“I feel like a castaway, set adrift on the tide by the long-ago deaths of my parents, and left wanting answers. Is there a plan in all this? Does God truly hold my fate in His hands, or has my life all been happenstance, the mysterious ebb and flow of chance? ~Laura pg. 8”

I think we all have asked this at one time in our life or another; is there truly a plan God has for us, or is it all happenstance? Julie Klassen explores this in her newest novel where she takes our heroine, Laura Callaway, on a journey to discover the answer to that very question. She feels adrift after the deaths of her parents & never really a part of her uncle’s family, though he cares a great deal for her. Until one day she finds a barely alive stranger washed ashore after a shipwreck, thus changing the course of her life as she sets out to discover who he is.

Alexander Lucas is our hero; a mysterious, dark stranger who keeps hold his secrets. I don't blame Laura for being a bit wary of him! The more she begins to get to know & trust him, the more tangled this story got, all in a good way. I enjoyed peeling back the layers of who his character was to get a deeper understanding of his life. I fell in love with him the moment Laura brought him into her care and just had a feeling he was one of the good ones.

This story had a definite Poldark feel that I very much savored! There's not a character in here that I didn't like, with the exception of our villains, who truly made my skin crawl. There's plenty of mystery in A Castaway in Cornwall along with danger, secrets, and an immersive atmosphere that will take you on an adventure through the pages. Julie Klassen is already one of my top historical writers and I really liked the feel of her latest installment. It's a bit more suspenseful than her usual Regencies, but definitely a good change! Oh and you can't forget the romance, it sizzles & sparks so when our hero & heroine are finally able to get together...wowser....pure magic! The faith message is strong with many deeply rooted truths and reminders of God's promises in our lives. Watching Laura taking those truths in her heart & finding her place in the Lord was very encouraging to me. I recommend this book to inspirational historical fans, Julie Klassen fans & those who love all things Cornwall or Poldark!

“I used to wonder if there was a plan in all the loss I experienced. Now I know the answer. Yes. Once, I feared I would never belong anywhere again. But I no longer ask myself if I am flotsam or jetsam, cast off and unwanted. I finally understand that in God's hands, and now in Alexander's arms, I am truly home. ~Laura pg. 378”

*I received a complimentary digital copy through Netgalley and wasn't obligated to leave a favorable review. All opinions are mine. *

I've never been to Cornwall but I feel as though I've just paid a visit to this special area in England. Cornwall, where shipwrecks often occurred and searching for treasure among the wreckage was a common practice among the inhabitants. Laura Callaway, however, chooses to focus on the people involved in those tragedies as she concentrates on the families left behind. Instead of plundering, she wants to nurture and her true nature is never more evident than when she finds a shipwreck survivor and takes him home to nurse him back to health.

A Castaway in Cornwall is Regency fiction at its finest. There is intrigue associated with war and smuggling and questions about Alexander Lucas's true identity. Klassen teases us with Laura's interest in this unknown survivor and I kept hoping that Laura's gentle and trusting nature wasn't being taken advantage of. Laura is an outcast needing to experience the joy of belonging and I love when she finally understands that all of us are valuable in God's eyes.

This is a wonderful story of love and forgiveness and I recommend A Castaway in Cornwall to all who enjoy inspirational historical romance.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. There was no obligation for a favorable review. These are my own thoughts.

A bit slow on the uptake, but a fun read nevertheless. While a bit predictable, the scenery was vividly described with good historical context and diction.

I enjoyed this book. The author lives in America and had to do her research remotely because of COVID restrictions. She has done a great job. I’m not an “up-country girl”. I am from Cornwall.

A Castaway in Cornwall is another beautifully written Regency romance from Julie Klassen. I loved following Laura as she tried to unravel the mystery of Alexander, the man she saved following a shipwreck. (I do have to mention that the unraveling did take a little longer than I would've liked--the pacing felt just a touch off in the middle third of the novel.) Laura and Alex had a sweet romance that was so enjoyable, and I really liked the adventures they had together. I think my favorite aspect, though, was the way that supporting characters continually surprised me. Just when I thought I had a character figured out, something would come to light that completely changed my perception of them. It was like a slow uncovering that I found to be completely delightful!

This novel is one that Regency romance and/or Klassen fans won't want to miss!

A Castaway in Cornwall is a pretty good story by Julie Klassen. I liked it and am giving it four stars.

Laura Callaway lives on the coast of Cornwall and loves to take walks looking for items that have washed ashore. She returns them to their family or lets loved ones know that a family member has perished. Laura is an orphan and lives with her Uncle and his new wife and stepdaughter. As her Aunt works to marry off her cousin, Laura often feels like the odd one out. After a shipwreck, she helps to rescue and care for a mysterious stranger that has survived, Alexander. As clues wash ashore, Laura has to put them together to determine what happened. Who exactly is Alexander?

I greatly enjoyed this story. I love stories set in Cornwall especially about the shipwrecks that occurred and how they were handled. The time period of this novel was during the Napoleonic War with the French and I found it fascinating. I listened in to an interview with author Julie Klassen at the Minnesota January JASNA meeting. Her research into this area and time period were fascinating. I loved the historical details that were included in this novel. I also loved the characters as Klassen is a great character author.

This is an inspirational novel, and I enjoyed the theme of finding your purpose.

I think fans of Poldark, Daphne Du Maurier, and of course Klassen herself would enjoy this novel.

Favorite Quotes:

“Life can be hard, and yours has not been easy. But I can honestly say that serving God and serving others has given me purpose and fills my soul when life is sometimes disappointing. I would love for you to find that same fulfillment.”

“Tears overflowed, streaking her cheeks and cleansing the final traces of resentment from her heart.”

Overall, A Castaway in Cornwall is a great historical novel set during a fascinating period of time, the Napoleonic Wars, and has many interesting characters.

Book Source: Review Copy from Netgalley and Bethany House Publishers. Thank-you!

I received an ARC from Bethany House Publishers, via NetGalley. This review is my personal opinion.

I must say that of all the books I’ve read of Julie Klassen, this one is now my favorite. When we first meet Laura, she is struggling to belong to feel part of where she is, she feels lost. We learn that she is an orphan and has been living for eight years with her uncle and his family in the north of Cornwall in 1813. Julie Klassen did an excellent job with the descriptions, the historical elements make the story more interesting. Then in a twist of events, Laura saved a man's life who was left as a castaway, when we first meet Alexander we know that are some pieces missing in his story; I’m more than grateful how Julie Klassen took a complex situation and make it more human.

I believe that we can relate to some of the situations the characters live in. This story in my opinion has all the elements to surprise you, make you cry, make you reflect on God’s love for you and the importance of forgiveness and how each one of us matters to God and He knows where and about what is inside our hearts. In this world where we all want to belong, been seen, love, and have to hope amid pain and sorrow I must say it it’s a beautiful gift to read a great story that will give you more than entertainment. My only recommendation is to take your time while reading this book; don’t rush, you may lose an important message. Well done to Julie Klassen and all the team that makes this book possible.

Overall, the plot has merit, the pacing generally was on the slow side. An over abundance of characters, made it a challenge to keep up with at times—some more necessary than others. I do believe this could have been condensed down in size, and it would have resolved the issues, and I wouldn’t have needed to skim read.

The geographical issues that popped up were frustrating to me, but I’m getting used to that with this author.

Overall, the saving grace for this story is the location, the action that picked up once the threat increased to Alexander, and Laura. For a short while you get a glimpse of chemistry between the two main characters that is lacking shortly thereafter, but for that 1/4 of the book it pulled this up.

Will probably not buy another print book in future from Klassen.

This is a beautiful story with an incredible setting that adds to the feeling of longing and loss in this story. I loved how the author incorporated her research of this time in history all throughout the storyline and made this book come to life for me. Laura Callaway was a compelling character and I felt sympathy for her from the very beginning of the book. As Laura and the handsome sea captain try to stay one step ahead of danger, the story keeps the reader turning pages. There is a faith aspect that adds to this compelling story, and brings this book to another level.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I wanted to read this book because it was by Julie Klassen and I tend to really like her books. I knew nothing about Cornish history going into this and this book definitely intrigued me. Cornwall seems like a very different place to other placed in Great Britain.

The story of the novel follows Laura, the orphan niece of the local pastor. Laura, though having lived in Cornwall for many years, does not feel that she belongs. She has been searching for a way to feel like she fits and has a purpose but has not yet found it.

North Cornwall is apparently the place of many shipwrecks and the people there scavenge through what is washed ashore. Laura likes to find the trinkets she can and try to track down the family to whom they belong. There is apparently a law that says they are up for free after a year and a day of being washed ashore. So Laura collects these things in hopes to give closure to the families of the deceased.

It is during a stormy night and another shipwreck that a man washes ashore and Laura saves his life. This man intrigues Laura as he has a strange accent and some fear that he might be French. This is during the Napoleonic War and so if he were French there would be great danger to the British.

The plot really focuses on the dangers to Laura and the mysterious man which escalate quite quickly. And Laura finds herself having to make a choice between helping the man or turning him in as a possible Frenchman. This really keeps the book moving along and I kept reading to find out if they would both be safe. It was a great story and I highly recommend it.

I absolutely loved the moody atmosphere of this book with its Cornish setting and air of mystery. Laura is a character that's easy to sympathize with- she's not in the most ideal circumstances, but she makes the best of it with grace and strength. Her compassion for her elderly neighbor and the genuine friendship they share shows a lot about her personality. As a collector myself, I thought her beach combing was an interesting quirk, and one that led to the rescue of Alexander. One of my favorite storylines is where the heroine nurses the hero back to health, and I particularly enjoyed the friendship and slow romance between Laura and Alexander. The way the details of his life unfolded slowly throughout the book kept me enthralled and the sense of danger added urgency to the plot. This is a book of discovery in more ways than one! Highly recommend!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

While Laura searches for valuables along the windswept Cornwall coast, Laura finds a man is washed ashore after a shipwreck, Laura takes him in, nurses and protects him until she can figure out just who he is. Returning items to their rightful owners is something Laura does and this man seems to have a special need that she feels she can help with. A little mystery and a little romance. I requested a copy through NetGalley, no review was required. My review is voluntary.

A wonderful romantic read set in the backdrop of Nepolionic times in Cornwall. Lovely, gentle read with the dashing ship wrecked prisoner and orphaned young lady as the stars of the story. Easy to read and enjoy.

Thank you Netgalley.

This was a very atmospheric story with a rich setting that begins on the Cornwall coast during a storm that wrecks a boat. The rescued castaway is a young man who evidently has plenty of secrets, which lead to surprising developments when his nemesis shows up in the area. Then it’s a puzzle if they can keep Alex from being arrested on the man’s allegations before they can prove he’s the real problem.

The story also follows Laura’s business as a collector of the personal items of shipwrecked folks who died, where she keeps items for a period of time and attempts to let the relatives know about their losses. That was an interesting facet to read.

I’ve always enjoyed stories about Cornwall and the wreckers on the coast, and it was fun to recognize areas I’d read about before, such as Tregeagle.

Thanks to the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

This was an enjoyable and immersive read. I've read quite a few of Julie Klassens books and she creates riveting storylines that merge romance with an underlying mystery that unfolds as the plot progresses. You never quite know where she is taking you , she gives you hints and glimpses of clues but then adds twists and turns into the storyline.
Laura Calloway discovers a drowned man washed up on the beach on the Cornish coast where she lives. She takes him back to the house and nurses him back to health . Who is he and why was he washed up on the shore? Were wreckers involved and who is involved in the local smuggling ring?
It has the usual happily ever after you come to expect from her work and I recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical romance with a little mystery

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.

Laura Callaway has never felt like she belonged in her small town where she currently lives with her uncle (through marriage, not blood) and his family. Her blood relatives have all passed away and she is just trying to survive life. She has a passion in life for collecting lost items from shipwrecks along the seashore, both flotsam (items lost to the sea) and jetsam (items deliberately thrown overboard). She tries to reconnect these items to their owners or the owners family, bringing closure for lives lost.

During one shipwreck at night, she saves the life of a man from being killed by a local smuggler. Laura and her neighbor, with the help of a young local doctor, nurse the man back to health. Through this process, there appear to be things that do not add up. Is this man English, or is he really a Frenchman from the other side of the war?

I really enjoyed learning about shipwrecks, the Napoleonic Wars, and Jersey. I loved the little quirks of Cornwall that I was able to learn, including about the sand buried church! These historical novels, with good research, are wonderful ways to learn little tidbits about history.

RATING: 4 STARS
2020; Bethany House

Ever since I picked up Julie Klassen's first novel, The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill, I have felt like I have been transported back to another time. The way that Klassen writes, takes readers right into the story and invested in the character's lives. The first book I read was part of a series, and I enjoyed it enough that I read the entire series and picked up her next book. This will be my sixth book, third of her standalone novels. The Ivy Hill series reminded me of Jane Austen's stories. Klassen writes under the "Christian Fiction" genre, so the novels are pretty "clean" when it comes to sex and violence. The romances are sweet, but still have passion and chemistry that romance readers are looking for. What I also like about Klassen is that there is usually some kind of mystery. A Castaway in Cornwall reminded me a bit of Graham Winston's Poldark series. The characters are endearing and wicked, and sometimes both. The story is about a young woman who is orphaned, and lives with her uncle by marriage. When she was younger, her parents and maternal aunt and uncle have passed away from an illness. her father's sister and husband took her in. Losing her aunt to childbirth, she and her uncle leaned on one another to keep going. He remarries a widow with a daughter around Laura's age. Her step-aunt sees her in her daughter's way of finding a good marriage. Laura longs to see more of the world, especially where she lost her parents.

The Cornwall coast is known for many shipwrecks and few survivors. Laura, among many others, finds things and tries to send them back to their loved ones. One night when she rescues a man from a Shipwreck, she helps to nurse him back to health. As she gets to know the stranger she starts to think he may be lying about who he is. Yet he can take her to where he parents were last alive. This may be the adventure she has always wanted. The whole book was a fun journey. It was the sweet escape I needed get out of my own head.

***I received a complimentary copy of this trade paperback from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

I love a story that can truly transport me to a different place and time through their description and storytelling and Julie Klassen truly does this so well. I have read a few other books from her in the past, and was happy to see that to be the case with A Castaway in Cornwall too. She really just sets the scenes oh-so-perfectly.

This story takes place in an area known for shipwrecks. Where others come to find treasures and the like, Laura Callaway looks for clues as to those who did not survive in an effort to bring answers to their loved ones. When a survivor- Alexander Lucas- washes up on sure, there is a lot of mystery surrounding him too. What follows is a great story full of mystery, drama and yes, even some romance.

While shipwreck stories have not been something I had much interest in in the past, I must say this is the second Christian fiction story I have read recently on the topic and this one has definitely had me wanting to read even more! Overall, fans of historical romance and/or those who enjoy a story with some mystery are certain to want to check this out.

**Book received for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

Laura Callaway is an orphan that was sent to live in Cornwall. Here she finds the culture and people different from what she was used to and she struggles to fit in and feel accepted.

She makes a hobby of looking for flotsam and jetsam along the shores where shipwrecks are quite common. I found the definitions of flotsam and jetsam interesting. Flotsam is goods floating on the sea where a ship sunk and jetsam is anything that was purposely cast out of the ship in hopes of saving the ship. She tried to find the owners of the things she found if it was at all possible.

And one night she rescues a man who struggled to shore after a ship wrecked on rocks. But who is this man and is he really who he says is and can he be trusted? For the answers to that, you will have to read the book.

This book, while classified as historical fiction, is mostly fictional, but yet loosely based on things that could have happened in that era of time. Tom Parsons, a wrecker, was a real person though not much is known about him. There also was a church who was buried in sand and shipwrecks were common along the coastline and because not many people could swim back then, many people would die as a result of these shipwrecks.

I also enjoy Julie Klassen's writings and try to read all her new books as they come out. Someday I am hoping to read all her backlist as well. They are well-written and often pretty thick and there is something satisfying about that combination.

I received this book from Bethany House via NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.