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The UnTied Kingdom

by Kate Johnson (Goodreads Author)

4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 · rating details · 210 ratings · 48 reviews

The portal to an alternate world was the start of all her troubles – or was it?

When Eve Carpenter lands with a splash in the Thames, it’s not the London or England she’s used to. No one has a telephone or knows what a computer is. England’s a third world country and Princess Di is still alive. But worst of all, everyone thinks Eve’s a spy.

Including Major Harker who has his...more

Paperback, 403 pages

Published April 1st 2011 by Choc Lit (first published March 31st 2011)

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May 15, 2013 Gerry Bartlett rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal

I got this book free at the RT conference. It's from a British company and I enjoyed the change of pace of reading the work of a British author. It's the story of what happens when two parallel universes collide--today's London and a London in complete turmoil. I loved the author's take on what would have happened if Great Britain had never attained greatness. It's a completely different world in the other universe. Washed up popstar Eve lands in this other London and is rescued by Major Harker....more

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Feb 10, 2013 Asferdinand rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Man, I've had a bad run lately. So many books that *could* have been good, but just....aren't. It's so sad! The Untied Kingdom--woman falls through a hole in the world to an alternate universe where the British Empire never existed--instead, England is a developing country in the middle of a war. This could be interesting, right? And I know from the cover that there's a hetero romance at the centre, but...could still be interesting. Maybe.

No. Negative. Instead we get all the cliches about the to...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Beadyjan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

I'd seen this book reviewed and liked the concept, I love the idea of time travel. So when I saw it on kindle for only 99p I snapped it up.

It's from the folks at Choc-lit so I was expecting romance - what I got was super romance I think this is about one of THE most romantic love stories I've ever read.

It begins when Eve, a has been celebrity, ex member of a girl band is taking part in a show something like "I'm a celebrity get me out of here" and has to paraglide above the River Thames, but the...more I'd seen this book reviewed and liked the concept, I love the idea of time travel. So when I saw it on kindle for only 99p I snapped it up.

It's from the folks at Choc-lit so I was expecting romance - what I got was super romance I think this is about one of THE most romantic love stories I've ever read.

It begins when Eve, a has been celebrity, ex member of a girl band is taking part in a show something like "I'm a celebrity get me out of here" and has to paraglide above the River Thames, but the jump goes wrong and she plummets into the water - to find she has somehow fallen through a hole into another London. Pulled from the murky waters of the river she finds herself in a parallel England currently at war where only the very rich have any kind of technology and where she is suspected of being a spy. When she tries to explain herself what she says sound completely bonkers so they decide as it can't be proven that she's a spy she must be insane and lock her up in an asylum!

Then she meets Major Will Harker, he's rough, tough grubby and grumpy and determined to find out just what it is Eve's hiding and the 2 are destined to clash and misunderstand each other time and time again whilst being physically attracted to each other.

What ensues is a paranormal romance of a different kind, a passionate love story and a clash of worlds and cultures as well as 2 minds fighting not to be drawn towards each other in a love that's doomed to be hopeless.

Theres a lot of fighting and military events but somehow it all just works really really well. I'm not usually much of a fan of paranormal romances but this is so refreshingly different. As in most Choc-lit romances we are treated to the male perpective as well as the female and this helps us get inside the mind of Will as well as Eve. He really is a hero I'd not think I'd be drawn to, scarred of body, divorced, killer of men, rough at the edges but oh he's SO darned sexy!

If you like lots of love and romance in a different setting do give the Untied Kingdom a try. I really enjoyed it and would like to read a sequel just to find out what happens afterwards.

I think it might appeal to anyone who enjoyed Cross Stitch (Outlander, US) although its much more contemporary.Outlander (less)

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Jul 19, 2012 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a challenging is read rather than chocolate for the brain. A piece of dystopian fiction. A romance that actually made the reader exercise brain cells.

