I love time-slip novels and this was a great one. I was immediately drawn into the story and wanted to find out more. It is well written from a number of perspectives and in the present day and Bronze Age - the stories were intertwined beautifully. It is a story of mystery, loss, grief, friendship, love, trust and time travelling. Interesting characters and an interesting location as the book is set in an archaeological dig. Beautifully atmospheric I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. I was engrossed throughout and couldn't put this book down.

Highly recommended - as are the other Jane Lovering novels, all fantastic reads.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Choc lit books are good for the soul and this one is no different. Really nice mix of mystery, romance and humor. I enjoyed it. Thank you Choc lit and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

A Real Treat

I loved this novel. I have always had a fascination for archaeology and have done my own share of washing animal bones and stones, hoping to find a real treasure from the past. As always, Jane Lovering has a clever way of conjuring a picture with her phrasing and made me laugh out loud more than once. The characters are well drawn and all have their own inner conflicts. A real treat.

Grace had not got over the loss of her beloved husband two years earlier and as a schoolteacher has long summer holidays to think about it, so her best friend Tabitha decides to drag her up to Yorkshire to an archaeological dig. Grace is not really keen but Tabitha insists and so she is soon looking for bronze age artefacts. Duncan is the man in charge of the dig and has a reputation for being very gruff and uncommunicative.... but what past secrets is he hiding from. When a young woman goes missing Duncan's back story starts to come out and Grace helps him to find some resolve.

I really enjoyed this book as with previous books by this author, they definitely have more depth than normal chick lit but are still nice and easy to read

Very entertaining!

This is a very wonderful choc-lit novel. It's hilarious while still quite serious in its exploration of grief, family, and moving on. A valid defence for giving this book some of your time.

I tend to read choc lit when I want to give myself a little bit of a break, these books always give you that! I was, however, pleasantly surprised with this one. I am a huge history fan, and archaeology is something I've always wanted to become involved in. That, and time-travel. Alas, I'm not quite ready but getting there, I think (talking about the archaeology, obviously!) Though this book deals in both ;) but isn't sci-fi, thankfully. I reserve that for the TV as my imagination has its limits.

About the story: Grace is a teacher and a widow. Ever since she lost her husband to cancer, she's only seemed to drift through life. But all this is set to change when her friend signs both of them up as volunteers for an archaeological dig... Can she move on from her past, maybe find someone else?

I related to some of the themes in this book, particularly the subject of moving on. I feel Jane Lovering did a commendable job in writing about this. It can be difficult to deal with people who don't allow you time and space or even an environment where you can just speak about it. Murky waters definitely, for both sides. You have no idea how many times I've heard "there's no manual for this sort of thing, dear." I suppose that's why people join support groups.

Anyway, this book is definitely for those who love verbal sparring. It's very much a light hearted novel, well written and, one I do recommend.

I received this book through Netgalley.

Living in the Past,  Jane Lovering

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Women's Fiction

Well, I'll start with that genre category, women's fiction. Why? I so hate that we alienate men from stories that they could well enjoy, splitting books into Women's and Men's is so dated, harks back to the fifties or so and has no place in literacy today. Well, that's my take.

Anyway, to the book. I love Jane Lovering's stories, find ChocLit delivers books I almost always love, and this one was another perfect read. A story that's got that bit extra, not a cut and paste romance but one where there's a fascinating story line running through.
I'm kind of open minded about time travel, just because we don't understand it, if its possible, doesn't mean it isn't. After all years back what's common place now was thought impossible, but science and technology brings leaping progress in what was thought impossible. I think of it as sort of parallel worlds, existing at the same time and maybe parts are thinner, maybe its some bloodlines, maybe time of year etc that allow people to pass through.

