A Sea View Christmas - Julie Klassen

I'm a sucker for Christmas stories and read them year round, which is why I read this one in February! I'm also a big fan of Julie Klassen's Regency romances, and have enjoyed the earlier books in the On Devonshire Shores series. All of which can be read individually, in case anyone worries about not having read them in order. That said, the reader will benefit from having read the earlier stories and found out more about Sarah Summers and her sisters. Especially, in relation to this book, I would recommend reading The Sisters of Sea View first, since in that book we first meet Callum Henshall and his stepdaughter Effie.

This book starts with Sarah promising her youngest sister Georgiana a Christmas to exceed all expectations, but will Sarah's own hopes and dreams come to fruition? At first it seems not - but then a little bit of Christmas magic is sprinkled into the story...

I enjoyed this story with it's large cast of captivating characters and I liked the way it wove new important relationships into the tale, as well as dealing with Sarah and Callum's romance. (This really ISN'T a spoiler!) I did at times find Sarah's endless worrying about her family and home in Sidmouth a bit frustrating, but I also understand how it's so easy not to take a risk to follow your heart and dreams because the 'stuff' that is right in front of you seems overwhelming. Sarah's journey from being the anxious 'busy, controlled, sensible sister' to learning to let go and step into something new is one which I think very many readers will relate to. I liked the way that Sarah's family, especially her mother, helped her to break free of her self-imposed limitations, and I liked the light faith touches which are perfect for the book's time period, but would not be off-putting to an agnostic reader. Callum is a wonderful character and it's just as well that he is patient and forbearing as well as kind and loving! 

Young Georgiana's friendship with Colin Hutton is a delightfully written 'friendship to more?' bonus storyline. She is energetic, kindhearted and independent-minded, enjoying playing football with the local schoolchildren even if it means her hems become muddy, and she is not above climbing trees even at the age of seventeen! Colin on the other hand is her polar opposite in many ways, being VERY aware of smart clothes and shoes bought for style rather than comfort or practicality. Despite this, he too has a kind heart and a willingness to get into scrapes alongside Georgiana at times, and he is the kind of person it would be easy to underestimate by those who may then be surprised to find that there is substance beneath his polished exterior. To Georgiana's initial confusion and increasing dismay however, as well as his appearance Colin also appears to be becoming increasingly aware of the elegant Eliza Marriott and Eliza is certainly interested in him!

A gently told and wonderfully satisfying Christmas story, with lots of details of the unfolding of a Regency Christmas season, I recommend this as a cosy read for any time of year. Oh, and I loved the clever closing of the series circle at the end of the last chapter!