A Cottage by the Sea

by Ciji Ware

Some might call it running away . . .

But after a scandalous Hollywood divorce, Blythe Stowe considered it damage control for body and soul. The pain, the humiliation, the daily tabloids shouting details as her famous husband dumped her for her own sister demanded a serious getaway: to the wild coast of Cornwall and a cottage by the sea that her Wyoming grandmother claimed had been home to her ancestors.

Some might call it chance . . .

But Blythe encountered more than just a quaint retreat nestled amid vivid skies and gorgeous ocean. And she had the odd sensation that her wickedly handsome neighbor Lucas Teague was more than a British gentleman going broke. He might be her destiny . . .

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Time Travel, Fantasy, Historical, Historical Romance

532 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1996

About the author

CIJI WARE is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling novelist, an Emmy-award winning television producer, reporter, writer, lecturer, and host. Her latest work, THE SPY WORE LONG WHITE GLOVES (Book 4, American Spy Sisters series), published October 14, 2025 , was inspired by the exceptional American women who volunteered as "Churchill's Angles"--secret agents during WW II, fighting enemy infiltration within Britain, as well as parachuting into occupied France to fight the Nazis. As with her other novels, author Ware invites her readers to view her research photos at www.pinterest.com/cijiware/the-spy-wo...

Ware's Four Seasons Quartet "THAT..." series includes stand-alone titles set in CORNWALL, EDINBURGH, VENICE and PARIS that were released betweeen 2013-2017. A novella "The Ring of Kerry Hannigan," part of the RING OF TRUTH anthology with novelists Diana Dempsey and Kate Moore, was released as a single title in the spring of 2015.

Ware has won numerous awards for her 15 works of fiction, including the Dorothy Parker Award of Excellence; the 'Golden Quill' award for Historical Fiction; 'Best Fictionalized Biography' for her 18th c. historical novel, ISLAND OF THE SWANS. For the latter work, she was bestowed in Edinburgh the honor of FSA Scot, of which she is exceedingly proud. Another historical novel, A RACE TO SPLENDOR, debuted in April, 2011 on the 105th anniversary of the devastating 1905 San Francisco Earthquake and Firestorm and was short-listed for the WILLA (Cather) Literary Award in 2012.

In 2015, Ware was named to the Martha's Vineyard Writers-in-Residence program where she began a long-term project: REINVENTING...ME, a memoir of her years in all aspects of media. Currently, she is working on the second of two novels in her Spy Sisters series set in WWII based on the lives of several American women secret agents in the armed conflict.

Ware's most recent nonfiction, RIGHTSIZING YOUR LIFE: Simplifying Your Surroundings While Keeping What Matters Most, was named by the Wall Street Journal as "One of the Top 5 Books on Retirement Issues." She is at work on a sequel, SIMPLIFYING FOR SENIORS: Decluttering, Divesting, and Downsizing. She continues to lecture extensively on the subject of domestic downsizing for people age 50+ as she relates her own journey from 4000sq. feet of living space in Beverly Hills and Santa Barbara, down to a "cottage by the sea" of around 1000 square feet in the San Francisco Bay Area--and loving it! She is also the author of JOINT CUSTODY: Making Shared Parenting Work.

For eighteen years, Ware was heard daily as a commentator on ABC Radio & TV in Los Angeles. During her noted career as a broadcaster, she has worked as a reporter or anchor for PBS and all three major network affiliates, covering a wide range of topics in the areas of health, consumer, lifestyle and women's issues.

Ciji Ware is also a sought-after event speaker, print journalist, (AARP, Travel & Leisure and other national magazines) and has the distinction of being elected as the first woman graduate of Harvard College to serve as President of the Harvard Alumni Association, Worldwide. The author is married four decades+ to Internet marketing executive, Tony Cook. The "Cook-Wares" have a son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren.

Visit Ciji's website at www.cijiware.com; her Facebook page: Ciji Ware, Novelist
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ciji-Wa... and her Pinterest page at http://pinterest.com/cijiware/

Reviews

[Ashley Daviau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. It started off a bit slow and repetitive but once it got going it was really interesting. I loved the magical time travel aspect, it really added something to the story and allowed us to learn the history of the story in a fascinating way. My only minor complaint is that it was quite repetitive at the beginning of the story and some parts had me rolling my eyes a little. Other than that this was an excellent story!

