From the stunning cover to the setting in Regency England and the captivating, colorful, well-drawn characters, this book drew me in and wouldn’t let go. Heidi Kimball has penned a creative, beautifully written tale that tugged at my heartstrings and kept me turning pages. Juliet Graham is a determined, engaging young woman who can’t wait until she turns 21 so she and her younger brother Harry can escape her oppressive, uncaring aunt’s guardianship. The Duke of Halstead has become a forbidding recluse since his leg was severely damaged in a riding accident two years before. When Juliet and Halstead meet, sparks fly, although not the loverly kind. Juliet tends to speak her mind, which intrigues and sometimes infuriates Halstead. I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow and change.

Full of intrigue, suspense, controlling and annoying relatives, and a good dose of romance, this story is sure to delight those who enjoy historical fiction set in Regency times. I’m looking forward to reading more of Kimball’s stories. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Covenant Communications. All opinions are my own.

*Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC for an honest review*

4.5
The story takes place in the 1820s England, which i adore! It's such a GREAT love story!. Is an easy read and addicting! Tbh i was hoping for at least one spicy scene at the end, the romance is a slow burn, it keeps you wanting for more, it's what makes it addictive tho.

"I want to understand you, all of you. Your memories, your hidden thoughts. Your heart"

I didn't expect to like this book as much as i did, it has a nice plot and characters, i would definitely read another one from the author. Oh and i have to admit that i couldn't help but picture Juliet, the main character, like an older Anne of the Green Gables with a mix of America from The Selection, maybe because she's redhead. Also, at some point the Dukes and Juliet's relationship reminded me of Me Before You, because Juliet helps the Duke to get out of his dark place of suffering after his riding accident.

"There is a part in each of us that longs for a sense of control, battles for it, foolish thought it may be. It is what makes us human".
-"Perhaps control is only an illusion meant only to torment us".

Put simply, I really really liked this. It’s been so long since I’ve read a regency romance, and I forgot how much I enjoyed them!

This is also sort of a forbidden romance which is always a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the relationship between Juliet and the duke. It was often unexpectedly sweet and so genuine.

And the whole dynamic between Juliet and her brother just made my heart ache. All she wants is to be free to take care of her brother on her own. She knows that’s the best thing for both of them. It’s both noble and so had that a young girl even has to consider something like this.

The story reminded me a bit of Cinderella, with the horrible aunt. But I found that it had some very mature moments that made the whole story come together so well. I definitely recommend this one!

First, I must say that I have loved everything that I have read that Heidi Kimball has authored, and "Where the Stars Meet the Sea" is no exception.

Julia Graham, and her cousins and aunt are house guests at the home of the Duke of Halstead. Following a horse riding accident, the Duke's leg has become crippled, and he has retreated into himself, and away from society. He has become somewhat of a curmudgeon, resigning himself to be alone, "for what woman would want to marry a man with such an injury?"

At the age of 11, Julia and her brother Harry's parents died, and upon their parent's death, they moved into her aunt's home. Harry is away at school at Harrow, and is unhappy. Her cousin Robert has been in love with Julia for a long time, and has declared his love to her. Robert's mother has full power over her and her brother Harry until Julia turns 21, and she has threatened to send her younger brother off to sea unless Julia agrees to marry Robert. Julia is caught in a quandary, as Harry has only her to depend upon.

This novel had shades of Beauty in the Beast in it, as the Duke is a recluse, and at times unkind, but he opens up and heals as he and Julia's friendship develops. It is always hard where there is a love triangle, because, of course, you want everyone to be happy, but in this novel, I thought the ending was especially sweet and satisfying. Of course, I read this in one sitting, it was too good to put down!

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved this cover. Isn’t it beautiful? I had no idea this was going to be so good! I loved it! Wonderful writing, a new favorite historical, clean romance for sure.
I love it when a book grabs me right from the start. I didn’t want to put it down and I loved the angst and chemistry. I also enjoyed seeing the characters bring out the best in each other. The romance was magical and I held my breath a few times wondering how in the world it would end. But alas it does give me the HEA I love. *Sigh*
I highly recommend this book! ♥️

This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for sending me this arc. I will be reviewing this book.properly in the near future with an honest teview.

The beginning of this story felt rushed to me. There weren’t enough descriptions to set the mood, time and place where the story happened. The immediate romantic interest from the main character was also a bit quick considering the lack of attraction between the main characters.
I liked Juliet who was at her core a very sweet person. I thought she was adorable. She was very sheltered and innocent. It seemed to fit more with a younger girl than her actual age.
I was annoyed by the love triangle. I didn’t like Robert at all. He behaved as if he was entitled to Juliet and was incapable of stepping up to his mother, and Agnes was a horrible person.
Overall it was a pleasant read. It had very light flowy writing.

**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review

How much did I love this book? Ugh. Too much. I do not usually enjoy romance with little moving plot. But this book captured my attention very quickly and easily. It was so fun to read a hate-love romance where the female protagonist had a quick wit and the male love interest loved her for it. Juliet was by far one of the easiest characters to be charmed by. Her passion for her brother and the sea made me hope for good things for her. I knew that she wouldn't settle or be someone she was not for very long. Her witty conversations with Halstead were fun to read. I could feel the growing romance between them and it made the book hard to put down. I so thoroughly enjoyed this book and I'm glad I stepped out of my comfort zone.

This was a sweet historical romance that I would recommend for fans of inspirational/lighter romance reads. I enjoyed the story and found its historical setting rich, but didn’t fully connect with the characters. Still would give this author another try in the future!

WOW!! I was so glad I started this in the afternoon rather than a bedtime because I couldn't put it down. Kimball sucked me in with your beautiful prose, compelling characters and wonderful story. Seriously loved this book and can't wait to read more from Kimball!!

Part gothic historical, part Jane Austen send-up, part meditation on romance and the spiritual woman, this book is gorgeous and thought-provoking. I found myself devouring this one. Completely unputdownable!

This is my first book by this author but when I saw the cover and read the description, I just knew I needed to give it a try. I’m so glad I did! I read a lot of Regency books but this one had me hooked from the get go. There wasn’t adventure or mystery, or even a huge misunderstanding (there is a tiny one) but what draws you in is Juliet and her relationship with the duke. I savored every one of their interactions and I was sad when the book ended.

Juliet is the daughter of a Scottish sailor and a gentleman’s daughter but after their deaths, she and her little brother went to live with her mother’s sister, Aunt Agnes. She grows up along with her two cousins, Hugh and Robert. The story starts off with her, her Aunt, and her cousins attending a house party at a dukes house where her elder cousin Hugh, and the duke’s sister, Lady Ellen, are expected to make a match. Things are a bit awkward for Juliet because her cousin Robert is in love with her but she only sees him as a friend and brother. In trying to avoid the house party, Juliet ends up stumbling upon the duke, who likes to keep to himself, is severe, rude, and bitter from a previous injury.
Doesn’t take long for his rude behavior and her red headed fiery personality to instantly clash...in the best ways possible. ;)

Anyway, that is all I’ll say for now but it was definitely a fun read and I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it.

Ok read. It bogged down a tad and I wanted it to get to the point, and then it sped up. We went day by day and the skipped two months the another month then skipped over a year. The end was rushed. Very contradictory after the dragging beginning. The end skipped over getting even with the sourpuss aunt and mother getting their comeuppance. Very anticlimactic and missing that piece of good reading.

Ok nothing out of the ordinary. Received a copy from the publisher for an honest review.

This book leads off with strongly written vibes of Gothic romance, but it keeps a plausible balance between drama and melodrama.
Although it loses some steam towards the end, the relationship suspense of the first half is engrossing and will make readers (me included) speed ahead through "just one more chapter" repeatedly. The hero borrows plenty of characteristics from Jane Eyre's Mr. Rochester but is never as manipulative or secretive, which makes him easy to root for.
The story technically takes place in the Regency era, but, unlike many other novels in the genre, it doesn't rely on excessive details to remind the reader of the setting. It's a story that would feel just as at home in any other era.

Even though the themes are ones I have read many times, I loved this book. Kimball keeps you engaged with delightful characters and prose. Light and heartwarming, I read this book in a single sitting and was left wanting more. I feel like this story could be built out into an entire universe - what happened to Robert, what is her Aunt's backstory?
In light of the slight predictability of a few outcomes, Kimball does address themes on communication, parenting/guardianship, and different forms of love. What is right, what is wrong, how do we know what is best, to what extent do we sacrifice ourselves for others, and is their pain worth our happiness?

Fun for fans of Downtown Abby and Mansfield Park.

***spoiler***
My only challenge is that I felt like the ending was a little too neatly wrapped up and didn't continue the growth and struggles we witnessed in the preceding chapters.

Juliet Graham is counting down the weeks until her twenty-first birthday, when she can gain full guardianship of her younger brother and finally get out from under the oppressive hand of her domineering aunt Agnes. When she's forced to accompany the family to a house party at Shaldorn Castle, Juliet tries to keep to herself, but a rather rude run in with the Duke causes a whirlwind of emotions to stir in her. After insulting the Duke, Juliet is fully prepared to be sent away and for the wrath of her aunt, but to her surprise, the reclusive Duke seems to take a shining to her. The more time they spend together, the deeper their feelings for one another grow, but after her scheming aunt threatens her with a cruel ultimatum, Juliet must finally decide if she's willing to put her happiness first.

This is a little difficult for me because while I did like it, I felt like it was missing a little extra something. I think a lot of it had to do with other historical fiction romances usually tend to be quite steamy, but this one was more innocently sweet. I was slightly bored during the beginning, but by the end I was fully invested. This is also one that you can easily read in one sitting. So, while it may have fell slightly short for me, I'd still definitely recommend it

#WhereTheStarsMeetTheSky #NetGalley

This book captured me from page one. Juliet Graham has lived in her Aunt Agnus's overbearing household, since she was eleven years old. Now as an adult young woman, months from her twenty first birthday, when she can claim her inheritance, Juliet longs for escape. Aunt Agnus holds her little brother Harry against her, with a taunting and demeaning manner.
At a house party Juliet resigns herself to staying in the background, she meets a handsome stranger and finds out he is really the Duke of Halstead. Juliet finds her voice in this household among strangers. I loved this book.

I couldn't put it down. This sweet historical romance is not offering the hot and steaming sex scenes which are all the rage nowadays, but it doesn't need to. Maybe I like it so much as the villainous aunt reminds me of a favourite Bronte book, but I believe it’s not just that as the book in itself is very well done. The story arc is well developed and holds your interest. The characters are well written and the hot and cold behavior of the Duke of Halstead makes me feel like a teenager again. The scene with the piano has all the heartache and the embarrassment of publicly talking to your crush and the ‘does he love me does he not love me’ dilemma made me smile with fond memories. Although the characters in the book are not meant to be teenagers anymore, they very much act like it. As I said: I loved it.

Juliet longs for when she turns twenty-one and becomes her younger brother's guardian. Her cousin has confessed his love for her and she struggles to see Robert as anything other than a beloved brother as she endures a house party at Shaldorn Castle. She doesn't expect to meet the Duke of Halstead, a man who has hidden away from the world since a riding accident two years before. As they exchange insults, an attraction grows despite the best efforts of several around them.

The story is told through Juliet's eyes, so we get to know her very well. The disparity between her parents, that of a sailor and woman of good family, has weighed on her for her childhood. Though she admits they were happy, she vows she will not be so selfish in pursuing a match. She wavers between the safety of marriage with her cousin, who does seem to sincerely love her and hoping for something more.

Halstead was more difficult to read. Because we remain with Juliet through every meeting, everything is colored by her thoughts and feelings of the time. The duke is in varying degrees of pain from his accident and is tired of his mother and grandmother trying to manage his life. Slowly, they both allow the walls they have built to come down and they can see each other for who they really are.

The plot moves at a good pace. The supporting characters do not try to take over but round out the story nicely. For readers looking for an easy and sweet read, I would definitely recommend this one.

I received a free copy through NetGalley and am reviewing of my own free will. All opinions expressed are my own.

Heidi Kimball's "Where the Stars Meet the Sea" is a sweet Regency romance featuring a hero and heroine from disparate social classes. Juliet Graham, a sailor's daughter, blurts out whatever she's thinking, resulting in quite a few serious faux pas. Despite the fact her indiscreet, and at times funny utterances, would repel most people, the brooding Duke of Halstead is captivated nonetheless. His lofty title and domineering manner don't faze her.

Halstead and Juliet's banter is witty and delightful. There are many humorous moments; one of my favorites was when Juliet was caught playing and singing a Scottish tavern song. The observatory scene is sweet and romantic.

Characters are well-drawn. There is an unexpected ally in the end, and the villain goes from bad to worse. Kimball's writing is lovely and the book is finely edited. It is also clean, a must for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for an ARC of this charming novel.