Georgana's Secret

Georgana's Secret is an absolutely captivating story. The plot is captivating and the characters were well developed. I look forward to more from Arlem Hawks!

Georgana’s Secret by Arlem Hawks is an excellent historical fiction romance that was such a joy to read. This book was so unique, refreshing, uplifting, and truly a breath of fresh air.

I loved the concept and plot of Georgana going undercover as a young boy, George Taylor, under father’s watch on his ship, HMS Deborah. The dynamics of Captain Woodall, Georgana, the men on the ship, and newly added Lt. Dominic Peyton was brilliant. The character cast was well-developed, the plot well-thought out, and the suspense and outcome placed at the end-perfect.

I loved how both Dominic and Georgana (as well as several others) were able to learn, grow, adapt, find themselves, and find support, love, forgiveness, and acceptance in each other. There were so many wonderful relationships represented.

I loved the time: early 1800s
The place: Portsmouth, England, but mainly aboard the ship on the seas. I learned so much about the workings of a ship, the job positions, the battles, the grit and determination it took to survive, thrive, and find a satisfying life in the Royal Navy.

Most of all, I loved Georgana and Dominic. The incomplete characters with strong moral compasses, unsure of themselves and the love that they found through first friendship, truly wonderful. Both seem to bring out the best in each other. I loved the respect, the mutual interests, the loyalties, and of course the love that they developed with one another. The ending was just perfect.

Truly one of the best books I have read in a long time.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately (as of 7/19/20 a listing on BB has not been created) and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

I admit I requested this book off Netgalley based off the cover alone. The fact it’s a Proper Romance was a bonus because I’ve enjoyed their books before so I trust them to put out solid reading material. Georgana’s Secret is no exception. And when I realized it had themes of secret identity and romance on the high seas I was all in! Now I just wish someone could take me sailing. 😅

I really loved this book by Arlem Hawks! It was one of my favorite reads this year! It was so different from most of the "ballroom" regencies as almost all of the action takes place on an English frigate. Speaking of action --there was a lot of it! Batten down the hatches as there are deaths, injuries, illnesses, attacks by enemy frigates, and an attempted mutiny. I am not usually attracted to books that take place on a ship, but Arlem Hawks really has a talent for describing all the activity on board a ship in such an interesting way! She wowed me with her knowledge!

Georgana Taylor has traveled with her father for three years on his father's ship the HMS Deborah, All the shipmates thinks she is a boy, as she goes by the name George, and dresses as a boy. Her father has taken her on his ship to get her away from his abusive mother -- Geogana's grandmother.

Lieutenant Dominic Peyton's heart was with the sea, and he anxiously awaited his new assignment as second in command on the HMS Deborah, Dominic has compassion on George Taylor, the third-class boy, who is shoved around by the other shipmates. He teaches George how to defend herself, and takes it upon himself to watch over him! What will happen when he discovers her disguise?

This was such a unique and fun book, full of action, adventure, and romance (clean). Reading this book would be just the cure for the doldrums!

A Regency romance novel featuring a young woman disguised as a young man?! That's definitely a trope my genderqueer heart can fall in love with. Georgana's Secret follows Georgana, disguised as a cabin boy on her father's naval ship. Hawks explains Georgana's presence on the ship by folding in a quiet yet strong narrative about Georgana's experience of an abusive grandmother. The ship offers a tenuous sense of safety, but it is urgent to keep Georgana away from her abusive grandmother. After several years at sea, her effort to hide in plain sight as George the cabin boy is thrown into tricky territory when a new lieutenant, Dominic Peyton, joins the crew and takes George under his wing. As Peyton's affection for George increases and they begin to know each other better, Peyton begins to quietly question George's backstory. Then feelings develop amidst the chaos of life at sea.

A few awkward missteps and a vague sense that of wanting a bit more aside, Georgana's Secret was a lighthearted, yet emotionally thoughtful short Regency novel. I would recommend it! (Closer to a 3.5 star for me, but bumped because I ultimately did enjoy it!)

thanks netgalley for the arc!!!

Captivating! I loved watching this beautiful romance bloom! Georgana disquises herself as a boy to be able to escape the cruelty of her grandmother and to sail the seas with her Navy Captian father. Dominic catches the attention of Georgana and they form an incredible friendship. Dominic is a very caring and gentle soul perfect for the hurting Georgana. I loved watching them encourage each other and help the other face their fears/past. It was fun to watch Dominic finally fit the pieces together. Arlem Hawks' writing is incredible and you feel as tho you are facing the battles with the characters! This book is a great insight into the life at sea during the 1800's. I cannot imagine being on the sea for years on end. Beautiful book and I cannot wait to read more books by Arlem Hawks!!!

I loved this story so much!

This was the first book I read from this author and I didn't know what to expect, but I really liked her writing.

This is a Regency story but it's set on a ship, which is very different from the usual balls and halls and all those other clichés.

Georgana is on a ship captained by her father, and she's disguised as a cabin boy under the name of George. They've been doing this for three years, after her mother's death, to escape her grandmother's abuse. She guards this secret for her sake and her father's, even though this life is hard for her.

Dominic is the new first lieutenant and he loves being on the high seas. When he witnesses the other boys harassing George, he comes to the his rescue. Slowly, a friendship forms between them, with him not knowing she's a young lady. Dominic's kindness is a balm to Georgana and her feelings for him change.

The setting was amazing and I loved the interactions between Georgana and Dominic, especially later in the story.

There was adventure, and peril, and beautiful moments that were a treat to read. The epilogue was so good!

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

#Georgana’s Secret #NetGalley. This is a captivating story about a young girl Georgana who disguised as a cabin boy escapes her abusive Grandmother and sets sail on her father’s ship who is the Captain. Dominic is the new first lieutenant who witnesses the other boys harassing George and defends him. During this time a friendship forms and later her feelings change. So after secrets are revealed and adventure and peril are imminent, their love will be challenged. I received an arc of this book for an honest review. I would recommend this book as a great read

4 stars

Good story. The Author is new to me. Nice balance of viewpoints. Some from the heroine, George and some from the hero, Dominic. Lots of descriptions of life on a naval ship in regency times. The romance was clean and fairly low key. I would definitely recommend this story and this writer. Delighful Cover.

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

Okay. If you've seen the movie Princess Bride you'll remember the conversation the grandfather has about the kind of book he was reading to his grandson. I don't know the exact lines but he talks about all the wonderful elements of the book. Swordfighting, romance, pirates, etc... The grandson replies, "Murdered by pirates is good". Ha ha. That is kind of how I felt about this book. So many elements to enjoy. I thought I'd get a couple hours of reading in before going to bed. I couldn't stop reading. My heart was pounding during the battle. I finished the book about 1:30 am. And then I couldn't sleep because I kept thinking about the story for another hour.
This book has romance but is also a war story. There is conflict with the enemy and inner-crew conflict aboard ship. We have a woman dressed as a boy who has been fooling the crew for three years. And she is dealing with the inner demons of having been physically and emotionally abused for years by her grandmother.
I won't go into detail about anything except to say I really appreciated the way the author wrote the romance. And I'm not even sure I can explain my thoughts clearly on this. So often when a story is a woman disguised as a man and there is attraction between her and a man, I am left wondering how that other man feels about being attracted to a "man". If you are heterosexual and suddenly having same sex feelings, wouldn't you be questioning yourself and your sexual orientation? The books I've read with this scenario never really deal with that. But instead of having a budding romance between what appears to be two men, their relationship in this book is more mentoring. He takes the "boy" under his wing to help him stand up for himself against the bullies and they gain an affection for each other because of that. It is only later the romance really begins and he has figured out she is a woman. By writing it this way, the author avoided having to omit an obvious part of the story (why am I having feelings for a man?) Hope that makes sense.
So yes, I did really enjoy this book and can honestly say I couldn't put it down. I loved the main characters. Georgana grows and learns to stand up for herself and then was kind even to her tormentor. Dominic also grows both as a leader and a person and gives confidence to those who are weaker than he. Plus, he is good to his mother. But neither of them are perfect. They both have room for continued growth. I only hope that Georgana doesn't grow tired of the sea in time.

Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: yes
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book through Netgalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

4.5 Stars! Absolutely delightful. I loved this one from start to finish. It was compelling, beautiful, and the cover is stunning!

The book opens with a captain rescuing his daughter from an abusive relationship in one of the most unlikely ways possible: disguising her as a cabin boy aboard his ship. We rejoin the story a few years later and learn the consequences of this decision.

Upon rejoining the story, we also meet Dominic Peyton, an extremely skilled First Lieutenant who lives for the sea. Shortly after boarding ship, Dominic feels a strange pull towards the captain's cabin boy, George. In George he sees a friendless young boy, woefully out of his element, 100% not suited to sea life, stuck on board a ship. Dominic reaches out and befriends the, er, lad -- and then the story truly begins.

Side note: I was a little concerned how the love story would play out as it begins with Dominic believing that Georgana is a young boy. Please know that it follows a very proper path!

In addition to our main focus, we also see Georgana build another unlikely friendship that strengthens through intense conflict. Her moral character sees her through some extremely dark times, including harsh and prolonged verbal & (mostly alluded to) physical abuse during childhood. With Dominic's help, Georgana learns to not take guidance from her tyrannical inner critic. As a result, Georgana perseveres through self-doubt and fear, maturing into a strong young woman.

Dominic holds an unwavering sense of responsibility towards those he treasures, and he selflessly makes some hard life choices to better the lives of others. On multiple occasions we also see Dominic treating members of the crew with kindness, while a fellow officer lashes out in cruelty. We can learn so much from the actions of both Dominic and Georgana.

It has been a long while since I've read a book set at sea and found myself frequently Googling the definitions of various nautical terms. Thank you, author, for adding in these details rather than dumbing down the story. We witness some intense moments and again the author does not shy away from reality. Illness strikes. Battles and freak accidents injure. People die. In all cases the author takes care to not describe any of those occurrences in graphic detail. Those dark moments happen but are not glorified.

Sometimes when I pick up a book I find myself almost skim-reading by the end. Not in this case. I was enraptured by the plot and found myself slowly savoring every chapter. Multiple evenings, my mind would continue on with introspection after sitting the book down for the night. After finishing my advance reader copy, I immediately pre-ordered the paperback edition. This one is a keeper and re-reader.

Thank you, author and publisher, for sharing an advance copy in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Georgana’s secret is part of the Proper Romance series. It has a unique pretense. It’s 1811, and Georgiana Woodall is living on her father’s ship, HMS Deborah, in disguise. He is the captain, and she is George, his cabin boy. If this secret were to become known, her reputation would be destroyed. They guard their secret carefully, and it’s decided that this will be George’s last voyage before making her debut in society.

Lieutenant Dominic Peyton is dedicated to the Navy and his career at sea. He’s the new first officer on board, and he becomes an unlikely mentor to young George, who is getting picked on by the other young boys on the ship. They form a friendship, and Lieutenant Peyton eventually puts enough clues together to discover that George is in fact a young lady. He keeps his discovery to himself as he tries to discover the reason for the deception. He struggles to protect her and still keep her identity under wraps.

