The Better Angels by Bette Bono
Synopsis: Aggie May, newly and unhappily retired from teaching, fears dementia when she begins to see visions from the past, like a 1950s-era Super Constellation at JFK airport and World War II soldiers at Grand Central Terminal. Then she gets a recruitment visit from Abe Irving of the American Association of Remarkable Persons (“the other AARP”) who explains she has developed the ability to travel through time. Soon Aggie joins other “Remarkables” on a mission to nineteenth-century New York City in an effort to locate a missing photographic portrait of Abraham Lincoln created by the Civil War photographer Mathew Brady. While learning the rules and limits of time travel, Aggie faces the possibility that she may have both extraordinary power and extraordinary vulnerability. Aggie and Abe, two stubborn and independent people, must struggle to come to an understanding over how and when to take risks, including emotional risks.
My Thoughts:
A new version of time-travel and seniors, what a winning combination. Additionally, the story is set in my native state of Connecticut. This is a 2-book series by Connecticut author Bette Bono.
A twist on time travel takes certain 'remarkable' seniors on a trip through time back to the Civil War era where they uncover the whereabouts of missing artifacts and the history surrounding them. The author does a wonderful job of exposing the reader to historical events. From the moment Aggie meets Abe, the recruiter for the Remarkables, there is a certain underlying tension. But Aggie is pragmatic. She has just retired from her teaching position and is bored with retirement after only six months. So when she is given the opportunity to check out the Remarkables' headquarters (in eastern Connecticut where they operate under the guise of casino-junky seniors), she signs on for the month-long conclave.
A wonderful journey through time and learning how to time travel, provides the reader with a group of fun-loving seniors. Each character is exactly that, a character that most can relate to. And by story's end you'll find yourself wanting more. Thank goodness for book two.
I rate this one 5 stars for originality, super plot, teachable moments, and a romantic undercurrent.
#bookreview #marionmarchetto #time-travel #seniors #Connecticut #CivilWar #Connecticutauthor #BetteBono