Book Review, Excerpt & Giveaway:
Timeless
By Declan Rhodes
In 2024, Dylan Mercer is the rising star of professional hockey, adored by fans and unmatched on the ice. Yet beneath the glitz of his burgeoning career lies a truth Dylan fears could derail everything: he’s gay in a world where he fears coming out could mean the end of his career. After a tough practice session, Dylan’s discovery of a pair of vintage skates in an old locker sends him spiraling back in time to 1980, just before the US Olympic hockey team’s “Miracle on Ice.”
Thrown into an era where the stakes for being himself are even higher, Dylan finds an unexpected ally and more in Nico Santoro, a fellow player with secrets of his own. In the shadow of history, Dylan and Nico forge a bond that defies time, facing down prejudice and fear with the strength found in each other.
As Dylan grapples with his return to the present, he faces an impossible choice: a past world that ultimately learns to love openly because of his and Nico’s courage, or the present where he’s one of the brightest future hockey stars.
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Excerpt:
“Yeah, Nico. I wouldn’t lie to you. I accidentally came here when I put on a pair of glowing skates, and now I don’t know how to get back…or when. I suspect it will happen soon, but…”
I stared at him with a dubious gaze. What he’d described was impossible. Maybe Kowalski and the guys were behind it all. They could have found a hockey guy from the city and paid him to throw me off.
It was time to challenge Dylan. “Prove it. Show me something futuristic, something undeniable.”
He hesitated for a moment. “My clothes are from 2024.”
I shrugged. “There’s nothing original about them other than sort of whacked-out styles. Jeans are jeans, and the shirt is cotton.”
“Oh,” he whispered, and he shoved his hand into his pocket. I leaned forward, hoping for a surprise. He pulled out the device he’d been holding when he first appeared in the locker room.
“This is a smartphone from 2024,” Dylan announced, puffing his chest out. It’s not just a phone; it’s a little computer that fits in your pocket, and it’s practically a window to the future.”
“Computer? That size?” I scoffed. I couldn’t hide my disbelief, but I also looked closely, thinking about the stories I could tell if I saw something nobody else in my time had seen.
He held the device out toward me. “You don’t believe me? Just watch.”
Everything was silent around us. The earth stood still. Dylan awakened his device, and the screen came to life. I took a step back. In James Bond movies, little machines like that could shoot to kill.
The thing glowed and displayed a bunch of colorful shapes, unlike anything I’d ever seen. It practically screamed modern technology.
My breath caught in my throat as I took a cautious step forward. Could what Dylan called a phone really be a gateway into a new world?
I was about to concede a slight chance that Dylan was telling the truth when the screen flickered, and then it went black. My heart sank.
“What happened? I want to see it. Turn it back on.”
Dylan frowned. “Damn…of course, the battery goes dead right at this minute, and I don’t have my charger.”
~ * ~ Mari‘s Review ~ * ~
3.5 Stars
Once upon a time, back when I still read MF books, time-traveling romances were some of my favorites, so I jumped at the chance of reading an MM book with that premise.
Dylan, an up-and-coming hockey star, grappling with the idea of coming out, travels back to the past, 44 years back to be exact, where he finds friendship and more from Nico Santoro, who plays in a minor league hockey team and who hopes to play in the NHL.
While the premise was very intriguing, I found the execution to be a tad lacking. The fact that Dylan found the skates that helped him travel to the past in the arena, instead of some other place, especially when it’s supposed to be some kind of family heirloom, didn’t sit right with me. Another thing was that while we learn what happens to Nico and his career, Dylan’s future is not as clear.
Other than that, I liked Nico and Dylan together, even if their relationship was a bit insta-lovey. The book was enjoyable and even if I needed to suspend my disbelief in some instances, the writing was good and the romance was great, and I have no trouble recommending it.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement. ***
Enter the Giveaway:
To celebrate the release of Timeless, Declan is giving away 2 e-copies & 2 Paperbacks of the upcoming release!
Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!
Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cc0f2a57851/?
About the Author:
Connect with Declan:
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