A sweet blend of mystery, time travel, the paranormal, and a romance that lasts through the years, A Stitch In Time is the latest from Kelley Armstrong and it is just lovely.

Spending her childhood summers at Thorne Manor, Bronwyn Dale grew up with good memories, painful tragedy, and a startling secret that kept her away for 23 years. After inheriting the mansion from her beloved aunt, Bronwyn takes a furlough from her teaching position at a university in Toronto and returns to Thorne Manor to put her affairs in order. A widow for eight years, Bronwyn has not met anyone who could replace her beloved husband, Michael. But her first night at Thorne Manor opens the door to what appears to be the past. Her past. With another man.

Bronwyn has not seen William since they were both fifteen, when he was sweet and doting, and she had to travel through time to visit him. But a family tragedy drove her screaming from the house, frantic about ghosts, her promise to always return to William broken. So when she does come back, the boy from two-hundred years ago has grown into an angry and tempestuous man who cares for nothing but his horses, and his estate, and for some reason, has remained a bachelor. There is scandal in his life. And mystery.

As they slowly rekindle their friendship, Bronwyn is confronted by a ghostly woman in black, her face covered with a veil, who warns her to beware of William. Ghosts of missing women and a young boy that haunt the manor, all tell her to run. A ghost with a spade stares up at her window at night. Doubt begin to chip away at what she and William are trying to build.

While I loved the romance aspect, and I am not a romance reader, the mystery is what really drew me into this story and I wanted more. The mystery made Bronwyn more suspicious about William and I liked the increased friction this doubt created. Because of their past relationship, they were able to quickly fall back into their old rhythm, and that made it too easy; I wanted more twists, more secrets, more uncertainty.

But it's a sweet romance and the characters are compelling; I cared what happened to Bronwyn and William, and the ending did bring tears. Armstrong has included a queer couple in this tiny English village setting with Del, the manor's caretaker, preferring the he/they pronouns, his wife from Bronwyn's childhood. It's a refreshing character addition that the author has written well.

The title refers to this book as A Stitch In Time #1, which intrigues me. So I guess I'll have to read the second book.

A big thank you to Netgalley for gifting me with an advanced reader copy. Despite how cool that is, my opinions are still my own.

This makes a fourth addition to my inadvertent list of “inherit a house + a mystery” books for the year. I had no idea it was such a prolific trope.

The first book by Kelley Armstrong that I ever read was The Summoning. I was a junior in high school and I had stayed home sick from school. My dad wanted to make sure I was entertained, so he bought some ginger ale, crackers, and that book and have them to me right before he left for work. I read it in a day. The trilogy it belongs to is so high on my nostalgia checklist that I don’t think I could ever re-read them, out of fear that they might not be as good as I remember them.

I saw this book and felt briefly as though I had fallen a decade behind, and wanted to be a teenager sipping ginger ale and reading a fantasy story while staying home from school. Well. School is long over for me now, but as we now live in These Unprecedented Times, and I suddenly find myself working from home. So, let’s pretend it’s the same thing.

I really love portal fantasies and time travel stories, and this book has both!

Thank you to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for approving my request for a review copy of this book!

38-year-old Bronwyn Dale, a history professor at the University of Toronto, has just inherited her aunt and uncle’s home, Thorne Manor in the English moors. She used to spend her summers there, but hasn’t been back since she was 15 and her Uncle Stan died under traumatic circumstances. She fled the house screaming about ghosts and her mother put her under psychiatric care.

Now her mother is gone, as is her husband Michael, having died eight years earlier of brain cancer. She is on her summer break from teaching, and thus is free to return to Thorne Manor. Immediately she not only encounters some persistent ghosts, but reconnects with her secret boyfriend, William Thorne. The only catch is that William lived two centuries in the past; Bronwyn is able, somehow, when she is in her bedroom in the house, to slip through a stitch in time.

Bronwyn is immediately attracted again to William, who, however, is at first hurt and angry she had been away so long, and then frightened she will leave again. The plot heats up in several ways, as they rekindle their relationship and when resolving the mysteries of the ghosts and their connection to the two of them becomes inevitable.

