review of Sam Time by Donna Balon

 Sam Time

by Donna Balon

 

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GENRE: Historical Fiction, Time Travel

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BLURB:

 

When her fiancé is away on business, lonely Samantha Hunter despairs and absorbs herself in historical research. Her nighttime dreams being so vivid, Samantha believes she’s traveling to a past century. As she navigates the Victorian era rules of dos and even more don’ts, she charms Ulysses S Grant while struggling to maintain her present-day romance.

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Excerpt:

 

But this was Samantha’s dream, and she could be bold. She stepped forward until she was several feet from Grant and stopped. “Lieutenant Grant,” she said softly.

 

He turned around. His light blue eyes were his most striking feature. Chestnut-brown hair, mustache, and beard. Straight nose. Square jaw. Wide-at-the-temples facial bone structure. About five eight in height. Slim beneath the soldier’s coat. This was Ulysses S. Grant. In his early thirties. Good-looking.

 

He glanced at Samantha and then turned around to tend to his horse.

 

He’s a married man, and he sees an unknown woman. What are the protocols?

 

Her dream. Her rules.

 

Samantha persisted, using what she thought was common phraseology for this era. “Lieutenant Grant, I am Miss Samantha. I hear you are an expert horseman. I would be most pleased in taking lessons under your tutelage.”

 

His back still facing her, he made no reply.

 

She thought quickly of a scheme. “My brothers are in town on business. It would be most helpful to our family business, if I could learn how to ride.”

 

“I am a soldier with duties at the fort.” He speaks.

 

“I understand, Lieutenant Grant. But surely you have leave.”

 

While keeping a distance of several feet, she stepped to his side so she could see his profile. “I understand you will not transact with a lady, but I will return with one of my brothers. He will pay you compensation.”

 

“Others can teach you.”

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Review:

The characters are interesting, but I might be biased when it comes to Samantha because she and I both have a master’s degree in U.S. history.  However, the beginning of the story is an info dump, and there are little ones after that. There is some telling throughout the story, but suspense keeps things going.

 

Things move quickly between Samantha and Aaron romantically, and they get engaged. Just then, he’s sent out of state for the better part of a year. 

 

Through the dream state, Samantha travels back in time to 1850s California and meets U.S. Grant, who was then a lieutenant. Using her knowledge of history, she shifts her approach and gets Grant to give her riding lessons. She must be clever.

 

After a while, is Samantha still dreaming, or is she really traveling back in time? It’s a good thing she knows history because otherwise fitting in would be hard to pull off. She uses skills learned in the past in her present. This novel is filled with great historical details that immerse readers into this era.

 

She brings skills learned in the past into the present, which suggests she was actually in the past. Unwanted temptations get her to thinking about moral questions.

 

Sam travels forward in time and finds herself in the midst of the Civil War and then later eras. Some surprising events take place, and some even more surprising consequences.

 

Readers are treated to interesting tidbits of historical information that really add to the story. This book will inspire one to think about important questions concerning the United States and its history. Along the way, Samantha faces new challenges. Can she get out of such tricky situations? This is an engaging story, especially for those who love history.

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Author Donna Balon debuts Sam Time, a novel well-researched and professionally edited by quality talent from the publishing industry. Donna resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband.

 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/41018186.Donna_Balon

Website: https://samtimebook.com/about/

Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/donnabalon

 

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