I was asked by Stephanie at Harper-Collins if I wanted to read and review Now & Then by Jacqueline Sheehan. I took one look at the puppy cover and said OK! I have a soft spot for "not-so little" dogs since I have one of my own.This book is a bit of a trip. Take chick-lit, a bit of romance, Irish historical-fiction, and time travel and mix it all up, throw in a little bit of Irish wolfhound and you've got Now & Then. And I totally enjoyed it. **Warning: The dog plays a fairly small part in the story.**
Plot:
Anna O'Shea is a bit of a mess. Her father abandoned the family, her brother has anger issues, her nephew has just landed in jail, and her husband left her for another woman after three failed pregnancies.
Joseph O'Shea is a bit of a mess. He's sixteen, unpopular at school, and only good at wrestling, not the most popular sport at school. His father just got into a huge car accident while on his way to pick up Joseph from jail and his aunt, Anna, is furious with him.
Enter the time-travel. How? Why? Read the book!
Anna and Joseph get whisked back in time to country Ireland, 1844. Just one year before THE potato famine. And they get separated. Anna is injured and is taken in by some of the country people. Joseph gets taken for a non-Irish Canadian and is taken in by a wealthy Englishman. And of course, they both fall in love with someone while in historic Ireland. Anna and Joseph have to find each other, figure out what happened and why, and how to get home...if they still want to go home.
What I liked:
I enjoyed the sections narrated by Anna. I really liked her and just wanted her to be happy. I loved the historical setting in Ireland. The way the Irish were suppressed by the British landlords and what they had to do to survive was fascinating and horrible at the same time. I love that it was kind of realistic too. Anna got beat up quite a bit which I don't think you'd find in a romance novel. I mean, at one point she looses some teeth. O yeah.
What I didn't like:
Ok. I think the cover and blurb is so misleading. I thought this book would be more dog-centric, right? Wrong. Well, mostly wrong. There is a dog. An Irish wolfhound name Madigan. He has more to do with Joseph's part of the story. But just a bit. Madigan's importance really only comes out at the very end. And speaking of Joseph, he was so annoying. I guess he's a sixteen year-old but still. Hmm...I guess that is it.
While it wasn't the story the cover led me to believe it was, it was still a fun time-traveling ride. I have to admit I'm a sucker for Irish history so that was a huge bonus for me.
Over at Harper-Collins, you can browse inside the book.
Stephanie also told me I could give away FIVE copies of Now & Then. How cool is that!?! It's open worldwide (if Harper can't deliver to you, I will) and it runs through Friday, November 20th. You must:
1) Give me a way to contact you AND...
2) Tell me your favorite time-traveling story (book, movie, etc) AND/OR pet story (book, movie, etc).
For more reviews, Jacqueline Sheehan is over at TLC Book Reviews
Here's her tour stops:
Monday, November 2nd: The Bluestocking Guide
Wednesday, November 4th: Yule Time Reading
Thursday, November 5th: Life in the Thumb
Monday, November 9th: Eclectic Book Lover
Thursday, November 12th: I’m Booking It
Tuesday, November 17th: The Brain Lair
Wednesday, November 18th: Bloggin’ ’bout Books
Monday, November 23rd: Stephanie’s Written Word
Monday, November 30th: Jenn’s Bookshelves
Tuesday, December 1st: The Tome Traveller
**Thank you Stephanie and Harper-Collins for giving me this book to read and review!
My absolute favorite pet story is The Art of Racing in the Rain, which I know you just read. It's one of those books I give to absolutely everyone. And my favorite time-traveling book is The Time-Traveler's Wife. Of course :) You can email me at whatagrandworld@gmail.com.
ReplyDeletePlease enter me for this one! I really enjoyed Time Traveler's Wife. Also Somewhere in Time with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve-it's a book as well.
ReplyDeletefitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com
I LOVED Lost and Found by this author. Please enter me:
ReplyDeletebibliophilebythesea AT gmail DOT com
I just watched Somewhere in Time over the weekend. I love that movie!! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletes.mickelson at gmail dot com
Love the cover of this book...this book sounds fabulous...would enjoy reading it.
