What do you think?
Rate this book
Time and Regret
When Grace Hansen finds a box belonging to her beloved grandfather, she has no idea it holds the key to his past―and to long-buried family secrets. In the box are his World War I diaries and a cryptic note addressed to her. Determined to solve her grandfather’s puzzle, Grace follows his diary entries across towns and battle sites in northern France, where she becomes increasingly drawn to a charming French man―and suddenly aware that someone is following her� Through her grandfather’s vivid writing and Grace’s own travels, a picture emerges of a man very unlike the one who raised one who watched countless friends and loved ones die horrifically in battle; one who lived a life of regret. But her grandfather wasn’t the only one harboring secrets, and the more Grace learns about her family, the less she thinks she can trust them.
366 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2016
534 people are currently reading
1,094 people want to read
About the author
M.K. Tod
8Ìýbooks225ÌýfollowersHi - I'm M.K. Tod, Mary actually, the author of newly released THAT WAS THEN, a contemporary thriller. Also the author of THE ADMIRAL'S WIFE, PARIS IN RUINS, TIME AND REGRET, LIES TOLD IN SILENCE and UNRAVELLED. I write stories of resilience, strength, and hope.
My blog� all aspects of historical fiction including interviews with authors, readers and others involved in this genre as well as insights from five historical fiction surveys. I live in Toronto and I’m happily married with two adult children.
You can follow me on Instagram @mktodauthor, find me on Facebook M.K. Tod Author or check out my website - .
My blog� all aspects of historical fiction including interviews with authors, readers and others involved in this genre as well as insights from five historical fiction surveys. I live in Toronto and I’m happily married with two adult children.
You can follow me on Instagram @mktodauthor, find me on Facebook M.K. Tod Author or check out my website - .
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
June 4, 2017
Find this and other reviews at:
Time and Regret is M.K. Tod’s third novel. I’ve both of her earlier releases and was eyeing her latest long before it was made available for review. WWII is my usual stomping ground, but I find myself increasingly fascinated with the Great War and, as such, couldn’t help bumping Time and Regret to the top of my TBR when Lake Union Publishing granted my request for an ARC.
The book impressed me on a number of levels, but I was floored by Tod’s illustration of a woman trying to move forward after an unexpected divorce. By coincidence, I intimately understood a lot of Grace’s insecurities and I was both impressed and appreciative of the authenticity Tod managed to convey in her make-up. Trends favor young, confident women, but Tod chose to feature a woman with relatable life experience and I think her novel stronger for it.
Secrets buried in letters and diaries are war lit clichés, but I really liked how Tod used Martin’s service memoir in Time and Regret. The volume contains many surprising revelations about Martin’s experiences at the Front, but I felt the way he repurposed it to convey his final wishes to Grace gave interesting insight into both his character and the relationship he shared with his granddaughter. I am used to relatives discovering the letters and diaries after the fact, but I found Martin’s active role as ‘game master� refreshingly engaging.
Cynthia was a difficult character for me, but I grew to appreciate her very deeply in the end. I’m not used to seeing grandmothers portrayed as difficult, but here again I found myself applauding Tod’s unconventional approach. She threw stereotypes out the window and created a very unique personality in Cynthia and I like how the revelations into her character led me to believe different things about her character at different points in the narrative.
The climax of the novel was entertaining in its way, but I felt the intensity and emotion faded in the final chapters. I don’t mean to sound critical, but I appreciated those elements more than the mystery surrounding the paintings and while I liked how the story ended, I would have favored a more emotive conclusion. That said I greatly enjoyed the time I spent with this piece and would definitely recommend it to my fellow readers.
Time and Regret is M.K. Tod’s third novel. I’ve both of her earlier releases and was eyeing her latest long before it was made available for review. WWII is my usual stomping ground, but I find myself increasingly fascinated with the Great War and, as such, couldn’t help bumping Time and Regret to the top of my TBR when Lake Union Publishing granted my request for an ARC.
The book impressed me on a number of levels, but I was floored by Tod’s illustration of a woman trying to move forward after an unexpected divorce. By coincidence, I intimately understood a lot of Grace’s insecurities and I was both impressed and appreciative of the authenticity Tod managed to convey in her make-up. Trends favor young, confident women, but Tod chose to feature a woman with relatable life experience and I think her novel stronger for it.
Secrets buried in letters and diaries are war lit clichés, but I really liked how Tod used Martin’s service memoir in Time and Regret. The volume contains many surprising revelations about Martin’s experiences at the Front, but I felt the way he repurposed it to convey his final wishes to Grace gave interesting insight into both his character and the relationship he shared with his granddaughter. I am used to relatives discovering the letters and diaries after the fact, but I found Martin’s active role as ‘game master� refreshingly engaging.
Cynthia was a difficult character for me, but I grew to appreciate her very deeply in the end. I’m not used to seeing grandmothers portrayed as difficult, but here again I found myself applauding Tod’s unconventional approach. She threw stereotypes out the window and created a very unique personality in Cynthia and I like how the revelations into her character led me to believe different things about her character at different points in the narrative.
The climax of the novel was entertaining in its way, but I felt the intensity and emotion faded in the final chapters. I don’t mean to sound critical, but I appreciated those elements more than the mystery surrounding the paintings and while I liked how the story ended, I would have favored a more emotive conclusion. That said I greatly enjoyed the time I spent with this piece and would definitely recommend it to my fellow readers.
September 25, 2016
I believe that we all have different kinds of weakness when it comes to books, some of us have a passion for WW1 books, some of us love time travel romance, some of us can't withstand a book with a gorgeous cover, and some of us loves mystery books, etc...
For me when it came to this book was first the gorgeous cover and then the tantalizing blurb. I just adore parallel storylines with a mystery that a relative or a stranger has to solve in "modern" time. So, I was thrilled to get a chance to read this book.
And, that makes it quite sad to write a review about a book that I thought I would love, but that I just couldn't connect with. Sometimes that happens, sometimes I just can't find myself enjoying a book, despite my deep will to do so. And, this one, oh I wished so that I had found the characters and the story to my taste. But, alas, it was not to be.
For the right person is this probably a great book. We have a woman that is trying to find out more about her beloved grandfather and discovers more than she could dream of. A secret that has been waiting to be revealed. Unfortunately, neither the past and the present story really caught my interest, and the secret was pretty easy to figure out, and there come a time when I thought everything that happens was way too convenient. And, the romance between Grace and Pierre just didn't rock my boat. If the mystery had been more engrossing could I have overlooked the romantic story, but it wasn't and that meant that I couldn't find much enjoyment with the story.
So, this was not the great book that I had hoped it to be, still just because I couldn't find myself enjoying it, doesn't mean that you can't...
I want to thank Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
For me when it came to this book was first the gorgeous cover and then the tantalizing blurb. I just adore parallel storylines with a mystery that a relative or a stranger has to solve in "modern" time. So, I was thrilled to get a chance to read this book.
And, that makes it quite sad to write a review about a book that I thought I would love, but that I just couldn't connect with. Sometimes that happens, sometimes I just can't find myself enjoying a book, despite my deep will to do so. And, this one, oh I wished so that I had found the characters and the story to my taste. But, alas, it was not to be.
For the right person is this probably a great book. We have a woman that is trying to find out more about her beloved grandfather and discovers more than she could dream of. A secret that has been waiting to be revealed. Unfortunately, neither the past and the present story really caught my interest, and the secret was pretty easy to figure out, and there come a time when I thought everything that happens was way too convenient. And, the romance between Grace and Pierre just didn't rock my boat. If the mystery had been more engrossing could I have overlooked the romantic story, but it wasn't and that meant that I couldn't find much enjoyment with the story.
So, this was not the great book that I had hoped it to be, still just because I couldn't find myself enjoying it, doesn't mean that you can't...
I want to thank Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
December 23, 2016
A discovery amongst her grandfather's things sends a woman on a journey through the past that leads to a danger in the present.
I seem to have been drawn this year to stories with split time lines featuring a person in the present and a person in the past during the war years. I believe this is my fourth one. However, this was my first one with a WWI backdrop. War is always hell. No doubt. However, the trench warfare and massive losses of that series of battles is horrific and staggering. And that doesn't take into consideration those who survived it and were never the same. I found getting the split perspectives of a soldier during that time and his granddaughter in the present to be equally engaging.
Grace Hansen is a middle-aged woman with a successful career, two wonderful sons, and a good home life until her husband wants a divorce. This decision forces her to look about her and reassess her life. But the catalyst that really brings change is when she is clearing out all that her husband left behind and comes across a box in the attic that her grandfather left with her before he died. She was raised by her grandparents when her father died and her mother fell apart. Her grandmother was strict and cold to her, but her grandfather was everything. Finding the box with some old war effects and his war diaries along with a cryptic note about regret and wanting Grace to to solve his riddle and finish his task sets her on quite the soul-searching journey.
Martin signs up and is soon shipped across the Atlantic and into war with his three close friends. As junior officers, they all must keep their men heartened and alive as best as possible. It is not long before Martin sees the gross ineptitude of the leadership and he and his men pay the price. Mired in the trenches and counting victory and defeat by the yard, his hope is extinguishing. Losses of friends and men snuff it out completely until he meets Cynthia.
Grace follows the path of her grandfather from battle to battle over the same terrain hoping something will speak to her. What does he regret and what does he want to fix? She ponders this as she realizes that she is being followed and also encounters a handsome Frenchman who shows an interest and makes her feel like a desired woman again.
As I mentioned earlier, this story is split time line. Grace narrates the contemporary portion. There are excerpts from Martin's diary and also portions where Martin narrates the historical portion. The story is a cross between women's fiction, romantic suspense, and historical. I liked how the author brought together all three elements.
The war is not sugar-coated in either time line. I did enjoy that there is a broader focus to the story. All the places Grace visited were described so well that I felt I was there from the points of interest, the food, the hotels, and even the life of the people. Her handsome Frenchman was urbane and knowledgeable about food, art, and history so they had wonderful times together.
The mystery is the catalyst driving Grace's pursuit of truth, but the suspense of who is trailing her and why slowly build momentum to a startling finish. Most of the story takes it's time, but then starts hurdling faster and faster near the end.
In the end, Grace has been on a journey of self-discovery and I loved seeing it happen as she worked out her grandfather's final request. This was a lovely story and I can easily recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction, light romantic suspense and women's fiction with a touch of romance.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.
I seem to have been drawn this year to stories with split time lines featuring a person in the present and a person in the past during the war years. I believe this is my fourth one. However, this was my first one with a WWI backdrop. War is always hell. No doubt. However, the trench warfare and massive losses of that series of battles is horrific and staggering. And that doesn't take into consideration those who survived it and were never the same. I found getting the split perspectives of a soldier during that time and his granddaughter in the present to be equally engaging.
