Susanna Kearsley

When novelist Carrie McClelland decides to set her new novel in Slains Castle in Scotland and uses her ancestor, Sophia Paterson, as one of the characters, the novel begins to take on a life of its own and Carrie soon realizes that an unusual bond with her ancestor may be providing her with an immediate window into the past.

The winter sea

A sweeping story of love, loss and ultimate betrayal from the New York Times bestselling author

The Winter Sea

I'm a sucker for anything set in Scotland. And this book did not disappoint. It felt like an adventure. The language, the scenery, the characters were beautifully written. I also enjoyed the dual timeline and that events and characters were closely aligned with history. 

Saffia

Sarah Sammis

Just not in the mood right now. Maybe after cybils and holiday madness.

Rebecca C Wright

Lovely prose. The author weaves the past and the present together with a deft hand. A romance that does not hit you over the head with it...there ia a lot more to this story than just romance.

I DNF this book, which is something I hate to do. Maybe I’ll pick it back up in the future, but I just can’t bring myself to finish it right now with so many other promising books waiting to be read.

Aside from being in major need of a map, I was not really vibing with the writing style; the author breaks up sentences and interrupts their flow a lot. There are beautiful descriptions though, but for some reason it’s hard for me to clearly and accurately picture everything she is trying to convey.

I also can’t stand the dialogue. It seems pretentious and inaccessible. Just because a story takes place in the past doesn’t mean it needs to have stuffy and stiff dialogue. Even the modern day dialogue doesn’t seem realistic if you said it out loud.

I do like the history, it’s new to me, but it’s not enough to keep me going. The characters also seem so incredibly bland, and the plot is so slow. I made it almost 170 pages and am so bored. I can’t stick it out like I usually would.

Again, at this time I just can’t bring myself to finish this book. That’s a very rare occurrence for me. I’ve read some 4 and 5 star reviews of this book and so maybe this book works for some people, but not me.

To be fair, I was looking for an Outlander inspired read, so I suppose I was holding this book to those standards, but still. It’s just bad.

Amanda

I DNF this book, which is something I hate to do. Maybe I’ll pick it back up in the future, but I just can’t bring myself to finish it right now with so many other promising books waiting to be read.

Aside from being in major need of a map, I was not really vibing with the writing style; the author breaks up sentences and interrupts their flow a lot. There are beautiful descriptions though, but for some reason it’s hard for me to clearly and accurately picture everything she is trying to convey.

I also can’t stand the dialogue. It seems pretentious and inaccessible. Just because a story takes place in the past doesn’t mean it needs to have stuffy and stiff dialogue. Even the modern day dialogue doesn’t seem realistic if you said it out loud.

I do like the history, it’s new to me, but it’s not enough to keep me going. The characters also seem so incredibly bland, and the plot is so slow. I made it almost 170 pages and am so bored. I can’t stick it out like I usually would.

Again, at this time I just can’t bring myself to finish this book. That’s a very rare occurrence for me. I’ve read some 4 and 5 star reviews of this book and so maybe this book works for some people, but not me.

To be fair, I was looking for an Outlander inspired read, so I suppose I was holding this book to those standards, but still. It’s just bad.

Rachel Kanyid

I think over all I would rate this book about 4.5 stars. 

I'm not very eloquent, but let me just start off by saying, this book was wonderfully lovely. And not at all what I was expecting.

I must admit at this point that I got this book without even first reading what it was about, simply because it was recommended to me. I had been looking for recommendations for fairy-tale retellings or epic fantasies, and from the cover, silly me, I assumed it would be a more adult-focused retelling of The Little Mermaid or some other siren or mermaid story. 

When I actually started the book and got a few pages into it, I was dubious that I would like it, since it was not at all like I had decided in my head it would be, but once I got a little ways in, I could not put it down.

I have been a huge fan of fantasies set in Irish or Scottish lands (or lands fashioned after them), in the past, such as Juliet Marillier's 'Sevenwaters' books, and Ann Marston's 'Rune Blade' and 'Sword in Exile' trilogies, and let me tell you, I liked this book just as much as those, even though I'm usually more of a high-fantasy gal', myself.

Both Carrie and Sophie captivated me with their stories, and proved to be very strong protagonists... The bits of history included in the book were very interesting, and although I've never been very huge on reading historical fiction, this one made me want to give the genre more of a chance. 

