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The Time Collector
A thrilling page-turner from Gwendolyn Womack, the USA Today bestselling author of The Fortune Teller
Travel through time with the touch of a hand.
Roan West was born with an extraordinary gift: he can perceive the past of any object he touches. A highly skilled pyschometrist, he uses his talents to find and sell valuable antiques, but his quiet life in New Orleans is about to change. Stuart, a fellow pyschometrist and Roan’s close friend, has used his own abilities to unearth several out-of-place-artifacts or “ooparts”—like a ring that once belonged to the seventeenth-century mathematician and philosopher René Descartes, but was found buried in prehistoric bedrock.
The relics challenge recorded history, but soon after the discovery, Stuart disappears, making him one of several psychometrists who have recently died or vanished without a trace. When Roan comes across a viral video of a young woman who has discovered a priceless pocket watch just by “sensing” it, he knows he has to warn her—but will Melicent Tilpin listen? And can Roan find Stuart before it’s too late?
The quest for answers will lead Roan and Melicent around the world—before it brings them closer to each other and a startling truth—in the latest romantic thriller from Gwendolyn Womack, the bestselling, PRISM Award-winning author of The Memory Painter and The Fortune Teller.
Travel through time with the touch of a hand.
Roan West was born with an extraordinary gift: he can perceive the past of any object he touches. A highly skilled pyschometrist, he uses his talents to find and sell valuable antiques, but his quiet life in New Orleans is about to change. Stuart, a fellow pyschometrist and Roan’s close friend, has used his own abilities to unearth several out-of-place-artifacts or “ooparts”—like a ring that once belonged to the seventeenth-century mathematician and philosopher René Descartes, but was found buried in prehistoric bedrock.
The relics challenge recorded history, but soon after the discovery, Stuart disappears, making him one of several psychometrists who have recently died or vanished without a trace. When Roan comes across a viral video of a young woman who has discovered a priceless pocket watch just by “sensing” it, he knows he has to warn her—but will Melicent Tilpin listen? And can Roan find Stuart before it’s too late?
The quest for answers will lead Roan and Melicent around the world—before it brings them closer to each other and a startling truth—in the latest romantic thriller from Gwendolyn Womack, the bestselling, PRISM Award-winning author of The Memory Painter and The Fortune Teller.
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2019
About the author
Gwendolyn Womack
3 books857 followersGwendolyn Womack is the bestselling author of The Fortune Teller, The Memory Painter, and The Time Collector. Her novels have been called genre-bending thrill rides - sci-fi thrillers, love stories, and historical fiction all rolled into one.
Gwendolyn lives in Los Angeles with her family, paints, and photographs kaleidoscopes as a hobby. Find her online at www.gwendolynwomack.com.
Gwendolyn lives in Los Angeles with her family, paints, and photographs kaleidoscopes as a hobby. Find her online at www.gwendolynwomack.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
April 16, 2019
Something I really, really hate is reading a book which everyone is five starring and wondering what they see in it that I do not. The Time Collector is one of those books. Not that there was anything wrong with it and I quite enjoyed the read, but definitely not five stars worth or even four.
I really liked the basic premise - people who could know the history of an item just by touching it. There was so much scope for a brilliant story there and the main character, Roan, had huge potential. I enjoyed the romance angle too and the way it contributed to the exciting scene at the end.
Somehow though I had picked up the idea that there would be time travel in the book. There was not which disappointed me. I also frequently felt besieged by the amount of knowledge the author kept throwing at me and I had to skim a lot of it.
My overall impression was that I had just enjoyed a perfectly nice, pleasant but not outstanding read. Entertaining but not memorable.
I really liked the basic premise - people who could know the history of an item just by touching it. There was so much scope for a brilliant story there and the main character, Roan, had huge potential. I enjoyed the romance angle too and the way it contributed to the exciting scene at the end.
Somehow though I had picked up the idea that there would be time travel in the book. There was not which disappointed me. I also frequently felt besieged by the amount of knowledge the author kept throwing at me and I had to skim a lot of it.
My overall impression was that I had just enjoyed a perfectly nice, pleasant but not outstanding read. Entertaining but not memorable.
March 24, 2019
This is an engrossing and very original book about a group of people who call themselves psychometrists. Just by touching an object they can tell its past history and connection with all the people who have handled it. Roan West has this gift and uses it to return stolen and lost artifacts to their owners or heirs. Recently a group of psychometrists, including Roan's friend Stuart, has become interested in "out of place artifacts' (known as OOPArts), objects found in the wrong place or an impossible timeline. When Stuart disappears, Roan becomes concerned about the group as one member recently committed suicide and another member has also disappeared. He is also worried about the safety of a young woman, Melicent, who was recently discovered to have the gift of psychometry in a video that is going viral. He realises he is going to have to discover more about the OOPArts and their connections if Melicent and the other psychometrists are to be safe.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book and learning about OOPArts (there is a lot of information on the net including theories and explanations). I also loved the characters of Roan and Melicent and would have liked to see more of them and their developing relationship in the novel alongside the action and intrigue. Overall, a very engaging read with great characters, plenty of action, and a touch of romance and magic! 4.5★
With thanks to Netgalley and MacMillan-Picador for a digital ARC to read.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book and learning about OOPArts (there is a lot of information on the net including theories and explanations). I also loved the characters of Roan and Melicent and would have liked to see more of them and their developing relationship in the novel alongside the action and intrigue. Overall, a very engaging read with great characters, plenty of action, and a touch of romance and magic! 4.5★
With thanks to Netgalley and MacMillan-Picador for a digital ARC to read.
May 4, 2019
I’ve not read a book like The Time Collector before, and its originality is a breath of fresh air! It’s not just that it spans genres either. It’s also the alluring and fascinating storyline! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Roan West has a gift in that he knows the past of any object he touches. He uses his gift for his work in finding and selling antiques, and he lives an easy life in New Orleans. (Have I mentioned I love antiques?)
Roan is a psychometrist, and his closest friend is also a psychometrist named Stuart. The latter has found artifacts of great value and interest, including something that once belonged to Rene Descartes.
Stuart’s items challenge recorded history, and he disappears…which is not the first time a psychometrist has disappeared.
Roan finds out about a woman named Melicent who has located an expensive watch just by “sensing” it. He wants to help her before it’s too late, and she disappears, too. Roan also wants to find Stuart and hopefully save him.
Roan and Melicent travel the world together, and the chemistry between them builds.
The Time Collector was quite an adventure story! It was entertaining, mind boggling, suspenseful, and chock-full of twists! Reading it was an exceptional experience, and I’m going to be digging through Womack’s backlist now.
I highly recommend The Time Collector to anyone looking for a well-written, original adventure that will keep you flipping the pages!
