Timebound by Rysa Walker Buddy Read!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Holly, Karen, Jenny and I are starting a buddy read of Timebound by Rysa Walker! This book won the Amazon Breakthrough novel award and is supposed to be really good!! Anyone is welcome to join us :)

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

I'm so excited you all are reading it!! This is a reread for me, but I'm expecting changes since when I read it...its been given a new title and cover, so I assume there was some editing as well. It was amazing as an Indie read, I was very impressed with it! I'm not surprised it won that award, and I think I remember voting for it!

Here's my review on the blog tour if anyone wants to read it, spoiler free!

http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogsp...

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

WOOT! Yay, Layla!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

And I was on Amazon a week or so ago, and it was #24 that day for top 100 paid ebooks on Amazon!! I sent Rysa a message congratulating her, and she sent me a reply back. She's on cloud nine right now! Moments like that are what makes being a book blogger the coolest thing!

[Jen]

I'm at Chapter 20 -
(view spoiler)[OK, how many Katherines are walking around, and how many Kates? Is Kiernan (Mick) the same one as on the subway? And is Trey some kind of descendant of Kiernan's? This is getting really complicated with the trip to the World's Fair. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

OMG Jen, I know, right? (view spoiler)[I thought the author was brilliant in how she made that all work! And I'm sure we have lots left to learn as this is the first in a series! (hide spoiler)] It boggled my mind!

[Jen]

I just finished up my Friday Reads video and I mentioned how time travel can get really complicated sometimes - it takes some brain power to keep track! She is a genius with this. And you know how we do love that nice little romance she has going there . . . ; D

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

I agree completely...I just thought the book was so...SMART. Loved it! I'm even more excited to reread it now!

[Jen]

HOLY COW I just found this on audio - from Audible for $1.99! Karen! How amazing is that?

I immediately got it and now I'm going to start again at the beginning. It's narrated by Kate Rudd and she's really good. What a find. What a treat!

http://www.audible.com/pd/Teens/Timeb...

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Nice, Jen!

[Karen’s Library]

Got it on audio!! I must finish my current read , then I'll start! Time travel! WOOT WOOT! And on whispersync so I can have it on or read all day!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

I'm going to finish (almost done) and then I'll start reading as well! Probably tomorrow!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Layla wrote: "I'm going to try to join in this one :)"

Welcome to the buddy read, Layla!!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Just finished Chapter 6, 23% in. (view spoiler)[ My only issues so far are how none of the characters seem shocked or amazed by anything happening LOL. Kate just goes right along with it, and then her friend goes right along with it, and then random stranger Tray goes along with it and even ditches school to walk around with her. I'm doing my best to suspend belief because I think the futuristic world and time travel elements are quite well done and cool so far.

But I'm glad the shocker came when her dad disappeared and everything has changed, I think that was a much-needed twist that will make the rest of it a much better read :) (hide spoiler)]

[Karen’s Library]

21% in. Dang it, I need to go a bit more before I can read your spoiler, David.

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

LOL, well you're juggling a couple books at the same time :) My spoiler was a bit of a gripe so not that exciting. I'm at 30% now and I must say that I've enjoyed the last 7% much more than the first 23%. (view spoiler)[ Although I still think the whole randomly meeting Tray thing is way too unrealistic and over the top and somewhat of an obvious love-triangle character addition, the time-travelling aspect has really caught my attention and I completely agree with Jenny who said the details of the backstory are well thought out and very smart.

It was also totally weird how she met her father who didn't know her! Scary stuff! But again, he barely seems shocked by the whole thing lol! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

The time travel aspect of it is the best part of the whole thing IMO. I agree completely with your spoilers, David!

I'm up to 8% (big whoop) at the moment. Will read more tonight, but its amazing how much of this I remember considering its been almost a year since I read it!

[Holly]

So sorry guys. I'm finishing up a review book tonight, and then I will get started on this one. I can't wait to join the discussion! :)

[Karen’s Library]

31%... I'm also really enjoying the time travel and how she's fleshing out the miniscule parts of it (view spoiler)[like how things disappear when Kate's not touching them. I'm not quite sure why Trey still remembers her but the pictures disappear. Still trying to wrap my head around it.

