Scan barcode
alisonalisonalison's review
5.0
4.5 stars. This is awesome! I love this Manchester-based time travel adventure romance series so much. It's smart, diverse, and exciting. This volume features: Time travel disasters! Cooking! Sabotage! Betrayal! Thrills! Cuddling! Earl Grey tea in times of crisis! I'm not sure this book stands alone and I definitely recommend reading this series from the beginning--there's a big story arc and recurring characters, plus there's a lot of stuff from earlier books that's very significant in this story.
I was looking forward to Lysander's story and I was not disappointed. As is usual in this series, two smart people fall in love while things go really wrong at the Temporal Research Institute. This is the penultimate book in the series and I will note that this book feels a bit like part one of the big climax. The ending is more like a pause in the ongoing action and the grande finale is still underway. Seriously bad stuff is happening and they haven't figured it all out yet. It's not a cliffhanger exactly, but the story isn't over yet (though there is an HFN for the romance fans), so people who don't like incomplete endings may wish to wait for the last book, which is due out in January 2020 (which is very soon--yay!).
Lysander's always been a bit of a badass mystery and I loved getting to know him better. He's the aloof, tough-as-nails, supersmart Director of the TRI, who's also a Canadian trans man of colour. I loved how Lysander's transness is a complete non-issue. It's mentioned very briefly and Danny doesn't even bat an eye. It's a wonderful scene. Books about trans people where their transness is a big part of the story are important, but books about trans people where their transness is completely unremarkable are also important. Danny's also a great character. He's a down-to-earth Scottish computer coding genius and a bit of a rascal who woos Lysander through cooking nice meals for him. I loved catching up with favourite characters from the previous books, as quite a few years have passed since the beginning. Janos and Jacob, both going grey, are proper secondary characters in this story, not just cameos.
The plot is exciting and smart and the writing is so snappy. This series has some of the best everyday, real-world diversity that I've come across in any series I've read so far. I am excited for the end of the series! I'm also sad that it's ending, because this is series is special and I love it dearly. Bring on the finale!
I was looking forward to Lysander's story and I was not disappointed. As is usual in this series, two smart people fall in love while things go really wrong at the Temporal Research Institute. This is the penultimate book in the series and I will note that this book feels a bit like part one of the big climax. The ending is more like a pause in the ongoing action and the grande finale is still underway. Seriously bad stuff is happening and they haven't figured it all out yet. It's not a cliffhanger exactly, but the story isn't over yet (though there is an HFN for the romance fans), so people who don't like incomplete endings may wish to wait for the last book, which is due out in January 2020 (which is very soon--yay!).
Lysander's always been a bit of a badass mystery and I loved getting to know him better. He's the aloof, tough-as-nails, supersmart Director of the TRI, who's also a Canadian trans man of colour. I loved how Lysander's transness is a complete non-issue. It's mentioned very briefly and Danny doesn't even bat an eye. It's a wonderful scene. Books about trans people where their transness is a big part of the story are important, but books about trans people where their transness is completely unremarkable are also important. Danny's also a great character. He's a down-to-earth Scottish computer coding genius and a bit of a rascal who woos Lysander through cooking nice meals for him. I loved catching up with favourite characters from the previous books, as quite a few years have passed since the beginning. Janos and Jacob, both going grey, are proper secondary characters in this story, not just cameos.
The plot is exciting and smart and the writing is so snappy. This series has some of the best everyday, real-world diversity that I've come across in any series I've read so far. I am excited for the end of the series! I'm also sad that it's ending, because this is series is special and I love it dearly. Bring on the finale!
brocc's review
4.0
Okay, I actually didn't know this one was part of a series. So I think that says a lot about whether you can read this as a standalone - ie. you definitely can.
This story was such a ride! I kind of went in expecting a male-male romance, with erotica, and not much else. It actually has so much more to it than that, and I ended up feeling really impressed by it. Yes, it's a male-male romance, and yes, it has erotic scenes, but there's also transgender representation, a mystery, and some exploration of workaholism. And time travel! There is a whole lot going on here.
I first wanted to talk about the character building. I found it to be absolutely fantastic - both of the main characters, Danny and Lysander, are fantastic. I loved reading more about them as the story went on, seeing them interact with each other and support each other, and eventually begin to fall in love. The other characters in the story were really interesting, too, and I felt like I loved seeing snippets of back-stories for them as well. Everything just felt really fleshed out and developed, and I think part of that may be because this was a part of a series, but also it's just the writing style - Lewis seems to write characters really well.
I also thought the plot and the mystery that was built in to the plot were really interesting and kept me interested. I have to admit that if I am just looking to read a simple, fluffy or sexy (or both!) male-male romance, often I go in just wanting that, and too much plot or story can just make me feel a bit irritated. This didn't happen with Time Turns at all - I loved the romantic/sexy/warm fluffy scenes, but I was also really interested to see what was happening with story at large. Lewis has created such a fascinating world here - one where time travelling is possible, and also a business manager and a genius coder can find love. That is just brilliant to me.
Oh and the sex scenes were quite wonderful. And also - it was quite funny in places! Danny and Lysander's banter really made me giggle sometimes. Basically, I really enjoyed this book.
9/10 time-turning hearts.
I received an eARC copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.
