John A. HeldtRezensionen

A tale of time travel, history, danger, romance, and family relationships.

While this is a time travel book, as with all John A. Heldt’s books, it is so much more.

John skilfully combines a good story with well researched history. I have all of his books and he has never failed to entertain with his family based time travel stories.

The Fountain is the first book of his new Second Chance series and after being introduced to the Carpenters, I look forward to the next in the series.

The three main characters are ageing siblings Bill, Paul and Annie. Bill (81) has just been widowed, Paul (75) is dying from lung cancer and Annie (72) is confined to a wheelchair.

All are childless and wonder what there is left in life. When Bill, a retired folklore and mythology professor, hears about a fountain of youth in La Paz, Mexico that could not only give them a second chance it would also mean travelling back in time to a simpler lifestyle. They don’t hesitate in making their decision. They sell their house and possessions and convert the proceeds into gold.

To reach the fountain they must travel to Mexico and enter an almost unknown cave. They enter the fountain and emerge in 1905. But things are different – Bill is now a young man of 23, Paul a cancer free teenager of 17 and Annie a 14 year old with a healthy body.

They must then find a way to get from Mexico to Oakland, California. Once in California they settle in and make friends. Bill finds a job and the two younger ones enrol in school but there is still one thing worrying them – the 1906 San Francisco earthquake especially when none of them can remember exactly when it will occur.

The Carpenters fitted in well to their new age. They had a few slip ups, particularly with jargon or slang terms, but it was fun to see them wriggle out of it.

The Fountain is much more than a time travel book. Heldt combines time travel with family relationships, history, romance, and heartbreak.

As always, he manages to combine all these genres without graphic sex or foul language. His history is well researched giving the reader a definite sense of time and place.

Aged 74 myself, I was able to relate to Bill, Paul and Annie and their wish to go back in time to a younger version of themselves. The difference is I have a son and grandchildren, they have no one but each other.

They are marvellous characters, quiet achievers, and caring souls.

We have a clear impression of Heldt’s main characters from the start and it was interesting to see that influenced who they were in 1905. Nothing was lost in the relationship between them or their attitudes to others and their distinct personalities remained unchanged.

Widower Bill has just buried his beloved wife after 54 years of marriage and is somewhat lost. While she is not strictly a character in the book she was much loved by his siblings and a strong influence on their lives.

Paul’s background is a bit clearer. He is a disgraced soldier, has been married three times and now coming to terms with living with terminal cancer. I felt he had the most to gain from a second chance and was a delightful, caring young man in 1905.

Annie is used to her life confined to a wheelchair but is still frustrated with the limitations especially not having children. The opportunity to be free of it and relive a young life appeals greatly and she embraces life in 1905 with enthusiasm.

My favourite character though was Cassie, a teacher at the school where Bill has a job to assess the teaching staff and where Annie and Paul attend school. She’s smart, feisty and beautiful but she and Bill don’t hit it off in the beginning.

The other characters include Cassie’s family and another student, Pauline Wagner.

But in a John A. Heldt book you never know who you will meet and in this case, we meet Jack London, author of Call of the Wild and White Fang as well as US General Frederick Funston.

Every character has been well cast. They are believable and likeable. In fact, they are the key to the story.

The story is told from several points of view – the three siblings and Cassie. This does not confuse the reader as each chapter is titled with the name of the character.

As with all his books, Heldt’s blending of history and an imaginative story is creative with a gradual build up in tension. It all comes together in a relaxing and absorbing read.

As part of a series The Fountain is a complete story but Heldt leaves you wanting more. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series Annie’s Apple.

My thanks to the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

My rating 5*

Annie's Apple (Second Chance, #2) by John A. Heldt

Book two in the Second chances series is set in 1911 New York & Arizona. We continue with the siblings, their new friends and relationships. Love, danger and adventure awaits for Annie, Paul & Bill.

A fantastic time travel set during the time of the sinking of the Titanic. With real events from the past mixed with fictional (likable) characters and events, I was hooked from the start. I enjoyed Annie's Apple and recommend to those who like time travel.

After finishing The Carson Chronicles, and loving the series, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to start another journey with another family. I should have known better. John a Heldt had me hooked from the first chapter. Who needs to do housework anyway?

Each of Heldt’s series uses a different method for time travel. In this series it is a time box developed by Physicist Mark Lane.

Mark discovers his business partner, Robert Devereaux, plans to use the timebox for his own greedy and evil purposes. With the help of a friend, he steals the time box, destroys the program, and whisks his to family back to 1865. They arrive just as the American Civil War is coming to an end.

His family includes his wife, Mary who has brought cosmetics from the present time to sell. His children are sons Jordon (ex-military) and Jeremy and daughters Laura and 12 year old Ashley. They blend in with the time, making friends and fitting in as best they can. Laura volunteers at an army hospital.