[Louise Wilson]

DNF

Some might call it running away.... But after a scandalous Hollywood divorce, Blythe Stowe considered it damage control for the body and soul. The pain, the humiliation, the daily tabloids shouting details as her famous husband dumped her for her own sister demanded a serious getaway: to the wild coast of Cornwall and a cottage by the sea that her Wyoming grandmother claimed had been home to her ancestors.

I just couldn't get into this book. I've tried a couple of times but now it's time to give up.

#KindleFreeBook

[Katherine Coble · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't make it all the way through.

I hung on through the anti-feminist "you stole my man, ho" opener, replete with every negative cliche a romance novel can take. I really don't enjoy having the first ten pages hit you over the head with how beautiful/famous/wealthy/tragic the main character is. THIS book hits you with ALL FOUR.

I read books like this to go on vacation in my mind. To go to a place where people don't have to work lousy jobs for low pay to eke out an existence. This author had all the right ingredients, but then had to oversauce the goose. The mixture of Hollywood Royalty, Rodeo Sexy and Cornwall Seaside Retreat was the book equivalent of Rachel's ground beef trifle in Friends. The flavours which are fine independently of one another turn unpalatable when all thrown together.


It went from fun to absurd pretty quickly. And then when we get to the treatment of the rodeo horse that caused the main character's brother's death I knew it was in no way a book I wanted to keep reading.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars--I liked the book.

You know how in Wuthering Heights, the characters are all terrible people? Passionate and interesting, sure, but also selfish and childish and melodramatic? That's how I felt about this book too. This is a time-slip romance, and all the characters--in both the present and the past--were pretty awful people. Some of the things they do to each other are pretty inexcusable.

But hey--it makes for a good story. I liked the book, but wouldn't invite any of the characters over for tea.

[Lynn Put · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book with a duel timeline (current year and 1789) with most of the story taking place off the Cornish coast. As much as I liked this book, for some reason I felt like I couldn't connect with the characters from the story. Blythe, the main character takes a trip to the Cornish coast to escape after a devastating divorce and during her stay she begins to have episodes/flash backs of times from the past. Blythe also meets the handsome Lucas Teague the owner of the manor house that she's leasing a cottage from during her stay and begins to fall in love. She soon learns that the flashes from the past are entangled with her own ancestors and what's happening in her current life. For me it felt like this story was about healing and self discovery for Blythe to move forward with her life. As far as the writing I felt like the author added unnessasary/complicated words in her descriptions, making the sentences and story not flow as easily as could have. Not that I'm looking for an easy read, it just felt that at times during the story it wasn't needed.

[Tracy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got to 10% and it's not holding my attention. I loved Island of the Swans by this author. Adored it. Wanted to love this but I think it's just a bit slow for me. Too descriptive.

[Carole Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Blythe Stowe has been jilted by her famous movie director husband. After years of marriage—and their successful business relationship—Blythe’s marriage is over because of her husband’s infidelity with her younger sister. Following a bitter divorce settlement, she goes for a sabbatical to a picturesque cottage in Cornwall where her ancestors were thought to have lived before immigrating to America.



Blythe’s summer cottage by the sea is located on the property of Lucas Teague’s centuries old estate. During a visit to Lucas’s manor, a framed genealogy chart generates a strange sensation as Blythe touches it while thinking of the first Blythe in the eighteenth century. Instantly she finds herself in the past as the now long deceased Blythe. The story weaves back and forth, telling the tales of these two kinswomen and the struggles they experience.

When I read the book synopsis I was intrigued. I am all about British-based historical fiction, especially if there is a little romance thrown in and a cottage. Even the cover reached out to me. Thinking I may have found another Susanna Kearsley/Kate Morton-type book, I jumped on it without reading any reviews—big mistake. The cover art was the most attractive thing about this book.

