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A Winter by the Sea
Royalty comes to Sidmouth, bringing unexpected danger and the sweet possibility of romance. . . .
When the Duke and Duchess of Kent and their daughter--the future Queen Victoria--rent neighboring Woolbrook Cottage for the winter, the Summers sisters are called upon to host three of the royal family's male staff in their seaside house. But they soon realize they've invited secrets and intrigue into their home.
Meanwhile, Emily Summers longs to become an author. A local publisher offers to consider her novel if she will first write a Sidmouth guidebook for him. Emily agrees and begins researching the area with help from the Duke of Kent's handsome private secretary. But a surprise visitor from her past shows up at Sea View, leaving Emily torn between the desires she's long held dear and her budding dreams for the future.
Return to the Devonshire coast with the Summers sisters, where loyalties are tested, secrets come to light, and new love emerges.
This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with Bethany House Publishers.
Book club questions for A Winter by the Sea by Julie Klassen
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
In the nineteenth century, many people visited the seaside and even went sea-bathing during the winter—not only in summertime. Does this surprise you? If you read book one (which took place in spring and summer), in what ways was it a different experience to “visit” Sidmouth in the winter?
Which character(s) from the first book did you most enjoy revisiting and why? Did you miss anyone from book one? Do you have a favorite new character? Least favorite?
This novel incorporates a fictionalized account of the wintertime retreat of (the future) Queen Victoria, her parents, and their staff in Sidmouth. What, if anything, most interested you about these historical figures and their time in Sidmouth (e.g., the local youth shooting through the nursery window, the fortune-teller’s prediction, the Duke of Kent’s death, et cetera)?
Mrs. Denby reminds Emily and Viola that the “Scriptures warn us to have nothing to do with divination or soothsayers [fortune-tellers].” In what way is her warning timely even in today’s world? How does Emily go from being devastated by the woman’s prophecy about her own future to remembering that God is the one who holds our lives in His hands?
Which do you prefer: cooking or baking? Did you enjoy reading the descriptions of the dishes prepared by Mr. Bernardi? Any you’d like to try to make yourself?
What did you think about Sarah and Mr. Bernardi’s relationship? What did they learn from each other? Do you think Sarah made the right decision about Mr. Bernardi in the end?
Emily has long pined for her first love. In what ways does his reappearance impact her? Did you care for him? Would you have forgiven him for his past actions? Do you think she made the right decision?
When this former neighbor shares fond memories of Emily’s father, Emily realizes that “she’d too often allowed the difficult months after his apoplexy to blot out the happier years before it.” Have you ever experienced similar emotions or challenges when a loved one mistreated you or changed toward you? If you feel comfortable sharing, what have you learned from that?
At the beginning of the book (and series) Emily resented having to leave her former home (and first love) to move to Sidmouth. How does her attitude toward her new home and situation change by the end of this book? To what would you credit the change?
What do you hope will happen in book three in the On Devonshire Shores series?
A Winter by the Sea Book Club Questions PDF
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