But best laid plans can always go wrong. A key to one box is left in a farm building and the other is damaged. The second one is seized by the Union Army, suspecting it to be a device to aid the Rebel Army and Mark is arrested as a traitor.

That’s not the end of their troubles.

Devereaux wants revenge. His team builds another time box. He then sends a hit man, Silas Bain, back to 1865 to retrieve the original boxes and assassinate all members of the Lane family.

The cold hearted assassin has no qualms about who he kills including anyone who may get in his way or reveal his presence.

Meanwhile the Lanes, aware Bain is after them, desperately try to retrieve both their boxes.

The badies, Devereaux and Bain were easy to dislike. No, make that despise.

As always Heldt’s research is impeccable and his characterisation of historical figures including Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth are believable.

Two characters I particularly liked were Jane and Lewis. Both former slaves they are now free, but the Lane family know it still will not be easy for them in post-civil war times.

I have loved John A Heldt’s writing since the first book I read. I didn’t think his story telling could get any better, but it does with every new book.

He manages to combine dramatic action, adventure, and plenty of twists with love, endearing family relationships and friendship. It’s like a tapestry woven on a background of history featuring believable historic figures. The result is an engrossing page turner.

In The Lane Betrayal he includes the issues of the American Civil War and the abolition of slavery.

Each Chapter is told from a different character’s point of view, including Devereaux and Bain. It builds suspense, switches the emotions of the reader, and makes it a fast paced story.

When I first started reading John A Heldt’s books I thought they couldn’t get any better. How wrong I was. I believe he must set himself a bar higher and higher with each series, and he achieves his goal every time.

Do yourself a favour, read The Lane Betrayal. You won’t be disappointed but be warned as with all Heldt’s series you’ll want to jump straight into the next book.

I received a complimentary copy from John A. Heldt for an honest review.

This review is longer than most I write, and I make no apologies for that.

Although it is a review for Camp Lake, the final in the Carson Chronicles series by John A Heldt, for a large part I’d like to focus on the series.

In the first book of the series, River Rising, Adam Carson, the eldest of five siblings discovers his parents are time travellers lost in the past. He also discovers information that will help him and his family to travel back to the 1880s to rescue their parents. His brothers and sisters have no hesitation in agreeing to join him.

The following four books The Memory Tree, Indian Paintbrush, Caitlin’s Song and Camp Lake chronicle their attempts, over two years and five time periods, to meet up with their parents.

Each book is consistently entertaining and demonstrate Heldt’s ability for detailed research and realistic characters.

The main characters in the series are the Carson family (Adam, Greg, Natalie, Caitlin and Cody as well as their parents Tim and Caroline.

All characters are well developed. Although the experiences throughout their journey have changed them, they remain likeable and are portrayed consistently throughout the series. They have become like an extension of the reader’s own family.

Since starting their journey, Adam, Greg, Natalie and Caitlin have partners from other times. Adam and Greg have also both become fathers.

The family members experience love and heartbreak; accidents, disasters and battles yet never lose hope. They are a family united and supportive.

Heldt’s skilful and consistent style makes you part of every emotion – sadness, humorous moments, love, and heartbreak. You celebrate their victories fighting alongside in their battles.

While the author includes ‘catch up paragraphs’ in each book, I believe the reader will enjoy the series more if read in order. In each book the chapters are written from a different character’s point of view.

Now for Camp Lake. John A Heldt’s stories just keep getting better. In this, the fifth and final book in the series, the siblings have arrived in 1983. It’s also the year their parents, Tim and Caroline, first met and their last chance to make contact and so all can return to the present time.

Adam and Greg, and their wives, remain in the Arizona home base, Natalie and her husband explore leads in other locations.

Cody and Caitlin, and her boyfriend from 1962, Dennis get jobs as counsellors at the “Camp Lake” summer camp in Maine. They are surprised when they get put with their teenage parents to share a cabin. Will the situation change the timeline? What happens if this time they don’t fall in love? There are some worrying and some amusing times in camp.

Following all their efforts to reunite will they finally succeed? It’s been and emotional ride with a family I came to know and love.

Although I am glad their journey has come to an end I will miss sharing their adventures, romantic moments and urging them on when in danger. I was happy with the way the book ended but it came all too soon. That’s my fault because I couldn’t read slower or put the book down.