This story was such a ride! I kind of went in expecting a male-male romance, with erotica, and not much else. It actually has so much more to it than that, and I ended up feeling really impressed by it. Yes, it's a male-male romance, and yes, it has erotic scenes, but there's also transgender representation, a mystery, and some exploration of workaholism. And time travel! There is a whole lot going on here.
I first wanted to talk about the character building. I found it to be absolutely fantastic - both of the main characters, Danny and Lysander, are fantastic. I loved reading more about them as the story went on, seeing them interact with each other and support each other, and eventually begin to fall in love. The other characters in the story were really interesting, too, and I felt like I loved seeing snippets of back-stories for them as well. Everything just felt really fleshed out and developed, and I think part of that may be because this was a part of a series, but also it's just the writing style - Lewis seems to write characters really well.
I also thought the plot and the mystery that was built in to the plot were really interesting and kept me interested. I have to admit that if I am just looking to read a simple, fluffy or sexy (or both!) male-male romance, often I go in just wanting that, and too much plot or story can just make me feel a bit irritated. This didn't happen with Time Turns at all - I loved the romantic/sexy/warm fluffy scenes, but I was also really interested to see what was happening with story at large. Lewis has created such a fascinating world here - one where time travelling is possible, and also a business manager and a genius coder can find love. That is just brilliant to me.
Oh and the sex scenes were quite wonderful. And also - it was quite funny in places! Danny and Lysander's banter really made me giggle sometimes. Basically, I really enjoyed this book.
9/10 time-turning hearts.
I received an eARC copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.
charkinzie's review
4.0
This book is part of the Out Of Time series by C.B. Lewis, but don’t worry if you’re not caught up, this title can be read as a stand-alone. I haven’t read the rest of the series, but I have a feeling I will be reading it now.
Let me start with the characters. I loved Danny! He’s a Scotsman through and through. He’s a coder by trade and resorts to a bit of a drink when he needs to loosen up his brain and work on a puzzle. He’s open, caring and nurturing, funny and I adored him. Early on in the book, he accepts a lucrative short-term contract to work on a very secretive project solving a coding mystery.
When Danny arrives at his posting, he meets the man in charge, Lysander O’Donahue. Lysander is another very interesting character! He is all reserved strength and confidence behind his desk but has a tendency to carry too much weight on his shoulders.
Time Turns is a mystery of sorts. Set in the future, when time travel is tightly controlled and inspires awe in most people … it seems that someone is trying to undermine the Temporal Research Institute. Someone has been altering the coding behind the Institute’s work and Danny has been assigned to work out the mystery.
The longer Danny works at the Institute, the closer he gets to Lysander. They have a lovely relationship. Lysander seems to thrive off the nurturing spirit of Danny’s soul… and at the same time craves the control that Danny surrenders to him at times. They’re a very interesting pair because of their differences and the way that they relate to one another. I liked the ease they were quick to find in each other’s presence.
There are a couple of things that stand out… in that they don’t stand out. SPOILER COMING (in a way) Let’s see, about 1/3 of the way into the story, Lysander discloses that he is a Trans man. I say … it’s a spoiler in a way… because it’s just NOT that big a deal. I freaking loved that! Trans is just something that is part of who Lysander is… and Danny doesn’t really react to it at all. It’s just… something that is. THANK YOU, C.B. Lewis! Hopefully, we won’t all have to wait until 2065 to get that kind of inclusion.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it as many times as I’m able to… Queer isn’t the point of this novel… it’s just something that some of the characters happen to be.
Let me start with the characters. I loved Danny! He’s a Scotsman through and through. He’s a coder by trade and resorts to a bit of a drink when he needs to loosen up his brain and work on a puzzle. He’s open, caring and nurturing, funny and I adored him. Early on in the book, he accepts a lucrative short-term contract to work on a very secretive project solving a coding mystery.
When Danny arrives at his posting, he meets the man in charge, Lysander O’Donahue. Lysander is another very interesting character! He is all reserved strength and confidence behind his desk but has a tendency to carry too much weight on his shoulders.
Time Turns is a mystery of sorts. Set in the future, when time travel is tightly controlled and inspires awe in most people … it seems that someone is trying to undermine the Temporal Research Institute. Someone has been altering the coding behind the Institute’s work and Danny has been assigned to work out the mystery.
The longer Danny works at the Institute, the closer he gets to Lysander. They have a lovely relationship. Lysander seems to thrive off the nurturing spirit of Danny’s soul… and at the same time craves the control that Danny surrenders to him at times. They’re a very interesting pair because of their differences and the way that they relate to one another. I liked the ease they were quick to find in each other’s presence.
There are a couple of things that stand out… in that they don’t stand out. SPOILER COMING (in a way) Let’s see, about 1/3 of the way into the story, Lysander discloses that he is a Trans man. I say … it’s a spoiler in a way… because it’s just NOT that big a deal. I freaking loved that! Trans is just something that is part of who Lysander is… and Danny doesn’t really react to it at all. It’s just… something that is. THANK YOU, C.B. Lewis! Hopefully, we won’t all have to wait until 2065 to get that kind of inclusion.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it as many times as I’m able to… Queer isn’t the point of this novel… it’s just something that some of the characters happen to be.
More...