This book was such a breath of fresh air.

Do you enjoy books like Little Women or Sense and Sensibility? The Sister of Sea View reads like a modern day classic with nods to those great novels wrapped up in the warm hug of sisterhood.

The setting of Sea View is lovely and I wanted to book my stay from the first few chapters. I found it a unique premise when the Summers family turned their home into guest house. Each sister must overcome obstacles in order to set their life to rights and it definitely leads to all of them jumping outside of their comfort zone and maybe finding love along the way.

I LOVE the sister relationships, and how they loved each other unconditionally and took care of their ailing mother. The three eldest sisters have their own POV which jumps around quite often but I loved each of them SO much and found I couldn't decide who I liked best.

There is romance in this book but one particular couple is featured. I LOVED it so much. It was beautifully done, intimate and I only wanted more. A few really tender moments were written that made it come alive for me.

The side characters are colorful and so unique and added layers to the story. There are themes about reaching out to those who need it, resisting judgement and accepting people for who they are and I soaked it all in. Its not a Christmas book but it gave me all the feel good family vibes I crave this time of year.

This is my favorite Klassen book so far and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in this series. I'm dying to know how the romantic plots move forward for the rest of the sisters (and one in particular after finishing book one).

RECOMMEND.
4.5 stars..but probably just 5.

Though this book was a slow build for me, I became attached to each of the characters and at about halfway through I couldn't put it down. There are 5 daughters and a mother, plus a houseful of guests, plus a seaside town of people. There are many threads woven together and personal histories with layers of color. I loved the four sisters we came to know intimately in this novel, their distinct personalities and strengths, and was rooting for each of them in turn. This book is a cup of warm tea and I can't wait for another.

*A minor note: as always, not a fan of using others' characters or dialogue, etc. (Jane Austen in this instance), even when credit is given.

4.5 Stars

In The Sisters of Sea View, four sisters turn their seaside home into a bed and breakfast in a desperate attempt to stay together and support their ailing mother.

Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour for #TheSistersOfSeaView by Julie Klassen. Thank you #NetGalley #BethanyHousePublishing @AustenProse #AustenProsePR for a complimentary e ARC upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Upon the death of their father, four sisters decide to turn their home into a bed and breakfast to support themselves and their ailing mother. The sisters each bring their unique gifts, perspectives, and talents to the venture as they learn to work together. Viola has the most difficulty and wears a veil because of the scars on her face. The arrival of guests provides a colorful cast of characters and promises some engaging story lines.

A seaside setting + sisters drama + colorful and likable characters + sides of romance = a gently written histfic story with substantial themes.

As you can see by the above formula, The Sisters of Sea View checks my boxes for a delightful and heartwarming story. I love coastal settings and a story of four very different sisters with strong personalities overcoming adversity. The drama is compelling but not overly emotional, and the sisters are realistically drawn and lovable. Finally, I enjoy a side of chaste romance that doesn’t overwhelm the story. I love that this is the first in a series and look forward to the next installments.

In addition to themes that you might expect like sisters supporting sisters, family loyalty, taking risks, and overcoming adversity, there is a more substantial theme that involves physical scars and how that might affect your entire life. This theme is especially poignant for this historical time period when a great deal of superstition persisted around cleft palates and plastic surgery was not yet available for other types of scars. I appreciate the physical disability representation and it added considerable depth and emotion to the story.

One element of a story I appreciate are likable characters…..ones I can root for. Even though the sisters are different, they are each likable in their own ways. I enjoy that they found a way to work together to support the family and each other to save their home and support their mother. Their interactions with the varied and unique guests provide an engaging story line.

If you follow my reviews, you know that I enjoy a balance of plot and character! If I had to choose one, I’d say this story learns toward character-driven but there is enough plot to provide a satisfying and page-turning story. I need to note that because of four main characters, the jumps between perspectives can be confusing at times. A small decorative divider between paragraphs that includes a perspective change might have been helpful for fast readers like myself.

As always in historical fiction, there is something to learn. In this story, the nineteenth century bathing machines are an interesting historical oddity!

Readers who enjoy gently written, family centered stories will want to add The Sisters of Sea View to their TBRs. If you’re looking for a new histfic/women’s fiction series, you might consider this one! I think book clubs who might want chaste romance and no profanity will also love this heartwarming story. I’m eager to continue with the series.

There are so many things to love about this book starting with the four Summer sisters and their mother who live on the Devonshire coast. Opening their home to short term boarders, we have a glimpse into the lives of such interesting people. You are sure to love some of the boarders as well as the villagers and the neighbors.

