Like most of my sisters, I’m on deadline at the moment, which means that I’m not doing anything much but plotting, writing, thinking about plotting and writing, and angsting about how slowly said process is progressing. So I thought since I’m not reading at the moment (I don’t read while I write), I’d go to my keeper shelf and share a favorite book with you all.
As you know, I’m a huge fan of Mary Stewart (no don’t panic, I’m not going to tell you about another of her books). What I am going to share is another writer who tells her stories in much the same way. Her name is Susanna Kearsley( http://www.susannakearsley.com ). And I adore her writing. I own all of her books, but one of my favorites is called The Shadowy Horses. In it is a fade to black sex scene that I honestly believe is one of the sexiest non-sex scenes I’ve ever read. And her descriptive passages are really strong as well.
Definitely in the gothic vein, the story summary is as follows:
Verity Grey has never been a woman who recoils from a challenge. But when she is invited to a windy coastal town in Scotland to work on an archaeological dig, she wonders if she has stepped over the line.
It’s not the ancient Roman history that intimidates Verity—even when that history takes the ghostly form of a slain Roman sentinel—it’s her co-worker David Fortune, who frustrates her with his remoteness.
As the group of archaeologists strives to uncover the truth of the mysterious Roman campsite, science must contend with the paranormal. The ghost’s appearances become more urgent and more chilling until Verity can no longer deny its message—someone is in great danger. Could the deadly warning be for her or for David? Somehow they’ll have to communicate with each other, which is proving to be the biggest hurdle they face at the dig site…
The wild Scottish landscape is a perfect backdrop for intrigue, as Verity learns that outside the scientists laboratory the shadowy horses of history carry messages from the past. 
I really do adore this book as well as another called Mariana a time-travelling historical with a wonderfully enigmatic heroine. Unfortunately, her older books can be hard to find. But the good news is that she has a new book out coming out in December. The Winter Sea. I’ve already pre-ordered it!
So what’s one of the favorite books on your Keeper Shelf?
In honor of YOU, dear readers, because we love you and we haven’t given anything away in the longest time, we’re giving away a Kindle Fire (or the gift card equivalent, in the event you have or don’t want a Kindle Fire) to one lucky commenter from now until February 13, when we will choose a winner at random from commenters, to be announced on Valentine’s Day. 
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
You recommended this to me years ago, and I bought it, but still haven’t read it. Bad me! I’ve been wanting to, and now you’ve re-inspired me!
Dee, I love the cover. I want to try one of these books. I am a few days away from being deadline free, and I am dying to read read read….
Heaven! I’m getting there but not that close!
I’ll check Katherine Kurtz and the Adept series out! Kearsley is very much a modern gothic writer. Smart heroines, eerie locales and sometimes secondary characters. But it is her lyrical writing that pulls me in!
I love Katherine Kurtz, both her Adept series and her Deryni series. I have read the Deryni series so many times! The Adept is terrific, too. It triggered my interest in the Templars and the Masons.
Oh well, you just got me… love Templar and/or Mason stories! Son of the Morning — Linda Howard comes to mind.
I have a ton of old Julie Garwood historicals on my keeper shelf, and I’m not usually a re-reader (used to be, but changed in the past ten years to reading almost 100% new, rather than re-reading), but I do reread the Garwoods and really enjoy them.
Oh I adore Julie Garwood’s older books! Now you’ve made me want to reread them!
Very timely post, Dee! Like you, I’m on deadline, so no reading
and my keeper shelf books are still in boxes 
(although my bookcases are almost done, so my reward for typing The End will be to finally unpack my books 
). But yesterday I saw a box of my keepers labeled Judith McNaught/Amanda Quick. All their books are keepers for me. It was Judith McNaught’s books that inspired me to write historical romance.
I’ve never read anything by Susanna Kearsley, but I’m intrigued–will def have to check her out!
I love Amanda Quick too! And do have some of hers on my keeper shelf. Love the idea of revisiting old friends when rereading books.
This reminds me of Kathleen Givens books. I think because you said wild Scottish landscape. Such a beautiful writer! I have to plug On a Highland Shore because it was one of my favorites of hers, which are all on my keeper shelf.
Got her on my shelf as well. (Of course). She had me at wild Scottish… Although I do think her writing is a cut above most!
Sounds intruiging. Your description reminded me of one of my favourites. The Adept series by Katherine Kurtz, also very much set in Scotland with a supernatural theme. I love her Deryni series too but Scotland is so important in the Adept series that it seemed to match your almost review. I wish she would write a new one…
Oooh, that sounds good. I don’t know of her, but I am going to look her up.