I knew that When The Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer was a time travel book, but I had no idea how much I was going to love it. This novel is not about people blithely hopping from one time period to another, but a complexly written novel with deep spiritual themes. Don’t hesitate to pick this one up — you won’t be sorry!
How will she choose, knowing all she must sacrifice?
Libby has been given a powerful gift: to live one life in 1774 Colonial Williamsburg and the other in 1914 Gilded Age New York City. When she falls asleep in one life, she wakes up in the other. While she’s the same person at her core in both times, she’s leading two vastly different lives.
In Colonial Williamsburg, Libby is a public printer for the House of Burgesses and the Royal Governor, trying to provide for her family and support the Patriot cause. The man she loves, Henry Montgomery, has his own secrets. As the revolution draws near, both their lives–and any hope of love–are put in jeopardy.
Libby’s life in 1914 New York is filled with wealth, drawing room conversations, and bachelors. But the only work she cares about–women’s suffrage–is discouraged, and her mother is intent on marrying her off to an English marquess. The growing talk of war in Europe only complicates matters.
But Libby knows she’s not destined to live two lives forever. On her twenty-first birthday, she must choose one path and forfeit the other–but how can she choose when she has so much to lose in each life?
Gabrielle Meyer lives in central Minnesota on the banks of the upper Mississippi River with her husband and four children. As an employee of the Minnesota Historical Society, she fell in love with the rich history of her state and enjoys writing fictional stories inspired by real people, places, and events. You can learn more about Gabrielle and her books at http://www.gabriellemeyer.com.
Find Gabrielle on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/AuthorGabrielleMeyer, Pinterest at http://www.Pinterest.com/gabriellemeyer/, Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/MeyerGabrielle, Goodreads, and her Website athttp://www.gabriellemeyer.com.
My Impressions:
Libby Conant/Fairhaven is a time-crosser. That’s the main premise of Meyer’s novel, When The Day Comes. With that distinction comes a good bit of responsibility, sacrifice, and reliance on God’s provision. As her 21st birthday draws near, Libby knows she must make a choice. Will she spend the rest of her life in Williamsburg in the 1770s, or will she choose a life in 1915? I thought that would be a know-brainer given the lack of indoor plumbing during the American Revolution, but I was certainly wrong. 😉 When The Day Comes, along with being very well-researched for not one time period, but two, explores the themes of identity, our place in the world, and the necessity of letting God direct our paths. The storyline was excellently written — I bought all the time-crossing Libby had to endure. I never felt lost, although Libby did at many points in her journey. She knew her decisions had consequences and was very deliberate. I think this is something that we all should be aware of. Can our actions change history? Maybe not in the ways Libby’s could have, but every choice we make should be examined for the impact on our and others’ lives. Deep themes aside, I loved all the historical detail Meyer added to make the reader’s journey feel authentic. The romantic thread isn’t a slouch either. It’s just what any lover of romance fiction could want.
I could sing the praises of When The Day Comes for a long while, but just know this is a book you will love while reading and will think about long after the last page is turned. I think it would make an excellent book club selection — so much to talk about. I very highly recommend it. It will definitely be on my best of the best list this year.
Very Highly Recommended.
Great for Book Clubs.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Bethany House for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Tags: dual timelines, Gabrielle Meyer, historical fiction, time travel
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