ReplyDeletemy favourite time travelling book was 'eve: a novel of the first woman' by elissa elliott...she tells the story of adam and eve so well...it's as if you are a part of it.
karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(Dot)com
This definitely sounds interesting. Please enter me!
ReplyDeleteI've always loved time travel stories. When I was younger, I loved The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen about a girl who travels back in time to the Holocaust, and The Reluctant God by Pamela Service (I think), about an Egyptian prince traveling to the future (i.e. present day) England to reclaim a stolen artifict. More recently, I've really enjoyed The Time Traveler's Wife, too.
toadacious1 at yahoo dot com
The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Love it. Least fave -- Time Traveler's Wife. Ick.
ReplyDeletebrainella@gmail.com
I really liked The Time Traveler's Wife. This sounds like a great time travel book too. Please count me in. :)
ReplyDeleteaustenfanblogs[at]gmail[dot]com
I'm a sucker for Irish history too!
ReplyDelete1- I think you already know how to contact me. :)
2- I loved the time travel idea behind the tv show "7 Days" - it was a unique was to view time travel.
LOVE the way you describe this book! No need to enter me; I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds great. I don't really have a favorite time-travel story but I enjoyed "Riddle in the Mountain" by Daryl Burkhard and I thought "The Man Who Loved Jane Austen" was amusing. My favorite pet story is "Marley & Me" but it made me bawl my eyes out.
ReplyDelete--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
diaryofaneccentric at hotmail dot com
Favorite time traveler movie is Somewhere in Time! tWarner419@aol.com
ReplyDeleteMy favorite pet story... Hmmm. Marley and Me. Loved it, even if it's a little sad.
ReplyDeletecarianmoonlight at gmail dot com
I would love to be entered in your draw.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite pet story is Marley and Me.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite time-traveling novel (or series)is The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon.
ReplyDeleteheatherzilla(at)care2(dot)com
I remember when i was kid, i used to watch ' Back to the future'. I'd watched all series if i'm not mistaken. Just love it!
ReplyDeleteMariska
uniquas at ymail dot com
My favorite time travel book is The Time Traveler's Wife. My favorite pet/dog book was Merle's Door, have the kleenex ready for this one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com
My favorite pet story is Dewey about the library cat.
ReplyDeleteainfinger@comcast.net
Please enter me in your giveaway. I really enjoyed H.G. Wells' The Time Macine.
ReplyDeleteAimala127 AT gmail DOT com
Thank you for this great giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI will have to go with Marley and Me. Love that book!
christinezeg(at)gmail(dot)com
I'd love a chance to read this! My favorite pet story would definately be Marley & Me, such a good book and movie! Thanks for entering me into this giveaway.
ReplyDeleteunforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com
I agree, I would have thought the book is dog-centric too, but I'm not complaining, it still sounds great.
ReplyDeletevioletc dot books at gmail dot com
Please enter me. My fav time-travel book is The Time Traveller's wife, but to think about it, I don't think I have any other book with that theme either.
Of course, Back to the Future is what comes to mind first...
ReplyDeletejanemaritz at yahoo dot com
Time-travel book..hmm, I haven't read any.I do have The time traveler's Wife, but I haven't read it yet.
ReplyDeleteSo, I guess so far, it's none :(
Movie..hmmm, I can remember only one right now, and that is 'Kate and Leopold'.
Please enter me, icejew at gmail dot com
Thanks for the contest.
Ha, I felt the book cover was misleading too! Thank goodness that the book was a good read!
ReplyDeleteWesley the Owl is my favorite pet story. I had no idea that an owl could become so attached to a human.
ReplyDeletemittens0831 at aol dot com
My favorite time travelling story is the Time Travellers Wife, both the moive and book. And also the TV show Lost.
ReplyDeletedftrew(at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite is Time Travelers Wife
ReplyDeletemtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com