When the Day Comes (Timeless #1)

by Gabrielle Meyer

his eyes, which were a shade of blue I had never seen in anyone else—that

Ok Taylor Swift lyric

God was the Author of our lives, and only He controlled who bore the gift.

Did people talk about God like that in the 1700s? That is more late-20th century Baptist speak in my opinion.

I was pampered, pressed, and polished to perfection—with little purpose beyond being an ornament.

The P alliteration is great but the the word ornament should have been a word that begins with P.

Not for the first time, I wondered why God had allowed me to be in this time and place.

It fits the theme of the book but again, I don't think that's how late 1700's ppl viewed God.

one of her enslaved women, Martha,

not language used then methinks?

Mother would set in motion a betrothal. No matter what happened, I would not agree to marry him,

Why does it matter if she gets married in one timeline? Is it the whole purity culture thing?

Great wars and disastrous events have brought much pain and suffering to the world through the hands of villains who sought to change history. But, in the end, God’s will always prevails.”

Anachronistic reference to God's will

When she spoke of her 1990s life, her face usually shone, and her voice took on a faraway tone that had always charmed me as a girl. Even her accent and word choices

How does that not change history by her talking about it?

“I will accept Lord Cumberland’s proposal—if you agree to let me postpone the wedding until next year.”

Why does it matter I ask

knew what she was telling me. I needed to find a way to stop Lord Cumberland from consummating the

marriage. It was the only thing I really feared about marrying him. Though I had no wish to leave America, I could do almost anything for eleven months—anything but that.

To make matters worse, there was a war looming in Europe. I’d already shared all the details with Mama, and she’d told me the little she knew about England’s ...

Doesn't her knowing change history? or count as trying to change her timeline?

The words of Jeremiah the prophet came to me, and I said them under my breath as I crossed the street to walk down the opposite direction, back toward the Raleigh. “‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.’” My life was not meaningless. God had an expected end in mind. He had marked out all my days in both paths. Yes, I had choices to make, but I had submitted to His will years ago, choosing to trust Him with all my heart. All I could do was beseech Him to lead me on the right path and trust that He would.

These are Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God type people, not quoting reassuring scripture.

hobbled skirt

Always wearing the hobbled skirt. To hit home how confined she feels

The home had some Italianate influences, as well as Georgian,

How does she know this

But it was the two-story library facing the sea that took me by complete surprise and delight.

so cliche

I wasn’t aware of anyone else in the colonies with a waffle maker, but it was Mama’s favorite food from the 1990s and she had commissioned the blacksmith to make it for her.

Doesn't this change history for our main character? Why would this be allowed.

He met my gaze and stared hard at me. Had he overheard our conversation? If he had, he would have heard the name Lord Cumberland and talk of war. What would he think of that? Mama and I needed to be more careful.

Why were they talking outside anyway

It gave me shivers whenever Mama talked about a historical event she knew so much about that had not yet happened. Whereas I tried to avoid learning details so I wouldn’t inadvertently change history, Mama had reveled in learning them. Mayhap it was because she hadn’t thought she’d stay in this time period but had planned to live in the 1990s

Mayhap indeed

Reggie could decorate however he wanted after I was gone. But that thought sent a strange longing through me.

now she's changing her mind?

I led them in prayer, asking for God to spare us and our neighbors along the coast.

“You don’t know how many times I have prayed to God, asking Him to spare me from this mission, yet I know I was born for such a time as this.

Anachronism. tiring

“And even if we go to war, we would pray God’s protection upon you. We would hope and trust that He would bring you back to me.”

I suspected he regretted his actions that night in the library, and that alcohol had played a part again—but

The level of deflection and acceptance about the spousal rape is disgusting.

so I had wished him Godspeed and told him I’d be praying.

Halfway, a sudden bout of dizziness took me unaware. I became winded and had to stop for a rest.

“I confess, I feel a little queasy.”

yep here we go

I was invited to stop by the soup kitchen

A soup kitchen feels like a very modern thing plunked in here.

“But I also know that our hopes and dreams are not always God’s. Sometimes He has a plan that looks much different from ours.”

How many people know the day and hour of their parting? We are blessed, Libby. Blessed beyond measure.”

I could not marry Henry, not even for one day. There could be no possibility of another child.

I don't see why not, it's two different times

Please believe me when I say that I did not intend to hurt you, though I know I have.

For throwing a lot of modern stuff into these story lines, the author glosses over the sexual assault very easily rather than naming it and denouncing it. Does that keep it palatable for Christian readers? It's disgusting.

Yet I was now committed to this path because of the baby. For better or worse, Reggie would be my husband for the rest of my life.

“Please leave,” I told her, “and destroy the contents of that vial immediately.”

If she was a time-crosser, then somewhere in a different time and place, another mother was learning about her impending arrival.

life. It was the same love that Christ had shown for me when He gave up His life on the cross. He had laid down his life so that others could live. I would be asked to do the same for my child.

I think this type of narrative comes into fashion in the early 1900s with the Baptists.

Though news had not yet reached Virginia, I knew the Battles of Lexington and Concord had transpired the day before. Mama and I had prayed for all those involved.

But if they know what happens why pray

brought back the memories of that night five months ago when Reggie had forced me to stay with him.

such a euphemism. Does it allow the Christian readers to accept that she has sex because the act isn't named and she didn't want to but was forced? Spousal rape is still rape.

reminding me that there was beauty among the ashes.

I brought the book with me and opened it to a random page, ready to keep reading, but realized I was looking at the m’s. Henry’s name stared at me,

such a coincidence!

There was still time to change history, to save him from this fate, and I was the only person who could.

“After World War One, there will be a devastating pandemic. Then there will be peace for a time, followed by a worldwide depression.

How can they talk about this, doesn't it break the code?

Hadn’t Mama taught me that God was a good and faithful father, that He knew the plans He had for me, and they were plans to prosper me and not to harm me?

Oh maybe the mother brought back this type of language from the 1990s.

She wrote it as if she were writing a long letter to Libby after Libby’s death.

of course she did . . .

Mama had left me a diary? A letter written to me after I left them?

I would return here often, I was certain, but seeing time wear away at this place was a good reminder that my work should not simply be material and earthly, but for eternity’s sake.

just . . . out of time

drawn together by an invisible string.

Taylor Swift again!

Memories of Reggie’s misuse of me threatened to swallow me again.

The euphemism (gag)

He had been faithful to listen to me and to hear my cries, yet He had known the end from the beginning.

“We are given until the age of twenty-five to choose which path we want to keep,” Henry added.

of course it's different/longer for men. (how tiresome)