What do you think?
Rate this book
Танцующая на гребне волны
Ава Уэйлен всем сердцем любит Мэтью, но, поселившись после свадьбы в его доме на острове, осознает, что не так уж хорошо знает собственного мужа. Она находит в одной из комнат странные рисунки и заключает, что их автором была женщина. Но кем она приходилась Мэтью?
Вскоре Ава вступает в местное Историческое общество, где ее втягивают в расследование, уходящее корнями в прошлое более чем на столетие. Какое же изумление постигает Аву, когда ей становится ясно, что она, Мэтью, загадочный автор рисунков и сестры-близнецы, жившие на острове более века назад, – это звенья одной цепи, лишь разорвав которую, она сможет обрести покой.
Вскоре Ава вступает в местное Историческое общество, где ее втягивают в расследование, уходящее корнями в прошлое более чем на столетие. Какое же изумление постигает Аву, когда ей становится ясно, что она, Мэтью, загадочный автор рисунков и сестры-близнецы, жившие на острове более века назад, – это звенья одной цепи, лишь разорвав которую, она сможет обрести покой.
544 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
465 people are currently reading
5646 people want to read
About the author
Karen White
42 books7,538 followersWith more than 2 million books in print in fifteen different languages, Karen White is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 34 novels, including the popular Charleston-set Tradd Street mystery series.
Raised in a house full of brothers, Karen’s love of books and strong female characters first began in the third grade when the local librarian issued her a library card and placed The Secret of the Old Clock, a Nancy Drew Mystery, in her hands.
Karen’s roots run deep in the South where many of her novels are set. Her intricate plot lines and compelling characters charm and captivate readers with just the right mix of family drama, mystery, intrigue and romance.
Not entirely convinced she wanted to be a writer, Karen first pursued a career in business and graduated cum laude with a BS in Management from Tulane University. Ten years later, in a weak moment, she wrote her first book. In the Shadow of the Moon was published in August, 2000. Her books—referred to as “grit lit” (Southern Women’s Fiction)—have since been nominated for numerous national contests including the SIBA (Southeastern Booksellers Alliance) Fiction Book of the Year.
Karen’s next book, THAT LAST CAROLINA SUMMER, will be published by Park Row Books in July, 2025.
When not writing, Karen spends her time reading, scrapbooking, playing piano, and avoiding cooking. Karen and her husband have two grown children and currently live near Atlanta, Georgia with two spoiled Havanese dogs.
- See more at: http://www.karen-white.com/bio.cfm#st...
Raised in a house full of brothers, Karen’s love of books and strong female characters first began in the third grade when the local librarian issued her a library card and placed The Secret of the Old Clock, a Nancy Drew Mystery, in her hands.
Karen’s roots run deep in the South where many of her novels are set. Her intricate plot lines and compelling characters charm and captivate readers with just the right mix of family drama, mystery, intrigue and romance.
Not entirely convinced she wanted to be a writer, Karen first pursued a career in business and graduated cum laude with a BS in Management from Tulane University. Ten years later, in a weak moment, she wrote her first book. In the Shadow of the Moon was published in August, 2000. Her books—referred to as “grit lit” (Southern Women’s Fiction)—have since been nominated for numerous national contests including the SIBA (Southeastern Booksellers Alliance) Fiction Book of the Year.
Karen’s next book, THAT LAST CAROLINA SUMMER, will be published by Park Row Books in July, 2025.
When not writing, Karen spends her time reading, scrapbooking, playing piano, and avoiding cooking. Karen and her husband have two grown children and currently live near Atlanta, Georgia with two spoiled Havanese dogs.
- See more at: http://www.karen-white.com/bio.cfm#st...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 792 reviews
June 14, 2012
Karen White's Sea Change is a welcome and pleasant departure from the books that I have read in the past few months. I equate it to eating fast food for a week and then getting a home-cooked meal. The fast food is sustaining and tastes good at the time, but it doesn't compare to your grandmother's Sunday dinner. The same can go for books (OK, maybe I'm stretching it a bit with my analogy here but I think you get my point.) I have enjoyed the recent books that I have read (I am not referring to any of the books I have reviewed) but by reading Sea Change it made me realize what I have been missing out on. I discovered a terrific plot, believably flawed characters, conflict, suspense, emotional stirrings, and settings that could be vividly seen in my mind. And let us not forget the all important quality of great writing. Karen White's Sea Change has all of the above and more.
White's Sea Change is set on St. Simons Island off of the coast of Georgia. She describes it as a lovely Southern island that is immersed in history. Ava, a thirty-something year old Midwife, moves from Antioch, Georgia to St. Simons after a whirlwind romance to live in her new husband's ancestral home. Ava met, fell in love with, and married the charming Matthew after an extremely short courtship. She thought that by moving into his home she would just be dealing with the intricacies of a new relationship and living in a new town. However, she found that she would also be coping with ghosts of the past.
Sea Change is written from two different perspectives. The first is present day Ava who is trying to adjust to her new life and is also working to uncover the mystery of Matthew's family history. The second point of view is that of Pamela, an ancestor of Matthew's who lived in Ava's house from 1804-1815 before life took an unexpected and unfair turn. A theme that is discussed frequently in White's novel is that some endings are really beginnings. This holds true for Ava and Pamela. While Ava and Pamela seemingly have nothing in common, the lives of the two women suddenly come together when Ava goes under hypnosis to uncover a childhood secret. Ava then makes it her priority to right a wrong that was done long ago.
I felt that Karen White did a terrific job in transporting her readers back into the early 1800's. From the vocabulary that White used to the clothes that were described, she had the period down perfectly. It also seems that White put a lot of time into researching what was happening in St. Simons during this time period. Being a history buff myself, I enjoyed where White led her readers. Furthermore, with Southern charm White described the landmarks on the island that are there today such as the lighthouse and cemetery.
Sea Change is one of the most well written novels that I have read in recent memory. White was able to keep me on my toes as the suspense grew. She also did a terrific job of entertaining me. I definitely recommend Karen White's novel, Sea Change. Reading it will take you on a mysterious adventure that will leave you wanting more.
NAL Books and BookPleasures.com has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book, Sea Change, for the purpose of review.
White's Sea Change is set on St. Simons Island off of the coast of Georgia. She describes it as a lovely Southern island that is immersed in history. Ava, a thirty-something year old Midwife, moves from Antioch, Georgia to St. Simons after a whirlwind romance to live in her new husband's ancestral home. Ava met, fell in love with, and married the charming Matthew after an extremely short courtship. She thought that by moving into his home she would just be dealing with the intricacies of a new relationship and living in a new town. However, she found that she would also be coping with ghosts of the past.
Sea Change is written from two different perspectives. The first is present day Ava who is trying to adjust to her new life and is also working to uncover the mystery of Matthew's family history. The second point of view is that of Pamela, an ancestor of Matthew's who lived in Ava's house from 1804-1815 before life took an unexpected and unfair turn. A theme that is discussed frequently in White's novel is that some endings are really beginnings. This holds true for Ava and Pamela. While Ava and Pamela seemingly have nothing in common, the lives of the two women suddenly come together when Ava goes under hypnosis to uncover a childhood secret. Ava then makes it her priority to right a wrong that was done long ago.
I felt that Karen White did a terrific job in transporting her readers back into the early 1800's. From the vocabulary that White used to the clothes that were described, she had the period down perfectly. It also seems that White put a lot of time into researching what was happening in St. Simons during this time period. Being a history buff myself, I enjoyed where White led her readers. Furthermore, with Southern charm White described the landmarks on the island that are there today such as the lighthouse and cemetery.
Sea Change is one of the most well written novels that I have read in recent memory. White was able to keep me on my toes as the suspense grew. She also did a terrific job of entertaining me. I definitely recommend Karen White's novel, Sea Change. Reading it will take you on a mysterious adventure that will leave you wanting more.
NAL Books and BookPleasures.com has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book, Sea Change, for the purpose of review.
March 5, 2020
“Some are called to be gardeners of souls, and she'd tended hers with the blind dedication that accepted the floods and famine along with the sunshine.”
― Karen White, Sea Change
Beautifully told Southern Historical (and present day) Fiction.
This was my first experience with a Karen White book. My thoughts? I have read a soaring, hauntingly lovely 5 star novel!
Ava has moved, with her new husband Mathew to a small island off the coast of Georgia. But she expected to feel at peace and she doesn't. The stunningly beautiful island is cloaked in mystery that goes back to the early Eighteen Hundreds There is much about the island Ava does not understand, including her own connection to it and events that occurred there so very long ago.
Then there is the writing. Karen White writes in colors. Seriously. The writing is descriptive and lovely and the book is dripping with vivid colors. And be they Aquamarine or Yellow or Turquoise the reader feels the book and its colors all around them.
I do love writing where every word is a celebration, a poem. That is what you will find here. The imagery evoked of the beautiful island and the characters who inhabit them are beautifully drawn and I was enthralled.
This is also not just Historical fiction. Much of it takes place in current times. I love books that manage to combine genres and do it well and Sea Change is Historical,romance, Gothic, magical realism, contemporary, family saga. I mean it. The book touches so many genres. That is one of the reasons I adore it. It does not fall into any one category.
In this book's case there is not even a question of a rating. Five stars. It is also among my favorites in recent memory.
I would recommend the story of Ava and Mathew and others..to just about everyone because it touches so many genres but because the story is evocative and lovely. And yes, I will be reading more from Karen White.
― Karen White, Sea Change
Beautifully told Southern Historical (and present day) Fiction.
This was my first experience with a Karen White book. My thoughts? I have read a soaring, hauntingly lovely 5 star novel!
Ava has moved, with her new husband Mathew to a small island off the coast of Georgia. But she expected to feel at peace and she doesn't. The stunningly beautiful island is cloaked in mystery that goes back to the early Eighteen Hundreds There is much about the island Ava does not understand, including her own connection to it and events that occurred there so very long ago.
Then there is the writing. Karen White writes in colors. Seriously. The writing is descriptive and lovely and the book is dripping with vivid colors. And be they Aquamarine or Yellow or Turquoise the reader feels the book and its colors all around them.
I do love writing where every word is a celebration, a poem. That is what you will find here. The imagery evoked of the beautiful island and the characters who inhabit them are beautifully drawn and I was enthralled.
