Out of Time

Out of Time is the story of a twenty seven year old woman name Mel who works as a television extreme terror factor protagonist reporter. She gets to be with many people whom you and I couldn't and do extraordinary things that put her life in real danger every time. Between stunts she lives alone in her childhood home after her grandmother passed away. She loves the old place but it is as un-exciting as her personal life. Before her grandmother died she was doing an album of history about her husband who had died in the war against Hitler. And she feels she should finish it for all the war heroes involved with her grandfather. Mel's life changes drastically when she gets an envelope with old pictures form that era in which is a woman almost her twin displaying a temporary tattoo, a tattoo she got only days before. That same day at midnight she gets a phone call from the captain of the flying fortress, the Time Machine, her grandfather's war aircraft. The man who has never come to the survivors' get-togethers and no one knows why was in the other end of her phone. He asks to see her and she is excited because since the first time she saw his picture as a young child she has had a crush on him. He turns out to be in his eighties and handsome enough to make her heart skip a beat. This is a great history book for all those who enjoyed stories about the war, yet it would appeal to anyone who wants to read a great "back to the past" book. The romance is not heavy in it, but is enough to make you feel for the main character's plight. The ending is perfect. It is another great work of suspense, coupled with heavy artillery, a German camp and impossible romance. [...]

So many writers have problems with time travel, leaving large gaps and holes in the plot. Readers finish the stories saying, "But what about...?" These issues have been avoided in this case by not explaining in detail how the process works. And that leaves the reader with the joy of simply becoming immersed in an interesting and suspenseful story. The author has obviously done considerable research into WWII, particularly the daytime raids over the continent. But it's not just an immersion in history. Baird-Jones has populated the work with realistic and appealing characters. Of particular delight is the spunky twenty-first century heroine. (Hero really, using the current vernacular.) Mel is a TV reporter with a photographic memory whose show challenges her to participate in difficult adventures. And her sheer stubbornness has kept her from opting out--so far. The adventure into the past, however, leaves her wondering if perhaps this time she should have declined. The reason she didn't have that option is the possibility of saving her grandfather's life and meeting the hero of her childhood. No wonder this work won the 2007 EPPIE award for best mainstream fiction of 2007!

And a very nice meeting it is too. Mel and Jack had me rooting for them in no time. My love of the WWII era was well fed in this one; I swear I heard Glenn Miller's band playing softly in the background. And if you have to sit through an air raid in the London Tube, Mel makes good company. A few dropped articles, and a copyeditor who doesn't know Goering from Goring, simply don't matter. The story and the characters simply shine. Well done, Pauline! Sharon K. Garner, Sanctuary and River of Dreams

Mel is a fabulous character, and the story resonates for lots of reasons: the well realized setting, the emotions, the deft touch layering the plot. The action, the passion - this is a book that's got so much packed into it, the time travel aspect works beautifully, and there's a fresh realism to the book, and a classic romanticism. This is a great read!

This is book is a RIDE - you have to read it! My sixteen year old son and I both read this book in a weekend (we each had our own copy) and we couldn't put it down. The research of the time made the experience so real and believable - not easy to accomplish in a time travel type story. But the author pulls it off and it's exciting, humorous, well written. It's been a long tims since I've enjoyed a book so much! And it's not just "chick" material - my son is now wanting to read some of the author's other books! My husband is also reading it now and really liking it! He said it should be in every airport! This is a hit!!!