I love Grace, she's been a widow for two years, and talks still to Jamie. I talk daily to my late husband to, so her feelings resonated with me. She has some great friends and they have been a solid support and as part of that Grace gets dragged off on an archaeology dig.
Duncan, the dig leader is a terrific character. He appears abrupt, abrasive and grumpy, yet his colleagues and students follow him avidly, knowing he's very skilled at his career. This dig is personal for him though, and through it Grace discovers some of why he appears so unapproachable. I so felt for him, what an awful thing to happen, and the repercussions have shadowed his whole life.

Its kind of not hard to see where the story goes, but that didn't matter, its delivered in such a fascinating way. I really felt there with Grace, out in the mud of the 21st century with the dig, and then back with Lady Hen. I love the way the two stories worked seamlessly, how they fitted together, and how we gained insights of the characters, saw how events can shape us. Life happens and we react to it, and what happens to us affects us as people.

Stars:Five, another great read from Jane, one I was really absorbed in and enjoyed thoroughly.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

Award-winning author Jane Lovering is on top form with her gripping new novel, Living in the Past. Sprinkled with her trademark quirkiness, humour and charm, Living in the Past is a spellbinding read readers will find absolutely impossible to put down!

The past couple of years have not exactly been a barrel of laughs for Grace Nicholls. Turning back the clock holds little appeal for her and she’d much rather focus on the future and try her utmost to get through each day one step at a time even when facing the world is the last thing she wants to think about. But persuaded by her best friend Tabitha, Grace is persuaded to join her at an archaeological dig at a Bronze Age settlement. Grace thinks that she is going to be spending days covered in mud and dirt while sheltering from heavy rain, however, little does she realise that she is about to get more than she bargains for when she claps eyes on the site director, Professor Duncan McDonald….

Scruffy, unapproachable and downright terrifying, charismatic is one thing Duncan McDonald is not! Wholly focused on his job, Duncan is a man whose sole objective in life is to dig up the past and find answers to the questions that have baffled and mystified archaeologists for generations. Distractions are the last thing he wants or needs, but when a woman on the site goes missing, it looks like his own past is about to rear its ugly head again. Haunted by old wounds and secrets that refuse to stay dead and buried, Duncan is adamant that he does not want anybody to breach the walls which he has built around himself, however, fate seems intent on throwing him in Grace Nicholls’s path…

As Grace and Duncan begin to dig deeper, they soon end up getting more than they bargained for. But will confronting the past finally set them both free? Or are they condemned to spending the rest of their lives being held hostage by old scars that simply cannot heal?

Jane Lovering never fails to stand out from the crowd with her unconventional and innovative novels that sparkle with wit, ingenuity, warmth and charm and Living in the Past is certainly no exception. A heartwarming, enjoyable and compelling tale of redemption, forgiveness and courage that will touch the heart and tickle the funny bones, Living in the Past is a superb tale of healing and hope which readers will not easily forget.

A fantastic tale from one of the most talented writers in the genre, Living in the Past is another highly recommend read from Jane Lovering’s immensely talented pen!

This is a slightly quirky, at times humorous, romance which like all Choc Lit novels, gives you both the man and woman's point of view. I was going to say 'hero' and 'heroine' but that didn't quite fit with the two central characters, Grace and Duncan, for me. Given that Grace indulges in quite a bit of time travel between the 21st and the Bronze Age, I'm not too sure why I think that. She certainly has courage. I suppose it may be because they fight their demons in their minds and have to come to terms with tragedies in their past whilst the rest of the world carries on regardless. They are quite down to earth (in Duncan's case, literally) with definite spikey edges. Having said this, I liked them both. They are certainly not stereotypical but individuals.

I enjoyed the fact that this was set in an archeological dig- it was really very interesting, if not a trifle muddy and I learnt quite a lot!. Taken away from normal lives to a tented encampment, barriers were broken down. There are some warm and sympathetic characters who are also there, observing and encouraging. Grace has relied on her friend, Tabitha since the death of her husband but realises that she has to find a way to move on. You find yourself rooting for both Grace and Duncan. It's a great read.

In short: a touch of romance haunted by ghosts from the past.

Thanks to the author for a copy of the book.

