I couldn’t stop reading this, from the shipwreck to the ending.
There was just enough suspense and romance. Some was predictable and maybe not believable. But I have a thing for stories about shipwrecks so I loved this one.
The setting in Cornwall is lovely and I could totally picture the English seaside descriptions. I also loved the tie in to the Napoleonic War. The smuggling, the secrets, and everything though maybe far fetched became real to me. I was invested in the story and the romance. I loved the opening and loved how the epilogue tied it all together.
I have read only a couple books by Klassen, but this one has exceeded the others by far. Maybe it’s a little different than her others, but I loved it.

The beautiful setting of Cornwall always draws me in. I have loved all of Julie’s books but this one may be my favorite.
Julie’s newest story is a captivating tale filled with shipwrecks, smugglers, wars, spies, secrets, and romance. I quickly fell in love with this set of characters and couldn’t wait to figure out the mystery. Regency fans will adore this couple and their story. Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for sending me a copy. All opinions expressed are own.

A Castaway in Cornwall by Julie Klassen
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars for this tale of intrigue and romance. I have read almost all of Julie Klassen’s books and enjoyed every single one. This story had me so captivated that I finished it in one day. Klassen’s books are so well written with relatable characters and a touch of romance. This one also had a fair amount of intrigue and adventure that kept me turning the pages. I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy clean, historical fiction with a touch of inspiration.
Thank you to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for the free copy to review. A positive review was not required and all opinions are my own.

I love Julie Klassen’s novels. They are high-quality stories clearly well researched and well written. A Castaway in Cornwall is no exception. This story is breathtaking. I found the plot engaging. The characters all unique and realistic. The romance sweet and satisfying. And, the themes timely and thought-provoking. A Castaway in Cornwall is a true 2020 must-read that I highly recommend.

One of my most favorite aspects to Klassen’s novels is that her characters are realistic. They may believe in God, but they are also angry or hurt or struggling or frustrated or questioning. They aren’t perfect even when they seem perfect. I really love Laura’s character in this novel. She is a truly good person. She is law-abiding when many around her are rule-benders. She genuinely cares for others — even those who seem like outcasts. To Laura, a person in need is a person in need no matter his/her race, financial status, or position in society. She is always respectful no matter what. And, she is humble. Add to this that she is beautiful and Laura appears to be the perfect Christian character. But Laura knows better. She knows she is holding resentment in her heart. She knows she needs to forgive but struggles to do so. She knows she can have a haughty attitude towards others. And, she knows she looks like a good Christian girl, but really she is just going through the steps as if she is following a “good-girl, Christian checklist.” Laura knows she is a woman who needs fixing, but how does one get “fixed” when it feels like God has deserted her? And, herein lies the spiritual crux of this story. Laura’s physical journey in this novel is a metaphor for the spiritual journey we all must endure in order to see just how much God works in our lives. God loves His kids and He is an active Father, but we kids have to be willing to pause, self-reflect, and stop making assumptions that God is impotent just because we don’t get what we want when we want it. This is a superior and timely message we all need to hear today. Does Laura realize just how important she is to her Heavenly Father? Does she do what she needs to in order to see God active in her life? Well, you’ll just have to read this superb story to find out.

A Castaway in Cornwall is a beautiful, hope-filled, satisfying Historical Romance that I highly recommend. If you are a fan of Julie Klassen’s stories, and if you love well-researched, romantic, and engaging Historical Fiction, then A Castaway in Cornwall is the novel for you!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Bethany House Publishers, via NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Having read my first Julie Klassen book yesterday, I started on this one today. A most enjoyable read. The story was completely different from the other one which was a bit unexpected as often authors seem to write with variations of the same theme. As with the other book, a strong story, different from the normal books in this genre and with an undercurrent of spirituality. Perfect for reading at this time of year.

Julie Klassen is a favorite author, and I will read anything she writes. A Castaway in Cornwall has an intriguing mystery and a lovely romance. I loved escaping to Cornwall, and getting to know the eclectic cast of characters and their fascinating life by the sea. The story was a little long in parts, so I would recommend reading it when you want a richer, longer read. It's perfect for the winter season, so brew a cup of tea and settle in.

I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of review.

