If you enjoy a wonderful Regency tale, then you must read The Sisters of Seaview, book one in Klassen’s On Devonshire Shores series. (I’m already looking forward to book two!) Sometimes the characters reminded me of Little Women, other times Sense and Sensibility. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Well developed characters, each with their own strong personalities and trials, drew me in quickly. The sisters banded together to support and save the family in their own ways. They have strong family ties, which I enjoyed. And they had to come to terms with what they were dealing with. It was fun to see personalities shine.

Klassen brought in a lot of historical facts, such as bathing machines, what women could and couldn’t do, and so many other things to flesh out the story and make it very imaginable. It’s a must read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

The Sisters Of Sea View is the perfect book to enjoy on a long snowy weekend. Sea View is a large home on the shore in Devonshire England owned by the Summer family. I loved the way the Summer sisters work together to open a boarding house, something being gentleman's daughters, they know nothing about. The setting is gorgeous and the family dynamics are well thought out. Ms. Klassen has done a wonderful job of adding a bit of Dicken's whimsy to the characters. I highly recommend The Sisters Of Sea View and look forward to the second book in the series. There are many more tales to tell!

I was given a copy of The Sisters Of Sea View with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

The Sisters of Seaview is amazing and a pure delight to read. I absolutely adored getting to know the Summers family, from the daughters to the boarders this storyline is filled with characters that will tug at a readers heart. It was sad how the family is left impoverished after the death of the patriarch, but heartwarming as the sisters work together to come up with a plan to care for themselves and their ailing mother.
The sisters expected elderly visitors when they opened their home to paying guests, but instead the guests were of different ages with unique backgrounds and various reasons for staying at their seaside home. Each of the sisters have a distinct personality, strengths, and reasons for not wanting to be front and center in the new venture they embark upon. I love character driven books and this is one of the best.
I have read almost every book this author has written, but this may be one of my favorites yet. It is one of those books you do not want to end and cannot wait for the second book in the series to release. I highly recommend this book, if you haven’t read it, add it to your TBR.
I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publishers for my free copy in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this novel! It is the perfect novel for fans of Little Women and Jane Austen. I loved the fact that characters from Emma actually made an appearance in the novel.

What really worked for me was that the reader was completely immersed in this world and we just took each day with this family of close knit sisters. I think it really helped me get to know the characters, get to know the town, and really have an appreciation for the romance that blossomed!

I loved that romance, by the way, I loved the aspects of two people dealing with physical disabilities and their reaction to them, eventually ending with them falling in love. It was super sweet and swoon-worthy.

I am anxious to see where the story goes from here and I love that we get to see the relationships with the other sisters blossom organically. I definitely will be looking for the future releases in this series and find out what happens next!

The Sisters of Sea View is the first book in Julie Klassen’s new Regency series On Devonshire Shores.

This is the story of the Summers family as they open a guest home in an attempt to stay financially afloat. It follows the point of view of three of the sisters, and their possible romances.

At first, the older sister was my favorite, but quickly I couldn’t wait for each of Viola’s scenes. I loved her romance and how she came to terms with her own situation. I won’t say more for risk of spoilers … but the ending could be more satisfying. I’m hopeful the rest of the series will provide that.

Fans of Julie Klassen’s books and Regency stories will love this book. The short scenes make it a page-turner. And now I’m anxiously awaiting book two so I can learn what happens next.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley.
I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

The Sisters of Sea View is a cozy historical fiction that gives several nods to Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott. It’s like a gentle tribute to those great authors. It was fun to see the Elton’s from Emma make an appearance. They were just as insufferable in this story as they were in Emma. It was also fun to have a similar sisterly dynamic as that found in Little Women and Sense and Sensibility.
This story has a much cozier and simpler feeling than many of Klassen’s other books. It’s perfect for those looking for historical fiction in the vein of Austen and Alcott. However, be aware that it lacks the satirical wit found in Austen’s novels.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#TheSistersofSeaView #NetGalley

First sentence: Sarah Summers carefully lifted the family heirloom, a warm mantle of nostlagia settling over her.

Historical romance--Regency Romance--Christian fiction.

After the death of their father and the decline of their mother's health, four sisters--Sarah, Emily, Viola, Georgiana--decide (somewhat reluctantly) to open up their seaside home to (paying) guests.

Long story short: I absolutely loved, loved, loved, loved this one. It was just giddy-making. I loved the family. I loved the neighborhood and community. I loved meeting the guests. I loved the stories. I loved the relationships. I loved the layers.

Three of the four sisters are well-developed and get a lot of time and attention. [Georgiana, well, maybe in future books she will be developed and have a story.]

There are multiple narrators. The narrators do not switch over at chapter breaks. Within a chapter, the point of view might change several times. The only negative thing I can say about this one is that--at least in the advanced reader's copy--there's no visual clues that the narration has changed.

It was so funny to have Mr. and Mrs. Elton from Emma show up as guests in this one!!! They added much comic relief.

This is a fantastic beginning of what promises to be a delightful new series by Julie Klassen. She is one of the best at penning a good Regency. I adored this story of a family who find themselves in reduced financial circumstances after the unexpected death of their father. With an ailing mother to care for, four sisters bring their unique set of talents and personalities together to turn their seaside home into a boarding house. The sisters thoroughly enchanted me, reminding me of the March sisters of Little Women. Their united front, love for each other, and small disagreements, made this fictional family feel real-to-life and one I would love to meet. That and the charming residents of their Devonshire village.
Ms. Klassen's beautiful prose brought to life this seaside community in a summer filled with Austenesque entertainment, sea bathing and picnics, cricket matches and balls. Not only did I fall in love with the Summers sisters, I found the eclectic cast of characters in the residents and summer guests of their village to be charming.
Told from the perspective of three of the sisters, each experiences a budding romance. The heroes are as charming and different as each of the sisters. Only one is resolved, but I anticipate the others will have their own resolutions in future books in the series. Can't wait to read more of their adventures.

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.

The Sisters Of Sea View, by Julie Klassen, introduces Sarah Summers, as well as her twin sisters, Viola and Emily. When their father passes away, fortunately he had been able to leave the house at Sea View to his wife and daughters. To keep money coming in, Sarah’s family decides they must rent out several of the rooms. Sarah’s sisters find it hard to give up their former life as gentleman’s daughters; however, hard times
sometimes require hard measures!

Each sister takes on a different role in running this new guest house. Sarah works as the manager, Emily develops the advertisement to draw in the guests and Voila brings in additional funds by reading to invalids. Each sister works hard to make their endeavor a success!

It is interesting to see the situations these three sisters find themselves in. Hold on until you learn a surprising family secret near the end of this!

A wonderful historical fiction with just the right touch of romance. This story focuses on 4 sisters and their struggles to turn their family home into an inn/guest house for travelers wanting to visit the sea side. After their father passes, they’re forced to figure out a way to support themselves, but they’re desperate to stay together and not head separate directions for work.
If you love Little Women, this will be an absolute treat for you. The relationships between the sisters are a bit shaky, but to see them develop and strength is beautiful. And the bits of romance sewn into the story adds such a sweet element that I truly enjoyed.
There were times where it got a bit confusing with the perspective changes, since we bounce between 3 of the sisters point views. But it wasn’t difficult to follow.
Loved it and highly recommend this to fellow historical fiction lovers!

4.5 stars ⭐️

*Many thanks to the netgalley, author and publisher, no positive review was expected but I loved it and needed to share ♥️

Oozing with Jane Austen vibes and set in regency England, in ‘The Sisters of Sea View’ we meet the Summers family, an ailing mother and her five daughters who must come to terms with the loss of income and status that resulted from the loss of their recently deceased husband and father. To make ends meet, they decide to rent out the surplus rooms in their modest home to tourists. Their first guests turn out to be an eclectic group that keep the family on their toes.
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I am so glad this is book one of a series, because 400 pages of the Summers sisters wasn’t enough. I absolutely fell in love with the family and the narrative that Julie Klassen has created for them.
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I also felt this book to be well researched, and I found the insights into the practice of sea bathing, superstitions around certain birth defects, and other elements to be rather diverting, and took me town more than one Google rabbit-hole.
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I’ll be looking forward to the next instalment in this series.
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A huge thanks to @bethanyhousefiction for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit, I didn't even read the description when I ordered The Sisters of Sea View. The name Julie Klassen was all I needed. I always enjoy her books so much.

