Julie's Review: Overseas

Summary: A passionate, sweeping novel of a love that transcends time. When twenty-something Wall Street analyst Kate Wilson attracts the notice of the legendary Julian Laurence at a business meeting, no one’s more surprised than she is. Julian’s relentless energy and his extraordinary intellect electrify her, but she’s baffled by his sudden interest. Why would this handsome British billionaire—Manhattan’s most eligible bachelor—pursue a pretty but bookish young banker who hasn’t had a boyfriend since college? The answer is beyond imagining . . . at least at first. Kate and Julian’s story may have begun not in the moneyed world of twenty-first-century Manhattan but in France during World War I, when a mysterious American woman emerged from the shadows of the Western Front to save the life of Captain Julian Laurence Ashford, a celebrated war poet and infantry officer. Now, in modern-day New York, Kate and Julian must protect themselves from the secrets of the past, and trust in a true love that transcends time and space. ~amazon.com

Review: You know how when everyone raves about a book you find yourself curious if it'll feel the same for you? Well, Overseas doesn't disappoint, at all. Ms. Williams has created quite the sweeping love story with a bit of time travel thrown in for good measure. Julian is dashing, debonair, funny, protective, smart and mysterious. Kate is a strong-willed, independent and smart young lady. Together, they are one of my favorite literary couples.

I don't usually do a lot of romance books, but there was something about the description of the book that drew me in. Ms. Williams does an excellent job of weaving 1916 with 2008. She does it in such a way that when they two eventually collide, you aren't confused and it makes perfect sense. It is not all authors that can deftly handle time travel but Ms. Williams is one of them.

Overseas immediately reminded me of The Time Traveler's Wife, which is still one of my all-time favorites. There are obvious differences when you get into the novel but the power of love is evident in both of these stories.

I really don't want to say much about the book because of fear of ruining it. It is a magnificent debut novel, that makes you feel the power of true love that spans over time and is timeless. I can't recommend Overseas enough.

Final Take: 5/5