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The Graham Saga #1
A Rip in the Veil
A Rip in the Veil is the first book in The Graham Saga, Anna Belfrage's time slip series featuring time traveller Alexandra Lind and her seventeenth century husband, Matthew Graham.
On a muggy August day in 2002 Alexandra Lind is inexplicably thrown several centuries backwards in time to 1658. Life will never be the same for Alex. Alex lands at the feet of Matthew Graham - an escaped convict making his way home to Scotland. She gawks at this tall gaunt man with hazel eyes, dressed in what looks like rags. At first she thinks he might be some sort of hermit, an oddball, but she quickly realises that she is the odd one out, not him. Catapulted from a life of modern comfort, Alex grapples with her frightening new existence. Potential compensation for this brutal shift in fate comes in the shape of Matthew - a man she should never have met, not when she was born three centuries after him. But Matthew comes with baggage of his own, and at times it seems his past will see them killed. How will she ever get back? And more importantly, does she want to?
On a muggy August day in 2002 Alexandra Lind is inexplicably thrown several centuries backwards in time to 1658. Life will never be the same for Alex. Alex lands at the feet of Matthew Graham - an escaped convict making his way home to Scotland. She gawks at this tall gaunt man with hazel eyes, dressed in what looks like rags. At first she thinks he might be some sort of hermit, an oddball, but she quickly realises that she is the odd one out, not him. Catapulted from a life of modern comfort, Alex grapples with her frightening new existence. Potential compensation for this brutal shift in fate comes in the shape of Matthew - a man she should never have met, not when she was born three centuries after him. But Matthew comes with baggage of his own, and at times it seems his past will see them killed. How will she ever get back? And more importantly, does she want to?
378 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
640 people are currently reading
1899 people want to read
About the author
Anna Belfrage
37 books289 followersAnna was raised abroad, on a pungent mix of Latin American culture, English history and Swedish traditions. As a result she's multilingual and most of her reading is historical- both non-fiction and fiction. Possessed of a lively imagination, she has drawers full of potential stories, all of them set in the past. She was always going to be a writer - or a historian, preferably both. Ideally, Anna aspired to becoming a pioneer time traveller, but science has as yet not advanced to the point of making that possible. Instead she ended up with a degree in Business and Finance, with very little time to spare for her most favourite pursuit. Still, one does as one must, and in between juggling a challenging career Anna raised her four children on a potent combination of invented stories, historical debates and masses of good food and homemade cakes. They seem to thrive…
For years she combined a challenging career with four children and the odd snatched moment of writing. Nowadays Anna spends most of her spare time at her writing desk. The children are half grown, the house is at times eerily silent and she slips away into her imaginary world, with her imaginary characters. Every now and then the one and only man in her life pops his head in to ensure she's still there.
For additional information regarding Anna, her characters, extra scenes, and teasers for her next books, have a look at Anna's website at: www.annabelfrage.com
For years she combined a challenging career with four children and the odd snatched moment of writing. Nowadays Anna spends most of her spare time at her writing desk. The children are half grown, the house is at times eerily silent and she slips away into her imaginary world, with her imaginary characters. Every now and then the one and only man in her life pops his head in to ensure she's still there.
For additional information regarding Anna, her characters, extra scenes, and teasers for her next books, have a look at Anna's website at: www.annabelfrage.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
August 31, 2016
I think that the idea of time travel is one of the most interesting ideas when it comes to books. I mean going back in time and having to experience a time you only have read about in history books are tantalizing. And, Anna Belfrage has with A Rip in the Veil portrait it very well. So well that I'm not sure I would like to travel back in time, even if that means meeting a hot Scotsman. It's a very rough time and let's face it, women in the seventeenth century are nothing more than a property of either their father or their husband. Alex Lind was lucky meeting Matthew Graham since he isn't that bad, but still, he is a seventeenth-century man with the opinions from that time. And Alex, well she isn't really used to the life at that time. So, there are some clashes between them.
What really fascinated me with this book was actually Alex mother Mercedes and her story. I was curious to how she came to disappear some years before Alex herself disappeared and then I learned the truth about how and why and I was engrossed. I'm of the opinion that the less you know about a story the better so I will just leave it there. I just want to say that the twist to the story, the revelation about Mercedes, well I loved that.
The whole time travel thing, how Alex could travel back in time is connected to Mercedes so I can't say too much about that either. However, I liked how it was done, it was a great way of explaining how someone could travel back in time.
As I wrote before this book got me thinking that travel back in time is perhaps not the best idea. Not even meeting a Scotsman that looks like David Tennant or Douglas Henshall. Alex may find herself drawn to Matthew, but the loss of her "future" family is hard on her and having to adjust to her new life is not easy. Personally, the thing that made me shiver with horror was the fact how few books you could read if you even could read.
A Rip in the Veil is the first in The Graham Saga and I quite enjoyed reading the book. I especially liked that Belfrage didn't try to glamorize the past. Matthew and Alex had to tackle some serious problem and life was not always that great...
Read this review and others on A Bookaholic Swede
What really fascinated me with this book was actually Alex mother Mercedes and her story. I was curious to how she came to disappear some years before Alex herself disappeared and then I learned the truth about how and why and I was engrossed. I'm of the opinion that the less you know about a story the better so I will just leave it there. I just want to say that the twist to the story, the revelation about Mercedes, well I loved that.
The whole time travel thing, how Alex could travel back in time is connected to Mercedes so I can't say too much about that either. However, I liked how it was done, it was a great way of explaining how someone could travel back in time.
As I wrote before this book got me thinking that travel back in time is perhaps not the best idea. Not even meeting a Scotsman that looks like David Tennant or Douglas Henshall. Alex may find herself drawn to Matthew, but the loss of her "future" family is hard on her and having to adjust to her new life is not easy. Personally, the thing that made me shiver with horror was the fact how few books you could read if you even could read.
A Rip in the Veil is the first in The Graham Saga and I quite enjoyed reading the book. I especially liked that Belfrage didn't try to glamorize the past. Matthew and Alex had to tackle some serious problem and life was not always that great...
Read this review and others on A Bookaholic Swede
February 24, 2014
A Rip in the Veil is the first in a series about Alexandra Lind, a modern woman who inadvertently falls through time, landing in 17th century Scotland. Given the setting and the element of time travel, this novel begs comparison to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, but unfortunately this book doesn't have the strength of characterization or attention to historical detail. The writing is a little clunky, parts were overwritten (e.g., "...the moon that hung like a golden cheese above the horizon") while other parts were summarized without imagery (e.g., "...they talked about anything and everything"). The dialogue lacks authenticity with historic characters sounding much like the modern character, except for the occasional dreaded "mayhap." The relationship between the two main characters barrels along, but their connection throughout the novel seemed forced, and their first sexual encounter was creepy instead of tender and romantic. Also, the whole idea that Matthew wouldn't immediately recognize the striking resemblance between Alex and his ex-wife was ridiculous. I dislike writing negative reviews, but I did order this book for my library, so maybe it will find a reader who appreciates it more than I did.
