sarahs_bookish_life's review
5.0
Really loved this sequel to a stitch in time. A really heart warming read. Please, please someone tell me that there's going to be another one in the series!
bananatricky's review
2.0
I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I have to be honest I didn't like this novel as much as the previous novel A Stitch in Time. Whilst there were less irritations (in the first book many old sayings apparently originated from actual events involving Needlers and Stitches).
Sarah is a Stitch which means she goes back in time to save someone and prevent history from unravelling. Her soon to be husband John is a Needler, they act as assistants/handlers for Stitches. Ordinarily Stitches only undertake three missions but in the first book Sarah got into trouble, John defied the Powers That Be who govern time travel and, in exchange for reversing a terrible punishment inflicted on John, Sarah agreed to continue stitching beyond her three trips.
Sarah and John are preparing for their big day when Sarah takes an unannounced time travelling trip back to 1939. However, this time her body doesn't vanish with her. John and her family think she has fainted and are beside themselves.
When Sarah gets to 1939 she meets a woman who is supposed to become a Stitch too, but Veronica is too scared. Soon Sarah, Veronica and John are variously travelling to the World Cup final, punk-era London and other points in time whilst also getting married and discovering just why Sarah's time travelling has been out of whack and confusing even the Powers That Be (or Spindlies as Sarah calls them).
The reason I didn't like this book as much as the first is the authorial voice. I felt as though this was a basic history class made more fun through adventure stories than a novel. In fact, I did wonder whether this was intended as a novel for teenagers although the age of Sarah and John seemed to preclude that. It doesn't surprise me in the least that Amanda James is a teacher.
Another issue with the authorial voice is that both Sarah and John 'sounded' like much older people. I kept expecting John to get his pipe and slippers out at any moment. Amanda James also writes as if she is telling a story out loud at times, or as though Sarah was thinking out loud, which I found kind of off-putting.
I guess I just didn't like Sarah and John as much in this book as I did in the preceding book although the time travels were fun - much more in recent history than most time travel novels which is a nice change.
I have to be honest I didn't like this novel as much as the previous novel A Stitch in Time. Whilst there were less irritations (in the first book many old sayings apparently originated from actual events involving Needlers and Stitches).
Sarah is a Stitch which means she goes back in time to save someone and prevent history from unravelling. Her soon to be husband John is a Needler, they act as assistants/handlers for Stitches. Ordinarily Stitches only undertake three missions but in the first book Sarah got into trouble, John defied the Powers That Be who govern time travel and, in exchange for reversing a terrible punishment inflicted on John, Sarah agreed to continue stitching beyond her three trips.
Sarah and John are preparing for their big day when Sarah takes an unannounced time travelling trip back to 1939. However, this time her body doesn't vanish with her. John and her family think she has fainted and are beside themselves.
When Sarah gets to 1939 she meets a woman who is supposed to become a Stitch too, but Veronica is too scared. Soon Sarah, Veronica and John are variously travelling to the World Cup final, punk-era London and other points in time whilst also getting married and discovering just why Sarah's time travelling has been out of whack and confusing even the Powers That Be (or Spindlies as Sarah calls them).
The reason I didn't like this book as much as the first is the authorial voice. I felt as though this was a basic history class made more fun through adventure stories than a novel. In fact, I did wonder whether this was intended as a novel for teenagers although the age of Sarah and John seemed to preclude that. It doesn't surprise me in the least that Amanda James is a teacher.
Another issue with the authorial voice is that both Sarah and John 'sounded' like much older people. I kept expecting John to get his pipe and slippers out at any moment. Amanda James also writes as if she is telling a story out loud at times, or as though Sarah was thinking out loud, which I found kind of off-putting.
I guess I just didn't like Sarah and John as much in this book as I did in the preceding book although the time travels were fun - much more in recent history than most time travel novels which is a nice change.
zooloo1983's review
5.0
I can easily see why this series is Mandy’s favourite series. You meet Sarah and John and you just instantly fall in love with them and this mysterious time-travelling life they lead!
Following a few short months after A Stitch in Time, we are meeting Sarah and John at a very important part of their life. Life has settled after the dramatic events from the first book, and they are settling into a new rhythm. However, it seems destiny has other ideas and this time not even the spindly ones can control the travelling! When we do learn what is causing the disruption you can’t help but have a small leap of joy. But don’t let it fool you, because disruption and a lot of it, is what lies in store for Sarah.
