4.5 stars
In 'A Winter by the Sea' we once again return to the seaside resort fishing village of Devonshire—replete with its bathing machines, tourists, balls, and visiting royalty! I simply adore Julie Klassen's descriptive Jane Austen-ish voice...and completely forget everything else as I totally immerse myself in Sidmouth and the lives of these intriguing characters!

Join the Summers sisters at Sea View Inn as they find themselves hosting members of the royal family's staff—as old love resurfaces, secrets abound, and burgeoning affections and betrayals occur.

I knocked off 1/2 a star because the romance felt too rushed at the conclusion making it seem less passionate and exciting, but who am I to criticize the great Julie Klassen? Splendidly descriptive and impeccably researched...I can't wait to read Book 3! By the way, this can be read as a standalone as the author does an excellent job of recapitulating. However, I suggest you read 'The Sisters of Sea View' first to become better acquainted with this lovely family!

*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a favorable review.*

Can I just say how much I adore this series?! Julie Klassen has captured something truly special with the On Devonshire Shores series. I fell in love with the Summers sisters in The Sisters of Sea View and was eagerly anticipating Emily’s story. It was every bit as enjoyable as the first book and made me fall in love with this family all over again. I devoured this delightful, heartfelt romance with nods to both Little Women and Persuasion. There’s even a hint of mystery for those who like a little bit of suspense, leading to an exciting conclusion.

Emily has a writer’s heart and longs to publish a novel. I enjoyed the way the author gave us a glimpse into the real worries and insecurities every writer faces through Emily. She jumps into things full force and I loved that about her. She’s been pining for her old love for a while now and it was fun seeing her have to choose between the past and the future. I loved her choice!

I also loved the new gentlemen who came to stay at their boarding house. Each has his own unique issues and challenges and I enjoyed getting to know them, but especially James. He’s such a talented, swoon worthy gentleman who reads Jane Austen! *sigh*

This is one of those classic series that’s sure to become a treasured favorite. The storylines and characters will stay with you long after reading. While it’s the second book in the series, it could be read as a standalone, but it’ll be even more enjoyable if you’ve read the first book. Now I can’t wait for the next book in the series! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

What do you look for in a book cover? I think the cover of A Winter by the Sea is beautiful. I love the colors, especially the purple dress. I also like that you can see the entire lady including her face. I don’t really like the covers with people walking away or that just show a headless torso.

The Summers family run a guest lodging out of their seaside home in Sidmouth in order to make ends meet after their former estate was entailed to a distant cousin after the death of their father. Winter has become more exciting this year when the Duke and Duchess of Kent, with their infant daughter Victoria, take up residence in a neighboring home for the Duke’s health. One of the younger sisters, Emily, decides to follow her dreams to become an author by putting together a guidebook for Sidmouth to be published by a local publisher. As she starts to have feelings for the Duke’s secretary, James Thomson, her previous neighbor and crush, Charles Parker and his parents show up for a visit to Sidmouth. Will Emily’s dreams of becoming an author come true? Will her previous dream of marrying Charles Parker and returning to her old neighborhood come true or will she forge a new path with James Thomson?

Julie Klassen is one of my favorite authors. I love her inspirational Regency novels. She writes beautiful stories with intriguing characters set in the Regency world that I enjoy. I loved book one in this On Devonshire Shores series, The Sisters of Sea View. This was a perfect continuation. While the first book focused on Viola, the second book focuses on her twin sister Emily. I’m looking forward to getting a book or story for each of the sisters. I hope that the eldest scandal ridden sister, Claire, who is in Scotland also gets her story told. A Winter by the Sea can be read as a standalone, but I loved knowing the background of the characters from the first book. It’s a series worth reading.

I also enjoyed that the characters celebrated a Regency Christmas at the beginning of the novel which made it a fun read for this time of year. I also enjoyed the love triangle in this novel, and the growth of the character of Emily in both this novel and the first one. I loved seeing how she had to realize, what did she really want out of life? Were her childhood dreams still the same dreams she had now? Was she willing to forgive past slights?

Overall, A Winter by the Sea is an excellent inspirational Regency novel with vivid characters, a great setting, and a pleasing story. I highly recommend it.

I did not know until I reached the end of A Winter by the Sea that it is the second book in the On Devonshire Shores series. For me, it acted as a stand-alone book. I did not know that I was missing the first book, but I did not miss it! Of course, I’ll need to go back and find it now!

I loved the story and the characters in this book! Each of the characters has a unique personality and each comes across as real and authentic. Emily and James were my favorite characters, but I also loved Sarah, Georgiana, Mr. Bernardi, and Mr. Wallis. One of my favorite characteristics of Emily was her love of reading and her determination to publish a book. I applauded James’ stance that encouraged her to do so.

The characters truly make this story by bringing it to life and by making it so interesting. I loved learning about the different characters and their life stories. Having characters that came from all over made the story more interesting and enjoyable. I also enjoyed knowing that several of the characters were real people, like the Duke and Duchess of Kent. How exciting for the town of Sidmouth to have such royalty in their midst.

Ms. Klassen’s writing pulled me in from the beginning. Her descriptions of the sea, the town, the weather, and the people endeared me to the story. She has an easy style to read and understand, yet it also allows you to feel that you are walking in the brisk winter air or standing in a warm kitchen smelling royal delicacies (which I would LOVE to try).

A Winter by the Sea has some fun twists and turns, along with some unanticipated drama and danger. Yes! Don’t be fooled by the leisurely walks on the esplanade or the favorite trips to the local library. This book also has fencing, rivalry, delicious delicacies, royalty, broken windows, romance, attempted kidnapping, broken hearts, and hidden scandal. Exciting, right? It’s the perfect book to read curled up by the fireplace or wrapped in your favorite blanket.

Rating: PG+
Profanity: None
Intimacy: None (Brief kissing)
Violence: Minor (An attempted kidnapping and brief fight)
Age Recommendation: YA+

This is the second book in the On Devonshire Shores Series, and it was an absolute delight to return to Sea View and all the characters I came to love in the first book.

It’s a charming story of life in this small village, of the lovable Summers sisters, and a cast of other wonderfully drawn characters.

I love Julie’s style of writing, and the classic and cozy feel of this one had me totally engaged from beginning to end.

If you like books that are well written, character driven, have a sweet romance, with a Little Women vibe and nods to Jane Austen, I think you’ll really enjoy this book. I certainly did!

I received a digital review copy from NetGalley and Bethany House Fiction in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

t's 1819 and the Summers' family's boarding home is asked to host some of the staff accompanying the Duke of Kent's family (including future Queen Victoria) on their visit to the Devonshire coast. Emily Summers longs to foray into the world of publishing and authorship, an area not-quite-widely-open to women yet. When a local publisher offers her an opportunity, she is thrown in with the Duke of Kent's handsome private secretary. But just as she begins to imagine a future, a visitor from her past arrives and she's forced to choose between her long-held dreams and what she is newly imagining for her future. Meanwhile, hosting the royal visitors brings its own kind of intrigue.

As usual, Klassens' book was well written. I did struggle with this one, though--it was difficult to get into because all the players had already been introduced in depth in the first book in the series, so I had to keep scrambling to figure out who was who. While this did make sense as a stand-alone book, it would have made for much easier reading had I read them in order. I loved how this story brought to life the historical events of royal family's visit to the Devonshire coast! So often when we read about the aristocracy or royalty in historical fiction, it's from the perspective of one of their own. I loved that this was from the perspective of an average person and her hopes and dreams--and how what we want may not always be the best of all possible options.

Return to Sidmouth and spend another season with the enchanting Summers' sisters. In the vein of Downtown Abbey and Little Women, Julie Klassen takes readers on another sojourn to the Devonshire Shores where some very important guests join the storyline! How delightful it was to have the future queen of England herself, play a role small role in A Winter By The Sea.

This is book two in the On Devonshire Shores series. I highly recommend you read book one, The Sisters of Seaview, before reading A Winter by the Sea. It could be read as a stand alone, but I think it will increase your enjoyment of this novel and will you gain appreciation for the backstory if you read in order. The first book is my favorite of the two.

Book Two is Emily's story. She is a young aspiring author with big dreams of being published and marrying her childhood love. Scandal has seemingly made one of those dreams impossible, and when the impossible shows up out of nowhere she has some decisions to make! I enjoyed "watching" Emily grow as she navigates the changing desires of her heart. It was cute to read her trying to write kissing scenes for her novel, when she had never been kissed. I'm glad she got it figured out. Research always proves to be beneficial! The bonds between these sisters continued to be heartwarming and the sideline mystery thread added a bit of adventure to the storyline. If you like to curl up with a Jane Austen-esque book on a cold winter day, this is the story for you!

Thank you, Julie Klassen, Bethany House, AustenprosePR and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I greatly enjoyed this addition to Julie Klassen’s On Devonshire Shores series! A Winter by the Sea perfectly blends fact and fiction, with a special appearance by an infant future-Queen Victoria. My only wish would be to have had a bit of James’ perspective along with Emily’s and Sarah’s, but I was always invested in the story. And can we talk about that cover for a moment…. 😍. Definitely add this cozy winter read to your TBR! 4/5 stars

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

Julie's writing always feels like a modern day classic. I love the attention to historical detail and the purposeful mentions of everyday life detail that only add additional layers to each story. A Winter By the Sea is a story about finding your purpose and realizing that the things we hope and pray for...might not always be the things we truly need.

The On Devonshire Shores series is truly a delight. I love that it forces me to slow down and soak in all the little details of friendship, sisterhood, love, all wrapped up in a cozy seaside setting. This story has a main character focus but still has a great focus on the relationships between the siblings as they navigate this new change in station.

I loved how we were introduced to many wonderful characters to add to the ones we already fell in love with. There is something about the close proximity of these characters that brings a cozy found family feel to every story.

The romance aspect of this book had me turning pages...at one point I was seriously concerned things would not end in my favor BUT the ending pulled through to a truly wonderful finish. The romance is just angsty enough while still being sweet, wholesome and totally worth cheering for. This was one of my favorite aspects of the book.

I cannot wait to see what Julie does with the other sisters storylines because there are a few loose ends id love to see comfortably tied! Im a fan!

A Winter By The Sea is another wonderful glimpse into the lives of the Summer sisters at Sea View.
This time around Emily gets her story. After much soul searching, prayer, and sisterly advice she finds her perfect match.
The description of the area, the royal visitors, expected roles of the times gave depth to the story and added to the historical accuracy.
The characters were all unique, each adding interest and curiosity to the overall feel of the book. I loved the way each guest was integrated into life at Sea View bringing their own particular color to those around them.
This was an enjoyable and satisfying read with perfect faith elements.
I loved it.

Ever since their father’s death from apoplexy, Emily Summers has dreamed of her first love coming to rescue her. Instead, Charles Parker distanced himself, fearing the scandal of Emily’s oldest sister would ruin his family’s good name by association.

Emily, her twin sister Viola, Sarah, Georgiana, and their mother have turned their home into a guest house in Sidmouth, a seaside town in Devonshire, England. As the winter season approaches, the specter of failure looms. When the Duke and Duchess of Ken and their infant daughter (the future Queen Victoria) lease the neighboring estate for the winter, the Summers family hopes their guest house will share in the bounty.

Viola continues to come out of her self-imposed exile as she settles into married life with Major Jack Hutton, who lives next door to the Summers family. Emily loves watching Viola’s newfound confidence while secretly despairing of ever finding true love. She vows to concentrate on her dreams of becoming an author instead.

When three royal household members take lodging with the Summers, Sarah finds herself strangely attracted to the chef and his enthusiasm for creating in the kitchen. Emily feels a spark of interest for the Duke’s secretary. The spark grows as James Thomson offers to help her gather information about Sidmouth and the surrounding area for a guidebook commissioned by a local publisher.

When Charles Parker unexpectedly arrives in Sidmouth with his parents, Emily’s hopes revive. Her dreams may come to fruition—but her interactions with James Thomson have shown her the value of steadfast friendship and sacrificial care for another person. Could she experience these with Charles as well?

What I Loved About This Book

Fans of Jane Austen and Jan Karon will love this Regency novel set along the Devonshire coast in the newly popular village of Sidmouth. Readers can enjoy A Winter by the Sea, the second installment in Klassen’s On Devonshire Shores series, as a standalone novel. A minor mystery, dangerous smugglers, and a royal illness provide dramatic tension in the lives of the Summers sisters.

Readers who struggle with defining how to use their God-given talents will identify with Emily. You'll love this book if you love snuggling into a comfy chair and reading a well-researched slice-of-life novel set in Jane Austen’s era.

Wonderful addition to series! I loved this book just as much as I did the first book in the series.

Julie Klassen has penned a wonderful fictional community in the Devonshire village of Sidmouth. I adore the Summers family and their resilience when they find themselves in reduced circumstances following the unexpected death of their father. The sisters thoroughly enchanted me, reminding me of the March sisters of Little Women. And the residents and guests of their village will charm their way into your heart.

Julie Klassen's prose and signature attention to historical detail bring to life this small town, with references to the sea baths and dances at the local assembly rooms. I loved the accurate portrayal of the royal visit, and its affect on a small community.

This story is told from the perspective of two of the sisters, Sarah and Emily. The main story centers around Emily. After having met her in the first book of the series, I was happy to read her full story of leaving behind childish dreams as she looks to the future. Loved the hero and found the romance delightful. I look forward to reading more of the sisters adventures in upcoming books in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

'...while I would not have chosen any of this...nor would I go back and change it'

Julie Klassen has provided such a beautiful escape with this series. From the descriptions that make you feel like you are there, to the setting-where you WISH you were actually there, to the characters that become more like family with each turning page, to the small splash of suspense, and finally to the much anticipated romance.

This book is Emily's story and I had so many feelings about Emily from book one. I absolutely LOVED getting to know her character more. Her tendency to jump in without looking first provided for some nail biting situations, but also the potential to FEEL BIG FEELINGS and the ability to look for the beauty and joy in all things.

I loved that this author adds in so many historical facts and does so much research. Being able to get a glimpse into royal visitors is always fun in any historical novel and Julie captivate every feeling and situation with incredible talent. I also loved the author notes at the end. Never miss any notes that this author provides. The story becomes even better knowing the actual history behind the writing.

The Summers' family dynamic is much like the March family in Little Women. The stories are completely separate, but the vibe of family is everything is very much the same and I am a HUGE fan!

I can't wait to see what comes next in this series and will be highly anticipating book 3!!

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

Content: family relationships, mild suspense, fencing scenes and almost minimal violence, kisses only.

I received A Winter by the Sea in ebook format as part of the Library Thing Early Reviewers program. That in no way influenced my review of the book.
Having read the first book in the series, The Sisters of Sea View, I eagerly snatched up the second book. (I will hazard a guess that Klassen will write two more books since two of the four sisters in Sea View still need to find husbands.) As background, the series takes place in a small English seaside town, Sidmouth. In this volume, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, along with their infant daughter, Victoria, have leased a nearby home for the winter. The Duke required a milder climate for his health. His daughter, Victoria, eventually became Queen Victoria. Because of the size of the royal staff, three staff members will stay at Sea View, the guest house run by Sarah, Emily, Georgiana, and their mother.
One of the royal party staying at Sea View is James Thomson. He quickly befriends Emily. Over the course of the winter, Emily meets the neighboring royalty several times and even attends a party at their house. Meanwhile, the love of Emily's life, Charles Parker, unexpectedly shows up in Sidmouth after Christmas along with his parents. He indicates that he would like to reestablish his previous relationship with Emily. She had always envisioned that she would marry him since they had spent their childhoods together in adjoining manor houses. In fact, she spent the entire first book mourning the apparent loss of him. But, now there is the matter of James Thomson, who seems very attuned to Emily's thoughts and wishes. The books revolves around which man Emily will choose as well as historical events that happened to the Duke of Kent during his time in Sidmouth.
I enjoyed the book very much and had a hard time putting it down. If you enjoy historical novels with a basis in fact, add this to your to-be-read list. Julie Klassen has written another winner!

When the coastal town of Sidmouth learns some members of the royal family will be staying for an extended visit, Emily Summers and her family find themselves called upon to use their guest house to lodge some royal staff members. As a genteel family forced to fend for themselves in reduced circumstances, Emily and her sisters have little time for leisure or romance. When Emily finds herself the object of a romantic rivalry, will she have the wisdom to know which of the two men will make the best husband? Find out in this charming tale of Regency England.

I enjoyed this book as the Summers’ family saga continues. I love the setting and the historical period. I was fascinated to meet the Duke and Duchess of Kent, Queen Victoria’s parents, as well as Victoria herself as a baby.

Three of the Duke’s retinue stay at Sea View, one of the duke’s secretaries being the most interesting to the reader as well as to Emily. She feels drawn to Mr. Thomson, but is confused when her girlhood love Charles suddenly turns up. She’s torn between the two, especially as it seems Charles wants to get serious.

We are taken through the historical reality of the Duke’s death, as well as the fictional aftermath for the Summers family and Emily’s decision.

Excellent book! Now I’m impatient to see what happens with the next sister! I have read Julie Klassen before and look forward to the next in this series.

What a wonderful read. As the story progressed it was easy to get caught up in the story. I do recommend reading this series in order for full enjoyment though this did have a nice recap for a refresher. I loved this story for the history woven seemlessly into the story. This reminded me of the well done period dramas that can carry an interesting plot line while giving us a taste of the day to day to fully immerse the viewer into the period. A sweeping series like Downton Abbey, Little Women, Jane Austen or Elixabeth Gaskell movie/mini series adaptation! I found the plot complimented well with easy & natural conversation. The imagery was also solid which helped this reader to find a nice escape into this world, time and family. I appreciated the attention to detail and accuracy. I found something to appreciate in all the sisters. Emily's hea and which path she would choose held my interest. I genuinely wondered what would be her path. The sisters characters were robust not one dimensional. Adding in the roayl visit was great! This book left me genuinely anticipating the next in the series. I found the ending sweet. It really was bittersweet ending this story since I loved the story but now that it's been read I have to wait till 2024 for the next one! I'm hoping for a hea for Sarah and reconciliation with the sister in Scotland.
*thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. Thoughts and opinions are 100% ny own.

The Summers sisters are requested to accommodate three male staff members of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, who have rented Woolbrook Cottage for the winter and live in the neighborhood. However, as they welcome these guests into their seaside home, they discover hidden secrets and the potential for romantic relationships.

The book has beautiful writing that is evident in every scene. The author has put a lot of thought, time, and research into it. The slow-burn romance is well-executed, and the plot moves at the right pace with plenty of conflicts and emotional tension.

I enjoyed the family dynamics and the gradual development of the romantic relationship between the relatable characters. This charming and sweet story had both lighthearted and serious moments that any book lover would adore. The beautiful cozy winter setting, well-rounded cast, and interesting house guests made the story even more enjoyable. I'm looking forward to the next book. If you're a fan of Little Women and well-detailed historical romance, you can't afford to miss this story. Highly recommend it!

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

A very well written novel with lots of interesting historical figures added in!
This is the second book that tells tells the story of Emily with Sarah as a tie in.
I liked this family very much and they've impressed me a lot. A very down to earth family that has fallen on hard times. I've come to admire them for not giving up and becoming closer to each other.
My favorite of course is the setting! I live across the street from the ocean so I can relate to living by the water.
Second favorite thing was the future Queen added in. I was intrigued from the moment her family came into the picture.
There were a few other scenes that I enjoyed too.
I took my time reading this because I wanted to savor it. It was awesome!
I didn't want it to end.
I'm hoping Georgiana gets her story. I have a feeling that she'll end up being my favorite character actually she already is! I love her personality and adventurous spirit. I can't wait to see what Klassen does with her.
5 stars for a wonderful read. I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

ENJOYABLE.

There’s something about this author’s writing style that just slowly draws you in and takes you on a journey. I loved this winter filled story of hope and recovery.

I enjoyed Emily’s story a lot. I liked seeing her stretch past her comfort zones and also maintain that strong family bond that she has. Her love for her sisters was beautiful and moving through a love triangle that worked well for me. You always knew where it was heading, but I think the push and pull gave Emily a chance for much needed growth and release from her past.

My only little thing is when the story focused on another sister I lost a little interest. I felt really committed to Emily’s story, but not as much as Sarah’s.

The fictional community is wonderful. It’s got the small town vibes but set in a historical time period. I love how they come together for each other and the subtle faith aspects that round out the themes of the novel. I’m very much looking forward to the next story in this series.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: death, briefly being held at gunpoint