Time After Time, by veteran gay novelist J. P. Bowie, is a delightful paranormal romance that is also a bit of a mystery novel. American graphic artist Michael Ballantyne is in an unsatisfying relationship with his boyfriend Steve Miller. At the same time, he is enjoying wonderfully erotic dreams involving a mysterious man. An unexpected phone call informs Michael that he has inherited an estate in England, a country he has never visited, from a man he has never heard of. As a condition of the will Michael has to live on the estate continuously for one year. Happy to leave behind his humdrum life in America, Michael settles into the opulent estate, which comes with its own butler, cook, maid, two gardeners, and a ghost.
While investigating his unexpected good fortune, Michael discovers that he had an uncle who was buried in England. Visiting the grave, Michael meets Jonathan Robertson, who resembles the man from his dreams. With help from a local librarian they investigate the mystery of the ghost and how Michael and Jonathan are connected to events from the past.
Time After Time is a light read, perfect for a rainy Sunday. It is similar to Dan Stone’s The Rest of Our Lives in its combination of romance, the paranormal, and the connection between the present and the past. The love between Michael and Jonathan is tender and passionate, although expressed somewhat explicitly. This novel is recommended for large urban libraries and public libraries serving a GLBT constituency.
Time After Time is also available in a Kindle edition.
Reviewed by, Paul Hubbard
Retired Public Reference Librarian