This is also not just Historical fiction. Much of it takes place in current times. I love books that manage to combine genres and do it well and Sea Change is Historical,romance, Gothic, magical realism, contemporary, family saga. I mean it. The book touches so many genres. That is one of the reasons I adore it. It does not fall into any one category.
In this book's case there is not even a question of a rating. Five stars. It is also among my favorites in recent memory.
I would recommend the story of Ava and Mathew and others..to just about everyone because it touches so many genres but because the story is evocative and lovely. And yes, I will be reading more from Karen White.
July 31, 2012
Nice try! The title of this book is accurate and reflects the action in the story. Plus, Karen White is a seasoned author who has written at least twelve novels. This tepid account which takes place on an island off the coast of Georgia appears to be her most current work. And, although I wanted to see what the resolution was to the choppy misleading plot, I really did not enjoy reading the book. There were some finely wrought phrases and some sympathetic characters, but overall I felt like the author was stringing me along. Like she had some tricks up her sleeve but she needed more pages for the big reveal. Is this past life regression? Is it ghosts? Is it a stalker? Is it murder? Is it infidelity? Is it love? What the heck was the underlying motive? By the time I finished the book I really didn't care. But, I will try her again. Just to see.
January 30, 2017
3.5 stars.
I have read several Karen White books and usually I am totally absorbed from the beginning. For whatever reason I had a lot of trouble getting into this one. I am not sure it was the writing....think it may have been my frame of mind, but I am glad I stuck with it.
This is a bit different as it is not just a women's story, about becoming strong, finding love, finding yourself etc...there is a bit of a "supernatural" element to this story which I actually liked. This is told by 3 different characters....Ava and her mother Gloria as well as Pamela...who by the way has been dead for a very long time.
There is a love story, there are a couple mysteries, there is murder...or is there?, there are broken relationships, there are many secrets, there is history and there is the beautiful coastal settings that White uses so well. All of this with well done characters and a fluent easy to read writing style.
A good beach read, or rainy weekend, curl up on the couch book.
I have read several Karen White books and usually I am totally absorbed from the beginning. For whatever reason I had a lot of trouble getting into this one. I am not sure it was the writing....think it may have been my frame of mind, but I am glad I stuck with it.
This is a bit different as it is not just a women's story, about becoming strong, finding love, finding yourself etc...there is a bit of a "supernatural" element to this story which I actually liked. This is told by 3 different characters....Ava and her mother Gloria as well as Pamela...who by the way has been dead for a very long time.
There is a love story, there are a couple mysteries, there is murder...or is there?, there are broken relationships, there are many secrets, there is history and there is the beautiful coastal settings that White uses so well. All of this with well done characters and a fluent easy to read writing style.
A good beach read, or rainy weekend, curl up on the couch book.
September 6, 2012
Looks like I'm in the minority here in my feelings about this novel, which I found maudlin and trite in tone and scattered in its focus. The dialogue was stilted...hate when an author gives characters lines that aren't normally spoken because the sentences are either too long or poorly constructed. I like reality. Another thing I didn't like were the overabundance of stupid similes. And if I had to read about the 'odd look in someone's eyes' one more time I was about ready to toss the book across the room. And who is newly married and so barraged (is that a word?) by everyone's accounts and references to the former dead wife? That was just too unbelievable. I would give this a star and a half at best if I could.
April 25, 2015
Ava Whalen falls in love with Matthew Frazier and quickly picks up her life and moves to St Simons, GA. A town with a history just waiting to be discovered. She soon discovers that maybe she rushed into this marriage a little too quickly, and doesn't really know the man that she married.
It took the first whole half of the book before I was connected into the book, and wanted to continue to pick it up and read. I couldn't put the second half down. I think the book and the writing was too wordy for my taste. Many twists and mysteries made, but also so many unnecessary words and story lines. Almost like throwing 18 threads into a book and unwrapping them all in the last third of the book.
Would read more by this author.
It took the first whole half of the book before I was connected into the book, and wanted to continue to pick it up and read. I couldn't put the second half down. I think the book and the writing was too wordy for my taste. Many twists and mysteries made, but also so many unnecessary words and story lines. Almost like throwing 18 threads into a book and unwrapping them all in the last third of the book.
Would read more by this author.
August 5, 2012
This was a perfect summer read. I couldn't put it down. A little bit Rebecca, a little bit Phyllis Whitney, and don't forget Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt. I'll have to read more by Karen White.
April 26, 2015
I thought this was a very interesting, rather unique story and enjoyed how it was presented by alternating voices, two in the present day St. Simon's Island, GA, and one from the early 1800's. There were ghostly presences, trust issues, elusive memories, and lots of secrets (of course) as the mystery surrounding the main character's past slowly comes to light. It was when the writing became so flowery I could smell it that I thought the flow of the book was hindered.
But overall I would say that I could recommend this book, certainly moreso than the first Karen White book I tried.
But overall I would say that I could recommend this book, certainly moreso than the first Karen White book I tried.
July 20, 2012
To the Point: Beautifully descriptive language that helps you feel the story. White does a nice job of describing the present and the past and takes you on an interesting journey that vines in and out of several family relationships. It holds you in until the end.
