This HaBO comes from Brittany, who wants to find this time travel romance:
It starts off with the protagonist, who I’m pretty sure was in the field of archeology or anthropology…maybe architecture, being somewhat unhappy/apathetic about her life at that point. Her parents wanted her to marry this guy, and she was either unsure or didn’t want to.
She goes on some sort of overseas work trip/field trip with colleagues.
Something happens plot-wise, and suddenly the protagonist wakes up… in a cave i think? Out in the wilderness essentially.
She ends up getting captured by men on horseback and taken to a war camp (no buildings, just tents), and put in an enclosure with other captive women. One of the women is in charge and cruel to the others, in charge of training and punishments and whatnot
If I remember correctly, all the captured women are there to be ahem “companions” for his soldiers in order to keep all the men in line. The older women in charge is cruel and abusive. Occasionally the men go through some process to decide who picks first and then they all choose a lucky lady 🙄 And since the protagonist becomes a favorite, possibly a concubine of sorts, of the leader and therefore becomes off-limits and spared from the bed partner merry-go-round, some of the other women become jealous
The warlord/army leader was fighting against some other dude with an army. I think the male lead’s father had died or something and the antagonist was trying to keep him from taking over? Idk, details are fuzzy on that part. Rather than the time travel being accidentally and a butterfly effect type of situation, I think the female protagonist was specifically meant to be there to play a specific role in the Triumph/defeat of the army, and is recorded in history? There was some sort of mysticism involved with it all
I also remember (spoiler) whatever magic took her back in time and brings her back ends up bringing her love interest to the future also. Like she’s there at dinner with her colleagues and suddenly he walks up (dressed in modern clothes I think?)
It’s frustrating because all my searches just bring up the typical historical romance settings: England, Scotland, Ireland, sometimes France. And the culture and setup of the army in this book just didn’t give off that kind of feel, I don’t think. Unless the time jump was REALLY far back. I don’t recall any references to historical figures that I’m familiar with, or modern weaponry like guns or cannons. No mentions of Lords or lairds or other titles like that that I can remember. And the story is landlocked, doesn’t take place at sea.
Sound familiar to anyone?
I… I… WTF?
I’m old. I’ve read ALOT of old skool, but that is some messed up shit right there.
Johanna Lindsey wrote a time travel book, Until Forever, that involves a Viking sword and a hero named Thorn. The heroine is named Rose. When they go back in time they change things and have to keep going back to fix them. None of the other details match, but it’s an option if anyone is looking for Old Skool time travel.
I think it’s a Kristen Ashley book
This might be completely out of left field, but this sounds kinda like a Patricia Simpson book! This was an author that my mom really liked in the 90s and early 2000s, and we had her books around the house. I don’t remember this specific plot, but she tended to write time-travel books that mixed the past and present, and focused on ancient civilizations, rather than things like Highlanders and Vikings. For example, the one I remember really well was called The Night Orchid. In that one, the heroine is part of a lab that is doing time-travel experiments, and they end up bringing an ancient Gaul warrior into the present. Not your plot, but I wonder if the one you’re thinking of was one of her other books?
It could be Warlord by Tasha Temple. It is a bikers book that has all the elements that you mention. The heroine also exercises while in captivity and does not fear sex!
Amazon does not have it up anymore.
It could be Warlord by Tasha Temple. It is a bonkers book that has all the elements that you mention. The heroine also exercises while in captivity and does not fear sex!
Amazon does not have it up anymore.
From Goodreads.
Sara’s life is boring and predictable. It’s also about to change. A startling use of cruel, inhuman power places Sara in extreme peril giving her only one chance to escape. Now she must overcome her deepest fears and resist her most powerful desires just to stay alive. In the struggle to conquer herself, Sara encounters a god of a man from a distant land who brings her to the heights of pleasure, beyond what she ever imagined possible.
The fiery passion between Sara and the warlord, Arystan, is the material of legends. As their souls collide and lock in a tangle of lust and desire, will Sara resist her deepest yearnings and give up what she cherishes most so they can remain together forever? Can she break through Arystan’s battle-hardened defenses and reach his heart while helping him defeat the cruel enemy of his past on the battlefield? This steamy novel of love, warfare and passion will leave you on the edge of your seat with suspense.
Like @Norma, I wonder if it might be a book by Kristen Ashley…perhaps The Golden Dynasty.
It’s amazing how the ickiest plots get stuck in your head *shudder*
Following!!
The Kristen Ashley book mentioned is “The Golden Dynasty” and is part of her Fantasyland series. In the series, there are dual universes and everyone in this one has a doppleganger in the other. There’s magic involved to switch places and only the dopplegangers can switch places with their counterparts. The heroine in TGD is an office manager for her father’s moving company. She goes to sleep and wakes up in a corral with other women, all wearing virginal white. It’s a “slave” auction for a Mongol type “horde”. The series is bonkers but lots of fun because KA does bonkers so well and in this one, she bounces around through a lot of different mythos to populate her alternate universe.
The only time travel with an archeologist heroine that comes to mind is Karen Marie Moning’s “Spell of the Highlander.” That’s the only element that fits the HABO, but thought I’d throw it out there for any looking for old skool time travels. Moning’s whole Highlander series deals with time-traveling heroines and there’s some time shifts both directions as the Highlanders in question are immortal.