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The Oxford Book of English Verse

Christopher Ricks

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Book

Here is a treasure-house of over seven centuries of English poetry, chosen and introduced by...

Realtime Trains

Travel and Utilities

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App

Realtime Trains provides live travel information for the British mainline passenger railway network,...

Fantastic Plastic by Flamin Groovies

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Album Watch

The Flamin' Groovies story goes all the way back to 1965 when the band began as The Chosen Few in...

rock pop

David McK (3755 KP) rated Quantum Leap: Too Close for Comfort in Books

Sep 22, 2024 (Updated Sep 22, 2024)

"Theorising that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Doctor Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished... He woke to find himself trapped in the past, facing mirror images that were not his own, and driven by an unknown force to change history for the better. His only guide on this journey is Al, an observer from his own time, who appears in the form of a hologram that only Sam can see and hear. And so Doctor Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life, striving to put right what once went wrong, and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home…”

That's the intro from the original, 1990s, show (as opposed to the more modern 2020 reincarnation).

Why am I posting the above?

Because this novel itself is from the 90s, long before Dr Raymond Song or any of the newer bunch, and so focuses on the original Leaper Sam, and his hologrammatic observer Al.

It was also obviously written whilst the show was still on air (or, at the very least, not long after it ended), and very much could have been a episode of that original show, which was far more episodic in nature than the newer version.

Here, Sam finds himself in the body of a college graduate in what-I-believe-to-be the early 1990s, leasing a room from a college professor who is very much into the whole Men movement of the era, so much so that said professor does not even realize when his family life is falling down around him.

Being the early 1990s, this is far too close to the timeline from which Sam leaps (1999), with Al Calvacci also involved here both as Sam's hologram, and as an actual person who Sam encounters as a member of Dr Wales encounter group. Hence the title 'Too Close for Comfort', which can be construed in multiple different ways!

Kudos

Merissa (13927 KP) rated Wired For Magic in Books

Apr 8, 2026

Wired For Magic

Janet Roberts | 2026 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller

10.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

WIRED FOR MAGIC is an intriguing mix of hackers and magic. Rowan, a former model turned photographer, inherited magic from her mother, who unfortunately died before she could teach Rowan how to use it. Griff, Rowan's brother, is sceptical of the whole 'magic' thing, but does everything in his power to protect her from her stalker, Jarrod. He has been stalking Rowan for years, using his immense wealth and power, leading her to be forever on guard and on the run.

Those are the pure bones of the story, but there is so much more to it. I will admit, when I read that Celtic magic was involved, my mind immediately went to Ireland, which is where the majority of authors mean when they say 'Celtic'. Imagine my wonder and delight when it turned out to be Wales!!! The descriptions of Pentre Ifan were absolutely spot on, and the warmth of the Welsh personality was perfectly described and enacted, especially by Bron and Huw.

There is a slight romance element to the story, but it is secondary at best. Huw is definitely there as a supporting character, never taking the spotlight from Rowan.

The character arcs of all the main characters were brilliantly written, and the pacing was perfect. I was swept away in Rowan's struggles and determination. I loved sassy Aunt Maya and her outlook on life. Because I'm greedy, I would love to see more of this world, maybe from some of the secondary characters' points of view - Cat, I'm looking at you. And you too, Griff!

Anyway, I was completely absorbed by this story, from the first paragraph to the last. Definitely one of the best I've read, and I don't say that lightly. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 8, 2026