What do you think?
Rate this book
Portals of Time #1
Just In Time
Dorian Masters must save the life of research scientist Jess Cromwell by preventing his murder in five months. Cromwell’s work would eventually set the standard for eradicating all carbon emissions. But Dorian has to find the assassin first, while Jess’s brother, Luke, cynical New York cop and exasperating man, seems determined to stand in her way. Unaware of her background, Luke questions her suitability as a bodyguard and challenges her on the mistakes she makes about everyday things, including how she talks. But the stakes are high and together they race against time to save Jess’s life.
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2013
About the author
Kathryn Shay
170 books499 followersKathryn Shay is a lifelong writer. At fifteen, she penned her first 'romance,' a short story about a female newspaper reporter in New York City and her fight to make a name for herself in a world of male journalists - and with one hardheaded editor in particular. Looking back, Kathryn says she should have known then that writing was in her future. But as so often happens, fate sent her detouring down another path.
Fully intending to pursue her dream of big city lights and success in the literary world, Kathryn took every creative writing class available at the small private women's college she attended in upstate New York. Instead, other dreams took precedence. She met and subsequently married a wonderful guy who'd attended a neighboring school, then completed her practice teaching, a requirement for the education degree she never intended to use. But says Kathryn, "I fell in love with teaching the first day I was up in front of a class, and knew I was meant to do that."
Kathryn went on to build a successful career in the New York state school system, thoroughly enjoying her work with adolescents. But by the early 1990s, she'd again made room in her life for writing. It was then that she submitted her first manuscript to publishers and agents. Despite enduring two years of rejections, she persevered. And on a snowy December afternoon in 1994, Kathryn Shay sold her first book to Harlequin Superromance.
Since that first sale, Kathryn has written twenty-one books for Harlequin, nine mainstream contemporary romances for the Berkley Publishing Group, and two online novellas, which Berkley then published in traditional print format.
Kathryn has become known for her powerful characterizations - readers say they feel they know the people in her books - and her heart-wrenching, emotional writing (her favorite comments are that fans cried while reading her books or stayed up late to finish them). In testament to her skill, the author has won five RT BookClub Magazine Reviewers Choice Awards, three Holt Medallions, two Desert Quill Awards, the Golden Leaf Award, and several online accolades.
Even in light of her writing success, that initial love of teaching never wavered for Kathryn. She finished out her teaching career in 2004, retiring from the same school where her career began. These days, she lives in upstate New York with her husband and two children. "My life is very full," she reports, "but very happy. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to pursue and achieve my dreams."
Fully intending to pursue her dream of big city lights and success in the literary world, Kathryn took every creative writing class available at the small private women's college she attended in upstate New York. Instead, other dreams took precedence. She met and subsequently married a wonderful guy who'd attended a neighboring school, then completed her practice teaching, a requirement for the education degree she never intended to use. But says Kathryn, "I fell in love with teaching the first day I was up in front of a class, and knew I was meant to do that."
Kathryn went on to build a successful career in the New York state school system, thoroughly enjoying her work with adolescents. But by the early 1990s, she'd again made room in her life for writing. It was then that she submitted her first manuscript to publishers and agents. Despite enduring two years of rejections, she persevered. And on a snowy December afternoon in 1994, Kathryn Shay sold her first book to Harlequin Superromance.
Since that first sale, Kathryn has written twenty-one books for Harlequin, nine mainstream contemporary romances for the Berkley Publishing Group, and two online novellas, which Berkley then published in traditional print format.
Kathryn has become known for her powerful characterizations - readers say they feel they know the people in her books - and her heart-wrenching, emotional writing (her favorite comments are that fans cried while reading her books or stayed up late to finish them). In testament to her skill, the author has won five RT BookClub Magazine Reviewers Choice Awards, three Holt Medallions, two Desert Quill Awards, the Golden Leaf Award, and several online accolades.
