The Winter Sea

by Susanna Kearsley

Hardcover, 2008

Status

Available

Call number

813.54

Series

Slains (1)

Genres

Collection

Your library

Publication

Allison & Busby (2008), Hardcover

Description

Fantasy. Fiction. Historical Fiction. HTML: A New York Times and USA Today Bestseller! "I've loved every one of Susanna's books! She has bedrock research and a butterfly's delicate touch with characters�sure recipe for historical fiction that sucks you in and won't let go!"� DIANA GABALDON, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Outlander A hauntingly beautiful tale of love that transcends time. A modern American woman travels to Scotland to write a novel about the Jacobite Rebellion� only to discover that the vivid scenes and the romantic hero she's imagining actually exist... In the spring of 1708, invading Jacobites plot to land the exiled James Stewart on the Scottish coast to reclaim his crown. When young Sophia Paterson travels to Slains Castle by the sea, she finds herself in the midst of the dangerous intrigue. Now, American writer Carrie McClelland hopes to base her next bestselling novel on that story of her ancestors in the dim, dark past . Settling herself in the shadow of Slains Castle, she starts to write. But as Carrie's mind slips back in time, she learns of the ultimate betrayal that happened all those years ago, making her the only living person who knows the truth�and that knowledge comes very close to destroying her. Other bestselling books by Susanna Kearsley: The Rose Garden A Desperate Fortune The Firebird Praise for RITA Nominee, The Winter Sea: "Lifts readers straight into another time and place to smell the sea, feel the castle walls, see history and sense every emotion. These are marks of a fantastic storyteller." �RT Book Reviews.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member zquilts
I knew that this was going to be a special book in the first pages. Most often it takes me 20-50 pages to convince me that I am going to want to blaze through a book - but this one was different. "The Winter Sea" is, indeed, both a historical novel as well as a romance. The book comes with a "side
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 order "of very well done paranormal, genetic memory, interest thrown in for good measure.

Basic Plot:

A well know historical fiction writer, Carrie McClelland, travels to Scotland to research the material for her book in progress and to get a feel for the area where the main action will take place. Her main character is Sophia Patterson, named for an ancestor who, coincidentally, had lived in Scotland in the early 18th century and had been an relative of the Duchess of Slains castle. The Duchess was an instrumental figure in the times of the Jacobite rebellion and, Sophia resided with at Slains Castle at this time.

The book is really two stories in one: the 'old 'story playing out during 1708 and the Jacobite rebellion, the 'new' in present day Scotland.

Carries rents a small cottage from a local man , Jimmy Keith (who retains the decided burr of the local dialect) who has two sons, Stuart and Graham. Both sons begin to fall in love with Carrie - although only one of the sons 'feels right'. As Carrie's research intensifies, and her need for for more information increases, she calls on her father to fill in details about their ancestor's story. Gradually as her research and writing, as well as her love interests, progress, Carries finds herself swept up in more than just words on on paper. She finds herself caught in a time warp of sorts. Her flashes of insight feel more like memory than writing and her love for one of the brothers feels more compelling than just a present day love interest. As Carrie writes her book she finds that she is, in fact, recounting her own story - a story that began during the Jacobite rebellion and a love that has lasted through time. Her flashes of deja vu are more than just images - they are images that are filled with remembrance and as real to her as her present day life as a writer

Susanna Kearsley is an amazing writer. She weaves the two plots flawlessly and fluidly. Well researched history about the Jacobite rebellion and it's main characters blend effortlessly with present day information about Scotland. What a gifted writer Ms. Kearsley is! This is one book that I wish had gone on - it took me away and put me in with the characters. I couldn't put it down - what more can a book do for a reader?

If you have never read anything by Susanna Kearsley this is THE place to start. What a treat you will have before you! Her previous work 'Mariana' is another well crafted, slightly other worldly novel that had much the same effect on me as I read it. Oh! I want more from this author!

I can compare my enthusiasm about this book to my love for other authors such as Sarah Dunnett, Sharon Kay Penman, Susan Higginbotham and Vanora Bennett to name just a few.
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LibraryThing member Luli81
My first book by Kearsley which, I'm sure, won't be the last.
The book has everything to engage: a mysterious setting (who can't resist an imposing Scottish castle hanging over the wild sea?), not one but two heroines, both of strong and independent will, historical facts mixed up with fiction,
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 and, of course, with two women, there's two romances, elegantly and consistently developed.

