Book Blurb:
In this gripping sequel to the award-winning novel, Through the Veneer of Time, echoes of Siena’s past life lure her into a shocking indiscretion that threatens to destroy her marriage. She alone can undo the damage, but this chilling revelation is only the beginning of her battle.
1564, ULSTER, IRELAND. After Aedan’s diplomatic visit to Queen Elizabeth’s court results in his compulsory divorce and arranged marriage, Neave’s violent unraveling drives her into another man’s arms. But in seeking revenge, Neave falls into a perfect trap set by Aedan’s enemy. By the time she learns the truth, it’s too late to undo the damage to Aedan, herself, and the hard-won peace in Ulster. When despair makes her reckless, the price will be a lifetime of infamy, confinement, and isolation from what Neave treasures most—Aedan and her son.
2011, WASHINGTON D.C./DALLAS, TX. It seems like a reasonable plan—Siena finishing her final mural in D.C. while Ryan starts his new job in Dallas. But when Siena meets Ryan’s new FBI partner, an inexplicable fit of jealousy sends her on a downward spiral. To make matters worse, the present mirrors the past when her visions take a startling turn. Consumed by insecurities, Siena takes a drastic step, which proves a catastrophic lapse in judgment. When her self-fulfilling prophecy unfolds in a devastating inversion of the past, Siena’s actions could cost her the two people she most fears to lose—Ryan and their baby.
Will Siena and Ryan beat their disastrous odds, or is their marriage foredoomed?
If you love time travel romance with dark undertones, as well as elements of domestic suspense, psychosexual thriller, and a touch of magic, don’t miss the second installment of the Always and Forever trilogy!
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/3ZVST
Author Bio:
Vera Bell is a Georgia Author of the Year nominee and the award-winning author of the trilogy “Always & Forever,” set in sixteenth-century Ireland and present-day United States. Book One, “Through the Veneer of Time,” is her debut novel. She wrote it after trying past life regression and finding herself immersed in a world so captivating, she couldn’t let it go. A former commercial artist, she lives in Atlanta with her husband, two teenagers, and one fur baby. Her favorite place to write is on her porch, overlooking a pond lined with river birches and magnolias. The topics she never tires of are bygone eras, our universal human condition, and love that transcends time and space.
*For new release announcements, join Vera's private mailing list at verabellauthor dot com.
Editorial Review:
“Sweet is the wine, but sour is the payment.
– Irish Proverb”
“Into the Lure of Time” is the second book in a time travel romance trilogy, and readers will need to brace themselves (or alternatively, immerse themselves) when reading this novel. The story travels between 1500s Ireland and modern day Texas/Washington DC, USA. The differences between the two settings are profound, and the turbulent love story of the modern day soulmates Siena and Ryan has parallels in the past and the characters of Neave and Aedan. The crossover in themes between the characters is compelling and skilfully executed, however editing choices mean that the reader may find themselves jumping backwards and forwards between times in an uneven manner and with little warning.
The first pages are choppy, with a seeming lack of scene breaks or a consistent mechanism to denote the passing of time. This means that, for example, making love is hinted at in one sentence and then the characters immediately move to relaxed pillow-talk about work schedules in the next sentence. The bridging of time (from an editing perspective rather than as between timelines) is uneven, particularly in the initial modern-time scenes. This can draw the reader out of the story, however the pacing becomes more consistent as the book progresses.
Despite these subjective editing decisions made by the author, “Into the Lure of Time” is an incredibly imaginative story. The writing is vivid and emotional and the central love stories are believable. Certainly the delicate troubles in a relationship are not new devices in plot development, however it is rarely described with such skill and passion as in Bell’s narrative. The reader may even find themselves sympathizing with both characters involved, which will be an unexpected reaction for many. The Irish proverb noted in the book (set out at the start of this review) is apt, as consequences multiply. Mention of the struggles between the couple in the story - the build-up to it and the aftermath – creates much of the dramatic tension within the book.
“I removed my nursing bra and stood in front of the mirror, surveying my new curves. The last fifteen pounds clung to me despite my banishment of junk food and daily runs with the stroller. But Ryan loved my mommy body, and had his flight not been delayed twice, he’d have been home for at least two hours to appreciate it.”
Readers who do not wish to see so completely into a couple’s bedroom (and video calls!) may prefer to make other reading choices. Other readers may interpret the graphic scenes as proof of the complete world-building that Bell obviously excels at.
“Aedan met the queen’s unblinking, colorless gaze. “So the English would flood Ulster and seize all trade and manufacture while I surrender my treaties with Spain and France? Would you accept such a concession were you in my place, Majesty?” ”
The historical scenes are rich with authentic detail, from the Court scenes with Elizabeth I of England to rural life in Ulster. “Into the Lure of Time” includes elements in the Irish language, and the glossary at the end of the book helps the reader gain overall context. The Author’s Note sets out the tie-ins with Irish folklore and history and the way these influence the story.
“As a girl, I loved Castle McConway. But it was too full of ghosts and shadows now. With the tip of the broom handle, I extricated Aine’s trinity stone from underneath the bed. The same bed on which Aedan—I clenched my teeth, no, the Earl—and I had consummated our marriage. I carried it to my cold bedchamber and placed it beside the stone from one miserable feis. They were nearly identical—Aine’s a bit smaller than the feis one.”
Both timelines contain vibrant secondary characters who all serve a valid purpose within the story and add to the character arcs of the main characters, particularly in the modern scenes. Special mention must be made of the babies in this book and the heart-warming bond both Neave and Siena have with their respective infants. The dialogue throughout “Into the Lure of Time” is natural and genuine (and often harrowing).
“Into the Lure of Time” by Vera Bell is a passionate and heartfelt love story that echoes through time and place. The references to the past and the continuing impact it has on characters’ decisions adds a haunting aspect to a vividly written novel. Siena and Ryan, and Neave and Aedan, will stay in the reader’s mind as characters long after the last page – surely the mark of a wonderfully immersive read!
*****
"Into the Lure of Time" by Vera Bell receives 4 stars from The Historical Fiction Company
To have your historical novel editorially reviewed and/or enter the HFC Book of the Year contest, please visit www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission
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