ARC Review: The Rose Garden

The Rose Garden
Susanna Kearsley
Historical Time-Travel
Sourcebooks Landmark/October 1, 2011

From the author's website ~

When Eva’s filmstar sister Katrina dies, she leaves California and returns to Trelowarth, Cornwall , where they spent their childhood summers, to scatter Katrina’s ashes and in doing so return her to the place where she belongs.

But Eva must also confront the ghosts from her own past, as well as those from a time long before her own. For the house where she so often stayed as a child is home not only to her old friends the Halletts, but also to the people who had lived there in the eighteenth century. When Eva finally accepts that she is able to slip between centuries and see and talk to the inhabitants from hundreds of years ago, she soon finds herself falling for Daniel Butler, a man who lived – and died – long before she herself was born.

Eva begins to question her place in the present, and in laying her sister to rest, comes to realise that she too must decide where she really belongs, choosing between the life she knows and the past she feels so drawn towards.

While I've read some wonderful things about Susanna Kearsley's novels, The Rose Garden is the first for me. If this is any indication of the beautifully told stories that wait for me in Ms. Kearsley's novels, I will certainly be reading more.

The story starts out with sadness and pain. As Eva tries to make sense of her sister's death, she also needs to decide what to do with her own life. Her only real tie to Los Angeles was her sister. Now that she's gone there's nothing keeping Eva there. You get the sense that Eva is looking for comfort so she's not only going back to Cornwall to scatter her sister's ashes, she's going back to where she felt the most comfortable. I liked how Eva eased her way into life at Trelowarth, fitting in and making herself feel useful.

Eva's trips to the past begin with hearing the men speaking then venture into physically being there. Eva, like any of us would, has a hard time believing what she's hearing and what has happened to her. It's funny when she meets Daniel and tells him he's not real. As she comes to realize her reality has shifted dramatically, Eva familiarizes herself with the time period, doing some investigating as to who lived at Trelowarth House during that period. She has to be careful that she doesn't alert the Halletts and others of her interest since she doesn't want them knowing that she is traveling back and forth between the present and past.

The Halletts and their friends welcome Eva and are just what she needs to begin to feel again. I enjoyed the family and friendship bonds that are just as strong as they were years ago. It's like seeing a friend that you haven't seen in years and yet those years fade away and it's as if you were never apart. The secondary characters, both present and past, play important roles in Eva and Daniel's lives, giving insight into their pasts and how they developed into the people they became.

Daniel Bulter is a man of history. Kearsley does well incorporating the history of Daniel's time period with the political upheaval and the danger to Daniel and anyone who is loyal to him. He's a man of principles who doesn't waver on his beliefs. He's also opened minded enough to believe in Eva and her story of time travel. It's not that he doesn't have any questions or concerns, he has a lot, but he's also captivated by Eva and her story. Daniel takes the time to get to know Eva, as well as he can since she never stays around too long. It's an interesting romance with the hero and heroine never knowing how much time they will have together. It makes them truly cherish their time together.

The time travel is not only convincing due to the writing but also due in part to the location. Trelowarth has an enchanted feel about it. You can almost believe that Fae are hiding in the woods. That the fairy tales of old all happened here. If magic does exist anywhere, it's here. I loved how Kearsley describes the land, the rooms of the house and the people who inhabit this bewitching place.

The Rose Garden is a story filled with sadness, hope, fears, laughter and joy. It was at times a roller coaster ride of emotions, making me laugh and shed a few tears. Time travel romances may not be for everyone but Kearsley makes you believe in the unbelievable.

Rating: A

ARC Review: The Stolen Crown

The Stolen Crown

Susan Higginbotham

Historical Fiction/England/1464-1483

Sourcebooks Landmark/March 2010

ARC from Publisher

From the author's website ~

When six-year-old Kate Woodville’s beautiful sister Elizabeth makes a shocking—and secret—marriage to King Edward IV in 1464, Kate and her large family are whisked to the king’s court. Soon a bedazzled Kate becomes one of the greatest ladies in the land when she marries young Harry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham. But Kate’s fairy-tale existence as a duchess is shattered when the ongoing conflict between the houses of Lancaster and York engulfs the Woodville family.

As Edward IV fights to keep his crown, Harry’s relatives become hopelessly divided between Lancaster and York. Forced constantly to struggle with his own allegiances, Harry faces his defining moment when his dear friend Richard, Duke of Gloucester, determines to seize the throne for himself as Richard III. With lives in jeopardy and nothing less than a dynasty at stake, Harry’s loyalties—and his conscience—will be put to the ultimate test.

What a story Higginbotham has woven into this rich slice of English history. The characters may be real people long since dead but the emotions and distinct traits given to them bring them alive again and allow the reader to get to know these men and women. While this isn't my typical historical read, I found myself becoming immersed in the history of the Lancastrians and Yorks. The political intrigues of court life, marriages made for power and riches, wars fought for kingdoms; it all comes back to the people who lived those historical events.

There are very, very many characters needed to tell the story of the War of the Roses and the reigns of Edward IV, Richard III and Henry VII. Included at the beginning of the book is a long list of the historical figures mentioned in the novel. It is arranged by family and I found very helpful in keeping the various characters and their relationships organized for me. The two main characters of the story are Harry Stafford, second Duke of Buckingham and his wife, Katherine Woodville. They are also the characters who's POV the story is written in.

Beginning when they are both children and going through their adulthood, Harry and Katherine are the storytellers. They give their unique perspectives of the events occurring around them as well as those they are directly part of. From the secret marriage of a king, to life at court, to the battles for the control of the crown; all seen through their eyes. I liked the way the two viewpoints were written. At the beginning, with Harry giving a more "male-centered" perspective and Kate the "female-centered" perspective. Over the course of time we see how their priorities changed as they grow older. And how their outlook on not only their futures but England's future changes.

The Woodvilles play a crucial role in Edward IV reign. Edward marries Elizabeth (Bess) Woodville in secret, making Kate the sister to the Queen. The Woodvilles are not well liked by many of the nobles, with many thinking they are reaching far above their station. There is fear of the power they will wield being related to the king. This puts Kate and Harry in the midst of many of the conflicts.

I have to say I found the life of the royal court and all the intrigue fascinating. Even though I know the history of the time and the outcome of the characters I still found my attention on the story, worrying about what would happen and how it would all turn out. Harry and Kate gave the extraordinary events a human facet. I loved how they were shown with all their flaws and insecurities. How they loved each other but still made mistakes and hurt the ones they loved most. It made them that much more human, that much more interesting. More than just names found in a history book.

The Stolen Crown is not what I would consider a light historical read by any means. It has it's share of sadness and despair. With some very complex plots and character relations to follow. But there is also happiness to be found, the pure joy of the moment they are able to find among the intrigue of the court. I'd forgotten how appealing I find reading about historical figures, about actual events and the people who lived them. The Stolen Crown has reminded me how captivating those people and events can be.

Rating: A-