Evaluation: This story got better as it moved along. At first, I didn’t feel I “knew” the characters enough even though we were plunged into a hot sex-studded romance, but as Armstrong developed the story about Thorne Manor and its hidden secrets, it got much more interesting to me. By the end, I was fully invested and even wishing for a sequel.

I was given this arc by netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Bronwyn and William's story is absolutely beautiful. A chilling tale of ghosts that haunt an old Victorian mansion. Time travel back to the Victorian era. Unrequited childhood love. This story is both equally chilling and beauty. I loved every page of this book. So far out of Mrs. Armstrongs normal but yet works perfectly and was an absolute page turning delight. I'm a huge fan of this author and this story was absolutely incredible like all of her tales.

This was the perfect book to read before Halloween. It is a mix of time travel, romance, mystery, and ghosts. I loved every minute of this story.

This one exceeded my expectations! I loved the spooky atmosphere combined with a strong female lead. The time travel was as I expected, but the mystery kept me on my toes. Bronwyn was a fantastic character and I loved her tenacity. She was able to stay true to herself throughout! It was refreshing to read a romance where the woman was strong and logical despite her tenuous circumstances. This was truly enjoyable from start to finish!

A Stitch in Time was the perfect blend of romance and mystery--with a side of ghosts and time-travel. It’s as if Kelley Armstrong knew what I needed in my life, and she decided to put it all into one book. If you know me, then you know that ghosts and romance are two of my favorite story components. So, once I saw those two things combined with the fact that this is a book by Kelley Armstrong, I was sold. I had to read this book.

A Stitch in Time follows Bronwyn Dale, a woman who is finally returning to her favorite place to visit as a young child, Thorne Manor. After her great-aunt’s passing, Thorne Manor now belongs to Bronwyn, and she is equal parts excited and nervous to return. So many of Bronwyn’s favorite memories took place in this house...just as some of her worst occurred in this house. It’s been 20 years since she stepped foot in Thorne Manor. What ghosts and memories will she find upon her return?


That’s all I will say about the plot. I know I didn’t mention anything about time travel or romance, but I honestly think it’s best to go in blind. It’s much more fun to experience this book as you read rather than knowing a good bit going in.

A Stitch in Time is an atmospheric, thrilling, fun read you won’t be able to put down. Kelley Armstrong has such a way with words. There are times where you’ll feel creeped out and wonder if you saw movement out the corner of your eye. Just as there will be times where you’re swooning as you watch two people rekindle their love. I encourage everyone to pick up this book--and all of Kelley’s other books!

I am a huge Kelley Armstrong fan so when NetGalley and Subterranean Press offered her new book in advance for an honest review I jumped on it! I am so glad I did!
Bronwyn spent her summers at her Great Aunt's estate on the moors in England. As a young child and teenage girl she found a way to slip through a time stitch to visit the manor 200 years earlier and became friendly with William Thorne. She would enjoy visits up until the summer she turned 15 and her uncle died falling from the balcony of Thorne Manor. When Bronwyn insisted he didn't fall, he was pushed by a ghost, she was sent to a psychiatric hospital where eventually, she was convinced she had imagined things. Twenty three years later, Bronwyn inherits the property after her aunt's death. A Professor of History getting over the death of her husband, she decided to spend the summer there again while she decided what to do with the property. What follows is part time travel, part mystery, part romance, and part ghost story all guaranteed to keep you reading all night until you finish this wonderful story!

4.5 Stars!

I’m a huge fan of time travel. Walking through stones like in Outlander or traveling through space and time in a blue box. I love it all. I’ve read stories and watched movies and shows about the theory of time travel. In this novel, time travel is revealed in a way I’ve never seen before.

Imagine there is a place where two timelines run parallel to each other. One in the present and one two hundred years in the past. Not just anybody could slip through time, only one who is sensitive or has the sight can do it. In this novel, Bronwyn Dale is that person.

This story has many layers and is a lot to unpack, but Armstrong makes it work in a way she never has before. She challenged herself to write a story unlike any of her others and I believe her challenge is her readers gain.

As a small child, Bronwyn spent her summers at her great-aunt’s manor house next to an English moor. Until she was five, Bronwyn slipped through a tiny stitch in time through her bedroom to play with her best friend, William, two hundred years in the past. After her parents divorced, she didn’t visit for ten years. At age fifteen, their friendship blossomed into love. Unfortunately, a tragedy caused by an angry spirit forced Bronwyn away from William and into a mental hospital. Twenty-three years later, thirty-eight-year-old Bronwyn is a widow and has inherited Thorne Manor. Once she returns and makes her first slip, she meets the man William has become. While they deal with the navigation of a new element to their relationship, a mama cat in the past, a kitten in the present, and a host of spirits waiting to be freed, nothing is easy for the fated couple.

This novel is an instant page turner. I was hooked just by the summary and couldn’t wait to read it. The pieces of the mysterious puzzle were scattered throughout the novel, but Armstrong brought them all together to create the perfect picture in the end. It seems Armstrong can put her mark on any genre. This novel has romance, science fiction, paranormal, and time travel elements all in one. All of them are perfectly packaged in this thrilling story. Now I need more stories with elements of A Stitch in Time to tide me over until Armstrong releases another best seller.

I received A Stitch in Time for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I received this ARC for an honest review. If I could give this story 10 stars, I would. This was such a unique story. Kelley Armstrong is just a fantastic writer!! I loved every word. This story is about William and Bronwyn. Well...I’m trying to think of a way to tell you about the book without giving anything away. Bronwyn inherited an house in Thornesbury from her great-aunt. When Bronwyn was a teen, she watched her uncle fall from the balcony and die(possible pushed by a ghost?) Bronwyn and William used to play together every summer when Bronwyn visited her aunt during the summer. I really don’t want to say much more about the book just to say I LOVED IT!!! I highly recommend this story! The story pulled me in from the beginning. I hated to put it down so I could get some work done. I could re-read this story over and over.

I loved it! Anything this author writes about is gold. No matter what book section it is placed in I can always count on an excellent story from her. The ending was unexpected and the ending after that was wonderful! Each character had a depth to them that was unique from the others and told a story of their own. I enjoy thinking about them all even now. And I love both the book covers!

This book was so nostalgic for me. Such a beautiful classic love story, with ghosts in an old English house on the Moors and a murder mystery on the side. It reminded me of the old romances my Mom and Grandmother used to read. I'd sneak and read them secretly. I'm so glad Kelley Armstrong felt inspired to write it. I was so sure that I had the murderer figured out that the middle was dragging somewhat. I was wrong. I did not have the mystery solved at all.
I absolutely loved everything about this book.

Thank you Subterranean Press and Kelley Armstrong for gifting me an Advance Reader's Copy of this beautiful book for review. It releases October 31st.

I will be sharing this book review on Twitter (tagging @SubPress), Instagram (@AprilsBookishLife), Goodreads and my personal facebook page.

I've read other books by this author and enjoyed them. This book is no exception. Time travel, romance, ghosts and a mystery all wrapped up in one. Would definitely re-read this one.

<i>A Stitch in Time</i> follows Bronwyn as she returns to her aunt’s house in Yorkshire where she used to spend time when she was growing up. As a child, Bronwyn would travel through the timeslip in her room to Victorian era where she befriended William Thorne. After her uncle’s tragic death Bronwyn never returned to the house and believed William to be a product of her imagination. As an adult, Bronwyn is discovering that the ghosts she saw and the friend she made are very real.

This book is a mixed bag of genres, such as romance, historical, paranormal, time travel, and mystery, and it is very much a fun read. Armstrong’s writing style has an addictive quality to it that I can never quite explain. Perhaps it’s because her stories are character driven and slow moving in a way that could be negative, but often just feels like spending more time with the characters. This book is different than what Armstrong normally writes, but at the same time it still felt very much like one of her books. If you’re looking for a book to help you escape reality, I would recommend this one.

