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Time's Anchor
Ophelia's husband disappears at the most inopportune times. After 10 years, she's not sure why she puts up with it, other than the fact that she's loved him since she first saw him in college, before the physics experiment that started Will involuntarily sliding through time. And there's nothing anyone can do about it. Or is there?
- GenresTime Travel
Audible Audio
Published July 5, 2017
9 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Lynda Engler
7 books76 followersWhen not reading or writing, I enjoy being outdoors, either walking, cycling, kayaking, or skiing; or indoors binge-watching sci-fi series. I came to writing late in life and still regret that none of my teachers in middle- or high-school ever told me to do some creative writing.
My first book, The Forgotten Isle (Middle Grade fantasy) came about as a project that my son, Colin, and I thought up while he was in middle school. My second book, Into the Outside, is a YA dystopian sci-fi. Into the Yellow Zone, and Under the Mountain (Books 2 and 3 in the trilogy) came out in 2017.
My time travel short story "Time's Anchor" (2016, Kindle and Audible) is a story of love, friendship and life’s joys and sorrows, set against the backdrop of a mystery that ranges from modern day Boston to Civil War Virginia to the casino building boom of Las Vegas.
I’m currently working on a post-apocalyptic thriller about a new ice age [working title: Ring of Fire: Volcanic Winter]; and an eco-disaster SF novel [working title: Antarctica: Ice Crash].
My first book, The Forgotten Isle (Middle Grade fantasy) came about as a project that my son, Colin, and I thought up while he was in middle school. My second book, Into the Outside, is a YA dystopian sci-fi. Into the Yellow Zone, and Under the Mountain (Books 2 and 3 in the trilogy) came out in 2017.
My time travel short story "Time's Anchor" (2016, Kindle and Audible) is a story of love, friendship and life’s joys and sorrows, set against the backdrop of a mystery that ranges from modern day Boston to Civil War Virginia to the casino building boom of Las Vegas.
I’m currently working on a post-apocalyptic thriller about a new ice age [working title: Ring of Fire: Volcanic Winter]; and an eco-disaster SF novel [working title: Antarctica: Ice Crash].
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 25, 2017
As a time travel fan, I was really taken with this book. The story was captivating and although intricate, it read smoothly. I loved the weaving of the story from both Will and Ophelia's viewpoint.
September 26, 2019
The story is the second one of the book about the radio active poison,You now i am looking for my sister cousin Isabel she is with Malcolm and his tribe. now that Isabel left they are looking for people to tell them that the government will kill them or take hem hostage.
You see in the bunker before things happen people would stock up toilet paper and house household thing for up to 50 years they do not get destroyed the government would give you can food and coffee and sugar and tea and other r things.
Well Isabel and her group came upon another group that live in the hill and they let them stay with them to have food and then they went to the woods to look for food they found a deer but they traded the deer for jerky and other food so they can make it on the rest of the trip the kid got squirrel and other small animal they can skin and use on the trip
But thing did not go as they were going on there trip because they got caught and now you have to see were the government took to them and then it will be no good.
You will in joy both books and then they are good audio bookd
You see in the bunker before things happen people would stock up toilet paper and house household thing for up to 50 years they do not get destroyed the government would give you can food and coffee and sugar and tea and other r things.
Well Isabel and her group came upon another group that live in the hill and they let them stay with them to have food and then they went to the woods to look for food they found a deer but they traded the deer for jerky and other food so they can make it on the rest of the trip the kid got squirrel and other small animal they can skin and use on the trip
But thing did not go as they were going on there trip because they got caught and now you have to see were the government took to them and then it will be no good.
You will in joy both books and then they are good audio bookd
August 12, 2017
I enjoyed this short time travel audiobook, it kept my attention and I was sorry when it ended. It is a well written and narrated story that captured my imagination and soon had me pondering about the nature of reality. I quickly became attached to the main characters and loved the way the narrator portrayed them. She captured the worry, confusion, frustration and emotions well, her tone was pleasing and she gave the characters individual voices. At first I thought the story was going to be like 'The Time Travels Wife' but it wasn't, it concentrated more of the effects going into the past can have on individuals and the future. This is a well rounded, complete, very entertaining short story that leaves you hoping the author will continue to build on this theme
July 10, 2016
What an excellent short story! I don’t usually read short stories, but I needed something to decompress between writing research papers for college and working on my novel. Turns out that this little time travel story was just what I needed. Well, back to the grinned, those papers aren’t going to write themselves after all. And neither is that pesky little, or rather not so little, textbook going to read itself.
