A Desperate Fortune - Susanna Kearsley

Susanna Kearsley is usually a very readable author, specialising in the dual timeline type of story (one modern day character and a historical character telling their separate stories).  In this one, Sarah who has a form of Aspergers, finds a new job using her code breaking skills to help decipher a historical diary in France.  Mary and her family are Jacobites, who seek refuge in France and we get to follow her adventures as she travels across Europe helping the cause.  Somehow though it was this story that slowed the book down and I kept waiting for something momentous to happen. I love her book 'The Shadowy Horses' and was waiting for some of that magic. 2/5

Mariana - Susanna Kearsley

Mariana - Susanna Kearsley (1994)

The Shadowy Horses is one of my favourite books, so as soon as I got the Kindle, I loaded up on Susanna Kearsleys books while they were cheap.  Anyways you know the gist, girl buys cottage that she has admired since she was tiny.  Finds out about local ghosts, keeps seeing handsome man on horse.  Meets wealthy big house owner, owner of the pub, local handyman, psychic aunty.  Keeps going back  and forth in time.

I did enjoy this book, although some of the scenes didn't quite make sense to me, and the book does begin to feel a bit dated.  Especially considering a  thirty year old can buy a several bedroomed cottage by herself.  3/5.