Beyond the Moon is a combination of time travel, historical fiction, and love story, and it succeeds on all points! I enjoyed learning more about World War I since that is not a time period I have read much about. The protagonist is a young woman with aspirations of becoming a doctor, and it was interesting to see how that played out as she moved from 2017 to 1917. She meets a young soldier in 1917, and his character was also well developed. We get to see how war has changed him from an idealistic, patriotic artist to a more hardened military leader. I would recommend this novel to those who enjoy time travel, historical fiction and romance. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this book. Its a totally original take on time travel, a la Highlander and the Time Travelers Wife. I’m a history geek, and like learning about the day to day nuances of the past. The story takes place in 2017 and during WW1, which was so grittily documented in the film- They Shall Not Grow Old ( which I highly recommend for everyone who needs a reminder of the sacrifices their grandfathers made. -https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7905466/).
Though a romance at it’s heart, this book tosses in a lot of deep topics with much of the story is spent on the grim horrific reality of war and sacrifice, and how everyone regardless of side suffers. It also includes explicit detail on the poor treatment of mental illnesses in an institutional setting. And finally the trifecta- light coverage of date rape and internet bullying. I found it all a bit much for one story, and kept the central characters apart for too much of the time. Would like to have them had more time together to fall in love. Still their time together was literally magical, as they were a balm to one another.

Wonder if there will be a sequel- If Rose/ Louisa lives to a ripe old age, dies, then wakes up back on the Coldwell lawn in 2017 as a young woman, and needs to find her Robert all over again? Or maybe if he died traumatically in France as intended- he would have found her in 2017. Was he maybe “blue hair”???

It's hard to do time travel well, but in Beyond The Moon, Catherine Taylor does it with a style all her own.

Louisa Casson is not having a good day; actually she's not having a good life. A medical student whose dad abandoned her, her boyfriend dumped her, and her beloved grandmother died. What else could go wrong? Well, you could drink too much, fall over a cliff, and end up in a psychiatric hospital like something out of Cuckoo's Nest, complete with a Nurse Ratched. Louisa knows its an accident but the doctor is convinced it's a suicide attempt, and she's locked up in Coldbrook Hall. One day while wandering where she shouldn't be, Louisa hears a call for help, and walks into a hospital room straight out of 1916, with a handsome man who thinks it IS 1916 and he is recovering after the battle of the Somme. Maybe Louisa really is crazy? Louisa falls in love with the man, Robert, and then he disappears. How can she find him again?

Beyond the Moon is the story of a love that spans a century that takes us from Robert's life as a painter and then soldier, and to Louisa's life in 2017 in Coldbrook Hall. When Louisa returns to 1916 to find Robert, the characters she meets convince her their love is fated, they are meant to be together, and she will overcome all obstacles to find Robert and bring him him.

It's easy to fall in love with Robert and Louisa, and their story. Catherine Taylor is inventive in how she brings Louisa back and forth in time, and I found myself saying "ok, it could happen". The people are so well written and interesting, and Louisa finds she is not the only one with ties in both centuries. A wonderful blend of historical fiction and fantasy, Beyond the Moon is a great read and shouldn't be missed!

I received an advance copy of Catherine Taylor's debut novel " Beyond The Moon", courtesy of NetGalley, and highly recommend it for readers of WWI historical fiction. Not certain that I would enjoy the time travel aspect of this story, I was completely swept into the tale by the lovely writing style and the mesmerizing descriptions of the battlefield scenes and the medical situations. The author's extensive research was apparent and appreciated. I enjoyed reading this book!

Good debut. Well-rounded characters. Fairly complex plot. I'll be looking for Catherine Taylor's next book.

This book presents the reader with an interesting premise (time travel), good character development and historical research. All this, coupled with a love story that transcends time, speaks not only to the power of love, but also the power of commitment, determination, friendship, honor and character. And, it does so with excellent writing and a compelling story which encompasses mental illness, war, medical treatment, art and more. The story begins in 2017 with Louisa who had just buried her much beloved grandmother, her only relative. She was distraught and filled with anguish so she sought solace at the top of a cliff where she and her grandmother had often spent time together. She eventually fell asleep after drinking too much alcohol. When she awoke, somewhat confused, night had fallen and it was extremely dark. She lost her bearings, and tumbled part way down the cliff. The good news was that she was discovered and rescued with injuries which were not life threatening, and from which she would completely recover. The bad news was that the attending doctor thought that she had attempted suicide and had her committed into a mental hospital for further evaluation. Unfortunately, the hospital was antiquated, understaffed, and completely devoid of acceptable care. Louisa eventually made a few friends in the hospital and one of them led her into a restricted old wing of the hospital which was slated for demolition. One day, while walking through the decrepit old space she came upon a restored area which was fully functioning and staffed. She found a patient who had fallen and was trapped by his clothing caught on a chair calling for help. He had been unable to free himself because he was blind and could not see what was holding him down. Louisa rushed in and helped him up from the floor and back into his bed. He told her that he was recuperating from an injury he had recently received in the Battle of Somme. That battle had taken place in 1916! The patient, Robert Lovett, was impatient to get back to the front and his men. He vowed to do so when and if his vision returned.
Louisa found that she could travel back through time between 2017 and 1916 by entering the abandoned wing and approaching the door to Robert's room. She did so many times and eventually Louisa and Robert fell in love.
Robert returned to the war and Louisa vowed to try to follow him through time. What happens next is remarkable and inspiring and demonstrates how strong love and commitment and selflessness can be.
Definately an uplifting story despite some very graphic and stark descriptions of war, wounds, medicine and treatments in the early 20th century. Do yourself a favor and read this book!

Between 3 1/2 and 4.

This book is hard to rate.

On one hand, the love story is amazing! I loved the relationship between Robert and Louisa, and how they persevered.

On the other hand, the book has a really slow start. I nearly gave up two times but I knew they were going to meet at some point and kept reading.

The pacing in the middle is off sometimes. I know the author wants the reader to follow what Louisa and Robert are doing while apart, but some bits were hard to slog through.

In the end, I'm glad I read it and I'm looking forward to more from the author.

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

**Disclaimer: I was given an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

When I read the description of the book, I was super interested as it's a time-travel romance in a historic setting; however, I wasn't prepared for another confusing, insta-love story. GIVE ME SLOW BURN. The book became a chore to finish. The prose doesn't flow well to keep you engaged.

BEYOND THE MOON - Catherine Taylor

I received this free on my Kindle for the purpose of review.

Historical fiction meaning accurate in the time in history but fiction in the people and circumstances. I must say I did learn a bit about World War I which previously I knew nothing so that was a plus.
But the real plus was in the outstanding story that Catherine Taylor weaves.

The imagination of a story that crossed a century was fascinating. I was captivated by the details of the scenery and the imagery she painted. The story was hard to put down once I started reading.

London 1917, off to war goes Robert Lovett leaving behind a heartbroken mother and father.
He returns home for a bit only to go back to France to fight. Robert, an artist indeed, is not what we would picture as a soldier but he knew it was his duty to fight. He had no patience with those who were quite content to not fight and just enjoy the wealth being made from businessmen.

Louisa, a wonderful brilliant young woman who had succeeded quite well in school and had medical school in her future. Raised by her grandmother after her mother passed was what made her the lady she had become.

If you enjoy mystery and romance together along with some intrigue, this is your book.

Catherine Taylor's "Beyond the Moon" is difficult book to rate because of its inconsistency: I can't help but believe that better editing could have produced a five-star novel, but in its current form, I can only give it a 3.5 (it's worth noting that I tend to be a stingy rater).

What I liked: it's refreshing to see a well-researched WWI historical novel, and the time-slip plot set in a mental/military hospital was fascinating. The author is at her best in creating atmospheric scenes that recall the sacrifice and struggles of the Great War, and sections of the book were highly compelling.

