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Persistence of Memory
Combining the language, humor and manners of Jane Austen’s era with charming characters and colorful storytelling, PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY is a mystery, a love story, and a speculative novel about accidental time travel.
Charlie Lowe has two saving the Stoneford Village Green from unscrupulous developers and researching her ancestor, Louis Augustus Duran, whose mysterious origins perplex her.
When a freak lightning strike and a rogue computer virus send her back to 1825, Charlie discovers she must persuade a reluctant Sarah Foster to marry Duran, or two centuries of descendants—including herself—will cease to exist.
Unfortunately, Louis Duran turns out to be a despicable French count who spends his days impregnating a succession of unfortunate housemaids and attempting to invent the first flushing toilet in Hampshire.
A hopeless romantic, our heroine does her best to encourage the happiness of those who surround her—but will she be able to mend a matrimonial wrong, restore the Village Green to its rightful owner and, of foremost importance, conclude the tale in the company of the gentleman with whom she was always meant to be?
Charlie Lowe has two saving the Stoneford Village Green from unscrupulous developers and researching her ancestor, Louis Augustus Duran, whose mysterious origins perplex her.
When a freak lightning strike and a rogue computer virus send her back to 1825, Charlie discovers she must persuade a reluctant Sarah Foster to marry Duran, or two centuries of descendants—including herself—will cease to exist.
Unfortunately, Louis Duran turns out to be a despicable French count who spends his days impregnating a succession of unfortunate housemaids and attempting to invent the first flushing toilet in Hampshire.
A hopeless romantic, our heroine does her best to encourage the happiness of those who surround her—but will she be able to mend a matrimonial wrong, restore the Village Green to its rightful owner and, of foremost importance, conclude the tale in the company of the gentleman with whom she was always meant to be?
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2013
5 people are currently reading
383 people want to read
About the author
Winona Kent
24 books71 followersWinona Kent is an award-winning author who was born in London, England and grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan, where she completed her BA in English at the University of Regina. After moving to Vancouver, she graduated from UBC with an MFA in Creative Writing, and a diploma in Writing for Screen and TV from Vancouver Film School.
Winona's writing breakthrough came many years ago when she won First Prize in the Flare Magazine Fiction Contest with her short story about an all-night radio newsman, “Tower of Power”.
Her debut novel Skywatcher was a finalist in the Seal Books First Novel Award and was published by Bantam Books in 1989. This was followed by a sequel, The Cilla Rose Affair, and her first mystery, Cold Play, set aboard a cruise ship in Alaska.
After three time-travel romances (Persistence of Memory, In Loving Memory and Marianne's Memory), Winona returned to mysteries with Disturbing the Peace, a novella, in 2017 and the novel Notes on a Missing G-String in 2019, both featuring the character she first introduced in Cold Play, professional jazz musician / amateur sleuth Jason Davey.
The third and fourth books in Winona's Jason Davey Mystery series, Lost Time and Ticket to Ride, were published in 2020 and 2022. Her fifth Jason Davey Mystery, Bad Boy, was published in 2024.
Winona also writes short fiction. Her story “Salty Dog Blues” appeared in Sisters in Crime-Canada West's anthology Crime Wave in October 2020 and was nominated as a finalist in Crime Writers of Canada's Awards of Excellence for Best Crime Novella in April 2021. “Blue Devil Blues” was one of the four entries in the anthology Last Shot, published in June 2021, and “Terminal Lucidity” appeared in the Sisters in Crime-Canada West anthology, Women of a Certain Age (October 2022). “On the Internet, Nobody Knows You’re a Dog”, will appear in the upcoming Sisters in Crime-Canada West anthology, Dangerous Games (October 2024).
A collection of Winona’s short stories, Ten Stories That Worried My Mother, was published in 2023.
Winona has been a temporary secretary, a travel agent, a screenwriter and the Managing Editor of a literary magazine. Winona's currently the national Vice-Chair and the regional BC/YT rep for the Crime Writers of Canada, and is also an active member of Sisters in Crime – Canada West. After many decades working in jobs completely unrelated to writing, Winona is now happily embracing life as a full-time author. She lives in New Westminster, BC with her husband, and a concerning number of disobedient houseplants, many of which were rescued from her apartment building’s compost bin after being abandoned by previous owners.
Winona's writing breakthrough came many years ago when she won First Prize in the Flare Magazine Fiction Contest with her short story about an all-night radio newsman, “Tower of Power”.
Her debut novel Skywatcher was a finalist in the Seal Books First Novel Award and was published by Bantam Books in 1989. This was followed by a sequel, The Cilla Rose Affair, and her first mystery, Cold Play, set aboard a cruise ship in Alaska.