Even in light of her writing success, that initial love of teaching never wavered for Kathryn. She finished out her teaching career in 2004, retiring from the same school where her career began. These days, she lives in upstate New York with her husband and two children. "My life is very full," she reports, "but very happy. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to pursue and achieve my dreams."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 26, 2014
Very overrated. The continued use of "future" language is just irritating. As a main character, Luke comes across as particularly unappealing - far too narcissistic, and cannot believe any "strong" woman as Dorian is supposed to be, would fall for him.
There is little in the way of tension especially given the whole premise provides the framework for this.
I finished the book but came away having no intention of paying for the others. I was surprised to see that she is a USA Today best seller, as the book comes across as an OK first effort rather than a book from a highly experienced author.
There is little in the way of tension especially given the whole premise provides the framework for this.
I finished the book but came away having no intention of paying for the others. I was surprised to see that she is a USA Today best seller, as the book comes across as an OK first effort rather than a book from a highly experienced author.
March 5, 2015
I wasn't sure how far I'd make it in this book when it opened with three women materializing in the middle of an office. The awkward language of the three time travelers was a bit on the distracting side. I realize that they come from several hundred years in the future, but with their technology they should have been a little more familiar with the language of the current time. They knew all sorts of other information so that seems like something they would have looked into language to fit in a little better. I thought that the characters were interesting and the story was ok. There were a couple steamy sex scenes after the romance part got off the ground. Overall a decent book.
August 16, 2019
Just In Time
This book was a wonderful read for me. It pulls you in and doesn’t let go till the very end, while leaving you wanting more and anxious for the next story. I enjoyed the fact that there was no vulgarity in this book and the author was able to point out the different ways our current society is wasting our natural resources. I can’t wait to read Book 2 in the Portals of Time Series!
This book was a wonderful read for me. It pulls you in and doesn’t let go till the very end, while leaving you wanting more and anxious for the next story. I enjoyed the fact that there was no vulgarity in this book and the author was able to point out the different ways our current society is wasting our natural resources. I can’t wait to read Book 2 in the Portals of Time Series!
January 31, 2017
Interesting look at sci/fy time travel of three woman from the future who come back to our time to attempt to save the world from future destruction due to global warming.
August 28, 2017
I like the idea of being good stewards of the earth, and I like a bit of sci-fi, but the profanity and sex overwhelmed this story leaving it flat.
July 25, 2019
Attempted to read this book because we share spelling of our first names. but I found this book hard to read and confusing to read. Did not enjoy it.
December 31, 2019
Barely okay. Closer to 1 star than to 3. I've read and liked some of the authors firefighter books, but this didn't work for me.
September 16, 2022
Once again I have found a good book in this story. I found it hard to put it down until the end.
March 20, 2017
Highly over rated book! The writing is sophomoric and juvenile. The characters poorly developed and unbelievable. If not for a few of the un-embellished sex scenes, this would have been a much better fit in the YA genre and I never would have picked it up. I finished it only because I finish everything I start, but this is several hours of my life I will never get back.
February 20, 2015
Captivating and believable, a great introduction to a series.
#paranormal #mystery #timetravel
3 Stars!
Series: Book 1: Portals of Time
Characters: Dorian Masters, Luke Cromwell, and four others
Setting: New York, present day
Mature Themes: Sex, violence, and drugs
Recommendation: With such a wide variety of themes in this novel a recommendation is hard to do. If you’re looking for a heavy romance, look elsewhere. If you’re into time travel, well they don’t really do any, but the future really is integrated into the modern time line perfectly. Light paranormal aspect, light romance, and a wonderful band of characters make this a really enjoyable, albeit sad at times, read.
Dorian Masters and her two friends have traveled back in time to save one man’s life and to hopefully change their future. Jess Cromwell is a researcher working on clean energy and his death ultimately leads to the destruction of the planet, granted many, many years down the line. But when Dorian and Jess team up to save his life, complications arise with the addition of his brother and wife learning of the three stranger’s secret. Dorian’s story is part one of how they work to save Jess and how one woman from the future learns what love really is.
