I featured this book when the cover reveal came out and since then I have been so excited to read this one! I read the first book in the series last year and really enjoyed it and couldn’t wait for the next installment in the series. Not to mention I am a big fan of Julie Klassen so naturally I had this one on my radar for months prior to its release! And honestly how could you not get excited about this book when you see the cover??? The Cover is stunning and I just knew it would be a good that would grab my attention!
Julia Klassen is a tried and proven author for me. She has written so many historical fiction books that have many elements that will appeal to a wide variety of readers. Some of her books have a bit of a Gothic feel while others have more romance or some have more of a friendship/family feel to them. There are also religious components but for me the religion doesn’t overshadow the story or become preachy.
Whenever I see a new book by Klassen, I rarely hesitate to snatch it up. She is a consistently good writer and I almost always enjoy her books and that is not something I can say about every author I read so I don’t take that statement lightly! If you are looking for a solid historical fiction author then you don’t want to miss Klassen, she is a delight to read!
Summary
When the Duke and Duchess of Kent rent neighboring Woolbrook Cottage for the winter, the Summers sisters are called upon to host three of the royal couple’s male staff in their seaside house. But they soon realize they’ve invited mysterious secrets and the sweet possibility of romance into their home.
Meanwhile, Emily Summers approaches a local publisher in hopes of fulfilling her dream of becoming an author. When he turns her down, his dashing competitor promises to consider her novel if she will first write a new Sidmouth guidebook for him. Emily accepts and begins researching with the help of 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 used to hold 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. (summary from Goodreads)
Review
I will say right away, that I enjoyed this book more than the first one. The first book in the series was great but I think I felt more connected to Emily in this book and therefore enjoyed it a bit more than the other based on that. This book reminded me a little bit of a Austen novel or Little Women type of book that incorporates sisterly elements into the romance. I know the other reviewers mentioned something similar and I completely agree that this book feels like Jane Austen’s Persuasion and Little Women had a book baby! I loved reading about Emily and seeing her journey to find fulfillment, happiness, and love while watching how the family dynamics played out in the background. It was a wonderfully written story and I felt engaged from the beginning.
I do not think that you need to read the first book in the series to enjoy this one. While it can only enhance your reading experience, I don’t think it’s completely necessary. Emily’s story is independent of the first book so I think you can pick up whenever you like and not feel lost. For me this book flowed a little better than the first one and I enjoyed the suspense in this book. I took my time reading this one and savoring all that it had to offer (which again was a lot—-it had so much to recommend itself!) but I felt like the suspense parts of the book really helped keep things moving and interesting.
I love books set on the coast, especially a rocky coastline. Since I live in Oregon, I am close to the coast and it’s always one of my favorite settings. While reading this books I could practically feel the location and ocean on my face. I love how many of Klassen’s books are set on the coast, I always find myself longing for a beach trip after reading them and this book was no exception. In addition to all the lovely characters, setting, and plot points—I loved the attention to historical detail! In this book the future Queen Victoria makes and appearance and I thought it was fun to have this little historic bit added in. Klassen is a superb writer and I am so lucky to have been able to read this one this winter! I am looking forward to the next one in this series!
Book Info and Rating
Format 448 pages, Paperback
Published December 5, 2023 by Bethany House Publishers
ISBN 9780764234286 (ISBN10: 0764234285)
Free review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 5 stars
Genre: historical fiction
PRAISE FOR A WINTER BY THE SEA
- “Enlivened by historical details of the royal family’s 1819 visit to Devonshire, the narrative is propelled forward by an irrepressible protagonist whose spunk will easily win readers’ sympathy. This breezy and delightful installment is sure to satisfy Klassen’s fans.”— Publisher’s Weekly
- “A Winter by the Sea is a story about finding your purpose and realizing that the things we hope and pray for…might not always be the things we truly need…
The On Devonshire Shores series is truly a delight.”— Lauren, The Books Script - “Julie Klassen has provided such a beautiful escape with this series…I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series and will be highly anticipating book 3!!”— Tasha, Clean Read Book Club
PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | PUBLISHER | BOOKSHOP | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS
AUTHOR BIO
Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies, and she is a three-time recipient of the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Secret of Pembrooke Park was honored with the Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie has also won the Midwest Book Award and Christian Retailing‘s Best Award and has been a finalist in the RITA and Carol Awards. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full-time. She and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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