👒🏡🏞️ “The Sisters of Sea View” (On Devonshire Shores #1) (2023) 🏞️🏡👒 – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Publisher: Bethany House (December 6, 2022)
Language: English
ISBN: 0764234269
ISBN-13: 978-0764234262
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“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.”
Thank you in advance to the publisher, Bethany House (a division of Baker Books), for providing a complimentary review copy through Interviews and Reviews. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
Julie Klassen is another “new-to-me” author. And, I wouldn’t have discovered her had I not discovered a book by Jane Austen I dearly love – Sense and Sensibility. And, this book is set in Devonshire like S&S.
To be incredibly honest, I got it because of the 1995 film adaptation, a movie I dearly love (#TeamColonelBrandon). The Sisters of Sea View also builds off of other Austen novels – Emma and Pride and Prejudice, but with a unique and interesting twist.
That led to why I wanted to read this. In addition, the cover was like a work of art and held such a promise to it. Four sisters (actually five) lose their father, are almost penniless (similar to S&S), and resort to opening their home as a “bed and breakfast”, along with taking jobs to afford their standard of living.
There’s a grumpy and wounded military hero – Major Jack Hutton. Let’s just say Colonel Brandon (S&S) is far more likeable than the Major here (in the movie as well as the book).
While quiet and reserved, and seemingly grumpy (going by Alan Rickman’s movie portrayal), Brandon comes off as more likeable and relatable than Major Hutton. Definitely far more romantic, even being patient with Marianne as she shows no interest in him except towards the end of the movie when he “rescues” her. His demeanor is always kind despite her rejection of his affections and attention.
If readers were expecting the Brandon type of hero (like I kinda was) – Hutton is not it. Hutton was almost hostile to Viola and her offer to read to him (why his father hired her). At one point even argumentative and dismissive.
I get that he was distressed because of the injuries he sustained, however, there was something in his personality I just didn’t like. She even expresses concern over a physician, and Hutton dismisses her.
He did get more “agreeable” at times, but I just didn’t like him as much as I perhaps should have.
Since this is the first book of the series, it will introduce us to the four sisters currently at Sea View (a fifth sister is in exile in Scotland – Claire):
👒 Viola (twin to Emily)
👒 Emily
👒 Sarah
👒 Georgiana (the youngest)
In addition to their mamma, there are MULTIPLE support characters. A character guide would’ve helped as I had trouble keeping track of all of them. I truly, despite keeping extensive notes, lost count and the relationship.
Some of the notable characters:
👨🏻 Callum Henshall (widower, also at the inn to find his late wife’s jewelry)
👧🏻 Effie (Henshall’s stepdaughter)
👵🏻 Mrs. Elton
🧓🏻 Mr. Elton
Of the sisters, I actually liked Sarah more as she seemed far more realistic and more “in-touch”. She reminded me of Elinor Dashwood, especially Emma Thompson’s portrayal.
The cast of characters does add to a robust storyline with multiple plot arcs, it is also the book’s weakness as it seems like a bunch of small stories put together.
There’s romance, treasure hunting, and even a “scandal”.
There are some rough and realistic elements as well: depression, mention of suicide, some race issues – even among the English/Scottish – as demonstrated by Mrs. Elton, reference to Alzheimer’s (though it wasn’t called that at the time).
Viola & Jack along with Sarah & Callum seem to have the romance angle more prominent. Though Viola learns there is someone the major is promised to.
Henshall is also at the inn to look for some jewelry his wife hid before her death while they were living there. His wife’s death also opens up a harsh reality about mental illness and the impact it has on families, especially with young Effie who barely knew her mother.
As far as the scandal – I found Mrs. Elton to be what we’d refer today as a fraud, if not scammer – trying to get something for nothing. She claimed to know so many people and there is a moment when she is confronted and outed as a fraud. This is due to a dinner party she wants to hold at the inn. She also wants the Summers family to pay in advance for it. Mrs. Elton is shocked when no one RSVPs to the event. I had to praise her husband for stepping in and doing what was right by the Summers family.
Also, her attitude about certain “things” at the inn was nothing short of annoying; wanting every whim of hers met. I saw a meme about wanting to smack some characters with their own book – this lady did it for me.
There is a storm and the inn takes in a few people, particularly one woman from the poorhouse that Viola was reading to.
That in itself had an interesting moment. Prior to the storm, a “friend” of the woman claimed she hadn’t seen her in a while. Viola thought to herself “she was just up the road”.
Given all the micro-stories going on, it was really hard to narrow down and stay focused in any one place long enough to find my footing. I felt like I was playing catch-up at times. Klassen definitely worked well to establish everyone and their relationship in the book, while telling multiple compelling stories, but it felt busy and cluttered at times. As I am new to her writing, I don’t know if this is her normal style or not.
This was a good read at certain moments. The story itself is 418 pages, so it is a LONG read. There were times I didn’t know where it was going as the POV would shift within the same chapter, often with just brief scenes to move the story and not tell the story – if that makes any sense. It’s a shame as this also had several endearing messages within the group of eclectic characters.
Thankfully the short chapters kept me reading and definitely kept my attention for the most part.
Speaking of the writing style, I enjoyed some of the Jane Austen style of referring to one’s age, such as 5 and 30 (35). As of note, that was Colonel Brandon’s age in the movie as well as the book. (Rickman was actually 49, but didn’t look a day over 40 [to me] – even without the “movie” touches).
There were humorous moments though, such as Emily finding a man in her room despite being advised of their rooms going to guests. She does strike up a friendship with the man though.
During or just after the storm, one of the male characters asked about an outdoor privy as he hadn’t used an indoor one and didn’t plan to. I had to laugh as I couldn’t live without my indoor privy, especially during a brutally hot summer or a chilling winter, or during the early morning when “nature” calls.
I did have to praise Klassen for taking a bold route with Henshall’s step-daughter Effie and confronting the girl’s first “monthly” cycle. As Effie and her mother weren’t close, the girl has NO idea what is going on, thinking she’s dying. It is Sarah who steps in with a gentle and nurturing manner and explanation.
I REALLY waffled on this review from 3 stars to perhaps 3½ stars, and then 4 stars. Three stars seemed a bit mean, and this is a bit better than that. I settled on 3.8, but rounded up to 4-stars.
This is a touching, endearing, emotional, and uplifting read. It shows our outer scars can heal over time, but the inner ones remain long after the wound itself has healed.
It also shows that we can love even after unimaginable heartbreak.
I definitely want to read the next books in the series. At the end of this book, there were a few loose ends with regards to plots. There was also a romance or two left open.
There are also a few other books by the author I would be interested in reading.
As it this is from a Christian publisher, there were themes of the Christian faith practiced, even readings from the bible. Some of the characters displayed strong faith, others were God-fearing but not God-loving.
RATING:
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html;update https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Julie Klassen loves all things Jane – Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. Her books have sold more than 1.5 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 St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.julieklassen.com.
She can also be found on the following social media sites:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJulieKlassen/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julie.k.klassen/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Julie_Klassen
**This review contains Amazon affiliate links.
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