After three time-travel romances (Persistence of Memory, In Loving Memory and Marianne's Memory), Winona returned to mysteries with Disturbing the Peace, a novella, in 2017 and the novel Notes on a Missing G-String in 2019, both featuring the character she first introduced in Cold Play, professional jazz musician / amateur sleuth Jason Davey.
The third and fourth books in Winona's Jason Davey Mystery series, Lost Time and Ticket to Ride, were published in 2020 and 2022. Her fifth Jason Davey Mystery, Bad Boy, was published in 2024.
Winona also writes short fiction. Her story “Salty Dog Blues” appeared in Sisters in Crime-Canada West's anthology Crime Wave in October 2020 and was nominated as a finalist in Crime Writers of Canada's Awards of Excellence for Best Crime Novella in April 2021. “Blue Devil Blues” was one of the four entries in the anthology Last Shot, published in June 2021, and “Terminal Lucidity” appeared in the Sisters in Crime-Canada West anthology, Women of a Certain Age (October 2022). “On the Internet, Nobody Knows You’re a Dog”, will appear in the upcoming Sisters in Crime-Canada West anthology, Dangerous Games (October 2024).
A collection of Winona’s short stories, Ten Stories That Worried My Mother, was published in 2023.
Winona has been a temporary secretary, a travel agent, a screenwriter and the Managing Editor of a literary magazine. Winona's currently the national Vice-Chair and the regional BC/YT rep for the Crime Writers of Canada, and is also an active member of Sisters in Crime – Canada West. After many decades working in jobs completely unrelated to writing, Winona is now happily embracing life as a full-time author. She lives in New Westminster, BC with her husband, and a concerning number of disobedient houseplants, many of which were rescued from her apartment building’s compost bin after being abandoned by previous owners.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 20, 2019
Authors I have read use various means for time travel: Jodi Taylor (Just One Damned Thing After Another) and H.G. Wells (The Time Machine) use fantastical equipment; Diana Gabaldon (Outlander) and Kendra Donovan A Murder in Time) use mystical portals and wormholes respectively; and Jack Finney (Time and Again and Susanna Kearsley (The Winter Sea) involve psychological states. The only author who also happens to be a physicist who comes close to accurate is Gregory Benford (Timescape) who uses tachyons to send messages back in time. I realize that most authors care less about the technology but more about the story. The mechanism for time travel is only a medium for a contemporary character to exist in another time line, generally the past. Winona Kent uses a unique means for time travel mechanism: two computer applications, both containing viruses, which is initiated at the same time during a lightening strike opens a time portal.
The protagonist in this novel, recently widowed Charlotte "Charlie" Duran Lowe, time travels to the early 19th century in the same town where she is employed as a costumed guide for a museum with early 19th century exhibits. Therefore her "dress" is not a problem. However, when she travels back in time, a lookalike relative from the past is transported to the present. I guess, quid pro quo. Although the primary rule of time travel is that one much not make changes in the past or you might find yourself in a time paradox, Charlie discovers that she must serve a cupid-like role in encouraging her cousin to marry Louis Duran, a local lord, or Charlie will cease to exist like Marty McFly in Back to the Future. The problem is that Charlie's cousin hates Lord Duran. Of course, Charlie has an opportunity for romance.
One of my primary criticism of this book, which is shared with many of the time travel fantasies I have read is how little impact that living in an earlier time period has on the protagonist. The first time I walked through a door and searched for the nonexistent electric light switch, I would have started crying. Additionally, Charlie's doppelganger takes to 21st technology like a "fish out of water", which I find difficult to believe. Charlie even considers staying in the past when her health is jeopardized, which stretched credibility. The book was an enjoyable read, but only if you suspend reality.
The protagonist in this novel, recently widowed Charlotte "Charlie" Duran Lowe, time travels to the early 19th century in the same town where she is employed as a costumed guide for a museum with early 19th century exhibits. Therefore her "dress" is not a problem. However, when she travels back in time, a lookalike relative from the past is transported to the present. I guess, quid pro quo. Although the primary rule of time travel is that one much not make changes in the past or you might find yourself in a time paradox, Charlie discovers that she must serve a cupid-like role in encouraging her cousin to marry Louis Duran, a local lord, or Charlie will cease to exist like Marty McFly in Back to the Future. The problem is that Charlie's cousin hates Lord Duran. Of course, Charlie has an opportunity for romance.
One of my primary criticism of this book, which is shared with many of the time travel fantasies I have read is how little impact that living in an earlier time period has on the protagonist. The first time I walked through a door and searched for the nonexistent electric light switch, I would have started crying. Additionally, Charlie's doppelganger takes to 21st technology like a "fish out of water", which I find difficult to believe. Charlie even considers staying in the past when her health is jeopardized, which stretched credibility. The book was an enjoyable read, but only if you suspend reality.
September 5, 2013
I was utterly charmed by this book!
