| Title | : | River Rising (Carson Chronicles, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 425 |
| Publication | : | First published September 20, 2017 |
While Greg, the adventurous middle brother, follows leads in the Wild West, Adam, journalist Natalie, and high school seniors Cody and Caitlin do the same in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Like the residents of the bustling steel community, all are unaware of a flood that will destroy the city on May 31, 1889.
In RIVER RISING, the first novel in the five-book Carson Chronicles series, five young adults find love, danger, and adventure as they experience America in the age of bustle dresses, gunslingers, and robber barons.
River Rising (Carson Chronicles, #1) Reviews
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Book Reviewed by Julie on
www.whisperingstories.com
‘River Rising’ is the first book in the Carson Chronicles series by American author, John A Heldt. I have read a couple of his ‘American Journey’ series and the new collection is staying faithful to his time-travelling formula.
We meet the five Carson siblings who decide to travel back in time to find their adventurous parents, Tim and Caroline. The couple had slipped through a translucent membrane a few months earlier from contemporary Arizona to Pennsylvania in the 1880s.
Heldt has blended fact and fiction to good effect and has clearly researched the events of the time thoroughly. However, I confess to a few déjà vu moments as our main protagonists plan their journey.
Once in the 1880s, the quintet needed to interact with people in an attempt to track their parents’ movements and perhaps this is why they were keen to socialise so freely. I enjoyed the siblings’ occasional faux pas and their nifty sidestepping to avoid suspicion.
They appear to have few moral or ethical qualms when falling in love with people who were dead long before they were born and the impact on history such relationships might have. Indeed, those they take into their confidence seem content to accept the time-travellers at face value.
The plot sags in places in the first half of the book and in particular, I think a lot of dialogue could have been condensed. However, Heldt gives us just enough to keep our interest with bits of information which suggest the five might achieve their goal. I particularly enjoyed following Greg as he travels through the ‘wild west’ on the trail of Tim and Caroline but I found some of the other threads rather tedious.
Just before half way, we see the story from a different angle and I confess this was a welcome addition to inject a bit of life into what seemed to be a series of love stories. The momentum definitely picked up towards the end of the book.
I tried not to overthink the obvious practical obstacles time-travellers would face when living in another age but one issue bothered me; namely the Johnstown flood of 1889. If one of the siblings could remember from history that London Bridge had been moved from the River Thames in London to Lake Havasu City in Arizona, I would have thought between them, they would have known about a catastrophic national event which claimed over 2,000 lives?
This novel runs to 661 pages and I think the story might have packed more of a punch if a couple of threads had hit the cutting room floor – maybe the twins could have been left at home? The writing style was consistent with the author’s previous work but the plot didn’t grip me in quite the same way.
Nevertheless, I have no doubt Heldt fans will be delighted with this latest dip into the past. It is a wholesome read with nothing to offend; no gratuitous violence or explicit adult content. I definitely enjoyed parts of the book and for the time, effort and research that went into producing it, I award John A Heldt three-and-a-half stars. -
History lives once again under the skilled pen of author John A. Heldt. RIVER RISING begins a new era in Mr. Heldt’s time traveling, romantic sagas as one letter sends five siblings on an incredible journey into the past to find their missing parents.
What the Carson siblings didn’t know was that their lives and the lives of those they have grown to love will be threatened by a raging flood that will tear out the very heart of a bustling Pennsylvania town, even as the hunt for their parents points to a new direction. They were so close, but have they run out of time as history washes away the last straws they had to grasp at?
What would you do to find someone you love, even if the clues lead you to attempt the seemingly impossible? Could you take a leap of faith through time? The Carson siblings took that leap, all five of them and together they would find joy, love, heartache and loss, as well as a new appreciation for each other.
John A. Heldt had me tearing up more than once! He also planted me firmly in the 1880’s, from his incredible descriptions of an era an atmosphere and the people of a bygone era! Sweet romance, a simpler time, people helping each other and the feeling that the times were cutting edge, and a major catastrophe was not imminent. Can you imagine knowing the history of a town, events about to take place and being unable to thwart horror in time? Then again, what if you did avert disaster, what would that do to the future you came from? Not only does John A. Heldt tell an amazing story, he leaves his readers caught up in them long after that final word, because…”What if?”…
I am voluntarily reviewing a complimentary copy.
