Time Between Us by Stone, Tamara Ireland (2012) Hardcover Hardcover – 1800

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!

This book had a lot of potential and at the beginning it was really interestingbut I feel like it fell flat towards the middle. This book is supposed to be abouttime travel and how a boy meets a girl, he falls sooo madly for that he will changehis life forever for her. Sadly I never got the whole forbidden love story. The h waswritten in a way that made her at times sound shallow, annoying and desperate.Especially when she finds out about his gift, it feels like she was trying to live a greatadventure through him. Also I never really got why he fell so head-over-heels for herwhen most of the time it was she stalking him. It seemed like Bennett was always tryingto run away from her. Regarding Emma she was an amazing best friend and honestly Annadid not deserve her. In the beginning of the story Anna decides to stop talking to her bf becauseaccording to her Emma humiliated her. I would have liked the story a lot more if Anna weren't soself absorb and shallow.Spoilers ahead......There were some things that did not make any sense to me in the book.For example why does Bennett attend school if he is only going to be there temporary?Why do they make it a big deal in starting the story with the h giving a letter to the H whenit is mentioned towards the end?According to the letter he was supposed to tell her to move on but he never actually does it.According to her she wasn't stuck in the wrong path in the future so she made it a point to go to La Paz.This made it possible for him to return to her. WHAT???The ending was also really weak. It felt like we needed more even if we were getting a sequel.I think time travel is a very complex issue that needs to be properly explained in order to make the storypassable. Sadly I think this author started on the right path then just had no idea where to take the story.