Oh my goodness, this book is absolute joy. Elias was such a sweetheart—his gentle nature paired with his insecurities and red hair made him so endearing, and I loved the charming detail of his spectacles. May, the fiery FMC, was a perfect contrast. Her sharp tongue and inability to hold back her temper made her personality pop off the page. I couldn’t get enough of her!

It was refreshing to step out of the ballroom and back onto a ship, diving into the captivating world Hawkes has created. Revisiting Captain Payton and Georgana was so fun; they’ll forever have a special place in my heart. I loved participating in Georgana’s schemes and witnessing her adventurous spirit again. The overarching message of not making judgments about people without knowing their full story was beautifully woven into the plot.

This book is a wonderful sequel to Georgana’s Secret. AND seeing Giles again was such a treat. I highly recommend this heartwarming story!

Set during the Regency Era, "Across the Star-Kissed Sea" is a breathtaking novel full of heart, romance, heartbreak, extremely powerful and poignant messages, life at sea, and so, so much more.

Arlem Hawks writing style is vivid, detailed, and incredibly immersive. For each and every moment throughout this book, I could envision everything, and I truly got such a strong and clear sense of what the characters were feeling. Her storytelling and world-building are spectacular; I could really feel the movement of the ship, the waves crashing in the ocean, and much more. While this book is a sequel to "Georgana's Secret", I do think it can be read as as stand-alone as well (however, I highly recommend "Georgana's Secret" as it is also SO GOOD, and will help understand some of the relationships and history throughout this book). Ms. Hawk's historical and naval historical research, as well as her passion for writing, are so clear, and I look forward to doing more research on my own time as well.

(Possible Spoilers!):
Oh my goodness oh my goodness! May and Elias are simply so sweet together! Both are understandably guarded due to experiences they have gone through, but, as they begin to open up to one another, their relationship blossoms from enemies (due to a misunderstanding and misinterpretation), to friends, to romance, and they truly bring out the best in each other. They understand one another's grief, help one another to forgive, and learn to trust again. Their relationship is so, so beautiful, and I loved also seeing some characters from the first book (and how their relationship is continuing to develop) as well!

Furthermore, the scene with the dinoflagellates and dolphins was simply magical beyond words. This novel truly is so moving and emotional!

If you enjoy Regency Romance, I highly recommend this book! I simply cannot wait to read what Ms. Hawks writes next!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and Arlem Hawks for the e-ARC of this novel, and to Arlem Hawks and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the beautiful finished copy. And thank you so much to Arlem Hawks for having me on the Street Team for this novel, it is truly so incredible! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is an intriguing high seas adventure. May’s father had been arrested for stealing at the dock yard and was serving time in Port Jackson. This left May and her mother destitute and in need of finding positions in servitude. Her brother Louis had never sent any funds, and her sister was established in London with her husband and children. May had been serving as a ladies maid for a time when her mother informed her that she was going to take a position with her aunt. This would leave May on her own. When she went to her employer, the next day, she was informed that the lady had passed away overnight and she was no longer needed. In a bit of a state of panic she answered a notice to be a ladies maid for a Captain’s wife on a Frigate. Elias is the chaplain on the Frigate that is about to set sail. He has been asked to keep an eye out for any stowaways or undesirables trying to board the ship. When he sees a lovely lady trying to come aboard, he assumes the worst and tries to discourage her from boarding. This makes for an entertaining, cute meet. This book has a lot of dimension and interesting situations going on. It holds your attention and keeps you wondering what will happen next. The characters are engaging and courageous. I enjoyed the characters of Elias and May, but I really didn’t feel a love connection with them. It was a more comfortable relationship. So for this hopeless romantic, I thought it was lacking just a little bit in the romance department. But I really did enjoy the book overall. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoy books where I learn more about a subject I don't know a lot about and these stories in the world of Georgana's secret do just that! I loved learning more about sailing life, plus visiting characters I had loved in previous books was wonderful! May is such an interesting character. Seeing her flaws and how she deals with them is really beautiful. Elias is amazing! I really liked that we got his story after meeting him previously!

This was another great story by Arlem Hawks. I loved getting to know May and Elias. I enjoyed their characters and their growth as they both faced challenges in their lives and grew from them. The storytelling in this book is so great. I felt emotionally connected to the characters, and will continue to think about them and their story long after I’ve finished it.
It was also fun to revisit characters from other books. I particularly liked that Gilles had multiple appearances.
This books is the second in the series but it is a standalone. It is told in dual first person POV, which is a change from other books by Arlem Hawks.

4.5* Sail across the ocean along with determined characters and enjoy the journey as they fall in love! This book was exciting and layered, the characters struggling at times as they worked though their individual challenges. I highly recommend reading Georgana's Secret before reading this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

This was such a delightful book! This is a dual perspective story that follows May and Elias. May is out of options, as her father has ruined their family name and the family members must all take on jobs to survive. May takes a chance and answers an advertisement to be a lady's maid to the wife of a ship's captain.

Elias is the ship's chaplain. He has tried the life at sea before and it didn't suit him, but he has a broken heart from a failed courtship and thinks some time at sea will help him heal.

This story was full of forgiveness, growth, hope, and lots of adventures at sea! And as a bonus I loved seeing some of my favorite characters from Georgana's Secret. You don't have to read Georgana's book first, but I highly recommend it (it's amazing too!)

Thank you to Arlem Hawks, NetGalley, and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Arlem Hawks has a talent for taking a character who is in an impossible situation, who is flawed, and then shows us this person is a fighter. I love her characters!

May’s reputation and financial situation is in shambles when her father goes to prison and her brother looses his money gambling. She’s lost everything, including her reputation. Now she must choose her path forward. Does she follow the path suggested or the path her heart pulls her to?

May’s voyage as a ladies maid starts off rough and just gets rougher. She must combat family loyalty, pride, and the difficulty of life at sea. If you love strong character growth, you will love May.

Elias is combatting his own demons as he tries to live up to his chosen profession and make his family proud. His meet cute with May started off on a sour note. Watching him slowly come back from that horrible beginning is endearing. Elias embodies the humility of a clergyman, but there’s so much more to him.

I loved watching this story unfold. The story itself was one to keep me hooked, but what really stole my heart were the imperfect main characters, that just so happened to be perfect for each other.

Absolutely loved this one! Don’t miss it!

Arlem Hawks is the queen of historical naval romance! You can feel her love of history on every page. There is so much vivid detail about life aboard ship that the story just jumps off the page.
The characters are complex and dynamic and they experience so much growth. The storytelling is so engrossing that I literally got lost in the book. I couldn't put it down!
If you love adventure and romance (clean romance) on the high seas, I would absolutely recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the arc, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

It's such a tender romance and is a cozy read. It's just good and pure, is that the word I want? And I adored it. I say it all the time but I love the nostalgia with historical books, even though they took place so far before my life. Read this book, and Arlem Hawk's other books!

If you are interested in ships and like to read books with history, romance, bonnets, grief, and revisiting old friends from previous books, check this one out!

I think my enjoyment of this book is enhanced because I’ve read Georgana's Secret (Jan 2021). This story can be read as a stand alone but I was excited to see Georgiana and Dominic appear in this book. May Byam signs on to be a lady’s maid to Georgana, wife of a naval captain. She is trying to make it on her own after a scandal involving her father. Chaplain Elias Dowell is at sea preaching to sailors. He and May have a rough start as he mistakes her reason to come on board ship. But living in close proximity on a ship they are often together.

I love the details the author puts into life on shipboard. I forget how young boys were when they were sent to sea. I like that Elias isn’t an alpha male. He has experienced trauma from previous battles and is a gentle soul. May is a bit of a firecracker and can strike at others when warranted. They are an unusual pairing but it works. This book is clean for language and intimacy. There are descriptions of battles and peril at sea. Arlem Hawks writes in beautiful prose and it feels historically accurate.

I loved the growth of the characters in this story. May has a lot of attitude and anger in the beginning but learns how to love and forgive and form lasting relationships. Elias is a kind and genuine but a bit timid and easily flustered but grows to be courageous and face his fears. The side characters are just as complex and likeable. This story is full of redemption, forgiveness and love. I would highly recommend this book.

