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A Christine Stewart Time Travel Adventure #1
No Way Home
2020 California Author Project Winner - Adult Fiction
2020 PenCraft Award Winner - Science Fiction
Christine Stewart is a regular woman just doing her job when she gets stranded in history. When she gets up for the day, her plan is simple: wake up and head off to work, traveling back in time to 1867, Oklahoma to deport a cyber-criminal. After work it's back to 2070, Los Angeles to prepare for a vacation with her son, Michael.
That's the plan.
Then the system fails, leaving Christine and dozens of other transporter trapped in the past with no supplies and minimal training.
What starts as a bad situation only gets worse when she is flung even further away to a place in time where her actions and decisions mean so much more to the world than whether or not she ever gets back home again.
As her goals shift from simply getting home to something much more dire to all of humanity, Christine must make the choice between what it easy and what is right. Even if it costs her everything--including her one chance of ever getting home.
2020 PenCraft Award Winner - Science Fiction
Christine Stewart is a regular woman just doing her job when she gets stranded in history. When she gets up for the day, her plan is simple: wake up and head off to work, traveling back in time to 1867, Oklahoma to deport a cyber-criminal. After work it's back to 2070, Los Angeles to prepare for a vacation with her son, Michael.
That's the plan.
Then the system fails, leaving Christine and dozens of other transporter trapped in the past with no supplies and minimal training.
What starts as a bad situation only gets worse when she is flung even further away to a place in time where her actions and decisions mean so much more to the world than whether or not she ever gets back home again.
As her goals shift from simply getting home to something much more dire to all of humanity, Christine must make the choice between what it easy and what is right. Even if it costs her everything--including her one chance of ever getting home.
245 pages, Paperback
Published July 15, 2020
About the author
Christy Cooper-Burnett
5 books224 followersChristy Cooper-Burnett is an award-winning author based in California with a degree in Administration of Justice. After retiring from the new home construction industry she now divides her time between northern and southern California.
She has a grown son who inspired her to write her debut novel, No Way Home. Although she began her writing career later in life, once she started she couldn't stop.
Her work focuses on creating relatable stories and characters that transcend genres and encourage her readers to imagine what they would do if thrown into the unique, imaginative situations her protagonists end up in.
Christy's debut novel, No Way Home, was the recipient of the 2020 California Author Project award in the Adult Fiction category, and the 2020 PenCraft Award in the Science Fiction category.
Her second novel, Finding Home releases June 17, 2021, and early praise has garnered several five-star reviews.
The third book in the Christine Stewart Time Travel Adventure Series, Escaping Home, is set to launch on November 18, 2021.
You can learn more about Christy and subscribe to her mail list for news and deals or contact her by visiting her website at:
https://www.christycooperburnett.com
She has a grown son who inspired her to write her debut novel, No Way Home. Although she began her writing career later in life, once she started she couldn't stop.
Her work focuses on creating relatable stories and characters that transcend genres and encourage her readers to imagine what they would do if thrown into the unique, imaginative situations her protagonists end up in.
Christy's debut novel, No Way Home, was the recipient of the 2020 California Author Project award in the Adult Fiction category, and the 2020 PenCraft Award in the Science Fiction category.
Her second novel, Finding Home releases June 17, 2021, and early praise has garnered several five-star reviews.
The third book in the Christine Stewart Time Travel Adventure Series, Escaping Home, is set to launch on November 18, 2021.
You can learn more about Christy and subscribe to her mail list for news and deals or contact her by visiting her website at:
https://www.christycooperburnett.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
July 30, 2020
Interesting science fiction time travel story
Christine is a transporter and she travels back in time to the year 1897 to drop a convict there. Unfortunately, she is stranded there because of the malfunctioning transporter. She solves that and tries to travel back to her own time and again gets stranded in another era. How, she solves the problem forms the story.
The story was innovative and enjoyable as elements of science fiction were merged well with the story.
Christine is a transporter and she travels back in time to the year 1897 to drop a convict there. Unfortunately, she is stranded there because of the malfunctioning transporter. She solves that and tries to travel back to her own time and again gets stranded in another era. How, she solves the problem forms the story.
The story was innovative and enjoyable as elements of science fiction were merged well with the story.
July 6, 2020
No Way Home by Christy Cooper-Burnett is a historical time travel novel. Christine is a Transporter from the future who is escorting a prisoner back to 1867 Oklahoma when she is stranded in time. She struggles to survive while trying find her way back home.
There are lots of twists and turns in this book. The premise is strong, and the world building is fairly good. However, Christine visits two very different time periods, but not a lot of History or historical facts are presented. Most of the adventures could have taken place anywhere.
That being said, this is still a very good book with interesting characters and a solid premise. I hope there are more books written about this world, with a lot more attention paid to the details of the time periods they are in.
If you like time travel and historical novels, you will like this book.
I received a free copy of this book from Black Rose Writing via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
There are lots of twists and turns in this book. The premise is strong, and the world building is fairly good. However, Christine visits two very different time periods, but not a lot of History or historical facts are presented. Most of the adventures could have taken place anywhere.
That being said, this is still a very good book with interesting characters and a solid premise. I hope there are more books written about this world, with a lot more attention paid to the details of the time periods they are in.
If you like time travel and historical novels, you will like this book.