Series: Carson Chronicles - Book 1
Publication Date: September 18, 2017
Publisher: John A. Heldt
Genre: Time Travel Romance
Print Length: 661 pages
Available from:
Amazon
For Reviews & More:
http://tometender.blogspot.com
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I have been reading and enjoying John Heldt's books for quite some time now. I guess I would describe his books as historical fiction with a twist. As a fan of historical fiction, I really love how Heldt brings prominent events in history to life for me. He has a way of creating the scenes perfectly in my head. When you add in the time travel aspect and some fun characters, the story takes on humanity and life.
This book builds up to a flood that destroyed so many lives in 1889 when a dam failed. I cannot ever recall hearing about this event so this was a new and interesting thing for me to read about.
The pacing in this book is sedate. We shift around from one point of view to another- following the five siblings who have traveled back in time to find their parents. The story isn't flashy or intense, but has a slow, gentle build as we get to know the characters and watch them settle into lives in 1889. There were times I wished for a little more OOMPH in the story but for the most part I was completely content to settle in and enjoy the journey. The story definitely builds to a climactic scene of destruction and devastation that is honestly horrifying to think about. So, so sad.
And then? I was left with a bit of a cliff hanger ending which is, I'm sure, meant to lead me perfectly into the following books that I assume follow the different characters established in this book. I am looking forward to the journey!
Content: some peril and death, mild swearing
- I picked this book up through Kindle Unlimited for review. All opinions expressed are my own. -
Whoaaa ... okay. I need to think about this before I can put together cognizant thoughts. Stayed up until 2 reading it! And then that cliffhanger - well! I'm glad I have the second book already. Thank goodness for ARCs! ;)
An exciting story full of family love and adventure! -
Book Info
Kindle Edition, 661 pages
Published September 20th 2017 by
John A. Heldt
Original Title River Rising
ASIN B075RQ1XHY
Edition Language English
Other Editions None found
[Digital copy from Author]in exchange for honest review
Buy book from
Amazon
BOOK BLURB
Weeks after his parents disappear on a hike, engineer Adam Carson, 27, searches for answers. Then he discovers a secret web site and learns his mom and dad are time travelers stuck in the past. Armed with the information he needs to find them, Adam convinces his younger siblings to join him on a rescue mission to the 1880s.
While Greg, the adventurous middle brother, follows leads in the Wild West, Adam, journalist Natalie, and high school seniors Cody and Caitlin do the same in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Like the residents of the bustling steel community, all are unaware of a flood that will destroy the city on May 31, 1889.
In RIVER RISING, the first novel in the Carson Chronicles series, five young adults find love, danger, and adventure as they experience America in the age of bustle dresses, gunslingers, and robber barons.My Thoughts
Although the 2017 segments are glossed over the time spent on detailing life for Adam, Greg, Natalie, Cody and Caitlin Carson is so vivid the reader is right there with these 5 characters from day one. Spanning less than 6 months we grow familiar with living amongst people who rely on each other without the benefit of cell phones, computers or other modern day conveniences.
Not only is life much more basic and simpler but it is of course filled with more life threatening dangers that can happen with no prior warnings and even more dire consequences.
The chapters that are focused on the actual flood, which was a horrific occurrence, had me bawling like a baby the entire time of reading. The loss of life was tremendous for the time and it and the destruction that was described hit way to close to home in light of current events in the United States over the last months of 2017.
I had an especially hard time when the 5 Carson siblings were struggling to survive, but the suspense these scenarios caused truly came off as realistic and added much to the fleshing out of life in 1880’s compared to life in 21st century 2017.
Striving to continue in author John Jakes tradition of family saga series Author John A Heldt has gifted readers with this wonderfully moving first look at the indomitable Carson Clan.
As previously stated story begins initially in 2017 where this intrepid group of time travelers set their sights on finding their parents and follow them to the year 1889 where they travel to various destinations during their search efforts.
The many events that follow for these 5 siblings are at times tense and near the end totally heart stopping. The finale is one that left me really wishing the next book in this saga was ready to read because the climactic cliffhanger ending was neither expected nor welcomed when finished the last page of the book.
At over 650 pages this book read much faster than its length and it was over for me too soon. I loved taking the trip back in time to search for Tim and Caroline Carson, a journey that still has more chapters to come in future books and cannot wait to enjoy those as well![Digital copy from Author]in exchange for honest review
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Author John Heldt provided an e-copy of River Rising, the first book in his new series: Carson Chronicles for review.
I will start by saying I have been anticipating the release of River Rising since John Heldt announced it. I have read and enjoyed both his previous series; Northwest Passage and American Journey. I expected his new series would be as entertaining. No fears there, it is great!
