Julie Klassen is an author I’m quickly starting to enjoy! “Castaway in Cornwall” is a story about treasures, a castaway, snuggling and war. 

Laura is a young woman who finds her purpose in collecting the items that wash ashore, and seeking to return the items to their families, to bring them peace. A mysterious man drifts ashore after a stormy shipwreck, her family nurses him back to health. During his recovery, his true identity begins to unfold, along with Laura’s own. 

A sweet, clean regency romance!

Flotsam or Jetsam

A Castaway in Cornwall is an emotional historical romance about feeling left behind and struggling to find a place in the world.

Laura and Alexander were both castaways. While Alexander was literally shipwrecked, Laura was an orphan living on the charity of relatives.

Their paths crossed when Laura, confronting the local smugglers, saved Alexander's life and took him to her uncle's home. I love how they slowly bond, the friendship that results, and the inner sense of belonging despite the secrets that threatened them both.

Laura was the sweetest of heroines. She routinely collected non-valuables washed ashore from the shipwrecks and recovered or repurposed them to donate to the poor. In a way, she did the same to Alexander. 

Alexander was enigmatic and charming. He owned Laura his life and felt his heart being given in the bargain, but he had nothing to offer her but risk and heartbreak.

In addition to the romance, there is a lot to learn about how shipwrecks were a veritable business in Cornwall during the 1800s.  It was exciting to read about the pirates, the tax authorities, and the smuggling locals. The connection between Cornwall in England and Cornouaille in France was another fascinating theme.

As always, the author brings lovely references to Jane Austen. They always made me smile mid-read. 

A Castaway in Cornwall is another excellent Klassen's book. It has a sweet and emotional romance, adventure, villains, community, and kindness, intertwined with fascinating history bits.

Highly Recommended!

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 12/02/2020 as part of the book's blog tour*

An incredibly moving, beautifully romantic Regency tale from beloved author Julie Klassen!  A Castaway in Cornwall, an ambiguous title, gripped me from the first page and never let me go.  The story is wonderfully full circle, beginning and ending with an analogy of flotsam and jetsam, each part touching and impactful.  I only fell more deeply in love with the story as it went on, and as sad as I was to see it end, I was completely fulfilled by it.

Klassen has a wonderful talent for creating characters that make distinctly unique impressions on the reader.  Her characters are not morally black and white, but are complex and intriguing, evoking reflection within the reader.  Klassen’s impressive cast of characters will have the reader feeling hopeful, mournful, and renewed.  Laura is an inspiring and compassionate heroine, and I adored her determination and selflessness.  Alex is a different type of hero, one I’ve been waiting to read about for a long time without realizing it.  He’s flawed and unafraid to express his emotions, passionate and versatile.  He’s one of the most well written heroes I’ve read in a long time.  

It’s been too long since I’ve read a Julie Klassen novel, and A Castaway in Cornwall has been a wonderful reintroduction to her delectable stories.  Poignant and enchanting, this story is one that readers will be thinking about long after the final pages.  5/5 stars

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

My Thoughts:  The setting becomes a character here. It’s very rich in detail. Klassen did an amazing job weaving this culture into the storyline very naturally.   
Klassen has always had a way of gripping me from the beginning, but this one struggled to keep my attention at times. It was slower paced in the beginning, but worth it in the end where the activity was faster paced and the characters were more intent on their goals. 
One of the things I really appreciate was the steady message of our worth not being based on what the masses might think of us. It was very endearing to watch Laura care for each item she found. She truly saw a value in the small things that no one else did. But she didn’t treat people badly, even when they never fully accepted her. I really liked that about her character. 

Rating and Recommendations: I’m giving it 4 stars and recommending it to those who enjoy Christian Historical or Regency novels. 

~ I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review or required to give a favorable one. All thoughts are my own.

I am a huge fan of Julie Klassen and her wonderful stories. A Castaway in Cornwall is a delightful page-turning adventure that I got completely lost in. This seafaring tale of intrigue, belonging, and a developing love story, set mostly in beautiful Cornwall, England, passed by way too quickly for my liking! It starts with Laura Callaway rescuing mysterious Alexander Lucas, a lone survivor of a shipwreck. Laura lives with her uncle, a preacher and his family for many years after her parents pass away. She finds a noble purpose in trying to locate next of kin for those who perish on her shores, as well as keeping track of any treasures that wash ashore from shipwrecks. Nursing this lone survivor back to health sets Laura on course for a whole new adventure.