There are more than friends feelings, yet both parties find themselves in an impossible situation. The captain doesn’t think L Peyton is a good influence on George, and he fears the clever lieutenant will unravel their secret. He tries to put a stop to their friendship. I recommend reading this one to find out how everything works out in the end.

I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. My review reflects my honest opinion.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this before publication!

I've been enjoying the titles I've read in the Proper Romance line, and while I enjoyed this as well, it feels more like plain old historical fiction than a romance - for the first three-quarters, at least. The plot, that Georgeana's father has spirited her away from her abusive grandmother to live at sea with him disguised as a cabin boy, is one that does a good job of combining the "girl at sea" trope with what more of the realities of actually doing so might have entailed. The toll her grandmother's abuse took on Georgeana doesn't magically go away (to the point where her defining moment of courage feels a bit less triumphant than it might have, but it really is more believable for the character) and the strain of hiding his daughter definitely wears on her father, who believably retreats into his shell over the course of the novel. The hero, Dominic, is definitely a busybody, which trait did not endear him to me (full disclosure: I was sort of hoping she'd end up with Fitz the formerly-evil cabin boy), so I wasn't as invested in the outcome of the romance as I might have been.

But the writing is strong throughout and Georgeana is a heroine who doesn't need to be a Strong Female Character to carry her part of the story, and the real victory is over herself. That may not be traditional in a romance, but it does make the book a success in my eyes.

This is not your typical Regency romance. Georgana is 18 and has been at sea for three years serving as cabin boy to her father the captain of the HMS Deborah. She joined her father after the death of her mother and to get away from an abusive grandmother. She poses as George to all the crew. Lieutenant Dominic Peyton is new to the ship. He loves the sea and takes a friendly interest in George as he sees her mistreated by fellow crew mates.

The many details of the ship and life aboard enhance the story. During the voyage to and from Antigua there is illness, death, and cannon battles. It made for an exciting adventure. The romance was handled well, particularly in how Dominic comes to realize George's secret.

I did have a few questions that weren't answered by the end of the book. What was the mysterious illness? Why wasn't the Captain more aware of how George was treated by the crew? Could family members of the Captain travel on ship or only spouses?

Overall I really enjoyed this book and look forward to future books by the author. It is refreshingly clean for language and sex and has mildly graphic battle scenes. Thank you Net Galley and Shadow Mountain for the ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

A different kind of tale. Georgana is the daughter of a captain in the British Navy in command of a frigate. She and her mother live with their grandmother while he is at sea. She is cold and heartless. When her mother dies, she comes aboard the ship as a cabin boy. For three years she has kept her disguise. Lieutenant Dominick Peyton is married to the sea. He adores his widowed mother and provides for her. He joins Georgana’s father’s ship aNd meets “George”, the cabin boy. A friendship develops during their voyage that leads to an HEA. Sweet story.

I love how the Proper Romance series keeps expanding its collection of authors!
This was the first time I've read this author (I'm not sure though if this is her first published book). I've read a few books where a woman was disguised as a man for some reason or another but I think this was the first where it was done with a guardians permission. It's usually that they have no guardian and therefore no other choice. I liked that Dominic figured out Georgana's secret but kept it to himself for her sake. I liked that the story had action but wasn't overly violent or graphic. Overall I would give it a solid 4 stars and would happily recommend to others.

Story in 1810 Navy ship set for Antigua from England. I enjoyed this #ProperRomance so much but I will admit, I had to Google a bunch of the sailing terms to be able to understand and get a clear picture at times.

“As a young girl, Georgana Woodall had 2 loving parents but with her father a Capitan in the Navy. 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 Payton has only one love, the sea! With his dedication to His Majesty’s Royal Navy claiming his full attention. Determined to prove himself to his new captain, 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 several clues, Dominic deduces that George is really a woman. Knowing that revealing the cabin boy’s secret would put her in danger from the rowdy crew, Dominic keeps silent and hides his growing affection for her.”

To escape her terrible grandmother Georgana and her father form the perfect plan, and for three years they have been successful; but secrets are lonely and Georgana longs for more for her life.

An adventurous regency story unlike any I’ve read before!

Absolutely spellbinding! I could not put this book down.
Imagine being a young woman and hiding that fact from all around you except your father. Imagine hiding that on a ship of the British Royal Navy in 1810 being surround totally by a male crew. If you are discovered it would mean social ruin or worse. That is the life Georganna, or George as her father calls her, finds herself in. Escaping from a physically and emotionally abusive grandmother she finds herself in disguise on the ship her father captains. She is shielded as much as possible from the crew, assigned to be the captain’s cabin “boy”. Given lighter duties and when in battle, assigned to the safest duty area. Still the secret and fear of discovery weigh on her making her wonder if returning to her grandmother’s and hoping for a quick marriage might be preferable. Then a new first lieutenant, Dominic Peyton, is assigned to her father’s ship and as their relationship grows so do her fears and longing for release from the charade she finds herself in. But she does not want a husband in the Navy. Mix in attacks by privateers, an onboard illness that can be fatal, bullying from other boys assigned to the ship and an attempted mutiny and you have a book you won’t want to set down. I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I knew as soon as I read the synopsis that I would enjoy this book. This is one of the more wholesome and authentic historical romance novels I’ve read. All of the lead characters have clear and pure intentions and their goal is to be upstanding as possible.

I loved the way Hawk penned this book. The dialogue, the slow and tense build of romance, and the subtle ways the characters expressed affection and adoration.

Georgana and Peyton were perfect characters. They found connection beyond lust as their relationship began as friendship and grew into a dependency. Their love was organic and fresh. I found this to be a much welcomed novel with the tendency for romance to deliver many lines about swelling bosoms and straining pants.

I would love to read more by this author and I’d recommend this book ten times over.

I’ll write a more much formal review with synopsis and character analysis much later.

"Georgana's Secret" is a Regency romance with most of the plot unfolding on a British Navy ship. While ballroom dances and rides in Hyde Park are sometimes enjoyable story events, this novel has none of those. Instead, there are battles, grave illnesses and injuries, and even an attempted mutiny.

Hawks paints a vivid picture of life on a Royal Navy frigate. This novel is well-researched and full of nautical terms. From raising sails and scrubbing decks, to tapping biscuits to remove weevils before eating said biscuits, life upon the seas was hard and demanding.

The characters are well-drawn. Georgana Woodall and Lieutenant Dominic Peyton are wonderful together, even when she was "George". He teaches her to defend herself, which is all the more touching given that Georgana's abusive grandmother called her a "mistake". While all secondary characters are multi-faceted, Fitz stood out for me.

This Proper Romance features lovely prose and is well-edited. It is also clean. If you are looking for rainbows and unicorns, you will not find them here. However, if you want a believable romance set against a realistic, historical backdrop, this is the book for you.

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

This was definitely a unique take on a Regency era book and I really loved that! Georgana sneaks on her father’s ship as a cabin boy George where she meets Lt. Dominic Peyton.

Their relationship, both the development of it and it’s continue md growth during the story was wonderfully done. Most importantly to me though was how well written they were as individual characters who not only found love and acceptance with each other, but also became stronger characters on their own as the book progressed.

The writing and characterization was fantastic so I’ll certainly be reading more books by Arlem Hawks!

There is SO much to love about Georgana’s Secret by Arlem Hawks. First, the story is HIGHLY engaging. The pages flew by in this novel because the action is non-stop: there’s a strange illness onboard the HMS Deborah that’s only hitting a certain part of the crew, there are battles on the high sea with the French, and there’s mutiny. There are adventures in Antigua, learning to stand up against bullies, and a seriously sweet romance. I read 70% of this book in one sitting because I could not put it down! In addition to the storyline, I absolutely love the way characters relate in this novel. The camaraderie of most of the crew onboard the HMS Deborah is fun to imagine. The interaction between George and her father, Captain Woodall, appears stiff and formal, but in reality, it is exceptionally evident how much he cares for his child. And, how Georgana and Dominic’s relationship blossoms from friendship to romance is great. The Victor/Victoria relationship in this book works really well and progresses nicely. I especially enjoyed the intelligent journey Dominic takes to figure out who George truly is. And, the historical and nautical details are rich. The detail is written so vividly I felt like I was on board with the crew of the HMS Deborah. Working a boat in the 1800s was an insanely arduous task, and Hawks does a stellar job of portraying this.

Lieutenant Dominic Peyton is an excellent hero. There is so much to love about his character. His attention to detail is wonderful. He’s not an “actions first, questions later” kind of guy. Dominic is a man who watches and listens, makes intelligent assessments based on what he hears and sees, and then moves to action. I LOVE how unselfish he is. Once he learns George’s secret he feels he must have answers, but before he confronts anyone he metaphorically steps into George’s and her father’s shoes and looks at the situation from their perspectives. What he “discovers” from standing in their shoes for a moment is that they need protection. Dominic is a protector to his core, and some of my most favorite moments in this novel are when he comes to George’s defense (both before and after he finds out who she is). This, more than the swoony kisses and heartfelt words, makes Dominic a perfect hero in my humble opinion. Swoony kisses and heartfelt words are great, but truly seeing and understanding someone is the best show of love one person can give to another.

I have to mention how much I love Georgana’s character. She is AWESOME. If I had to boil her character down to one word, that word would be resilient. Georgana is a character who gets beat up a lot, and I don’t mean metaphorically. She is the quintessential underdog. She is an 18-year-old girl posing as a boy on her father’s ship in 1811. Ironically, she is doing it for her safety. In this world, Georgana gets knocked down often but she always gets back up. She is a true fighter and she is not afraid to fight for what is good and what is right, and later she is not afraid to fight for love. Georgana is definitely the perfect heroine for Dominic.

Georgana’s Secret by Arlem Hawks is a great historical romance that I cannot recommend enough. It’s a fun, adventurous romance that will have the reader turning pages well into the night. If you are in the mood for a swashbuckling adventure with a sweet romance and timely themes then Georgana’s Secret is the book for you!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishers, via NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a great read and one of the better Regency novels that I've encountered in some time. I really appreciated the character development that unfolded throughout the story and thought that the overall concept (exploring navy life through the eyes of a woman) was a unique and refreshing take! I also appreciated how much of a slow burn this was; the ending did not disappoint! I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I must say I am a sucker for the unconventional romance. This one was absolutely fabulous and had everything a good sea story should. Storms, battles, Privateers, and mutineers. There was illness and death, but this was not just any adventure on the high seas, this one had secrets and romance.

Lieutenant Peyton thought he was trying to protect the Captain's cabin boy, George, but there was more to George than meets the eye. George was Georgana who had been whisked away in the night to protect her from her abusive grandmother. Peyton teaches her to defend herself against the other ships boys who dislike her for the captain's favor of her.

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.

I received an early copy through NetGalley and this is my honest review.

The characters in this story were well written and played well off each other. I liked the character arcs in the novel. The growth in the characters was well done. I liked the tension both between the "good guys" and the villain & the hero and heroine in the story. This was my first book by Hawks, but i will definitely look for more in the future

I really enjoyed this historical romance and the authors writing style! The love story was very sweet and I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing life abroad a ship!

This book was amazing! I loved seeing the perspective of life at sea and how challenging that can be. I have a brother in law in the Navy and it was cool to experience the perspective! I highly recommend!

<b> 3.5 stars </b>

<b> Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. </b>

This was a cute book if you like proper romances, but the plot dragged in some paces, and the romance was a little too cheesy for me.

It reminded me of a regency era She's the Man, honestly. I kept picturing Channing Tatum as the love interest, and that was enough to keep me going.

One part of this book that rubbed me the wrong way was the abusive grandmother. I felt like her character was just textbook evil. She was a horrible character, but more in an eye-rolling, irritating sort of way. Her horribleness was very exaggerated. I honestly didn't find it very believable that Georgana's only option to escape her was to go aboard the ship with her father.

Georgana's Secret a quick and easy read for summer, though!

Georgana must find a way to escape Lushill House and the cruel Grandmother she lives with while her father is at sea. With no other options she finds herself aboard her father’s ship disguised as his cabin boy, “George”.

Life on board is difficult for George who does her best to stay in the shadows away from everyone who likes to make her life miserable as a lowly ranked shipmate. That is until Lieutenant Dominic Peyton shows up and decides to teach George how to stand up for “himself” and be more than just a 3rd class ship’s boy. After spending time together Dominic uncovers Georgana’s secret. A secret that would be more dangerous for everyone if anyone else found out.

I cannot give enough praise for Georgana’s Secret. It is one of the best books I have read in a long time and definitely makes my top 10 list of favorite proper romance books and is 100% re-read worthy! The writing is descriptive, the flow is perfection, and the characters will make you feel all the feels. I stayed up late to finish reading and happily put life on hold because I couldn’t, and didn’t want to put it down.

This will be a book that I will need in all formats because the cover is gorgeous and with an electronic copy I’ll be able to take it with me wherever I go.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Georgana definitely has a secret! I really enjoyed this book! Georgana has a terrible grandmother that is mean and abusive. To get away from her, her father, a ship's captain, steals her away to be on his ship...as a cabin boy. For three years she is on this ship as George, and nobody figures it out. Until a new lieutenant, Dominic Peyton arrives as second in command. It takes a while, but eventually he can tell that she is truly the captain's daughter, not a distant relative of his. After being attacked by pirates, then enduring a mutiny on ship, they finally make it back to England, then decide what their future will be. Exciting adventure I really loved reading! An excellent clean tale!

Georgana's story is one full of heartache and hope. Ms. Harlem has written a beautiful story that strays from the typical stow away female at sea. Instead, Georgana is knowingly on the ship by the captain her own father, as a away to protect her from more dangerous family troubles on land. Of course the sea is a dangerous place in it's own right for a female, so Georgana assumes the role of George and no one is the wiser. That is until Lieutenant Dominic Peyton catches on to who George really is. You will not be able to put this book down and you will love every minute of how Dominic comes to care deeply for Georgana and her for him in return. The tension of battle will have to on the edge of your seat, hopeful and fearful all at once. Such a lovely story that provides a great escape for any Regency novel reader.

#netgalley #georganassecret

This book was tricky for me. I think the storyline is cute and unique, the characters were well developed. I quite enjoyed this story!

Really entertaining book. I loved the secrecy, the camaraderie, and the courage. It was a fun journey with the main characters.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Georgans’s Secret by Arlem Hawks

The author has masterful creativity with her characters and the flow of the book. She doesn’t miss out on how to grow them or her pull to keep the readers enticed to keep turning the pages!
I wanted to know how the relationship between “George “ and Dominic was going to happen amongst all the sailors and go undetected. What happened to the evil grandmother? Stay tuned because as you know the wicked come back time and time again! How will her father protect her without letting the crew figure out that she is a girl. You all know that daddy’s are partial to their little girls.

Can you imagine being stuck on this ship with nobody to commiserate with other than your father who I am sure is busy and can’t be spending time with a crewman. How lonely for this girl, but then Dominic comes aboard!
The author takes it from there and you will not believe what adventures take place for a lonely Boy!
Excellent book!

Thank you to the authors and publishers who work diligently for us the readers.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

I feel like I walked into the pages of a long lost Jane Austen book. This was one of the most adventurous and romantic stories I’ve had the pleasure of reading this year.
The perils of sea combined with George’s secret created the perfect blend of dramatic storytelling and adventure. The chemistry between Dominic and Georgana is exquisitely done. Regency storytelling at its finest. This is a book I will be reading over and over again. It is simply swoon-worthy!
I was given this copy through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions and review. All opinions expressed here are completely my own.

This book deserves applause! This is my first time reading Ms. Hawks and her fantastic novel on the high seas has put her squarely on my list of favorite authors to watch. I love Georgana and Dominic. Georgana is real and vulnerable and brave. Dominic is sweet and kind and strong. I love the dialogue and believe "a sound English cannon" may forever be one of my favorite literary lines. There's adventure and heartache, likeable friends and enemies you love to hate, and a driving plotline. This one was one I had trouble putting down. Definitely give this one a try; I'm heading to read her other books now.

Rated PG-13 for some war-time violence
--some violence with mild gore
--intense situations
--clean romance
--very mild language

I received this ebook free from NetGalley in return for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

I really liked this story. I enjoyed the plot and the characters and the action and romance. I’ve liked every story I’ve read by Ms. Hawks and look forward to more...

Georgana's Secret by Arlem Hawks is a lovely nautical historical romance with a sweet and protective Lieutenant and a brave but frightened third-class cabin boy (actually, a girl).

Georgana was the daughter of a Royal Navy Captain and suffered her whole life the abuse inflicted by her paternal grandmother every time her father was at sea.

Seeing her after a severe beating, her father decided to take her with him to his ship. To keep her safe and preserve her reputation, her father disguised her as a third-class cabin boy.

She stayed on the ship for three years, but things were getting difficult because she was bullied by the other cabin boys that understandably resented the special treatment she received from the captain.

When the second Lieutenant of the ship died, Lieutenant Peyton came in his place.

Peyton saw in Georgana a frightened boy and decided he would help him defend himself from the bullies. He also noticed the boy did not enjoy life at sea and put on his mind to convince the captain to place him somewhere on land after their journey was over.

Slowly Georgana started to open up to Peyton's care and affection, but she knew he only saw a boy while she began to have romantic feelings towards him.

Georgana's Secret is a lovely slow-burn romance. It was so sweet to see them getting to know one another, establish a strong friendship bond, and then connect in the deepest level.

I loved how all the story takes place onboard a ship—the daily struggles, the companionship, the illnesses, the sorrow, the deaths, the pain.

Lieutenant Peyton is the perfect hero. Lovely, sensible, honorable, and kind. Georgana is a person marked by her life experiences, but strong and determined to make a better future for herself.

I loved every page of this lovely tale, and I'm looking forward to reading other books by this author.

Highly Recommended!

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 01/12/2021*

Georgana has a lot of experience keeping secrets. She has had a pretty tough life. Through it all she has tried to keep a fairly positive attitude and a low profile. When she is befriended by Lieutenant Peyton after he sees her being mistreated by some of other boys on the ship, things get a bit complicated. She is drawn to him but she also needs to keep her distance so he doesn't figure out her secret. This is an interesting look into life at sea and the hardships faced. It is also a wonderful story of overcoming a difficult life and thriving. I really enjoyed this book. This is a clean romance.

George is a 3rd class ship's boy on a British warship in the 19th century. By all accounts, George is the Captain's favorite, but not good for much else. But is there more to George than meets the eye? What if the other sailors were to discover that George is not a ship's boy at all, but is rather very much a young lady? In Georgana's Secret the only way that young Georgana can escape the abuse of her grandmother is to steal away on a British warship with him. The ruse of her appearing as a ship's boy works well until Georgana meets the dashing and kind Lieutenant Peyton. Will Georgana manage to keep her secret? Fans of young adult historical fiction will enjoy this entertaining tale.

I enjoyed this book. The slow burn friendship to love between Georgana and Dominic was lovely. The “disguised as a boy on a ship” trope always stretches the imagination, but the author made it believable. When her mother dies, Georgana disguises herself as a boy so she can live with her father on his ship (he is a navy captain) - she cannot remain in town. Dominic, one of the ship’s officers, befriends her and ultimately guesses she is the captain’s daughter.

The descriptions of life in the navy, for both officers and families, and life aboard the ship brought the story to life. Can’t wait to read more from this author.

Naval Battles, Beautiful Antigua Beaches, and Hidden Love

Georgana Woodall escapes to the sea in disguise to live with her father, the captain, all in an effort to be protected from her evil abusive grandmother. As a ship’s boy, she meets the admirable and handsome Lieutenant Dominic Peyton who befriends “him” (Georgana) and teaches him to fight his battles instead of fleeing. Throughout the book, Lieutenant Dominic finds out her secret, and obviously things happen to make this a beautiful romance.

This book truly takes you through the real life of a navy frigate during the French and English quarrels of the 1810s. Arlem Hawks shows in her book how disease could ravage a ship, how battles destroyed families, and how mutinies occur. I learned so much from reading her book, and truly loved every minute of it! The only thing I would have liked is an image of a naval frigate in the book so that I could understand what each of the decks were. I had to do my own research to understand why the walls of the captains rooms could come off, and where on the boat all of the different things were located.

I enjoyed living through Georgana’s eyes, and the trials she faced living at sea with only men. I enjoyed seeing the beauty of a beach for the first time through her eyes. I enjoyed the love that was built through trust and loyalty. I could not put this book down! Truly one of the best ocean books I have read in a long time!

A special thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and Arlem Hawks for the digital ARC provided by Netgalley. All opinions are my own and in no way biased.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars for this fabulous read that I literally could not stop reading. This is the first book I've ever read by the author so I had no expectations of the book. Perhaps that's why I enjoyed it as much as I did, it exceeded my expectations. The story felt like an original concept with some Twelfth Night vibes but with a smarter leading male protagonist. The story had two interesting main characters, great chemistry, and great individual growth. The story had a lot going for it, there were lots of events and changes that kept the story fresh and enjoyable. There was growth for several characters and the story was not exclusively about the romance, alyhohgh I loved this romance! This story was so captivating, I've decided I need to read more books by this author very soon! Many thanks to netgalley for a free advanced copy of this book.

Georgana’s Secret is about a girl who comes aboard a ship dressed as a cabin boy. The adventure and suspense on the high seas kept surprising me at every turn! There are secrets, battles, war, and mutiny! There was never a dull moment. This book is an action-packed sea adventure with no shortage of swoony romance. I had to keep turning the pages because I desperately needed to know what was going to happen next. It was unlike any regency novel I have read and I mean that in the best way because it had all the things I love about a good regency, but also this sea adventure that kept me on my toes.