I can count on one hand the amount of authors I'll read who write non steam romances and Arlem Hawkes is at the top of that list. There is just something about her historical romances that I get lost in every time. I loved that this one had cameos from some of my favorite of her past characters!

Across the Star-Kissed Sea has the wonderful writing and story telling I have come to expeted from Arlem Hawkes. An opposites attract romance set at sea. An outspoken female main character and a shy quote Chaplain who both have imperfections that make them well balanced for eachother.

This historical romance fiction shone brightly, illuminating the resilience of the human spirit. Two souls, once battered by life, rose above their fears. I anxiously supported their journey, praying they'd find the courage to love unconditionally. A beautifully crafted, emotionally charged love story that left me hopeful. I wholeheartedly recommend it to my historical fiction friends.
Thanks Shadow Mountain via NetGalley.

Arlem Hawks delivers a riveting account of life on the high seas with "Across the Star-Kissed Sea". The sequel to "Georgana's Secret", this novel features a new ship with a recently promoted captain, Dominic Peyton. He and his wife Georgana, along with several other characters, play important secondary roles. Lady's maid May Byam and chaplain Elias Doswell are the tale's primary focus.

Both seeking escape from their pasts, May and Elias's initial meeting results from a misunderstanding of epic proportions. What follows, however, is a sweet romance with plenty of confusion and endearingly awkward conversations. May's defense of others is admirable, if somewhat misguided at times. She is opinionated and outspoken, yet a true friend. May displays great character growth, especially after her misplaced loyalty causes her to verbally harangue innocent people. Another insecure soul, Elias is sweet and gentle.

Hawks excels at character development. Personalities are complex, neither all good nor all bad. Her attention to historical detail is wonderful, her prose crisp and descriptive. Save for a couple of innuendos, this novel is clean. As the action takes place on a warship, there is some violence and death. And while not strictly necessary, I recommend reading "Georgana's Secret" first, as it offers illuminating background information.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC of this enjoyable novel.

Across the Star-Kissed Sea by Arlem Hawks, 288 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2024. $18.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: FEW
Her father’s criminal acts tainted the family, forcing May (19yo) and her mother to join the workforce to provide for themselves. When May’s employer dies, her options are to become a scullery maid in the home her mother works in or else take the future into her own hands. May applies for the position of lady’s maid to a naval captain’s wife, which leads to more discoveries about herself and her heart than about the sea and the world.
A little adventure, a little swashbuckling action, and a lot of romance hindered by misunderstandings and secrets are in store for readers here. May’s story is ultimately about trust—forgiveness of others and self, navigating hurt and vulnerability, and the courage to choose trust anyway. Sometimes we ourselves are our biggest obstacles to overcome, and happiness awaits our efforts to try again.
The majority of characters are English, though there are a handful of French and Spanish characters mentioned. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, mentions of harlots, partial nudity, kissing, and innuendo. The violence rating is for assault, mild blood and gore, and naval battle scenes.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

✨Neither of us wanted to be left, though she fought by clinging to those she loved, and I fought by pushing them away. Her way seemed more difficult, but surely it also carried more hope.✨

Georgana’s Secret was my first and favorite book by Arlem Hawks. So when I found out she was writing this one I was ecstatic!! Her historical novels are filled with well researched, interesting content and the romances are always tender and sweet. And being able to experience the nautical highs and lows again with some of my favorite characters made this one that much more special!

Elias and May are two very contrasting individuals, yet they are inexplicably drawn together. Elias, a chaplain, who cares deeply for his profession and his duty, even though being at sea still triggers his fears. May, a young woman, determined to make a life for herself while trying to prove she is more than just a convict’s daughter.

Troubles and trials continually arise, testing both patience and trust. Dangers on the sea are rampant and death is always waiting. Fortitude, friendship, and faith are tested and refined. Bringing together unlikely companions, and cultivating an undeniable love. But bliss is short lived when confidences are betrayed and loyalty to family opens a gulf between them.

There was so much love about this book. I was so happy to see Dominic, Georgana, and Gilles. Their stories are some of most wonderful I’ve ever read. And to be able to see them again, happy and health, was so satisfying. I loved May’s feistiness and her backbone. She stood up for herself and others when needed. But she also could swallow her pride when the occasion warranted it. Elias was a gentle and genuine soul. Taking his responsibilities seriously and facing his fears head on, he quickly became a hero in my eyes. And of I love every minute on page with Dominic and Georgana. Those two will always have my heart.