In More Detail: (Spoilers) Overall I enjoyed reading this novel. I like that there were several mysteries to solve and that there were clues given along the way but most of the answers didn’t come until the end. I believe that White did a very nice job of investing herself in the descriptions of St. Simon both now and in the past. While I’m not necessarily a believer in reincarnation or in one true love I can still very much enjoy the possibility. I wanted more physical descriptions of the characters. I couldn’t picture them very well – especially Ava. I think I took my cues from the cover. There were several key parts of the story I struggled with. I had a hard time accepting the connection that Ava and Matthew had when it was layered with his telling so many lies and her pushing him away. I believe in leaps of faith but if Matthew was so destined to be with Ava surely he should have come forward with the truth much, much earlier. His hypnotizing Ava after what had occurred when he hypnotized Adrienne also didn’t sit well with me. Surely he would have been deeply opposed to doing that again. I felt the way Pamela and Georgina and Thomas all died was anti-climatic. I expected a stronger story there. I still do not understand why Georgina could not have children. From the book I believe she took the medicine she claimed was for a friend but who was it that had gotten her pregnant? Was it Nathaniel and did he know? And if all Georgina ever wanted was Geoffrey, then why was she even with Nathanial the first time? I also found it painful how much Pamela trusted what Georgina said when she herself knew Georgina couldn’t be trusted. I also didn’t understand why Geoffrey would allow himself so much time with Georgina also knowing she pined for him. And what sort of loyalty to Georgina kept Thomas from telling Pamela that Georgina was looking for medicine for herself? I don’t see why he wouldn’t have told Pamela what Georgina was up to.
Style: Very uniquely descriptive language. Sometimes too much for my personal taste but I liked the feel it gave. It wasn’t a quick or a slow read for me, something in the middle. Overall I like the style.
In More Detail: (Spoilers) Overall I enjoyed reading this novel. I like that there were several mysteries to solve and that there were clues given along the way but most of the answers didn’t come until the end. I believe that White did a very nice job of investing herself in the descriptions of St. Simon both now and in the past. While I’m not necessarily a believer in reincarnation or in one true love I can still very much enjoy the possibility. I wanted more physical descriptions of the characters. I couldn’t picture them very well – especially Ava. I think I took my cues from the cover. There were several key parts of the story I struggled with. I had a hard time accepting the connection that Ava and Matthew had when it was layered with his telling so many lies and her pushing him away. I believe in leaps of faith but if Matthew was so destined to be with Ava surely he should have come forward with the truth much, much earlier. His hypnotizing Ava after what had occurred when he hypnotized Adrienne also didn’t sit well with me. Surely he would have been deeply opposed to doing that again. I felt the way Pamela and Georgina and Thomas all died was anti-climatic. I expected a stronger story there. I still do not understand why Georgina could not have children. From the book I believe she took the medicine she claimed was for a friend but who was it that had gotten her pregnant? Was it Nathaniel and did he know? And if all Georgina ever wanted was Geoffrey, then why was she even with Nathanial the first time? I also found it painful how much Pamela trusted what Georgina said when she herself knew Georgina couldn’t be trusted. I also didn’t understand why Geoffrey would allow himself so much time with Georgina also knowing she pined for him. And what sort of loyalty to Georgina kept Thomas from telling Pamela that Georgina was looking for medicine for herself? I don’t see why he wouldn’t have told Pamela what Georgina was up to.
Style: Very uniquely descriptive language. Sometimes too much for my personal taste but I liked the feel it gave. It wasn’t a quick or a slow read for me, something in the middle. Overall I like the style.
July 20, 2015
3.5 stars...
I purchased this book with the anticipation of reading it on my beach trip this summer. Unfortunately, I am not going to make it to the beach this year, so I took the plunge and read it anyway. But, I do think this would make a good beach read! It would add even more ambience to the writing:)
Sea Change was my first Karen White book, and I look forward to reading others by her. This is a slow moving, slow revealing book, but I enjoyed the descriptive writing. The characters though, especially Ava's mother & husband, were a little more difficult to gain a relationship with as a reader. I couldn't really get into who they were. I guess that was supposed to be part of the mystery? Anyway, it detracted something from the overall book for me. I was pleasantly surprised about the historical fiction element of the book. I somehow hadn't realized that was going to be a major part of the storyline.
It seemed a tad predictable, but I was reading another book at the same time that had a main character with a similar mystery in her childhood so maybe that's why it seemed that way to me? Don't know. When all was revealed, I felt that certain characters behaviors were an overreaction to their situations.
I purchased this book with the anticipation of reading it on my beach trip this summer. Unfortunately, I am not going to make it to the beach this year, so I took the plunge and read it anyway. But, I do think this would make a good beach read! It would add even more ambience to the writing:)
Sea Change was my first Karen White book, and I look forward to reading others by her. This is a slow moving, slow revealing book, but I enjoyed the descriptive writing. The characters though, especially Ava's mother & husband, were a little more difficult to gain a relationship with as a reader. I couldn't really get into who they were. I guess that was supposed to be part of the mystery? Anyway, it detracted something from the overall book for me. I was pleasantly surprised about the historical fiction element of the book. I somehow hadn't realized that was going to be a major part of the storyline.
It seemed a tad predictable, but I was reading another book at the same time that had a main character with a similar mystery in her childhood so maybe that's why it seemed that way to me? Don't know. When all was revealed, I felt that certain characters behaviors were an overreaction to their situations.
March 23, 2019
This is the 15th book that I've read by this author. I like her writing so much. For the most part, she is usually a solid 4 stars for me. Some have been 3 and one, A Long Time Gone, was 5 stars.
Karen White does southern charm and relationships well. She can also develop the main characters with the detail that makes me believe them. Even when I don't like them, I like to feel I understand them. With that said, there were a lot of characters in this one and some were not as detailed. The time line in the 1800's suffered the most from that. But overall, I liked this. I like the author and I will read what ever she writes.......so 4 stars.
Karen White does southern charm and relationships well. She can also develop the main characters with the detail that makes me believe them. Even when I don't like them, I like to feel I understand them. With that said, there were a lot of characters in this one and some were not as detailed. The time line in the 1800's suffered the most from that. But overall, I liked this. I like the author and I will read what ever she writes.......so 4 stars.
February 6, 2017
Okay I wrote a review a few minutes ago on progress and it's not here. Bummer. Well I did not finish this book. I hated it. I feel that I should slap myself across the face for even reading it to page 278. I lost how many hours of my life in this novel. Ugh! Okay, Again-Ava is annoying as hell. How old is she again? How can any man put up with her? Ava acts like a dense-jealous ding bat. Also this novel is too wordy. Do you really need to go into that much depth about making a glass of sweet tea? And full of "suspense" really where was the shock at? Something was actually surprising in this novel...seemed pretty predicable to me. Just follow the bread crumbs to the library, one thing solved, then go get hypnotized, so easy. You don't have to work hard at solving the mystery Ava, just wake up. It's all played out for you. It's faith, it's "meant to be." So at 278 I flipped to the end, read the last chapter... Geesh, I didn't see that one coming. Ugh slap me again. I was expecting it to get good. Wanting it too. Reminder to self.... Don't expect to make love to "Ben Stein" and hope to get the "David Gandy" experience. You won't get your "O" the book did not leave me overjoyed. I got a headache! Lol
October 11, 2012
I found this novel somewhat formulaic. Perhaps the suspense factor kept me reading. I wish the novel ahd either stayed in the present or past. I did find the historical flashback story interesting, but the novel tried too hard to keep the spooky reincarnation undercurrent running, along with Gothic elements of a woman marrying a man whose first wife died mysteriously. There were too many coincidences for me, with both wives being midwifes, etc. I cared about Ava, especially after she learned she was pregnant. I do believe there can be certain currents from the past affecting us, especially in older houses such as the one Ava moved into, but the specific details she accessed in her swoons -- don't think so... The collective unconscious, yes, but a full dossier on a parallel life from 200 years ago, not so sure. No more Karen White for me.
June 27, 2012
Love, love, love Karen White!!! My favorite southern writer because she never disappoints me!!! This was another very good novel that keeps you guessing the outcome until the very end!!!
June 9, 2012
Add this book to your summer reading list. Seriously. Do it! Sea Change by Karen White is a mixture of mystery, romance, and history. Ava Whalen has been afraid of water since she was a baby. Nobody knows or understands why. Ava's mom, Gloria, loves her but has always been standoffish towards Ava. Pamela lived 200 years before in the same St. Simons Island house as Ava and her new husband, Matthew Frazier. The story is told from all three women's point of view.
Ava and Matthew married after a whirlwind romance. They decide to move to the coastal town of St. Simons. They move into Mathew's ancestral home. They are both eager to start their new lives together. On their first night there, Ava learns that Matthew has been married before. She is upset that such a big detail was withheld from her. Eager to know more about his first wife, Ava starts to uncover some disturbing details about the mysterious death of Mathew's first wife, Adrienne. Ava digs deeper to find out if the man she loves could be responsible for Adrienne's death. Ava and Adrienne also share an obsession about a mystery that happened over 200 years ago on the island. Meanwhile Ava's mother, Gloria, is devastated that Ava moved to the island. Gloria and Ava have always had a strained relationship. Since moving to the island, it has become even more so. Secrets are being kept from all sides.
Sea Change is a great read. It's reminiscent of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. It has the same mysterious, haunted feel that Rebecca holds. The journeys from the past to the present are fascinating as the story unfolds. The characters are fantastic. White keeps you guessing on who to trust. One of my favorite characters is Mimi. She's Ava's ninety-one year old grandmother. Despite her age, she has no intention of slowing down. She's a feisty, spirited woman that made me laugh. I enjoyed this book thoroughly.
Ava and Matthew married after a whirlwind romance. They decide to move to the coastal town of St. Simons. They move into Mathew's ancestral home. They are both eager to start their new lives together. On their first night there, Ava learns that Matthew has been married before. She is upset that such a big detail was withheld from her. Eager to know more about his first wife, Ava starts to uncover some disturbing details about the mysterious death of Mathew's first wife, Adrienne. Ava digs deeper to find out if the man she loves could be responsible for Adrienne's death. Ava and Adrienne also share an obsession about a mystery that happened over 200 years ago on the island. Meanwhile Ava's mother, Gloria, is devastated that Ava moved to the island. Gloria and Ava have always had a strained relationship. Since moving to the island, it has become even more so. Secrets are being kept from all sides.
