This book hooked me from the start. The idea of a young lady posing as a cabin was intriguing, but it was Lieutenant Dominic Peyton who just completely drew me. He was just such a wonderful character--I loved how he was so concerned about his mother and her well-being and then how, seeing a lonely, bullied boy on board, reached out to "him." I did occasionally wish George didn't tear up quite so much, but at the same time, her backstory made it understandable and believable--and made those moments when Georgana did actually stand up for herself that much more gratifying. The details about ship life were excellent; they really helped me feel like I knew what life on board would have been like, and they were woven into the story really well. There was also plenty of action. All in all, this was a totally enjoyable read and I'm already picking it as one of my favorites for 2021.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher vie #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Such a fun book and unexpected premiss.
A friend told me I needed to read/review this book and she was right. I hadn't read Arlem Hawks books before but I will be looking for this author again. She achieved something that tis truely difficult to do in a Regency romance which is a new setting that avoided many of the Regency tropes.

Disguised as a cabin boy using the name of George. Georgana's father keeps her safely on board until Dominic sees through her disguise...

The dialog and descriptions were wonderful. and the story was tied up nicely with a satisfying epilogue.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

It was good, the plot (a girl disguised as a boy in the middle of military men) is similar to other books or movies like "Mulan", it's a little repetitive but never the less I like it.

Georgana’s Secret was such a joy to read. I loved how different it was for a regency romance. Most of the story takes place on the ship and I enjoyed learning so much about the naval life in that time period. Well researched and beautifully written. Arlem’s debut novel is not one to miss. Thanks to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for sending me a copy. All opinions expressed are own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Georgana's Secret focuses around young Georgana (or George) as she hides in plain sight among the crew of the HMS Deborah. Sailing to Antigua and back from England, you get a good picture of what life was like on a navy vessel during the time while also witnessing the budding romance between Georgana and Lt. Peyton.

While it did take me a little while to get into the plot, by the end of the book I was racing through the pages. Despite being a romance, the ship battles and general mischief associated with the seafaring life was enthralling. The different elements of the book kept me interested throughout and I was sad to reach the end. Definitely one I'll be recommending to friends!

This is a book you don't want to miss! It's well written and will keep you turning the pages, once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. It was an absolute joy to read! Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Georgana's Secret is a great story of intrigue, hidden identities, and love. As Georgana and Dominic become unlikely friends aboard her father's ship, they forge a bond that turns to love when Dominic comes to find Georgana is female. This story shows how the war against Napoleon Bonaporte affected all, not just those in the military.

This story showed the beauty of the sea mixed with the hardship of war and all that can go wrong in-between. The characters are strong and courageous in the face of all that happens to them. This Proper Romance was a read that I didn't want to put down.

Georgana has been mistreated by her grandmother for years. Her father is a Captain in the British Navy, and he is gone for months at a time. After her mother passes away and her grandmother's abuse is brought to light, Georgana's father secretly brings her on his ship. She hides in plain sight as a cabin boy. While the other cabin boys give her a hard time she is mostly able to be overlooked. After three years of hiding her identity she is tired of life at sea and starts to think she made a mistake in coming aboard the HMS Deborah.
Lieutenant Dominic Peyton is the new First Lieutenant on the HMS Deborah. He can't really explain why he wants to help George, the Captain's cabin boy, but he tries to connect with him and teach him how to fight so he can defend himself against any bullies. Peyton slowly puts clues together and realizes that the Captain and George are hiding something, but he's not sure what.
This is a very engaging and fun read. The character development that occurs is amazing and wonderful. Georgana discovers that she doesn't have to take abuse, she is capable of standing up for herself and putting a stop to it. She learns to love the sea and not detest it for what it did to her life. She also finds love and learns that she is not a mistake. Peyton has been determined to love the sea and nothing else, until he meets Georgana. She helps him soften and realize that life doesn't have to be lived alone. The Captain has to find his inner strength to keep moving on after he is wounded in battle, he realizes he has not been the father Georgana needed.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in romance, sailing, or just an escape from reality.

Clever, clever, clever!

With the groundwork set, there’s no doubt that Georgana’s father had no choice but to hide her away in plain sight on his Navy ship- after he becomes aware of her Grandmothers abuse.

This story is genuinely gripping, the pace is just right, and the attention to all the details for the locations, the time period and the ship is spot on. A real page-turner that I couldn’t put down. This is what a beautiful story looks like and I hope it achieves the attention it deserves. This story is quite honestly stand out from the crowd. A true historical romance gem.

I highly recommend this book.

I received a complimentary eARC from Netgalley. This is my honest review.

#GeorganasSecret #NetGalley

Georgana Woodall, has adored her Naval Captain father from the time she was little and would watch him leave on another assignment. What her father didn't know was how unbearable his time away was. With the death of her mother, Georgana finds a place on her father's ship as a cabin boy named George, with the crew none the wiser about her true identity. No one pays George, any attention except for the third class boys, who treat her unkindly. Lieutenant Dominic Peyton, joins the HMS Deborah, a man who loves the sea, especially during a storm. He tries to teach George how to fight and stand up for "himself" among the other third class boys.
I loved everything about this book, my first book but definitely not my last, book to read by Arlem Hawks.

This was an exciting and action-packed book with a sweet romance. The story packs in a lot, exploring the dangers of cross-Atlantic voyages, personal dynamics on-board the Navy ship, as well as Georgana's struggles to find her place in the unconventional setting. The main villain is a bit one-dimensional, but the ongoing power struggle and tension-building are well done. The romance between Georgana and Peyton was cute, though I would have liked the big reveal about Georgana's identity (and Peyton's acknowledgement that he knew who she was) to happen a little earlier so we could spend more time with the characters without the secret between them. The redemption arc for certain secondary characters was also a nice addition. Overall, this was an enjoyable and fun read that was just the right type of escapist story I was looking for.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

I loved this book! The setting really makes it stand out in the genre, and the characters made their way into my heart, so there’s no chance I will forget about this book anytime soon.

I enjoyed the ocean setting. The descriptions made me feel like I was really on the ship, and now I wish I could take a trip to the beach so I could see the ocean for myself. I haven’t read many books with this setting, so it really stood out to me!

I wish I could give Georgana a hug because she could really use one! She is a strong, brave character who goes through a lot of hardship but doesn’t let any of that drag her down. I really loved watching the romance blossom, though I won’t say more because I don’t want to give anything away. Suffice to say, it made me really happy and I loved the ending!

This is a wonderful book, and I’m looking forward to reading future books by this author!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Georgana’s Secret by Arlem Hawks, 320 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2021. $16.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
After her mother’s death, Georgana’s father brought her aboard his ship under pretense of her being a distant relative interested in being a ship boy. Now 18 years old, Georgana is sick of the sea, sick of the Navy, and sick of being called George. Georgana struggles to find peace with the sea that has taken away so much of her life, even as it seems to breathe life into her father’s new first lieutenant.
Very little of this story went as I expected, which also made reading it more fun than I had hoped. With ample opportunity for misunderstandings and for uncovering secrets, my emotions fluctuated between excitement and anxiousness the entire time. The inevitable happy ending was satisfying and not as cheesy as it could have been, leaving me with nothing but good opinions about this book.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Georgana Woodall is disguised as a cabin boy for 3 years on a ship with her father as the captain. He brought her on board to protect her from her abusive grandmother after her mother passed away. Georgana is bullied by the other cabin boys and really reclusive for most of the book due to past abuse as well as trying to hid her secret. I've read other books with similar plot lines but this one was different in the fact that Georgana didn't have a very strong character. She tried to blend in, not speak out, not seek friendships or attention. This is why Lieutenant Dominic Peyton is drawn to her. He feels the "boy" needs a friend and someone to help him stand up for himself. I enjoyed the relationship they developed as friends but I found the romance less believable since Peyton really did see her as a boy for so long. The poor man must have been completely deprived of females. I did really enjoy all of the battle scenes. They were believable and descriptive and I could imagine that they really happened instead of being so over the top as to be fictionally created. Hawks did a great job describing sea life and circumstances. I also enjoyed the mutiny! It was very enjoyable. This book was a good read but it didn't pull me in like other books have. It took me a few weeks to get through it. The beginning of the novel was especially dry/ and boring due to Georgana's reserved character. The novel was clean, minimal kissing at the end. Almost too minimal if you ask me. ;)
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated are my own.

I wish I could say I loved Georgana’s Secret but I did not. This is not a romance set at sea involving a woman dressed up as a boy. This is a naval adventure with a slight side story about a woman dressed up as a boy.

The characters all felt super flat and one dimensional to me. I found the descriptions of tension among the crew and battles with other ships a shadow of scenes from the Pirates of the Caribbean. The plot is slow moving. The romance is even slower moving. There is a LOT of physical fighting. I am over the overused “girl dressed as a boy on a ship” trope so I probably shouldn’t even have read this book, but the description intrigued me. I also had a hard believing a teenaged girl could pass as a boy on the same ship for three years. I can’t comment on how well researched the historical facts are.

I am doubtful of the happily ever after, as Georgana fell in love with the first man who ever paid her any attention, and he was ever mindful of his mother’s request to bring her a daughter. I was left feeling mildly depressed at the end, definitely not what I’m looking for from a historical romance novel.

Clean historical fiction from Shadow Mountain Publishing. I read an advance reader copy from Netgalley.

When he becomes aware of how his mother abuses his only child, Captain Woodall makes the only decision he thinks is open to him to protect his daughter: he dresses her up as a boy and brings her with him on board his ship. For three years, "George" and her father keep the secret. When lieutenant Dominic Peyton arrives on board,it isn't long before the secret comes out. A ship at war is never safe. What chance does love have when mutiny is in the air?

This was a funeral. I especially loved the detail of life on ship. The setting really came to life with those details. It was interesting to read how life on a ship might have been like, especially when the Admiralty decreed no women on board. It's this reason that is given for Georgana becoming "George."

However, the fact that captains could choose to enforce that rule on their ships made the plot seem unlikely. Captain Woodall could have taken his daughter and few would have batted an eye.

Of our two leads,I found Dominic the most interesting. He is concerned with his mother and refuses promotion to captain to ensure he has the pay he needs to provide for her. He is kind to "George", seeing a boy who needs to learn how to defend himself and earn respect.

One other detail annoyed me: any time she was unsatisfied with one of her sketches, she would throw the paper out into the ocean. For a time when paper was precious, doubly so on a ship in the middle of the ocean, this came across as careless and wasteful. I would rate this 4.5, but I am rounding it up.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I would recommend it to readers looking for a Regency romance with a hint of adventure.

This was a great book! It had a daring hero and an amazing heroine. Georgana’s Secret is the first book I have read written by Arlem Hawke and I am so glad that I took the chance on it. I had seen it on social media and I knew I had to read it! (Side note: I love the cover!)
Georgana’s Secret is about Georgana Woodall as she hides on her father’s naval ship pretending to be a boy, George Taylor. All Georgana wants is freedom, freedom from her past and her secret. Lieutenant Dominic Peyton is married to the Navy, he loves his job and he is determined to prove himself to his new captain. Along the way, he meets the captain's cabin boy and he takes the boy under his wing, little does he know that the captain’s cabin boy is none other than Georgana, a girl disguised as a boy.
I liked Georgana, but I also felt bad for her. She was trying to be content in the world that she was living in, but it was hard. She wanted more than to pretend to be a boy, but she also knew that returning home would make things hard. Georgang was so strong, she took the teasing and harassment from other crew without complaining. I also liked how kind she was even to those who are unkind to her. I adored reading about her relationship with Dominic, he was so kind.
Dominic was a great hero! He was a lovely character and I really liked him. He was someone who worked hard, but he also treated others with respect. He was a sweet character who loved his mom and was willing to sacrifice things for her. I loved reading about him as he started to fall for Georgana (once he knew she was a girl). It was really cute!
This book was enchanting, I could not put it down. It was such a great book! I really enjoyed it! The story was riveting and I didn’t know how it was going to end. Georgana and Dominic were at different places in their life and there was the matter with Georgagn’s dad being the captain. Dominic loved the navy, while Georgana couldn’t wait to get back on land. I didn’t know how they were going to end up together.
I am now hooked on Ms. Hawks books, I can’t wait to read more of what she has written. You need to read Georgana’s Secret, I would definitely recommend it! I loved the characters. I give this book five stars!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

**I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. My opinions and review are my own.**

Before beginning this, I knew the girl would be hiding on board a ship disguised as a boy, but I didn’t know what her character would be like. (I had the image of the girl who cuts her hair and dresses like a boy from Disney’s Swiss Family Robinson movie in my mind.)

I was ready for something light, but this book was more suspenseful due to a shipmate Jarvis who hates and disrespects Captain Woodall, Georgana’s father, and takes out his feelings on the “boy” the Captain sort-of protects. No one stands up for “George” until Dominic Peyton comes on board. This protection draws Jarvis’ disfavor to Lieutenant Peyton as well. Person versus person conflict is not my favorite so I skimmed many sections to move through that tension.

There were a great deal of details about life on board a regency era ship. No one could have mistaken this for a pleasure cruise. I kept hoping the plot would take Georgana back to England more quickly and end the poor girl’s peril. My stomach was in knots about it all. If only she had a better option than her villainous grandmother in England; no reader could want Georgana to return to that life.

Thank heavens for an epilogue that offered a glimpse at kindness becoming a more regular part of Georgana’s life.

I enjoy regency romances and although this is not Jane Austen (For some reason I thought it was related to Jane Austen but it was not!) it was enjoyable.

This book was my first experience with Arlem Hawks and I absolutely loved it! I will be looking into more of her books! The story was interesting and fast paced. With the majority of the story taking place aboard a ship, I feel lime the story can get dull and repetitive really quick. This story did not! It kept me engaged and wanting more. Georgana poses as a young boy on her father's ship in order to escape an abusive grandmother. Lieutenant Dominic Peyton is assigned to the ship, knowing he is married to the sea. After discovering and keeping Georgana's secret, he cannot help but fall in love with her. The two must find a way to make their love and relationship work. I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a clean romance.