| Title | : | Indiana Belle (American Journey, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 271 |
| Publication | : | First published April 14, 2016 |
Indiana Belle (American Journey, #3) Reviews
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‘Indiana Belle’ is a time-travelling adventure by American author John A Heldt. We join the story in the present day and find our protagonist, Cameron Coelho, mesmerised by a photograph from long ago. This sets him on an adventure which sends him back in time to 1925. He manages this by painless but rather vague means. However, this is a fantasy adventure so the reader needs to suspend reality and become immersed in the tale.
I found some of the dialogue a little protracted in the beginning however, once Cameron is ensconced in 1925, the pace picks up and his dual missions take over.
Heldt has used a rather unusual technique when describing his main players; he has likened several to contemporary actors. This device is fine, but is dependent upon readers recognising the names of the stars. In my case, I hadn’t heard of one of them, so was none the wiser until I reached for the laptop.
I also must confess to knowing little about 1920s American history, so I did check that there was a Tri-State tornado on the date in question and that Pete DePaolo won the 1925 Indianapolis 500; therefore I have faith that the author has done his homework regarding historical accuracy throughout the book.
There was good use of literary tools and the tale has been well thought through and competently executed. Heldt certainly gave us a feeling of Indiana in 1925 with some good descriptive passages and has created two strong characters in Cameron and Candice. This is a gentle wholesome story with nothing to shock or offend.
The idea of time travel is a well-used premise for a plot and often leaves a lot to be desired when history starts to be re-written, so I approached the book with a degree of scepticism. However I tried not to overthink it and was pleasantly surprised. I found the story engaging and read it in two days. If you enjoy the fantasy genre, you will like this book. I award ‘Indiana Belle’ a worthy four stars.
Reviewed by Julie at
www.whisperingstories.com -
John A. Heldt is back, and this time out he is taking us back to the era of Flappers, Speakeasies and old time church revivals as the country undergoes major changes and the lines between a free-spirited life and the more conservative become more clearly divided and crime is always waiting in the shadows. But first, we must travel to the near future…welcome to John A. Heldt’s Indiana Belle.
Cameron Coelho is writing his dissertation on life in the 1920’s and when he receives a packet regarding a determined and outspoken woman murdered in her prime in 1925, her photo beckons to him in an unusual way. When time travel expert, Professor Geoffrey Bell makes Cameron an offer he cannot refuse, although skeptical, he agrees to all of the conditions set before him, knowing full well he plans on breaking the most important rule at the first opportunity.
Geoffrey Bell is adamant that Cameron NOT do anything to change history and his reason is quite compelling, Candice Bell, a rebel, fierce-willed reporter and murder victim is the good professor’s distant relative and if the time line is altered, there is a chance he will never exist. No professor, no time travel. (Not to mention, no fabulous tales from John A. Heldt.)
Cameron has his own agenda and saving Candice is at the top of the list, has he fallen in love with an old photo or will he find the woman in the flesh to be everything he could ever want? Visit the Roaring Twenties from the comfort of today, feel the energy, the awakening of a world in need of expressing the simply joys of life and the battle of one woman to show her reporting chops in a world dominated by men, only to uncover some deadly truths. Once again, John A.Heldt has shown the power he holds in his pen, the hard work he brings to the tale of fantasy fiction through his vivid scenes of the era, the emotional draw to his characters as he brings everything to life, including the sounds of jazz, the force of love and the destiny of two souls meeting in a bubble of time reserved just for them.
I received this copy from John A. Heldt in exchange for my honest review.
Series: American Journey - Book 3
Publisher: John A. Heldt (April 14, 2016)
Publication Date: April 14, 2016
Genre: Fantasy Romance | Time Travel
Print Length: 295 pages
Available from:
Amazon
For Reviews & More:
http://tometender.blogspot.com
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Indiana Belle has so many things going for it that it really defies a distinct categorization. It has a romance thread that runs throughout. It is packed with a little mystery, intrigue, and adventure from the earliest pages. There is the historical setting and some significant events. Oh, and let’s not forget the very critical element of time travel!
I have been a fan of
John Heldt’s works since I first read back-to-back
The Mine and
The Journey in 2013 (both are from his other book series, The Northwest Passage). All of his books include an element of time travel and that was one of the elements that originally drew me to them. In Indiana Belle the time travel element involves some tunnels, some gypsum crystals, and some scientific formulas. While time travel does require some level of suspension of reality, and maybe it’s presentation here isn’t what most would expect for a method time travel, I found it creative, possible, and achieved the point of bringing Cameron back to 1925. The novel also tackles the age old idea that if you travel back in time you must be careful to not change the past or it could affect the future. Cameron wrestles with this premise as he does not wish to let a historical murder happen on his watch. Seeing how he struggles with this and what decision he ultimately makes is one of the central concepts of this novel. Some of the best scenes of this book were with Cameron making continuity mistakes while back in 1925 – some were things that I would never have even thought of.
