Blog Tour and Book Review: A Winter by the Sea by Julie Klassen

BOOK DESCRIPTION

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.

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

BOOK REVIEW

This is Book Two in the On Devonshire Shores series. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading Book One, The Sisters of Sea View. In this installment, the sisters and their mother are excited to find out that the Duke and Duchess of Kent have rented the cottage next door for the winter. The Royals will be accompanied by their young daughter, a girl who will one day be Queen Victoria. Then the sisters learn that three of the lower members of the Royal staff will be lodging at Sea View.

I loved reading about a royal visit and all the preparations, headaches, and prestige involved. Don’t you hate it when the royals use up all the eggs in town? The fun of reading a series set in a hotel, or “Guest House, as they call it, is that new residents move in with each book, so a new cast of characters arrives, blends with the established characters, and shakes things up. Add secrets and romance to this delightful mixture, and this is a winning recipe for a great story. There is also a delightful bookish storyline involving Emily that is sure to please readers. Julie Klassen has such a great talent for creating characters that we care about, and she is a master at weaving in real events from history. This book is no exception. I can’t wait to see what the Summers Sisters do next!

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Austenprose PR. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

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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