Crossing In Time (Between Two Evils) - Softcover

Orton, D. L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1941368018 ISBN 13: 9781941368015

Publisher: Rocky Mountain Press, 2015

Synopsis

The past isn't over; it's an opening. The future isn't hidden; it's a trap.
If she ever wants to see him again, she'll have to take the risk.

"Engaging, Funny, Romantic & Harrowing"
~Publishers Weekly Starred Review

After reconnecting with the one-that-got-away—and then losing him in a pandemic—middle-aged Iz struggles to survive in a remote mountain cabin. As loneliness and despair set in, she finds hope in caring for abandoned pets—until a man appears and offers her a one-way trip to the past.

With humanity teetering on the edge, she gives up everything in an attempt to alter the dystopian present—and see her missing lover once more.

As time runs out, she's whisked into a coffin-like machine set to plunge deep into her past. (A neural net insists she is humankind's best hope. No one knows why.) They neglect to mention the time machine has been activated once before—with deadly results.

Miraculously, she awakens on a pristine beach—buck naked and suffering radiation-like side-effects—but 20 years younger! With only hours to live, she must persuade a young man to modify their future relationship and thereby set off a chain of events that will prevent the pandemic.

Our young hero falls hard for her (what guy could resist a smart, middle-aged woman in a newly acquired vixen's body?) until she blurts out that she's from the future and here to "fix" him.

Turns out, it's not him that needs fixing; it's her—and it's far too late for that.

Or is it?


Content Warning
This book contains material that may be disturbing to some and, in movie form, would be rated NC-17 for strong language, nudity, sexual situations, and violence. It includes attempted sexual assault, abduction, intense physical danger, miscarriage, confinement, a pandemic, religious fanaticism (Christian), government incompetence bordering on malice, mistreated animals, gun violence, near drowning, and (human) death.


Genre Warning
Crossing in Time is a smart, character-driven love story told from 3 points of view (in 1st-person, present tense): our plucky heroine's, her steadfast lover's, and a gay British physicist's. At times, the gentle reader must keep track of 3 intertwining storylines. If you prefer your fiction to be light, this is probably not the book for you. (But the audiobook might be. The dual narrators are effing awesome.)

Although the book contains a love story, it does not have a Happily Ever After ending and is not a genre romance: There's no alpha male or damsel in distress. If you're inclined to assume smart, head-strong women are annoying (or thoughtful, empathetic men are weak), this is likely not the book for you.

Even though the story contains a time machine, no laws of physics are violated. But if you're looking for hard sci-fi that focuses on gadgets and world-building (or you dislike the word breast, for instance), skip this one.

If you can't imagine still being in love with someone you haven't seen in 20 years, pick another book.

Also, there's profanity, blaspheme, alcohol consumption, the word penis, frosted donuts, and a bowling alley (but no smoking—except for the time machine.)

Finally, the story jumps between a dystopian action-adventure, a sci-fi techno-thriller, a time travel suspense mystery, and a tumultuous love story. Steer clear if you prefer your fiction fit into neat and tidy genres!

This is the 1st book in the Between Two Evils series (5 total), and all will be revealed in the end. I ask for your indulgence as I tell the story in the best way I can. I know how it all ends, and I think you'll like it.

If you made it this far, woohoo. I think you'll enjoy the book.


TLDR: Reader discretion advised.

About this title

About the Author

USA BEST BOOK AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR D. L. ORTON lives in the Rocky Mountains where she and her husband are raising three boys, a golden retriever, two Siberian cats, and an extremely long-lived Triops. In her spare time, she's building a time machine so that someone can go back and do the laundry.

From the Back Cover

If someone took everything you live for, how far would you go to get it back?

When offered a one-way trip to the past, she sacrifices everything for a chance to change her dystopian future--and see her murdered lover one last time.

After a perilous journey through a black hole, she wakes up on a tropical beach, buck naked and mortally wounded, but twenty years younger. With only hours to live, she must convince an enraptured but skeptical twenty-something guy to fix their future relationship and thereby save the planet (no one is quite sure why.)

Easier said than done, as success means losing him to a brainy, smart-mouthed bombshell (her younger self), and that's a heartbreaker, save the world or not.

Across the infinite expanse of space and time, love endures...
(Unfortunately, it's not going to be enough.)

From the Inside Flap

Fall into this edgy, action-packed, darkly comedic, dystopian love story, and be prepared to encounter a finicky time machine, a mysterious seashell, and a very clever dog (some sex, some swearing, some violence, but no vampires and absolutely no ditzes.)

It's The Andromeda Strain meets Back to the Future with a healthy dose of Dirty Dancing.

It there's only one love story you read this year, make this be it!

Edition details

• Publisher: Rocky Mountain Press
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1941368018
• ISBN 13: 9781941368015
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 380