I have been anxiously awaiting to see what happens next with the Summers sisters, and A Winter by the Sea did not disappoint. I loved the updates on Viola and getting to see the sisters continue their business.

Emily has a great arc, and I loved seeing her romance unfold. I also liked seeing Sarah reflect on the events of the last book as she contemplated her future. I am looking forward to seeing what is next for her.

There were certain parts that felt like an info dump, but I appreciate Klassen*s research. She does a great job of dropping you right into Regency England and the Devonshire coast.

Overall, A Winter by the Sea is a engaging historical women*s fiction novel with a sweet romantic thread.

(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley for review. All opinons expressed are my own.)

Return to Sidmouth and spend another season with the enchanting Summers' sisters. In the vein of Downtown Abbey and Little Women, Julie Klassen takes readers on another sojourn to the Devonshire Shores where some very important guests join the storyline! How delightful it was to have the future queen of England herself, play a role small role in A Winter By The Sea.

This is book two in the On Devonshire Shores series. I highly recommend you read book one, The Sisters of Seaview, before reading A Winter by the Sea. It could be read as a stand alone, but I think it will increase your enjoyment of this novel and will you gain appreciation for the backstory if you read in order. The first book is my favorite of the two.

Book Two is Emily's story. She is a young aspiring author with big dreams of being published and marrying her childhood love. Scandal has seemingly made one of those dreams impossible, and when the impossible shows up out of nowhere she has some decisions to make! I enjoyed "watching" Emily grow as she navigates the changing desires of her heart. It was cute to read her trying to write kissing scenes for her novel, when she had never been kissed. I'm glad she got it figured out. Research always proves to be beneficial! The bonds between these sisters continued to be heartwarming and the sideline mystery thread added a bit of adventure to the storyline. If you like to curl up with a Jane Austen-esque book on a cold winter day, this is the story for you!

Thank you, Julie Klassen, Bethany House, AustenprosePR and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

In the midst of a busy season, I enjoyed escaping to Sea View once again. It's always fun when royals show up to visit and throw everything into chaos. It was interesting learning about the particular care different staff members needed to take to perform their jobs for the royal family.

I enjoyed Chef Bernardi's cooking and baking. It made me hungry and left me wanting to go someplace fancy to eat. I liked James and his kind way of treating everyone. I enjoyed his interactions with Emily.

Learning about the medical practices of the day made me thankful to live now. It was horrific reading of how the doctors were treating the severely ill.

It's always nice seeing characters from a prior book thriving. I liked seeing the Huttons again and look forward to the next book in the series to see where that takes other family members. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is Klassen's second book in her On Devonshire Shores series. It is just as delightful as the first. It is interesting to see how women of the early 1800s, both with and without the support of the men in their lives, worked to step out of gender defined roles. Emily longs to be an author, but society looks down on this. She also longs to be a wife and mother. Will she have to choose between her two dreams or between two men? Emily's sister, Sarah, has taken the lead in running the family's guest house after their reduced circumstances. Only recently has she become open to the possibility of love in her life after the death of her fiance. Will she find that with the Duke of Kent's assistant cook and pastry chef?

It was also very interesting to read about the lifestyle of the Duke of Kent's family as well as the medical care of the day. Add in a bit of mystery involving the Duke's keeper of the plate, and you have a story that will hold your interest from cover to cover.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this very well-researched and well-written book from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

In the spirit of Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott, this regency romance is reminiscent of a classic novel in the best sense! Entertaining, witty, and impeccably researched, A Winter by the Sea is a sweet Christian historical romance that entertains like a BBC period drama. With an astounding and creative premise that will delight fans of Queen Victoria, author Julie Klassen connects the metaphorical dots from the beloved regency era to the life of Queen Victoria in a fascinating way.

Julie Klassen always writes such vivid descriptions and detailed scenes that I feel like I am watching the story unfold right in front of me. I felt the cold wind on my face. I smelled the salt air coming in from the beach. I tasted the sugar-coated pastries baked in Sea Views kitchen. I heard the scratching of Emilys quill as she wrote. I felt like I was there as I turned each page, and it was enchanting.

The sweet and dreamy romance between Emily and James was, of course, my favorite part! There was somewhat of love triangle for a bit, which I normally dont prefer, but I was so pleased with the way it was written. Emily does some serious soul searching and I identified with her as she established her standards and expectations for any man she would consider marrying. She was strong and held to her values of faith and family, and I truly enjoyed her journey. Her happily ever after was so satisfying and lovely, and I closed the book with a smile on my face and with my heart a bit lighter. I am eager to see happens next for the Summers sisters in future installments of the On Devonshire Shores series!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own!