Blog Tour with Review: The Surviving Trace by Calia Read

May 27, 2018





Synopsis
Will is my fiancé. The shy man I met years ago in college. The person I’m supposed
to spend the rest of my life with.
This is the life I’ve always wanted until finding a picture of four men changes
everything…
Etienne says he’s my husband and the year is 1912. He can’t stand the sight of me,
but I don’t know why.Oh, and he’s one of the men from the picture.
I’ve done the impossible and have become trapped in time and I know Etienne is my
key to going home.
The more time I spend with Etienne, the further I fall for him, until I’m questioning
which time I belong in and if the life I left behind is the one I truly desire.
All I know for certain is I need to survive time.
I need to survive love.
And I need to make it out on the other side alive.

Goodsreads Link:





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“ Love is your hoarse cries. Its your anger, it’s your sadness.
It’s your happiness and laughter.
It’s everything wrapped up into one
Love is one of the heaviest words to exist
It’s a miracle anyone survives it.
It’d be a wonder if I survive it." 


WOW!

I didn’t think it would’ve been possible for this author to render me speechless, but damn it she did!! I'm still trying to figure out what I just read but if I’m being completely honest with myself, it’s the final chapter that did me in. I’m confused, happy, sad, and mournful at the same time. How is that possible? How can I feel all of these emotions at the same time and be content? I simple call it the power of words. 

Have you ever wonder what it would be like to live in another lifetime? To be a part of history and witness some of the greatest mark on the world? I’m sure we all have and Serene Parow is no different. Being a lover of antiques and everything historical, Serene has always loved the classical time error and the year 2017 has made no difference to her. When she comes across an old photo from the year 1912, there’s an automatic pull to the strangers who are in the picture. Particularly one important. 

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As time goes by, Serene realizes that her finding the picture was no coincidence and that she was meant to help in some way or the other. But by doing that, will she alter the future and change everything for the better or make it worse? How far will you go to protect someone you love? Does time or distance really matter? 

“ You think you belong in another time. Belong to another man. But maybe you have it all wrong. Maybe you belong here with me”. 

I really loved how different this story was. I knew all about the time traveling and if I’m being honest, that is what drew me to the story in the first place. It was refreshing in my eyes, classy, heartbreaking and it sucked you into this time era that made you fall in love with it all over again. These characters were amazing but it was their journey and refusal to quit is what was awe inspiring to me. 

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As much as I loved everything else about the story, I just couldn’t for the life of me get over that final chapter. I felt like as deflated balloon with bittersweet feelings. I guess I’m still trying to process everything and figure out my true feelings on it but at this point, I’m happy and sad at the same time. 

If you’re in the mood for something completely different, I would highly recommend this one. The writing is flawless, the characters will make you feel, and your heart will quite possibly get bruised in the process but I think it’s worth it. To me, the most beautiful things are sometimes the most painful ones.


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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6466717.Calia_Read

 Right then, someone places a hand on my arm. I turn and see Nat. Her eyes are wide with
panic. “Étienne is here.” I stare at her blankly, and she frowns. “Did you hear me? I said
Étienne’s here. He’s livid.”
 Judging by Nat’s frantic expression and tone of voice, I know this Étienne is someone
important. But I don’t know who the hell he is or why I should be the slightest bit nervous.
 I’m getting ready to say that when she plants her hands on my shoulders. It’s impossible to tell
if the gesture is more for her benefit or mine. “You’re in no shape to see him. I’ll distract him.
That should afford you some time to hurry to your room.”
 Before I can reply or ask who in the hell this Étienne is, the whispers start. Word spreads like
wildfire until conversations practically cease.
 “Go,” Nat pleads.
 No sooner has the word escaped her mouth before the doors at the far end of the room slam
open. People stop what they’re doing. Even the musicians appear unsure and stare at each other
in confusion.
 Nat and Livingston move in front of me like a pair of bodyguards. I stand on my tiptoes and
try to peer between their shoulders, but all I can make out is a stark white shirt. I’m confident it’s
the Étienne man Nat was talking about.
 In the hushed silence, I can distinctly hear his powerful steps. People inch toward the walls or
the double doors.
 “What are you still doin’ here? Go!” Nat whispers to me.
 Why would I go? It’s just getting interesting. A thrill courses down my spine and spreads
throughout my body. Minutes ago, I wanted to leave, but the dramatic reaction elicited from
everyone and the giant question mark stamped over this mysterious Étienne makes me stay put.
 Plus, this is a dream. Right now, I’m merely a cat with nine lives. If danger comes my way,
I’ll survive. By the ninth, I’ll wake up.
 For now, I’m safe.
 The closer he gets, the louder his footsteps become. My heart pounds in sync with his
footsteps. When he stops walking, Nat and Livingston’s shoulders are practically fused together.
All I can see is the man crossing his tan arms.There’s a beat of silence before Nat speaks. “Étienne. This is a pleasant surprise. I didn’t know
you’d be here.”
 “I live here. This is my home.” His voice is laced with the same slow, Southern drawl as
everyone else I’ve heard speak tonight. But I think it’s the deep timbre that makes my pulse
jump. Yes, that has to be it. “Who’s behind you?”
 “No one,” Livingston and Nat say in unison.
 “Are you sure? Because I swear I see the top of Serene’s head behind your shoulder.”
 He knows my name. How does he know my name? Once again, I remind myself that anything
goes in dreams. But something about this isn’t sitting well in my gut.
 Livingston and Nat turn at the same time. They wear expressions of pure shock, as if they had
no idea I’d been standing behind them.
 “Oh, it’s Serene.” Livingston shares a well-practiced look of confusion with Nathalie. “I didn’t
know she was there. Did you, Nat?”
 “I did not.”
 Damn, these two are good. If this were real life, we’d be fast friends. From how they play off
of each other’s body language and words, I know they’re siblings; my brothers and I covered for
each other the same way.
 I can’t see the man’s expression, but I’m willing to bet he’s not buying anything they’re
saying.
 “Step aside. I need to talk to her.”
 No one makes a sound. My legs shake.
 When Livingston and Nat don’t budge, he says, “Move. Now.”
 Nat’s shoulders slightly sag in defeat. I’m half-tempted to tell her not to give in to his
demands, but my tongue becomes three sizes too big for my mouth.
 As she steps to the right, she gives me a quick once-over and whispers, “I tried to warn
you.”
 They move away, and it feels as if I’ve been thrown to the wolves. Now I’m facing the leader
of the pack. The first thing that comes to my mind once I see him is, Shit. I should’ve listened to
Nathalie.
 Because this isn’t the good ol’ boy every mother wants their daughter to end up with. No. This
is the man every mom has warned their daughters about. You run, not walk when you encounter
someone like him.
 I stand there as though I’m nailed to the floor and watch as the man gazes around the room. He
sighs as if everyone is wasting his precious time.
 Then he turns his eyes to me, and when he does, the realization hits me like a bolt of
lightning.



Calia Read lives in Texas with her husband and their five kids.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ailacread/

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