Ripples Through Time by Lincoln Cole is a novel about an eighty-something man dealing with being alone after his wife’s death. It is categorized in the General Fiction genre. Calvin Greenwood’s wife Emily, nicknamed Mellie, recently passed away after a long, painful illness and he harbors suicidal thoughts due to grief and regret. Edward White, a family friend, tries to intervene as he realizes Calvin is at a perilous crossroads.

The story is told through multiple narrators in the first and third person. The reader is introduced to the various members of the Greenwood family through flashbacks of the couple’s courtship, their long marriage, and their three children. There is also a look back at Edward and his family. A racetrack theme is woven through the plot; in fact, the couple first met when assistant horse trainer Calvin helped a mare give birth, with bystander Mellie agreeing to assist him.

Calvin is an interesting, layered character. When he was younger, he gambled and drank too much, and was not the best husband or father by a long shot. Since he appeared to be a nice, elderly man in the beginning chapters, it was a surprise to discover the many facets of Calvin’s character. It felt a little like peeling an onion and was realistically written. The most intriguing characters are usually the ones that are not all good or all bad.

The author has a casual, conversational writing style which works well in this book. The writing is easy to understand with a nice mix of sophisticated phrasing and a direct, plainspoken style. However, a few of the words used in the flashback scenes are not consistent with the background or age of the characters. For example, Calvin’s son Jason narrates a chapter in which he is ten years old. He wants to be a writer, but is frustrated since he feels his writing is cliché. Cliché doesn’t seem like a word a child of that age would use, particularly someone from a poor upbringing in a small town fifty years ago.

My main gripe relates to keeping track of the various characters’ points of view at different stages of their lives. Each transition is preceded by Calvin or Edward mentioning an incident that happened long ago. The plot becomes confusing with time jumps about too many different characters at different life stages. The pacing is slow with an abundance of details about each character and incident. I would become absorbed in a person’s story in flashback and have to reorient myself to the present, and then back to a different time period with another character. These switches gave the story a disjointed feel with too many subplots splitting off on long tangents. Still, there is an interesting twist in the latter part of the story and the ending is well done.

Ripples Through Time is Lincoln Cole’s story of elderly Calvin Greenwood as, recently bereaved of his wife Emily and feeling he has no more to live for, he looks back over his life from childhood, through growing up years, marriage, parenthood and into older age. His friend Edward listens to the reminiscing - and the story is presented from the perspectives of the different characters, family members, others, Edward himself, as well as Calvin. A story of memories, relationships, mistakes, hopes, challenges and forgiveness emerges as the intricacies of his life are explained, and the connections between the people in Calvin’s life are revealed.

I found Ripples Through Time a thought-provoking and gripping story. I loved the characters – well-defined, believable – and the way the author reveals their backgrounds, stories, and what links them all to Calvin’s current situation. Lincoln Cole’s writing is of a high standard and the book is carefully plotted, moving along at a nice pace with a good amount of intrigue and suspense-building as it goes. I like the way it is told from the perspectives of different characters, and at different times in the past. The examination of grief, regret, forgiveness, aging, and euthanasia is sensitively and empathetically done, leaving the reader with much to ponder. At the same time this is not a sad story, but a realistic look at one man’s life with humor, friendships, and hope.

The book looks at all the complexities of life and how all the different situations, our different relationships, reactions, mistakes, and decisions add up to make us who we are. It is the story of how Calvin realizes what matters most in life and his hope for forgiveness and peace. Recommended.

Ripples Through Time by Lincoln Cole is a story about Calvin Greenwood, a man in his eighties who is alone for the first time in over sixty years. He is not dealing well with the death of his wife, Emily, and is seriously considering ending his own life in order to be reunited with his deceased wife, the love of his life. Luckily, at this time, a family friend named Edward comes back into Calvin's life. Realizing the danger and despair Calvin is in, Edward spends time talking to his friend and trying to understand the motivations Calvin has to even consider doing what many people would consider unthinkable. But for Calvin, it is the only thing that makes sense in his otherwise lonesome life.

Ripples through Time is a beautiful story that tackles the hard subjects of aging, life after death, loneliness, forgiveness, friendship, and a person's right to choose whether or not to live or die. It is a wonderfully written story with vibrant, interesting characters and deep, meaningful conversations that will stick with readers long after the pages have stopped turning. Readers interested in social issues will especially be interested in this story, as well as readers who are dealing with aging or loss. People will understand this story and relate to Calvin because he is so well written and really encompasses the emotions that make so many of us tick. He struggles with the same issues that many readers face, which makes for an interesting and engaging story.

Calvin is near the end of his life... at least that's how he would have things.  His bride of nearly 60 years, Mellie, has just passed away and he plans to end things so they can be reunited.  When Calvin's friend, Edward, checks in to make sure he's alright, the widower starts to recall the events of his past.  The landscape of his life is portrayed through the eyes of those who have shaped his world. Sometimes joyous, some times melancholy, but always genuine; these revealing vignettes impart the many facets of one man's time upon earth. 

Author Lincoln Cole's natural style offers a refreshingly honest look at life and humanity.  His novel, Ripples Through Time, is a study of the imperfections of family and those we choose to love, despite their flaws and failings.  Ripples Through Time is highly recommended and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.

In a lovely and thought provoking new book by author Lincoln Cole, Ripples Through Time is a book that will stay with readers long after they have finished the final page. Follow the story of Calvin Greenwood, an 83-year-old man who has lost his wife and the love of his life, Mellie. Calvin's grief is overwhelming and he can't imagine going on much longer without her, nor does he want to. A good friend of the family, Edward, comes to visit Calvin at his most vulnerable time, and realizes that his friend is considering euthanasia, ending it all in the hope of somehow being reunited with his beloved wife. Will Edward be able to convince Calvin that life is worth living after Mellie?

I loved Ripples in Time. Loved. It. How's that for a review? Author Lincoln Cole has done an absolutely wonderful job in creating characters that his readers will connect with, relate to, and care about. His use of the voices of several narrators is both unique and effective in that it allows readers to feel as if they truly know the thoughts of the characters and can get to know them in-depth. The book provides an opportunity to think deeply about issues including the treatment of the elderly, grief, and euthanasia. Any reader who has an interest in these social issues, or who simply enjoys a great read should absolutely pick up this book. I highly recommend Ripples Through Time, and am looking forward to reading more from the very promising author, Lincoln Cole, as soon as possible!

...a really nice, subtle introduction to Calvin’s state of mind and to what’s just happened/is about to happen. Great place to start this story. We get deep into his POV and are able to infer a lot of what’s going on. Love the back and forth on the emotions, feels very true to life. Love the older protagonist and his voice. While this prose isn’t as poetic as some literary fiction, the story does suit the genre and more importantly, the language is in service to this character and this story. The first person POV and present tense work well in this opening. You revealed so much about Calvin and Bethany with just a few words, even though she never appears in the scene.