August 3, 2016
Short book but great idea in the story, worth reading if you like time travel sci fi.
August 15, 2016
I enjoyed this book. Couldn't stop reading. The book was a good length. I think the author did a good job. If you are a fan of time travel books you will enjoy this book.
September 2, 2017
I had this ebook on my Kindle for several months and finally decided to read it this morning. I had no idea what to expect from the book (I never bothered to read the blurb or the reviews) but I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by the thoughtfulness that was used to craft this interesting twist on Time Travel stories.
Whereas most time travel stories are more of an Indiana Jones save the world theme, Time's Anchor uses a fully different approach that is mostly based on the POV of the wife (Ophelia) of an unwitting time traveler (Will) that has spent the last 10 years vanishing without notice in random places for varying amounts of time against his will.
Will was already dating Ophelia in MIT when he volunteered for a seemingly harmless science experiment directed by an honest but foolish researcher named Dr. Forsynthe. After an uneventful series of tests and a 200 dollar check, he would occasionally appear in strange places for a few hours and then return to his school. A few of his study group friends also participated in the experiment and described similar voyages. When a member of the group named Peter reappeared a week later in the cafeteria covered in mud and blood with PTSD, they all question the researcher who realizes he did something to their brains that eventually cursed them.
In an honest attempt to reverse the damage, he creates a phantom company that is funded by the university with the purpose to economically sustain the weary travelers that cannot maintain a regular job in the hopes one of them eventually travels to a place and time where they could convince the researcher or their younger selves to cancel the experiment.
Will slides to a convenient time a few months before the cursed experiment occured, but he was unable to convince the researcher to canel it. He returns with high hopes that he might be lucky but when a member of the tightly knit group of cursed friends appears dead in an alley with a few Poker chips in his pocket and no other clues as to what happened to him, they must not only solve the mysterious murder of their friend, but stop the madness before the whole world as they know it implodes.
While I'm not really crazy about the cover, the writing is really good, the characters are interesting and the finale is unexpected. I think you will enjoy reading it very much.
Whereas most time travel stories are more of an Indiana Jones save the world theme, Time's Anchor uses a fully different approach that is mostly based on the POV of the wife (Ophelia) of an unwitting time traveler (Will) that has spent the last 10 years vanishing without notice in random places for varying amounts of time against his will.
Will was already dating Ophelia in MIT when he volunteered for a seemingly harmless science experiment directed by an honest but foolish researcher named Dr. Forsynthe. After an uneventful series of tests and a 200 dollar check, he would occasionally appear in strange places for a few hours and then return to his school. A few of his study group friends also participated in the experiment and described similar voyages. When a member of the group named Peter reappeared a week later in the cafeteria covered in mud and blood with PTSD, they all question the researcher who realizes he did something to their brains that eventually cursed them.
In an honest attempt to reverse the damage, he creates a phantom company that is funded by the university with the purpose to economically sustain the weary travelers that cannot maintain a regular job in the hopes one of them eventually travels to a place and time where they could convince the researcher or their younger selves to cancel the experiment.
Will slides to a convenient time a few months before the cursed experiment occured, but he was unable to convince the researcher to canel it. He returns with high hopes that he might be lucky but when a member of the tightly knit group of cursed friends appears dead in an alley with a few Poker chips in his pocket and no other clues as to what happened to him, they must not only solve the mysterious murder of their friend, but stop the madness before the whole world as they know it implodes.
While I'm not really crazy about the cover, the writing is really good, the characters are interesting and the finale is unexpected. I think you will enjoy reading it very much.
August 5, 2017
This was such a delightful read. I know a lot of readers don't like short stories but let me tell you, this one gives you a BIG meaty story for how short it is. I got as much out of it as I have many a 300 page book. Right away I found myself engrossed in the suspense of Will disappearing. I have a brother that teaches physics at a local college and this made me think of some of the theories he's posed to me before. Chills actually ran down my spine at what too place in this book. Ophelia and Will have been together since college at MIT. For extra money, he agreed to be part of an experiment along with a few others. It wasn't really painful, just very uncomfortable. But after a while, they realize, it sort of scrambled their brain, or retired it. Time takes on a whole new meaning. For example, after one disappearance, Will reappears only to find they have a cat. He remembers his whole life but forgets they've had the same cat for 6 years! He can no longer take a plane because wherever he is when he disappears, that's how he shows back up. It would be terrible to show up in the sky without a plane around you. The disappearances are getting worse and longer so him and some others from the study meet with the professor that conducted them. Together they try to figure out how to stop it all. But what can they do when they are always traveling to the past? And after tragedy strikes, how are they to fix that? I really liked the ending. I hope the author writes more about the other characters in the group to see how things ended for them, although one individual we know it wasn't good.
If you are like listening to audiobooks then you will love this narrator. She was amazing and can do both male and female voices wonderfully.
If you are like listening to audiobooks then you will love this narrator. She was amazing and can do both male and female voices wonderfully.
February 24, 2019
Time’s Anchor by Lynda Engler
“You know I’ll always come back to you sweetheart”
Ophelia is unlucky enough to be the wife of an involuntary time traveler. At any given time, Will can be snatched away. It doesn’t matter what is going on or what he is doing. Will always makes it back to her though, he calls her his anchor. No matter where he goes, he knows she is there waiting on him.
Ophelia loves her husband but this time traveling thing is driving her crazy. She doesn’t know how much longer she can take it. How is she supposed to continue living in a world where, what she remembers happening gets changed constantly by her husband going back in time?
Of course, she could confide in her friends who are in the same boat as her, but would they truly understand what she goes through? It seems she is the only one struggling like this. At the same time though, Will doesn’t seem to be thrilled about the time travel either. Every time he comes back something different happens. It’s beginning to affect his memory and sometimes he can’t remember what has happened even causing time lapse in their marriage. He knows all this time traveling mess is taking a toll on his marriage. He also knows that he is damn lucky to have Ophelia as his wife, his anchor. And no matter what, he will always, always come back to her.
Lynda Engler’s words just flowed off the screen at me. I couldn’t stop reading. I felt like I was being swallowed whole by the story. So much was happening, constant emotions swarmed through me. I can’t wait to read more by her.
“You know I’ll always come back to you sweetheart”
Ophelia is unlucky enough to be the wife of an involuntary time traveler. At any given time, Will can be snatched away. It doesn’t matter what is going on or what he is doing. Will always makes it back to her though, he calls her his anchor. No matter where he goes, he knows she is there waiting on him.
Ophelia loves her husband but this time traveling thing is driving her crazy. She doesn’t know how much longer she can take it. How is she supposed to continue living in a world where, what she remembers happening gets changed constantly by her husband going back in time?
Of course, she could confide in her friends who are in the same boat as her, but would they truly understand what she goes through? It seems she is the only one struggling like this. At the same time though, Will doesn’t seem to be thrilled about the time travel either. Every time he comes back something different happens. It’s beginning to affect his memory and sometimes he can’t remember what has happened even causing time lapse in their marriage. He knows all this time traveling mess is taking a toll on his marriage. He also knows that he is damn lucky to have Ophelia as his wife, his anchor. And no matter what, he will always, always come back to her.
Lynda Engler’s words just flowed off the screen at me. I couldn’t stop reading. I felt like I was being swallowed whole by the story. So much was happening, constant emotions swarmed through me. I can’t wait to read more by her.
March 10, 2019
The premise is good but this book needs a lot of work. I like the idea and the way that time travel was approached, but the plot is too simple and the point of view is not ideal. This book is mostly told from the point of view of one of the wives of one the time travelers, which means most of the time we don’t get to go on exciting time travel adventures. Instead we get to hear about them secondhand after they occur. Most of the action of the story is told to us instead of shown to us. Like all time travel stories, there has to be a method for the time travel, and I think the one chosen here is excellent. It’s just not surrounded by an excellent plot. The main problem in the story is solved in a boring, rather simplistic way by one of the main characters. And the problem is not really solved, but rather abandoned. But again the premise and method of time travel were great so I gave it three stars.
January 5, 2020
I love just about anything with a time travel premise. This novella packs a ton of great plotting and good character development into a small package. The premise is a clever twist on the usual idea of time travel.
It’s amazing how I was able to gain a sense of the characters in such a short book. The main character, Ophelia, was quite likable and I couldn’t help but sympathize with her and her husband for the quandary they were in.
Everything was wrapped up cleverly and plausibly at the end.
The narrator, Ann Bumback is a great unused resource in the audiobook world. She has a delightful voice and does a nice job with the character’s voices and the pacing of the story. I would love to hear her being used by other authors
My only complaint is that this was such an interesting idea, I wish the book had been longer.
I was given a complementary copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
It’s amazing how I was able to gain a sense of the characters in such a short book. The main character, Ophelia, was quite likable and I couldn’t help but sympathize with her and her husband for the quandary they were in.
Everything was wrapped up cleverly and plausibly at the end.
The narrator, Ann Bumback is a great unused resource in the audiobook world. She has a delightful voice and does a nice job with the character’s voices and the pacing of the story. I would love to hear her being used by other authors
My only complaint is that this was such an interesting idea, I wish the book had been longer.
I was given a complementary copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
September 24, 2017
( Format : Audiobook )
"We've had Rufus for 6 years, since he was a kitten."
A clever twist on the time travel concept. A small group of students who knew each other at college become reluctant time travellers, each individually unexpectedly vanishing to reappear moments, hours or days later, which can cause far more difficulties for the wives left behind than might at first be obvious. Then one day, a traveller returns, murdered. Something has to be done. But where had he been?
This clever, twisting short story is well written, and nicely narrated by Ann Bumbak whose pleasant, steady and unemotional voice tells the story from the wife's perspective. Unusual and well worth the listen. My thanks to the rights holder who gifted me a complimentary copy of Time's Anchor, via Audiobook Boom, without any expectations in return.
"We've had Rufus for 6 years, since he was a kitten."
A clever twist on the time travel concept. A small group of students who knew each other at college become reluctant time travellers, each individually unexpectedly vanishing to reappear moments, hours or days later, which can cause far more difficulties for the wives left behind than might at first be obvious. Then one day, a traveller returns, murdered. Something has to be done. But where had he been?
This clever, twisting short story is well written, and nicely narrated by Ann Bumbak whose pleasant, steady and unemotional voice tells the story from the wife's perspective. Unusual and well worth the listen. My thanks to the rights holder who gifted me a complimentary copy of Time's Anchor, via Audiobook Boom, without any expectations in return.
June 27, 2019
This was a quirky little story about a group of people who let scientists run experiments on them to earn some extra cash during their college years. For some reason, the testing causes them to randomly disappear and reappear in different time frames. It's a very short and very easy to read. I would have given it full stars, but I felt it could have been drawn out a little and been given more depth.
I liked the narrator. They did a pretty decent job delivering the story. At the moment, I can't think of anything negative about the narration. Only the length of the book. I fully recommend.
I liked the narrator. They did a pretty decent job delivering the story. At the moment, I can't think of anything negative about the narration. Only the length of the book. I fully recommend.
May 7, 2017
This is a short story about time travel, but instead of focusing on those who travel, the twist here is on those left behind.
It is sort of exciting in the beginning of this experience, but after time, the true dangers, risks and results come to be known. Would these people make a different choice?
Can they change the course of history in a predetermined way?
A lot of content for the brief time allowed and well done.
It is sort of exciting in the beginning of this experience, but after time, the true dangers, risks and results come to be known. Would these people make a different choice?
Can they change the course of history in a predetermined way?
A lot of content for the brief time allowed and well done.
July 8, 2017
Great short story about time travel and it's effects. It's about a group of college students who participate in an experiment to earn a little extra cash. An unexpected side effect was time travel. The participants would experience random slips back in time, some lasting a few hours and others a few weeks. Things they do in the past definitely affect the future! Very cool story and great narration!
November 30, 2017
This short story takes a look at time travel through the eyes of Will and his wife Ophelia. Will is the traveler, but what he does has a profound affect on both of their lives and it would seem in the lives of the world around them. When Will travels in time, even the smallest thing he does can change history as we know it. This is an intriguing look at the idea of time travel and I think it would make a great full length novel.
March 10, 2020
I have always loved books about time travel. I have recently written one that honestly was not as good as this story. The book spins a mystery as people jump around the continuum of Time. Part of the clues involve the history of Las Vegas. I live there and have been interested in the city for 30 years, that just made it more interesting to me. I highly recommend this quick read and will be looking into other books from Lynda Engler.
March 23, 2022
Not A Waste of Time
This is a pretty short story and takes little time to read it. It’s an interesting story of time travel, but doesn’t dwell on that aspect of the situation. Instead, the story deals mostly with how those who are left behind or waiting or in place in time deal with the situation when their loved one travels. Fascinating perspective. Well worth the time spent to read.
This is a pretty short story and takes little time to read it. It’s an interesting story of time travel, but doesn’t dwell on that aspect of the situation. Instead, the story deals mostly with how those who are left behind or waiting or in place in time deal with the situation when their loved one travels. Fascinating perspective. Well worth the time spent to read.
August 19, 2019
I read this fairly short ebook in one sitting while indulging in a reading fest due to being unwell. I enjoyed the intriguing, contemporary time travel theme and I am still trying to get my head around it. It has overtones of 'The Time Traveller's Wife' and is a nice introduction to this author It's a charming, gentle read and would work well for a book group looking for something quite short.