The romance element is a very light, but critical, part of the story. What happens if you fall in love with someone who isn’t from your time? It served as more of another obstacle to time travel and the completion of Cameron’s mission than anything else. The scenes were sweet and grew from a natural place.
Heldt does an excellent job here of bringing to life the Roaring Twenties; from the quiet mid-west town, to the speakeasy parties, to the big church revivals, it has it all. Cameron sees it as a simpler time initially, but it is full of its own problems, like the KKK and women’s struggle for rights. Some of these elements are obvious while others are atmospheric, but all contribute to a well-formed time. Heldt also tends to cover an event of significance in most of his novels and here we get a little bit of the Tri-State Tornado of 1925. Having survived a tornado myself, it felt very real.
There was only a small element that I questioned while reading, and I thought that it might resolve at some point in the novel, but ultimately wasn’t…Cameron comes from 2017. I wondered at the choice to set it in the near future at the time of publication instead of the current year. Additionally, how the difference in perception of that being a future date for us now, but come a couple years the entire novel will occur in the past. After reading, the resulting analysis: It didn’t seem to have an obvious purpose to me.
While Indiana Belle is the third book in the American Journey’s series, it certainly is successful as a standalone novel. I have not read the first two books yet (
September Sky and
Mercer Street) and did not feel like I was missing out on anything. I have a feeling Geoffrey Bell, the professor referenced in the book description, probably has connections to the first two books based on some allusions to other time travelers and maybe we learn more about him there, but you still come away with a full understanding and appreciation of Indiana Belle on its own.
There is a little something for everyone here and would appeal widely to both men and women!
This book was received in exchange for an honest review and was previously posted at
The Maiden's Court and
Romantic Historical Reviews. -
Indiana Belle by John A. Heldt is an amazing book that caught my attention from page one to the end. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars!
I found it easy to get to know and relate to the characters, especially Candice Bell. Candice is one of the most wonderful characters I've read in a long time ... very well-developed, very likable, yet not at all Mary-Sueish. The villains were likewise well-developed and interesting ... and you hated them just the right amount. :)
The plot ... well, let me just say it was a masterpiece. Very original, very exciting. There were lots of great plot twists. It was a well-plotted, thoughtfully written book.
The novel was thoroughly researched. There was a lot of attention to detail, but it never got boring for an instant. The writing was amazing, too. It's a style I believe I seen before ... a straightforward, no-nonsense, not extremely poetic style. I really like it. It doesn't take you off on rabbit trails describing a sunset for three paragraphs, nor does it take you away from the action long. On the other hand, I got a really good idea what everything looked like, how everything worked, etc. I almost felt like I traveled back in time with Cameron and went to the Roarin' 20s myself!
If you like action, adventure, time travel, historical fiction, and a bit of a murder mystery besides, you'll enjoy Indiana Belle.
Find a more detailed, more organized review on my blog.
~Kellyn Roth
**I received a free copy of Indiana Belle in exchange for an honest review** -
I don't read many time travel books. This one was fun to read for me. I am from Illinois so this book was interesting to read about the 1920s in Illinois. Changing things in the past when you travel back can be bad or good but you never really know for sure. This book was very romantic as well and I enjoyed it very much. I would recommend you try out this author and this book and see if you like it too! *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*
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This review, and many more, was originally posted on 125pages.com
Indiana Belle by John A. Heldt is the third book I have read by this author, and the second I have read in his American Journey series (see my review of
Mercer Street). This is number three in the series but they can all be read as a standalone. This book focuses on Cameron, a doctorial student who is focusing on Indiana in the 1920's. When he purchases a lot of papers from that era, it sets him on a path her could have never expected. Time traveling to meet the woman whose life he glimpsed through writing, he will need to decide where and when he belongs.
Indiana Belle had some great moments and some not so great moments. The historical aspect was well done and I enjoyed the inclusion of things like the KKK and a speakeasy. I did not love the way Cameron was introduced. He bullied his way into the time travel and that just left me with a bad impression of him. I have seen a consistent improvement in writing of John A. Heldt which each book of his I read. He is able to mesh many different things, such as romance, time travel and shady dealings in a very cohesive manner. I will say that I do enjoy his writing when he has a male main character better, as I think he is more able to connect. The pacing had a few issues but it all came together in the end. The world built was very rich and I enjoyed seeing the past so well crafted.
Indiana Belle was an interesting read. There were a few moments that were super over the top (an encounter with a mountain lion was not needed at all) but as a whole it was successful. There was also a chapter that traveled to the future that I was super interested in, and I would love to see John A. Heldt expand on that world.
name="fa-star"] Favorite lines - He kissed her until a million stars appeared in an indigo sky and promises he had made to a distant professor retreated to the recesses of his mind.
Biggest cliché - There is no butterfly effect.
Have you read Indiana Belle, or added it to your TBR?