The plot: a writer, Carrie, who moves to Scotland to capture the essence of the character of her next novel, who is none the least than Carrie's Scottish ancestor back in the 1700's, Sophia. As Carrie starts writing, fiction and reality start to get blurred and she will have to face the fact that her novel is much more than a result of an awesome surge of inspiration...

An easy reading, once you start, you'll be hooked in no time, so take care to get into it with some free time ahead because you'll feel the need to keep reading on and on until the last page is turned, ending in a satisfactory conclusion, which is a bit predictable but well crafted and delightfully written.
I loved the way Kearsley managed to make both stories, the present and the past one, highly believable and how you got interested in both of them, neither the characters nor the subplots were neglected and you could see the historical facts had been well documented. Having read nothing about the Jacobites before I found the historical part really interesting and well linked with the present story.
I was actually very sorry to let go of the characters when I finished the last page as I'm sure any reader would be because it's impossible not to care for them (and swoon a bit about some of them as well, those grey eyes of Moray will be with me for some time!!).

All in all, a great summer reading: engaging plot, well developed characters and tasty romance, not too mushy and even believable! Don't miss it!
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LibraryThing member readinggeek451
Carolyn McClelland is writing a historical novel about the little-known Jacobite invasion of Scotland in 1708. She rents a cottage near the ruined castle of Slains which figures strongly in her narrative. There, she finds that the book seems to write itself. People, events, and details which she
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 thought she invented turn out to have been true. Is she tapped into ancestral memories? And which of her landlord's sons is her own true love?

A gentle, old-fashioned romance, with less suspense than some of Kearsley's novels, but well worth a read. Kearsley usually reminds me of Barbara Michaels; this one is more like Mary Stewart.
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LibraryThing member Panola
The Winter Sea
( UK Title: Sophia's Secret )
by Susanna Kearsley

Rating: 4.5
Genre: Contemporary | Romance | Historic

History has all but forgotten the spring of 1708, when an invasion fleet of French and Scottish soldiers nearly succeeded in landing the exiled James Stewart in Scotland to reclaim his
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 crown. Now, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn that story into her next bestselling novel. Settling herself in the shadow of Slains Castle, she creates a heroine named for one of her own ancestors, and starts to write. But when she discovers her novel is more fact than fiction, Carrie wonders if she might be dealing with ancestral memory...making her the only living person who can know the truth of what did happen all those years ago - a tale of love and loyalty...and ultimate betrayal.

As a well known author, Carrie is seeking inspiration for her upcoming historic novel. But upon visiting her editor outside of Aberdeen, Scotland, she becomes mesmerized by an abandoned castle and spontaneously plans to reside near the structure for the remaining Winter to research her characters; in hopes that the voices in her head will settle down as well. Yet, as her detailed dreams become written words and her fictional story reveals shocking truths, Carrie finds herself swept up in a déjà vu world that consumes her nights while her landlord's son begins to occupy her days. And when a secretive time in Scottish history begins to become unveiled within her book, Carrie realizes she has a much closer relationship to her past and her characters than previously thought.

This was fantastically refreshing read! The story throughout had a little bit of everything that I enjoy in a good book: romance, history, mystery, an almost past-life theme, and lots of engaging characters. It can be a bit complex with the parallel stories going on, especially near the end when those two plot-lines begin to really bounce back and forth at a quicker pace (i.e. building the anticipation) compared to the beginning of the book. Yet, I was able to easily keep everything clear, in my head, and highly enjoyed the outcome. Lots of various character relationships throughout, which boosted the emotional aspect since both stories either suffered a misfortune or had moments of intense joy around the same time -- so it was like double the pleasure or trouble.

Most of all, the romance in The Winter Sea was hauntingly sweet and revealed just how much love can triumph over all...especially time. And because the heart wants, what the heart wants, both female protagonists had strong romantic connections that really added spark and excitement to the tale. Both romantic relationships carried a similar theme throughout, but were in their own way unique and oddly very connected in the end. All in all, a very satisfying book!

Likes: The "ancestral memory" aspect was quite fascinating and had me wishing I had that! :) Plus, the Scottish setting and her rented cottage by the sea sounded so charming that I was instantly daydreaming about vacationing there.

