Time and Again (History Mystery, #1) in Willing To Review Christian Group

May 15, 2012 Kathleen (Kat) Smith rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: christian-fiction, historical-fiction, chick-literature, christian-teen-fiction, contemporary-fiction, young-adult-fiction, christian-historical-fiction, christian-action-adventure, romance-fiction, christian-science-fiction

The best part of a young adult book is when they can blend a great story and a bit of a history lesson so well they you don't even realize it. That is just that Time and Again: Charlotte of Miles Station does by Deborah Heal in her debut novel that your middle school child will just fall in love with.

I remember all my summers when I would spend them waiting for our book mobile (that's a portable library on wheels, for you that are wondering) to arrive in our neighborhood and race there just to c The best part of a young adult book is when they can blend a great story and a bit of a history lesson so well they you don't even realize it. That is just that Time and Again: Charlotte of Miles Station does by Deborah Heal in her debut novel that your middle school child will just fall in love with.

I remember all my summers when I would spend them waiting for our book mobile (that's a portable library on wheels, for you that are wondering) to arrive in our neighborhood and race there just to check out as many books as I was allowed. So it gives me great pleasure when I come across an outstanding book that I would have loved to read as a young adult to recommend to you.

Time and Again: Charlotte of Miles Station is the first book by Deborah Heal with a sequel due out soon that tells us the story of the old town of Miles Station and some of the residents that lived there many years ago. Miles Station is now falling into dis-repair and most of the buildings from long ago are just now foundations of stone crumbling among the overgrown weeds while the streets that ran through town are missing as time and the years have claimed them as well.

Abby Thomas is using her summer to work on her Ambassador College service project by volunteering as a companion and tutor to an economically disadvantaged adolescent for a young girl named Merrideth who has fallen behind in her grades. Her mom, Pat, is going through a difficult divorce and has moved into her Aunt's old home in Miles Station, a small town in Illinois.
While the house is livable, Pat is hoping that in time, she begin to work on renovating the old home back to its former glory some day, but for now it's a home to live in for free.

Merrideth is less than willing to accept Abby, whom she refers to as a babysitter and finds solace in spending her free time watching television, eating Kit Kat candy bars and playing games on her computer. Abby has also been asked to help if she can, to find a way to nurture Merrideth back to a healthier weight in the process of helping her catch up on her school work.

As Abby struggles to find a way to reach Merrideth with less that interesting, musty, old textbooks, she finds that often times the best teacher is interactive learning. She attempts to achieve this by helping Merrideth explore the old house, the surrounding town and through a computer program on Merrideth's computer that mysteriously turns on by itself late at night. What they soon discover through a virtual reality tour program of old homes is that they can take a trip back in time to the girl who used to live in this very house, a girl named Charlotte.

I received this book compliments of Deborah Heal, and have to say this is one of the best books I've had the opportunity to read and review. Being a mom of a middle school child, I can't wait to share this book with her as well. It takes us back in time to a life without technology and shows us a bit of how life was lived in a much simpler time with a bit of history thrown in for an added surprise! I haven't read a book like this and that's why I am so excited to share this one. I think it really speaks to the heart of our children because its able to relate to them and draw them into the story.

I can't wait to read the sequel to this series and I've LOVED reading all about Charlotte along the way. It also shows you how you can reach children who struggle with learning and make it more fun and interesting like Abby does with Merrideth. For me, this one rates a 5 out of 5 stars and look forward to many more novels by Deborah Heal in the future. ...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Brenda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Abby Thomas plans on being a teacher so she thinks tutoring an eleven year old girl would be the perfect summer project for college.She travels from Chicago to Miles Station to spend the summer with Merrideth, the girl whom she will be tutoring. Thing is Merrideth and her mother Pat only recently moved to Miles Station,because of divorce, inheriting an old house couldn't have come at a better time. Merrideth misses her father, and the last thing she wants is a tutor for the summer, and her attit Abby Thomas plans on being a teacher so she thinks tutoring an eleven year old girl would be the perfect summer project for college.She travels from Chicago to Miles Station to spend the summer with Merrideth, the girl whom she will be tutoring. Thing is Merrideth and her mother Pat only recently moved to Miles Station,because of divorce, inheriting an old house couldn't have come at a better time. Merrideth misses her father, and the last thing she wants is a tutor for the summer, and her attitude proves it. Abby is determined to reach Merrideth,and tries to come up with different ideas, when a computer program allows them to connect with the past, it just might be the thing to help Merrideth connect to her present and future.

