 On Devonshire Shores: Book 3
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
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.
In the latest installment of the On Devonshire Shores series, a young woman estranged from her family is given an opportunity for reconciliation.
Author Julie Klassen returns readers to Sidmouth and revisits the Summers family in The Seaside Homecoming. The individual books can be enjoyed as standalone reads, but seeing the characters develop throughout the series is exciting.
This installment largely focuses on the eldest sister, Claire. From a broader perspective, the author highlights a culture where a young woman’s reputation means the difference between success and failure, acceptance and rejection.
Claire yearns to mend the relationship with her mother and sisters. She accepts a partnership with William Hammond, who runs a boarding house in Sidmouth, which opens the door to reconciliation. She’s drawn to her mysterious partner but is worried her past might be a hindrance.
An additional theme that permeates the story is the treatment of characters from India, especially William’s biracial little girl. There’s plenty of depth within a story that ultimately addresses second chances.
The Seaside Homecoming combines romance and resilience in an endearing story revisiting the Summers family.
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.
