Book review: Of Time and Place by B.R. Freemont

Of Time and Place by B.R. Freemont was passed along to me for an honest review by the author. This was my first political thriller to read and review and I must say, I was a bit doubtful in the beginning about reading this particular genre and almost passed up the chance. I am so glad now that I decided to read it since it was such a pleasant surprise.


Before I get into my review, here is a bit about the book:

As the global energy crisis of the 21st century wears on, James Lendeman searches for answers-both for the country and for himself. Working in the Federal Energy Department for the iconoclastic and enigmatic Kate Hastings, James is at the center of a world of political intrigue and personal conflicts. Unsure of whether he can go along with Kate's plans for the country (and for him), he is forced to steer his own way through a maze of personal and professional problems. When we James a few years later (through author B. R. Freemont's ingenious weaving of dual timelines), he is in Savannah, working as a contractor for the government and debating the merits of a flirtatious college student who lives in his boarding house. Nimbly moving forward and backward through James's personal timeline, Of Time and Place leads it readers on a journey through twists and turns of life in a kind of historical novel of the future. From a tumultuous romance and marriage to a romantic spring in Florence and the adversities along the way, James finds himself debating both his own life and the feasibility of maintaining a viable US economy in the mid-21st century. Drawn from very real issues of global import, and playing out in some of the most storied cities in the world, Of Time and Place will leave every reader pondering the future-and the present.


Click here to purchase the book on Amazon.


My review:  
Link to review on Amazon
4 Stars


James Lendeman is a very intriguing character that is set on helping the world solve one of its most difficult problems: the energy crisis. In light of the current troubles our world is experiencing with this issue, the story is very timely. What will happen in the future, and how can individuals, like James, help solve the issues now, before it is too late? How much of his time will be devoted to this task, and at what cost to his personal life?


B.R. Freemont answers these questions in a story that jumps between time as the reader takes the journey into the life of James. We meet a cast of interesting characters, including his boss, Kate Hastings, artfully written as a strong, female lead. As James meanders his way through life, we are right there along side him as he deals with not only the energy crisis, but personal struggles as well.


James is a conflicted man on so many levels who discovers that finding answers to the energy crisis might be a easier than understanding the complexities of relationships. 


This novel was well written and full of interesting plot lines that kept my rapt attention after the first few chapters.