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Fortune's Children #7
A Husband in Time
The man had come to Jane Fortune from out of nowhere. Hecouldn't explain who he was, but Jane's young son could. Thelittle boy insisted Zach was his imaginary daddy come to life,the father he'd always wanted. And even Jane couldn't denythat he was oddly familiar—and the husband she'd alwaysdreamed of. Yet the clock was ticking on the family they'dformed, because Jane had discovered exactly who Zach was.And only a twist of time could keep him home.…
143 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 22, 1996
9 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Shayne
258 books2,577 followersI live in the teeny, tiny town of Taylor, NY, (Alliteration Alert!) though my mailing address is Cincinnatus, my telephone exchange is Truxton and I pay taxes and vote in Cuyler. All of these are at least in the same rural county in the southern hills of New York State; Cortland County. There are more cattle than people here. The nearest “big” cities are Syracuse and Binghamton and they are an hour away, in different directions, and not really all that big by most standards, though they both seem humongous to me. I look out my window to see rolling, green, thickly forested hills, wildflower laden meadows and wide open blue, blue skies. My road is barely paved. The nearest neighboring place is a 700 acre dairy farm.
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 13, 2018
"A Husband in Time" is the story of Jane and Zach.
When Jane fortune moves to isolated village with her son Cody, she never expects the house she rented to have an intriguingly haunting history- nor does she expect to see a time travelling stranger in her home!
Zach is a scientist who discovers a ribbon in time, a decides to go back to save his dying son from a deadly disease. Where he instead ends up is 100 years later, infront of a mother-child duo who are shocked to the core!
Two parents with kids who are at risk- and saving one might endanger other. Can these two fight against fate and find a solution?
This was an engaging read. When I found that this book had time travel, I was a wee bit skeptical- but Im glad I gave it a chance because it was good..in parts. I felt the author struggled a bit with balancing the romance vs responsibilities portion, because the scenes seemed rushed (well ultimately because the back story was quite tragic). Also the resolution was semi- satisfying because of the HEA aspect, but still leaves us with many questions.
A weird but good one time read.
Safe
3.5/5
P.S. It was asinine to see OW drama from a century ago. Also very unrealistic.
When Jane fortune moves to isolated village with her son Cody, she never expects the house she rented to have an intriguingly haunting history- nor does she expect to see a time travelling stranger in her home!
Zach is a scientist who discovers a ribbon in time, a decides to go back to save his dying son from a deadly disease. Where he instead ends up is 100 years later, infront of a mother-child duo who are shocked to the core!
Two parents with kids who are at risk- and saving one might endanger other. Can these two fight against fate and find a solution?
This was an engaging read. When I found that this book had time travel, I was a wee bit skeptical- but Im glad I gave it a chance because it was good..in parts. I felt the author struggled a bit with balancing the romance vs responsibilities portion, because the scenes seemed rushed (well ultimately because the back story was quite tragic). Also the resolution was semi- satisfying because of the HEA aspect, but still leaves us with many questions.
A weird but good one time read.
Safe
3.5/5
P.S. It was asinine to see OW drama from a century ago. Also very unrealistic.
March 20, 2010
Título em português: Um Amor Eterno
Tradução: Michele Gerhardt
Sinopse: Zach chega até Jane Fortune vindo sem saber de onde nem quem era. Mas Cody, o filho pequeno de Jane, logo resolve a situação: o escolhe para ser o pai que sempre desejou! Até mesmo Jane não podia negar que Zach era estranhamente familiar, além de ser o marido com quem sempre sonhou. Só que Jane descobre que somente uma grande mudança poderia manter aquela família unida para sempre...
Tradução: Michele Gerhardt
Sinopse: Zach chega até Jane Fortune vindo sem saber de onde nem quem era. Mas Cody, o filho pequeno de Jane, logo resolve a situação: o escolhe para ser o pai que sempre desejou! Até mesmo Jane não podia negar que Zach era estranhamente familiar, além de ser o marido com quem sempre sonhou. Só que Jane descobre que somente uma grande mudança poderia manter aquela família unida para sempre...
December 30, 2021
Great read
I enjoyed all the characters & their back stories. It was exciting to think about time travel & to learn about how things were a 100 years ago. It was great to read an occasional stories
Without mayhem & murder, not that I don’t also like murder mysteries. I will read this author again & hope you will also.