We encounter spies, prisoners, families divided on different sides of the war, betrayal, lovable neighbors, a real-life buried church in the sand, as we travel to Cornwall England, Jersey Island, and Cornouaille in France, in this engaging story. I love historical fiction and Julie Klassen does it so well. She brings the locations, and time period alive with her beautiful writing skills and her impeccable research. I learn something new with every story! I highly recommend A Castaway in Cornwall!


Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for letting me read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

Where to even start? I was entranced from the first chapter and couldn’t put this book down. Two days later and I still think of the characters and places from this story. That’s when you know it’s amazingly written fiction. 
Julie Klassen is a captivating storyteller and she has written a book that will stand out as one of the finest in her genre. I think we are all treasure hunters at heart and I would love to walk the sands of Cornwall and find hidden treasures along the beaches with Laura. The romance and adventure of this story will completely entrance its readers.

I enjoyed this novel about the times of Napoleon and learned a bit about what life was like then. I enjoyed the characters and  setting.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of an honest review.

Spies. Shipwrecks. Hunted Treasure. Romance. Castaways. What a thrilling story idea! Julie Klassen's latest Regency novel takes place on the shores of Cornwall. Her novel A Castaway in Cornwall is smashing, delightful story filled with elements of finding what makes a person who they are. The romance started a little quicker than I like in novels, but later as their romance blossomed, it was sweet, and I could buy it. As for the plot, it was well-written with plenty of action to keep me glued to the pages of the story. The description was well-versed enough to allow readers to imagine and disappear along the rocky shorelines of England. Personally, as someone who has never left the country, it was nice to travel to Cornwall with Klassen's stories. Probably, why I enjoy her stories so much. I have such a desire to visit England, and her stories always gives me a little peek of the countryside. When I go, there will definitely be places from her stories that I have added to my visit list. Overall, A Castaway in Cornwall was a unique hunt for identity and treasure all in one. I highly recommend this story to fans of Jane Austen and Jane Eyre. If this is your first Klassen novel, go pick up the rest. Wonderful story teller. 

I received a complimentary copy of A Castaway in Cornwall by Julie Klassen, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Reading A Castaway in Cornwall reminded me why Julie Klassen is my favorite Christian Fiction author. Her vivid descriptions of Cornwall transported me through time to experience the beauty and brashness of the rocky seaside setting. Each of her tales regales you with a history lesson of the setting area of England, and this story reveals how locals dealt with the many shipwrecks that pounded the shores of Cornwall. And of course, romance is never far...

Laura, staying with with an uncle by marriage after the death of her parents, felt as though she were a castaway in a far away land. With the many shipwrecks, she has found solace in gathering lost items washed ashore and reuniting them with their rightful owners. When she aids a man washed up from one of these shipwrecks, she has  a new challenge of helping to restore him to his family and righting many wrongs. Filled with just the right amount of intrigue, Laura and Alexander embark on a journey of justice, reconciliation, and love. 

A great read, A Castaway in Cornwall fits perfectly in with Julie Klassen's other tales. I appreciate the research she puts in for each of her novels and cannot ever pass up the chance to place myself in her characters and settings with each read!

Laura Callaway searches along the shorlines of north Cornwall for little treasures or bits of things left behind after shipwrecks and one day happens to save the life of a survivor of a wreck of a ship named the Kittiwake, Alexander Lucas.  She is living with her Uncle Matthew and Mrs. Bray, his second wife and is an orphan.  With the help of the local nurse Mrs. Chegwin and a young doctor they bring Alexander back to health.  He is a bit hazy about certain details about his past and has a bit of a French accent when speaking English so it is reasonable during the Napoleonic War between England and France to be discreet about details about his past.  Even so as time goes by an attraction between the two of them develops slowly and the truth about both of their past lives start to come out.  I feel that the title is perfect because in a way they are both castaways one without a family of her own anymore and Alexander has left a large political rift with his brother Alan in France and is deeply worried both about him and the chaos this rift has caused with their father in the middle.  After many attempts to get home to Brittany to see his brother only to find he has been executed and his father is dying, he realizes how much he loves Laura who has discovered that her aunt did not die and is alive in Jersey and she is not alone without a family.  The ending was beautiful and touching and I enjoyed it very much.  Thanks to Net Galley and Bethany Books for the opportunity to read this lovely story.

