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Jason Apsley #3
Force of Time
Ten years through his new life living thirty-two years in the past, Jason’s world is simply perfect. After surviving the calamitous events of the late ’70s, life couldn’t be better – surely nothing could spoil it now – or could it?
The third book in the time travel series of the extraordinary life of Jason Apsley.
It’s 1987 – Jason’s time-travelling companion, and his nemesis, Paul Colney, are long since dead, and the villainous matriarch, Shirley Colney, is no longer a threat. So, the past is buried – or so he thought.
Will the events of 1977 come back to haunt Jason? And can the inquisitive Detective Inspector French discover the truth?
Time-travelling to his past was a one-off event – consigned to history – or was it?
As the inconceivable events of a decade ago start to resurface, Jason’s life unravels – once again, his family and those he loves face another round of head-spinning perilous predicaments, plunging their lives into chaos.
Will Jason, once again, prevail? Or will the demons from his past destroy his future?
Force of Time is the third novel in the Jason Apsley series. If you like time travel, entwined with mystery and British humour, then you’ll love the fast-paced time travel series by Adrian Cousins.
The third book in the time travel series of the extraordinary life of Jason Apsley.
It’s 1987 – Jason’s time-travelling companion, and his nemesis, Paul Colney, are long since dead, and the villainous matriarch, Shirley Colney, is no longer a threat. So, the past is buried – or so he thought.
Will the events of 1977 come back to haunt Jason? And can the inquisitive Detective Inspector French discover the truth?
Time-travelling to his past was a one-off event – consigned to history – or was it?
As the inconceivable events of a decade ago start to resurface, Jason’s life unravels – once again, his family and those he loves face another round of head-spinning perilous predicaments, plunging their lives into chaos.
Will Jason, once again, prevail? Or will the demons from his past destroy his future?
Force of Time is the third novel in the Jason Apsley series. If you like time travel, entwined with mystery and British humour, then you’ll love the fast-paced time travel series by Adrian Cousins.
- GenresTime Travel
442 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2022
224 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Cousins
36 books92 followersHello ...
I'm a self-confessed time-travel fan. So, unsurprisingly, my books fit into the time-travel genre.
My third book, Eye of Time, will be published in October 2021.
Please drop onto my website for updates.
I'm a self-confessed time-travel fan. So, unsurprisingly, my books fit into the time-travel genre.
My third book, Eye of Time, will be published in October 2021.
Please drop onto my website for updates.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
April 25, 2022
I tried my best to finish this. I made it almost 50% through before packing it in. I read a lot of independent writers and enjoy them. I have read the first books in this series and enjoyed them. I enjoyed the first 10% or so of this book. After that, it just got worse and worse and worse as the author fell deeper and deeper into the hole that so many independents fall into. No editor means the author is free to write what they want and how they want. BUT! That does not mean every single word is golden and deserves to be there just because it was written. Metaphors that run on and on and on do not need to be there. Paragraph after paragraph and page after page of the same rants about social issues do not need to be there. Line after line of characters rehashing then re-rehashing then even re-re-rehashing plot points do not need to be there.
If this book had been closer to the sweet-spot of 250-300 pages, it would have been enjoyable. At well over 400 pages, it was tedious. So many words to tell so little. It felt as though the longer I read, the slower and slower the story moved. What a shame.
If this book had been closer to the sweet-spot of 250-300 pages, it would have been enjoyable. At well over 400 pages, it was tedious. So many words to tell so little. It felt as though the longer I read, the slower and slower the story moved. What a shame.
October 18, 2022
I want to start by saying that I have loved this series and overall i did enjoy this instalment, however it comes with some major issues.
Bad Points:
- Goes off on unimportant tangents and rambles on for pages.
- Jason has turned into an irritating social justice warrior who get’s enraged over the slightest non-politically correct statements. He also brings up ‘climate change’ on several occasions.
- Not enough resolve. Questions about time-travel need answering now, the series needs to be explained and come to an end before it fizzles out.
- Didn’t need the Shirley and Ralph chapters. Eventually skimmed them to get back to the good stuff.
- Police station chapters were also pointless, for the most part they merely covered old ground (whilst giving extensive explanations of every bloody officers nickname).
Good Points:
- The fact that it exists! After the second book, I was left wanting more, so I am really glad that there is a third book in the series.
- The main story itself was good.
- Left me wanting more.
Bad Points:
- Goes off on unimportant tangents and rambles on for pages.
- Jason has turned into an irritating social justice warrior who get’s enraged over the slightest non-politically correct statements. He also brings up ‘climate change’ on several occasions.