This book was most likely received free from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. -
The Roaring 20’s are a time that live in our imaginations, fueled by books such as F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and movies surrounding the same era – the glitz, the glam, and the hidden speak-easy’s. Women trying their hands at working outside the home and building their own businesses, albeit hiding behind pseudonyms and nicknames.
When Cameron is given the option of studying the very family surrounding Dr. Bell’s family he immediately jumps on the opportunity and turns Dr. Bell’s policies and procedures upside down in an attempt to save one Indiana Belle, Candice Bell, from an untimely death at the hands of someone who wanted her dead for their own selfish reasons. Immediately the story draws you in, initially telling Cameron’s story, giving the reader his short back story and delving into his character. Then telling the entire Bell family story. John always does an amazing job of developing characters, the environment, and pulling readers into his stories very quickly, Indiana Belle, once again does not disappoint.
I cannot say enough about John’s writing style and his ability to develop characters and draw the reader into the time period in which he’s written, be it the roaring 1920s, the 1930s and the impending doom of WWII or even post WWII America. How he does it is astounding, and how he gets such detail is amazing. I cannot say other than a lot of research! I am looking forward very much to his next writing endeavor! -
I absolutely love time travel books and having read and reviewed both the first and second in this series when asked--I knew I had to read this third installment. Although there is some continuity--it can definitely be read as a stand alone as all the books in this series can.
Now one of the tenets of time travel is--you should never change what is supposed to happen because you will be changing the future as well. Hum, but what happens if you fall in love and the woman is going to be killed on a certain date in a most atrocious manner? Do you allow history to replay as it is supposed to or do you attempt to change it and then attempt to change what that would have changed? Meanwhile you have been charged with finding the cave where the key to time travel is to be found and bring back a bunch of the crystals.
The Roaring Twenties is brought to life, both the good and the bad in this very fast reading novel set in Indiana. Yes, it is one of those novels that I started and finished in less then one day--I could not stop reading. There are a couple of sections that I advise having some tissues handy--especially towards the end. I truly hope you will read this book--I give it 5 stars and if I could I would give it even more!!
Indiana Belle -
It's February 2017 and Cameron Coelho is a doctoral student in history writing a dissertation on the social norms and cultural dynamics of Middle America in the Roaring Twenties. He buys some private papers of Candice Bell, who was a reporter for an Indiana newspaper in the 1920s, which include personal letters, business correspondence, notes from interviews, pages torn from a diary and a picture. He is provided with the opportunity to travel back to 1925 to meet Miss Bell. He is forbidden to change events that happened which includes the murder of Miss Bell that summer.
This is the seventh book I've read by this author and I liked it. I like time travel books when people go back in time. Though it is part of the American Journey series, you don't have to read the others to know what's going on since the only constant is the person who is able to send people back in time. The author wrote about 1925 well and I got a good sense of what it was like living in that time period ... you had to speakeasies for liquor, the KKK was strong, etc. It is written in third person perspective with the focus shifting between Cameron and Candice.
Blog review post:
http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2016/04... -
Indiana Belle is another great read by John Heldt. Although I am not a big fan of the 1920s era, I found this story interesting reading for all the historical events that occurred in this time period as well as the culture and societal values of the time that were featured in the book.
The book is obviously very well researched with plenty of detail throughout and the author’s beautiful writing style makes for a pleasurable reading experience. The story has a well thought out plotline and is steady paced all the way through, and the characters are engaging, interesting and full of depth.
I really enjoyed the last section of the book the most. I also love how this book can be read as a stand alone even though it is book 3 in the American Journey series.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories involving time travel, historical fiction, or is interested in life during the Roaring Twenties as this story captures all aspects of the time. -
Indiana Belle (American Journey Book 3) by John A. Heldt
In 2017 Rhode Island, Cameron Coelho receives a package from Indiana. He is doing a college paper and the information he finds inside will help him. He finds that a Society editor was murdered in Indian (1925). He meets up with Geoffrey bell, a time traveler, Cameron has the opportunity to go back to 1925, and piece together the events that occurred.
A fantastic time travel story. The plot is original, the facts and events that actually happened in 1925 are intriguing, adding more emotions to an already gripping story. Overall I found
Indiana Belle fascinating, filled with the perfect amount, of suspense, romance and intrigue. I highly recommend to those who love a great time travel story! -
It is not possible to review a John A. Heldt book without also discussing the author’s craftsmanship generally.
If someone said to me, you should read Indiana Belle “it is a great science fiction story” or “it is a really good romance” my response would be no thanks, I don’t read those genres. Yet I cannot get enough of John A. Heldt’s time travel stories.
John Heldt’s books have been classified as time travel, history, fantasy, romance, mystery – or any combination of these genres. This is natural in the book world because it is necessary to indicate to the potential reader what they are getting for their money. I think we need another category for authors like john A Heldt just simply: A Damn Good Read.