I enjoyed this book especially as Cornwall is one of my favourite places. I know Padstow very well so, it made this book such a lovely read.. it was very well written and it kept me interested all the way through, I don’t often read books like this so, this made a pleasant change for me. The descriptions of the sea and the scenery made me want to go back to Cornwall as soon as possible. I found this book an easy read and I would love to read more by this author. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

As I was reading this book I thought it was unique to be reading a Regency era romance where I was rooting for the French Officer to succeed. During this time period with the countries at war with each other, the French are usually the bad guys in books set in England. I found it interesting that Alexander had some confusion about loyalties in the end as well. Our feelings kind of paralleled each other. I loved that Laura was so level headed though the story. Even when she didn't know if she was dealing with a good guy or bad guy she chose to give people the benefit of doubt until she had learned the truth of the matter. She was also able to maintain good humor even though she felt so unaccepted by those around her. Her aunt was cool at best yet Laura just rolled her eyes at her behavior rather than take offense. She was also very honest amongst a set of people that had a high tolerance for what amounts to theft. And she is always trying to return information and belongings to their loved ones. Sometimes it isn't appreciated by the recipients but at least in this story it definitely worked in her favor to get them through some difficult situations.

Mild Christian lit themes
Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: some
*I received an ARC of this books through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

My most recent fiction book whisked me back to the rocky shores of Cornwall, but this time with author Julie Klassen. A Castaway in Cornwall has an enjoyable mixture of mystery and romance. As if often true of these novels, the main character has an interesting living situation in that she lives with family that isn't family by blood and is thus not always treated kindly. Laura is also looked down upon by locals as not being "from Cornwall." She spends a great deal of time looking for retrievable items from shipwrecks, otherwise being useful, and making the best of her situation. When there is another shipwreck, she nurses a survivor in their home. The mystery is partially who is this survivor and why was he on the ship? The appearance of another survivor creates a dangerous situation requiring they flee for safety. In the midst of the danger, Laura also uncovers information about her blood family. A Castaway in Cornwall is a light, enjoyable read. The story pulls you in and has you rooting for the characters.

I received a complementary copy from Bethany House via NetGalley. I am not required to leave a positive review.

This period piece is an epic tale of an English woman finding her place in a home not her own, and an escaped French prisoner of war hiding in plain sight in the English countryside.
After being injured and washed ashore on the coast of Cornwall, Captain Alexander Carnell is taken in by Laura’s uncle, and befriends Laura.
As the intrigue and tension between their countries build will either of them be able to completely trust and find hope in the midst of war?
I loved this sweeping tale full of complex characters and rich depictions of life at sea, and amidst the gentlefolk of Cornwall.
I recommend it to lovers of historical fiction.
I received an ARC courtesy of Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Even the smallest of details in this book are well-researched, truly placing the reader in North Cornwall, England in the early 1800s. I found A Castaway in Cornwall to be a wonderful companion read to The Light at Wyndcliff by Sarah E. Ladd, which I had recently read and enjoyed. I felt that Evelyn Bray and Laura Callaway would have been the best of friends. Laura's guardian even shared Evelyn's surname. Both story lines revolve around the frequent shipwrecks off the coast of Northern Cornwall, and the free-traders and smugglers who profited from them. A Castaway in Cornwall also incorporates the conflict between the English and French.

Laura Callaway saves the life of a passenger from a doomed ship, the Kittiwake. She takes him to her uncle's home to recuperate and becomes entangled in his efforts to return home and save his brother from the noose. Throwing caution and propriety to the wind, Laura may also fulfill a long-held dream of her own.

I highly recommend A Castaway in Cornwall and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I never gave much thought about what happened to shipwreck cargo and the crew. The author not only wrote a great romantic story, but I learned new things about shipwrecks. The story was the perfect book to curl up with on a cold and dreary day.

A slow started gave way to an intriguing novel of two sides of a war.

I nearly gave up on "A Castaway in Cornwall" due to the likeness of another book that is about some of the same subjects, and up until the 25% mark I nearly gave up on finishing the book, but that wouldn't do since this is a Julie Klassen book!

I am so glad I stuck with it since the book picked up soon enough with more than enough mystery, action, romance, and adventure to make this a book I love, not quite as much as Klassen's "The Painter's Daughter" but I still very much enjoyed it at the last.

I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Thank you, Julie Klassen, Bethany House, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

I always jump at the opportunity to read anything by Julie Klassen. A Castaway on Cornwall is definitely one of my most anticipated reads for this year. Laura Callaway is an orphan living with extended family in Cornwall but does not feel like she belongs. She spends most of her time walking the beach collecting items from shipwrecks. She does her best to identify the owners to bring them peace. Until one day, she finds a man on the shore, he is alive, but only just. Laura saves him. However, he has an accent and his injuries are quite suspicious. He doesn’t seem like he is dangerous but he is definitely not telling her the truth about who he is…

This is an enchanting novel set in the backdrop of the aftermath of the French Revolution. England and France are at war. Everyone is eyed with suspicion. I absolutely love the historical detail even though it is not the highlight of the novel. The highlight is the characters, specifically Laura and Alexander. Both are castaways in their own way. It only makes sense that they would connect. I love Laura’s development as she discovers what home truly is!

Even though this novel has a pretty slow start, it does pick up. There is actually quite a bit of suspense! In fact, there are a few twists and unpredictable endings. I was absolutely shocked with one of the plot points, so it will definitely keep readers on their toes. However, with all Julie Klassen’s novels, the description is absolutely beautiful! I have even added a visit to Cornwall to my travel bucket list…after COVID, of course. Overall, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. This book releases tomorrow, December 1st, 2021!

A swoony adventure based on a shipwreck in Cornwall. I love the look into the lives of smugglers in Cornwall and the rationale, right or wrong, of how this was incorporated into their everyday life. Each chapter has a fascinating quote to provide a look into customs or events in Cornwall during this time. A captivating description of the geography around this area made this tale really come to life. The best part of this story though is Laura and Alexander and their discovery of the truth to so many questions. Laura learns that not everything is at is seems and Alexander must learn to trust again. Klassen once again portrays characters with substance that go beyond the norm and creates layers of depth to the story that promise to keep you reading for more. The supporting characters are equally interesting and add a rich backdrop to this already exquisite tale. Highly recommended for all fans of historical fiction.
I was given a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

It is 1812, and Laura Callaway feels like a castaway in Cornwall, where she lives with her uncle and his somewhat disapproving wife. Missing her parents, who are presumed dead, Laura has found solace and purpose in searching the shores after shipwrecks. She finds and collects lost belongings and attempts to return them to the families of their owners. She does this under the disapproving eye of the Wreckers, men who try to seize and sell the cargo of wrecked ships, despite laws to the contrary. When a stranger is washed ashore, the Wreckers want to kill him, but Laura saves him too. However, she begins to have questions as more lost items turn up. Can this stranger be trusted?

This is a wonderful, well-researched book by Julie Klassen. The laws and practices surrounding wrecked ships of the time were fascinating. Klassen also provided tidbits of Cornish history, mythology, and practices at the beginning of each chapter. The characters sometimes converse in the old Cornish language. Legendary wrecker Tom Parsons is a major character in this novel, and the Napoleonic wars play a part. The romance is well written, and there is a Christian theme of forgiveness throughout the book.

I would recommend this to any fan of historical fiction and romance.

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.

I read another book recently about a small village on an English coast and the shipwrecks that happened and how people would take the things that wash ashore and sell or hide them for profit.

Image my surprise when that same thing happens in this book. And then again imagine my surprise when one of the things that the main character in the book, Laura, tries to save is an actual human who happens to still be alive.

Laura and her neighbour who was a chamber nurse set to work straight away to get this castaway survival to survive. It's touch and goes for a bit but they're getting it done. But things aren't adding up.

Who is this man and where did he come from? Where is he bound? And why was there a french navy coat among the items washed ashore? No one else has been found alive and they need answers soon.

I loved meeting Laura and Alex. They're great characters and they seem to be growing close but yet Alex has secrets he's not willing to share. Laura has mysteries in her past that she still needs to figure out answers to.

Can they help each other with answers? When Alex must go to Jersey and that's where Laura's parents last were before they died she knows she must go with him. Not just for answers but also for love.

The journey is dangerous and he's a wanted man. Who can they trust and will they survive?

Great book and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

A Castaway in Cornwall
by Julie Klassen
Back of the Book: “Set adrift on the tides of fate by the deaths of her parents and left wanting answers, Laura Callaway now lives with her uncle and his disapproving wife in North Cornwall. There she feels like a castaway, always viewed as an outsider even as she yearns to belong.
While wreckers search for valuables along the windswept Cornwall coast--known for its many shipwrecks but few survivors--Laura searches for clues to the lives lost so she can write letters to next of kin and return keepsakes to rightful owners. When a man is washed ashore after a wreck, Laura acts quickly to protect him from a local smuggler determined to destroy him.
As Laura and a neighbor care for the survivor, they discover he has curious wounds and, although he speaks in careful, educated English, his accent seems odd. Other clues wash ashore, and Laura soon realizes he is not who he seems to be. Despite the evidence against him, the mysterious man might provide her only chance to discover the truth about her parents' fate. With danger pursuing them from every side, and an unexpected attraction growing between them, will Laura ever find the answers she seeks?
Impressions: This felt a bit deja vu for me as I recently read, The Light at Wyndcliff, by Sarah E. Ladd. Both books had similar settings and theme of shipwrecks.
Rated: a few kisses, shipwrecks, death, deception, theft, war, and prison camp memories
Liked: I enjoyed the characters and glimpse into Cornish culture. Laura feels out of place in her new home after being orphaned. Although these are her feelings it appeared that she was well-liked in her interactions with others. It took Laura leaving to realize that she was more apart of the community and family than she realized. There are defiantly times where I feel this way, that I don’t belong or don’t fit in. Just as Laura does, I think it is important to keep doing good no matter.
Disliked: Perhaps this is a spoiler but I didn’t care for Alexander’s decisions when it came to women. I know that he liked Laura but his past relationships brought up so much confliction for him that it felt like he wasn’t sincere in his regard for her. I imagine he didn’t have much time to process all that he was experiencing to know his true feelings until they were apart but even then, he seemed swayed too easily by his fathers’ input.
Learned: Unsaid feelings can lead to bitterness. Bitterness leads to hate and ultimately death. You can not chase after such negative feelings and win.
Quotes:
“Life can be hard, and yours has not been easy. But I can honestly say that serving God and serving others has given me purpose and fills my soul when life is sometimes disappointing. I would love for you to find that same fulfillment.”
“That is not how love works. It is not blind to faults, nor must it accept the wrongdoing of those dear to us.”
“He did believe the Almighty heard his prayers, although God had not promised he would not suffer. If the Father had allowed his believed Son to suffer and die on this earth, why should a mere mortal like him expect a carefree life?”
“Almighty God, look with mercy on those here assembled and accept our humble petitions. We are grateful for this new day and for the gracious hospitality of your hosts. Please pardon our offenses of yesterday and guard us from evil today. You know our weaknesses and the temptations that surround us. We ask for your protection through any dangers ahead, and we pray for all who travel by land or by sea.”
“Life might disappoint you, Friends may desert you. But God is faithful. Stay close to Him, and you won’t stray far from the right path.”
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

This was a decent romance, with likable characters but I did not think this was as good as some of the other Julie Klassen books I've read. Maybe it was just me, but I didn't feel that spark between the characters that I usually feel when I read her romances. I did enjoy the little bit of intrigue, and the ending was very sweet, but it wasn't enough to make me love the book as much as I wanted to.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A Castaway in Cornwall is another immersive historical mystery/romance from Julie Klassen, and as usual, she does not disappoint. This one as a bit slower than I remember her books usually being, although that’s not to say she’s usually a very fast-paced writer either. However, the leisurely pace also worked so I could simultaneously soak in all the details and become engrossed in every twist and turn.

Klassen’s research remains top-notch, and she clearly knows the places she writes about, both from visiting many of them and doing supplementary research (something she notes she relied on a bit more this time around, due to COVID-19). However, she makes the Cornwall coast really come to life in her prose, and the addition of the photos she shared in a video on her YouTube channel only serve to amp up the immersion. And even beyond the visuals, it was cool to see the little bits of daily life in Cornwall, including the somewhat harrowing fact that most people back then couldn’t swim!


Klassen’s characters are also unique, standing out in the aristocracy-saturated Regency market (although less so when you compare her characters to many of her peers in Christian fiction, where only a handful of authors write Regency). Laura has been through a lot with the loss of her parents and being dependent on others for room and board, but is also involved in recording shipwrecks and keeping track of the casualties for her uncle, which I found really interesting

Alexander was a prisoner of war with loyalties to the Bourbons during the Napoleonic Wars. I found the broader discussion of the politics of the time moving, as well as the consequences for him sticking to his own convictions in the matter.

However, I did find myself a bit perplexed by the inclusion of a discussion question at the end about relating Alexander’s political differences with his brother to what’s going on today, which struck me as a very poor comparison, given the drastically different circumstances at play today they weren’t back then in that particular issue, although I’m not surprised to see this comparison, all things considered, given the number of people who do believe in that way.

I did still enjoy it, despite the flaws, which in the grand scheme of things, were fairly minimal or to be expected. Julie Klassen is a favorite, and the issues I’ve pointed out have not (overly) impacted this view, although I have become a bit more cynical. I think if you loved her previous work, or love sweet and suspenseful historical romance, you’ll enjoy this one.