Soon after a hasty escape from the year 1865 with an assassin on their tails, the Lane family decide on trying to settle in 1893 Chicago at the time of the World's Columbian Exhibition. They hope to outwit their hunter at least for now and possibly find a time period that they can settle in for a while. Parents, Mark and Mary set out to explore the fair and see what opportunities arise. While siblings Jeremy, Laura and Ashley look to the fair for fun and friendship. Meanwhile, oldest sibling, Jordan decides to head West to clear his head from the sudden death of Rebecca Main by the hitman sent to destroy the Lane family, Silas Bain. Jordan finds himself in Virginia City, Nevada on the advice of a kind librarian. In Virginia City, Jordan finds peace of mind with the library assistant Jessie Cole. However, his relationship leaves a clue for Silas Bain to track down the time that the Lane Family is in.
The Fair is the second book in the Time Box series and I would highly recommend reading Book 1, The Lane Betrayal, first in order to get to know the characters, their circumstances and how what happened to them in 1865 is affecting their decisions in 1893. As with other books by John A. Heldt, The Fair is a fast-paced, time travel adventure with romance, action, fun settings and well-developed characters. I did enjoy the choice of setting of the Chicago World's Columbian Exhibition. It gave the Lane family a wonderful place to hide, entertainment and a chance to experience a cool historical event. I liked seeing all of the different exhibitions through the character's eyes; especially as Laura and Ashley explored the Women's Building and Jeremy and new beau, Ivy explored the Palace of Fine Arts and the Midway. This story focused on the budding romance between Jordan and Jessie in Virginia City. Their romance was sweet and progressed naturally. I do wonder about the effects of their relationship on the future. Silas Bain's presence added an element of suspense and a very surprising ending. I can't wait to see what happens with the Lane's next.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

The Refuge (Time Box, #4) by John A Heldt

The Lane family is back this time in Hawaii 1941. Hit man Silas Bain has nefarious plans to alter the events of December 7, that is unless the Lanes can intervene. Carefully navigating and trying not to alter the future is a challenge. But the Lanes are experienced in time travel and are up for any obstacles they face.

Told in altering times and voices John A. Heldt pulls you deep into the life of the Lane family. Each person is living life to the fullest while adapting to life in a different era. New love, life and family is the key in this intriguing time travel. I enjoyed The Refuge and highly recommend to those who enjoy time travel.

Caitlin’s Song, the 4th book of the Carson Chronicles series, continues the Carson family’s attempt to reunite back in time. I have enjoyed all the adventures of the Carson family and this one doesn’t disappoint.
Having narrowly escaped from a dangerous car chase in the previous book, Indian Paintbrush, they find themselves in 1962 not 1972 as planned.
As the title implies Caitlin, the youngest daughter, is the focus of the story. Throughout the series Caitlin has been my favourite character – attractive, smart, and strong with a sense of humour.
At the start of the story the older siblings are married and Caitlin and her twin brother, Cody, enrol in college but she is grieving a lost love from their former time. A new romance helps her overcome her heartbreak - but is she in danger?
The song “Can’t Help Falling in Love” features as a key to healing her broken heart.
Like Caitlin and her brother, Cody, I was a teenager in the 1960s. Heldt brings this period back to life with the fashions and music and had me yearning for the ability to time travel myself.
The extended family in this time included relations Natalie’s (the eldest sister) husband, and like all the characters introduced along the journey and brought into the family they are likeable and well-developed. There is not a character in Heldt’s books we can’t relate to and experience all their emotions and successes.
John’s writing style is smooth and easy to read. So much so I quickly forget I am supposed to be considering his writing style as part of a book review. I just get absorbed in his stories as I share the characters feelings and experiences.
Although this story focuses Caitlin, I found myself more interested in the parents, their unplanned visit back to 1941 and decision, for the first time, to knowingly attempt to change the course of history.
Once again, they missed meeting up with their children. Checking old newspapers for clues on what has happened to their family they discover a tragic story from the past involving Caitlin.
It is an excellent sub-plot to the main storyline.
Overall, it is an emotionally charged story but with light-hearted and funny moments. It is also a romantic story with suspense to round it off.
While like all the books in the series is does stand alone but to appreciate the growth of the characters and understand their quest I highly recommend reading the series in order.
I am looking forward to reading the last instalment, but I will miss the Carson clan.

Sea Spray (Time Box, #3) by John A Heldt

After the Lane family stole the time box from a lunatic, they just want peace, quiet and to be safe. But that will not happen as new danger awaits while each family member seeks to create their perfect life. They have overcome peril in the past, and won't back down as they strive for a good life, danger free.

Set in the 1920's during prohibition, the Lane family face challenges of the era. Told form alternating voices (of family members) we see how they develop and try to have normal lives. With love, family, romance, thrills and danger I was hooked from the first page. I really enjoyed Sea Spray and highly recommend to those who love a great time travel. I also suggest all of John A. Heldt other time travel books, they are highly addictive !

Once again the Mark Lane family has escaped the clutches of an obsessed Robert Devereaux who is hell-bent on killing Mark Lane and recovering the two time boxes that Mark took from Janus Enterprises.