Some of the things it seemed to be saying were thought provoking. Like if England hadn't had the Reformation it would have been an underdeveloped country. Not everyone would like to hear that. But one of the things I love about writers is that they can boldly go where others don't. Kate Johnson has certainly produced a fine piece of work w...more

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Jan 16, 2012 Wendy Hines rated it 4 of 5 stars

Major Harker is going through a divorce. Bad enough that his ex-wife is ranked higher than him, but she has also assigned her younger sister to his command. He knows he will spend much time watching her, and it aggravates him to no end. Then Eve appears out of nowhere.

Eve owes a lot of back taxes, and her reputation isn't doing her any favors. She's currently trying to make ends meet by doing dumb things to raise ratings for a show she is working on. When she falls through a hole from a parachu...more

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Dec 14, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the first paranormal romance book I have read and I was dubious at the start, but persevered and I'm glad I did.

Eve paraglided off course and landed in the River Thames in London. She was rescued by a man called Harker. It was only after a short while she realised that the London she had crash landed it, was nothing like the London that she left. Things don't ring true and she can't quite work out how she has fallen into a parallel world. One that is under a military rule. Parts of hist...more

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May 26, 2011 Samantha Robey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Eve Carpenter has a tarnished reputation in the public eye, a mother that ran off with all her money, debts to the tax man the she could never pay, and is working a dead end job. She didn’t think things could get much worse- until she falls through a hole that leads her into a parallel universe- where England is definitely not the England she knows. Practically no landline telephones- forget cell phones. No one knows what a computer is. Princess Diana is still alive. Eve doesn’t know what happen...more Eve Carpenter has a tarnished reputation in the public eye, a mother that ran off with all her money, debts to the tax man the she could never pay, and is working a dead end job. She didn’t think things could get much worse- until she falls through a hole that leads her into a parallel universe- where England is definitely not the England she knows. Practically no landline telephones- forget cell phones. No one knows what a computer is. Princess Diana is still alive. Eve doesn’t know what happened to her, but she needs to figure out a story, and quick. People think Eve is a spy, and they aren’t afraid to get rid of her- by killing her. She finds out that there is a civil war taking place, and she has luckily fallen in with the good guys- including Major Harker. Harker is dealing with his own set of baggage- including a divorce- and doesn’t take to Eve right away. But when a mission involving a mysterious technological gadget- a computer- is called for, Eve must go along for the ride. From there, Harker and Eve develop an awkward type of romance, since these two people are from very different worlds. But is Eve destined to stay in her new world? Or go back to her real life and leave Harker forever?

The UnTied Kingdom by Kate Johnson is a very unique and complex story. The synopsis was hard to decipher, and even harder to write one of my own for the above paragraph. If it confuses you, I say still go for it. I’m glad I did. I was first confused when reading the story, because I thought Eve actually went back in time. She was comparing the hospital and all the scenes to a war zone, so I figured she had stumbled back in the past, but that is not correct. This is where the title comes into play- it is the “untied kingdom” instead of the United Kingdom, nice play on words there. Though the year is still the same as the one Eve came from, she landed in a world that was without the British Empire, only had one World War, and more events that left England in a very different state that what we know now. It was thrilling to think about what the world would be like if certain events in the past never happened, or if the outcomes were different. Johnson clearly has a wild imagination, and to be able to capture such an interesting take on what the world could have been takes talent. Besides the plot being highly engaging and quite thrilling, the characters are also gems in their own ways. Besides Eve and Harker, readers will meet more soldiers in depth when the group goes on their mission, and each will shine. I had a lot of fun reading this novel, but I will warn you to read carefully. If you skip over a paragraph, you could become confused. There is a lot going on, a lot of characters, and an intricate plot. I would have given this book five stars, but the ending was a little disappointing. I won’t give any spoilers, but I just didn’t feel the ending was very believable- it seemed just a bit too easy for the situation that was happening. I know the whole book has a time traveler/unbelievable feel to it, but to wrap everything up so neatly and quickly was a little bit of a downfall for me. Other than that, great book and a definite recommendation.
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Apr 21, 2011 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A LASR 'BEST BOOK'!!

Broke, in debt to the tax man, reputation tarnished, Eve is positive things can’t get worse. She is earning money by doing a Where Are They Now? show. Unfortunately this means doing a lot of stupid things to raise the ratings.