Grace Hansen is a middle-aged woman with a successful career, two wonderful sons, and a good home life until her husband wants a divorce. This decision forces her to look about her and reassess her life. But the catalyst that really brings change is when she is clearing out all that her husband left behind and comes across a box in the attic that her grandfather left with her before he died. She was raised by her grandparents when her father died and her mother fell apart. Her grandmother was strict and cold to her, but her grandfather was everything. Finding the box with some old war effects and his war diaries along with a cryptic note about regret and wanting Grace to to solve his riddle and finish his task sets her on quite the soul-searching journey.
Martin signs up and is soon shipped across the Atlantic and into war with his three close friends. As junior officers, they all must keep their men heartened and alive as best as possible. It is not long before Martin sees the gross ineptitude of the leadership and he and his men pay the price. Mired in the trenches and counting victory and defeat by the yard, his hope is extinguishing. Losses of friends and men snuff it out completely until he meets Cynthia.
Grace follows the path of her grandfather from battle to battle over the same terrain hoping something will speak to her. What does he regret and what does he want to fix? She ponders this as she realizes that she is being followed and also encounters a handsome Frenchman who shows an interest and makes her feel like a desired woman again.
As I mentioned earlier, this story is split time line. Grace narrates the contemporary portion. There are excerpts from Martin's diary and also portions where Martin narrates the historical portion. The story is a cross between women's fiction, romantic suspense, and historical. I liked how the author brought together all three elements.
The war is not sugar-coated in either time line. I did enjoy that there is a broader focus to the story. All the places Grace visited were described so well that I felt I was there from the points of interest, the food, the hotels, and even the life of the people. Her handsome Frenchman was urbane and knowledgeable about food, art, and history so they had wonderful times together.
The mystery is the catalyst driving Grace's pursuit of truth, but the suspense of who is trailing her and why slowly build momentum to a startling finish. Most of the story takes it's time, but then starts hurdling faster and faster near the end.
In the end, Grace has been on a journey of self-discovery and I loved seeing it happen as she worked out her grandfather's final request. This was a lovely story and I can easily recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction, light romantic suspense and women's fiction with a touch of romance.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.
August 24, 2016
Read this Review and More on my Blog:'Time and Regret' is the story of Grace, a newly divorced career women and mother, struggling to regain her identity. Grace finds an old tackle box of her grandfather's while cleaning out her attic. Inside is a cryptic note, a journal, and several war souvenirs. Grace decides to retrace her grandfather's war travels through Europe.
The story alternates between Grace's first person view in the early 1990's , Martin's third person view during WWI, and sections of Martin's war journal. I find this style of writing, in historical fiction, works very well. It allows the reader to understand not only Martin's point of view and feelings but also how his granddaughter, Grace, reacted to the events Martin experienced during the war.
The character's of both Martin and Grace were well-developed and realistic. This is demonstrated by the fact that even though her grandparents raised her, Grace knew very little of Martin's war experience. I have found this is often true of many war veterans. They tell their families little to nothing about their war experiences.
'Time and Regret' is also somewhat of a mystery. As Grace is pursued by an unknown stranger. Grace also attempts, throughout the story, to decipher her grandfather's cryptic note.
I really loved this novel. I think we as a society have largely forgotten how brutal, gory,and dirty WWI was. Tod presents amazing detail of the day-to-day lives of the soldiers.
Historical Fiction can often be on the dry side but Tod wove the story in such a way that I was swept along with the story. 'Time and Regret' is a must read for anyone looking for an accurate.
The story alternates between Grace's first person view in the early 1990's , Martin's third person view during WWI, and sections of Martin's war journal. I find this style of writing, in historical fiction, works very well. It allows the reader to understand not only Martin's point of view and feelings but also how his granddaughter, Grace, reacted to the events Martin experienced during the war.
The character's of both Martin and Grace were well-developed and realistic. This is demonstrated by the fact that even though her grandparents raised her, Grace knew very little of Martin's war experience. I have found this is often true of many war veterans. They tell their families little to nothing about their war experiences.
'Time and Regret' is also somewhat of a mystery. As Grace is pursued by an unknown stranger. Grace also attempts, throughout the story, to decipher her grandfather's cryptic note.
I really loved this novel. I think we as a society have largely forgotten how brutal, gory,and dirty WWI was. Tod presents amazing detail of the day-to-day lives of the soldiers.
Historical Fiction can often be on the dry side but Tod wove the story in such a way that I was swept along with the story. 'Time and Regret' is a must read for anyone looking for an accurate.
July 16, 2016
As I settled down to read this captivating novel, strains of “As Time Goes By� filled my mind. Throughout this sensitively written and heartrending book about love, loss and redemption, the author takes us on a journey between 1990’s New York and the French battle fields of the Great War. Traveling smoothly between time and place, the writing is evocative and compelling, and with two points of view between recently divorced Grace Hansen and her grandfather, who fought in the war, we are quickly enfolded in a tale of family intrigue and mystery.
Ms Tod uses contemporary diary entries and superbly researched historical detail to bring the horror of the battlefields of Flanders, the Somme and Ypres alive, witnessing the brutality and carnage of a war that defied all understanding. The character of Grace’s grandfather, Martin Devlin, evolves through his horrendous experiences, and as Grace traces his journey in an effort to unravel a mysterious puzzle he has left for her at his death, she begins to understand more of her own childhood and upbringing. Along the way, Ms Tod explores the worlds of art, travel, food and museums in a cultural feast that begs a comfortable armchair and a glass of wine to accompany the reader.
As Grace comes closer to solving the mystery of her grandfather’s diaries, the action picks up, and with quickening heart we work alongside her in a race against time to find the answers. Complemented by beautiful travel writing and a dash of romance in the form of an attractive French museum curator, Time and Regret is a hugely satisfying novel that is rich in detail with multiple layers and perfectly paced. I found it impossible to put down.
Ms Tod uses contemporary diary entries and superbly researched historical detail to bring the horror of the battlefields of Flanders, the Somme and Ypres alive, witnessing the brutality and carnage of a war that defied all understanding. The character of Grace’s grandfather, Martin Devlin, evolves through his horrendous experiences, and as Grace traces his journey in an effort to unravel a mysterious puzzle he has left for her at his death, she begins to understand more of her own childhood and upbringing. Along the way, Ms Tod explores the worlds of art, travel, food and museums in a cultural feast that begs a comfortable armchair and a glass of wine to accompany the reader.
As Grace comes closer to solving the mystery of her grandfather’s diaries, the action picks up, and with quickening heart we work alongside her in a race against time to find the answers. Complemented by beautiful travel writing and a dash of romance in the form of an attractive French museum curator, Time and Regret is a hugely satisfying novel that is rich in detail with multiple layers and perfectly paced. I found it impossible to put down.
August 30, 2016
4,5 stars
The book alternates between Martin’s life during WWI and his granddaughter Grace’s life in early 1990s. Grace is recently divorced with two kids who’s trying to get her life back together. When she discovers her grandfather’s old war diaries and a message with a puzzle in her attic, she decides to visit the war sites in France.
I don’t remember if I’ve read books set in WWI before, it� usually WWII so this was a great change. Although reading Martin’s diary entries it could have been set in either war. I’m not usually fan of letters in books and mostly just skip them but here it worked.
I liked both Grace and Martin and couldn’t choose which POV I liked better which is rare. Martin was so eager to go to war but it soon turns into bitterness and rage as the war goes on. The war changed him forever and it wasn’t easy to come back and live with a survivor’s guilt.
I wasn’t huge fan of Pierre. He was a nice guy and it was great that Grace found him but I don’t know. I think he was boring and that they had no chemistry between them.
I didn’t understand Grace’s grandmother Cynthia’s coldness towards her. I wonder what happened to her because she wasn’t like that in Martin’s diaries. I would have liked to learn more about her.
This was my first book by the author and it definitely won’t be the last. I really loved this book and look forward reading more from her.
The book alternates between Martin’s life during WWI and his granddaughter Grace’s life in early 1990s. Grace is recently divorced with two kids who’s trying to get her life back together. When she discovers her grandfather’s old war diaries and a message with a puzzle in her attic, she decides to visit the war sites in France.
I don’t remember if I’ve read books set in WWI before, it� usually WWII so this was a great change. Although reading Martin’s diary entries it could have been set in either war. I’m not usually fan of letters in books and mostly just skip them but here it worked.
I liked both Grace and Martin and couldn’t choose which POV I liked better which is rare. Martin was so eager to go to war but it soon turns into bitterness and rage as the war goes on. The war changed him forever and it wasn’t easy to come back and live with a survivor’s guilt.
I wasn’t huge fan of Pierre. He was a nice guy and it was great that Grace found him but I don’t know. I think he was boring and that they had no chemistry between them.
I didn’t understand Grace’s grandmother Cynthia’s coldness towards her. I wonder what happened to her because she wasn’t like that in Martin’s diaries. I would have liked to learn more about her.
This was my first book by the author and it definitely won’t be the last. I really loved this book and look forward reading more from her.
August 31, 2016
Grace is going through a hard time. Her husband wants a divorce. As she is dealing with the loss of her marriage, she discovers her grandfather’s war diaries. He also left her a note that says that he regrets stealing them. What is it that her grandfather has stolen? Curious, Grace reads through her grandfather's diaries. Intrigued by what she reads, she decides to go to France to follow her grandfather's footsteps and piece together the meaning of the cryptic note that her grandfather left her
Grace is a likable heroine that readers can root for. We can connect to her. She is a woman, who is going through difficult times in her life. The grandfather’s diaries provide her not only a diversion of drastic situations, but also provide comfort and healing. She is also very inquisitive and observant because she notices when things seem odd. Yet, she also has low self-confidence and seeks assurances from others to feel good about herself. Thus, while she has some weaknesses, she is a very strong-willed heroine. She is able to come to terms with herself.
I also like her grandfather, Martin. As a soldier in WWI, he is also going through hard times. There are times he faces his fears, doubts, and uncertainty. Yet, he is very smart, determined, and caring. I found him to be a complex, but fascinating character. I really loved reading his chapters and his diary entries for they are filled with action and tragedy.
Overall, this book is about family secrets, love, choices, second chances, acceptance, and hope. I found the characters to be realistic and complex. I also thought this book was very meticulously researched and the setting was very vivid. Time and Regret has elements of action, mystery, family drama, and romance. I really found it to be a very poignant, raw, and emotional read. I really felt compassion for these characters. Therefore, this book is beautifully-written and thought-provoking. It will linger with you long after you have read the final page. I recommend this novel for fans of Lisa Jewell, Kate Morton, and Beatriz Williams.
