I received a copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Emma Damon, a recent graduate, received a scholarship to study in London. Working in Hartley Hall, Emma knows the Rose Room is off limits but she just can’t resist. Finding a hidden room behind a portrait adds to Emma’s excitement. Unfortunately, she finds herself trapped and loses consciousness. Waking up confused and shocked in 1816, all Emma wants is to return home.
Mistaken for a Ms Emily Blythe by the current occupiers of Hartley Hall, Emma must pretend to be everything she’s not or finds herself out on the street. Ms Blythe was to arrive from America as a bride for the Earl of Hartley’s brother. Emma must try to act the part of a sophisticated lady.
Hartley is a man who has closed off his heart and hardened his soul against romance because of the loss of a woman. He is determined this unusual woman marry his brother despite his own growing attraction. Enlisting the help of his Aunt Charles, he seeks to make Emma the toast of the ton.
Once Upon a Time Travel is a full-length novel that takes a unique approach in viewpoint. Emma’s viewpoint is told in first person narrative while Hartley’s is in the third person.
This is an instant-attraction story where the love develops slowly and realistically. The characters battle their feelings and both have a lot to overcome to realise their happy ever after. There are little dashes of the supernatural to this story, not least of which is time travel. These only enhance the story and elevate it from your typical Regency romance to something just a little bit special.
I hope Ms Wilson intends to develop this into a series as she created an interesting mix of characters and word building that deserve to be explored.
Wonderfully Weird Book Reviews 