A Castaway in Cornwall

By: Julie Klassen

Narrated by: Elizabeth Jasicki

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?

©2020 Julie Klassen (P)2020 Recorded Books

Vivid accounts of the scenes

I liked the “normal” characters and the village interactions , And mysteries surrounding the new people.

Engaging Story

Listened to this audiobook while driving to and from Missouri to Colorado. It passed the time and was engaging most of the time. The narrator's male voices leave someting to be desired and were difficult to tell the French accents of two male characters apart. While I enjoyed listening to this audiobook, I felt that it drug in parts and then strarted wrapping up very quickly in the latter chapters.

Historical Beachcomber

The beachcomber in me loved listening to the passages about Laura walking the coastline in search of treasures washed ashore. The shipwrecks and all that surrounded them are just one more sad vein of history, but also one in which true courage and heroic deeds shine forth.

Though slow at the start, the second half was most enjoyable. Well researched and engaging. Lots of historical tidbits making the tale feel grounded, feel like it was jewel carefully set in place. Of course you know that Alexander and Laura are going to marry by book’s end. I was enjoying it up until they reached Jersey. Then something went incredibly wrong with our hero. I felt like there needed to be a lot more hearing Alexander’s thoughts, to at least hear the conflict within of leaving Laura. This was supposed to be the woman he was in love with, but he leaves her without even a “I hope to see you again one day.” Sure, reconnecting with Leoni was I suppose the counterpart to Treve Kent’s interest in Laura. But it felt forced. Everything a little too neatly tied up in the end with literally everyone except maybe Miss Chegwen finding their true love.

All that aside, it was still really good. I liked that the author wrote them both as adventurous, and gave them a longing for one another. The villains are horrible (as villains should be) but redemption bittersweet in the end.

Recommended :) Set the audio to 1.2 to keep it moving along.

Absolutely riveting and moving

This was just amazing. I was riveting, intrigued, moved among other things. This book made me cry happily and grievously. Just delightful.

Well written and narrated

I enjoyed the characters and story development, as well as the setting of Cornwall, and the historical aspects.