Book: Not My Life
(Time Shifters book 5)
Author: Bob Kat
Publication Date: 18 October 2016
Genres: Young Adult, Time
Travel, Mystery (and a little romance)
Not My Life by Kathy Clark aka Bob Kat, is the fifth instalment in the Time
Shifters young adult mystery series, but can be read as a standalone.
The story begins with four
teens, the protagonists of the series: Austin, Kelly, Scott and Zoey, coming
back from a trip to the sixties. We are told that Scott has developed a phone
application that enables the four of them to go back in time to save people. However,
instead of landing in their time zone, they arrive in the right place but the
wrong time, that is 1977.
Despite being frustrated with
the app malfunction, they soon discover that their homeless, necklace-maker friend
Dan was a prominent doctor in his early life, but had been convicted of
murdering his wife and child and sent to prison.
When they return to their
timeline, they seek to find out if Dan had in fact murdered his family and perhaps
right the wrong that was done. They concoct a plan to go back in time to before
the crime was committed and find out the truth.
"I'm out of prison, but
I'll never really be free."
The characters in Not My Life are relatable and down to earth; most of them are
kind and quite mature for their age, with the exception of Zoey, whom I felt
was selfish and haughty. Still, she was the only voice of reason – despite the
other teens' dissatisfaction and mine – always looking at the other possibility
that Dan might have actually committed murder. I liked the development of
Zoey's character in the novel.
I assume there was development
for the other characters in the previous instalments. Still, we see some minor
development for Kelly – who is quite confident and a quick-learner at whatever
she does.
"This is the only thing
that exists that was in my possession at the time. Take it. You might need it
to prove your story to the younger me. Back then I was all caught up in
academia. If it couldn't be proven scientifically, didn't exist."
I also liked Dan's character,
both old and young. I liked how he helped the four teens with their plan, even though
he didn't truly believe time travel was possible.
Not My Life is fit for all ages –
including middle grade, I believe – and contains perhaps one kiss and a few
emotions, which is something I liked.
While there is a lot of
telling and less showing, the novel isn't devoid of humour and a little
imagery.
"But, you think he likes
me?"
"For some unknown reason,
he seems to."
The ending of Bob Kat's Not My Life made all the difference. I loved
it! It was beautiful, touching and heartfelt.
About the Authors:
Long ago and far away
(in Alvin, Texas) Kathy Clark began her career writing and performing plays for
the neighborhood kids. She charged a nickel, but the attendees got a free
bottle of ice cold Coke along with their entertainment. Flash forward a
few years and Kathy Clark still loves telling stories.
She started writing
solo for such publishers as Harlequin and Dell. In 1993, she met and
married her prince charming, and after his career as a business executive, he
became her co-writer. Together they have had fourteen books
published, bringing her total to thirty-seven. Their books are about real
people caught up in unexpected and extraordinary circumstances, and just happen
to fall in love in the process…just like Kathy and Bob did!
They write adult
romance and romantic suspense under the pen name Kathy Clark and YA
romance/time travel/mysteries under the pen name of Bob Kat.
They currently live
in Colorado Springs near their five sons. When they’re not plotting their next
book on what they call their Authors’ Deck with a glass of wine, they love to
travel to far-away places…always together.
NOT MY LIFE is #5 in the Time Shifters YA romance/time travel/mystery
series. The first four books have won numerous Readers’ Favorite and
other awards.
Our latest adult
romantic suspense series, Austin Heroes had book #2 ALMOST FOREVER released in July and book #3 ANOTHER CHANCE to be released in November. We
are currently working on a new adult romance series called Breathless that is
set in Cripple Creek, Colorado.
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