Wrapped in the Past

By: Chess Desalls

Narrated by: Janine Haynes

Length: 2 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Shirlyn travels back in time to ancient Persia, where she meets the three magi who follow the Star of Bethlehem. After a mishap threatens to send her ride home without her, the youngest mage exhibits a hidden talent that leaves an impression on his elders and on Shirlyn's heart. But his silhouette will forget they ever met, unless she leaves a reminder that comes with a heavy price.

©2015 Czidor Lore, LLC (P)2016 Czidor Lore, LLC

great short story

This is a great short story about time travel and making new friends and loves. I love how the story ends with me wanting more. I would recommend this as a fun short story. Note: I recieved this at a discount in exchange for an honest review.

Can't believe I used a credit on this

Let me start by saying that I really enjoy reading Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and YA. I've even enjoyed quite a few books targeted at middle school kids. This book just missed the mark for me in so many ways. The basic premise is intriguing, and I really like the idea of going into the past to experience history first hand. This story; however, is just a hole in a hole in a hole. The main character is young, but also infuriating. I suppose if we were to have a little more background (about everything!) that maybe she would be more relatable?

I assume that I'm not the correct audience for this book. There wasn't a lot of character development, nor explanation as to how time travel was possible, not a lot of character development, and just a lot of unanswered questions.

Most of the time, I'm ok with a mediocre book, but this one I had to search in my history to see if I could return. Sadly I don't tend to read all my books in a timely manner and this one is outside the return period.

A young girl impacted by who she meets.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Wrapped in the Past?

This is a Christmas story at the heart. When Shirlyn sees the Christmas star she's taken by the sight. Her description is beautiful. Her and her family follow the star, her father hoping to cross paths with the three magi to study them. We experience the travels of the three magi following the Star of Bethlehem to welcome the child. We learn of the three magi's and what gifts they bare. But when Shirlyn sees the young Balthazar, she is attracted to him and he is her age. Balthazar is a special person as well. What he can do, and it's a touch of magic, is beautiful.

Which character – as performed by Janine Haynes – was your favorite?

Janine's narration is done with a clear voice and flow. The accent voiced for Shirlyn feels to fit her, as it's what I thought she'd sound like. Janine has an accent I can't place when she speaks as the three magi. Janine expresses the feelings Shirlyn is feeling in voice as Shirlyn thinks and tells the story. The background is clear and seamlessly flows through the chapters.

Any additional comments?

*I requested to review a copy of this audiobook for an honest review from the author or narrator.

This feels like this is Shirlyn's first experience with time travel. We get to experience the effects of traveling, goggles/visors to protect eyes from the blanching effect, the change of traveling vehicle, and the affect of their arrival. Shirlyn's father, Edgar, also tells her of the rules of time travel.

Shirlyn is a young girl and we get a feel of so from her. Shirlyn is young and influential. She finds kind and sweet young men in her travels. Shirlyn falls for them each too. Shirlyn feels she's been impacted by meeting those of the past and she wants them to remember her as much as she'll remember them. Shirlyn is so young in her thinking and it shows, naive in a sense. Then we see Shirlyn meet Romaso for the first time too.

This story is set in the world of "The Call to Search Everywhen". You do NOT need to read the series first to read this one. This is a story of a secondary character's adventure to the past. We do get a few drops of the time travel agency and ways here. There are rules and consequences, but Shirlyn is just learning as she's new to traveling with her family. She hasn't seen any negative affects yet. Maybe you'll become curious of the world at a larger view after this story.

Delightful story!

This time-travel story is very well written and interesting. Young Shirlyn travels with her parents back to the night of Jesus' birth. They meet the Magi and travel with them a bit before it is time for them to go back home.

I really enjoyed experiencing this story through Shirlyn's perspective. She's quite an endearing character. This is an imaginative story, with a strong plot and characters. I didn't want it to end as soon as it did, and I'm hoping there are more of Shirlyn's time travel stories to come. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I listened to the audible version of this book, and the narration was also very well-done, adding much to the story.