The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen ~ a book review

 

 

This story begins in Scotland in 1820. Claire Summers has been disowned and ‘shunned’ by her family and is living with a bedridden great aunt as a companion and caregiver. When her great aunt dies, Claire is left with little money and no prospects.  On an impulse, she uses all her money to buy into a partnership of a boarding house in the same town that her mother and sisters live.  They also own a boarding house.  Her new partner, Mr. Hammond, is a widower with a small daughter who has a nanny from India, His late wife was also from India. The author deals with the elements of prejudice and class systems.  The topics of dysfunctional families and blended families is prominent.

I really liked this book for the engaging, believable characters and her style of writing that is both entertaining and easy to read. 

This is from the publisher's website:

"A surprise homecoming tests the bonds of sisterhood as a hidden past comes to light . . .

Disgraced eldest sister Claire Summers has been living in exile as companion to a stern great-aunt in Scotland. About to lose her place and longing to be reconciled with her estranged family, Claire sees an advertisement from someone looking for a "respectable female partner" in a Sidmouth boarding house. Is it a sign? She answers the ad, hoping she has not made another reckless mistake. When she meets the handsome, secretive proprietor, she wonders what he's hiding and if he's any more trustworthy than the nobleman who betrayed her years ago. Claire is drawn to him even though she fears he will reject her when he discovers her genteel façade hides a less-than-respectable past.

Meanwhile, the Summers family learns their great-aunt has died and Claire has disappeared without a word. The sisters rally together to find their lost sibling, but will their unexpected reunion heal old wounds and rekindle their bonds . . . or deepen the divide?

Return to the captivating Devonshire coast as the Summers sisters navigate romance, second chances, and the enduring strength of sisterhood in the face of adversity."

If you like reading historical faith based romance with elements of redemption, forgiveness and restoration, you will love this book.  There is also a thread of mystery that keeps you guessing. What did Claire do to get her banished?  Why is Mr. Hammond so secretive about his past? What are all the ‘hush-hush’ meetings about? Will Claire ever be forgiven and embraced by her family? There is also a surprising circumstance involving the late great aunt.

This is book three of the On Devonshire Shores series. 

Go HERE to read an excerpt 

Go HERE to learn more about Julie Klassen and her books 

 

 

 

 I received a complimentary ARC** of this book from Bethany House via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed  are my own.

**A word about ARC books.   Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) are a preview copy and are not a finished product. They may differ from the final published work and may include additional editing. My reviews may include some things that vary from the final published book.