Julie Klassen never disappoints with her books. This one had more than one storyline. There was an overarching story, but there was also, skillfully tucked in, a story for each sister and the mother as well. It was a gentle, calm novel that had plenty of interesting characters and enjoyable antics. It's what I think of as an abiding novel. When you open the pages, you go for a visit with the people within. Sometimes you feel like a quick stop for a cup of tea, and sometimes you feel like spending the afternoon getting to know them better with all their quirks and conundrums.

While I don't consider this to be a mystery, there are a couple of mysteries within these pages. It's more of a drama infused with mystery, the problems of a family whose father has passed, and a sprinkling of romance. It's all wrapped in the semi-formality of historical fiction.

I think The Sisters of Sea View is very pleasant way to pass some time this winter as we're dreaming of spring!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

#TheSistersofSeaView #NetGalley

One of my favorite ‘older’ series is the Gresham Chronicles by Lawana Blackwell. One of the reasons I love it is that you get the chance to become deeply invested in a variety of main and supporting characters by following them down different paths throughout each book individually and as a series. There might be a primary character that is slightly more the focus per book but often it’s truly an ensemble cast. Enough swoony romance to make me happy, too, but not so much that it overpowers the varying story threads. I am delighted to report that Julie Klassen’s new On Devonshire Shores series reminds me of Blackwell’s Gresham Chronicles in all the best ways.

In The Sisters of Sea View, the perspective switches between three of the Summers sisters (older sister Sarah and twins Emily & Viola) who have recently been forced to turn their seaside home into a guest house for financial reasons. As their mother suffers from mobility issues, Sarah is the main manager of the guests in her stead. Gregarious Emily helps with some of the management tasks, as well as engaging the guests in friendly conversation. And, due to her cleft palate surgical scar, Viola prefers to earn money by reading to invalids instead of interacting with the guests. Through each respective narrative, Klassen not only allows us to become more acquainted with these easy-to-love heroines but also to get to know the other characters through their eyes.

And what an absolutely lovely & eclectic mix of characters it is! Readers will definitely be able to find at least one guest or family member or villager to identify with – likely more. I know I have several whom I hope we can revisit in future books, not the least of which are three specific men who cross their paths: The initially-gruff and battle-scarred neighbor whom Viola is hired to read to, the young Scottish widower who finds a kindred spirit in Sarah, and the dashing bachelor who seems smitten with Emily. Only one of these budding romances finds resolution in this first book, but I would be very surprised if we’ve seen the last of the other two. Each of the romances not only filled my KissingBooks-loving heart with joy, they also gave me all the Austenesque feels. Don’t worry, though, if you prefer less romance, these threads don’t consume the story – rather, they are just another aspect to the lives we become invested in while reading the book.

As for the overall theme… well, I think this snippet from a conversation between Viola & the precious Mrs. Denby near the end of the story sums it up perfectly:

“A solitary soul can do little. But together… what lasting beauty we create.”

In fact, I probably could have summed up my review with those thirteen words and saved you having to read all my ramblings lol.

Bottom Line: The Sisters of Sea View is another warm and charming read by Julie Klassen, just as I expected! There are several poignant themes woven through these pages and some wonderfully layered characters that even if you’re not here for the swoony romance you’ll find a lot to love about this book. With flavors of Little Women and Sense & Sensibility, the Summers sisters will easily set up camp in your heart and don’t even get me started on the grumpily lovable hero next door and the other intriguing men who stay at their guest house! Klassen continues to remind me, with each new book, why she’s long been a favorite author, and I’m so excited to see where this series goes.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

The Sisters of Sea View by Julie Klassen is an engaging homage to Jane Austen, and I loved it so much!