I really loved this book!!! It was a greatastic story that pulled me in from the beginning pages. I loved the characters of the story. Merrideth was such a deep character, even though she was only eleven, she was really carrying around alot of pain.She missed her father,and really felt like it was her fault that her parents separated, and that her mom wasn't home. Although she hid these feelings well, instead coming off with an I don't care attitude.I loved watching her find her self worth as the story progressed. Abby was just what Merrideth needed, although in the beginning she really didn't think so. The secondary characters really added depth to the story, I could just picture young Michael, and Mrs Arnold was a bit eccentric but quite likable.It was so easy to become invested in Charlotte's life even though it took place over 150 years ago. I also enjoyed the relationship that started to develop with Abby and John,and hope we might see more of this in a future story.
While the characters really made an impression on me it was the plot that really grabbed my attention. I thought Ms. Heal did an amazing job of transitioning between the past and present,while weaving a bit of history into the story. What really made the story unique was how she brought the past to life via a computer program, or at least it seemed like a program in the beginning, but as the story progresses we see a more supernatural element taking place. The fact that Ms. Heal even takes the time to weave in some positive christian messages really takes this book to a whole different level. While this book is geared toward teens,I think that anyone who enjoys reading contemporary and historical fiction woven together will certainly enjoy this book. On a scale of one to five I would easily give this book a six! Highly recommended. ...more

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Jun 19, 2015 Tony Breeden rated it liked it

Time and Again is the first book in Deborah Heal's History Mystery series. The basic premise of the book is a teen and her college age summer tutor can experience the lives and thoughts of people from the past [what they call "time surfing"] via a computer program called Beautiful House. They become interested in the life of a young girl named Charlotte who lived in the area around the time of the American Civil War. By watching her life, they get an omniscient view of history and see God's hand Time and Again is the first book in Deborah Heal's History Mystery series. The basic premise of the book is a teen and her college age summer tutor can experience the lives and thoughts of people from the past [what they call "time surfing"] via a computer program called Beautiful House. They become interested in the life of a young girl named Charlotte who lived in the area around the time of the American Civil War. By watching her life, they get an omniscient view of history and see God's hand in Charlotte's life, even through the bad stuff.

The author does a good job of drawing out the history of the area she lives in and putting us in that time. She certainly sounds as if she'd done her research anyway; the book is based on actual historical accounts. Her protagonists are also engaging.

Still, this book is pretty slow and doesn't really go anywhere until about 2/3rds into the story, where it gets a celebrity boost in the form of a pre-Presidential Abraham Lincoln and begins exploring the issues of slavery and the Underground Railroad. The book also ends abruptly. No one's character arcs are really completed. It's not really a mystery, as the series title implies. Nor is it actually sci-fi, which is the impression I got from the book's description; while the computer program allows the protagonists to time surf, there is much in the story to suggest that time surfing has been accomplished by other characters in the past without the computer and this just happens to be the present vessel for this experience, if you will. Given this, the book is more historical young adult fantasy than sci-fi. The book also suffers from a few minor faults. For example, how does the mother constantly get cell phone calls in a house with no cell service? It had an enjoyable, rambling feel to it and I appreciated the way the author brought out God's providence through the story, but Time and Again suffers for having no resolution. I understand that there are other books in the series, but each book should have a satisfying conclusion. This one just felt like a long introduction for the characters of the series without them having much to do.

More information about Time and Again and other books in the series are available on Amazon, and on the author's website, DeborahHeal.com.

- Tony Breeden, from the Bookwyrm's Lair

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” ...more

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Nov 11, 2013 Paula Lynn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Written with authentic, detailed research and faithfulness to the era, Deborah Heal’s book, Time and Again, brings alive the pre-Civil War year of 1854, Abraham Lincoln’s run for government office, the Underground Railroad and the brutal, harsh realities of slavery.

After relocating from Chicago due her parents’ marriage breaking up, 11-year-old Merrideth is none too pleased to be living in an old, run-down house in an isolated locale, Miles Station, that she calls “Nowhereville.” She describes Written with authentic, detailed research and faithfulness to the era, Deborah Heal’s book, Time and Again, brings alive the pre-Civil War year of 1854, Abraham Lincoln’s run for government office, the Underground Railroad and the brutal, harsh realities of slavery.

After relocating from Chicago due her parents’ marriage breaking up, 11-year-old Merrideth is none too pleased to be living in an old, run-down house in an isolated locale, Miles Station, that she calls “Nowhereville.” She describes her neighborhood as “stupid and hick and boring.” In addition, she doesn’t like the idea of having a “baby-sitter” while her mother is away from the house working all day. Since her parents’ divorce, her school work is not the only thing that has suffered ~ so has her self-esteem.