There is no denying John’s stories are certainly time travel based but he uses it to weave in stories of mystery, romance and history. It is the whole package he delivers that makes the difference for me; an escape into another world, another time. This is certainly the case in Indiana Belle.
Synopsis
Providence, Rhode Island, 2017. When doctoral student Cameron Coelho, 28, opens a package from Indiana, he finds more than private papers that will help him with his dissertation. He finds a photograph of a beautiful society editor murdered in 1925 and clues to a century-old mystery. Within days, he meets Geoffrey Bell, the "time-travel professor," and begins an unlikely journey through the Roaring Twenties. Filled with history, romance, and intrigue, INDIANA BELLE follows a lonely soul on the adventure of a lifetime as he searches for love and answers in the age of Prohibition, flappers, and jazz.
Indiana Belle is the third book in his American Journey series and although Professor Bell, the time travel expert, is a constant character each stands alone and it is not necessary to read the previous stories. However, I recommend that you do simply because they are so good.
For authors planning to write a series I also commend John’s blog
http://johnheldt.blogspot.com.au/2017....
Features of Indiana Belle in common with his other stories are believable characters (good and evil) and a writing style that doesn’t detract from the story yet still delivers clear images of time and place. He achieves his aim without explicit sex and violence although implication is there.
One of the differences in Indiana Belle is that this time the main character, Cameron, approaches the professor seeking to travel back to 1925. Bell is reluctant at first but yields to Cameron’s request when the young man agrees to undertake exploration and research on his behalf.
Don’t take the storyline for granted at any time because Heldt puts in just enough twists and turns to keep you reading as we journey back to the days of prohibition, the KKK, jazz, speakeasies and crime – the Roaring Twenties - and all the associated changes going on in society.
I was concerned in the early stages of the story that the main character, Cameron Coelho, would be a disappointing addition to Heldt’s cast. When we first meet him he is a lonely young man with little drive in modern life. Once again Heldt surprises and as we get to know the young gentleman we find him charming and sensitive yet not afraid of tackling challenging tasks. His wit matches that of Candice throughout and their exchanges are often amusing.
I loved the character of Candice. As a modern, young, career woman of the 1920s her personality was strong and she is not afraid to test the boundaries of womanhood of the era. She is also a distant relative of the professor.
Together Cameron and Candice are an interesting couple determined to fulfil the professors request for information from the past relating to the secrets of time travel. They need to come to grips with the dangers of changing the past and allowing their love to blossom.
In previous American Journey stories Professor Bell, although a charming and interesting character, has mostly been simply the conduit for travel. In Indiana Belle, the time and place Cameron wants to travel to links his journey with Bell’s ancestors. Any wrong deed by Cameron could change the future and impact on Bell himself.
I don’t usually comment on a book’s cover but the photo of a beautiful young woman from the 1920s is compelling.
As always’ Heldt’s historical research is exacting. I have long ago stopped checking his facts but his stories do lead me to learn about various historical events included.
His details are not limited to the historical facts. He conveys his time periods through perfect detailing of clothing, mannerisms and life style.
There was one part that did disturb me and that was picture painted of our world through a short time travel journey into the future. Has John Heldt travelled into the future himself or does he have fears that recent political events may have this impact on our lives?
This is not my first John A. Heldt book but it is my favourite but that is how I have felt about each of his books and no doubt how I will feel about his future stories as he continues to develop as a master storyteller
I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.
This review is also available through my website
www.pam.id.au -
American student Cameron Coelho is writing his doctoral dissertation on the subject of the 1920s when some private papers and a sepia photo of newspaper society editor Candice Bell come into his possession. He becomes smitten with the beautiful woman in the photo but learns she became the victim of murder in 1925. Cameron meets Professor Geoffrey Bell, her descendant and expert in time travel. With Geoffrey's help Cameron travels back in time to Indiana in 1925. Can Cameron change the course of history and prevent a tragedy from happening?
Indiana Belle is a delightful story set mainly in the 1920s. In my opinion the author conjures up the period perfectly by referencing real events and real people of the era. The characters of our two protagonists, Cameron and Candice, are fully developed and I found myself totally absorbed in their lives. Indiana Belle is a charming story and upon reflection I feel as though I've read something special.
Thanks to author John A. Heldt for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://barnseybooks.blogspot.co.uk/20... -
This is the 3rd book in the American Journey series and I really enjoyed it. Now looking for the last 2 books in the series.
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Providence, Rhode Island, 2017. When doctoral student Cameron Coelho, 28, opens a package from Indiana, he finds more than private papers that will help him with his dissertation. He finds a photograph of a beautiful society editor murdered in 1925 and clues to a century-old mystery. Within days, he meets Geoffrey Bell, the "time-travel professor," and begins an unlikely journey through the Roaring Twenties. Filled with history, romance, and intrigue, INDIANA BELLE follows a lonely soul on the adventure of a lifetime as he searches for love and answers in the age of Prohibition, flappers, and jazz. -
In recommending John Heldt's books to a friend recently, I relayed that while I don't consider his books 5-star worthy, I've never gone below a 3-star book in eight tries. There's something to be said for consistency.