I’m not sure what I enjoyed more in this story, the characters or the mix of futuristic lingo and gadgets they use. Dorian, the other two women, Jess and his wife, David and Luke. Seven characters, all vastly different and yet equally important and well written. All of them had believable personalities with flaws and benefits, each interacted differently with the other characters and all of them were lovable in their own ways. All of their motives and desires danced around, commingling with one another, forming this perfect blend of personalities that make up this wonderful narrative. Truly a great pleasure to read.
As for the other highly enjoyable aspect of the book, the lingo and gadgets, this novel did a great job of giving the reader just enough power to create their own objects. The futuristic healing device was named, explained briefly, and then left up to me as the reader to fill in the gaps with how it looked, if it made noise, etc. It was a great way to ease a reader (one who typically doesn’t read novels set in the future) in to the idea of future tech while not backing them into this corner of over description and unbelievability. There were also a lot of future terms used by the women along with their misuse and attempts to understand modern idioms. More often than not their mistakes were comical and their explanations of future words and how they morphed from our modern ones were well thought out.
With all of that said, the story was not perfect. If this was supposed to be a love story between Dorian and Luke, I’d say it fell flat and honestly to go so far as saying Jess and his wife were far more interesting. Luke was pushy, moody, and honestly a jerk. Of all of the wonderful characters in the story he was the one I felt was added to even out the sweetness of the others, unfortunately, he’s the one Dorian falls for…
#paranormal #mystery #timetravel
3 Stars!
Series: Book 1: Portals of Time
Characters: Dorian Masters, Luke Cromwell, and four others
Setting: New York, present day
Mature Themes: Sex, violence, and drugs
Recommendation: With such a wide variety of themes in this novel a recommendation is hard to do. If you’re looking for a heavy romance, look elsewhere. If you’re into time travel, well they don’t really do any, but the future really is integrated into the modern time line perfectly. Light paranormal aspect, light romance, and a wonderful band of characters make this a really enjoyable, albeit sad at times, read.
Dorian Masters and her two friends have traveled back in time to save one man’s life and to hopefully change their future. Jess Cromwell is a researcher working on clean energy and his death ultimately leads to the destruction of the planet, granted many, many years down the line. But when Dorian and Jess team up to save his life, complications arise with the addition of his brother and wife learning of the three stranger’s secret. Dorian’s story is part one of how they work to save Jess and how one woman from the future learns what love really is.
I’m not sure what I enjoyed more in this story, the characters or the mix of futuristic lingo and gadgets they use. Dorian, the other two women, Jess and his wife, David and Luke. Seven characters, all vastly different and yet equally important and well written. All of them had believable personalities with flaws and benefits, each interacted differently with the other characters and all of them were lovable in their own ways. All of their motives and desires danced around, commingling with one another, forming this perfect blend of personalities that make up this wonderful narrative. Truly a great pleasure to read.
As for the other highly enjoyable aspect of the book, the lingo and gadgets, this novel did a great job of giving the reader just enough power to create their own objects. The futuristic healing device was named, explained briefly, and then left up to me as the reader to fill in the gaps with how it looked, if it made noise, etc. It was a great way to ease a reader (one who typically doesn’t read novels set in the future) in to the idea of future tech while not backing them into this corner of over description and unbelievability. There were also a lot of future terms used by the women along with their misuse and attempts to understand modern idioms. More often than not their mistakes were comical and their explanations of future words and how they morphed from our modern ones were well thought out.
With all of that said, the story was not perfect. If this was supposed to be a love story between Dorian and Luke, I’d say it fell flat and honestly to go so far as saying Jess and his wife were far more interesting. Luke was pushy, moody, and honestly a jerk. Of all of the wonderful characters in the story he was the one I felt was added to even out the sweetness of the others, unfortunately, he’s the one Dorian falls for…
February 15, 2014
This is the first book in the Portals of Time series is fantastic. I've always been fascinated in time travel books and Kathryn Shay has certainly delivered is the beginning of this series.