And some parts are bothering me a bit. Kate just goes on normally and sleeps, goes to school, etc., even though her whole world as she knew it came crashing down. To find out your grandmother is from the future? And that you have time traveling powers? What??! And Trey just sort of being included without a second thought. And why would she go visit her Dad knowing she was not a part of his life? Why didn't she run back to Katherine for answers first, trusting Trey, a total stranger, rather than Katherine or even Conner?

Ok, my rant is over. The storyline is good though so I'll stop whining now. Hahahahaaa... (hide spoiler)]

Where's our time travel obsessor, Jen? I need your expertise! ;-P

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

I can understand (view spoiler)[why she would go look for her father right away. Its not the smartest thing, but I think she had to see him with her own eyes. Yeah, the whole thing with Trey tagging along was not realistic, and I remember that kind of bugging me the first time I read it. The other stuff will make more sense farther in! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Holly wrote: "So sorry guys. I'm finishing up a review book tonight, and then I will get started on this one. I can't wait to join the discussion! :)"

No worries, Holly, we are pretty laid back on these buddy reads!

[Karen’s Library]

65% in. This is another holy snikes book!! I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK!!

And whispersync! Need to feed the dog? Switch to audio for a few minutes. Dinner? ...switch to audio while preparing and then eating... So pretty much non-stop reading/listening tonight!

(view spoiler)[This religion is freaky! And the time travel itself is brilliantly done! Trey is very endearing now! And Katherine...! Sob..! :( (hide spoiler)]

I'm definately getting addicted to time travel books. I need to go pick through Jen's books to find more. My turn for a time travel phase! ;)

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Holly wrote: "So sorry guys. I'm finishing up a review book tonight, and then I will get started on this one. I can't wait to join the discussion! :)"

Can't wait for you to start!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Karen wrote: "65% in. This is another holy snikes book!! I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK!!

And whispersync! Need to feed the dog? Switch to audio for a few minutes. Dinner? ...switch to audio while preparing and then eat..."

Ah good, I'm at 46% and getting a bit bogged down in the details of the backstory. I'm ready for some real time travel! I did really enjoy (view spoiler)[ how she covered the diary stuff with the videos. I enjoyed reading that part much more than if she'd just read through a bunch of entries. (hide spoiler)]

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

That's OK, Layla! We'll stick around until everyone's finished so we can hear your thoughts and chat about it :)

[Holly]

I'm 17% in, and I really like it! However, keeping all of this information and backstory straight is a little confusing. I'm intrigued to find out more!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

YAY, Karen! The second half of the book just takes off, the first half is more of setting everything up.

I'm at 47% at the moment, so I understand completely, David...I almost just skipped over all this last 10% or so, but I didn't want to miss anything important I may have forgotten! (view spoiler)[ The scene that still gave me chills...when Kate confronts her dad and he doesn't know her...that whole conversation...chills (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Karen wrote: "65% in. This is another holy snikes book!! I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK!!

And whispersync! Need to feed the dog? Switch to audio for a few minutes. Dinner? ...switch to audio while preparing and then eat..."

(a little bit)

I enjoyed all of these. I think everything else I've read and enjoyed, you have already read!

[Holly]

Can someone explain (view spoiler)[the significance of the two photographs in chapter 4? I'm not sure I totally understand what they mean. (hide spoiler)] I wouldn't ask if I find out later, but I feel like I should already understand.

[Karen’s Library]

Holly, it gets explained a little later and is significant. :)

[Holly]

Karen wrote: "Holly, it gets explained a little later and is significant. :)"

Okay, thanks!

[Jen]

Holly wrote: "Can someone explain [spoilers removed] I wouldn't ask if I find out later, but I feel like I should already understand."

Holly, I think that (view spoiler)[the idea here is that since Connor and the photos are protected within the "bubble" of the house, which is unaffected by time changes, he has two photos of two different timelines. Here's what Katherine (grandmother) says:

“At one point, these were two copies of the same photograph. The second one has been in my possession and under the protection of a CHRONOS field continuously since 1995, when Connor’s mother allowed me to make a copy of the original for my research on the descendants of the various CHRONOS historians. The first one— the more formal portrait— is actually the original photograph that I made this copy from in 1995. Connor obtained it from his sister by mail last May.

