When a series of man-made and natural disasters strike the United States, a charismatic rock star known as "The One" (Dante Benedick) risks his life to travel back through time to try to rescue the world and the love of his life. But Dante only has 168 hours.

First Lady Renee Bellwood, married to corrupt President William "Bucky" Bellwood, is the mother of twin daughters, Isabella and Kaley. When Renee and The One meet in 2010, at a time of great crisis, a love triangle evolves.

Dante is trying to save Renee's daughter Isabella, whose suicide in 2010 set off the chain of events that caused the catastrophic Great Destruction.

Can Dante stop Isabella's suicide, and, in so doing, prevent the holocaust that destroyed the East coast? Which woman will Dante choose? Can he change the course of history and take his true love back with him to the future, or will he run Out of Time?

REVIEW

I am a loyal Louis L'Amour fan, normally, but I volunteered to read and review Connie (Corcoran) Wilson's and Michael McCarty's new novel Out of Time. The novel is billed as a sci-fi thriller romance. One would-be reader who enjoys science fiction did not feel the book was as much science fiction (as the cover would suggest). She felt it was more a thriller and a romance.

I enjoyed the change of pace this suspenseful tale offered, and found the author inserted many references to current events. The novel held my interest. It has chapters of varying lengths, each chapter introduced by poetry, some of it original, some of it from famous poets. The characters were believable, with events that I felt bordered on the advertised science fiction, as it included reference to time travel.

Connie Corcoran Wilson and Michael McCarty seem to be capable authors, and I would read another of their novels. They seem to have done their research, and took a chance on creating original song lyrics to enhance the novel and introduce each chapter. (Much of the original poetry was from Ms. Wilson's second book Both Sides Now, where you may remember having seen it previously)

A quick read and an interesting storyline, with some unanswered questions by novel's end.

Reviewed by: Tom Ware

EXCERPT

Chapter 1

Embers in the Rain

Midnight, Thursday
November 18, 2010
Georgetown University

Isabella Bellwood died at midnight, and her secrets died with her. Her secrets were many and finally, the demons won the battle for Isabella's soul. She couldn't go on. Not after what she had done. There was no turning back. She had crossed the final threshold, ventured past the point of no return. Her actions would have repercussions; too many repercussions to comprehend right now. She didn't want to be around when blame was assessed. Isabella was ready to end her life.

She arranged the pills in neat piles. Next to the Seconal was a bottle of vodka and a Dramamine tablet. Outside her bedroom window, it was raining. From her window, had she looked, she would have seen a cold, miserable November downpour. The fire in the fireplace crackled slightly.

Life is so meaningless, she thought. As she brushed her long auburn hair, she gazed at herself for a moment in the mirror...She almost didn't recognize herself. Her hair was now combed and in place, but the luster and shine of good health and youth were missing. Dark wraith-like circles pooled beneath her eyes like bruised fruit.

She glanced at the remaining fireplace sparks flickering in her fireplace. Most of the fire had already burned out, like her life. Isabella had less than one hour to live....