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Watchmaker #1
Transcending Time: The Watchmaker's Series Book1
Watchmaker, Bastian Andros, carries on the family tradition in Gem City, Illinois in the year 1955. His shop, Transcending Time, located in the historic district of a town steeped in history, is known by locals and tourists alike. Bastian, a man rich in his faith and chosen by God to fulfill the purpose of using a special oil on timepieces when prompted by the Holy Spirit, now comes to the end of his days. Bastian’s life has not always been easy and there are secrets hidden in his past that will change lives forever. As they come to light, will hearts finally be healed or become bitter?Will Bastian’s son, Louis, follow the calling and continue his father’s legacy?
242 pages, Paperback
Published April 19, 2021
10 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
J.E. Grace
21 books134 followersJ.E. Grace, a California-born artist and writer, found her true calling when she relocated to the Midwest in 2000. After a successful career in real estate, she retired in 2012 to dedicate herself to her passions for writing and art. With a diverse range of interests, including poetry, traditional oil and pastel painting, digital art, and photography, she showcases her creative endeavors on platforms such as Society 6, Fine Art America, and Zazzle.
Deeply rooted in her faith, J.E. Grace's writing exudes spiritual overtones that resonate with her readers. She primarily focuses on the Christian inspirational and mystery/suspense/romance genres, weaving captivating tales that touch the soul. Her most recent release, the Watchmaker's Series, set in 1950s Illinois, is a Christian historical fiction that enthralls readers with its rich storytelling and faith-driven narratives. Currently, she is engrossed in crafting books 3 and 4 of the series, promising further adventures and inspiration.
Additionally, J.E. Grace actively maintains Bizwings Blog, sharing insightful reviews of Christian, clean, and wholesome books. Her blog helps readers discover meaningful and uplifting literature that aligns with their values.
J.E. Grace is immersed in art and literature and leaves an indelible mark with her compelling stories, captivating paintings, and profound spiritual insights.
Deeply rooted in her faith, J.E. Grace's writing exudes spiritual overtones that resonate with her readers. She primarily focuses on the Christian inspirational and mystery/suspense/romance genres, weaving captivating tales that touch the soul. Her most recent release, the Watchmaker's Series, set in 1950s Illinois, is a Christian historical fiction that enthralls readers with its rich storytelling and faith-driven narratives. Currently, she is engrossed in crafting books 3 and 4 of the series, promising further adventures and inspiration.
Additionally, J.E. Grace actively maintains Bizwings Blog, sharing insightful reviews of Christian, clean, and wholesome books. Her blog helps readers discover meaningful and uplifting literature that aligns with their values.
J.E. Grace is immersed in art and literature and leaves an indelible mark with her compelling stories, captivating paintings, and profound spiritual insights.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 2, 2021
Sometimes books in the Christian fiction genre are very predictable and cookie-cutter, but then there are the other ones that are completely different. And this one was completely different!
There were several characters throughout the book - Bastian, Louis, Victoria, Linda, Alfred, and others. Each one of them was intertwined with one another's story in some shape or form, and they spanned a wider age range than many. Bastian was such a great father, and Louis a wonderful son. Their relationship and love for each other was so precious! At first, I was confused by which lady Louis would end up being attracted to, but then there was a little of a plot twist that cleared that up for me. No spoilers here. The romance, though not a huge part of the story, was clean and sweet. Alfred's story in the second half of the story added an interesting element, and I'm intrigued to see what the next book holds for him, and for the rest of the characters!
The plot wasn't super high-stakes, but there was plenty to keep the plot moving (and there were some suspenseful moments along the way, too.) I'm not sure if I've ever read a book that addressed an older person's final days in the way this one did, and while it was sad, it wasn't extremely heavy or depressing. Instead, it was a good representation of how believers in Jesus can face death with peace and certainty, for the moments our eyes close, we shall see the Lord in heaven!
Throughout the book, Louis grew as a believer and Bastian continued his solid walk with the Lord. This wasn't one of those books that claim to be Christian and aren't. This was about the lives of believers working through hard times, leaning on the Lord and seeing Him work through difficult circumstances to bring good.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I especially appreciated the author's attention to the details about watches. Very cool! I could tell she knew what she was talking about. If you're looking for a gentle historical fiction book, look no further!
Thanks so much to the author for a free copy in exchange for a review.
There were several characters throughout the book - Bastian, Louis, Victoria, Linda, Alfred, and others. Each one of them was intertwined with one another's story in some shape or form, and they spanned a wider age range than many. Bastian was such a great father, and Louis a wonderful son. Their relationship and love for each other was so precious! At first, I was confused by which lady Louis would end up being attracted to, but then there was a little of a plot twist that cleared that up for me. No spoilers here. The romance, though not a huge part of the story, was clean and sweet. Alfred's story in the second half of the story added an interesting element, and I'm intrigued to see what the next book holds for him, and for the rest of the characters!
The plot wasn't super high-stakes, but there was plenty to keep the plot moving (and there were some suspenseful moments along the way, too.) I'm not sure if I've ever read a book that addressed an older person's final days in the way this one did, and while it was sad, it wasn't extremely heavy or depressing. Instead, it was a good representation of how believers in Jesus can face death with peace and certainty, for the moments our eyes close, we shall see the Lord in heaven!
Throughout the book, Louis grew as a believer and Bastian continued his solid walk with the Lord. This wasn't one of those books that claim to be Christian and aren't. This was about the lives of believers working through hard times, leaning on the Lord and seeing Him work through difficult circumstances to bring good.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I especially appreciated the author's attention to the details about watches. Very cool! I could tell she knew what she was talking about. If you're looking for a gentle historical fiction book, look no further!