Now, it is 1893, Chicago, and the summer of the 1893 Chicago International Exposition, the ‘World’s Fair’. There are crowds and excitement in which the Lanes can disappear and remain free of Devereaux’s hitman, Silas Bain. Jordan, still reeling from Bain’s murder of his sweetheart in Virginia in 1863 (The Lane Betrayal) goes west to clear his head and lands in Virginia City, Nevada where he meets Jessie Cole. Not to be outdone, Jeremy develops a relationship with Ivy, a beautiful (but engaged) Chicago socialite, While Laura develops a friendship with Prudence, an Irish artist and a woman who is trying to make a dent in the man dominated world of 1893.

Suddenly, there are three deep relationships, involving multiple people, at risk from the Lane family’s time travel and the relentless pursuit of them by Robert Devereaux and Silas Bain. When Silas Bain finally appears in Virginia City to exact retribution on Jordan, he gets the shock of his life. When the Chicago police raid the World’s Fair Hotel early, saving Prudence and Laura, members of Janus Enterprises in 2021 get the shock of their lives. History is no longer what they have come to know.

Lacking the action that I found attractive in the author’s preceding book, The Lane Betrayal, The Fair, nevertheless, provides satisfying reading for lovers of romance stories. Although I’m usually not a reader of romance novels, the intrigue of Jeremy’s farewell scene with Ivy was satisfying as was the unexpected outcome of Jordan’s encounter with Silas Bain.

The Fair should make any reader of romance happy. It includes love and loss, heartaches, close calls, and enough action and surprises to keep most readers glued to the page. 5- Stars.

This book was provided free by the author in hopes of receiving an honest review. The above review represents my honest opinion of the book.

The Fair (Time Box, #2) by John A Heldt

The Lane Family is back in 1893 Chicago, during the World's Columbian Exposition. They are still being pursed by assassins wanting the time boxes back, acclimating to their new situations, and looking for answers to some of their past experiences. Adventure awaits each member of this wonderful family.

The story moves at a steady pace with attention to details of each era, with an intense and emotional plot. Each chapter told through the voice of a family member, brought me deep into the story. From Chicago, to Nevada, to Virginia City there is action, danger, thrills, suspense, along with love, family and friendship as the Lane's go back in time. The Fair is a fascinating time-travel. I highly recommend to all.

Mark Lane is about to put in place a decision that will change the life of his family, a corporation and possibly history. Mark has invented the Time Box in conjunction with the Janus corporation headed up by billionaire Robert Devereaux. When Mark learns that Robert will only use the Time Box for evil, he makes a difficult decision to sabotage the company, steal the working Time Boxes and disappear into the past with his family. Mark, his wife Mary and children Jordan, Laura, Jeremy and Ashley travel in haste to 1865 Virginia. The family tries to fit in and rebuild a life as best they can. However, Robert Devereaux will not let Lane's betrayal slide. Devereaux's team rebuilds a Time box and sends a hit man into the past to enact revenge.

The Lane Betrayal is a high-stakes, action packed time travel adventure. From the very first page the suspense is heightened as Mark destroys his friend's company and is chased into the past. There are a lot of characters in this book, but they are all very well developed and distinctive. The Lane's are very family oriented and serve one another well. None of the family members are perfect, but they are all trying their best to do what is right during a very weird situation. The assassin added another layer of danger with a cold-hearted and focused attitude. The setting of the tail end of the Civil War was an interested choice. There is a lot of danger in the time period, especially for the men, but it was a time that they knew about well. I enjoyed reading about Laura's time as a nurse in the field hospital. Though her time there was difficult, it was authentic and realistic to the time period. It was also interesting to read about the family's interactions with Lincoln himself and his advisors. I was intrigued at the family's outlook at potentially changing history and the influence that their presence has had. With a cliffhanger ending, I can't wait to jump into the next book and next time period with the Lane family.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Indian Paintbrush continues the story of time travelling family, the Carsons with the siblings attempting to find their parents, Tim and Caroline. They arrive in Arizona at the height of WWII expecting their parents to be in the same time zone, but an error of judgement means they must all pass the time until the next opportunity for time travel arises.

As they bide their time the siblings find jobs to aid the war effort. The two girls, Natalie and Caitlin, find jobs at the nearby airfield as maintenance mechanics.

Cody delivers medical supplies and becomes friends with a young Japanese woman at the internment camp. Greg teaches English to Chinese pilots and Adam is running a recycling plant.

Through their work Caitlin and Natalie also find love with a pilot trainee and a pilot instructor respectfully while Cody becomes friends with a Japanese girl and her family in the camp.

