Romance fans need to make room on their Top Ten Favorites List for Judie Aitken's debut novel. "A LOVE BEYOND TIME" is a compelling mix of history, mystery, and relationships.
The author presents a story that takes the reader beyond the realm of romantic fiction. She uses her extensive firsthand experience and knowledge of Native American culture to bring her audience into the heart of the characters and setting.
Ms. Aitken paints pictures with words the way an artist blends colors on their canvas: "Sunlight sparkled on the Little Big Horn River, warming its clear, rushing water. In the crook of the river, boys and girls played. They spent the early morning swimming and splashing, the water glistening on their sun-browned bodies. Further downriver, two old men using grasshoppers for bait took advantage of the fish driven downstream by the children's games. Overhead, clouds of swallows darted through the cottonwoods, swooping over the river to pluck insects out of the air and carry them back to their hungry nestlings. June 25, 1876 was a beautiful warm and sunny day" (from "A LOVE BEYOND TIME").
Readers will also enjoy solving the mystery. The plot is entwined with the characters and setting so that all components play an important role in the story.
"A LOVE BEYOND TIME" has a sensuous sizzle factor that goes off the chart. Yet the relationship between Wolf and Ryan also reflects the emotional balance and intensity that satisfies readers.
Make room on your keeper shelf for Ms. Aitken's books. I expect this storyteller to spin more tales of history, mystery, and love.