In this gripping sequel to the award-winning novel, Through the Veneer of Time, echoes of Siena’s past life lure her into a shocking indiscretion that threatens to destroy her marriage. She alone can undo the damage, but this chilling revelation is only the beginning of her battle.
1564, ULSTER, IRELAND. After Aedan’s diplomatic visit to Queen Elizabeth’s court results in his compulsory divorce and arranged marriage, Neave’s violent unraveling drives her into another man’s arms. But in seeking revenge, Neave falls into a perfect trap set by Aedan’s enemy. By the time she learns the truth, it’s too late to undo the damage to Aedan, herself, and the hard-won peace in Ulster. When despair makes her reckless, the price will be a lifetime of infamy, confinement, and isolation from what Neave treasures most—Aedan and her son.
2011, WASHINGTON D.C./DALLAS, TX. It seems like a reasonable plan—Siena finishing her final mural in D.C. while Ryan starts his new job in Dallas. But when Siena meets Ryan’s new FBI partner, an inexplicable fit of jealousy sends her on a downward spiral. To make matters worse, the present mirrors the past when her visions take a startling turn. Consumed by insecurities, Siena takes a drastic step, which proves a catastrophic lapse in judgment. When her self-fulfilling prophecy unfolds in a devastating inversion of the past, Siena’s actions could cost her the two people she most fears to lose—Ryan and their baby.
Will Siena and Ryan beat their disastrous odds, or is their marriage foredoomed?
If you love time travel romance with dark undertones, as well as elements of domestic suspense, psychosexual thriller, and a touch of magic, don’t miss the second installment of the Always and Forever trilogy!
"An achingly beautiful story that lingered in my thoughts long after I'd finished the last page."
— Jodi Jensen, Author of Sophie's Key
"Bell had me feeling 'all the feels' as I feverishly turned each page."
— Five Star Review from Reader Views
"Vera's brilliant storytelling comes out in full force again in this exceptional sequel."
— The Bookish Historian Book Reviews
"It's literally taking me a few days to finally come down from the rollercoaster. (I mean that in the best way)."
— Irish Booklover Book Reviews
"BEWARE... this book will leave you with an awful hangover and thinking about it for days long after you've finished."
— Kindle Babe Book Reviews
"Bell's vision is imaginative, sexy, and sweeping. The author offers a distinctive voice for the two time periods (and) populates the novel with complex and flawed characters."
— BookLife Prize by Publishers Weekly
"Not only a satisfying continuation of Siena’s growth process, but a story that simmers with intrigue, passion, historical insights, and thoroughly engrossing revelations."
— D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Into the Lure of Time, a sequel to the time travel romance Through the Veneer of Time, again returns to 16th century Ulster, Ireland and 21st America with dual storylines that mirror and converge with one another. Bell's vision is imaginative, sexy, and sweeping, though readers new to the series will feel some disorientation without having read the first title.
Prose: Bell's writing is layered, smooth, and detailed. The author offers a distinctive voice for the two time periods the work spans, though readers may stumble on the language featured in the historical sections and the transitions may initially strike them as abrupt.
Originality: Bell integrates familiar romance tropes and beats of time travel suspense, but the juxtaposition of the modern day and the distant past introduces some intriguing and novel elements.
Character/Execution: Bell populates the novel with complex and flawed characters whose actions and behaviors may frustrate readers. In the Lure of Time ultimately is less about romance and finding love than it is about (self) sabotaged love.
Date Submitted: April 30, 2024