Studying elementary education at Ambassador College, Abby Thomas volunteers to tutor Merrideth over the summer as part of her required service project. She feels this will be a good teaching experience, until she meets Merrideth, an overweight, sullen girl who is a sweets junkie and thinks of herself as stupid. Despite her initial misgivings, they meet their neighbors, Michael and Mrs. Arnold. In addition, they find common ground and bond with one other when they discover a computer program they use to “time surf” and explore the history of Merrideth’s house and town. Moving from one time period to another, they watch history unfold before them.

During their active summer months spent uncovering the secrets of the house Merrideth and her mother live in, Abby also discovers Merrideth thinks life is horrible. Believing God does whatever He wants, Merrideth goes as far as saying, “We’re the little puppets he plays with. We live for a little while and then we die. There’s no sense in even trying.” Her words reveal to Abby the depression and spiritual pain she’s feeling.

The subtle Christian faith message in this story is in no way preachy or overwhelming because Deborah presents the life lessons the main characters learn in a way that’s natural, believable and relevant. Mysteries are solved, truths are revealed, and Merrideth learns she can trust God and “all things work together for good for them that love God.”

Engaging and entertaining, this book is appropriate for all age groups from middle-schoolers to young adults and adult readers alike. What I want to know now is how I can get my hands on that computer program so I can go back in time too!

Please note I received a free copy of Time and Again in exchange for my honest review.
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Nov 11, 2013 Paula Lynn rated it it was amazing

Written with authentic, detailed research and faithfulness to the era, Deborah Heal’s book, Time and Again, brings alive the pre-Civil War year of 1854, Abraham Lincoln’s run for government office, the Underground Railroad and the brutal, harsh realities of slavery.

After relocating from Chicago due her parents’ marriage breaking up, 11-year-old Merrideth is none too pleased to be living in an old, run-down house in an isolated locale, Miles Station, that she calls “Nowhereville.” She describes Written with authentic, detailed research and faithfulness to the era, Deborah Heal’s book, Time and Again, brings alive the pre-Civil War year of 1854, Abraham Lincoln’s run for government office, the Underground Railroad and the brutal, harsh realities of slavery.

After relocating from Chicago due her parents’ marriage breaking up, 11-year-old Merrideth is none too pleased to be living in an old, run-down house in an isolated locale, Miles Station, that she calls “Nowhereville.” She describes her neighborhood as “stupid and hick and boring.” In addition, she doesn’t like the idea of having a “baby-sitter” while her mother is away from the house working all day. Since her parents’ divorce, her school work is not the only thing that has suffered ~ so has her self-esteem.

Studying elementary education at Ambassador College, Abby Thomas volunteers to tutor Merrideth over the summer as part of her required service project. She feels this will be a good teaching experience, until she meets Merrideth, an overweight, sullen girl who is a sweets junkie and thinks of herself as stupid. Despite her initial misgivings, they meet their neighbors, Michael and Mrs. Arnold. In addition, they find common ground and bond with one other when they discover a computer program they use to “time surf” and explore the history of Merrideth’s house and town. Moving from one time period to another, they watch history unfold before them.

During their active summer months spent uncovering the secrets of the house Merrideth and her mother live in, Abby also discovers Merrideth thinks life is horrible. Believing God does whatever He wants, Abby goes as far as saying, “We’re the little puppets he plays with. We live for a little while and then we die. There’s no sense in even trying.” Her words reveal to Abby the depression and spiritual pain she’s feeling.

The subtle Christian faith message in this story is in no way preachy or overwhelming because Deborah presents the life lessons the main characters learn in a way that’s natural, believable and relevant. Mysteries are solved, truths are revealed, and Merrideth learns she can trust God and “all things work together for good for them that love God.”

Engaging and entertaining, this book is appropriate for all age groups from middle-schoolers to young adults and adult readers alike. What I want to know now is how I can get my hands on that computer program so I can go back in time too!

Please note I received a free copy of Time and Again in exchange for my honest review. ...more

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Nov 19, 2013 LAWonder10 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Time and Again' by Deborah Heal is an unparalleled story of Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Historical fiction all into on one extraordinary tale!

Abby decides to do some volunteer summer tutoring for a student during her summer break. It will give her some good experience - and perhaps a recommendation - after she completes her final year earning teaching degree at the university. Is Abby "in over her head" with this experience?

Eleven year old Merridith and her mother move away from her father and his new g ...more

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