 3, 2012
Ebook, 242 pages

I'm a new fan of John Heldt because of his ability to write stories that uses the time travel element to propel forward a good story without the fantastical part overwhelming the plot. And unlike other time travel novels, his characters only travel back within fifty years rather than hundreds. His first book The Mine (read my review) captured my attention and I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to read this second novel.

Recently widowed and childless, 48 year-old Michelle Preston decides to go back to her hometown for a class reunion. After visiting an abandoned mansion and entering a mysterious room, she ends up travelling back in time thirty years to 1979. She finds a job as a secretary at her old high school and meets her former classmates, her parents and her younger self, all of whom have no idea who she is. She befriends her younger self Shelly, as she was known in school, and also finds a new love. But knowing about future events propels her to make a sacrifice in order to save lives and give herself a second shot at life.

Once again, I was quickly taken in with the story and wondered how the time travel element was going to direct it. Michelle is in the position of being a mature woman in the same environment as her teenage self. She can see herself as she was back then, young and confused, with different eyes. It made me wonder what I would feel and do if I was suddenly thrown back to my teenage years to see myself in school with my friends and former boyfriend. Would I want to give myself advice and see if I took a different path in life? Probably. Or maybe not at all because of what those changes might mean for the future? You know how we all wish we had done things differently during those tumultuous teen years?!

Well, this book made me question all that because of what Michelle did. I have to admit that at first I had a hard time believing Shelly did not recognize herself thirty years into the future. I know my face hasn't changed all that much and I look pretty much the same way I did when I was in high school 28 years ago. Even her parents didn't recognize her. Also, there seemed to be little reaction toward seeing her former boyfriend who had been her husband for many years and had recently died. But once I got past this lack of dramatic opening (must be the Italian in me that expected it!) I was able to focus more on the storyline to see where it was heading.

Heldt managed to surprise me once again with his ending, which was bittersweet and satisfying. If you like time travel stories that deal with relationships and second chances you will like this one. It took me back to my high school days and entertained me with a story that had me questioning what I would have done differently if given a second chance.

Note: This book is rated S = sexual scenes, not too explicit.

I will count this book toward the following challenges: My Personal Time Travel Challenge

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

The Mine by John A. Heldt

The Mine by John A. Heldt
E-book (Amazon Digital Services)
ASIN: B0078S9B6G

Published Feb 12, 2012

290 pages

I love when I open a book, not quite knowing what to expect and fall in love with the story. That's what happened with The Mine. The cover and the title are unimpressive, but the synopsis drew me in and I took a chance to review it. I'm so glad I did because it was such an enjoyable read for me—a time travel story that took me to the nostalgic era of the 1940s.

In the year 2000, Joel Smith is a young man just days away from graduating from college. He is a self-assured adventurous guy who risks entering an abandoned mine and ends up traveling back to May 1941. He tries unsuccessfully to go back to the future but soon realizes he is stuck in the past and must make the best of it. He eventually charms his way into the life of the Carters who become like a family to him, hangs out with college students, one of which will end up becoming his grandmother, and unexpectedly falls in love. He then gets the chance to go back to the future and must decide what to do.

This is Heldt's debut novel, and I was impressed by how he was able to make me become so invested in the character's lives. The 1940s comes to life, and we rediscover through the eyes of a young man what it was like to go to college, attend football games, go dancing to swing music and wait in outdoor lines to see the movies. Life was much more simple without the invasion of technology. But Europe is at war and the US army is drafting young men as the country become more involved with what is brewing overseas. Joel, of course, knows the outcome, and grapples about disclosing what he knows about the war, wondering if it would end up changing his future.

In the meantime, he falls in love with Grace, who is engaged to another man, but attracted to Joel. As their friendship grows, with the war looming closer, Joel must make a decision about returning home. I was racing through the pages to see how it would all end. Joel is a changed person after having spent time in an era that humbled him, and I loved how the author dealt with the time travel aspect, especially at the end to bring it all together. It was such a satisfying read.

Readers who want to escape to a bygone era, with an old-fashioned romance and the all-American experience of the 1940s will be pleased with this novel.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read. I'm not sure if there were any religious expletives in this book. Probably a few.
I will count this book toward the following challenges: Time Travel Reading Challenge

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.