Timeshare

Timeshare, Joshua Dann, Ace Books, 1997

In 2006, America has generally fallen apart. Bankruptcies are everywhere, colleges are closing, and political correctness is out of control. Through a very exclusive travel agency called Timeshare Unlimited, people can travel back in time to earlier in the twentieth century, for a short or long vacation. John Surrey, an ex-L.A. cop, goes after those who want to stay permanently in the past.

On his first trip, to 1940 Hollywood, he becomes friends with John Wayne and Humphrey Bogart, gets a bit part in The Maltese Falcon, and falls for an up-and-coming actress named Althea Rowland. The attraction is very mutual.

Having studied World War II, Surrey says, perhaps, more than he should about what is, and will be, going on in Europe. He attracts the attention of high-level people on both sides.

He decides to stay in 1940, and marry Althea, who is heading to Europe, even though he knows she'll be dead in a few months. That is, until he gets yanked back to 2006 by Cornelia, his boss.

This one is very good. It's well done, easy to read, enjoyable and with good characters, too.