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Time & Again Antique Shop Series #2
Vintage Victory
** Book 2, Second Edition in the Time & Again Antique Shop Series ** (formerly Memories of Old Series)
Romance and time-travel meet Pride and Prejudice in this romantic and touching modern story. Step through the portal to timeless romance in the WWII-era and honor our greatest heroes in a Memorial Day adventure.
Charles Bingley is suffering from cold feet as his wedding day approaches. Can his new friend, Will Darcy help him to stay the course or will he dissuade him? Perhaps their trip to Time & Again antique shop will help the young man find his missing spine and perhaps Will may also come to learn a few things about love.
Travel back in time to WWII with Will and Charlie where love for their sweethearts carries them through battle on D-Day, making them the bravest of men.
*salty battlefield language
Romance and time-travel meet Pride and Prejudice in this romantic and touching modern story. Step through the portal to timeless romance in the WWII-era and honor our greatest heroes in a Memorial Day adventure.
Charles Bingley is suffering from cold feet as his wedding day approaches. Can his new friend, Will Darcy help him to stay the course or will he dissuade him? Perhaps their trip to Time & Again antique shop will help the young man find his missing spine and perhaps Will may also come to learn a few things about love.
Travel back in time to WWII with Will and Charlie where love for their sweethearts carries them through battle on D-Day, making them the bravest of men.
*salty battlefield language
ebook
Published December 1, 2018
7 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Cat Gardiner
21 books138 followersCat Gardiner loves romance and happy endings, history, and comedy. A member of the esteemed National League of American Pen Women, she enjoys writing across the spectrum of the romance genre from Contemporary to Chick-Lit Romantic Comedy, 20th Century Historical Fiction, and Pride and Prejudice-inspired.
Apart from her husband, her greatest passion is writing Historical Fiction, WWII-era. Her debut novel in this genre, A Moment Forever, was a 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Award Romance Finalist. "Flying with the Swallows" WWII Historical Fiction Romance released on April 2, 2024 into Kindle Unlimited. Readers can find the riveting duology on Amazon in Kindle Unlimited and paperback.
Between writing and WWII home front re-enacting, Cat takes her readers on a swell 1940s journey at The 1940s Experience blog and gallery at cgardiner1940s.com
Connect with Cat here:
cgardiner1940s.com
facebook.com/cat.t.gardiner
facebook.com/DenialofConscience/
https://www.facebook.com/CatTGardiner...
amazon.com/author/catgardiner
https://payhip.com/CatGardinerBooks
Apart from her husband, her greatest passion is writing Historical Fiction, WWII-era. Her debut novel in this genre, A Moment Forever, was a 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Award Romance Finalist. "Flying with the Swallows" WWII Historical Fiction Romance released on April 2, 2024 into Kindle Unlimited. Readers can find the riveting duology on Amazon in Kindle Unlimited and paperback.
Between writing and WWII home front re-enacting, Cat takes her readers on a swell 1940s journey at The 1940s Experience blog and gallery at cgardiner1940s.com
Connect with Cat here:
cgardiner1940s.com
facebook.com/cat.t.gardiner
facebook.com/DenialofConscience/
https://www.facebook.com/CatTGardiner...
amazon.com/author/catgardiner
https://payhip.com/CatGardinerBooks
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 27, 2017
This short story, which I read first on Cat's blog, included a 54 minute PBS video about overseas maintained cemeteries for WWI & WWII men and women who died in the fight for freedom…24 cemeteries, 125,000 graves, and thousands more MIAs. I cried through about a dozen tissues just in watching that video.
But this novella tells of Will Darcy's and Charles Bingley's visit to the "Memories of Old" antique shop in the rundown section of East Meryton. Charles is a man with no direction: changing his status with Jane on a regular basis, coasting through life with no anchor and smoking pot regularly. Darcy is a Ranger and has new orders to ship out but he is that reticent man we know of in canon who can't say, "I love you" even though he has a romance going on with Lizzy Bennet.
