Hitch In Time [Mass Market Paperback]

Despite the fact that she was younger than her sister, Marianne Beaufort has the weight of the world on her shoulders. She has promised herself into a loveless marriage in order to ensure that her mother and sister, Genevieve, can afford to maintain the lifestyle they led before her father died of the Fever. Marianne has accepted the marriage proposal of an affluent gentleman, Rafe Montague, who, aside from being the powerful and extremely wealthy owner of a prosperous plantation, is also known for his nasty temperament. On the night of her engagement to Rafe, Marianne is already late for the ball at the hotel when she almost trips over a man curled up outside the entrance. Concerned that he maybe hurt or that he's been robbed, she is drawn to him. The attraction between the two is instantaneous and strong. However, Rafe is not a man to stand by and watch his betrothed fall for another man - regardless that the man Mari is falling for is Rafe's great, great-grandson!

Set in the years of pre-Civil War, A HITCH IN TIME carries the reader back to a New Orleans when sacrifices made in the name of family honor were the norm and where deaths due to the Yellow Fever were common. Christine Holden's latest time travel romance promises a few hours of pleasure to those who like to read stories rich in historical flavor.

With wonderfully drawn and complex characters like Marianne, Drew and Rafe, I found myself swiftly turning the pages, eagerly anticipating what would happen next. Ms Holden has written an entertaining love story that glides along with enormous authority. The emotions and thoughts for each character were well depicted and I found myself thoroughly enmeshed in the tale. Rafe's character was very well written for he certainly came across as a true and very nasty villain!

A HITCH IN TIME boasts a plot that is made more interesting because of Drew's knowledge of his family history. The dialogue was witty and natural to the characters, especially the French phrases that added charm and authenticity to the story. However, what appealed to me most was the way Ms Holden wove her extensive research into the story so that it didn't come across as a history lesson at all, but rather as an integral part of the story. Facts like the sights and smells of what New Orleans must have been like in 1853, were extremely well presented.

For readers who enjoy time travel romances and stories steeped in historical details, A HITCH IN TIME is definitely a book worth reading.

Elena Channing...

That night, Drew escorts Teal's nanny to the bus stop. On his way back home, Drew touches a watch on a hitching post. When he awakens, he finds himself in 1853 where he meets Marianne Beaufort, fiancée to Drew's great, great grandfather, Rafe. As Drew and Marianne fall in love, he must watch out for the jealous, dangerous Rafe. He also worries a great deal about his beloved Teal.

A HITCH IN TIME is an entertaining time travel romance that will entice sub-genre fans to seek out other works by Christine Holden. The story line is fun especially Drew's various dilemmas and paradoxes. The cast, both contemporary and historical, adds depth to the characterizations of Marianne and Drew. This in turn allows the audience a better understanding of each of them. Readers will be beholden to the author if she writes more novels like A HITCH IN TIME.

Harriet Klausner