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Roan West has a gift in that he knows the past of any object he touches. He uses his gift for his work in finding and selling antiques, and he lives an easy life in New Orleans. (Have I mentioned I love antiques?)
Roan is a psychometrist, and his closest friend is also a psychometrist named Stuart. The latter has found artifacts of great value and interest, including something that once belonged to Rene Descartes.
Stuart’s items challenge recorded history, and he disappears…which is not the first time a psychometrist has disappeared.
Roan finds out about a woman named Melicent who has located an expensive watch just by “sensing” it. He wants to help her before it’s too late, and she disappears, too. Roan also wants to find Stuart and hopefully save him.
Roan and Melicent travel the world together, and the chemistry between them builds.
The Time Collector was quite an adventure story! It was entertaining, mind boggling, suspenseful, and chock-full of twists! Reading it was an exceptional experience, and I’m going to be digging through Womack’s backlist now.
I highly recommend The Time Collector to anyone looking for a well-written, original adventure that will keep you flipping the pages!
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
April 2, 2019
A fascinating and unique trip across time, continents and history with just the touch of a hand
SUMMARY
Roan West is a highly skilled psychometrist, able to perceive the past of any object he touches. He uses his talents to find, sell and even return valuable antiques. Stuart, a fellow psychometrist and Roan’s close friend, has just unearthed several “ooparts”, out-of-place-artifacts that challenge recorded history. Soon after this remarkable discovery, Stuart disappears, making him one of several psychometrists who have died mysteriously in recent months or vanished without a trace. When Roan comes across a YouTube video of a young woman who has discovered a priceless pocket watch by “sensing” it, he knows he has to warn her about the danger—but will Melicent Tilpin listen? And can Roan find Stuart before it’s too late?
REVIEW
Once again, Gwendolyn Womack has created a fascinating and unique tale of mystery, intrigue and adventure. Her writing is engaging and keeps you on the edge of your seat. She allows Roan and his extraordinary gift to take us on a perilous journey across time, across continents and across history. Just imagine being able to travel through time and transcend the laws of nature with just the touch of your hand.
Roan and Melicent are both captivating characters that ground the story in reality with their quest to find Stuart. They are the compass for this otherworldly tale of suspense with just a little romance thrown in.
I had the pleasure of hearing Gwendolyn Womack talk about this book a year ago and couldn’t wait for it to come out. I have absolutely loved both of her previous books: The Memory Painter and The Fortune Teller. Womack is originally from Houston, Texas. She moved to Alaska for college to become an environmental scientist and ended up in the theater department writing plays. Later she went on to receive an MFA in Directing Theatre, Video & Cinema from California Institute of the Arts. Currently she resides in Los Angeles with her family and collects kaleidoscopes and paints as a hobby.
Thanks to Netgalley, Gwendolyn Womack and Picador Macmillan for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Picador-Macmillan
Published April 16, 2019
SUMMARY
Roan West is a highly skilled psychometrist, able to perceive the past of any object he touches. He uses his talents to find, sell and even return valuable antiques. Stuart, a fellow psychometrist and Roan’s close friend, has just unearthed several “ooparts”, out-of-place-artifacts that challenge recorded history. Soon after this remarkable discovery, Stuart disappears, making him one of several psychometrists who have died mysteriously in recent months or vanished without a trace. When Roan comes across a YouTube video of a young woman who has discovered a priceless pocket watch by “sensing” it, he knows he has to warn her about the danger—but will Melicent Tilpin listen? And can Roan find Stuart before it’s too late?
REVIEW
Once again, Gwendolyn Womack has created a fascinating and unique tale of mystery, intrigue and adventure. Her writing is engaging and keeps you on the edge of your seat. She allows Roan and his extraordinary gift to take us on a perilous journey across time, across continents and across history. Just imagine being able to travel through time and transcend the laws of nature with just the touch of your hand.
Roan and Melicent are both captivating characters that ground the story in reality with their quest to find Stuart. They are the compass for this otherworldly tale of suspense with just a little romance thrown in.
I had the pleasure of hearing Gwendolyn Womack talk about this book a year ago and couldn’t wait for it to come out. I have absolutely loved both of her previous books: The Memory Painter and The Fortune Teller. Womack is originally from Houston, Texas. She moved to Alaska for college to become an environmental scientist and ended up in the theater department writing plays. Later she went on to receive an MFA in Directing Theatre, Video & Cinema from California Institute of the Arts. Currently she resides in Los Angeles with her family and collects kaleidoscopes and paints as a hobby.
Thanks to Netgalley, Gwendolyn Womack and Picador Macmillan for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Picador-Macmillan
Published April 16, 2019
March 17, 2019
THE TIME COLLECTOR by Gwendolyn Womack crosses several sub-genres of books. It has elements of historical fiction based or inspired on actual events, a bit of romance, a bit of mystery, even a murder that is revealed late in the story. All these different factors combine to make a fascinating, delightful read that defies labels or any type of formula.
From the start of the book, the reader is captivated by the central character, Roan, a gifted paranormal psychometrist, who can touch an object and “see” emotions and events that people experienced while holding or owning the object. His gift, which has elements of being a curse at times, is so pronounced he goes everywhere wearing gloves so he can avoid touching things unless he specifically decided to “read” them.
As the book opens, Roan is supposed to meet a friend, another psychometrist, to do some rock climbing which is his way of releasing tension from his psychometric work. The trouble begins when his friend doesn’t show up, something totally out of character.
As Roan decides to investigate, he begins a trip he has schedule, only to stumble on a television show while in his hotel room that features an episode of the Antiques Roadshow and a young woman, Melicent, who brings a valuable watch to be valued. When the appraiser asks her where she found it, she reveals she uncovered it at a flea market and had suspected it had value from the images she got when she touched it.
That episode puts Roan and Melicent on a collision course. He feels compelled to meet her, but at their first exchange he leaves without talking with her. Then he learns there are other psychometrist who have disappeared and he begins to fear for their safety as well as Melicent’s. That sends him back to her just as someone tries to burn down her house with Melicent and her brother Parker in it.
These events bring Melicent and Roan together with him working to try and keep her safe while he tries to learn what is happening to his psychometrist friends. The path is full of danger and intrigue, along with encounters with some significant treasures having belonged to people over the decades and centuries. When Roan holds some of these objects, the point of view switches to the historical event he is experiencing and is written as though he is in the room, experiencing the event at the same time.
This switching of time zones can be a little confusing initially, but soon the reader becomes accustomed to the writing style and it doesn’t even create a blip on the radar in terms of pacing. The book itself is so well paced you can get lost for big chunks of time because you don’t want to put it down. The pace accelerates to a exciting conclusion for the final few chapters. At that point, it would be difficult to put it down without finding out how the book ends.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a story that combines wonderful character building and a plot that follows its own path. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will be looking for other books by Ms. Womack in the future. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Picador for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this book. This review and these opinions are completely my own.
From the start of the book, the reader is captivated by the central character, Roan, a gifted paranormal psychometrist, who can touch an object and “see” emotions and events that people experienced while holding or owning the object. His gift, which has elements of being a curse at times, is so pronounced he goes everywhere wearing gloves so he can avoid touching things unless he specifically decided to “read” them.
As the book opens, Roan is supposed to meet a friend, another psychometrist, to do some rock climbing which is his way of releasing tension from his psychometric work. The trouble begins when his friend doesn’t show up, something totally out of character.
As Roan decides to investigate, he begins a trip he has schedule, only to stumble on a television show while in his hotel room that features an episode of the Antiques Roadshow and a young woman, Melicent, who brings a valuable watch to be valued. When the appraiser asks her where she found it, she reveals she uncovered it at a flea market and had suspected it had value from the images she got when she touched it.
That episode puts Roan and Melicent on a collision course. He feels compelled to meet her, but at their first exchange he leaves without talking with her. Then he learns there are other psychometrist who have disappeared and he begins to fear for their safety as well as Melicent’s. That sends him back to her just as someone tries to burn down her house with Melicent and her brother Parker in it.
These events bring Melicent and Roan together with him working to try and keep her safe while he tries to learn what is happening to his psychometrist friends. The path is full of danger and intrigue, along with encounters with some significant treasures having belonged to people over the decades and centuries. When Roan holds some of these objects, the point of view switches to the historical event he is experiencing and is written as though he is in the room, experiencing the event at the same time.
This switching of time zones can be a little confusing initially, but soon the reader becomes accustomed to the writing style and it doesn’t even create a blip on the radar in terms of pacing. The book itself is so well paced you can get lost for big chunks of time because you don’t want to put it down. The pace accelerates to a exciting conclusion for the final few chapters. At that point, it would be difficult to put it down without finding out how the book ends.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a story that combines wonderful character building and a plot that follows its own path. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will be looking for other books by Ms. Womack in the future. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Picador for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this book. This review and these opinions are completely my own.
April 17, 2019
Loved reading about psychometrist or those who can get a history from touching an object. Womack brought together two persons with this skill and created an amazing romantic mystery. Clues to follow and danger had the characters traveling across the world to discover answers. Think this could be a series as there were some in depth auxiliary persons involved. "A copy of this book was provided by Macmillan-Picador via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion. PICK THIS UP YOU WILL LOVE ROAN AND MILICENT!
April 19, 2019
Have you ever finished a book with your heart racing and thought "woah, now that was a fun read!"? That just happened to me with The Time Collector by Gwendolyn Womack!
The Time Collector is genre-bending at it's best. Mystery, romance, historical, and the paranormal combine for an exciting and un-put-down-able adventure!
"Roan's eyes took in every bauble, knowing each one held a story. They were all doorways to the past, to histories tucked away. No item was immune, no matter how small. Even the copper spoon collection for ten dollars contained the moments of every hand that had ever held them."
I have never heard of pshychometrists - people who can see the past just by touching an object - before reading this book and I am fascinated now. I know I will never look at Antique stores the same again :) The scenes were they are reading an object were especially engrossing.
If you're looking for an exciting adventure that will keep you turning the pages, look no further than The Time Collector!
The Time Collector is genre-bending at it's best. Mystery, romance, historical, and the paranormal combine for an exciting and un-put-down-able adventure!
"Roan's eyes took in every bauble, knowing each one held a story. They were all doorways to the past, to histories tucked away. No item was immune, no matter how small. Even the copper spoon collection for ten dollars contained the moments of every hand that had ever held them."
I have never heard of pshychometrists - people who can see the past just by touching an object - before reading this book and I am fascinated now. I know I will never look at Antique stores the same again :) The scenes were they are reading an object were especially engrossing.
If you're looking for an exciting adventure that will keep you turning the pages, look no further than The Time Collector!
January 10, 2019
Womack weaves a suspenseful tale that tackles the question of “time”, how it’s measured, its impact on nature and human consciousness, and I could hardly put it down! The Time Collector is a treasure trove of ancient artifacts, mysticism, and intrigue, sprinkled with a dash of romance—my very favorite things. What a book!
April 15, 2019
Title: The Time Collector
Series: Standalone
Author: Gwendolyn Womack
Release date: April 16, 2019
Genre: fantasy, fiction, romance
This was my first Gwendolyn Womack book and it was such a breath of fresh air! It had a lot of elements that I enjoy reading but with a spin that felt thoroughly refreshing. The Time Collector was like a palate cleanser after reading a massive amount of books that are too predictable. I actually thought there may be some time travel in this book based on the synopsis, but that wasn't the case. This story explores the metaphysical: using psychometry to learn the history of everyday objects and their secrets, and interpreting that knowledge to theorize about how time works.
Psychometry is the ability to touch everyday objects and sense an "imprint" of the people it came in contact with through the years. In a sense, it was almost like the protagonist Roan was traveling through time. He could sift through the different layers of experiences and actually feel and see others' life events through history. These experiences felt so real that he would often refer to the people he saw in the present tense. As if they were old friends that have told him all of their most intimate details.
I loved reading about him using his heightened senses. Although he used them initially for monetary gain, he's grown into a man who consciously uses his gift to help others by delivering family heirlooms back to their rightful owners. After witnessing countless horrific tragedies spanning centuries, he wants to do his part to right some of those wrongs. He's also a bit of a loner, not trusting many people to accept his unusual abilities and all that comes with it. If anyone had told him he'd be intrigued with another psychometrist and tempted to break all of his rules for her, he'd never believe it.
...Melicent Tilpin was a comet that had come streaking across his world. Was he rescuing her or chasing her? Maybe both.
Melicent has led a pretty average life up until the loss of her mother. Now she carries the weight of taking care of her grieving teenage brother, a mountain of debt, and the possibility of losing their family home on her shoulders. When she uses her inexplicable ability to sense things in objects to sell a valuable antique on television, she draws the kind of attention that could very well get her killed. This is where the mystery comes in. Someone is targeting people like her: disappearances, arson, and even murder are occurring. Roan soon discovers that the Ooparts (out of place artifacts) play a central role in the mystery surrounding these crimes. He must solve the mystery of why they are so important and how they work before anyone else gets hurt.
Womack blended scientific theory on time, history, and unexplained mysteries like crop circles and out of place artifacts to create a multi-layered plot that was unlike anything I've read before. The romance between Roan and Melicent wasn't heavily focused on in comparison, but it was just the right balance to keep me invested in their feelings for each other. It was a tricky attraction to say the least. Imagine you had the ability to delve into a person's past with a brush of your hand. Roan is forced to wear gloves most of the day in order to avoid unintentionally invading people's privacy.
