The Whiskey Sea

By: Ann Howard Creel

Narrated by: Angela Dawe

Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Motherless and destitute, Frieda Hope grows up during Prohibition determined to make a better life for herself and her sister, Bea. The girls are taken in by a kindly fisherman named Silver, and Frieda begins to feel at home whenever she is on the water. When Silver sells his fishing boat to WWI veteran Sam Hicks, thinking Sam would be a fine husband for Frieda, she's outraged. But Frieda manages to talk Sam into teaching her to repair boat engines instead, so she has a trade of her own and won't have to marry.

Frieda quickly discovers that a mechanic's wages won't support Bea and Silver, so she joins a team of rumrunners, speeding into dangerous waters to transport illegal liquor. Frieda becomes swept up in the lucrative, risky work - and swept off her feet by a handsome Ivy Leaguer who's in it just for fun.

As danger mounts and her own feelings threaten to drown her, can Frieda find her way back to solid ground - and to a love that will sustain her?

©2016 Ann Howard Creel (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

although the narrator has improved

she is still very difficult to listen to.. the first 2 chapters were great....then she went back to her Oh! my! god! the! world! is! ending! for every single sentence. I have no clue if the story is good.

captivating story

the story and the narration held my attention throughout the entirety of the book. I love stories that Encompass a little bit history and I love how the author pulled you into Frieda's Life in Her small coastal town. it's filled with raw emotion.

great story

I didn't want it to end. A great story and wonderful descriptions. Would have liked more detail in the characters.

A story that weaves into your heart

Ann Howard Creel has a controlled cadence to her writing that unfurls at a perfect pace. Her narrative lulls you into every moment of the story with her rich and thought provoking characters. There are twists, turns, regrets, love, loss and a provocative main character you can’t (nor should you) pass up.

I loved everything about this book

The story of Freda is as intriguing and ever-changing as the sea. All of the characters in this book are interesting and well developed. The feel and taste of the sea permeates the whole story. The narrator is perfect. Highly recommended.

Filled with History

I loved the geographical and historical factual setting, primarily concerning the clamming and liquor running off the Jersey bay shore during prohibition. The dialogue between the sisters was quite touching, and I was grateful that romance was only one of several themes.

Looking For What Just Might Be All Around You

The daughter of the town's prostitute, Frieda is haunted and determined. This is a fine story of one young woman who can never have enough; it's never safe, she always needs to make more. After all, her little sister is a smart, loving girl/young woman who has needs but can be flighty, and their beloved "caretaker", Silver--perhaps the only man in town who never made use of their mother--is crippled and ailing from a stroke, needing care, dying a little more each day.
Enter rum running, where Frieda's skills make her one of the most dependable and durable of mechanics. Here she finds solidarity, excitement and most of all, money. And soon, a love that turns her into someone she doesn't recognize.
"The Whiskey Sea" is a well-written story, redolent with the fragrances of the past, the mechanics and societal norms of Prohibition and poverty (if you don't get in on the action). It's a story about love, security, and finding forgiveness in your heart for all of that which haunts you. It's about letting go and letting love in.
Angela Dawe narrates very well, never making her male characters caricatures, and suffusing the text with energy and excitement. It's a short story, only 8+ hours, but it's sweet without being precious, and touching without being a ploy-filled tearjerker. I really enjoyed this story about the sea and history, about sisters and friends, about finding the love and steadiness that surrounds us all.

Just Another Romance Novel

Adequate writing. Great Setting. Interesting characters. I just wish the author would have done more with the plot. Unrequited love just isn't enough to fully captivate me.

🌟🌟 4 Stars 🌟🌟

Another book I chose for my category challenge, I will admit "roaring twenties" wasn't a category I was looking forward to and after stopping and starting 3 other books I started this one and was hooked from the prologue! This book was so much more than I expected it would be. I loved how different this was from my normal books. Frieda was a great character that grew so much from the beginning to the end of this book. I also loved the family dynamic and the friends she has in this book. This book had me up late because I just couldn't wait to see what happened. I enjoyed this book so much I chose my next book because of this author!

I love Angela Dawe! Sometimes depending on the characters I have to get used to her because I don't always think she is cast correctly but this book is an exception to that for me. She really did a great job on this book!

Wonderful story

The story is very good. I found myself listening to this as often as I could. Great storyline.