The Seaside Homecoming, by Julie Klassen, is an interesting tale set in the year 1820. Miss Claire Summers is dealing with a very rainy day. At her father’s request, she is currently in exile, living in Scotland spending her days as companion to her great-aunt. And it is not an enjoyable life!

Little does Claire know that merely a country away her sisters Viola, Emily and Sarah are thinking of her. They do not understand why Claire has not responded to their letters. After her aunt passes away, Claire must find a new place to live. You will not believe where she ends up!

Claire has come back to jolly ole England to try to make a place for herself. You will be surprised to learn who she meets after she arrives!

Hold tight to see where Claire lands and if resolution ever comes to Claire and her family!

What a fantastic book! Once again, Julie Klassen writes a book that touched my heart on many levels. The Summers family continues to amaze me with their faith, love, and forgiveness. The sisters' close bond with each other reminds me so much of the March sisters of Little Women.

The characters are wonderful! I enjoyed Claire's growth during this book. She really has to put her past in her past. Agnes did not seem likable at first, but her true nature is revealed in surprising ways! I liked William from the beginning. He has an air of mystery and sadness. His affection for his daughter is heartwarming. Mira is my favorite! She's cute, precocious, and has a heart full of love.

A point of interest involves intermarriage between the British and natives of India. The racial prejudice that was endured by many is disheartening.

Faith is a large part of the book. Many of the characters have to lean on their faith as they try to move on from their painful pasts.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers via Netgalley through Interviews and Reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It seems as if it's the way with a series of books that the last one is always the best one. Like this one.
I loved Claire's story! What a story it was!
So much going on that it will keep a reader glued to their seat until finished.
I didn't like Claire's aunt. Yes, I know she took her in and all but I really didn't like how she treated her.
People make mistakes. I liked how Claire learned from hers.
I didn't want this book to end it was sooooo good.
The characters were so realistic that I felt like I was watching a movie.
The scenes were so descriptive that I loved and appreciated the beauty of it all.
Honestly, in my opinion, there's no place like home.
5 stars from me. I truly enjoyed this novel.
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 mine.

With this latest installment of the On Devonshire Shores series we now get to meet THE banished sister Claire. We learn her story and what she's gone through over the years since her banishment. We see how she's grown and adapted. We see her deep love for her family that leads her to move to the same location as they are in hopes for reconciliation. But we also see her hurt by her mother's refusal to do so.

While Claire's story is told, we also get more insight into Sarah. Sarah continues to be the secondary voice in this novel. Pieces of her story continue to be revealed and hopefully will be resolved in the next book.

Additionally we also can see the prejudices the nation of India faced during this colonial time. Including when the British men would take Indian wives.

A solid installment in the series, but the first book continues to be my favorite. :)

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC of this to review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Young ladies of Jane Austen’s time learned and lived by the rules of proper etiquette, manners, and decorum. Any hint of impropriety could torpedo a woman’s good standing and status in society. If she had sisters, they too would fall in the eyes of others.

Everyone panics with good reason when Lydia Bennet runs away to elope with George Wickham in Austen's Pride & Prejudice. Mr. Bennet travels to find and either stop them or make them marry. Austen’s bookish, Fordyce’s-Sermons-loving Mary Bennet says,  

“’…We must stem the tide of malice and pour into the wounded bosoms of each other the balm of sisterly consolation. … ‘We may draw from it this useful lesson: that loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable; that one false step involves her in endless ruin; that her reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful; and that she cannot be too much guarded in her behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex.’ (155)”

Vain, insufferable Mr. Collins writes Mr. Bennet a letter where he pats himself on the back that he didn’t marry one of the eldest sisters. He also tells them “no time can remove” what Lydia has done.

“The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison of this (159).” He counsels Mr. Bennet to “console [himself] as much as possible, to throw off [his] unworthy child from [his] affection for ever and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heinous offence” (159).

Austen provides readers with a myriad of views on the subject of a woman's place in society. The reader can decide based on each scenario of a lady falling for “the undeserving of the other sex.” In real life, as in fiction, many of these people considered themselves Christians and were church-goers. They apparently missed the part of the full Gospel message that shows no one is without sin and everyone is in need of salvation.

Julie Klassen joins the conversation with Claire Summers, a young lady who is desperate for forgiveness and freedom from sin and shame in book three of her On Devonshire Shores series, A Seaside Homecoming. She shows that while society may shun a woman guilty of impropriety, God calls her to Him. He is ready and able to forgive and “create in [her] a new heart and renew a right spirit within [her],” as David wrote in Psalm 51:10.

I have read and review Klassen’s first two novels of the On Devonshire Shores series, The Sisters of Sea View and A Winter By The Sea, book one and two, respectively.  Each of the books tells the tale of the Summers family with special focus on one sister. Twins Viola and Emily’s tales of love and marriage have been told. Sarah’s has been started, while Claire’s has been an unsolved mystery. At first, only Sarah and Mamma knew the full scandalous picture that sounded a lot like Lydia Bennet's journey. The other three sisters, Emily, Viola, and Georgiana, believe Claire is simply a lady's companion, taking care of their aging aunt Agnes Mercer in Scotland. She is in the thoughts of all though. Mamma finally tells all but one daughter, Georgie, about what really happened to Claire.

Claire met Lord Bertram at a house party hosted by Emily’s love interest, Charles Parker. Lord Bertram thought Claire had a large dowry and gave Claire his full attention. At 26, Claire thought Lord Bertram was her last chance at happiness. She left for Gretna Green with him under cover of night. Her father Harold Summers tried to track the couple down. He found Claire at an inn alone and unmarried. In his anger, he disowned her and made his wife promise to never shelter Claire again. He said she was dead to him.

Not long after, Papa died. The Summers ladies lost their Gloucestershire estate to a distant relative, but they retained Sea View, the house at Sidmouth, a seaside town on the English Channel in Devonshire.

Claire traveled on to live with her paternal Aunt Mercer. Aunt Mercer kept Claire cloistered, reminding her often of her sins of the past. Claire lives with the pain of having not only destroying her reputation; she thinks she killed her father. She only attends church and otherwise stays at home. She has only two dresses to wear on rotation and is allowed no visitors or letters.

Eugenia continues to uphold the decision her husband made before his death and doesn’t approve of her daughters’ corresponding with their sister. And Aunt Mercer is of the same mind, telling her servants to destroy any letters written to Claire. But Emily, Viola, and eventually Sarah write to her at various points. (Thankfully, the servants don’t always oblige.) Sarah and Mamma have been running a guest house since Viola and Emily married.

Before she passes, Aunt Mercer talks to Claire about her gold scrollwork ruby cross necklace. She tells her niece the cross is the only way for a person to be saved from the penalty sin demands. She has made her decision to accept Christ's gift of salvation, but she thinks Claire is drifting out to sea spiritually. She seems to have some regret for the way she treated Claire who has taken such great care of her. When she passes, she leaves the necklace to Claire along with a bit of money.

Claire answers an advertisement to become a partner in a boarding house called Broadbridge in Sidmouth. She needs money and a place to stay. She desperately wants to be close to her family in hopes one day they will forgive her. Mary, Aunt Mercer's maid, is equally desperate to leave and go wherever Claire is headed. Claire cares about others more than herself, and she pawns the precious necklace to book Mary’s passage. (I won’t say what happens with the necklace. I want you to have that joy of discovery.)

Klassen's story adds to the discussion of racism and colonialism in the Regency period, a topic of the minds of Bridgerton bloggers. Claire and Mary meet Armaan Sagar, a previous character in the series. Armaan is a veteran Anglo-Indian soldier who once saved Maj. Jack Hutton, Claire's sister Viola’s husband. Klassen was inspired by Dean Mahomet, who wrote the first English-language book, The Travels of Dean Mahomet. He was an Indian surgeon and entrepreneur as well as a veteran in the British East India Company’s Bengal Army who converted to Christianity. Claire witnesses with discomfort another passenger's vocal disdain of Armaan based on his skin-color while on the journey to Sidmouth. She doesn't know it at the time, but their paths will cross again.

Broadbridge’s proprietor is widower William Hammond, who worked in the Foreign Office, and is skilled in deciphering. Klassen said she drew inspiration for the character from George Scovell, having read Mark Urban's The Man Who Broke Napoleon’s Codes. William married an Anglo-Indian woman named Vanita. She gave birth to Mira but died before giving birth to their son. Klassen here brings in details about British rule established in India called "the Raj" by the 1800s. She imagines what life would be like for Anglo-Indian people who immigrated to England. Her inspiration came from Women of the Raj by Margaret MacMillan and Henrietta Liston’s Travels: The Turkish Journals 1812-1820.

Vanita’s father used to tell her stories of his life by the English seaside. William vows to take his wife there, but she dies before he can fulfill his promise. He searches for Armaan, Vanita’s half-brother, who resides in Sidmouth. Vanita’s friend and lady’s maid Sonali Patel travels with William and Mira to the seaside town. People are often unkind or outright rude to Armaan, Sonali, and Mira. They are shunned and mistreated for their differences, and this extends to William as well.

Claire knows what it’s like to be a social pariah, and though she is not of another ethnicity, she can empathize with them. Sonali and Mira are turned away by a merchant who refuses service to them, and Claire intervenes. Later, Claire seeks help from Viola and Maj. Hutton when someone picks a fight with Armaan. Armaan later tells William that people accept him more in London circles, but he stayed because of his friendship and loyalty to Maj. Hutton.

A social and spiritual storm sets in for Claire as friends of Lord Bertram make an appearance in Sidmouth. One lady echos the sentiments of P&P’s Mary Bennet and Mr. Collins. And Claire receives an offer she never thought she’d receive. She takes stock of what she once knew about herself. She used to be a valued, cherished daughter, and an admired, trusted sister. Can she really regain what she lost? Aunt Mercer’s gift of the cross and its meaning are key to unlocking Claire from her personal prison and walking in God’s glorious light. She has to make a life-changing decision, one that seems to reveal a path that will heal her relationship with her mother.

Claire visits Mrs. Denby, her sisters’ dear friend from the previous novels. Claire’s secret shame at this point is fairly eating her alive. She asks Mrs. Denby if she has ever done something that brought her shame. As expected, Mrs. Denby says that at her age it's a given that she’s done things that she regrets. She hid away from others as a result, she tells Claire, until Viola reached out the hand of friendship. She reminds Claire that Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Claire says she knows this and that God is a righteous judge. Aunt Mercer portrayed this aspect of God's character to her often. Mrs. Denby shares the Gospel with Claire, reminding her that while God is holy, righteous, and just, He also extends His grace and mercy to us. Mrs. Denby's view of God reminds me of the description of the lion, Aslan, in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. God is not safe, but He’s good. As it says in Romans 10:11, “Whoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed.” 

I love Julie Klassen's novels for the spiritual insights and excellent storytelling. My most favorite scene illustrates Psalm 23:5 with an anointing that was breathtaking and tear-jerking. That’s all I’ll say. Klassen ties up most loose ends in such a soul-satisfying way. She reminds me of favorite Regency and Victorian period novelists. I felt so much joy when I saw I was approved to read this advance review copy I danced in my kitchen. I couldn’t wait to learn what Claire has been up to in her absence from the family, and I was not disappointed. I was here for it!

And in even better news – a Christmas novella is in the works for September 2025, A Sea View Christmas featuring Miss Sarah Summers and Mr. Callum Henshall from the first novel, The Sisters of Sea View. I am so excited!

Thank you to Netgalley.com and Baker Publishing Group, Bethany House publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read and review Klassen’s The Seaside Homecoming.

The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen tells Claire's story. Readers are introduced to the real reason that she was not mentioned in a good light. Also, readers will become familiar with new characters that will spark a new interest in the storyline. The family does come back into the story, wanting to rekindle their relationship with Claire. The setting is familiar and homely. The plot reminds me a little bit of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. A continuing story of a family where the family means everything to them. There is a touch of romance and a little bit of mystery to the hero's past, but it moved nicely. Not much action, but a good novel for those who enjoy Regency novels. Right for the genre and sweetly written. I enjoyed this story. There is a hint of an upcoming Christmas novella with this setting and characters due out in September 2025, and I know that I will want to read that story to catch up with this family. Overall, The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen is a delightful read with interesting, yet adorable characters.

I received a complimentary copy of The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Perhaps what I love the most about Seaside Homecoming is the sweet redemption story lacking unnecessary drama. I have been waiting for Claire’s story since the last book in the series and am very happy for happy ending at last. Now to wait for Sarah’s story to be complete!

THE SEASIDE HOMECOMING is the third novel in the On Devonshire Shores series by Julie Klassen. I have been looking forward to this addition to the series and am definitely not disappointed! It is a beautifully written and well researched book, with great characters whose emotions one can literally feel, sweet romance and a strong Christian message of redemption. I particularly like the very apt quotations at the beginning of each chapter, from Jane Austen and other authors of the early nineteenth century.
It is good to come across most of the same characters as before, namely the Summers family, as well as some interesting and mostly delightful new ones, in the same beautiful seaside setting.
When the rigidly religious and seemingly unfeeling Aunt Mercer dies, Claire Summers, who has taken refuge with her aunt in Edinburgh, bravely sets off to Sea View, hoping to at least see her sisters, even if her mother still refuses to reconcile with her after her unforgivable sin.
With some trepidation she answers an advertisement to go into partnership in Broadridges boarding house, hoping that her past is never found out by her business partner, Mr William Hammond………
I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling your read.
I cannot recommend this enjoyable and thought provoking book strongly enough. I am now looking forward to the fourth novel in the series.
I was givena free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I love this series, I love these sisters and their struggles and accomplishments.

This book is about the oldest sister Claire, the sister not discussed. She has been living with an Aunt in Scotland for two years, hiding from her shame and lost reputation. When the Aunt passes away, she has to decide what to do and where to go. She finds a random advertisement to invest in a boarding house where her sisters live. Can it be possible to start over and maybe be forgiven by her family?

These characters are so good, so fun to watch and grow. This story has all the feels: loss, hope, love, redemption and more. I can't wait for the next book!

The Seaside Homecoming was a wonderful addition to Julie Klassen's Seaview series. I wasn't expecting the story to be about Claire and was happily surprised and quite enjoyed learning more about her. I love Julie's chapter openings, with all the quotes from Jane Austen and literature from the time.

I loved seeing how the characters from previous books had changed and matured, and I liked seeing a glimpse more of Sarah as I learned about Claire. Mira and Sonali were such interesting characters, and it added an interesting element to the story. I'm excited to see how this whole series closes! All in all, I enjoyed this read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

The latest installment in Julie Klassen's captivating series delves deep into issues of unresolved shame and guilt. She beautifully depicts Godly grace and mercy through Claire's journey as she travels to be nearer her family she left two years prior in her failed attempt to elope. Though we didn't get to see our quirky cast of characters at Sea View as much as in previous books, "The Seaside Homecoming" introduced readers to a new set of just as loveable characters at the adjacent guest house Claire takes a position at.

The Seaside Homecoming is set against the picturesque Devonshire coast, with vivid descriptions that make the setting come alive. It is a heartwarming and emotional tale of personal growth, love, and the enduring bond of sisterhood, making it a satisfying read for fans of historical romance and family dramas.