(Note: This book was given to me as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review.)
Grace is a likable heroine that readers can root for. We can connect to her. She is a woman, who is going through difficult times in her life. The grandfather’s diaries provide her not only a diversion of drastic situations, but also provide comfort and healing. She is also very inquisitive and observant because she notices when things seem odd. Yet, she also has low self-confidence and seeks assurances from others to feel good about herself. Thus, while she has some weaknesses, she is a very strong-willed heroine. She is able to come to terms with herself.
I also like her grandfather, Martin. As a soldier in WWI, he is also going through hard times. There are times he faces his fears, doubts, and uncertainty. Yet, he is very smart, determined, and caring. I found him to be a complex, but fascinating character. I really loved reading his chapters and his diary entries for they are filled with action and tragedy.
Overall, this book is about family secrets, love, choices, second chances, acceptance, and hope. I found the characters to be realistic and complex. I also thought this book was very meticulously researched and the setting was very vivid. Time and Regret has elements of action, mystery, family drama, and romance. I really found it to be a very poignant, raw, and emotional read. I really felt compassion for these characters. Therefore, this book is beautifully-written and thought-provoking. It will linger with you long after you have read the final page. I recommend this novel for fans of Lisa Jewell, Kate Morton, and Beatriz Williams.
(Note: This book was given to me as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review.)
January 1, 2017
4 *loved France* stars
Stepped out of my normal genre and decided to add a new experience. This truly was the book for that moment. This book truly has so much going for it: suspense, family, loss, secrets, gorgeous French scenery and romance.
Grace Hansen finds herself divorced in her 40s and trying to piece together a very difficult puzzle left to her by her grandfather. Not only do we have the present day situation, but we are taken on a journey that encompasses The Great War, one that I know very little about. Grace finds a tackle box with a letter, a diary, and some interesting mementos left behind. Only problem is that she is having a difficult time trying to "decipher" what her grandfather is trying to tell her and ends up heading off to France to follow the journey of her grandfather during The Great War. Throw in difficult grandmother who is cold and unyielding, a stranger she becomes enamored with during her French travels, and a slow burning suspense that nothing is quite what it appears.
This book is simply worth reading if nothing ELSE than for the wonderful history, the journey through the French hillsides, and the diary of an old man filled with sorrow and regret. Honestly, I enjoyed all of that as much as Grace's journey and ultimate discovery. The lushness of the French countryside, the pain of the Great War, and a burgeoning caring for a Frenchman who may or may not be as he seems.
I truly encourage you to give this book a chance if you are interested into delving into a deeper topic and a haunting past. It's worth the time.
Stepped out of my normal genre and decided to add a new experience. This truly was the book for that moment. This book truly has so much going for it: suspense, family, loss, secrets, gorgeous French scenery and romance.
Grace Hansen finds herself divorced in her 40s and trying to piece together a very difficult puzzle left to her by her grandfather. Not only do we have the present day situation, but we are taken on a journey that encompasses The Great War, one that I know very little about. Grace finds a tackle box with a letter, a diary, and some interesting mementos left behind. Only problem is that she is having a difficult time trying to "decipher" what her grandfather is trying to tell her and ends up heading off to France to follow the journey of her grandfather during The Great War. Throw in difficult grandmother who is cold and unyielding, a stranger she becomes enamored with during her French travels, and a slow burning suspense that nothing is quite what it appears.
This book is simply worth reading if nothing ELSE than for the wonderful history, the journey through the French hillsides, and the diary of an old man filled with sorrow and regret. Honestly, I enjoyed all of that as much as Grace's journey and ultimate discovery. The lushness of the French countryside, the pain of the Great War, and a burgeoning caring for a Frenchman who may or may not be as he seems.
I truly encourage you to give this book a chance if you are interested into delving into a deeper topic and a haunting past. It's worth the time.
June 22, 2017
Learn from regret: If only we would learn. The book was great on so many levels. Switching between Grace's Grandfather's WWI journal accounts and present day attempts to learn about an entirely different side of him, the book was rich .
I got a bit bogged down with the tactical war strategies and intense deadly trench conditions, but about half way into the book the quest to solve the mystery her grandfather set up for her to solve years after his death the pace picked. Then it was impossible to put down!
First time to read a book by this author, but am keen to get caught up. I would very much recommend this book.
I got a bit bogged down with the tactical war strategies and intense deadly trench conditions, but about half way into the book the quest to solve the mystery her grandfather set up for her to solve years after his death the pace picked. Then it was impossible to put down!
First time to read a book by this author, but am keen to get caught up. I would very much recommend this book.
September 8, 2016
Note : This review is up in my blog
Time and Regret is the story of two people � Grace and her grandfather Martin. Grace is trying to move on after a depressing divorce. While cleaning out her house, she stumbles upon a box addressed to her. The box belongs to her grandfather and contains a letter addressed to her. Eventually she embarks on a journey (to France) tracing Martin’s life as a WWI soldier and figures out the secret he conveys in his letter.
Though the story started off with a cliché setting � lost diary chronicling war experiences, but it progressed in the right direction. Thankfully the history part of the book was set in the lesser explored period of WWI. Martin’s experiences from the memoir are kind of surprising and interesting in a gruesome way. Obviously, the writer has done her research well. The plot as such was well paced, but kind of fizzled out at the end. In a sense, the climax was perfect just that it wasn’t really emotionally intense. The writing was perfect and I loved the style. The tone of writing felt a bit raw, but that is actually the highlight of this book. In fact, I’m not the type to mark down notes from the book to use it later in review, but somehow I felt compelled to mark down this particular quote �
That’s hard hitting truth. If we were to know about war atrocities chronicled with all the gruesome detail, would any faith in humanity be left?
The timeline shift between the 90s and WWI period was done with much care. The writer managed to add all elements � drama, romance, mystery; and politics in the right proportion. The characters were quite complex and well developed. The highlight being they were all relatable except for Cynthia’s character (grace’s grandmother). Grandparents are supposed to be lovable and supportive, but Cynthia sounded just so difficult. I suppose the writer gambled a bit with this character. The highlight however was Grace’s character. She has her fair share of insecurities yet she is likeable, realistic and strong willed. With perfect narration, spot on characterization and a great setting, this book was one perfect read.
MY SAY: Prefect read for a windy day.
�
RATING: 4/5
Time and Regret is the story of two people � Grace and her grandfather Martin. Grace is trying to move on after a depressing divorce. While cleaning out her house, she stumbles upon a box addressed to her. The box belongs to her grandfather and contains a letter addressed to her. Eventually she embarks on a journey (to France) tracing Martin’s life as a WWI soldier and figures out the secret he conveys in his letter.
Though the story started off with a cliché setting � lost diary chronicling war experiences, but it progressed in the right direction. Thankfully the history part of the book was set in the lesser explored period of WWI. Martin’s experiences from the memoir are kind of surprising and interesting in a gruesome way. Obviously, the writer has done her research well. The plot as such was well paced, but kind of fizzled out at the end. In a sense, the climax was perfect just that it wasn’t really emotionally intense. The writing was perfect and I loved the style. The tone of writing felt a bit raw, but that is actually the highlight of this book. In fact, I’m not the type to mark down notes from the book to use it later in review, but somehow I felt compelled to mark down this particular quote �
“If the newspapers reported the truth, if they wrote about the mud and filth and the body parts littering the ground and how young men look old before their time, would we still be here?�
That’s hard hitting truth. If we were to know about war atrocities chronicled with all the gruesome detail, would any faith in humanity be left?
The timeline shift between the 90s and WWI period was done with much care. The writer managed to add all elements � drama, romance, mystery; and politics in the right proportion. The characters were quite complex and well developed. The highlight being they were all relatable except for Cynthia’s character (grace’s grandmother). Grandparents are supposed to be lovable and supportive, but Cynthia sounded just so difficult. I suppose the writer gambled a bit with this character. The highlight however was Grace’s character. She has her fair share of insecurities yet she is likeable, realistic and strong willed. With perfect narration, spot on characterization and a great setting, this book was one perfect read.
MY SAY: Prefect read for a windy day.
�
RATING: 4/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2016
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Recently divorced Grace finds a mysterious tackle box in the attic. The box contains her grandfather’s diaries written while he served in World War I, a cryptic letter addressed to her in which her grandfather expresses regret over a past deed and some memorabilia. Grace and her grandfather, Martin, had always loved puzzles and this is just the diversion she needs at this point in her life. Once she decides to solve the mystery her next stop is France, where she will visit the places Martin served in during the war. Grace is sure that Martin kept this secret from his wife for a reason, so her true reason for travel is veiled in her conversations with her grandmother.
The book then becomes a blend of Grace’s travels and excerpts from Martin’s diaries. Grace finds a new love early in the story which I kind of expected, yet at the same time I hoped that this would be a more personal journey for her. Martin’s chronicles of wartime are raw and brutal as I expected. He meets his wife during the war and, unfortunately, even that love didn’t seem to have any redemption for Martin as Grace’s grandmother is never a very likable character. I never felt as if I understood Martin in his later years and would have liked to learn how he made peace with himself after the horrors he experienced, as well as what his marriage held for him. Was he happy? As for Grace, I found myself liking her at times, but really couldn’t seem to connect with her. There was a strange dichotomy between her going out during the day to learn about her grandfather’s experiences then coming back to dinner with her new lover, which just didn’t work for me.
The writing is solid, and the transitions between Grace’s and Martin’s narratives are smooth and skilfully done, but the plot just didn’t work for me. If it was so important for Martin to have his wrong righted, why did he hide a puzzle in the tackle box? How about a “do not open until my death� letter? Once you learn the mystery, it seems even more implausible that Martin would let something of such importance and value be left in a puzzle, in a tackle box, in an attic.
My overall opinion is that the book moves very slowly and is repetitive at times, but a good story nonetheless because of the excellent writing.
Recently divorced Grace finds a mysterious tackle box in the attic. The box contains her grandfather’s diaries written while he served in World War I, a cryptic letter addressed to her in which her grandfather expresses regret over a past deed and some memorabilia. Grace and her grandfather, Martin, had always loved puzzles and this is just the diversion she needs at this point in her life. Once she decides to solve the mystery her next stop is France, where she will visit the places Martin served in during the war. Grace is sure that Martin kept this secret from his wife for a reason, so her true reason for travel is veiled in her conversations with her grandmother.