May 16, 2024
What is it about a time traveling story that hooks me? I’ve always been intrigued by earlier times, people and places so I find myself drawn to these types of books. What was life really like seen thru a modern chick’s viewpoint?
If Outlander is the tops in the genre, closely followed by Susanna Kearsley’s novels, then I’d add this series a bit further down. Not badly written but definitely room to improve. (What can I say, Diana Gabaldon is a tough act to follow for any author!)
I like the modern heroine and I like her 17th century Scotsman but some of the initial storyline was contrived. Alex’s parents play an interesting role in Alex landing a few hundred years back in time. I love the added magical elements— something new.
There are some wonderful characters in 17th century Scotland and I look forward to learning more.
The biggest drawback is dialogue— clunky in the modern scenes and downright anachronistic in the 17th century. It takes away from the story’s flow— Matthew alternates between a 17th century he-man to a man who seems to accept the girl who fell from the sky one minute and condemn her heathen ways the next. I must admit— those character inconsistencies pulled my attention during the book’s weaker moments.
And don’t get me started on the bad guys. I love that they exist but their range is so limited. Can you say abrupt endings?
Alex and Mathew are clearly just getting started— and their adventures in this first entry in the Graham series, which range from romantic to suspenseful, kept me turning pages. They intrigue me, those crazy paintings created by Mercedes intrigue me and they clearly have unfinished business. Left me wanting more despite some freshman bumps.
Will definitely check out the next book... but not until after the new season of Outlander. This seems a series best saved for Droughtlander!!
(Reviewed 10/26/16)
If Outlander is the tops in the genre, closely followed by Susanna Kearsley’s novels, then I’d add this series a bit further down. Not badly written but definitely room to improve. (What can I say, Diana Gabaldon is a tough act to follow for any author!)
I like the modern heroine and I like her 17th century Scotsman but some of the initial storyline was contrived. Alex’s parents play an interesting role in Alex landing a few hundred years back in time. I love the added magical elements— something new.
There are some wonderful characters in 17th century Scotland and I look forward to learning more.
The biggest drawback is dialogue— clunky in the modern scenes and downright anachronistic in the 17th century. It takes away from the story’s flow— Matthew alternates between a 17th century he-man to a man who seems to accept the girl who fell from the sky one minute and condemn her heathen ways the next. I must admit— those character inconsistencies pulled my attention during the book’s weaker moments.
And don’t get me started on the bad guys. I love that they exist but their range is so limited. Can you say abrupt endings?
Alex and Mathew are clearly just getting started— and their adventures in this first entry in the Graham series, which range from romantic to suspenseful, kept me turning pages. They intrigue me, those crazy paintings created by Mercedes intrigue me and they clearly have unfinished business. Left me wanting more despite some freshman bumps.
Will definitely check out the next book... but not until after the new season of Outlander. This seems a series best saved for Droughtlander!!
(Reviewed 10/26/16)
October 23, 2014
Total ripoff of Outlander, so poorly done that it doesn't warrant the paper it was printed on.. Gabaldon should seriously sue this author for plagiarism except that it's so badly done that It's insulting. Every single plot device and twist is a poor mimic of a better saga. The time travel method is interesting. The inclusion of future/past story lines is a good choice. But that's as far as my praise can go. I rarely despise a hero. You are not supposed to. But Matthew is -- hands-down -- one of the most self-centered, chauvinistic, one-dimensional heroes ever. If Jamie is the man's man in Gabaldon's books, then Matthew is the toddler's toddler. His temper tantrums, sulking, and inability to understand the difficulties his 21st century bride endures made me grimace and nearly throw the book across the room. And while Alexandra has some redeeming qualities, she is not the most memorable or likable heroines. The moment that this book went from three stars to one though was Matthew's response to Alexandra's horrific beating and near rape by his nemesis -- he shriveled up into a peanut-sized wimp that couldn't bear to look upon his bride. And we can't forget that he is to blame for this attack ... Because he was running off sulking. Seriously? Who wants a man like that? A love that is so conditional? So bereft of deep, emotional connection that it can't survive a hurdle. Complete, utter waste of my time. I'm dumber now!
May 29, 2014
I suppose I should start this review with a disclaimer as I have a bit of history with the author. You see, I coordinated the blog tours for books two through six of the series with HF Virtual Book Tours. I have a policy in place that I don’t review books that I’ve worked on as it could be construed as a conflict of interest. However, since I didn’t technically coordinate the tour for the first book and I was dying to see what all the rave reviews were about, so I went for it. And I’m darn glad I did because it was so much fun!
Time slips are fast becoming one of my new favorite types of reads, and Anna Belfrage really knows how to write ‘em! The oh-so modern Alex is thrust into the past via a “rip in the veil” of time, landing herself back in 1658 Scotland and smack dab into Matthew, an escaped prisoner on the run. The first encounter between the two makes for a very interesting and amusing scene as you can imagine, as they both try to figure the other one out!
Alex and Mattew band together and ultimately fall in love. Their chemistry is very palpable to the reader and both characters are extremely likable. I felt very connected to Alex; she’s feisty and passionate and doesn’t know when to keep quiet. I can totally relate to that! Not only are the characters fleshed out well, but the dialogue and atmosphere was spot on. Belfrage is an extremely talented writer, something that I had seen examples of in the phenomenal guest posts she wrote for her blog tours, but now that I see it fully I appreciate it all that much more.
So, if you’re like me and enjoy a good ole’ time slip novel with a touch of humor and romance with a hunky front man and sassy leading lady, A Rip in the Veil is the book for you! And if you like it (which I know you will) there are seven more books in the series left to devour, so sit back and escape reality for a while. You won’t be sorry!
Time slips are fast becoming one of my new favorite types of reads, and Anna Belfrage really knows how to write ‘em! The oh-so modern Alex is thrust into the past via a “rip in the veil” of time, landing herself back in 1658 Scotland and smack dab into Matthew, an escaped prisoner on the run. The first encounter between the two makes for a very interesting and amusing scene as you can imagine, as they both try to figure the other one out!
Alex and Mattew band together and ultimately fall in love. Their chemistry is very palpable to the reader and both characters are extremely likable. I felt very connected to Alex; she’s feisty and passionate and doesn’t know when to keep quiet. I can totally relate to that! Not only are the characters fleshed out well, but the dialogue and atmosphere was spot on. Belfrage is an extremely talented writer, something that I had seen examples of in the phenomenal guest posts she wrote for her blog tours, but now that I see it fully I appreciate it all that much more.
So, if you’re like me and enjoy a good ole’ time slip novel with a touch of humor and romance with a hunky front man and sassy leading lady, A Rip in the Veil is the book for you! And if you like it (which I know you will) there are seven more books in the series left to devour, so sit back and escape reality for a while. You won’t be sorry!