Charlie Lowe is a woman out of time. Shas two obsessions: saving the Stoneford Village Green from unscrupulous developers and researching her ancestors. When a freak lightning strike and a rogue computer virus send her back to 1825 [and one of her ancestors forward!], Charlie discovers she must persuade one of her ancestors to marry or two centuries of descendants -including herself- will cease to exist. Unfortunately, her future husband is a class-A jerk. Charlie herself starts to develop feelings for someone she meets in the past. At the same time, developers are closing in to destory part of her home.
Due to a mysterious connection, she's able to use her phone to communicate with people from her present. Charlie is in a race to get her ancestors married, find a lost land deed, and maybe fall in love herself!
This book was so wonderful. I loved the time travel aspect and Charlie's 'discovery' of the past, as well as her counterpart's discovery of the future. I was equally invested in both time-lines - past and present.
Love, betrayal, smugglers, unscrupulous men and charming gentleman, this book was a joy to read!
Charlie Lowe is a woman out of time. Shas two obsessions: saving the Stoneford Village Green from unscrupulous developers and researching her ancestors. When a freak lightning strike and a rogue computer virus send her back to 1825 [and one of her ancestors forward!], Charlie discovers she must persuade one of her ancestors to marry or two centuries of descendants -including herself- will cease to exist. Unfortunately, her future husband is a class-A jerk. Charlie herself starts to develop feelings for someone she meets in the past. At the same time, developers are closing in to destory part of her home.
Due to a mysterious connection, she's able to use her phone to communicate with people from her present. Charlie is in a race to get her ancestors married, find a lost land deed, and maybe fall in love herself!
This book was so wonderful. I loved the time travel aspect and Charlie's 'discovery' of the past, as well as her counterpart's discovery of the future. I was equally invested in both time-lines - past and present.
Love, betrayal, smugglers, unscrupulous men and charming gentleman, this book was a joy to read!
January 24, 2014
One aspect I (rather predictably) loved was the setting of a small English village. As an American, I’m continually fascinated by stories where the characters live in old-to-me houses and cottages. The cottage that the main character lived in was several hundred years old, and when she time-traveled, she moved only in time, not in space, so she ended up in the 1700s version of her own home. That was very cool! The emphasis on genealogy was done well too. I could not be less interested in that topic, but Kent managed to create an interesting village where the plot in the present day timeline was able to move forward based on information the MC learned about their ancestors. It helped that Kent didn’t make this aspect over-complicated. She didn’t attempt to draw a family tree and list out every single resident and make the plot hinge on some fourth cousin eighteen times removed. She kept the lines simple, though not so clear that you knew what would happen from the beginning.
One of the weaker aspects of Persistence of Memory was the emphasis on technology. I never really bought the “rogue computer virus + mysterious-microns + lightning = time travel” explanation, and that her cell phone worked in the past because of a very old tree was just too convenient. Anything that reminds me of a time-traveling mailbox by a lake house is questionable. The parts of the book that focused on the technology felt a little forced, like the author had learned a very little bit about computers and then based the manuscript on that information, rather than having a solid working knowledge. (I’m probably overcritical there since I work in IT, but that’s how it read to me.) Despite my issues with the premise and technology, once you set aside those reservations and embrace the story, it’s done very well.
The writing was pretty good, and the plot was well-structured and paced. I never felt like the story dragged, and I was actually very interested to see how the plot resolved. I liked the main characters, though they read a little bland at times. They each had a back story and sufficient personality, but lacked the spark of originality that tends to push them over into “favorite character” status. The end was quite gripping, and the time-travel structure that Kent used worked very well for the story. It’s what Stormy calls the Fixed Timeline – meaning that whatever the MC did in the past didn’t alter the future because she’d already done it in the past. (Essentially, the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban effect.) So yes, they get to act, but no, they don’t nullify their own existence.
Persistence of Memory was a solid read, and one that I recommend if you enjoy light time travel like the Ruby Red series, or adult time travel fiction set in small town England.
The review "Persistence of Memory" first appeared on StarlightBookReviews.com.
One of the weaker aspects of Persistence of Memory was the emphasis on technology. I never really bought the “rogue computer virus + mysterious-microns + lightning = time travel” explanation, and that her cell phone worked in the past because of a very old tree was just too convenient. Anything that reminds me of a time-traveling mailbox by a lake house is questionable. The parts of the book that focused on the technology felt a little forced, like the author had learned a very little bit about computers and then based the manuscript on that information, rather than having a solid working knowledge. (I’m probably overcritical there since I work in IT, but that’s how it read to me.) Despite my issues with the premise and technology, once you set aside those reservations and embrace the story, it’s done very well.