What I didn't like: the writing quality was inconsistent, and the pacing dragged in places (for example, it took too long for the main characters to meet). The early chapters that introduce Louisa seemed overly melodramatic (too much telling, not enough showing), and this extended to the characters' relationship (at times, it lacked emotional chemistry). As well, I found one of the final scenes (the fire) to be somewhat improbable (especially in the revenge enacted on one of the most unlikeable characters) While these aren't minor flaws, it's a memorable, even haunting novel -- a good beach read.

I loved this historical novel, it was exactly what I was looking for in this type of novel. The characters were great and I enjoyed the plot.

I'm not usually a hug fan of time travel novels, but this one--in which a woman living in 2017 travels to 1917 and takes on the life of a woman killed in an automobile accident--avoids most of the predictable pitfalls of the genre. Louisa, in her 20s and mourning the recent death of her only family, is sectioned under British law and forced into an institution by the police. When she begins to explore the building, she finds her self slipping in time to the First World War, when it was used for wounded soldiers. She and a soldier fall in love, but she cannot be seen or heard by anyone else in the time period. After brutal treatment at the hands of the modern caretakers, however, she enters the past and makes her way in the world there, eventually uniting with her beloved in an exciting escape through time. A nicely written fantasy romance with good period detail and a total lack of fuss about paradoxes and so on. Give in to the fantasy, and enjoy.

Thanks to Netgalley, Cameo Press publishing, and Catherine Taylor for this ARC. I’m generally not a fan of time slip novels, but this one was irresistible. The story revolves around a contemporary woman hospitalized in an old Victorian psychiatric hospital after people thinking she’s suicidal, and a soldier recovering from physical and psychological wounds from World War I. Somehow a portal in time is opened and these two lost souls are able to meet. This is definitely a book worth thinking about, in that reincarnation is a possibility, but in a strange way.. A 4 star review, which is great for a first book of a new author, of whom I’ll continue to read. Reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, Twitter, Book page,and my book clubs

I received a complimentary copy of Beyond the Moon from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Genre bending! This was the great, dramatic love story of 2017 Louisa Casson, interrupted medical student, and 1915 Robert Lovett, artist and soldier. From the beginning, I never would have guessed that this novel would lead through the ins and outs of WWI nursing of soldiers and daily routines of the same. Very cool book!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Time travel romances have a special place in my heart.

In 2017, Louisa was committed to a mental institution after doctors believed she tried to take her own life, despite her insistence that she didn't. During her time in the institute, she unknowingly comes across a portal to 1917 and is transported to the bedside of wounded and temporarily-blind Lieutenant Robert Lovett. She becomes a muse for him, not only to regain his strength and sight but to overcome the darkness of shell shock/PTSD. They quickly fall in love but have to overcome not only a 100-year time gap but the Great War to get their happily ever after.

I thought this novel was thoroughly researched, with descriptive and vivid details about WW1, the daily chaos and struggles the people in 1916/17 lived through and the brutal physical, emotional and mental effects it had on soldiers in battle and the nurses who took care of them.

Although the book was well-written with easy-to-follow time jumps and realistic war descriptions, I didn't connect with Louisa or Robert. I felt that their relationship was rushed with all the makings of an "instalove" and I was immediately put off. It wasn't believable or moving in the slightest. There was also too much going on, with too many plot points taking us in different directions. Honestly, their relationship took up maybe 20% of this book, with the rest being focused Robert's time in the war and Louisa's time in the asylum in 2017. I would've loved more of a slow-burn build-up between them, with a little bit less war.

In general, I don't read time travel anything, i'm not a fan of someone panicking as they try and fit in and make sassy comments about corsets. But the plot of this book seemed intriguing and it was until the very end! The pacing was really strange, but the read was enjoyable. The time travel bit actually seemed relatively believable, too in a way other books have not.