I enjoyed all the characters & their back stories. It was exciting to think about time travel & to learn about how things were a 100 years ago. It was great to read an occasional stories
Without mayhem & murder, not that I don’t also like murder mysteries. I will read this author again & hope you will also.
May 30, 2017
Time travel was a bit of a stretch for a Harlequin. That aside, the story was interesting.
December 17, 2023
Sétimo volume da séria Familia Fortune.
Romance com viagem no tempo... não é um grande problemas, mas a autora teve dificuldades para desenvolver a parte mais intimistas e o final ficou apressado.
Romance com viagem no tempo... não é um grande problemas, mas a autora teve dificuldades para desenvolver a parte mais intimistas e o final ficou apressado.
November 4, 2008
A HUSBAND IN TIME - G
Shayne, Maggie - standalone
The man had come to Jane Fortune from out of nowhere. He couldn't explain who he was, but Jane's young son could. The little boy insisted Zach was his imaginary daddy come to life, the father he'd always wanted. And even Jane couldn't deny that he was oddly familiar --- and the husband she'd always dreamed of. Yet the clock was ticking on the family they'd formed, because Jane had discovered exactly who Zach was. And only a twist of time could keep him home.
A woman with a son who is offered three wishes. It was delightful, entertaining and a good read to pass the time.
Shayne, Maggie - standalone
The man had come to Jane Fortune from out of nowhere. He couldn't explain who he was, but Jane's young son could. The little boy insisted Zach was his imaginary daddy come to life, the father he'd always wanted. And even Jane couldn't deny that he was oddly familiar --- and the husband she'd always dreamed of. Yet the clock was ticking on the family they'd formed, because Jane had discovered exactly who Zach was. And only a twist of time could keep him home.
A woman with a son who is offered three wishes. It was delightful, entertaining and a good read to pass the time.
January 2, 2014
:) fantastic... I loved the story and I loved the mystery and loved the twists......one reader said the time travel is a bit hard to digest...I would say all discoveries are made by dreaming and trying to make those come true. Who knows time travel might be a reality sometime down the line eh.....:)
Read
February 2, 2015This book is utterly ridiculous. The time travel completely distracted from the relationships between the characters. I'm reading the Fortunes series, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered with this book.
December 25, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyable
Distraught over his sons illness, Zach inadvertently travels forward in time trying to find a cure to save his son. With the help of Jane and her son Cody his dreams come to fruition, but unbeknownst to both of them they had a little help from the stars.
Distraught over his sons illness, Zach inadvertently travels forward in time trying to find a cure to save his son. With the help of Jane and her son Cody his dreams come to fruition, but unbeknownst to both of them they had a little help from the stars.
August 8, 2008
Very good! It has been a long time since I've read this book, but I remember this being very good. So if you are a fan of Ms. Shayne's this is a must read!
June 28, 2012
Good book. Maggie surprises me with all the genre's she writes with. The time travel was a little hard to swallow but I still liked it.
Read
July 25, 2014I wanted to love it, but unfortunately it just didn't work for me. No rating since this was a DNF.
January 23, 2016
A fun mindless read.
Want to read
July 14, 2016I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14107232
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14107232
April 20, 2017
Leído el 01/09/2010
UN EXTRAÑO EN SU VIDA - MAGGIE SHAYNE
Serie I Los Chicos Fortune 07
A husband in time
Un sexy desconocido apareció en su vida.
Aquel hombre había aparecido de repente en la vida de Jane y era incapaz de explicar quién era. Sin embargo, el hijo de Jane insistía en que Zach era el padre que tantas veces había imaginado y que se había hecho realidad. Lo cierto era que a Jane también le resultaba familiar... y que se parecía bastante al marido que ella siempre había deseado.
Pero no les quedaba mucho tiempo porque Jane no tardó en descubrir quién era Zach en realidad...
UN EXTRAÑO EN SU VIDA - MAGGIE SHAYNE
Serie I Los Chicos Fortune 07
A husband in time
Un sexy desconocido apareció en su vida.
Aquel hombre había aparecido de repente en la vida de Jane y era incapaz de explicar quién era. Sin embargo, el hijo de Jane insistía en que Zach era el padre que tantas veces había imaginado y que se había hecho realidad. Lo cierto era que a Jane también le resultaba familiar... y que se parecía bastante al marido que ella siempre había deseado.
Pero no les quedaba mucho tiempo porque Jane no tardó en descubrir quién era Zach en realidad...
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews