This book was the first book from Susanna Kearsley that I had ever read. If you are a fan of cozy romance set in a Scotland landscape, you’ll love this book (and a lot of her other ones too!). It’s a historical romance that encapsulates the beauty and whimsy of Scotland. The book jumps between two main female characters: Sophia Paterson in the 1700s and Carrie McClelland from modern day. Both have their own internal (and external for that matter) struggles and glorious romances to last the ages!
Synopsis (from Barnes & Noble)
The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
A hauntingly beautiful tale of love that transcends time: an American writer travels to Scotland to craft a novel about the Jacobite Rebellion, only to discover her own ancestral memories of that torrid moment in Scottish history…
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. When young Sophia Paterson travels to Slains Castle by the sea, she finds herself in the midst of the dangerous intrigue.
Now, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn that story into her next bestselling novel. Settling herself in the shadow of that historic Scottish castle, she starts to write. But when she discovers her novel is more fact than fiction, Carrie wonders if she might be the only living person who knows the truth—the ultimate betrayal—that happened all those years ago.
My Review
The Winter Sea gave me a very cozy feeling that made me want to book a trip to Scotland (again) almost immediately. If you loved Outlander but don’t want another hefty book series, Susanna Kearsley’s stories are great options.
What I particularly liked about this book is that it’s a standalone book. There is a clear beginning, middle, and end without leaving you hanging on what might have come after. I love that Susanna takes a historical person and gives them a new life through her stories. Sophia Paterson (the main female character) was an actual person in history but had a tragic and short-lived life. So Susanna gave her a new one that was full of adventure, excitement, and a whole bunch of romance.
There is also a modern timeline associated with this book which follow Carrie McClelland – a writer struggling to find her next story. As she navigates Sophia’s story, she also finds herself in a bit of a love triangle herself. So readers not only get one, but TWO romances to swoon over.
For those who want a bit more of Sophia’s story, you can read the next two books in the series although they are also stand-alone stories meaning you don’t need to read the previous one to understand it. It’s the same setting but different characters that are somewhat connected throughout the three books.
Book 2 is The Firebird and Book 3 is The Vanished Days.
