Across The Star-Kissed Sea is a fantastic book by Arlem Hawks, and it's the sequel to Georgana's Secret, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was eager to dive into this new story. Like the first, this novel is part of the Proper Romance series, meaning it's a clean read. I have a soft spot for historical romance, especially since much of the story unfolds in 1811 aboard a Royal Navy ship, the HMS Marianne, in the Mediterranean Sea.

May is a headstrong young woman who impulsively becomes the lady's maid for the ship's captain. She's escaping a family scandal and is still mourning her uncle and cousin, who died at sea the previous year. May is in a lot of pain and faces the tough journey of learning to forgive. When she first meets the young Chaplain Elias Doswell on the ship, there's a misunderstanding, and they start off as enemies before becoming friends and eventually more. This romance builds slowly, and I loved watching their relationship grow. Elias also has his own struggles, dealing with rejection and heartache. He joins the ship to escape his past but finds it hard to trust. He's a unique leading man, and I found him very likable.

It was great to see characters from Georgana's Secret return in this book, and the ship setting added a special touch to the story. Across The Star-Kissed Sea is well-written, exciting, and often heartfelt, taking you on a fun adventure.

Across the Star-Kissed Sea captured my attention from the awkward first meeting to the nail-biting conclusion! I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel to Georgana’s secret. Arlem Hawks is known for her meticulous research, swoony romance, and heartfelt characters which all come shining through in this latest book. I loved May & Elias & their sweet enemies to more, close proximity, he falls first romance!

May Byam’s family is struggling after deaths & scandal upended their world. May takes a position as the lady’s maid to a young sea captain’s wife on board the HMS Marianne, despite her mother’s & aunt’s pleas not to go. May wants the adventure, the security, & to avenge her uncle’s & cousin’s deaths. But, her awkward first meeting with the ship’s clergyman gets things off on the wrong foot.

Chaplain Elias Doswell’s suffering from his latest broken heart & returns to the sea. When he sees a beautiful woman boarding, he unfortunately misjudges her & her reason for being on the ship. Though he’s attracted to her & tries to make her stay on the ship more pleasant, he first has to gain her good opinion. As they spend more & more time together, their relationship begins to change, but with war threatening the seas, will their love survive?

I adored Elias! Though he appears the stuffy, well dressed gentleman, he has a deep, caring heart. His thoughtful gestures tugged on my heartstrings. I also loved the way he rehearsed his sermons. His wounded past as well as the horrors from previous battles come roaring back as they face the French.

May is Elias’ complete opposite. She’s feisty, headstrong, & not afraid to speak her mind. Though she struggles with forgiveness & hurt pride she also loves fiercely & is willing to do anything to protect those she cares for.

The story takes place almost entirely on ship & I loved experiencing the ups & downs, dangers, & close proximity this setting affords. I loved seeing the Peytons again! Georgana’s Secret is a favorite & enjoyed the significant roles they played in this book. Though this is a proper Regency romance, there are the realities of war & dangers of the sea present. It’s a heart achingly lovely story full of romance, forgiveness, & gorgeously written scenes that will leave a lasting impression.

Highly recommend to Regency & historical romance fans! Though it’s a sequel to Georgana’s Secret, it can easily be read as a standalone but is more enjoyable if you’ve read the previous book. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided.

May Byam, seeking escape from family scandal, joins a naval ship as a lady’s maid to the captain’s wife. There is immediate tension between her and the ship Chaplain Elias Doswell, but close quarters of ship life does not leave room for them to avoid each other. Will they risk their hearts when the threat of war looms over them?

I remember enjoying the first book, Georgana’s Secret, so I was interested when I saw this one. However, I did not enjoy reading this one at all for the simple fact that I didn’t like either of the main characters. I found May’s behavior childish and incomprehensible. She was soo angry for a lot of the story and I didn’t understand why. Elias was an awkward mess.

