Eighteen year old Cascade Johnson and Matthew Bestry declare their love and consummate their engagement at their favorite hideaway before Mattie leaves for army boot camp. The first time for both of them makes this special and binding. Their world is turned upside down as 3 older boys approach from the woods, killing Mattie and sodomizing and viciously raping Cadie, nearly killing her as well. In a coma for a month, Cadie is devastated beyond reason to return to a world without the love of her life.

Jackson Bestry returns from the army to console his parents over the loss of his brother and endeavors to help Cadie leave the devastation behind her. Unknown to Cadie, Jack has been in love with Cadie from the moment he received her first picture from Mattie. Reaching out to each other to endure a life without Mattie, Jack declares his love for Cadie too soon. Jack is the only person she has been able to lean on but feels tremendous guilt for any feelings that she might be beginning to have for him. An auto accident becomes a miracle for Cadie when she is taken to another place in the mind beyond time and is again with Mattie. Mattie again gives her the ring that was stolen at the time of the assault and told to embrace her life and accept the love his brother is offering. Returning to this world in her mind, the stolen ring is in her lap. Having sex with Jack might be the final challenge for Cadie. Then Mattie will be free to move on once Cadie is safe and happy again.

BEYOND TIME is such an emotional story of a young girl learning to trust and love again. Once her first love is gone, there is nothing left in her life to live for. It takes the after-world to bring things back in balance and leave her with a renewed vision of her life ahead. Both brothers are remarkably thoughtful and loving men that give Cadie the reasons to go on. I truly enjoyed reading this tale and had wished that it continued longer. I hope to find more creations from Wendy Stone. She has a real ability to keep the reader interested with fresh ideas.