Sea Change is a great read. It's reminiscent of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. It has the same mysterious, haunted feel that Rebecca holds. The journeys from the past to the present are fascinating as the story unfolds. The characters are fantastic. White keeps you guessing on who to trust. One of my favorite characters is Mimi. She's Ava's ninety-one year old grandmother. Despite her age, she has no intention of slowing down. She's a feisty, spirited woman that made me laugh. I enjoyed this book thoroughly.
June 10, 2012
I like this one better than The House on Tradd Street. However, it is still not great. I would charge this one with a lack of subtlety and a repetiveness of certain details which leads the reader to feel she is being beaten over the head with a "this is important...I'm giving you a hint...IMPORTANT!" hammer. Also, how many time is she White going to use the "seeminly devoted wife and mother abandons husband and son for another man" thread? Bit of a lack of inventiveness, no?
Need mind candy with a romance, mystery, history angle? This will do. Need good writing and a fascinating and suspenseful plot? You might want to look elsewhere.
Need mind candy with a romance, mystery, history angle? This will do. Need good writing and a fascinating and suspenseful plot? You might want to look elsewhere.
March 22, 2013
Ok read. Just repetitive in prose so much I wanted to chuck it at times. The author really likes the word "tabby" (apparently a style of house building material). The 1st person perspective from the 1800's and modern day were too similar. Nobody talks like that. Guess I'm just being pissy. Was glad when I finished it.
August 13, 2018
I read most of White’s books, this one by far is my favourite. The main character, Ava, her story is layered with mystery, ghostly spirits, love, forgiveness, and the possibility that two souls can be forever intertwined. The authors vivid detail of the sights and smells are so real it makes the story so much more exciting. Sea Change is an enchanting story, opening your mind and heart to the possibility that the universe is bigger than we know it. This is a must read!
July 3, 2012
Originally posted at PaperbackDolls.com.
When the author asked Paperback Dolls if we would review SEA Change by Karen White I immediately jumped on the opportunity based on the synopsis I couldn’t wait to read it and wow am I glad I did. It was by far one of the best books I have read in a while.
SEA CHANGE is a story of what it means to be a family. It’s a heartwarming story of how our families past affects our future and how misunderstood events in the past flavor the way we view ourselves today. White captivates with a story of love, betrayal and family secrets that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last page. We are immediately engrossed as the story of Ava in the present is mingled with the story of Pamela from the early 1800’s. Both stories are equally intriguing filled with the nuances of family and what it means to love as they follow a path finally converging into one. White builds the story from the perspective of a few a few different characters and I love how we get to see events from the perspective of Ava, her mother and grandmother as well as Pamela’s story from the past. Each voice weaves together seamlessly tugging at your heart.
I absolutely could not put this book down. It is a testament that love can last forever and the ties that bind a family. You will cherish every moment as Ava discovers herself and what true love means. I highly recommend this for your summer reading list; in fact I recommend you grab this book as soon as it comes out June 5th. You’ll be delighted that you did.
When the author asked Paperback Dolls if we would review SEA Change by Karen White I immediately jumped on the opportunity based on the synopsis I couldn’t wait to read it and wow am I glad I did. It was by far one of the best books I have read in a while.
SEA CHANGE is a story of what it means to be a family. It’s a heartwarming story of how our families past affects our future and how misunderstood events in the past flavor the way we view ourselves today. White captivates with a story of love, betrayal and family secrets that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last page. We are immediately engrossed as the story of Ava in the present is mingled with the story of Pamela from the early 1800’s. Both stories are equally intriguing filled with the nuances of family and what it means to love as they follow a path finally converging into one. White builds the story from the perspective of a few a few different characters and I love how we get to see events from the perspective of Ava, her mother and grandmother as well as Pamela’s story from the past. Each voice weaves together seamlessly tugging at your heart.
I absolutely could not put this book down. It is a testament that love can last forever and the ties that bind a family. You will cherish every moment as Ava discovers herself and what true love means. I highly recommend this for your summer reading list; in fact I recommend you grab this book as soon as it comes out June 5th. You’ll be delighted that you did.
January 25, 2013
When I packed this book for a recent vacation I was soooo looking forward to reading it. Past lives, current love story -- what's not to like? I really wanted to sink my teeth into a meaty women's fiction book but instead of steak I got soggy pizza. The voice of the main character Ava was whiny to me, I just couldn't connect with her. And the plot seemed plodding more than anything else. Even in a story with paranormal elements you need a character's motivations to make some sense and connect with the reader. What exactly was Georgina's motivations? And how did they influence Adrienne? I have no idea and the last 40 pages felt rushed and disconnected. What a disappointment.
June 19, 2012
Such an entertaining novel and one in which I became thoroughly immersed. Of course it was set in one my favorite places, St. Simon's Island in Georgia and I loved reading about the places I had visited and the islands history. The characters were fantastic and the storyline stretched from the 1800's to the present. One quote from the novel that really resonated with me is " Know what you want to take root, and what you want pulled out." They were, in the story talking of gardening and flowers but it could of course be used to describe many different situations. Wonderfully enjoyable story.
July 29, 2021
What a delight! I loved Karen White's Sea Change and highly recommend it as the perfect book to read this summer. An intriguing blend of secrets, mysteries, and relationships from the past linked to the present, all set in the beautiful southern setting of St. Simons Island. Three narrators each tell their own threads of the story, revealing layer upon layer of their story as their secrets unfold and the past and present become connected in a stunning conclusion. A little history and clean romance, lots of mystery, and well-rounded characters.
Fans of Susanna Kearsley will love this one!
Fans of Susanna Kearsley will love this one!
December 22, 2017
Could have been much shorter. And the running message of "wherever you go, I will find you" is not romantic. The love depicted was equal parts nauseatingly sachrinne and controlling/obsessive. I'd hoped from the start that Ava would leave Matthew and couple up with John.
On top of that, the mysteries surrounding Ava's, Pamela's, and Adrienne's lives were, on the whole, pretty predictable. The annoying personalities of most of the characters, however, made it hard to really care about any of them.
On top of that, the mysteries surrounding Ava's, Pamela's, and Adrienne's lives were, on the whole, pretty predictable. The annoying personalities of most of the characters, however, made it hard to really care about any of them.
November 3, 2012
Whenever I find myself in a book I am not enjoying my reading slows down, I end up finding other things to do (like Facebooking or staring at the wall). But I don't start something new, I pick up the book once in awhile and muddle through. I shouldn't do this, I should just cut my losses, because yes, I'll eventually finish, maybe three months later, but--
But I shouldn't finish. Life is too short to read Sea Change.
But I shouldn't finish. Life is too short to read Sea Change.
May 21, 2016
Storyline was ok, but the writing was melodramatic, wordy, and had terribly constructed similes: "...[sound of a giggle] was like pollen to her heart." What ??? She ran into his arms like "...wind through water." When I repeated this last simile to a friend of mine, she asked if that was like farting in a bathtub. Ava shivered and had the chills so frequently I thought she might have Malaria.
June 3, 2024
Another story with family members who need to come together for healing and revealing hidden truth. The author makes the connection of life to a beautiful garden where a gardener needs to decide what should take root and what should be pulled out. We all experience hurts along life's road that can stall growth or mar the potential of fulfillment. It takes wisdom to discern what should be discarded and what can be used to make us more beautiful as we inspire others in the journey.
February 20, 2018
Karen White is a wonderful storyteller. Loved this book and the mystery, complexity, and intertwining of characters and history.
June 4, 2012
Some believe that the soul doesn’t die with the body, that it’s often given second chances to right wrongs and fulfill destinies and for Ava Whalen that destiny was Matthew Frazier. From the moment she met him she felt a belonging that had eluded her, her entire life and their courtship as fast as it was felt like coming home, so much so that even to the dismay of her mother she travels from her home in Antioch to Matthew’s centuries old family home on St. Simons Island Georgia. Yet the fulfillment she seeks is still as elusive as ever when she finds out that Matthew is keeping secrets from her, secrets that could kill their burgeoning love, secrets like she’s not the first Mrs. Frazier and that Matthew’s first wife died under suspicious circumstances and Matthew isn’t talking about it. To complicate matters further Ava is having unsettling déjà vu in her new home and new town, disturbing flashes from a past that seems real to her, a past that she feels a certain intimacy with a past that’s full of Frazier family skeletons falling out of more closets than you can imagine. Through it all she’s not only determined to find the truth to some disturbing questions but she also knows one thing with conviction and that is the love she feels for Matthew. Will Ava get the answers that she seeks and will those answers be worth the price she has to pay.
Karen White has never disappointed me and this time she goes above and beyond with her beautiful and ethereal story of love, tragedy and reclamation with her customary Low Country feel. She does it with her unique prose like narrative that took me right into the pages where I could feel the Ocean spray on my face and see the Spanish Moss hanging from the trees and smell the fragrances of the area, where both temporal and otherworldly images filled my mind as I read. Her characters do a brilliant job of telling the tale and there are no minor actors in this play from Ava who’s fragile yet unimaginably strong, Matthew who’s a puzzle from the start all the way down the line. The love story is front and center and is both timeless and ageless and my heart was involved through the entire breathtaking novel.
Ms. White has taken me on some amazing journeys in my years of reading her but this one will stand out as one of the best.
This will appeal to a multitude of readers from the romance lover to the fans of paranormal but especially it will speak to the lover of literary fiction.
Thank you Ms. White for another trip into your fertile imagination and I can’t wait to see where you take me to next.
Please check out this Q&A I did with the author http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t...
Karen White has never disappointed me and this time she goes above and beyond with her beautiful and ethereal story of love, tragedy and reclamation with her customary Low Country feel. She does it with her unique prose like narrative that took me right into the pages where I could feel the Ocean spray on my face and see the Spanish Moss hanging from the trees and smell the fragrances of the area, where both temporal and otherworldly images filled my mind as I read. Her characters do a brilliant job of telling the tale and there are no minor actors in this play from Ava who’s fragile yet unimaginably strong, Matthew who’s a puzzle from the start all the way down the line. The love story is front and center and is both timeless and ageless and my heart was involved through the entire breathtaking novel.
Ms. White has taken me on some amazing journeys in my years of reading her but this one will stand out as one of the best.
This will appeal to a multitude of readers from the romance lover to the fans of paranormal but especially it will speak to the lover of literary fiction.
Thank you Ms. White for another trip into your fertile imagination and I can’t wait to see where you take me to next.
Please check out this Q&A I did with the author http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t...
June 14, 2012
I have found a new favorite author – Karen White. Sea Change is a suspense novel that reminds me of works of some of my favorite authors including Daphne Du Maurier and Mary Stewart.
The novel starts with Ava Whalen, a mid-wife. In her mid-thirties and the youngest child and only girl, Ava has lived most of her life sheltered in her small town. She unexpectedly elopes with a child psychologist, Matthew Frazier, and moves with him to his ancestral home on St. Simons Island (off the coast of Georgia). Ava neglects to tell Matthew she is deathly afraid of water, and Matthew forgets to tell Ava that he was married once before and his wife had a tragic death. Ava finds herself in a new mysterious home, with a man that is full of mysteries. Did Matthew kill his first wife, Adrienne? What secrets of her own childhood did her own family neglect to share with Ava?
Sea Change also has a parallel historical fiction story. Geoffrey and Pamela Frazier live in the Frazier ancestral home back when it was new in the very early 1800’s. Pamela is a mid-wife and has a great and abiding love with Geoffrey. Together they have one beloved son, Robbie, but Pamela also has a jealous and spiteful sister, Georgina. When the British occupy the island during the war of 1812, fate will wreak havoc on the lives of them all and make them into legends. Ava becomes obsessed with their story in the future.
I loved Sea Change. The novel had so many elements that I love in a good book (and that remind me of the gothic tales of Du Maurier and Stewart) including a husband with a mysterious first wife, an old ancestral home with secrets, and a historical secondary story. There isn’t time travel in this book, but Ava harbors memories from the past that hint of reincarnation. I really enjoyed the characters, and the mysteries kept me riveted. I didn’t know what exactly was going to happen until the very end. I highly recommend this novel.
This review was originally published on my blog at: http://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2012/...
The novel starts with Ava Whalen, a mid-wife. In her mid-thirties and the youngest child and only girl, Ava has lived most of her life sheltered in her small town. She unexpectedly elopes with a child psychologist, Matthew Frazier, and moves with him to his ancestral home on St. Simons Island (off the coast of Georgia). Ava neglects to tell Matthew she is deathly afraid of water, and Matthew forgets to tell Ava that he was married once before and his wife had a tragic death. Ava finds herself in a new mysterious home, with a man that is full of mysteries. Did Matthew kill his first wife, Adrienne? What secrets of her own childhood did her own family neglect to share with Ava?
Sea Change also has a parallel historical fiction story. Geoffrey and Pamela Frazier live in the Frazier ancestral home back when it was new in the very early 1800’s. Pamela is a mid-wife and has a great and abiding love with Geoffrey. Together they have one beloved son, Robbie, but Pamela also has a jealous and spiteful sister, Georgina. When the British occupy the island during the war of 1812, fate will wreak havoc on the lives of them all and make them into legends. Ava becomes obsessed with their story in the future.
I loved Sea Change. The novel had so many elements that I love in a good book (and that remind me of the gothic tales of Du Maurier and Stewart) including a husband with a mysterious first wife, an old ancestral home with secrets, and a historical secondary story. There isn’t time travel in this book, but Ava harbors memories from the past that hint of reincarnation. I really enjoyed the characters, and the mysteries kept me riveted. I didn’t know what exactly was going to happen until the very end. I highly recommend this novel.
This review was originally published on my blog at: http://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2012/...
June 13, 2012
Ooh, another Karen White novel! *Rubs hands together with glee* I was excited to tear into this one, and it was classic White style, just what I was hoping for. The story follows Ava Whalen, newly married to Matthew Frazier. They eloped quickly after meeting, and Ava knew with all her heart that he was the only one for her. They decide to live on St. Simons Island, where Matthew’s family has lived for generations. Upon arrival, Ava’s happiness begins to fade. The past starts creeping amongst the shadows – and Ava becomes obsessed with learning about Matthew’s heritage, specifically the story of Geoffrey and Pamela Frazier, who lived in the house in the 1800’s. Ava also learns for the first time about Matthew’s first wife, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death. Her husband couldn’t have played a part in Adrienne’s murder – or could he? The more Ava digs into the lives of the Frazier’s the more confused she becomes. Her obsession with the past soon leads a trail of questions to her own past – and her connection to St. Simons Island.
Loved it! Once I started Sea Change, there was no putting it down. I loved going back and forth between the present and past, and was absolutely enthralled with Pamela Frazier and her sad tale. This book has a great deal about the subject of reincarnation, and I thought it was done in a fabulous way. It’s hard to put into words how gripping I thought this story was. This was a book that I thought of at night when I was supposed to be sleeping, and I could see the characters moving in mind, living out the journey I thought they would or should take. I finished it in about two days because I had to know how it ended, and this is one not miss!
Loved it! Once I started Sea Change, there was no putting it down. I loved going back and forth between the present and past, and was absolutely enthralled with Pamela Frazier and her sad tale. This book has a great deal about the subject of reincarnation, and I thought it was done in a fabulous way. It’s hard to put into words how gripping I thought this story was. This was a book that I thought of at night when I was supposed to be sleeping, and I could see the characters moving in mind, living out the journey I thought they would or should take. I finished it in about two days because I had to know how it ended, and this is one not miss!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 792 reviews