The book then becomes a blend of Grace’s travels and excerpts from Martin’s diaries. Grace finds a new love early in the story which I kind of expected, yet at the same time I hoped that this would be a more personal journey for her. Martin’s chronicles of wartime are raw and brutal as I expected. He meets his wife during the war and, unfortunately, even that love didn’t seem to have any redemption for Martin as Grace’s grandmother is never a very likable character. I never felt as if I understood Martin in his later years and would have liked to learn how he made peace with himself after the horrors he experienced, as well as what his marriage held for him. Was he happy? As for Grace, I found myself liking her at times, but really couldn’t seem to connect with her. There was a strange dichotomy between her going out during the day to learn about her grandfather’s experiences then coming back to dinner with her new lover, which just didn’t work for me.
The writing is solid, and the transitions between Grace’s and Martin’s narratives are smooth and skilfully done, but the plot just didn’t work for me. If it was so important for Martin to have his wrong righted, why did he hide a puzzle in the tackle box? How about a “do not open until my death� letter? Once you learn the mystery, it seems even more implausible that Martin would let something of such importance and value be left in a puzzle, in a tackle box, in an attic.
My overall opinion is that the book moves very slowly and is repetitive at times, but a good story nonetheless because of the excellent writing.
August 26, 2016
Like her first two novels, this is a well written, poignant novel and, as I read, I quickly lost myself in the story. I was moved by Grace’s very different relationships with her grandmother and grandfather, and her grandfather’s experience of life in the trenches during the First World War.
The story deftly contrasts the dilemmas and difficulties in Grace’s modern day life with her grandfather, Martin’s experiences on the battlefield. Although I approached the book as an historical fiction, I found that a larger portion of the story is devoted to her modern day quest to solve the puzzle her grandfather left for her in a letter. But I wasn’t disappointed by this. Both eras were vividly portrayed and I didn’t mind spending time with Grace in the present day.
Once again, as in her first novel, the author examines intergenerational relationships within families: mothers and daughters from the daughter’s perspective, grandparents and grandchildren, mothers and sons from the mother’s perspective. The dynamics of these relationships are timeless and touch the reader’s emotions.
In a way, this is a coming of age story for both grandfather and granddaughter. Martin grows and matures in the trenches and his future is formed by what he experiences while his granddaughter has a chance to start again, taking her life in the direction she wants it to go after she finds herself single again.
The author vividly describes the settings: the chaos of New York, the grandeur of an upmarket New York apartment and the homeliness of a house in the suburbs, as well as the tranquil modern day French countryside and the horrors of World War I trench life. Using every sense, she brings each of these places to life. The battlefields are often uncomfortable, disturbing places for the reader to be but this is necessary for the reader to understand what Martin and his comrades endure.
The novel is an interesting blend of historical war drama, thriller and love story and I enjoyed each element of it. It is at once gripping and tender. The elements of the thriller and the love story both keep the reader turning the pages. This is a complex and entertaining story and I would recommend it equally to historical fiction and contemporary novel lovers.
NOTE: I received a free copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
The story deftly contrasts the dilemmas and difficulties in Grace’s modern day life with her grandfather, Martin’s experiences on the battlefield. Although I approached the book as an historical fiction, I found that a larger portion of the story is devoted to her modern day quest to solve the puzzle her grandfather left for her in a letter. But I wasn’t disappointed by this. Both eras were vividly portrayed and I didn’t mind spending time with Grace in the present day.
Once again, as in her first novel, the author examines intergenerational relationships within families: mothers and daughters from the daughter’s perspective, grandparents and grandchildren, mothers and sons from the mother’s perspective. The dynamics of these relationships are timeless and touch the reader’s emotions.
In a way, this is a coming of age story for both grandfather and granddaughter. Martin grows and matures in the trenches and his future is formed by what he experiences while his granddaughter has a chance to start again, taking her life in the direction she wants it to go after she finds herself single again.
The author vividly describes the settings: the chaos of New York, the grandeur of an upmarket New York apartment and the homeliness of a house in the suburbs, as well as the tranquil modern day French countryside and the horrors of World War I trench life. Using every sense, she brings each of these places to life. The battlefields are often uncomfortable, disturbing places for the reader to be but this is necessary for the reader to understand what Martin and his comrades endure.
The novel is an interesting blend of historical war drama, thriller and love story and I enjoyed each element of it. It is at once gripping and tender. The elements of the thriller and the love story both keep the reader turning the pages. This is a complex and entertaining story and I would recommend it equally to historical fiction and contemporary novel lovers.
NOTE: I received a free copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2016
I have previously read Lies Told in Silence also written by M.K. Tod and looked forward to reading this new one. Though I finished this book a month ago it has still stayed with me, there is more to Time and Regret than the actual story.
The cover reflects the story nicely (and is gorgeous) while the title perfectly matches the story. With the modern day story taking place in 1991, where there is no need for internet and cell phones to distract.
The author did a great job with Martin's diaries. Beginning when he first enlisted you can see and feel his emotional struggles as the war, with all it's brutality, gets worse and unbearable. It wasn't hard to feel his emotional state as he loses his best friends and other young men. His feeling of helplessness and the guilt of being the one in charge and knowing those you stand with in battle might very well never go home.
"There's no point in friendship in this mess. You make friends and they die. It's that simple. God knows why I'm still alive."
Meeting Grace when a recently divorced mother of 2 and watching her journey of self discovery was a great experience. Traveling as she retraces her grandfathers footsteps through France, visualizing the scenery and culinary experiences showed the authors vast knowledge of the times and locale.
I enjoyed the story, the mystery and Grace's adventure. Though I anticipated the ending it was a great read. There was so much about this book that really enjoyed as a reader and also on a personal level. There was more here than the story. It's personal, to go outside your comfort zone, take a risk, grab life and live it on your own terms. It's a reminder about regret and doing the things that you love out of your own desire.
Definitely a book that I highly recommend. Thank you to Emma at France Book Tours for the invite to be part of this tour and to M.K. Tod for a print copy of Time and Regret.
The cover reflects the story nicely (and is gorgeous) while the title perfectly matches the story. With the modern day story taking place in 1991, where there is no need for internet and cell phones to distract.
The author did a great job with Martin's diaries. Beginning when he first enlisted you can see and feel his emotional struggles as the war, with all it's brutality, gets worse and unbearable. It wasn't hard to feel his emotional state as he loses his best friends and other young men. His feeling of helplessness and the guilt of being the one in charge and knowing those you stand with in battle might very well never go home.
"There's no point in friendship in this mess. You make friends and they die. It's that simple. God knows why I'm still alive."
Meeting Grace when a recently divorced mother of 2 and watching her journey of self discovery was a great experience. Traveling as she retraces her grandfathers footsteps through France, visualizing the scenery and culinary experiences showed the authors vast knowledge of the times and locale.
I enjoyed the story, the mystery and Grace's adventure. Though I anticipated the ending it was a great read. There was so much about this book that really enjoyed as a reader and also on a personal level. There was more here than the story. It's personal, to go outside your comfort zone, take a risk, grab life and live it on your own terms. It's a reminder about regret and doing the things that you love out of your own desire.
Definitely a book that I highly recommend. Thank you to Emma at France Book Tours for the invite to be part of this tour and to M.K. Tod for a print copy of Time and Regret.
September 8, 2016
Sadly, I could not get into this book. I got about 10% of the way through, but even by then I was skimming. I honestly don't think it was the author's fault, as the writing is clean, efficient, and perfectly lovely. It's just not the book for me.
I had hoped that the Parisian setting would get me past the fact that this was a war novel, but ultimately, at least in the first tenth of this book, the setting comes into play very little. I usually hate war novels and even have a hard time with much historical fiction, unless it's British history, then I for some reason I am fine. And I did not expect there to be quite so much war here.
There was nothing in particular that drove me away, except that the focus was much more on the war story than I anticipated and less on the modern story. For me this was a turnoff. I did get the feeling that there would be more emphasis on the later story as time went on, but I couldn't get invested enough at this point to want to continue and find out more. The hook just wasn't strong enough for me.
Essentially, this novel just wasn't for me. And instead of struggling through a novel I'm not connecting with, I have learned just to move on.
I think if you like slower paced novels set around a war and with multiple generation storylines, this would be a good choice for you. But I could not connect and must leave it for those who will appreciate it more.
*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
I had hoped that the Parisian setting would get me past the fact that this was a war novel, but ultimately, at least in the first tenth of this book, the setting comes into play very little. I usually hate war novels and even have a hard time with much historical fiction, unless it's British history, then I for some reason I am fine. And I did not expect there to be quite so much war here.
There was nothing in particular that drove me away, except that the focus was much more on the war story than I anticipated and less on the modern story. For me this was a turnoff. I did get the feeling that there would be more emphasis on the later story as time went on, but I couldn't get invested enough at this point to want to continue and find out more. The hook just wasn't strong enough for me.
Essentially, this novel just wasn't for me. And instead of struggling through a novel I'm not connecting with, I have learned just to move on.
I think if you like slower paced novels set around a war and with multiple generation storylines, this would be a good choice for you. But I could not connect and must leave it for those who will appreciate it more.
*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
August 28, 2016
I have both the ebook and the audio, but I mostly listened to the Audible version of this book. The narrators, Emily Sutton-Smith and Scott Merriman, are excellent.
This book has most of the elements I like in a book - historical fiction, mystery, and just a tad of romance. It alternates between 2 time periods, WWI (1914-1918) and present day (1991) and is told in 2 points of view, Grace in the present day and Grace's grandfather, Martin, during WWI, plus Martin's journals. It did get confusing at times when the story would switch from Martin's journals where he is speaking in first person and then the story switches to third person, but that may be because I was listening to the audio. It was an interesting way of telling the story though.
I liked the way Grace was able to solve the "mystery" using the clues in her grandfather's journals, but it did seem to take her a long time to figure it out.
This book has most of the elements I like in a book - historical fiction, mystery, and just a tad of romance. It alternates between 2 time periods, WWI (1914-1918) and present day (1991) and is told in 2 points of view, Grace in the present day and Grace's grandfather, Martin, during WWI, plus Martin's journals. It did get confusing at times when the story would switch from Martin's journals where he is speaking in first person and then the story switches to third person, but that may be because I was listening to the audio. It was an interesting way of telling the story though.
I liked the way Grace was able to solve the "mystery" using the clues in her grandfather's journals, but it did seem to take her a long time to figure it out.
September 4, 2016
When a plot involves finding an old document, such as an old diary or a set of letters, I feel both an emotional tug and that insistent spark of curiosity–I am soon deeply committed as a reader. Time and Regret offers such a plot and wastes no time in getting it underway, introducing the intriguing set of diaries in the first chapter. Mary K. Tod’s heroine, Grace Hansen, is newly divorced; while sifting through her belongings to make a clean start, she finds a “battered tackle box� left in her attic by her grandfather during one of his visits–with no explanation from him at the time. Prying it open, she finds some letters, a photograph, a map, a French magazine, and a set of notebooks tied with a ribbon. These notebooks prove to be her late grandfather’s World War I diaries, and the photograph shows young Martin Devlin and his friends Pete, Bill, and Michel as they were in May 1915. They are so young, as were most of those serving in the “Great War,� and the diaries will tell their story, but above all it relates the particular experiences of Martin.