I absolutely adored Georgana. I loved her love and loyalty to her father.

I really enjoyed Lieutenant Peyton and how despite their circumstances he had faith in Georgana that she could do things she wasn't even sure she was capable of. It was that faith in her, that strength from him that made her able to achieve what she thought impossible, and it made me love him even more. What a real man!

It swept me off my feet, and I wished to board the next ship out to sea!

Georgana's Secret is one of my most anticipated reads in months. It did not disappoint. I savored it over several days simply because I refused to let it end. I love how much detail and research it entails. Arlem Hawks has a handful of self-published books that I have read and her style is perfect for me.
Georgana has a secret. Her father is a captain in His Royal Navy and she's disguised as a cabin boy. For three years, she's not touched land and is alone in the midst of hundreds of men. When Lieutenant Dominic Peyton joins the crew, Georgana can't help but be enamored with his joie de vivre and his offer of friendship.
I cannot express how much I love this book. I think the bulk of its power lies in the setting. Georgana and Peyton have lovely moments individually and together.
There are so many regency novels to choose from and more published every week. This is one that cannot be missed and I am eager to have a copy on my bookshelf.
Thank you, Shadow Mountain and NetGalley, for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Georgana's Secret
by Arlem Hawks
Shadow Mountain Publishing
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
Shadow Mountain
Romance
Pub Date 12 Jan 2021 | Archive Date 26 Jan 2021

This was a truly awesome book. I will be looking for more from Arlem Hawks. Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC.
4 star

I would recommend this book as I very much enjoyed it! I spent one full day reading it with barely a pause. Also, the cover is absolutely gorgeous!!

The plot is not on the most original ones: a young woman disguised as a boy embarks on a ship and falls in love with a member of the crew - I've already read that kind of story a few times. However, that was unusual was that it was the daughter of the captain which was here to espace her abusing grandmother, and it added an interesting element as she to hide her relationship with the captain and find her place on the ship. Unfortunately, I found it sad that both Georgana and her father were unhappy with their lives - the captain since the death of his dear wife, and Georgana because she regrets being aboard the ship. I regret that she did not enjoy it more (I personally am fascinated with all historic stories aboard ships so I regretted her lack of enthusiasm - thankfully, Dominic made up for it with his love of the sea.). Dominic was a wonderful character, highly likeable, generous, with a interesting back story, a deep love of the sea and the navy. To be honest I'm not really sure why he liked Georgana so much but I understand why she did ;)

As the book was quite long, I felt that the story was quite complete and detailed. I am quite impressed with how much the author has had to research to write such a complete book with so many technical details. The length of the book also allowed for Dominic and Georgana's romance to develop in a credible way, although I didn't find there wasn't a real chemistry between the characters (hence why I found the end slightly bittersweet too).

One last detail that annoyed me all along the book: Georgana's name. I understood in the book that it was supposed to be pronounced "Georgeana" (with a soft 'g', or [ʒ]) so I don't understand which it's spelled "Georgana" (which would be pronounced with a hard 'g', or [g]). This distracted me every time her time was mentioned...
Overall, I really liked this book and will probably read it again in a few years!

*I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest opinion*

I very much enjoyed reading history woven into the story and explained in an intersting way. Majority of the story took place on a ship. I thought the battle scenes were exciting and description of ship life felt real and natural. I know nothing about brisitsh naval history or life on a ship but I didn't read anything that seemed fanciful. Some bits were an intersting surprise.
The hook in the beginning was great and after 1/2 way into 1st chapter I was wanting to clear my schedule. Throughout I felt there was a nice flow to the story. The H's parents marriage was touched on. I wish I knew more since it seemed to really shape him. As well as his older brother.

I love this book. It is so well written and I could not put it down. I really enjoyed the characters. Georgana faces so much hardship and has no one to turn to for comfort. Don't get me wrong her father acts out of protection and love to save her in his own way and that's beautiful. But a girl just needs a hug every once in a while. With all that she faces, I find her so strong.

Now, Dominic is brilliant. I love his reactions to everything!

Reread worthy!

When her mother died, Georgana Woodall escaped her abusive grandmother by disguising herself as a cabin boy and joining her father on his ship. Several years later, she’s of the age to come out in society, attend fancy balls, and find a husband. There’s one problem — everyone believes she’s a boy called “George,” but revealing her secret could ruin her reputation forever.

Lieutenant Dominic Peyton has eyes for one lady only — the sea. He has no time for women. On land, they are nothing more than a distraction and added responsibility, and sailing the oceans is no place for them. So he’s better off alone.

When Dominic witnesses the captain’s cabin boy being harassed, he steps in to aid the “boy.” However, it isn’t long before he realizes that some things don’t add up and before long deduces that “George” is in reality a young woman. To protect her, Dominic keeps the discovery to himself. But keeping quiet becomes increasingly difficult as feelings for her develop.

Combining elements of Jane Austen’s Persuasion and Swiss Family Robinson, this delightful tale of love and adventure emerges. With a lieutenant who thinks that women don’t belong at high seas (does that not sound like Captain Wentworth?!), a woman disguised as a man, privateers, swords, and gunfights Arlem Hawks’ Georgana’s Secret offered me an escape I desperately needed. Maybe it was the marriage between components from two of my favorite childhood stories, but I devoured the story and stepped away feeling light and happy. I’d been granted a respite from everything going on around me.

The protagonists are fun and lovable. The villain, well, you wish they would just toss him overboard. However, then there wouldn’t be a story, so it’s good they didn’t. A beautiful friendship forms between “George” and someone on the ship, but I won’t say more due to spoilers though I wish I could dedicate at least an entire paragraph to it. Watching it progress definitely kept a smile on my face. Actually, the book as a whole had me grinning a lot.

I absolutely loved the setting had me spending almost the entirety of the novel off land. Despite never leaving my landlocked room, I sailed far away on a ship surrounded by the blue expanse of the ocean, inhaling the clean, salty air. But in spite of all that open space, Hawks also knew how to turn the ship claustrophobic in an instant. Just wait until you meet the privateers and villains. The author threw in a few twists and turns along the way which surprised me. At the same time, she set them up so perfectly that they made sense.

Some of the characters do seem to become too active too quickly after incurring horrid wounds. It did pull me out of the story briefly as I wondered how they could do what they were doing in their condition.

If you love regency romances, strapping lieutenants, stories set at sea, and adventure galore, do yourself a favor and pick up Georgana’s Secret.

The book was way more than I was expecting. The story has a lot of depth to it. I was pulled in by Georgana’s and Dominic’s story and I could not stop reading. I stay up late into the night reading to find out how story would go.

I loved this book. The characters are deep and well written. The love story is beautiful and thoughtful with plenty of twists and turns to keep you in the story to the end.

For some reason, I have always been drawn to stories where the main character has to disguise herself as a boy for one reason or another, so the premise of this story drew me in right away.

The author did a wonderful job of bringing all of the characters to life, and giving the reader a taste of what life might be like as a cabin boy who doesn't quite fit in with any group on board.

Every time I read a story that takes place on a ship, I'm always amazed at just how many people are in board. I guess I just can't grasp the size of the ship, because I'm always shocked when there are more than 50 people on board.

Anyway, the reader obviously doesn't get to know everyone, but we do get to know a handful, and I enjoyed getting to know them all, whether it was to love them or hate them.

Definitely a well-written, enjoyable story that I plan on rereading more than once.

This was the first book I had read from this author and it won't be the last. I loved the story and the relationship between the main characters. I would highly recommend this story!

I'm in awe of the descriptive writing of Arlem Hawks. 'Georgana's Secret' was a difficult book to get through to someone who gets deathly seasick. I was decidedly uncomfortable until the Deborah was back to land. This was not a lighthearted book in any way, with themes of abuse, death and abandonment. A great effort was made to balance that with the joy of a seafarer's heart, but it missed the mark with me. It just seems that even love wouldn't be enough of a reason to choose this hard lifestyle.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This is about a girl who is forced to impersonate a cabin boy on board her father's ship in order to have somewhere to live. It gives a very interesting behind the scenes look at life on board a Navy ship in Regency England.

This book was a very entertaining read. I loved learning a little more about nautical terms and how ship life was at that time. I really liked the relationship growth from friendship to more. It was fun to watch it blossom as the story was told. This book had it all- romance, adventures, and action. I definitely recommend this book

i had a lot of fun reading this historical novel, the characters were great and I felt like the main characters romance worked. It was a enjoyable read.

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.

#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'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.

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.

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.

This adventure-romance had a fast paced plot line and sweet romance - I had a difficult time putting it down!  The conflict was real and I needed to see the characters' struggles resolved.  I loved the setting aboard a ship and the descriptions of the thrill and difficulty of life at sea were well thought out.  Arlem Hawks has done a masterful job with this story!

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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.

Reads Like a Dramatic Movie!
4☆ = I really liked it
•Most of the story takes place aboard ship. Georganna lives life lonely & hiding, disguised as a cabin boy for her father, the Captain. Her days take a dramatic turn when a new Lieutenant joins the crew of the HMS Deborah & befriends her, hoping to be a mentor of sorts to the boy.
•There are battles with other ships, battles with hot-headed sailors, & battles within the hearts of Dominic & Georganna.
•Favorite quote: 🌊"But the sea—she had always been his one love. He didn’t need another woman. Yet for all her beauties, the sea did not satisfy him like a few minutes with Georgana did."❤
•I appreciated the natural progression of Georganna's & Dominic's relationship.
•TEA QUOTE 🫖: "Preparing and serving tea had been the subject of many lessons with Grandmother, instructions that still echoed in Georgana’s head after three years apart. But Grandmother never had to navigate the gun deck of a swaying ship in the middle of a watch change without upending the tea tray."
•Story does contain physical abuse should that be problematic for some.
•I was gifted an eVersion of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review without compensation or expectation. All opinions are mine alone.

Oh how I love the Proper Romance line! This one did not disappoint! What a story! The characters were strong and extremely likable! I enjoyed the sweet and tender love and compassion shown throughout! You will not be able to put it down! Enjoy!!!

Arlem Hawks is a new author to me this year, and each story has been excellent. This one is no exception!

In order to stay safe, Georgana has been disguised as a cabin boy, “George,” on her father’s ship, where she is bullied by her shipmates. Lieutenant Dominic Peyton takes George under his wing. As they adventure on the high seas, they form a close bond. When Dominic discovers her secret, things begin to change. Can their relationship survive battles both on the ocean, and in their own hearts?

This book is such an exciting ride! I loved the dynamic between the characters, and seeing the different relationships evolve. I was on the edge of my seat with all the action and adventure. I lost quite a bit of sleep needing to know what came next!! This was a beautifully told story- one of my favorites this year!

