What do you think?
Rate this book
Man That Got Away
The Man That Got Away by Harper Allen released on Mar 25, 1998 is available now for purchase.
- GenresTime TravelRomance
251 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1998
About the author
Harper Allen
31 books29 followersHarper Allen is a Canadian writer of romance novels. She is a four-time nominee for a Career Achievement Award by Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine and her novel Dressed To Slay was named the magazine's choice for Best Silhouette Bombshell of 2006.
Her Irish ancestry lends them a touch of Celtic mysticism, while her work as a reporter in the criminal court system gives her books a darker edge, first and foremost each one is a story about a man and a woman falling in love and holding on to that love. Her characters have always been real people with real flaws, desperately struggling to find the love that will redeem them - and for that Harper need look no further for inspiration than her own life.
Harper grew up in a blue-collar motor city, and with comments such as "Does not play well with others" on her grade-school report cards. Underneath the motorcycle leathers and the rose tattoo, beats the heart of a true romantic. The day she met the man who eventually became her husband, she told her sister, "I've just met the man I'm going to marry. How long do you think it'll take him to figure it out?" They married, and had little kids, who aren't the first ones picked for the volleyball team. Her idea of a great date with her husband is going to a baseball game. Her idea of a great baseball game is any one in which the Red Sox win.
Her Irish ancestry lends them a touch of Celtic mysticism, while her work as a reporter in the criminal court system gives her books a darker edge, first and foremost each one is a story about a man and a woman falling in love and holding on to that love. Her characters have always been real people with real flaws, desperately struggling to find the love that will redeem them - and for that Harper need look no further for inspiration than her own life.
Harper grew up in a blue-collar motor city, and with comments such as "Does not play well with others" on her grade-school report cards. Underneath the motorcycle leathers and the rose tattoo, beats the heart of a true romantic. The day she met the man who eventually became her husband, she told her sister, "I've just met the man I'm going to marry. How long do you think it'll take him to figure it out?" They married, and had little kids, who aren't the first ones picked for the volleyball team. Her idea of a great date with her husband is going to a baseball game. Her idea of a great baseball game is any one in which the Red Sox win.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 16, 2018
An Exciting, Surprising Read
January 10, 1999
Harper Allen's first Intrigue is a real treat, expertly balancing action, mystery, and romance with ease. For several years, Dana Smith has been living trying to live a normal life, even though she has no idea who she is or what happened to her in the past. Then one night, a ripple in time sends her back to the 1930s, and into the arms of Gabriel O'Shaunessy. The private eye recognizes her all right, since he was the one accused of killing her when she mysteriously disappeared. Suddenly returned to her old life--and her own time--Dana has to join forces with Gabe. Because someone did try to kill her, and is picking up where he left off, all because of something Dana knows, but can't remember.
Allen handles Dana and Gabe's love story with a skill that keeps us invested in their story, and the mystery continues nonstop, gaining momentum through a series of revelations, until delivering the trademark Intrigue twist when the killer's identity and motive are revealed. I almost can't believe this is her first novel, like the author's note says; it's so well-written. This is definitely one writer to watch out for. If there was anything I really didn't care for, it was the time-travel element, which seemed kind of pointless (and the epilogue was too cute.) But of course, there isn't a lot of call for mystery-romances set in the 1930s, and Allen handles her setting so well, we should just be glad she was able to deliver this book, no matter what she had to do to make it acceptable for series romance. A definite winner.
January 10, 1999
Harper Allen's first Intrigue is a real treat, expertly balancing action, mystery, and romance with ease. For several years, Dana Smith has been living trying to live a normal life, even though she has no idea who she is or what happened to her in the past. Then one night, a ripple in time sends her back to the 1930s, and into the arms of Gabriel O'Shaunessy. The private eye recognizes her all right, since he was the one accused of killing her when she mysteriously disappeared. Suddenly returned to her old life--and her own time--Dana has to join forces with Gabe. Because someone did try to kill her, and is picking up where he left off, all because of something Dana knows, but can't remember.
Allen handles Dana and Gabe's love story with a skill that keeps us invested in their story, and the mystery continues nonstop, gaining momentum through a series of revelations, until delivering the trademark Intrigue twist when the killer's identity and motive are revealed. I almost can't believe this is her first novel, like the author's note says; it's so well-written. This is definitely one writer to watch out for. If there was anything I really didn't care for, it was the time-travel element, which seemed kind of pointless (and the epilogue was too cute.) But of course, there isn't a lot of call for mystery-romances set in the 1930s, and Allen handles her setting so well, we should just be glad she was able to deliver this book, no matter what she had to do to make it acceptable for series romance. A definite winner.
April 25, 2023
I did not know when I picked up this book and started reading that it was going to be a time travel romance. There was no indication anywhere in the back cover copy or anywhere else of that. So I was pleasantly surprised, as I am a fan of time travel stories.
Dana Smith was shot outside an office building five years ago, and has had amnesia ever since. Nobody ever identified her, and she's accepted that her past will always be a mystery and has settled into life as an assistant film director. But lately she's been having strange dreams, where she's a woman in the 1930's. And one night, she suddenly finds herself in the 1930's, where Gabe O'Shaunessy mistakes her for Dana Torrence, a young woman he saw shot outside that very same building, but who's body had disappeared before he could get to her.
As Dana and Gabe find themselves being targeted by gangsters and on the run for their lives, the mystery of what happened to Dana Torrence begins to unravel as Dana Smith's memories slowly begin returning.
An enjoyable romance, with a mystery at it's core which I was unable to figure out right up to the end.
Dana Smith was shot outside an office building five years ago, and has had amnesia ever since. Nobody ever identified her, and she's accepted that her past will always be a mystery and has settled into life as an assistant film director. But lately she's been having strange dreams, where she's a woman in the 1930's. And one night, she suddenly finds herself in the 1930's, where Gabe O'Shaunessy mistakes her for Dana Torrence, a young woman he saw shot outside that very same building, but who's body had disappeared before he could get to her.
As Dana and Gabe find themselves being targeted by gangsters and on the run for their lives, the mystery of what happened to Dana Torrence begins to unravel as Dana Smith's memories slowly begin returning.
An enjoyable romance, with a mystery at it's core which I was unable to figure out right up to the end.
April 7, 2012
Time travel story, though the device isn't completely explained. Echoes of the changes, as Dana Torrence returns to 1930 but with a more modern perspective, having lived 5 year in the future, before returning to 1935 from 1998. Then the epilog when she again meets Seb, who befriended her, who she then gave his start with the Silver Bursar award at the beginning of his career.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews