I love a good time travel story. I think it all started when I was a kid, and I watched reruns of that really bad (but fun) 1970s TV show “Land of the Lost.” The idea of traveling through time and experiencing the past (or maybe the future) is wild to me. (We won’t talk about the potential of really messing things up – where’s the fun in that?) I’m also a huge Doctor Who fan and “The Time Traveler’s Wife” is one of my favorite books of all time, so of course I had to read this one.

In this book, we travel to London and into a world where time travel is possible and actively explored by a newly established government ministry. The protagonist, a female civil servant with a passion for history, is offered the opportunity of a lifetime: to work as a “bridge” for an expat from the past named Commander Graham Gore. Gore was part of an expedition in the Arctic that went missing, and years later, everyone was found deceased. The time travelers went back and rescued him right before he died. He (and a few others that the ministry has “snagged” from different moments in time) didn’t have a whole lot of historical impact, so people won’t be confused when/if they see them wandering about London. Throughout the book, we get to witness Commander Gore and the other expats navigate the complexities of modern life. However, when Gore and his bridge form an unexpected and profound connection, it’s not just a professional relationship anymore. It’s a bond that transcends time and space, adding a layer of complexity to both of their lives that neither could have expected.

I loved the concept of the ministry and what they had set out to do, and of course, there were going to be mishaps along the way. One can’t simply travel through time without something going awry – especially when you’re dealing with humans – some of whom are likely to have their own agendas of how they can use it for their own selfish reasons. These reasons, which I won’t spoil for you, create conflicts and add a layer of intrigue to the story.

Bradley’s writing is a delightful blend of science fiction, romance, and comedy, creating a story that’s both captivating and entertaining. The expats’ adjustment to the modern world is a source of amusement, with their perspectives on technology, music, and dating providing plenty of laughs. The dynamic between the bridge and Commander Gore is a highlight, offering a mix of humor and heartwarming moments, with occasional bursts of genuine emotion that will tug at your heartstrings.

I will admit, though, that I went into this one expecting the bridge and the expat to travel through time and get into all kinds of time travel shenanigans while falling in love, but that’s not at all what I got. In fact, by the time I got about halfway into the book, I was really bored. Up to that point, the only time travel involved was the mention of how they’d gone back in time to retrieve the expats and why, and then it was all about the expats adjusting to modern life – not exactly what I’d signed up for.

I was seriously contemplating DNFing this one, but then, at the halfway mark, something happened that turned things around and reclaimed my interest. Though not wholly original, the last half of the book was a lot of fun. There’s romance, intrigue, battles (including a thrilling showdown between the time travelers and those with nefarious intentions), reveals (such as the true nature of the ministry’s operations and who was behind them and why), twists, turns, and even a little heartbreak along the way. Had the first half of the novel been as exciting as the last half, I likely would have read this one in a single sitting.

Though the first half of the book was a bit slow (and sometimes tedious), it picked up at the midway mark, and I ended up enjoying it. If you are a fan of science fiction with a side of romance, I suggest diving into this one. While not entirely original, the colorful cast of characters and a very fast-paced second half make for a fun read.