If I Can't Have You

by Patti Berg

Trevor Montgomery was more handsome than Tyrone Power or Cary Grant; more dashing and daring than Errol Flynn; he was a man every woman desired and all men envied. He was a movie star who’d enthralled millions in the 1930’s—and then he disappeared.

Adriana Howard is rich beyond imagining, but her life has been cloaked in scandal, and she’d rather love a man on a movie screen—a 1930’s idol and maybe a murderer—than face the real world.

He’s suspected of a brutal murder in his own time, but all he remembers is the blood, the knife, and the smell of death.

He’s a womanizer, a drunk, and she should kick him out of her life—but he’s traveled 60 years through time in answer to one of her wishes, and she can’t resist his charms. Now she’s willing to risk anything to prove his innocence and win his love.

Genres: Romance, Time Travel, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Paranormal, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

375 pages, ebook

First published April 1, 1998

About the author

Always a romantic, Patti Berg spent her childhood dreaming about being whisked away by a knight in shining armor, a devil-may-care swashbuckler, s sheik on a shiny black stallion, or a broad-shouldered cowboy with a Stetson tilted low on his brow. Now she spends her days making up stories where her heroes do whatever she wants them to.
Patti lives in Northern California with her husband, Rob.

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time-travel romance about a girl who has had a lifelong crush on a handsome 1930's movie star and then gets to meet the man of her dreams for real when he becomes transported through time to the 1990's.

When Adriana Howard (who's 29) was a child she came to Sparta, a large palatial seaside estate owned by a self-made tycoon, Harrison Stafford, with her father who was a curator at Sparta. Harrison invited her to visit him sometimes and they watched old movies from the 1930's. Harrison loved talking about the old days and his friend, famous movie star Trevor Montgomery (who disappeared mysteriously in 1938). Adriana fell in love with handsome Trevor, he was everything she ever wanted---suave, wordly, handsome. It was said he was even handsomer than Tyrone Power



and Cary Grant.


Adriana often feels that she was born in the wrong decade, that she belongs in the 1930's. She became Harrison Stafford's heiress after Adriana's father died, and when Harrison died he left everything to Adriana. Through the years she obtained many of Trevor's belongings. She now lives in the house Trevor used to live in, drives his old classic car, owns many of his possessions, and loves watching his old movies. One day while visiting Sparta (as she does every year on the Fourth of July) she tosses a red rose in a pool and says the words Trevor said to his leading lady in one of his movies, "Come back to me. Please. Come to me."

In 1938 Trevor awoke in bed next to a murdered actress. Depressed and knowing he would be found guilty of the crime he was sure he didn't commit (he can't remember what happened) he tried to drown himself in a pool at Sparta during a Fourth of July party. He was found by a woman, his body floating face down in the pool. She was the only one who saw him. No one saw him again. He mysteriously disappeared. But suddenly in 1998 Trevor finds himself suddenly coming out of the water fighting for breath. He wanted to die. Why was he still alive?

I don't want to give too much of the plot away but Adriana and Trevor eventually meet. Adriana has a hard time believing Trevor's story at first, that he really is the Trevor Montgomery---movie star, but she finally does start believing. And then there's the mystery of the murder...

I really loved dashing and handsome Trevor. He was romantic and charming and really devoted to Adriana. Adriana was reclusive and cautious. Years ago there were stories in the newspapers wrongly hinting that there was more to her relationship with Harrison than there was (implying a romance between the two instead of friendship.) Adriana's character seemed a bit dull at the beginning of the book, but Trevor persuaded her to try new things, loosen up a bit, live a little. Her character improved as the story progressed.

I'm a very big fan of classic movies/stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood so the storyline really appealed to me. I loved reading about 1930's Hollywood. It was fun and different. Also, I was curious to see who the murderer was, and how everything was going to work out in the end. This was an enjoyable and entertaining time-travel romance.

[Julie Lence · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I Can't Have You by Patti Berg is an exquisite, tug-at-your-heartstrings read. A time-travel that begins with 1938; Trevor is a Hollywood movie icon who is transported to 1998, where he meets Adriana. Press shy and leading a very sheltered life, and with good reason, Adriana has secretly been in love with 'Trevor the movie star' since she was young. Now living in the film star's home and having watched his movies countless times, she knows just about everything there is to know about Trevor, that is until she wishes upon a rose and Trevor suddenly appears out of nowhere. With a murder scandal attached to his name, a penchant for liquor, and rumors he bedded hundreds of women, Trevor must prove to Adriana he's real, and nothing like the persona the movie studio devised for him.

Honestly, I loved everything about this book. The plot hinting Trevor killed one of his beautiful co-stars kept me turning the pages. I kept adding up the clues and couldn't wait until I got to the part where the killer was revealed. More importantly, I admired how Ms. Berg created and separated Trevor the 'movie icon' from Trevor the 'real man', how she brought to life the glamour of 1938, the grace and sophistication women were known for in that era and the dashing mannerisms of true gentlemen. Ms. Berg also brought to life the film industry for both time frames, but it is the love story that will endear you to, If I Can't Have You. Trevor and Adriana both have tormented pasts. Watching them help each other overcome haunting memories and enjoy life to the fullest will bring a tear or two to your eyes, and have you sighing in content as Ms. Berg delivers the perfect ending for hopeless romantics like me.

[Kimberly Glover · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75/5- This book was okay, but through the first half or so it was pretty slow moving. Some exciting parts at the end, kept me intrigued, but that was it. It was also only written in 3rd person POV which I wasn’t a fan of.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting premise that never really panned out. The main characters were rather predictable, the writing one dimensional, and the resolution confusing. I probably won't look for more books by this author.