Thanks so much to the author for a free copy in exchange for a review.
May 27, 2021
Characters: Louis was my favorite character. I enjoyed seeing him take care of his ailing father and pick up his father's legacy. In circumstances that could've left him hopeless, he chose to depend on God.
Language: Clean.
Moral: The two themes that stood out to me in this book were depending on God for strength and doing what He tells you. I really liked how Louis shared his faith with Vernon.
Plot: I enjoyed getting to know Louis, Bastian, Linda, Victoria, and the other residents of Gem City. A little suspense and romance kept the plot moving. The ending, while sad, remained hopeful.
Random comments: A lot of the time, I use this section to highlight content issues, but today, I want to talk about good things :) First, I think the title is really cool and fits the story well. Second, I was impressed by the author's knowledge of clocks/watches. Third, I thought the small-town feel came through very well.
If I can have a tiny complaint in this section, I would've liked to know more about the special oil--where the Andros family got it especially. The visions/flashbacks were a little strange to me, but they did add to the plot and my understanding of the story.
Romance: Clean. I really appreciated that the romance wasn't the main plot of this story. So many books out there focus heavily on romance, and it was nice to read something different.
Writing: J.E. Grace has an easy-to-read style that fit the story well. Her descriptions were clear and at times poetic. Though there were some verb tense changes, these didn't disrupt my reading.
Overall: This book is an entertaining read, and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes Christian fiction and historical fiction (this book is set in the 1950s).
Language: Clean.
Moral: The two themes that stood out to me in this book were depending on God for strength and doing what He tells you. I really liked how Louis shared his faith with Vernon.
Plot: I enjoyed getting to know Louis, Bastian, Linda, Victoria, and the other residents of Gem City. A little suspense and romance kept the plot moving. The ending, while sad, remained hopeful.
Random comments: A lot of the time, I use this section to highlight content issues, but today, I want to talk about good things :) First, I think the title is really cool and fits the story well. Second, I was impressed by the author's knowledge of clocks/watches. Third, I thought the small-town feel came through very well.
If I can have a tiny complaint in this section, I would've liked to know more about the special oil--where the Andros family got it especially. The visions/flashbacks were a little strange to me, but they did add to the plot and my understanding of the story.
Romance: Clean. I really appreciated that the romance wasn't the main plot of this story. So many books out there focus heavily on romance, and it was nice to read something different.
Writing: J.E. Grace has an easy-to-read style that fit the story well. Her descriptions were clear and at times poetic. Though there were some verb tense changes, these didn't disrupt my reading.
Overall: This book is an entertaining read, and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes Christian fiction and historical fiction (this book is set in the 1950s).
June 29, 2021
Couldn't put it down.
This book was gifted to me by the author. I really enjoyed reading it. In fact I purchased the next book in the series. I also know there is a 3rd book in the works if it's not finished already. J.E. Grace also has other books. Check them out as well.
This book was gifted to me by the author. I really enjoyed reading it. In fact I purchased the next book in the series. I also know there is a 3rd book in the works if it's not finished already. J.E. Grace also has other books. Check them out as well.
May 4, 2021
This author's debut novel is truly a work of Christian fiction. The characters share their faith fluidly. I'll be watching for more from this author.
December 19, 2022
I want to give this story more than 5STARS as it deserves it. WOW!! What drew me in at first sight of this book was the cover. It told me that I would read an incredible story, and I did. How do you describe something that sinks into your soul and quickens your heart with its beauty?? That's how this book transported my mind. I never like to give away any or too many clues, so I'll try not to spoil anything for you with my review. The book was full of excellent descriptions that transported me into the pages to visualize every scene. Bastian, a Swiss clockmaker, and repairer of clocks, has a secret passed down to him from generations. In turn, on his sickbed, he passes it on to his son Louis to value and use. What is that secret???? It is simply amazing, BUT you will have to read the book to find out. This story is spiritually SPELLBINDING. Full of eternal love that cannot die. There is also a profound mystery that you will never guess until you read almost to the end. SO... do yourself a favor and read this book for yourself. I LOVED IT!!!
January 15, 2025
surprise!
Nice read. A little history, a little romance, great family time and a whole lot of God and His mysterious ways.
Nice read. A little history, a little romance, great family time and a whole lot of God and His mysterious ways.
January 17, 2025
Great story…
Great story but there are a few places editing should have caught and corrected mixed up names. I do look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Great story but there are a few places editing should have caught and corrected mixed up names. I do look forward to reading the rest of the series.
December 5, 2022
During the mid-50s in Gem City, Illinois, Bastian Andros, a Swiss clockmaker, continues on with his traditional family business. Transcending Time is a shop well known to the locals and visitors.
Bastian’s end is approaching, but he has a secret, and a calling to accomplish, a task involving a distinct oil and a timepiece.
‘Transcending Time’ is a tale filled with an everlasting passion for God’s love that exceeds time. Deep clandestine is laced throughout. Author, J.E. Grace’s plot develops well and ends wonderfully. This is a great book to nestle up with under a snug blanket on a rainy day.
Bastian’s end is approaching, but he has a secret, and a calling to accomplish, a task involving a distinct oil and a timepiece.
‘Transcending Time’ is a tale filled with an everlasting passion for God’s love that exceeds time. Deep clandestine is laced throughout. Author, J.E. Grace’s plot develops well and ends wonderfully. This is a great book to nestle up with under a snug blanket on a rainy day.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews