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bonniereads777's review against another edition
5.0
It is 1812, and Laura Callaway feels like a castaway in Cornwall, where she lives with her uncle and his somewhat disapproving wife. Missing her parents, who are presumed dead, Laura has found solace and purpose in searching the shores after shipwrecks. She finds and collects lost belongings and attempts to return them to the families of their owners. She does this under the disapproving eye of the Wreckers, men who try to seize and sell the cargo of wrecked ships, despite laws to the contrary. When a stranger is washed ashore, the Wreckers want to kill him, but Laura saves him too. However, she begins to have questions as more lost items turn up. Can this stranger be trusted?
This is a wonderful, well-researched book by Julie Klassen. The laws and practices surrounding wrecked ships of the time were fascinating. Klassen also provided tidbits of Cornish history, mythology, and practices at the beginning of each chapter. The characters sometimes converse in the old Cornish language. Legendary wrecker Tom Parsons is a major character in this novel, and the Napoleonic wars play a part. The romance is well written, and there is a Christian theme of forgiveness throughout the book.
I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
I would recommend this to any fan of historical fiction and romance.
This is a wonderful, well-researched book by Julie Klassen. The laws and practices surrounding wrecked ships of the time were fascinating. Klassen also provided tidbits of Cornish history, mythology, and practices at the beginning of each chapter. The characters sometimes converse in the old Cornish language. Legendary wrecker Tom Parsons is a major character in this novel, and the Napoleonic wars play a part. The romance is well written, and there is a Christian theme of forgiveness throughout the book.
I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
I would recommend this to any fan of historical fiction and romance.
tammys_take's review against another edition
3.0
A sweet Christian fiction that takes place in Cornwall in the 1800s. A shipwrecked captain with a complicated past is nursed to health by a young woman named Laura, an orphan. During this time, a romance develops between the two, but the truth always comes to light. Overall, this book was okay, but the plot was too convenient at times.
gkepps's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
vmworlow's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful
The frame in the prologue and epilogue is absolutely perfect. This story was absolutely amazing and true literature. Most stories I read are great and fun, but this is so much more. I love that she paints all characters as well rounded. Another author I love paints all free traders as evil. I love that Julie Klassen doesn't do that. She shows all characters heros and antagonists as well rounded with faults and virtues.
The frame in the prologue and epilogue is absolutely perfect. This story was absolutely amazing and true literature. Most stories I read are great and fun, but this is so much more. I love that she paints all characters as well rounded. Another author I love paints all free traders as evil. I love that Julie Klassen doesn't do that. She shows all characters heros and antagonists as well rounded with faults and virtues.
captainbella's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
valerieelseswhere's review against another edition
3.0
An enjoyable adventure with shipwrecks, smugglers, prisoners of war, and of course a love story.
emmeline7's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book! It did take a little bit to really grab my attention, but once it did I couldn't put it down. I stayed up last night and read the entire last half of the book!
jnak's review against another edition
4.0
Great historical romance based in Cornwall. Julie Klassen always tells a good story with more than just romance and fluff. I really enjoyed this
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
RATING: 4 STARS
2020; Bethany House
Ever since I picked up Julie Klassen's first novel, [b:The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill|28561667|The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill (Tales from Ivy Hill, #1)|Julie Klassen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1456515601l/28561667._SY75_.jpg|48249166], I have felt like I have been transported back to another time. The way that Klassen writes, takes readers right into the story and invested in the character's lives. The first book I read was part of a series, and I enjoyed it enough that I read the entire series and picked up her next book. This will be my sixth book, third of her standalone novels. The Ivy Hill series reminded me of Jane Austen's stories. Klassen writes under the "Christian Fiction" genre, so the novels are pretty "clean" when it comes to sex and violence. The romances are sweet, but still have passion and chemistry that romance readers are looking for. What I also like about Klassen is that there is usually some kind of mystery. A Castaway in Cornwall reminded me a bit of Graham Winston's Poldark series. The characters are endearing and wicked, and sometimes both. The story is about a young woman who is orphaned, and lives with her uncle by marriage. When she was younger, her parents and maternal aunt and uncle have passed away from an illness. her father's sister and husband took her in. Losing her aunt to childbirth, she and her uncle leaned on one another to keep going. He remarries a widow with a daughter around Laura's age. Her step-aunt sees her in her daughter's way of finding a good marriage. Laura longs to see more of the world, especially where she lost her parents.
The Cornwall coast is known for many shipwrecks and few survivors. Laura, among many others, finds things and tries to send them back to their loved ones. One night when she rescues a man from a Shipwreck, she helps to nurse him back to health. As she gets to know the stranger she starts to think he may be lying about who he is. Yet he can take her to where he parents were last alive. This may be the adventure she has always wanted. The whole book was a fun journey. It was the sweet escape I needed get out of my own head.
***I received a complimentary copy of this trade paperback from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2020; Bethany House
Ever since I picked up Julie Klassen's first novel, [b:The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill|28561667|The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill (Tales from Ivy Hill, #1)|Julie Klassen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1456515601l/28561667._SY75_.jpg|48249166], I have felt like I have been transported back to another time. The way that Klassen writes, takes readers right into the story and invested in the character's lives. The first book I read was part of a series, and I enjoyed it enough that I read the entire series and picked up her next book. This will be my sixth book, third of her standalone novels. The Ivy Hill series reminded me of Jane Austen's stories. Klassen writes under the "Christian Fiction" genre, so the novels are pretty "clean" when it comes to sex and violence. The romances are sweet, but still have passion and chemistry that romance readers are looking for. What I also like about Klassen is that there is usually some kind of mystery. A Castaway in Cornwall reminded me a bit of Graham Winston's Poldark series. The characters are endearing and wicked, and sometimes both. The story is about a young woman who is orphaned, and lives with her uncle by marriage. When she was younger, her parents and maternal aunt and uncle have passed away from an illness. her father's sister and husband took her in. Losing her aunt to childbirth, she and her uncle leaned on one another to keep going. He remarries a widow with a daughter around Laura's age. Her step-aunt sees her in her daughter's way of finding a good marriage. Laura longs to see more of the world, especially where she lost her parents.
The Cornwall coast is known for many shipwrecks and few survivors. Laura, among many others, finds things and tries to send them back to their loved ones. One night when she rescues a man from a Shipwreck, she helps to nurse him back to health. As she gets to know the stranger she starts to think he may be lying about who he is. Yet he can take her to where he parents were last alive. This may be the adventure she has always wanted. The whole book was a fun journey. It was the sweet escape I needed get out of my own head.
***I received a complimentary copy of this trade paperback from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
chandelierskies's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0