A perfect combination

The Rose Garden
Susanna Kearsley

There is something about time travel and romance that makes for the perfect combination.  I've read several books now that combine the two and I've loved them all.  Susanna Kearsley does a fantastic job of explaining the time travel without confusing the reader.  Nothing is worse than not understanding how the past, present and future all fit together in a time travel book.  I've ready those kind too.

The book starts in the present.  The main character Eva has lost her famous actress sister, Katrina, to cancer.  Eva has to decide where to spread Katrina's ashes and she decides to return to England to a vacation home where they spent their childhood summers.  It turns out that the Trelowarth homestead is a very magical place.  Eva soon begins to travel back to the year 1715.  She meets Daniel, his brother Jack and their friend Fergal.  Eva has to struggle with popping up at the most inconvenient times.  The only thing Eva brings with her are the clothes on her back.  This is a problem when you are wearing 2011 clothing in 1715, and vice versa up return.  Daniel is quick to believe that she is time traveling and that helps Eva cope.

There is a twist in the end that I didn't expect, which is great.  I really thought I had the whole book wrapped up and figured out about half way through.  That was not the case and it was a welcome surprise.  I would highly recommend this book.  There is one drawback and that is the language.  Given that the book is set in England, and not in the city, we are talking on the coast and in the country, there were certain language difficulties.  Add to that the fact that some of the book takes place 300 years ago.  I found that the author did a great job juggling all the aspects of language.  It wasn't hard for me to overcome those language barriers.  It just took some getting used to.

A Trilogy

The Next Always - Inn at BoonsBoro Trilogy, book one
Nora Roberts

I love to read books in a series.  One day when I'm not busy reading I'll post some of my favorite authors who write books in a series.  I don't read every single Nora Roberts book that hits the shelf.  For one thing I can't keep up.  I think she writes just about more books than anyone, which always makes me question the quality of writing. However, I read the Bride Quartet series as they were released.  If you haven't read those, and love weddings and great romance stories then I would recommend them.  So I was excited when I heard she was releasing a new trilogy about a family of three brothers.

The Next Always is set Maryland around an old (and haunted) Inn.  The Montgomery family, consisting of three brothers and their mother, purchased the old Inn and are remodeling it into a B&B.  The ghost, who is friendly, is a nice twist.  This book focuses on Beckett and how he falls in love with Clare.  Clare has a lot of complications, she is a widow and the mother of three boys.  She has made a name for herself in the small town of BoonsBoro by opening a coffee shop/book store.  The story rolls on nice and smooth with one bump in the road when Clare acquires a stalker.  

I liked the book and would recommend it for an easy read.  It's a nice love story and I'm looking forward to the returning characters in book number two.