3.5 stars., A great blend of romance, historical fiction, and time travel! This book had an interesting take on time travel that I found enjoyable. I did find the middle to drag on a bit. I would have liked to see more of Robert and Louisa' s relationship. A big chunk of the middle was them doing their own separate things. I did enjoy reading about Louisa's time as a VAD nurse. Some of Robert's parts in the war dragged on in my opinion. The author did an amazing job describing WWI and the time period and really made it come alive. Overall I really enjoyed the story. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A lovely time travel love story. The characters live 100 years apart. Great character description and wonderful time frame descriptions.
If you enjoy time travel novels then don’t miss this one.

I found this book engaging and enjoyable. I always appreciate historical fiction for the insight these stories provide into a certain time and place, enabling a deeper understanding of the facts of that period and the feelings experienced.
The juxtaposition of current day events vs a detailed World War I narrative was intriguing. The World War I vignettes were well researched, especially with regard to the vernacular, medical practices and front-line commentary. There was an aspect of magical realism that I found exciting and hopeful, but which could be a stretch for some.

This one wasn’t for me. It made me anxious just reading it! The mental health component was appalling and hopefully doesn’t really happen - although perhaps I am simply naive. I struggle with time traveling novels but thought since I enjoyed A Time Traveller’s Wife I might enjoy this tale but unfortunately that was not the case. I recognize that I appear to be in the minority in my opinion. Perhaps if you love time travel and romance you would enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for an honest and fair review.

We have it all in this story. Time travel, a good deal of history, a love affair, the tragic workings of a mental hospital in the present century. This book was good. The story fascinating. Almost too good to be true. So though you know its a bit of fantasy, deep down you'd like it to be true.

1916 Captain Robert Lovett is convalescing at Coldbrook Hall. He cannot see though doctors have assured him that there is no physical impediment to him getting his sight back.
In 2017 Louisa Casson through a number of sheer coincidences, finds herself in a mental health institution called Coldbrook Hall. The premises is their connection and one day Louisa disappears and turns up as Rose Ashby a Volunteer Nurse. Her stay as Rose is not permanent as she keeps going back and forth to 2017, until she realises she wants to be with Robert despite him returning to the Front, and so goes back to Amiens to the battlefront herself.

The two time frames are both intense - not everyday life. One is an institution run like a prison with Victorian attitudes to mental health and brutality and cruelty to match. Then we have both England and Europe in the grip of WWI , Robert a POW the harshness of life at the front, and the sheer numbers one is faced with in the hospitals. In the midst of this the love story is the only hopeful, bright spark amongst the misery.

Characters spot on, descriptiveness very good, fascinating story.

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!

*Net Gallery ARC
In this novel that flows easily from past to present, the main character Louisa struggles to find love and a life with her soul mate Robert. Having accidentally fallen from a cliff will mourning the loss of her grandmother in 2017, Louisa is whisked away to a very disreputable mental health facility and forced to stay until she is "no longer a danger to herself." While committed there, she wanders into an abandoned ward of the hospital and steps back 100 years into the arms of the man she was destined to love.
Because her passage to and from the past is inconsistent at first, their love is fraught with obstacles and seems never to become "real." However, when Louisa is suddenly thrust into the past for what seems like a permanent basis, the story takes off and the book shifts between Robert and Louisa's points-of-view as they fight to reconnect.
Because I am a sucker for time travel, I did really enjoy this novel, and to have the characters remain in the past at the novel's end was a refreshing detour from the books I have most recently read. I will admit, though, that I would have enjoyed a more thorough explanation to the "hows and whys" of the travel itself and a slightly more fulfilling conclusion. Having Louisa/Rose be completely honest with Robert about her identity would have established a better, more solid footing for their relationship.

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

I love the characters, I love the story line and the ending is fantastic. If you want to find out how it all came about, if Robert survives the POW camp, if Rose and Robert ever get together again, than you will have to read the book. Warning....Once you pick up this book and start reading you will not want to stop until you are finished

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.

Thank you NetGalley and The Cameo Press Ltd for the ARC!

Louisa Casson just lost her grandmother, the only tie she had left to this world. Going to one of her favorite spots, she opens some brandy and drinks to the woman who raised her. Well, the brandy is bit strong and Louisa passes out right there. When she awakes, it's pouring rain and she tries to find her way down, except the cliff tumbles off with her on it.Saved by a suicide awareness group, Louisa is taken to the hospital, and then put in a mental facility against her will. This facility is horrid, the nurses are awful and experimental drug testing is routinely performed on the patients. During a smoke break, Louisa wanders in the abandoned wing of the hospital. In front her of her is a door, unlike the rest of the building, and upon opening it she finds herself transported into another time. Inside is a British war officer, Robert Lovett, a patient at the hospital for a busted leg and loss of eyesight in 1917. Together they have an instant bond, however, Lousia is constantly being thrown back into 2017 at the most inconvenient times. However, each visit they become more and more attached to each other, until Robert discovers something is amiss about her. One afternoon, Lousia falls again, this time from the rubble of the abandoned hospital wing, and finds herself permanently in 1917, working as a VAD nurse. As Lousia tries to figure out why she is able to go back and forth, and why she's stuck forever, Robert is fighting for his life as a POW. Yet throughout all of this destiny finds a way to cross time and bring two people together.


This was rather an interesting read! I've read a lot of historical fiction during both of the World Wars and kind of find them all similar in aspect, however, this time travel thing was rather different. I did have some problems with it however, it was hard to grasp that by hitting her head again, she was permanently in 1917, just the transitions between time periods were a little rushed and hard to grasp. Also, the explanation the psychic scholar gave to her condition was a little broad. I understand it must be difficult to write about time travel, I just think it could have been smoother. Taylor is however, very good at describing emotions, I felt the frustration that Louisa was going through when she was in the mental facility, and to think that people are there enduring that sort of treatment is appalling. I felt the longing she had for Robert when she was afraid she'd never see him again. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes good historical fiction read, with a little twist on the norm.

**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.