I received a free copy of this book from Black Rose Writing via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
March 20, 2020
I was able to read this before the release date in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a big fan of time travel stories, and I’m always interested in the originality of the devices used by authors through which time travel is handled. No Way Home does not disappoint. I loved the unique concept that the author employs of incorporating time travel as a sentence imposed under the criminal justice system of the future. I would have liked some backstory of how this scenario came to be, how society at large came to accept this as a part of the justice system and how the protagonist came to play a role in it, but these are minor quibbles. The author weaves a very compelling story with believable, nuanced characters and a well-paced plot. She obviously has done a large amount of research on the historical eras, places and people represented in the book. Each era has a very real feel. I highly recommend this book.
I’m a big fan of time travel stories, and I’m always interested in the originality of the devices used by authors through which time travel is handled. No Way Home does not disappoint. I loved the unique concept that the author employs of incorporating time travel as a sentence imposed under the criminal justice system of the future. I would have liked some backstory of how this scenario came to be, how society at large came to accept this as a part of the justice system and how the protagonist came to play a role in it, but these are minor quibbles. The author weaves a very compelling story with believable, nuanced characters and a well-paced plot. She obviously has done a large amount of research on the historical eras, places and people represented in the book. Each era has a very real feel. I highly recommend this book.
April 14, 2020
I was a little annoyed at the start of the book as there was a lot of telling, not showing and using a lot of 'I' statements. But then the book started to flow as more characters were introduced and I enjoyed it more.
It was an interesting concept and I would have liked to have known more about the mysterious treatise and its implications for the world. The story does wrap up in the one book, but leaves it open for further adventures.
There were a couple of errors that a good proofreader would have picked up (site instead of sight etc) but overall it was pretty good.
I'd like to thank the author for going above and beyond by sending me the book via email when I was having trouble accessing it via a book review site. This is an honest review fo a book I received for free.
It was an interesting concept and I would have liked to have known more about the mysterious treatise and its implications for the world. The story does wrap up in the one book, but leaves it open for further adventures.
There were a couple of errors that a good proofreader would have picked up (site instead of sight etc) but overall it was pretty good.
I'd like to thank the author for going above and beyond by sending me the book via email when I was having trouble accessing it via a book review site. This is an honest review fo a book I received for free.
February 19, 2020
I was able to read this before the release date in exchange for an honest review. I always love time travel and fantasy. This book was no exception, and once started, I literally could not put it down. I read until 2:30 in the morning.
The book is set in the future, in a society in which some criminals are transported back in time to live. The heroine is employed as a transporter: she conveys criminals to the time period here they have been sentenced to live. I begins as she transports a convict to Oklahoma Territory, which was still at that time Indian Territory. When she drops off her convict, the heroine realizes she cannot return to her time. She has no supplies, no good, no water, no maps, nothing but the clothes on her back ad a transporter module which will not work to take her home. She manages to survive and is taken in by a kindly farmer. Over the next six months, she meets another transporter, who has been similarly stranded in the wrong era. The women become good friends as they try to figure out how to go home.
Our heroine finally manages to be transported but she is sent further back in time to medieval England. She meets a group of transporters there who all met after they were each unable to return to the future. They discover they have been the victims of a nefarious scam designed to allow the theft of a priceless writing.
At that point, our heroine meets a truly heroic man, whose quick wits and clever planning help them foil the thieves and get back home.
The book beautifully develops the personalities of the characters, and we are able to flip into their minds at various times. This gives an unexpected and very pleasurable depth to the novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to see more from Christi Cooper-Burnett.
The book is set in the future, in a society in which some criminals are transported back in time to live. The heroine is employed as a transporter: she conveys criminals to the time period here they have been sentenced to live. I begins as she transports a convict to Oklahoma Territory, which was still at that time Indian Territory. When she drops off her convict, the heroine realizes she cannot return to her time. She has no supplies, no good, no water, no maps, nothing but the clothes on her back ad a transporter module which will not work to take her home. She manages to survive and is taken in by a kindly farmer. Over the next six months, she meets another transporter, who has been similarly stranded in the wrong era. The women become good friends as they try to figure out how to go home.
Our heroine finally manages to be transported but she is sent further back in time to medieval England. She meets a group of transporters there who all met after they were each unable to return to the future. They discover they have been the victims of a nefarious scam designed to allow the theft of a priceless writing.
At that point, our heroine meets a truly heroic man, whose quick wits and clever planning help them foil the thieves and get back home.
The book beautifully develops the personalities of the characters, and we are able to flip into their minds at various times. This gives an unexpected and very pleasurable depth to the novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to see more from Christi Cooper-Burnett.
February 19, 2020
This was an excellent Read. I enjoyed the characters relationship development Christine went from not caring for anyone to actually missing people it was fun to watch. I literally felt bad for the characters that got stuck back in the time. Although it wasn’t entirely clear to me if Jonathan’s plans for the future ever come to fruition in the end. Maybe that’s for another read.
March 31, 2020
Christine Stewart is a transporter from the future in 2070 Los Angeles and is sent back to 1867 Oklahoma to drop a convict. When she tries to teleport back to her time her transport module is not working and she is stuck in 1867 Oklahoma with nothing but the clothes on her back. She meets a female transporter who also has a broken transport module but Christine manages to get the transporter to work and is transported to medieval England. There she meets a group of transporters that are also stranded in medieval England. Christine and the group must try to find a way back to their time period. I really enjoyed reading this sci-fi novel by Christy Cooper Burnett. I received this free book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 23, 2020
I received this as an ARC.
I enjoyed this fantasy, sci-fi adventure. It is an easy, light read for pure enjoyment and entertainment purposes. I can see future books with many time travel adventures. Would love to read more.