Then a parachute jump goes wrong and Eve falls through a hole in time to a parallel universe. Confusion reigns when she discovers the world she knows no longer exists. This Earth has a few similarities, but also many things she doesn’t know. For instanc...more A LASR 'BEST BOOK'!!

Broke, in debt to the tax man, reputation tarnished, Eve is positive things can’t get worse. She is earning money by doing a Where Are They Now? show. Unfortunately this means doing a lot of stupid things to raise the ratings.

Then a parachute jump goes wrong and Eve falls through a hole in time to a parallel universe. Confusion reigns when she discovers the world she knows no longer exists. This Earth has a few similarities, but also many things she doesn’t know. For instance there was only one European war - the one with Hitler and England on the same side! The country Eve knew as England is now in the throes of a civil war between the Coalitionists and the Parliamentarians.

The good guys, the Parliamentarians, believe Eve is a spy. They discover the enemy is winning with the aid of computers. Eve knows how to use a computer so they drag her along when they set out to steal one. Major Will Harker gradually comes to the conclusion she is what she claims to be, a woman from an alternate Earth.

This book is a wonderful mix of time travel and parallel universe. The setting of Earth as it would have been without the British Empire, the First World War and various other important events has left England a backward, agricultural nation. Harker is a true blue honest Englishman, loyal to his country and the army. The more Eve gets to know him the more she is drawn to him. Harker fights to keep his emotions under control, afraid he might fall for Eve and then find she is a spy.

From the very first words Eve drew me into her life of numb misery. Harker’s arrival portrayed for me the scene and characters of the alternate world. There followed a ride of action, humor, agony, death and destruction. And of course love.

I had to follow closely to discover who loved who, not only in the main characters but also in the not so minor characters. Action flowed through the story, with intrigue, liveliness and an underlying humor even at times of great adversity.

The twist on the title became obvious. At first I took it to read The United Kingdom and couldn’t understand why the second word had been written Untied. This reason became clear as I delved into the exploits of Eve and Harker. By the time I finished I knew the title fitted the book perfectly, giving a realistic definition to the main plot.

It’s not often I give a “Best Book”, but The Untied Kingdom certainly deserves this rating. It’s a book that drew me in until I had to get to the end to find out what surprise the author had written to finish the book.

Well done Ms. Johnson, if this book is a sample of your writing, then I would love to read more.

originally posted at http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...(less)

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Feb 16, 2012 Chanpreet rated it 5 of 5 stars

Amazing! This book has been nominated for Contemporary Novel of the Year by the Romantic Novelist's Association for 2012. I can completely understand why after reading it. It definitely stands apart from its competitors, especially in regards to the plot.

And this book is fascinating. It's gripping and enthralling. I could not stop reading it until I finished it because I was so eager to find out what was happening next. Without giving too much away, Eve Carpenter, is a celebrity has been, who's...more

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Apr 28, 2011 Sharon Goodwin rated it 5 of 5 stars

There is everything you could possibly need in escaping real life in this story of love between Eve and Harker. There is, of course, the romance …… but there is also the creation of a parallel world – how intriguing that Eve jumps through to a different world! but not so different that the reader doesn’t have any recognition of that world.
The story takes us through Eve’s initial confusion and carries us along to acceptance and even to finding a part of herself again. Eve is a character that deve...more There is everything you could possibly need in escaping real life in this story of love between Eve and Harker. There is, of course, the romance …… but there is also the creation of a parallel world – how intriguing that Eve jumps through to a different world! but not so different that the reader doesn’t have any recognition of that world.
The story takes us through Eve’s initial confusion and carries us along to acceptance and even to finding a part of herself again. Eve is a character that develops throughout. When we meet her she is downtrodden and everything in her recent past has been against her. As the story moves us along, she gets stronger and sassier and there is real strength in who she is. Harker on the other hand stays solid and strong throughout – and is the stereotype of all that is good in a man that leads others – someone you would die for, remain loyal to. Harker’s battle-scarred body shows just how much he is willing to put himself on the line - for his beliefs and for the protection of those in his charge. I thought Kate Johnson creating conflict for Eve so that she would understand physical pain/part of Harker’s psyche was genius!
I enjoyed the ‘sparky’ relationship between them both and loved getting to know the other characters in Harker’s team.
The parallel world is how I imagine it may have been round about the time of WW1 with the ‘class’ differences in society, the resources available and how they travelled. Kate Johnson certainly paints a desolate third world for us. I loved the camaraderie, the espionage and the intensity of feelings.
I would love to see if Eve’s world would affect Harker and how. The Untied Kingdom is set in Harker’s world – maybe there’s another story in the making there …………
I was totally absorbed reading this story and just couldn’t put it down! If you think the paranormal genre isn’t for you I would encourage you to read ‘The Untied Kingdom’ – it’s a gentle introduction to get you out of your comfort reading zone.
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Apr 08, 2013 Marguerite Kaye rated it 4 of 5 stars

