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The Winter Sea

By: Susanna Kearsley
Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor
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Editorial reviews

When venturing into the historical fiction genre, I’m often drawn to specific, brief events that were either glossed over or left entirely out of the history books, as opposed to those that cover broad subjects that can be densely overwhelming. Given a subject like Henry XIII and his wives or Joan of Arc, both popular subjects of the genre, an author could easily lose an audience to an overwhelming amount of explanation and facts. Instead, Susanna Kearsley’s The Winter Sea offers a narrow, controlled exploration of a lesser known event, the 1708 Jacobite failed uprising by James Stewart against William of Orange and Mary Stewart to reclaim the throne. It is an enthralling story that makes the facts and descriptions of the people and places surrounding the uprising much more palatable and absorbing.

The Winter Sea also offers a unique narrative format. Main character and popular historical fiction novelist Carrie McClelland rents a cottage for the summer on the coast of Scotland, not far from Slain Castle (where she sets her story) and where the Jacobite uprising occurred centuries ago. Thus, The Winter Sea has two narratives: McClelland in present day Scotland, writing her novel; and McClelland’s novel, a work in progress detailing the Jacobite uprising in 1708 Scotland. Such a narrative format is fodder for narrator Rosalyn Landor, whose performance skillfully embodies the complex mind of a writer. Her voicing of Carrie is investigative, creative, imaginative, and discerning. Her deep, expressive tone allows her the versatility to voice the myriad supporting characters, both male and female, past and present. The dreamlike writing sequences of McClelland writing her novel really sing under Landor’s rendering. With Landor as a guide, it’s easy to lose yourself in The Winter Sea’s journey through Scotland and through history.

The Winter Sea confidently flourishes in the intrigue surrounding this political uprising, while also offering the accommodating narrative device of delivering the story through the mind of a writer. Kearsley and Landor together remind us that history does not have to get bogged down by the facts, but instead can be thrilling, suspenseful, and imaginative, especially when presented from a unique perspective. Suzanne Day

Publisher's summary

History has all but forgotten...

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, 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...

Please note: This novel has also been published under a different title: Sophia's Secret.

Please note, this title is the original recording, which is now known as Sophia's Secret

©2010 Susanna Kearsley (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

  • Audie Award Winner, Romance, 2012
"Rosalyn Landor provides delightful Scottish accents for many of the characters Carrie meets inside and outside her novel....Landor adds a poetic edge to her storytelling while at the same time giving a dreamy aura to the historical side of the story." ( Audiofile)

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What listeners say about The Winter Sea

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Travel back

A story that takes place in the modern world and 300 years back. It is an enjoyable story.

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  • Overall
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Such a fun listen

I love the way she brings to life past and present in this book and the characters were great

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Love love it!

This book grabbed me from the beginning. I could not wait to get back to it. The narrator did an excellent job with the characters.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Strong visuals; so-so characters

A big fan of historical fiction, I enjoyed the richly descriptive environs we found our protagonists residing in. When it comes to the characters, however, they are tempid at best. I got the strong feeling if Sophia had been housed by a family fiercy loyal to the Queen, rather than Jacobites seeking to re-seat James on the throne, she would have placidly accepted that as her lot. Next time, less vanilla and more cinnamon spice!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Superb

This book was so engrossing and so different that when I finished … I went immediately back to the beginning. Would have given 5 stars but I’m mixed about the ending. One part great, the other mixed thoughts. Excellent narration.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A book within a book

I couldn’t turn this off! Spent my entire day listening to the stories that blended into a whole that kept me researching while the book unfolded. What an intriguing, moving, historical, romantic, and entertaining story that I will listen to again and again.

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Loved this story

Enjoyed the history. Enjoyed the time back-and-forth between Bunnell and the before. Enjoy the characters made me cry.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Worth reading but not stupendous

I mildly enjoyed this book, mostly because of the subject matter. I guess I just didn't enjoy the dual timelines and thought each alternating chapter was too short and unsatisfying.

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Excellent!

I loved the stories and how they were woven together. I also loved the voices and how it was performed. The accents and vocabulary added such authenticity.

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CAPTIVATING!

I couldn't stop listening to this and finished in a weekend! I'm a sucker for anything encompassing Scottish history, being brought up with scottish grandparents in America I've always been fascinated with my ancestory and anything Scots. I highly recommend this book not just for the history but the amazing way the author incorporates the romance into her writing. With this being my first novel by Susanna, I will be listening to more!

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