A Winter by the Sea by Julie Klassen

Julie Klassen continues her On Devonshire Shores series with her latest release, A Winter by the Sea.

Book Blurb

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 Thoughts

I’ve been anxiously awaiting to see what happens next with the Summers sisters, and A Winter by the Sea didn’t disappoint. I loved the updates on Viola and getting to see the sisters continue their business.

Emily has a great arc, and I loved seeing her romance unfold. I also liked seeing Sarah reflect on the events of the last book as she contemplated her future. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next for her.

There were certain parts that felt like an info dump, but I appreciate Klassen’s research. She does a great job of dropping you right into Regency England and the Devonshire coast.

Overall, A Winter by the Sea is a engaging historical women’s fiction novel with a sweet romantic thread.

(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley for review. All opinons expressed are my own.)

For more on Julie Klassen, you can visit her website and sign up for her newsletter. You can also follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.