I enjoyed this fantasy, sci-fi adventure. It is an easy, light read for pure enjoyment and entertainment purposes. I can see future books with many time travel adventures. Would love to read more.
March 21, 2020
I was intrigued by the story line so, when offered a pdf copy for an honest review, I was eager to dig in! Once I started, I could not stop reading! In No Way Home, the characters were engaging and I found myself rooting for this one and mad at that one - a sign of a great story in my book. This is an engaging adventure, purely for entertainment. No deep-thinking on the dangers of time travel allowed! I too felt sorry for the "criminals" being sent back in time - especially in medieval England! For an intriguing, fun read, you owe it to yourself to give this book a read!
March 14, 2020
Initially I was impressed with the fast pace of the opening chapters of this book, in fact I felt that it was a little too fast, more background explanation was warranted. I needn't have worried as the author filled in the missing detail in subsequent chapters. The story of the hero's relationship with her son and friends certainly gave me the impression that Cooper-Burnett was writing from the heart (without getting over mushy) although there was sufficient action in the story to describe it as an adventure. If I have any complaint it is that the time spent in the old west was not covered as deeply as it could have been, especially the incident with the Indians which could have been developed more. However, this is a minor complaint, overall I enjoyed the story sufficiently to give it a five star rating and am pleased that the ending gives the possibly of a sequel which I would definitely read.
February 21, 2020
I read a copy of this before it was out in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this story premise. It was original and the character development had me rooting for the main character throughout. I read it in 2 seasions because I had to know what happened next! I enjoyed reading about her life and the process before she was stuck in the past and then after she got home. The book addressed issues that the time traveler would encounter after coming home, what I'd never seen done before. it also showed what her son was going through when he was left behind.
It was well written and edited and all in all an excellent read. I would highly recommend.
I really liked this story premise. It was original and the character development had me rooting for the main character throughout. I read it in 2 seasions because I had to know what happened next! I enjoyed reading about her life and the process before she was stuck in the past and then after she got home. The book addressed issues that the time traveler would encounter after coming home, what I'd never seen done before. it also showed what her son was going through when he was left behind.
It was well written and edited and all in all an excellent read. I would highly recommend.
February 22, 2020
This is a great book. I found it hard to put down as it was exciting and well paced.
The story follows Christine Stewart as she becomes stuck in the past after taking a criminal to the 1800’s. Then she is sent to medieval times and her situation takes a turn for the worse. There is a little romance but not enough to distract from the main plot. The characters are well rounded and believable. I enjoyed it and I hope there is a sequel coming.
The story follows Christine Stewart as she becomes stuck in the past after taking a criminal to the 1800’s. Then she is sent to medieval times and her situation takes a turn for the worse. There is a little romance but not enough to distract from the main plot. The characters are well rounded and believable. I enjoyed it and I hope there is a sequel coming.
May 7, 2021
It always amazes me the gradebook I received for free in exchange for an honest review. I received this as a PDF for an honest review and was totally amazed how great this book was. I couldn’t stop reading it. We went from 1800s Oklahoma to London in the 1600s back to her timeline in 2070. This is a book that is action packed and emotionally charged that will be those you like in route four in those you don’t either way you will constantly be on the edge of your seat and intrigued by the storyline. If you’re like me you will not be satisfied until you reach the end. I gave this book 5 stars, because you can’t read it any higher so five stars it is. I can only hope the author sees fit to write another book. Fingers crossed!s
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
February 25, 2022Quitting after about three chapters. I found this book because I love time travel and I love survival stories. It's an indie-published debut author....and unfortunately it shows.
First there's the concept: in 2070, criminals are punished by sending them back in time. The main character, Christine, is someone who escorts these criminals to their designated time period. She's only supposed to be in the past for 20-30 minutes before returning home, but now she's stuck in 1867. Ok......but why? Why the need for an escort? As far as I can tell from the scene where she drops off her prisoner, she doesn't actually DO anything that couldn't have been done prior to time traveling: giving directions to the nearest town, reminders about what supplies the prisoner has, etc. Seems like they could just explain all this stuff to the prisoner, and then send them back in time alone. The only reason I can see for there to be a prisoner escort is as a lame plot device to get Christine back to 1867, where she can then get stuck for the purposes of this story.
Second, the writing is.....not good. The dialogue is painfully stilted. Take this example, when Christine is visited by another stranded time-travel escort, Annabelle, who wants to know if Christine has checked her transponder (time travel device):
"Have you tried it today?" she asks.
"Yes, no change. Yours?" I'm hopeful for a minute she's come to tell me something's changed.
"Same with mine. Dammit. Hey, did you hear yet? Indians attacked the Millers' place. They found Jacob dead, and Sarah and the girls are missing."
"What? Oh my God. We need to get out of this hellhole. I don't understand why no one from home has been here yet."
Annabell nods. "I don't think I can keep up this act much longer. It's a struggle to remember who I'm supposed to be half the time. And Doc told Mr. Tyler that there's a fever and stomach illness going around, sore throat and intestinal pain. Six people have died. Could it be cholera? Or scarlet fever? I've been trying to remember when all those outbreaks started."
"I don't know, maybe. Or a nasty strain of the flu. Although that isn't much better, that could easily kill us too. One more reason to get out of here."
