A Rip in the Veil (The Graham Saga Book 1)

Really enjoyed this one. Time travel that showed the difficulty of living in an earlier time and in making choices between staying or returning. I love romance novels and this one offered a little more than most.

Have read hundreds of romance novels...loved this one. Love when the characters are real, vulnerable, and make mistakes....just like us. Waiting for the next one. First book I felt compelled to write a review. Read and enjoy the journey!

Extraordinary romance novel! What a good story with"a special twist"! I got really taken right away and want more! Can not help falling in love with the woman Alex, she is such a strong figure! Expecting and hoping to see more from this author

If you love Irena Shapiro's time travel stories you'll also like Anna Belfrage. This story has the sex and violence of romance novels. It's edgy and a quick read. So have the second book in the series ready before you finish this first book because you'll want to keep reading when it ends.

Jumps from scene to scene to scene. Characters appear with no apparent explanation. Dialogue unbelievable, and unlikely. Characters Matthew and Alex under developed. No real sense of connection between them. Pretty awful. Read the whole book since I payed for it.

This book is NOTHING like outlander. Except for the fact that it involves time travel. It’s poorly written, like middleschool / highschool level. Moves too fast, characters are not developed well. Was hoping for more.

Essentially Alexandra finds herself driving through a storm to get to a meeting when the earth opens up and life will never be the same again. She finds herself back in 1658 and is 'rescued' by the outlawed Matthew Graham. She has to adapt very quickly to survive, and avoid the accusations of witchcraft which would account for her knowledge, behaviour and general other worldliness. Surprisingly I quite enjoyed the actual "time slip" method though I'll think twice about driving in thunder storms on deserted roads in future. For me what this book was about was the relationship that developed between Alexandra and Matthew. While initially there were several jumps between then and now as her contemporary family seek to discover what has happened to her, we gradually spend more time with Alexandra and Matthew, which I much preferred.

As the story unfolds we learn more about Alexandra's history, and that of her mother Mercedes. This did lose me at times as there was an element of it that was a magical step too far for me to accept, though I acknowledge that other readers may have no problem with at all. Having said that, the story that accompanied it still had me fascinated, as it took us back to (my beloved) Seville with a backstory of the Inquisition and persecution. Matthew's back story was equally as interesting, involving as it did the social and political upheaval of Oliver Cromwell's Protectorate and moves to re-establish the monarchy. Families and allegiances were divided and it was a dangerous place to be if you found yourself supporting (or were accused of supporting) the wrong side.

Having suspended belief about time travel, I was quite happy to allow myself to be caught up in what I'd hoped was a developing romance (see I'd forgotten the real world already). The story that followed was one of feuding families, divided loyalties, love, loss and betrayal. It was one that was at times comic and at others sad, and often thought provoking. I was totally taken up with Alexandra and Matthew's story and found Matthew to be a very like-able and sympathetic character for his time, a sharp contrast to most of the other 'men' we meet. Seeing Alexandra as a modern woman, thrust back in such an oppressively patriarchal society, also made me think about far we've come (however we might at times disagree).

Overall, this was a story that I was able to get lost in, and was primarily a story about the relationship between Alex and Matthew. Time slip was really the literary convention used to introduce a historical backstory to contrast with Alex's contemporary reality. So while I might not necessarily be adding 'time-slip' to my list of reading preferences, I did enjoy this and if reading time permits I can see myself slipping back to see how things progress for this unlikely coupling.

I received an ecopy of the book from the author for review purposes.

Alex Lind is a young IT specialist from Scotland on her way to an important meeting. Problem is, she never makes it to the meeting. With a snap, crackle and a burning POP, a rip appears in the veil of time – and Alex goes tumbling through.

Almost immediately after arriving in seventeenth-century Scotland, Alex runs into a fugitive named Matthew Graham. They’re thrown together as they both try to navigate a world that doesn’t seem to want them at the moment – but as time passes, they discover that even if they were given the opportunity, they wouldn’t want to be without each other.

This is a superbly written historical novel. The author’s passion for this particular period in history is clear, and it makes her prose shine with life. The blossoming love between Alex and Matthew is expertly depicted, not fairy-tale mushy-smushy nonsense but real, powerful, rough and ready love. The characters are incredibly relatable, very true to life. (Mrs. Gordon was my favorite, by the way.)

I give this book five stars, two thumbs way up, and my adamant recommendation to anyone who is looking for a well-crafted historical romance.

