The Sisters of Sea View

Written by Julie Klassen

Narrated by Elizabeth Jasicki

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781705074510

Julie Klassen

Julie Klassen (www.julieklassen.com) 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 julieklassen.com.

Reviews for The Sisters of Sea View

[Patrice E Christie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've read everything she's ever written and I can sense there will be sequels to this. As always the author weaves plausible story lines with Vivid character development that makes it a book impossible to put down. I can't wait for the next installment!

[Masoh Vincents · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book, though I don't understand why the fates of the other sisters were left unsealed, htough they had been much dwelled on in the story. except, of course, there is a sequel.

[EG · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lovely book. Just reread it so I would be ready for part 2.

[Sam Ashish · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a great book, so many characters all interesting and really bring the book to life, the narrator although good was a little slow and a bit dreary. I will definitely read the rest in the series.

[Frances O'Connor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was just perfect! Well developed, believable characters, great story with layers, well written, and with sound theology woven in. I feel the author is very familiar with the time period and has taken time to research. I am so very much looking forward to the rest of the series. I hope there will be many more books. I will be looking for other books by this author. The reader was also excellent.

[blbooks-14314 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

First sentence: Sarah Summers carefully lifted the family heirloom, a warm mantle of nostlagia settling over her.Historical romance--Regency Romance--Christian fiction. After the death of their father and the decline of their mother's health, four sisters--Sarah, Emily, Viola, Georgiana--decide (somewhat reluctantly) to open up their seaside home to (paying) guests. Long story short: I absolutely loved, loved, loved, loved this one. It was just giddy-making. I loved the family. I loved the neighborhood and community. I loved meeting the guests. I loved the stories. I loved the relationships. I loved the layers.Three of the four sisters are well-developed and get a lot of time and attention. [Georgiana, well, maybe in future books she will be developed and have a story.] There are multiple narrators. The narrators do not switch over at chapter breaks. Within a chapter, the point of view might change several times. The only negative thing I can say about this one is that--at least in the advanced reader's copy--there's no visual clues that the narration has changed. It was so funny to have Mr. and Mrs. Elton from Emma show up as guests in this one!!! They added much comic relief.

[lifeofliterature · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another incredible novel by a truly talented writer, Julie Klassen pens a story that is captivating and mesmerizing. I love the way this author tells stories by creating characters with realistic flaws, wonderful depth, and great growth that makes me feel like I get to know real people from long ago. I enjoyed getting to know Sarah and Viola in this novel and their journey was something that I was easily invested in as I longed to find out if they had happy endings. I am excited to read the next story in the series to see if each gets her happily ever after. I really liked the exploration of both the physical scars and hidden scars of Viola and Jack. The setting is perfect for the character growth and mysteries surrounding the characters. I could also envision strolling along the sea with the sisters. The spiritual truths are also well woven and do not feel preachy. I really enjoyed this novel and cannot wait to read the next one in the series. Most highly recommended!I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers, courtesy of Austen Prose Tours with Laurel Ann Nattress. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[2lz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thank you Librarything.com for the advanced digital copy of The Sisters of Seaview by Julie Klassen in return for an honest review.It isn’t often that I find a book that I love as much as I loved The Sisters of Seaview. Reminiscent of Jane Austen, this novel, part of a new series, introduces the reader to widowed, infirm, mother, Eugenia, and her three, adult daughters, Sarah, the responsible older daughter, and twins, Emily and Viola, Viola suffering with and self-conscious because of a cleft lip. With the passing of their father, and heredity laws taking the family home from them, the four move to their Seaview home, a house purchased by their father outside of the heredity line. With their small savings dwindling, a decision to take in guests is life-changing. Interesting characters, quirky guests and neighbors along with a charming setting, make this novel a joy to read.

[khiemstra631 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Julia Klassen has written a delightful new book, which is the first in a new series, On Devonshire Shores. The story features a mother and her four daughters, Sarah, Emily, Viola, and Georgina, who find themselves short of funds after the death of their husband/father. They previously lived on a lavish estate, but it was entailed to a male member of the family. Fortunately, before his death the father had purchased a lovely, large seaside home in Sidmouth. Because their former ladies' maid had met with success opening a board house in Sidmouth, the females in the family decide to do the same with their house, calling it a guest house. They receive guests almost immediately, and the guests are an interesting group. In a tribute to Jane Austen, Mr. and Mrs. Elton, who are in Austen's Emma, play a substantial role in Klaasen's book. For anyone who enjoys novels about Regency England, this book delivers. While not at all a suspenseful read or a book that is difficult to put down, at least initially, it is a very engaging and character-driven volume. It features well-developed with various dispositions and quirks. They range from wealthy neighbors to residents of the local poor house. Perhaps the most interesting of the daughters is Viola, who was born with a hare lip. After several bungled surgeries, her parents took her to France for a successful repair of this birth defect. Nonetheless, Violet still views herself as defective and wears a hat with a veil whenever she encounters people other than immediate family members. How her view of herself evolves as well as how her role in the family changes make up a major part of this novel. Hopefully, later books in the series will focus on each of the remaining sisters. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. While this is a Christian novel, it is definitely not a "preachy" sort of novel. The characters live out their faith through the conduct of their lives. Any regency fans would enjoy the book even if they do not normally read books labeled as Christian fiction. Klaasen has a real winner on her hands with this one!

[claudia.castenir · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In the first book of Klassen's On Devonshire Shores series we meet the Summers sisters and their mother along with the current visitors of their guest house, neighbors, and villagers of Sidmouth. The 1819 setting made for interesting reading regarding medical practices of the times as well as sea bathing customs and etiquette. The theme of the story is one I have not often encountered in my reading, but one of great importance. As we meet a variety of people who have been impacted by life's hardships, be they physical or financial, we come to realize that it is the allowing the crippling of one's spirit that is truly the most devastating to one's quality of life. I highly recommend The Sisters of Sea View. As usual Klassen fills hours of reading pleasure with a host of well-developed characters, a quaint setting, and a well-penned story. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[beautyinthebinding · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Sisters of Sea View by Julie Klassen started off slow and unhurried, not hard to put down when necessary. Later, I realized that the relaxed pace allowed the author to spend substantial page time building the three main characters (Sarah, Emily, and Viola) and their world. Taking the time to dig into each woman’s mind and secrets created a solid foundation for this story and the subsequent novels in the series. Viola ranked as my favorite sister, and I was very pleased with the way her storyline unfolded. In The Sisters of Sea View, several characters have scars, emotional or physical. A strong theme that felt spiritual, but not preachy, emerged as the author used different characters to show how people respond to injuries and scars. Will the person choose bitterness or contentment? Will the scars cause a person to withdraw, or will the person be unhindered? This theme undergirded the character development of multiple characters and added depth to the story.The Sisters of Sea View by Julie Klassen commences the On Devonshire Shores series. While I would not consider the ending a cliffhanger, certain relationships and circumstances are open-ended. Christian fiction readers who enjoy historical fiction with bonds of sisterhood and a relaxed pace will likely enjoy The Sisters of Sea View. As Julie Klassen wrote in the author’s note, the story also offers “fond nods of honor to the great Jane Austen.”Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.