I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Wishing Cross Station by February Grace Published by Booktrope Editions on May 13th 2015
Pages: 160
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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"Don’t stay a moment longer than you have to. Don’t say too much. Don’t pollute the timeline."
When nineteen-year-old college library page Keigan Wainwright is sent to pick up a private donation of books for the school’s collection, he has no idea where one of those books will take him, or what it will take from him.
Retracing a powerful man’s footsteps through the past, Keigan finds himself caught in the same dangerous trap: falling in love with a woman he was never meant to know, and uncertain he will ever find his way home.
Wishing Cross Station: A bittersweet fantasy romance from the author of GODSPEED and OF STARDUST.
February Grace’s newest novel Wishing Cross Station is about a young man who is given a book with a mystery only he can solve. A mystery that is over a hundred years old.
Lately, Ive been attempting to venture into new literary avenues without straying too far from what I know. Wishing Cross Station is filled with things I know absolutely nothing about (trains and the 1800s), yet it has familiar elements. February successfully develops a decent story by melding our reality with time travel.
“I’m looking for a ticket back home,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “I just got here on the Aurelia Belle, and I didn’t realize how far it would take me.”
I scanned the slate board behind her, marked with train names, numbers, times, and schedules, and nowhere upon it did I even see the Belle mentioned.
“That train is the special,” she replied emotionlessly. “We are never advised in advance exactly when she’s coming in, she just pulls into the station, only on the first track. Only train to ever use the first. Then she goes on her way.”
Keigan Wainwright is not your typical hero: a skinny, asthmatic library worker who is by all accounts your average kid. His ordinary life is set off track when a he is tasked to pick up a private book donation. One book from this particular the donation delivery is extra special and sets Keigan on an adventure that will change Keigan indefinitely. When Keigan meets Marigold he wants to tell her everything, but anything he tells her could change the timeline. Torn between his desire to help Marigold and his duty to protect the historical time line, Keigan must choose between the girl he’s falling for and protecting the future to which he may never be able to return.
The novel was an easy read and I never felt bored or impatient with the storyline. Unfortunately, it looks like time traveling trains that visit the 1800s is not my cup of tea. I am glad I chose Wishing Cross Station for this experiment because there is more than enough romance and mystery to keep things interesting. The mystery surrounding Marigold, Wishing Cross Station’s strange recreation in our time and The Book are more than enough to capture the imagination. Although time traveling trains apparently aren’t my thing I found February’s graceful prose and unique ability to bring characters alive to be refreshing..plus that ending! I’ll definitely read more of her work..I’ve noticed she’s written a book with Fairy Godmothers! Definitely on the TBR list!
“What? Wait, what?” I said, as she pulled me toward the front lawn.
“Miss Sutton, what are you doing?”
“We’re going to make snow angels,” she said, looking left and right to be sure no one knew we were there. “At least, I am. Come on, Mr. Wainwright! Join me if you dare!”
She stood still, arms at her sides, and then fell back into the snow with a muted thud. She laughed—the most beautiful sound I had ever heard in my life—as she began to swish her arms at her sides up and down in the snow.
Wishing Cross Station is a novel that kept me reading and unable to foresee what was coming until the last moment. I am not certain if this is simply because I’m not familiar with this genre or skill on the part of the author, but Wishing Cross Station was well worth the read!
This book will appeal to those who enjoy historical fiction, time travel tales, romance and the idea of magical trains. A definite read for someone who has read this genre before and loved it.
About February Grace
February Grace is an author, poet, and artist from Southeast Michigan. In previous novels, she has introduced readers to characters with clockwork hearts, told of romantic modern-day fairy godparents, and reimagined a legend, centuries old. Now, in her fifth novel with Booktrope, readers will board the special at WISHING CROSS STATION and embark on a trip through time. She is more than mildly obsessed with clocks, music, colors, meteor showers, and steam engines.
She considers each day a gift, and is eternally grateful to all the amazing people who have helped make her writing dreams come true.
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