I suppose I should start this review with a disclaimer as I have a bit of history with the author. You see, I coordinated the blog tours for books two through six of the series with HF Virtual Book Tours. I have a policy in place that I don’t review books that I’ve worked on as it could be construed as a conflict of interest. However, since I didn’t technically coordinate the tour for the first book and I was dying to see what all the rave reviews were about, so I went for it. And I’m darn glad I did because it was so much fun!

Time slips are fast becoming one of my new favorite types of reads, and Anna Belfrage really knows how to write ‘em! The oh-so modern Alex is thrust into the past via a “rip in the veil” of time, landing herself back in 1658 Scotland and smack dab into Matthew, an escaped prisoner on the run. The first encounter between the two makes for a very interesting and amusing scene as you can imagine, as they both try to figure the other one out!

Alex and Mathtew band together and ultimately fall in love. Their chemistry is very palpable to the reader and both characters are extremely likable. I felt very connected to Alex; she’s feisty and passionate and doesn’t know when to keep quiet. I can totally relate to that! Not only are the characters fleshed out well, but the dialogue and atmosphere was spot on. Belfrage is an extremely talented writer, something that I had seen examples of in the phenomenal guest posts she wrote for her blog tours, but now that I see it fully I appreciate it all that much more.

So, if you’re like me and enjoy a good ole’ time slip novel with a touch of humor and romance with a hunky front man and sassy leading lady, A Rip in the Veil is the book for you! And if you like it (which I know you will) there are seven more books in the series left to devour, so sit back and escape reality for a while. You won’t be sorry!

A Rip in the Veil is an historically accurate time-slip novel (first in the series, The Graham Saga), set in the “lull” after Cromwell and the Civil Wars. The historical details are woven into the story with care and a light hand, presented as the reader needs them. Comparisons with Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series are inevitable, but Alex and Matthew’s story differs in that the mechanism for moving in time involves witchcraft.

In 2002, Alexandra Lind is on her way to a business meeting when her car breaks down in the middle of nowhere in Scotland. A sudden electrical storm springs to life, and she’s struck by lightning and pulled through an opening in the earth. She lands in 1658 at the feet of escaped convict, Matthew Graham.

Alex leaves behind her father, husband, and a three-year-old son with whom she never bonded because he was the result of rape. Her complex life includes a mother who is an artist and a witch, and who disappeared several years ago. Alex struggles to come to terms with life in the 17th century while avoiding one of her mother’s enemies, who would think nothing of killing her to get what he wants.

Matthew’s life is also complex. He’s heading home to regain his properties, but he’s being pursued by soldiers who will hang him if they catch him. His highly dysfunctional family includes his brother, Luke, who betrays him more than once, and his ex-wife.

As Alex and Matthew adjust to each other, their relationship develops. The theme of magic adds a bit of spice, while the back stories of the principal characters unfold. If you enjoy time-slip stories, A Rip in the Veil will be an enjoyable treat from Anna Belfrage.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Historically accurate in every detail, this is a time slip novel that rips a reader from the 21st century and casts them back to Scotland in the year of 1658. It is the very year in which a great storm raged across the British Isles ripping up trees and flooding the land, and all on the very night Oliver Cromwell died. It is the year people throughout the Commonwealth held their breath in anticipation of “what now?” For with the Lord High Protector gone, and the populous wearied by two Civil Wars, a new Stuart era was secretly in the making.

And so, A Rip in the Veil begins in 2002 with Alexandra Lind, a typical 21st century woman, whom, accustomed the instantaneous age of electronic devices, is suddenly caught up in an electrical storm. Worse, the storm not only scares the proverbial out of her, every electronic device to hand malfunctions. What next? What to do? And little does she know Hell is about to open up and swallow her: literally.

In Mathew Graham’s world it’s 1658, and as a man given to strong belief in God, angels in his mindset don’t wear strange blue breeches nor are they devoid of wings. Trusting in God and instinct Mathew sees only a woman in need, and whilst tending to Alex’ needs he struggles to understand the complexity of her fate whilst his own is dire in itself. And when Mathew’s lifetime suddenly intervenes and danger is close at hand, Alex knows her life can never be as it was before, not unless she can find a way back to her own time.

Fate works in mysterious ways, and as time passes Alex is torn between the past and the present, or is it the present and the past? And while she’s not alone in comparing love in the past with love in the here and now, true hearts cannot let go, no matter the cost and no matter the losses along life’s path. Thus the Graham Saga begins.

Reader note: I fail to understand why some readers (the store) have taken affront at A Rip in the Veil and thus implying it is a rip-off of Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander” Series. Publishing dates are far from proof that a series of novels were devised before or after one another, and for this very reason editors at publishing houses are oft quoted as saying “books drop on their desks with similar (almost identical) plots within weeks of one another, and while one may get taken up, others will be discarded”. Thousands of authors ply their novels to numerous publishers over a period of years, and few if ever are lucky enough to have their books snatched up and published. Coincidence of plots and even character names are more common than might be imagined, of which I can testify to, for a fellow author and I (FB friends) both dreamed up the same titled character and both of us were penning Regency novels, neither aware of the other’s project until both were published!'

I just finished reading all six books in this series and am sad that the seventh is not out yet. And I just read Befrage's home page, on which there are extra scenes from each book, that are not in the books. I've also read Galbaldon's Highlander series and this is much like that one in which the time travel is not the central concentration of the books, but the story of Alex's life after traveling back in time, is. This is the story of two soul mates (emotional, physical, and sexual) who meet, love, marry, love, begin a family, love, well... you get the picture. Befrage's sex scenes are lovingly tender but not overly-erotic--not crude nor pornagraphic. they just seem to fit right into their love and lives. It's just one of the many ways Alex and Matthew express their love for each other. Each book is a great read full of highs and lows, happiness and sorrow, pleasure and pain, lightness and darkness--and very well-written.

On a stormy August day in 2002, Alexandra Lind is thrown several centuries backwards in time. She lands at the feet of Matthew Graham - an escaped convict making his way home to Scotland in this the year of our Lord, 1658.

This story may remind you of the Outlander series, but it is an enjoyable read in its own right. Alex has left behind a father, a husband and a three-year-old son with whom she never bonded because he was a child of rape. Her complex life includes a mother who appears to be both an artist and a witch, and her paintings drag the observer into time travel.

Matthew and Alex slowly bond, but he too has a host of problems to face, not least being that soldiers will hang him if they catch him. There is no love lost between himself and his brother, Luke, who betrays him more than once. Alex struggles to come to terms with running a household in the seventeenth century while avoiding one of her mother’s enemies who would think nothing of killing her to get what he wants. The historical details are carefully woven into the story so they don’t become burdensome, and if you enjoy this story, there are more stories about the Grahams for your enjoyment.

Had good expectations for this as I am an Outlander series reader. I was disappointed. The story is quite interesting but the characters are not very developed or particularly endearing and the two main ones get together very quickly without much reason to understand why they would. The plot also seems to jump ahead with sketchy details of their life and no linking of events. I’m not really any more knowledgeable about Highland way of life in 1600s Scotland than I was before. I’m sorry to say I don’t care enough about the main couple to read any more in the series.

Those of us who are time travel fans will quickly become immersed in Anna Belfrage's novel, the first in the Graham Saga series. Multiple time travel lines are crossed adding to the intrigue. Evil villains and sexy romance move the plot line, with histories of the Inquisition and 17th century Scotland adding depth. A terrific read for lovers of historical novel and time skipping.

I'm a devotee of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander Series. While waiting for her new book, I found the Graham Saga. The books are good, entertaining reading that again deal with time travel. The manner in which time travel occurs in the Graham Saga is a little hard for me to accept. However, the characters are real. Their struggles, in a time when history is changing the world around them, gives the reader a glimpse into the past we've often only known from the history books that never deal
with the effect such times have on the lives of the ordinary people. They are people of strength and courage. People who choose to leave their homeland when right and justice no longer are the base of society. People who willing brave a new world to forge a life based on the rights and justice of their beliefs. I believe anyone who is a history buff (England and America 1600-1800) and enjoys the possibilities time travel offers, would enjoy these books.

Loved this novel! This fast-paced time slip historical in the tradition of Diana Gabaldon did not disappoint. The writing was excellent and the story well constructed. I enjoyed it from start to finish and had a hard time putting it down. I only regret not getting to it sooner.

This was a fantastic read, almost impossible to put down. For anyone who enjoys a good time slip, this is an absolute must. Not only is the story intriguing, but Belfrage is also an extremely talented writer, and in Matthew and Alex she has created wonderful, vibrant characters. Testament to just how much I enjoyed this book is that I bought her other titles when I was halfway through – thrilled to find out there are more to come! My only objection is that since reading this, I approach crossroads with much more caution than I used to do.
And I have to say, having been a Gabaldon addict for many years, this is in my opinion a fully comparable book series. I strongly believe that now when Outlander will become a TV series, this Graham Saga will most likely follow as the next huge success within this genre!

This book was a total Outlander rip-off. It might be set in a different time period but I could tick off a list of comparisons. I really wanted to like this but had to force myself to finish it. It is very poorly written.Do yourself a favor and read the Outlander series instead.