I grew weary of the Wyoming rodeo slang vocabulary and the main character’s references to her grandmother’s wisdom-sayings. This could have been an enjoyable read but I had to skip over all the detailed sexual encounters of both ‘Blythes.’ And—of course—all the main characters were Hollywood perfect in appearance.

Ciji Ware is a talented author with her historical storytelling, but I will not read any of her other works mainly because of the many physically intimate scenes. I could even put up with all the overkill cowgirl references. Before picking up any of Ms. Ware’s books beware and read all the reviews first.

[Misfit]

I yield. This story is a dreadful mess, both the past and the present. Stick to Susannah Kearsley instead or better yet - Dame du Maurier.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read to get lost in on the weekends!!

[Kelly Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Ciji Ware has been an Emmy-winning television producer, reporter, writer, and radio host. Also a Harvard graduate, she has written several fiction and non-fiction books. She enjoys Scottish history and is a dancing enthusiast. Other titles include: Island of the Swans, Wicked Company, Midnight on Julia Street, A Light on the Veranda, and A Race to Splendor. She resides in San Francisco, California with her husband.

After a brutal and highly publicized divorce, Blythe Barton Stowe thinks the remote cottage on the Cornwall coast is just what she needs to get over the humiliation, shock, and pain of her husband's affair with her sister, not to mention the press in Hollywood hounding her. But once in Cornwall, Blythe seems to find a strange connection to her long ago ancestors, and appears to be reliving a centuries-old tragedy. It also looks as if the handsome owner of the manor house on the hill is entwined in her destiny. Blythe finds herself not only determined to help Lucas Trevelyan Teague save his ancestral home, but to uncover the mysteries of their past. Lucas has been shrouded in painful loss as well, and begins to see Blythe as a lifeline from his bleak existence. Is their unbridled passion and new love enough to conquer the past tragedies, and is it enough to transcend the complexities of time and place?

I cannot throw enough positive adjectives at this book to give it justice. And I cannot even begin to fathom how much research it must have taken to write such a stellar work of fiction, crossing language and lifestyle barriers between the States and England, not to mention landscape, environment, gardening, psychology, history and supernatural research. Also to notably mention the varying array of secondary characters which brilliantly added to the story immensely: Chloe, Richard, Valerie, and Mr. and Mrs. Quiller, plus the ghosts of the past: Kris, Ennis, Blythe, and Garret.

This is a book for everyone. From supernatural and history buffs to romance lovers and garden experts, this book will capture you beginning to end. Written in an eloquent and poetic format, this powerful story relays a harrowing tale of overcoming pain and loss to righting the wrongs in history. Often bringing the reader to a varying degree of emotions, one will find themselves, laughing, weeping, and sighing. The setting was downright astounding and never will you root for a hero and heroine so emphatically. The perfect book to read while sitting by the fire with a box of tissues and a cup of tea.

Kelly Moran,
Author and Reviewer

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I . . . loved this book! Loved it!! It has so many elements that appeal to me in a story. First off, the fabulous setting of Cornwall in a stone cottage overlooking the sea. I could picture that cottage and surroundings as if I were watching a movie. *Sigh*, such beautifully descriptive writing! Add in a woman who is trying to re-invent the rest of her life after a nasty ever-so-public hollywood divorce and a lonely widower in the manor house just a little way up the path. A kindly housekeeper, a broken hearted little boy still grieving for his mom, secret bookcases, family ties, second wife wannabes, mysteries, flashbacks to the late 1700's, a little bit of Cornish smuggling references and the possibility of some reincarnation made this a book I had a very hard time to put down.


It was almost as if I opened the book and was magically sucked into the pages while I walked every step with the characters. I could feel Blythe's anger and heartbreak at her ex-husband and sister who betrayed her with their flagrant affair. I definitely enjoyed her journey of finding herself and some family ties in Cornwall where she rented Painter's Cottage from the young and handsome widower, Lucas Teague. I felt the same sense of bewildered amazement as I was hurtled back in time with Blythe where she discovered some family secrets through some very unconventional means.


