River of No Return

A brilliant time-travel romance as part of the launch of Penguin Picks'First, he learned the Rules of the Guild.There were only four-There is No Return.There is No Return.Tell No One.Uphold the Rules . . .'On a battlefield in 1815 Lord Nicholas Falcott faces death and instead of dying jumps two hundreds years into the future. There he learns that he is one of a band of mysterious time travellers called the Guild. He may have escaped death, but he is not free as the Guild's rules forbid returning to his old life lest he tear the fabric of time. Yet Nick yearns for 1815 and Julia Percy, the young woman to whom he'd like to give his heart. If he breaks the rules he risks unravelling the past and the future. If he doesn't he'll never see his lost love again . . .

“A thrill ride”

Vanity Fair
Ridgway spins an intricate narrative in elegant prose that combines the best of various genres - spy thriller, historical romance, science fiction, fantasy. Throughout, her juxtaposition of past and present is dazzling and often amusing... The River of No Return has the feel of an instant classic, along the lines of Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Readers will wish they could stop time to savor every page The Washington Post
Ridgway has a light and clever touch. . . . The River of No Return satisfies. Newsday
A highly entertaining romp; her historical details are accurate, and the character are believable. Fans of Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series should enjoy this time-traveling romantic adventure, which may also attract readers who like historical fiction with a twist. Library Journal
With a fabulous cast of characters, an original and imaginative storyline and eloquent prose, Bee Ridgway has created a memorable work of fiction that is a delight to read . . . This is a book not to be missed. -- Melissa,
Bee Ridgway's debut novel delightfully removes the boundaries of life as we know it and dares us to dream American Way magazine
Ridgway is a splendid writer . . . The River of No Return is the kind of book that is meant to be read under the covers with a flashlight, or, in the pale grown-up substitution, staying up much later than you know is good for you Chicago Reader
Beautifully written with a real sense of rhythm to the words . . . It's easy to get lost in the story from the first chapter. Historical Novel Society
Her tale and the world she's crafted unfold gracefully and compellingly through precise yet lush prose. The result is a novel that fans of hardcore fantasy and literary fiction alike can get behind. The River of No Return is a gorgeous, sweeping debut that is easy to get lost in. Bookpage
Between Kate Atkinson's Life After Life and Bee Ridgway's The River of No Return, time-travel novels are hot. Newsday
Bee Ridgway's deliciously fun debut covers ground similar to other smart bodice rippers such as Outlander and A Discovery of Witches. All You magazine
Ridgway is a splendid writer . . . The River of No Return is the kind of book that is meant to be read under the covers with a flashlight, or, in the pale grown-up substitution, staying up much later than you know is good for you. Chicago Reader
In her stellar debut, Ridgway manages the permutations of the time-travel trope with originality and aplomb. Booklist
A highly entertaining romp; [Ridgway's] historical details are accurate, and the characters are believable. Fans of Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series should enjoy this time-traveling romantic adventure, which may also attract readers who like historical fiction with a twist. Library Journal
A compelling race through time in a historical world turned upside down-the Regency as you've never seen it before. Take one nobleman and one gently born lady; add time travel, intrigue, a vast conspiracy, and a wicked way with words; shake; and serve. Lauren Willig, author of The Pink Carnation series
While on its shining surface The River of No Return is a fantastical time traveling page turner, it is also a novel that takes on complex issues of culture and nationalism and how or memories form us. And it is a riveting love story to boot. Bee Ridgway is a treasure and her debut is a triumph. Jennifer Gilmore, author of Golden Country and Something Red
The River of No Return is an innovative and sophisticated first novel. At the heart of this entertaining story--set primarily and convincingly in Regency-era England--is a serious and timely question: what does it mean to be on the winning side of history? William Galperin, Professor of English, Rutgers University, and author of The Historical Austen
The only thing more fun than reading this book would be to actually travel through time yourself. Erudite and beautifully crafted, The River of No Return is at the same time a lush, riotous fantasy. Ridgway's ingenuity and charm are apparently without limit. Heather Love, R. Jean Brownlee associate professor in the humanities, University of Pennsylvania, and author of Feeling Backward

Bee Ridgway grew up in Amherst, Massachusetts. She attended Oberlin College (B.A.), then worked for a year as an editorial assistant at Elle magazine. She studied literature at Cornell University (M.A. and Ph.D.). She spent several years living in the U.K. during her studies. She has worked at Bryn Mawr College since 2001. She lives in Philadelphia, PA.

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