[Kathryn Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep Reading

The book is quite good, especially if you liked the actors of the 30's and 40's. Interesting plot. Very good character development and a mystery to boot. A mystery, time travel and reminiscent character, one really couldn't ask for too much more.

[Tammie Gunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book just found this author and these books are great story and really suck you in reading them.

[K.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Some spoilers included). This was a freebie from Amazon and was of good quality. I liked the idea of a woman getting the chance to connect with an old Hollywood legend that she admired as a child. I liked hearing details of how Old Hollywood functioned and about some of the legendary actors. However, my like for the premise quickly became overshadowed by my disdain for the main characters. First and foremost, I detest insta-love. Regardless of being thrown 60 years in the future and thinking himself a murderer, Trevor almost immediately begins to fall in love with Adrianna. Adrianna seemed to be a complete social recluse: very few friends, workaholic, pining for a movie star from the 30s, not dating, depressed, et cetera. Oh wait, she was unquestionably a RECLUSE. I couldn't connect with Adrianna because her obsession with Trevor seemed extremely dysfunctional. Every girl has a celebrity crush, but this was disturbing. She inherited his house, cars, and possessions, watches his movies every night and has imaginary conversations with him... as an adult. That screams certifiable. Then of course, Trevor magically floats through time and wouldn't you know it, he falls in love with her.

The book became redundant in the middle and stagnant. Trevor couldn't get Adrianna to trust him and Adrianna refused to just cave in to her obsessive love with him. Over and over again there were examples of it. Trevor feels guilty for the non-murder, Adrianna loves his movies, Trevor wants to be seen as a man not a myth, Adrianna has no life outside of her Trevor obsession. Lastly, exactly why did Trevor did get a do-over? What magical force granted him the power to travel through time in the first place? Just because Adrianna was a recluse and said some magical words? Berg never addressed this tid-bit which would've made the plot more credible. I think I would've been more entertained if it turned out that the entire romance was in Adrianna's head and that she was actually Janet. Overall, this skates on the border of "good read" status.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually 4.75 stars, if there is such a thing ;)! There was just a little something missing, although I can't really say what. Oh, I know, the mystery was a little bit predictable, but then I wasn't reading a mystery^^
And I was still glued to the pages anyway and could hardly put this book down. The characters were definitely believable, their development during the book just right. The pace of their relationship was slow, but steady - again very believable. The "misunderstanding"-part was nicely done as well, nothing far-fetched, and the foundation for the "one character turning away from the other" was put early in the book, so this reaction from the character wasn't surprising or illogical at all.

I'm looking forward to reading another book of this author.

[Shea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining read and I liked the idea of a movie star from the 1930s transported to the 90s. The references to old Hollywood and the stars of the day kept me intrigued. The main characters, Adriana and Trevor, were likable enough and I appreciated the murder mystery part of the story. I would have preferred if the time travel element was explained a little better which would have made the ending more "believable." I also wished the story moved a little faster. At times the writing seemed repetitive. We only need to hear about how good Trevor looks in his black jeans a couple of times to get it. Both of the main characters have a nice arc and they develop and change over time which I like to see in a story.

[Amanda Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I think about this book, all I can say is wow. I loved it. Trevor is a wonderful hero, he is such a scoundrel, but meeting Adriana makes him want to change. Adriana is a great heroine, she is smart and mature and independent.
She takes huge chances on Trevor, sometimes I wish she would have believed in him a little more. The story didn't really drag for me through the middle, but I would have liked Adriana to tell him about Janet sooner. They went to the cemetery to see the graves of his old friends, but she didn't mention Janet.
This book is going on my all-time favorites shelf. I really loved it.

[Sheri Fredricks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the book was very well written and edited. Something that isn't always common with FREE books these days. I really got into this book and felt taken away to another period of time, the 1930's.

I think Patti Berg did an excellent job with research in writing her book. About 3 chapters from the end, I felt it got bogged down a bit and found myself skipping ahead.

When a book makes me laugh out loud, cry tears, and feel the burn of anger, I know it's a good book. This one did all that for me.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the premise of the book - a young woman has a crush on a glamorous, handsome star from the 1930's and somehow he travels 60 years through time to her. The execution of the premise didn't quite make it for me. Instalove or at last instalust takes hold amidst a murder mystery, two protagonists who each have major psychological issues, a side plot of a pair of blackmailers that seems unnecessary, and other secondary characters that don't seem to know what role they're supposed to play.

It took me days to read this when it should have only taken 2-3 hours.

[Nadine in NY Jones]

This is really really ... meh. Feels very amateurish. I must have downloaded it for free one day ... I'm only reading it because I found it sitting on the shelf in my Kindle app and I'm extremely idle at the moment.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a little of everything; suspense, time travel, romance and murder. It dragged in the middle for a short time then moved forward at a nice pace. Though an easy read the writer did a good job telling the story with emotion.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I love time travel and this was really good. I just wish there were more to it. I hated the story to end. I loved the characters and the way they came together. Ms. Berg did a fantastic job describing the 1930's. It was a book to read over and over.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review

Adriana lives the life of a recluse and dreams of a man from the past. Trevor, a missing actor from the golden age of television, appears in her life, Adriana has to decide if their real love can outshine the perfection of her dream s

[Donna Jo Atwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh.

[Vana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable. She falls for the man of her dreams: a 1930s movie star long dead.

[Jackie Merino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it