Ware has written a book with some of the most endearing characters I have read in a long time. The addition of some despicable characters just serves to heighten the tension in the story. With the use of short flashbacks, Ware takes present day Blythe back the late 1700's to tell the story of her name sake Blythe Barton. The similarities to some of the events in both Blythes' lives are eerie and disquieting but Ware makes a wonderful story of both of them. With very smooth transitions from present to past I found I liked both time frames equally. This book had me emotionally immersed in the story from page one and didn't let go until the last sentence. A 5 ***** read for sure and one I will be savoring for quite some time.

[Christy B · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I finished with A Cottage By the Sea, I realized that I had just finished my first time-travel book. The time traveling was interesting, here. Blythe would put her finger on a name on a genealogy tree and say the name and... BOOM! She was back in time, 200 years ago, seeing things from that person's perspective.

Let me tell you how Blythe got to this genealogy tree. First of all, her scumbag husband cheated on her, with her own sister! The present day story opens with Blythe divorcing her husband and then heading across the Atlantic to Cornwall. She rents a cottage on the land of Barton Hall. Blythe heads here because she has heard for years from her grandmother that she (Blythe) was descended from these Cornish Bartons. The owner of Barton Hall is Lucas Teague, a descendent of the cousin of the Bartons, who inherited it 200 years before.

The original Blythe Barton of the 18th century literally vanished off the face of the earth 200 years ago. A question mark sits by her name on the genealogy tree. Her husband, Christoper 'Kit' Trevelyan, who inherited the Hall upon his marriage died that same year and with his brother Ennis dying the year before, the Hall went to a cousin – Garrett Teague. 20th century Blythe, through the spiffy time traveling and being hypnotized by a local doctor, witnesses this 18th century soap opera with all the characters I just named. She uncovers centuries old mysteries all why trying to realize what her feelings are for her landlord Lucas.

A Cottage By the Sea was a enjoyable, solid story that kept me entertained. Not surprisingly, I loved the chapters taking place in the 18th century more and wished that we spent more time there. Nonetheless, this novel wickedly blended past and present.

[KatLynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Published – 1997
Re-issue with a few minor adjustments by author - 2010

This was a free offer from Amazon and after a brief look I thought I’d give this a try. This is a new to me author and overall, I enjoyed the story.

The beginning was somewhat slow and I found myself lightly skimming. Both the H/h are very likable characters, however, in the beginning, I failed to connect with this couple and found myself lightly skimming. A plot twist involving brief spells of time-travel and a mystery surrounding the past lives of the Garrett's/Barton's/Trevelyan's was introduced and I was hooked.

These three families were thrown together in the 18th century; sharing love, hate and tragedy. I became immersed in the mystery and its effect on both the past and present generations. The time travel was well done in small doses and the clues to the mystery were presented in such a way as to keep the reader wanting more. As each shocking secret is revealed I found myself more intrigued in this journey.

The romance between Blythe and Lucas soon heated up but what held my attention was the mystery and the secrets. Overall, a good read and I do look forward to trying more by this author.

[Kathleen Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story by Ciji Ware is an enjoyable read. I was not sure what to expect as I had not read anything by her before. Once I started reading it I was hooked. I enjoyed the characters and I am always up for a little supernatural or reincarnation in a story. There is enough mystery, romance and history to keep the reader enthralled to the end. Blythe is a fan of Daphne du Maurier's novels and renting a cottage on the Cornwall coast, where a lot of Ms.du Maurier's novels take place, is just what she needs to rethink her life and just get away from all the heartache of a divorce.
Blythe's original plans were to stay in the cottage for a month or two but ended up there the summer and struck up a business and romantic relationship with Lucas. She also ended up going back in time, via an old family geneology chart,to the late 1700's, learning the history of the previous generations of Barton Hall and the tragedies that befell these people. The past was a story of love, hate,and revenge that paralled her own life.As in any romance, the end is a happily ever after for everyone involved...Love conquers all.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is closer to 3.5 stars. It's a good time-slip romance / historical fiction set in Cornwall, with smugglers' caves and secret passageways in the background and a lot of drama in the foreground. There's a messy, public divorce, family conflicts, dealing with the death of loved ones, child-rearing philosophy, cultural differences between modern Americans and Brits, career upheaval, tea drinking, gardening, and crystal ball hypnosis. A strange mix of 90s psycho-babble and historical romance / tragedy.