Jane and Lizzy Bennet made their own visits (read A Vintage Valentine) to this shop and had life changing experiences. They have not shared the complete story with these men in their lives but have recommended that they visit there. Charles wants to buy a gift for Jane and has dragged Will with him. The owner, Doris, sets each man up in his own booth: Charles in a nursery setting while Darcy is in a booth dedicated to honoring service men and women with vintage weapons, metals of honor, etc. Soon after entering their separate booths they spiral in a time traveling vortex to WWII times. The first part of their journey is experienced alone but then they are joined in a D-day experience as the invasion of France occurs.
This Memorial Day weekend is a perfect time to read this short but powerful story. Oh, we do get our taste of romance BUT more importantly we are reminded of how important to our lives now, in the past and in the future men and women of the armed services are to our lives and the freedoms which enrich our lives are.
Along with the video about cemeteries are YouTube Andrews Sisters songs and another shorter video about the war. I pulled up more YouTube songs by that group to listen to while reading the story.
But this novella tells of Will Darcy's and Charles Bingley's visit to the "Memories of Old" antique shop in the rundown section of East Meryton. Charles is a man with no direction: changing his status with Jane on a regular basis, coasting through life with no anchor and smoking pot regularly. Darcy is a Ranger and has new orders to ship out but he is that reticent man we know of in canon who can't say, "I love you" even though he has a romance going on with Lizzy Bennet.
Jane and Lizzy Bennet made their own visits (read A Vintage Valentine) to this shop and had life changing experiences. They have not shared the complete story with these men in their lives but have recommended that they visit there. Charles wants to buy a gift for Jane and has dragged Will with him. The owner, Doris, sets each man up in his own booth: Charles in a nursery setting while Darcy is in a booth dedicated to honoring service men and women with vintage weapons, metals of honor, etc. Soon after entering their separate booths they spiral in a time traveling vortex to WWII times. The first part of their journey is experienced alone but then they are joined in a D-day experience as the invasion of France occurs.
This Memorial Day weekend is a perfect time to read this short but powerful story. Oh, we do get our taste of romance BUT more importantly we are reminded of how important to our lives now, in the past and in the future men and women of the armed services are to our lives and the freedoms which enrich our lives are.
Along with the video about cemeteries are YouTube Andrews Sisters songs and another shorter video about the war. I pulled up more YouTube songs by that group to listen to while reading the story.
June 11, 2017
This is another mystical vignette where time travel back to the WWII era is an inherent part of the plot. While the previous short story allowed Elizabeth Bennet to experience a sweet USO dance where she met the man of her dreams, this time we have both William Darcy and Charles Bingley in the same antique store at the suggestion of their ladies. Their shared out-of-time battle experience gives Darcy, a no-nonsense Ranger about to deploy overseas, a different perspective about verbalizing his feelings to Elizabeth ...if he can make it back to his own era alive.
But the story actually is more about Charles. He's portrayed as a pampered, immature boy in a man's body. He's in love with Jane Bennet, but is he really capable of having a sustained adult relationship with a woman? He might be considering marriage, but it's time for him to grow the heck up, already!
The author does a wonderful job of taking the readers on this scary journey with the two friends and keeps us riveted to the pages to learn what happens next. This combination of action and character study is really well done.
But the story actually is more about Charles. He's portrayed as a pampered, immature boy in a man's body. He's in love with Jane Bennet, but is he really capable of having a sustained adult relationship with a woman? He might be considering marriage, but it's time for him to grow the heck up, already!
The author does a wonderful job of taking the readers on this scary journey with the two friends and keeps us riveted to the pages to learn what happens next. This combination of action and character study is really well done.
June 12, 2017
I originally read this as part of the author's special tribute Memorial Day Weekend event on her blog. It was a fabulous blast to the past, literally. Modern day Darcy and Bingley are sent via a magical antique store to WWII D-Day for both men to learn a lesson about themselves and about love while on a gritty war-time mission.
Such great attention to historical detail and characters. I loved the focus on this Charles Bingley who had a lot of growing to do and did so. Excellent full-developed novella of war-time and contemporary romance with a dash of magic to make it possible.
Such great attention to historical detail and characters. I loved the focus on this Charles Bingley who had a lot of growing to do and did so. Excellent full-developed novella of war-time and contemporary romance with a dash of magic to make it possible.
October 18, 2017
Quotes are from Tom Brokaw, The Greatest Generation
“A common lament of the World War II generation is the absence today of personal responsibility”
Although this is a stand-a-lone novella, it is suggested that you read book 1 ‘A Vintage Valentine’ in order to understand the shop ‘Memories of Old’ and its owner, Doris. Each book is novella size and can be read in a short time. I don’t know whether to consider this a time warp, time-travel or a different version of Fantasy Island. People are given an opportunity to modify behaviors, correct mistakes in the past, and/or come to grips with/address problems they have with their personalities.
In book one, there had been a slip/error in the time continuum. Something had gone terribly wrong in the past and it needed to be corrected. In book two, there were other problems to solve. Charles Bingley was a weenie. I’m sorry, the author did not use that phrase but the slacker-man-child was living off his trust fund, smoking… you know…, playing video games, and driving an orange car he nicknamed ‘The Beast.’ His commitment to Jane [near extinct] exacerbated his feelings of cold feet. They had broken up several times; he had proposed several times, and they had changed the wedding date… etc. His feet weren’t cold they were glacial. His lackadaisical attitude was about to cost him the love of his life.
Darcy was an Army Ranger and about to be deployed. His fear was that a) he had not told Lizzy about his true feelings for her, b) his friendship with Bingley was seriously being tested, and c) worry over Bingley’s laissez-faire attitude. It would never stand in a war zone, unless his attitude changed dramatically. Both men needed something to help them with their fears and concerns.
So, our ladies [Jane and Lizzy] sent their men to the one place that had everything you EVER needed in order to straighten out those little quirks in your personal make-up. Doris took one look at the guys and directed them to the booth that best fit their needs. Darcy was shown to a memorial booth from WWII. His feelings of honor, respect, and gratitude toward those men who fought, touched me to my core. It will grip you as you see his reverence toward the items displayed from the past.
Surprisingly Doris took Bingley further down the aisle. She told Darcy that Bingley was not ready for the WWII booth that Darcy was in. Bingley was directed to a booth set up as a nursery.
“there on the beaches of Normandy I began to reflect on the wonders of these ordinary people whose lives were laced with the markings of greatness.”
Later, on the battlefield, Bingley would read a letter that would touch him to his core. For the first time in his life… others would need Bingley to stand up and be a man. He would have to decide whether he would remain a man-child the rest of his life or became a man worthy of Jane. There are other reviews that will explain in more detail the workings of this story. This one will touch you.
“A common lament of the World War II generation is the absence today of personal responsibility”
Although this is a stand-a-lone novella, it is suggested that you read book 1 ‘A Vintage Valentine’ in order to understand the shop ‘Memories of Old’ and its owner, Doris. Each book is novella size and can be read in a short time. I don’t know whether to consider this a time warp, time-travel or a different version of Fantasy Island. People are given an opportunity to modify behaviors, correct mistakes in the past, and/or come to grips with/address problems they have with their personalities.
In book one, there had been a slip/error in the time continuum. Something had gone terribly wrong in the past and it needed to be corrected. In book two, there were other problems to solve. Charles Bingley was a weenie. I’m sorry, the author did not use that phrase but the slacker-man-child was living off his trust fund, smoking… you know…, playing video games, and driving an orange car he nicknamed ‘The Beast.’ His commitment to Jane [near extinct] exacerbated his feelings of cold feet. They had broken up several times; he had proposed several times, and they had changed the wedding date… etc. His feet weren’t cold they were glacial. His lackadaisical attitude was about to cost him the love of his life.
Darcy was an Army Ranger and about to be deployed. His fear was that a) he had not told Lizzy about his true feelings for her, b) his friendship with Bingley was seriously being tested, and c) worry over Bingley’s laissez-faire attitude. It would never stand in a war zone, unless his attitude changed dramatically. Both men needed something to help them with their fears and concerns.
So, our ladies [Jane and Lizzy] sent their men to the one place that had everything you EVER needed in order to straighten out those little quirks in your personal make-up. Doris took one look at the guys and directed them to the booth that best fit their needs. Darcy was shown to a memorial booth from WWII. His feelings of honor, respect, and gratitude toward those men who fought, touched me to my core. It will grip you as you see his reverence toward the items displayed from the past.
Surprisingly Doris took Bingley further down the aisle. She told Darcy that Bingley was not ready for the WWII booth that Darcy was in. Bingley was directed to a booth set up as a nursery.
“there on the beaches of Normandy I began to reflect on the wonders of these ordinary people whose lives were laced with the markings of greatness.”
Later, on the battlefield, Bingley would read a letter that would touch him to his core. For the first time in his life… others would need Bingley to stand up and be a man. He would have to decide whether he would remain a man-child the rest of his life or became a man worthy of Jane. There are other reviews that will explain in more detail the workings of this story. This one will touch you.
Read
November 3, 2017I really enjoyed this follow up to "A Vintage Valentine," in which Will Darcy and Charles Bingley visit the Memories of Old antique shop. In homage to the fallen soldiers of WWII (this story was published for Memorial Day), Will and Charles are transported from the present day to the beach on D-Day, where Charles must do a whole lot of growing up if he is going to make it back to the present to marry Jane. Although a lot of the focus is on Charles and his need to grow a backbone and overcome his cold feet, Will also has much to learn from the adventure, namely how to express his feelings to the woman he loves. But first they need to make it back to the present alive! These short stories are so powerful, so entertaining, and enable readers to travel back to the past with their favorite characters. I can't wait for Cat to continue the series!
September 9, 2021
I appreciated Bingley’s growth and that he learned to recognize and appreciate the sacrifices of the true heros and understand the cost of his freedom! My favorite quote:
“Yeah. I don’t know about lucky, but I do feel like I’ve been a real loser after seeing what those guys went through and reading that letter. The guy couldn’t even see his new baby! And then Will got shot—man, he could get shot next time he goes out on his next mission, and for what? So I can stay home, play video games and eat Doritos? That totally sucks! It’s not like he couldn’t live off his trust fund or take over his dad’s company instead of fighting in the army.”
“Yeah. I don’t know about lucky, but I do feel like I’ve been a real loser after seeing what those guys went through and reading that letter. The guy couldn’t even see his new baby! And then Will got shot—man, he could get shot next time he goes out on his next mission, and for what? So I can stay home, play video games and eat Doritos? That totally sucks! It’s not like he couldn’t live off his trust fund or take over his dad’s company instead of fighting in the army.”
January 24, 2018
A modern short story. I always love when the author has done her homework on the history and this does not disappoint.
Darcy has a problem voicing his feelings for Elizabeth. She sends him and Charles to an antique shop where they travel in time to WWII.
It was thoughtful and deep. A lovely read I recommend.
Darcy has a problem voicing his feelings for Elizabeth. She sends him and Charles to an antique shop where they travel in time to WWII.
It was thoughtful and deep. A lovely read I recommend.
June 6, 2017
Lovely
A different kind of story, intriguing and interesting, linking the present and the past.
A highly recommended short story by Car Gardiner
A different kind of story, intriguing and interesting, linking the present and the past.
A highly recommended short story by Car Gardiner
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews