Flirting with Forever by Gwyn Cready

I don’t know that I’ve ever read a time travel romance before this one. Apparently I’ve been missing a fun sub-genre. This is a fun, sexy romp.

In present day Pittsburgh, art historian Campbell Stratford is working on a manuscript, a sexy tell-all “fictography” of a seventeenth-century painter that she hopes will help her get the promotion she’s after. To her surprise, she discovers a time portal that transports her back to that time, straight into the home of painter Peter Lely, portraitist to Charles II.

Here’s where it gets a little confusing. Peter Lely is dead and has been recruited by the Guild protecting dead artists to sabotage Cam’s project. So he’s traveled back to that point in time, too, knowing that he will meet the writer then. Sparks fly, but after a night of seduction, Cam returns to the present and realizes she’s been betrayed. But, Peter manages to travel to modern Pittsburgh, in theory to stop Cam’s project.

Trying to catch his balance in front of Cam’s laptop was a long-haired man in a ruffled linen shirt, silk stocking and puffy brown pants. Holy Shit. It’s Hammer time. (pg. 221)

In reality, though, love is love, even if the two are separated by losses, lies and centuries.The sex scenes are steamy, but sweet too, moments the two know will not last.

He rose up and held her. “A night to remember.”

“Aye.”

He kissed her again, and she kissed back, hard and desirous, shaking him to the marrow. Drunk with an overpowering lust and joy, he brought his mouth lower and traced the edge of her shoulder. (pg. 185)

Neither Cam nor Peter is entirely innocent. They both have to forgive the other and Peter especially has to learn to live with choices he’s made. They’re both true to their character, though, whatever the setting.

To be honest, while I was willing to give this one a shot, I really didn’t think it was going to be as enjoyable as it was. The whole time-travel aspect had me worried, both the technicalities and how the lovers would ever have a happy ending. Let me just say I was delighted with the ending and will be reading more of Cready’s romances. Hot, touching, funny – a joy!

Sound like something you’d love to read? I’ll pass on my gently read copy. If you live in the US and are 18+, leave me a comment below. A random winner will be chosen on May 4.

Published March 30th 2010 by Simon & Schuster
415 pages

Challenges: 100+, A to Z, Romance

I received my copy from the publisher for review and the above is my honest opinion. I am an Amazon associate.

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