It is a marvelous way to connect generations in a family, both in real life and in fiction. And this is especially true when the earlier generation lived during a war, a time the younger generation finds hard to imagine but desires to understand better. A diary can give it form and substance. It also connects people when death separates them, putting them beyond questioning. And Grace will have many questions as she reads the diaries. Tod adds the element of mystery to this gift from the past because her grandfather left her an important message, but chose to hide in it in a puzzle only she is likely to solve; solving puzzles was one of their shared pastimes and passions. The brief note he leaves her, saying, “To my dearest Grace, read carefully. I never should have taken them,� is cryptic indeed. What could he have taken, she wonders. As she traces his journey through the war years, she finds the stakes of solving this puzzle may be even higher than she anticipated.
Grace’s prickly grandmother is stubbornly reticent about the war years and offers little or no help, so Grace decides to take matters into her own hands with a bold stroke. She will go to France and Belgium to visit the places, one by one, that figure in her grandfather’s account of his war experiences. After the thorough upheaval of divorce, this change is just what she needs, and it begins to rebuild her confidence.
As she travels from one town or site of a battle to the next, she reads and rereads her grandfather’s words carefully, as he had urged her to do, and a picture of him begins to form in her mind and heart. She also confronts the devastation of the war itself.
In writing Grace’s story, Tod does more than intersperse WWI diary entries in the present-day narrative. Martin’s entries are revelatory in many ways but also terse and constrained by the pain he is feeling. One can imagine that diaries of the time would be a place to unburden troubled minds, yet it might take many years to relinquish certain secrets, even to oneself. Tod’s novel tacitly acknowledges this by providing chapters of third-person narrative fleshing out Martin’s story following each of his diary entries. These paired accounts during wartime are then interspersed with Grace’s life events unfolding in 1991.
Besides the regrets that many characters harbor, trust becomes a major theme for Grace. The novel begins with broken trust because Grace’s husband Jim suddenly demanded a divorce. Then she discovers that her grandfather has entrusted her with his diaries, and the secret they conceal. When secrets are involved–family secrets, business secrets–who can Grace really trust? Can she even trust her grandmother? Someone is following Grace in France–a man wearing a distinctive fedora–and he seems determined to interfere with her apparently innocent plans to discover her family’s story. Could her grandmother be trying to thwart her efforts to uncloak the past? Finally, she desperately wants to trust in her new feelings for Pierre Auffret, an attractive art curator she meets during her travels, and with whom she joins forces to investigate the path her grandfather took. The romantic frisson between them is spontaneous and exhilarating. Her heart tells her that it is mending, but still, she is not sure whether her trust can keep pace with her hopes for the future.
In her three novels so far, , , and now Time and Regret, and on her blog, "A Writer of History," M. K. Tod has shown her commitment to deeply researched, intelligently crafted, and beautifully written historical fiction. I have read and reviewed the latter two novels (I want to read Unravelled next!) and I found both of them to be satisfying as fiction, unsettling as history, and tremendously moving in their treatment of people caught in the rough grasp of war, trying to keep on living and loving.
For my full review, including an Interview with author M.K. Tod, visit .
*Note*: I received an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was received, and the opinions expressed are my own.
It is a marvelous way to connect generations in a family, both in real life and in fiction. And this is especially true when the earlier generation lived during a war, a time the younger generation finds hard to imagine but desires to understand better. A diary can give it form and substance. It also connects people when death separates them, putting them beyond questioning. And Grace will have many questions as she reads the diaries. Tod adds the element of mystery to this gift from the past because her grandfather left her an important message, but chose to hide in it in a puzzle only she is likely to solve; solving puzzles was one of their shared pastimes and passions. The brief note he leaves her, saying, “To my dearest Grace, read carefully. I never should have taken them,� is cryptic indeed. What could he have taken, she wonders. As she traces his journey through the war years, she finds the stakes of solving this puzzle may be even higher than she anticipated.
Grace’s prickly grandmother is stubbornly reticent about the war years and offers little or no help, so Grace decides to take matters into her own hands with a bold stroke. She will go to France and Belgium to visit the places, one by one, that figure in her grandfather’s account of his war experiences. After the thorough upheaval of divorce, this change is just what she needs, and it begins to rebuild her confidence.
As she travels from one town or site of a battle to the next, she reads and rereads her grandfather’s words carefully, as he had urged her to do, and a picture of him begins to form in her mind and heart. She also confronts the devastation of the war itself.
In writing Grace’s story, Tod does more than intersperse WWI diary entries in the present-day narrative. Martin’s entries are revelatory in many ways but also terse and constrained by the pain he is feeling. One can imagine that diaries of the time would be a place to unburden troubled minds, yet it might take many years to relinquish certain secrets, even to oneself. Tod’s novel tacitly acknowledges this by providing chapters of third-person narrative fleshing out Martin’s story following each of his diary entries. These paired accounts during wartime are then interspersed with Grace’s life events unfolding in 1991.
Besides the regrets that many characters harbor, trust becomes a major theme for Grace. The novel begins with broken trust because Grace’s husband Jim suddenly demanded a divorce. Then she discovers that her grandfather has entrusted her with his diaries, and the secret they conceal. When secrets are involved–family secrets, business secrets–who can Grace really trust? Can she even trust her grandmother? Someone is following Grace in France–a man wearing a distinctive fedora–and he seems determined to interfere with her apparently innocent plans to discover her family’s story. Could her grandmother be trying to thwart her efforts to uncloak the past? Finally, she desperately wants to trust in her new feelings for Pierre Auffret, an attractive art curator she meets during her travels, and with whom she joins forces to investigate the path her grandfather took. The romantic frisson between them is spontaneous and exhilarating. Her heart tells her that it is mending, but still, she is not sure whether her trust can keep pace with her hopes for the future.
In her three novels so far, , , and now Time and Regret, and on her blog, "A Writer of History," M. K. Tod has shown her commitment to deeply researched, intelligently crafted, and beautifully written historical fiction. I have read and reviewed the latter two novels (I want to read Unravelled next!) and I found both of them to be satisfying as fiction, unsettling as history, and tremendously moving in their treatment of people caught in the rough grasp of war, trying to keep on living and loving.
For my full review, including an Interview with author M.K. Tod, visit .
*Note*: I received an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was received, and the opinions expressed are my own.
September 2, 2016
In M. K. Tod's third novel, TIME AND REGRET (Lake Union), a ticking-clock mystery provides the link between two narratives set in different eras. In March 1991, Grace Hansen, a just-divorced single mom trying to determine a new course for her life, finds a tackle box in her attic. The box contains mementos gathered by her beloved grandfather, Martin Devlin, over the course of his deployment in France during the First World War. Included among the bullet casings, brass buttons, and photographs are Martin's wartime diaries, accompanied by a curious note: "To my dearest Grace, read carefully. I never should have taken them. Love always, Grandpa." Reading the diaries, however, fails to identify the object of her grandfather's regrets. Intrigued by the puzzle she knows her grandfather is depending on her to solve, Grace decides to retrace his steps in France, certain that visiting the battlefields and cities where Martin was stationed will provide the clues she needs.
Martin's past sets the itinerary for Grace's journey. Tod weaves entries from Martin's diaries into Grace's first person account of her travels in northwestern France. In addition, the author introduces chapters narrated from Martin's unique perspective. This powerful combination of dramatic action and Martin's own musings eloquently depicts the effects of the horrors of war on a conscientious, honorable man. The reader watches Martin spiral into deep depression and unchecked rage as he witnesses the deaths of the men he commands and the friends he loves. Tod channels her extensive research on life in the trenches and the larger objectives of the war into a realistic yet touching portrait of a single psyche struggling to remain true to honor and duty in the face of senseless brutality. By asking Grace to rectify the crime he committed at his lowest point, Martin seeks forgiveness for his failing and offers her the key she needs to understand the family's thorny dynamics.
As she struggles to decipher her grandfather's secret and later, to make amends for his actions, Grace's life becomes increasingly complicated. Martin's secret has far-reaching effects. It becomes a point of contention between Grace and her imperious grandmother, who profited from her husband's actions. It threatens to destroy Grace's burgeoning relationship with charming museum director Pierre Auffret. It places Grace's very life in danger, as third parties trail and threaten her in order to recover the diaries and abscond with prize. The difficulties and dangers Grace faces help her to sort out her future and regain her self-possession after the heartache and uncertainties of her divorce. As Martin spirals downwards, Grace engages in an upward climb, garnering the courage to make difficult choices and acknowledge the validity of her dreams and desires. Her ultimate success in undoing Martin's wrong proves doubly powerful--not only does Grace redeem her beloved grandfather and correct a longstanding injustice, but she saves herself and opens a future she'd never imagined possible.
TIME AND REGRET successfully melds elements of women's fiction, historical fiction, and traditional mystery into an entertaining and satisfying read. A competent historian and skillful storyteller, M. K. Tod should certainly harbor no regrets in sharing this highly engaging tale with a broad audience.
Martin's past sets the itinerary for Grace's journey. Tod weaves entries from Martin's diaries into Grace's first person account of her travels in northwestern France. In addition, the author introduces chapters narrated from Martin's unique perspective. This powerful combination of dramatic action and Martin's own musings eloquently depicts the effects of the horrors of war on a conscientious, honorable man. The reader watches Martin spiral into deep depression and unchecked rage as he witnesses the deaths of the men he commands and the friends he loves. Tod channels her extensive research on life in the trenches and the larger objectives of the war into a realistic yet touching portrait of a single psyche struggling to remain true to honor and duty in the face of senseless brutality. By asking Grace to rectify the crime he committed at his lowest point, Martin seeks forgiveness for his failing and offers her the key she needs to understand the family's thorny dynamics.
As she struggles to decipher her grandfather's secret and later, to make amends for his actions, Grace's life becomes increasingly complicated. Martin's secret has far-reaching effects. It becomes a point of contention between Grace and her imperious grandmother, who profited from her husband's actions. It threatens to destroy Grace's burgeoning relationship with charming museum director Pierre Auffret. It places Grace's very life in danger, as third parties trail and threaten her in order to recover the diaries and abscond with prize. The difficulties and dangers Grace faces help her to sort out her future and regain her self-possession after the heartache and uncertainties of her divorce. As Martin spirals downwards, Grace engages in an upward climb, garnering the courage to make difficult choices and acknowledge the validity of her dreams and desires. Her ultimate success in undoing Martin's wrong proves doubly powerful--not only does Grace redeem her beloved grandfather and correct a longstanding injustice, but she saves herself and opens a future she'd never imagined possible.
