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Carson Chronicles #1-3

Carson Chronicles: The First Three Novels

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Shortly after his parents disappear on a hike, Arizona engineer Adam Carson, 27, searches for answers. Then he discovers a secret web site and learns that his mother and father are time travelers stuck in the past. Armed with the information he needs to find them, Adam convinces his younger siblings to join him on a rescue mission to the past. Within weeks, however, circumstances and history turn a quick trip into a life-changing journey. In RIVER RISING, THE MEMORY TREE, and INDIAN PAINTBRUSH, the first three novels of John A. Heldt's CARSON CHRONICLES series, several young adults find love, danger, and adventure as they travel through time to 1889, 1918, and 1944.

Readers' Advisory : Carson Chronicles is the first three novels in a five-part family saga that spans several decades. While some storylines are resolved, others are not. They are addressed in subsequent books.

1457 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 12, 2018

214 people are currently reading
159 people want to read

About the author

John A. Heldt

35 books232 followers
John A. Heldt is the author of twenty-six bestselling time-travel novels. The former reference librarian and award-winning sportswriter has loved getting subjects and verbs to agree since writing book reports in grade school. A graduate of the University of Oregon and the University of Iowa, Heldt is an avid fisherman, sports fan, coin collector, and reader of thrillers and historical fiction. When not sending contemporary characters to the not-so-distant past, he weighs in on literature and life at johnheldt.blogspot.com.

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5 stars
131 (64%)
4 stars
48 (23%)
3 stars
17 (8%)
2 stars
6 (2%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Ray.
33 reviews
June 19, 2022
Popped up on Bookbub; so glad I gave the blurb some "time" & took the bait. I have been laid up crook for a week & consumed these three & am now onto the 4th in the series. I have no doubt I will continue on to finish the series & then likely be wanting more. This is the first read in quite some time that has had me so hooked as to not want to put it down. My review talent could not give it justice but... The series has a overarching theme but each novel has a complete story. The stor/ies & characters are rich & evolving, the time, places & events all absorb you without being tedious or overbearing. I am a big time travel & science fiction fan including history within that scope. This Author is now a favourite for me; I have no doubt I will be looking to his other work down the track.
Profile Image for Jacqueline.
602 reviews17 followers
June 20, 2021
I am a fan of time travel, history and historical fiction. I have to say after having read several of this author's books, it's my opinion that he is a master of the time travel genre. It isn't just a case of people finding themselves unexpectedly flung into the past, the travellers in this and other series of John A Heldt's that I've read have gone into the past deliberately, for a good reason. In this series, including the last two, seperate books, Caitlin's song and Camp Lake, the five Carson siblings are on a mission to find their parents, who they believe to be lost in the past. This highly suspenseful "time travel tag" between parents and (adult) children is as exciting and thrilling a ride as any dedicated Thriller novel. I simply could not stop reading until I'd read all five books in the series.
I recommend the whole series to any fan of time travel, especially if you read and loved "The American Journey" or The Lane Betrayal " series. I will be moving on to "Northwest Passage" asap!
Profile Image for Frances Law.
1,123 reviews14 followers
April 20, 2022
Out of time

The Carson children find out that the parents they thought dead are actually lost in time. The five of them have a family meeting and decide to follow their parents through a time portal. This sets the stage for their adventures. Each time a significant event needs a decision they have a family meeting where everyone has a say. Their parents eventually realise that their children are searching for them and they begin their own search. Both groups keep missing each other. The children, who aren’t so young, find adventures and disasters galore. They also meet people who become very important to them but know that they will have to move on very soon if they are ever to find their parents and get home to 2017.
Historically accurate and a fascinating look at America in various eras?
Profile Image for Glenn Younger.
Author 4 books5 followers
October 27, 2024
Twists, turns, right amount of normalcy

This time travel story has twists, turns, and just the right amount of normalcy to make it a stand out as a family of five siblings go in search of their time traveling parents lost in the past. The late 1800’s, 1918, and 1944 are the three stops. Flood, fire, scrapes with the law and love weave throughout the story as the kids and parents keep missing each other and they all grow in the process. By the end of book three, their group of five has grown to nine with one more on the way. Even though the future is still uncertain, the family is certain they can weather it together.
59 reviews
August 16, 2019
Excellent series

I thoroughly enjoyed these 3 books, Carson Chronicles. I enjoy historical time portal stories where I learn more of history. These 3 books did that very excellently with good characters I highly recommend them.
30 reviews
December 30, 2019
Good plot development

I would recommend this book. A lot of attention to detail. Believable characters. Easy to get invested in the character and situations that they find themselves in. Also a little info on events in history.
265 reviews
April 13, 2020
Carson Chronicles

This is an exciting series. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be on the edge of your seat, but, most of all, you’ll enjoy all the characters and learn about their lives as they travel in time. I recommend this series to everyone. Thank you!!
Profile Image for Melissa.
1,078 reviews5 followers
May 31, 2024
Carson Chronicles: The First Three Novels by John A. Heldt

The Carson siblings looking for their parents in the past go through fires,floods,marriages and become fugitives. From 2017 to the 18 hundreds to 1943 and 1944 and now in 1962..
34 reviews
July 29, 2021
Book two

This one got a little boring for me. Don't know why , I enjoyed it. I will start reading the third book now. I do like the historical references
Profile Image for Helinfield.
22 reviews1 follower
November 13, 2021
Not my typical book but am really enjoying the series. This is the 1st 3 books in a 5 book series.
42 reviews
October 27, 2024
It was interesting. I liked the characters and the time travel. I wish they hadn't kept getting into trouble with the law and could have enjoyed the adventures more but all in all, a good read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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