He couldn't imagine attempting a relationship with another psychometrist. Not only would he have to worry about holding her hand, he'd have to worry about her holding his. The problem was that was exactly what he wanted to do with Melicent.
This story drew me in immediately, and my interest didn't wander for a minute. The ending built in suspense and I was glued to the pages as I flew towards the conclusion. I ended up taking half of a star off my rating because while I enjoyed the action in the end, I just wished there had been an epilogue because things were left a little open ended for my taste. I wish more answers could have been given and the fate of the villian more conclusive. But that's just me. Some readers enjoy when things are left up to their own interpretation. If you love books that take you outside of your typical box and shake things up, try The Time Collector. The author is an eloquent storyteller that held me absolutely riveted. Highly recommended! I already ordered another paperback of hers and without a doubt I'll be reading it the earliest chance I get.
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April 10, 2019
A very enjoyable read, something completely different, not without its flaws, but intriguing all the same.
Roan West has a rare gift. He is one of the few people in the world who are called pyschometrists. He can tell the history of an object and all that have come in contact with it, just by touching it. He is among the best in the world having honed his skills over the years.
After making his fortune, he spends his time finding old antiques that are family heir looms and returns them to their rightful owners. Based in New Orleans, he travels the world with his work.
His friend from London Stuart, another pyschometrist, has been concentrating on out of place artifacts called ooparts. These are objects that have been found from history but in places that do not match their history, like a 17th century ring that was found in a prehistoric rock!
These objects are out of place in time and when Stuart goes missing along with another couple of pyschometrists, Roan decides to investigate and try to find his friend and what he may have uncovered.
When Roan sees a viral video of a woman called Melicent Tiplin on the Antiques Roadshow showing a watch that she found which is valued at over $2 million, a find which she says she sensed was valuable, he knows he has found another potential pyschometrist and has to warn her that she may be in danger because of the ooparts and the other missing pyschometrists.
They end up travelling the world trying to find Stuart and unravelling the clues that may lead them to understand the meaning of the ooparts and the value they may have.
So it alls sounds quite complicated from my above description but honestly this is quite easy to follow. Its a bit out there with some mad ideas but its very clever in doing so and it doesnt detract from the overall story.
The first half or even three quarters of this book are great. There is loads of mystery and intrigue and the blossoming romance between Roan and Mellicent.
There are also some fantastic flashback sequences to various points in history when objects are being touched. They are like little short stories within the novel and while not always directly relevant to the story they are always of interest and add an extra dimension to the book and give the whole story more meaning.
The book does trail off a little bit towards the final quarter as the story kind of simplifies itself out as we reach the finale but it doesnt take away from the overall enjoyment of the book.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Macillan-Picador and Gwendolyn Womack for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Roan West has a rare gift. He is one of the few people in the world who are called pyschometrists. He can tell the history of an object and all that have come in contact with it, just by touching it. He is among the best in the world having honed his skills over the years.
After making his fortune, he spends his time finding old antiques that are family heir looms and returns them to their rightful owners. Based in New Orleans, he travels the world with his work.
His friend from London Stuart, another pyschometrist, has been concentrating on out of place artifacts called ooparts. These are objects that have been found from history but in places that do not match their history, like a 17th century ring that was found in a prehistoric rock!
These objects are out of place in time and when Stuart goes missing along with another couple of pyschometrists, Roan decides to investigate and try to find his friend and what he may have uncovered.
When Roan sees a viral video of a woman called Melicent Tiplin on the Antiques Roadshow showing a watch that she found which is valued at over $2 million, a find which she says she sensed was valuable, he knows he has found another potential pyschometrist and has to warn her that she may be in danger because of the ooparts and the other missing pyschometrists.
They end up travelling the world trying to find Stuart and unravelling the clues that may lead them to understand the meaning of the ooparts and the value they may have.
So it alls sounds quite complicated from my above description but honestly this is quite easy to follow. Its a bit out there with some mad ideas but its very clever in doing so and it doesnt detract from the overall story.
The first half or even three quarters of this book are great. There is loads of mystery and intrigue and the blossoming romance between Roan and Mellicent.
There are also some fantastic flashback sequences to various points in history when objects are being touched. They are like little short stories within the novel and while not always directly relevant to the story they are always of interest and add an extra dimension to the book and give the whole story more meaning.
The book does trail off a little bit towards the final quarter as the story kind of simplifies itself out as we reach the finale but it doesnt take away from the overall enjoyment of the book.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Macillan-Picador and Gwendolyn Womack for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2019
I truly enjoyed reading THE TIME COLLLECTOR and found this novel vastly entertaining with even a bit of romance. Roan West has a rare ability to relive the memories and history of an object with touch. Roan meet Melicent who shares his ability. So begins a wild adventure around the world. I highly recommend this book!
February 10, 2020
What if there is a portal to another realm of time? An ELSEWHERE and an ELSEWHEN. The Time Collector asks the reader to believe in the fascinating world of an OOPART. What's an oopart? An OOPART stands for 'out-of-place artifact' – something that doesn't belong in the timeline it was discovered. Turns out, this isn't a fictional phenomenon. True story. Ooparts HAVE been discovered around the world. Some of these objects are hard to explain. In London, Texas, a primitive looking iron hammer complete with wooden handle was discovered in Cretaceous Rock. Um...Cretaceous Rock is, like, 400 million years old. Humans didn't appear until 66 million years ago. The London Hammer, found in 1936, is just one example. If you want more info, well, you'll have to look it up. I'm just here to review the book. I was beyond captived while reading. The subject of psychometry – the supposed ability to gather facts about a person, place, or thing by touching or scrying an object of association, is compelling. Combining both subjects, Gwendolyn Womack blew me away with an engrossing story about objects from the past, and those gifted with the magic touch. Bending genre and time, Womack delivers an unbelievable story that's surprisingly believable. 4.5 🌟
May 23, 2019
2.5
This review and others posted over at my blog.
I was drawn to the cover of this book (ya girl loves keys) and I figured it would have some magical realism vibes.
It did.
But it also had a really annoying insta-romance that soon took over the book and sucked away any enjoyment I had. Sigh.
I do still think the concept is great. I’ve never read anything about psychometry before and this was a fun mix of magical realism, historical fiction, and a dash of sci-fi at the end. Roan is pretty powerful, or skilled, so he can sift through the various timelines of objects to view different memories easily. Basically, when he touches something it’s like watching a movie. I tried not to think too hard about this, because why would an object record the images, thoughts, sounds and feelings of the humans around it in a way that’s watchable like a movie? You’d think maybe some things would be unknown to the object – but I took all this at face value and it was a neat look at some historical moments.
