REVIEW
‘Love is never a matter of time but of timing,’ and ‘Always Chase the Moon’.
I absolutely adored The Seven Year Slip! It is a delightful, witty, wise, heart-snatching gem filled with pristine literary references. I can’t remember when I had so much fun reading a contemporary romance novel. I started it one evening before bed and then woke early next morning to finish it. It is so good I just did not want to put it down! The style of writing, creative time slip plot, appealing characters, revealing dialogue and excellent narrative flow, kept me glued to the pages. Ms Poston captured my attention from the first line. She is quite the skilled modern storyteller. Although the concept of time travel is fantasy, the author constructed the story in such a way, you could easily believe it is possible in Clementine’s fictional world. For anything is possible in the realm of the imagination!
So, who is Clementine West? She is an overly devoted publicist who works for a publisher of travel planning books. She is diligent at her job and hopes to get a promotion. But she is equally dedicated in protecting her heart from romance and fickle men. She is a woman who likes plans. What is coming and when it is coming. So the surreal events in this novel really set her off balance and challenge her predictable core.
Grief has saturated Clementine’s heart. Her special aunt passed on six months earlier in a most heartbreaking way. Clem is still wearing that grief. But when she enters the apartment her aunt left to her in her will, she experiences its magical ability to send one back in time—in this case to seven years earlier when her aunt was still alive. And it happens more than once, without warning. It is as though the apartment has a mind of its own! On her first adventure, she discovers another person is inhabiting the apartment. Someone her aunt has offered accommodation to for a brief stay. The appearance of this man in her kitchen is quite startling and she attempts to chase him away. But something about Iwan changes her mind while she is dealing with other weirdness on the premises; such as the calendar date and other bits of pieces from the past. She can hardly believe what is happening.
This whole unusual occurrence takes a bit of adjusting, first to the timeline and having the handsome Iwan from the past. But his kind face and winsome ways eventually charm her. As she learns more about who he is and that he can cook, the fortress of self-protection around her heart begins to fall! He talks about food in a most divine way, its connection to happiness and friendship and love. It is no surprise he has been to culinary school when he exercises his talent for Clementine. And she is sure he has a bright future on the horizon. He tells her about the dish washer job at a famous top notch restaurant he is pursuing and she is taken back as to why he would want such an entry level position. He explains it is to get his foot in the door, but has hopes of moving up to chef position eventually. She is mesmerised by his sincerity, charisma and talent. And begins to fall unreservedly into his world. Sadly, it is the past where she cannot stay. She wonders if she leaves the apartment, will she meet him again in the future? It is a fun journey through this maze of time and personal growth, along with the backwards and forwards, the paradoxes and dilemmas.
There are some amazing twists and delicious surprises that keep this story constantly fresh and vigorously moving. So many nuggets of wisdom are tucked in the dialogue and descriptions. The message that we might meet the right person at the wrong time is clearly the backbone of this story but it does not end there for it takes us a step further (into the present) and offers hope for the two lovers. When their worlds align, good things begin to happen. But how much will Iwan have changed in the future? For nothing or nobody every stays the same. It is amazing to imagine how one person moving through time has the advantage and disadvantage of knowing too much and how it may affect their decisions.
It is an organised and delightful complicated plot that unveils smoothly and soundly through every step. I highly recommend this novel that will have your spirit cheering, your heart racing and your mind bending. A story about relationships, second chances and impossible dreams that become reality. It has madness, mystery, and mesmerising magic. Perfection on a literary plate. Hold your breath, close your eyes and wait to be whisked away! 5 Triumphant Stars
Many thanks to Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for my review copy.
