I was slightly reluctant to request an advance copy of this book because this genre is not my norm. Don't get me wrong--I love time travel stories in a movie or TV show, but my reading interests lie in stories from history. I was afraid of committing to a book I might not enjoy. It took the name of Jody Hedlund on the cover to convince me to make that request, and I'm very grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read it and give my thoughts.

The story begins in the present as Marian Creighton works in her laboratory, working to find a cure for her sister's disease, when she receives a call that her father has slipped into a coma in England. She has not been close to her father over recent years, but sets aside her work to travel to Canterbury to be with him, and that is the least of the travel she is about to do. It turns out that her father had been researching for a cure as well, and had drunk some holy water that may have caused his coma. But is that what really happened? Even though Marian didn't believe her father's crazy theories, she was willing to follow the clues wherever they led.

I love that this book was actually full of history, as well as romance and intrigue. Every time I thought I had figured out the ending, another surprise dropped. I cannot wait for the next book in the Waters of Time series!

3.8
After reading the last time traveling book, I vowed not to read another one any time soon, but this one sounded interesting...so request.
Marian is devoted to her job so she has little time for dating. She sinks all of her time into her research with the intent to find a cure for her sister suffering from a terminal disease that took her mother's life. She receives a call from the hospital that her dad is in a coma with no evidence why. His office and home have been ransacked and vandalized, so Marian decides to unlock his safe deposit box to see what these trespassers are after.

An odd discovery, she finds notes and vials of holy water and residue from the Tree of Life, which is also a vessel to travel back in time. Marian decides to sample the vials and travel to the Middle Ages to find more to save her sister and also where she thinks her father is actually living outside of his present body and time.

It soon becomes a romantic love story when Marian falls for a knight and indecisive about her return to present time. It was very uplifting and enlightening with the biblical references and verses throughout.
Thanks NetGalley for the Arc in exchange for my review.

When I have a favorite author, and Jody Hedlund is one of my most favorite, I do not read the back of the book. I don't want any hints of what the story is about, just trust that I am going to love it and let it organically unfold. Jody's books usually follow a comfortable rhythm that I have come to expect and easily settle into, but this one threw me from the first page! Contemporary setting!?! Time travel?! I was definitely taken back a bit. It was kind of like your favorite soft drink company changing their recipe. I can't say that I loved it at first, but once I got into it I was ready for anything to happen!

While Come Back to me was a bit of a departure from her usual Historical Fiction themes, it was more like a grown up version of her YA medieval time period novels. I find her YA novels enjoyable so once this one settled into that period I enjoyed it more. The hero, Will, is definitely swoon worthy and some portions were quite steamy! And then there is the time travel component which added a fantasy dimension that isn't usual for a Hedlund novel either, but was fun and different. I loved the Canterbury setting, the devotion to family and the elements of danger present in both time periods.

I'm curious to read how this series is going to unfold, as I was left with many questions. Will the characters from the 1300's be able to communicate to those in the present and vice versa? Will the changes the from the past affect the future, and how so? I guess I will have to wait for the next book to find out! I am eager to read the adventures in store for Harrison and Ellen.

This book was such a surprise to me! If you enjoy medieval or YA fiction from Melanie Dickerson than I think you would enjoy this book.

Thank you Revell and Net Galley for the free DRC of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Come Back to Me is a fantastic story I did not want to end! I had a hard time putting it down! Marian is a research scientist looking for new cures for diseases, like her father. Amazingly, she finds herself transported through time to the year 1381 where she meets Will Durham, and unexpectedly marries him. She gets transported through time back to the present, and has no way of predicting which time she will be in next. The problem is, she is falling in love with Will, the more she is around him. He is like no other man she has ever known. This is one of the best stories I have read in a long while. Exciting to the very end! I wanted more!!!

Definitely more than 5 stars.

First, let me say: Outlander what? Jamie Fraser has nothing on Will Durham. Now that's out of the way, what an amazing story!

The concept and premise are original and intriguing: special waters that cure all maladies and allow one to slip back in time? As far-fetched as it sounds, the author did an amazing job with plausibility, setting up the science behind it and the proof that goes with it.

Marian is a scientist looking for a cure for her sister. When her father falls into a coma, she travels to England to find out what happened. And that's when she starts having "visions" of a man in another time.

William Durham lives with the guilt of his half brother's death, even though it wasn't his fault. He knows war and the pain that comes from it, but when he sees an intriguing woman in what he thinks are visions, he's surprised at the peace she brings to his mind and heart.

When Marian slips back into 1381, she's confronted with real danger she didn't plan for. Will saves her and soon offers her marriage for added protection.

The realities of life in the late Middle Ages are a shock but the longer she spends in this time with Will, the less she wishes to return.

