Time After Time by Constance O'Day-Flannery

From the Publisher

Bestselling award-winning author Constance O'Day-Flannery is the one true Queen of Time Travel Romance. Join her now in a story of a disillusioned young widow who returns to the past, caught, to her horror, in an unflattering lime green bridesmaid's dress when she meets the man whose love is destined to be hers.

Time After Time

After existing in a fog since the death of her beloved husband, Kelly Brennan is suddenly ready to take control of her life. Only she didn't expect her new life to begin in post-Civil War New Orleans.  Kelly isn't sure if she's losing her mind or just enjoying a really good dream ... one chat comes complete with a man who looks strikingly similar to her late husband. Widower Daniel Gilmore is the epitome of the Southern gentleman: charming, handsome and with a devilish glint in his eye that calls to the dormant heart she's locked away.

In the years since Daniel's wife passed away he has shuttered himself off from those dearest to him, and not even his precocious daughter Lizzie has been able to draw him out of his misery.

But then Lizzie brings home a strange woman in a dreadful gown who speaks about odd things called "automobiles" and "telephones" — a woman who bears a remarkable resemblance to his wife. With a daughter in need of a mother and a heart in need of love Daniel yearns to keep Kelly by his side ... provided he can let go of the past long, enough to live in the present and convince Kelly that his present is where she belongs...

Romantic Times - Kathe Robin

There is a touch of magic and wonder as well as great writing, unforgettable characters and extraordinary storytelling in Constance O’Day Flannery’s time travel romances that make us wish we were traveling back to a simpler time ourselves. She once more secures her position at the top of the genre with Time After Time.

Nora Roberts

She proves that love is timeless.

Contra Cost Times

She knows how to tell these time travel myths in ways that exactly nail the fantasy.

Product Details

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Chapter One

Kelly pushed herself into a sitting position and stared at the child, who was still peeking around the tree trunk and eyeing her with such wonder that Kelly almost laughed. "No, I most certainly am not...a fairy," she mumbled, while brushing dirt from her face and pushing back the long strands of hair from her eyes.

"Oh yes you is," the child insisted in an excited voice. "And I caught ya! Now you have to grant me three wishes." Pointing a small finger at Kelly, the youngster added, "I knows the rules!"

This time Kelly couldn't hold back the laugh as she sat and looked across the few feet separating them. She didn't know if it was a boy or a girl since the child, around ten years old, was dressed like a character from Huckleberry Finn, even down to the broken overall strap hanging down his or her chest. "Look, I'm not a fairy, and I can't grant you any wishes," she said in a gentle voice as she got to her feet and dusted the leaves and dirt from the wide skirt of her gown. "Now, I really have to get back to the party."

"What party?" the child asked, cautiously sliding around to the front of the tree. "A fairy party? Where is it? Can I come, too?"

Kelly shook her head and snickered at the absurdity. Was this child backward? She looked around the woods, wondering how she could have gotten herself turned around, and where was the house? "It's...it's a wedding reception," Kelly muttered, turning around and around, searching for her way back. "It's at a house, an old house. The..." she tried to remember the name. "The Tyler Mansion."

"Ain't no Tylers 'round here," the child stated firmly. "Just me andMammy Clara...and my daddy."

Kelly stared at the child. "What's your name?"

"You first!" A small chin stuck out with determination.

"Okay," she relented. The kid was probably taught not to give it out to strangers. "I'm Kelly Brennan. Now, it's your turn."

"Lizzie Gilmore." The child let go of the tree and stepped forward. "Now ya gots to grant me three wishes. I know your name!"

So this blond-haired wild child was a girl. Kelly foughtfor patience and released her breath slowly and deliberately."Nice to meet you, but look, Lizzie, I'm not a fairy, and Ican't grant you anything." She paused, inhaling as shelooked around the woods again, then added, "Especiallysince I'm the one who's lost here." Kelly looked down at thechild, who was bravely moving closer. "Besides, I think it'sleprechauns that grant wishes. Anyway, I have to find myway back to the wedding party."

The girl looked at Kelly's gown, and asked, "You gettin' hitched?"

She couldn't hide the grin. "No. I was in a wedding party." Kelly placed her hands on her knees and leaned down to the child. "Now, if you just point me in the right direction to the Tyler house, I'll -- "

"I told ya, there ain't no Tylers 'round these parts," the impish child interrupted. Grabbing a tiny handful of Kelly's skirt, she added, "I reckon you is lost, but you's mine now. I'll take ya home and keep ya...then yer gonna have ta pay up."

Pay up? Oh, the wishes...Kelly began nodding in mock agreement. "Okay, but first, do you think you could help me? If you'd take me to a phone, that would be a start."

"A what?" The young girl looked puzzled.

"You know, a telephone...so I can call for help." She started to walk away in what she figured was the right direction and felt the child tugging behind her.

"Oh no, you ain't disappearin' on me, now that I gots ya!"

"Lizzie..." She stopped and turned around.

"No!" The child again stuck out her chin, then folded her arms over her chest to emphasize her point further. "You ain't playin' fair!"

Kelly realized this youngster didn't have a problem saying no, and a part of her had to admire the girl's spirit. "Look, I can't play. I have to get back. I'm going to be missed."

After a momentary pout of silence, the child reached into an overall pocket. "Ya hungry?" she asked, pulling out some purple berries and holding them up. "Picked fresh this mornin'," she added with a grin, and looked imploringly at Kelly. "I'll share 'em with ya..."

Kelly recognized a calculated bribe when she heard one, yet the look on this child's face softened her heart, and she had to smile again. "No, Lizzie, but thanks. I'm not really hungry. I just need to find someone who can help me."

"Well, I can help y'all."

Kelly lowered one eyebrow in apprehensive faith and looked down to the little girl. "You can?"

"Yep, I sure could," the child stated confidently. "But ya gotta do somethin' first."

"Oh, not the wishes again...I told you -- "

"No. no...I tell ya my wishes later." She began to whisper and gestured for Kelly to come closer.

Kelly leaned forward. "Okay, Lizzie, tell me what I have to do first before you can help me."

Looking around suspiciously, as though to ensure no one would overhear the secret, the child continued to whisper. "Yer kinda big like this, but see, I was figgurin' if y'all just git real tiny-like, I could put ya in my pocket and take ya home."

Unable to answer, Kelly blinked repeatedly. What was wrong with this kid? Too many stories? Bad blood? What as she thinking when she hoped this child might be able to help her? Abruptly, Kelly took a deep breath, straightened and surveyed her choices. She then asked the most ludicrous question. "Lizzie, how far is your home?"