Rose Sutherland
Historical Fantasy
“A Sweet Sting of Salt is a beautiful love story set in a historical Canadian setting wrapped in Scottish Folklore.” ~nerdywordyreviews
Jean, a midwife in a tiny town set in early 19th century Nova Scotia, Canada, has secluded herself from the townspeople at all costs. When she fell in love with a woman, her mother shipped her daughter off to be married and spread gossip, tainting Jean’s name. Now, she only ventures into town when her job requires it.
Living a quiet and very sheltered life, she raises her chickens and her two goats on a little property that rests on a pond across from the ocean. Being raised primarily by her father, she stayed in her tiny childhood home after his passing.
All is quiet and well in her world when an unknown woman shows up on her property in the middle of the night, ready to deliver a child. With Jean’s help, the delivery is successful; the baby is healthy but unusual, and the woman does not speak English. Jean has many questions, and in the months to come, secrets come to light and Jean realizes that if anyone is to help this young mother, it’s going to be her.
A Sweet Sting of Salt is a romantic retelling of The Selkie’s Wife, a Scottish folklore story. Set in the early 1900s, Author Rose Sutherland intertwines folklore and reality exceptionally well. It is easy to read, relate to, and understand.
The book is a slow-burn romance filled with many emotions. There is magic within the story itself, not just in the fantasy portion, but in the relationship between the two main female characters.
The romance scenes are low spice and the story’s primary focus is on the main protagonist, Jean, and the plot.
Within the story, many secrets, both good and bad, come forth shedding light on some unknowns and opening doors to new possibilities.
Author Rose Sutherland created a well-written and researched environment by showcasing Nova Scotia’s past events, town/city names, the landscape, and even incorporating well-known last names still used throughout the Atlantic provinces today.
This was a quick-paced read for me—one of understanding, magic, and emotions.
A Sweet Sting of Salt is a beautiful read that I finished in two sittings.
Nerdy Wordy Reviews 