Mr. Heldt has changed the approach to his story ever so slightly in River Rising but not to worry, he continues to give us a fascinating and engaging story that grabbed me right from the start and never let up. There were times that I felt my heart beating so hard I it surprised me. The change to which I refer is just a little bit more edge than his previous works. The characters, to me, seem to be less concerned with their effect on history and more invested in fully enjoying and acclimating to the time they find themselves in.
Set for the most part in Johnstown, PA., the characters dive into 1888 head first and make their individual marks. There is still romance (why do time travelers always get the hot girls and guys?), heart pounding suspense (literally), humor, even violence (don't worry, not particularly graphic), hinted at sex, wild west action and history. This time the time travelers do not know the local history; the Johnstown Flood (you may have heard about it, bad news). Part of the suspense of the story because it does not openly warn us but we know it's coming. I loved it, the impending sense of doom that only the reader feels.
Mr. Heldt describes Carson Chronicles as a family saga, so I assume (I know, you and me) we will get to follow these characters through several adventures. I look forward to spending more time with this family as they are brought to life more richly as the saga unfolds. I don't know how many books are projected for the series, but my thought is: Bring em on!
John Heldt continues to give his readers quality story lines, engaging writing, and characters most readers (ok, me) would love to spend time with. Thanks to John Heldt, River Rising allows the reader (ok, me) the opportunity to do just that. I highly recommend River Rising. Enjoy!
Mike -
Are you serious? That's the ending your going with? My heart is still pounding. I have to get my hands on the next book in this series like now!!
I've been a fan of John Heldt's writing since his very first time traveling novel. John has a way of creating characters that keep you in the edge of your seat from the beginning until the very end. River Rising is no different.
Adam and his brothers and sisters think they've lost their parents for good when they go missing and aren't seen for months. Then a mysterious letter arrived that Adam shares with his siblings and they are forced to make a big decision.
Exciting. Romantic. Scientific and even humorous at times, John nailed it again in this new novel. I would highly recommend you pick this up as well as his other series. I promise you will find yourself hooked just like I've been. -
I jumped at the chance to read this book. So far I have read all of this authors books and I am a big fan. Each series is a wonderful surprise that I absolutely love. From romance to family, to time travel...these books have it all.
In this story, you meet a group of brothers and sisters (Greg, Adam, Natalie, Cody, and Caitlin) who decide to go to the past in search of their time traveling parents.
When Adam gets the news about his parents and the time traveling that took them away, he is a bit shocked. Once he presents it to his siblings, they all decide, together, to take a once in a lifetime journey to 1888. This is where this wonderful family story begins. Each sibling has their own journey in the past, while as a whole they are focused on finding their parents. This book was written so well. I loved that this story involves a family instead of just individuals like the other series have. I loved all the series, but this family outlook just gives this story a little extra feeling in my opinion. This story was so wonderful. It was full of history, family, romance, and danger. I loved the setting and the time period. I loved each of the characters. Each of the siblings are so easy to love. I can't wait to read the next book because this story ended on quite a cliffhanger.
Overall, this book is a great start to a promising series. I was not let down at all. As a matter of fact, this just made me love this author more than I already did.
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River Rising by John A. Heldt is an engaging sci-fi historical book that'll take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride.
I've always loved author Heldt's books because of the beautiful storylines and his exceptional storytelling skills, and this book is no different and had the same charm that I find nothing short of magic. In fact, this book was all this and so much more; it had elements of mystery and something very different from the author's previous books - this book is a series based around the same family. This made me look at the characters, the main ones as well as the secondary ones, in a very different light.
Overall it was a very good read and I enjoyed every aspect of it. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, science-fiction - time travel, simple romance, family drama and easy mystery.
You can also read this review at:
www.thereadingbud.com -
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading River Rising. The concept of time travel has always interested me and I enjoyed where the story went with it.
I did feel that many of the characters were fairly flat and (especially the women) even portrayed some stereotypes that were unpleasant at times.
The repetition, especially in dialogue, really got to me. I found it distracting and it pulled me out of the story. I noticed that frequently when one character would ask a question, the responding character would echo words in their answer. This happened much too often to feel natural and it was not even a quirk of one particular character - most of them spoke like this!
I did enjoy the how the some of the relationships grew in this book. There were also many amazing points of historical interest which were very intriguing to learn about! The action near the end of the book is pretty intense and well done. -
Once again readers are treated to a dizzying romp through time and history, introducing them to a new family of time-travelers, the Carsons of Flagstaff, Arizona. Though a determined and loveable bunch, they pierce the veil of time with much less trepidation and scrupulousness than their cautious, logical predecessors, the Bell family of Indiana. Altering a timeline is not to be taken lightly; but the Carsons seem to rush headlong into romantic entanglements and close calls with both Mother Nature and the wrong side of the law the minute they land in December, 1888.