Louisa Casson's life is changed in a single night. After losing her grandmother, she drinks too much and accidentally stumbles down a cliff. She survives with little injury, but the medical professionals don't believe that it was accident. They see signs of suicide and a cry for help for help, so Louisa finds herself involuntarily committed to a mental institution at Coldbrook Hall. Surrounded by people with a variety of mental illnesses, Louisa tries to cope with her new reality as she works to convince the staff that she shouldn't be there. One day, she stumbles upon a forgotten wing of the institution. In a room lies a man named Robert Lovett who is injured and appears to be blind. As Louisa talks with him, she realizes that this man is a World War I soldier from 1917. As she gets to know him and their friendship builds, she finds herself continually drawn back to him, and eventually, she realizes that she must be in his life for a special reason.

Lately, I've been enjoying time travel historical fiction, so I was excited to give this book a try. As much as I wanted to like it, I was incredibly disappointed. The pacing isn't great==Louisa and Robert meet early in the book, and their friendship and subsequent relationship blossoms rather quickly. Just as I felt like I was getting to know Robert and enjoying his character, the plot turns suddenly, and Louisa and Robert end up in different places for a while. By the end of the book, I just didn't care that much about Robert again. I found myself bored at several places, and I never felt fully hooked by the story.

There were also a bunch of things that seemed out of place and hard to believe. Coldbrook Hall, where Louisa is committed, is such an awful place that I didn't find it realistic. Obviously there are probably institutions in real life that are poorly run and don't have great staff, but Coldbrook Hall felt like an over-the-top villain to me. Another thing that I didn't quite believe was Louisa's squeamishness when she was working in the military hospital. There were vivid descriptions of the brutality of war injuries, and I'm sure that would be shocking to many people, but Louisa was studying to be a doctor, so I wasn't expecting her to react like someone who has never been exposed to blood and gore.

I was also not a fan of the attempt to explain the time travel aspect. It felt forced to me, but I also really enjoy the time travel novels where the time travel remains more of a mystery and is just something that happens, so this could be more of a personal preference.

Overall, there are still some good aspects to the book. I did enjoy Louisa's character, and the story was a unique take on World War I historical fiction. It wasn't my cup of tea, but someone else might enjoy it!

Thanks to Catherine Taylor, The Cameo Press Ltd., and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book!

After accidentally almost falling to her death, Louisa Casson winds up in a mental hospital, accused of trying to commit suicide. She discovers a "secret passage" to an abandoned part of the hospital that served as a medical hospital for wounded soldiers during World War I, 100 years ago. While exploring, Louisa somehow finds herself transported to 1917. She and a wounded British officer, Robert Lovett, become besotted with each other.

This book not only jumps between time periods; it also jumps between the points of view of Louisa and Robert. The author makes these transitions beautifully and it isn't at all confusing. She also clearly did her research because the scenes depicting the horrors of The Great War are vivid and realistic. The author also seems to be aware of the not-so-ideal conditions of today's public mental health facilities.

This was a lengthy novel, but I never got bored and it never seemed to drag at all. I enjoyed it thoroughly and look forward to reading more from this author. I thought it was a very strong novel, especially for a debut effort. It is historical fiction/romance at its best!

As always, many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the privilege of reading an advancec copy of this book!

This book is a time travel romance set in present day and the WWI period, with the story being told from the POV both leading characters. Louise, a medical student in present day, is unwillingly committed to a psychiatric hospital which also served as a hospital for wounded soldiers in WWI. While exploring an abandoned wing of the facility, the she hears a call for help, opens a door and is transported to 1916, where she meets Robert, a wounded British officer. Over the next several days, she returns to the room and develops a romantic relationship with the officer. What follows is the typical time travel between two periods, with Louise travelling back in time to save Robert. The author did a great job of incorporating small details so that I could often see or almost smell the scene. However, on occasion, there were too many details, and I found myself skimming past some of the text in order to move to the next action. I also felt there were too many plot lines incorporated and the story line rambled a bit. I did enjoy the style of writing and would read another book by this author.

When I first started to read I expected a typical time travel romance. Very light reading. This book is something both different and the same. It is the same in that it is about time travel and romance, but it is a very good historical novel about world war 1. It brought to life some of the horrors of war in the trenches, and what people will go through to find each other.