5 out of 5 Stars – OnlineBookClub.org

From RJ reviews

Maaijke, who was born in a Dutch village in the early 1800s, led a modest and unremarkable life. Being the youngest of all the siblings, her only companion was her vivid imagination, and harnessing that gift enabled her to travel to many places. She remained invisible to the others while she traveled through place and time. When she turned sixteen, she was compelled to marry Bertus Maasen, a man in his forties. Heartbroken and disappointed by her husband’s lack of interest in intimacy, she started traveling through time again, this time choosing to go to Spakenburg in the year 1971. Suddenly, everything about her travel changed, and she could interact with the people there. It was then that she met Peter Massen. Astounded by their identical surnames, she lied about her true identity. The connection between them, however, was instantaneous, and they fell in love. Will their love survive their unique circumstances? Will Peter find out her true identity? Why do they have the same surname? Read Maaijke by Thomas J. Vander Salm to find out the fate of this odd couple. 

This book is a page-turner. The dual first-person POV style drives the plot forward smoothly as we get to know both Maaijke and Peter’s lives. Throughout the narrative, the author shows the contrast in lifestyle between the 1800s and 1900s. The mention of several important historical events and milestones adds authenticity to the story. Peter is a likeable character. His insecurities stem from always being compared to his great-grandfather Pieter, who moved to the United States from Spakenburg in the mid-nineteenth century. Despite that, his determination to prove himself worthy is admirable. Maaijke, on the other hand, is a passionate and resilient woman. She is both curious and stubborn. Other characters also contribute to the development of the plot. Strong, relatable, diverse, and intriguing characters are the strongest aspects of this book. 

This book touches on the themes of unconditional love, resilience, family bonding, and grief with a tinge of fantasy. The romance between Maaijke and Peter is the backbone of this story. But the unbreakable bonds between family members also play an important role. Every chapter is marked with the years and POV person’s names, making it possible to keep track of the timelines. Several interesting twists keep readers invested. The brisk writing style and attention to detail make the book an enjoyable read. 

There is nothing I dislike about this book. Although I noted a few minor errors, they didn’t hamper my reading experience. I must gladly admit that the final chapters kept me guessing the climax till the very end. For its eloquent writing style, brisk pacing, relatable characters, and surprising twists, I rate this book 5 out of 5. 

I would recommend this book to older teenagers and adults, as a certain level of maturity is required to fully grasp the concept of the book. This book will appeal to both romance and fantasy lovers.  

5 out of 5 stars
From OnlineBookClub.org, review by João Ramos

Maaijke by Thomas J. Vander Salm is categorized here as a “Romance,” but it could just as well be classified as “historical fiction.” The book has a very original plot: the protagonist, who gives the book its name, is a young Dutch adult who lives in the 19th century. She discovers that she has the power to travel through time. After realizing that her arranged marriage has failed, she begins a relationship with a U.S. Navy pilot from the future. That’s indeed what you read: the main character can travel through time and interact with people from the future. The most intriguing thing is that she will discover that she has a specific connection with this American. 

What I liked most about the book was the author’s ability to describe different perspectives and contrasting times. The book has two protagonists, and time after time, the same scenes are described from their perspectives. It takes a skillful author to do that. To give a practical example, the Dutch protagonist thought she was fluent in English, but the American protagonist found it funny how she changed her words. Describing situations and scenarios from different centuries also takes a lot of skill. That was what I liked most about the book. 

There’s nothing I didn’t like here. The book delivers in many different areas: as a romance, as historical fiction, and the attentive reader may even notice some hidden social criticism. I didn’t find a single grammatical error: the book’s editing is flawless. 

Overall, Maaijke is a very well-thought-out and structured book. The author managed to do something complex: create a story with two protagonists who interact in divergent scenarios. Given the fantastic nature of the situation, the reader is left wondering about the miraculous ways that the two could be together. As mentioned, I found no defects in this work. Therefore, I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

This book may appeal to an extensive audience. Since I want to avoid a generic recommendation, this book is best suited for those who enjoy romance with a historical tone. However, the book contains a lot of profane words and sexual content. Therefore, it should not be read by anyone under the age of 18.