50 in 2012: Book Thirty Four

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Following the death of her sister, Eva Ward struggles to find her place in the world. Traveling to an old house on the Cornish coast, she seeks answers and a sense of belonging. As she drifts off to sleep her first night there, she hears distinct voices coming from the walls behind her room.

The next morning she inquires about the voices only to find that the room next to hers is empty and has been all along. Throughout her stay, the voices get stronger until she is finally pulled into their world. A world that looks, smells, sounds, and feels real. Yet, it is a world three centuries removed. Somehow, she has managed to seamlessly travel back in time.

As she travels between worlds, she finds herself falling for a man who lived, and died, centuries earlier…further complicating her quest for answers. The most real love she has ever experienced fails to make sense.

I absolutely loved Susanna Kearsley’s last novel, The Winter Sea. Her writing is extraordinary and the details magical enough to transport you to a different time. Unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations. The ending left me with more questions than answers. What could have been a moving, poignant love story was cut short in many ways and devoid of the beautiful eloquence Kearsley is capable of. I remain a fan of her style of writing as I love the way she meshes a modern-day storyline with that of a lifetime lived centuries before. I look forward to her next book..
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