A Winter by the Sea

September 25, 2023
Klassen’s charming second entry in the On Devonshire Shores series (after The Sisters of Sea View) finds an aspiring novelist juggling her literary dreams and the attentions of two men. In the winter of 1819, England’s Prince Edward, his wife, and daughter arrive in the small seaside town of Sidmouth. The royal family take up residence at Woolbrook Cottage, while some of their staff stay at the Summers family’s nearby boarding house. The prince’s private secretary, James Thomson, soon becomes interested in Emily Summers, who’s having difficulty writing a romantic scene in her novel in progress because she’s never been kissed. In James, Emily finds a fellow bibliophile who becomes a close friend and helps her with her writing projects. Just as she starts to fall for him, however, “devastatingly handsome” Charles Parker, Emily’s former neighbor and love interest, shows up to make amends for cutting ties with the Summers family months earlier, after a messy scandal involving Emily’s sister’s failed elopement. Torn between the two men—who attended Oxford together, where they’d clashed over another mutual love interest—Emily turns to God to decide who and what she wants. 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. (Dec.)Correction: An earlier version of this review mistakenly stated that the book was the final installment in the series. A third volume is planned.

November 1, 2023

When the death of the Summers sisters' father leaves them impoverished, and the actions of the eldest sister leave them vulnerable to scandal, the women are forced to adapt to a working-class life, operating a boarding house near the sea in Sidmouth, England. Emily finds that winter at the boarding house is nothing like her beloved romance novels, but real life may actually prove to be better, as she improves at both friendship and sisterhood. When a royal guest moves in next door, the whole of the countryside seeks the duke's patronage. The charming seaside town isn't all tourists and quaint shops, though: it's a perfect location for smuggling--and the royal family is a tempting target. VERDICT This Regency coming-of-age novel is chock-full of fun, everyday history, and witty repartee. Klassen delivers another sweet story (following The Sisters of Sea View) in a romance series best read in order. Anglophiles and fans of Sarah E. Ladd and Kristi Ann Hunter will want to catch up with the Summers family.

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