The Sisters Of Sea View By Julie Klassen

The Sisters of Sea View

by Julie Klassen

Publisher: Bethany House

Series: On Devonshire Shores

ISBN: 9780764234262

Let me first say that you can't go wrong with any book by Julie Klassen! And after reading her newest release, I'm going to say that even more emphatically. She's such an incredible author. When she asked if I would review her newest release, I was elated! She sent me her book for review.

Summary:

Some guests have come for a holiday, others for hidden reasons of their own . . .

When their father's death leaves them impoverished, Sarah Summers and her genteel sisters fear they will be forced to sell the house and separate to earn livelihoods as governesses or companions. Determined to stay together, Sarah convinces them to open their seaside home to guests to make ends meet and provide for their ailing mother. Instead of the elderly invalids they expect to receive, however, they find themselves hosting eligible gentlemen. Sarah is soon torn between a growing attraction to a mysterious Scottish widower and duty to her family. 

Viola Summers wears a veil to cover her scar. When forced to choose between helping in her family's new guest house and earning money to hire a maid to do her share, she chooses the latter. She reluctantly agrees to read to some of Sidmouth's many invalids, preferring the company of a few elders with failing eyesight to the fashionable guests staying in their home. But when her first client turns out to be a wounded officer in his thirties, Viola soon wishes she had chosen differently. Her new situation exposes her scars--both visible and those hidden deep within--and her cloistered heart will never be the same.

Join the Summers sisters on the Devonshire coast, where they discover the power of friendship, loyalty, love, and new beginnings.

My Review:

I want to start this review off with a warning. Clear your calendar. If you have anything on your calendar when you decide to read The Sisters Of Sea View, you'll want to cancel because this story is so good you will be loathe to put it down. 

I felt so completely apart of this story though I wouldn't be able to tell you if I felt like one of the sisters or one of their guests. I was a little afraid that this would give me too much of a Little Women vibe, but that wasn't the case at all. There was a bit of a feel to it, but not to the extent that I thought the author was trying to recreate that story. It felt like Sanditon, Little Women, and Pride & Predjudice all wrapped up in a story all it's own. Now would be the time to give an adoring sigh.

The characters, ahhhh so many I wish we could talk about each one individually! Cranky neighbors, odd guests, alluring visitors, quaint elderly people, and the list goes on. I would love to do a break down of my thoughts on each one and then we could discuss, but then that would take all of the fun out of you getting to know each of them.

Let's talk about the sisters. While I thought this story was going to be focused on Sarah, the eldest sister at home, it really focused on the oldest three in equal measure. Georgiana is the youngest, and though she was in the story plenty, she wasn't really the focus. Sarah takes on the responsibility of keeping the family afloat after their father passes. The sisters aren't keen on opening a guest house, but they have little choice. They each have to play a part. Twins Emily and Viola are oil and water. Emily speaks her mind and talks so fast it's hard to keep up. Viola wants nothing to do with the running and upkeep of the guest house because she's reclusive so she has to find a different way to pitch in.

The way the author wrote the story, you are immersed in Sidmouth life and it's surroundings. So much so, you can almost picture it. She goes into a lot of detail to bring it to life. Typically that much detail would deter me from reading so intently, but because of her gifted writing, it gave me this odd sense of familiarity.

Needless to say, this story was fantastic. Having to wait for book two isn't going to be easy, but these characters are going to stay tucked away in my heart until book 2 shows up!

About the Author:

Julie Klassen (www.julieklassen.com) loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. Her books have sold over a million copies, and she is a three-time recipient of the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Secret of Pembrooke Park was honored with the Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie has also won the Midwest Book Award and Christian Retailing's BEST Award and has been a finalist in the RITA and Carol Awards. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.julieklassen.com.