Sara Thomas loves when life is quiet. Having recently quit her job that required a bit too much team work for her liking, she finds the quiet she’s been searching for, but also a longing to get another job and carry on with her life. Her cousin, who works in the publishing business, has the perfect opportunity for her --- decoding and translating the diary of a Jacobite exile that is written using a cipher. Sara, a programmer, loves mathematical cryptograms, and, as her cousin points out, this job would allow her to work alone, bringing together two of her favorite things. The only catch is that the job is in France. Knowing it will be difficult to leave her normal routine but believing a new opportunity will be good for her, she takes the job.

The diary, belonging to Mary Dundas, begins in 1732. Mary, a Jacobite exile, has lived her life in quiet with an aunt and uncle in the French countryside. With her mother having passed away when she was a small child, her father, having but one choice, left Mary with family to keep her out of harm’s way. When a letter arrives from a long-lost brother stating that he plans to bring her home, Mary dreams of a life she never had the opportunity to live. When he arrives, she finds that it’s not a simple trip home; she is to be part of a larger plan --- a plan to help their exiled king.

"Kearsley is fast becoming a favorite author of mine, and A DESPERATE FORTUNE did not disappoint. I enjoy the bits of romance and how she brings to life each character. In fact, I haven’t found one character yet that I don’t like."

As the diary unfolds, Sara is captivated by Mary and how her simple life has become one of lies and desperate flights for her life. Mary is a bright, young woman who learns to adapt quickly to a life of intrigue, even if all she truly wants is to return home and live a quiet life once more. While Mary changes her identity to match her situation, and discovers much about herself and others in the process, Sara learns just how adaptable she can be as well. Living with Asperger’s, Sara knows her limits and has always lived within the terms that she set for herself. The new job in France introduces her not only to new people but also to the possibility of a life she never thought could be attained.

Sara and Mary’s stories begin to mirror each other, and by the end, it’s a joy to see them both come to a place they can call home. The diary might take place over 300 years before Sara’s time, but there is a common tie that binds their fates and lets them live the lives they were meant to have.

I’ve been slowly making my way through Susanna Kearsley’s backlist, loving each book more, so I couldn’t pass up a chance at her newest one. She creates lovely characters with just enough romance and intrigue to make you care for everyone. The way she handles the time frames are magical --- you never feel as if you’ve moved in time even when the story does. While Sara decodes Mary’s diary, their stories become even closer; though the reader understands much more than Sara does, it’s a treat to see the stories unfold for both women.

Kearsley is fast becoming a favorite author of mine, and A DESPERATE FORTUNE did not disappoint. I enjoy the bits of romance and how she brings to life each character. In fact, I haven’t found one character yet that I don’t like. Seriously, if you’re looking for a new author, Kearsley is the one. If you’re already a fan, pick up a copy immediately.