The writing is excellent and the story is absolutely unputdownable. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

A fun twist of a time-slip. The heroine goes back in time to save her dad and ends up having to choose where to stay, the past or the present. I loved Lisa Tawn Bergren's River of Time series, so I loved this one too. A passionate romance. A marriage of convenience. And so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

I have been a long time fan of Lisa Bergren’s River of Time Series, so I was intrigued when I saw Jody Hedlund has a new book with Revell, the first of her latest series, Waters of Time series. At first, the whole physics and quantum theories of Marian traveling back in time with holy water from the Middle Era was a little far fetched and hard to follow. However, by the time I was a third of the way through, I was hooked. I was mesmerized by the predicament Marian found herself in, now permanently caught between two worlds. The ending was perfect! I cannot wait for the next book! A word of warning: I felt the romantic scenes between the main characters were a little too detailed and focuses on physical attraction, especially for Christian fiction.

I love dual-time romances, and Jody Hedlund has created a story that will not let you go until the last page.

Filled with romance, danger and the impossible, Come Back to Me takes a unique approach to time travel filled with possibilities. What if holy water believed to contain traces of residue from the Tree of Life could not only cure you of all traces of disease but also transport you back in time?

Marian Creighton had more than a few reservations about her father's beliefs in holy water that contained restorative powers. But when he falls into a coma after drinking some, she is desperate to find out how to save him and where to find more. Her journey takes her back to a time no one would ever wish to visit - the Dark Ages. She meets and is rescued by a knight in shining armour, William Durham. This really is the most incredible fairy-tale romance you will read today. And I guarantee you will be swooning within a few chapters.

I loved how the author gradually introduces us to William and how clearly she describes what is happening as Marian transitions between her time and his. I loved the chemistry they had, the story and the shared urgency of finding more water. The details of the time travel itself are unique as well and something I had never considered before.

Now a word of warning. Some scenes are meant for adult eyes only. Many scenes involve kissing and caressing, so you have been warned if you don't like that. And while the characters did go to chapel, the lack of Christian content was disheartening. Hence the four stars.

Despite those things, I heartily recommend this book, and I look forward to the next one in the series!

This is poignant story of love, friendship, and loss. The plot was well-paced and fascinating. I was captivated to the very end! I highly recommend this quick read . Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

An absolutely stunning tale from Jody Hedlund! Come Back to Me is enthralling, exquisitely romantic, and enlightening. Hedlund’s writing is masterful, and I was unequivocally entranced from the first pages.

If there’s any author I trust to write in a new genre and make me absolutely love it, it’s Jody Hedlund. It was a bit strange to have one of my favorite historical fiction authors writing in a partially-contemporary setting, but Hedlund excels at writing both the past and the present. Her ability to create inspiring yet achingly real characters never fails to astound me. I fell in love with Will and Marian, and was fascinated by the historical events they became entwined with. It was intriguing to see Marian experiencing facets of the past through a modern lens, especially since I’ve always imagined I could live in the past—as many historical fiction readers do—but the reality of historical life is not often simple. Hedlund portrayed that contrast very well.

Come Back to Me kept me up reading, riveted, way too late—and I’m not complaining in the least. Hedlund’s trademark swoony romance drives her smashing success into this new genre. I’m so excited to read more in this series! 5/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In "Come Back to Me", Marian is a scientist looking for a cure for her sick sister. Her father has likewise devoted his life to finding a cure and has developed some strange theories as a result. When Marian gets the call that her father has fallen into a coma, she rushes to his bedside and starts to delve through his strange theories. When she starts to get proof that her father has found a way to time travel, she begins to travel through time as well. I enjoyed reading about the relationship between Marian and William back in the medieval age, but I thought it was a little rushed. I appreciated the devoted relationships between the characters in the book, but the time traveling concept was a little strange to me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was fantastic! I could hardly put it down once I started. Jody Hedlund is one of my favorite authors so I will read anything by her...plus I do love a good time travel story!

Right from the start I was hooked by the storyline and enjoyed the history, romance and mystery. Marion is a practical research scientist and Will is a knight from the 1300's. Talk about the perfect hero! There are lots of twists and turns that will keep you eagerly flipping to the next page.

I will be telling all my friends who love time travel books that this is the one to read. I can't wait to see what Jody has in store for us in book 2 of The Waters of Time series.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Come Back to Me by Jody Hedlund is an excellent historical fiction romance that is the first in a new series: Waters of Time. This book has it all: romance, history, suspense, mystery, intrigue, and time travel.

I have been a fan of Ms. Hedlund for quite some time, so I was excited to find she had written not only a new novel, but a time-travel story. She pulled this one off quite nicely. I really think it hit the spot and the time travel and associated twists and turns that kept me intrigued and on the edge of my seat, balanced nicely with the historical and romance aspect.

I really enjoyed Marian and her relationship with Will was perfect. They were well-matched, and I enjoyed all of the interesting and unique ways their introduction, relationship, and history evolved throughout this book.

This is another great book from Ms. Hedlund and anyone that loves a great, clean, and exciting historical fiction and romance must read this book.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Revell Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 6/1/21.