I don't think I'd have bought this if it hadn't been recommended, dystopian stories aren't really my kind of thing, but this one really worked. I loved the idea of an alternative or parallel world where Britain was totally different because it lacked an Empire. From this premise, history is completely subverted, the French rule the world, wars didn't happen or their outcomes are different, and more interestingly, how the British (in this case, the English, since the other parts of the UK exist i...more

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May 23, 2011 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: one-s-i-d-read-again, sci-fi-fantasy

I started reading this book after 9pm last night (a Sunday night) and finished it at 3.30 am on the Monday (workday!!) I couldn't put it down, it was that good! Even with books that I can't put down, I can usually save some of them till the next evening. But with this one, I had to read till the end. This is Kate Johnson's first adult novel. I just hope she writes more and fast!
I became so involved with the characters of Eve and Harker, as well as all the other characters - they all came so ali...more

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Feb 17, 2012 Harry Rutherford rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A romance novel about a woman who accidentally falls through a portal into a parallel reality where the UK is a poverty-ridden backwater in the middle of a civil war and France is the sole global superpower. Which for 72p seemed worth a punt.

Not entirely surprisingly, perhaps, it couldn't quite live up to the high concept; creating a convincing alternative history is an ambitious thing to try and it just doesn't work on various levels. The history she has come up with doesn't seem to make sense,...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Robin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-in-11, supernatural

I'm pretty sure I got this either free or very cheap on kindle. I was somewhat wary of it, having read three of the Sophie Whatshername books. I'm pretty sure I dropped the last one at Goodwill with the bookmark still in it.

So, it was with no small amount of apprehension that I read this one. After reading the back material, I discovered this was Ms Johnson's first published work. I would recommend she revisit this story and start again.

It was very good.

There was a girl, there was a reality show...more

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May 16, 2013 Olga Godim rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

Unexpectedly, I enjoyed this book. It could be billed as a time travel romance or a dystopian romance. Neither is my favorite genre, but the book engaged me on the visceral level. It held me under its spell and sent my nerves tingling, as I followed the heroine’s harrowing adventures.
Although the novel has many flaws, including mediocre language, interchangeable secondary characters, inadequate world building, and lapses in logic, the story was superb, filled with risks, betrayals, friendships,...more Unexpectedly, I enjoyed this book. It could be billed as a time travel romance or a dystopian romance. Neither is my favorite genre, but the book engaged me on the visceral level. It held me under its spell and sent my nerves tingling, as I followed the heroine’s harrowing adventures.
Although the novel has many flaws, including mediocre language, interchangeable secondary characters, inadequate world building, and lapses in logic, the story was superb, filled with risks, betrayals, friendships, and star-crossed lovers.
The protagonist Eve is a former British pop star, currently in trouble with the tax office. During a glider accident, she falls through a gap between worlds and ends up in a parallel universe. England is different here – a poverty-stricken third world country with no television and no computers. British Empire has never existed. America was settled by the Japanese. And nobody has heard of Shakespeare. To top it all off, there is a civil war going on, and the country is under military rule.
Of course, the military brass suspects Eve of being a spy: she was flying over the Thames after all. Or maybe she is plain mad: the way she spouts nonsense about internet, Beatles, iPods, or reality TV. Disoriented and utterly alone, Eve is sent to a prison/asylum. Falling into despair, she even begins to doubt herself, when one of the top army officers, Major Harker, is charged with a secret mission to capture a computer from an enemy stronghold.
Harker is a typical alpha-male hero, gruff, unkempt, and absolutely dependable. He has a reputation: he never leaves his men behind. For his mission, he picks Eve as one of his select group of soldiers. She might be a spy or crazy or both but at least she seems to know computers. None of the others has ever seen one.
The group’s journey across the hostile territory serves as the background for the unfolding love story between Harker and Eve. Both resist their burgeoning attraction as long as they can, while the danger builds and the tension mounts. Their personal clashes reflect the chasm between cultures. He is a career soldier, used to issuing and following orders. She is an artist, a product of democracy, where freedom of choices is valued above all else.
Their verbal spats were fun to read, while their sufferings and sacrifices made my heart beat furiously in sympathy. I wanted for Harker and Eve to find their happily-ever-after, but sadly, their love looked doomed from the start. Too many obstacles stood in their way: the oily, devious antagonist, the thick-headed, relentless general, even the lovers’ own frequent misunderstandings. And of course, their alternative realities.
The ending disappointed, although on the surface, it was a good one: Harker follows Eve into her world. But think about it. If Eve was distrusted and suspected in a computer-less England, what would’ve happened to Harker in the computerized England of today? Without a birth certificate or immigration papers, he wouldn’t have fared better in our world than Eve fared in his. Maybe worse. The joy of marriage and family would still be denied them. In any modern country, the lack of proper documents is a disaster practically impossible to overcome, unless one is willing to resort to criminal means. The author should’ve thought this through. How would Shakespeare handle such a situation, I wonder?
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May 27, 2013 Mina rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I have to start by saying, I could not put this book down. It keeps you intrigued right until the last page. The UnTied Kingdom is about two parallel worlds, both located in London, England. One is a modernized one where Eve Carpenter is an ex-popstar, and the other is one where the British Empire does not exist, and Britain is at war, trying to make sure that they do not get annexed to the French Empire. On a paragliding mis-adventure Eve accidentally falls through a portal and ends up in a ano...more

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Apr 25, 2011 Lucie Wheeler rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love, love, love, love, loved this book! If I could give it more stars, I would.

An absolutely fantastic read from the very first words. Basic story outline; Eve carpenter is an ex-popstar, and after taking part in a paragliding stunt for a TV show, she falls into the river Thames and subsequently finds herself in a parallel world. She is still in England, but England is a third world country. They are in the middle of a civil war (and losing, badly) and they have to ration food, tobacco, clot...more

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Dec 14, 2011 Lindsay (Little Reader Library) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Eve is a has-been celebrity who was in a girl band, now starring in a reality television show, when she falls through a hole or portal in the world, and when she comes to, she finds herself in an England very different from the one she left behind. Here, the country is under military control and is at war with Coalitionist fighters. Everyday things are no longer available – telephones are scarce and only owned by the very rich, hardly anything is known about computers, and even more frighteningl...more Eve is a has-been celebrity who was in a girl band, now starring in a reality television show, when she falls through a hole or portal in the world, and when she comes to, she finds herself in an England very different from the one she left behind. Here, the country is under military control and is at war with Coalitionist fighters. Everyday things are no longer available – telephones are scarce and only owned by the very rich, hardly anything is known about computers, and even more frighteningly for Eve, history as she knows it has been rewritten – there was no British Empire, and England is not a major power in the world, in fact it is a much more primitive place.

Eve is found by Major Will Harker, and ends up under his wing. Those around her initially view Eve with suspicion. What are all these things that she speaks of, which to them sound so peculiar, or are completely unknown? Is she a spy or an alien? How do they deal with this woman who is evidently so unfamiliar with their world, and how does she try and comprehend them when everything seems the same and yet totally different – is she mad, is this a parallel universe? Harker has his own problems, with Sholt, the man he despises, looking to get promoted, and now his boss wants him to run a mission to find a computer, using Eve to help him and his team, since she knows all about them, whereas to Harker and his crew, they are totally unknown.