Wonderful book by Arlem Hawks! I loved learning all the things about sailing that was in this book. I also loved the romance between Georgana and Dominic. I loved how Dominic helped Georgana to learn to stand up for herself and how he kept her secret even after he figured it out. I loved how Arlem wrote this story and I love that it is a part of the Proper Romance series of books since those are some of my favorite books to read. I highly recommend this book.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

This was an enjoyable read. It had romance, action, suspense, and great characters.

Georgana, forced by circumstances to hide her identity and tired of living a lie, was a sympathetic character, and I liked seeing her grow and heal. Peyton was kind hearted and charming, and I loved the way that he helped Georgana move beyond her painful past.

The setting was vividly rendered. I felt like I was on board the Deborah watching events unfold.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical romance.

First sentence: Footsteps, firm and steady, sounded on the stairs. Each one tore at Georgana Woodall’s young heart as she waited in the hall outside the nursery because they brought Papa’s goodbye closer and closer. She brushed her tears away quickly, in case Grandmother was following Papa. Grandmother had no tolerance for tears—from girls of seven or their mothers.

Premise/plot: Georgana's Secret is a Regency romance set at sea on board the HMS Deborah. Georgana Woodall, our heroine, is masquerading as a cabin boy, "George Taylor," on her father's ship. She's picked on but making the best of it until a new lieutenant comes on board. Lieutenant Dominic Peyton is new to the Deborah and serving under Captain Woodall, but he's not new to the naval life. His heart belongs to two women: the sea and his mother. His mother may dream of him getting married and starting a family. But how can he take care of a family AND still sail the seas? Would it be fair to leave a wife and mother behind?

Dominic and George begin a strange friendship of sorts. He sees George as a small boy who is picked on by just about everybody but the captain. Surely George doesn't belong in the navy--no matter who his father was. Perhaps when the ship returns to England he can help George find a more suitable future. Meanwhile he's looking for a few clues as to what became of the captain's daughter who hasn't been seen by society in years.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I did. I don't often read books with this naval setting, but it worked for me. I liked the alternating narrative and how we get both George's perspective and Dominic's perspective. Most of all I appreciate that it is a clean romance. It is one of the books in the Proper Romance series.

This one may pair well with Persuasion by Jane Austen.

5⭐️
I wish I could give this 6 stars. It was so good. Loved, loved, loved it!
I don’t even know how to start this....I can’t believe I haven’t read any books by this author and I’m trying to figure out how that’s even possible. She’s definitely a new favorite. I just want to say again that I absolutely adored this book. It was wonderful.
The story was fluid, captivating and so real. The characters were well developed and bigger than life. I didn’t want to put it down and when I had to, I couldn’t wait to get back to it.
I really loved the romance, which wasn’t very physical but you could feel it crackling between them. The pace and intensity that built between them was perfect. I feel like a lot of authors have a hard time pulling this off but this author excelled in it. **Sigh**

My favorite quote from the book:

“Here’s to tall ships and small ships. Here’s to all the ships at sea. But the best ships are friendships”—he gave her a wink—“and may they always be.”
~Lieutenant Peyton

I highly recommend this. Please believe me when I say it was a wonderful story.

Thank you Shadow Mountain via Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest
review.

This book was something I absolutely haven't expected and got so much more.

The simple but utterly hard life on a ship's deck while cruising the seas is difficult enough for a boy yet more so for a young woman to pretend to be a ship boy and not the captain's daughter. 

The struggle, the rough life, the hatred of other crew members because of somewhat better treatment she's received against obtaining of understanding, friendship, and falling in love while trying to stand for herself. 

The fear of losing something dear to sea or to further live the life on deck wasn't meant to be her future so she's wanted to leave this life behind but what if....her heart was telling her something else.

Like I said this story was so much more and I loved every single word.

Sweet, clever, and insightful, this book deals with the fear of disease, the panic of cannon fire, and just about anything that could possibly go wrong on one of His Majesty's ships, But, even if the ship hadn't been hit by constant waves of calamity, the interpersonal aspect is compelling enough— the story follows two main characters: Georgana Taylor is on the ship disguised as a cabin boy to escape a verbally abusive Grandmother, while Dominic Peyton is the first lieutenant, tasked by his mother with asking the reticent Captain Taylor where his daughter has gone. Drama ensues. Love blossoms, Crossdressing causes near Shakesperean-level confusion. All in all, it's a sweet love story with a lot of historical insights and enough misunderstandings, jealousies, and tension to keep it interesting.

Loved this book, from the beginning to the end.

This book has it all, adventure, romance, mystery, and intrigue. And best of all, it has a happy every after. I've found a new author to watch.

thank you Shadow Mountain for the ARC.

Review To Come close to my stop on the this book tour
1811, HMS Deborah

A Regency romance on the high seas.

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. Determined to prove himself to his new captain, 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.

This was a fun adventure on the high seas.
The romance is very subtle as it has to be for the story.

Georgana has spent the last several years as "George" a cabin boy on her father's (though hiding that too) ship.
Dominic is an officer on the ship. His first love (and only love) is the sea. He never sees himself marrying. He takes George under his wing after witnessing a fight between George and some other cabin boys.

It was fun watching Dominic trying to figure out George's secret. This also had everything I expect from a story on the seas- sickness, death (though that's never fun but a fact), mutiny, storms, battles, etc....

Very well researched and a fascinating look at early 1800s life at sea. But it was just so sad. Georgana carried so much emotional baggage, I don’t know how she had the strength to get up every day. I know not every story is a happy one, but I could have used a few lighter moments here.

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

An utterly captivating tale from Arlem Hawks! A wonderfully unique Regency, I knew Georgana’s Secret would be a five star read before I was even halfway through the story.

Hawks’ incredible devotion to research and description are two aspects of this story that will stay with me for a long time, but the truly exemplary part of Georgana’s Secret is the characters. From the main characters to minor ones, each provides something magical to the story. I definitely fell in love with Dominic, and Georgana is a wonderful heroine. Hawks’ impeccable writing style makes me delightfully impatient for her next story!

Georgana’s Secret is an absolute must-read for readers who love historical romance mixed with hidden identity, danger on the high seas, and superb writing. I just can’t say enough good things about this story! 5/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love how this author can transform long months at sea, into an intriguing, adventurous romance. The plot is unique, being a clean regency romance meshed with the high seas and the Royal Navy. Georgana has had a rough childhood, her father is a navy captain, how does he protect her? Dominic is a protector by nature, starting with the love and care for his Mother. But his love, is the sea. Gave up the promotion to captain his own ship, he is the 1st lieutenant on the Deborah. The characters are well defined. As with any adventure story there is so mild fighting and battle scenes with injuries. But all are described in a sensitive form. The first half is setting the story and would drag just a little. Don’t give up, there is so much story to tell and you don’t want to miss it. Many twist and turns that will keep you reading through the night!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Set on a ship in the English Royal Navy in 1811, this book tells the story of Georgana who is disguised as a cabin boy, George, upon her father’s ship to hide from her abusive grandmother. Georgana may be safe from grandmother but she must struggle daily to hide her identity from the other men on the ship because if her secret was found out her reputation would be destroyed. When a new first officer comes on board he becomes a mentor to George they form a friendship and Lieutenant Peyton eventually discovers that George is in fact Georgana. He keeps this secret to himself while he figures out just why this is happening and how he can protect her.

Admittedly, the first thing that drew me to this book was the cover, then when I saw it takes place during the Regency era and was a Proper Romance, I was all in. I’ve read books from Proper Romance before and I trust them to have top-notch reading material.

It was unique to see a Regency romance set upon a ship instead of in grand estates and ballrooms. There was a lot of action in this book: dangerous weather, a mysterious illness and I found time just flying by. The pacing is excellent with this book and we have a hero and heroine we can really root for.

The author managed to throw in technical details about life on a ship without bogging the book down or making it boring. This is the first book I have read by Arlem Hawks but I look forward to reading anything this author publishes Especially if it is with the Proper Romance line.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Net Galley and Shadowmountain Publishing.

Georgana is the daughter of a captain of a ship in His Royal Majesty's Admiralty. She has lived most of her life with her father's abusive mother, but for the last three years, she has been the cabin "boy" on her father's frigate--the HMS Deborah. There are a few boys on the ship who make life hard for "George," but the new lieutenant on the ship sees something in George and wants to help "him" fit in better by teaching George self-defense. The more they work together, the more the lieutenant likes "him" and wants to figure him out.

This is the first book by Arlem Hawks that I've read, and I have to admit that I was intrigued from the very first page all the way through to the end. I wanted to read ahead and see how things worked out with several of the characters, but I disciplined myself to read straight through. Georgana's Secret reminds me of a book I've read by Lori Wick, Wings of the Morning. The time frame is similar and the heroines of the books have many comparable characteristics, and their heroes are analogous in their miens. Both authors have excellent talent in developing their characters, settings, and plot movements. This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a right hook "like an English cannon."

Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I absolutely adored this book! The setting drew me in, written in a way that immersed me fully into the life of living on a ship, and the characters were realistic and flawed. For several days I stayed up late into the night reading, eager to read more about Georgana and Dominic. They were a couple I won't soon forget, especially with how their story began and how it ended. It was filled with drama and humor, grief and romance, and my emotions were on a roller coaster as I moved through the story. It was a sweet romance, without any steamy scenes of intimacy, but the quiet intimacy was so romantic that I didn't need anything else to feel the love between them. I think it may have even taken away from the story, as the focus would have shifted.

Georgana Woodall has been hiding for three years, after her mother died leaving her in the care of her abusive grandmother. After her father witnessed her being beaten, he stole her away to live on the ship he captains for the Royal Navy, However, women aren't allowed, so she has been forced to disguise herself as a boy, risking all to remain safe. It's been working well until Lieutenant Dominic Peyton is assigned to the ship. Dominic loves the sea and has been resisting his mother's attempts at marriage for him. The sea is no place for a wife, and he refuses to be landlocked the rest of his life. He befriends the young boy they call George, and soon they are in each other's company often, as companions, looking out for each other. Georgana knows it's a dangerous game she plays, but as she spends more time with Dominic, she begins to fall in love with him. If her truth were to come out, however, she would be removed from the ship, and she can't chance being put in danger again.

Georgana and Dominic were just an amazing couple. I was worried how the story would go at first, since Dominic thought she was a boy - how could he go from that viewpoint to thinking of her as a love interest? However, he had received word from his mother regarding his captain's missing daughter, and he is not a stupid man. I won't give away how the discovery came about, but just trust me that it was handled really well and will make your heart flutter with romantic sighs. Georgana was such a strong heroine, determined to live her life the way she wanted but also understanding that she had to listen to others at time to survive. She stuck up for herself, followed her heart and dreams, and I was so proud of her by the end of the book. Dominic was a brave man with a beautiful heart, and that's a hero we can all enjoy. He wasn't intimidated into backing down from his beliefs, and he ensured those under his care remained safe. His relationship with Georgana, even before he found out her true identity, was wonderful, because he was making sure a boy could not only defend himself but also feel confident in his abilities. He was just a really nice person, as was Georgana, and they fit together like two puzzles pieces.

This is the first book I have read by Arlem Hawks, but it certainly won't be the last! I really enjoyed this book from start to finish and highly recommend it to all lovers of historical romance.

Georgana's Secret was a beautifully written tale with wonderful nautical details and sympathetic characters! Plus there were many adventures at sea to be had including battles and discord in the ranks! Well done!

Georgana's Secret is an incredibly well-written, well-researched, beautiful adventure. I really admire Georgana's quiet determination to survive in the midst of hardships and to do whatever she must to take care of the people she loves. Her kindness and respect for the others on board the ship, even those who are unkind to her, is absolutely incredible. The author's descriptions took me away to new and exciting places.

Georgana Woodell always hated it when her beloved father, Captain Woodell, left aboard his ship. While he was gone, she and her mother were under the cruel thumb of the Captain’s mother who treated both of them badly.

Years later when her mother died, Georgina joined her father on his ship dressed as a cabin boy calling herself George and caring for her father. This caused some shipmates to treat her badly even though they only knew that he was assigned to care for the Captain.

Lieutenant Dominic Peyton, is looking forward to sailing again and on a ship captained by Captain Woodell. When he sees George being treated badly, he steps in and chastises the young men.

There is a lot of on-ship routine described, including the work by each person, the illnesses they faced, the bad food, and danger from weather and other ships. This is described in explicit detail. I think if I was a male, I would have enjoyed this more, but as a female, I was bored by much of it. Quite often the story is harsh and brutal. Without giving too much away, suffice to say that Dominic is enamored by the Navy for the “adventure and glory.” Unfortunately, this doesn’t sit well with me. I know I will catch flack for this, but for any man to expect a woman to marry him and accept the adventure and glory he seeks while she waits patiently at home for him, is unacceptable. Yep. I know many, many people do this, but I would not be one of them. Having written all that, I must say that Georgana is a brave soul and withstood a lot. In addition, the author obviously did a lot of research to write this book and, thus, I have given the book 4 stars instead of three.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The long awaited day is finally here for @arlemhawks! Release day is this week for her new book, Georgana’s Secret! I had the opportunity to read an ARC and all I can say is: Wow! First, let’s start with this: I can’t even imagine the research and time that went into this proper romance because it is so much more than a sweet, clean romance! I learned so much about the Royal Navy, ships and oceans. I was blown away by the knowledge and groundwork this must have taken.
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The synopsis let’s you in at the beginning, Georgana is disguised as a cabin boy on her fathers ship. But I couldn’t figure out how this was going to play out with Dominic, I loved how it all came together and the ending half was super fast paced and I had a hard time putting it down!
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If you are a fan of the @properromanceseries this is one book you won’t want to miss! Also: I’ve read almost all of Arlem Hawks’ other books and enjoyed them all, give her a follow, you won’t be disappointed.
Five stars!
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#properromance #bookstagram #historicalromance #properromanceseries #bookreview #georganassecret

Georgana's Secret is a sweet book by Arlem Hawks (Rachel Hawks)- the first book I've read by this author. The plot is a young woman hiding as a ship's boy serving her father, Captain Woodall for 3 years following the death of her mother. 'George' meets the new Lieutenant Dominic and their relationship grows over the ship's travels. The book is a nice diversion and uncomplicated, though the reader must suspend reality in some of the particulars (a woman hiding on a small british ship in 1800). The end is nice and wraps up with a little nod to women enjoying life beyond their home.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. If you are a fan of the Proper Romance series and regency stories then you must pick of this novel. To hide from her abusive Grandmother, Georgana must pretend to be George, a cabin boy, on her father's ship, where she meets with adventure and love. Along the way she learns to love who she is, and others.

This is a sweet romance filled with adventure on the high seas.

Georgana is taken away from an abusive home with her grandmother after her mother passes away. Her father, grief-stricken I'm sure, feels like she would be better off with him on the ship he captains. Of course, women aren't allowed on the ship, so she is disguised as a cabin boy. This is good and bad because the other cabin boys notice something is amiss and are not above creating awkward situations for "George." She and her father have to be very careful to not reveal her true identity to the rest of the crew.

Dominic ends up on this ship as the First Lieutenant much to the chagrin of other crew members. He is level headed and notices George receiving abuse from other cabin boys and takes him (her) under his wing. He teaches her to stand up for herself and perhaps regain a little respect from the others.

The day to day adventures of the crew and the ship will delight and also keep you on the edge of your seat during battles and other tense scenes.  The descriptive text will lure you in and you will feel like you are in the middle of the action. I enjoyed watching the love for Georgana and Dominic unfold especially once he realized she wasn't a boy after all. I was surprised it took him as long as it did to uncover that truth.

This was my first book by this author but won't be my last. We give this book 4 paws up.

(4.5 stars) - An intriguing change of pace in Regency Romance...

...and a riveting story (that would make an excellent movie)!

This was a Regency romance with an intriguing premise - a young woman disguised as a cabin boy on her father's ship. Dominic is a kind man who looks out for the weak & those in need and becomes a friend to the small cabin "boy". Their friendship grows & you know inevitably her gender will be found out - and I kept reading eagerly to see how their untenable situation would be reconciled, especially since Dominic loves the sea & Georgana very much wants a place to call home.

It's well written, with well-developed and engaging characters, plus exciting and suspenseful action. There were perhaps a few times when it felt a little laggy, but it may well have been my impatience to find out how their impossible situation would be resolved - which it does most satisfactorily!

*Romance level: sweet kisses, nothing graphic

Life isn't all ballgowns and happiness in this book, but that's not a bad thing at all. A Regency romance on the high seas during war was a very interesting way to find adventure and love. More than once, I found myself feeling very anxious over the events and I was completely invested in this tale.

Georgana is disguised as a boy on a ship that her father captain's for a few different reasons and when the new lieutenant, Dominic, takes her under his wing to help her learn the ways of Navy life, she's smitten. Between Georgana's stubborn strength and Dominic's caring determination, I was held hostage to this story.

Life on a Navy ship isn't easy at all and I felt that I was given a fairly accurate glimpse into that life. I loved the adventure, danger, and camaraderie, especially the relationship between Georgana and Dominic, but the power struggles and death were hard. I appreciated the balance of information and emotion, and felt that a very well-rounded story was delivered.

I loved the uniqueness of this book and Hawks has an excellent way of telling a believable and engaging story.

Content: mild romance; mild+ moments of danger, violence, death

This was an emotional and tumultuous journey that was real, raw, and full of depth. I have read books about women pretending to be men on a ship for safety, but Hawks brings it to a whole new level. Her writing evokes pain, love, yearning, and a longing to belong like I have never before experienced. This is not your run of the mill romance novel. If you want a fluff story look somewhere else. Georgana’s Secret will pull you in and feels so real, you can see the ocean for miles. I received a copy of this book for free, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

A sweet tale set on the high seas. Georgana is a heroine that you can’t help but cheer on. She’s been an overlooked underdog who finally gets a chance to pursue her own HEA. The question is, what will she have to compromise to attain said HEA? Dominic is passionate about one thing, until he meets George Taylor. I love the slow build of how these two develop a relationship and the eventual exposure of all secrets. The secondary characters add delightful and charming plot developments. There is mystery, intrigue, and sea faring adventures that range from common to intense. The progression of this story was just right to hold my attention and introduce new twists until the perfect conclusion for this tale. You will not be disappointed in this clean, historical regency tale set on the open seas. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

I enjoyed Georgana and Dominic's story and their friendship that turns into love. The beginning was very compelling, as was the ending. I did think the middle was a tad slow, but overall a very fun read.

This was a different Regency novel with most od the story happening on the high seas. I'm grateful I had read Hawks' book Commander of Her Heart before this one because I learned a lot about sea life and appreciated having that knowledge while reading this book. These books are not related at all, but both take place on a ship.

Georgana is an incredible woman. I can't imagine living under her tyrant of a grandma and then living in disguise on the ship. I know she's just trying to survive day to day, but I still think she's incredible.

Dominic is a great guy. He cares so much for his mom, it was sweet. I wish we had more of their back story. I felt it was just alluded to, but I wanted more. He was also a great lieutenant. He looked out for those under his care. I'm sure he'll be a great captain.

I loved the relationship between Georgana and Dominic and they ways it grew and evolved throughout the book. There was a lot of adventure and moments of suspense mixed in with the romance. I really enjoyed this story.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

#BookReview: GEORGANA’S SECRET by Arlem Hawks

How lovely is this cover! I have never read a regency romance set almost entirely in the high seas. It is quite unique at that but more so that the female lead has short hair and wears breeches. It is interesting to read the daily routine and issues of the HMS Deborah. I feel Georgana’s fear of revealing her identity and all the chaos around her. The men are rough and the tension feels unbearable. Dominic is a passionate man and most especially with his first love, the sea. I like that he is caring too, which led him to help Georgana’s plight. Their time together is very sweet especially at the beach in Antigua. That moment when Dominic sees Georgana’s drawing of the waves is charming. He is indeed a keeper and so is she!

I like the character development and how Georgana manned up during a critical time! So much action and so many unexpected turns of events in this story. I am happy with Fitz and Georgana’s friendship. Being in a navy ship is not for the faint of heart. This is one unforgettable book. Please find time to read it.

Thank you Shadow Mountain Pud for the arc copy. All opinions are my own. 4.5 stars

This book was AMAZING! I loved everything about this book. Both main characters were fantastic and the plot was realistic, exciting and clean. Once I started reading it I could not put it down (I left my poor kids to fend for themselves).
This author did an amazing job with the details of a life on board a ship and the battle scenes were so descriptive I could picture myself there! I absolutely recommend this book.

Georgana Woodall is the daughter of Capt. Woodall of the English Navy. she is about twenty and dresses in men's clothing, so she can be a cabin boy or s third class, boy. She had been on the ship for three years and got very lonely sometimes. She took care of her father and had chores around the ship to do.
Lieutenant Dominic Peyton hated leaving his mother behind. His father married her and then pushed her to the side and left her. After he died his brother did the same to her. She now lived with Dominic and he took care of her. She was very proud of him, he turned down an advancement because he didn't think he could support her while he waited for a ship.
Most of the story is at sea, so storms, corsairs, and privateering were part of the tale. So is Munity, injuries, death, and fist fighting happened as well. Not only was it entertaining, but also exciting, seasick, and ill. It was an all-around great book. The characters were wonderous and most were gentle or at least tried to be. I had not read this author before but I so loved her writing. I plan on keeping an eye out for more of her work.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Wow! What a beautiful and wonderful book! If you're looking for the traditional Regency novel of courting and balls and parties and society, this is not that book. But it is such a great Regency book. Full of discovering one's self, finding confidence, caring for and serving your loved ones as well as those around you, adventures on the sea, hidden identity, standing up for yourself and others, compassion, friendship, healing, family, secret love, art, battles, struggles, sorrows, trust, and much, much more.