Roan is a pretty good guy – he’s made a shit-ton of money from his skills, but he also uses them to give families a piece of their history back. He becomes involved with his friend’s project on researching “ooparts” (out-of-place artifacts) – items that are found in a place they couldn’t possibly be because of their historical period. It’s hard to explain, but that’s not important. What’s important is this goofy word, ooparts, is used so many times and I CANNOT take it seriously. At one point, some bad guys are beating the shit out of someone and one guy goes, “Where are the ooparts?” and instead of being concerned for the character in peril, I laughed out loud. So Roan is on this quest to find his missing friend, Stuart, and unravel this mystery of the ooparts and every time that damn word came up I had to chuckle. It’s still a cool concept, but I wish there was a better word for these artifacts.
This leads me to the writing style. I don’t need books to be full of verbal flourishes and obscure words I have to look up every other page. But as I read, the tone of this book was a bit too obvious for me. A prime example is Roan saving a lost girl at a train station:
“Melicent turned to see what he [Roan] was looking at and caught sight of the little girl, no more than five years old. She was staring alone like a scared animal afraid to cross the road as tears streamed down her face.
The little girl was lost.”
Roan then helps the girl find the police at the station and call her mother. The scene ends with, “Roan had helped the little girl find her way home.”
The bad analogy about the girl being like a scared animal paired with the fact that she’s FIVE and ALONE was enough to clue me in that she’s lost. No need to point out the obvious. Then, after Roan talks to her and uses his skills to help her remember her mother’s number so the cops can call her, it’s pretty obvious he helped her. But we had to be told that too, just so we could…what…really understand that he’s a nice guy?
There are a lot of strange details similar to the animal analogy throughout the book. Like, “Their lips came together in a lock, the connection between them tightening like a twisting coil.” Thaaat’s not very sexy. That made me chuckle too.
While we’re on the subject of smooching, let’s talk about the insta-love here. There’s attraction between Roan and Melicent immediately because they’re both sexy or whatever. They’re both pretty tropey too – Roan is the kind-hearted Rich Guy (like filthy fuckin’ rich) who has feelings that no one else can understand because of his skills and Melicent is the poor, hardworking Clumsy Girl who dresses casually. I didn’t flag it, but there’s a line saying something like, Melicent had always been clumsy, and then she fucking knocks over something precious or falls flat on her face or some shit. I’m so over it!
All through the story these two keep getting distracted by how horny they are for each other. I get that many people enjoy romantic tension – I even do sometimes! But these two were in some fairly dangerous situations and then they’d be side-eyeing each other, thinking about sexiness. Like, ok, maybe I can’t relate because I’ve never been in a life-threatening situation with a bo-hunk before. But it was ridiculous at times.
Roan also has a longtime female friend, Holly. They actually work together and we find out they grew up together too. But when Melicent first meets Holly, she has to be jealous because that’s how women work, right? So Holly doesn’t know what to make of Melicent when Roan brings Melicent and her brother to his office. Here are Melicent’s observations:
“Melicent didn’t know what to make of Roan’s partner. Holly Beauchene wasn’t the warmest person, and Melicent had a hard time seeing past the façade. Holly was too polished, too poised – too Southern. Not a speck of makeup was out of line, not a hair out of place. A woman who used that much hairspray must have issues.”
OKAY.
I have so many problems with his paragraph. First, can we get a break from the jealous female thing? Anyone reading this book knows without a doubt, Roan and Melicent are going to hook up. Do we really need her to feel threatened by another woman that he’s known way longer than Melicent? Can the two just be like, neutral? They don’t even have to be friends, though that would be a nice change of pace.
If Womack had just left it at Melicent thinking Holly wasn’t very warm, I’d be ok with it. It’s ok if Holly is going to be The Bitch and Melicent is going to feel Threatened because she hopes romance will bloom between her and Roan. That’s a tired scenario, but ok. Holly could be painted as a bitch by simply acting like one. Or, more to Womack’s style, she could just say, “Holly was a bitch.”
Instead, Melicent immediately takes a dig at Holly’s appearance. Maybe this is something that happens more often in books than I notice, but I noticed it this time and I’m so over it. Melicent is Clumsy and Casual, so she immediately judges Holly for being well-dressed and polished. I feel like Womack is insulting anyone who prefers to wear makeup and style their hair. I mean, come on…lots of hairspray equals having issues!? Not to mention, we don’t know how much “that much” is because Melicent has probably never used hairspray in her life. Maybe Holly just used a little. Even if she used a whole damn can, how does that relate to her personality!?
Oh, yeah…it doesn’t!
And “too Southern” – I don’t even know how to touch that statement. What in the hell is she implying? It’s likely that Holly was too polite and charming, but it’s a pretty broad statement. I just hate that whole paragraph. A lot.
Ok, that’s enough ranting.
Clearly, I’m not a fan of the writing style. I didn’t care about the romance and by the time I reached the end of the book I didn’t care about the plot either. Despite my ranting, this isn’t an awful book. It was entertaining enough for me to read all of it and at least the subject matter was refreshing. I don’t think I’ll be picking up anything else by Womack though. If you enjoy cheeseball romances, history and magical realism, you might like this book! I’m going to send this one to a friend who might get more enjoyment out of it than I did.
This review and others posted over at my blog.
I was drawn to the cover of this book (ya girl loves keys) and I figured it would have some magical realism vibes.
It did.
But it also had a really annoying insta-romance that soon took over the book and sucked away any enjoyment I had. Sigh.
I do still think the concept is great. I’ve never read anything about psychometry before and this was a fun mix of magical realism, historical fiction, and a dash of sci-fi at the end. Roan is pretty powerful, or skilled, so he can sift through the various timelines of objects to view different memories easily. Basically, when he touches something it’s like watching a movie. I tried not to think too hard about this, because why would an object record the images, thoughts, sounds and feelings of the humans around it in a way that’s watchable like a movie? You’d think maybe some things would be unknown to the object – but I took all this at face value and it was a neat look at some historical moments.
Roan is a pretty good guy – he’s made a shit-ton of money from his skills, but he also uses them to give families a piece of their history back. He becomes involved with his friend’s project on researching “ooparts” (out-of-place artifacts) – items that are found in a place they couldn’t possibly be because of their historical period. It’s hard to explain, but that’s not important. What’s important is this goofy word, ooparts, is used so many times and I CANNOT take it seriously. At one point, some bad guys are beating the shit out of someone and one guy goes, “Where are the ooparts?” and instead of being concerned for the character in peril, I laughed out loud. So Roan is on this quest to find his missing friend, Stuart, and unravel this mystery of the ooparts and every time that damn word came up I had to chuckle. It’s still a cool concept, but I wish there was a better word for these artifacts.
This leads me to the writing style. I don’t need books to be full of verbal flourishes and obscure words I have to look up every other page. But as I read, the tone of this book was a bit too obvious for me. A prime example is Roan saving a lost girl at a train station:
“Melicent turned to see what he [Roan] was looking at and caught sight of the little girl, no more than five years old. She was staring alone like a scared animal afraid to cross the road as tears streamed down her face.
The little girl was lost.”
Roan then helps the girl find the police at the station and call her mother. The scene ends with, “Roan had helped the little girl find her way home.”
The bad analogy about the girl being like a scared animal paired with the fact that she’s FIVE and ALONE was enough to clue me in that she’s lost. No need to point out the obvious. Then, after Roan talks to her and uses his skills to help her remember her mother’s number so the cops can call her, it’s pretty obvious he helped her. But we had to be told that too, just so we could…what…really understand that he’s a nice guy?
There are a lot of strange details similar to the animal analogy throughout the book. Like, “Their lips came together in a lock, the connection between them tightening like a twisting coil.” Thaaat’s not very sexy. That made me chuckle too.
While we’re on the subject of smooching, let’s talk about the insta-love here. There’s attraction between Roan and Melicent immediately because they’re both sexy or whatever. They’re both pretty tropey too – Roan is the kind-hearted Rich Guy (like filthy fuckin’ rich) who has feelings that no one else can understand because of his skills and Melicent is the poor, hardworking Clumsy Girl who dresses casually. I didn’t flag it, but there’s a line saying something like, Melicent had always been clumsy, and then she fucking knocks over something precious or falls flat on her face or some shit. I’m so over it!
All through the story these two keep getting distracted by how horny they are for each other. I get that many people enjoy romantic tension – I even do sometimes! But these two were in some fairly dangerous situations and then they’d be side-eyeing each other, thinking about sexiness. Like, ok, maybe I can’t relate because I’ve never been in a life-threatening situation with a bo-hunk before. But it was ridiculous at times.
Roan also has a longtime female friend, Holly. They actually work together and we find out they grew up together too. But when Melicent first meets Holly, she has to be jealous because that’s how women work, right? So Holly doesn’t know what to make of Melicent when Roan brings Melicent and her brother to his office. Here are Melicent’s observations:
“Melicent didn’t know what to make of Roan’s partner. Holly Beauchene wasn’t the warmest person, and Melicent had a hard time seeing past the façade. Holly was too polished, too poised – too Southern. Not a speck of makeup was out of line, not a hair out of place. A woman who used that much hairspray must have issues.”
OKAY.
I have so many problems with his paragraph. First, can we get a break from the jealous female thing? Anyone reading this book knows without a doubt, Roan and Melicent are going to hook up. Do we really need her to feel threatened by another woman that he’s known way longer than Melicent? Can the two just be like, neutral? They don’t even have to be friends, though that would be a nice change of pace.
If Womack had just left it at Melicent thinking Holly wasn’t very warm, I’d be ok with it. It’s ok if Holly is going to be The Bitch and Melicent is going to feel Threatened because she hopes romance will bloom between her and Roan. That’s a tired scenario, but ok. Holly could be painted as a bitch by simply acting like one. Or, more to Womack’s style, she could just say, “Holly was a bitch.”
Instead, Melicent immediately takes a dig at Holly’s appearance. Maybe this is something that happens more often in books than I notice, but I noticed it this time and I’m so over it. Melicent is Clumsy and Casual, so she immediately judges Holly for being well-dressed and polished. I feel like Womack is insulting anyone who prefers to wear makeup and style their hair. I mean, come on…lots of hairspray equals having issues!? Not to mention, we don’t know how much “that much” is because Melicent has probably never used hairspray in her life. Maybe Holly just used a little. Even if she used a whole damn can, how does that relate to her personality!?
Oh, yeah…it doesn’t!
And “too Southern” – I don’t even know how to touch that statement. What in the hell is she implying? It’s likely that Holly was too polite and charming, but it’s a pretty broad statement. I just hate that whole paragraph. A lot.
Ok, that’s enough ranting.
Clearly, I’m not a fan of the writing style. I didn’t care about the romance and by the time I reached the end of the book I didn’t care about the plot either. Despite my ranting, this isn’t an awful book. It was entertaining enough for me to read all of it and at least the subject matter was refreshing. I don’t think I’ll be picking up anything else by Womack though. If you enjoy cheeseball romances, history and magical realism, you might like this book! I’m going to send this one to a friend who might get more enjoyment out of it than I did.
January 14, 2019
The Time Collector is more than a story; it's a fantastical, inventive, and masterfully woven adventure across many lifetimes. Perhaps a future psychometrist will hold my copy of the book and know how much I enjoyed it. One can only hope.
July 7, 2020
I don't think I can finish this book.
I LOVED The Fortune Teller by Ms. Womack, but she annoyed me with this one. She gives us an entire chapter about Mozart and Regina and the music box....then Roan tells the antique dealer how to make a ton of money off it. OK. But then on p. 82 she has a character tell us that Roan gives antiques to descendants of their makers. Uhm. Where was that? When? She didn't show us.
Then on p. 128 she tells us again how philanthropic Roan is, but we still haven't seen him return any heirlooms. AND THEN she writes a two page description of a priceless enamel coin...that Roan keeps as a talisman. Uh, dude. Maybe you should return that to its rightful owner like the author tells us you do? No? Oh ok.
And Womack'suse of sterotypical trope of the heroine being clumsy around the hero. I'm over that. Why can't we have confident heroines?
I made it 148 pages and I just can't bring myself to finish this. Blah.
I LOVED The Fortune Teller by Ms. Womack, but she annoyed me with this one. She gives us an entire chapter about Mozart and Regina and the music box....then Roan tells the antique dealer how to make a ton of money off it. OK. But then on p. 82 she has a character tell us that Roan gives antiques to descendants of their makers. Uhm. Where was that? When? She didn't show us.
Then on p. 128 she tells us again how philanthropic Roan is, but we still haven't seen him return any heirlooms. AND THEN she writes a two page description of a priceless enamel coin...that Roan keeps as a talisman. Uh, dude. Maybe you should return that to its rightful owner like the author tells us you do? No? Oh ok.
And Womack'suse of sterotypical trope of the heroine being clumsy around the hero. I'm over that. Why can't we have confident heroines?
I made it 148 pages and I just can't bring myself to finish this. Blah.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Shelved as 'to-read-so-bad-it-hurts'
October 29, 2018Here for the chronological-history-goes-out-of-whack premise of this.
April 8, 2019
Oh, The Time Collector. I have such mixed feelings about this book. I loved the premise and I wanted to love the story, but it wasn't meant to be.