On a Bronze Age archaeological dig in Yorkshire, Grace Nichols is finding the work harder than she anticipated, She’s really only there to spend time with her best friend Tabitha. Things get a lot more interesting when a woman from the vanishes and the dig supervisor, Duncan MacDonald worries that her disappearance may be somehow linked to his own past. The search brings Grace and Duncan together as they search for answers they may not really be prepared for. An enjoyable time slip story with strong characters and a gorgeous setting

I really didn't know what to expect when I first started reading Living in the Past but after a couple of chapters I was hooked. I enjoyed everything from the story to the characters it all just worked so well together. Jane Lovering brought this story to life with some fantastic descriptions of the archaeological dig and the friendships and romance that feature in the book. I have to admit that I'm really trying to be vague about the plot as I would hate to ruin the surprises that feature in this story.

Grace has such a sad back story but she is also a resilient and likeable person that made me instantly take to her character. Duncan and Grace make such a great pairing but the question is will there be any romance? I loved Duncan's gruff personality and as the story develops you also see how his past still affects his life. There is humour in their interactions that always had me smiling!

The story moves at a really good pace and is perfect for reading over a couple of evenings or on a lazy afternoon. There are lots of themes coming together in this story that just made it so engaging. Living in the Past has a brilliant mystery, a dash of romance then add in some history to the mix which creates a perfect combination!

Five stars from me!

With thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for my copy. This s my honest and unbiased opinion.

This was such a good story - very unique in the content but that makes it all the more exciting and it is most definitely a book I am going to be recommending!

It is a very well woven plot that really works, the characters are great and you can tell the planning that has gone in to the book when you read it - it has twists and plot turns that all work really well.

Brilliant characters, excellent writing style and great pace - five stars from me - I really enjoyed it!

4.5*
Grace Nicholls lost her beloved husband two years ago and is still struggling to cope and come to terms with her loss. Her best friend, Tabitha, has been a huge support, even cajoling her to go on an archaeological dig in Yorkshire, believing it will do her good, where Grace is allocated the unenviable and very mucky task of wet sieving.

Duncan MacDonald is the director of the dig and has a reputation for being grumpy and distant. Despite the initial appearances to the contrary, Duncan believes there was once a Bronze Age settlement in the area and is desperate to find something to prove he’s not a wild goose chase. When one of the older students goes missing and the police arrive, Duncan has a horrible sinking feeling of dejà vu.

This is my introduction to Jane Lovering’s writing and I enjoyed the book very much. It’s a well written time slip story, with short chapters from 2000 BC interspersed throughout the contemporary, present time narrative. The characters are realistic and sympathetic and the author expresses their emotions extremely well, particularly Grace’s conflicted feelings about the trauma of her husband’s illness and subsequent death. Flashes of humour enhance the drama and romance of the story and a vividly described setting makes it easy to imagine the cold, the mud and basic tent living. The Bronze Age sections with Tor and Lady Hen are brought to life and depicted realistically, giving a real sense of people who lived then, and what their lives could have been like. Very easy to read, with a solid structure, smooth flow and well drawn, interesting characters. It’s a compelling, engaging tale which encompasses the present, the distant and near past.

Anyone who knows me and knows my taste in books will know I’m a huge fan of a time slip novel, I love going between two different time periods throughout a book. I loved this time slip read however it was slightly different which I thought was great.

Grace has been made to go on an archaeological dig with her friends as they feel it would be perfect for Grace to escape real life for a while. Grace has been mourning the loss of her husband for the last two years and seems to be stuck in a rut however she’s not overly exciting about standing in a muddy field looking in holes. Duncan is in charge of the whole dig but he has a history – the police don’t like him and he’s also lost someone close to him. Grace becomes fascinated with a camp on the other side of a hill but all is not as it seems there.

I have to admit the Bronze era is a time in which I know nothing about however Jane wrote about it in such detail I could really imagine what it was like in that time and the smells that would be present. I adored Jane’s writing style, within the first few pages I was sucked in to the story and I knew it was something special.