TIME AND REGRET successfully melds elements of women's fiction, historical fiction, and traditional mystery into an entertaining and satisfying read. A competent historian and skillful storyteller, M. K. Tod should certainly harbor no regrets in sharing this highly engaging tale with a broad audience.
August 28, 2016
Oooooh WWI. Such a bloody, bloody war. So many people lost their lives! I'm glad this story shared Martin's tale as well Grace's. It showed his journey as well as Grace's. The author did an amazing job with showing the true brutality of the war and the survivor's guilt. Beautiful job.
Normally I prefer one POV over the other, but for this one, I really liked both. Both had me hooked and I couldn't wait for the continuation of both. The author did a good job with the switching between WWI and the 1990s. Kuddos. It can be tough transitioning.
So many secrets and so many regrets on all sides! Lies, blackmail, secrets, stealing, killing, and so much more! Poor Grace! LOLLL
Poor Martin. :( He really did have a hard time. However, he was a clever man and taught Grace well on how to decipher the secrets he had.
Now, the culprit at the end surprised me for sure. Yes, I did suspect that person....but everyone was on my radar. However, as the story progressed I did have my money on someone else. The culprit did make me sad. I really had hoped it wouldn't be that person. Super bummer....but it did make a lot of sense honestly.
Why was Grandmama/Cynthia was such a B! But I don't understand it fully. Why would Martin stay with her or put up with her being so mean to Grace? You can't help who you love, but he should have put his foot down and told her off. I think she needed a reminder that you can't be a B whenever you wanted. Yes, it did make the story interesting and make it harder for Grace to solve the mystery....but yeah. Not cool.
My only real complaint was the ending after the reveal and whatnot. It did seem to drag on and on. It felt like it was never going to end and I expected more to be revealed, but nothing was.
Pierre was meh to me. He was nice and I'm glad Grace found him....but I guess I wasn't taken in by his charm.
I was utterly hooked from page one. The characters were interesting and I was very involved with both of their stories. I will admit...I teared up a couple of times during Martin's story! THE FEELS DAMMIT! THE FEELS! War is such a nasty, nasty thing especially WWI. WWI was the beginning of the shift of how warfare was done. It was a nasty transition that caused so many people to die on all sides. Super sad. The mystery was good and the culprit surprised me.
I also LOVE THE COVER! Beautiful.
In the end, I highly recommend this for everyone. Yes, there is some historical parts involved, but the author does a good job making it feel real and alive. The mystery and finding out all the secrets was for sure good. The ending did drag on a bit, but the rest of the of the story was fun. I shall stamp this with 4 stars.
Normally I prefer one POV over the other, but for this one, I really liked both. Both had me hooked and I couldn't wait for the continuation of both. The author did a good job with the switching between WWI and the 1990s. Kuddos. It can be tough transitioning.
So many secrets and so many regrets on all sides! Lies, blackmail, secrets, stealing, killing, and so much more! Poor Grace! LOLLL
Poor Martin. :( He really did have a hard time. However, he was a clever man and taught Grace well on how to decipher the secrets he had.
Now, the culprit at the end surprised me for sure. Yes, I did suspect that person....but everyone was on my radar. However, as the story progressed I did have my money on someone else. The culprit did make me sad. I really had hoped it wouldn't be that person. Super bummer....but it did make a lot of sense honestly.
Why was Grandmama/Cynthia was such a B! But I don't understand it fully. Why would Martin stay with her or put up with her being so mean to Grace? You can't help who you love, but he should have put his foot down and told her off. I think she needed a reminder that you can't be a B whenever you wanted. Yes, it did make the story interesting and make it harder for Grace to solve the mystery....but yeah. Not cool.
My only real complaint was the ending after the reveal and whatnot. It did seem to drag on and on. It felt like it was never going to end and I expected more to be revealed, but nothing was.
Pierre was meh to me. He was nice and I'm glad Grace found him....but I guess I wasn't taken in by his charm.
I was utterly hooked from page one. The characters were interesting and I was very involved with both of their stories. I will admit...I teared up a couple of times during Martin's story! THE FEELS DAMMIT! THE FEELS! War is such a nasty, nasty thing especially WWI. WWI was the beginning of the shift of how warfare was done. It was a nasty transition that caused so many people to die on all sides. Super sad. The mystery was good and the culprit surprised me.
I also LOVE THE COVER! Beautiful.
In the end, I highly recommend this for everyone. Yes, there is some historical parts involved, but the author does a good job making it feel real and alive. The mystery and finding out all the secrets was for sure good. The ending did drag on a bit, but the rest of the of the story was fun. I shall stamp this with 4 stars.
September 16, 2016
Time and Regret is a well-written touching story with a dual timeline. Grace Hansen's story takes place in 1991 New York. She is a successful woman who works in marketing for an insurance company and is the mother of two teenage sons and dealing with her recent divorce. She finds a tackle box belonging to her late grandfather in the attic that contains his WWI diaries and a puzzle left for her to solve. This propels her to trace his footsteps by going to all the different towns and places in France where he served.
Time and Regret is also the story of Martin Devlin, Grace's grandfather, who in Feb 1915 enlisted in the war and goes from a young soldier to a grief-stricken hardened colonel after losing most of his friends and platoon on the field. Both stories alternate between chapters and are brought together toward the end as we come to realize that Martin has done something he regrets that he wants his granddaughter to rectify.
I became so immersed in this novel that I read it in two days. I enjoyed both stories but initially found Martin's story somewhat difficult as I felt that I was dropped into the war scenes and strategies and did not have time to get to know the characters. But soon enough, I was racing through the chapters because I was invested and wanted to know how the two stories would merge.
It is a testament to this author's writing skills that she could so easily transition from contemporary life in the sleepy towns of France to that of war-torn France in 1915. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling with Grace as she explored the war memorials in the towns where her grandfather experienced life in a totally different way. On the one hand we have a middle-aged woman at a pivotal point in her life who rediscovers herself and finds love again and on the other hand we have a young soldier living the hellish life month after month of sleeping in muddy trenches with the smell of rotting flesh and the constant sound of shells and gun fire directed at him.
Both stories brought out a variety of emotions in me. The beauty of quiet life in small French towns and the horror of war and the psychological impact it had on the men who fought relentlessly. The mystery of the puzzle that Martin left for Grace added intrigue, adventure and danger. The romance was well done and added spice to Grace's story.
I was so pleased to discover that M.K. Todd is a Canadian author. This is her third novel and I would now love to read her previous books. This book will be listed in my Best Reads of 2016 post. Highly recommended to lovers of historical fiction and women's fiction.
Time and Regret is also the story of Martin Devlin, Grace's grandfather, who in Feb 1915 enlisted in the war and goes from a young soldier to a grief-stricken hardened colonel after losing most of his friends and platoon on the field. Both stories alternate between chapters and are brought together toward the end as we come to realize that Martin has done something he regrets that he wants his granddaughter to rectify.
I became so immersed in this novel that I read it in two days. I enjoyed both stories but initially found Martin's story somewhat difficult as I felt that I was dropped into the war scenes and strategies and did not have time to get to know the characters. But soon enough, I was racing through the chapters because I was invested and wanted to know how the two stories would merge.
It is a testament to this author's writing skills that she could so easily transition from contemporary life in the sleepy towns of France to that of war-torn France in 1915. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling with Grace as she explored the war memorials in the towns where her grandfather experienced life in a totally different way. On the one hand we have a middle-aged woman at a pivotal point in her life who rediscovers herself and finds love again and on the other hand we have a young soldier living the hellish life month after month of sleeping in muddy trenches with the smell of rotting flesh and the constant sound of shells and gun fire directed at him.
Both stories brought out a variety of emotions in me. The beauty of quiet life in small French towns and the horror of war and the psychological impact it had on the men who fought relentlessly. The mystery of the puzzle that Martin left for Grace added intrigue, adventure and danger. The romance was well done and added spice to Grace's story.
I was so pleased to discover that M.K. Todd is a Canadian author. This is her third novel and I would now love to read her previous books. This book will be listed in my Best Reads of 2016 post. Highly recommended to lovers of historical fiction and women's fiction.
August 5, 2016
M. K. Tods Time and Regret captivated me right from the beginning. The twin viewpoints the story is told from moves the reader from what Grace reads in her Grandfathers journals, and experiences as she retraces his journey through World War I France; and tells the story as Martin, her Grandfather, experienced it. The writing was superb, flowing easily, keeping the plot interesting and intriguing, while building the ever changing French country side in a way that made it easy to imagine being there. The characterization of Grace and Martin was complete, they were made real enough that you connected with them, and were really interested in what happened to them.
While cleaning out the remnants of failed marriage, Grace comes across a box left by her Grandfather. She opens it and discovers some mementos and journals here Grandfather wrote during his service in WWI. There is also a note to Grace hinting at a secret, that he hopes Grace can solve. After reading the journals, Grace makes the decision to retrace her Grandfathers journey during the war.
During her travels through Europe, Grace meets a charming Frenchman, and also notices she is being followed. On a visit to a WWI memorial, Grace is approached by the man, who tries to steer her away from other people. Grace eludes him and returns to her hotel. One night after having dinner with the Frenchman, she returns to her room to find it ransacked.
All the while Grace is trying to figure out what’s the mystery her Grandfather wants her to solve. Eventually she discovers some clues in the journals, and with the Frenchman’s help, she deciphers a message from her Grandfather. She immediately returns home to confront her Grandmother, hoping to solve the mystery.
To know what happens next, you’ll have to read Time and Regret yourself. You won’t be disappointed. I highly recommend this book to all who love mystery/suspense novels. As an added bonus, there is a little romance added in to round things out. This was my first M. K. Tod book, and her writing impressed me enough that I will definitely read more by her.
While cleaning out the remnants of failed marriage, Grace comes across a box left by her Grandfather. She opens it and discovers some mementos and journals here Grandfather wrote during his service in WWI. There is also a note to Grace hinting at a secret, that he hopes Grace can solve. After reading the journals, Grace makes the decision to retrace her Grandfathers journey during the war.
During her travels through Europe, Grace meets a charming Frenchman, and also notices she is being followed. On a visit to a WWI memorial, Grace is approached by the man, who tries to steer her away from other people. Grace eludes him and returns to her hotel. One night after having dinner with the Frenchman, she returns to her room to find it ransacked.