- Not enough resolve. Questions about time-travel need answering now, the series needs to be explained and come to an end before it fizzles out.
- Didn’t need the Shirley and Ralph chapters. Eventually skimmed them to get back to the good stuff.
- Police station chapters were also pointless, for the most part they merely covered old ground (whilst giving extensive explanations of every bloody officers nickname).
Good Points:
- The fact that it exists! After the second book, I was left wanting more, so I am really glad that there is a third book in the series.
- The main story itself was good.
- Left me wanting more.
June 3, 2024
Martin did time travel back into the series as I’d hoped. But not with much impact really. However, I will forever know how ample Detective French’s bosoms are. And I’m not sure that’s what my final thought on this jumbled series should be. I gave it two stars as at least I felt obligated and interested enough to get to the very last jumbled paragraph. If this series had legs it would literally fall off a cliff.
August 10, 2022
Soooo disappointing.
This story was weakening in book two and died mid way through this one. It is full of boring internal monologue, recapping and an overwhelming sense of 'so what'. Jason became tedious, as did all of the other characters, excepting Frenchie who remains very interesting. Even the lovely bridge skittles with Beryl barely broke a smile.
This story was weakening in book two and died mid way through this one. It is full of boring internal monologue, recapping and an overwhelming sense of 'so what'. Jason became tedious, as did all of the other characters, excepting Frenchie who remains very interesting. Even the lovely bridge skittles with Beryl barely broke a smile.
June 25, 2023
A far more sinister book than its predecessors, filled with additional murders and shocking revelations that unveil intricate relationships. The author skillfully ties up most loose ends while intentionally leaving some open-ended, perhaps as a setup for a potential fourth book. However, despite the book's narrative flow resembling that of its predecessors, I must admit that I sense a slight stall in the overall story development. It has shifted from a time-traveler tale to a crime mystery, but unfortunately, the author hasn't fully capitalized on the fascinating premise of the protagonist having knowledge of future events.
To be honest, this installment left me somewhat frustrated and disappointed. If a fourth book is released, I find myself uncertain about my willingness to delve into it. It seems that the story has naturally reached its conclusion, and any attempts to prolong it further could potentially harm the series.
To be honest, this installment left me somewhat frustrated and disappointed. If a fourth book is released, I find myself uncertain about my willingness to delve into it. It seems that the story has naturally reached its conclusion, and any attempts to prolong it further could potentially harm the series.
April 4, 2022
Well, It’s book three in the Jason Apsley series and comes with quite a few surprises as I suspected it would having read the first two. Its ten years later and Frenchie is once again snapping at Jason’s heels as he tries to keep his time travelling and other out of this-world secrets from her. Items and characters new and old are popping up all over the place and making his life a nightmare as the force of time pushes him further towards making some frightening decisions. But will they be the right ones. The humor, especially in the police station will make you laugh out loud but its “Eighties” humor and if you’ve been around a bit like I have you’ll forgive it for what it is and how it was then. Many thanks to Adrian Cousins for allowing “His” imagination to run riot into mine.
February 5, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed the first 2 books in the Jason Aspley series and the stand alone Eye of Time. However, I'm afraid I did not enjoy this one as much. For 400+ pages the story was very lightweight and lacked the depth and feeling of the other 2 Jason books. The story rambled for long spells without really going anywhere and there was far too much over-egged character comedy that after a while lost its effect and became quite boring. Nothing really significant happened until the last few chapters with the Beryl bridge scenario. It would have been better if the Beryl thing had been introduced earlier and elaborated on more perhaps. Sorry, but in this instance I was disappointed. Will read more of Adrian's books though.
August 30, 2025
Book 3 in the series, and another good read - though there were some chunky boring parts
“The one man who could expose his true identity is dead. So it’s reasonable for Jason to believe his time-travelling secret is safe and buried in the past … or is it?
Ten years have elapsed since Jason Apsley grabbed his second chance after time-travelling forty-three years into the past. It’s now 1987, and those calamitous years of the late ’70s are a distant memory … life is perfect.
However, when a dead man and the events of 1977 come back to haunt him, Jason’s life unravels. Once again, his family face another round of head-spinning, perilous predicaments, plunging their lives into chaos.
History is changing, and not for the better. Can Jason, once again, alter the future?”
“The one man who could expose his true identity is dead. So it’s reasonable for Jason to believe his time-travelling secret is safe and buried in the past … or is it?
Ten years have elapsed since Jason Apsley grabbed his second chance after time-travelling forty-three years into the past. It’s now 1987, and those calamitous years of the late ’70s are a distant memory … life is perfect.
