Sunday, May 12, 2013

Review of Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone and INT giveaway!

Time Between Us (Time Between Us, #1) Vacation was unbelievably amazing, and I got a lot of reading done too! But it's great to be back with you all as well. 

For my loyal blog followers, you get a jump start on this great giveaway as usual! 

Goodreads Book Description: Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett has the unique ability to travel through time and space, which brings him into Anna’s life, and with him a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, the two face the reality that time may knock Bennett back to where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate, what consequences they can bear in order to stay together, and whether their love can stand the test of time.

Fresh, exciting, and deeply romantic, Time Between Us is a stunning, spellbinding debut from an extraordinary new voice in YA fiction.


My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My Review:  I don't even know where to start. It's been a while since I was speechless from a book. Tamara Ireland Stone is coming to my town for a signing soon, and so I picked up her book. I had no idea what a treasure I was buying!

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone focuses on Anna, a girl who lives in the year 1995, who meets a strange boy named Bennett. He appears and disappears one day when she is running at a track, but when she meets him again at school the next day, it's as if he never knew her in the first place. This starts a romantic adventure of a love that spans time, space, and every other dimension.

I don't want to say too much more about the plot, because it's incredible to get to experience it all firsthand. The writing is gorgeous, and it took all of my willpower to put it down last night and not stay up all night finishing it. The characters are well drawn, and it's hard not to like Anna. She's a great main character, and Bennett is intriguing. Her parents are briefly mentioned, but in a few deft strokes, you can tell what their personalities are like. Emma, as the best friend, was my other favorite-- and I can hear her Brit accent in my head. The plot races along at a perfect pace, and while I'm not usually one for description, it takes a central role in this novel. I can imagine all the beautiful places in my head so effortlessly with the way Stone describes them. I can feel the sand between my toes, and the chalk as I dust it on my hands before hitching myself up on the first crease of a rock face.

There are certain plot twists that I was doubtful about, but it all comes full circle as all loose ends are tied up in a way that makes sense and is completely believable (in this novel's reality). The ending is spot on-- usually difficult for most authors. Every move that Stone has made is right, and this book has currently stolen my heart as one of my favorite reads this year.

Overall, a gorgeously told novel with terrific characters, scenery, and pacing. Stone is one of the most talented authors that I have discovered this year, and I can't wait to pick up the next gem she writes!


Just so you know what's coming up, guys-- an exciting interview with her as well as a recap of the amazing book event that she participated in here in St. Louis a week ago!

OK, enter to win some great prizes!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

50 comments:

  1. I have always dreamed of going to Europe.. I want to see all the things there I have only ever read about in books.

    Thanks!
    - Diana @amalia_chartres

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  2. this book was also published in Italian under the title Stay, but I decided not to read it .. maybe,now, I changed my mind;)

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  3. I'd travel to the past to ancient Egyptian times because I'm obsessed with it. =D
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  4. I'd like to travel to 1980 :)

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  5. I haven't quite decided yet. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  6. I'd travel back to St. Louis and hug you again. :)

    What a beautiful review of Time Between Us. I'm so thrilled that you loved your time with Anna & Bennett. Thanks for reading, for sharing your thoughts, and for running this amazing giveaway.

    Tamara

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  7. I would travel into the future and see how things turn out. Hopefully it will be a time of space travel.

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  8. I'd love to head back to Biblical times just to peek around and see what went down.

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  9. Where- I've always wanted to go to Ireland ever since I was really little and see the ruins and castles. I think it has alot to do with the fact that i loved fairies and magical creatures growing up. (I still love them!) It just seems like such a magical and beautiful place.
    When- I'd love to visit the Renaissance era, I love the clothing from the period.
    -Amber

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  10. i have always wanted to go to greece, not sure what era

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  11. PARIS!!! Who doesn't love Paris? Anywhere in Europe would be a good place to travel.

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  12. When? Tudor times!
    Where? In tudor times, I would go to England and Scotland. In modern day, New Zealand or Greece.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    mestith at gmail dot com

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  13. I would travel back to when I was a child and tell myself to do things differently.

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  14. I'd like to visit Japan and India. They're both fascinating places, I guess :)
    Well, actually if I had Bennett's ability I'd travel the whole world ;)

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  15. I would go to Italy with my Husband, because he is Italian, but never been to Italy and has always wanted to go and it seems like such a wonderful, beautiful and romantic place. It has been the one place we have always dreamed of going to.

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  16. I would travel to the future!

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  17. I would love to travel to Egypt to see the pyramids,hawaii for the scenic view,ireland for the food and old buildings and my list could go on. :)

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  18. I would travel to Mars.Because its a planet which all people had dreamed to go someday

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  19. Can't wait to be whisked away to Europe in this book. Excellent review & great giveaway.

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  20. I would like to travel through Europe with my husband because he has never been.

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  21. i would travel to europe because i'd like to see victorian buildings like in novels ..
    thx u...

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  22. I would love to travel to old Ireland and Scotland just see how the castles and land were before the population grew.

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  23. Probably either the '20s or Victorian England--I've always been fascinated by those time periods :)

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  24. Travel to Ireland...just not too sure of the time period! lol

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  25. If I could travel in time, I'd probably want to go to 19th century Europe. I love those kinds of historical books!

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  26. The 80s. No question.

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  27. I'd travel to London as a graduation gift for myself! I'd go now! :) Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

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  28. I'd travel to London as a graduation gift for myself! I'd go now! :) Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

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  29. Paris! I'd love to see the Eiffel Tower - if I could I would go right now

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  30. I would travel to the 1813 England and read Pride and Prejudice when it was first published :)

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  31. I would travel to Paris, so I could see all of the artworks back then, and drink all the kinds of coffee I want :D

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  32. Sounds like a great time travelling book!! If I could travel in time, I would love to see how the pyramids where built.

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  33. I would travel to Japan,because I was find their culture really interesting and I love Anime and Cosplay too^^

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  34. Camelot in the middle ages! Ahhh, I think I would just about die of happiness! <3

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  35. I wanna go to italy and paris! The food! The culture! The art! :)

    If I could go back in time I'd want to live in the Jane Austin era. I always felt like I was in the wrong time! I want to strole in the gardens and read under a tree in the feilds and ride horses and sip lemonade!

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  36. Actually I'd love to travel anywhere right now! Especially to Ireland or Canada or the US. I didn't have the chance to visit any places other than France (where I live) and Spain... and I've always been attracted to theses countries :)
    Thank you so much for the giveaway - and for making it international! Time between us looks really beautiful.

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  37. To London or new York because going there's my dream. :D

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  38. I would like to thank you for another spectacular giveaway! I have never been abroad and since studying fine art, i would love to go to Italy. Members of my family have been and said how beautiful it is and that there is so much to see, that you can't quite take it all in!
    Thanks once again and a great post! x

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  39. I would love to visit Europe especially Britain, France and Italy because I want to see the wonderful architectural structures and historical places.

    Arra
    Style | Reader
    http://arraabella.blogspot.com

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  40. I'd go to medieval times. Thanks!

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  41. I've always wanted to go to Paris!

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  42. I would love to visit Greece, it's so beautiful there!

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  43. I'd go back to the 60's. Great music, simpler times. I think I am suited for that decade. :)

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  44. I would love to visit Korea or Japan.

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  45. I'd love to visit Rome! Thanks for the giveaway :D

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  46. I'd love to travel to Rome! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  47. Revolutionary France seems like an interesting time period!

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  48. Nice review. Time travel can be picky, but there have been times where I have found a author and a story which ends up satisfying me completely. But its not easy to find a really good one. But I think this one sounds good though. I might just have to put it on my tbr list.

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