Hands of Time Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order

For the best experience, readers should follow the series in its publication order. Because the narrative spans multiple centuries—weaving together the 17th century, the 18th century, and the 21st century—reading the books out of order will spoil major plot twists, character deaths, and the intricate family tree that develops as the timeline shifts. Below is the recommended sequence to follow Valerie and Louisa Crane on their journey through history.

1. The Hands of Time (2011)
2. A Leap of Faith (2012)
3. A World Apart (2012)
4. A Game of Shadows (2013)
5. Shattered Moments (2014)
6. The Ties That Bind (2017)
7. The Summer Solstice (2017)
8. The Winter Solstice (2017)
9. The Christmas Gift (2017)

Chronological Breakdown and Plot Evolution

The Foundation: England in 1605

The series begins with The Hands of Time (2011). Valerie Crane, a modern-day woman reeling from a painful divorce, seeks solace near the ruins of Yealm Castle. When she discovers a mysterious, ancient watch, she is thrown back to 1605 England. Trapped in a dangerous era marked by the Guy Fawkes Gunpowder Plot, Valerie must adapt to survive. She finds shelter at Yealm Castle and falls into a complicated romance with Alec Whitfield, choosing to stay in the past.

In A Leap of Faith (2012), the focus shifts to Valerie's sister, Louisa. Back in 2010, Louisa discovers evidence that her missing sister did not die, but is actually alive in the seventeenth century. Armed with the second watch, Louisa makes the leap through time to find her sister. This installment cements the series as a family saga, showing how two modern sisters navigate the harsh realities of the past while building lives with the Whitfield and Sheridan families.

Crossing the Atlantic: Colonial Virginia

In A World Apart (2012), the setting shifts dramatically from England to colonial Virginia. Valerie and Alec, now married, leave the Old World behind to establish a home in Jamestown. The harsh realities of the early American colonies present new struggles, forcing Valerie to draw on her modern resilience to protect her family from disease, conflict, and the unfamiliar wilderness. This book highlights the stark contrasts between the refined English countryside and the wild frontier of the New World.

The Splitting Timelines

As the series progresses, the narrative structure becomes more complex, introducing multiple timelines that run concurrently. In A Game of Shadows (2013), the main story returns to 1624 England, where Valerie and Alec travel back to reunite with their daughter Louisa and Kit Sheridan. However, a parallel timeline is introduced in 1777 America. Valerie's son, Finn, utilizes his unique position and knowledge of future history to operate as a spy during the American Revolutionary War, adding a espionage element to the historical romance.

Shattered Moments (2014) heightens the stakes as the families are split across three centuries. Valerie is forced to return to the twenty-first century to seek medical help for Alec, but a mishap leaves them stranded and separated from their children. Meanwhile, in the 17th century, a murder accusation against Kit Sheridan threatens to expose long-held family secrets. In the 18th-century timeline, Finn continues to fight for survival against a ruthless enemy in the Revolutionary War.

The main narrative arc concludes with The Ties That Bind (2017). Louisa Sheridan faces a devastating choice when her husband Kit falls gravely ill in the 18th century. She must decide whether to rely on primitive historical medicine or risk a dangerous journey back to the 21st century to find a cure, bringing the multi-generational time-slip saga to a dramatic and emotional resolution.

The Companion Novellas

In addition to the six main novels, Irina Shapiro published three companion novellas in 2017 that expand the lore of the watch and follow supporting characters:

• The Summer Solstice: This standalone story departs from the core family. It follows nineteen-year-old Cory Hazard, who discovers a watch and is accidentally thrown back to Ancient Egypt, offering a fresh historical setting.
• The Winter Solstice: A prequel/companion piece focusing on Alec Whitfield's journey to 17th-century Virginia to visit his estranged brother, Charles. A tragedy on the winter solstice forces Alec to choose between revenge and family.
• The Christmas Gift: A holiday story set in 1784. Finn Whitfield travels forward to the 21st century, where he discovers a gravestone for his cousin Robbie. He must race back to his own time to prevent the tragedy.

What to Know Before You Start

The Hands of Time series is best described as a hybrid of historical fiction, romance, and light science fiction. While the time-travel mechanism relies on the mysterious watch, the focus is squarely on the emotional resilience of the characters and the historical settings. Shapiro paints a detailed picture of 17th-century England, colonial Virginia, and the Revolutionary War, drawing frequent comparisons to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander and the works of Susanna Kearsley.

Readers should note that the books are heavily serialized. Reading them out of order is not recommended, as the relationships, births, deaths, and timeline changes build directly from one book to the next. The series was rebranded and republished by Storm Publishing in 2024, introducing new covers, but the text and reading order remain identical to the original editions.