On a stormy night Physician’s daughter Laura Callaway is alerted that there’s a shipwreck on the local shore with only one survivor. Alexander Lucas hides his secrets well, but danger seems to follow him to Cornwall.

A Castaway in Cornwall is written by Julie Klassen, published by Bethany House Publishers. The story is set in North Cornwall 1813 and we follow Laura Callaway as she works on her admirable project to salvage trinkets from wrecks and inform next of kin of their loved ones lost at sea. When another ship wrecks, a man is washed ashore and ends up in Laura’s care to be nursed back to life. He presents himself as Alexander Lucas, has a foreign accent and reveals very little about who he is and where he is from.
While this is the second book I have read recently with similar setting, this plot stands out in the way it describes people’s struggles to survive in rather modest circumstances. With a backdrop of the Napoleonic War, the story deals with the need to belong to a family and a community. As an orphan, Laura struggles with both.

Main character physician’s daughter Laura Callaway lost her parents and lives with non-blood relatives. For a woman who struggles so much, I quite admire how she is able to make such a difference in other people’s lives and that’s why she is my favorite of this story.

Supporting character naval sea Captain Alexander Lucas struggles with consequences of war, and goes through a process of learning how to trust again. I felt he seemed human and likable as we got to follow his thoughts and perspectives. Danger seemed to follow him ashore in Cornwall.

I loved the vivid descriptions of daily life and occasional celebrations at the Cornish coast. I could easily see how story could easily be adapted to a movie reminiscent of Poldark. I found the characters relatable and many of them sympathetic. A few really unlikable ones wired me up and added great drama. The mystery element was my favorite part, which related to Alexander Lucas previous life and family background gradually told via his perspective of the story.  

The romance part of the story seemed to be on the backburner until the last part of the plot. As danger was at the forefront, that made perfect sense to me. I enjoyed the dramatic parts of the story and the slightly surprising elements at the end.  I felt it was all expertly tied up into a satisfying conclusion to this standalone novel.

Anyone who enjoys a historical romance set in Cornwall will love this story. As will fans of Julie Klassen. Similar authors to explore while eagerly awaiting next release from Julie Klassen
might be Kristi Ann Hunter or Jody Hedlund Thank you to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.

Conclusion: A Castaway in Cornwall is the entertaining and enjoyable story about a woman who struggles to belong and a man marked by war who both long for a place to call home.

This delightful historical book will keep you guessing from beginning to end.  As the lives of the characters and their pasts and presents collide together, mysteries unfold.  This is another very enjoyable story by Julie Klassen - one that is difficult to put down!

I always enjoy Julie Klassen books! This one started out a little slow for me, but it pulled me in especially because of my love for Poldark! Cornwall is fascinating and sounds so beautiful. I would love to go there some day and this book reiterated that feeling! The second half of the book captivated me much more than the first half and I eagerly finished it satisfied. It bounced around in time a little bit and had somewhat of a mystery to solve. Great clean regency romance.

A Castaway in Cornwall is a lovely, clean, story of Laura, who often walks the seashore looking for lost items from shipwrecks. After a shipwreck, she finds a half drowned man on the shore, she gets him up to her house she shares with her Uncle, Aunt, and cousin, to help the poor man recover from his injuries. His name is Alexander, and he is very mysterious. He stays until he recovers, and at this point, she learns the truth about him. She finds that he is an escaped prisoner of war, but still a good man. He needs to get to his brother, to get him released from prison. They travel together to an island in the English channel, and he goes on to his homeland, just to find out his brother has already been executed. An exciting and interesting story I enjoyed reading!

Klassen is one of my favorite authors and this book did not disappoint!  I love how much research was done for this book.  I appreciate all the history and detail.  There are inserts from historical documents for each chapter which is a great bonus.  Throughout the book you get to see many destinations and experience some history.  Klassen keeps you guessing what each character is hiding so you want to keep reading it to get to the bottom of it all.  Pieces of information is given as the book unfolds and allows you to start understanding the characters more and more.  I enjoyed reading about the hardships and twist and turns.  You feel you need to look out for them and help them reach the final destination.  Laura and Alexander grow in depth and their relationship at a good pace.  Laura is strong and determined and Alexander has a good heart under all that life has thrown his way.  This book kept me engaged not being able to guess what was next.