It's also very long for this kind of story, and felt like it at times. My favorite time-slips so far are by Susanna Kearsley, and hers feel much less weighted down and less all over the place with romance novel themes. Still, I did like it even though the drama got to be a bit much at times. I do wish there was more time spent in the tunnels and caves, and by the sea, but in spite of the setting, the sea was just a backdrop, and the smuggler aspect was definitely not the focus.

[Linda C · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a very public Hollywood divorce Blythe Barton Stowe Heads to Cornwall for a month in a cottage on the property of Barton Hall where she plans to do some research on possible connections between her family and the Cornish Bartons. Lucas Teague the current owner of Barton Hall is barely hanging on due to death taxes and an earlier hurricane disaster. As Blythe settles in and learns more about the Hall she comes up with a business proposition that could save it. Putting the idea into practice brings her into the dynamics of the family and she begins having flashbacks to the 18th century where 3 men and a women become the pivotal drama that changes the future of the family. I quite liked a lot of this but the melodrama of the Hollywood couple was a little much, right out of a Hollywood script.

[Natasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I couldn't relate to the characters (except the 10-year-old boy). I skimmed some parts. But, to be fair, I did read it to the end, so I guess I was drawn in by some parts of the story. But, although I usually like historical fiction and time-slip novels, I wasn't a big fan of this one.

[Sonia189 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good story, divided into two parts: past and present, but I think it didn't need the past timeline.
It was an interesting read, that was for sure...

[Megan Seipke-Dame · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written, this book reaches into your soul to transport you into the character’s lives.

[Marie Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightfully fun novel that contains essences of romance and history and modern times all expertly crafted into a cohesive and addictive narrative. Blythe Barton whisks herself to Cornwall to escape the prying reporters and her ruined marriage, and the reader gets to know and like Blythe as she rediscovers herself during this much needed respite. Complete with a captivating historical atmosphere of a misty Cornwall, author Ciji Ware does a fabulous job of recreating the nuances of epic authors such as Daphne Du Maurier and Mary Stewart.

I was one of the readers of the recent reissue of Island of the Swans by Ciji Ware (reviewed here) and I had fallen in love with Ware's writing style. While the last novel was more about a true historical character, A Cottage by The Sea offers a modern tone with flashback settings to 1700's England. The novel mentioned Daphne Du Maurier several times, and there were many times especially during the flashback settings that the gothic style was prominent within the book.

Blythe Barton finds herself with an uncanny ability to see into the past, and this past contains her probable ancestors of the Barton/Trevelyan clan of the eighteenth century. While renovating Cornish property Blythe comes across a framed family tree that beckons her soul. The owner of the Cornish property where Blythe finds her quaint English retreat is of course a handsome sexy man who Blythe falls for immediately. She goes into business with him, among other things, and along the way tries to recuperate and heal from her messy divorce. Strong family ties are a theme in this novel, with the past family members invading her thoughts as well as Blythe's present-day family; such as her grandmother's quotes and her immature, conniving and betraying sister. Since the novel echoes with themes of gothic romance novels, this one made me want to delve into Du Maurier and Mary Stewart again. I really enjoyed the details of the land and the old estate which featured a castle, of course.

Blythe needs to find the missing link of the past and find contentment in the present, and readers are taken through a haunting love triangle of the past that reverberates mystery and intrigue throughout the novel. I loved the past day revelations the most, and the characters of the past deserve a novel all their own. The supernatural elements were believable and added much to the story without becoming outlandish. Ciji Ware does a splendid job of merging the two stories into a suspenseful family saga that I loved getting lost in. Prudish readers like me who are not accustomed to ardent loves scenes may find themselves blushing at a few intervals in the novel. I would have appreciate a lot more depth to the characters overall, but I was totally entertained by the novel and that's all I would ask for in this type of read. This was a very enjoyable adventure that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to history lovers, romance readers and even those who like a little trip to the past via ghosts. The story was written so well with the links of the past to the present complete with the genealogy chart that had me wishing that the story was true.