The writing was pretty good, and the plot was well-structured and paced. I never felt like the story dragged, and I was actually very interested to see how the plot resolved. I liked the main characters, though they read a little bland at times. They each had a back story and sufficient personality, but lacked the spark of originality that tends to push them over into “favorite character” status. The end was quite gripping, and the time-travel structure that Kent used worked very well for the story. It’s what Stormy calls the Fixed Timeline – meaning that whatever the MC did in the past didn’t alter the future because she’d already done it in the past. (Essentially, the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban effect.) So yes, they get to act, but no, they don’t nullify their own existence.
Persistence of Memory was a solid read, and one that I recommend if you enjoy light time travel like the Ruby Red series, or adult time travel fiction set in small town England.
The review "Persistence of Memory" first appeared on StarlightBookReviews.com.
September 26, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this! I have liked everything Ms. Kent has written, and this is no exception.
It was a fairly quick read, but I don't mean that in a bad way. ;) It's one of those novels that you hate to see end, but I don't think there was much more the author could have included in this book.
Her extensive research and sense of humor really shine in this time travel/historical fiction novel.
I chuckled at some of her references to other fictional characters, not because they were necessarily funny, but unexpected.
I would recommend this to everyone who enjoys historical fiction and/or time travel novels.
It was a fairly quick read, but I don't mean that in a bad way. ;) It's one of those novels that you hate to see end, but I don't think there was much more the author could have included in this book.
Her extensive research and sense of humor really shine in this time travel/historical fiction novel.
I chuckled at some of her references to other fictional characters, not because they were necessarily funny, but unexpected.
I would recommend this to everyone who enjoys historical fiction and/or time travel novels.
November 1, 2024
I honestly don’t have anything charitable to say about this one, except that the idea is cute.
July 30, 2021
Waste of time
February 19, 2015
Note: I received a copy of this text in exchange for an honest review.
When you sit down to read this book be prepared for a light hearted look at accidental time travel, unexpected romance, a well-envisioned and researched glimpse into the past, and a liberal dose of humor across the board.
This was a fun read that kept me turning the pages, waiting to find out what happened next … or previously … depending on how you perceive the time spectrum. Charlie Lowe, an introvert who happens to be from current times but might as well belong to a bygone era some two hundred years ago for all her intimate knowledge of Stoneford Village where she lives, accidentally manages to travel back in time via a computer virus and quantum mechanics. In the course of doing so she switches places with an ancestor with almost the exact same physical likeness, a Mrs. Catherine Collins. Both women are widows of five years, Charlie losing her husband in a car accident and Mrs. Collins’ husband to a loss at sea.
This switch plunges Charlie straight into her family’s history. A near-expert on her genealogy and those of the families living in Stoneford Village, Charlie swiftly adapts to the change in time, assuming the identity of Mrs. Collins for the sake of ease. Her adaptation is queerly aided by the mysterious presence of a Wi-Fi signal transmitted by the village’s Great Oak, received by her Smartphone which has made the trip with her (but she has no charger, nor is there electricity anyway) – a precious anomaly that enables her to stay in touch with the future and her cousin Nick, a quantum physicist.
This switch also transplants the real Mrs. Collins from 1825 to 2013 but because she looks exactly like Charlie no one believes she’s actually someone from the past. Nick and Charlie’s family think she’s gone on a mental vacation after vandalizing the office of Reg Ferryman, one of the brothers currently trying to bulldoze the village in order to build high priced housing, etc. The truth isn’t realized until Charlie makes contact with Nick via cell phone and a two hundred year old Wi-Fi transmitter.
I loved the back and forth of this book as we hop from Charlie’s perspective in the past to Nick’s perspective in the present. Kent explores the potential for paradox through Charlie’s hesitancy to meddle in the affairs of her forebears only to discover that (LOST fans will relate to this) “What happened, happened.” It’s only a matter of understanding the how and why events occurred the way they did, and being able to witness it first-hand puts much of Charlie’s knowledge into perspective. It’s in this first-hand witnessing that Charlie has the opportunity to make right several wrongs (without tampering with facts as recorded two hundred years in the future) and make a profound and personal connection with her ties to the village.
Mrs. Collins (the real Catherine) had me cracking up at every turn. Her naiveté is charming; she’s almost like an overgrown child thrown into the middle of a world she can barely imagine let alone understand. Technology is naturally a wonder to her but she embraces it, quickly becoming addicted to reality television, music played on an iPod, imbibing a pot brownie, etc. One might question the ease at which she adjusts but Stoneford Village hasn’t changed much in two hundred years. The buildings remain the same; it’s only the people (and technology) that are different.
There’s a great mystery in all of this time travel, the resolution of which brought about a pleased satisfaction. Charlie’s unexpected romance with Mr. Deeley is a rewarding element, helping Charlie heal from the loss of her husband. Winona Kent delivers a well rounded novel in Persistence of Memory. Well worth the read, I recommend it to anyone looking for a light read that doesn’t take itself too seriously but is still chock full of historical fact woven into wonderful storytelling.
When you sit down to read this book be prepared for a light hearted look at accidental time travel, unexpected romance, a well-envisioned and researched glimpse into the past, and a liberal dose of humor across the board.
This was a fun read that kept me turning the pages, waiting to find out what happened next … or previously … depending on how you perceive the time spectrum. Charlie Lowe, an introvert who happens to be from current times but might as well belong to a bygone era some two hundred years ago for all her intimate knowledge of Stoneford Village where she lives, accidentally manages to travel back in time via a computer virus and quantum mechanics. In the course of doing so she switches places with an ancestor with almost the exact same physical likeness, a Mrs. Catherine Collins. Both women are widows of five years, Charlie losing her husband in a car accident and Mrs. Collins’ husband to a loss at sea.
This switch plunges Charlie straight into her family’s history. A near-expert on her genealogy and those of the families living in Stoneford Village, Charlie swiftly adapts to the change in time, assuming the identity of Mrs. Collins for the sake of ease. Her adaptation is queerly aided by the mysterious presence of a Wi-Fi signal transmitted by the village’s Great Oak, received by her Smartphone which has made the trip with her (but she has no charger, nor is there electricity anyway) – a precious anomaly that enables her to stay in touch with the future and her cousin Nick, a quantum physicist.
This switch also transplants the real Mrs. Collins from 1825 to 2013 but because she looks exactly like Charlie no one believes she’s actually someone from the past. Nick and Charlie’s family think she’s gone on a mental vacation after vandalizing the office of Reg Ferryman, one of the brothers currently trying to bulldoze the village in order to build high priced housing, etc. The truth isn’t realized until Charlie makes contact with Nick via cell phone and a two hundred year old Wi-Fi transmitter.
I loved the back and forth of this book as we hop from Charlie’s perspective in the past to Nick’s perspective in the present. Kent explores the potential for paradox through Charlie’s hesitancy to meddle in the affairs of her forebears only to discover that (LOST fans will relate to this) “What happened, happened.” It’s only a matter of understanding the how and why events occurred the way they did, and being able to witness it first-hand puts much of Charlie’s knowledge into perspective. It’s in this first-hand witnessing that Charlie has the opportunity to make right several wrongs (without tampering with facts as recorded two hundred years in the future) and make a profound and personal connection with her ties to the village.
Mrs. Collins (the real Catherine) had me cracking up at every turn. Her naiveté is charming; she’s almost like an overgrown child thrown into the middle of a world she can barely imagine let alone understand. Technology is naturally a wonder to her but she embraces it, quickly becoming addicted to reality television, music played on an iPod, imbibing a pot brownie, etc. One might question the ease at which she adjusts but Stoneford Village hasn’t changed much in two hundred years. The buildings remain the same; it’s only the people (and technology) that are different.
There’s a great mystery in all of this time travel, the resolution of which brought about a pleased satisfaction. Charlie’s unexpected romance with Mr. Deeley is a rewarding element, helping Charlie heal from the loss of her husband. Winona Kent delivers a well rounded novel in Persistence of Memory. Well worth the read, I recommend it to anyone looking for a light read that doesn’t take itself too seriously but is still chock full of historical fact woven into wonderful storytelling.
October 10, 2013
Persistence of Memory
Charlotte Duran Lowe, Charlie to her friends had a long day of listening to an arborist tell her that the village oak tree at the center of town had definitely been poisoned and to towns people talk about how the Ferryman Brothers have this plan to destroy the half the village & build their idea of a better place since they claim to own 2 large parcels of land. She had gone home earlier and was looking for information on the world wide web to discredit the Ferrymen but she didn't come up with much other than to fill herself with much anger. She left the house & went to Ron Ferrymans office gaining access with a key that had been there for a long time by the previous owner of the property. She let her anger control her actions as she went into the office and she saw detailed plans, telephone, nameplate and more on his desk so she wiped it clean and then picked up his laptop smashing it on the floor not once but 6 times, the last time she was in mid-smash and Ron came to the door then came in. She stood and ran out as quickly as she could knowing he seen her. Now she was home at her sitting room desk where she was supposed to be waiting for her cousin Nick to come and go through her computer to see what was wrong with it and if her family tree program was the issue or something else. She had clicked a number of peoples boxes in the program looking up information to prove Ron & Reg Ferryman wrong about the true ownership of the parcels of property they claim to own which originally belonged to her family. But she would have to call Nick and tell him what happened and warn him that Ron and the constable might be here to arrest her when he arrived. When she tried to call Nick, his number didn't pop up, instead a picture of a candle did, her phone was just not cooperating so she sent a message instead. She then went back to her computer attempting to look up family information. Her program was still acting up but she was determined to find the information she needed. All of a sudden there was a loud clap of thunder and a flash of lightening. Storms had never bothered her really but she was a little startled when her sitting room went dark. A few seconds later her lights came back on and her program recovered also, then Lucas Adams and Sarah Fosters changed to a shade of lilac which she had never seen before. She sat staring because beyond her desk and laptop something strange was happening, Some of the things in the room were staying the same while others were plainly dissolving. She stood up thinking it couldn't be real and she reached out her hand and found that there was a transparent jello type of wall that rippled like a pool of water. The she heard them, the voices of Nick, Ron Ferryman and the constable all coming through the door as she stepped through this wall into another time. What comes next you will just have to read the book to find out who Charlie meets and where she goes.
I enjoyed this book. This was a quick read. The past and the future flowed easily through all the characters and I liked most of them. The writer painted a wonderful description of a town that made it easy to picture in my mind. I would recommend this for all to read. It certainly made me think about certain things and how they work and the relationship between things and people. Id give this book a 4.5
Charlotte Duran Lowe, Charlie to her friends had a long day of listening to an arborist tell her that the village oak tree at the center of town had definitely been poisoned and to towns people talk about how the Ferryman Brothers have this plan to destroy the half the village & build their idea of a better place since they claim to own 2 large parcels of land. She had gone home earlier and was looking for information on the world wide web to discredit the Ferrymen but she didn't come up with much other than to fill herself with much anger. She left the house & went to Ron Ferrymans office gaining access with a key that had been there for a long time by the previous owner of the property. She let her anger control her actions as she went into the office and she saw detailed plans, telephone, nameplate and more on his desk so she wiped it clean and then picked up his laptop smashing it on the floor not once but 6 times, the last time she was in mid-smash and Ron came to the door then came in. She stood and ran out as quickly as she could knowing he seen her. Now she was home at her sitting room desk where she was supposed to be waiting for her cousin Nick to come and go through her computer to see what was wrong with it and if her family tree program was the issue or something else. She had clicked a number of peoples boxes in the program looking up information to prove Ron & Reg Ferryman wrong about the true ownership of the parcels of property they claim to own which originally belonged to her family. But she would have to call Nick and tell him what happened and warn him that Ron and the constable might be here to arrest her when he arrived. When she tried to call Nick, his number didn't pop up, instead a picture of a candle did, her phone was just not cooperating so she sent a message instead. She then went back to her computer attempting to look up family information. Her program was still acting up but she was determined to find the information she needed. All of a sudden there was a loud clap of thunder and a flash of lightening. Storms had never bothered her really but she was a little startled when her sitting room went dark. A few seconds later her lights came back on and her program recovered also, then Lucas Adams and Sarah Fosters changed to a shade of lilac which she had never seen before. She sat staring because beyond her desk and laptop something strange was happening, Some of the things in the room were staying the same while others were plainly dissolving. She stood up thinking it couldn't be real and she reached out her hand and found that there was a transparent jello type of wall that rippled like a pool of water. The she heard them, the voices of Nick, Ron Ferryman and the constable all coming through the door as she stepped through this wall into another time. What comes next you will just have to read the book to find out who Charlie meets and where she goes.
I enjoyed this book. This was a quick read. The past and the future flowed easily through all the characters and I liked most of them. The writer painted a wonderful description of a town that made it easy to picture in my mind. I would recommend this for all to read. It certainly made me think about certain things and how they work and the relationship between things and people. Id give this book a 4.5
April 21, 2018
The first book in a trilogy introduces us to the tiny village of Stoneford, in southern England, where most streets, houses and the Village Green still look pretty much as they did in the eighteenth century. However, the thuggish Ferryman brothers, unscrupulous owners of the local pub, have brought in bulldozers and are hellbent on destroying Stoneford's precious history in pursuit of mass development and fast profits.
Charlotte Duran Lowe lost her beloved husband five years ago when a drunk driver killed Jeff and badly injured her cousin Nick. Charlie's life is now sadly reduced: by day, as Stoneford's de facto historian and dressed in Regency costume, she conducts tours of the lively exhibits of the local museum; by night, she indulges in obsessive research of her ancestors, who once owned the big mansion on the hill. Round the clock, she worries about the suspicious decline of the majestic Village Oak and the impending destructive redevelopment of the Village Green into luxury-flat madness.
One stormy night, thunder strikes her cottage, providing ideal conditions for Charlie to be cast back in time to July 1825, the very period where her historical research has bogged down. Now she has a chance to witness in person the events she so longs to investigate. The danger, as always with time travel, is that she might inadvertently alter the course of history. The other small problem is how to get back to 2013 and her previous life.
I enjoyed the complexity of the storyline, the vast cast of characters, lovely descriptions, and satisfyingly accurate period details. Since Charlie is well versed in the history of the times, she is able to slip easily into the mindset of the Regency era and adopt the formal speech and restrained social behaviour of the people she meets, resulting in delightful dialogue and fascinating encounters, one of which turns decidedly romantic.
Fans of Jane Austen will find lots to love in this charming and imaginative tale of unintended time travel. Charlie is a sympathetic heroine, and she more than meets her match in Mr. Deeley, the handsome young head groom at Stoneford Manor. Besides the romance, there are many fascinating themes woven into the story: conservation, social issues, scientific theories of time and quantum physics, ethical choices in the face of miscarriage of justice, and what to do with a son who has turned out very badly. Many humorous situations arise when Regency characters are confronted by technological advances that we take for granted, but the biggest laugh for me was the beta design of a now ubiquitous sanitary device. The suspenseful conclusion was very satisfying, while leaving the door open for a logical sequel. An intelligent read suitable for the widest public.
Charlotte Duran Lowe lost her beloved husband five years ago when a drunk driver killed Jeff and badly injured her cousin Nick. Charlie's life is now sadly reduced: by day, as Stoneford's de facto historian and dressed in Regency costume, she conducts tours of the lively exhibits of the local museum; by night, she indulges in obsessive research of her ancestors, who once owned the big mansion on the hill. Round the clock, she worries about the suspicious decline of the majestic Village Oak and the impending destructive redevelopment of the Village Green into luxury-flat madness.
One stormy night, thunder strikes her cottage, providing ideal conditions for Charlie to be cast back in time to July 1825, the very period where her historical research has bogged down. Now she has a chance to witness in person the events she so longs to investigate. The danger, as always with time travel, is that she might inadvertently alter the course of history. The other small problem is how to get back to 2013 and her previous life.
I enjoyed the complexity of the storyline, the vast cast of characters, lovely descriptions, and satisfyingly accurate period details. Since Charlie is well versed in the history of the times, she is able to slip easily into the mindset of the Regency era and adopt the formal speech and restrained social behaviour of the people she meets, resulting in delightful dialogue and fascinating encounters, one of which turns decidedly romantic.
Fans of Jane Austen will find lots to love in this charming and imaginative tale of unintended time travel. Charlie is a sympathetic heroine, and she more than meets her match in Mr. Deeley, the handsome young head groom at Stoneford Manor. Besides the romance, there are many fascinating themes woven into the story: conservation, social issues, scientific theories of time and quantum physics, ethical choices in the face of miscarriage of justice, and what to do with a son who has turned out very badly. Many humorous situations arise when Regency characters are confronted by technological advances that we take for granted, but the biggest laugh for me was the beta design of a now ubiquitous sanitary device. The suspenseful conclusion was very satisfying, while leaving the door open for a logical sequel. An intelligent read suitable for the widest public.
November 23, 2013
Persistence of Memory by Winona Kent
This is a time-travel mystery type novel with romantic and heroic overtones. A very interesting concept and sometimes perplexing although intriguing time travel theories.
The story takes place in the village of Stoneford on England’s southern coast. This village has been very nearly untouched by renovation for almost 200 years. The central figure, Charlotte Duran Lowe or Charlie to her friends, has lived in Stoneford all her life. Charlie is a young widow who now works as the Historical Guide and Interpreter for the Stoneford Village Museum. Her daily uniform is a Regency frock from the 1825 era.
However, a redevelopment endeavor has begun by two very unscrupulous brothers Ron and Reg Ferryman. They want to line their pockets and don’t care at all about the history of the village. They have in fact resorted to the poisoning of the 300 year old Village Oak in the center of town, so that they can tear it down and rebuild with hotels and the like. The main issues center on lost deeds, dubious ownership, and greed of the brothers.
The time travel theory revolves around Charlie’s laptop and programs, a lightning storm releasing tachyons and sprites (scientific definitions can be found in the book), sending a shocked Charlie (fortunately still in her frock) back to 1825 and bringing one of her ancient cousins Mrs. Collins to this century in her place. The women apparently looked very much alike and so the adventure begins.
An interesting read, as Charlie tries to find out about her ancestors, solve the missing deed issues as well as others, while not blowing her cover. She also finds new love for herself while attempting to ensure her ancestors marry the correct men to ensure her own lifeline.
It’s a very twisty, sometimes comical, sometimes scary tale with many a paradox. To meddle or not to meddle…the “Butterfly Effect” type questions.
Will Charlie succeed in saving the village by finding the missing deed? Will she ensure Sarah marries the right man to ensure her linage? Does Charlie return? Ahhhh….the questions abound! Solve the mysteries by reading the book! Would it be fun to go back in time…you decide…
Copy supplied by author for an honest review.