All the while Grace is trying to figure out what’s the mystery her Grandfather wants her to solve. Eventually she discovers some clues in the journals, and with the Frenchman’s help, she deciphers a message from her Grandfather. She immediately returns home to confront her Grandmother, hoping to solve the mystery.
To know what happens next, you’ll have to read Time and Regret yourself. You won’t be disappointed. I highly recommend this book to all who love mystery/suspense novels. As an added bonus, there is a little romance added in to round things out. This was my first M. K. Tod book, and her writing impressed me enough that I will definitely read more by her.
September 3, 2016
I have to say two things upfront 1) I received this book as a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Kindle giveaway 2) I did not finish the book. So take my review how you see fit. I knew going in the book was going to be a bit out of my comfort zone when it comes to genre. I'm not usually a historical fiction reader. But the description of this book sounded interesting and maybe not as heavy on the historical, but more of a mystery, which intrigued me. So I gave it a chance. I stopped reading at 45%. I didn't realize, for whatever reason, that battlefield scenes would figure so heavily. I expected it to mainly be Grace reading the journals, not actually seeing the war through Martin's eyes. I really don't like books with graphic depictions of war. That's on me, I should have passed the book up and let someone who enjoys the genre more win.
All that being said, I will get to my actual thoughts on the writing and plot of the half of the book I did read. It actually is well written. The author does a wonderful job of describing the French countryside and Grace reads like a fully fleshed out character. But I grew bored with the seemingly endless driving around the countryside. I understand Grace was following in the footsteps of her grandfather to solve the mystery of the box, but there seemed to be very little solving and a lot of navel gazing and flirting with Pierre. Even though I only made it a little less than half way through, I am pretty sure I know where the plot was going and it was very telegraphed. I am giving it three stars regardless of the fact I didn't finish it, that's all on me. It is beautifully written, albeit a bit longer than I felt necessary. It felt well researched. Grace is a fully fleshed out character. I feel that in the hands of a reader other than myself, this may very well be an excellent book. I have nothing to compare it to because I don't read this genre. I do feel very regretful that I won this book and virtually took away the chance for someone more appreciative to read it. Three stars because I feel that anything less would be doing the writer a disservice for a mistake on my part.
All that being said, I will get to my actual thoughts on the writing and plot of the half of the book I did read. It actually is well written. The author does a wonderful job of describing the French countryside and Grace reads like a fully fleshed out character. But I grew bored with the seemingly endless driving around the countryside. I understand Grace was following in the footsteps of her grandfather to solve the mystery of the box, but there seemed to be very little solving and a lot of navel gazing and flirting with Pierre. Even though I only made it a little less than half way through, I am pretty sure I know where the plot was going and it was very telegraphed. I am giving it three stars regardless of the fact I didn't finish it, that's all on me. It is beautifully written, albeit a bit longer than I felt necessary. It felt well researched. Grace is a fully fleshed out character. I feel that in the hands of a reader other than myself, this may very well be an excellent book. I have nothing to compare it to because I don't read this genre. I do feel very regretful that I won this book and virtually took away the chance for someone more appreciative to read it. Three stars because I feel that anything less would be doing the writer a disservice for a mistake on my part.
September 6, 2016
Source: Free copy from M.K.Tod in exchange for a review
Summary:
When Grace Hansen finds a box belonging to her beloved grandfather, she has no idea it holds the key to his past—and to long-buried family secrets. In the box are his World War I diaries and a cryptic note addressed to her. Determined to solve her grandfather’s puzzle, Grace follows his diary entries across towns and battle sites in northern France, where she becomes increasingly drawn to a charming French man—and suddenly aware that someone is following her� Through her grandfather’s vivid writing and Grace’s own travels, a picture emerges of a man very unlike the one who raised her: one who watched countless friends and loved ones die horrifically in battle; one who lived a life of regret. But her grandfather wasn’t the only one harboring secrets, and the more Grace learns about her family, the less she thinks she can trust them.
My Thoughts:
I love the story,Time and Regret. It is a blend of a granddaughter's search for her grandfather's World War I experience and her own search in a new life experience. In researching her grandfather's life, Grace comes to understand her own life in a new and meaningful way.
Time and Regret is also a travel log. Grace travels through northern France and Belgium. Through her lens and taste-bud, I too experienced delicious food and the beautiful sites.
Grace has endured a dramatic change in life. Instead of wallowing in pity, she takes a chance and this alters her life.
Grace is a likable person. She is not eccentric or quirky. She is a person all women can in some way relate to. She is admirable in not falling apart after a sudden change in midlife. She is admirable in being independent and adventurous in traveling alone to foreign countries. She is admirable and brave to uncover the story of her grandfather's life.
The mystery of the novel is a little predictable, narrowing down the small amount of characters, as well as the behavior of characters, I had at least decided who had something to hide.
The last few paragraphs of the story, on page 349, is beautiful. It is wise advice for all of us.
Summary:
When Grace Hansen finds a box belonging to her beloved grandfather, she has no idea it holds the key to his past—and to long-buried family secrets. In the box are his World War I diaries and a cryptic note addressed to her. Determined to solve her grandfather’s puzzle, Grace follows his diary entries across towns and battle sites in northern France, where she becomes increasingly drawn to a charming French man—and suddenly aware that someone is following her� Through her grandfather’s vivid writing and Grace’s own travels, a picture emerges of a man very unlike the one who raised her: one who watched countless friends and loved ones die horrifically in battle; one who lived a life of regret. But her grandfather wasn’t the only one harboring secrets, and the more Grace learns about her family, the less she thinks she can trust them.
My Thoughts:
I love the story,Time and Regret. It is a blend of a granddaughter's search for her grandfather's World War I experience and her own search in a new life experience. In researching her grandfather's life, Grace comes to understand her own life in a new and meaningful way.
Time and Regret is also a travel log. Grace travels through northern France and Belgium. Through her lens and taste-bud, I too experienced delicious food and the beautiful sites.
Grace has endured a dramatic change in life. Instead of wallowing in pity, she takes a chance and this alters her life.
Grace is a likable person. She is not eccentric or quirky. She is a person all women can in some way relate to. She is admirable in not falling apart after a sudden change in midlife. She is admirable in being independent and adventurous in traveling alone to foreign countries. She is admirable and brave to uncover the story of her grandfather's life.
The mystery of the novel is a little predictable, narrowing down the small amount of characters, as well as the behavior of characters, I had at least decided who had something to hide.
The last few paragraphs of the story, on page 349, is beautiful. It is wise advice for all of us.
August 25, 2016
This is the first time reading a book by M.K Tod and Time and Regret is a very intriguing story. The story is about Grace Hanson and a box her grandfather Martin left for her to find when the time was right. (I won’t rewrite the blurb) I really thought reading her grandfather’s diaries was very interesting, I am a nosey person and love to read old journals and diaries. Well I would like to anyway. While reading Martins account of the war really had me thinking. I don’t read a lot of war type books and the author I thought gave an amazing view of what it is like to be in a war. My thought OMG thinking of all those young men and some women who served in any war and what they had to go through. It just opened my eyes. To me there are four parts of this story, the diaries that Grace was reading, Martin’s story of the war, Graces travel to France and her family in New York. Every part was so interesting. I loved reading about the historical places that Grace went to, makes me want to go as well. The characters were well written and the emotions of everyone in the story and who they were in this story was fantastic. This was a book I didn’t want to put down. This book was great all the way to the end of the book. Then I had to think about it. That is of course one of the reasons I love historical fiction. If done correctly makes you want to think of the time period, that the story is happening in. I can really tell that the author researched the information for this book. I think that is very important part of reading historical fiction is to still have some facts of the time.
I am so thankful to have been able to read this story. I want to thank the author M.K Tod and also hfvirtualbooktours.com for providing me an ARC. I received a free copy of a book in exchange for an honest review
I am so thankful to have been able to read this story. I want to thank the author M.K Tod and also hfvirtualbooktours.com for providing me an ARC. I received a free copy of a book in exchange for an honest review
August 16, 2016
"Time and Regret" is a story told in two different times. In the early 1990s, Grace is going through a messy divorce and is trying to put her life back together. She discovers diaries and a mysterious package left in her attic by her beloved grandfather. During World War I, Grace's grandfather, Martin, is fighting on the fields of France. What he experiences will change him forever. He keeps a detailed diary about all that he experiences including some secrets that he will keep for the rest of his life. Filled with many secrets, this book kept me on my toes.
The characters were fascinating. Grace becomes a vehicle for shedding light on all that Martin went through during the Great War but the author also infuses her with a lot of personality on her own, which I really enjoyed. Her personality and drive really come into their own as she realizes that there is someone just as driven as her trying to get to her grandfather's secret first. The action in the book really picks up as it goes along. I was incredibly drawn to Martin as I got to know him throughout the book. He is such an interesting character with a lot below the surface.
I loved the unraveling of the mystery in this book. It really kept me engaged and I loved seeing the trip that the author took us on. While I enjoyed the mystery, I enjoyed reading Martin's journal entries even more. The author packs a ton of historical detail in so you can feel all of the things that Martin is experiencing throughout the book. I love reading about WWI and you definitely get a good sense of just how much soldiers were expected to deal with during that time period. This is a satisfying book about family secrets that will be a treat for my fellow histfic lovers!
The characters were fascinating. Grace becomes a vehicle for shedding light on all that Martin went through during the Great War but the author also infuses her with a lot of personality on her own, which I really enjoyed. Her personality and drive really come into their own as she realizes that there is someone just as driven as her trying to get to her grandfather's secret first. The action in the book really picks up as it goes along. I was incredibly drawn to Martin as I got to know him throughout the book. He is such an interesting character with a lot below the surface.
I loved the unraveling of the mystery in this book. It really kept me engaged and I loved seeing the trip that the author took us on. While I enjoyed the mystery, I enjoyed reading Martin's journal entries even more. The author packs a ton of historical detail in so you can feel all of the things that Martin is experiencing throughout the book. I love reading about WWI and you definitely get a good sense of just how much soldiers were expected to deal with during that time period. This is a satisfying book about family secrets that will be a treat for my fellow histfic lovers!
September 18, 2016
Full disclosure- I received a Kindle copy of this book through Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Giveaways (thank you Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ!).
As the book opens, Grace is still in the process of recovering from an unexpected divorce, and cleaning out the attic, separating the stuff she wants to keep from the stuff she wants to get rid of (all the other rooms in the house have already been sorted, this is the last one). She rediscovers a tackle box which contains her grandfather's diaries from his time in WWI along with a mysterious note. The discovery sends Grace on a quest to figure out the last message from her grandfather, taking her on a tour of the WWI battlefields he fought in. While retracing his path, she realizes she is being followed. She meets handsome musuem curator Pierre, who accompanies her on some of her trips to battlefields, and together they work to solve the mystery of her grandfather's diaries.
