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    Mariana
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    Mariana
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    Mariana
    Ebook483 pages7 hours

    Mariana

    By Susanna Kearsley

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    "Dynamic and captivating … I couldn't put it down."—San Jose Examiner

    "Tread lightly, she is near."

    Julia Beckett believes in destiny; settling into her rustic new home, Julia encounters haunting remnants of a beautiful young woman who lived and loved there centuries ago. It seems Mariana has been waiting for Julia.

    Praise for New York Times and USA Today bestseller The Winter Sea:

    "A deeply engaging romance and a compelling historical novel. Susanna Kearsley has written a marvelous book." —Bernard Cornwell, bestselling author of The Burning Land

    "A creative tour de force. Sometimes an author catches lightning in a bottle, and Susanna Kearsley has done just that."—New York Journal of Books

    "Richly rewarding ... A beautifully written book ... to be read carefully and savored. The contemporary and historical contexts are carefully delineated and rich with texture and detail." —Dear Author

    Praise for The Rose Garden:

    "A magical, not to be missed read."—RT Book Reviews Top Pick, 4 stars

    "Masterful. Kearsley beautifully evokes the wild landscapes and history of Cornwall."—Publishers Weekly

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSourcebooks
    Release dateApr 1, 2012
    ISBN9781402258688
    Unavailable
    Mariana
    Author

    Susanna Kearsley

    New York Times, USA Today, and Globe and Mail bestselling author Susanna Kearsley is a former museum curator who loves restoring the lost voices of real people to the page, often in twin-stranded stories that interweave present and past. Her award-winning novels have been published in translation in more than 25 countries. She lives near Toronto.

