• September Sky

  • American Journey, Book 1
  • By: John A. Heldt
  • Narrated by: Chaz Allen
  • Length: 11 hrs and 54 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (38 ratings)

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September Sky  By  cover art

September Sky

By: John A. Heldt
Narrated by: Chaz Allen
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Publisher's summary

When unemployed San Francisco reporter Chuck Townsend and his college dropout son, Justin, take a cruise to Mexico in 2016, each hopes to rebuild a relationship after years of estrangement. But they find more than common ground aboard the ship. They meet a mysterious lecturer who touts the possibilities of time travel. Within days, Chuck and Justin find themselves in 1900, riding a train to Texas, intent on preventing a distant uncle from being hanged for a crime he did not commit. Their quick trip to Galveston, however, becomes long and complicated when they wrangle with business rivals and fall for two beautiful librarians on the eve of a hurricane that will destroy the city.

Filled with humor, history, romance, and heartbreak, September Sky follows two directionless souls on the adventure of a lifetime as they try to make peace with the past, find new purpose, and grapple with the knowledge of things to come.

©2015 John A. Heldt (P)2016 John A. Heldt

What listeners say about September Sky

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Time Travel Journey

This is a well written and researched time-travel story. Although this book starts off at a rather slow pace it does pick up some speed when the plot throws some curves. This is the kind of book that, after you finish it and know the outcome, you would want to read again to analyze how the author weaved this story. Some very clever writing.

The narration was well done. There were, however, a few audio glitches that weren't the narrator's fault. 😀

I know this kind of book isn't for everyone but it's a nice listen if you enjoy history, time-travel, mystery, with a bit of romance

I would like to thank the author, narrator, or publisher for providing me this audiobook at no cost in exchange for my unbiased review courtesy of Audio book boom

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

September Sky: American Journey, Book 1

“This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.”

September Sky is a time travel book that explores a historical event through fiction. A father and son are given the opportunity to travel from 2016 back to 1900. Their relationship develops during their adventures and the people they meet are different from ones in their time period. They have a mystery to solve all in a short window of time. It is interesting to see the different perspectives between the two time periods. Romances develop and it keeps the listener waiting to see if they will go back alone, accompanied or will they stay. Will their presence change history.

I see there are more books in this series that I want to explore.


The narration was well done.The characters were well portrayed.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great listen

Would you listen to September Sky again? Why?

Yes, from a history lesson stand point.

Have you listened to any of Chaz Allen’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've listened to a few of Chaz's audios and have enjoyed them all.. He's very recognizable. When I ordered the book, I didn't realize that I had been listening to Chaz in previous books, along with the author.
This particular audio is right up there on the list. At first it took a little getting use to him, but when I started listening to this audio, it was a pleasant surprise.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not knowing the history the area, I had no idea of the events that were going to happen.. so it was a very good history lesson for me.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was provided by the author, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Time Travel to Galveston, Texas1910

If you could sum up September Sky in three words, what would they be?

***** 5 star, interesting history, love story

What other book might you compare September Sky to and why?

I love the Oxford Time Travel series by Connie Willis as well as her other time travel books. I feel like I learn something in actual history from Heldt's and Willis' weaving it into an interesting story.

Have you listened to any of Chaz Allen’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the 2nd book of Heldt's that I have listened to that Chaz Allen performed and I like his style.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This story was very interesting to me because I live in Texas and have visited Galveston many times. The history of the 1900 hurricane that almost destroyed Galveston that I learned about in Texas history came to life in this book. It was hard to imagine living through that and everything that came after it.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story about time travelers.

What made the experience of listening to September Sky the most enjoyable?

Listening about the historical events and trying to work their lives around them.

What did you like best about this story?

I like stories about time travel. However, I felt these characters did not have any problem adapting. I think most of us would be like, Oh yes that's right it hasn't been invented yet.

Have you listened to any of Chaz Allen’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not sure if I have. He did a pretty good job..

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Back in time.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was provided by the author/narrator/publisher free of charge in exchange for an unbiased review.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

An unexpected delight.

When I got this book I thought it sounded fun because of the time travel aspect. I always enjoy a good book that will take you to places, and allow you to do things you couldn't do in real life. At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like the narrator, but after I got into the book a little ways, I found that Chaz Allen was perfect for this story. His voice really fits the main character.
In this story you get to explore what it would be like to decide whether you would be brave enough to take the leap and go back in time. Would you be able to go mostly unnoticed or would you be drawn in by a pair of beautiful eyes and a spunky spirit? Would you be able to let things play out the way they did before, even if it means people will die?
This book is full of mystery, love, hard decisions, and second chances. I enjoyed it much more then I was expecting.
"This audiobook was provided by the author, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com."

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

Enjoyed the "history"lesson about the Gavalston Hurricane much more when seen through the eyes of the characters. Became immersed in the story with the story line AND the narrator. His voice inflections really helped build the images in my imagination. Good listen!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Couldn't get past the narration

What I heard of the story was interesting but I did not finish the book because I could not listen to the horrible narration a moment longer.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Romantic Time Travel Mystery Disaster Adventure

When investigative reporter Chuck gets an opportunity to go back in time to June 1900, he decides to visit Galveston, Texas, and right a terrible wrong -- the arrest and execution of an innocent man. Unfortunately, he doesn't know who the victim will be. Nor does he know the full name of the person who confessed to the crime many years later. How do you investigate a crime that hasn't happened yet?

The clock is ticking. Chuck and his son Justin have to return to 2016 by mid-September, or they won't get back at all. Plus, they want to get out of Galveston before Labor Day weekend, when the hurricane of the century will destroy the city and kill thousands. As summer goes by, the coming disaster weighs on their minds. The hurricane is no longer just something that happened to faceless strangers over a century ago. They now have friends and loved ones in Galveston.

The author has set up a multi-faceted plot with likeable protagonists. The mystery is well written. The romances are tender and genuine. The scenes of the hurricane are particularly riveting, with details that bring it to life. The potential paradoxes involved in time travel are kept to a minimum, and there's no complicated scientific jargon to weigh through.

I enjoyed this book immensely. The only quibble I have with it, is that Chuck is rather blase about changing history. (Clearly, I've been reading too many time travel adventures lately. LOL )

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Time Travel What!!!!

This story was a nice story that demonstrated what time travel could be like. A father and son who have no ties to the world they are in except each other. the narrator did the voices well but the story did not resonate with me. They traveled back in time fell in love and saved several people. Chuck the father and Justin the son are adrift aand not reallysur what they want out of life. Professor Bell does little to convince them to time travel and offered nothing that would induce me to travel. This was unbelievable to me so it was a time for suspending reality and it was hard for me to do. Although the Professor was investigated nothing was revealed that would make make a decision like this so lightly.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

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