Adam, Greg and Cody are all conscription age. In their attempts to avoid being called up it attracts the attention of authorities and the disgust of their neighbours.

From the moment I opened the book I was eager to read more of the Carson family’s adventure. I wasn’t disappointed. The old characters are consistent with the previous books. The reader feels part of their family and wants desperately for them to succeed in their quest.

While united in their goal as a family, each character has their story with emotional ups and downs. Their parents’ story line also continues with Caroline struggling with the disappointment of missing her family while Tim suffers from the guilt of his error in timing.

The eldest brother, Adam, remains the rock in the family with his positive attitude and advice.

In addition to avoiding conscription Greg has the added pressure of past problems and dangers following him alongside the joys of becoming a father.

As always Mr Heldt has included fascinating history based on comprehensive research. I am Australian and my country also had internment camps for Japanese and German citizens, so I found this insight interesting.

He even manages to weave in the high-profile celebrities of Bob Hope, Rita Hayworth, and Orson Welles along with the music of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

The story line is complex but not so complicated you can’t follow it. The clear word pictures help it to move smoothly as does the story being told from each character’s viewpoint.

I have enjoyed John A. Heldt’s stories since his first book, The Mine and he never fails to deliver a story that draws in the reader.

The cliff hanger ending has you wanting to go straight o the next book in the series.

I'm a big fan of Heldt's time travel fiction and was not disappointed by Book 1 in the new series. It's really amazing how many authentic details are woven into the book. The story draws you in pretty quickly and the sprinkles of historic fiction make you want to learn more about the real events. The suspense builds throughout the story with a couple of unexpected twists. A usual, I'm anxiously awaiting the next installment of the Lane's adventure. I recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction with time traveling adventure.

Heldt always gives the reader a story to devour and The Lane Betrayal is no exception. Filled with lots of action, danger and a tad of romance, this fast paced tale is sure to satisfy that craving for adventure in every reader.
Mark Lane, a gifted physicist, has made the breakthrough of the century, maybe the millennia, with his device that allows time travel. He should be elated. Instead, he has discovered that his business partner, Robert Devereaux, in Janus Enterprises is planning to use the device for wicked ends. In an attempt to thwart Robert, Mark has planned to steal the two working devices and escape with his family into the past. This escape plan also includes alerting the authorities to what Robert is up to and sabotaging the project.
Mark has been planning his escape for months with the help of his colleague Randy who has decided to stay behind and assist where he can with the escape. On the day of the planned escape, Robert gets wind that something is a foot and is coming to confront Mark. With just a few minutes head start, courtesy of Randy, Mark manages to whisk his family to 1865 around the closing days of the Civil War. It looks like things are finally going as planned. Then a turn of bad luck occurs when one of the keys for the devices is forgotten in a cabin in Virginia and the second device is impounded by the government.
The government thinks the device might be something to aid the Rebel Army in the closing days of the war. Mark, now a prisoner of the Union Army, and suspected of being a rebel sympathizer, is taken to Washington, D.C. The family has no choice but to follow. To make matters worse, Robert has hired a hit man, Silas Bain, to travel back in time and finds the Lanes and kill them. Will anything go right for the Lane family?
I loved how the author allowed the tension to build slowly. By the end of the story you are sitting on the edge of your seat to see if the Lanes will stay a step ahead of Silas Bain. Therefore, it is no surprise that action is the key element of this book and it worked very well with the plot. Overall great pacing.
Sometimes stories with lots of action lack character development. Not so here! As with other books I have read by this author, the character development is critical to the story. Heldt knows how to get and keep the reader’s attention with the characters he builds. He delves deeply into the psyche of his characters to make them memorable and invest the reader.
I filed this book under science fiction, but fiction is the operative word here. There is really no science just a great story about, love, family and what binds us all together. Perfect book for fans of Nora Roberts and similar authors. Highly recommend!
Disclosure: While I used my Kindle Unlimited account to read this book, the author did request a review. For more of my reviews, and author interviews, visit my blog at www.thespineview.com

The Lane Betrayal (Time Box, #1) by John A Heldt

Mark Lane, a Physicist in Virginia made two time machines. He finds out his partner (Robert Devereaux) wants to use the machines for heinous purposes. Mark decides to take his family to the year 1865. It is not long that Mark finds they are in danger, as Robert has sent a hit-man back in time to assassinate him.

The family starts to adjust to the new era with wife Mary running a business. Their son Jeremy and Daughter Ashley make friends with slaves. Daughter Laura works as a Nurse and Oldest son Jordan falls in love with lovely Widow.

The story moves at a steady pace, with attention to detail and accurate events of that time period. All of the Lane's are likable, they have their challenges, adjustments and good times. There is plenty or suspense, danger, betrayal, unconditional (Family) love, and a splash of romance. I found The Lane Betrayal, very enjoyable and feel those who love time travel, will enjoy it as much as I did. I highly recommend this fantastic read.

