Review Detail

What worked: Fast-paced time travel romp through Tudor England. Readers find out what might have happened if Queen Elizabeth I married Robert Dudley and had a son. In this case it would have been Nicholas the Ironheart.

High school senior Emmie didn't think her research on Nicholas the Ironheart would literary land her back in time, but after she purchases a ring at a garage sale, that's where she ends up. There's lots of details of what life would have been like in 1580 England. Murray does a good job showing readers the conditions in the infamous Tower of London, the clothing, the courtly intrigues, a jousting match, and even an execution for treason. Think Doctor Who meets Knight's Tale.

Emmie seems to not have much problems with her time in 1580. It helps that her mother just happens to be a modern day nurse. **She uses that knowledge to help after she's shot by an arrow when she first falls back in time. She also uses the modern day research to help Nicholas's 'breathing' problem and even is determine to stop his beloved sister's murder. The ring helps her go back and forth through time, but only if she's in a deep sleep. Emmie uses her mother's sleeping pills. I wondered why her mother might not notice the pills missing, but apparently she works a lot.

Emmie's internal thoughts are woven throughout. She has a biting sense of humor. Nicholas finds her 'different' and is drawn to her. There's other characters like her friend Alice, who helps her not feel too awkward in King Nicholas's court. The plotting of Dowager Countess of Warwick. So-called trusted advisers to King Nicholas that don't care for Emmie that much.

There's even a section where King Nicholas falls into our time. The scene where he goes to a club with Emmie and her friends is pretty hilarious.

I did have a hard time feeling the chemistry between Emmie and Nicholas. He went hot to cold. One moment he was totally into her and the next he was threatening to throw her in the tower. I also found it hard to think Emmie would seriously contemplates being Nicholas's mistress. But that was how things were done back in the sixteenth century.

The consequence of going back and forth in time is shown by history starting to change. Later, readers find out why the ring does in fact work.

Light, time travel romance set in 1580. Fans of Doctor Who and 16th century England are sure to enjoy this story.