Wonderful characters and an intriguing storyline. This is my first book to read by this author, and after reading this one, I’ll be looking for more books from her. It’s always a pleasure to read a clean, very well-written book. The ending is perfect. If you are looking for a story with romance and adventure, you’ll love this one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Lieutenant Dominic Peyton dreams of being a ship’s captain someday, but with no guarantee that he would get a ship to command, it’s safer to remain a lieutenant and still be in work and able to support his mother. When he gains a new post under Captain Woodall, Dominic makes the acquaintance of a shrinking cabin boy named George who seems favored by the captain and tormented by the other lads on ship. Ever one to pity an underdog, Dominic takes it upon himself to teach George the arts of self-defense and the finer points of being a sailor.

Georgana Woodall has been hiding on her father’s ship for years. Disguised as a cabin boy, she can barely stand the rough and rude sailors who despise her for her weakness and for the captain’s favoritism. Still, anything is better than being trapped on land in an untenable situation with abusive relatives. If she can manage to keep her secret from everyone aboard, she might have enough reputation left to make a come-out as a debutante some day and escape this nautical nightmare.

The new Lieutenant Peyton is an observant fellow, and Georgana can sense the danger in letting him befriend “cabin boy George.” But there is something irresistible in his kindness and his charisma. If only he were not so in love with his mistress the sea, there might be a chance for Georgana to love…and be loved in return.

When reading the premise of this story, I was unsure if I would like it, but the cover enticed me, the characters convinced me, and in the end I found it wholly captivating. The story was a perfect blend of history and romance. The horrors of a sea battle in the Napoleonic era were vividly drawn as cannonballs crashed into decks and splinters found their mark in sailors’ flesh. Georgana, although dressed as a cabin boy, was no he-woman who bests all the other lads and proves that girls can be the same as boys. Instead, she had to contend with being physically weaker than the others surrounding her, and it is only when she finds her courage that she finds her way. Dominic, a natural leader, but also a compassionate man, brings out the best in the terrified girl. Not knowing when he will finally guess Georgana’s secret is part of the grand tension of the plot, and finding out what he does when he finally knows it is part of the fun.

The publisher notes say that fans of Jane Austen and Patrick O’Brian will enjoy the novel, and for once, I think the notes might be right! As a fan of both Austen and O’Brian, I loved this novel and look forward to reading more from debut novelist Arlem Hawks.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a refreshing romance on the high seas. The writing was very atmospheric and I felt transported to this ship during wartime. Geogana was a very strong character, having come from an abusive background. It was a very good story.
Many thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A wonderfully intriguing book with an engaging plot. Characters were interesting, some more than others.

I spent such a delightful day getting to know Georgana and Dominic! Georgana's Secret engaged so many of my emotions! Hope, fear, disappointment, jubilation. It was not what I was expecting and yet it was everything I had hoped...

The events that had driven Georgana and her father to perpetuate the subterfuge, pretending she was a third-class ship's boy, were tragic. The loss of her mother and the ensuing treatment she endured from her grandmother. So sad!! I had fully expected Georgana to be secretly reveling in her opportunity to be at sea, to be the jubilant sailor, excelling in every way. Yet she was lonely and picked on by the "other" boys. And when her father attempted to intervene, the mistreatment she endured was even worse. Hated the sea because of the life she now lived. Until the kind first lieutenant saw her need and showed her how to defend herself.

Dominic was dreamy! He had such passion for the ocean. As he admitted to George (ana), the sea was his true love and he wouldn't give her up for anything. I loved the visual of him standing in the bow in the storm, reveling in the gales rushing past him! And I loved the way he was such a protector. Not many would have taken the young George under their wing as he did.

Reading about the dangers at sea and the way things were done onboard the ship was fascinating. So much adventure filled the pages as the crew faced perils from each other, sickness, the weather, and enemies of the Crown. While there were some hints as to what would happen, there were plenty of surprises along the way.

Readers of historical fiction who enjoy stories of the sea will love Georgana's Secret!

Okay, this book had so much potential but overall it just felt very underwhelming. Don’t get me wrong, the first half of the book had so much build up and tension, both with the story and the relationship between Georgana and Peyton. I really wanted to love this story but it ended up feeling short on keeping me engaged. I felt at times that Georgana was a little too squirmish (I mean it’s understandable considering what she had to endure inside the ship) but it felt kinda annoying to me. I just feel like the author tried a lot to build a relatable character with Georgana but the overall vibe was just really glum to me. This is a first in the Arlem Hawk department for me, but certainly not the last. I just hope her future books have more to look forward to.

A 'clean' read about a girl in disguise and the man who falls in love with her.

Not my usual kind of read at all but this was actually okay. A bit rushed towards the end and a bit too tame for my taste but would probably appeal to my gran.

To to sea with this romantic romance and follow where a cabin boy finds adventures and love,but really so much trouble follows. Is this really a young boy looking for adventure of is there really something wrong? Received from Net Gallery and it's a good story it's just I'm not one to believe in happy ever after as these kind of romance books do but the characters are very well written and so is the story!

This is a charming romance! The plot was very cleverly written with Georgana dressing like a cabin boy aboard her father's ship to excape her abusive grandmother after her mom dies. My favorite character was heartthrob Lieutenant Dominic Peyton. He is very clever, intelligent, compassionate, kind, gentle and passionate about the sea until his heart starts to beat only for Georgana. I loved watching Dominic and Georgana's relationship blossom from friendship to marriage. It broke my heart when Dominic got injured in a battle. The other thing I loved about this book is that it has lots of action to keep things interesting. There are battles with other ships, mutiny aboard the ship, bullying, and sickness and injuries to contend with. I would highly recommend this book to readers that love to read a proper romance!
Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I will give this 3.5 stars. The author did an incredible job developing the characters and placing the reader in the setting and on the ship. I would love to see a sequel to this book.

I think I could not wrap my head around the fact a girl is pretending to be a cabin boy and the relationships that develop from there. I just couldn’t run with that storyline very well.

What a great story! I loved the setting of this story and the fun twist on a regency era story. Georgana’s character is so strong and braces and did what she had to, to survive. I can’t even imagine how hard it had to be for her.
This book is highly entertaining and keeps you hooked until the very end!

*ARC kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I wasn't sure how the author would work out the romance with our heroine pretending to be a boy but it was done so well. I loved the setting and all the characters. I especially enjoyed seeing Dominic learning to love someone other than the sea.

I was surprised by the amount of action that took place in this book but found it to be a part of the story I particularly liked. It wasn't something that you find often in romance books and I loved it.

If your looking for a sea related romance, this one is squeaky clean and delightful to read!

Part seafaring adventure, part Regency Romance, Arlem Hawks’ debut novel is a sweet love story that captivates from start to finish. It’s a page-turning clean romance with characters you can’t help but love.

THE STORY

The young Georgana Woodall disguises herself as a cabin boy on a Royal Navy Ship, the HMS Deborah, captained by her protective father, all to escape from the clutches of her abusive grandmother.

After three years in disguise, Ms. Woodall, who goes by George on the ship, meets Lieutenant Dominic Peyton, and a friendship quickly blossoms between the two. The more time they spend together, the more Georgana falls in love with the swoony and compassionate Lieutenant Peyton.

Of course, the time spent together makes it more apparent to Peyton that George is actually Georgana. But should he tell her he knows her secret? Or would his acknowledgment ruin everything?

Meanwhile, life on a Royal Navy Ship is full of peril and treachery. Amid her dangerous and difficult circumstances, Georgana must find her own voice and courage.

REVIEW

The novel smartly switches the perspective between Georgana and Dominic, providing readers with richly developed characters and their inner thoughts while also not keeping us guessing when the Lieutenant unravels the secret. It makes the book more fun to read – wondering when these two will finally get on the same page.

Stylistically, the book is Austenesque but also reminiscent of adventure novels on the high seas, and I also can’t help but recall the romance between Nat and Kit in The Witch of Blackbird Pond – which is a good thing.

Hawks proves she’s an author to watch out for in the historical romance genre space because of her talent for prose, characterization, and believable romance.

So, if you enjoy sweet love stories with authenticity to them, then you’ll likely enjoy this book. It never becomes too saccharine and finds the right balance between emotion and adventure.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Arlem Hawks debuts with a riveting romance full of layered, interesting characters, believable villains, and suspenseful action. Georgana’s Secret is a quick, enjoyable read and is a good choice for anyone who loves Jane Austen, clean romance, or adventure novels.

ADAPTATION RECOMMENDATION

Georgana’s Secret would make a fantastic film as the story has a succinct beginning, middle, and end with non-stop action and adventure and intriguing characters. It would also look fabulous on the big screen.

Content Note: The novel is a clean read with some mild adventure violence and references to emotional abuse.

Overall Rating: 4 1/2
Romance Rating: 5

4.5 stars

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this story. I wasn't expecting to become entranced with a story that takes place on the sea during the Regency Era.

Georgana (aka George) is a young woman (lad) who has an abusive grandmother. When her mother passes away her Captain father takes her (him) as part of his crew. She must remain hidden, no one can know that the Captain's daughter is aboard the ship.

Dominic Peyton has just become the First Lieutenant on the Deborah. He discovers a cabin boy, named George who is abused by the other boys on the ship. The Captain doesn't give George the same share of duties and many see him as a poor excuse for a boy in the Navy. He decides to take the young man under his wing and teach him to defend himself.

There are so many moments that made me laugh. Georgana is trying to hide the fact that she is a girl and attracted to Lieutenant Peyton. (Oh dear!) It doesn't take long for the Lieutenant to start figuring things are not quite what they seem to be.

The book describes the hard life at sea: the poor diet, cramped quarters, naval hierarchy, the threat of mutiny, and war. It isn't the place for a girl trying to fit in as a boy.

I loved the characters, the setting, the premise, everything about this book made me happy.

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Slow burn romance with a hidden identity. I adored the sweetness and adventure. I loved watching these two slowly fall in love.

Oh man! This was WONDERFUL—and exactly just what I needed. The “I’m a girl secretly disguised as a boy” trope is my literal candy. I gobble these babies up as if there’s no tomorrow. Georgana aka George is a wonder long leading lady...er...man? All jokes aside, I felt for her and loved her immensely! Dominic was equally as wonderful. Both together were a force to be reckoned with. If you like regency romance on the seas, don’t miss this one!

I love how this book is not your typical regency romance. It is a more rugged regency romance. Very Poldark like! ☺️ Which I love to so very much. I the adventure on the boat. One of my favorite part is when they spend the day on the beach in Antigua. Dominic knows her secret but she doesn’t know he knows yet. I love how the minute he figures it out he starts to treater her like a lady. He also is going to make sure she does go back to her wicked grandmother !

The premise of this story is not new but has been written in a way that is both excellent and realistic. Set in a time where the heroine’s masquerade would result in danger and shame to her that was common to the period, things become complicated when the hero with his own dilemmas discovers her secret. The conflict: How long can the hero mask his growing feelings for the heroine and maintain the masquerade for her safety? The author presents the story in an enjoyable way that will engage the reader until its resolution.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher and Net Galley but the thoughts expressed are my own.

This is not your typical Regency love story, so set aside any preconceived notions you may have of what this book is about.

Georgana Woodall hasn't had a Season, and may never have one. Not if she stays on board the HMS Deborah, her father's ship, disguised as a cabin boy. Yes, lovely Georgana has cut off her hair, dresses in the clothes of, and does the work of a ship's cabin boy. And why would a young woman do such a thing? Three years ago, her father whisked her away to his ship to protect her from the cruelty and abuse her grandmother (his mother) inflicted upon her since her mother's death, and she became "George".

Dominic Peyton loves life at sea. He's turned down the promotion offered to him to serve as 1st Lieutenant under Captain Woodall on the HMS Deborah. He has no plans to marry and his love of life in the Royal Navy reminded me of the 1970s song "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" ""But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea". He's kind and one of my favorite scenes is when he teaches "George" to fight.

I thought the author did a fantastic job with all the descriptions--aboard the ship, the fight with the other vessel, the sights in Antigua--I was almost there climbing the rigging, being tossed about during a violent storm, in a battle with another ship, and I could almost feel the warmth of the sand on Antigua on my feet.

This is a gentle and slow love story. It had to be that way because Georgana is living her life on the ship as a young lad. This doesn't stop her from developing feelings for Dominic who is so kind to her, or him from developing feelings for Georgana once he figures out "he" is a she. My heart went out to her as she dealt with one of the other cabin boys bullying her, and the loneliness she must've felt on board the ship, because she couldn't really be friends with the other cabin boys for fear of them discovering her secret. Her father's protection of her--having her eat meals and sleep in his quarters didn't help her situation, it gave those inclined to tease her more ammunition.

Reading of the abuse Georgana suffered at the hands of her grandmother, who was supposed to love her, was heartbreaking. I wondered why her mother never stood up to her mother-in-law or tell her husband about the woman's cruelty when he came home from sea. I also wondered greatly why Captain Woodall couldn't have found another solution for Georgana sooner, as it sounded as if his mother's cruelty wasn't new or surprising to him. That perhaps he'd also suffered at the woman's hands. For some reason this stuck with me for quite awhile. This is my first book by this author, and I've already purchased a couple of her novellas to read.

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

Guys this book!! I cannot say enough about it. It has edge of your seat adventure, soft tender moments, and heartache that wrenches you deep down in your soul. The pacing and tension keep you reading and your heart pounding with both fear and hope. It is story telling at it’s best.
I loved every minute of this book. Arlem did a good job of…just about everything. She built relationships in her book that resonated. Between Georgana and her father, her and Dominic, Dominic and his mother. Even the way she balanced the relationships between Georgana and the other crew members made the story that much more endearing. She did a wonderful job of creating a story that kept me enthralled and loving every page.
This book will most definitely end up on your re-read shelf!