"Then when Connor tries to explain, he says that he remembers things differently. When he looks at Katherine to clarify, this is what she says:

Katherine just shrugged. “We’re beyond my level of understanding now. I’m just a historian. I used the equipment, but I didn’t invent it. We were told that the system was safeguarded against this type of— aberration— but Saul…”

So the idea that there are two photographs of the same thing is apparently something that Saul caused. The fact that they can both exist probably has something to do with the "CHRONOS field" in which the house and library are protected. (hide spoiler)]

At least, that's the best I can figure. Time travel is complicated, right?

Walker, Rysa (2014-01-01). Timebound (The Chronos Files) (p. 60). Skyscape. Kindle Edition.
Walker, Rysa (2014-01-01). Timebound (The Chronos Files) (p. 59). Skyscape. Kindle Edition.

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

And expounding from what Jen said (view spoiler)[ Basically it has to do with this new religion that Saul creates that you will learn about later on. In the correct timeline, the religion did not exist, so the man was a farmer. In the new timeline, there is a religion that goes back a couple hundred of years, and this man was a minister of it. Because he was a minister, it changed who he married, who his kids were, etc. It will make more sense the farther you get in. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Did I mention how much I love Trey? He really grew on me the farther I got into the story! At 60% (view spoiler)[ So now we learn that if Kate fixes things, Trey won't remember her at all, and if she doesn't, Kate will probably cease to exist! Craziness! This part of the story is heartbreaking to me! (hide spoiler)]

[Jen]

Yeah, the whole thing with Trey seems odd to me. Nice plot device for romance, but it seems like Rysa Walker is a little too smart for that.

I think that (view spoiler)[it's possible that Trey is some person from the past. I mean, his parents are gone with work all the time? We never get a clear understanding of his situation. And his insistence on walking around with Kate all the time - that seems like nothing a normal boy would do. Very chivalrous and all, but I'm not buying it. I know he seems astonished at the photos disappearing, but I think he's wise to the whole thing in some fashion or another.

Also - about the photos disappearing - I have a feeling that Kate must be protected by the CHRONOS field inherently. That would explain why the photos would vanish, not being part of the current timeline, when they left her hands. Apparently the field would extend from her to whatever she was touching.

And one last thing. I do think that Kate's character is falling into that trap of being ridiculously and recklessly over-confident. The whole visit to the church/cult seemed kind of stupid to me, especially when she knows how dangerous it is. Her grandmother would tell her that and so would Connor. Connor also, while seeming to be slightly upset, forgave her pretty quickly. I wish that authors could maintain a teenage character's good sense while still placing them in situations that can further the plot. I want to admire Kate, not feel like she's a reckless idiot with no care for her own safety or for the admonition of older, wiser people like Connor and her grandmother. She barely escaped with her life and I kind of felt like she deserved that. Foolish girl. (hide spoiler)]

I know, I'm hard on my characters. It's just that when you read such incredibly good fiction you tend to get in the habit of setting a higher standard. This story is good but it does have it's problems.

Plus it takes a boatload of brain power! Here's one of my favourite quotes from Star Trek: Voyager's Captain Janeway:

"Time travel. Since my first day on the job as a Starfleet captain I swore I'd never let myself get caught in one of these godforsaken paradoxes - the future is the past, the past is the future, it all gives me a headache."

LOL!

[Jen]

Finished. Wow! Great ending - you know me, I'm a sucker for romance! It's like a drug - lol!

One thing I can't figure which creates a paradox, so maybe you can answer this, Jenny: (view spoiler)[How is it that when Kate went back to April 7 (after returning from the Expo), she didn't run into herself? I'm not sure how that worked, especially since they could run into earlier versions of themselves. Technically, she was going back again. Is it because she's going back to a different timeline? Even so, wouldn't there be another version of herself? (hide spoiler)]

Great read! Complicated! Circular! Strange! Is there going to be a series or is this a stand-alone?

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Wow, speed reader! I'm at 56%. I agree with you Jen about (view spoiler)[ them going to the Cyrist place. Seemed very reckless, although at the same time, it broke up the monotony of the endless backstory LOL! So I sort of enjoyed it and just ignored the fact that Kate was being so stupid. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

I'll have to address your question when I get there, Jen, I don't remember that part!

And I agree, the story isn't perfect. I rated it 4 stars. And I agree, David, we were due for some action! And also learning some answers!

