A Desperate Fortune

De: Susanna Kearsley

Narrado por: Katherine Kellgren

Beloved New York Times best-selling author Susanna Kearsley delivers a riveting novel that deftly intertwines the tales of two women, divided by centuries and forever changed by a clash of love and fate.

For nearly 300 years, the cryptic journal of Mary Dundas has kept its secrets. Now, amateur codebreaker Sara Thomas travels to Paris to crack the cipher.

Jacobite exile Mary Dundas is filled with longing - for freedom, for adventure, for the family she lost. When fate opens the door, Mary dares to set her foot on a path far more surprising and dangerous than she ever could have dreamed.

As Mary's gripping tale of rebellion and betrayal is revealed to her, Sara faces events in her own life that require letting go of everything she thought she knew - about herself, about loyalty, and especially about love. Though divided by centuries, these two women are united in a quest to discover the limits of trust and the unlikely coincidences of fate.

©2015 Susanna Kearsley (P)2015 Audible Inc.

Disappointing

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

After all the endorsements and great reviews I found this less than as exciting as it was made out to be.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Desperate Fortune?

not memorable at all

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Katherine Kellgren?

Phil Giganti or Davina Porter.

Could you see A Desperate Fortune being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No

Interesting

The book was interesting. Good story. the history was well researched. Loved the reader. Would recommend it.

I Always Struggle Over Buying One of her Books

I'm not really sure why I struggle about Susanna Kearsley's books because every one I've read I've simply adore. My favorite themes are suspense, mystery, and just-on-the-edge sci-fi, so maybe that's why.

I enjoy that Kearsley' character are real. I've never read about an autistic adult who so understands her illness and is constantly trying to understand what challenges her, when she's about to have an episode, and how she recovers. I love that her differences also in some ways give her an edge!

Also, I'm not really a fan of going back and forth between centuries (which is likely another reason I struggle with spending a precious credit on a non-mystery!), but Kearsley does it so flawlessly that I quickly overcome my annoyance. Great story in both centuries!

If you like Historical Romance

If you like Historical Romance you’ll love this book! I’ve read all of Katherine Kellgren’s novels and although most have the main character fall back in time or meet a ghost from the past, this one is about a woman decoding an old diary which parallels her own life as it travels back and forth from the past to the present. And in the end the author tells you about the real characters and what became of them. An amazing listen as the narrator uses so many different accents from French to Scott’s to proper English. Highly recommended!

nerve racking narrator

Would you try another book from Susanna Kearsley and/or Katherine Kellgren?

yes

Any additional comments?

I have like all of Susanna Kearsley books, but I would have never bought this one if I had noticed the narrator. Her voice is grading. I found myself cutting it off to rest my nerves.

The ending u long for is in the last few minutes

I don’t mind the tactic of keeping lovers apart. But it was supremely frustrating to have the lovers come together at the last few minutes. UGH!! I wanted them to explore their relationship, watch them encounter difficulties together, just more of them together. So you end up waiting, waiting, waiting for them to declare their feelings, and then POOF! It’s over. Argh. Also, the story was expertly produced, but honestly not very riveting. I’ve enjoyed other books by this author- but this one? Meh.

Interesting to the end

Loved the parallel stories. Surprised that it kept me engaged throughout. Most romances I’ve listened to run out of story if more than 10 hours and become tedious. This was interesting all the way to the end of the historical note.
Definitely needed to turn down the volume, and narrator yelling at the exciting parts did not make story more enjoyable or exciting.

Love love love

loved this book. Susana Kearsley's books always draw me in. Adventures, stories from the past, and great romance!

Love Kearsley, but disappointed...

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I usually devour anything written by Susanna Kearsley, but this was my first experience with one of her audiobooks. Right from the start, I was put off by the narration, which I found to be pretentious and overdone. Regardless, I powered through - I was confident that as usual, I would love any story written by Kearsley. Unfortunately, I think my dislike for the narration colored my overall experience with the book and I never was able to connect to the story or its characters. In the end, I wish I'd skipped the audiobook and just read it instead.

If you’ve listened to books by Susanna Kearsley before, how does this one compare?

This was my first audiobook by Susanna Kearsley.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Katherine Kellgren?

Caroline Lee

Wonderful adventure!!

I've always enjoy historical fiction. This one was well researched and well written. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the "better ending"