The setting was the most interesting part. A ship at sea with the threat of war on the horizon should have been a perfect setting for a reluctant romance. However, I wasn’t rooting for either one to succeed with the other.

Overall, it was well-written. Readers who are looking for a historical romance set on a ship may enjoy this one more than I did.

Arlem Hawks is a consummate story teller. Georganas secret caught my attention last year and the story was so well written. So of course I jumped on the bandwagon to read this book. A broken hearted Elias, and a hurt May find friendship and love. The storytelling was realistic, evocative and emotional at times. The narration was beautiful, the characters beautiful and the romance genuine.

#netgalley #AcrosstheStarKissedSea

Set in the 1800s, there's a whirlwind of adventure on this Royal Navy ship when May accepts a position as a lady's maid and sets aboard. The ship's chaplain Elias is trying to make his own way, never feeling like he's good enough. They got off to a real rocky start but onboard the ship, there's no place to hide and a friendship starts to grow.

May wasn't my favourite character, she naturally struggles with trust because of her father, and she comes across real strong. This wasn't my first by the author, not my favourite but it was good. I'd keep reading more from her.

*A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

A sweet romance set at sea. This heart warming novel is a companion story to Georgiana's Secret, but I don't think you have to read one to enjoy the other. The author obviously has done her homework when it comes to sea life and the battles they face on the ocean. The sweet romance is built well with dialog and emotional trust the two main characters experience. I found myself rooting for the characters. A fun and heart warming read enjoyed bundled up on a crisp fall afternoon.

This book is connected to other books by this author. (Georgana's Secret primarily but I believe it also has a character from Beyond the Lavender Fields. I can't remember if Along a Breton Shore contained the other part of this story or not.) It could be helpful to have read Georgana's Secret prior to reading this one. I don't know why they aren't shown on retail sites as being connected. It would have frustrated me if I hadn't read the other books prior to this one. A major issue that is dealt with in this book is related to events in at least Georgana's Secret.

These books by this author are a bit more gritty than what you may think of from a Proper Romance book. There are battles and darker issues addressed. There isn't graphic detail, but it isn't just a lighthearted romance read. The story takes place on a ship during wartime.

The author writes complex characters with deep seated issues that are addressed throughout the story. It was nice for me to see characters that I previously read about and playing a significant role in this story as well.

I thank Shadow Mountain Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ebook. I am happy to leave an honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up

Across the Star-Kissed Sea, is a beautiful story in which the worldbuilding is incredible, and the characters are thoroughly relatable, whether they are good or bad or somewhere in between.

I had previously read Georgana‘s Secret, which is the first book in this series. Although this one is indeed a standalone, it definitely helped to have read Georgana’s Secret first as it gave me the benefit of knowing some of the supporting characters in this one, as well as one of the main love interests.

This is a story of life on a ship during wartime so it definitely includes some hardship and violence.

Elias and May are such contrasting characters, but we get to know each of them intimately as this story unfolds. They are not a couple that someone would initially predict as a good match, but indeed the relationship is truly beautiful.

I love this world that Arlem Hawks has created and will most certainly be reading on if the story continues. I also see that the book is now available in Audible version so I may find it irresistible to enjoy the story again in that format.

Arlem Hawks delivers another incredible and wonderful novel! Across the Star-Kissed Sea is such a beautiful story of forgiveness and letting go of one's past pain and suffering. May has been betrayed by life and loved ones. She is still holding onto her sadness to the point of bitterness, anger, and distrust at times, yet she craves friendship and closeness. I loved how you can still sense the goodness and courage that are part of her true self even as she struggles and grows through more difficulties and heartache. And Elias...oh, wow. He was so perfect: shy and somewhat awkward, but with a heart of gold. He has his own past to overcome, but he was so brave in moving forward with his life. I was rooting for both of them the whole time! I loved this book so much!

After May's father's shame, her family scrambles to secure positions to recoup their losses. But May does not want to join a household as a servant with her mother and strikes out on her own, securing a position as lady's maid to Georgana, a captain's wife aboard. She doesn't expect to make friends nor find Elias, the ship's chaplain, to be of any interest.
Returning to this fictional world Arlem has built is such an absolute pleasure. Her ability to weave flawed yet lovable characters within naval history in a romance is incomparable. May was an absolute tough cookie but seeing Elias through her eyes was heartwarming and balanced out her rough edges. The battle scenes were perfectly heart-racing and the glimpse into Georgana and Dominic's marital life bliss.
Thank you to Proper Romance and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Across the Star-Kissed Sea by Arlem Hawkes

I loved it. Another fantastic novel by Arlem Hawkes. It had everything I needed. I loved the ties back to the first book Georgana’s Secret too.

Two unlikely people find themselves aboard the Marianne running from something. After a botched first meeting it takes time for them to come to understand each other but that doesn’t stop sparks from flying in the meantime.

Be still my heart. The romance in this book is so tender. The main characters are two deeply feeling people and I loved rooting for them.

Hawkes’ battle scenes always have me so invested.
I’m picking up each piece and hoarding it. The detail, the action, the DANGER.

I love a good character arc and I felt we got so many good ones in this novel. Including those of old beloved characters.

Would I recommend it? Yes, dear friends, I would.

Content: war scenes, death, grief, kisses

I love May and Elias's story! It was captivating and drew me in right from the beginning. These two characters showed insecurities and desires to belong and be helpful. They've had hardships in their past and heartache. One comes from a loving family and the other comes from a family who has experience terrible loss and lies. They don't start off on the best footing and have a pretty big misunderstanding... a one-sided misunderstanding. Hahaha! It was pretty humorous, albeit innocent. But of course that is unknown and sets our main characters' relationships off on a funny beginning.

This book can be read easily as a standalone but it is connected to the author's previous book, Georgana's Secret. If you want more backstory to some of the characters in this book, especially to the backstory of May's family, then I highly recommend reading that one as well. I loved it a lot!

There are moments of peril as the ship encounters war and battles while on the water. I was listening to the audiobook of this one while on a long drive and I was completely engrossed in the story. I was rooting for these characters. And believe me, they'll need all the support they can get with the twists and turns that come their way.

I loved the themes of peace, hope, forgiveness, healing and love. It was really sweet and kept me engrossed in these characters.

Content: Clean. Some mild moments of peril due to the nature of the time period, some kisses but nothing further.

I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

“What is love if not forgiveness?”

I’m a big Arlem Hawks fan, as she always captures the good, bad, ugly, and sweet of historical times. With obvious thorough research and beloved characters, I’m charmed every time I meet one of her books.

I’ve only been on a cruise once and as exciting as it sounds to live on the seas for a time, there are many dangers and inconveniences to be had and I think I’m good with the comforts a cruise ship has to offer.

May Byam is desperate to escape a family scandal and becomes a lady’s maid on the high seas, on a ship full of mostly men. Chaplain Elias Doswell returns to sea, nursing his broken heart and trying to find a place to fit in. Immediate impressions aren’t favorable and situations aren’t ideal, but I quickly fell for this duo.

With a war looming, there are moments of perilous dangers and death, and life on the ship is vividly portrayed, but it's the characters and all the many connections and facets that completed my satisfaction with this beautiful Regency tale. Let me just say–I was deeply invested!

I couldn’t get enough of this story. It’s a lovely companion to Georgiana’s Secret and I loved my reading escape.

Content: mild romance; talk of dangers/perils/death; mild+ religion

I enjoyed getting to know May and Elias characters and spending more time with others in this book series. I enjoyed the underlying themes of trust and forgiveness, and felt they made a lot of sense with their backgrounds! Other parts were slow for me and I felt the characters weren't together often enough to develop a deep relationship. Overall I would read it again!