October 27, 2016
This wonderful book by Ms Belfrage is the first time travel book I've read, I do believe and I was unsure at first as this genre has never really interested me, and I wondered what it would have to offer someone like me, who prefers her history as it was, and not tampered with by people falling through Time or arriving in another era in time travelling machine, or falling through a hole in the sky. Now, I feel glad to have read this and have experienced new horizons of places, people and events in time. Before I picked up this book, I knew very little about what was going on in Scotland at the time of Cromwell's takeover of parliament. I've always been confused by the English Civil War in England let alone what Scotland had to do with it. Now, the story has more to do with the relationship between a 21stc woman and a 17thc man than it has to do with Cromwell and the English Civil War, but at least I now have an idea what the political situation was in Scotland and how everything that went on in England affected the Scottish situation and their part in it all. For me this is a bonus, because I love history, and I love to learn.
In A Rip in the Veil, Alex Lind, a 21stc woman falls, literally, through a 'time node' and lands back in time, the 17thc in fact. A gorgeous hunk of a man, Matthew Graham, a fugitive from the law, finds her injured and knocked out and wearing strange clothes. Matthew is the first person Alex sees as she wakes up and her first impression is that he must be doing some sort of reenactment or something, wearing those strange old fashioned clothes. Matthew, on the other hand is just as confused to see a woman wearing strange blue breeches, and with short hair.
As Alex and Matthew get used to each other, they soon find out that they are both in danger, he because he is on the run from the law, and she because she is a vulnerable woman, wearing strange clothes. Eventually they both find out that Alex has fallen back into time, and this just complicates things even more.
Ms Belfrage's interesting style of showing one main character's point of view and then swapping to the other's gives a great perspective from both sides of the coin. It is fascinating to compare oneself with Alex as she behaves as a 21stc woman in a 17thc world, and wondering what oneself would do in the situations she finds herself. And I loved the way that Matthew copes when his misogynistic ideas go head to head with Alex' modern mind and behaviour. It was almost like a psychological study as we get to see how Matthew becomes less and less like a chauvinistic 17thc man and more like 'new man', in this strange relationship between these two lovers who come from different worlds. Equally, we see the vulnerable Alex casting off her independent woman thing to give in to her husbands 17thc demands in times when she is at her most distressed. It really does give the reader food for thought and it made me value what I have in this modern world.
Along the way, the road to happiness is not easy, there are many fallings out and many fallings back in and many romantic interludes which, well lets face it, its a Romance isn't it? And Ms Belfgrage does love scenes like a true romantic.
But its not all love and sex in this book, there are bloody fights of sibling rivalry and close shaves when Alex and Matthew both get on the wrong side of the law, and there are some hairy scenes that will have you hanging on to your armchair, or in my case my pillow. Well written, beautifully at times, A Rip in the Veil is the first in a series I just know I am going to enjoy.
In A Rip in the Veil, Alex Lind, a 21stc woman falls, literally, through a 'time node' and lands back in time, the 17thc in fact. A gorgeous hunk of a man, Matthew Graham, a fugitive from the law, finds her injured and knocked out and wearing strange clothes. Matthew is the first person Alex sees as she wakes up and her first impression is that he must be doing some sort of reenactment or something, wearing those strange old fashioned clothes. Matthew, on the other hand is just as confused to see a woman wearing strange blue breeches, and with short hair.
As Alex and Matthew get used to each other, they soon find out that they are both in danger, he because he is on the run from the law, and she because she is a vulnerable woman, wearing strange clothes. Eventually they both find out that Alex has fallen back into time, and this just complicates things even more.
Ms Belfrage's interesting style of showing one main character's point of view and then swapping to the other's gives a great perspective from both sides of the coin. It is fascinating to compare oneself with Alex as she behaves as a 21stc woman in a 17thc world, and wondering what oneself would do in the situations she finds herself. And I loved the way that Matthew copes when his misogynistic ideas go head to head with Alex' modern mind and behaviour. It was almost like a psychological study as we get to see how Matthew becomes less and less like a chauvinistic 17thc man and more like 'new man', in this strange relationship between these two lovers who come from different worlds. Equally, we see the vulnerable Alex casting off her independent woman thing to give in to her husbands 17thc demands in times when she is at her most distressed. It really does give the reader food for thought and it made me value what I have in this modern world.
Along the way, the road to happiness is not easy, there are many fallings out and many fallings back in and many romantic interludes which, well lets face it, its a Romance isn't it? And Ms Belfgrage does love scenes like a true romantic.
But its not all love and sex in this book, there are bloody fights of sibling rivalry and close shaves when Alex and Matthew both get on the wrong side of the law, and there are some hairy scenes that will have you hanging on to your armchair, or in my case my pillow. Well written, beautifully at times, A Rip in the Veil is the first in a series I just know I am going to enjoy.
November 18, 2016
One of the worst books I have ever read. I have to admit I skim read quite a bit of it in awful fascination. Plot - barmy and disorganised. Mad as a box of frogs. Characters - barmy and wooden. Dialogue - pointless. History - ffs, have you no idea? It seems this is the first of a series? Someone should tell the author that it is customary to end the story in this book in this book and not go out on a cliffhanger. I am not sure she had ever read a novel; it seemed more likely that she was used to mini-series'. Hum. Perhaps the whole idea was to have it become a mini-series? Usually books that become a mini-series were worth reading in the first place. Just a thought.
February 8, 2016
Wow
It's hard to put into words why I disliked this book so much. It was just terrible! Alex is kind of an idiot and Matthew is pretty much a cave man. This book just felt shallow and unoriginal. It definitely needed more character development. I think the biggest problem was that I just didn't LIKE the main characters at all. Sad I spent money on this one. There are five more??? Yikes
It's hard to put into words why I disliked this book so much. It was just terrible! Alex is kind of an idiot and Matthew is pretty much a cave man. This book just felt shallow and unoriginal. It definitely needed more character development. I think the biggest problem was that I just didn't LIKE the main characters at all. Sad I spent money on this one. There are five more??? Yikes
April 18, 2022
I only read to page 8 and saw foul language. I am not entirely against this except for “F” bombs and “GD”. As soon as I see these I quit reading. The use of “GD” on page 8 did not bode well for the rest of the book. This type language is not necessary for a good story. I am sad that what might have been a very enjoyable book was spoiled like this. Won’t waste my time on any of her other books either.
September 17, 2013
Fans of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series will find this story familiar. Very familiar. Written fairly well the story is interesting, but it's not original. I found myself comparing the two writers constantly and Ms. Belfrage comes up short.
November 28, 2015
I am a big fan of time travel novels and always very interested in the travel mechanism chosen by the author, which, I feel, is crucial to my suspension of disbelief. In Anna Befrage’s very entertaining A Rip in the Veil, the first book of the Graham Saga, the transport method is a storm that rips the earth apart and literally drags victims into another time. It’s beautifully done and provides the reader with a gut-wrenching experience as we are dragged along, battered and bruised, with the main character, Alex Lind, on her unexpected and reluctant journey to 17th century Scotland.
There is more to Alex than meets the eye. She is very much a 21st century woman, but there are dark family secrets haunting her – a very interesting plot development - as she comes to terms with her strange new world and Matthew Graham, the man she meets – a man very much of his time - who also has more than his fair share of family problems. Together they have many dangerous obstacles to overcome, not least of which is when Alex’s complicated past (future?) threatens to catch up with her.
The background of the story is very interesting, set during the last days of Oliver Cromwell’s ‘rule,’ a time of great social and political upheaval. This is handled very nicely by the author in an informative, but never intrusive, way. The characters are well drawn and believable and the writing is uniformly excellent, providing a realistic glimpse of a time I knew little about. I also felt the romance was handled nicely and the emotional reactions of the characters to their ever-changing circumstances rang true.
I have no hesitation in recommending A Rip in the Veil. It is a very enjoyable and rewarding novel and I’m very much looking forward to the next instalment.
There is more to Alex than meets the eye. She is very much a 21st century woman, but there are dark family secrets haunting her – a very interesting plot development - as she comes to terms with her strange new world and Matthew Graham, the man she meets – a man very much of his time - who also has more than his fair share of family problems. Together they have many dangerous obstacles to overcome, not least of which is when Alex’s complicated past (future?) threatens to catch up with her.
The background of the story is very interesting, set during the last days of Oliver Cromwell’s ‘rule,’ a time of great social and political upheaval. This is handled very nicely by the author in an informative, but never intrusive, way. The characters are well drawn and believable and the writing is uniformly excellent, providing a realistic glimpse of a time I knew little about. I also felt the romance was handled nicely and the emotional reactions of the characters to their ever-changing circumstances rang true.
I have no hesitation in recommending A Rip in the Veil. It is a very enjoyable and rewarding novel and I’m very much looking forward to the next instalment.
March 22, 2016
Hooked from page one. There’s so much I love in this book that once I got started, I couldn’t stop and read it in a few days: Scotland in the 17th century, at the time of the Civil War, romance and time travel, fantasy and magic, adventure and irony. A Rip in the Veil is book one in Anna Belfrage’s “The Graham Saga” and is a thrilling ride between two different time lines, through the adventurous lives of Alexandra Lind, a 21st century computer engineer still coping with a trauma from her past, and Matthew Graham, a runaway 17th century convict on his way home to Scotland.
Read my complete review at http://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspo...
Read my complete review at http://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspo...
March 17, 2021
I love a good time travel story. For the most part, this was a very good one! I do have a few little niggles about the plotting, especially in the last part of the book, and too many things left unresolved to be dealt with in further books. I'm definitely not a fan of the incomplete story first book trend all too popular with modern authors.
The time travel aspect was excellent. I liked how it occurred and the explanation behind it, fantastic though it might be.
Alexandra Lind is a modern woman with a few family oddities. Her mother tends to disappear for long periods of time, but she has a close relationship with her father and a stable relationship with her fiancé who loves her son as if he were his own. Her son, Isaac, is the result of severe abuse and rape. Alex tries to love him but sees his father in his face and a constant reminder of her ordeal.
A rip in the veil sends her through time, back to the 1600s during the English Civil War. She meets a fugitive and travels with him to his home in Scotland. The adventure of their travels while avoiding soldiers makes good reading as does much of the story after they arrive, but some parts of the plot start to fit together awkwardly and in the last quarter of the book, it feels like some important information is left out altogether.
One of the bad guys (we get a few) comes to an overly convenient end when last we heard he had run for the hills after one of his plots went wrong and some of the responses to a jealous brother's attacks on Alex don't feel realistic. There are also some inconsistencies in Alex's ability to defend herself and her response to the misogynistic attitudes of a man towards his wife, considering her traumatic background.
Still, it was an enjoyable read, though I didn't finish the sample of the next book and won't be continuing the series.
The time travel aspect was excellent. I liked how it occurred and the explanation behind it, fantastic though it might be.
Alexandra Lind is a modern woman with a few family oddities. Her mother tends to disappear for long periods of time, but she has a close relationship with her father and a stable relationship with her fiancé who loves her son as if he were his own. Her son, Isaac, is the result of severe abuse and rape. Alex tries to love him but sees his father in his face and a constant reminder of her ordeal.
A rip in the veil sends her through time, back to the 1600s during the English Civil War. She meets a fugitive and travels with him to his home in Scotland. The adventure of their travels while avoiding soldiers makes good reading as does much of the story after they arrive, but some parts of the plot start to fit together awkwardly and in the last quarter of the book, it feels like some important information is left out altogether.
One of the bad guys (we get a few) comes to an overly convenient end when last we heard he had run for the hills after one of his plots went wrong and some of the responses to a jealous brother's attacks on Alex don't feel realistic. There are also some inconsistencies in Alex's ability to defend herself and her response to the misogynistic attitudes of a man towards his wife, considering her traumatic background.
Still, it was an enjoyable read, though I didn't finish the sample of the next book and won't be continuing the series.
August 2, 2015
This book was rather uneven for me. I really liked the first half, but the second half fell apart a bit for me.
The first half:
I thought it was interesting how they split the perspective between Alex (sent back to the 17th century) and her father/finance (remaining in the present). In time traveling books I've never seen a focus on the people left behind before, which I wasn't sure how I liked, but it was definitely necessary to set up some other stuff.
I wasn't sure how I felt about the witchy-y part, but it was done well.
I thought Alex and Matthew's relationship progressed well and I liked both of them.
Then the second half:
For one thing Alex and Matthew's relationship became less black and white once they returned to his home married. Which I don't like. Matthew's first wife was still around and he seemed conflicted about her at times, which effected his relationship with Alex.
But my bigger issue was with Alex's mentality. I understand that as a 17th century man, Matthew's attitudes about women and men are going to be different than mine today. I might not like it, but I get it. What I don't accept so easily is that Alex, having been raised in the 21st century, seemed to accept this attitude pretty quickly. I think a modern woman would have bridled or been a little resentful at least at the constraints a 17th century woman operated under. But other than a little loneliness/homesickness, she accepted it. I don't. And she even accepted it from Matthew, which for me was unforgivable.
Overall the book left me sad at time and I won't be continuing with the series.
The first half:
I thought it was interesting how they split the perspective between Alex (sent back to the 17th century) and her father/finance (remaining in the present). In time traveling books I've never seen a focus on the people left behind before, which I wasn't sure how I liked, but it was definitely necessary to set up some other stuff.
I wasn't sure how I felt about the witchy-y part, but it was done well.
I thought Alex and Matthew's relationship progressed well and I liked both of them.
Then the second half:
For one thing Alex and Matthew's relationship became less black and white once they returned to his home married. Which I don't like. Matthew's first wife was still around and he seemed conflicted about her at times, which effected his relationship with Alex.
But my bigger issue was with Alex's mentality. I understand that as a 17th century man, Matthew's attitudes about women and men are going to be different than mine today. I might not like it, but I get it. What I don't accept so easily is that Alex, having been raised in the 21st century, seemed to accept this attitude pretty quickly. I think a modern woman would have bridled or been a little resentful at least at the constraints a 17th century woman operated under. But other than a little loneliness/homesickness, she accepted it. I don't. And she even accepted it from Matthew, which for me was unforgivable.
Overall the book left me sad at time and I won't be continuing with the series.
August 23, 2013
3,5 stars
Alex Lind’s car breaks down in the middle of nowhere in Scotland on her way to a business meeting. While trying to figure out what’s wrong with the car, a terrible storm springs to life, she’s struck by a lightning and pulled through a tunnel in the earth – and she wakes up in 17th century Scotland. There she meets Matthew Graham who is an escaped convict and he takes care of Alex.
Back in the present day, Alex’s family is trying to figure out what happened to her and they’re worried because she’s disappeared before which resulted in her son. They learn something new about Alex’s mother who also disappeared years ago.
This was fun to read with enough action. It’s not just about time traveling and I liked the relationship between Alex and Graham. I thought the reactions were believable and Alex didn’t spend the whole book being in shock about the difference.
It was interesting to read the meeting between Alex and Matthew’s ex-wife. I could understand Alex’s reaction. Sometimes men are idiots no matter the time period…
I had few things that bothered me one was that the first sex scene felt little rushed and little too soon. The second was how easily she was starting to forget her son. Apparently she hadn’t really loved him from the start anyway but still.
And how I wanted to punch Luke! What an idiot! I’m curious to see how that matter will be settled.
Alex Lind’s car breaks down in the middle of nowhere in Scotland on her way to a business meeting. While trying to figure out what’s wrong with the car, a terrible storm springs to life, she’s struck by a lightning and pulled through a tunnel in the earth – and she wakes up in 17th century Scotland. There she meets Matthew Graham who is an escaped convict and he takes care of Alex.
Back in the present day, Alex’s family is trying to figure out what happened to her and they’re worried because she’s disappeared before which resulted in her son. They learn something new about Alex’s mother who also disappeared years ago.
This was fun to read with enough action. It’s not just about time traveling and I liked the relationship between Alex and Graham. I thought the reactions were believable and Alex didn’t spend the whole book being in shock about the difference.
It was interesting to read the meeting between Alex and Matthew’s ex-wife. I could understand Alex’s reaction. Sometimes men are idiots no matter the time period…
I had few things that bothered me one was that the first sex scene felt little rushed and little too soon. The second was how easily she was starting to forget her son. Apparently she hadn’t really loved him from the start anyway but still.
And how I wanted to punch Luke! What an idiot! I’m curious to see how that matter will be settled.
November 15, 2013
I warmed to the quick-witted Alex, some of her dialogue made me smile, and I sympathised with how she found herself stranded with no skills appropriate to her new environment.
The writing good and snappy, with original and intelligent dialogue. Historical detail was deftly placed and the characters lived naturally within their worlds and times. A good range of secondary characters made the story more complex and layered - another way of taking this book out of the ordinary. The villains are well-drawn as are Alex's parents; contemporaries in the modern age, John and Diane, less so.
The plot had plenty of twists and turns, but it flows very well and I liked the significance of the paintings. As there are other books in the series, I have to hope that Alex an Matthew survive for a while to come.
The writing good and snappy, with original and intelligent dialogue. Historical detail was deftly placed and the characters lived naturally within their worlds and times. A good range of secondary characters made the story more complex and layered - another way of taking this book out of the ordinary. The villains are well-drawn as are Alex's parents; contemporaries in the modern age, John and Diane, less so.
The plot had plenty of twists and turns, but it flows very well and I liked the significance of the paintings. As there are other books in the series, I have to hope that Alex an Matthew survive for a while to come.
March 14, 2014
A bit similar to Diane Gabaldon. It was ok but not good enough for me to read the rest of this series.
February 17, 2023
I love time travel stories and of late I've been lucky enough to come across some good, really good authors. Anna Belfrage is one of them.
Yes, her story 'A Rip In The Veil' does bear a superficial resemblance to Outlander. But is this is the story that came to her then so be it.
Despite comparisons to Claire, Alex is her own woman, and despite comparisons to Outlander, Ms Belfrage makes this story her own.
The only thing that might confuse most readers is Alex is shown to be a decent fighter, a black belt if you may, but she is rarely able to defend herself. Then there is the part that most women might find difficult to understand, her mixed feelings for the little son, she left behind in the 21st century. The circumstances of his conception bring back unpleasant memories and Alex transfers those feelings to the child. But isn't that how a real woman would feel too? And yes, the ease with which Alex dumps her erstwhile husband, John and starts lusting after Matthew did shock me a bit too.
Anna Belfrage goes a step further in keeping things real, she writes a hero, Matthew who is supposed to be handsome and make the reader swoon along with Alex. But unfortunately Jamie from Outlander fares better in comparison. When Matthew explains to Alex that she has no rights, and everything she owns belongs to him, except his heart, without batting an eyelash I felt deeply sad.
Bear in mind, the author is keeping it real, that's how men probably were in the 17th century, and perhaps quite a few in the 21st century. Husbands and boyfriends are far from perfect though most have their redeeming features . Matthew does too .
Now the time travel aspect was beautifully done with not just one but two ways to travel through time. And the author handles each one of them with such aplomb that I was tempted to believe that even if for a few seconds Ms Belfrage has traveled through the annals of time. It's magical, intriguing and powerful. Especially the part about Alex's mother, Mercedes. I took only couple of days to finish this book, but it had that quality that pulled me back each time, until I learned how it ended( not the ending I was expecting.Good, I like being surprised. )
I give 5 heartwarming stars to this book and the author, who according to her note at the end of the book, does handstands when her book gets reviewed. I'd like a picture please. Lol. The characters are real, you may love them or hate them or they may irritate you but that's the point of a book, to engage a reader, to keep them turning pages and A Rip In The Veil does that, very much so.
So here is my one liner for the discerning reader short of time to read my review.
A Rip in The Veil is a time travel, love story but it's also a book about discovering what you are truly capable of, at the worst of times and what matters the most in the best of times. Highly recommended.
Yes, her story 'A Rip In The Veil' does bear a superficial resemblance to Outlander. But is this is the story that came to her then so be it.
Despite comparisons to Claire, Alex is her own woman, and despite comparisons to Outlander, Ms Belfrage makes this story her own.
The only thing that might confuse most readers is Alex is shown to be a decent fighter, a black belt if you may, but she is rarely able to defend herself. Then there is the part that most women might find difficult to understand, her mixed feelings for the little son, she left behind in the 21st century. The circumstances of his conception bring back unpleasant memories and Alex transfers those feelings to the child. But isn't that how a real woman would feel too? And yes, the ease with which Alex dumps her erstwhile husband, John and starts lusting after Matthew did shock me a bit too.
