The Winter Sea – Susanna Kearsley

This book popped up on my radar when Barne’s and Noble recommended it based on what I had previously bought. I read the summary and thought “ok, maybe” so I downloaded a sample and went on to the next book that I really wanted to read. Flash forward a few weeks later I’m perusing books and I guess my finger hit this one a little too hard because my Nook took it upon itself to open it for me to read. So I read the first 30 pages and voila, I was hooked!

The story is about a author that writes historical fiction, Carrie McClelland. She travels to Scotland to do some research using her own family’s ancestory as a spring board. She is then drawn to a little Scottish village called Slains. From there the story of Sophia just starts pouring out of her, as if she’s channeling this “fictitous” character in her novel.

So what ends up happening is you as the reader get to read Carrie’s modern day happenings as well as Sophia’s story set in 18th century Scotland. Chapters 1,2.3…. are set in modern day and Chapters I,II,III….are set in the past. The result is an exciting and touching story of two women that you absolutely love. On top of that are characters from the present and the past that you really feel a connection and genuine warmth towards.

I highly recommend this read, it’s smart, touching, romantic and FULL of some great Scottish history centered around the early Jacobite rising against the English crown and the newly United Kingdom.