This is an appealing romance novel with a twist – a clever concept that makes it an original, exciting, and dramatic read too! I love the premise behind this book and I like the clever title. It’s intriguing and if you can suspend disbelief, it really makes you think about how life could be very different. Eve makes for a clever, spirited heroine who takes a full part in the adventure, and we feel how unsettled she is to find that the London, the England she knows, its history and culture has all changed. Why doesn’t anyone recognize the songs she sings to them? Harker is a strong, formidable man, a loyal and proud leader, but he has a soft, sensitive side which is revealed to the reader, as, despite the internal conflicts regarding who she is and where she has come from, his romantic feelings for Eve develop. There is an interesting supporting cast of characters including Harker's ex-wife and her sister, who he takes under his wing. There is so much more to this read than romance, it is also very much an adventure story, a wartime drama, with a paranormal/fantasy element, all of which the author has cleverly combined. (less)

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Apr 05, 2011 Blodeuedd Finland rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: alternate-history, contemporary-romance

My Thoughts:

I do enjoy a good alternative world kind of book. It's so fun to see what change if that or this happened or didn't happen. And it this book is was downhill all the way for England.

England was still a Catholic country, and had never built a large empire. Instead this glory had gone to France. There had been no WWI but there had been a "WWII" and sadly England had chosen the wrong side there. But there are more changes, no one discovered America, and poor old England is a third world...more My Thoughts:

I do enjoy a good alternative world kind of book. It's so fun to see what change if that or this happened or didn't happen. And it this book is was downhill all the way for England.

England was still a Catholic country, and had never built a large empire. Instead this glory had gone to France. There had been no WWI but there had been a "WWII" and sadly England had chosen the wrong side there. But there are more changes, no one discovered America, and poor old England is a third world country where only the army or the very rich own a phone and no one has a computer. Civil War is also tearing it apart.

Now doesn't that sound fun, it sure does. The country is bleak and in ruins. People are soldiering on, and the author has certainly created an interesting alternative world. One I really enjoyed reading about. Into all this Eve suddenly appears, she is sure something else and I liked her. If I had to say anything negative it was that she sure knew her computers, ok that is not negative, I just mean was she actually that good? Cos I could certainly not open one and see that a screw is loose. Anyway, perhaps she was, good for her cos the plot does need to go on ;) Moving along...The lead male character is Major Harker, kind of a brooding soldier type and even when he is all commands and all that I still fell for him. Then we also have some minor characters that help to bring life to this book.

What do we have so far.. awesome world! Good characters, a thrilling plot about hunting down a computer and moving through a dangerous warzone (people will get shot), and a budding romance between a couple that keep arguing.

Conclusion:

I did not want to put it down because I needed to know what would happen. I would recommend this one too, oh this is hard, romance fans, suspense fans, steampunk fans (not the same but it works in a way), and all the rest of you too because it was a great book. And I sure hope the author writes something more like this book.

Rating:

Hard to put down!(less)

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Mar 26, 2013 Ita added it

Shelves: gave-up-did-not-finish, sf, audio

When the heroine is "forced" to wear a very tight skimpy outfit with no bra, I thought "uh oh, stupid ahead". Sadly, I was right. Hero and heroine are on a mission into enemy territory. They break into a school and, to provide a "credible reason" for being there when discovered they kiss passionately (yes, I break into a guarded school when I want to screw). And continue kissing after the guard leaves, instead of trying to find a place to hide, a place to escape, to develop a plan. No, they keep...more

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Apr 26, 2011 Dizzyc rated it 3 of 5 stars

Eve is parachuting over the Thames when she plunges into the deep water. She is rescued by the dashing hero Harker. This story is not all it seems. Eve does not realise that this is not the London she knows.
The people around her are suspicious of her.
The handsome Harker is given the task of keeping an eye on her and using her knowledge as a 'spy' to intercept a computer.

