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Summary: Historical Soulmates Reunited
Review: Ms Kearsley handles 21st century woman, Julia Becket's transformational flashbacks into the life of 16th century handmaiden, Mariana, with about as much reality as anyone could expect when dealing with such an improbable happening. She does it well. Never once when reading this story about a savvy young Londoner who chucks her enervating city life for one in a small village, did I think Julia's decision a foolish one or fathom Ms Kearsley's telling of it silly. On the contrary, I found Julia's flashbacks engrossing, enjoying thoroughly Kearsley's meshing of the past and present as well as my own attempts to correctly match the past souls with the present bodies. The hypothesis of the old house retaining the passion of a past event is one that reoccurs in some of Barbara Erskine's novels, particularly "House of Shadows". While Ms Erskine dwells mainly on the supernatural, Ms Kearsley, more satisfactorily uses the metaphysical elements of her story to heighten the romance. Don't hestitate to pick up a copy of this Catherine Cookson Fiction Prize winner; it certainly is well done and worth your time if you favor a good story interjected with realistic romance!
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Summary: this book took my breath away
Review: Not only could I not put down this book but I was so fascinated by it that I had to get everything else that Susanna Kearsley has written. I have heard that she has a new book coming out soon and I cannot wait. I am an avid reader and am always fascinated by the historical usage in books of all genres. Ms Kearsley makes very good use of this in her books and especially Mariana. Her style of writting is also fluid and poetic to some degree.
I would recommend this without any hesitation, in fact I have the 10 ladies in my bookclub reading it as we speak
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Summary: Loved it ! Loved it ! Loved it !
Review: Read it, cherish it, absorb it, and wish you were the main character. Romantic, mystical and just plain great.
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Summary: Spell binding!
Review: Started reading this on the plane returning from England and a week spent (happy coincidence!) with my husband in the Cotswolds. Reading about the places we had just visited made everything in the book seem much more relevant. I love this author and will buy all her offerings as they become available. I am giving "Mariana" and "The Shadowy Horses" to my sister who lives in England and enjoys a good "ghost story" as much as I do...having met one personally herself. We are both great fans of Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters. What treat to find another author who writes much in the same vein.
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Summary: WOW!!!!!
Review: That one word sums up my elation at finishing this book. I took this book at a leisurely pace because I didn't want to rush it, and it wasn't so engrossing for me at first to have to rush into. I'm glad I did this because this is one that lingers. I read "The Shadowy Horses" first and can honestly say that I enjoyed this one more, I'm currently reading "Splendour Falls", which was I believe before "Mariana", and so far it has me quite intrigued.Ms. Kearsley does justice to both Mariana and Julia. The blend of History and Romance is dare I say it?.... Sweet. I loved the relationship between Julia and her brother. I love the whole "soul mate" feel in this book. It reminded me of "A Knight in Shining Armor" by Jude Deveraux although this moved at an entirely different pace and the ending brought tears to my eyes. This past weekend I found myself picking up this book again and re-reading some parts. It was JUST THAT GOOD. Happy Reading
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Summary: Beautiful!
Review: This book was classic. It has been several months since I have read it and still I think of it from time to time. Kearsley has written what I would express, to be her best work. Hopefully she will continue on this path of creative literature. I reccomend it to anyone with a strong sense of adventure who enjoys science fiction/fantasy/rommance novels.
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Summary: on my list of all-time favorites
Review: This is one of the few books that I have read that I can read over and over and over and still be enthralled each time....at last count 5 times!!! I am an avid reader of a variety of genres: romance, mystery, science fiction,fantasy, you name it, and find that only a few books find a permanent place on my bookshelves. This is one of them. Read it
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Summary: Could do better
Review: Woman finds she had another life in a previous century, and that some of the people she knew in that life she meets in this. Quite apart from the anachronistic howlers (who did the author's research? her cat?) it just isn't very well written which focuses the reader's attention on too many coincidences and a plot whose every twist is obvious long before you get there.
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Summary: Impossible to put down.
Review: Wonderful from start to finish. A keeper.
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