Love Between Times by Beth Ford

 When her 21st century life falls apart, a chance to start over and find love comes from an unexpected source: a stranger who needs her help and who may actually be a 14th-century knight.

Wild Women Authors is pleased to feature Love Between Times. This time travel romance, written by Beth Ford, was a November 2024 release by the Wild Rose Press.

About Love Between Times:

When Ashley Winston’s conventional 21st century life falls apart, she returns to England to write the book she shelved years ago, determined to take control of her life.
      Meanwhile, in 1377 Wiltshire, Thomas de la Warr, fighting his family’s insistence that he become a priest, plots to chase his dream of knighthood. While Ashley and Thomas search for answers, he suddenly appears in the modern day. Unable to communicate, his first encounter with Ashley ends with the police demanding his immigration papers. All Thomas wants is to return to the world he understands, but he and Ashley are drawn together again and again.

How will they find the answers Thomas needs before the authorities close in without losing each other forever?

Our Feature Piece today will begin with Thomas.

Where are you from? The Lydiard Tregoze estate in Wiltshire, England. Though the real question is when am I from. Even though I ended up in the present day, I was born in 1352.

Tell us a bit about Love Between Times. This is the story of how I unwillingly was whisked into the future and fell in love.

What did you think the first time you saw Ashley Winston? I thought she was the strangest woman I had ever seen. Plus, I had never seen a woman wearing pants before—or one who walked in public with their hair uncovered. Most strange indeed.

And your second thought? She was incredibly kind to me as she helped me figure out my situation—which endeared her to me greatly.

Do you feel it was love at first sight? Absolutely not. I was so scared at confused at being dropped into the year 2022 that romance was the last thing on my mind.

What do you like most about Ashley? She is willing to go out of her way to help those she cares about—and devotes herself deeply to them.

How would you describe her? A beautiful, determined woman who is sometimes too independent for her own good. I think she is still getting used to being helped and supported in return after her previous relationship.

How would Ashley describe you? As a caring, community-minded person with a strong faith. And while she may not say it, I know she can’t tear herself away from my blue eyes.

What made you choose the ministry for a career? I didn’t have a choice. As the second son of a baron, I’m meant to be ordained as a priest, but I’ve been putting this off as I would much rather be a knight. I want to see action and fight for my country against France like my older brother.

What is your biggest fear? Not doing anything meaningful with my life.

How do you relax? A long ride on horseback on a sunny day sounds perfect.

Who is your favorite fictional character? I love the epics of King Arthur.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? That duty doesn’t have to dictate everything about your life—something that Ashley made me see.

Thomas, thank you very much for taking time to speak with us. We’d now like to chat with Beth.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? I did my master’s degree in 18^th and 19^th century British literature and did my thesis on Dickens—so the Victorian novel looms large in my canon. On a more fun note—and more relevant to this book—the initial idea of this book came from watching movies where a medieval knight lands in the modern day and there is no language barrier or difference in his worldview. I wanted to write a story about what would really happen if you encountered someone from the medieval world in the present day.

Is there an event in your private life that you were able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? Within Ashley’s story, it was definitely that time in your twenties when you are struggling to find yourself and who you want to be. She is a writer trying to commit to getting her first novel on the page, right around the age I was doing that as well.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? I found The Wild Rose Press through an online small press database. They’re a reputable press, and the genres they publish align with my book, so I was thrilled when they accepted Love Between Times for publication.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? Funny Story by Emily Henry is next on my list.

Last, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I am working on the sequel to Love Between Times. Currently, I am addressing my beta readers’ feedback, so I hope to have it wrapped up relatively soon and on shelves in 2026. I can’t wait to share the next part of Thomas and Ashley’s story with everyone.

Beth brought along an excerpt for us:

Neither of them said a word. They stood in shock, each assessing the other.

Ashley stared at the young man’s strange clothes. He wore a long, blue shirt over—were those tights?—and oddly shapeless leather boots. Everything he wore appeared homemade. The leather crossbody bag he wore was the only thing he had of decent quality.

She lifted her gaze to his face. His eyes immediately captivated her. They were the most gorgeous shade of blue she had ever seen. His face wasn’t bad either. His hair was thick and a bit long. Even beneath the beard she could tell he had a strong jawline and fine cheekbones. He appeared her age or a bit younger.

Snapping back to herself, she took a few steps backward to put some distance between them. “Sorry,” she said nervously.

The man cocked his head at her like a curious cat trying to figure out what the game was.

“Are you all right?” she finally asked.

He said something that she couldn’t interpret. It was her turn to look confused.

“Are you going to Salisbury?” she asked, since he was headed in the opposite direction she was. Then tried again, “Salisbury?”

“Sarisbury,” he said firmly, correcting her. The middle sound held more of a “r” shape in his mouth instead of an “l.” She couldn’t tell where he was from. The words he had said to her sounded like nothing she had heard before.

But they were getting somewhere. She pointed down the hill toward the city. “Sarisbury,” she said, mimicking him.

He nodded, satisfied. His gaze tracked in the direction she pointed. When his eyes lit on the city, he took a few inadvertent steps back and stumbled over a tree root. Once he was steady on his feet again, he glanced wildly along the horizon.

Her eyes darted between him and the view, trying to guess what had surprised him so. Between them and the city, a stretch of highway trailed along the horizon. Nothing particularly remarkable about that. But the man turned pale and crossed himself. When that didn’t improve things in his mind, he pulled a necklace out from under his tunic—she had decided that was the best word for what he was wearing. The necklace was a simple leather cord holding a wooden cross. He rubbed the cross fervently and his lips formed a prayer she couldn’t interpret.

“Are you okay?” she asked again.

He glared at her before he turned and dashed back into the forest.

Ashley hesitated, then followed after him. Despite the fact that running into the woods after a potentially crazy man sounded like a setup for a horror movie, she had to make sure he was okay. She couldn’t just leave him here.

He didn’t go very far. A dozen or so feet farther into the woods, he knelt in front of a low, flat rock. Was he praying?

He stayed in that position for several minutes. Ashley hung back, debating what to do. All thoughts of her feud with Sadie blew away, and she focused on this new confrontation. Did he need help? He certainly seemed lost and scared. She would almost think he was a hermit living secluded in the woods, if they weren’t so close to town and the highway. She considered his clothes.

Was there a medieval reenactment happening nearby, maybe at Old Sarum where she had been headed? His outfit appeared of that time period. Had she interrupted some event? But no, the small copse was silent except for them and the distant sound of cars passing along the road.

She still hadn’t decided what to do when his eyes opened again. He looked around. When he saw her his face fell, but he didn’t appear so scared this time. He set his jaw in determination, stood, and approached her.

He said something to her. She almost understood a few words. There was something in the middle that sounded like “thu”—was he saying “you” maybe? When she showed no recognition, he said something again. It sounded different this time. The accent on a few words reminded her of French, but she didn’t speak that language except for a few important phrases she had picked up through pop culture such as Voulez-vous couche avec moi? That probably wouldn’t be the best sentence to introduce herself with. She captured a smile before it appeared on her lips.

It would be mortifying if it turned out she just didn’t understand his accent. When she’d lived in England before, she had always found it nearly impossible to understand anyone from Sunderland. Maybe he was from there. “Sunderland?” she asked. He still looked confused. So much for that theory.

He watched her as if he expected her to provide him with some clue or direction.

“Do you need to go to Salisbury?”

“Sarisbury,” he said. This was still the only word they agreed on.

She sighed. If he was a psycho murderer, it was probably best to get out of the countryside and back into the city where she could get help. She inclined her head toward Salisbury. He nodded and followed her down the hill.

To learn more about Beth Ford and the stories she creates, go to:

Website: http://bethfordauthor.com

X: https://x.com/BethFordAuthor

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bethfordauthor.bsky.social

 

To purchase Love Between Times, go to: https://books2read.com/lovebetweentimes