The Way to Yesterday (Silhouette Intimate Moments, No. 1171)

Rating:
Summary: Turning Back the Hands of Time
Review: In a tragic series of events six years ago, Mary Faith O'Rourke lost her husband Daniel and her baby daughter Hope. For six long years, Mary has tried to pick up the shattered pieces of her life and continue on. But the days are hollow, the hours empty, and the minutes drag by. She's dying by inches but unable to let go completely. Then one day, Mary wanders into a small antique shop, Time After Time, on a street that she hadn't even known existed. Browsing the shelves inside the shop, Mary finds a small ring that catches her eye. Inscribed on the inside of the band are the words: I PROMISE YOU FOREVER. The words sear into Mary's soul, touching pain she at best only had partially buried. Mary tries the ring on but finds it gets stuck. In the next instant she passes out and comes to on that fateful day when she lost her husband and child. The scene is a recurring nightmare that haunts her nights, stealing sleep. Reluctantly, she goes along with it. After all, the nightmare at least offers her the chance of seeing her lost husband and daughter again. Stunned and hurting, she participates in the tragic events that should be the last minutes of the lives of the two people she most loved in the world. Only this time when Daniel backs the car out of the drive and is headed into the path of a car speeding from a pursuing police cruiser, Mary cries out to Daniel and manages to get him to stop just in time. The crash occurs as it did on that day six years ago, but this time her husband and daughter are not consumed in it. Time has changed. In a twinkling, Mary is back in the present, but it is a present that holds her husband and daughter in it as well. However, the change in time that prevented young Hope's death has also put her into a madman's path. Perhaps Mary changed the past once, but the present that she has stepped into may yet steal her daughter away unless she can figure out the secrets of a serial kidnapper.

Sharon Sala is an award-winning author with dozens of books to her credit. She writes primarily romantic suspense, but every book is from the heart. Other romantic suspense novels in a similar vein include DARK WATER, SNOWFALL, REMEMBER ME, SWEET BABY, and REUNION. She also writes romantic suspense under the name Dinah McCall, with titles such as WHITE MOUNTAIN, STORM WARNING, THE RETURN, JACKSON RULE, and CHASE THE MOON.

Opening the covers of a Sharon Sala or Dinah McCall novel guarantees a quick, exciting read. No one handles plot, characterization, and dialogue with a surer hand. The pacing of the books always stops somewhere just short of frantic, but will keep the reader glued to the pages till the end. THE WAY TO YESTERDAY proceeds so quickly and with enough twists and turns that the reader will probably read the book all the way through or within a couple sessions. The fantastical element of the story is quickly introduced (somewhat reminiscent of SOMEWHERE IN TIME and A PORTRAIT OF JENNY), but is gentle rather than intrusive, then the suspense kicks in. Having the magic and the mystery follow so quickly is akin to being slammed with a boxer's one-two combo. Mary and Daniel and the problems they face as a couple are believable. The quick shifts back and forth between the romantic leads as well as the villain yank the reader through the book, constantly upping the stakes and stepping up the pace. THE WAY TO YESTERDAY is a dynamic read that propels the reader through the adventure and the romance.

Readers who love Nora Roberts' romantic suspense, but who have yet to make Sharon Sala's acquaintance will find a great place to start with THE WAY TO YESTERDAY. Returning Sharon Sala fans will be glad to know another good book is awaiting them on the shelves.

Rating:
Summary: Turning Back the Hands of Time
Review: In a tragic series of events six years ago, Mary Faith O'Rourke lost her husband Daniel and her baby daughter Hope. For six long years, Mary has tried to pick up the shattered pieces of her life and continue on. But the days are hollow, the hours empty, and the minutes drag by. She's dying by inches but unable to let go completely. Then one day, Mary wanders into a small antique shop, Time After Time, on a street that she hadn't even known existed. Browsing the shelves inside the shop, Mary finds a small ring that catches her eye. Inscribed on the inside of the band are the words: I PROMISE YOU FOREVER. The words sear into Mary's soul, touching pain she at best only had partially buried. Mary tries the ring on but finds it gets stuck. In the next instant she passes out and comes to on that fateful day when she lost her husband and child. The scene is a recurring nightmare that haunts her nights, stealing sleep. Reluctantly, she goes along with it. After all, the nightmare at least offers her the chance of seeing her lost husband and daughter again. Stunned and hurting, she participates in the tragic events that should be the last minutes of the lives of the two people she most loved in the world. Only this time when Daniel backs the car out of the drive and is headed into the path of a car speeding from a pursuing police cruiser, Mary cries out to Daniel and manages to get him to stop just in time. The crash occurs as it did on that day six years ago, but this time her husband and daughter are not consumed in it. Time has changed. In a twinkling, Mary is back in the present, but it is a present that holds her husband and daughter in it as well. However, the change in time that prevented young Hope's death has also put her into a madman's path. Perhaps Mary changed the past once, but the present that she has stepped into may yet steal her daughter away unless she can figure out the secrets of a serial kidnapper.

Sharon Sala is an award-winning author with dozens of books to her credit. She writes primarily romantic suspense, but every book is from the heart. Other romantic suspense novels in a similar vein include DARK WATER, SNOWFALL, REMEMBER ME, SWEET BABY, and REUNION. She also writes romantic suspense under the name Dinah McCall, with titles such as WHITE MOUNTAIN, STORM WARNING, THE RETURN, JACKSON RULE, and CHASE THE MOON.

Opening the covers of a Sharon Sala or Dinah McCall novel guarantees a quick, exciting read. No one handles plot, characterization, and dialogue with a surer hand. The pacing of the books always stops somewhere just short of frantic, but will keep the reader glued to the pages till the end. THE WAY TO YESTERDAY proceeds so quickly and with enough twists and turns that the reader will probably read the book all the way through or within a couple sessions. The fantastical element of the story is quickly introduced (somewhat reminiscent of SOMEWHERE IN TIME and A PORTRAIT OF JENNY), but is gentle rather than intrusive, then the suspense kicks in. Having the magic and the mystery follow so quickly is akin to being slammed with a boxer's one-two combo. Mary and Daniel and the problems they face as a couple are believable. The quick shifts back and forth between the romantic leads as well as the villain yank the reader through the book, constantly upping the stakes and stepping up the pace. THE WAY TO YESTERDAY is a dynamic read that propels the reader through the adventure and the romance.

Readers who love Nora Roberts' romantic suspense, but who have yet to make Sharon Sala's acquaintance will find a great place to start with THE WAY TO YESTERDAY. Returning Sharon Sala fans will be glad to know another good book is awaiting them on the shelves.