Dislikes: As much as I enjoy character development, I felt this story was somewhat lacking, especially in the "contemporary" part of the tale. Sophie personally grew a lot throughout, but Carrie really remained the same from beginning to end. I can understand there were different time-spans going on between both tales and that can be a huge factor in the lack of development, but I really wanted more from Carrie (who was actually the MAIN protagonist) and did not receive it.

Chapter One/Paragraph One: "It wasn't chance. There wasn't any part of it that happened just by chance."

Favorite { Scene, Character or Setting }: Scene
"He was not exactly smiling, but his eyes held deep amusement. 'I believe 'tis proper form, when running races, to inform the other party when to start.' Swinging himself from the saddle, he came and put his two hands round her waist to help her down.
Sophia said, 'I did not mean to race. I only--'
'Aye,' he said. 'I ken what ye intended.' She was standing on the ground now, but he did not take his hands away. He held her very differently than Billy Wick had done--his hands were gentle, and she knew that she had but to move to step clear of their circle...but she felt no will to move. The horse, still standing warm against her back, became a living wall that blocked her view of everything except John Moray's shoulders, and his face as he looked down at her. 'If ever ye do find my pace too slow,' he told her, quietly, 'ye only have to tell me.'"
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LibraryThing member AwesomeAud
This 'uncorrected advance copy' is a bookcrossing book loaned to me by a friend. It is a reprint of a book originally published in 2007. The story is mostly told first person by an author of historical novels. She has taken a cottage in Scotland near the castle of Slains in order to write a book
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 set there in 1708. As she writes she finds that the writing is flowing better than it ever has; it's almost as if it's something she remembers. She starts to find that many details in her story match confirmed historical detail. The story starts to become stronger than her day to day life, and she finds herself driven to write for long periods of time, until she's not sure she's in the present or the past.

A good story, and well written, but in the end nothing new or special. The novel within the novel read like many historical romances, and the present day story was actually a bit thin. I guessed the ending well in advance.
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LibraryThing member Mumugrrl
I really tried to like this book but after 300 pages I gave up. It was too slow and too dry. The author was able to get me to envision the coast of Scotland, but nothing much happened. She said in her afterward that she used actual historical events, places, characters and even dialogue in the
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 historical flashbacks. I think it made the story too stilted and took the magic out of it. Supposedly the protagonist, who was a modern day writer was having flashback memories of an ancestor who lived 300 years ago.

The author even tried to use DNA as a scientific explanation of why her character was flashing back to the past. It just didn't work. She's a good writer, I just didn't like the book.
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LibraryThing member KObooks
I enjoyed this book so much that I could read it again. Beautifully written with enough romance to make your heart flutter (without all the sexual details) and contained an interesting piece of history that I felt I actually learned something. The story is set in Scotland near Slains Castle/Cruden
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 Bay where Carrie arrives to work on her new novel. She decides to make the main character one of her ancestors who was from the area approx. 300 years ago. The scenes of her story seem to be revealed to her powerfully, as if she is remembering, and Carrie is able to verify the facts of it afterwards. She at first thinks it is coincidence but the fact/fiction line becomes a blur and she learns of something called genetic memory. I will say it is a weird but interesting concept and one that the author worked well into the story. The ending was wonderful and unexpected. Highly recommend!
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LibraryThing member reb922
Carrie McClellan is a author researching material for her new book in France. While visiting her friend in Scotland she get the feeling that this is where he new story was meant to take place. The story Carrie beings to write is interwoven with Carries personal story in the current day. The Winter
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 Sea is a well written historical novel with just the right mix of well researched historical facts and personal drama that make you feel part of the time and place if Scotland in the early 1700's.
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LibraryThing member SKA336
The winter sea AKA Sophia's Secret

A lovely read, dipping in to the past and present and using the possibility of a memory gene passed down in DNA to explain the 'visions'.

I did enjoy this book so much I bought it – I don't often buy books but sometimes you want a nice romance at hand. The first
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 time I read it I was jumping for joy at the end of it after practically crying at the loss of the hunk ;-)

I am glad I found this treasure of a book and wish to discover more like it!
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LibraryThing member blodeuedd
Plot:
Carrie McClelland is in France writing a story about the French-Jacobite invasion at Cruden Bay, but the story is not evolving so she comes to Scotland to put the pieces together. Here she is drawn to Slains Castle and stays in the nearby village to write. The words come by themselves and she
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 soon realizes that it's not a story she is writing, but the truth.

My thoughts:
Genetic memory, now would that not be so cool. You could see the past from the eyes of your ancestors.

This book is a two part book. First there is Carrie writing, and finding out how handsome both sons of her landlord is. So she is dealing with her own things, and falling in love. I do like romance. Then there is the book she is writing and we see history from Sophia Paterson's eyes. She is staying at Slains Castle by the grace of a distant relative. Scotland wants their true king back so there is a lot of politics and betrayal going on. And she falls in love in the midst of it all.

Which story did I enjoy the most, for some reason Carrie and when she found her man. The Sophie parts were of course interesting, and it is an era I do not know much about. Sophie was also a very sweet heroine, and her man, him I really liked. Carrie's man was a bit more at peace. Anyway in the end I did like them all. And side characters like her landlord, he was a sweetheart. No horrible people in this book, I saw all sides of them.

One thing I was not to keen about was something at the end, I felt, oh I can't say because then i will spoil things. I had just wanted one more thing, even if everything was all peachy anyway.

My final thoughts and recommendation.
A book for historical fans, and I know it is not time travel or anything, but hey close enough so something for everyone really since there is the contemporary parts too. I think is a 3,5 cos I would recommend it. It was a very interesting approach to seeing the past.

I did have big fears at one time, this book does get really sad, and you know it from the start. But life has a way of turning out for the best in the end.

Reason for reading:
It sounded intersting
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LibraryThing member dianaleez
Reminiscent of women's fiction in the early 1960's - cliffs, isolated village, castle ruins, mystic elements. It's fun if that's what you're looking for.
LibraryThing member homeschoolmom
Love Scottish historical fiction. Author Carrie is trying to write a story of the return of James to the throne in 1708, but her ancestor's voice keeps getting in the way. What emerges is a fantastic love story.

Loved this book. I not only learned quite a bit of Scottish history, I enjoyed the way
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 the story was told. It made it fun and interesting. Definitely going to try her other novels.
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LibraryThing member LiterateHousewife
Carrie McClelland is a author if historical fiction who has traveled to Scotland, the land of her ancestors on her father's side, to write a novel based upon the little known attempted Jacobite uprising in 1708. Her agent lives in Northern Scotland, near Slains, an ancient castle of interest to
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 Carrie because her initial main character, Colonel Nathaniel Hooke, visited there just before the events. She doesn't expect the connection she feels with Slains. It keeps her in Cruden Bay and alters the perspective of her novel. Soon Sophia and her life at Slains is all she can think and write about. When the sons of her kindly landlord enter the picture, Sophia and her life take on even more significance.

It took me a little while to warm up to The Winter Sea. It isn't that Susanna Kearsley's writing isn't lovely or that I didn't care for the characters. I did. Two factors were at play. First, I wasn't initially in a Historical Fiction state of mind when I started the book. I was drawn to the beautiful cover, but I found out that I wasn't really in the mood for the past at first. Second, because a story was brewing both in the past and in the present, a good deal of background information about Carrie and Sophia was being covered through interspersed chapters made the beginning feel really long. It felt like it was taking twice the effort to involved in the story. I was just getting to know Carrie when I'm brought back to the beginning all over again with Sophia. Once the action both at the Slains of old and Cruden Bay in the present started to take off, I didn't want to put it down.

There is a spark of the supernatural to this story in that Carrie grows to wonder how she can know certain facts about Slains and Sophia before she actually discovers the facts. I have read reviews by others who had a more difficult time with this aspect of the story, but I enjoyed her having this closer connection to the novel she's writing. I didn't have any difficulty suspending my disbelief. I enjoyed Carrie and both stories enough to happily follow along.

As someone who really enjoyed Outlander, it was nice to return to Scotland. There's just something about that place that captures my imagination. They're rugged and passionate people with such a unique history. I've always been drawn to the underdog. In any fight for independence, I'm going to root for those seeking their freedom. I'm not sure if this is because I'm from the United States or, more specifically, was born into an American family who always roots for sports teams from Detroit. The Scottish people appeal to that part of my heart and imagination. The Winter Sea is no exception. When you throw in a couple of love stories with handsome, rugged Scotsman, for what more is there to ask?

