Publisher's Synopsis
Shakespeare has never been this sexy!
One evening when helping a colleague stage The Merchant of Venice, English professor Jessica Randall slides momentarily back to 1598. Later that night, she lands for good in the chambers of one William Shakespeare, a down-on-his luck playwright.
His biggest problem of late has been a non-stop stream of Jessicas apparating into his chambers nightly. Yet Jessica's appearance halts the visitations, though neither have a clue why. Can she get back to 2018? They don't know that either, and together they begin to craft a life together, all the while trying to break the time travel curse and avoid falling in love.
As Jessica grapples with practical (what is and how does one put on a farthingale?) and emotional (how to risk your heart when everything might disappear in an instant?) aspects of adapting to Elizabethan London, she must try to solve the mystery of the other Jessicas. More importantly, she must figure out how to get home without suffering from the broken heart she knows she can't avoid.
Despite being thwarted at every turn, Jessica manages to navigate her new world and her old one and save not only herself but Will Shakespeare and his legacy.
Praise for the books by Jessica Barksdale Inclán
"A rich blend of fantasy, farce and spot-on history, The Play's the Thing is a joyous journey through time, place, and the universal complexity of the human heart. A delightful marriage of Peggy Sue Got Married and Shakespeare in Love-a celebration not to be missed."
-Warren Read, author of Ash Falls and One Simple Thing
"A magical, mystical tale, one you won't soon forget."
-Amanda Ashley, author of A Fire in the Blood
"An author to watch."
-Kristin Hannah, author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone
"Jessica Barksdale Inclán brings a profound understanding of human nature to her characters."
-Sally Mandel, author of Take Me Back
