A lovely story

I liked this timeslip style romance and would probably seek out the author's other work after a bit of a break. The narrator had a nice voice and seemed to have the correct Scots (Doric?) dialect for the story (the dialect was mentioned more than once in the story itself). The plot was a tiny bit unconvincing in parts, and you'll probably see the denouement coming a mile off, but it was a nice, easy listen. Perfect for plugging the ears while doing the housework.

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1 person found this helpful

Great listen

There was a moment when I wanted to give up on this book. But I did listen till the end and I am happy I did. The end has really a gorgeous twist :-))) Good job, Mrs. Kearsley!

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Not for me

This one veers very close to the 'Mills and Boon' genre. Nothing against romantic fiction, it's a matter of taste and I don't enjoy it. The narration was rather masterful though - taking on an Aberdeenshire dialect is a big ask and she seemed to pull it off.

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If you like ships and history then this is for you

I found this audio book rather hard work at times, and although I liked the narrators accents and voice I found the history and ships was not for me, but to be fair if you do like ships and historic battles all entwined with past and present love story's then you will enjoy it.

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If you like Barbara Erskine, you'll love this!.

Would you listen to Sophia's Secret again? Why?

Yes but in a few years as the story is still clear in my head.

What other book might you compare Sophia's Secret to, and why?

Lady of Hay by Barbare Erskine which is one of my favourite historical fiction books.

What does Carolyn Bonnyman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

The lovely gentle accent…makes you feel like you're really there

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

It made me laugh and cry..there are scenes for every emotion

Any additional comments?

I'll definitely be looking for other audiobooks by this author…can't wait.

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Intriguing

What made the experience of listening to Sophia's Secret the most enjoyable?

Another good book from Susanna and I love to hear Carolyn narrate her books, a perfect pair.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sophia's Secret?

When Sofia realises Murray loves her

Which character – as performed by Carolyn Bonnyman – was your favourite?

Jimmy

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Sofia gave her daughter away

Any additional comments?

Carolyn who made all the characters come alive, The realisation that after giving her daughter away she found her true love again. This is the third Susanna and Carolyn combination I have listened to and I have another ready to start...Good Stuff

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Loved it.

I absolutely loved this story though it was a bit predictable at times. It kept me in thrall throughout though and I loved the historical context as well as the romance. I was rather interested in the Jacobite risings having listened to the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, and it was very interesting to hear of the earlier rising and the history surrounding it in this novel.

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2 people found this helpful

Better as the Book

I read this in book form several years ago and enjoyed it so much I decided to listen to it in Audible. Somehow it didn't have the same impact. I found the narrator quite lazy, as if she was reading it to herself. I became bored very early on, couldn't get involved in the story, and decided I would probably not finish it in its Audible form. The two stories got lost in Audible somehow. It needed someone of the calibration of narrator Davina Porter to bring the characters to life.

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A perfect Autumnal read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I'm a huge Outlander fan and had heard that Susanna Kearsley is quite similar to Diana Gabaldon so I gave this a go and so glad I did! Sophia's Secret, or otherwise known as The Winter's Sea, was a real joy to read. I was transported back in time while Susanna was exploring Sophia's story. I loved her character and felt as if I was at Slaines along side her. I listened to this book read by Carolyn Bonnyman who has a wonderful voice but felt it was a bit odd in places. I believe Carolyn Bonnyman portrayed Sophia fantastically with her native Scottish accent (love this accent!) but was a little puzzled when she portrayed Carrie. It sounded a bit funny to me, being Canadian myself so I did struggle with that a bit. I won't spoil this book but will say the ending was brilliant. So if you are looking for a cozy read by the fire or candlelight and looking for a historical fiction book with a hint of romance, than this is the one for you! Looking forward to the next book in the series, The Firebird!

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Brilliant

Second book from this author and same reader for me. can't get enough! Romantic and happy with beautiful scenery, characters and story!

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