Highly recommend
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LibraryThing member Ren-Mac
I am drawn to novels that are written with a present and past story running concurrently. SK does this charmingly and drew me in right away. Some say it is slow, but if you've a love for Scotland or history, this book should delight you. The history of the Jacobites never fails to make me sad and
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 wonder at the staggering number of 'what ifs' that surround their constant failure to take back their bonny Scotland from the 'wretched' English. SK also dies a charming job of the Doric accent of Jimmy and his two sons. Not sure about 'genetic memory', but love the idea of it! Who knows what travels through time to remain for those who can hear and what escapes our notice? Loved the book - highly recommend it!
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LibraryThing member JohnDiehl
Another well written and researched book by Susanna Kearsley. If you enjoy stories based in Scotland then this mystery may appeal to you.
LibraryThing member sebago
I absolutely loved this book! The rhythm (unable to think of another word that fits the feel) of the way Susanna Kearsley writes keeps you engaged in the story. Her characters seemed real. The ending had me happy as I closed the book even though I did not want it to end. I will search out other
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 books by this author.
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LibraryThing member dolphari
Carrie, an author writing a novel about the Jacobite attempted invasion of 1708, finds herself unusually "taken over" by her characters. She hears them and writes details that she later discovers are historical.
LibraryThing member ritagad
The Winter Sea was an enjoyable read, and I eagerly breezed through it, since I am a fan of historical romance. I only give it 3 stars though because I felt that it was lacking in conflict in the present-time story line, and relied on the historical novel story within a story for that conflict. I
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 didn't really feel the inevitability of the relationship in the present or why it should have been interesting.
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LibraryThing member wendytrim
I loved this book! I must move to Scotland soon and find me a lad...
LibraryThing member mirrani
A beautiful combination of modern life and the past, The Winter Sea is part historical novel, part tale of romance... literally. The book seamlessly weaves the story of an author with the book she is writing. Both stories, taking place in Scotland, carry with them the joys of finding love and all
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 of the emotion of having to let go.

Reading the historical sections alternating with the modern ones brings a strong reminder of just how things have changed over the years and how they have stayed the same. The blending also emphasizes the strength that those in the past had to have in order to endure the events of the time; struggles for power and the absolute distance that comes with saying goodbye. The love story of the past was both heart warming and heart breaking and the story of finding out one's history reminded me of many hours spent listening to my own family trace their lineage.

This was the first book I'd read by Susanna Kearsley and I am certain that I will pick up more in my journeys through reading.
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LibraryThing member theheronhouse
Thank you Susanna Kearsley for getting me out of my book rut. Loved the double story, the historical detail and the lovely setting. Great read.
LibraryThing member spalmer226
In the spring of 1708, an invading Jacobite fleet of French and Scottish soldiers nearly succeeded in landing the exiled James Stewart in Scotland to reclaim his crown.
Now, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn that story into her next bestselling novel. Settling herself in the shadow of Slains Castle,
Show More
 she creates a heroine named for one of her own ancestors and starts to write.
But when she discovers her novel is more fact than fiction, Carrie wonders if she might be dealing with ancestral memory, making her the only living person who knows the truth-the ultimate betrayal-that happened all those years ago, and that knowledge comes very close to destroying her...
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LibraryThing member hjjugovic
A lovely romance full of historical detail and sense of place. A love of Scotland really comes through.
LibraryThing member mpmills
Carrie McClelland, an author, settles into a small cottage in Scotland to write and historical novel about the Jacobite Rebellion in 1708. Her story is told through Sophia, who comes to Slains, a castle that is involved in the rebellion. Carrie believes that Sophia is actually an ancestor of her
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 family, and that the story is told to her though Sophia's memories. Yes. I know this is hard to accept, but I enjoyed both womens' stories.
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LibraryThing member Beamis12
I have been hearing about this books for months in different groups I belong to, everyone who has read it saying they have absolutely loved it. Finally read it and loved it too. Such an interesting mix of history, genealogy, present and past, and romance, as I read I became totally immersed in both
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 stories.
Wonderful characters and I appreciated the fact that the author included a postscript detailing exactly which characters and what part of the story was actually historical fact.
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Subjects

Edinburgh (Scotland) Fiction
Historical fiction Authorship Fiction
Romantic suspense novels
Women novelists Fiction

Awards

Audie Award (Finalist — Romance — 2012)
Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award (Winner — Historical Fiction — 2010)

Original publication date

2008

Physical description

8.5 inches

ISBN

0749080973 / 9780749080976

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