I have a lot of respect for someone who can write a wonderful romance novel without throwing in unnecessary "love-making" scenes, and instead eludes to these types of things in a beautiful way, such as in this book.

When I finished this book, I immediately wanted more.... I cannot wait to read the next book in this series, and to read Susanna Kearsley's other novels. If they are any bit as mentally refreshing as this one, I'm sure that I will love them. :)

A haunting tale of love across time perfect for fans of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series—from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Susanna Kearsley. 1707. The walls of Slains castle shelter Jacobite rebels, who are conspiring to sail the young, exiled James Stewart from France into Scotland to reclaim his crown—and a young woman caught up in their plot. Present day. Writer Carrie McClelland is enchanted by an impromptu trip to Cruden Bay, Scotland, and decides to settle in the tiny village, hoping to find inspiration for her novel about the Jacobite uprising in the area’s evocative past—and in the haunting ruins of the castle. She creates a heroine named after one of her own ancestors, Sophia Paterson, and quickly finds the words flowing, almost faster than she can write them down. But, discovering that her novel inexplicably contains more fact than she can remember researching, Carrie wonders if she could possibly be dealing with ancestral memory—in effect “recalling” what her ancestor lived. The only way to discover the truth is to continue writing and to bring to light the whole of Sophia’s story. With each new chapter, Carrie uncovers the tale of an innocent entangled in a dangerous enterprise, the secret of forbidden love, and the final betrayal that cost James his throne—and may cost Sophia her heart.

Elizabeth Neill

I don't know how to start this review. I don't know how to put down my love for this book. The story just came alive. It felt that I was there with Carrie in Scotland. The author did great with the characters with making them believable. Like you would see them walking down the street or something. I like the story was broken down. I loved the ending cause it is making me want more of the authors books. I am all over the place with this review lol.

Carrie settles into the shadow of Slains Castle in Scotland, creates a heroine named for one of her own ancestors, and starts to write about the Jacobite invasion of 1708. When she can no longer tell the difference between today and centuries ago, is shedealing with an ancestral memory-- a memory that might destroy her?

Kelsi Proulx

I was very close to giving this book a lower rating, I only really enjoyed the last third of the book. The ending was really worth it though, so I'm glad I pushed through! The major issue for me was the constantly switching viewpoints. This book is about an author writing a story so it switches between the view of the author and the MC of the story she is writing. I find it really hard to feel any attachment to the characters or the story line when I am constantly being ripped between the two plots. I found when I really started to enjoy the book is when the story started focusing on one character for a few chapters rather than switching every chapter. 

Overall, a pretty simple historical fiction/romance. The romance was done really well, other aspects not so much. The history was kind of thrown in almost like a lecture here and there so the author could focus on other things so that kind of bugged me a bit. If you can't interweave the history than just leave it out. It just felt like reading a textbook at times...So, the rating is more accurately probably a 3.5. I will still continue with the series, but I'm not in any real hurry.

Cheryl Hedlund

Rounding up from a 3.5

Loved: the historical details, politics, suspense and emotions of the past storyline. 

The prose and atmosphere in the past and the present was strong. 

I didn't necessarily need the modern day story. It was warm and cozy, though. I didn't dislike it exactly, but I question how much it really added.

Southern Today Gone Tomorrow

Firstly, let me start out with I read this book before I read The Shadowy Horses, alright? Okay. Didn't realize I didn't put up a review until right now. So disappointed in myself.

MOVING ON...

The Winter Sea followed author Carrie as she moves, quite suddenly, to Scotland to write her novel taking place during one of the Jacobite rebellions (these were the Scottish who rebelled against the English Crown and backed their king, who was in France). 

What makes this novel interesting is the fact that Carrie keeps dreaming and writing her character's stories that turn out to have actually happened.

Oh. My. This novel. 

Written by Susanna Kearsley, this novel once again takes place in Scotland, which seems to be a theme with her novels (not that I am complaining). However, in this novel, we actually get to spend about half the book back in time while the author discovers the mysteries of the past.

And of course there is a handsome man involved. Or two.

This is a sweet novel that is well told, with strong characters, interesting twists, and overall just enjoyable to read.

I honestly recommend this novel to everyone. I found it through my local book club, and I am honestly struggling not to go buy copies for every one of my friends. And a copy for myself. 

I think I may be going on a binge of Kearsley's novels... and I am not upset about that.

The winter sea

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