However, when a dead man and the events of 1977 come back to haunt him, Jason’s life unravels. Once again, his family face another round of head-spinning, perilous predicaments, plunging their lives into chaos.
History is changing, and not for the better. Can Jason, once again, alter the future?”
April 21, 2024
Having read the two previous books in this series, I gave up halfway through this one. The main protagonist, Jason, described my favourite character in the story as “ generational “ quite literally on his deathbed, so I just thought it was time to leave Jason in his time warp . At times there was way too much profanity for me too, quite unnecessary in my opinion. I liked the occasional humour and the idea of the time travelling story, but the constant comparisons to tv sitcom characters to the other personalities in the story ( especially the policeman) was really repetitive. I won’t read anymore in the series .
July 24, 2022
Oh, wow.
Mr. Cousins fills his book with words and idioms that I can't use in this review because it assaults the sensitivity of Amazon, and then he apologizes. The book would have been worthless without our seeing Frenchie struggling with the misogynistic attitudes of her crew. There's a lot to learn about British vernacular in this book. I recommend reading the book for this purpose alone. The story is good. We have a few time travel twist and turns that get exciting. I recommend it.
Mr. Cousins fills his book with words and idioms that I can't use in this review because it assaults the sensitivity of Amazon, and then he apologizes. The book would have been worthless without our seeing Frenchie struggling with the misogynistic attitudes of her crew. There's a lot to learn about British vernacular in this book. I recommend reading the book for this purpose alone. The story is good. We have a few time travel twist and turns that get exciting. I recommend it.
June 28, 2025
Thought a trilogy would be an audible credit well spent... It was hard going, first was OK but it got worse each time, most characters unlikeable, don and George aside, frenchie absolutely obnoxious, Jenny hard going, Martin good god, even Jason turned into a wet wipe..my final review??? It started badly, tailed off in the middle and the less said about the end the better.. Oh and the author really likes to make the male characters dodgy, even old Don gets his twist after his death and judge Jenny is sooo disappointed in him, there's literally not one truly likeable male character yet there's only one bad female character.. Avoid
November 28, 2022
Another cracker, if at times mind bending
I always enjoy Mr Cousins work and this instalment is as good as any other. It is a skill to maintain such a high level.
There were times when I almost couldn't get my head around the interrelationships but I wanted to read the book without having to reread the earlier ones to remind myself. However I might just do that now as a refresher.
Then it's onto book four.
Great work, keep it up.
I always enjoy Mr Cousins work and this instalment is as good as any other. It is a skill to maintain such a high level.
There were times when I almost couldn't get my head around the interrelationships but I wanted to read the book without having to reread the earlier ones to remind myself. However I might just do that now as a refresher.
Then it's onto book four.
Great work, keep it up.
June 21, 2024
I can't say I enjoyed this as much as the other two books in the series. There was an inevitability to the story re Jason and the Cloneys. There were some clever side and background stories completing an elaborate picture across the three books. I absolutely hated the prolonged descriptionds of how the various police officers got their nicknames. In fact I suspect that there were so many different police personnel simply to try and keep rthis lame joke going.
April 6, 2022
Another great book by Adrian Cousins
I’ve read the other books before this but I must admit it did take me a while to remember who was who etc, but it was such a good read so entertaining I couldn’t put it down. The cobwebs of my my mind will clearly have to be dusted when the next book comes out.
I’ve read the other books before this but I must admit it did take me a while to remember who was who etc, but it was such a good read so entertaining I couldn’t put it down. The cobwebs of my my mind will clearly have to be dusted when the next book comes out.
April 23, 2022
great sequel- loved the continuing story
Like a really good box set, this third series just filled in loads of blanks, provided a great storyline and moved the story forward
Thoroughly enjoyable and still with the great quirky characters. Cannot wait for the next instalment- and what drama lies in store for poor Jason!
Like a really good box set, this third series just filled in loads of blanks, provided a great storyline and moved the story forward
Thoroughly enjoyable and still with the great quirky characters. Cannot wait for the next instalment- and what drama lies in store for poor Jason!
July 2, 2022
can’t get enough of this author…no, I don’t know him!!
The humor…the story moves along,…never boring…so tired of self-narrative novels meditating on feelings and over descriptive poetic jibber. This guy just tells a great story with likeable characters and ridiculously eccentric bad guys!
The humor…the story moves along,…never boring…so tired of self-narrative novels meditating on feelings and over descriptive poetic jibber. This guy just tells a great story with likeable characters and ridiculously eccentric bad guys!
April 29, 2023
Having read the reviews I totally agree with what's being said. I loved Adrian's first two books so was looking forward to this one but was very disappointed. Jason wasn't nearly as likeable & all the silly nicknames given to the police & the teachers really got on my nerves, totally unnecessary & not in the least amusing. I was determined to finish it but was glad when I had.
January 1, 2024
I've had to quit!
I really enjoyed book 1 and 2 of this series, but this book skips between too many different characters. I understand that the original exclusive POV of Jason couldn't be continued at this stage, and other scenarios' with other characters had to be brought in, but the story lost its continuity. Still 4 stars, as the writing is good, but I'm bowing out at 56%.
I really enjoyed book 1 and 2 of this series, but this book skips between too many different characters. I understand that the original exclusive POV of Jason couldn't be continued at this stage, and other scenarios' with other characters had to be brought in, but the story lost its continuity. Still 4 stars, as the writing is good, but I'm bowing out at 56%.
October 12, 2024
First class
Excellent as always, this man is a born story teller and for those of us of a certain age it brings back so many memories as he described the time with unerring accuracy, keep this up Mr Cousins and I'm going to believe you're a founding member of the ttbc club yourself. Can't wait to reach the next instalment
Excellent as always, this man is a born story teller and for those of us of a certain age it brings back so many memories as he described the time with unerring accuracy, keep this up Mr Cousins and I'm going to believe you're a founding member of the ttbc club yourself. Can't wait to reach the next instalment
April 12, 2022
Force of time
Following on from the previous two books, this continues the time travelling farce. It is funny and absorbing in equal measures. It will appeal to all Ages, though especially to those of us who can remember the seventies.
Following on from the previous two books, this continues the time travelling farce. It is funny and absorbing in equal measures. It will appeal to all Ages, though especially to those of us who can remember the seventies.
May 3, 2022
Not up to the high standard of the preceding two in the Jason Apsley series but still a damned good read. I do recommended that you read the others first or you might struggle to get your head around the time travel shenanigans. Love the humour.
May 15, 2022
Force of Time
Jason is back. His other past, his present and future come together in a book I couldn't put down. Funny and believable. Brilliant time travel adventure with some clever twists. I'm enjoying this series and looking forward to the next.
Jason is back. His other past, his present and future come together in a book I couldn't put down. Funny and believable. Brilliant time travel adventure with some clever twists. I'm enjoying this series and looking forward to the next.
September 9, 2022
Enjoyable and a real page turner
I really enjoyed this book. It was strangely believable and unpredictable. One of the best books I have read for a long time. I am looking forward to the next one.
I really enjoyed this book. It was strangely believable and unpredictable. One of the best books I have read for a long time. I am looking forward to the next one.
September 18, 2022
Mind bending!!!
Hopefully by the time the next sequel arrives I'll be sufficiently recovered and able to bravely sink my teeth into yet another hair raising adventure from Mr cousins!
Hopefully by the time the next sequel arrives I'll be sufficiently recovered and able to bravely sink my teeth into yet another hair raising adventure from Mr cousins!
October 7, 2022
Just as good as 1 and 2
Brilliant series next stop book 4 then the stand alone time travel book funny in places serious in others you can't help but smile at the escapades of the TTBC
Brilliant series next stop book 4 then the stand alone time travel book funny in places serious in others you can't help but smile at the escapades of the TTBC
October 19, 2022
Book 3 in the books if you know what I mean. The convolutions that emerged in book 2 advanced to well it became hyper convoluted. Could have done with a bit of editing. Overall enjoyable and I look forward to Mr. Cousins future contributions.
October 27, 2022
Complicated and intricate
The author has an amazing imagination. The intricacies and twists in the story certainly keeps you concentrated. Looking forward to reading next installment.
The author has an amazing imagination. The intricacies and twists in the story certainly keeps you concentrated. Looking forward to reading next installment.
January 3, 2023
I wish there were more than 3 books in this series.
Hugely likeable characters so sad to say goodbye. I read the 3 books back to back in a week. Thoroughly enjoyed all three of them. Excellent plots enthralling books. Loved them.
Hugely likeable characters so sad to say goodbye. I read the 3 books back to back in a week. Thoroughly enjoyed all three of them. Excellent plots enthralling books. Loved them.
January 8, 2023
Still loving this series! Book #3 did not disappoint. There are so many character arcs in this book, I almost got lost. Still, the author did a great job pulling in stories that helped connect the dots. Brilliant time travel storyline that is refreshingly unexpected.
March 2, 2023
Mr cousins smashed out the park again
Great read as ever,I've only just got around to reading this been on my kindle, but now hooked again on the adventures of Jason, would make a great drama series
Great read as ever,I've only just got around to reading this been on my kindle, but now hooked again on the adventures of Jason, would make a great drama series
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews