Tag: Julie Klassen

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Publication Day Post: A Winter by the Sea (On Devonshire Shores Book #2)

440 pages December 5,2023 publication date Bethany House publishers

ABOUT THE BOOK

Royalty comes to Sidmouth, bringing unexpected danger and the sweet possibility of romance. . . .

When the Duke and Duchess of Kent and their daughter–the future Queen Victoria–rent neighboring Woolbrook Cottage for the winter, the Summers sisters are called upon to host three of the royal family’s male staff in their seaside house. But they soon realize they’ve invited secrets and intrigue into their home.

Meanwhile, Emily Summers longs to become an author. A local publisher offers to consider her novel if she will first write a Sidmouth guidebook for him. Emily agrees and begins researching the area with help from the Duke of Kent’s handsome private secretary. But a surprise visitor from her past shows up at Sea View, leaving Emily torn between the desires she’s long held dear and her budding dreams for the future.

Return to the Devonshire coast with the Summers sisters, where loyalties are tested, secrets come to light, and new love emerges.

MY THOUGHTS

A Winter by the Sea is the second book in the On Devonshire Shores series. Having read the first I eagerly looked forward to reading this one and was not disappointed.

I feel as though once again I’ve gone back in time with the Summers sisters. They have new neighbors for the winter season, the Duke and Duchess of Kent and their daughter–the future Queen Victoria–who rent neighboring Woolbrook Cottage. I enjoyed getting to know the royalty and seeing how they interacted.

When the staff they bring with them doesn’t all fit in Woolbrook Cottage the male staff will be staying at the seaside house. The characters are so well presented and researched; I enjoyed getting to know them all.

So many different personalities, a few are quite the characters. There are not many authors that can write regency romance the way this author can. Each storyline is unique with characters and plots that hold my attention and makes me want to read more.

Romance and an intriguing storyline with realistic scenes will have you remembering this story long after you’re done.

I highly recommend this series and book.

Pub Date: 05 Dec 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her novels have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. She has also won the Minnesota Book Award, the Midwest Book Award, and Christian Retailing’s BEST Award. Julie is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota. Visit http://www.julieklassen.com and talesfromivyhill.com for more information.

Thank you for reading my post today. Have a wonderful day and stay warm.

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The Sisters of Sea View (On Devonshire Shores #1)By Julie Klassen, Charming start of a new series-Review

About The Book

Some guests have come for a holiday, others for hidden reasons of their own . . .

When their father’s death leaves them impoverished, Sarah Summers and her genteel sisters fear they will be forced to sell the house and separate to earn livelihoods as governesses or companions. Determined to stay together, Sarah convinces them to open their seaside home to guests to make ends meet and provide for their ailing mother. Instead of the elderly invalids they expect to receive, however, they find themselves hosting eligible gentlemen. Sarah is soon torn between a growing attraction to a mysterious Scottish widower and duty to her family.

Viola Summers wears a veil to cover her scar. When forced to choose between helping in her family’s new guest house and earning money to hire a maid to do her share, she chooses the latter. She reluctantly agrees to read to some of Sidmouth’s many invalids, preferring the company of a few elders with failing eyesight to the fashionable guests staying in their home. But when her first client turns out to be a wounded officer in his thirties, Viola soon wishes she had chosen differently. Her new situation exposes her scars–both visible and those hidden deep within–and her cloistered heart will never be the same.

Join the Summers sisters on the Devonshire coast, where they discover the power of friendship, loyalty, love, and new beginnings.

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My Thoughts

This is Inspirational Regency fiction at its absolute best!

The Sisters of Sea View was a wonderful book.
I have been reading this authors’ books since she has started writing and I don’t plan on stopping. I love how well researched her books are, you truly feel as though you are right here in the setting with the characters experiencing it all.


The setting is mostly at Sea View, a large home in Devonshire. After the unexpected death of the father, the ailing mother is unable to work so the four sisters devise a way to bring in money to save the house from being sold. They turn Sea View with its gorgeous view of the sea from its bedrooms into a home taking in boarders.
It takes a while to set up all the characters as there are many, the new boarders, the townspeople, people off visiting, hired help and more.


Once we get past all of this the books goes at a smooth pace.
There are four sisters and each one is lovely and has a unique place in the book.
This book has the four sisters present but concentrates on the story of one of them more than the others. If I had a guess I would say, each sister has her own story.
It was pleasing to see a sister who didn’t enjoy mixing in company because of what she thinks is a deformity that she keeps covered become less self-conscience and sure of herself.


There are characters staying at the house when it becomes a boarding house, some definitely a little quirky. We get somewhat of a backstory of these characters, and I think we’ll see more of them in future books.
One thing is for sure, I would love to visit Sea View and go into the sea there. It sounds so peaceful and relaxing there.
I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series. It will be hard to wait.

Pub Date 06 Dec 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

ulie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her novels have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. She has also won the Minnesota Book Award, the Midwest Book Award, and Christian Retailing’s BEST Award. Julie is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota. Visit http://www.julieklassen.com and talesfromivyhill.com for more information.

Have you read other Julie Klassen books? What makes you want to read this book? Do you have a favorite regency author to read?

Thank you for stopping by today. Enjoy your weekend.

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A Castaway in Cornwall by Julie Klassen-Review

About The Book

Laura Callaway daily walks the windswept Cornwall coast, known for many shipwrecks but few survivors. She feels like a castaway, set adrift on the tides of fate by the deaths of her parents and left wanting answers. Now living with her parson uncle and his parsimonious wife in North Cornwall, Laura is viewed as an outsider even as she yearns to belong somewhere again.

When ships sink, wreckers scour the shore for valuables, while Laura searches for clues to the lives lost. She has written letters to loved ones and returned keepsakes to rightful owners. She collects seashells and mementos, and when a man is washed ashore, she collects him too.

As Laura and a neighbor care for the castaway, the mystery surrounding him grows. He has abrasions and a deep cut that looks suspiciously like a knife wound, and he speaks in careful, educated English, yet his accent seems odd. Other clues wash ashore, and Laura soon realizes he is not who he seems to be. Their attraction grows, and while she longs to return the man to his rightful home, evidence against him mounts. With danger pursuing them from every side, will Laura ever find the answers and love she seeks?

My Review

One of my favorite authors, though I may be behind in my reads I will always read every book I can get my hands on by this author.
This book is set on the windswept Cornish coast. The area has quite a few shipwrecks and many of the areas inhabitants are known to have lost a loved one to these wrecks. Very atmospheric, you can feel the wildness of the wind tossing the ships about.
As the ships sink wreckers search the area for valuables that have washed ashore.
The man Laura rescues from the shipwreck near her Cornish home is surrounded in mystery, who is he and why does he have strange injuries on his body? The romance between Alex and Laura, the woman who rescues him after the shipwreck near her Cornwall home. I also enjoyed reading about the Cornish coast and it’s rugged storms. Atmospheric and full of interesting characters the plot kept me entertained and I found it hard to put down.

Published December 1st 2020
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Grab A Copy Here

About The Author

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her novels have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. She has also won the Minnesota Book Award, the Midwest Book Award, and Christian Retailing’s BEST Award. Julie is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota. Visit http://www.julieklassen.com and talesfromivyhill.com for more information.

Thank you for visiting today. Stay cool and hydrated on these hot days.

Let me know in the comments if you’d read this book. Do you have a favorite book by this author?