This is a time-travel mystery type novel with romantic and heroic overtones. A very interesting concept and sometimes perplexing although intriguing time travel theories.
The story takes place in the village of Stoneford on England’s southern coast. This village has been very nearly untouched by renovation for almost 200 years. The central figure, Charlotte Duran Lowe or Charlie to her friends, has lived in Stoneford all her life. Charlie is a young widow who now works as the Historical Guide and Interpreter for the Stoneford Village Museum. Her daily uniform is a Regency frock from the 1825 era.
However, a redevelopment endeavor has begun by two very unscrupulous brothers Ron and Reg Ferryman. They want to line their pockets and don’t care at all about the history of the village. They have in fact resorted to the poisoning of the 300 year old Village Oak in the center of town, so that they can tear it down and rebuild with hotels and the like. The main issues center on lost deeds, dubious ownership, and greed of the brothers.
The time travel theory revolves around Charlie’s laptop and programs, a lightning storm releasing tachyons and sprites (scientific definitions can be found in the book), sending a shocked Charlie (fortunately still in her frock) back to 1825 and bringing one of her ancient cousins Mrs. Collins to this century in her place. The women apparently looked very much alike and so the adventure begins.
An interesting read, as Charlie tries to find out about her ancestors, solve the missing deed issues as well as others, while not blowing her cover. She also finds new love for herself while attempting to ensure her ancestors marry the correct men to ensure her own lifeline.
It’s a very twisty, sometimes comical, sometimes scary tale with many a paradox. To meddle or not to meddle…the “Butterfly Effect” type questions.
Will Charlie succeed in saving the village by finding the missing deed? Will she ensure Sarah marries the right man to ensure her linage? Does Charlie return? Ahhhh….the questions abound! Solve the mysteries by reading the book! Would it be fun to go back in time…you decide…
Copy supplied by author for an honest review.
October 14, 2013
**3.5 - 4 stars***
Charlie Lowe has two obsessions: saving the Stoneford Village Green from unscrupulous developers and researching her ancestor, Louis Augustus Duran, whose mysterious origins elude her.
When a freak lightning strike and a rogue computer virus send her back to 1825, Charlie discovers she must persuade a reluctant Sarah Foster to marry Duran, or two centuries of descendants -including herself- will cease to exist.
My sunday side read this week, Persistence of Memory by Winona Kent was an interesting story - and a great way to spend my Sunday afternoon. I polished it off earlier today and have to say it was very enjoyable.
Perhaps not my favourite "type" of story, this was still well written and involving. Charlie finds herself trying to marry off Sarah to a man who is, well lets say not the most appealing of gentlemen. I found the whole thing quite amusing. Ok you have to suspend disbelief slightly more than usual when you find that Charlie still has a working mobile phone - even so this was a humerous and enchanting tale.
A short read but a clever engaging one I would recommend this for lovers of Historical fiction, time travel and romance.
Happy Reading Folks!
Charlie Lowe has two obsessions: saving the Stoneford Village Green from unscrupulous developers and researching her ancestor, Louis Augustus Duran, whose mysterious origins elude her.
When a freak lightning strike and a rogue computer virus send her back to 1825, Charlie discovers she must persuade a reluctant Sarah Foster to marry Duran, or two centuries of descendants -including herself- will cease to exist.
My sunday side read this week, Persistence of Memory by Winona Kent was an interesting story - and a great way to spend my Sunday afternoon. I polished it off earlier today and have to say it was very enjoyable.
Perhaps not my favourite "type" of story, this was still well written and involving. Charlie finds herself trying to marry off Sarah to a man who is, well lets say not the most appealing of gentlemen. I found the whole thing quite amusing. Ok you have to suspend disbelief slightly more than usual when you find that Charlie still has a working mobile phone - even so this was a humerous and enchanting tale.
A short read but a clever engaging one I would recommend this for lovers of Historical fiction, time travel and romance.
Happy Reading Folks!
May 11, 2016
For most of the book, it was a three-star book for me; however, from about the last third to the end, it became a two-star book. I was disappointed with the ending. In a effort to tie up loose ends, the punch of the ending was dissipated and postponed until it was fairly anticlimactic for me. Perhaps more rigorous editing would have helped here. There was also a gratuitous bit of petting thrown in suddenly that seemed out of character and didn't really advance the story line.
September 22, 2013
Sadly this is not very well written and the plot makes absolutely no sense as science fiction. There are so many better ways to write books like this, I blame the small press for failing to provide proper editorial guidance.
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February 12, 2014
I absolutely loved this - fast moving plot, well written characters and completely believable despite the time travel element - it all worked really well and all the loose ends were tied up nicely by the end! Really enjoyed it!
November 12, 2013
An absolutely delightful romp for fans of Austen, mystery lovers, or period film junkies!
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