Amelia Epoch is a thirty-something HR Assistant in New York City, grappling with elusive professional ambitions of being an interior designer. She’s also in a relationship with a handsome doctor, Jack, who travels for long periods of time for Doctors Without Borders. When she gets a strange call from a lawyer informing her that she has an inheritance to claim, she believes it to be a hoax. But sure enough, it turns out that the inheritance is legit. Thanks to the mysterious author Franklin Dunne, Amelia is now the proud owner of a brownstone in Brooklyn and a handsome sum of money. While inspecting her new property, she finds an antique watch behind one of the bricks in the fireplace. One day, she decides to put it on and switch to the correct date – only to be thrust 100 years in the past. And Franklin is the current occupant of said brownstone. And while he generously offers to help her figure out how to return to her time, she can’t help but find herself attracted to Franklin and genuinely enjoying her time with him. The Time Turner by Clare Solly is a time travel romance in which Amelia must decide which path she wants to follow – her stable life and relationship in the present, or with the man she is falling hopelessly in love with in the past?
Book
While stuck in the past for the first time, Amelia is fortunate enough to find a generous roommate in Franklin. He offers her a room in the house, food and upkeep from his cook and maid, and clothing to last her until they can figure things out. And despite the intimate sparks between them that first night, he respects her current relationship status and is nothing but a gentleman. Yet when she finds a way to return to the present, and with Jack once again, she can’t seem to get Franklin out of her mind. Unable to stay away or make a decision, Amelia travels back and forth between both timelines. And when she does make some definite decisions, doubt comes back once she realizes that the grass isn’t greener on the other side.
Review
Solly delivers a powerful, heartfelt, and emotional roller coaster with The Time Turner. I sympathized with all three characters. I understood the temptation that Amelia felt, and the inner turmoil that she endured as a result. Jack followed his dreams as a doctor, unbeknownst to him that his girlfriend had fallen in love with another man. But poor, sweet Franklin tugged at my heartstrings the most. Without giving away too much, the author provides mental health representation and a multi-dimensional character with him. My only gripes are that the story dragged at times and could have used another round of edits. Plus everyone around her seemed too easily accepting of the possibility of time travel and how Amelia had been spending her time. Nevertheless, Solly grabbed my heart and didn’t let go until the end – but not before giving it a tough squeeze, rendering this story one that I won’t forget.
Clare Solly joins the Cantina Book Club Podcast to talk about how her theatrical background helped her develop stories, and how she approached the sensitive topics in the story. Keep an ear out for the interview in an upcoming episode and pick up a copy of The Time Turner, available now.
