Once in Every Life

by Kristin Hannah

Book Overview

A poignant, profoundly emotional tale of a woman on a remarkable journey toward her own destiny, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Women

"Hannah is superb at delving into her main characters' psyches and delineating nuances of feeling."--The Washington Post Book World

She dares to love a man who doesn't dare to love. . . .

Tess Gregory's brilliant career...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0056U8KDI
• ISBN13: 9780449148389
• Release Date: December 1992
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.1" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

a must read for time travel lovers

I just finished this book and fell in love with the characters and their story. It was so good I just couldn't put it down and read it in one night. The begining of the book was a bit unbelievable in the time travel aspect but once you get over that the story is captivating and heart warming. I highly recommend this book. it's a must read.

The Best Romance Novel I've Read!

This is the best book I have ever picked up.I could not put it down.Kristin is an awsome Author she knows how to keep the reader hooked.I first thought it was going to be a boring fantasy (back to the future) kind of book and I was amazed at how well written it is.I've since picked up every book from this author and I haven't been dissapointed yet.I highly recommend it.

Get ready to be transformed into this book.

This is the first time travel novel that actually has made me feel as if I am in the shoes of the main character. You feel the pain, longing, tears, and joy of each person in this story. I have read this book eight times and I share it with my friends, old and new. I absolutely love Kristin Hannah and the wonderful stories that she creates. I don't hesitate to pick up one of her new releases and head straight to the check-out before I've even read what the story is about.

Great Story!

Once in Every Life is another winner from Kristin Hannah. Tess Gregory, a brilliant research scientist, is killed before "her time is up". She is given "another" chance to "go back to earth" to resume her life, but she is given a choice on where she will go back and to what time period. Tess is not pulled back to earth by her intellect, but instead by her heart. She chooses post civil war America in the 1870's and finds that she faces an incredible challenge in bringing love, warmth, and a sense of family to this fragmented family without much love.Tess, now know as Lissa Rafferty, finds that she is also now longer deaf in her life and is also the mother of three, which includes a newborn. She longs for the closeness of family and love, things that she herself did not have growing up. Lissa's patience and determination lovingly bring the two older girls and her husband Jack back together as a family.Once again, Kristin Hannah weaves her magic and draws her readers into the depths of her characters. You are able to feel Jack's isolation, loneliness, and his need for acceptance. You can feel the girls' hesitation and fright in response to their "old" mother's attitude, indifference and anger.I have read all of Kristin Hannah's books and again, wish for sequels to each and every book!! The characters are true to life and the love story is easily related to. Her heroine's are all depicted as strong, confident and determined women! Hannah's inspiring love stories make believers of us all!Kristin Hannah has easily become one of my favorite authors and I highly recommend this book!

Great time-travel romance!

Kristin Hannah does a marvelous job of maintaining the main character's (Tess') modern sensibilities when she suddenly finds herself on a rural island off the coast of Washington State in the 1870's. Suddenly, she needs to accustom herself to a new identity,and to life without microwaves and washing machines. Kristin Hannah does a wonderful job (always) of showing us the psychological scars of the characters, and showing how gentleness, honesty, and caring can overcome them. In this case, Tess' (Amarylis') husband and daughters need to overcome extreme psychological trauma, and Tess needs to work hard for the love she's always done without. Romances are usually only good for one read, but I've reread this book several times (whenever I need a good cry).