[Amy Bruno · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Thoughts: Let me just say that Ciji Ware is quickly moving up in rank on my list of favorite authors! I am so grateful that Sourcebooks is re-issuing her books, I don't think I would have found them any other way and that for sure would have been tragic!

A Cottage by the Sea is about a woman running way from her present, discovering a connection to her ancestors, all the while attempting to come to terms with her past and finding true love along the way.

Blythe is a Hollywood production designer and her husband a famous director. When she discovers him cheating on her with her sister and knowing the media storm will soon be at her back, Blythe decides to hide out and travels to the gorgeous coast of Cornwall England, where family legend had it that her ancestors had lived.

The cottage she rents is owned by a widower named Lucas Teague, who lives in the adjoining manor, Barton Hall. Upon meeting her handsome, British landlord at Barton Manor Blythe is inexplicably drawn to his family tree. But what happens when she lays her hands upon it is wild! Have you ever wondered if events from our ancestor's pasts can be forever engraved in our own DNA? Have you ever felt connected to a certain place and can't understand why? The real heart of the story is based around these intriguing questions and I was utterly fascinated! I can't really speculate on the validity of the arguments presented, but it was fun to read!

Besides the supernatural aspect, there is also a very heart-warming love story between Blythe and Lucas. They are both trying to heal emotionally and to open themselves up to love again. While Blythe is feisty and Southern, Lucas is more reserved and an English man through and through, but opposites attract and these two cannot run from it! Be prepared for some steamy scenes, though they weren’t as numerous or as descriptive as the ones in Island of the Swans. I’m not one that’s bothered with sex scenes, but I only mention it here because some reviewers thought it was a bit too much in Island of the Swans.

Now I will say that there was one thing that got on my nerves a bit and that was when Blythe kept referring to her grandmother and the southern quotes, but the rest of the novel was so good that I can overlook that part!

Chock full of humor, raw emotion, love, redemption and forgiveness, A Cottage by the Sea is a book I would recommend to everyone!

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I wanted to read it: I have  several reasons......

My awesome blogging friend Jen @ Jenny Loves to Read, sent me a copy a LONG time ago because I expressed interest in the book after she reviewed it.
I am drawn to all things Cornwall...I swear one of my ancestors is from this area!
Kaye@Pudgy Penguin listed this as one of her favorite reads for 2010 and I made up a challenge for myself to read some of my favorite bloggers favorite books!
It was C in my 52 Weeks 52 Books Alphabetical challenge! 

Source: I read this one on my Kindle and the paperback (from Jen)

As I stated above I love all things Cornwall and this book really set the tone and atmosphere for me. I will be visiting this lovely place before I die..which, I hope isn't until I'm like 98 or something!
I really enjoyed Blythe and understood her need to get away from all things Hollywood and to get back to what was real and good in life.
The whole time travel aspect is something I'm a sucker for...I love this type of book. I was really digging the way Blythe was able to see the past events...very very cool! I can't tell you how...I think that is a spoiler of sorts. 
The love story...was absolutely captivating. I cheered for this couple and wanted their relationship to be real and meaningful.
Reading about Blythe reading all of Daphne du Maurier's (who lived in Cornwall) books had me wanting to read all of her titles too! So, that is exactly what I'm going to do! I will be starting with Rebecca, then My Cousin Rachel, because I own both of those titles. Then I will be adding the others as I can get my hands on them. Did you know, not one of her titles is available as an e-book? My husband is lucky because I would have bought every single one right after I finished The Cottage!!!

I want to thank Jen and Kaye for recommending this book so highly. I absolutely loved the story and I'm glad that I bought it for my Kindle when it was free...now, I can go back and re-read it anytime I want! 

[Terra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Cottage by the Sea by Ciji Ware is what I consider a true romance novel with a smattering of suspense. The storyline is as solid as a brick wall and captures you from the beginning and keeps you ensnared in it's net of interest right up till the very last words. A book by all accounts that could be a classic in years to come takes you on an emotional journey that will have you wondering if you are not playing the heroine in this vivid sensory tale.