The bad first. I've historically found his dialogue a little wooden. Characters tend to sound the same despite differences in age or sex, and there's a bit too much formality in the interactions. On the writing end, he favors the use of three a bit too frequently. If I replaced the main character's flat tire, I'd be referred to as her "Uncle, mentor, and night-time mechanic" in the description. That sort of thing gets old page after page.
I find the time travel opportunities allowed by the plot to be fascinating, and I commend Mr. Heldt for shaking up his endings. Some end well, and others tragically. This isn't the same cookie-cutter story repeated over and over again. The immersion into a particularly time period is well-researched and as educational.
Indiana Belle, and The Show in "Mine" series, tie for my least favorites thus far. As I recall, The Show suffered from pacing issues (the first chunk of the book retreaded part of the first book from another perspective,) characters understood the rules of time travel in a way which should have not been apparent to them, and the ending was a bit nonsensical.
Here, it's a bit of the reverse. I felt not much happened.
Spoiler warning!
There's concern in sending Cameron to 1925 due to the damage he could do to the timeline, with one character's fate seeming to hang in the balance. By the end of the story, that's dismissed as not how time travel functions in this universe. Then why worry about it in the first place? I could rationalize this away as protecting the integrity of a second time stream, but if you're not going to impact the past, it's best not to go there in the first place.
Cameron is a doctoral student who many times in the story reads, and rereads, and then reads the same papers over and over again. One gets the sense he's read them thousands of times before arriving in Indiana, yet he's woefully unprepared for the mission. One would think a weather report would have been hard to miss in the preparation for the journey, and it strains credibility that neither Professor Bell nor Cameron saw the storm coming. Furthermore, Cameron receives information in the form of a letter at the end of this story that answered every plot question. There's no rational reason why he wouldn't have had this information before he left 2017. It arrives at the exact right moment because the plot seems to have said so. While the drinking club was a lot of fun, the story seems to be paint by numbers, and the moments of action seemed just a bit too manufactured.
Why did Jeffrey and Henry not find the room with all the stones in the mine? Cameron assumes they just missed it. I guess so?
I enjoyed our trip to the future, and I assume we can go even further into the future from 2017?
I know I'm presenting more negative than positive here, but that disappointment comes from Mr. Heldt daring to reach higher. His stories have unlimited potential, literally. I read a 3-star read right before this one and really didn't care for it. Here, I felt more personally involved because the opportunities were so great and the loss stung a bit more. As I stated, this is as low as it gets with Mr. Heldt, and that's not too shabby.
On to Class of 59! -
Cameron purchases private papers from the 1920's for a dissertation on American History, and finds much more than he expected. Mingled among the papers are a photograph of a lovely young lady and pages from her diary discussing time travel. More digging uncovers a relative of the girl in the photograph, who reveals that time travel is indeed possible, and he can send Cameron back in time to the twenties for his research paper.
Although ordered not to save the lovely lady in the photograph from her untimely and grisly death, Cameron Coelho has plans of his own, and they definitely involve the girl in the photo, Candice Bell, an up-and-coming saucy editor for a local paper in Evansville, Indiana. But changing the past is never easy and any change made there could remove your very existence.
Content:
Violence:
PG - Though it is discussed that Candice Bell was bludgeoned beyond recognition, there is very little actual violence in the entire novel. Mostly the book contains a lot of tension, risk, and veiled threats.
Language:
G - I don't recall any curse words at all in the book.
Adult Content:
PG - There is a scene where a girl comes into a room wearing only a shirt, and it's implied what happens next. The couple are engaged at the time, not married, and end up pregnant. They get married not more than a month later, but there's a discussion of the mother of the bride 'doing the math'.
Drug Content:
PG - There is quite a bit of drinking in the novel, which is interesting in light of the time - it's during the Prohibition days, but alcohol flows pretty freely under the covers in 'speakeasies', and there's a conversation about the police turning a blind eye to it. One of the villains in the novel is selling narcotics on the side.
Christian content:
There is some banter back and forth about papists, Catholics, and protestants, and there is a visit to a revival. The KKK is alive and well and composed of church goers. There is also a brief discussion about attending service on Sunday, but there's no real spiritual element apparent in the book. Conversely, there's not much negative about faith in general, although the revival seems to be depicted in a tongue in cheek light.
Final analysis:
I was unaware during the reading of this book that it was third in a series. The first two time traveler groups in books one and two are mentioned only in passing and all three books probably stand alone. Certainly this one can.