The Time Collector focuses on a group of gifted individuals known as psychometrists. Psychometrists range in their strength, but all share the ability to discern the past of objects the touch. Our male protagonist, Roan West, is one of the most powerful psychometrists among their small numbers. Roan has become increasingly worried with the disappearances of several psychometrists across the globe, including one of his closest friends. Then arises the problem of Melicent Tilpin.
Melicent is a young woman scraping by as she tries to balance work and raising her teenage brother following their mother's recent death. She's also a psychometrist whose powers have newly awakened. After peering into the past of objects found at flea markets and antique swaps, Melicent find herself on Antiques Roadshow where her items are appraised for tens of thousands of dollars and she's admitted her gift to the world. Upon seeing the video Roan rushes across the country to warn Melicent, hoping she'll listen.
The greatest triumph of The Time Collector is Gwendolyn Womack's skill as a writer. This book touches on phenomena like out-of-place artifacts (OOPArts), crop circles, and more as Womack spins a tale that spans all of Earth's breadth and history. I went in with very little foreknowledge of many of the phenomena she describes, but I never found myself lost in the explanations - the world she creates is easy to slip in to and enjoy. Some of the chapters that I enjoyed most were those where as a character reads an imprint, you are transported back in time. From 18th century Vienna to South Korea on the cusp of The Forgotten War, these periods are captured with incredible realism that drew me in despite their intrusion into the main plot.
So here's the caveat of all this: I just didn't like the romantic aspect. I was pulled in by the tension between Melicent and Roan through the first half of their story, but once the romantic tension was dissipated everything seemed to lose momentum. I'm also seldom a fan of stories where two characters are fully in love in a matter of just days. I tried to see past it because there was so much else that I enjoyed, but it ultimately left me feeling a little disappointed as I finished this book. I'm certain The Time Collector will be the perfect read for many people, just not me.
I received my copy of The Time Collector from Picador via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Time Collector focuses on a group of gifted individuals known as psychometrists. Psychometrists range in their strength, but all share the ability to discern the past of objects the touch. Our male protagonist, Roan West, is one of the most powerful psychometrists among their small numbers. Roan has become increasingly worried with the disappearances of several psychometrists across the globe, including one of his closest friends. Then arises the problem of Melicent Tilpin.
Melicent is a young woman scraping by as she tries to balance work and raising her teenage brother following their mother's recent death. She's also a psychometrist whose powers have newly awakened. After peering into the past of objects found at flea markets and antique swaps, Melicent find herself on Antiques Roadshow where her items are appraised for tens of thousands of dollars and she's admitted her gift to the world. Upon seeing the video Roan rushes across the country to warn Melicent, hoping she'll listen.
The greatest triumph of The Time Collector is Gwendolyn Womack's skill as a writer. This book touches on phenomena like out-of-place artifacts (OOPArts), crop circles, and more as Womack spins a tale that spans all of Earth's breadth and history. I went in with very little foreknowledge of many of the phenomena she describes, but I never found myself lost in the explanations - the world she creates is easy to slip in to and enjoy. Some of the chapters that I enjoyed most were those where as a character reads an imprint, you are transported back in time. From 18th century Vienna to South Korea on the cusp of The Forgotten War, these periods are captured with incredible realism that drew me in despite their intrusion into the main plot.
So here's the caveat of all this: I just didn't like the romantic aspect. I was pulled in by the tension between Melicent and Roan through the first half of their story, but once the romantic tension was dissipated everything seemed to lose momentum. I'm also seldom a fan of stories where two characters are fully in love in a matter of just days. I tried to see past it because there was so much else that I enjoyed, but it ultimately left me feeling a little disappointed as I finished this book. I'm certain The Time Collector will be the perfect read for many people, just not me.
I received my copy of The Time Collector from Picador via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2019
I was thrilled and honored to get an early copy of this wonderful book. My blurb is below!
"The Time Collector is a glittering jewel of a novel, in which the past is something tangible that is all around us. With multi-faceted characters, a pulse-pounding plot, and threads of history beautifully woven into the story, this is a novel you won't want to put down, and one that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page."
"The Time Collector is a glittering jewel of a novel, in which the past is something tangible that is all around us. With multi-faceted characters, a pulse-pounding plot, and threads of history beautifully woven into the story, this is a novel you won't want to put down, and one that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page."
March 29, 2019
I won a copy of this books from a Firstreads Giveaway on Goodreads.com. I opened this book upon receipt just to refresh my memory as to why I wanted to read it. I could not put it down and read it almost straight through. Stopping only to take care of my family as needed such as fixing dinner, etc. I was completely enthralled with this story and loved every minute of it. I have only read one other story with some similarity of reading a memory from objects. Nothing at all as detailed as The Time Collector describes. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommended it to anyone who is even slightly intrigued by the description/blurb.
Shelved as 'other'
May 24, 2020
May 3, 2019
Try to envision touching an object of great importance to you. Or an old item that looks curious. Now…imagine having the ability to be brought back in time through touch to know the history of the piece, its previous owners, stories that it could reveal. Truly a case of ‘if these walls could talk’. I would find it to be both a blessing and a curse. I adore history, but the risk of learning something devastating would always frighten me. The people who can do this are called psychometrists. And in our story here, they are our leads.
It begins a bit slowly but the pace quickens, leading us into a world of danger and intrigue, a little romance and a great deal of fun. I found this to be an adventure i was glad to read through and be part of. I am, as you all know, a person who adores descriptions and I suppose the suspension of reality. Traveling across the globe with Roan and Melicent was an exhilarating pleasure that kept me on my toes. I loved how the author so wonderfully painted a portrait of scenes in the past and also in the present.
This was an unexpected delight for me. Highly recommend.
It begins a bit slowly but the pace quickens, leading us into a world of danger and intrigue, a little romance and a great deal of fun. I found this to be an adventure i was glad to read through and be part of. I am, as you all know, a person who adores descriptions and I suppose the suspension of reality. Traveling across the globe with Roan and Melicent was an exhilarating pleasure that kept me on my toes. I loved how the author so wonderfully painted a portrait of scenes in the past and also in the present.
This was an unexpected delight for me. Highly recommend.
April 3, 2019
This is the second book I have read by this author. The first was The Fortune Teller. That book was so good that when I saw this newest book from Ms. Womack that I could not wait to read it. Well I am happy to report that it is even better. With this uphill stride; I can't wait to see what Ms. Womack comes out with next. Sadly, I have to wait as this book is the newest one currently.
Roan's gift is very intriguing. Imagine touching an object and learning the history behind it. Visually as if he lived that person's life. Melicent has an amazing ability as well. Together these to worked well together.