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

#arlemhawks #acrossthestarkissedsea #historicalfiction #historicalromance #netgalley #shadowmountain #bookstagram #arcreview

Wow! I’m always amazed at the depth of feelings Arlem Hawks can evoke with her wonderful stories! This book is awesome!

Feeling betrayed and abandoned May Byam accepts employment as a lady’s maid to the wife of a naval captain aboard a battleship. She has lots of preconceived notions and prejudices. Because of past experiences she finds it hard to forgive and to trust. I loved her growth as she comes to know herself and acknowledge her mistakes.

Elias Doswell is the ship’s chaplain. Having failed at love more than once he is on the ship to escape his past disappointments. He feels unlovable and cowardly when it comes to battle. When he first meets May he has a very wrong impression of who she is and because of his words to her she wants nothing to do with him.

I really enjoyed the growing relationship. This is a story of trials, fears, second chances, trust, hope, forgiveness and of course love. I can’t recommend this book enough. I couldn’t put it down.

Be still my heart! I adored everything about this book!

With few options and no money, May takes a position as a lady's maid to a captain's wife on board a Navy ship. It’s her chance to escape the scandal surrounding her family. She is grateful to find a few friends on board, most especially the ship’s chaplain Elias who, despite a disastrous first meeting, quickly becomes a friend and then something more…

Elias enlists as a Navy chaplain to escape heartbreak and rejection. He is most definitely not looking for love again but cannot help feeling drawn to May and her strength and courage and his attraction to her quickly grows.

But before Elias and May can plan or hope for a future together, they must first face their pasts and the threat of war.

What you'll love:
Regency era
set on a Navy ship
dual pov
memorable meet-cute
forced proximity
he falls first
headstrong heroine
that first kiss!!
action and suspense
beloved characters
perfectly perfect ending

This achingly tender romance between two wounded souls stole my heart and left me breathless! This love story on the high seas drew me in from the very first chapter and I knew I wouldn’t be able to put it down until I was finished.

May and Elias were both such compelling characters. Perfect? No, but that is what made them interesting and relatable and I loved their growth and the things they learned from each other. The ever growing chemistry between them had me eagerly anticipating that first kiss (and oh, it was absolutely worth the wait!) as well as the happily ever after.

The engaging plot, the suspenseful action scenes, the unique setting, and the beautiful themes of forgiveness and acceptance also make this book an absolute must-read. I am already anticipating when I can pick it up to read it again!

This author writes beautiful and well-crafted historical romance and this book is the perfect example of why I love her stories. This one deserves the stars in the sky!

This is a sequel to the ever favorite Georgana’s Secret but can be read as a standalone.

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.

“Having someone to listen, to comfort, to care for made the storms of life easier to bear. She was the anchor I’d desperately needed without knowing it.”

Okay wow. This book blew me away. It was beautiful and heart wrenching and touching and truly I fell in love with it.

The characters all have so much depth and heartache and growth as well. I loved seeing them all find hope and light throughout the journey.

May is fiery and loyal to a fault. I loved how she stood up for anyone and everyone in need and wouldn’t back down. She had a lot she had to learn about herself and the world and she did! And I loved how she grew to love Elias.

And oh, Elias Doswell is just so good and kind. He’s so tender and endearing and I loved his steady and overwhelming love for May.

The themes of love and loss and pride and forgiveness were explored beautifully. It’s truly the people who have been hurt and lost the most who are able to give the most love and comfort.

The historical setting and life on a ship was so interesting and I enjoyed it! I definitely need to go back and read Georgana and Dominic’s story because I loved them as well!

“Perhaps I didn’t have the capacity to decipher him, but I certainly wished to try.”

“Perhaps each broken heart I’d suffered had progressed me toward a happiness I couldn’t imagine. With someone I hadn’t forseen.”

“Trust left one vulnerable. . . But without it, what did one have? Everything good and beautiful in this world stemmed from trust—trust in deity, trust in others, and trust in yourself.”

Thanks to NetGalley for the ebook. A positive review wasn’t required and all thoughts are my own.