A Sea View Christmas (On Devonshire Shores)
1820: Sarah Summers, whose family runs a guesthouse in Sidmouth, renews her acquaintance with Scotsman Callum Henshall. He had been a guest the previous year at Sea View, but she discouraged his attentions then. Now as he returns with his stepdaughter Effie, Sarah wonders whether she was too hasty. The Summers and their friends and guests celebrate Stir-Up Sunday, Christmas, Boxing Day, Hogmanay, and Twelfth Night, while Callum is hopeful that Sarah will rethink his proposal. But how can Sarah marry him and go to Scotland, leaving her widowed mother to run the guesthouse without her help?
The novella is part of the On Devonshire Shores series. Klassen has done fine research on period Christmas season customs in Britain, weaving them smoothly into the story, providing a nice immersion into the holiday atmosphere of Regency times. I felt at a disadvantage because of not having read the previous volumes, resulting in trouble keeping track of the minor characters’ relationships, plus the low level of conflict made the plot lag for me. Recommended to fans of cozy romance who would enjoy a relaxing holiday tale, or who might like a break from stories of discord.