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    Reviews for Mariana

    4/5

    451 ratings37 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Although the story hinges on the idea of reincarnation, the general feel of the book was historical fiction with a modern frame story. Ultimately I felt like I didn't get enough of either story to really get invested in the characters. Entertaining but it didn't hit that sweet spot for me.
    • 5/5
      This was very, very good. I was surprised by the level of my reaction to this: I was invested near immediately never wanted to put it down and was sad to finish reading the last page. I don't read a lot of "time slip" historical fiction (read: any before this), but if they're like Mariana that rule might need to change. ASAP. First up on that list: every other such book by this author. I was very impressed with both parts of the narrative and the strength of the voice shown throughout the novel. Though Mariana is a bit lengthy at near 375 pages, this suspenseful and affecting tale never bores. For a detailed, immersive read but not one that is exactly an action-packed historical, that is saying something indeed.The strength of the book largely lies in the eponymous character Mariana - both in her 1660's body/life of Mariana and as more modern Julia Beckett. That's not to say that the rest of the characters aren't interesting and diverse; they are but it is Mariana herself who makes the novel special. Though the two POV's present are both first-person and both largely the same in tone and voice despite the centuries between them, both Julia and Mariana are fully dimensional, rounded characters who provide a rich, full narrative to dive into. She's charming and detailed as a narrator: Exbury, both past and present versions, definitely carried the feel of an old, full-of-history English village. Though there is quite a lot of focus on the romance angle of the novel, I wasn't turned off or frustrated; Mariana's and Richard's courtship is actually quite charming and I found myself rooting for de Mornay and the spirited commoner.This paragraph might get a bit SPOILERy so be warned and stay away if you don't want to know! Seriously, people. There's a mystery at the heart of the novel, but it's not the most involving or mystifying. Even the secondary subplot of treason lacks the emotional pull of the characters themselves; this is truly a character-driven novel. Even some of the surprises lacked the oomph that could be expected -(Johnnie! D: John?!) because I was so keyed in on the main characters of Mariana/Julia and Richard/?? themselves. I have to side with Julia in that the past has a lot of allure here in this version, and her attraction to Richard it is very understandable. Love, destiny and fate all play a key parts in the meanderig plot, and the characters but it doesn't feel forced or hackneyed. Mariana comes off with a sweet but not saccharine aftertaste. I did think the camouflaging of Richard's soul was well done - only the hints of Shakespeare really made me sure. Mariana is an engrossing and rewarding, lengthy read - fans of time-slip historicals will love and even new-to-the-subgrenre people will find a lot to enjoy about this alternate 1660's and modern of reincarnated love. Susanna Kearsley is an impressive and detailed storyteller - I look forward to reading more of her books very soon. This is one that went above and beyond any and all expectations I had before starting.
    • 5/5
      Bubblebathbooks.net (aka Bubby and Sissy) review of Mariana by Susannah Kearsley--Bubby says this spellbinding tale of romance and reincarnation is hands down one of the best books she's read in a long time. She loved this book for so many reasons, one of which is the descriptions of the lovely English countryside. She wondered who Mariana's 17th century love Richard De Mornay had been reincarnated as--Was it the Geoff, Lord of the Manor from up the hill? Was it the bartender's assistant? I shall never tell. You'll have to read the book to find out! Sissy loved this sweeping romance and says it was one of those "don't talk to me until I'm finished with this book" books - where your teenage boys are standing around looking hungry and you just tell them to go make themselves a quesadilla. Both enjoyed the supporting characters--"gifted" aunt Freda, brother Tom, barmaid Vivien, and others. Read full review at bubblebathbooks.net
    • 5/5
      It was such a delightful read. I loved how "destiny" and "reincarnation" was played out into this novel. Can't wait to read more of Ms. Kearsley's books.
    • 5/5
      Julia, a children's illustrator, stumbles across an old farmhouse she knows instantly that it belongs to her. She impulsively purchases the house and immediately moves in. However, she begins to experience a different life, the life of Mariana, a woman from the 17th century. Although the experiences are frightening, she quickly becomes obsessed and does everything she can to continue experiencing these time slips.This book was very well written. It was an engaging story and the characters were fresh and unique. My only criticism is that the book ended abruptly with everything just falling into place. The author reminds me a bit of Barbara Erskine and I can't wait to read more from her.
    • 3/5
      Such a great buildup of plot and character only to be let down by a mediocre ending leaving the reader going....thats it?
    • 4/5
      Outlander meets Wuthering Heights in Mariana. With the requisite HEA ending, Mariana is a historical romance. There's sufficient bits of accurate 17th century history within for the purists amongst us. The story takes place, in part, during the Restoration period (following the English Civil War). Charles II is on the throne.However, as a time-travel romance, equal parts take place in more current times - I'd say 10 to 20 years ago. It's an interesting twist on time-travel, though. I don't want to say more, but the plot (to me at least) was very original.I highly recommend it for lovers of historical romance, especially those stories outside the typical formula. I also recommend it to historical fiction purists as long as they don't mind a romance sub-theme.
    • 4/5
      First Line: I first saw the house in the summer of my fifth birthday.I've discovered over the years that some houses have the power of speech. When I first moved to Phoenix, I walked to work every morning and passed a slightly down-at-heels 1950s ranch house. Nothing about it would draw anyone's attention, but for some reason each time I walked by, I got gooseflesh-- and the feeling that the house was sad. A year later I happened to be watching the evening news and found out that police had shut down a house of prostitution specializing in S&M... in that same sad little ranch house.At the age of five Julia Beckett had a house speak to her, and twenty-five years later she finds the house once again. Flush with an inheritance from an aunt, Julia buys Greywethers, a sixteenth-century farmhouse in Wiltshire. She moves in and finds the villagers very friendly and helpful-- so much so that she finds it difficult to get to work illustrating a book of fairy tales. Bit by bit, Julia learns the rudimentary history of Greywethers and the young woman, Mariana, who lived there three hundred years ago. It seems that Mariana has been waiting for her.I've read two books recently that I would label romantic suspense. It's a genre that I seldom touch because the romance usually takes precedence over everything else in the story. That's definitely not the case here. Mariana is a fun read. Julia is an engaging character living in a fascinating house. Both time lines-- Julia's modern day time and Mariana's-- grabbed my attention equally. Normally one time line tends to be stronger than the other, but Kearsley avoids that completely, and the plot is not formulaic; it had more than one surprise for me.If you're in the mood for a fast, entertaining read that has a fascinating old house, a mystery that spans the centuries, and a light touch of romance, Mariana could be just the book for you.
    • 4/5
      As a five year-old, Julia Beckett sees a country house and declares it "her house". Several years later, Julia finds her way back to the house known as Greywethers. Soon, she is transported back in time for brief moments and finds she was Mariana in a past life. Mariana also lived at Greywethers and Julia is able to experience life as Mariana did.The story is very intriguing and has kept me up late at night reading it the past two nights. I liked the characters and the fact that i didn't know exactly where the story was going. I would recommend this book. There is romance in this book, but it isn't the type of book where the main story is the romance. I will definitely pick up more of Ms. Kearsley's books in the future.
    • 5/5
      MARIANA got better and better as the story developed. I was involved with the characters and could have continued to read more about how their lives unfolded. The strong first-person narrative propelled the reincarnated romance to a nicely twisted ending. A very good read.
    • 4/5
      Julia is drawn to the house the first time she sees it, as a young child. When she stumbles across it again as an adult, she promptly buys it. As she is settling in, she begins to have flashbacks of another young woman who lived in there shortly after the English Civil War.A light, enjoyable romance, with parallel stories in the present and the past.
    • 5/5
      I don't normally read anything with a ghost, or a reincarnation theme, but I really enjoyed this novel. The characters, both 20th century, and 17th century, were both interesting and likeable. Julia Beckett buys an old house, that she feels strongly attracted to, and finds herself frequently transported back to the 17th century as Mariana. The love story involving Mariana cannot be completely resolved until 300 years later, when Julia must "close the circle".
    • 5/5
      ah, time slippage. what a freeing reality. try some here.
    • 4/5
      Julia Beckett has been fascinated with a house in a small village in Wiltshire since she was a girl. When events work out so she can buy the place, she's thrilled and settles right into village life. It doesn't hurt that a handsome and rich neighbor is attracted to her. However, strange events keep pulling Julia into the house's past in the time of the English Civil War.This was a typical Kearsley novel, beautifully written with some time travel and romance. The story is gothic in tone, with paranormal type events moving the plot along. I'm not sure if a reader new to Kearsley's style would have anticipated the twist at the end, but it seemed a bit obvious. Still, a good solid read from an always enjoyable author.
    • 5/5
      It was such a delightful read. I loved how "destiny" and "reincarnation" was played out into this novel. Can't wait to read more of Ms. Kearsley's books.
    • 5/5
      Every time I pick up Susanna's books, I find it hard to put down and I'm eager to finish tasks so I can find out what next is going on. This book is yet another one of those wonderfully addicting stories. It's about the concept of star crossed lovers, reincarnation, mystery, the quirkiness of small town life and how sometimes what you were looking for was right there all along. I nearly jumped up and down in excitement when Julia finally realized that her true love had given her various hints as to his feelings without trying to be so pushy. I love the concept of souls finding each other and eventually being together to live happily. My only complaint is that I was rather sad to see the story end and wanted to go to the nearest bookstore to see what love story is next up Susanna's sleeve. I can't wait to read all of her books!!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      The reason I've given this novel a 4.5 rating is because the conclusion really through me--never saw it coming. Julia first saw the house as a 5 year old on a family trip and called it her own. She stumbled across it twice more, buying it before buying it at age 30, thereby opening the door to a past filled with painful memories.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Julia Beckett fell in love with a house when she was five and on a family vacation. She saw it again at 22 and again at nearly 30. She's grown up, become a successful illustrator, and inherited a packet from a great aunt. She is finally able to buy the house that had been calling to her for years.Almost as soon as she moves in, she begins seeing a man on a gray horse, hears legends of a Green woman who haunts her house, and finds herself slipping out of the present into the life of a young woman named Mariana who lived in the 1600s. This terrifies her and makes her think she's losing her mind, but her brother who has become a Vicar reassures her and lets her open her mind to the possibility of reincarnation.As Julia spends more time as Mariana she comes to know Richard de Mornay who is the Lord of the Manor. She is also forced to live with her abusive uncle, his beaten wife, and sister-in-law. As an orphan who was forced to flee London because of the plague, she has no other options. Her relationship with Richard has to be kept secret. Meanwhile, Julia is making friends in the present. Vivien is the local barkeeper. Her next-door neighbor is Geoff de Mornay who is very rich and a descendant of Richard's. She also meets Iain Sumner who is Geoff's best-friend from his Cambridge days and who is currently a farmer and gardener. Julia also meets Vivien's Aunt Freda who is Geoff's housekeeper and who seems to know a lot about what Julia is going through. Julia becomes almost obsessed with Mariana's life and spends more and more time in the past. None of her research in the present gives her any information about Richard and she knows little more about Mariana than she can find on her tombstone. I loved this story which was beautifully written and intriguing. I will admit that I was surprised at the ending which didn't go at all the way I thought it would. I'm not really a fan of time travel but Kearsley's books are exceptions. I love the way the present and past are woven together.
    • 3/5
      This was a hard one for me to get thru- I started it several times, then put it aside and finally plowed through it. This was an audio book. The narrator, although I ended up giving her a thumbs up in performance - It took a lot of perseverance on my part to get to the point that I could pay attention and get into it. Too whispery sounding, trying too hard to be mysterious turned me off initially. I think reading it may have been easier. That all said - I kept with it because I liked the concept of the plot and storyline, and ended up enjoying it but it somehow fell short, so I don't know if I would recommend it. However - Its surprising because I usually love this authors work.  
    • 5/5
      I'd give this book 100 stars if it were an option. I haven't found a book that has touched me so since reading Katherine and Green Darkness by Anya Seton. Mariana is utterly captivating! I read this in one sitting, went to bed, and got up to re-read it. I wish there had been an epilogue but I guess I just didn't want it to end:)

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I absolutely love Susanna Kearsley's writing. Her narrative and description are beautiful and captivating. The progression of the story is realistically written and the switches between the two time periods are natural and charming. Each has believable dialogue and setting. I LOVED Richard and Mariana. I wish there had been even more flashes from their time together. Their interactions were some of the best I've read, romantic without being cheesy or silly. In general, I am not crazy about stories involving reincarnation, but this one was sweet, heartbreaking, and almost seemingly possible. The delivery of the topic was spot on, the characters were all lovable, and the plot was incredibly engaging. It was a very difficult book to put down and almost impossible to stop thinking about even after finishing it. I liked the ending, but my only complaint is not having enough resolution with the characters and their present story.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      A period romance that includes ghosts and time travel...HMMMM....As much as the entire book/story was a stretch, the ending was even more so! Not my cup of tea!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I'm so torn. On the one hand, great characters, absorbing and lyrical story. But the twist in the ending just doesn't sit well with me. I actually had pegged Iain as the love interest in the beginning. Yet as another reviewer noted, Julia had built a relationship with Geoff in a way she hadn't with Iain. And so I kind of don't buy the sudden transfer of her affections because she realizes who Richard actually was--along with the personality seeming wrong.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      When I first read the summary for Mariana, I was intrigued. The book had a slow start at first but was still interesting enough to keep me reading. Overall, it was a great story and I'm glad I took the time to read it. Bit of a twist ending too!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 2/5
      I was looking forward to reading this book even though I knew at the outset that it's not in a genre I normally read. I thought it would be different enough and interesting enough to make it palatable. Unfortunately, it didn't. I was disappointed. The writing is actually quite juvenile in spots. It was unbelievable too. I realize that time travel is an interesting and intriguing concept, but I didn't find that the main character was real in either time frame. And the ending is just so abrupt and didn't resolve anything. I can't recommend this book.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this. It reminded me of Barbara Michaels' books, both in style and content. After buying an Elizabethan farmhouse, a woman starts to relive the memories of a previous occupant. I preferred the modern part of the story to the historical part, but they blended together well. I will definitely look for more by this author.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Julia Beckett has long felt drawn to the country house, Greyweather. When fate allows her to buy it she leaps at the chance. There Mariana calls to her from the past to make things right.
    • 4/5
      My first Kearsley read and definitely not my last. A contemporary/historical fiction read with a time travel and ghostly spirits angle to it. A romance story without being one of those annoyingly sweaty reads. This story is more about the mystery of unlocking the past and discovering the secrets waiting to be exposed. Julia works for me as a lead character/heroine. There is a sensible balance to her thoughts and behaviors. She is not some flighty heroine who ruses headlong into situations as if she had left her mind and reason elsewhere, even though there is a rather sexy Lord of the manor and a fantastically described manor house to distract her. There is wonderful dreamlike quality to the story that made this more of a relaxing read, even with its suspenseful moments. As for the ending, no spoilers but I do want to mention that I found the ending to be wonderfully crafted and a bit of a surprise for me. Overall, a very satisfying read for me and Kearsley now joins my list of rainy day authors when I just want to curl up under a blanket with a good book. If you enjoy modern Gothic novels like I do, with a wonderful spin to them, you will probably enjoy reading this one.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Do you believe in past lives, out of body experiences or time travel? Julia Beckett has been drawn to Greywethers House since childhood and as luck would have it she discovered it was up for sale just after she recently came into an inheritance. She jumps at the chance to buy the house virtually sight-unseen but was it a good decision or one she will come to regret? It does not take long for her to move her life and all of her belongings from London to the sleepy little hamlet of Exbury. Once there she meets Geoffrey de Mornay, Vivien Wells, Iain Sumner, and Freda Hutherson who all play a role in her new life however when strange event begins to unfold, she confides in her brother Tom, a Vicar in Hampshire, but is he able to offer the help she needs? It starts out a bit clunky but soon eases into the story so don’t give up! This is the second book I’ve read by the author and can tell it is early in her career as it jumps around at the start and left me a bit confused at times; not as seamless as her other work. I enjoyed the story and was surprised by the twist at the end! A great escape novel when you want to get swept up into a story and forget the world around you.
    • 4/5
      3.5 starsJulia is drawn to a particular house in rural England when she if 5 years old. When she comes across the house again at 29 years old, she discovers it's for sale and immediately buys it. After she moves in, she has strange experiences which she figures out are flashbacks to a previous life she lived as Mariana in the 17th century. It was good. I listened to the audio and, especially at the start, it took some figuring out when she was Julia and when she was Mariana (having previously read – as an ebook – another novel by Kearsley, I suspect the flashbacks, in the print, may have been in italics or some alternate font to make it easier in that format). Later on, it was easier to figure out, based on the people and what was happening. The book got a bit more interesting toward the end, winding up what was happening for Mariana.