Ever Crave the Rose by Morgan O'Neill

Ever Crave the Rose
Elizabethan Time Travel #2

Morgan O'Neill
Historical Romance/Time Travel
Published in 2017

H/h - Dr. Jonathan Brandon/Anne Brandon
Setting: Elizabethan era and present time.

Read in July, 2017

My rating:

                                                 [spoiler alert] 

Ever Crave the Rose, the final installment of Morgan O’Neill’s The Elizabethan Time Travel, has been one of my most anticipated releases over the past 2.5 yrs. ever since I read book 1. I was very excited when I found out this sequel to The Thornless Rose is finally getting published; couldn’t wait to find out how Anne and Jonathan’s journey ends! The biggest query, on my mind, was to see whether they stayed in the Elizabethan-era, or returned to the present time. If so, how will that work out when we consider Jonathan’s own past with Anne’s grandmother and 2014 not being his original time-frame of living. Did I get my answers? I’ll try to elaborate in my review...

It’s true that I’ve never been overtly interested in the history of Tudor England but The Elizabethan Time-Travel series changed that for me. Apart from the chapters set in present time, much like book 1, book 2 also connects and heavily relies on Tudor England without being made to feel like taking a History lesson. The fusion of the historical facts with the fiction was done so well that you won’t think Dr. Jonathan Brandon once wasn’t one of Queen Elizabeth I’s royal physicians! Some major historical figures such as Robert Dudley, Thomas Howard, the Duke of Norfolk, Queen’s chief adviser Robert Cecil, not to mention the venerable Queen Elizabeth I played their roles as needed throughout, which is why I had to research online to find out who was who and how they were related to the story. The authors’ knowledge of Tudor history was admirable.

Begun by Time by Morgan O'Neill

Begun by Time
Elizabethan Time Travel #0.5

Morgan O'Neill
Historical Romance/Time Travel
Pub date: August 24, 2015 (ARC review)

H/h - Arthur Howard/Catherine Hastings
Setting: England, around the time of WWII.

Read in August, 2015.

My rating:

                                                     [spoiler alert]

Morgan O’Neill’s latest offering, Begun by Time, was a lovely prequel to The Thornless Rose (Elizabethan Time Travel #1). TBH I’m not a big time travel theme enthusiast (I have my reasons) yet this series got me hooked since I read the blurb of book 1. I’ve enjoyed it so thoroughly that I’ve been eagerly waiting for the next installment...

The Thornless Rose begins at 1945 when Dr. Jonathan Brandon, a member of RAF in his early 30s, goes to a favorite inn of his for a bite, where he simply vanishes into the thin air. At that time, he was engaged to Catherine Hastings, their marriage only a handful of days away. No clue was ever found as to what happened to him, including his body. There were wild speculations about his disappearance, though nothing was ever proved; just how can a living, breathing man vanish into thin air!

Years have passed since then. At present time, Anne, Catherine’s granddaughter, is visiting London to spend some quality time with her 80+ yrs. old grandmother. She had no idea of Catherine’s past and her association with Jonathan, who went by as ‘Jonnie’ to his loved ones. This seemed like secret that was just waiting to be unearthed when Anne finds the hidden boxes full of articles and documents in Catherine’s attic and becomes instantly intrigued by this mysterious, yet fascinating story of the missing RAF Doctor Brandon. Surprisingly enough, her now deceased grandfather Arthur’s involvement was also prominent in the investigation. From there, before Anne could even take everything in, an incredible journey is put into motion for which she was in no way prepared. She certainly didn’t thought about being thrown 400yrs. back in time where she’d be able to meet Queen Elizabeth I, in search of Jonathan. Neither did she ever think that not only she’d find him, but also fall in love with him madly.

The Thornless Rose by Morgan O'Neill

The Thornless Rose
Elizabethan Time Travel #1

Morgan O'Neill
Medieval/Contemporary/Time Travel
Pub date: December 29, 2014 (ARC review)

H/h - Dr. Jonathan Brandon/Anne Howard
Setting: Present time/In the time of Elizabeth I.

Read in December, 2014.

My rating:

                                                        [spoiler alert]

Morgan O’Neill’s The Thornless Rose, Book 1 of the Elizabethan Time Travel, was my first book by the author(s). It was one of those books that keeps you on the edge constantly, where you must know what’s going to happen next. At least that’s how I felt when I read those 500+ pages (according to my ARC).

I have never been particularly interested in the history of Tudor England, until this book that is. Apart from it’s contemporary setting, this novel connects and heavily relies on that without being made to feel like taking a History lesson. The fusion of the historical facts with the fictional was done so well that you won’t think Dr. Jonathan Brandon wasn’t one of Queen Elizabeth I’s royal physicians! Some major historical figures such as Robert Dudley, Thomas Howard, the first Duke of Norfolk, Lettice Knollys, not to mention the venerable Queen Elizabeth I played their roles as needed throughout, which is why I had to research online to find out who was who and how they were related to the story. The authors’ knowledge of Tudor history was admirable.