[Karen’s Library]

I'm at 75%. Ooohh.. Jen, good observation about (view spoiler)[Trey! I'll be interested to see if you were right. And also, good pickup on the details about the pictures. I missed the farmer vs. Minister part. (hide spoiler)]

I'm really enjoying this book! And the audio is wonderful, especially the voice of Mick! :)

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Up to 81%! The last 10% or so was SO GOOD!! (view spoiler)[Can't believe what a witch Prudence has turned into! Saul definitely brainwashed her! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

On Rysa's Twitter, she said the sequel will come out in Oct, and a novella about Kiernan will be out this spring!

Finished!! Loved it! Again! LOL

Okay Jen (view spoiler)[ The answer is she could, that was why her grandmother and Conner where going to leave town. She was only at her grandmother's in the one timeline, except when she went to Trey's house and the church. Her mom didn't exist and her dad lived somewhere else. So she couldn't run into herself at their places, only at her grandmother's house. (hide spoiler)]

Make sense?

[Karen’s Library]

Jenny wrote: "On Rysa's Twitter, she said the sequel will come out in Oct, and a novella about Kiernan will be out this spring!

Finished!! Loved it! Again! LOL

Okay Jen [spoilers removed]

Make sense?"

Finished!! So amazing! Loved it! My head is spinning!

So are we Team Trey or Team Kiernan?? ;-P

I seriously can't decide!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

75%! I got so confused in some of the time travel bits, but I sort of just let it go and tried not to think too hard about it LOL! But I'm enjoying now that she's (view spoiler)[ travelled back. I love Mick too. Holy snikes, Prudence was Mick's other boss! (hide spoiler)] Hoping to finish tomorrow :)

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

It was easier to read the second time around, David! I understood a lot more I think! (view spoiler)[I totally forgot about that scene on the ferris wheel with Prudence!! (hide spoiler)]

I'm actually a little of both I think, Karen! The first time I read it, I was definitely Team Trey, but I don't know, after reading it again, I kind of like Kiernan better!

Karen and Jen(view spoiler)[ wasn't it amazing all that circular reasoning with the characters? We have them all from different time periods each knowing only so much of the puzzle! The sequel will be incredible I think! (hide spoiler)]

[Holly]

Okay, so I'm 34% into the book now, and I'm still enjoying it. Although, now it's getting more intriguing (view spoiler)[since the time shifts, which I actually understand better! Now I understand about the 2 photographs and how you can have different, I don't know, paths because things changed. (hide spoiler)]. Time travelling is always so confusing for me!

I also agree with some of you above about the characters' reactions to events that have unfolded. They seemed to have gone along to it fairly quickly, especially Kate and Trey (who I like, but don't know if his inclusion into the story is more than just a romantic angle). I don't know if I would have trusted him so quickly. And I probably would have gone to my grandmother for answers instead of trying to make sense of it all myself.

Hoping to finish the book tonight! :)

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Holly wrote: "Okay, so I'm 34% into the book now, and I'm still enjoying it. Although, now it's getting more intriguing [spoilers removed]. Time travelling is always so confusing for me!

I also agree with some..."

Awesome! Yeah, I'm with you, I really struggle to keep everything straight, I think the author must be a genius to work through all the technicalities of time travel LOL! Her attention to detail is really impressive.

80%!

So, I do like Trey, although now I'm suddenly way on Team Kiernan because of (view spoiler)[ meeting him as Mick from the past. I absolutely love this character! His accent, his mannerisms, the way he talks to Kate, everything! I can't help rooting for him even thought we haven't really gotten a glimpse of his romantic connection to Kate yet. I'm sure that's coming eventually though! (hide spoiler)]

Other than my few minor gripes about the character's jumping on board with the time travel thing too quickly and getting bogged down in the time travel details a few times, this has been an AWESOME read and I can't wait to finish it tonight!!

[Karen’s Library]

Seriously about time travel. It makes my head spin!!

And Rysa Walker is joining our group for a Q&A in February!! EEEPPPPP..!!! Sooooo excited for this one!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Karen, do you care to share your SUPER-EXCITING news about the author with us too?

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

LOL!!! You posted at the same time as me! That's incredible news, my friend!! From what you've said, she sounds like a super-cool person, as well as a great author :)

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

LOL

WOOOOOT!!!! This Q&A will be so rocking awesome!!

Just look at what I started ;) I love making waves!

I'm so happy you all are enjoying it, I knew you probably would! Its really amazing for a debut novel, and I agree, I think she's a genius!