Rating: 
Summary: Barbara Michaels Fans, Take Note
Review: Susanna Kearsley writes much like Barbara Michaels- her novels feature highly developed characters, a beautiful sense of atmosphere and an air of ghostly mystery that draw the reader in. If you enjoy the work of Barbara Michael's, Susanna Kearsley will not be a disappointment!
Rating:
Summary: Barbara Michaels Fans, Take Note
Review: Susanna Kearsley writes much like Barbara Michaels- her novels feature highly developed characters, a beautiful sense of atmosphere and an air of ghostly mystery that draw the reader in. If you enjoy the work of Barbara Michael's, Susanna Kearsley will not be a disappointment!
Rating:
Summary: wonderful and gripping
Review: the latest novel from susanna kearsley is just wonderful. i have read everything that she has written , and i found the narration to be tight, smooth and extremely enjoyable. her mix of the paranormal, mystery, romance and suspense in other hands might come across as "cheesy", but ms. kearsley deftly weaves a spell that enchanted me from beginning to end. it is easy to see the amount of research she does for a novel, and the end result is a story that will make you stay up until all hours finishing it, as i did last night!
Rating: 
Summary: A SEASON OF STORMS AND NARY A RAINDROP...
Review: This is a somewhat tepid book by this award winning author. Perhaps because her other novels are so terrific, this one pales in comparison. While well written, it moves along at a ponderous pace, a lull before the storm that never quite arrives. The author weaves two stories in one. One is about a turn of the century actress, Celia Sands, who mysteriously disappeared, during a torrid affair with her wealthy, married Italian lover, who wrote a play for her. She never had an opportunity to perform the leading role in her lover's masterpiece, however, due to her untimely disappearance. The main story line is about a present day actress of the same name, though no relation, who is called upon to play the role the first Celia Sands was unable to play. For this role, Ms. Sands is brought to a villa in Italy, which was once the home of the playwright and now belongs to his grandson, Alex. While there, Celia realizes that there are some strange goings on, but does not know why. All soon becomes clear, though it takes many pages for everything to fall into place. There is really nothing too mysterious in this mildly suspenseful novel. Those who have read the author's other novels may be mildly disappointed. Newcomers to this author may enjoy it more. Nonetheless, it is still a well written, though somewhat tepid and belabored, novel.
Rating:
Summary: What A Great Read!
Review: This is my first read by this author. Season of Storms captivated my full attention. I didn't expect that at all. I don't read a lot of mystery novels but I might now, especially by her. Her writing was beautiful and has a dream like quality to it. It's a very subtle book. It's the kind of book and story that you savor while sipping on something hot and in a big cushy chair. I couldn't put it down!! She mixed elements of the early 1900s to the late 1900s with ease and I felt as though I were there.
As it so happens, in the early 1900s, a famous playwright, Galeazzo D'Ascanio, wrote a passionate play for his mistress, Celia Sands, a renowned actress. But as it so happens, Celia Sands disappears and never plays the part her lover created for her. Now, in the late 1900s, enter the namesake Celia Sands (no blood relation-just the name). She is a young women whose career seems to be going no where-that is, until she gets the part of a lifetime. D'Ascanio's very mysterious grandson, Alex, has decided to resurrect the play-and put the modern Celia Sands as it's star. Along for the ride are some very deep well though characters that you fall in love with and love to hate! They seem to come alive. You can picture what they look like as well as how they acted. The backdrop is very beautiful and lush villa in Italy. And as the play progresses, the mystery unfolds. Suspicions of not only Alex but also about what happened in the past and odd happenings that occur during their stay. I don't really know if I'd call this a "mystery" per say, but there was some suspense and a little thriller mixed in. As well as a subtle developing romance between Celia and Alex. The ending is quite a shocker; I had no idea what so ever until I read it. It definitely caught me off guard. Most authors give it away too soon or make it too obvious. It's not the greatest book ever, and it won't be for everyone; however, there's something about her writing style and her story telling that I just couldn't shake. Her descriptions sucked me in. I had to force myself not read too quickly, I wanted to savor it. To me, it's a real find and I know I will read it again. It's slower paced, but I didn't mind. Maybe I was in the mood, I don't know. But I'm glad I read it and I'm definitely encouraging anyone else to try it!!
Rating:
Summary: I Loved it!
Review: This is my first read by this author. Season of Storms captivated my full attention. I didn't expect that at all. I don't read a lot of mystery novels but I might now, especially by her. Her writing was beautiful and has a dream like quality to it. It's a very subtle book. It's the kind of book and story that you savor while sipping on something hot and in a big cushy chair. I couldn't put it down!! She mixed elements of the early 1900s to the late 1900s with ease and I felt as though I were there.
As it so happens, in the early 1900s, a famous playwright, Galeazzo D'Ascanio, wrote a passionate play for his mistress, Celia Sands, a renowned actress. But as it so happens, Celia Sands disappears and never plays the part her lover created for her. Now, in the late 1900s, enter the namesake Celia Sands (no blood relation-just the name). She is a young women whose career seems to be going no where-that is, until she gets the part of a lifetime. D'Ascanio's very mysterious grandson, Alex, has decided to resurrect the play-and put the modern Celia Sands as it's star. Along for the ride are some very deep well though characters that you fall in love with and love to hate! They seem to come alive. You can picture what they look like as well as how they acted. The backdrop is very beautiful and lush villa in Italy. And as the play progresses, the mystery unfolds. Suspicions of not only Alex but also about what happened in the past and odd happenings that occur during their stay. I don't really know if I'd call this a "mystery" per say, but there was some suspense and a little thriller mixed in. As well as a subtle developing romance between Celia and Alex. The ending is quite a shocker; I had no idea what so ever until I read it. It definitely caught me off guard. Most authors give it away too soon or make it too obvious. It's not the greatest book ever, and it won't be for everyone; however, there's something about her writing style and her story telling that I just couldn't shake. Her descriptions sucked me in. I had to force myself not read too quickly, I wanted to savor it. To me, it's a real find and I know I will read it again. It's slower paced, but I didn't mind. Maybe I was in the mood, I don't know. But I'm glad I read it and I'm definitely encouraging anyone else to try it!!
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