What do you think?
Rate this book
The Heart of the Alchemist
When the love of her life dumps her, Katie spends three years living with a broken heart. Seeing him with his new fiancée prompts her to make some changes, but before she can, Katie is torn abruptly from twenty-first century Chicago. Landing in Elizabethan England, she finds herself in a room with a handsome alchemist named Robert. Unable to send her home, Lord Robert assumes the role of her guardian and helps her learn how to live in 1566 London. Robert’s father, the spymaster to Queen Elizabeth, sees the value in Katie’s knowledge from the future and allows her to come to court. Plunged into a world of scandals and secrets she doesn’t understand, Katie risks her life to earn Lord Robert’s trust. As a man with questionable intent begins to pursue her, stirring Robert to jealousy, Katie discovers she may feel more for Robert than she thought. Being a woman in the sixteenth century where she may be disciplined, married off, or locked away is fraught with perils. But has Katie found love despite these dangers? Publisher's This exciting time travel romance contains some explicit scenes and elements of power exchange.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2017
13 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Penny Wells
1 book2 followersPenny Wells has been writing stories since she knew what a story was. She loves reading and especially enjoys a lush fantasy novel or an engaging historical drama. Wells lives in the United States with her husband, who is an avid reader of nonfiction. When she isn't wrapped up in the consumption or crafting of words, she can often be found curled up with a warm drink and cozy craft.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 30, 2017
Three years ago, Katie was dumped by the love of her life. He’s moved on to the beautiful woman wearing his ring on her finger while Katie is stuck in her dead-end life at her dead-end job. The day she sees him with his new love, she has a mini breakdown and somehow she ends up in the year 1566. There she meets Robert, the son of the spymaster to the Queen, who studies alchemy. Somehow one of his experiments brought her to the past and he has no idea how to send her back. He’s tasked with helping her assimilate to her new life. A person of suspicious intent enters the picture and the situation between Katie and Robert becomes more intense. The chemistry between becomes hard to resist despite the perils they may face.
Anyone who loves Back to the Future has to love anything to do with time travel. I know I do. Combine that with my love of historical romance and you’ve got a recipe for success, at least in my eyes. However, this wasn’t a total winner for me. This is owed to the fact that I lacked any sort of connection or interest in the heroine. I didn’t feel like I knew her that well. So it was impossible for me to care deeply for her. Another reason, which is related to the first, is that I needed Robert’s POV to add dimension to the story. Maybe his perspective would have made me more invested in their story. Regardless, the tone, pace and plot were on point and the story held my attention right through to the end.
Release Date: August 13, 2017
Genre: Sci-Fi Historical Romance
POV: Heroine - 3rd person
Heat: 2.5 out of 5
Type: Standalone
Anyone who loves Back to the Future has to love anything to do with time travel. I know I do. Combine that with my love of historical romance and you’ve got a recipe for success, at least in my eyes. However, this wasn’t a total winner for me. This is owed to the fact that I lacked any sort of connection or interest in the heroine. I didn’t feel like I knew her that well. So it was impossible for me to care deeply for her. Another reason, which is related to the first, is that I needed Robert’s POV to add dimension to the story. Maybe his perspective would have made me more invested in their story. Regardless, the tone, pace and plot were on point and the story held my attention right through to the end.
Release Date: August 13, 2017
Genre: Sci-Fi Historical Romance
POV: Heroine - 3rd person
Heat: 2.5 out of 5
Type: Standalone
September 6, 2017
I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY SECRET, BUT I THINK I AM TRULY YOURS
I always enjoy a good time travel romance and Ms. Wells has definitely entertained me with this tale that starts in 2017 America and our main character, Katie, is catapulted back into time to 1566, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, I.
Katie works a job as a barista at a coffee shop, just going about the same thing, day after day. She has become a disappointment to her parents, dropping out of her master’s program, and not continuing with her education or finding a suitable career. Seeing the man she was in love with at the coffee shop, with another woman, brings all the pain back to the surface of their break-up. On the way home that night, tragedy will alter the course of her life.
Lord Robert, son of the Queen’s spymaster, Lord William, and a man who also works as a spy has a hobby, that of an alchemist. It is something that he must keep a secret, lest he is accused of witchcraft. While searching an ancient text, looking for the Philosopher’s Stone, he instead brings Katie to him. Now what to do with this woman, dresses unseemly, and carrying a strange item.