Ms. Womack pens a rich storyline with engaging characters in The Time Collector. I was transported within the pages of this book. I didn't want to leave. I started this book and found myself finishing it within a matter of a few short hours. Make sure that The Time Collector is in your shopping cart.
Roan's gift is very intriguing. Imagine touching an object and learning the history behind it. Visually as if he lived that person's life. Melicent has an amazing ability as well. Together these to worked well together.
Ms. Womack pens a rich storyline with engaging characters in The Time Collector. I was transported within the pages of this book. I didn't want to leave. I started this book and found myself finishing it within a matter of a few short hours. Make sure that The Time Collector is in your shopping cart.
January 9, 2020
An interesting concept that mixed different genres together. Sadly the insta-love spoiled it for me and I didn’t care much for Melicent. The most interesting characters to me were Sun and Jocelyn!
March 31, 2019
I loved this book so much that I don’t think I can coherently express it! The story was ingenious and unique, full of suspense, and even a bit of romance. As soon as I read the first few pages I was hooked and it never let me go until I finished. Imagine if you could pick up an object and know its entire history. As an archaeologist I have wished for this ability so many times. It sure beats trying to piece together the story from all the little bits of information that we are able to glean from a site. Heaven forbid an artifact is taken out of its original context and exists with no provenience like in the black market. Pyschometry would be so handy and great for weekend antiquing too! I loved the concept that every object holds the stories of everyone who ever touched it. There is something so beautiful and pure about the idea of returning heirloom artifacts back to their rightful descendants. If only it were that easy and clear cut in real life!
January 28, 2019
Loved this book! A little history, a little mystery, a little suspense and a little romance. What more do you need?
This is the first book that I have read by this author, and I will be reading the other books.
This is the first book that I have read by this author, and I will be reading the other books.
May 7, 2019
The tale centers on two “psychometrists” who can sense the past by touching objects. One is a veteran that has done this for all his life while the other is just discovering her rare ability. The trips into the past, immersive visions that can be breathtaking, sorrowful, tragic, or even dangerous, bring the past to life. Such passages span the world, from Mozart to a clockmaker in Prague, to the opening salvos of the Korean War, and beyond. They are like mini-stories within the story.
It is also a romance. Much of the book is dedicated to the two lovers discovering each other and their respective pasts.
The overarching mystery involves out-of-place artifacts, or ooparts, that seem to have time-warped to places they should not have been found at. And crop circles. The concepts of time described herein are original and gripping.
Despite the unraveling mystery and the mystique of the psychometrist’s powers, the ending was surprisingly human. The answers you seek are left incomplete; the origins of the mystery remain unanswered. The human aspects, however, do reach a satisfying conclusion, stoking enough lingering curiosity to keep you wondering long after the final page.
The pace is great, and the unwinding mystery hooks the reader from the beginning. Eloquent, easy to read, and original; a great and entertaining read!
It is also a romance. Much of the book is dedicated to the two lovers discovering each other and their respective pasts.
The overarching mystery involves out-of-place artifacts, or ooparts, that seem to have time-warped to places they should not have been found at. And crop circles. The concepts of time described herein are original and gripping.
Despite the unraveling mystery and the mystique of the psychometrist’s powers, the ending was surprisingly human. The answers you seek are left incomplete; the origins of the mystery remain unanswered. The human aspects, however, do reach a satisfying conclusion, stoking enough lingering curiosity to keep you wondering long after the final page.
The pace is great, and the unwinding mystery hooks the reader from the beginning. Eloquent, easy to read, and original; a great and entertaining read!
February 22, 2019
Take an unusual ability, a mysterious stranger, dangerous thugs, and artifacts that may unlock the mysteries of the ancients and you have the makings of a great mystical, historical romance. Roan finds a new psychometrist after seeing her unfortunate Utube video of her finding a priceless antique. Melicent's ability is one that Roan and a select group of others around the world are well acquainted with but he believes that she and her younger brother might be in grave danger because of it. A fast-paced thriller that is filled with enough interesting objects and historical mysteries to balance the mystical and romance elements. Fans of M.J. Rose, Steve Berry, Diana Gabaldon or any books that deal with ancient unsolved mysteries will eat this up. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
January 29, 2019
I found the subject matter to be quite fascinating. Not only do we learn about the characters' different levels of psychometric ability but the author has delved into the history of certain items as they occur in the story. I found the connection of psychometry and time travel a bit of a stretch, as well as tracking ooparts to find a portal back in time. I did enjoy the characters and their backgrounds but I didn't have quite the connection to them as I have in her other two novels. For me, I could have done with a little more character development and less of the drama. Does that even make sense? The climax seemed shoved in at the end and wasn't all that necessary to make this a good work of fiction. The story of the psychometrists and their found objects, and the mystery of the ooparts, could be a great series of stories in my opinion.
Having said all that and sounding more negative than I feel about the book, I would highly recommend this novel. Fascinating subject.
Having said all that and sounding more negative than I feel about the book, I would highly recommend this novel. Fascinating subject.
May 13, 2019
The Time Collector by Gwendolyn Womack. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I truly loved this book! I had never read a book about Psychometrists before and I was so intrigued and captured by the concept.
Our main characters are Roan and Melicent. They are both Psychometrists meaning they have the ability to touch objects and see the imprints of who it belonged to and basically read the history of any given artifact.
I loved the strong character development, the chemistry between characters, the mystery and puzzle solving was on point, and I thought the pacing of the book was excellently done.
This book has it all mystery, danger, strong characters, a touch of romance. It draws you in and takes you on a delightful adventure. I enjoyed it so much and can’t wait to recommend it to people when it comes out!
Thank you Netgalley for a free Advanced Readers copy of this book!
I truly loved this book! I had never read a book about Psychometrists before and I was so intrigued and captured by the concept.
Our main characters are Roan and Melicent. They are both Psychometrists meaning they have the ability to touch objects and see the imprints of who it belonged to and basically read the history of any given artifact.
I loved the strong character development, the chemistry between characters, the mystery and puzzle solving was on point, and I thought the pacing of the book was excellently done.
This book has it all mystery, danger, strong characters, a touch of romance. It draws you in and takes you on a delightful adventure. I enjoyed it so much and can’t wait to recommend it to people when it comes out!
Thank you Netgalley for a free Advanced Readers copy of this book!
February 7, 2019
I enthusiastically recommend this novel! This was a definite page-turner for me. I loved Roan as our main protagonist. His heart melts my heart. I didn't agree with every decision he made, but I still love this novel. You can tell that Gwendolyn Womack did a lot of amazing research to invest in this story. The pacing was good which kept the action-adventure component of the plot progressing nicely. There are a plethora of amazing and delicious scenes. I feel that I learned to appreciate the memories that artifacts and heirlooms hold even more after this great read. Overall, I would say this novel is thrilling and very enjoyable.
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