Cameron and Candice make a lively combination, their interactions make this story what it is. The tension and interest between them carries the reader from the moment they meet. The research the writer did on the twenties was extensive, and the world there immersive. There were several plot twists to keep me guessing, and the characters were quite likable. A time travelling love story set in the time of gangsters and Tommy guns. Five Stars! -
Review originally published on
Jess's Reading Nook .
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
If you are a fan of historical fiction, romance, and science fiction, then you'll probably enjoy John A. Heldt's Indiana Belle. One of the things that drew me into this book was the fact that it was set in the roaring twenties, my favorite decade (well, it's tied with the eighties).
Like Heldt's book The Mine, this is a story about time travel. Unlike The Mine, the protagonist purposely travels back in time to save the life of a beautiful woman. It was an interesting read, and I was happy to see that Heldt delve into more depth in regards to the time travel aspect of the story. In comparison to The Mine, Indiana Belle is more developed.
Anyway, if you're looking for something fun and romantic, with a bit of suspense, then go to Amazon and pick up a copy of Indiana Belle.
Plot:
Indiana Belle is a quick and interesting read. The reason I include this is because if I am enjoying the story, then it won't take me long to read (which it didn't). I was interested in a few things: 1.) How will a romance between a man from 2017 work with a woman from 1920? 2.) Will Cameron be able to save Candice, or would that forever alter the course of history? 3.) How does Heldt's version of time travel work?
The story was a little predictable, but to me, that's the nature of romance. It also means that the plot was logical and mostly everything tied together. It wasn't hard to believe. However, there were a few things that happen (in regards to time travel) that I really didn't see the point of. I thought that surely these things would be connected to Cameron's altering of the past, but nothing seemed to come from it, and I wish something had because that would have caused more tension.
Character:
The main characters were well-developed, but there wasn't much growth (though I don't know if there needed to be much growth). I liked Candice, and I liked Cameron. The bad guys were a bit cartoonish because they just seemed bad for the sake of being bad, and the confrontation scenes were awkward because of that. I would have liked to have seen more development there.
Writing:
I like Heldt's writing style because it isn't overly flowery, but it is still descriptive. It was fun to read about the 1920s, and it is clear that the author did a lot of research which I appreciate. My only qualm is that there were moments when the dialogue felt a little cheesy, and really, it's just because I hate when people say "sweetheart," so I don't know if I can really be too critical because there are people that do that. It just makes me cringe.
Rating: 3.5 -
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www.roxtao.com ~
If I wouldn’t have seen the long list of this author’s books, I would have honestly thought that Indiana Belle is his debut novel. Not because of the storyline, but because of the writing style. The story is nice and cohesive, most of the characters’ portraits are sturdy enough to be credible, but the writing technique has something so… naive that it gives you the impression that the author just started his writing experience and that he’s trying to follow all the rules taught in school.
The main downside is that even for a time-traveling story, there are some aspects that just seemed either forced or not enough developed, so be prepared to swallow your frustration about this and just move on with the story. Despite this, I enjoyed the book: it has this nice, relaxed vibe, sweet and light like a lazy summer day, without any drama, stress or conflict. The world building is absolutely wonderful. The author throws you straight into the 1920s and colors the life there in bright, clear colors. I felt like the side characters were contributing even more to this, giving you a glimpse into the people’s mentality back then.
What drove me crazy was just the way the characters were oftentimes addressed. I understand the wish of avoiding repetition when referring to the same characters again and again, but expressions like “the rhode islander”, “the time traveler”, “the society editor” somehow put distance between the reader and the protagonists and after a while become annoying.
I didn’t connect in any way with Cameron, the book’s hero but I blame it more on the fact that I deeply hate the insta-love. And in his case, the concept is even more absurd: he falls in love with… a photo 😑 At least Candice has a more natural reaction and overall, her personality is more bubbly and charming. And as I mentioned before, even if their appearances are kind of episodic, I found almost all the secondary characters extremely well portrayed and their actions are a great addition to the whole 1920s picture.
Although the storyline flows pretty much without a major or breathtaking conflict, here and there, there will be some chapters that are breaking the rhythm and make the whole plot more entertaining. I personally loved the chapter from the far future and to be honest, I would have loved to see the story continuing in that era. It was an awesome and totally unexpected turn and it offered some extra flavor to the whole novel.
Indiana Belle is the third book in the American Journey series, but each novel can be read independently. I haven’t read the first two novels yet but I didn’t feel there were any missing points or that I skipped any connections with the previous two books. -
An e-version of Indiana Belle was provided by author John A Heldt for review.
Indiana Belle is the third installment in the American Journey series.
Often, when an author has written several books in a specific genre, they begin to become somewhat predictable and formulaic. This is not at all the case for John Heldt. Although Indiana Belle is the eighth time-travel book he has written, the third of the second series, he continues to bring fresh, adventurous stories full of twists and turns the reader will not see coming. Yes, there are similarities throughout his work; time travel for one, and romance for another, and always adventure. Kind of hard to avoid when you write time-travel/adventure/romance novels.
I particularly enjoy the characters he crafts for these stories. They are well developed and sympathetic for the most part. Of course, the bad guys are less sympathetic. We get history from times that are not as well known generally. A real plus in Indiana Belle is that Heldt explores new territory for the recurring characters; the Bells.
Our intrepid time-traveler is much different this time, he seeks out Bell and coerces him into providing the means to travel to 1925. Naturally there is a romantic interest for Cameron (the time-traveler), but here is another vital goal to achieve. You'll have to read Indiana Bell (or read the review of someone who uses spoilers) to find out what that is. But I will tell you this; it is integral to the American Journey and John Heldt franchises (how's that for ominous?).
In Indiana Belle we get to see a new slice of American life. It is fun for me as a reader, to spend time in another era. We get to see the ways our society and culture have changed over the years without moralizing, great fun.
I really enjoyed the ending of Indiana Bell, extremely satisfying!
This is the sixth book authored by John Heldt that I have reviewed (I have the other two, but haven't gotten to them yet). I don't believe I have said anything negative about any of them. John A Heldt (make sure the "A" is there when you google him or you'll get someone else) has quickly become one of my favorite authors. His books are good clean stories that give the reader a warm feeling when they are finished.
So if you want a clean, fun, romantic (with a little non-graphic sex thrown in for spice), adventure, that will keep you entertained, Indiana Belle, fills the bill nicely. Even an irreverent, cynic like myself finds Heldt's work satisfying and emotionally uplifting. Enjoy!
Mike -
In the third book of this series you meet Cameron. He finds himself enthralled with some letters and a picture of a young woman named Candice Bell, who is an ancestor of Professor Bell. Cameron uses these letters and some important information that Professor Bell wants, to get himself a place in the world of 1925 through time travel. He learns that the young woman is murdered and against Professor Bells wishes he thinks it is his job to save her on this journey to the past, despite the trouble that it may cause in history. Will he go against the wishes of his benefactor or will he let history play out the way it did the first time? Let me just say, Candice and Cameron have an amazing story to tell.
Indiana Belle was a great addition to this series and shed so much light on the previous books and the history of the time travel tunnel and the gyms that control the travel. It really helped to understand this series. It also paints a wonderful picture of the Roaring 20's. It covers Prohibition, the Ku Klux Klan, and so much more history. It was my favorite book in this series so far. It was written so well and kept me reading late into the night.
I have to say that this series has been the best time travel series I have read so far. I do look forward to reading more from such a talented author and hopefully more books to come in this series....Stormi
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This is the third book in the American Journey series. This time the author takes us to the Roaring Twenties. You don’t have to read the first two books to read and enjoy this one. They read just like stand-alone books. In this book we are presented with a problem that any time traveler fears. What happens if something can and should be prevented in the past and you know it will change the future if you do anything to change it? This is this situation that faces our main character. Cameron Coelho is completing his dissertation on life and the social implications during the 1920s. He buys the journals of Candice Bell who is a reporter and is murdered. He gets to meet Candice and sparks begin to fly. But what happens when you fall in love with someone and you know the date and manner in which they will die? Do you stop it knowing the possible consequences?
In this book we not only get to relish the entire time travel experience, but we get to live vicariously through the author in the time of the 1920s. I love that the author always spends so much time in research s that the reader feels they are a part of the time period. This one is a little different and has some wonderful twists. I highly recommend it and the rest of the series. -
I've never read a time travel book before. This one hooked me right from the start. Cameron is such a likeable character. He goes back in time to save Candice Belle, a woman he's grown interested in just from looking at her photograph and reading her diary letters. They have a very sweet love story, no sexual scenes involved in this book and very little profanity. It's a very easy read and one that's difficult to put down. There is a shocking twist at the end and I love surprises! I like how Heldt kept me guessing on what Cameron would do to save Candice and if it would even come to that after they'd changed the past. It was very enjoyable and I was so happy with the ending! Really great read!!
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In a nice break from the erotic romance genre, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the well-thought-out journey of Cameron Coelho from his lonely life in 2017 back to the roaring twenties in search of his true love to prevent her untimely demise.
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Third of a rather ridiculous, but surprisingly entertaining series. I have had enough for now, but would consider reading another if the mood was right. A light read with a splash of history and romance thrown in.