Across the Star-Kissed Sea is a historical romance primarily set early 1800s on a ship sailing in the Mediterranean Sea. May Byam is struggling after the arrest of her father due to his criminal activities. A chance advertisement leads her aboard a ship as the Captain's wife's ladies maid. Chaplain Elias Doswell, too finds himself escaping England from a broken heart with hopes of finding a place on the sea once again. Both couldn't be more different, but a life aboard a ship has other plans for these two hearts.

As usual Arlem brings her historical magic. I am always so intrigued by her knowledge of sea-faring life! I loved going on the journey with these characters.

The romance was quite the opposites attract but so sweet in the end. Elias is one sensitive soul, with smarts and kindness. I love a hero with spectacles.

The Dominic and Georgana cameos were just so lovely. Every moment. Even with Etienne calling her Mr. Taylor. So fun to connect this story to the first one.

I highly recommend reading Georgana's Secret first. It is a must!

*Brief thoughts- I struggled a bit with the FMC. Needed more growth and I wanted to like her more. Although the romance was sweet, I didn't quite fall for their chemistry. Again, though I loved Dominic and Georgana's cameos, I shouldn't have wanted their romance more than the main one in this story.

*Romance - kisses
*TW- grief, family stress, wartime

Move over stuffy, haughty Vicar… there is a new gent in town. He dresses to the 9’s and has a heart of gold. This vicar is unlike any other of his stereotypical role, I am HERE. FOR. IT! 😍
This book was so much fun! It helped pull me out of a book slump, and had the perfect amount of push and pull. You have a sassy, stubborn FMC who is perfectly balanced with this genuine, thoughtful MMC. I loved their characters together, and their depth was phenomenal. I truly enjoyed watching both of them grow through their own unique struggles.

A couple of highlights for me:
⚓️ that meet cute (can you say awkward?! 😉)
⚓️I about DIED when he brushed her hair 🥹🥹🥹🥹
⚓️I didn’t know what a Dinoflagellates but it’s now on my bucket list and in one of my top romance scenes of the year. Dolphins, stars, Dinoflagellates = SWOON

THANK YOU to the author and publisher for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

A peak into life at sea during the early 1800s. I absolutely adored the dynamic between Elias and May! I felt like I was pulled into the story right there with the characters! I didn't want to put this one down!

I received an ARC through Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

I liked the first book of this series a lot and this book had some of the same elements like they are still fighting a war and there is still a romance but I had a hard time liking the characters, particularly May. I realize she was grieving over the circumstances that had changed her life forever but her temper made her unpleasant. I appreciated her ability to eventually see her own faults but in the meantime she became nasty to other people and sometimes was just plain rude.
I liked Elias a lot. He was thoughtful and caring but really struggled with his own weaknesses. His inner voices were often negative in regards to himself but he was willing to let some others have the benefit of the doubt. His struggle with PTSD was apparent yet was also brave in his willingness to assist the captain when needed, even though it was difficult.

I also liked the Captain. He was tender yet firm. But Georgana didn't seem to have any personality at all, I guess due to her secret. So many of the secondary characters in this story were indeed unpleasant. It made it hard to care about anyone.

The book felt slower paced in the beginning but was full of drama. As soon as one bit of the dramatic resolved, the next drama came up. The plot kept me reading and I had hope by the end that they would actually have a promising future together.

Sex: innuendo
Language: no
Violence: yes, war battles but not overly detailed

First, let's talk about this cover.... It's absolutely beautiful! Most say "don't judge a book by its cover" but let's be honest, we all do it. And Arlem Hawks created this cover so very lovely. Ok, moving on, this was such a great story. I loved the determination and grit that May has to make the best out of her situation, even though it was very hard. Elias has also been served many hard blows and even though his approach is a little more reserved and quiet, deep down, he is determined to fight for what is right and for those that he loves. Although May and Elias seem so very opposite, they seem to complement one other beautifully. I really enjoyed this book and all its twists, turns and surprises.

A very well-written story full of adventure, life trials, and finding love during wartime. I highly recommend reading this followup story to Georgana's Secret. This story contains no swearing, no alcohol, and kissing only scenes.