With the Devonshire coast as the setting that was described in such vivid detail I would happily register for a seaside vacation stay at Sea View. Who wouldn’t want to walk along the cliffs, enjoying the sea breeze and strolling through the town of Old Sidmouth?

I loved the beautiful love story of Viola and Major Jack Hutton. While each had visible scars that made people fearful of them, they could see beyond that to who the person really was. Viola + Jack = perfect couple

There are discussion questions for book club readers at the end of the book and a map of the village for your reference, both of which I appreciate. Lovable characters, faith, a time of crisis, and a well written plot, I highly recommend this book. If you are a fan of historical fiction or books by authors such as Elizabeth Gaskell or Jane Austen, you will want to read this first book in the On Devonshire Shores series. There were many questions that were unanswered and I am eagerly looking forward to seeing what else will take place at Sea View.

I received an advanced e-copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not expected to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
The Sisters of Sea View by Julie Klassen is the first book in her new Devonshire Shores series. This character-driven historical novel captivated me with its beautiful writing and sweeping drama.

Story Recap:
After their father dies and leaves them impoverished, Sarah Summers and her sisters need to find a way to support each other and their ailing mother. Sarah suggests they open their seaside home to guests, and sisters Emily and Georgiana agree to open their home. However, Viola doesn’t like the idea of opening up their home. Instead of helping with the guesthouse, Viola takes the position of reading to an invalid, Major Hutton

The story follows the sisters as they navigate the issues of running a guest house and their interactions with the varied guest who come to stay.

My Thoughts:
I loved this story of sisters and their struggles and triumphs in running their guesthouse. This first book focuses on the story of Viola, who has a horrible facial scar, that she hides by wearing a veil. Her trauma of growing up disfigured and how she finds love is wonderful. I loved this heartwarming romance so much.

I like that the sisters were very realistically portrayed. They had their ups and downs and didn’t always get along, but their love for each other shined throughout the book. As well as their love for their mother.

The various guests who show up are also very entertaining. They keep these sisters on their toes! I can’t wait for the future books and learn about the romances of the rest of the sisters.

Recommendation: I highly recommend The Sisters of Sea View to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.v

A lovely cozy historical romance from the consistently fantastic writer, Julie Klassen! I'm used to a lot more drama in her previous books, so I appreciated the slow pace and ease with which we were introduced to the characters and their individual struggles as the story progressed. It was containing more points of view than I am normally comfortable - three, for the sisters - and that was a struggle at times. The switch between POVs wasn't always clear, so it took some concentration and occasional rereading to be sure I was following along properly. However, I found myself equally intrigued by each sister's perspective, and I was eager to see how they were getting along. Of course there is a main romance, which is what drew me to this book in the first place, and there is disability rep which I always appreciate.

The Summers family are forced to let out their home as a boarding house after the father dies, leaving four children and an ailing widow behind. While they are unused to working for a living, the family bands together to make their place welcoming and hospitable for guests. Unexpectedly, they find themselves hosting a variety of unique characters, including a haughty couple, a blind elderly man, and a father and daughter who seem to have more than the usual knowledge of the house and land. One of the sisters, Viola, is put to work outside the house, reading to those who need companionship. Her first client is a former soldier who was wounded in battle, and although he is gruff at first, they develop a kinship over shared bitterness towards the world. Viola has always been in the shadows after being born with a cleft lip, and although her wound was from birth and his from battle, they both bolster each other as they prepare to take on the world...perhaps together?

I really liked the story as a whole. It easily drew me in, and each sister had unique personalities and ways of tackling the hand they had been dealt. You could easily tell who was the eldest and in charge, who was the middle child causing mischief, and who was the coddled child who had to grow out of being spoiled. If you guess Viola for the latter, you'd be right. I wasn't a fan of hers at first, since she had no interest in helping the family initially. However, she grew on me as she interacted more and more with Major Hutton. They each had an edge to them, and they gave as good as they got. I think seeing someone dealing with struggle helped each of them realize that they didn't have to go through life alone surrounded by pity. It was a beautiful thing seeing Viola realize that her scar was not something that made her ugly, and she was not responsible for the superstitions of others.

I look forward to reading future books as we follow the other sisters.

The Sisters if Sea View is a novel I would happily read over and over again. The author has captured the sisterly relationship perfectly. The characters in this book are written with their own unique personalities, strengths and weaknesses, each lending to the depth and authenticity of the story and the time.
After the death of their father four sisters find themselves striving to find a way to make ends meet while caring for their invalid mother. Sea View is their home, but could it also be used as a source of income? They take on the risk of turning it into a guest house for those who wish to spend time at the seaside.
There are so many small stories and life lessons built around Sea View and the Summers sisters. I believe there are nuances I will discover in subsequent readings.
Jack and Viola were endearing and stirred my emotions. They both suffered from physical scars and insecurities, yet were willing to take a chance. As their story played out I found myself hopeful for their romance.
As with all of Julie’s books there is a thread of faith and charity that anchors everything together. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
I received a copy through NetGalley courtesy of Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This is my honest opinion of the book.

An intriguing start to a new series from Julie Klassen! The Sisters of Sea View introduces readers to the Summers sisters and the people staying at Sea View—there are a lot of characters, but they are all uniquely heartwarming (except Mrs. Elton….). I loved Viola, and I’m very excited for the other sisters’ continuing stories. 4/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Julie Klassen hit this out of the park yet again! I loved the sisters and their interactions. I love how they banded together and found solutions. They were delightful! I’m very excited for more in this series.

I knew there was a reason why I was eagerly anticipating Julie Klassen’s 2022 regency release!
Another fantastic story crafted by the talented Julie Klassen. This story has everything that regency readers want – an experience that immerses them into the time period while reading a fascinating story. This is a story resembling the Bennett sisters of Austen fame, only with new life breathed into the trope. Five sisters born into the gentry but left struggling when the estate is entailed away.
There’s much depth to each of the characters – secondary cast included. The struggles that the sisters face tugs on the heartstrings as one is pulled deep into the story. Descriptions of the shores of Devonshire give enough detail to help the reader picture the small seaside town infamous for its air and medicinal qualities in the water.
This first book in the new series focuses on Viola, a woman conscious of her deformity. Hers is a beautiful story where love finds her.
Swoon-worthy heroes and Easter eggs makes this story even more fun to read. It’s one of those reads I couldn’t put down and was disappointed when I got to the end.
I can’t wait for the next book.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

With their father deceased, his estate passed on to a distant male relative, and their mother's health failing, four gently-bred ladies are suddenly left without a source of sufficient income, their only asset their beloved house on the coast that is suddenly too large for them to maintain. Against her younger sisters' objections, the eldest, Sarah, moves forward with a plan to rent rooms in their seaside home and take on other small jobs around the town to keep them all from destitution. The new venture stretches the four sisters out of their comfort zones and throws them into the paths of eligible gentlemen--from a Scottish widower to a bedridden war veteran--opening unexpected opportunities for personal growth and maybe even a chance for love.

This family-centric historical romance is sure to delight Klassen's fan base and pull in new fans from the gentle reads / inspirational romance arena. Klassen devotes as much attention to the sister relationships as she does to the romantic ones and builds her story slowly with great attention to each character's quiet evolution.

The sisters of sea view
This was not my first Julie Klassen novel, but it is now my favorite she has written. If you enjoyed Little Women, you may very well enjoy this character driven story that is rich with quirky characters, and lots of sister dynamics. When their father dies the oldest sister in the family, Sarah, determines that due to reduced circumstances the sisters must open their seaside home as a boarding house. Then enter all the residents that make the story so fun. Not all the sisters are in agreement about working, and one sister refuses to work in the family guest business. That sister chooses instead to be paid to read to elderly people. Only her first customer she is hired to read to is not elderly and is not very agreeable. I appreciate a story where some of the main characters have a physical challenge, and might be seen by some as being deformed. The story takes place in the early 1800s and the author did a great job interjecting historical info about attitudes of the times towards status and handicaps. I was pleased to read and review an advance copy supplied by NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers. The novel will be available December 6th. It will make a good Christmas gift for readers who enjoy the Jane Austin time-period.
#NetGalley #JulieKlassen #BethanyHouse

Sanditon Meets Pride and Prejudice in Sweet Regency Romance

The Sisters of Sea View (On Devonshire Shores Book 1) by Julie Klassen

5 stars

Genre: Regency Romance
Time Period: 1819
Location: Sidmouth, Devonshire, England
Romance: Very clean. Light kissing.
Faith: Lightly woven into the story. A character struggles with releasing control to God.


Julie Klassen describes the seaside village of Sidmouth and the guest house of Sea View in stunning fashion. She provides enough detail for the reader to feel immersed in the setting while still allowing the reader’s imagination to fill in details. She also masterfully conveys the essence of the regency period by using historically accurate wording throughout. These two elements of her writing style set her head and shoulders above her regency author peers.

Overall, the story was engaging, though slow to start as it follows three different points of view: Sarah, Emily, and Viola. The author stayed true to the sisters’ unique personalities and perspectives throughout the story which added depth to the narrative.

The love stories develop sweetly, interspersed with some fun and eccentric minor characters, the guests that come to stay at Sea View and the invalids that Viola reads to. These minor characters add a wonderful flavor to the story and tension at the right times.

One pleasant surprise is the dedication of the book. If you normally skip it, I encourage you to read it along with the author’s note at the end.

As a fan of the show Sanditon, I found this story offered a few similarities to the delightful show, while standing apart as a unique work and heart-warming read. I strongly recommend this book to fans of Jane Austin, Regency Romances, and Sanditon. If you like any of these, you will love this book.

Disclaimer: I requested and received an advanced copy of this book courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

'Some guests have come to Sea View for a holiday others for hidden reasons of their own...'

If that tagline on a Julie Klassen book doesn't hook you, I don't know what will.

My favorite thing about this book was the characters! If you are a Little Women fan you NEED THIS BOOK IN YOUR LIFE!

It was charming, well written and completely entertaining. This book follows 4 sisters and their mother with all 4 sisters points of view. At first, I didn't realize the POV was changing, and had to go back and reread to make sure I knew who was "speaking". Once I got the hang of it it was so fun having so many different stories happening at once. Because this is the beginning of a new series I am absolutely anticipating each and every book that follows!

I usually think of Julie Klassen as a mystery or suspense author and while there is a mild mystery with some of the characters I would call this a historical romance more than anything else. And the romance in this is oh, so sweet!

Five stars, can't wait for more! This is one of the BEST Julie Klassen books I've read... and I've read a lot of them!

I can't wait for what comes next!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!

This book is steeped in history and gives a clear picture of what a seventeenth century seaside village would be like. It focuses on three of five sisters but narrows down to a happy ending for only one- Viola. I would have liked to know more about the absent eldest sister and I was more caught up in Sarah's romance than the others. I liked the story but would have enjoyed it more if I'd known I should've been focusing on Viola. So if you're reading this, you shouldn't have that problem.
I received a free copy from Netgalley, but as always, my opinions are my own.

“The Sisters of Sea View” (On Devonshire Shores #1) by Julie Klassen
Learning to be Family
I think this is a very good story with many interesting characters with many more stories possible. I enjoyed my time within this story. Although I never did used to the abrupt changes of time, place character from one sentence to the next. It is a sweet clean story of love, making do, and survival and a worthy read. Happy Reading ! !
NOTE: This review expresses my honest opinion.
I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley.

This Book is a cozy read and a character-driven story, borderline woman fiction. The characters are complex and involved in plots and subplots. Suffering from the financial setbacks of their father’s recent death, the four sisters rally together to open a boarding house and try to save their property. I love the sister with their own unique personalities, they're kind and caring. The guest brings a variety of backstories, with a few surprises and a little drama. This story is about sisters dealing with adversity and looking forward, to a better future. there're developing romances, and this story concludes with Viola and Jack's love story, and how they both learn to love and see themselves as more than two scarred souls. Do you like Little Woman? then you'll like this story.

Klassen is an auto-buy for me. Her inventive, emotional, and descriptive writing gets me every time. Storytelling at its finest. You feel like you have gone back in time. Wonderful.

I’ve been wanting to try a Julie Klassen for a while. When the opportunity to try the first book in a new series presented itself, I jumped on it. With nods to Emma and Pride and Prejudice among others, The Sisters of Sea View is a fantastic read for classic literature lovers.

On the whole, the story reminded me of Little Women. We start out with four sisters and their mother, trying to make ends meet and keep a household running. They opt to turn their home into a bed and breakfast, accepting paying guests into their sea view home. Each sister has her own challenges and insecurities to overcome throughout the story. The guests were unique, enjoyable to read about, and often funny. There was excellent character growth in the sisters and guests alike. With a few small mysteries and climactic plot points sprinkled throughout, this romance was very well rounded.

I am pleasantly surprised I liked this book as much as I did. I will certainly be picking up the next one when it comes out!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House for providing this ebook for review.

The Sisters of Sea View by Julie Klassen is a great read. . Four sisters and their ailing mother find themselves with no means of support when the father dies, Although their social standing as genteel ladies may be affected, they decide to open their seaside home to visitors as a source of income. Sarah the older daughter is the leader and organizer in this enterprise with help from the other sisters except Viola. When Viola refuses to be involved with the inn because of a facial scar that has left her reclusive, she finds another way to earn some income, by reading to invalids. The visitors to the inn, as well as the surrounding community provide an interesting and varied array of characters.. The characters are complex and involved in plots and subplots. Although there are developing romances. for various sisters, surprisingly it is Viola whose romance concludes in this story. This book feels like the beginning of a delightful series. Recommended for readers of Regency romance who like a touch of mystery.. .