Distant Dreams

by Jenny Lykins

Book Overview

Maine, 1999: Shaelyn Summer was helping to reenact an 1830's wedding on an antique ship, but when she put on an old diamond ring she found herself in Maine, 1830! Now she is the very real wife of a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0515123684
• ISBN13: 9780515123685
• Release Date: October 1998
• Publisher: Jove Books
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.8" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

5 star time travel - excellent story

I picked up this romance figuring it would be a quick read - it turned out to be an excellent one. This book grabbed my interest right away. The way this story was crafted, it was easy to imagine that a ring could wisk you off into the past. Once able to suspend belief, I was able to enjoy the very well created characters and well written story. You can picture the estate by the sea and our heroine falling in love. Shaelyn has agreed to take part in a living history re-enactment on board a historic ship. She is to be the bride in the re-enactment to be married on board the ship deck. Meanwhile, back in time Alec is prepared to marry a woman who has traveled across a vast ocean to marry his younger brother in an arranged marriage. Alec wants to set his younger brother free to wed the woman he really loves by marrying the stranger. Fast forward back into the present - Shaelyn is a journalist, now dressed in a beautiful old-fashioned gown, drops her pad, pen, and tape recorder on the floor of the cabin and in searching for them, she finds a ring wedged into the floor boards. She resolves to slip it on so she will remember to return it to the ship captain. When she slips the ring onto her finger, the ship lurches about and all the lights go out. Unaware that she has been transported back in time, Shaelyn goes up on deck and Alec, believing she is his brother's betrothed, steps up onto the deck and marries her. Thus begins a well created time travel romance. It's easy to suspend belief in this one. You grow to care about the characters. To say more would give too much away. It was a very enjoyable tale and earns 5 stars all the way.

I couldn't put it down!

Enough people gave a rough story discrption, I just wanted to say I loved this book. I couldn't put it down (stayed up half the night reading!). I usually can figure out about half way through the book exactly how it is going to end, but this one kept me guessing until the last couple pages. It takes you through just about every emotion, but doesn't leave you with a cry your eyes out ending. I really felt for the characters, and I will definately buy the sequel! I have only read two other books by Jenny Lykins, and I think is her best yet, but will definately read more.

A must read, like all her books

Though I read River of Dreams first, which was a sequel to this book, I enjoyed both books immensely. This author has such a talent for evoking emotions, I feel as though I'm living the story.

I read them backwards

I loved this book, I however would have liked to have read it before I read River of Dreams also by Ms. Lykins. I loved the way she brought the characters of this book together, and if I had read them in order would have enjoyed it all the more, my advice to you is if you would like to know more about Shaelyn and Alec dont miss River of Dreams, and try and read them in order.

I could not put this one down!

After slipping an antique ring on her finger, Shaelyn Sumner is transported back in time just in time to marry poor Alec. Shaelyn & Alec find themselves married, quite by accident. She thought she was participating in a "living history" re-enactment & he thought he was saving his brother from a loveless arranged marriage. Alec thinks Shaelyn is crazy even if she is very desirable and truly doesn't know what to make of her. Shaelyn is a wonderful female character, she's smart, sassy & she's got brass. I really enjoyed the way she & Alec played off of each other. I also enjoyed the "Puffin" conversations between Alec & his friend Griffin. I laughed out loud at the "Pugilistic Puffin" (you'll have to read the book to understand!). I love humor in romance novels and this one doesn't disappoint. Jenny Lykins is one terrific author and this book is well worth your time.