Title: A Cottage by the Sea
Author: Ciji Ware
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: June 1, 2010
Paperback: 544 pages
ISBN: 978-1402222702
Genre: Fiction/Historical/Romance

From the Publisher:

One woman, one man, one shared fate…

A remote cottage on the wild coast of Cornwall sounded to Blythe Barton Stowe like the perfect escape from the pain and humiliation of recent events in her Hollywood life. But soon she seems to be reliving a centuries-old tragedy, and the handsome owner of the shabby manor house on the hill appears vitally entwined in her destiny. As they unearth one shocking family secret after another, Blythe is forced to conclude that her intriguing neighbor is more than just an impecunious British gentleman bent on saving his ancestral home. And the impeccably honorable Lucas Teague begins to see Blythe as a lifeline in an otherwise bleak existence.

But is the unbridled attraction they’re experiencing a dangerous distraction, or could it be strong enough to transcend the insurmountable complexities of time and place…?

My Review:

A Cottage by the Sea by Ciji Ware is an intriguing, enticing, complex and romantic novel that will keep readers up long into the night. Blythe Barton Stowe grew up in Wyoming, married and became famous in California and is facing a humiliating divorce and scandal in Hollywood. Blythe decides it is time to get away from the media circus and heads to Cornwell for some peace and quiet and to research some of her ancestors who are from Cornwall. She manages to rent a cottage on the lands of Barton Hall, owned by Lucas Teague who is trying to keep his estate in the black and his spirits lifted. As expected, a spark ignites between Blythe and Lucas, however in an extraordinarily unlikely manner. I was concerned about the time travel aspect, and yet Ware managed to write the scenes into her novel in a delightful and seamless manner. The scenery both present and past is described expertly well and the reader will have no trouble envisioning the scenes. The characters are realistic and enchanting, while the plot, a deceptively simple romance, turns into a much more complex romance in an intriguing and brilliant way. This is the second novel I have read by Ciji Ware and A Cottage by the Sea did not disappoint me. I would without reservation recommend A Cottage by the Sea to any reader looking for a wonderful romance novel with a twist.

I received a complimentary copy of A Cottage By the Sea by Ciji Ware from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.