Ms Shay has introduced us to three strong women, Alisha, Dorian, and Celeste from the future to correct the mistakes of today, ensuring that humanity continues in the future. The characters are strong, well written, and each character balances the others. The storyline is fast paced, full of action, romance, misunderstandings. The world that Ms Shay describes is believable with great detail, both future and present. I'm looking forward to continuing the series and watching everyone grow.
Ms Shay has introduced us to three strong women, Alisha, Dorian, and Celeste from the future to correct the mistakes of today, ensuring that humanity continues in the future. The characters are strong, well written, and each character balances the others. The storyline is fast paced, full of action, romance, misunderstandings. The world that Ms Shay describes is believable with great detail, both future and present. I'm looking forward to continuing the series and watching everyone grow.
March 9, 2014
JUST IN TIME
If Charlie lived 500 years in the future, he had just sent three very beautiful angels back to save your life because you are the one man that can save their dying world. With a hook that good there is only one direction for a book to go. it is not that the book is bad, it just doesn't measure up to the premise. a further flaw is the writer's heavy handed efforts to force sequels into what God intended to be a single child family. A third strike is the mandatory sex scenes that are painted with a worn out brush. Still, not even formulaic writing completely drown this book.
If Charlie lived 500 years in the future, he had just sent three very beautiful angels back to save your life because you are the one man that can save their dying world. With a hook that good there is only one direction for a book to go. it is not that the book is bad, it just doesn't measure up to the premise. a further flaw is the writer's heavy handed efforts to force sequels into what God intended to be a single child family. A third strike is the mandatory sex scenes that are painted with a worn out brush. Still, not even formulaic writing completely drown this book.
March 1, 2015
An entertaining read.. The author must have had a lot of fun imagining what the society would be like 500 years in the future. I enjoyed the interactions between the women from the future and the current time people but I did wonder about the language idioms used by the future gals - today's trend is toward shorter and shorter words .. not these longer descriptions of everyday things and activities.. But it definitely sends a message about the way we waste our resources today... perhaps the bleak future painted is not so far-fetched.
March 26, 2014
What I liked most about the book was the concept of time travel. Most authors create a story where every little thing causes ripples. With this author she allows you to follow the story through the characters eyes without making the reader worry about the changes that are occurring in the future. Interesting concept.
January 24, 2015
THIS BOOK WAS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I EXPECTED BUT DID GET INTERSTING AS THE STORY WENT ON. FOUND IT TO HAVE LOTS OF HUMOR. WILL READ THE OTHER 2 BOOKS IN THE SERIES. THE BOOKS MAKES YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE WILL HOLD FOR ALL OF US.
March 19, 2015
really great book
Three women come back in time to try to change things from the past that will destroy the future. They don't know the right way of talking, or the customs. The book is funny and the characters are great. I am looking forward to the next one.
Three women come back in time to try to change things from the past that will destroy the future. They don't know the right way of talking, or the customs. The book is funny and the characters are great. I am looking forward to the next one.
tbr-later
November 5, 201528 February 2014: $0.00 FREE on Kindle
March 24, 2014
A bit crass but kind of fun...
March 27, 2014
I really loved this book but not happy with the ending. Several surprises about who is good and who is bad. I picked the wrong person.
April 13, 2014
Interesting time travel novel. 3 women from the future return to the present to protect a man who will help change the future.
Good and quick read. There are two more in the series.
Good and quick read. There are two more in the series.
April 5, 2014
Good job!
l wasn't sure how the present would be explained but it was done very well. A great read. Anxious to read the rest.
l wasn't sure how the present would be explained but it was done very well. A great read. Anxious to read the rest.
January 30, 2015
intriguing premise. I'm interested to see how the other 2 books play out. :)
March 4, 2015
Pretty good. Intersting.
April 26, 2015
Good Book
I very much enjoyed this book. It's an interesting plot and many likable characters. I'm ready to look for the next in the trilogy.
I very much enjoyed this book. It's an interesting plot and many likable characters. I'm ready to look for the next in the trilogy.
January 22, 2015
Couldn't get interested in it
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews