Wednesday, September 4, 2013

The Mine (Northwest Passage #1) by John A. Heldt

In May 2000, Joel Smith is a cocky, adventurous young man who sees the world as his playground. But when the college senior, days from graduation, enters an abandoned Montana mine, he discovers the price of reckless curiosity. He emerges in May 1941 with a cell phone he can't use, money he can't spend, and little but his wits to guide his way. Stuck in the age of Whirlaway, swing dancing, and a peacetime draft, Joel begins a new life as the nation drifts toward war. With the help of his 21-year-old trailblazing grandmother and her friends, he finds his place in a world he knew only from movies and books. But when an opportunity comes to return to the present, Joel must decide whether to leave his new love in the past or choose a course that will alter their lives forever. THE MINE is a love story that follows a humbled man through a critical time in history as he adjusts to new surroundings and wrestles with the knowledge of things to come.


I enjoy time travel books but with a male as the main protagonist, I've not read many. Joel and his buddy let a mine on their trip get the better of their curiosity and Joel finds himself back in time. The age old question of if he touches or does anything, will it change his present day or the future is a repetitive question through some of the book.  Not only for Joel but myself too.  

With the country heading toward war, Heldt does a solid job of creating the past with rich details and vibrant characters.  Joel begins to settle into his 'new' life, so when the time comes for him to go back to his present day, he's torn. The contrast between before and after is startling and really gives Joel a humbling experience.  The romance plays second fiddle in the plot points but it still engaging and sweet.  If you enjoy time travel books, you should pick up the Mine.  It's a solid read that kept me riveted from cover to cover.  I highly recommend it!!



*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

1 comment:

The old grey donkey, Eeyore stood by himself in a thistly corner of the Forest, his front feet well apart, his head on one side, and thought about things. Sometimes he thought sadly to himself, "Why?" and sometimes he thought, "Wherefore?" and sometimes he thought, "Inasmuch as which?" and sometimes he didn't quite know what he was thinking about.

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