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(2.5 / 5)

Abby's summer tutoring job continues, but the computer program that allowed them to "time surf" the history of her pupil's house has stopped working. When they house sit for a relative of a friend, though, the program invites them to view the history of a whole new area, this time alongside the handsome John Roberts. They get much more than they bargained for.

This second installment in the series is, to me, a step down from the first. While the story that they dig up in the lives of the past occupants of the house is more in-depth than what is shown in the first book, it's also a lot darker. What bothers me more, though, is the story in the present time.

I'll start with some good things before I get to what might seem like a rant. I really liked the little name game that John and Merri, Abby's pupil, played throughout some of the story. I liked that the little boy with the deaf mother has people who care enough about him to help with his speech issues. And I did like the "Old Dears" as characters--maybe just a little over the top, but generally cute (the big secret between them notwithstanding). I also really liked Merri's connection with the Old Dears. It was nice to see her come out of her shell more, even as her mom ignored her more than before and her dad acted like a typical fictional deadbeat dad (not quite so typical in the end, though).

However...if I wasn't a fan of Abby (the main character, mind you) in the previous book, I just plain disliked her in this book. Her best friend, with whom she talks on the phone a few times throughout the book, refers to Merri as "chubster," as well as several other unflattering, harsh terms, which she uses because Abby had previously used them in referring to Merri. Abby chides her friend, but only because Merri is trying to do better now, not because Abby recognizes that those were just horrible things to say about the 11-year-old girl she's tutoring, who already has huge issues! If Merri had heard any of those terms, would she have just accepted that they were okay to use in the past, before she was "trying"? No, she'd probably be devastated.

Then there's the developing relationship between Abby and John. The problem is that he tends to take off when things get a little intimate. This leads Merri's mom to speculate that maybe he's gay, because goodness knows he couldn't possibly have any other reason to not paw a girl he likes. But thank goodness he checked out her butt so that we can lay that question to rest. Seriously? And there's a friend of John's who's basically a 90s tech geek, right down to the 90s lingo. It was really strange.

This book, like the previous, has absolutely nothing in the way of mid-chapter scene transitions, which can be really jarring when you're reading and suddenly it's another day, location, etc. Overall, though, it's the characters and present-day plot that make me not so sure I want to read the final book in this series. Especially since the synopsis involves Abby's best friend who almost seemed offended when Abby told her not to call Merri a chubster, and who otherwise is a bit pushy and annoying to me. If you're really into history, you may still find this series to your liking if the things I mentioned above don't bother you. Definitely start with the first book, though.
… (mere)
 
Markeret
Kristi_D | 10 andre anmeldelser | Sep 22, 2023 |
historic-buildings, historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, ya-only-means-no-gratuitous-erotica, coming-of-age, Christian-fiction*****

The publisher's blurb is pretty comprehensive and I have no need to replicate or do spoilers. The story is on two levels, the present with interpersonal issues involved in the coming of age phenomena and a rude awakening to some very unpleasant aspect of local history.
It's a great story and very easy to listen to. Michelle Babb always seems to know how to bring out the most in the stories and characters she narrates with distinct characters and inflections, and excellent timing.… (mere)
 
Markeret
jetangen4571 | 5 andre anmeldelser | Dec 17, 2020 |
historical-fiction, historical-research, time-travel, family-dynamics, friendship*****

This is a lovely story involving a traveling computer program found only on the girls' computer, problems of life in the twenty-first century, problems discovered in the eighteenth century, and more. This is second in series but the only thing about that is wanting to find out what happened in that book, not because of any disconnect. It's a great story to soothe the day, and very easy to listen to. Michelle Babb always seems to know how to bring out the most in the stories and characters she narrates.… (mere)
 
Markeret
jetangen4571 | 10 andre anmeldelser | Nov 10, 2020 |
Abby Thomas has been having a productive and enjoyable summer in southern Illinois, with her tutoring student/college service project Merri, her new boyfriend, handsome and sweet John Roberts, and all the new friends she's been making. Unfortunately, she has also told her friend and college roommate, Kate, about the very unusual computer program, Beautiful Houses, which has enabled them to "time-surf" and solve local mysteries.

The most recent one was the Old Dears' (Eulah and Beulah) genealogy mystery of why their father's side of the family seemed so oddly truncated. This has reignited Kate's interest in her own genealogy project, and she's told her wonderful boyfriend, Ryan, about it.

Ryan insists on calling Kate, "Katherine." He's very judgmental about carbs and fats. No eating establishment in the immediate area is quite good enough for him. He'll be entering law school in the fall, like John, but to him there's only one acceptable law school in the state, and it's not the one John is going to. Merri's home, the formerly grand Miles Station, which Merri's mother Pat is working to restore in between making a living, he sees simply as old and outdated. He's sure he's smarter than the rest of them, and he has no patience for not getting what he wants, when he wants it.

He's only sort of willing to indulge Kate's genealogical obsession, if it isn't too much inconvenience.

And once he knows what the Beautiful Houses program really does, he sees dollar signs, and can't understand why everyone, or if not the silly, sentimental girls, at least John, isn't on board with him.

I don't like Ryan; I guess that's obvious.

Meanwhile, there's Kate's genealogical mystery. Her line, on one side, seems to end abruptly with a Ned Greenfield, born at Hickory Hill in Equality, Illinois, in the late 1830s. When they get to Equality, everyone, including the Mayor and the Chief of Police, is friendly and helpful right up until they mention Hickory Hill. No one wants to talk to them about it, no one wants them doing any research about it. People are strangely convinced that they must be reporters digging up dirt. And while there is a Greenfield family in the area, they can't be related to Kate. They're black.

There is so much opportunity for this basically light mystery to be shallow and silly, and Deborah Heal rejects that at every turn. Michelle Babb's narration adds to the respect shown to the issues and the people involved.

Each of these stories has been better than the last. Recommended.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the narrator, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
… (mere)
 
Markeret
LisCarey | 5 andre anmeldelser | Jul 5, 2019 |

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Statistikker

Værker
11
Medlemmer
168
Popularitet
#126,679
Vurdering
4.1
Anmeldelser
34
ISBN
11

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