Saturday, March 31, 2012

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

genre: historical fiction

On the northern shore of  Scotland lies an ancient castle with an intriguing past. Historical novelist Carrie McClelland knows that it is going to play a large part in her current book, about the exiled Scottish king and a 1708 plot to return him to his throne.  What she doesn't know, right away anyway, is how much this castle and its history is going to play a role in her own life and in the life of the ancestors she is learning about.

So, this was a pretty brilliant story.  We switch throughout the book between Carrie's novel and her own modern-day life, like a wonderful two for one. Both plots are incredibly romantic but not overly-so.  I loved the Scottish setting and the way things twined together.  I didn't need or love the whole "ancestral memory" reasoning, I would've taken the story hook, line and sinker without it - the idea of someone in the present being able to discern what happened in the past totally works for me.  I also liked being a part of Carrie's writing and research process - the family history angle was an interesting piece too.

Solid writing, beautiful romance, interesting historical plot, a few great twists.  Great fun.


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4 comments:

bermudaonion said...

I'm not much for romance but the Scottish setting sounds good to me.

Gerbera Daisy Diaries said...

I really liked The Rose Garden! I have this and Mariana on my Nook.

Jenni said...

I loved this book! I also really liked the Rose Garden and I'm looking forward to reading Mariana. Fun times!

DesLily said...

I'm with you! I really liked this book..and it's not my usual sort of book!

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