This 425-page novel with its beautiful cover reminded me of several PBS dramas I love:
- the seaside setting of Sanditon
- a story of sisters with very different personalities like Downton Abbey
- a cricket game ala Downton and All Creatures Great and Small

This sisters-centric story was also reminiscent of Little Women in the best ways.

Set in 1819 Sidmouth, England, the plot includes drama as well as humor with the theme of acceptance for all. The relationships include love in many forms, including romantic, familial, and friendships. Published by Bethany House, the story includes some references to the characters’ Christian faith, but they feel organic and not heavy-handed.

I’m so glad this is the first book in the On Devonshire Shores series as I’m eager to spend more time with the Summers sisters. Thank you to Uplit Reads and NetGalley for the review copy; all thoughts are my own.

"Ignoring Georgie’s groans, she opened the door with a thrill of pleasure. Ah, the smells of books— ink, paper, leather . . . life."

Don't you love a story with a library or bookshop in it? I know I sure do.
This is the first book I've read by Julie Klassen, and it has simply been a pleasure to read. The story focuses on four sisters and their ailing mother living on the sea coast of Devonshire, England.

They have many funny adventures and mishaps as they learn how to run a boarding house for the tourists and other travelers to Sidmouth. (Their local town.) I loved how each character worked through different problems with the help of their new friends, neighbors and God, and became better people because they went through those trials.

This book was squeaky clean, and most enjoyable to read. I found myself laughing out loud quite often.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers, the author, Interviews and Reviews and Netgalley for this complimentary e-book. A positive review was not required of me, and the thoughts above are my own.

Thank you to Bethany House & Baker Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.

First things first, I need to read more Regency Historical. Because every single book I've read in this genre has been in between a 4 and a 5 star read, and I really cannot explain why I've been sleeping on this genre.

Second things second, I loved this book and am BEREFT that I have to wait however long for the next in this new series.

Third things third, if you're looking for a book to gently lull you into the New Year, I could not recommend this one highly enough!

I was hooked into this story and reading about this family from practically the first page, and honestly found absolutely any excuse to read it - generally I prefer longer reading sessions for books (30mins to an hour) but for this one I found myself picking it up at any spare moment, whether that be for 2mins, 5, or 15.

I loved the relationships between all the family members, and loved all of the side characters - while there were a lot, I didn't find any of them unnecessary and truly enjoyed the way the town and its inhabitants were formed in my mind, and the way this creates a really rich setting at the beginning of a planned series.

And Viola? LOVED. HER. Emily? Yup, loved her too. Susan? Yep. She was great. Georgiana? Adored. (And the menfolk? Also quite lovely, and particularly swoonworthy!)

Overall, this one comes highly recommended from me and I will gladly take any Regency recs you have!!

December 30, 2022
4.5⭐️
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I love all of Klassen’s books and was excited to get an advanced copy (even if I didn’t get to it until after it published 🙈) but I love the setting and all the characters!
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The Summers sisters have had quite a shock. Their father passed away which means they have to move from their home and end up in Sidmouth along the beach. But 5 women on their own is a lot to care for with limited funds so they open their home to allow guests to stay. Another change to navigate.
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And being a guest house is a mixed bag of the type of guests you’ll get. Handsome gentleman ✅ rich couple ✅ widower ✅, gentleman and his 🦜… I loved that addition!
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The POV changes between the sisters, although not as much Georgie probably because she is still youngish/child but I can’t wait to revisit this world and see what else happens. It’s a quick read with the changing POV but I disliked how it changed POV by the next paragraph, no indent space or anything. Sometimes I would have to reread something because I was reading it with the previous POV and I had to correct myself.
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The last 25% picks up in action and events which I loved. I’ve heard this book is like Little Women and it is with its charm and goodness, small wisdom and references to God, caring for others even when you have small means and a determined sister longing to write.
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I honestly can’t pick a favorite character! Each are so well written and stand out from each other and it’s realistic. I received an e-arc from the publisher, Austenprose PR and Net Galley. These are my own thoughts and opinions.
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Can be a trigger - trauma from past surgeries and pain from a cleft palate, depiction of burned skin,

When reduced circumstances require Mrs. Summers and her four daughters to economize, they open their Sidmouth home as a guest house. Their extra bedrooms are soon filled with visitors to the seaside town, bringing interest and intrigue to the normally quiet family.

Three of the four sisters are point of view characters: Sarah the responsible one, Emily the adventurous one, and Viola the quiet one with a scarred face and heart. Each sister has a bit of romance throughout the novel, and I wondered at times if we'd get them all married off—or if in the end any of them would have a happily ever after. I won't give spoilers, but let's say I was satisfied with the conclusion while it also leaves room for some of the storylines to continue into the next book of the series.

This novel is very character-driven, which was delightful for this reader, though I can see how some might find it boring. Also it was occasionally hard to keep track of whose point of view we were in. But I really enjoyed each sister and look forward to knowing more about them. I'm excited Julie Klassen is doing another series, as I loved her Tales of Ivy Hill books.

Readers who love Jane Austen will enjoy spotting names and dialogue that are borrowed from Austen's classic works. And if you appreciate a wide cast of characters, this book is definitely for you. So many new people to get to know!

Overall, I'd recommend this for fans of character-driven Regency fiction. You won't be disappointed!

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.

What a heartfelt, empowering story of sisterhood. This book is beautifully written and full of richly developed characters that you can’t help but love. The story is told through multiple POV, and I loved getting to know each of the sisters.

And that setting… can I book a trip right now?

I got a lot of 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 vibes from this book. If you’re a fan of 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯, you’ll want to get your hands on a copy of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘦𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘦𝘸 ASAP.

When their father dies of an apoplectic attack, the four Summers sisters along with their mother must find a way to earn an income if they are to avoid descending into utter poverty. The gentlewomen have the blessing of owning their own large house in the ocean village of Sea View, and at the prompting of their managing older sister Sarah, they resolve to become a popular seaside boarding house. Pretty Emily uses her clever pen to write advertisements. Rambunctious Georgie gives up her room to move to the attic. Industrious Sarah develops her culinary skills to save on the baker’s bill. But Viola, bitter at life due to a birth defect of a harelip, refuses to help in the endeavor.

Required to earn income another way, Viola begins to read to invalids and others who need a companion. She makes the acquaintance of Major Hutton, a soldier who was badly burned during heroic action in India, and discovers that their scars–both literal and metaphorical–forge a friendship between them that may grow into something dearer. Meanwhile, Sarah slaves away taking care of the needs of their various boarders, dealing with each idiosyncrasy and special request. But when the handsome widower Mr. Henshall starts snooping around the house in the dark of the early morning, she must put her foot down and intervene to discover what secrets he is hiding. Emily, the most attractive of the sisters, draws suitors like flies to honey, but she must learn through difficult circumstances what kind of man is worth having and why the Summers sisters’ reputation has been mysteriously damaged in polite society.

The boarding house guests, from Mr. Gwilt with his stuffed parrot to Mr. Stanley with his flirtatious teasing, are all drawn with humorous skill. Ms. Klassen even includes a pair of larger-than-life characters from one of Jane Austen’s novels (no spoilers, but I will tell you that you’ll enjoy them immensely!). The relationships between the sisters themselves are depicted with great insight as each contends with a lack of contentment about the circumstances in which they were placed. The book has nods to Emma, Sense and Sensibility, and also Pride and Prejudice.

Ensemble casts can sometimes make a novel feel like a thrown-together patchwork of pieces, but Ms. Klassen weaves an intricate tapestry that provides a complete story for this first book and still leaves threads to follow for future books. A deft tribute to Austen with memorable characters of its own, The Sisters of Sea View is a delightful start to a new Julie Klassen series.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.