The Winter Sea

December 1, 2014

Morrissey's (The Golden Land) latest begins with Giuseppe Aquino emigrating to Australia to work in the fishing business in the early 1900s. Then we move to the present, where Cassie Holloway is taking some time away from her busy life as a lawyer in Sydney to relax after splitting from her husband. She moves to an isolated cabin in Whitby Point and is soon captivated by the quiet tourist destination. She stumbles upon a rental property that would be perfect for a small restaurant. With the help of local friends and her new dog, Bill, Cassie embarks on a career as a restaurateur. She falls in love with handsome veterinarian Michael, the great-grandson of Giuseppe. But when the patriarch of the Aquino family dies, Cassie and Michael are left to deal with a family secret that puts her new, ideal life in jeopardy. VERDICT The author's taking the first 100 pages to describe the emigration of Giuseppe is not what a reader would expect when picking up this book. The dialog throughout is clunky and forced. However, readers who wade through the lengthy opening will find a solid story in a sweet romance and revealed family secrets. Purchase where Morrissey is already a popular author.--Brooke Bolton, North Manchester P.L., IN

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2014
At the turn of the twentieth century, young Giuseppe d'Aquino emigrated from a small, impoverished Italian village to the Australian coast, where he started a fishing business. Years later, his descendants still live in Whitby Point, and many still fish the same waters. Cassie Holloway lands in the resort town, searching for solace after her marriage collapses, and she finds an immediate connection with Michael Phillips, the town veterinarian and an Aquino. As the two fall in love, and Cassie decides to make her home there, a long-buried family secret is revealed that could destroy their future. Dual-period family sagas are popular, and Morrissey makes good use of the form, alternating between Giuseppe's immigrant struggles and Cassie's search for true love and happiness. The characters are lively and engaging, and the twists keep the plot moving along at a nice clip. The sense of place is strong, and Morrissey's love for the beauty of her native Australia shines. Fans of novelists Sarah Jio and Lucinda Riley will find much to love in this best-selling Australian author's U.S. debut.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)