The first chapter tears at your heart. Oh my heavens. I just wanted to gather up Georgana and comfort her. It gives so much insight into her heart and mind. Into her timidity and her taking on a secret identity. I loved watching her throughout the book. I loved her quiet observations of all around her. Her understanding of others' personalities and struggles. Her gentle and tender ways of reaching out and helping. Her desires of a safe and loving life. Her dreams of finding someone who will see her and love her. And I loved one gentle first lieutenant that was in this story. *Happy sigh*

The descriptions in this book were so well written. I felt like I was there on the HMS Deborah, sailing on the ocean with these sailors and fighting the battles with them. Struggling with their struggles. I loved when characters would go climbing up the rigging (my pulse might have been racing as well afraid for them). The feel of the ocean spray, the smell of the salty brine. I was there and felt it all. The research for all the naval aspects and ship descriptions and sailor's responsibilities, was well done. I could tell that the author has a deep love and respect for her subject.

I loved all the scenes with Georgana and Dominic. Their friendship and care for each other. The discovering of each other's hurts and pasts. All while keeping a secret identity. Oh, I loved it!!! So good. I might even be giggling over some of those scenes. Hahaha! You just need to read this one. If you love the sea or not, if you love Regency or not. If you enjoy books with characters who heal and grown, who are raw and need compassion, then this is your book. If you love sweet romances, never fear you'll find it all in here as well. I won't spoil anything. But you're gonna love it!!! I highly recommend this one for all readers. I can't wait to share it with my own teens.

Content: Clean. Some moments of peril and battles at sea. Wounded men and a doctor caring for them.

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

Happy Reading!!!

A sweet story about a young girl who goes to sea disguised as a boy. It is primarily told from her point of view as well as that of the young lieutenant Dominic. It shows a father who never faced up to the abuse he suffered and was too blinded to see history repeating itself. In the end he redeems himself by doing what is best for Georgana and allowing her to get her happy ending.

This was a really great book. I loved the characters and the way they were portrayed here. George’s naïveté, desire to stay ‘invisible’ and coming of age, made her a noble heroine. Peyton was the perfect hero. He was protective, even when he thought George was a young boy, then became a good friend, all while being a very capable leader on the ship. George’s father was also nicely written as the Captain of the ship. He was quietly and secretly protecting George, yet seeming to not play favorites. The story was finely crafted, with many twists and turns I didn’t see coming (high praise indeed, as I can usually figure the story out early on). I really enjoyed the slowly developing nature of this romance, as George and Peyton developed a wonderful friendship that blossomed into love neither saw coming. It was really refreshing to read a story of this time period set on board a ship of the Royal Navy. The descriptions of day-to-day activities and crew interactions, as well as the battles, had me feeling as if I was living aboard. This was a wonderful book to be thoroughly enjoyed. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. This is my freely given, honest review.

Captain Frederick Wentworth: bold, self-confident, and passionate. At fifteen, I thought him boring, far preferring Mr. Darcy’s distant, sophisticated persona. Now at twenty-five, I find that Wentworth, Jane Austen’s final hero, has captured my attention. As I sit here and type this, I ask myself ‘What’s changed?’ For one, Wentworth has energy–vibrancy–that leaps off every page. There is no brooding silence or long caution with him. A man of action, he strides through life with a joie de vivre and a strong sense of compassion for those he encounters. Now that I look at this list, I wonder at my ability to ignore this very worthy hero for years! Before I crack open my copy of Persuasion for a re-read, let me introduce you to a novel starring Captain Wentworth’s equal in character and bravery. In Georgana’s Secret, Arlem Hawks’ debut Regency novel, readers meet a hero and heroine bound irrevocably to each other and the sea’s mercurial waves.

Dominic Payton loves the ocean. It is his life, career, and passion. Despite his mother’s growing pressure to look for a wife, he knows that few women would be willing to live an unconventional, often dangerous life on a Navy frigate. To care for his single mother–and because life isn’t worth living away from the sea–Dominic accepts a promotion to become HMS Deborah’s newest lieutenant. Under the guarded eye of Captain Woodall, Dominic begins to prove his knowledge and skill. Yet it is the role of friend that quickly becomes the most challenging; George Taylor, Captain Woodall’s skittish young cabin boy, is greatly in need of a confidante…and pugilistic mentor.

Georgana Woodhull has a secret. Three years ago she vanished from Society and her abusive grandmother’s power. While Society at large believes her to be locked within the shadows of her ancestral home, she instead treads the boards of the HMS Deborah as a lowly, stoop-shouldered cabin boy for her father. The dark humor at her situation hasn’t escaped her–before her mother’s death three years prior, the sea ruled her dreams. It was a wild freedom that ever called to her. Now, all she longs for is a fresh start on land.

George stopped before she got to their things and cocked her head. “You said that was the second-best way to enjoy the sea. What is the best?”

Dominic pocketed the sea glass and caught up his shoes. “Standing on the bowsprit of a frigate in the open ocean.”

George frowned. “In the middle of a gale?”

His lips twitched at her exasperation, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” (Location 1719)

After the carefree and kind Dominic Payton defends her from a bully and then forces her to learn the best way to throw a punch, Georgana discovers that the sea can bring more than disaster: it can bring love. For his part, Dominic finds the mysterious George baffling. Just as his own search to find out George’s real identity reveals the shocking truth, danger arrives on board in the form of mutiny and enemy ships. As they navigate their newfound love and the challenges of battle, will they survive unscathed, if at all?

From its gorgeous cover to its poetic descriptions of nature, Georgana’s Secret is a beautiful addition to the Regency genre. Yet this novel contains more layers than simply being a work of art. Its snappy dialogue and unpredictable storyline lend something new and fresh to the Twelfth Night trope of a woman disguised as a man, as well as the age-old struggle between heart and dreams. Our heroine leans heavily towards pragmatism and our hero towards lively optimism, and the unique push/pull of their romance was one that I enjoyed immensely. The way in which this story was resolved was both devastatingly romantic and intensely practical. Not to mention humorous!

The only thing that I wish was handled differently was Georgana’s cruel grandmother. The scenes with her verbal and physical abuse–though few and far between–are potent and dark. By the end of the novel, I couldn’t decide if she was meant to be Georgana’s over-dramatic impetus for change or a frighteningly realistic example of an abuser. Because I know that it takes victims extreme courage to face their abusers, I wish there was more resolution for Georgana in this area, both to show her own bravery and to help inspire readers.

With its stirring romance and powerful vision of life at sea in the Regency-era, Georgana’s Secret hits all the marks for a five-star read. Yet it is Hawks’ attention to the small details–a lace headband, a name mentioned offhandedly in a letter, the feel and sound of a ship in battle–that steers readers into deeper waters, giving them the feeling of being immersed in a fully crafted, vividly realistic world. Don’t miss this captivating read in this January season of snowed-in days and new beginnings!

I loved Georgana’s Secret!

This book had me on an emotional rollercoaster wanting to stay up all night. I ended up hiding in my room to finish it, and I’m not even sorry I ignored all my responsibilities.

It has the perfect amount of action and adventure with a sweet, non traditional love story.

After the death of his wife, Captain Woodall whisks his daughter to his ship to hide her from his abusive mother. Georgana Woodall is able to stay under the radar disguised as a cabin boy for three years. Until Dominic Peyton.

Lieutenant Dominic Peyton hates leaving his mother on shore, but he feels the siren call for the sea he loves. The sea is the only wife he would ever need. Until he meets someone whose siren call is even louder.

I love a good, strong heroine. I also loved how unique this story was. I have enjoyed Arlem Hawks’ novellas, and I had really looked forward to reading this book when I first heard about it. It certainly lived up to my expectations! I look forward to reading more from Hawks.

“Only one person seemed unaffected by the ocean’s wrecking grasp. Someone who laughed into the wind and smiled through the mists. Georgana groaned, burying her face into her shoulder. She was not falling for Lieutenant Peyton. She wasn’t.”

Georgana’s Secret is the standalone regency romance debut by Arlem Hawks, published by Shadow Mountain Publishing. Napoleonic Wars are raging and Navy captain’s daughter Georgana Woodall has been removed from her abusive grandmother’s care and is in disguise as a cabin boy on Her Majesty’s Navy vessel Deborah headed for Antigua. First Lieutenant Dominic Peyton takes cabin boy George under his wing. Through the dangerous French attacks on the vessel, they become close. Dominic suspects something is up with the little cabin boy and there seems something strange about his family background.

Main character Navy Captain’s daughter is Georgana Woodall. I feel desperately sorry for her having been exposed to her grandmother’s violence most of her life and is bullied by the other ship mates. But throughout the story she finds impressive strength and compassion within herself and she is my favorite of this story.

Supporting character First Lieutenant Dominic Peyton seems a light hearted and happy person in total control of who he is and what his future holds. He seems to have slightly liberal views on propriety which impresses me. Events on the convoy mission challenge his view of life.
This story reminds me of a movie favorite of mine, Master and Commander, which has similar setting aboard a British Navy vessel during Napoleonic Wars. I can’t remember having read any plot which deal with the combination of romance and nautical warfare quite like this. I know we are only at the beginning, but this unique story just might turn out to be one of my favorites this year.
The beautiful writing intrigued and enthralled me. Descriptions were so vivid I felt transferred to the ship. It was hard to take a break to get some sleep. I just had to find what would happen next with Georgana and Dominic. I loved that there even was light hearted, amusing dialogue in places. It’s been a long time since a character has engaged me like Georgana. She seemed a well developed character with the perfect blend of human and believable. So relatable she could have lived next door.

A little surprise gem was included as Georgana and Dominic enjoyed a little escape to a faraway beach in Antigua where they got to be alone together (Georgana being George). This part I felt was particularly well written and was my absolute favorite of the story.

I am really excited to see what Arlem Hawks comes up with next and
anyone who enjoys a great regency romance set at sea will love this.
Similar authors to explore might be Sarah E. Ladd or Ronda Gibb Hinrichson. Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing, Arlem Hawks and NetGalley for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.

Conclusion: This beautifully written, thoroughly engaging regency about Georgana who hides as a sailor trying to stay away from her violent grandmother, when she meets a man whose only love is the sea.

To escape the guardianship of her abusive grandmother, eighteen-year-old Georgana disguises herself as a boy and serves on her father's ship. She falls in love with Dominic, the first lieutenant, but can't reveal her identity. When he discovers the truth, will he return her love? Or will circumstances tear them apart?

This is a sweet adventure romance, without much passion but with an undercurrent of longing. The pace is a little slow early in the book, but it becomes much more exciting later on.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received.

You know those books you miss the second you're finished? This is one of them.

Each time I talk about this book in person, there aren't even words. I just sigh and clutch my chest because MY GOODNESS, what a delicate and tender little love story this turned out to be.

