Recycled Review: The Memorist by @MJRose

Recycled ReviewsThe Memorist
by MJ Rose
Book 2 in The Reincarnationist Series

Blurb:

As a child, Meer Logan was haunted by memories of another time and place, always accompanied by the faint strains of elusive music. Now the past has reached out again in the form of a strange letter that sets her on a journey to Vienna to unlock the mystery of who she once was. With each step, she comes closer to remembering connections between a clandestine reincarnationist society, a lost flute linked to Ludwig van Beethoven, and David Yalom, a journalist who understands all too well how the past affects the future.

Memorist coverReview:

Malachai Samuels of the Phoenix Foundation (from The Reincarnationist) is under investigation by the FBI, but that doesn’t stop him from his quest for a personal experience of reincarnation. This time the memory tool he seeks is an ancient bone flute rumored to have once been possessed by Beethoven.

Since childhood, Meer Logan has been haunted by a tune and images of an ornate memory box along with what she believes to be false memories of another lifetime. Malachai helped her through the difficult times then, so she turns to him now. When the box in her visions turns up in Vienna, she goes there and the visions return with a vengeance. Again, there is someone willing to kill for the memory tool as well as an Israeli journalist out to avenge the deaths of his family by terrorists.

The plot is fairly complicated, but comes together nicely at the end, with a few loose ends for the next book, The Hypnotist. The flashbacks to previous lives are fascinating, and I found the ending to be satisfying and emotional; a beautiful story in many ways. This is one of my favorite books in this wonderful series.

Linda

This review of The Memorist by MJ Rose was first posted May 6, 2009 at my Flights-a-Fancy blog.

Book Review Club: A Desperate Fortune @SusannaKearsley

Desperate Fortune coverA Desperate Fortune
by Susanna Kearsley

This is another of Kearsley’s signature story-within-a-story tales. In the contemporary world, Sara Thomas is a computer programmer with a talent for deciphering puzzles. She also has high-functioning Asperger’s syndrome. When she needs a new job, her cousin recommends her to decipher an 18th c. diary written by a Scottish Jacobite living in France.

The 18th c. story involves clandestine Jacobite spying. Mary Dundas, a young Scottish woman born and reared in France, is asked to provide cover for a wanted English Jacobite. When she gets to Paris she meets the enigmatic MadPherson, who acts as bodyguard and protector of both the wanted man and Mary. At first she’s afraid of the large scary violent man of few words, but when she comes to see his good qualities and many thoughtful gestures, like carrying her dog, she eventually falls in love with him.

Saint Germain of Auxerre

Catholic church of Saint Germain of Auxerre in Paris where Mary attended services.
Copyright: efired via DepositPhotos.com license

Mary’s story is revealed as Sara makes progress deciphering the diary. In the meantime, Sara is courted by a handsome and easy going Frenchman named Luc. Sara has always shied away from relationships because of her Asperger’s. She doesn’t expect to find someone who can understand and appreciate her, but Luc isn’t easily discouraged. And since this is a romantic novel, all ends happily for both couples.

Kearsley is one of my favorite authors, and I found this book to be very enjoyable, as did two of my friends (one a non-romance reader) in my readers group.

Click here for more great reads in Barrie Summys Book Review Club.

Linda