Season of Storms

Gorgeous, this is such a lovely novel, a little different from her others but equally enthralling. It's more of a romance set in France with an interesting back story/mystery to solve. I love Susanna's novels and whatever she chooses to write about, for me, she cannot put a foot wrong. Recommended.

For those who enjoy the interwoven threads of past and present, as I do, Susanna Kearsley is a delightful author. She keeps the tension high, her characters are believable and immediate, and the interchange of time is skillfully handled.

Susanna Kearsley never fails to satisfy. I have read each of her books, and cannot wait to read the new one soon to come out. When purchasing her books, be careful to note that some books released in the US have a different title than the title given the same book in the UK. Reading a review (back cover, perhaps) will keep you from ordering duplicates. She is an excellent historian, and writes wonderful stories with romance and the paranormal. Very enjoyable.

I really love reading her books but I just finished reading Season of Storms last evening and I felt that the book seemed to drag all the way through and she was not really enthusiastic about writing this book except to add pages instead of plot. Not enough depth to it unlike her other books!

Celia Sands is a young up-and-coming British actress who was named after another, unrelated Celia Sands. This other Celia, Celia I, was also an actress and was the mistress of Galeazzo D’Ascanio, an Italian poet. D’Ascanio’s final play, written for Celia I, was never performed as Celia I disappeared on opening night. Now, D’Ascanio’s grandson, Alessandro D’Ascanio, has decided to stage a production of his grandfather’s famous last play. He wants the current Celia Sands to play the lead.

The play is to be performed at D’Ascanio’s private villa, on Lake Garda, and directed by Rupert Neville, one of the two men whom Celia considers to be her father. Famous actress Madeleine Hedrick is cast in the role opposite the lead, and there has been bad blood between Hedrick and Celia’s famous actress mother. Just a little bit of pressure and drama for an aspiring young actress starring in a leading role for the first time.

Season of Storms is quintessential Kearsley. The book is well written, the characters are complex and well-developed, and the plot is engaging. As is typical of Kearsley, the book moves back and forth between Celia I’s time and the time of the current Celia.

I thoroughly enjoyed Season of Storms, though I must confess that at times, as Celia unravels the mystery of Celia I’s fate, I found parts of this book to be very scary. I am a huge Susanna Kearsley fan, and Season of Storms did not disappoint. It is masterful, and I highly recommend the book.