Blythe Barton Stowe needs to escape from the hellish reality that her husband and sister have plunged her into. As soon as the divorce is final she jumps a plane and heads to the lush fields and cliffs of Cornwall England. Her grandmother always claimed they were decendants of the Cornish Bartons and Blythe decides that this might be just the bit of medicine she needs to recover from a broken heart. Little does she know that she will indeed find more than she could have every hoped or bargined for.

The scenery is nothing short of spectular for her medicinal retreat. A cottage on the cliff with the sea crashing below, no telephones, computers, cell reception and people make this a true delight. A nearby castle is owner to this cottage and is her nearest neighbor unless you want to consider all the sheep in the pastures bleeting their musical language that only they can understand. Sounds like heaven to me that's for sure.

This is a story for those that like something more than a fast piece of fluff. There's not a lot of sex in this tale but tons of romance that will have you longing for the times when men were real gentlemen. The author has given us a delightful sampling of what she is truly capable of and I can't wait to get my greedy little hands on another of her offerings.

[Patricia Burroughs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I downloaded the e-sample from Amazon because I saw that this was about a woman who seeks solace and healing in a cottage in Cornwall after an emotionally devastating divorce. Frankly, all I wanted was the Cornwall experience. So when I started reading and it started off as an LA/Hollywood/media frenzy story, it didn't grab me, nor did the heroine's early life on a ranch in Wyoming. None of this was the vibe I'm looking for.

Fortunately the story got to Cornwall just before the sample ended. I was still on the fence because I wasn't really feeling the atmosphere... but I went ahead and bought the book. So far I'm glad I did because the Cornish atmosphere really began to feel real to me right after that.

So, here I am, reading. Will let you know what I think when I get to the other end!

[I think from something I read after downloading that this might be a time-travel romance. Will change my labeling/shelving if I'm wrong on that.]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, I finished it. This is a nice read. I enjoyed it on many levels. Of course, as I mentioned, it was set in Cornwall so already it had my attention. The way the plot threads all wove together at the end was clever and believable, and I really enjoyed the excerpt from the travel guide as a way of letting us know what happened after the end of the book. It was fun and satisfying.

My only real issue here were the many Wyoming/western slogans that often disrupted the flow of the story for me. They didn't feel natural to the character, and it was interesting to me that the British dialogue flowed more believably than the western for me, coming from an American author.

All in all, a charming book that I enjoyed reading.

[The Readings of a Busy Mom Riaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first novel I have ever read by Ciji Ware and I am sure it won't be my last. A Cottage by The Sea is an addictive read that took me through every page with a comforting ease while I got hooked on the life like characters along the way...a novel of true romance with droppings of suspense and humour in all the right places and if that wasn't enough then the hunk Lucas was!!

Ciji wrote her characters with great thoroughness and I admire that..I loved Blythe she was a strong and spunky character while still remanding soft...she certainly wasn't a push over but she wasn't arrogant even though she had qualities that could have made her like that, Blythe became an added person to my heart...I mean ow! stop making me hurt women, and then there was Lucas.....I felt a strong pull to this character with his daily habits and somewhat charming life...they where both oblivious to what was so obvious to me! Sigh* I would call it innocence but that would be pushing my luck ;o)

Overall Ciji writes a beautiful and compelling novel, Living in UK I'm lucky enough to experience Cornwall growing up as it was a place me and my family would visit for the summer. Ciji explains my child hood Holiday destination with great clarity that allowed my heart to miss it, what's the saying absence makes the heart grow fonder and I think my absence is well overdue as my heart aches with longing!

I would recommend this novel to all my adult readers as it is one that no doubt you will love it has everything a girl needs from romance to history and all things in between including a yummy man face;o)....a novel I'm glad I picked up this year!

[Kerr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seriously?


Several times "English Phrases" were translated for the American, phrases that, being English I've never heard in my life! There was something about "bill of quality", but what they REALLY meant was an estimate...I think? and 'sacked' from school, what IS that?!

Then things were 'translated' for the English locals that are well used and well known sayings that have been for YEARS! My grandparents used them AND THEY WERE SCOTTISH!...I actually got annoyed that the English persons weren't replying to "as we say in america..." with "As we say here as well."


I was confused as to what age this was meant to be set in. The language was rather archaic, which could be forgiven in the Lord, they like to hold onto that sort of thing.

Though I must admit to liking Richards school term. School ending at the beginning of June? Not starting term till the middle of september?! Why were my schools never like that?

And I have no idea how the american woman managed to feel frumpy next to a woman in a frumpy suit....

Unfortunately this all detracted from the storyline rather dramatically

Also, just a note, CNN is not a channel widely watched - if available - within the UK. As an american friend complained to me once, it shows only american news (Though I believe it's more like 95% american and 5% world news from the american point of view?) Certainly in places like Cornwall, the local news is where it's at.

This book may cause confusion and perhaps insult for anyone from the UK, proceed with caution

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Island of the Swans was the first book I read by Ciji Ware, which proved to be a mistake if I planned on enjoying any of her other books. It seems the historical mastery presented in Island of the Swans is the exception from Ware, not the rule. Thus, A Cottage by the Sea fell quite short of my expectations...

Overall, I seemed to be rolling my eyes more often than not when reading this book. The cultural references were CHEESY AS HELL, and by the end I was desperate for Blythe to stop using her "Wyoming twang", incorporating stupid/non-realistic country catch phrases, and referencing Grandma Barton. These annoying references were CONSTANT (at least one per page, at best) and seemed excruciatingly forced. They added ZERO charm to the story or to Blythe's character. (Side note: I can say this as I am from the Southern US & know the difference between legitimate country charm and over-the-top attempts at country charm.)

The story itself seemed very odd at times--the flashbacks to the 1700's were very entertaining--but much of the storyline was very hard to believe, (especially the "wrapped up with a neat little bow" ending). The characters, for the most part, were vapid and ignorant, and I couldn't find myself rooting for either Blythe.

Despite all of this, however, A Cottage by the Sea did keep me reading until the end--so, that's something, I guess.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical fiction, fantasy, romance novel reminded me of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. The story takes place in contemporary times and in the 18th century. Blythe Barton Stowe is visiting Cornwall after a humiliating divorce. Her grandmother had always told her that her ancestor's came from Cornwall. Blythe stays in the Painter's Cottage at the Barton Hall estates, where she meets Lucas Teague. While in the library of the estate studying a large framed genealogy map, she is transported back in time 200 years to see the life of another "Blythe Barton."

The story is suspenseful going back and forth in time with some scrying and a crazy cousin of Lucas's who believes in DNA memory transfers. Blythe decides to works with Lucas to save the 57 room manor by making the grounds and out buildings into nurseries, educational centers, growing herbs, etc. as well as books by Daphne du Maurier whose books are mentioned often in the story.

The back of the book contains information on visiting the gardens in Cornwall and gives information on many of the facts on which the story is inspired. I will definitely read Ciji Ware's award winning Island of the Swans, as well as some of du Maurier's classics.

[LJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A COTTAGE BY THE SEA - VG+
Ware, Ciji - standalone

What would you do if you caught your sister in bed with your husband? Chances are at the very least you'd nix your relationship with both of them and run as far away as you could get--especially if the story is going to be plastered all over the tabloids. This is exactly what Hollywood mogul Blythe Stowe does. She heads to England and the Cornish Coast. There she steeps herself in Daphne du Maurier's wonderful novels, finds love with an Englishman, and discovers family secrets that have been long concealed.

A Hollywood divorcee goes to Cornwell and meets an English landscape gardener (I think he was). In his house is a family tree / gemological chart. Looking at the chart transports her back to another time.

I really enjoyed this book. It's one of the better time-travel books I've read.

[Laurel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Free Kindle book. I am usually pretty liberal-minded about paranormal activity but was not able to make a few of the necessary leaps to make this book work for me. The level of melodrama is off the charts. Every few pages there is some fresh emotional quandary that makes it impossible for any issue to be dealt with in a meaningful way (actually the barrage is so outrageous you need to be reminded lest you forget about the earlier ones). Also, the present-day heroine (as opposed to her historic counterpart, hence the paranormal activity) is a mix of so many stereotypes it is hard to take her seriously (hollywood production designer, landscape architect, teen rodeo queen, pick one please!). Seriously though, if you can skim over all the wackiness, there is some enjoyment to be had here, too.