Years ago I read every time travel book I could get my hands on so I was really excited when I saw A Stitch in Time by one of my favorite authors Kelley Armstrong! This book had it all...time travel, several ghosts, murder mysteries, and romance! I spent the best afternoon while waiting for Hurricane Sally just enjoying this book. I loved William and Bronwyn's story so much that I just might have to read this again!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I haven't read a book as quickly as I did A Stich in Time by Kelley Armstrong in a long time. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity. First off, let me say the Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors, anything she writes I gobble it up. It doesn't matter what genre, it's her writing that makes every book delightful to read. This book was no exception. I have never read a romantic historical mystery before, not my cup of tea. Yet when written by Armstrong, it's fabulous. Her character Bronwyn was so relatable that at times I felt like I was reliving a memory or reading my journal. William was dark and mysterious, but utterly charming. The stitch in time that allows them to develop a friendship was ingeniously written. I read this story so fast and am now insisting my sister reads it too. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. I loved it so much, it gets 5 stars. My only problem was how quickly it was over.

Time travel, romance, mystery, suspense, gothic, just about everything is in this tale. Bronwyn has known William all her life, it's just he was borne 170 years before her. As a young child she slipped into the past when she visited her aunt and met William same age as herself, and he aged as she did. As an adult she has inherited the house on the moors, and finds she can still slip into the past. The only thing is there's more ghosts and not all are kind as she tries to help them cross beyond here. Interesting tale, lots of suspects, good mystery and throw in a romance to top it off. Thank you to Netgalley and Subterranean Press for an ARC for an honest review

"Thorne Manor has always been haunted...and it has always haunted Bronwyn Dale. As a young girl, Bronwyn could pass through a time slip in her great-aunt's house, where she visited William Thorne, a boy her own age, born two centuries earlier. After a family tragedy, the house was shuttered and Bronwyn was convinced that William existed only in her imagination.

Now, twenty years later Bronwyn inherits Thorne Manor. And when she returns, William is waiting.

William Thorne is no longer the boy she remembers. He’s a difficult and tempestuous man, his own life marred by tragedy and a scandal that had him retreating to self-imposed exile in his beloved moors. He’s also none too pleased with Bronwyn for abandoning him all those years ago.

As their friendship rekindles and sparks into something more, Bronwyn must also deal with ghosts in the present version of the house. Soon she realizes they are linked to William and the secret scandal that drove him back to Thorne Manor. To build a future, Bronwyn must confront the past."

A Gothic timeslip in a beautiful edition by Subterranean Press!

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING READ!! I was completely engrossed right from the start of this book and couldn't put it down! Kelly Armstrong is an awesome author, I can't recommend this book enough,.

“I’m here. I will always be here. You need only to step across and find me, and that’s all I’ll ever ask of you. That you come back for as long as you want to, and you let me know if that changes.”

I was provided an ARC by the NetGalley-all opinions are my own.

As someone who regularly loves Victorian romance and anything paranormal, this book literally sang to me when I decided to pick it up. (And couldn’t put it down-I finished in under 48 hours)

Kelley does an amazing job at world building-I had such an awesome clear image of the Manor and the moors to go off of and enjoy throughout the book. There’s a scene in the back of the house that had my heart swooning(though my only complaint is that I wish she hadn’t named a specific song for Bronwyn to dance to and instead let the reader decide what they wanted to interpret)

William is every brooding gentleman lover’s swoon worthy idol. He gives major Mr. Darcy vibes and the way he adores Bronwyn is just U G H perfect.

Bronwyn is a heroine to love, she’s loved and lost and strives to help others while reclaiming her identity. She’s easy to empathize with and you spend the entire novel rooting for her. My only complaint is that I had a much easier time envisioning her as a 28 year old (32 tops) as opposed to being 38.

It’s been awhile since I read a mystery novel that didn’t involve some paranormal aspect to it so I immediately fell into detective mode with the whodunit? I will admit I didn’t solve it before it was revealed but I got a solid amount of good guesses in! Kelley does a great job of weaving the causes and reasoning into the story before the big reveal.

And the ending-they live in two different time periods, can they make it work? Will they? You’ll have to pick it up and see!!