My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts...

Ever Crave the Rose, the final installment of Morgan O’Neill’s The Elizabethan Time Travel, has been one of my most anticipated releases over the past 2.5 yrs. ever since I read book 1. I was very excited when I found out this sequel to The Thornless Rose is finally getting published; couldn’t wait to find out how Anne and Jonathan’s journey ends! The biggest query, on my mind, was to see whether they stayed in the Elizabethan-era, or returned to the present time. If so, how will that work out when we consider Jonathan’s own past with Anne’s grandmother and 2014 not being his original time-frame of living. Did I get my answers? I’ll try to elaborate in my review...

It’s true that I’ve never been overtly interested in the history of Tudor England but The Elizabethan Time-Travel series changed that for me. Apart from the chapters set in present time, much like book 1, book 2 also connects and heavily relies on Tudor England without being made to feel like taking a History lesson. The fusion of the historical facts with the fiction was done so well that you won’t think Dr. Jonathan Brandon once wasn’t one of Queen Elizabeth I’s royal physicians! Some major historical figures such as Robert Dudley, Thomas Howard, the Duke of Norfolk, Queen’s chief adviser Robert Cecil, not to mention the venerable Queen Elizabeth I played their roles as needed throughout, which is why I had to research online to find out who was who and how they were related to the story. The authors’ knowledge of Tudor history was admirable.

My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...

Morgan O’Neill’s latest offering, Begun by Time, was a lovely prequel to The Thornless Rose (Elizabethan Time Travel #1). TBH I’m not a big time travel theme enthusiast (I have my reasons) yet this series got me hooked since I read the blurb of book 1. I’ve enjoyed it so thoroughly that I’ve been eagerly waiting for the next installment...

The Thornless Rose begins at 1945 when Dr. Jonathan Brandon, a member of RAF in his early 30s, goes to a favorite inn of his for a bite, where he simply vanishes into the thin air. At that time, he was engaged to Catherine Hastings, their marriage only a handful of days away. No clue was ever found as to what happened to him, including his body. There were wild speculations about his disappearance, though nothing was ever proved; just how can a living, breathing man vanish into thin air!

Years have passed since then. At present time, Anne, Catherine’s granddaughter, is visiting London to spend some quality time with her 80+ yrs. old grandmother. She had no idea of Catherine’s past and her association with Jonathan, who went by as ‘Jonnie’ to his loved ones. This seemed like secret that was just waiting to be unearthed when Anne finds the hidden boxes full of articles and documents in Catherine’s attic and becomes instantly intrigued by this mysterious, yet fascinating story of the missing RAF Doctor Brandon. Surprisingly enough, her now deceased grandfather Arthur’s involvement was also prominent in the investigation. From there, before Anne could even take everything in, an incredible journey is put into motion for which she was in no way prepared. She certainly didn’t thought about being thrown 400yrs. back in time where she’d be able to meet Queen Elizabeth I, in search of Jonathan. Neither did she ever think that not only she’d find him, but also fall in love with him madly.

My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...

Morgan O’Neill’s The Thornless Rose, Book 1 of the Elizabethan Time Travel, was my first book by the author(s). It was one of those books that keeps you on the edge constantly, where you must know what’s going to happen next. At least that’s how I felt when I read those 500+ pages (according to my ARC).

I have never been particularly interested in the history of Tudor England, until this book that is. Apart from it’s contemporary setting, this novel connects and heavily relies on that without being made to feel like taking a History lesson. The fusion of the historical facts with the fictional was done so well that you won’t think Dr. Jonathan Brandon wasn’t one of Queen Elizabeth I’s royal physicians! Some major historical figures such as Robert Dudley, Thomas Howard, the first Duke of Norfolk, Lettice Knollys, not to mention the venerable Queen Elizabeth I played their roles as needed throughout, which is why I had to research online to find out who was who and how they were related to the story. The authors’ knowledge of Tudor history was admirable.

Arc provided by Entangled Select Historical through Netgalley

Release Date: December 29 th

DNF at 40%

Anne, our modern day character sees the photograph of her grandma's first fiancé and becomes instantly smitten with it, and very determined to act as some sort of Nancy Drew wanna be.

I know this is a time travel romance, but despite that, I was expecting a little more something, to ground her sudden obsession with the guy.

She's a teacher! Logical reasoning would be in order.

Also, I would expect a little of: OH MY GOD I'M OGLING MY GRANDMOTHER'S MISSING FIANCÉ! UGH!

Not the: Oh, here is that handsome devil who went missing a few decades ago, I must kiss him at once!

Then the colloquial speech that practically invades the initial part of the book became _for me_ quite tiresome to read.

(though I have been told that it is actually correct, so the problem is mine.)

“I’ve held tea for ye, Anne, but I canna say as I’m happy ’bout it, or ’bout yer grandmother’s goin’ off like she did with nary a word t’ me.”

“What’s troubling ye then, lass?” Trudy asked, her voice gentle now. “Would ye like a cuppa? Ye look a bit queer.”

"(..)she stared into the shadows and recalled her gloried past, conscious of its stark contrast to widowed life."

Gloried? Because she was married?

 Wow, o_O

Built a pyre and throw yourself into it, why don't you?

( I know, I know...but what can I say? My sentimental bones are very hard to find these days...)

And then  I got to the part in which the grandma seems more worried with the fact that Anne will be dressed properly _yes, a big thing back then, BUT, priorities please _ than the actual: Oh MY GOD MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS GOING TO TIME TRAVEL TO THE FIFTEEN HUNDRED' JUST LIKE MY FIANCÉ!

"But you mustn’t wear jeans, or anything short-short, until you’re back in Virginia. You’ll have to find something passably appropriate for the 1500s.”

But what really made me decide to quit reading this, is that immediately after Anne "travels" to that time period the thing becomes "rapey". It doesn't even take a few minutes, or hours, no, it happens immediately.

So, Anne draws the attentions of two bastards that immediately start discussing who will be first...

She manages to escape (yay!)...but they are able to keep following her (buh!), and later on, she is kidnapped (double buh...).

Once again she manages to escape (the odds are clearly in her favour!), and eventually she meets her grandma's missing fiancé (mission accomplished).

Oh, and she even manages to save Queen Elizabeth's life with the Heimlich  maneuver.

Great!

Sorry, book its not you _well, part of it... is _ but it is mostly me!

Clearly a casting mistake on my part: Book, we just weren't meant to be together until the very end :(

I bid you farewell. 

Morgan O'Neil is the combined work of authors Cary Morgan Frates and Deborah O’Neill Cordes.

why did I request this??

What's with Netgalley that leads me _ okay, not that I need all that help in advance _  into the insanity path of requesting very dubious titles??

WHY??

I hate the tone of the book!

It is rampart with accents, and stereotypes, and stout old ladies with grey hair and sensible shoes...ARGH!!!

I really don't know what this is trying to be..

Is this trying to follow in Outlander path?

Oh, Deus o_O