A USA Today Bestseller!
“I’ve loved every one of Susanna’s books! She has bedrock research and a butterfly’s delicate touch with characters—sure recipe for historical fiction that sucks you in and won’t let go!”— DIANA GABALDON, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Outlander
“The house, when I first saw it, seemed intent on guarding what it knew; but we all learned, by the end of it, that … end of it, that secrets aren’t such easy things to keep.”
It’s late summer, war is raging, and families are torn apart by divided loyalties and deadly secrets. In this complex and dangerous time, a young French Canadian lieutenant is captured and billeted with a Long Island family, an unwilling and unwelcome guest. As he begins to pitch in with the never-ending household tasks and farm chores, Jean-Philippe de Sabran finds himself drawn to the daughter of the house. Slowly, Lydia Wilde comes to lean on Jean-Philippe, true soldier and gentleman, until their lives become inextricably intertwined. Legend has it that the forbidden love between Jean-Philippe and Lydia ended tragically, but centuries later, the clues they left behind slowly unveil the true story.
Part history, part romance, and all kinds of magic, Susanna Kearsley’s latest masterpiece will draw you in and never let you go, even long after you’ve closed the last page.
Praise for A Desperate Fortune:
“Susanna Kearsley just keeps getting better and better!” —Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author
“Susanna Kearsley deftly conjures both historical intrigue and a contemporary heroine as unique as she is memorable.” —Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author
“Enchanting! Beguiling! Gorgeously romantic! A truly brilliant book.” —Kate Forsyth, award-winning author
Praise for The Firebird:
“A lovely and memorable novel.” —Booklist, STARRED Review
“A glittering, bewitching tale.” —Kirkus
“The present and past come together as Kearsley masterfully merges paranormal elements with a wonderful dual story and a fascinating historical setting.”—RT Book Reviews, TOP PICK 4½ Stars
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Susanna Kearsley’s new book, Bellewether, is yet another fantastic read in a long stream of books that are just breathtaking in their story telling and so memorable for the characters who live in your heart long after the story is finished. This book finds Kearsely in new territory–Colonial America during the French wars. It is a tender and whisper sweet story of two characters whose slow burn romance will have you breathless at the end. Pre-order this book now. You can thank me later.
I honestly don’t know what to say other than this is one of my top reads of the year so far. The story was so compelling, so beautifully told, that I simply couldn’t put it down. The history is rich and wonderful, the narrative compelling and real, and I got lost in the pages. This is a book you will think about long after you’ve turned the last page.
Susanna Kearsley has done a magnificent job of telling the story of the Wilde family from both past and present. Charley is the new curator of the soon to be Wilde Museum and she delves into the past to find out what secrets the house really holds. In the meantime its 1759 and there is war.
The story goes back and forth from present to past and goes deep into the history of both eras.
You feel like you are right there with all the characters.
Who is the ghost in the house ? What do they want.
This is my first Susanna Kearsley novel but it wont be my last.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this opportunity.
Make sure you take the time to read the authors notes at the end of the book; they are fascinating.
READING PROGRESS
March 2, 2018 – Started Reading
I adored this book. Susannah Kearsley is one of my all-time favorite authors, and none of her books have disappointed yet. Bellewether is no exception. Atmospheric writing, realistic characters, and two engaging plots make this a perfect beach read. I love Kearsley’s dual-timeframe stories and if you enjoy historical fiction and contemporary fiction mixed with a bit of the supernatural and some romance, you should absolutely read this book.
There is so much to love about this book. Truly amazing characters. I would be hard to say who was my favorite. I did not know that much about the French and Indian War and it was interesting to learn more. The mystery kept me reading on and on and the surprise ending was one of the best. I did not see that coming at all. I gave this book 5 stars. Another fascinating novel by Susanna Kearsley who never disappoints.
I love Susanna’s writing, and Bellewether is one of her best, with compelling and romantic stories set in the same place in two periods, the present day and the eighteenth century. I highly recommend it!
