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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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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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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Pleasant but Ponderous

Having enjoyed 'Rose Cottage' by Susanna Kearsley enormously I had great hopes for this book. You know what they say about great expectations? ... Carolyn Bonnyman was skilled at accents and has a lovely voice. However, the many characters and meandering plot made some characters harder to single out or let shine. The attention to detail within the story was such that sometimes I could only see the wood and not the trees or the path through them. The story within a story approach allows some self-reflection by the author on the writing of historical fiction. I found this gently witty and revealing, if also self-indulgent. As a journey between times this story covered less trodden ground and shared interesting views but spent a little too much time pondering over the map.

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2 people found this helpful

Beautiful.

Lovely winding tale with a great narrator. Really satisfying ending. This book was relaxing, not entirely predictable and gave me solace at a hectic time.

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Enjoyable time warp novel.

Almost as good as Erskine. Enjoyable story with a wonderful twist at the end.Well developed characters.Amusing storyline. An easy to read gem.

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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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Brilliant

Would you consider the audio edition of Sophia's Secret to be better than the print version?

Not read the print version

Any additional comments?

Very disappointed to learn that the sequel was not on audio books

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