Time has no meaning for those in love, and love can break through barriers when nothing else seems possible. But what happens when it transcends centuries and shores? Claire Islington is caught up in a world of ghostly desire, she pines for a love that could not have been possible, and one which seven years ago almost took her life. Therapy and friends have done nothing to break through the lethargy and yearning, and so her best friend, Toby, conspires with her current love, Dr. Ian Gilbertson. Toby advises Ian the only way he may be able to cure her is to take her away for a vacation and back to the setting that started it all. Therefore, Ian arranges to take Claire to the Black Hound Inn in Dorset, Vermont -- an inn reputed as much for its haunting charm as its fine cuisine. However, instead of bringing her out of the fog, Claire's compelled to delve deeper into the hidden recesses of her mind.

Harcourt Abernathy is drawn to the inn in 1824 on business. Seeking to escape the haunting distress over the loss of his beloved Kate, the past five months without her seem like an eternity. Kate was everything he could have ever wanted in a woman, even with her unseemly profession for medicine and research. Now, he can't imagine the world without her and doesn't want to live within it. Then he meets Claire, and for a brief moment in time, he feels as if he might go on. Yet they are both trapped on their own side of reality and the flames of love can do more damage than good. Should he try to go to the woman whose spirit intrigues him, or should he go on without love?

Ethereal and compelling, Ms. Bass takes the reader back and forth across time with her flowing prose and surreal characters. This method, which would not normally work to engross the reader within its confusing web of words and settings, works with this story. In fact, it lends its vagueness to the charm of the tale and allows the reader to feel as Claire and Harcourt must feel, being separated and haunted by their love across time. Additionally, you can feel heart strings tug as Ian tries to give Claire real love in the place of surreal love, although some of his methods will anger the reader, as well. Definitely an appropriate book to curl up by the fire with on a rainy day.