Book Review: Timeless by Alexandra Monir

Timeless by Alexandra Monir

Reading Level: Young Adult

Release Date: Available Now

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Pages: 288

Source: Received from publicist for honest review

Summary: When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor’s world, she is forced to uproot her life and move across the country to New York City, to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she’s never met. In their old Fifth Avenue mansion filled with a century’s worth of family secrets, Michele discovers a diary that hurtles her back in time to the year 1910. There, in the midst of the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life – a man she always wished was real, but never imagined could actually exist. And she finds herself falling for him, into an otherworldly, time-crossed romance. Michele is soon leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves – a quest that will determine the fate of both of their lives.

My Review: Timeless reflected an elegantly written love story that transported me through a charming time travel. Michele, a bright and talented writer, was an easy character to connect with. Her relatable tone, even during tragic occurrences, carried the same level of comfort throughout. Michele, early in the novel experiences a life altering loss that causes her to move in with her rich grandparents in NYC. There, her depression elevates while being in a big house with a cold atmosphere. When she stumbles upon a magical key and her ancestor's diary, a new discovery of time travel throws her into a whirlwind world of questions. The descriptive quality during the 1900's was breathtakingly fascinating. I would have loved to physically see the busy, city lights turn into a calm, and demeanor society. I gratefully admire Monir's research and hard work in developing the scenery. It's nice to be mentally taken back one hundred years.

Michele's back and forth visits through time gained her access into the Windsor's history. Her ancestors such as Clara and Stella were tastefully done. Their personalities shined through even when Michele graced their presence for a short while. Now, the romantic aspect surrounding her travels revolved around Philip. At first sight, he was an attractive and well-mannered gentleman with moralizing values. The inevitable chemistry seemingly showcased a bond that would stand the hands of time. Another element which was easy to follow was the modern and old school, aristocratic acts between the two worlds. All in all, the ending left me yearning for the sequel. After all, I did say out loud, "son of a gun" once I finished it. I really enjoyed the whole feel and concept expressed in Michele's unforgettable love quest and I look forward to continuing it with the rest of the series.

My Rating:

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Author's Info:

At the age of 25, author and recording artist Alexandra Monir is releasing both her debut novel, Timeless (Random House, January 11, 2011) and album written and recorded as a companion to the book. Timeless is a sweeping young adult fantasy novel that spans three fascinating eras in New York history. The novel combines an otherworldly romance, multi-generational family mystery, adventures through New York City's past, and original music. In an exciting twist for Timeless, Alexandra has integrated original lyrics into the novel's pages, writing two songs for the book. She collaborated on the music with producer and musical virtuoso Michael Bearden (musical director of Michael Jackson's last concert, "This Is It") and her songwriting partner Heather Holley (of Christina Aguilera success). Alexandra recorded the songs with an all-star band, and the two tracks will be released as digital downloads for readers, with a full-length album to follow in spring/summer. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Alexandra fell in love with singing and acting and trained rigorously with professional theater companies, spending her childhood and teen years performing musical theater. At age eight, she also began writing a series of short stories centered on the fictional adventures of she and her best friend, which led to the dream of one day becoming a published author. She began writing music at age fourteen, and moved to Los Angeles at seventeen to pursue a career as a Hollywood writer and recording artist. Whether in books or music, theater or film, Alexandra was born to be a storyteller. Alexandra divides her time between Los Angeles and New York City, where she is working on the sequel to Timeless.

For more info on Alexandra, visit her sites:

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