Caffeinated Reviewer

A strange twist of fate connects a British soldier fighting in the First World War in 1916 with a young woman living in modern-day England a century later, in this haunting literary time travel novel.

In 1916 1st Lieutenant Robert Lovett is a patient at Coldbrook Hall military hospital in Sussex, England. A gifted artist, he’s been wounded fighting in the Great War. Shell shocked and suffering from hysterical blindness he can no longer see his own face, let alone paint, and life seems increasingly hopeless.

A century later in 2017, medical student Louisa Casson has just lost her beloved grandmother – her only family. Heartbroken, she drowns her sorrows in alcohol on the South Downs cliffs – only to fall accidentally part-way down. Doctors fear she may have attempted suicide, and Louisa finds herself involuntarily admitted to Coldbrook Hall – now a psychiatric hospital, an unfriendly and chaotic place.

Then one day, while secretly exploring the old Victorian hospital’s ruined, abandoned wing, Louisa hears a voice calling for help, and stumbles across a dark, old-fashioned hospital room. Inside, lying on the floor, is a mysterious, sightless young man, who tells her he was hurt at the Battle of the Somme, a WW1 battle a century ago. And that his name is Lieutenant Robert Lovett…

Beyond the Moon by Catherine Taylor delivered a time-slip romance that held me captive from its suspenseful moments to WWI details. Narrated by Liz May Brice, historical fiction and romance fans alike will want to grab this one.

As you know, I love historical fiction surround historical moments. Weave in details surrounding a modern day asylum and offer time-slip magic and you’ve hooked me.

Taylor weaved a compelling story rich in historical facts pertaining to the war, advances in medicine, hospitals near the front and prisoners of war. She then transported us to 2017 and introduced to a heroine who is down on her luck and in real danger. Through a series of tragic events, she finds herself alone and admitted to an overrun, poorly managed psychiatric hospital. The author uses this narrative to shed light on a relevant blight while delivering a captivating tale.

Louisa Casson is just trying to muddle through the mess she finds herself in. To be honest, her predicament made my heart race. As much as I’d like to say this couldn’t happen today, I fear I’ve read enough to know this scenario is highly, probably. This realistic element quickly drew me in even as my anxiety grew.

While outside she explores the old abandoned wing. It is there she hears a voice calling for help. When she opens a room, she finds herself transported back to a hospital room in 1916. Here she meets 1st Lieutenant Robert Lovett. He is a patient at Coldbrook Hall military hospital in Sussex, England. The two strike up a friendship and eventually fall in love. Things go awry when he introduces her to fellow friends and they can’t see her. What unfolds held me spellbound.

Rich in history, Louisa and Robert’s story kept me engaged with twists. Our story goes back and forth between the two perspectives, and the author set much of the story during WWI in France.

I loved the attention to detail, from time spent in the makeshift hospital in France, to the horrors on the frontline. I liked Louisa and the friends she makes along the way. One cannot help but feel connected to her.

The romance is weaved throughout and is powerful in itself, but it truly is a backdrop to the story Taylor shares around them. I liked the explanation to the time-slip and how the author brought it all together.

I must admit that even as I found the story that was unfolded around them, I got anxious hoping for a happily ever after.

Liz May Brice narrates and has a delightful tone. I enjoyed both her female and male voice as she changed POVs. Her male voices sounded natural, and only once when Robert was extremely upset did I feel his voice sounded overly feminine. Ms. Brice enhanced the story through tone and pacing. The story works wonderfully on audio.

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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