"And go where, Christine? Do you suppose there's another town somewhere that might be safer? Trust me, I've been out there, and this town is as good as it gets. Besides, what if we need to be here for them to find us? Don't get me wrong, I want to go home. I miss Joe and the girls so much I can't stand it! And these kids at school, they're Stepford kids, some are really spooky. This life has defeated them. You're lucky you found John, who was willing to take you in, no questions asked. Or very few, anyway."
"Oh yeah, I'm so lucky. He bathes once a week, Annabelle, and I have no privacy here whatsoever. Thank God the bathroom is outside."
I can't explain why this dialogue is so awkward, but it just is. There were also constant issues with commas being used where they shouldn't, not being used where they should, and periods that should have been commas. Also: semicolons being used without an authorized license.
Being indie-published doesn't automatically mean that the writing has to be amateurish (see: T. Kingfisher), but it's clear that the author needs a few more years to develop their writing. A better editor and proofreader would also help.
There were a few other details in just this first chapter that made me feel like little research had been done into the time period, both by the author and by the time travelers themselves. Christine is sent back wearing "historical dress", but with modern work boots because they wouldn't show under her long skirt (ever? really?). At one point she's running from Indians, so she strips off her wet clothing in order to run faster. Really? You can just whip off an 1860s dress that fast? I guess the only purpose of this was so that the reader could learn that she's wearing a pink bra and underwear, because two paragraphs later she pulls the dress back on again to better camouflage herself. Christ, I think taking the time to take clothing off and back on probably cancelled out any speed you gained from removing it in the first place. Also, no corset or stays? Your historical clothing outfitter really sent you back in time with such anachronistic undergarments? Not wearing a corset or stays would have affected the fit of the dress, surely? We know that there was an attempt made because she later says, "Why the wardrobe department deems it necessary to put a petticoat under these skirts, I'll never know." Because petticoats and other proper undergarments were just standard clothing for the time?
Anyway, other reviewers have noted other anachronisms later in the book, so I'm sure I would have spent the whole book just taking notes on details that I either know are flat wrong, or to look up because they *seem* wrong.
Overall, it seems like this book wanted to be like Connie Willis' Oxford time travel series, but needed many more drafts before it should have been published. I didn't even get far enough to really comment on items like the plot or the character development, because it was clear pretty early on that this was going to be a DNF for me.
First there's the concept: in 2070, criminals are punished by sending them back in time. The main character, Christine, is someone who escorts these criminals to their designated time period. She's only supposed to be in the past for 20-30 minutes before returning home, but now she's stuck in 1867. Ok......but why? Why the need for an escort? As far as I can tell from the scene where she drops off her prisoner, she doesn't actually DO anything that couldn't have been done prior to time traveling: giving directions to the nearest town, reminders about what supplies the prisoner has, etc. Seems like they could just explain all this stuff to the prisoner, and then send them back in time alone. The only reason I can see for there to be a prisoner escort is as a lame plot device to get Christine back to 1867, where she can then get stuck for the purposes of this story.
Second, the writing is.....not good. The dialogue is painfully stilted. Take this example, when Christine is visited by another stranded time-travel escort, Annabelle, who wants to know if Christine has checked her transponder (time travel device):
"Have you tried it today?" she asks.
"Yes, no change. Yours?" I'm hopeful for a minute she's come to tell me something's changed.
"Same with mine. Dammit. Hey, did you hear yet? Indians attacked the Millers' place. They found Jacob dead, and Sarah and the girls are missing."
"What? Oh my God. We need to get out of this hellhole. I don't understand why no one from home has been here yet."
Annabell nods. "I don't think I can keep up this act much longer. It's a struggle to remember who I'm supposed to be half the time. And Doc told Mr. Tyler that there's a fever and stomach illness going around, sore throat and intestinal pain. Six people have died. Could it be cholera? Or scarlet fever? I've been trying to remember when all those outbreaks started."
"I don't know, maybe. Or a nasty strain of the flu. Although that isn't much better, that could easily kill us too. One more reason to get out of here."
"And go where, Christine? Do you suppose there's another town somewhere that might be safer? Trust me, I've been out there, and this town is as good as it gets. Besides, what if we need to be here for them to find us? Don't get me wrong, I want to go home. I miss Joe and the girls so much I can't stand it! And these kids at school, they're Stepford kids, some are really spooky. This life has defeated them. You're lucky you found John, who was willing to take you in, no questions asked. Or very few, anyway."
"Oh yeah, I'm so lucky. He bathes once a week, Annabelle, and I have no privacy here whatsoever. Thank God the bathroom is outside."
I can't explain why this dialogue is so awkward, but it just is. There were also constant issues with commas being used where they shouldn't, not being used where they should, and periods that should have been commas. Also: semicolons being used without an authorized license.
Being indie-published doesn't automatically mean that the writing has to be amateurish (see: T. Kingfisher), but it's clear that the author needs a few more years to develop their writing. A better editor and proofreader would also help.
There were a few other details in just this first chapter that made me feel like little research had been done into the time period, both by the author and by the time travelers themselves. Christine is sent back wearing "historical dress", but with modern work boots because they wouldn't show under her long skirt (ever? really?). At one point she's running from Indians, so she strips off her wet clothing in order to run faster. Really? You can just whip off an 1860s dress that fast? I guess the only purpose of this was so that the reader could learn that she's wearing a pink bra and underwear, because two paragraphs later she pulls the dress back on again to better camouflage herself. Christ, I think taking the time to take clothing off and back on probably cancelled out any speed you gained from removing it in the first place. Also, no corset or stays? Your historical clothing outfitter really sent you back in time with such anachronistic undergarments? Not wearing a corset or stays would have affected the fit of the dress, surely? We know that there was an attempt made because she later says, "Why the wardrobe department deems it necessary to put a petticoat under these skirts, I'll never know." Because petticoats and other proper undergarments were just standard clothing for the time?
Anyway, other reviewers have noted other anachronisms later in the book, so I'm sure I would have spent the whole book just taking notes on details that I either know are flat wrong, or to look up because they *seem* wrong.
Overall, it seems like this book wanted to be like Connie Willis' Oxford time travel series, but needed many more drafts before it should have been published. I didn't even get far enough to really comment on items like the plot or the character development, because it was clear pretty early on that this was going to be a DNF for me.
July 16, 2020
This book is excellent, I couldn't put it down. Ordered copies for friends. Cant wait for the next book !! Christy really makes you feel like you are there !
June 29, 2020
You do NOT want to mess with Christine Stewart. You especially do not want to mess with this forty year-old divorcee’s past, present, future, or her son Michael. Ditto her plans to vacation in Aruba. But that's exactly what happens in this thoroughly rousing sci fi romp by Christy Cooper Burnett.
Transporter Christine Stewart is responsible for orienting and “transporting” cyber criminals into exile in the past. After completing her missions, Christine time travels via transponder back to her present in Los Angeles, 2070.
We meet Christine just after she’s dropped off her latest charge in 1867 Piedmont, Oklahoma. Only this time, her transponder malfunctions. She’s stranded in the past with no supplies. No food. No weapons. And no way home.
But don't underestimate Christine or her friends, especially fellow lost transponders Annabelle (Oklahoma) and Ethan (England). In the meantime, there's a lot going on within this expertly paced, high octane plot. Family. Friendship. Loss. Love. Loyalty. Betrayal. Survival. And more.
Meanwhile, software and IT geek Johnathan Hoyt of Hoyt Enterprises has discovered a correlation between extreme weather patterns and a catastrophic pandemic. The latter is due to hit Los Angeles hard in two years.
Hoyt thinks he’s found a way to stop the pandemic IF he can get his hands on the missing chapter of an ancient equation. He recruits two flunkies with major financial problems to go back in time to retrieve the missing chapter. Once deciphered, it can save the world.
There’s just one problem: sending Aidan and Thomas back to 1335 Cotswold, England threw the entire time travel system off, stranding transponders in an uneasy past, worldwide. Now no one can find anyone. And the pandemic clock is ticking.
Told mostly in the first person, the bulk of the story is alternately narrated by Christine and her twenty-one year old son, Michael. He’s part of a search and rescue team that jumps into the past trying to locate and extract Christine and other lost transponders. Think Seal Team 6 meets H.G. Wells.
This story is full of lively twists and turns. The author demonstrates a firm grasp of historical settings, local color, and a keen eye for details. Especially as it relates to data and records. Lots and lots of records. Ditto magnetic fields. Medieval castles and rabbit traps. “Sentence enhancers.” A flooded church. A gambling addict looking for a big pay day. “Cupid rhymes with stupid.” Oh yeah. It can also get pretty miserable in the woods without central heating or running water. You'll also find out why Medieval England is one harrowing place. If miscreants, bandits, cold and starvation don’t get you, the Plague will. Antibiotics and vaccines, anyone?
Highly enjoyable and galactically engaging, the action shifts seamlessly between 1867 Piedmont, OK and 1335 Cotswold, England. It features solid, three-dimensional characters, credible dialogue, and vivid settings. It culminates in a satisfying conclusion that neatly "tucks in the tail" of every character and story arc.
Indeed, No Way Home ranks high among Most Fun and Fascinating Fiction of 2020. It’ll pull you in at the Prologue and not let go until the final page. You won’t want to miss it!
Transporter Christine Stewart is responsible for orienting and “transporting” cyber criminals into exile in the past. After completing her missions, Christine time travels via transponder back to her present in Los Angeles, 2070.
We meet Christine just after she’s dropped off her latest charge in 1867 Piedmont, Oklahoma. Only this time, her transponder malfunctions. She’s stranded in the past with no supplies. No food. No weapons. And no way home.
But don't underestimate Christine or her friends, especially fellow lost transponders Annabelle (Oklahoma) and Ethan (England). In the meantime, there's a lot going on within this expertly paced, high octane plot. Family. Friendship. Loss. Love. Loyalty. Betrayal. Survival. And more.
Meanwhile, software and IT geek Johnathan Hoyt of Hoyt Enterprises has discovered a correlation between extreme weather patterns and a catastrophic pandemic. The latter is due to hit Los Angeles hard in two years.
Hoyt thinks he’s found a way to stop the pandemic IF he can get his hands on the missing chapter of an ancient equation. He recruits two flunkies with major financial problems to go back in time to retrieve the missing chapter. Once deciphered, it can save the world.
There’s just one problem: sending Aidan and Thomas back to 1335 Cotswold, England threw the entire time travel system off, stranding transponders in an uneasy past, worldwide. Now no one can find anyone. And the pandemic clock is ticking.
Told mostly in the first person, the bulk of the story is alternately narrated by Christine and her twenty-one year old son, Michael. He’s part of a search and rescue team that jumps into the past trying to locate and extract Christine and other lost transponders. Think Seal Team 6 meets H.G. Wells.
This story is full of lively twists and turns. The author demonstrates a firm grasp of historical settings, local color, and a keen eye for details. Especially as it relates to data and records. Lots and lots of records. Ditto magnetic fields. Medieval castles and rabbit traps. “Sentence enhancers.” A flooded church. A gambling addict looking for a big pay day. “Cupid rhymes with stupid.” Oh yeah. It can also get pretty miserable in the woods without central heating or running water. You'll also find out why Medieval England is one harrowing place. If miscreants, bandits, cold and starvation don’t get you, the Plague will. Antibiotics and vaccines, anyone?
Highly enjoyable and galactically engaging, the action shifts seamlessly between 1867 Piedmont, OK and 1335 Cotswold, England. It features solid, three-dimensional characters, credible dialogue, and vivid settings. It culminates in a satisfying conclusion that neatly "tucks in the tail" of every character and story arc.
Indeed, No Way Home ranks high among Most Fun and Fascinating Fiction of 2020. It’ll pull you in at the Prologue and not let go until the final page. You won’t want to miss it!
June 1, 2020
This book started off a bit slow for me, and I struggled to get into it for about fifteen percent of the book. Once the story got going, however, it was actually really enjoyable. The concept was unique and wonderfully executed. It took an unexpected turn that I really appreciated.
I do think it could have been beneficial to give a little more background as to how the system was put into place, there wasn't much confusion when it came to the actual time travel aspect. The only thing that confused me was the perspective switches in chapters. I would get caught up in Christine's point of view, and when the next chapter would switch to Michael's perspective, I'd be a bit lost for a bit; I had to reread parts of a couple chapters because I was reading it as Christine. There were setting descriptions at the beginning, but I kept glossing over them; I believe this is why it was a bit confusing.
I really loved that the story didn't revolve around the romance, and the little romance there was didn't happen immediately. It did happen quickly, but not nearly as quick as it has in some other books. Even with the romantic aspect, the focus was still on the conflict and main storyline.
I actually loved almost every single character in this book, which is a bit rare for me. I was extremely sympathetic towards Christine - and all of the transporters, really. The dedication of those trying to rescue the transporters was admirable. I didn't like Thomas nor Aidan, but that definitely made the story more interesting.
I loved that Christine met her best friend during one of the most difficult times of her life, and even though they were transported back to present day, they remained friends. Though I'm not sure this was the intended message, I found it really sweet.
Overall, even with it taking a bit to get into, I found this book to be very enjoyable. The characters weren't obnoxious, and the relationships were fairly reasonable. I loved that the main focus wasn't on the romance. If you like time travel books, I highly suggest you look into this one!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I do think it could have been beneficial to give a little more background as to how the system was put into place, there wasn't much confusion when it came to the actual time travel aspect. The only thing that confused me was the perspective switches in chapters. I would get caught up in Christine's point of view, and when the next chapter would switch to Michael's perspective, I'd be a bit lost for a bit; I had to reread parts of a couple chapters because I was reading it as Christine. There were setting descriptions at the beginning, but I kept glossing over them; I believe this is why it was a bit confusing.
I really loved that the story didn't revolve around the romance, and the little romance there was didn't happen immediately. It did happen quickly, but not nearly as quick as it has in some other books. Even with the romantic aspect, the focus was still on the conflict and main storyline.
I actually loved almost every single character in this book, which is a bit rare for me. I was extremely sympathetic towards Christine - and all of the transporters, really. The dedication of those trying to rescue the transporters was admirable. I didn't like Thomas nor Aidan, but that definitely made the story more interesting.
I loved that Christine met her best friend during one of the most difficult times of her life, and even though they were transported back to present day, they remained friends. Though I'm not sure this was the intended message, I found it really sweet.
Overall, even with it taking a bit to get into, I found this book to be very enjoyable. The characters weren't obnoxious, and the relationships were fairly reasonable. I loved that the main focus wasn't on the romance. If you like time travel books, I highly suggest you look into this one!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 8, 2020
Overall Rating = 4
Storyline & Concept = 4
Writing & Delivery = 4.5
Editorial = 3.5
No Way Home is a sci-fi novel about a woman who accompanies cyber-criminals to an exile in a previous time period, usually returning to the year 2070 immediately afterward. However, on one such mission, a problem occurs, leaving her trapped in 1867 Oklahoma. Other adventures and challenges follow, including a trip farther back in time, which ultimately lead to a choice between proceeding with a risky operation or returning home.
The author has created a fast-paced adventure novel with believable and relatable characters, along with excellent descriptions of the settings. She has done an outstanding job of researching the different time periods and locations and used this skill to draw the reader solidly into the story. My one point of disbelief is in the use of cell phones and emails fifty years from now. The changes in technology over the last fifty years makes me think we will be somewhere else in 2070. That being said, time travel remains a popular concept, and Ms. Cooper-Burnett has certainly done it justice.
Sublime Line: “An action-packed time-travel adventure that will leave you thirsting for the sequel.”
Storyline & Concept = 4
Writing & Delivery = 4.5
Editorial = 3.5
No Way Home is a sci-fi novel about a woman who accompanies cyber-criminals to an exile in a previous time period, usually returning to the year 2070 immediately afterward. However, on one such mission, a problem occurs, leaving her trapped in 1867 Oklahoma. Other adventures and challenges follow, including a trip farther back in time, which ultimately lead to a choice between proceeding with a risky operation or returning home.
The author has created a fast-paced adventure novel with believable and relatable characters, along with excellent descriptions of the settings. She has done an outstanding job of researching the different time periods and locations and used this skill to draw the reader solidly into the story. My one point of disbelief is in the use of cell phones and emails fifty years from now. The changes in technology over the last fifty years makes me think we will be somewhere else in 2070. That being said, time travel remains a popular concept, and Ms. Cooper-Burnett has certainly done it justice.
Sublime Line: “An action-packed time-travel adventure that will leave you thirsting for the sequel.”
April 6, 2020
By 2050 prison overcrowding was a real issue. One solution was to send cyber criminals back to a time where no cyber technology exists. For the last ten years forty year old Christine Stewart has worked for the Cyber Criminal Enforcement Agency as a prisoner transporter. Each transport is a two day job. Her latest assignment is to transport Marcus Simpson to Piedmont Oklahoma in 1867. Everything goes according to plan until she tries to return to her base in 2070 Los Angeles, California. Her transponder malfunctions and she has no way to get back home. This fast paced novel takes the reader from Los Angeles in 2070 to Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 (Have you ever wondered how the Salem witch trials began?), to Piedmont, Oklahoma in 1867 to Cotswold, England in 1335. During this journey through time you will meet many interesting characters – some you will love, some you will hate - as you discover why someone sabotaged Christine’s transponder and left her with no way home. I received this book as an ARC and read it during the pandemic of 2020 (You will discover why this was ironic.)
April 21, 2020
This is my first time reading this author, I've only read one time travel book once before so I don't have much reading under my belt in this area. I must admit to having really enjoyed this book. The details were amazing, there was no confusion about what year you were in. I wasn't sure that this book was for me at first, but I really enjoyed it. I loved the characters in it and the settings were realistic. Towards the end when you know that the story is nearing the end I had to put the book down as I was speed reading to get to the ending sooner. All in all it was a fascinating and addictive read. I don't want to give anything away so I'm not mentioning character names, but it truely is a riveting book and worth it. I personally wish the story had gone on longer but I always think that that is a sign of a well written book, all good things must come to an end as they say. I really like this authors style, whilst it's a gentle writing form it's also a very intense read and very hard to put down. I would definitely recommend this book.
Please note that I received this book for free but am voluntarily reviewing.
Please note that I received this book for free but am voluntarily reviewing.
July 27, 2020
No Way Home is an exciting time travel adventure that spans both the past and future. Christine is a Transporter - which is a job in the future where you get to escort cyber-criminals back into the past because it's better than supporting them in a penal system. They get to live out their life in the past and the taxpayer gets to fund hospitals and education and other important things. Everyone wins right?
Well... not quite, because it turns out that the technology isn't perfect and things go wrong. Christine is stranded in 19th century Oklahoma and then things get worse from there. We follow Christine as she uses her wits and resourcefulness to escape Native Americans, an overly affectionate middle aged man and nasty infectious diseases - as well as a plot to meddle with history.
The story is faced paced and entertaining as we follow Christine's bad-to-worse predicaments as well as her son's efforts - in 2070 - to save her. It's a great plot and the author has a great way of finding the voices of her characters. It feels well researched and was a fun read. I enjoyed it and I certainly recommend it.
Well... not quite, because it turns out that the technology isn't perfect and things go wrong. Christine is stranded in 19th century Oklahoma and then things get worse from there. We follow Christine as she uses her wits and resourcefulness to escape Native Americans, an overly affectionate middle aged man and nasty infectious diseases - as well as a plot to meddle with history.
The story is faced paced and entertaining as we follow Christine's bad-to-worse predicaments as well as her son's efforts - in 2070 - to save her. It's a great plot and the author has a great way of finding the voices of her characters. It feels well researched and was a fun read. I enjoyed it and I certainly recommend it.
August 10, 2020
I truly LOVED this book! Everything about it! This was a futuristic Sci-Fy book involving time travel as a means for dealing with criminals. I loved the fact that the author did not find it necessary to have an intense agenda in her writing. She just presented her highly imaginative works without any real political views or agendas weighing it down. I am impressed, and more than a little excited to have discovered Ms. Cooper-Burnett! I will be watching for her books going forward!
The in depth descriptions and character development were amazing. I truly felt like I was present in the pages of this book, and the experience was thrilling. The book was also well edited, so I did not have a lot of distractions trying to figure out what the author intended to present. Quality editing is very important to me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Black Rose Writing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The in depth descriptions and character development were amazing. I truly felt like I was present in the pages of this book, and the experience was thrilling. The book was also well edited, so I did not have a lot of distractions trying to figure out what the author intended to present. Quality editing is very important to me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Black Rose Writing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 24, 2020
Oh, I thought, a time travel book. Okay, but it won't be as good as Michael Crichton's Timeline. I was right. No Way Home was better. The premise was more interesting with the transporters delivering cyber criminals to places and times where their skills would be useless. Then the first twist left Christine stuck in 1867 Oklahoma. Next twist? She's not the only one. And it goes on from there getting more and more interesting. How interesting? I read from page 89 to the end in a hospital lobby across from the entrance to the emergency room with a TV blaring Fox News in the corner while waiting for a friend. And there were virtually no errors in punctuation and spelling. I want to read more about Christine Stewart and the other transporters.
April 10, 2020
This book was fantastic, a unique sci-fi, time travel adventure
I love time travel and have read many, but this one was quite unique in creativity and plot. I found the book well paced, the writing flowed great and just when you were wondering about something, the next thing you know it gets answered. It is a strong story with some world building weaved into the plot. An intriguing, well developed story with equally developed characters. There was a large number of main and side characters ranging from the good, the bad and the unknowns.
Christine, the main character discovered many things about herself during her mission when she was stuck back in time, I thought it was great that she slowly evolved as well throughout the book. There were plenty of twists that kept me engaged from beginning to end. I had a very hard time putting this book down, just to pick it up first thing again in the morning. I think this was one of the best time travel books I have ever read. Highly recommend. I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed.
I love time travel and have read many, but this one was quite unique in creativity and plot. I found the book well paced, the writing flowed great and just when you were wondering about something, the next thing you know it gets answered. It is a strong story with some world building weaved into the plot. An intriguing, well developed story with equally developed characters. There was a large number of main and side characters ranging from the good, the bad and the unknowns.
Christine, the main character discovered many things about herself during her mission when she was stuck back in time, I thought it was great that she slowly evolved as well throughout the book. There were plenty of twists that kept me engaged from beginning to end. I had a very hard time putting this book down, just to pick it up first thing again in the morning. I think this was one of the best time travel books I have ever read. Highly recommend. I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed.
April 17, 2020
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book was wonderful. I’m not a huge time travel fan but the basis of this one was very interesting. Sending non-violent offenders back in time for their punishment was something I would have never thought of. Of course something needs to go wrong in order for there to be a story and man did things ever go wrong! I really enjoyed the intertwining of the different characters stories and how they all flawlessly melded together.
I will definitely be on the look out for more from Christy Cooper-Burnett!
This book was wonderful. I’m not a huge time travel fan but the basis of this one was very interesting. Sending non-violent offenders back in time for their punishment was something I would have never thought of. Of course something needs to go wrong in order for there to be a story and man did things ever go wrong! I really enjoyed the intertwining of the different characters stories and how they all flawlessly melded together.
I will definitely be on the look out for more from Christy Cooper-Burnett!
May 19, 2020
Christine Stewart is a transporter from the future in 2070 Los Angeles and is sent back in time to Oklahoma 1867 to drop off a convict. When she tries to teleport back to her time her transporter is not working and she is stuck in 1867 with nothing but the clothes on her back. She meets another female transporter who also has a broken transport module but manages to be transported to 1600 England and meets a group of transporters stuck in medieval England. This well written novel of time travel kept me captivated until the end. I received this free book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 31, 2020
I was in the mood for some time travel and this book did great with that. I loved the book, the story line as well as the characters. This was not your ordinary time travel book. I loved how the Sci-fi merged with the historical aspects of the story. I am still not a big fan of first person narratives as some authors struggle to get it right but overall the book had a great flow. This book was fast paced and I read it in just under two days.
I would recommend this book to lovers of time travel.
I would recommend this book to lovers of time travel.
January 4, 2021
Good story-Imaginative
If you like the description & ebook cover, you should like this. There are obviously holes in the theory/plot of possible time travel by 2060, & unlikely concept of exiling cyber criminals in the past, but I do applaud the imagination involved. As a fan of historical fiction, I expected more immersion with people and places in the past. Yet this story had more on ordinary human interaction, relationships & dialogue between people of 2070, with little more than merest appearances or insertion of timelines with other characters around them. Not to mention the implausibility of clear speech communication in medieval England. Shakespeare dialogue is difficult enough to speak or understand & was 200 yrs. later. Found the insertion of asking for the bathroom or even to “pee” in 1335 plus handshakes with the locals unlikely. However, it was good, easily readable without boring me with extra pages and the need to scream at actions by the heroine. At the end the author tells us that her work “focuses on creating relatable stories and characters that transcend genres and encourage readers to imagine what they would do if thrown into the unique, imaginative situations her protagonists end up in”. For me she succeeded admirably and she left an ending allowing for follow-up books. Would like to see more!
If you like the description & ebook cover, you should like this. There are obviously holes in the theory/plot of possible time travel by 2060, & unlikely concept of exiling cyber criminals in the past, but I do applaud the imagination involved. As a fan of historical fiction, I expected more immersion with people and places in the past. Yet this story had more on ordinary human interaction, relationships & dialogue between people of 2070, with little more than merest appearances or insertion of timelines with other characters around them. Not to mention the implausibility of clear speech communication in medieval England. Shakespeare dialogue is difficult enough to speak or understand & was 200 yrs. later. Found the insertion of asking for the bathroom or even to “pee” in 1335 plus handshakes with the locals unlikely. However, it was good, easily readable without boring me with extra pages and the need to scream at actions by the heroine. At the end the author tells us that her work “focuses on creating relatable stories and characters that transcend genres and encourage readers to imagine what they would do if thrown into the unique, imaginative situations her protagonists end up in”. For me she succeeded admirably and she left an ending allowing for follow-up books. Would like to see more!
August 9, 2020
Interesting time travel story.
If you enjoy time travel stories,I suggest you check this one out. In the future cyber crimes are plethora. They have an ingenious way of punishing the criminals. Send them back in time before computers are invented to live out the rest of their lives.
What happens when the transporter (officer) gets stuck there too with no supplies to keep them alive?
If you enjoy time travel stories,I suggest you check this one out. In the future cyber crimes are plethora. They have an ingenious way of punishing the criminals. Send them back in time before computers are invented to live out the rest of their lives.
What happens when the transporter (officer) gets stuck there too with no supplies to keep them alive?
July 31, 2020
Time Travel is my favourite genre. Some are better than others, obviously. This is one of the better ones. I enjoyed the concept of coping with life stuck in the past, with all of its dangers - disease, infection through tiny accident, attack by suspicious people through misunderstanding - survival is perilous. Interesting throughout
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