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Overall neither bad or good. Average. An acceptable distraction to pass time, but nothing that especially impressed or moved me. 3 star
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This isn’t directly relevant but as no one’s reading it anyway I’ll push a few more keys and fill up the page to amuse myself. On my way back from the hairdresser in Winchester, which I now realise is in the pay of my enemies, I was on a bus with this hanging stirrup thing repeatedly knocking the side of my head (we aim to improve your customer experience, tap, tap, tap, ow), disembarked and was on the way home with a metaphorical paper bag over my head and wondering where I might borrow one of those sheep-shearing buzzy devices when, perfect timing, Simon popped out. The news of the moment turned out to be that Simon, who wears a blue jacket at all times and stoops when there’s nothing to pick up, has invented a revolutionary musical instrument called The Simonica, or possibly Simoniker. As the poor, misguided, bless lamb thinks I have a way with words, I was asked to inspect the object and say something to encapsulate it. I blame this on my frame of mind but the line I replied to him with was: “It makes a terrible whining noise but you get used to it”. This morning I’ve received an email to say he’s ordered and paid for leaflets with that printed on. It’s a funny world.
You probably don’t see any relevance in all this but, from what I’ve read, the ethos of the mid-1920s had something of the Simonica about it. It was an age of invention with ideas both crazy (check out the planes) and pioneering (food in cans, modular factory production and quality assurance), where a society of strict formality suddenly relaxed and federal agents didn’t, trying to enforce unmanageable laws like prohibition on a population of party-goers who drank bath-tub spirits out of kettles in speakeasies. The Mob was in town, problems with integration and bigotry reared and spat, hats were worn, Josephine Whatsit paraded her bananas, Lindbergh set records on wings and flappers never got tired of doing the Charleston. One of my all time favourite films hails from this era and if I can’t drop in a quote from that, I’ll scream: “Leonard Zelig backed his car over my grandmother’s ankle. She is old and uses her ankle A LOT.”
This is a time travel story, in a loose sense because time travel is just a means to explore this very interesting era in human history. In order to power and extend the range of an existing home-made time machine, a single man with hours very much on his hands is sent off to the past to loot a bag full of the good old raw materials. Glowing crystals, flashing lights and puckered reality zero in, it’s hero out and then a modern man is striding out into the 1920s and blinking into the light of a younger sun. I didn’t quite follow how they could be so specific about the temporal arrival point but, just like life, not everything gets explained to you while you’re twiddling the knobs. It just happens and then you get on with it. He gets on with it.
This is also a love story because the time traveler hasn’t just gone back for the magic disco-crystals, no-Sir-E. She’s a reporter, a sassy modernist and she’s a torch bearer for civil rights and emancipation. By our standards, she’s normal, so of course they’ve got it in for her, the antagonistic wierdo. How would you feel though if you spied on a Ku Klux Klan gathering and recognised the voices of people living around you, running local businesses or who’ve been inviting you around socially? Do you get out of the decade with hot feet or do you stay and try to do something about it? Bravery comes into this story too. Then there’s nostalgia, with the cars, the sporting events and the first edition of The Great Gatsby. Fortunes were there to be made, then lost, in the last few years before the stock market crash and a generational-scale war. The time traveler knows what’s coming in this respect but still has no doubt about his choice of which period to settle down in, no concern at all that he might be heading for death on a beach in France.
The temporary jump into our near future was interesting too, with strange behaviour and a controlling government, everyone at peace and provided for but at the same time it was un-natural and inhuman with a current of subliminal fear. Yes, I got that message: we need to stand up to any system that gets too powerful in its management of the public; and hair dressers.
I really liked this book. It was well written, well edited, a flowing read and didn’t have any of the bad stuff from a few historical jaunts I’ve read which I found to be over-researched to the point of pedantry or where someone’s picking lottery numbers or sidling alongside a king or tyrant to take them out (security?). The author walks his character through the era and gives you its spirit and atmosphere realistically, i.e. without delving into it like a list or encyclopedia. When the protagonist summarises the time period to someone living in that time, we are shown they’re surprised and then eventually agree because they can see it’s true but have never thought of it like that because they are inside and not objective. Fitzgerald got it, wrote it and then people recognised themselves within it, after the time had already passed. In England it was Waugh, with Brideshead. The heat goes up in the saucepan of history and the frog boils one degree at a time because it doesn’t notice the changing environment. Food for thought? Look around you. Where is our Fitzgerald? Will someone tell us what is happening?
This book is entertaining and revealing, to anyone, not just intended for readers of science fiction, historical fiction or romance, when it covers all three with a light touch and easy-going charm. If you read this book, I am certain you will like it because there’s a stocking full of good stuff and nothing in particular to get your goat. It will make kids dream about what it would be like to time travel and have a good meddle. It will bring out the best and worst characteristics and desires in adults, who may dream of making themselves rich, “inventing” something before its time or taking the young Steve McQueen or Marilyn Monroe out to the pictures. The time traveler here could have changed the world on a massive scale but was more restrained than that, responsibly aware of the domino effect of causality perhaps but maybe just less imaginative and more provincial, just wanting to settle down. It’s called maturity. This is a mature journey to the past, which suggests a whole series of books where time periods can be walked through and described to us without prolapsing the time-line. That’s education, grown up talk, so even though the Jazz Age was a random Simonica in the order of history, the book feels more responsible than that. Pah. If I get the chance, I’m going to meddle.
