River of Dreams
River of Dreams by Jenny Lykins is part of the Time Passages series
published by Penguin Putnam and is a sequel of sorts to Distant
Dreams, a novel already reviewed on this website.
Shaelyn Sumner's old friend Brianne Davis is about to make her own journey into the past. But unlike Shaelyn who travelled in her own body, Brianne is about to take over the life of Amily who is living with her cousin Florence and Florence's husband Griffin - the man who has called Brianne across time to be with him.
Brianne's connection with the past begins in the present when she is persuaded by her old friend David to attend a séance with him and his annoying fiancée, Heather. Not taking it very seriously Brianne is as surprised as the other people at the group when the spirit of Griffin appears in the room and speaks to her through David asking her to come to him.
The spirit of Griffin is convinced that Brianne is Amily and his determination appears to know no bounds as he starts to appear to Brianne through David at other times when they are not holding a séance.
David, understandably, does not like it too much when Griffin takes over his body to speak to Brianne, especially when he starts to use his body to kiss her. But before this problem can be resolved Brianne finds herself sent back in time to Amily's body and a new life in 1832.
With the little information she has from her conversations with Griffin she knows that Griffin and Amily fought their feelings until Florence died through complications with a pregnancy. After Florence's death Griffin and Amily planned to wed but their lives with cut tragically short in a riding accident.
Brianne soon settles into her life in the past and quickly becomes good friends with Florence. This of course only adds to her guilt as she discovers herself falling in love with Griffin, although he does not appear to return her feelings as yet.
Brianne is torn between her feelings for Griffin and her friendship for Florence and she knows that as a training midwife she must do all she can to try and save Florence.
But all her training cannot stop the inevitable and after Florence's death Griffin and Amily are free to continue their lives together. But Brianne is not sure if this is possible, after all, if she could not stop one tragedy is there any guarantee that she can avert the other?
Set in Baton Rouge this is a wonderfully touching novel that will delight all time travel romance lovers. This book boasts strong characters and an interesting plot that at first appears predictable but saves a few surprises for towards the end.
It is also an opportunity to see once again Shaelyn and Alec, the seasick
smuggler, an idea that I still find very amusing.
RATING : 
(if you need an explanation of the hearts ratings see
my homepage)
Also by Jenny Lykins: Echoes of Tomorrow, Waiting for Yesterday, Distant Dreams and Lost Yesterday,
Read an Interview with Jenny Lykins.
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