The plot will have Katie transported from her humdrum life in 2017 America to 1566 Elizabethan Era, London England. She will become Lady Katherine, a widow who has lost most of her memory, no family, no known history, no money, and at the mercy of Lord Robert and his father, Lord William. She has nothing to offer, except to become a pawn used by Lord William to get information on Lord Sebastian.
The story will have several twists and turns, and with Katherine’s knowledge of the future, it may work to the advantage of Lords William and Robert. She is even granted the favor of Queen Elizabeth and gifted with fine garments. Two people, Robert and Katherine, will become more than Guardian and Ward, and their relationship will include a spanking, ordered by Lord William and a clandestine love affair because of their physical attraction to each other. Then having to tolerate the advances of Lord Sebastian as a spy for Lord William will come with some unsavory encounters.
Will Katherine be able to obtain information needed to help Lord William? What will happen between her and Robert? What does the future hold and will Katherine ever return to her former life? The story does take on a life and death situation for Katherine that depicts the horrors of false accusations, a trial, and impending death sentence.
I always enjoy a good time travel romance and Ms. Wells has definitely entertained me with this tale that starts in 2017 America and our main character, Katie, is catapulted back into time to 1566, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, I.
Katie works a job as a barista at a coffee shop, just going about the same thing, day after day. She has become a disappointment to her parents, dropping out of her master’s program, and not continuing with her education or finding a suitable career. Seeing the man she was in love with at the coffee shop, with another woman, brings all the pain back to the surface of their break-up. On the way home that night, tragedy will alter the course of her life.
Lord Robert, son of the Queen’s spymaster, Lord William, and a man who also works as a spy has a hobby, that of an alchemist. It is something that he must keep a secret, lest he is accused of witchcraft. While searching an ancient text, looking for the Philosopher’s Stone, he instead brings Katie to him. Now what to do with this woman, dresses unseemly, and carrying a strange item.
The plot will have Katie transported from her humdrum life in 2017 America to 1566 Elizabethan Era, London England. She will become Lady Katherine, a widow who has lost most of her memory, no family, no known history, no money, and at the mercy of Lord Robert and his father, Lord William. She has nothing to offer, except to become a pawn used by Lord William to get information on Lord Sebastian.
The story will have several twists and turns, and with Katherine’s knowledge of the future, it may work to the advantage of Lords William and Robert. She is even granted the favor of Queen Elizabeth and gifted with fine garments. Two people, Robert and Katherine, will become more than Guardian and Ward, and their relationship will include a spanking, ordered by Lord William and a clandestine love affair because of their physical attraction to each other. Then having to tolerate the advances of Lord Sebastian as a spy for Lord William will come with some unsavory encounters.
Will Katherine be able to obtain information needed to help Lord William? What will happen between her and Robert? What does the future hold and will Katherine ever return to her former life? The story does take on a life and death situation for Katherine that depicts the horrors of false accusations, a trial, and impending death sentence.
September 20, 2017
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a stand alone and has a HEA. This book was very creative and original. I loved the characters and the struggles with both time eras. I love historical fiction!
I think Robert came off extremely strong in the beginning almost the point of rude. The book was loosely like a dirty version of Beauty and the Beast. Katie was in a mess in her present life and was just existing until Robert came to her life. I still can't believe that they wouldn't have tried away to go back with Robert.
Katie does the best she can, given the situation and I loved Queen Elizabeth in this book, she's exactly how I pictured her. I also loved the action and how they displayed that era. I loved the ending!
Book Blurb:
When the love of her life dumps her, Katie spends three years living with a broken heart.
Seeing him with his new fiancée prompts her to make some changes, but before she can, Katie is torn abruptly from twenty-first century Chicago.
Landing in Elizabethan England, she finds herself in a room with a handsome alchemist named
Robert. Unable to send her home, Lord Robert assumes the role of her guardian and helps her learn how to live in 1566 London. Robert’s father, the spymaster to Queen Elizabeth, sees the value in Katie’s knowledge from the future and allows her to come to court. Plunged into a world of scandals and secrets she doesn’t understand, Katie risks her life to earn Lord Robert’s trust.
As a man with questionable intent begins to pursue her, stirring Robert to jealousy, Katie discovers she may feel more for Robert than she thought. Being a woman in the sixteenth century where she may be disciplined, married off, or locked away is fraught with perils. But has Katie found love despite these dangers?
Publisher's Note: This exciting time travel romance contains some explicit scenes and elements of power exchange.
I think Robert came off extremely strong in the beginning almost the point of rude. The book was loosely like a dirty version of Beauty and the Beast. Katie was in a mess in her present life and was just existing until Robert came to her life. I still can't believe that they wouldn't have tried away to go back with Robert.
Katie does the best she can, given the situation and I loved Queen Elizabeth in this book, she's exactly how I pictured her. I also loved the action and how they displayed that era. I loved the ending!
Book Blurb:
When the love of her life dumps her, Katie spends three years living with a broken heart.
Seeing him with his new fiancée prompts her to make some changes, but before she can, Katie is torn abruptly from twenty-first century Chicago.
Landing in Elizabethan England, she finds herself in a room with a handsome alchemist named
Robert. Unable to send her home, Lord Robert assumes the role of her guardian and helps her learn how to live in 1566 London. Robert’s father, the spymaster to Queen Elizabeth, sees the value in Katie’s knowledge from the future and allows her to come to court. Plunged into a world of scandals and secrets she doesn’t understand, Katie risks her life to earn Lord Robert’s trust.
As a man with questionable intent begins to pursue her, stirring Robert to jealousy, Katie discovers she may feel more for Robert than she thought. Being a woman in the sixteenth century where she may be disciplined, married off, or locked away is fraught with perils. But has Katie found love despite these dangers?
Publisher's Note: This exciting time travel romance contains some explicit scenes and elements of power exchange.
September 27, 2017
Enthralling ....
In general historical romance is not my go to genre but armed with the fact that I love the TV show Outlander and this time travelling heroine ends up in my favourite period in history I decided to give it a go.... wow I am so pleased that I took the chance.
The author is a compelling storyteller...her imagined world and the characters within are so carefully observed and believable....when we meet Katherine she is in a career and love life slump then fast backward to the Elizabethan era and suddenly she is very much in demand.... the narrative is told from Katherine’s point of view ..I love this concept of a modern day character having to negotiate a time gone by with some school level knowledge and not much else ...Katherine’s inner voice reflects some of her misconceptions and gaps in knowledge ....the man who drags her into his world is Robert , an alchemist and a man of his time who has his own methods of dealing with recalcitrant females..
This is not just a love story; Katherine and her ‘insider knowledge’ prove useful within the Elizabethan Court in an era of intrigue.... slowly but surely she becomes embroiled in the machinations of ambitious men in a world where anything unexplained risks being labelled as witchcraft....
This was a thoroughly entertaining and enthralling romance which took me on a journey to a bygone age ...This book was reviewed for Summer's Eve Reads...
In general historical romance is not my go to genre but armed with the fact that I love the TV show Outlander and this time travelling heroine ends up in my favourite period in history I decided to give it a go.... wow I am so pleased that I took the chance.
The author is a compelling storyteller...her imagined world and the characters within are so carefully observed and believable....when we meet Katherine she is in a career and love life slump then fast backward to the Elizabethan era and suddenly she is very much in demand.... the narrative is told from Katherine’s point of view ..I love this concept of a modern day character having to negotiate a time gone by with some school level knowledge and not much else ...Katherine’s inner voice reflects some of her misconceptions and gaps in knowledge ....the man who drags her into his world is Robert , an alchemist and a man of his time who has his own methods of dealing with recalcitrant females..
This is not just a love story; Katherine and her ‘insider knowledge’ prove useful within the Elizabethan Court in an era of intrigue.... slowly but surely she becomes embroiled in the machinations of ambitious men in a world where anything unexplained risks being labelled as witchcraft....
This was a thoroughly entertaining and enthralling romance which took me on a journey to a bygone age ...This book was reviewed for Summer's Eve Reads...
August 15, 2017
Let me say that, I couldn't seem to put this book down once I started it. I really connected with the heroine and if I were to time travel accidentally like her I could totally see wanting to end up in the same situation as her and yet could completely understand the issues and frustrations that she had. I particularly liked the heroine's thoughts on what an archaeologist from the future would think of finding a cellphone in a medieval trash pile. There were also quite a few twists and turns in the plot, however, the ending seemed a bit ... rushed? anti-climatic? Without giving away any spoilers, I'll say it felt like the kind of ending that would delight women of the 50s more than modern women. But in all fairness, in terms of historical accuracy, the ending is probably more accurate than what would a modern woman might expect. I do kind of wish there had been a bit more about the issue of missing her family but overall this was a very nice enjoyable romp through Elizabethan England.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
August 16, 2017
I enjoyed this time travel romance, which kept me on the hook from beginning to end. The characters were well-developed and believable. The plot was creative and clever with plenty of twists. I would have liked more discipline scenes, although the power exchange element was clear and consistent. The erotic scenes were well-written and fit in to the story seamlessly. This book is a page turner with romance, trust issues, danger and suspense.
November 12, 2017
>Book review – The Heart of the Alchemist
>I am an independent reviewer. This book is a standalone regency romance that ends in an HEA. Robert dabbles in alchemy and accidentally calls Katherine forth from the future to Elizabethan England. Katherine seems brash to an regency gentleman. He is confused as to what to do with her. He actually is fairly brutal and mistreats her in the beginning. I think he doesn't think she is real, or doesn't think she will stick around very long. Once Robert realizes Katherine is here to stay, his feelings for her change.
>Robert's father is the spymaster to Queen Elizabeth. He also seems to be weirdly attracted to Katherine, which he fights by being cruel to her. Because Katherine knows the future, Robert is afraid she will be tried as a witch and tries to protect her. Their relationship is as romantic as can be in an era where men own women. This book differs from other time travel romances by showing the side of this time period, warts and all.
>Katherine finds herself involved in a spy's love triangle, which leads to her and Robert finally coming together. The epilogue tricks the reader, but is fun to read. This book is appropriate for an adult audience. I am giving the book 5 stars.
>I am an independent reviewer. This book is a standalone regency romance that ends in an HEA. Robert dabbles in alchemy and accidentally calls Katherine forth from the future to Elizabethan England. Katherine seems brash to an regency gentleman. He is confused as to what to do with her. He actually is fairly brutal and mistreats her in the beginning. I think he doesn't think she is real, or doesn't think she will stick around very long. Once Robert realizes Katherine is here to stay, his feelings for her change.
>Robert's father is the spymaster to Queen Elizabeth. He also seems to be weirdly attracted to Katherine, which he fights by being cruel to her. Because Katherine knows the future, Robert is afraid she will be tried as a witch and tries to protect her. Their relationship is as romantic as can be in an era where men own women. This book differs from other time travel romances by showing the side of this time period, warts and all.
>Katherine finds herself involved in a spy's love triangle, which leads to her and Robert finally coming together. The epilogue tricks the reader, but is fun to read. This book is appropriate for an adult audience. I am giving the book 5 stars.
September 6, 2017
What an intriguing story! Our heroine is a barista getting over a failed relationship and trying to find a future for herself. Walking home from work an incident occurs and suddenly she is transported to Elizabethan England. There she is met by the man who inadvertently caused her to time travel and he is as shocked as she is. It seems to take several days for either of them to come to grips with their new reality. I love Tudor and Elizabethan history and have read a great deal about this era. I cannot rave enough about the research and historical accuracy that has gone into this novel. The man who is summoned our heroine is the son of the spymaster to Queen Elizabeth herself. This allows our heroine entrance to the court of Queen Elizabeth and all the intrigue within. There are mysteries, crimes, spankings, and love triangles provided in this hard to resist novel. At the core is a young woman finding herself, finding someone she can trust and love, and finding her future, even if that future is in the past. Don't miss this one! I look forward to reading more by this talented author.
August 15, 2017
An exciting time travel book, well written. Loved the characters. Katie living in 2017 had no direction, didn't know what to do with her life, and was wallowing in hearbreak. Robert is living in the shadow of his father in 1566 really no direction either but he has a hobby, Alchemy. Robert is tinkering with an ancient text when a women appears out of nowhere. Now the fun begins what is he going to do with her? How is he going to explain her presence. A wonderful look at what the court of Queen Elizabeth the first might have been like. Some neat twists and a sweet ending.
August 18, 2017
This book had a lot of intense characters and moments. It had an interesting story. It was angsty- which I like. There was a little bit of a roller coaster going on-emotion-wise. What a horrible position Katie is put in- from modern woman equal to men to being subservient to men! I really enjoyed Katie's journey back in time. Can she be happy? 4.5 stars. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
August 15, 2017
This is a great time travel adventure, with a barista, working in a cafe in 2017, transported to England in the 1500's under Queen Elizabeth's reign. Katie almost meets death but is rescued by a spy. Romance and spankings, balanced with suspense, makes this a great read. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
August 23, 2017
This story is light hearted at time but filled with intrigue so much it was hard to put the book down. The characters are interesting and complex and the plot line is both engaging and a nail biter at times. I would recommend this book to anyone who like a mystery with a little disciplined. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews