March 11, 2024
The propulsive latest in Meyer’s Timeless series (after In This Moment) follows time-traveling twin sisters as they bounce between centuries in pursuit of their destinies. Hope and Grace travel each night between 1692 Salem, Mass., where they serve customers at their father’s tavern as the witch trials pick up steam, and 1912 New York City, where Grace works as a newspaper reporter and Hope makes history as the first aviatrix to fly across the English Channel. Both are eager to leave Salem behind for good when they turn 25 and must choose which century to inhabit. Yet trouble arises in 1912 when their parents’ orphanage is put up for sale, and Hope embarks on an ambitious cross-country flight to raise money to save it. Disaster strikes, upending the women’s lives in both timelines, endangering Hope’s budding romance with her handsome flight instructor, and testing their sisterly bond. Meyer keeps the action rolling in parallel timelines that thrum with tension, and brings historical events to vivid life through the twins’ eyes—especially the paranoia and witchcraft accusations swirling around Salem, which come perilously close to Hope and Grace. For fans of feisty female heroines and historical suspense, Meyer’s tale is one to savor.
Starred review from May 15, 2024
Time-crossing twin sisters Grace and Hope are as different as the two worlds between which they alternate daily. Hope is bold and outspoken and feels muzzled by the Puritans in 1692 Salem Village. Grace is thoughtful and quiet and knows the man she loves can never be with her in 1912 Florida. As the sisters' twenty-fifth birthday approaches, so does the day they must decide which world to stay in forever. But the obvious choice is never the easy one, especially after tragedy and unexpected revelations derail their plans, testing their faith in the goodness of God's ultimate design. Meyer captivates in this continuation of her Timeless series, following In This Moment (2023). For a Lifetime is an inspirational tale about two sisters' challenges and choices in the face of injustice, opportunity, and love. It and its series predecessors feature a fantasy element, time travel, that is grounded in historical realities, this time contrasting Grace and Hope's experiences during the early days of the Salem witch trials with their twentieth-century lives as women with careers in aviation and journalism. Meyer's expertly written blend of historical and time-travel fiction is rich in dramatic irony and features compelling dual time lines and passionate narrators navigating complex challenges.
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