FULL REVIEW -
http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/reviews/... -
I enjoyed this time travel adventure. Mr. Hedlt creates engaging characters and situations.
Adam Carson and his four siblings have lost their parents. Months after they are buried Adam gets a package from the family lawyer that reveals a remarkable secret. Their parents might not be dead because they have apparently traveled back in time. Adam presents the proposal to his brothers and sisters: stay without their parents or travel back in time to find them? The children agree to leave their world in 2017 to go to 1880 to find their parents.
The story follows the youths as they adjust to a past without cars, phones, computers or the many other modern conveniences they are accustomed to. Greg takes the train to the West, Arizona and California, running into a bit of frontier trouble. The rest of the family is in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a growing town where some find work, they all make friends and even a couple find romance. They become nicely involved in the community even as they watch the date for their return to 2017. However, they don’t realize they are in the path of a rising flood.
I thoroughly enjoyed the history as well as the story line. Heldt develops the characters of each of the siblings, who are good people, who have growing friendships. I enjoyed the gentle romances, the strength of Natalie’s character, and the excitement and danger that Greg faces. It was also fun to have Samuel Clemens as a brief character.
I have read early books that involved the parents’ time travels. Those explained the time mechanism where this book totally skimmed that which could be a hole for readers who weren’t familiar with the prior works. It was also unclear to me why the parents missed their timely return and the children arrived somewhere they didn’t expect to be. (Maybe it was there, and I missed it in the audio.)
I appreciate the warm characters and the imaginative and engaging story which are consistent with Mr. Heldt’s writings. I also liked how the story is told in different chapters from the view of the siblings. This story has an ending but it is not the end of the journey. I recommend the story to fans of time travel and also to those who like strong sibling adventure, historical details and clean romance.
Audio Notes: Chaz Allen takes a little bit of getting used to. He doesn’t really give a distinct voice to each character. However, his direct presentation with just a touch of a slow drawl, seems to fit the story, especially the historic settings. I was glad to listen to this in audio as it is a longer book than I normally pick up.
I received this audio book from the author for an honest review. -
First of all, I should thank the author, John A. Heldt for sending me a free eBook, in exchange for an honest review. I must say, that I enjoyed the story very much.
Well, I must be honest. It was really hard for to get my feelings and thoughts together to write a cohesive review about the book. It was totally amazing had so much fun reading.
The story takes us into different times and allows us to meet different people. As per the synopsis, it is about five siblings going back in time, in search of their time travelling parents. The story is full of actions, different situations and emotions. I have identified some special characteristics in the story as follows;
1.I was excited about the story, since it was about time travelling. (that I feel is not a common case, that happens in our lives, which obviously made the story interesting)
2.We see different times and meet different new characters in the story, but the readers do not get confused, with them at all.
3. My favorite characters are Caitlin and Adam. Caitlin reminded me a lot of Hermione, in Harry Potter. Adam, the way he becomes responsible about his family shows how much he cares for them. From start to the end he becomes the pillar of strength for his siblings.
4. All other characters ; Natalie, Greg, Cody and even Bridget show how much they care for each other, and how they stand as a family together in difficult situations.
5. The story emphasizes on how the power of love, care and hard work can take you a long way.
6. Once, the Carson family faces with the flooding, they try to help the other people even by risking their own lives, which shows a very strong point of empathy and humanity.
7. As a family together they find love, joy, loss and heartache. Most importantly they find the true value of sticking together as a family.
8. The story was wonderfully constructed, including the characters. It is intriguing and I was really excited to know what will happen next.
9.Story is filled with actions and interesting scenarios, History, romance and time travelling.
10. Finally, this book was one of the best Sci-Fi books that I read after a long time. -
Adam Carson is 27, an Engineer and the eldest of 5 siblings. When their parents disappear Adam starts to search for answers as to what had happened. Finding a secret website he convinces his siblings that they are stuck somewhere in the 1880's and that they should all go and try to find them and bring them back. They split up when there and Greg goes to the Wild West, Natalie works as a journalist and the two youngest enrol in high school. Having no prior knowledge of the area nor the time are in they have to get used to the clothes, events and norms of the time which puts them in situations of danger, adventure and there are opportunities for love on the way.
This is the first book in this new series from the author and was a great start to a new time travelling series involving the Carson family and the adventures that they are involved in. There was plenty of drama, danger and even some romance in places, so it was a very enjoyable read. I liked the contrast between the events and experiences of each of the siblings which was a clever way to cover lots of different stories with a common theme to pull them together. The writing was of a good standard and it was easy to empathise with the thoughts and emotions as the characters went through the events in their stories. I'm looking forward now to the next instalment of their combined stories. -
Once Again We are encased inside the wonderful world of history meets time travel and John hits one out of the park!
When the Carson "kids" take the leap from 2017 to 1898 they don't know what will meet them on the other side - they simply hope to find their time-travel wandering parents and bring them home - little did they realize the town of Johnsonstown, PA would become their adopted home and the people who live there will become their adopted family - some find love - some find themselves - and they youngest learn some of life's hardest lessons.
I am once again blown away with how well John is able to flesh out his characters while placing them inside his stories like they belong there and have always been there - he seamlessly moves from the modern world to the historic past putting his characters inside of towns and lives as if they were meant to always be there. It's amazing how well he's able to do this and how easy it is to follow the story once involved!
To say I am on pins and needles anxious to find out more about the Carson families adventures and to see if the kids are reunited with their parents - I have been assured everyone makes it to 1918 safely - is a vast understatement! I cannot wait for the next installment! -
I said to my spouse "Johnstown flood" and received the response "1889." How is it that well-educated people embark on time travel and somehow are ignorant of such a major event? But taking into account the surprising gaps in knowledge in today's youngsters, I will let that obvious oversight slide since had they known there'd be no story.
This is a fully-fleshed time-travel journey which takes you across the growing country from "the territories" to the sophisticated east coast and then back to the west and pre-earthquake San Francisco. You can imagine yourself trying to adjust to the myriad inconveniences ranging from modes of dress and travel to lack of rapid communication. I, myself, could not be happy without modern plumbing and would certainly miss the convenience of listening to audio books and instantly obtaining information on anything which catches my attention.
Complex and well-plotted (caveat notwithstanding); I fully enjoyed this first adventure of the Carson siblings. -
Adam Carson and his siblings were still trying to deal with their parents disappearance. Most assumed they were dead although nothing really pointed in that direction. After a meeting with his parents attorney, Adam decides to look around the house for clues. There must be something they'd overlooked. This was not like his parents at all. What they learn will shock them to their core.
This book is fantastic! Mr. Heldt knows just how to pull you in and get you hooked before you realize it. Well written and characters we can relate to make this an enjoyable and steady-paced read. Mr. Heldt's unique framework for this book sends your mind to the land of "what if." You'll be on the edge of your seat waiting for the next installment.
I didn't find any issues.
I gave this one 5 cheers out of 5 because the ending is a kind of torture. ~Copy of book provided by author and I voluntarily reviewed it. -
The five Carson siblings have been in turmoil since the disappearance of their parents several months earlier. When oldest sibling, Adam receives a packet from his parent's lawyer, the pieces begin to come together. However, the packet reveals a secret website set up by their parents telling of their discovery of time travel portals and the subsequent adventures in different time periods. After Adam reviews the evidence and reads through how the portals work, he gets his siblings together and they unanimously vote to travel through time in order to reach their parents. They plan to go through a portal near their hometown in Arizona, taking them back to the 1880's; however when they step through the portal they end up near Johnstown, Pennsylvania in December 1888. The siblings quickly try to acclimate themselves into the time and begin the search for their parents. For twin siblings, Cody and Caitlin, this means enrolling in school. For middle brother, Greg, an adventure into the truly wild west to track a lead in Arizona territory and California. For Natalie, using her journalism skills to follow leads while Adam manages information and holds down the fort from the temporary home at the Colbert Boarding House. Even though the sibling's main objective is to find their parents and return home, the extended stay in Johnstown has led to romantic entanglements for four of the five siblings and their parents keep slipping through their fingers. On May 31st, 1889, the Johnstown flood devastates the town and the inhabitants leaving the Carson siblings in disarray.
River Rising is an epic time travel adventure. This is a story you will want to take your time with and sink into. From the moment the five siblings walk through the time portal and into 1880's Pennsylvania, I knew I was in for an exciting ride. Amazingly, all five siblings: Adam, Greg, Natalie, Cody and Caitlin are very well developed and individual characters. They each take turns at telling their part of the story through their point of view while continuing a cohesive story line. Pennsylvania 1888-89 was a wonderful year to travel back to; much like the Carson siblings I was amazed at the time period where Benjamin Harrison had just been elected President, Mark Twain was in his prime, the West was still wild and Punxsutawney Phil has made his first appearance. Through the sibling's eyes, I was able to see many of these events first hand. Unlike the characters in Heldt's other time travel series, the Carson siblings did not travel through time thinking about the possibility of altered timelines. I am very interested in how their very involved actions in 1888 may have altered things in the present. I am also very interested in how the time portals work; it is know that they appear on solstices and seem to appear in areas that are known to be sacred or have paranormal activity. I would love to figure out more about them and where else they seem to pop up. Near the end of the Carson sibling's grand adventure, the game of cat and mouse that they have been playing with their parents seems to be no closer to the end and the intensity increases when tragedy strikes with Johnstown flood; I had a hard time putting the book down. Ending, with a huge cliffhanger, I can not wait to see what happens with the Carson family next.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review. -
Wow
Best book he has written so far. I have read all of John's books. And this series will be the. Rey best by far. Also, I feel his writing has gotten much ,ore intense, and captivating. Can not wait for the next -
A definitive turner, no sleep no food.
Great characters, great storyline. I like that everyone is so real. Historic events are emotional, you feel your part of the story. Well done. -
What a ride!
Thoroughly enjoyable read! I love the integration of historical fact with fiction. I can not wait to read Book 2! -
River Rising is the first in a collection of time travel epics featuring the Carson family. Lead by two professors from modern Arizona, the family is comprised of five siblings, the youngest being a twin combo in the latter stages of high school. This first installment (I will not be reading the second) sends the Carson children back to Johnstown PA in 1889 in pursuit of their parents who had recently disappeared on a time travelling expedition of their own. They arrive at and are temporarily stranded in Johnstown PA just in time to witness the historic flood that made that location famous.
I won’t spoil the story for anyone, and I admit that I do like the premise, but this book did not live up to its own potential. If forced to guess, I would have assumed the author stepped out of a Leave it to Beaver episode or was formerly a writer of witless banter for some morning coffee show like Regis and Kathy Lee.
Setting aside that the author blatantly ignored the logical pitfalls of time travel for most of the book (like the butterfly effect) and the horrifically flawed logic of all five siblings traveling back in time to chase after their missing parents rather than just sending one or two of them, the basic story line is pretty good. I beg for a moment of silence as we morn the tragic loss of an otherwise sound plot premise. It was brutally slain in its prime at the hands of its creator. Rest in peace unrealized soul, rest in peace.
This critique begins with the characters: The youngest members of the family were supposed to be high school seniors. I doubt that even late 19th century teens stuck their tongues’ out at people and played on swings or in treehouses. I was waiting for them to start jumping rope or playing marbles in the streets. Though not age appropriate, the twins were noticeably different and likeable for different reasons.
The other siblings seemed a bit more age appropriate but had very little in the way of character development to distinguish them from one another. If you add in the 19th century characters, the result is an ensemble of like-minded, like-mannered, like-motivated purists that seemed to walk straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting rather than their respective settings of origin. Had the author not included the words “ said ‘Character 1’” the characters were so similar that I would have never been able to guess which character said what.
Perhaps part of the reason the characters seemed indistinguishable was the overly simplistic and otherwise juvenile dialogue between them. For example: Character 1: “I want you to do ‘X’.” Character 2: “Well that sounds good, I like that.” Character 1: “Well I thought you might.” Who the hell talks like that? The above isn’t just presented as 19th century dialogue nor is it an isolated example, it occurs throughout the book and it comprises the bulk of the character interactions. Chimps speaking in sign have deeper conversations. The attempt to craft hasty love stories out of this backdrop of simple discourse is even more painful to endure. It reads more like a young adult novel rather than historical fiction.
Bottom line: The story premise is barely stimulating enough to help me overcome the horrible writing to get me to the end. The chapters on the flood are well done and obviously well researched which probably saved the rest of the book. Would I recommend this to a friend? Only if they had a pre-teen daughter that liked to read historical fiction. -
Wow, just wow
I loved this book _ the family, the choices. What a story, what a plausible story.
But I need more , I need to know, what happens! Hurry up with the next book!!!! -
River Rising (Carson Chronicles, #1) by John A heldt
Adams parents dissapear while going on a hike. He soon finds that his parents are time travelers and they may be stuck in the 1880's. He convinces his siblings to come with him to try to find their parents. His brother Greg will look for them in the "Wild West". Adam with his sisters Caitlin and Natilie, and youngest brother Cody go to Johnstown Pennsylvania.
Soon the siblings will be facing many things they never thought of. As they nativgate America of the past, they will experience many adventures, love, danger and meet people as well. But will they find their parents? And what will they learn from this trip back in time?
A fantastic story. I am a lover of time-travel, and have read all of
John A. Heldt books. I greatly enjoyed
River Rising and look forward to more in this series. I strongly recommend to those who love a great time travel. -
Summary: Weeks after his parents disappear on a hike, engineer Adam Carson, 27, searches for answers. Then he discovers a secret web site and learns his mom and dad are time travelers stuck in the past. Armed with the information he needs to find them, Adam convinces his younger siblings to join him on a rescue mission to the 1880s.
Note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Being a fan of time travel and historical fiction, this novel piqued my interest when the author approached me to ask if I would read and review it. Adam Carson, the oldest of the Carson siblings, acts as the leader in his parents’ absence. His younger siblings include Greg (a history teacher), Natalie (a journalist), and twins Cody and Caitlin (still in high school). Upon receiving news that his parents’ mysterious disappearance a few months earlier was because they went through a time vortex in Sedona, Arizona, Adam decides he and his siblings need to go back in time to find them.
Early on in the book, most of the chapters are devoted to Adam. Although the narrative is third person, the chapters switch focus on which sibling is in the center of the action. Adam seems to be making all of the decisions, and his siblings don’t seem to have much in way of voices of their own at first. The exception to this is his sister, Natalie, who gets her own chapter early on. She finds her boyfriend cheating on her, and it makes the decision to leave life in 2017 to go to 1888 that much easier.
I would argue that all of the siblings pretty much collectively make this decision too easily. It’s not that I wouldn’t expect them to want to find their parents, but I would have liked to have seen more character development early on for each of the characters. It would be a lot to ask anyone to leave everything they know and travel to another time. The fear of something happening during the unknown process of time traveling or the risks of trying to live in the past are very real fears, not to mention the possibility that the mission might fail. Adam and his siblings are pretty clueless on how these time vortices work, except that they are active on the equinoxes and the solstices. I am glad they took the chance to find their parents and do the noble thing, but I would have liked to have seen more struggle with the decision.
The author does a good job of researching the time period. He gives nice references to Mark Twain, to the technology of the time, and the social conventions. It is obvious that he researched the 1880s well when writing this novel.
The true excitement for this story begins upon their arrival in 1888. When they step out of the vortex, they are in Sedona anymore (or Kansas for that matter--ha, ha), but rather in rural Pennsylvania. They make their way to the nearest town of Johnstown, and after talking with the hotel clerk, find out that their parents just passed through the town.
The Carsons arrive on December 21, 1888 and decide to stay until at least March 20, 1889, when the equinox will be. Greg is sent out west to explore Arizona and California, because a jeweler in Johnstown tells them that the older Carsons told him they would be traveling in that direction. The rest of the siblings remain in Johnstown.
Natalie meets young and handsome reporter Sam Prentiss, who works for the local paper. She gets a job as a columnist there, also in hopes of getting connections to finding out information on her parents. She knows they met with Mark Twain, so she procures an interview with the man himself. In the midst of all this, she develops feelings for the wealthy Sam, finding her heart torn between falling in love and knowing she will have to leave in a few short weeks.
The twins attend high school. Cody quickly falls for pretty Emma, and Caitlin is wrapped up in learning as much as she can about the times.
Adam has his own love interest, the clerk at the hotel where they are staying: Bridget O’Malley. He keeps tabs on the rest of his siblings and on gaining information on his parents.
Greg’s story seems to be the most exciting. Once in Arizona, he meets up with Clayton Kane, a man who is on the run, although Greg doesn’t know it. A shootout ensues when traveling with him in the desert! He has the luck of getting information on his parents’ whereabouts by talking with a local merchant. Greg manages to make it to San Francisco, where he explores the theatres, as his parents are lovers of the arts and would have likely visited the theatres while in town. He develops his own love interest with Julia Jamison, an older widow who is an actress. Little does he know he just crossed paths with his parents, Tim and Caroline Carson, while eating in a restaurant one night!
There are many facts thrown in about the times, such as Groundhog’s Day and Benjamin Harrison becoming President. Details on what buildings were in San Francisco prior to the 1906 earthquake, what sorts of guns were used in the Wild West, and the fare that was eaten during the time period are nice touches. The author does a great job with setting.