The Carson family plus new significant others and children have landed in 1983, what should be the last stop on their last stop through time in order to finally reunite with their parents and head back to 2017. This time, twin siblings Cody and Caitlin plus 1962 transplant, Dennis are planning on getting jobs at the summer camp in Maine that their teenaged parents first met at in hopes that their older parents will visit the camp as well. Everything is going to plan until Cody, Caitlin and Dennis are paired up in cabins with their teenaged parents. The teens are worried that they might upset the timeline even more and prevent their parents from getting together. Furthermore, Cody meets Karen at camp and they immediately form a connection. However, in addition to being a time-traveler, Cody and Karen's relationship seems doomed because of a secret that Karen is hiding.

Camp Lake is the fifth and last book in the Carson Chronicles. This heartfelt conclusion to the epic series kept my attention with plenty of surprises for a family that I felt I've gotten to know pretty well over five books. I found myself simultaneously wanting the story not to end as well as desperately wanting the Carson family to finally reunite. The writing keeps the suspense in Camp Lake heightened as the whole family searches for one another knowing that this is the last stop on their time travel journey as well as everyone attempting not to destroy their own timelines. Balanced with the suspense is the wholesome feeling and love that the Carson Clan shares. Despite being in desperate situations, the Carson's always support one another and pull through. I loved the setting of a summer camp in the 1980's. Everything about the experience and setting seemed fitting. This book focuses on Cody, who throughout the series has always formed a deep bond with women in each time period, but hasn't yet found the one. Cody and Karen's relationship seems like it was meant to be, they challenge one another and Karen is empowered, intelligent and strong-willed. While I couldn't wait for the Carson parents and siblings to finally reunite, I was amazed when they finally did. I was very happy with the reunion as well as the send off of the family members when back in their own time.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Dateline, mid-1983. The Carson siblings have sought their time-traveling parents in the 1880s, 1918, 1944, 1962 and now, in 1983. While their parents remain lost in time, they feel sure their parents will return to Camp Washington in Maine where they met while employed as summer camp counselors while college students. They adopt a dangerous strategy; taking jobs as counselors and working alongside their own parents. What could possibly go wrong and upset the timeline? Could it be that their parents may never get together and thus, they might never be born? Theoretically, it could happen, and anxious moments occur when Caroline Martinez (Mom) seems to show more interest in an Australian watersports instructor than in Tim Carson (Dad). When events that did not occur in the original Carson timeline arise, anxiety also arises that they have inadvertently tampered with the orderly progression of time and when they finally return to 2017, things may not be as they remember them.
As with all families, time changes things. During the search for Tim and Caroline, Adam and Greg have married and are fathers. Natalie has also married and Caitlyn has a significant other in Dennis, an expert guitarist. Caitlyn, Cody and Dennis must function as summer camp counselors without giving themselves away or unduly influencing Tim and Caroline. Cody also has met his apparent soulmate in Karen, a fellow counselor who harbors a terrible secret.
Like the other novels in the Carson Chronicles series, the search by the Carson siblings and their parents to find each other in time is overwritten with romance, enduring friendships, danger and circumstances that bear far beyond the time they are occupying. It is a book with a little something for everyone and one that easily holds the interest of readers, especially those already deeply entrenched in following the Carson’s activities through the series. It should appeal to a variety of readers of romance, sci-fi, adventure and to readers who just love a good heart-warming story with a little suspense.

This book was provided free by the author in hopes of receiving an honest review. The above review represents my honest opinion of the book.

Camp Lake (Carson Chronicles # 5) By John A Heldt

The final book in the Carson family story is set (mostly in) Spring 1983. The siblings are determined to find their parents, as they have been looking for about 2 years. They go to different parts of the Country, different destinations and time periods in the hopes of finally reuniting. Many events take place as they evaluate their life, with (tough) choices to be made. Will they get the reunion they hoped for?

The story moves at a fast pace with alternating chapters on each person, location and year. All characters are well developed, I learned more about them (throughout the entire series). Camp Lake is full of emotions, with family as the central point and unconditional love. I am a huge fan of time travel. John A Hedlt hits the spot and brings depth, warmth and raw emotions to his stories. I highly recommend Camp Lake to all especially those who love great time travel.