Anna Belfrage goes a step further in keeping things real, she writes a hero, Matthew who is supposed to be handsome and make the reader swoon along with Alex. But unfortunately Jamie from Outlander fares better in comparison. When Matthew explains to Alex that she has no rights, and everything she owns belongs to him, except his heart, without batting an eyelash I felt deeply sad.
Bear in mind, the author is keeping it real, that's how men probably were in the 17th century, and perhaps quite a few in the 21st century. Husbands and boyfriends are far from perfect though most have their redeeming features . Matthew does too .
Now the time travel aspect was beautifully done with not just one but two ways to travel through time. And the author handles each one of them with such aplomb that I was tempted to believe that even if for a few seconds Ms Belfrage has traveled through the annals of time. It's magical, intriguing and powerful. Especially the part about Alex's mother, Mercedes. I took only couple of days to finish this book, but it had that quality that pulled me back each time, until I learned how it ended( not the ending I was expecting.Good, I like being surprised. )
I give 5 heartwarming stars to this book and the author, who according to her note at the end of the book, does handstands when her book gets reviewed. I'd like a picture please. Lol. The characters are real, you may love them or hate them or they may irritate you but that's the point of a book, to engage a reader, to keep them turning pages and A Rip In The Veil does that, very much so.
So here is my one liner for the discerning reader short of time to read my review.
A Rip in The Veil is a time travel, love story but it's also a book about discovering what you are truly capable of, at the worst of times and what matters the most in the best of times. Highly recommended.
March 8, 2020
This book puts me in a quandary as I really like Anna Belfrage's writing based upon The King's Greatest Enemy Series. Really glad I read/listened to those books prior to this. It has helped me overlook some serious inconsistencies, difficulties in suspending disbelief and some off-putting plot elements. For example: The author missed several opportunities to expand the main and secondary characters which may inspire readers to care deeply enough about them and invest valuable time in reading such a large series.
If this had been my first experience of her work, I seriously may not have continued to the next book. No cliffhanger at the end, it is just over and as a result Belfrage didn't craft a real pull to the next book. Nonetheless, based on the extreme reviews (both good and bad) and my previous experience with how well her writing evolved in The King's Greatest Enemy Series I am optimistically intrigued to read on.
Sadly the largest detraction for me was the Audible narration by Greg Patmore. He was so good in the previous series so I had pretty high expectations. There were several mispronunciations of very common words (the same in both British and American English). But it is his interpretation of Alex's voice that really ruined the listening experience for me. It agitates like a petulant whining child and strongly influenced my perception of her character. She is not an inspiring heroine in this version and comes off as a brash and selfish woman who occasionally takes an interest in the people around her. This combined with her blatant refusal to subdue her modern-feminist leanings in the 17th century does not make her a very endearing heroine.
Alex's origins are vague ... yes, yes, we are reminded continually of her ethnicity (1/2 Swedish - 1/2 Spanish) and she has lived all over the world. But, at the beginning of the book I just cannot figure out her circumstances. What is that accent supposed to be? American? Where does she actually live? A more emotional exploration of her character at the beginning would have been helpful.
As far as the references to Outlander and the author allegedly poorly copying the story. I have to disagree and I don't think you can compare them. Belfrage does not keep secret her love for Outlander and if this is her tribute to it, so be it. Myself, as a long time lover of the Outlander series, I seek out books with similar themes and traits. So I enjoyed the similarities and would not critique the author on that basis; however, a more detailed consideration of the historical events of the era would have been welcome.
If this had been my first experience of her work, I seriously may not have continued to the next book. No cliffhanger at the end, it is just over and as a result Belfrage didn't craft a real pull to the next book. Nonetheless, based on the extreme reviews (both good and bad) and my previous experience with how well her writing evolved in The King's Greatest Enemy Series I am optimistically intrigued to read on.
Sadly the largest detraction for me was the Audible narration by Greg Patmore. He was so good in the previous series so I had pretty high expectations. There were several mispronunciations of very common words (the same in both British and American English). But it is his interpretation of Alex's voice that really ruined the listening experience for me. It agitates like a petulant whining child and strongly influenced my perception of her character. She is not an inspiring heroine in this version and comes off as a brash and selfish woman who occasionally takes an interest in the people around her. This combined with her blatant refusal to subdue her modern-feminist leanings in the 17th century does not make her a very endearing heroine.
Alex's origins are vague ... yes, yes, we are reminded continually of her ethnicity (1/2 Swedish - 1/2 Spanish) and she has lived all over the world. But, at the beginning of the book I just cannot figure out her circumstances. What is that accent supposed to be? American? Where does she actually live? A more emotional exploration of her character at the beginning would have been helpful.
As far as the references to Outlander and the author allegedly poorly copying the story. I have to disagree and I don't think you can compare them. Belfrage does not keep secret her love for Outlander and if this is her tribute to it, so be it. Myself, as a long time lover of the Outlander series, I seek out books with similar themes and traits. So I enjoyed the similarities and would not critique the author on that basis; however, a more detailed consideration of the historical events of the era would have been welcome.
February 17, 2018
I had really hoped this book would improve and be less reflective of Outlander, but in the cheesy, no character development, way. It breaks my heart that she could hate her son so much that it doesn't remotely bother her to be away from him. The book started flipping back and forth between two characters but that ended a little bit before half way. This will likely be the only book I read in the series.
December 8, 2021
Action packed!
This book started out a bit slow for me...a lot of characters to keep track of...and there was the back story to the time travel aspect to understand...but before I knew it, I was interested in the characters and the story-line! So don't let the first few chapters of a book determine whether you finish it or not, because many do redeem themselves!
I'm not a big history buff, so I can't say with any authority that the historical events are accurate, but it seemed well researched.
I found this book to be very interesting and hard to put down until I finished. It was definitely impossible to know what would happen next and that kept me turning the pages.
I think anyone that enjoys time-travel will enjoy this book! I look forward to reading the next book in the series!
This book started out a bit slow for me...a lot of characters to keep track of...and there was the back story to the time travel aspect to understand...but before I knew it, I was interested in the characters and the story-line! So don't let the first few chapters of a book determine whether you finish it or not, because many do redeem themselves!
I'm not a big history buff, so I can't say with any authority that the historical events are accurate, but it seemed well researched.
I found this book to be very interesting and hard to put down until I finished. It was definitely impossible to know what would happen next and that kept me turning the pages.
I think anyone that enjoys time-travel will enjoy this book! I look forward to reading the next book in the series!
June 12, 2017
Gripping and Thought Provoking!!
Ms. Belfrage combines a great story line with passionate lead characters and unrelenting villains—each more evil and dastardly than the last. Whenever Matthew’s brother shows up, you just know something bad is going to happen. I especially liked how human Alex and Matthew were. Both had baggage with spouses and children in the past that kept adding tension and complications to their present.
I enjoyed all the mysterious and intriguing details: The ground opening up and swallowing Alex; her mother’s ability to make a time portal in a painting. (For some reason Jackson Pollock paintings kept appearing in my mind.) I wondered when Mercedes would jump out of a picture or show up on Alex’s doorstep. I’m still curious about where the characters go when they disappear into the fire. I can’t wait to read the next book to find out!
Ms. Belfrage combines a great story line with passionate lead characters and unrelenting villains—each more evil and dastardly than the last. Whenever Matthew’s brother shows up, you just know something bad is going to happen. I especially liked how human Alex and Matthew were. Both had baggage with spouses and children in the past that kept adding tension and complications to their present.
I enjoyed all the mysterious and intriguing details: The ground opening up and swallowing Alex; her mother’s ability to make a time portal in a painting. (For some reason Jackson Pollock paintings kept appearing in my mind.) I wondered when Mercedes would jump out of a picture or show up on Alex’s doorstep. I’m still curious about where the characters go when they disappear into the fire. I can’t wait to read the next book to find out!
November 22, 2020
Time travelers series about Alex and Matthew. The connection between the two didn’t seem authentic. Some of the story lines were just unbelievable. Alex thrown back in time to meet Alex to fall in love with him and not want to go back to her family, she hated her son. Witch craft was through out the story. I don’t think I will be reading the rest of the series.
August 8, 2024
This book is okay a fairly decent story with good character Back stories, however both characters make the same stupid mistakes with predictable outcomes over and over again, which was quite frustrating.
Read
July 4, 2019I am interested in the topic/story, but after the first few chapters I knew I was not going to enjoy this book.
December 15, 2013
The first step into a grand adventure
From the first pages, we know that Alex Lind is very much a contemporary woman, the kind who carries a cell phone, wears denim jeans and dares to swear at her German car when its electrical systems dares to fail in the middle of one of her favorite classical CDs. Then she finds herself caught up in an anomaly that lands her in rural seventeenth century Scotland and into the already stressed life of Matthew Graham. Just another time slip novel, you say? Definitely not. This cross-genre gem is a well researched, skilfully constructed and brilliantly written tale with the strength to draw the reader in, not just to the final page, but well beyond The rip in the veil of time that leaves Alex in Scotland is just the beginning, and its' pages leave the reader salivating for the next installment, and then the next on after that. Each exquisite segment in the adventure of Alex and Matthew stands on its own merit, but the promise of more is as seductive as a cleavage or a mischievious smile from across a crowded room Ms. Befrage gives us just enough of the backstory of each Alex and Matthew to hint of what will be coming next, and just enough of a glimpse into the lives each of them has left behind to know that the characters from their pasts are not frozen in time. Life for them is also evolving and perhaps on a collision course with Alex and Matthew Graham. We also revisit the troubles of the past of each and we learn, just as they do, that neither of them is perfect. Anna has left a child behind with whom she has never bonded, and Matthew has never been able to take part in the life of his own son. He has made an enemy of a brother who had worshipped him as his champion when a child and could not forgive him for his mortal failings. Alex and Matthew have myriad family issues hanging over them.
It does not help that whenever Matthew attempts to act as Alex's defender and champion, she is the one who knows the karate moves. It also seems that not all of the men who are tracking them are looking for Matthew, and that Alex may not be the only time traveler in the tale. . At this point we learn that her mother Mercedes, of whom we get occasonal glimpses in the first two books of the series, is a time traveling witch who has offended some very evil men who have no qualms about torturing her daughter in order to catch up with her mother. I hope we see much more of Mercedes in the nex tofferings. But Matthew done not need time traveling kidnappers and assassins to complicant his own life. Thanks to his unforgivign brother Luke, he has a passel of problems of his own. Luke, who has taken Matthew's wife and is raising a child whose paternity is far from settled. Luke has grudges to settle with Matthew and no inclination to play by any rules but his. The twists in the plot that follow the Grahams would be utterly bizarre if constructed by a less talented writer or one who did spend time researching the historical setting. . The love affair between Alex and Matthew is predictable, but the complications that come with it are unique. And the steamy sex between them is scintillating but not offensive.
Never once does Ms.Belfrage forget that she has pitted a liberated 21st Century woman with the quintessential 17th Century Scot. As the story progresses, she grows less and less anxious to escape, but there are still times when her remembered present pulls her back. She may tuck her hair into a modest little cap, learn to do the laundry and tend the farm animals, but she is still very much the same progressive and opinionated woman that time has deposited in post Civil War Scotland. One of my favorite exchanges between them is when he teasingly complimens her for being a good wife' ,obedient and submissive. You tend to your husband and his needs"....I never have to punish you," he continues. “You try, mister, try that once, and I’ll have your balls in a vice," Alex replies. While Rip in the Viel remains very much Alex and Matthew's story, the others who populate its pages enrich the tale and have a reason to be in it . The author's multicultural, multifacet background shines through and allows her to interject characters that a more insulated author should never try. Even the worst of the villians are depicted with integrity and purpose and at least a sprinkling of empathy, even the worst of the 'bad guys' Hector and Luke. One of the features that makes reading Rip in the Veil a hands-down five star experience is an ending that satisfies yet guarantees that there is much, much more to come. I have recommended the books in the Graham saga to my most discerning friends.
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June 12, 2015
This is a historical-romance novel, that's for sure. I have been shying away from romance novels these days -- too much sex for my liking and not enough story to support all the sex based instaLove. I'm tried of instaLove and all the junk that goes with that. I want to read about real love that percolates and grows and develops over time where lust is not the motivator.
But, I was intrigued by this book because I am sucker for time-travel type books especially historical ones and most especially ones set in Scotland. It's my thing, don't know why but it is...well, my favorite books in the world probably have something to do it.
I decided to give this book a chance. I didn't have high expectations going into it except to be entertained by a decent story that was quick and easy to read. A Rip in the Veil met my expectations and then some. Yes, it has the typical romance novel elements, but I was happy to see that the author did advance the plot line and developed the characters beyond the lust and instaLove stage that so often is the modus operandi of romance novels.
While the writing was decent it wasn't up to par to what I've grown accustomed to with some of my very favorite books. But hey, I'm not a writer and won't pretend I could be one, so the writing was fine enough for me and for the story. Shoot, I've read some truly awful stories with awful writing that seem to have gained public popularity and this book is far better than that. Anyway, the story was good and moved along. The characters held my attention and developed. I wasn't blown away by Alex and Matthew - Alex could use a bit of refinement. But I liked them well enough. I appreciated the other characters and did like seeing how Alex's family was faring after she left her time. The historical elements were good, and added a bit of depth to the storyline on the whole.
A Rip in the Veil proved to be a much better story than I anticipated. I hope to see how the series and writing mature with each book. Yes, I will read the next book and from there I shall see.
But, I was intrigued by this book because I am sucker for time-travel type books especially historical ones and most especially ones set in Scotland. It's my thing, don't know why but it is...well, my favorite books in the world probably have something to do it.
I decided to give this book a chance. I didn't have high expectations going into it except to be entertained by a decent story that was quick and easy to read. A Rip in the Veil met my expectations and then some. Yes, it has the typical romance novel elements, but I was happy to see that the author did advance the plot line and developed the characters beyond the lust and instaLove stage that so often is the modus operandi of romance novels.
While the writing was decent it wasn't up to par to what I've grown accustomed to with some of my very favorite books. But hey, I'm not a writer and won't pretend I could be one, so the writing was fine enough for me and for the story. Shoot, I've read some truly awful stories with awful writing that seem to have gained public popularity and this book is far better than that. Anyway, the story was good and moved along. The characters held my attention and developed. I wasn't blown away by Alex and Matthew - Alex could use a bit of refinement. But I liked them well enough. I appreciated the other characters and did like seeing how Alex's family was faring after she left her time. The historical elements were good, and added a bit of depth to the storyline on the whole.
A Rip in the Veil proved to be a much better story than I anticipated. I hope to see how the series and writing mature with each book. Yes, I will read the next book and from there I shall see.
July 24, 2020
DNF around 220.
Not sure what all constitutes 'Spoilers,' since I quit the book with over 100 pages unread, so I'll just hide my review of parts I read that really agitated me.
This is an unconvincing love story, featuring a couple that shouldn't even be together, in my opinion. We skip through any scene that might show these two growing as a couple, only focusing on the parts where they're arguing, so the bits where they are together and talking about being in love feel extremely forced. When they disagree, it's pretty much always because his 17th century propriety clashes HARD with her 21st century modernity, and they never seem to make concessions for one another.
There are two methods of time travel in this book, which is one method too many. I could handle being caught in a weather anomaly as a method, or I can believe (if it was done better) in a 'witch' painting paintings that sucked people into the times the painting was depicting or whatever, but both of them in the same story is just ridiculous.
Everyone's dialogue sounds the same, with the exception of Matthew saying 'mayhap' a sickening number of times, which likely played a large part in my being consistently bored (when I wasn't upset at how unlikable everyone was).
I'm sure this is advertised as a series for those who loved Outlander, and if that's the case, I would honestly feel bad for someone who read this book before Outlander. Had I not read Outlander first, this book might very well have turned me off of the entire time-travel romance genre, and it's my favorite genre.
Not sure what all constitutes 'Spoilers,' since I quit the book with over 100 pages unread, so I'll just hide my review of parts I read that really agitated me.
This is an unconvincing love story, featuring a couple that shouldn't even be together, in my opinion. We skip through any scene that might show these two growing as a couple, only focusing on the parts where they're arguing, so the bits where they are together and talking about being in love feel extremely forced. When they disagree, it's pretty much always because his 17th century propriety clashes HARD with her 21st century modernity, and they never seem to make concessions for one another.
There are two methods of time travel in this book, which is one method too many. I could handle being caught in a weather anomaly as a method, or I can believe (if it was done better) in a 'witch' painting paintings that sucked people into the times the painting was depicting or whatever, but both of them in the same story is just ridiculous.
Everyone's dialogue sounds the same, with the exception of Matthew saying 'mayhap' a sickening number of times, which likely played a large part in my being consistently bored (when I wasn't upset at how unlikable everyone was).
I'm sure this is advertised as a series for those who loved Outlander, and if that's the case, I would honestly feel bad for someone who read this book before Outlander. Had I not read Outlander first, this book might very well have turned me off of the entire time-travel romance genre, and it's my favorite genre.
November 12, 2014
It is no secret that I am a big fan of the Graham Saga. I started with book 3, The Prodigal Son and continued on to book 6, Revenge & Retribution. I had no problem getting immersed in these books, even though not reading books 1 & 2. Another chapter in this series has just been released, Whither Thou Goest and I will be reviewing that on Dec. 3rd. Once I read the synopis I felt it was time to read the first 2 books, it just seems that much of the newest reflects things that happened in beginning.
A Rip in the Veil is book 1 and it's a great introduction to Alex, Matthew and his wicked evil brother Luke. One of the things I liked about this book was getting a closer look at Alex, how she traveled back in time, those she left behind and what makes her tick. It's not just a case of 'oops here I am" kinda time travel, it's an interesting twist that carries over the whole series.
It didn't take long to get drawn into this story, the authors writing style is very familair to me now, it is smooth and right to the point. There isn't any extra filler or pages of text that just take up space, but just a smooth storyline that quite often had this reader losing track of time while reading.
A Rip in the Veil is book 1 and it's a great introduction to Alex, Matthew and his wicked evil brother Luke. One of the things I liked about this book was getting a closer look at Alex, how she traveled back in time, those she left behind and what makes her tick. It's not just a case of 'oops here I am" kinda time travel, it's an interesting twist that carries over the whole series.
It didn't take long to get drawn into this story, the authors writing style is very familair to me now, it is smooth and right to the point. There isn't any extra filler or pages of text that just take up space, but just a smooth storyline that quite often had this reader losing track of time while reading.
December 1, 2014
Heartfelt, character-led historical drama with an intriguing time travel twist.
Anna Belfrage's book takes place in Scotland at the end of the Civil War, but she doesn't let the historical setting dominate. It's clearly very well researched, but the history is in service to the characters and plot, which is very refreshing. A twenty-first century heroine, Alex Lind, is transported back in time and has to find her place in the 17th century whilst working out how she can return to her own time.
Of course, there is a handsome and troubled man in it: Matthew Graham. Matthew is a very interesting character, on the run from the law but with a strong moral code. He pulls Alex into allowing herself to become more like a 17th century woman, and I was convinced by how she compromised on her freedoms to be with the man she loved.
It's the first part of a series, so there are lots of plot threads left open. I'm looking forward to finding out how Alex travels back in forth through time, and how the couple manage to keep Alex's identity a secret. Belfrage convincingly shows how she is at risk of being condemned for witchcraft, which makes the whole story more dramatic.
Very enjoyable.
Anna Belfrage's book takes place in Scotland at the end of the Civil War, but she doesn't let the historical setting dominate. It's clearly very well researched, but the history is in service to the characters and plot, which is very refreshing. A twenty-first century heroine, Alex Lind, is transported back in time and has to find her place in the 17th century whilst working out how she can return to her own time.
Of course, there is a handsome and troubled man in it: Matthew Graham. Matthew is a very interesting character, on the run from the law but with a strong moral code. He pulls Alex into allowing herself to become more like a 17th century woman, and I was convinced by how she compromised on her freedoms to be with the man she loved.
It's the first part of a series, so there are lots of plot threads left open. I'm looking forward to finding out how Alex travels back in forth through time, and how the couple manage to keep Alex's identity a secret. Belfrage convincingly shows how she is at risk of being condemned for witchcraft, which makes the whole story more dramatic.
Very enjoyable.
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