Review by m1n -- Yesterday by Samyann
Posted: 18 Apr 2020, 10:44
[Following is a volunteer review of "Yesterday" by Samyann.]
Yesterday: A Novel of Reincarnation by Samyann is a speculative historical romance. It interleaves modern life in Chicago with a charming love story of two characters who have been reincarnated and find themselves still connected.
When Amanda Parker, who is grieving for her dead fiancé, saves a Chicago cop, Mark Callahan, from being killed in an elevated train accident, they both feel that they have met before, but cannot remember how or when. This déjà vu is only enhanced by the old grandfather clock Amanda had bought from a local antique shop that both of them find strangely intriguing.
With the help of Amanda’s aunt Mary, who is a psychiatrist, Amanda and Mark are able to regress to their former lives through different, prominent, periods in American history: The American Civil War and The Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Amanda and Mark are both young, very good-looking, unattached, and deeply attracted to one another. All of which makes the reader hope that they will get together! However, what makes this novel more than just an ‘ordinary’ romance story is the extraordinary discovery that these two have been in love in their previous lives.
Their romance is punctuated by the discovery of that shared past. Also, in Amanda’s case, of her ability to trust in the possibility of being in love again. There is a ‘physical’ element to the romance and sexual descriptions. However, it is not shocking and doesn’t read as too explicit for an adult audience. As a result, the romance is tender and loving.
Samyann’s writing is consistently very good and her characters feel believable and interesting. Her descriptions of different locations and historical details are well observed and effective. Although she has obviously done her research, she wears it lightly. Small details, like Amanda having a cat called ‘Oprah’ or Mark being a mounted policeman, are delightful extras.
I found this book very easy to read and I really enjoyed the historical elements. Which are both charming and heartrending as they cover love and joy, as well as war and terrible loss. The author has given useful notes at the end of the story giving more information about certain places and institutions mentioned in the novel.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 because it’s a good read and a real page turner, but some people might find the idea of reincarnation too difficult.
******
Yesterday
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Yesterday: A Novel of Reincarnation by Samyann is a speculative historical romance. It interleaves modern life in Chicago with a charming love story of two characters who have been reincarnated and find themselves still connected.
When Amanda Parker, who is grieving for her dead fiancé, saves a Chicago cop, Mark Callahan, from being killed in an elevated train accident, they both feel that they have met before, but cannot remember how or when. This déjà vu is only enhanced by the old grandfather clock Amanda had bought from a local antique shop that both of them find strangely intriguing.
With the help of Amanda’s aunt Mary, who is a psychiatrist, Amanda and Mark are able to regress to their former lives through different, prominent, periods in American history: The American Civil War and The Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Amanda and Mark are both young, very good-looking, unattached, and deeply attracted to one another. All of which makes the reader hope that they will get together! However, what makes this novel more than just an ‘ordinary’ romance story is the extraordinary discovery that these two have been in love in their previous lives.
Their romance is punctuated by the discovery of that shared past. Also, in Amanda’s case, of her ability to trust in the possibility of being in love again. There is a ‘physical’ element to the romance and sexual descriptions. However, it is not shocking and doesn’t read as too explicit for an adult audience. As a result, the romance is tender and loving.
Samyann’s writing is consistently very good and her characters feel believable and interesting. Her descriptions of different locations and historical details are well observed and effective. Although she has obviously done her research, she wears it lightly. Small details, like Amanda having a cat called ‘Oprah’ or Mark being a mounted policeman, are delightful extras.
I found this book very easy to read and I really enjoyed the historical elements. Which are both charming and heartrending as they cover love and joy, as well as war and terrible loss. The author has given useful notes at the end of the story giving more information about certain places and institutions mentioned in the novel.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 because it’s a good read and a real page turner, but some people might find the idea of reincarnation too difficult.
******
Yesterday
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon