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