I really enjoyed this book. The narration alternates between Grace's point of view in the modern day, her grandfather's diary entries, and chapters told from her grandfather's point of view. You can tell that the author has done her research on World War One and the conditions of the common soldiers. The amount of detail is impressive, and really gives the reader a feel for the appalling conditions suffered by the common soldiers.
The only quibble I have with the book is Grace's reaction after she solves the mystery in her grandfather's diaries - it just didn't ring true for me. However, her reaction allows for some more suspenseful events to occur, so I suppose it serves a purpose in the story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, a good combination of historical fiction, mystery, and romance.
As the book opens, Grace is still in the process of recovering from an unexpected divorce, and cleaning out the attic, separating the stuff she wants to keep from the stuff she wants to get rid of (all the other rooms in the house have already been sorted, this is the last one). She rediscovers a tackle box which contains her grandfather's diaries from his time in WWI along with a mysterious note. The discovery sends Grace on a quest to figure out the last message from her grandfather, taking her on a tour of the WWI battlefields he fought in. While retracing his path, she realizes she is being followed. She meets handsome musuem curator Pierre, who accompanies her on some of her trips to battlefields, and together they work to solve the mystery of her grandfather's diaries.
I really enjoyed this book. The narration alternates between Grace's point of view in the modern day, her grandfather's diary entries, and chapters told from her grandfather's point of view. You can tell that the author has done her research on World War One and the conditions of the common soldiers. The amount of detail is impressive, and really gives the reader a feel for the appalling conditions suffered by the common soldiers.
The only quibble I have with the book is Grace's reaction after she solves the mystery in her grandfather's diaries - it just didn't ring true for me. However, her reaction allows for some more suspenseful events to occur, so I suppose it serves a purpose in the story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, a good combination of historical fiction, mystery, and romance.
September 18, 2016
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Time and Regret is a historical fiction novel of sorts. Part of it takes place in World War I, parts of it in 1990's New York and France. Grace, the main protagonist in the novel is a recently divorced mother of two teen age sons, doing the best to raise them, holding down a full time job at an insurance company. She was raised by her grandparents after the death of her father and her mother's mental illness. One day she finds a box that contains the diary of her grandfather written during his service in WWI. From here, the story alternates between the grandfather's diary, Grace's first person account of her search for clues her grandfather, Martin left her and a third person account of what happened to Grace's grandfather during the War. The horrors of war are described in plenty of detail, and how Martin deals with the human loss and suffering during the war. Grace decides to take a leave of absence from her work, leaving her sons in her ex's care and retrace the locations mentioned in Martin's diary. In France, he meets Pierre who joins Grace in her travels through Northern France and Belgium, sights of some of the great battles of WWI. I found the first half of the book a little slow, had a hard time getting into it, but later the action picks up and kept me reading fast until I finished the book. Without giving away the plot, although it was a page turner, I found the second half of the story too far fetched, the coincidence between Pierre and certain paintings utterly unbelievable. It was still a good read, especially if you like war stories and historical fiction.
Thanks NetGalley, The author, M.K. Tod and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to preview this novel.
Thanks NetGalley, The author, M.K. Tod and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to preview this novel.
September 22, 2016
This book is written in two POVs (point of view) and two different time periods. The story weaves it’s way back and forth between the period of 1915 to 1919, World War I, in which we meet Martin, a young Canadian who enlists and 1991 when Martin’s granddaughter, Grace, takes on the task her grandfather has set for her.
Grace’s marriage is over and she is struggling to maintain a civil relationship with her ex-husband for the sake of their two sons. While clearing out the attic she comes across a tackle box her grandfather had asked her to keep for him. All these years later she opens the box and reads a cryptic message left for her by her grandfather along with an assortment of objects and his diaries that he kept during the war.
This is the distraction Grace needs to forget about the mess her life was in. She wants to solve the mystery her grandfather has left for her and so she decides to travel to France and retrace her grandfather’s foot steps from his diaries as he lead his men against the Germans. She hopes to find a clue which will help her solve the puzzle but what she also finds is the horror of war and how it affected her grandfather.
I found myself liking Grace and hoping she would find peace for her late grandfather as he seemed to live with the guilt of something he did and now he had set Grace on the trail of accomplishing what he had not been able to do.
Very well researched book which was full of information about the fighting in France and how horrible it was for the young men who served. The story contained romance, mystery and sadness for all the destruction of not just entire villages but also the lives of those young men.
This book was won in a First Reads giveaway.
Grace’s marriage is over and she is struggling to maintain a civil relationship with her ex-husband for the sake of their two sons. While clearing out the attic she comes across a tackle box her grandfather had asked her to keep for him. All these years later she opens the box and reads a cryptic message left for her by her grandfather along with an assortment of objects and his diaries that he kept during the war.
This is the distraction Grace needs to forget about the mess her life was in. She wants to solve the mystery her grandfather has left for her and so she decides to travel to France and retrace her grandfather’s foot steps from his diaries as he lead his men against the Germans. She hopes to find a clue which will help her solve the puzzle but what she also finds is the horror of war and how it affected her grandfather.
I found myself liking Grace and hoping she would find peace for her late grandfather as he seemed to live with the guilt of something he did and now he had set Grace on the trail of accomplishing what he had not been able to do.
Very well researched book which was full of information about the fighting in France and how horrible it was for the young men who served. The story contained romance, mystery and sadness for all the destruction of not just entire villages but also the lives of those young men.
This book was won in a First Reads giveaway.
September 7, 2016
Grace and her Grandfather shared a close relationship, close enough for him to set her a puzzle and know that one day she would work out his secret and help to put right what he couldn’t. With his war diaries and cryptic clues Grace heads to France, alone, hoping following in his footsteps will make solving the mystery easier. Visiting the memorials, cemeteries and museums that are in abundance in northern France, Grace meets Pierre, a welcome friendly face, as she soon realises she is being followed. Just what is in her Grandfather’s diaries to cause such interest?
This book is partly set in the 1990’s following Grace as she tries to work out the clues she knows her Grandfather has left for her, part narrative of his time spent fighting in the First World War and part extracts of his harrowing war diaries, all cleverly woven together. We get a firsthand account of everything life in the trenches threw at the soldiers including the discomfort and dirt, death and depression, friendship and camaraderie. Young Martin Devlin is often angry and very different to the loving Grandfather Grace remembers. There are plenty of twists and turns and every time Grace gets closer to solving a clue, something or someone crops up and the mystery deepens, leaving me wondering who can she trust. The further into the book I got, the more difficult it was to put it down.
This is the third historic novel I have enjoyed from MK Tod, but the added sense of mystery in this novel has made it my favourite.
This book is partly set in the 1990’s following Grace as she tries to work out the clues she knows her Grandfather has left for her, part narrative of his time spent fighting in the First World War and part extracts of his harrowing war diaries, all cleverly woven together. We get a firsthand account of everything life in the trenches threw at the soldiers including the discomfort and dirt, death and depression, friendship and camaraderie. Young Martin Devlin is often angry and very different to the loving Grandfather Grace remembers. There are plenty of twists and turns and every time Grace gets closer to solving a clue, something or someone crops up and the mystery deepens, leaving me wondering who can she trust. The further into the book I got, the more difficult it was to put it down.
This is the third historic novel I have enjoyed from MK Tod, but the added sense of mystery in this novel has made it my favourite.
September 8, 2016
Time and Regret by M.K. Tod is a story of one woman’s journey to follow in her beloved grandfather’s footsteps and discovers a terrible secret. A secret that she must rectify on his behalf. Grace is in the midst of a divorce. As her ex-husband removes his property from their home, she finds an old tackle box of her grandfather, Martin. Martin is a World War I veteran who left her his war diaries and a few mementos from his time in the European battlefield. In the box, she finds a mysterious note which simply says “I never should have taken them.� She decides to follow his movements through Europe in order to discover what this note meant. As Grace travels through France, she meets handsome Pierre Auffret, who joins her on her travels. She learns that someone is following her and believes that she has something of value. Will she be able to decipher his grandfather’s message? Will she be able to right the wrong her grandfather regretted until his death?
Time and Regret is a wonderful story filled with a great mystery which will leave the reader on the edge of his or her seat until the very end. This book held my attention, pulled me in from the very beginning and I was reluctant to put it down. I particularly liked the interjections of Martin’s war diaries as Grace visited the different battlefields. Reading the conditions and the events of the famous battles of World War I helped bring the war experiences alive in ways I’ve never read before. I highly recommend Time and Regret!
Time and Regret
Is available at major booksellers
In paperback, ebook and audiobook
Time and Regret is a wonderful story filled with a great mystery which will leave the reader on the edge of his or her seat until the very end. This book held my attention, pulled me in from the very beginning and I was reluctant to put it down. I particularly liked the interjections of Martin’s war diaries as Grace visited the different battlefields. Reading the conditions and the events of the famous battles of World War I helped bring the war experiences alive in ways I’ve never read before. I highly recommend Time and Regret!
Time and Regret
Is available at major booksellers
In paperback, ebook and audiobook
August 6, 2017
While the premise of this story was a good one - a woman finds her grandfather's WWI diaries, discovers that they contain a mystery, and sets out to solve it - the characterization was lacking and the overall pace of the plot unbalanced. The narrator's voice conveys little fluctuation in emotion, "telling" rather than "showing" her thoughts, and surrounding characters (with the exception of Martin, the grandfather) go through little change or get fleshed out not at all. The climax of the novel, when the narrator comes face-to-face with the person who has been trying to beat her to solving the mystery, is rushed and simplified. At no point does the reader experience excitement or apprehension, but rather is told that excitement and apprehension is happening. Additionally, the characterization was so weak up to this point that said person seems more of a comic book villain, one-dimensional and absurd, than anything else.
The beginning of the novel, before the new love interest (who is, once again, shallow and one-dimensional for being such a pivotal character) enters the scene, is the best written as far as I am concerned. From there it seems as though the author had trouble getting her characters through the story - as in, the beginning was well fleshed out, and the ending was clear, but the middle is all a muddle and could use some work. All in all I enjoyed the book in and of itself, as the idea is novel and I love myself a good puzzle-solving mystery, but the writing was lacking. Three stars.
The beginning of the novel, before the new love interest (who is, once again, shallow and one-dimensional for being such a pivotal character) enters the scene, is the best written as far as I am concerned. From there it seems as though the author had trouble getting her characters through the story - as in, the beginning was well fleshed out, and the ending was clear, but the middle is all a muddle and could use some work. All in all I enjoyed the book in and of itself, as the idea is novel and I love myself a good puzzle-solving mystery, but the writing was lacking. Three stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.