A Castaway in Cornwall is a regency tale of shipwrecks, smugglers, war, and romance. Each of these individually can make a great story, but together is even better.
I enjoyed the main characters in this novel. The supporting cast was well varied and added depth to the story as well. Some of the character development was brought on by situations I found a little far fetched but still made for an entertaining novel.
The setting was beautiful, but I just didn't feel like I was there as I read. I can't blame Julie Klassen for this, however, as she was unable to travel when writing this story (due to COVID19) and therefore had to base her writing on research rather than actual experience. I can only imagine the challenge in doing so.
The plot was quite well thought out, albeit unrealistic at times. The pace picked up a bit during the second half of the story which I quite enjoyed.

A Castaway in Cornwall
by Julie Klassen
Bethany House
 You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
Bethany House Publishers
Christian | Historical Fiction
Pub Date 01 Dec 2020   |   Archive Date 13 Jan 2021

We have quite a few patrons in our small library that love anything Julie Klassen.  Thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House for allowing me to read the ARC.  Great story, has history and romance and just a great book! 

5 star

For years Laura Calloway has felt like a castaway in Cornwall—carried in like jetsam on the tides of tragedy. All her blood relatives have died, and she lives with her Uncle Matthew and his second wife—who doesn’t approve of her. Laura spends hours combing the beach for odds and ends cast ashore from the frequent wrecks, hoping to find clues to the identities of shipwreck victims. 

While she has no real closure in the deaths of her parents, she yearns to provide closure for others who have lost loved ones. One fateful night she joins the wreckers on the beach and saves the life of the only survivor of a vessel torn apart by the rocks near shore. As she nurses him back to health, she struggles to trust him.

Alexander Lucas narrowly escapes death and finds himself at the mercy of a beautiful woman. He longs to tell her the truth but fears the truth could endanger her and his host’s family. Above all else, he must return home and exonerate his brother and reconcile with his father. But with little money and weakened health, his only hope lies in trusting a stranger.

Why I Loved This Book

I love all things Cornwall—Doc Martin, Poldark, and Sarah E. Ladd’s books. Throw in a Regency setting, smugglers, and the Island of Jersey, and you have the perfect recipe for a moody romance that inspires as well as entertains. 

I loved learning about quirky customs and can relate to Laura—a woman who never feels as if she quite fits in. By including quotes from books about life in Cornwall written during different time periods at the start of each chapter, Klassen brings together fact and fiction. She takes the time to fully develop the characters and make them relatable (even the antagonist).

A Castaway in Cornwall is, Christy award winning author, Julie Klassen's newest novel. As you could probably guess from the title, the majority of the plot takes place on the picturesque albeit dangerous shores of Cornwall.  Historically Cornwall was notorious for shipwrecks and the subsequent thievery that followed the aftermath of a wreck.  The story starts out strong with a very interesting question...one that caused my own heart to ponder, "Am I flotsam or jetsam?" I have certainly felt like both in my lifetime...like remnants of a wreck, sinking low to the depths, but also like I've cast parts of myself into the sea in hopes of rescue.  

Julie Klassen admits that the current pandemic canceled her trip to Cornwall, and I have to admit that I did not feel "transported" like I normally would while reading one of her novels.  I missed the descriptions from her own experiences that give the story more life!  That being said, the novel was still well researched, so much so that I sometimes  felt like a bunch of historical facts were thrown in, almost like filler.  

I really enjoyed the premise of this novel, the mysterious castaway, the benevolent daughter, but I would have enjoyed a bit more excitement added to the plot.  It was a bit of a Cinderella story with the orphaned daughter and the somewhat cool stepmother and there were a couple spots of escalated conflict but the majority of the story was, in effect, "smooth sailing".  I was also surprised that after the considerable amount of time two of the characters spent in each other's company that a marriage between the two was not enforced.  This seemed to be out of sync with the attitude of the day as the lady's reputation would have certainly been put into question. 

I can't say that A Castaway in Cornwall has surpassed her other novels and become my favorite.  I enjoyed the story but it fell a little flat for me.  It wasn't quite what I've come to expect from Julie Klassen but I will still eagerly look forward to reading more from her in the future!

A Castaway in Cornwall will be available from your local or online retailer on December 1, 2020.

Thank you Bethany House and Net Galley for the free copy of A Castaway in Cornwall.  The opinions expressed here are my own.

Mystery, romance, history and a bit of adventure, all in an intriguing and captivating story. 

Thank you for the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.