I admired Grace, she went diving in to the dig with no experience and she really made a go of it. I loved learning about all the different aspects of the dig with Grace, having seen many episodes of Time Team I could really imagine what it was like.

I loved the other characters but especially Duncan and Tabitha, I really wanted to be a part of the dig with them all!

There were a few twists in the story that I wasn’t expecting and the added mystery element made this a fab book to read. I don’t want to say too much as it’ll spoil the read for you but if you love history and Time Team, go read this book!

This was my first book by Jane that I’ve read but I’m excited to read more – this was a brilliant read and really took me by surprise, it was everything I expected it to be and then some.

What an incredibly unique story! It’s a mystery, romance, and time travel all wrapped up into one to create an AMAZING read!

Grace finds herself at a Bronze settlement dig site in the Yorkshire Moors. She is a history teacher, but this isn’t where she wants to be, but she came at the urging of her best friend, Tabitha. Life dealt grace a hard blow a couple of years ago, and it’s been difficult for her to move on. Tabitha thinks this is just the thing to help her.
Duncan is overseeing the dig. He is grouchy and moody. Grace finds that out in their first meeting, but she isn’t one to back down. He admires that in a way. As the two work together, they will find out that their fates are intertwined with one another. I am not going into too much detail as you need to discovers the gems hidden within the pages of this wonderful book!

Duncan and Grace are two individuals who have become trapped in the past but in very different ways. They are both intelligent and independent spirits, and their journey to love and lasting happiness is one you don’t want to miss! Read this treasure by Jane Lovering today!!!!

Think Time Team crossed with the Time Traveller’s Wife, a little romance and a little humour. Oh and a bit of detective work thrown in the mix. Don’t get me wrong - this is wonderful mix of a book that works really well. Nothing if not unique! Grace lost the love of her life two years ago. Her friend has asked her on an archeological dig to try and get her back in the real world. Duncan McDonald has a reputation for being grumpy to say the least, and Grace stands up for herself, much to Duncan’s surprise and admiration. When one of the group go missing, Duncan turns as white as the proverbial sheet when the police arrive-apparently he was there when a similar thing happened years beforehand. In 2000 BC a young boy is being treated by Hen, the healer of the tribe who with her necklace and insights helps the tribe whilst loving her man and boy from a distance. This is a brilliantly written book that kept me turning and I really took to both Grace and Duncan. He turns from grouch to an understanding man who has been through the mill and then some. Both realising that they are forever looking over their shoulders. A wonderfully uplifting unusual read.

o Choc Lit and Netgalley for my copy of the book.
Grace has been invited to participate in an archaeological dig on the Yorkshire Moors with her friends, Tabitha and Millie. Her friends think it will help her to come to terms with the death of her husband, Jamie, two years ago. Whilst on the site, she meets Duncan, who is directing the dig. He also has secrets in his past that he must confront as the dig continues. Can Grace and Duncan help each other to move on?
Whilst there is a large cast of characters in Living In The Past, ​the plot is focused on Grace and Duncan. Both Grace and Duncan begin the novel being slightly aloof as a result of their past experiences, but as they soften, they become more relatable, and this made me sympathise with them. It is quite easy to see where the plot will go in this respect, but as I felt a fondness for the characters, I was willing for the best outcome for them.
There are chapters in Living In The Past that are set in the Bronze Age - approximately 2000 BC. I enjoyed these parts of the novel, as Lovering makes the past and present work together wonderfully to build an intriguing plot. The Bronze Age is a period about which I know relatively little, but this aspect of the novel is well researched and this allows Lovering to create convincing scenes, where I could vividly imagine the way of life at that time.

I was hooked in this gripping story with its part historical, touch of fantasy and contemporary setting.

I could not get into this book. But I did finish the book. I struggled with the characters and being able to like them. With not being able to like the characters it just hindered the process of reading the book.