I came late to the Susanna Kearsley party—by a couple of decades—but once I found her, I caught up fast. Now I keep up! The appeal of Ms. Kearsley is multi-faceted. Her research is flawless and she is unparalleled as a storyteller. Her characters live—truly live—in the reader’s mind beyond the end of the story because Ms. Kearsley leaves no doubt the characters live on.
With each of her books I think ‘this is my favorite’ and that was true with Bellewether. The historical details are so smoothly woven into the story that it’s never slowed by the attention to accuracy. Bellewether flowed, not just with the plots—past and present—but with atmosphere and emotion.
I love that there are two story lines. I love that there is a touch of otherworldliness. I love this book.
As with the other books of Susanna Kearsley, BELLEWETHER is a weaving of two stories, one in the present, and one from the past. A mystery, a love story, and a ghost; loved it!
A wonderful fantasy novel. It’s a heart-warming, cozy kind of read.
4 Stars
4.5/5
It’s official. I’ve become a Kearsley fan. This is my second book from her, and I’ve enjoyed both! One of my favorite things about her method is how much historical research she puts in and real events/people when possible.
A dual timeline (also in her book Mariana) centers around a house/museum on Long Island owned by generations of the Wilde family. Their family bonds, struggles, and lessons learned echo the contemporary story. Two lovely heroines and heroes who stand by their principles. An interesting and engrossing story.
Looking forward to future Kearsleys.
Three narrators–and a ghost.
Charlotte Van Hoek brings her own share of family secrets and sorrows with her when she accepts the position as curator of a Colonial and Victorian house museum. As she learns the local stories she begins to sort truth from tale. Is the ghost story the result of a murder and suicide?
Ms. Kearsley relates an interesting account in an under-represented time in American history. The ships, travel to New York, British and French soldiers, and the presence of slaves on Long Island meld together and fill the imagination. The present day, parallel story, gives a peek into the world of records and artifacts and how legends begin.
I love all of Kearsley’s books.
What an incredible book! I loved everything about it just as I do with every book of Ms. Kearsley’s that I’ve ever read… Which is all of them.
Every character comes alive as does the atmosphere, the setting, etc. Sam and Charlie are endearing with a sweet slow burn romance. And I can’t say enough about how much I love Lydia and Jean Philippe. Swoon!
There are so many other memorable characters that also came alive — a few a bit annoying but most charming in their own way, whether that be uniquely intelligent, crafty, or just downright humorous.
Obviously, I highly recommend this book and the narration of the audible version was spot on as well.
I always enjoy Ms. Kearsly’s books, but this one was very timely for today, dealing with the issue of slavery. It was also a fun ghost story, which this author does very well.
Bellewether was a an incredibly engaging novel written across two timelines. In the present, Charley returns to her father’s birthplace as a museum director for the local Revolutionary War house. As she unravels a mystery, set in the French and Indian War, we are transported to Lydia’s story. Family, politics, and slavery are all pivotal plot points for each of the characters gathered at the Wilde home. In the end, the author does a marvelous job winding up all the tales and left me with a surprise I hadn’t anticipated: the actual identity of the ghost.
I’ve just discovered an author that just does it all for me. History, wonderful characters, mix of humor and heart all wrapped up in neat stories wound around true and created people, places and time. Some truths not so easy but should have been told. Merci and thank you!
The story of two women, one during the French and Indian (7 years) war and one today. And of the lives and loyalties and how people are changed by war, how events can cause changes in their lives, and how oral history may or may not reflect the real events of the past. An interesting and absorbing story, one without screaming high points or shattering low points.. but one about whose characters you come to care as you join them on their life’s journey. And a thoroughly enjoyable ending with all the loose ends wrapped up nicely and realistically.
I like Susanna Kearsley stories, they are always very involved with lots of characters that are very time themed. They are always interesting.
Another hypnotic historical love story/ghost story/epic dual timeline tale by Susanna Kearsley. Nobody can whisk you away and immerse you in another world quite like she can. I honestly didn’t know how it would turn out until the final chapters. Evocative and compelling.