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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Another excellent Susanna Kearsley novel that kept me up into the night until I finished it! I love Kearsley books and enjoy the jumps between the past and present along with a touch of the supernatural. I always learn something new along the way, too – especially when it comes to the time period she selects. This book was my introduction to the Seven Years War, which I knew nothing about, but I learned interesting facts about the war within her pages. And I found this story was definitely fuel for my imagination. I highly recommend Susanna’s books.
Loved it, as I have all the books I’ve read so far by this author. She writes in a way that captivates me and pulls at me until I finish a book. But it doesn’t stop there, the story rattles around in my memory long after.
I had just finished the mesmerizing House of Shadows by Nicola Cornick and perhaps because of that this book started slowly. Maybe I hadn’t completely let go of the previous novel. But I’m grateful I kept on. Susanna Kearsley does not disappoint and, once again, she weaves a marvelous tale of historical fact and imagined dialogue that builds the characters until your heart doesn’t want to let them go. Shipbuilding, farming, carpentry, and war provide the backdrop for British, American, and Canadian heroes. Lydia, Zeb, Jean-Philippe, the Acadian Pierre, even the minor characters are deftly woven as are the sea, the forest, the Wilde house, and the ghostly movements. And the author has a fascinating way of blending one chapter with the next. I don’t want to spoil it for you. You’ll just have to read it. I loved this book and I think you will too!
This is a well written story and very enjoyable.
I’ve read quite a few of this author’s books but felt that this was not one of her best. Characters and plot were a bit flat.
Not as good as most of her books but I know I will read it again
Historically accurate, a tale of two times and two peoples. Loves, loved, loved it.
The present day storyline follows Charley who has moved in with her 19 year old niece Rachel after the unexpected death of Charley’s brother Niels. She’s the new curator at the Wilde House Museum and comes to learn of the house’s ghost: Lydia Wilde’s Frenchman who was killed by her brother. We get both Lydia and Jean-Philippe’s POV and the transitions between all three POVs was excellent. Kearsley deftly explores grief through the death of Charley’s brother/Rachel’s father, as well as the deaths of Lydia’s mother and her fiancé. Bellewether examines the reality of history, compared to how stories can take on a life of their own. This goes beyond what happened to Lydia Wilde and her Frenchman. Charley is very intentional in how she curates, making sure she portrays history as it was, not just as we wish or imagine it was. We have to tell the whole truth, warts and all. I both loved and dreaded watching Lydia and Jean-Philippe slowly develop feelings for one another. After all: this is a ghost story, which meant any happy ending was in jeopardy. But as this was happening in the past storyline, Charley was dealing with her lackluster love interest Tyler and then thankfully, finally, realizing what a treasure Sam was. I loved how the plot developed and the way the mystery unfolded.
Enjoyed the history and the storyline. Strong characters and a satisfying ending.
Love this author.
While this isn’t my favorite of Susanna Kearsley’s books, I still think she did an amazing job. I’m always blown away by how much research goes into her books and how she cleverly weaves present and past as well as real historical fact and fiction. If you’re looking for a romantic ghost story, this is it.
A time-twist story, quite entertaining and readable. Like all books by this author, this one is worth reading.
Enjoyed this time period
This week’s #2MinBookReview is by one of my favorite authors, Susanna Kearsley. I will fully admit, while I have liked all her books, I haven’t loved all of them. I’m happy to say this one earned a place on my keeper shelf.
Watch the full review here: https://youtu.be/iB0I8mR3ekQ
The Winter Sea is one of my favorite books. Ranks right up there with Rebecca. I’ve read other books by Susanna Kearsley and enjoyed them. This one did not work for me.
The first 3/4 of the book is completely unremarkable. Characters, story, timeline. At page 402, I actually said, “what?!”, because that particular revelation was completely lost to me. I even had to go back and reread to try to clarify and it still didn’t click.
I really wanted to like this book, but I did not enjoy reading it.
Bellewether tells the story of two women living in different times. Lydia Wilde lives with her family during the war in the colonies between the French and the English. During that time if a battle was lost and soldiers surrendered, they would be billeted in homes until they were exchanged for their own soldiers that were being held. Lydia, her father and two brothers “hosted” two French Lieutenants. Charley is in present time and has been hired as historian and curator of the house Lydia lived in with her family. that will soon be a museum. As Charley unearths historical facts about the family that lived in that house, Lydia’s story is told. When Charley hears about a forbidden love story between Lydia and one of the French Lietenants, she wants to make their story part of the museum.
I loved the back and forth between Charley revealing a new item and Lydia’s history playing out. It was so easy to fall in love with both of these women and watch them live through very similar emotions. Susanna Kearsley writes as a historian. You read the descriptions of the clothing they are wearing and can fell the weave of the cloth running through your own fingers. She has a real talent. Both heroines had stories unfold in a very loving and gentle manner, dealing with grief in different ways. Charley’s story was more humorous as she is helped along by a spirit and Lydia’s a little more stoic as being the only female managing a family of men. What they had in common was heart, each defined by their own circumstances but at their core very similar. I love the flow of a Susanna Kearsley novel. They’re not something you speed through, but savor slowly. The language unfolds and every sideways look has a meaning. She has a deft hand with description and doesn’t get bogged down with the details in a sewing basket. You are able to enjoy the story without needing to skim through pages. I was enmeshed in the story and actually wanted a few more chapters of Lydia’s story to end the book. That is the sign of a good book! I was given an ARC of this book through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!
I didn’t want this story to end. I learned a lot of history from this book.
Always love Kearsley!!
I love the way Susanna’s stories kind of unfold in front of your eyes and welcome you into a history lesson all wrapped up in mystery and romance. Stepping into these stories is like being handed a hug and a glass of wine 🙂 This one felt different as we were on American soil instead of over the pond, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ghostly bits, and the way the romance unfolds in the past and present all woven together. A good story, beautifully told.
I’ve read all Susanna Kearsley’s books, and Bellewether is her latest great read blending history, fiction, romance and lots of intrigue. Her writing and research are superb making for unique and authentic stories. Bellewether is her first story set in USA (Long Island) but in the mid 1700’s and present day. Fascinating story and a book so wonderful I tried to read it slowly because I didn’t want it to end. Can’t wait for the next one!