Book Review: In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer

IN THIS MOMENT by Gabrielle Meyer
SERIES: Timeless #2
GENRE: Inspirational Historical Romance / Time Travel
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
RELEASE DATE: May 2, 2023
PAGES: 392

Maggie inherited a gift from her time-crossing parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night, she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives–and everyone she knows in them–forever.

In 1861, Maggie is the daughter of a senator at the outbreak of the Civil War, navigating a capital full of Southern spies and wounded soldiers. In 1941, she is a navy nurse, grappling with her knowledge of the future when she joins a hospital ship going to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, she’s a brilliant young medical student, fulfilling her dream of becoming a surgeon.

While Maggie has sworn off romance until she makes her final choice, an intriguing man tugs at her heart in each era, only complicating the impossible decision she must make, which looms ever closer. With so much on the line, how can Maggie choose just one life to keep and the rest to lose?

Other Books In This Series

I cannot say enough good things about this series. The author’s creativity is amazing, and so is her ability to layer a cohesive character across three timelines. Yes, THREE. Being born to time crossing parents and marked twice as a time crosser herself, Maggie must live three paths. This means that she basically lives the same day three times – one in 1861, one in 1941 and one in 2001. She is medically inclined in each time period, and I really enjoyed the layers this added to the plot.

In book one, the only similarity between Libby’s two paths was Libby herself. But with In This Moment, Maggie consistently faces the dilemma in 1861 and 1941 of what to do with the medical knowledge she has from being a med student in 2001. Is she changing history if she uses it? If so, she could forfeit a path before her 21st birthday (when she must choose a path to remain in for good), before she’s ready to do so. But how can she stand by and watch people die when she has the knowledge to help them? I loved how Meyer explores these issues raised by Maggie’s time crossing, from how it affects Maggie to how it affects her loved ones, too. In When the Day Comes there was a lot of emphasis on God’s sovereignty as it related to the time crossing, and while that is explored here as well the author also delves into the concept of free will. The perfect follow-up to the themes in book one.

I thought Libby had an agonizing choice to make in choosing which path to live in When the Day Comes, but it dims in comparison to Maggie’s. I honestly was not at all sure how things were going to play out and, unlike in When the Day Comes, I didn’t know how I wanted it to end, either. Until I did. But I was going right up to the wire along with Maggie and holding my breath on her behalf. There are some stunning twists in this book, things I didn’t see coming, and I’m just still marveling at the author’s ability to so masterfully craft this time crossing reality and create such compelling characters.

Bottom Line: In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer is another masterpiece of fiction. The plot, the characters, the time crossing ‘rules’, the history, the faith themes – all of it holds you captive from beginning to end, hardly daring to breathe as you follow Maggie through her three paths. Romance abounds in each path, making my KissingBooks heart happy, and while it doesn’t overshadow the story it is a large part of her dilemma for which life to choose. I loved the character growth that Meyer takes Maggie through, both emotionally and spiritually, and I wanted to give another standing ovation in the last couple of chapters. The theme of sacrificial love has been strong in both books, and given the ending of this one I cannot wait to see where the author takes it in book three.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 5 stars / amazing book!

KissingBook Level: 3+ / will forget to breathe on occasion

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Gabrielle Meyer has worked for state and local historical societies and loves writing fiction inspired by real people, places, and events. She currently resides along the banks of the Mississippi River in central Minnesota with her husband and four children. By day, she’s a busy homeschool mom, and by night she pens fiction and nonfiction filled with hope.

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What about you? What makes you want to read In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer?