Love Lost in Time
France, 2018. Madeleine had hoped her mother would leave answers—like the name of her father. Instead, she’s saddled with her mother’s outdated house, which Maddie must live in for one year before it can be sold. In the midst of renovations, bones are discovered under the kitchen tiles along with a mysterious voice that seems to speak from beyond the grave. Who was this woman, and why did she suffer such a tragic end?
Septimania, AD 777. Nanthild travels to Carcassonne to be married to Count Bellon. She hides a secret, her devotion to the goddess and her skills as a wisewoman, beliefs that could get her killed. Can she find happiness with a man she barely knows while keeping such a devastating secret?
Dunn alternates chapters between present and the past, and alternates between Nanthild and Bellon. In this way, readers can follow the armies of Charlemagne with Bellon while also tending the wounded after the battles with Nanthild. The dangers and tension of Nanthild’s time are well researched, and despite some dire circumstances, descriptions never become explicit or graphic. Meanwhile, Maddie is trying to sort out her life in the wake of her mother’s death, reorganizing work demands to meet the conditions of her mother’s will. The narrative is ripe with emotions as two independent women are pulled in unexpected directions. They’ll wrestle with sacrifice and trust in their respective new environments. Dunn interweaves these stories at just the right moments. Both landscapes are beautifully penned for readers to easily get lost in. Additionally, the storylines are engaging, and each helped bring a satisfying conclusion to the other. An enjoyable tale about love, sacrifice, and self-discovery. Recommended.