One thing I did love about this book is Veronica Ratchet, she is a blinking hoot. What a character! Meeting her in 1939 Southampton, in a town which was one of the worst-hit during the war….you know everything will be fine won’t it, right? … Right???
Veronica is new to stitching and things do not go to plan, somehow Sarah is dragged along into what makes the Cross Stitch. The explanation behind the theory of a Cross Stitch is fascinating and so well done. Yet, this chance meeting entwines their lives together forever and I loved how everything works out. What I love about these is that although we know this doesn’t happen, it is explained to us in a way in which…it could happen! But it’s not true is it…is it?
The descriptive writing in this tale will have you believing you are in 1939 Southampton surviving the war, 1979 Bristol in the punk rock era or in 1966 Topeka with a raging Tornado on its way to you! You can smell the fires, you hear the wind, you feel the grit of the sand. It is as if you are there.
I really hope and pray there is a way that we get can the third book, because even though the book is all nicely tied up there is still so much to the story. So much more and plus I want to learn more about Esme and Harry! Cross Stitch is a story that flows with no words wasted and before you know it, you’ve reached the end! I am still not happy about this! I didn’t want it to end so quickly. So many threads have not been stitched up (sorry couldn’t resist!) and I yearn to know more. But if it does mean the end, I will riot but secondly, it still leaves me with the warm and fuzzies….but I still want the next book.
Following a few short months after A Stitch in Time, we are meeting Sarah and John at a very important part of their life. Life has settled after the dramatic events from the first book, and they are settling into a new rhythm. However, it seems destiny has other ideas and this time not even the spindly ones can control the travelling! When we do learn what is causing the disruption you can’t help but have a small leap of joy. But don’t let it fool you, because disruption and a lot of it, is what lies in store for Sarah.
One thing I did love about this book is Veronica Ratchet, she is a blinking hoot. What a character! Meeting her in 1939 Southampton, in a town which was one of the worst-hit during the war….you know everything will be fine won’t it, right? … Right???
Veronica is new to stitching and things do not go to plan, somehow Sarah is dragged along into what makes the Cross Stitch. The explanation behind the theory of a Cross Stitch is fascinating and so well done. Yet, this chance meeting entwines their lives together forever and I loved how everything works out. What I love about these is that although we know this doesn’t happen, it is explained to us in a way in which…it could happen! But it’s not true is it…is it?
The descriptive writing in this tale will have you believing you are in 1939 Southampton surviving the war, 1979 Bristol in the punk rock era or in 1966 Topeka with a raging Tornado on its way to you! You can smell the fires, you hear the wind, you feel the grit of the sand. It is as if you are there.
I really hope and pray there is a way that we get can the third book, because even though the book is all nicely tied up there is still so much to the story. So much more and plus I want to learn more about Esme and Harry! Cross Stitch is a story that flows with no words wasted and before you know it, you’ve reached the end! I am still not happy about this! I didn’t want it to end so quickly. So many threads have not been stitched up (sorry couldn’t resist!) and I yearn to know more. But if it does mean the end, I will riot but secondly, it still leaves me with the warm and fuzzies….but I still want the next book.
jantine's review
4.0
'Cross Stitch' seems to make a perfect blend of romance, time travel and friendship. It was great to see so many things develop!
Up to about halfway the book, the event of 1928 in the previous book was brought up again every chapter, so much that even I who had not read that previous book felt like the Weasley twins at the start of Harry Potter's second year, when Persey became Head Boy. 'You might have told us, once or twice, every minute, all summer.' The other side of that coin is, that I did not feel like I missed any vital information at all, even while I have not read 'A Stitch in Time', and I could thoroughly enjoy the story because of that.
Have I told how much I liked Veronica? She was awesome, and one wonderful example of a great and developing character!
I received an ebook through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Up to about halfway the book, the event of 1928 in the previous book was brought up again every chapter, so much that even I who had not read that previous book felt like the Weasley twins at the start of Harry Potter's second year, when Persey became Head Boy. 'You might have told us, once or twice, every minute, all summer.' The other side of that coin is, that I did not feel like I missed any vital information at all, even while I have not read 'A Stitch in Time', and I could thoroughly enjoy the story because of that.
Have I told how much I liked Veronica? She was awesome, and one wonderful example of a great and developing character!
I received an ebook through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
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