Alicia Thomas’s review of Sundial by Carrie Lofty
Time travel short story ebook published Dec 07 by Wild Rose Press

Sundial is a short story, only 67 pages, and is the first thing I’ve read from Wild Rose Press.

The biggest factor in Sundial is the style. The whole feel of this story is disjointed but in an artsy kind of way. It’s like Picasso does time-travel romance. I enjoy some of the weird IFC movies, etc., so once I figured out what I was reading I enjoyed it. I did have immediate negative reaction, though, and had to come up from there.

First off, we aren’t told just how young Mark is, so his attitude seems really off. Also, the masturbation scene is really stupid. He gets caught because he sets up himself to get caught, in my opinion. Who does that sitting outside a door the other person may walk through soon? And this brain-damaged person has the nerve to act surprised! This is in the very beginning, though, and things get better quickly.

The author calls Mark shy, but I’d say wary is a better word. He’s a consummate actor, with a natural talent and having honed his skills out of necessity. He is direct and strong, so he’s not shy. He’s been living in an unstable environment since he was 16, which is a vulnerable age, and he never knows when he may just disappear into his old life. He comes across as cold, at first, but bitterness toward circumstances isn’t an unusual response for a teenager. Due to what’s happened with his life, in some ways he’s less mature for his age and in other ways he’s much more.

I haven’t said much about Amber, but, really, Mark is the star of the show. She’s a good enough heroine and in the end she pulls off a good climax, but there’s not a lot to say about her. The vast majority of the struggle, pain, and growth is Mark’s.

Now I have to grade this. This one is hard. It will be sad if it misses the audience who will enjoy it because it definitely isn’t for everyone. It will be a gem for those looking for something unusual. I’ll give a general grade with a strong recommend if you think you may go for the style. I’ll be looking for more from this author.

Grade C+

Summary:

Amber Schulman stepped into a lush English garden in 2007, only to arrive in breathtaking Sorrento, Italy in 1958. The only person who understands her confusion is fellow time traveler Mark Lacey, a New Yorker who comes from the land of cassette tapes and Reaganomics. His dark, world-weary eyes beckon her with secrets and sensuality. But why does he seem so familiar?

Trapped in the past since he was a teen, Mark wants nothing to do with another whining newcomer. But the blue-eyed Aussie might be able to answer the one question that haunts him: Do I ever get back to 1987?

From soccer to samba to sex, Amber tempts him with a zeal for life and love, pulling him free of his lonely isolation.

But getting home could prove easier than they imagined. How will their love endure if Amber returns to her time and Mark to his?”

Read an excerpt.