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The Winter Sea  By  cover art

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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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Loved the accents and performance

Would you consider the audio edition of The Winter Sea to be better than the print version?

Yes, because of the Scottish accents in the reading. Wouldn't be near the fun to have to read to yourself.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Graham, easy going, strong character, wit

Have you listened to any of Rosalyn Landor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, a little.

Any additional comments?

Would have got a 5 star except for the ending. Didn't like the ending because of the departure without the daughter. Find that hard to believe even in those times.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Once I stopped falling asleep to it, it was good.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The pace of the story dragged terribly. I couldn't fight it, so I used it fall asleep for weeks. Once the story picked up I could actually listen to stay awake, sort of.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

A more sprightly tone of voice. But really it was a romance hiding as a historical novel, so it is par for the course.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes, that's why I fell asleep.

Could you see The Winter Sea being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I could. Natasha Richardson.

Any additional comments?

The end of the story is actually good. They say in the book that you can't end sad, and they work with that in a good way. I wish the whole book had been as captivating.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An Excellent Choice

If you could sum up The Winter Sea in three words, what would they be?

Captivating & brilliantly surprising

What did you like best about this story?

When I was wondering why I had bothered if the story wasn't going to go well - the author totally surprised me. I love happy endings and with this one is seemed that it wasn't possible.

What does Rosalyn Landor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

With this book she moved into the top three position in my favorite audio performers. She brought all of the diverse characters to life - and made them all seem real.

Who was the most memorable character of The Winter Sea and why?

Sophia - and her bravery and ability to do what is best for the ones you love.

Any additional comments?

I usually get the question to compare to another book or author - and with this one I thought of the similarities with Lauren Willig and the The Secret History of the Pink Carnation series where you follow two stories - once historical and one in present time. I did not think it anything like the Outlander series and I love that series.

This is my first from this author and I look forward to more from her.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Trully enjoyed it!

Great historical fiction/romance novel. Very nicely performed; I trully enjoyed it! I could picture myself in Scotland!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

So very good

This Is the first book I have gotten with audio and with the brogue I enjoyed it very much

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful story

Enjoyed history and story very much as always with this author. Would have loved a male to read the male characters

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully descriptive!

I loved the story the narrator was very good. Characters were well developed. All around great book!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful tale of history, love, and endurance.

An intricate tale of kinship that trancends generations and centuries. Scottish history with a splash of the uncanny.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic story and the narration was perfect!

This a story that pulls you in and keeps you until the end. The history, the setting and the way it was written was phenominal. Susanna Kearsley is an automatic buy for me as I love all her books. Rosalyn Landor did such a good job reading it. The voices and accents were spot on. I highly recommend this one to everyone.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very enjoyable

What did you love best about The Winter Sea?

A wonderful story in a story. Loved the characters and the history woven in.

What does Rosalyn Landor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Love Rosalyn! she always does a fabulous job

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

A tissue box is needed when Sophia leaves Anna, very touching

Any additional comments?

The delicate touch thru out the story along with the heroine Sophia, is well worth reading. Can't wait to read another !

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