December 11, 2019
I loved this short story about a group of MIT students who sign up as test subjects for a physics study and end up as involuntary time travellers. The fallout from their odd adventures and it's effect on their spouses reminded me somewhat of the Time Traveller's Wife, but the outcome is much happier.
Well worth your time.
Well worth your time.
May 1, 2021
Time's Anchor was a good read by Lynda Engler. Ophelia's husband disappeared and after ten years she doesn't understand why she puts up with it. Other than the fact that she's loved him since the first time she saw him. I enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by the author.
August 15, 2017
Time's anchor is a A mystery exploring what happens when an experiment in time travel goes wrong. This story is a little sad in some parts.
January 29, 2020
An interesting story about some people who agree to a science experiment, yet something unexpected happens to them.
January 1, 2022
Enjoyed it
Quite short, but I enjoyed it.
A fun concept, well written. It kept my attention.
Good if you enjoy time travel novels.
Quite short, but I enjoyed it.
A fun concept, well written. It kept my attention.
Good if you enjoy time travel novels.
October 24, 2017
Time's Anchor is a short story with so much theories about time traveling. Ophelia has had enough of Will's involuntary time traveling. Ever since the accident in a physic class experiment, Will has been slipping into time and returning unexpectedly. Even moving away didn't distance the effect from the experiment of Will disappearing and returning.
Ophelia has always a time's anchor to Will. She is what kept Will going to find away to stop the experiment from taking place.
For 35 pages in this story, there is so much theories of time traveling and being careful of not upsetting time. The ending left me feeling like there is something more as to another book to resolve the rest of the other characters' dilemma of trying to prevent the experiment from happening. It just left me wondering the cause and effect of time traveling.
For anyone who is interested about time traveling, this short story delivers more than a novel would about the butterfly efforts of trying to control time and traveling in time.
The narrator, Ann Bumbak has a pleasant voice to listen to. Her voice is enjoyable to listen to. I would like to listen to the narrator's voice again.
I was given this audiobook by the author. I have volunteered to write an unbiased review for this book. I was not compensated or influenced in anyway for writing this review.
Ophelia has always a time's anchor to Will. She is what kept Will going to find away to stop the experiment from taking place.
For 35 pages in this story, there is so much theories of time traveling and being careful of not upsetting time. The ending left me feeling like there is something more as to another book to resolve the rest of the other characters' dilemma of trying to prevent the experiment from happening. It just left me wondering the cause and effect of time traveling.
For anyone who is interested about time traveling, this short story delivers more than a novel would about the butterfly efforts of trying to control time and traveling in time.
The narrator, Ann Bumbak has a pleasant voice to listen to. Her voice is enjoyable to listen to. I would like to listen to the narrator's voice again.
I was given this audiobook by the author. I have volunteered to write an unbiased review for this book. I was not compensated or influenced in anyway for writing this review.
July 6, 2019
Ophelia's husband took part in a study in college to get money he needed since he was constantly broke and it paid very well, but now he is paying the price in time. No he doesn't have cancer or anything like that, but he disappears randomly and is sent all over time, the first time he was sent he was dropped in the middle of the civil war. But it is really Ophelia and the other wives that pay the price. But after one the travelers is found dead, they shift their focus to trying to make their disappearances stop, but can they do it before any one is hurt or anymore are hurt?
This is a very different type of time travel book as there is no control over when, where or how long. This book sucked me in from the very beginning and never let me go. If you are lucky enough to have gotten the audio narrated by the very talented Ann Bumbak than you are most certainly in for a treat as this story told from Ophelia's point of view comes alive through Mrs. Bumbak's awesome storytelling. So if you get this book in audio or print I think you will like this tale of love through time.
This is a very different type of time travel book as there is no control over when, where or how long. This book sucked me in from the very beginning and never let me go. If you are lucky enough to have gotten the audio narrated by the very talented Ann Bumbak than you are most certainly in for a treat as this story told from Ophelia's point of view comes alive through Mrs. Bumbak's awesome storytelling. So if you get this book in audio or print I think you will like this tale of love through time.
September 17, 2019
Time’s Anchor, my third read from author Lynda Engler. Time's Anchor was wonderfully written work with engaging characters. The problem with short works is just that, they're short. I’m happy to see the story is not complete because it’s so engrossing that it needs completion. Now I’ve been given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily re-reading & reviewing it and since I own both the Audible & Kindle editions I was able to follow along while being read to. Ann Bumbak’s talented, matter-of-fact narration adds to the well-written book's enjoyment. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews