This was my fifth novel by Susanna Kearsley, and probably my favorite. Although there were two separate stories set in very different times, there was no time traveling or ghosts or genetic connection between the two stories. There were some familiar characters from her other books, as the author is wont to do, but to be honest, I didn't even pick up on that until I read the author's notes at the end of the book.
I think I said this after the last Susanna Kearsley novel I read, but the author certainly knows her history of the Jacobites! She uses real names, real people, real events and combines it all to tell a very detailed historical fiction story. I really loved the 1732 story about Mary and Hugh MacPherson. They did not have a typical journey to love, that's for sure. I wasn't even sure initially who Mary would fall in love with, although I knew it would be somebody! Mary had a fear of Hugh at the start and thought him dangerous and scary - especially his eyes. And he was not at all attractive. ;) It was interesting to watch her transforming opinion of him as the story progressed. I love strong female characters, and I thought that Mary's strength showed in her quick thinking, adaptability and storytelling abilities. She was essentially abandoned by her immediate family (father and brothers) and even though she longed to be wanted by them, at the end she realized that she identified with Hugh's comment that "Home is not always where you left it."
The other story, of Sara code breaking the diary of Mary, was also very good - and unique. I love stories that share the positive traits of someone on the autism spectrum, while also explaining some of the challenges of living with autism - and loving someone with autism. How wonderful that Luc accepted Sara for who she was and loved her for her strengths instead of judging her for her difficulties. Luc is a keeper! The one thing I wish had been explained more thoroughly is how Luc and Denise ended up getting married and having a child - and why they ended up divorced so early on in their marriage since they obviously cared so much for each other. I just thought their whole story was a little odd.
I liked how the diary that Sara was deciphering just ended mid-sentence, and the book ends with Mary thinking, "It mattered not that no one else would bear the moment witness nor remember it, for if the future could not know them, neither could the past confine them, and the choice was always theirs to make, the tale their own to finish, as her aunt had once assured her." What a perfect ending! Sara & company never find out what happens with Mary & Hugh - and the reader gets a satisfying ending. I really loved it!
Another moment that I really liked is when Mary thinks Frisque would rather be left with the children and Hugh tells her, "Call him." Mary simply says his name, and the dog comes running from the children to her. Mary remembers that moment when Hugh is ready to leave for Spain without her, and she "calls him" too.
Wendy's Rating: ****
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