Despite my earlier concern about character development, I believe Mr. Heldt more than makes up for that as the novel progresses. This is a long book at over 600 pages, so patience is a virtue when reading. The divided nature of every character caught with connecting to the 1880s and returning to their own time is believable and understandable for anyone caught in such a plight. Even if time travel isn’t possible, we can all relate to having to make a tough decision of staying or leaving when we are invested in both places. I like the subtle romance of a time when public displays of affection were frowned upon, when people were much more formal, despite the tugging of their heartstrings.
The biggest worry the characters have is whether or not they will actually get to their parents in time, before Tim and Caroline Carson step through another portal to another time (as they have done in the past--this trip wasn’t their first). The Carson siblings may very well lose their parents forever is that happens.
So, the question hangs: will they succeed or not? The story only escalates from what I’ve shared so far, but sharing too much would ruin the beauty of this time-travel tale of love, heartache, shootouts, and survival. -
John A. Heldt is definitely one of my favorite authors of Time Travel! I have read so many of them and loved each one. This is the first in a new series and you will be seeing more as they come out--I PROMISE you that!
You will need tissues for this one and there are lots of twists and turns as the Carson siblings time travel to 1888 to find their time traveling parents. The historical realism that is intertwined within the fiction will have you gasping. You may find yourself holding your breath at certain parts (I did).
Hum--do they find their parents--do their parents find them? Do they all make it out alive? You will have to read this book to find out.
River Rising -
As a water engineer, very much enjoyed the first fictional account of the landmark Johnstown Flood that helped raise awareness of dam safety in the nation. Good mix of actual history with personal stories of a time-traveling family, thought the relationships seemed to jump fast for my taste. Still, well done, and loved the compelling ending.
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**I have been given a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
TITLE: River Rising
AUTHOR: John A. Heldt
PUB. DATE: September 20th 2017
WHERE TO BUY: Amazon
FORMAT: E-ARC
River Rising: Weeks after his parents disappear on a hike, engineer Adam Carson, 27, searches for answers. Then he discovers a secret web site and learns his mom and dad are time travelers stuck in the past. Armed with the information he needs to find them, Adam convinces his younger siblings to join him on a rescue mission to the 1880s.
While Greg, the adventurous middle brother, follows leads in the Wild West, Adam, journalist Natalie, and high school seniors Cody and Caitlin do the same in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Like the residents of the bustling steel community, all are unaware of a flood that will destroy the city on May 31, 1889.
In RIVER RISING, the first novel in the Carson Chronicles series, five young adults find love, danger, and adventure as they experience America in the age of bustle dresses, gunslingers, and robber barons. (Credit: Goodreads)
Review: I really enjoyed this book!
It did take me awhile to finish it, but I was still able to finish this book with a smile at the end regardless of how long it took me to read. (It’s pretty long too, but that never stops me.)
This book was semi-addicting. I could put it down for a period of time, and when I go back to pick it up, I’ll be immersed in the story. It was kind of nice to be able to pick up where I left off every time, and be able to give myself a break too. It’s like each time I did that, I got a fresh start in the story again.
I could tell that the writing and the research of this story was a long process. It was all very thorough with facts on historical moments and details going into the setting of the time period. I had to admire the effort that was put in to all this, I learned a lot of new things while I was reading, and not just vague concepts, but in great depth and detail. It made up a majority of the story, but it’s always nice to pause once in a while to go over the world’s structure.
I found all the characters to be enjoyable too. They did have similar ways of thinking (and their individual stories in the book were quite similar too) but you could distinguish their separate personalities. All lot of them came from well-rounded jobs as well, and they came in handy when time traveling back into the late 1800s.
I could go on about each character and their personal experiences, but to just shorten it up, I’d like to talk about one character this time who I thought had shown great development in the book.
And that is Caitlin.
She started out acting the most unsure about things. She was also very distraught about her parents’ disappearance more than anyone. But she grew a lot in the few months this book took place, and was able to act like a leader for her family. She also spent lots of time reading, which is something I can relate to. 😉 Her character changed dramatically well, and I was happy to see her grow confidence in her own actions.
As far as the other characters go, they all found ways to impress me with their wit, courage, and loyalty. And like Caitlyn, they also had their chances to change in the story.
There was a lot of excitement around the ending of the book. The beginning and middle was mainly build up to the big events towards the end. It definitely worth sticking around the ending to read. There are some parts that may actually shock you. (Ah, feels.)
Overall, I’m really glad I had a chance to read this, I highly enjoyed it. And I hope you all do too. 😀
Rating: ❄❄❄❄
