Laura's Reviews: Georgana’s Secret by Arlem Hawks (Blog Tour)

Join the virtual blog tour of GEORGANA’S SECRET (Proper Romance Regency), Arlem Hawks’ highly acclaimed debut historical romance novel January 11 – February 14, 2021. Over forty-five popular blogs specializing in historical romance, inspirational fiction, and Austenesque fiction will join in the celebration of its release with excerpts, spotlights, and reviews of this new Regency-era novel set aboard a Royal Naval ship.

Today I finished a journey on the high seas during the Napoleonic Wars. There was love, mutiny, and battles with the French. I greatly enjoyed it.

Georgana Woodall is the daughter of a navy captain. While her father is away at sea, her and her mother suffer abuse from her grandmother. After her mother’s death, Captain Woodall discovers the abuse and takes Georgana away with him on his ship. The rules state that no women are allowed onboard, so he has Georgana disguise herself as a cabin boy named George. George has a rough time on the ship and is constantly bullied by the other boys. Lieutenant Dominic Peyton is new to the ship and doesn’t like seeing George bullied. He teaches him to stand up for himself. Georgana realizes that she likes spending time with Lt. Peyton, but he doesn’t know her as her true self. How will this secret be resolved especially when the ship finds itself embroiled in turmoil?

I greatly enjoyed this novel. I loved that it was a Regency Romance, but with a unique spin compared to other Regency Romance novels I have read. I love that it was set on a ship and involved high sea adventures. My family has been watching and enjoying Horatio Hornblower during COVID and this novel greatly reminded me of Horatio Hornblower. I sometimes get annoyed at the girl in the disguise story in books as it sometimes seems strange that they were in love the entire time. This story worked out perfectly in this case with their growing love making sense within the storyline. I enjoyed the intrigue with what was going on in the ship over the journey to Antigua. I would love to read more of this story, or another Regency story set on the high sea.

This story was a clean read and I enjoyed that. I also like how overall Georgana learned how to stand up for herself and to make sure that her life would be what she wanted it to be. It was an inspirational story.

Overall, Georgana’s Secret was a beautifully written story with great adventure, intrigue, and romance. I highly recommend it!

Book Source: Review Copy from Shadow Mountain for being a part of the Book Tour. Thank-you!

QUICK FACTS:

• Title: Georgana's Secret (Proper Romance Regency)

• Author: Arlem Hawks

• Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Inspirational Fiction

• Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing (January 12, 2021)

• Length: (320) pages

• Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1629727929

• eBook ASIN: B08Q5MW1SG

• Audiobook ASIN: B08RLRZ65Q

• Tour Dates: January 11 – February 14, 2021

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

A Regency romance on the high seas. Two hearts yearning to find a safe harbor, and possibly, a lasting love.

As a young girl, Georgana Woodall dreamed of beautiful dresses, fancy balls, and falling in love. However, when her mother dies, she cannot face a future under the guardianship of her abusive grandmother and instead chooses to join her father on his ship disguised as his cabin boy, "George."

Lieutenant Dominic Peyton has no time in his life for love, not with his dedication to His Majesty's Royal Navy claiming his full attention. While trying to adjust to a new crew, he strives to be an exemplary officer and leader. When he sees the captain's cabin boy being harassed by the crew, he immediately puts a stop to it and takes the "boy" under his wing. After discovering a number of clues, Dominic deduces that George is really a woman. Knowing that revealing the cabin boy's secret would put her in serious danger from the rowdy crew, Dominic keeps silent and hides his growing affection for her.

Georgana is quickly losing her heart to Dominic's compassion and care but is convinced nothing can come of her affection. She cannot continue to live her life on the sea, and having already missed too many seasons in London, her chances of being welcomed back into polite society and finding a suitable husband are quickly slipping away.

ADVANCE PRAISE:

"Hawks crafts a spellbinding tale featuring rich characters and raw emotions set against the atmospheric backdrop of sea life in all its danger and beauty. Georgana is a tough protagonist holding her own in a world dominated by men, while Peyton's charm and sensitivity marks him as a true gentleman. A hidden identity, flirtation, and treachery make for a rousing tale to captivate lovers of historical romances."— Publishers Weekly

“This tale felt sweepingly cinematic at times and was both action-packed and heart-wrenching with an immersive narrative.”— Katie Jackson, RegencyProofreading.com

Arlem Hawks wove a magnificent tale of adventure and deception and delivered a happy ever after that was as unconventional as the rest of the story. With so many stories of romance out there, it is refreshing when one comes along that is very different than the stories that I am used to. A little adventure always livens things up fabulously.”— Emily Flynn, Reading with Emily

"Fans of sweet love stories as well as readers who fondly remember those marvelous old traditional Signet Regencies will quickly succumb to the siren song of Hawk’s expertly crafted novel, which delivers the perfect blend of Jane Austen-smart romance and Patrick O’Brian flavored seafaring adventure. Teen romance readers will cheer on the plucky heroine as she finds the courage to forge her own path in life and love."— Booklist, starred review

AUTHOR BIO:

Arlem Hawks began making up stories before she could write. Living all over the Western United States and traveling around the world gave her a love of cultures and people and the stories they have to tell. With her travels came an interest in history, especially the history of her English heritage. When she isn't writing, Arlem is baking her characters' favorite foods, sewing Regency dresses, learning how to play the tin whistle, and water coloring. She lives in Arizona with her husband and two children. Having previously published four historical romance novellas, Georgana’s Secret is her debut novel.

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