GS v. STA: Time Travel Romance

Stephanie, a lurker (hi lurkers!) asks:

I am hoping you, and the bitchery, may be able to help me out.  Do you know of any time travel romances along the lines of the Meg Ryan movie “Kate and Leopold”?  I’m not picky about who does the time travel or which direction (hero to the future, heroine to the past or vise versa).

There was a time when every third romance was a time travel. This was back in the days when there was a cardboard postcard in the middle of the paperback, either Zebra or Dorchester, and there would invariably be a sex scene on either side of the at postcard. Anyone got a time travel they absolutely love?

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  1. hollygee says:

    Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict by Laura Viera Rigler.

  2. Jenn says:

    One that I liked a lot that I haven’t read in awhile is Virginia Henley’s Enslaved.  It has the time travel aspect and the story was great. I especially liked the part at the end where she finds ‘their’ tree and the stone that they buried.

  3. Stephanie (the lurker) says:

    Thank you to SB Sarah for posting my HABO request and thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who chimed in with recommendations!  My Amazon cart is groaning under the weight of the books I’ve piled in it!  Who knew (obviously not me!) there were so many time travel themed romances! 
    One question I have about “A Knight in Shining Armor”.  Some people seem ambivalent about the ending.  Is it a true HEA?  I really don’t want to get to the end of a time travel book to have the hero and heroine separated again for the “good of the world” or something stupid. 
    Thanks again!
    Stephanie

  4. Leah says:

    Oh, I loved Karen Marie Moning! I like her new Fae books too.  A little less foreshadowing would be nice in them, but they tie in the charaters and stories of the Highlander books.  Love those MacKeltars!

  5. hope101 says:

    Robin Schone’s Awaken, My Love is a time travel. It’s very sexy, as her books tend to be.

  6. Lita says:

    I just remembers my favorite TT romance – Son of the Morning by Linda Howard. 

    One of the reasons why I think I liked this one so much was that Linda made a Scottish castle in the 14th Century a dirty and disease ridden place.  Also, her history of the Knights Templar, the treasure they supposedly protected and destruction of the Order, were very well researched.

    Can’t believe that no one else has mentioned this one (unless I missed it)

  7. Jessi says:

    Hi Stephanie,
    From one lurker to another, I couldn’t help but to respond to this one. Just today read about Brenda Joyce and her Masters of Time series. After reading a couple of excerpts from her website, I’m literally on my way out the door to find one at the library.  I’m sure someone’s already recommended them, just thought it was too funny.
    Take care,
    Jessi

  8. Lovecow2000 says:

    @Melissande: Thank you!  I knew a rose had to something to do with it! 

    @Stephanie: KSA has a happy ending and no separation.  But it is a bit complicated if memory serves.

  9. Another Damn Sarah says:

    Mary Balogh has a fantastic story in Timeswept Brides, which has bunch of novellas in it involving time travel.  Balogh’s story actually have a timeswept bridegroom, but detail, details, details.  I didn’t really enjoy any of the other stories in the book—the characters weren’t as fully fleshed out as Balogh’s characters, and since her story is the first in the book, everything that followed it sort of paled in comparison for me.  But Balogh is just the tops, in general, and the price of the book is worth it for her contribution.

  10. wendy says:

    A great book if you can find it somewhere is Time and Again by Beverly Sommers. 1987?

  11. Michele H. says:

    Sandy Blair’s A Highlander for Christmas…. great story, and characters I really enjoyed.

  12. Gram says:

    Gwen Cready’s books are fun and Erin Quinn has a new one out: Haunting Beauty.  All on my t-b-r list.
    across49 must be across 49 time zones…LOL

  13. Julia Rios says:

    A Cottage by the Sea by Ciji Ware was one I remember liking. A 20th century woman goes to 19th century Cornwall.

  14. Krista says:

    I can’t believe no one’s nominated The Time Traveler’s Wife! No, not a traditional romance with a HEA, but still the most soul-touching love story I’ve ever read. Outlander (and Voyager) is a close second (and third).

    @Jenn, gotta love Enslaved by Virginia Henley, if only for pure old-school camp!

  15. Lila says:

    It’s been a long time since I read it, so I don’t know if it stands up, but I remember liking Touch of Enchantment by Teresa Medeiros.

  16. Jenn says:

    @ MamaNice

    The Johanna Lindsey title you referred to is Until Forever

  17. Stefanie says:

    De-lurking (for the second time today[a record!]) to suggest Breath of Magic by Teresa Medeiros, and it is the prequel to Touch of Enchantment (mentioned by Lila).  Its my first TT, and I loved it. 

    Adorable witch from 17th century New England time travels to 1998 NYC and meets cold, cynical, but handsome billionaire who is trying to disprove the existence of magic.

  18. Karla says:

    The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux.

    One of those “what if I could go back and…” stories.

  19. MicheleKS says:

    ‘Heaven’s Time’ and ‘Untamed Time’ by Susan Plunkett. Two of my all-time favorite time-travel romances that are so sadly out of print. Very well-written and believeable.

  20. PubChick says:

    My all time favorite time travel book is Nora Roberts ‘Time And Again’. I can read that over and over, and I absolutely LOVE it! 🙂

  21. Maggie P. says:

    Lynn Kurland’s books all have a HEA ending, I love those books because of there sweetness. I remember the first one I read was on the car ride to my grandfather’s funeral and it was great to be able to escape and read something that made me smile.
    I would also second the recommendation of Suzanne Frank’s series, it’s rare to find a ancient Egypt/non-Western Europe themed TT novel and that series is truly excellent.

  22. Brandy says:

    OMG I can’t believe it took so long for a Terese Mederios recommendation. 