This was my first paranormal romance and I must say I did enjoy it. I was curious to see what the attraction of paranormal fic...more

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Jul 23, 2011 CoffeeTimeRomance andMore rated it 4 of 5 stars

Set in a world like our own in some ways and dramatically torn by war and devastation, it took this reader a moment to really understand the full depth of the challenges facing the heroine. She manages, despite all this, to acclimate and become a useful and demanding force in this new world. Likeable characters and lyrical writing round off this journey and make this a love story that left this reader pleased to have made the trip.

Virginia
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

http://coffeet ...more

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Dec 24, 2012 June rated it 4 of 5 stars

What a good book this is! A fun, easy read built around the inventive story of Eve, who drops through a hole in the sky and ends up in a very different version of modern England.
This is more a plot-driven book than a character-driven one, they don’t spend a lot of time in anguish and deep thoughts. Eve and Harker don’t go on a ‘journey’ while they wrestle with yes or no. But the plot gallops along, throwing up one obstacle after another.
Eve went up in my estimation with her behavior when the Coa...more

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Dec 02, 2011 Ellie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: wartime, otherworld

When Eve crashes her paraglider into the Thames she thinks she's about to die but is rescued by a mysterious stranger. Of course she's grateful but she starts to worry when she's taken into Tower Bridge and finds out it's being occupied by the military. Her knight in shining armour turns out to be Major Harker who thinks she's a spy and she soon realises this is not the London she knows. She must be in a coma and dreaming it all up...

As a reader we know straight away that Eve has somehow fallen...more

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Apr 17, 2011 Janelovering rated it 5 of 5 stars

On my TBR pile (artificially placed right near the top)!

Oh I loved this. I've never really read much alternate-history stuff, but I loved the whole 'alternate London' with the view of how it would be if Britain was a downtrodden, ally-less island, embargoed and blockaded to the hilt. Heroine Eve was a nice mixture of feisty and confused, Will Harker was a great hero, and all the other characters rang so true that I was desperately sad when some of them didn't make it. And it made me wonder what...more

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May 18, 2013 Alison rated it 4 of 5 stars

A light chick-lit novel with an intriguing premise. When it ended I wanted to know what happened next. - always a good sign.

The plot advances swiftly our heroine is parachuted into an alternate London by the end of the first chapter and then the story begins. I don't want give away the plot except to say that I was interested in each of the minor characters and would welcome reading books that told their stories.

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Mar 11, 2012 Marie-Nicole Ryan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: alt-history, alt-universe, romance

This book is extraordinary, especially for an Anglophile like me. It starts with a former star of an all-girl band who is taking part in a reality game show when she inexplicably ends up in an alternate England which is a poor third world country, outmanned and outgunned at war with the Empire of France. They think she's a spy.

The UnTied Kingdom is a country which exists in almost Middle Age living conditions. She meets a Major Harker and since this is very defnitely a romance, they begin to fal...more

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Jan 23, 2012 Philippa Sevigny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Not bad for a first book. There again, any author who reads one of my favourite authors - Bernard Cornwell - with several references back to the Sharpe novels; and who watches at least two of my favourite shows - Firefly and Stargate - has a bit of a head start. I do like alternate history type books, and this is one of the more interesting. I'd probably read a follow up set in the same world.

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May 09, 2011 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

Really fun book, which is odd, since it’s set in a war-torn world. I didn’t get a lot of the alternative universe England, so I imagine many jokes were lost on me. But I really loved the characters—the hero is fantastic. The secondary characters are vaguely familiar from war movies you've seen but they always have a twist to make them interesting.

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Jan 19, 2013 Jules rated it 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely brilliant. Britain in a parallel universe is a third world country at war with France and computers are a rarity. When Eve drops through a hole into this world, her knowledge of computers becomes a valuable commodity but also marks her as a potential spy.

Romance, adventure and intrigue ... this is definitely a five star read.

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Fantasy

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Science Fiction > Alternate History

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Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

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About Kate Johnson

Kate Johnson lives in rural Essex where she belongs to a pride of cats and puts up with a demon puppy. She did actually do most of her homework, but quickly so as to have more time to stare out of the window thinking about heroes. Stay in school, kids. Kate has done a variety of not-particularly great jobs, ranging from airport check-in to lab assistant, but much prefers writing for a living. For...more

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