I always enjoy Susanna Kearsley's books, and I did like A Desperate Fortune, but I wouldn't rank it up there with her best of the best, such as Mariana, The Winter Sea, or The Firebird. 
 In A Desperate Fortune, we follow two story threads, one contemporary, one historical. While both are interesting and include romance (of course!), the historical thread is oddly flat for the first half of the book of so before real drama and excitement kicks in. 
 I do recommend A Desperate Fortune for fans of the author, but for those new to her works, I'd suggest starting with Marianna or The Winter Sea.