    Breath of Magic is the witch who travels forward in time to the billionaire.  Touch of Enchantment is the sequel in which the daughter of couple from BoM goes back in time to find herself a Knight in Shining Armour (TM) – although I don’t think it was on purpose.

    Very good, and between those two and being the quadrillionth person to recommend the Karen Marie Moning’s Highlanders you should be covered for about 8 or so books.

  23. Nicole S. says:

    Loved The Time Traveler’s Wife (book).  Saw the movie last night and loved it too—*sniff*

    In the middle of Outlander and HATING putting it down to attend the duties of the day. Note to self: Must not resent family for having needs.

    Sigh—gotta love a book that makes your heart a little faint.

  24. Melissa Blue says:

    Lynn Kurkland.  I’ve liked all but one. Not because it wasn’t well written, but because it covered a pet peeve of mine.

    Sandy Blair. Mentioned, but must say her name again.

    Same with Karen Marie Moning.

  25. Nicole S. says:

    Oh and a “Soundtrack” recommendation:

    If you’re anything like me you need a song or two to play in your head while reading a lovely story.

    Sting’s “A Thousand Years” is (IMHO) the perfect accompainment to a time travel tale.

  26. @Lita:  I was wondering if the trilogy/series you’re after might be Sara McKenzie’s Immortal Warriors?  Not sure about the Connecticut setting but the regency dude appearing to the woman driving sounds kind of familiar…although I seem to recall one was riding a black horse? 

    Bron

  27. krsylu says:

    I can only second (and third and fourth) “Knight in Shining Armor” and the “Outlander” series.

    I do have a sort of HaBO within a HaBO. When I was in junior high, I read a YA time-travel wherein the protagonist (can’t remember if male or female) moved to old house with ghosts, broke leg, and was transported in time to ghosts’ original period. If I remember correctly, there was sweet YA romancing. No clue about authorship, but for some reason, the song “Greensleeves” is associated with it in my mind.

  28. XandraG says:

    I can’t believe nobody loved Susan Sizemore’s “Wings of the Storm” – it was my first time travel and I still am kinda crushing on David.  And Jane—here’s to the competent heroine.

    I second the recs for JDs KISA, although I didn’t love it I recognize the brilliance.  And for LInda Howard’s Son of the Morning.  I was reading “Holy Blood, Holy Grail” (which is what sired the DaVinci Code) at the same time and it made the Howard book that much more awesome.  Also for Medieros’s Touch of Magic which was just adorable.

  29. Elizabeth says:

    I started reading a time-travel novel recently—Household Gods, by Judith Tarr.  It’s very good, though not a romance novel.  Sadly, I left it at home when I went off to college, so I haven’t finished it yet.  Unless I can find a cheap, used copy, it will be months before I finish this one.

    I love time-travel, especially in romances, so I’m excited to hunt for the books mentioned in this post!

  30. Lita says:

    @Bronwyn – No, it definitely wasn’t “Immortal Warriors” – but thanks.  I’m going to put those on my reading list.

    Now that I’ve had the time to look on Amazon, DS got it right, the books are Love Once in Passing and Love Once Again.

    My memory on the second book was definitely sketchy – the first one ends with an HEA, the second one starts with the couple getting split up in time, but the rest I was pretty right about, according to the Amazon blurb.  Wait a sec – are we still hating on the ‘Zon – I don’t want to get thrown off for a positive reference.

    Gotta run, I got a load of steel shot running in the tumbler, my hands are filthy from silver clay, and I’ve still got to get up and go to work and be a lawyer tomorrow.  I’d much rather make jewelry and talk about books.  But that don’t pay the bills.

    Lita

  31. Deb Kinnard says:

    I’d recommend mine, LOL, but it won’t release ‘til April.

    I loved Connie Willis’s DOMESDAY BOOK, but despite the gorgeous dark-haired hunk on the cover, it isn’t a romance. Just a powerfully written piece of fiction.

  32. Allison J. says:

    I’m so glad I’m not the only one who loves J. Suzanne Frank’s Reflections on the Nile series! There’s actually a 4th book that I don’t think everyone knows about: Twilight in Babylon. It wraps up the series really nicely.

    Also, KMM’s Highlander series is FANTASTIc. Highly recommended if you like hunky Scots. (I can’t believe I just said hunky.)

  33. Carrie Lofty says:

    *ahem*

    Sundial

    As quietly recommended by the author of “Sundial.”

  34. Colette says:

    Has anyone read Lynn Kurland’s books? I love her time travel books! I love her Di Piaget series.

  35. Elizabeth says:

    Ahem.  For the sake of giving credit where it’s due, I should mention that I left a writer off of my Household Gods comment.  It was co-authored by Harry Turtledove.

  36. wendy says:

    @Allison J.- thanks for the heads up on the 4th book in Frank’s series.I had no idea it existed!  One more to add to the book list 🙂

  37. Bethy says:

    “Lost Yesterday” by Jenny Lykins.  Loved it.  It was part of a bunch of books by Jove called Time Passages.  They published a bunch of time travel romances back in the mid 90’s.  Some were better than others.

  38. KL says:

    Not classified as romance, but I enjoyed Rita Mae Brown’s Riding Shotgun, which had heavy romantic elements.

  39. Sewicked says:

    Okay, I don’t remember the title but there’s one that’s unusual: medieval knight travels forward to 19th century Southwest America. He’s on a train & I remember that I liked it. Nothing else. Just that.

  40. Teresa C says:

    Am I the only person to read the Highlander series by Janet Chapman?
    There are 6 books in the series,revolving around a group of warring highlanders, who were sent forward in time, to Maine, by a scheming wizard.

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