Happy Fall Y’all!

It is really starting to feel like fall around here and I am so excited! I love all the fall things. Pumpkin everything, cooler weather, soup and baked goods, sweater weather, changing leaves. I am here for it all!

Today I am excited to share my review of A Winter by the Sea by Julie Klassen. I enjoyed this sequel in the On Devonshire Shores series. Read my review of book one, The Sisters of Sea View, here.  It was a delight to be back at Sea View with the Summers sisters.

Book 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.“

My favorite elements in this story are the historical details. Klassen has done meticulous research and incorporates so many details into her story. Seeing how she weaves history with fiction is impressive. She creates such a vivid world in Regency Sidmouth. I can see the whole town and the different places the Summers sisters frequent from the lending libraries to the church and the rescue. Everything comes alive in the writing. I really enjoyed getting to know the Duke of Kent in a casual way and seeing how it could have been for common people to interact with royalty including the infant future queen Victoria. The tragic end to the Duke’s story is emotional and so very sad. I felt emotional reading about his decline and how the medicine of the day could not help him. The details about the funeral processional and the true historical figures that surrounded the Duke were so fascinating!

The characters are beautifully developed in this series. I enjoyed getting to know Sarah and Emily better in this story and seeing Viola blossoming in her marriage. Reading about Sarah’s work ethic and the grief that still follows her after her fiancee’s death was truly beautifully done. I enjoyed seeing Emily work hard to achieve her writing dreams and seeing how dreams can change. Her budding relationship with James Thomson was a favorite of mine in the story. I loved how he saw her and accepted her as she was and how he accepted her family. The Summers sisters are close knit and supportive. I enjoy seeing them interact and help each other regardless of the mistakes or uncertainties they face. I look forward to seeing more of Claire in the third book in the series too!

My only qualm in this story is that I keep rooting for all the sisters to find their happily ever after and not everyone does in each book. Not everything is neatly resolved at the end of the story which is always a bit disappointing for me. I felt sad for Sarah at the end of this one. I want her to find love again. Also I felt like the subplot about smuggling was a bit intense and didn’t fit with the rest of the story for me. That being said, I enjoyed the stories very much and loved seeing Emily find her happily ever after in this one. Hoping to see everyone find happiness through the course of the series.

Overall, I enjoyed this book! I really enjoy the multiple points of view and how quickly the plot moves from sister to sister even several times within one chapter. The descriptions of Sidmouth make me want to explore the Devonshire coast one day as well! I am looking forward to book 3!

What are some of your favorite historical novels?
Do you have a favorite historical time period to read about?