The growing Carson family has made a speedy and dangerous exit out of 1943 and has arrived in 1962- 10 years prior to the year they want to be in to find their parents. The Carson siblings plan on settling in for a few months before they can make their next hop to 1983. For Cody and Caitlin, this means college. With a little help from new family members that they met in 1943, Cody and Caitlin gain admittance to Boulder University and relish their college experience in 1962. Cody rushes fraternities, goes on panty raids and falls hard and fast for Caitlin's roommate, Molly. Caitlin studies hard but also uses the experience to grieve for her airman from 1943 and move on. Caitlin finds hope in two young men, Vince and Dennis. As she gets to know the two young men, only one will win her heart. The Carson parents arrive as planned in 1972 and quickly find out that their children have not reached the same year. Looking back through news articles, Tim and Caroline Carson find the worst news that they could receive- one of their children has been killed in the past. Further research gives them the name and unfortunate background of the killer and sets the Carson parents in action to attempt to stop a killer before he is born.

Caitlin's Song is the fourth book in the Carson Chronicles series. I would very much advise reading this series in its intended order to keep the timelines straight and really get to know the characters. I'm glad that Caitlin finally had a happy story, although it easily could have turned out differently. In each of the Carson's adventures, there has always been a very good sense of the time period the family is in and this is no exception. From the diners, to the cars, fraternities and hairstyles, 1962 is shown in it's glory. The Cuban Missile crisis is the event the the Carson siblings know will cause drama in that year, but they are a little too confident that their actions have not changed anything in the past. It was really interesting to see how things played out when the Carson's were not sure of the future. Caitlin's story was intensely emotional as she processes grief, changing time periods, excitement of starting college and finding love again. I was glad that this story also focused more on the Carson parents and their journey. This time, Tim and Caroline have many difficult choices to make that involve more than just finding their children. It was interesting to see what they did and how it simultaneously affected their children's timeline. With the Carson's next jump in time to 1983, I can't wait to see what awesome adventures unfold for Cody.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Narrowly escaping from the 1940’s into 1962, the Carson siblings are once again faced with surviving in a new era for some months until either they encounter their time-traveling parents or decide to settle down and stay in the current time. With each from the 1800’s to the early 1900’s to the 1940’s and now the 1960’s they have endured changing social and historical conditions and made, and broken, a number of deep friendships and alliances along the way…as well as a number of disappointed law enforcement officers who have been unable to deal with them.

Mr. Heldt has said he was advised early in his career to include romance in his novels. I truth, his novels are romance novels with only a smattering of time-travel to set the tone and the historic context. Caitlyn’s Song is no exception. Settling temporarily in Boulder, Colorado with Nick’s (Natalie’s husband from the 1940’s) relatives Caitlyn and Cody take the opportunity to go to college. What starts as an open-minded adventure soon becomes something completely unexpected.

Meanwhile, Tim and Caroline, the time-traveling parents, are panicked by a newspaper article and move to change history. However, they find that future historical events often have unpredictable outcomes.

Mr. Heldt’s books are about living daily lives under pressure in a historical context. Daily lives that include dangers, loves and loses that occasionally result in winning in a completely unexpected way.

Recommended reading for anyone who likes romance, historical fiction and life in general.

Caitlin's Song is book 4 in the Carson Chronicles series. You definitely should have read the previous 3 books in the series to get the most out of the story. Still searching for their parents, the Carsons travel to Colorado and the twins Caitlin and Cody enroll in college. Although excited about being in college Caitlin is barely getting over her heartbreak from the lost chance at love in book 3, Indian Paintbrush.

Now trying to live the life of a normal teen, she quickly settles in to college life and is soon dating a handsome frat boy. But as perfect as he seems, there's a shocking truth her parents learn from their research in the future. Will Caitlin see beyond his charming facade and will she ever find the same kind of love her siblings have found?

Once again there isn't a huge historical event happening in this book but it still gives us a pretty good glimpse of history. I recommend this to anyone who loves time traveling, romantic fiction.

The Memory Tree by John A. Heldt is the second book in The Carson Chronicles series. The book follows the Carson siblings on their continuing adventure of a lifetime as they struggle to find their lost time traveling parents. Book two picks up where book one ended and, as you can imagine, nothing seems to go right for the siblings.
Shortly after arriving in 1918 the siblings decide they can cover more ground by splitting up. Adam and Bridgett, now expecting their first child, have taken up a temporary residence in Minnesota not far from Duluth. This becomes home base with Adam as the head of the time traveling group. From here he will help guide the search for their parents, Tim and Caroline Carson.
The twins, Caitlin and Cody, decide to visit an old friend from 1889 and so they travel to Pennsylvania. The plan is to visit a family war hero, while in Pennsylvania, in the hopes that their parents have done the same. In the meantime, Natalie takes a journalist position at the Minneapolis Post. She will travel as far as war torn Europe to cover her human interest stories. Greg heads off by himself following yet another trail of ancestral clues to Mexico to meet another family member.
In attempting to cover all the bases, in this time traveling game of tag, will the Carson sibling ever caught a break? It seems they encounter even more problems than they did in 1889. Despite the setbacks and hard ships they will endure, the siblings remain upbeat and optimistic. Their parents have left them a big clue and maybe, just maybe this is the time period they are able to reunite.
As I have come to expect from Mr. Heldt, the characters are what make this developing story. Told from various POVs , each sibling and their parents have their own observations and contributions to the tale. The passion which Heldt portrays the characters makes them memorable and you can’t help rooting for them even when you know things are not going to work in their favor.
In addition, the events of the time and descriptions of an era, now one hundreds in our past, are deftly woven in and around the unfolding story. Heldt brings you into this magically time in our history and then sends you on this grand adventure with the characters you have grown to know and love. Overall this is a wonderful story that I hope you enjoy as much as I did.
I highly recommend this book for people who love historical stories, with a touch of fantasy, that are grounded in facts. In several ways this series reminds me of Outlander. The historical interwoven with the fictional families, relationships and romance makes for a delightful read.
While I used my Kindle Unlimited account to down load this e-book, the author did request that I read and review it. Regards of how I acquire a book, all opinions are my own. For more of my reviews, and author interviews, please see my blog at www.thespineview.com.

Caitlin's Song (Carson Chronicles, #4) by John A Heldt

The fourth book in the Carson series is set around the siblings in the early 60's. Things are going good for the most part the older ones are married while the twins are in College. Then as danger occurs and a Killer is on the prowl, it is up to their parents to try and prevent murder.

The plot is engaging, thrilling and moves at a steady pace. The characters are well rounded, and very likable. Filled with adventure, thrills, danger, love and family, Caitlin's Song was enjoyable from the first page until the last.

I highly recommend to those who love time travel. A definite five-star read!

The Carson siblings search for their time-traveling parents continues as they find themselves once again emerging from a time-warp to find themselves in Arizona in 1943…a time when most of America was deeply ensconced in the fear and uncertainty of war on an unprecedented scale. Faced with keeping a low profile in a time when young people were expected (and legally obligated) to serve their country’s war effort, the Carson family find themselves forced to take part in war-related activities in order to protect themselves and their mission. In doing so, keeping their knowledge about the outcome of the war to themselves becomes increasingly difficult.

However, fate can be a cruel master. Natalie and Caitlin become aircraft maintenance mechanics at an army flight school they meet army pilots with whom they fall in love. Cody, delivering medicines to a Japanese internment camp meets and falls in love with a Japanese girl and plans to take her whole family to another time where medical care is more available. Greg attracts the attention of the FBI, both as a young draft-eligible male and as a suspect in the unsolved murder of a rancher from 1918. And finally, only a mere few moments remain before they successfully find their parents…or don’t…as they prepare to flee still further into the future.

Indian Paintbrush explores the Carson family’s increasing need to put down roots and become part of the times in which they find themselves. Continually disrupted relationships and continual danger are taking a toll, especially on Natalie, Caitlin, and Cody. Perhaps the search for their parents isn’t really worth the price…or is it? They have few remaining time windows to explore. Maybe fate will smile on them yet.

The five Carson siblings plus two new sisters-in-law and a new baby have entered a new time period in pursuit of their parents yet again. Now the large group has entered into 1943 Arizona, a dangerous time especially for the three men who are all of age to be drafted. They all quickly find jobs that will help the war effort. Cody drives a supply truck that makes deliveries to an Internment Camp where he befriends a family. Caitlin and Natalie maintain airplanes and meet two aviators. Adam settles down with his wife and child as well as finding a job teaching English to Chinese pilots. Greg along with his new wife are also finding their way in a new time, but with the same old problems that continue to haunt him. With extensive knowledge of the events of World War II, the Carson clan must be extra careful to make sure they are fitting in with their time period.

Exhilarating and endearing, Indian Paintbrush offers an engaging time-travel adventure into 1943 with the Carson siblings. I would highly recommend reading this series in order to get to know all of the characters and motivations. I enjoyed diving right back into the action when the Carson family crossed through the veil into 1943 from 1918. I was excited to learn how they would fit into a time period that they had more knowledge of and how the brides from 1889 and 1918 would do with the continued changes. After two previous time hops, the group is getting better at assimilating to the time period. As with the past two installments, I was impressed at how well immersed into the time period I felt. Between the siblings, the writing explored the Internment Camps and the treatment of the citizens that were held there, the loss of a loved one during Pearl Harbor, the training program to be an aviator and romance during wartime. I was surprised to see how some of the characters from the past time periods were integrated as well as how trouble the Carson's have caused in the past is still affecting them in 1943. Their mission to find and reconnect with their parents is still their mission, however, it seems that the Carson family might be fated to near misses. I can't wait to see how the next time period treats the Carson's.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.