Once in a Blue Moon

by Diane Darcy

Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be...


Successful businesswoman, Melissa Kendal, has it all. Two kids, a gorgeous, albeit difficult-to-manage husband, her dream house, and a thriving, exciting career as an L.A. fashion designer. So what if her home life is falling apart. It’s her career that’s important and makes her feel alive.

But when a science fair project goes awry, and a Blue Moon transports their family back in time to the Wild West, Melissa suddenly has to live a much simpler life. She doesn’t have a job, the kids can’t play Xbox, and the locals find her hilarious.

Meanwhile, her husband Richard is determined to keep their family together, no matter what the century. Can they find a lost treasure, solve a Civil War mystery, and save their family before the next blue moon?

They have three months to find out.

Genres: Time Travel, Historical, Fiction, Romance

Nook

First published September 9, 2011

About the author

Diane Darcy loves to read and write lighthearted and funny books. She’s a member of the Heart of the West, and RWA. She was a finalist for Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart® Award. She’s written romantic comedies in several different genres; some historical, some contemporary, all lighthearted and fun. She makes her home in Utah with her family and dogs, and is hard at work on her next book.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diane always writes a great story and characters. This was no exception, loved the fantasy side such good storytelling !

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just ok/pretty good for me. I am a more of a first love/finding love kind of reader, rather than a married couple rekindling their love. Besides the heroine was pretty much a jerk the majority of the novel. She did grow but it took the whole novel to do so. And it was hard to see her put her needs in front of her children. My life revolves around my kids...

So, just an ok one for me. I did like the ending.

Moral Note: Mild talk of prostitution, children out of wedlock, spousal abuse. Clean language.

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started this one I wasn’t sure what to think of it. I just didn’t care for our main character, Melissa. I guess we’re not supposed to like her, she isn’t very nice. She had a hard childhood and had built up some pretty big walls. When the book starts her career and money was the most important thing to her. More important than her loving husband and twin son and daughter. Her life was kind of split. On one hand she was doing awesome in her career and was successful, on the other hand her personal/family life sucked. The sad thing was, she didn’t even realize it. She didn’t realize how badly she treated everyone around her. Anyway, on the night of the blue moon (when there are two full moons in one month) she is in the backyard with her family and they are all transported back in time to the old west. While her husband and kids are excited about the opportunity to spend a few months in the past, Melissa is less than pleased. I never do this, but for the first half of the book I was almost wishing Melissa’s husband, Richard, would meet someone else. Luckily, Melissa starts having some pretty nice humbling moments and has to start facing reality and how she treats other people. By the end I did feel like she had grown a lot and was even a bit more likable. Her husband Richard was great, very supportive and had the whole unconditional love thing going for him. I still don’t see how he put up with her, she was just awful. He somehow was able to see through her prickly surface though to the nice person, deep down inside. I liked the story. Darcy is a fun author, kept me interested even when I didn’t care for the main character. I was expecting it to be a romance, since the other books I’ve read had all leaned that way, but this one was more of a focus on Melissa and the importance of family above all else. I liked the message and the supporting characters. Overall, a very enjoyable read!

Content: Clean.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to start out by saying i'm not usually one to read books that aren't YA but i absolutely LOVED this book! it was like nothing i've ever read before. It had me sitting on the edge of my seat wanting more.

The main character,Melissa, starts out as the meanest woman you would ever meet. The funniest part is she doesn't even realize how mean she is, she thinks she's helping people by toughening them up or something. She has a wonderful family and doesn't even give them her time of day ignoring there calls when shes at work, which she's at most of her time. She's in a failing marriage and her two kids don't want anything to do with her. Then they all get sucked back in time to the wild west and only have each other to depend on. It's hilarious to see how Melissa deels with being sent back in time with none of her usually modern conveniences and all the town's people who have different ways of life then her. I recomend this book to anyone who love a good romance or family building story.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Diane Darcy, and when I realized she had another book I hadn't read, I had to fix that oversight. Melissa is a fashion designer with her priorities all wrong. She's cutthroat at work, can cut people down with a word or a glance, and doesn't appreciate the wonderful family she has. She had a rough childhood, and attributes those problems to being poor, so she works hard to help provide for her family, missing the point that her twelve year old son and daughter just want to spend time with her!
One night, while the family is observing the blue moon for her son Jeremy's science project, they are transported back in time to 1887. Her husband Richard gets a job as a ranch hand, but Melissa is forced to help with menial labor on the ranch. It was painful to read about Melissa being so blind, high maintenance, and bratty, but I guess that was the point of the story. We got to see Melissa grow, and see her family put back together. There were some funny moments being in 1887, and I loved how the family teased each other.
A good read, but I enjoy her other works more (Steal His Heart, She's Just Right, The Princess Problem, and She Owns the Knight)

[Cheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melissa Kendal is a fashion designer with a husband and two kids. When her sons science project throws them back in time; Melissa has to learn to live in a small cabin and to cook and clean. But Melissa is use to living in a big house with a maid to clean up after her. I really hated Melissa at first, she was so obnoxious.It is amazing what going back in time actually teaches Melissa about the person she is and if she wants to change.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have mentioned before, I really like time travel. I bought this on the strength of having read and liked She Owns the Knight. However, In this story, I just could not like Melissa very much. Yes, I understand that initially it was essential for the reader to dislike Melissa but it really never did go away completely.

[Klissia]

A time travel that involves not only one person or a woman but a whole family and their inner problems of relationships. The "heroine" is the called a "difficult woman" but for me a interesting character. The writer arise questions about gender equality, home/work in a marriage,in future and past,not conclusive because there another subplots about affairs and family secrets and they need a happy ending...

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once in a Blue Moon

There are no blue moons but once in a while a second full moon happens in a month. Beware that if you know of this that you don’t be pulled a few hundred years into the past. Author Diane Darcy has a whole family taken to the past. They meet old relatives and learn some lessons.

[Debra Loe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Awesome! Amazing!

This book has everything you could want, and I could not put it down. It is refreshingly different from any other time travel I have read. I was on Tue edge of my seat, and there are many valuable lessons in this book. Fantastic again!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!

Although not a lot of romance in this story it takes you back to another time in history and the times when people worked hard and played hard. Family meant everything and the heroine learned how much she loved and was loved.

Recommend this book!

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this time travel story. As the story progressed, Melissa evolved from a hateful shrew, to a lovable character. There were many unique and likable characters. I’m going to miss them now the story is over.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I would have given it five but I was frustrated by Melissa and her mean ways. Thank goodness she grows up! This is a sweet clean romance and time travel story that leaves you grateful for modern conveniences!

[Lynnie Kingaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book.... Couldn't put it down your a very talented Autor Diane... Please keep blessing us with your stories....

[Paula Bothwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once in a Blue Moon - PG
Violence: a few easily thwarted attacks, a kidnapping
Language: no bad language
Sex: a couple of kisses

I love Diane Darcy! I think this is one of her best. I usually read romance books; this time travel book had a little bit of romance, but there was so much more. The focus on family was great.

[Teya Teya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not like the woman in this book. She was rude and horrible. I almost stopped reading, however, I knew to be a good book it would need to start out something like that, so I kept reading. It was as I thought. It ended up being a really good book.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this time travel book about a family that wasn't doing so well in the present until they came back from the past. It was a fun story and I enjoyed that everything worked out well for the characters.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book! Everyone should read it. It was entertaining and made you really think about what is important in life.

[Amy Barrow · Rating 1 out of 5]

Trite and formulaic....wouldn't recommend it.

[Anne Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming, fun time travel story

If you like your time travel light and fun this is your story. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Believable characters and great plot.