Thursday, June 3, 2021

A CASTAWAY IN CORNWALL by Julie Klassen, Reviewed by Trixi Oberembt

“I feel like a castaway, set adrift on the tide by the long-ago deaths of my parents, and left wanting answers. Is there a plan in all this? Does God truly hold my fate in His hands, or has my life all been happenstance, the mysterious ebb and flow of chance? ~Laura pg. 8.”
I think we all have asked this at one time in our life or another; is there truly a plan God has for us, or is it all happenstance? Julie Klassen explores this in her newest novel where she takes our heroine, Laura Callaway, on a journey to discover the answer to that very question. She feels adrift after the deaths of her parents and never really a part of her uncle’s family, though he cares a great deal for her. Until one day she finds a barely alive stranger washed ashore after a shipwreck, thus changing the course of her life as she sets out to discover who he is.

Alexander Lucas is our hero; a mysterious, dark stranger who keeps hold his secrets. I don't blame Laura for being a bit wary of him! The more she begins to get to know and trust him, the more tangled this story got, all in a good way. I enjoyed peeling back the layers of who his character was to get a deeper understanding of his life. I fell in love with him the moment Laura brought him into her care and just had a feeling he was one of the good ones.

This story had a definite Poldark feel that I very much savored! There's not a character in here that I didn't like, with the exception of our villains, who truly made my skin crawl. There's plenty of mystery in A Castaway in Cornwall along with danger, secrets, and an immersive atmosphere that will take you on an adventure through the pages. Julie Klassen is already one of my top historical writers and I really liked the feel of her latest installment. It's a bit more suspenseful than her usual Regencies, but definitely a good change! Oh and you can't forget the romance, it sizzles and sparks so when our hero and heroine are finally able to get together...wowser....pure magic! The faith message is strong with many deeply rooted truths and reminders of God's promises in our lives. Watching Laura taking those truths in her heart and finding her place in the Lord was very encouraging to me. I recommend this book to inspirational historical fans, Julie Klassen fans and those who love all things Cornwall or Poldark!

“I used to wonder if there was a plan in all the loss I experienced. Now I know the answer. Yes. Once, I feared I would never belong anywhere again. But I no longer ask myself if I am flotsam or jetsam, cast off and unwanted. I finally understand that in God's hands, and now in Alexander's arms, I am truly home. ~Laura pg. 378”
*I received a complimentary digital copy through Netgalley and wasn't obligated to leave a favorable review. All opinions are mine. *

See Winnie's Review!
BackCover Blurb:
Set adrift on the tides of fate by the deaths of her parents and left wanting answers, Laura Callaway now lives with her uncle and his disapproving wife in North Cornwall. There she feels like a castaway, always viewed as an outsider even as she yearns to belong.

While wreckers search for valuables along the windswept Cornwall coast--known for its many shipwrecks but few survivors--Laura searches for clues to the lives lost so she can write letters to next of kin and return keepsakes to rightful owners. When a man is washed ashore after a wreck, Laura acts quickly to protect him from a local smuggler determined to destroy him.

As Laura and a neighbor care for the survivor, they discover he has curious wounds and, although he speaks in careful, educated English, his accent seems odd. Other clues wash ashore, and Laura soon realizes he is not who he seems to be. Despite the evidence against him, the mysterious man might provide her only chance to discover the truth about her parents' fate. With danger pursuing them from every side, and an unexpected attraction growing between them, will Laura ever find the answers she seeks?
 
Bethany House Publishers, December 2020
Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook:






 

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