The tension is written so well. The storytelling is rich with emotion and historical details. And these characters are wonderful! Georgana is stronger than she ever believed possible and Dominic is kind and patient.

I can't recommend this one highly enough, especially for fans of clean Regency romances.

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

I know the year has just started, but any book I read in 2021 has a lot to compete with if it’s going to knock Georgana’s Secret out of my list of best books of the year!

It’s been three years since Georgana Woodall has taken refuge on her father’s ship disguised as a ship’s boy. Each day she must fight to protect her identity; however, the alternatives of returning to her abusive grandmother’s home or having her reputation ruined are unacceptable. But when a new first lieutenant, Dominic Peyton, takes a special interest in Georgana, it will take everything she has to protect both her secret and her heart.

Arlem Hawks’ novel will be one I reread in the not too distant future. It’s beautifully written with immersive descriptions that make you feel like you’re at sea with her delightful cast of characters. From main characters such as Georgana and Peyton to side characters such as Jarvis and Fitz, Hawks’ has created a cast full of realistic, engaging characters that had me rooting for them through every page. My only disappointment with this book was that it had to end because I loved every minute I spent reading it.

I really enjoyed this charming and unique story. The characters were so well written and had wonderful depth. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

I really liked George/Georgana as a character. So often these days, people think a strong female character has to be physically strong and tough, but that’s ridiculous. Not only that, but it’s kind of misogynistic in a way because it’s basically saying that, for a woman to be strong, she has to be physically strong like a man. That just ain’t so, my friends. Women can be strong in many ways. Yes, we can be physically strong, but we can also be emotionally strong. This girl disguised herself as a boy for THREE YEARS on a ship in the 1800s. Do you know how hard that would be on you? Imagine having to hide the periods! I think I’d be discovered in about two days. Georgana is resilient. She faces scrutiny from the men and boys on the ship every day but finds ways to make it more bearable, such as by drawing. And it’s not just the men. Her grandmother was horrible, as well. Her whole life consisted of finding ways to protect herself before she ever set foot on a ship. In the end, she saves the whole crew with her wit and courage! This girl is a force to be reckoned with, and Hawks did a great job with her character.

Now onto Dominic. He is such a good hero. He faces his own struggles in this novel as he tries to figure out how he wants to live the rest of his life while still being there for his mother—and later Georgana. He’s steadfast, a good person in general, and strong leader who cares about those under his command and protection. He’s literally willing to die for Georgana and her father, even when he doesn’t think he has a future with her. Overall, he’s just so sweet toward her, both when he thinks she’s a boy and when he knows she’s not.

My only qualm—and it’s a tiny one!—is that I didn’t like how Georgana’s father acts toward her before the end of the novel. It seemed out of character to me, and it felt a little jarring. But hey, we can’t like everything.

1811: Georgana is the daughter of a ship captain. She has travelled with him on his ships for the past three years, since she came of age, in the disguise of a boy named George. The crew thinks that George is an orphan and a distant relative of the captain, but she doesn’t have the respect of the other men and boys. Dominic is a lieutenant on the ship. His mother wants him to get a promotion to captain, but he refused the promotion so that he can have more consistent work and support his mother. His mother has heard of Georgana, the captain’s daughter, and wants Dominic to find out more about her because she wants him to get married. Dominic is drawn to George when he sees him being bullied by the rest of the crew. They spend time together, and Georgana can’t help but fall for Dominic. However, she needs to maintain her disguise as a cabin boy to protect the ship and her father’s position.

This was a very slow burn romance. There was a lot of tension with Georgana’s secret. I held my breath every time someone came close to figuring it out. At the same time, I was rooting for Georgana and Dominic to get together and for him to figure out that she was really a girl in disguise.

I was a little lost when it came to the description of the ship and all the work they did on it. Most of the story was set on the ship, except for a couple of chapters. I’m not familiar with the terms that were used so I couldn’t follow the parts where there was a lot of technical terminology used.

I liked this regency romance.

Thank you Shadow Mountain for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the story of a sea captain who takes his daughter, disguised as a boy, onto his ship to get her away from an abusive grandmother. The daughter/boy is forced to work as a cabin boy and encounters the other shipmates, some who are kind and some who are not so kind.
I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book kept me enthralled from start to late-night finish. Georgana is used to rough men and even rougher women, so Dominic was like a ray of sunlight in her life. I loved his enthusiasm for the sea and his work, and his kind encouragement to George. Life on a wartime frigate was well-described without being overwhelmed by details. The author skillfully brought the setting to life and I felt like I was on the ship with the crew. It was easy to connect with the emotions of Georgana and Dominic, and the friendship they form is natural for a boy and his mentor, easily developing into more as they learn more of each other's secrets and deepest feelings. The relationships they have with their family and other members of the crew rounded out the story well and brought additional layers and growth. While the pace is steady in the first part of the book, by the end I found myself quickly turning pages as the intensity of the action and plot increased. Highly recommend to fans of Carla Kelly, historical fiction, and Regency romance. Definitely one of my favorites of 2021!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

What do you imagine when you hear about the naval vessels during the Napoleonic Wars? This book has it all: drama, sea battles, sword fights, insubordinate officers, peril, standing up for what is right, and love.

The setting of the ship for a historical romantic adventure was unique and well done. Ms. Hawks' pacing of the book was excellent and makes you feel like you are right there. This book had the feel of Horatio Hornblower with the added dimension of the courageous Georgana Woodall. Watching Georgana believe in herself and help save the day was so exciting! I loved the book and highly recommend reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ebook arc. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Georgana’s Secret by Ariel Hawks was the very first book I chose to read for 2021. There has been an amazing growth and popularity for the readership of Regency romance as of late and I really wanted to read more of this genre this year. I am so glad I did, since I devoured this book over the holiday weekend - loving the characters and the exciting story of how Georgana’s disguise as George was discovered while a budding romance ensued. Georgana’s character stayed with me long after I read the book. Her strength and determination really showed how she was a woman well ahead of her time and one of my favorite heroines in recent reads.

Haws wrote a spellbinding proper Regency romance story set in the high seas 1811. I thought this was a fun read where a young woman, Georgana Woodall disguised herself as the Captain’s cabin boy ‘George’ to sail with his father, the Captain of the ship to escape her abusive grandmother whom she had to live with when her mother passed away. Leaving one abusive situation was quickly replaced by another, among the ships’ crew who was jealous of George’s favor with the Captain. Lieutenant Dominic Peyton witness to the bullying by some members of the crew takes George under his wing teaching self defense and survival skills while in the ship. What happens next is a sweet and tender romance as Dominic discovers Georgana’s secret.

I thought the writing was immersive and rich in accurate historical detail. I think young adult readers will really enjoy this sweet story and amazing well written characters. The reality and hardship of life in the ship made me flinch and broke my heart for how a young woman chooses to remain in hiding to be with her father enduring all the abuse, rather than being in London society at the time. I really appreciated how Hawks wrote Georgana’s character so well into the story.

I really loved and enjoyed this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of Georgana's Secret by Arlem Hawks.
"Georgana's Secret" is a clean Regency romance from their Proper Romance collection. It differs from many Regencies in that it takes place on the high seas of a British Navy frigate rather than in ballrooms and Hyde Park. It was interesting to learn more about the British Admiralty in 1810+ and life on a frigate during that time while patrolling the oceans and directing convoys of merchant ships. The romance between George and Dominic grew organically and naturally. The character were written well with much depth. The book seems to be researched intensely with few inaccuracies. George's interactions with the other cabin boys was written quite well and was very emotionally rewarding. My only issue with the book was that I felt that it was a bit slow moving in the middle but I believe that was a fault in this reader and possibly not the book. I had an urge to read ahead. I would recommend it for those who enjoy the Regency period and perhaps are looking for something a bit different . It would also work well for young adult readers who enjoy the writings of Georgette Heyer in that it is Proper Romance and thus more appropriate for their reading than some of the current romances available. I had read every Georgette Heyer romance by the time I was a sophomore in High School. All in all , I would rate it a 3.5-4.

This novel intrigued me because…

It’s part of the “Proper Romance” collection which Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson–one of my favorite books ever–is a part of.
It reminds me of Persuasion with the hero being a Navy officer. I was intrigued by the setting on a ship and all I could learn about Navy life.
I’m always game for a clean, beautiful Regency romance.
I really enjoyed this novel. The protagonists are both on difficult life journeys yet they bring hope and love into each other’s lives. The action is intense, almost shockingly violent at times, but gives a unique view of life in His Majesty’s Navy. The love story is absolutely fantastic! I loved the slow, comforting way their relationship builds and how passionately they fall for each other with lives and reputations threatened. This is a unique historical romance that widens the scope of the genre in beautiful and meaningful ways.

I appreciated the twist on a classic Regency historical setting. Usually we are in London or the English countryside. But this gives us classic Regency England with a twist. There are a lot of allusions to life in the Royal Navy during this time period in books set during this time. Jane Austen even has a navy hero protagonist in Captain Wentworth (I love Persuasion!) But I haven’t read a book that is actually set on a Navy ship for the majority of the novel. All the details about life in the navy (the good, the bad and the ugly) were fascinating: Dominic’s love of the sea, the ship, the water, the wind, cramped living conditions, spread of disease, battles with French ships, rats (YUCK!), mutiny, stops along the way, royal officer ranks, injury and death. It was fascinating to learn so much about life on the boat. I was impressed that inside this very masculine world, Hawks could create a strong, feminine heroine.

I loved the journey Georgana goes on in this novel. To begin, I wasn’t really impressed by her. She seemed too timid, too scarred from her abusive past, and so obviously not a good fit to life on a navy boat (even in disguise). I was honestly surprised everyone didn’t know she was a woman; it felt so obvious! But when she means Peyton, she starts to find her confidence. She sees herself as worthy of love and belonging and strength. She celebrates who she is and even finds joy in her circumstances. I loved that. Some of my favorite scenes are when she is free to be herself (usually with Peyton around) like at the secret beach on Antigua or dancing behind the mast. These moments showed her potential to find happiness and to not be controlled by her grandmother. Be aware, the abuse she suffered from her grandmother was severe and the memories and reminders of that abuse are intense. Yet I love that Georgana is able to move forward. She makes friends with some of her bitterest enemies, she sacrifices for those she loves, and even finds the strength to save them all. In the end, I admire Georgana and the woman she becomes.

Dominic is a fantastic protagonist and perfect compliment to Georgana. He strong and a good leader. He cares about others from his mother to his fellow officers and shipmates. I love how kind he is and how he inspires loyalty because he gives it. He begins the novel in love with the sea. But I adored how Georgana sweeps him into a more passionate and beautiful love. He cares so deeply for her and always strives to help her be the best she can be. Even though she doesn’t suspect that he knows her secret. I loved that he helps her overcome her horrible Grandmother’s abusive hold on her. He celebrates what makes her special and strong. I love their love story. It seems as unlikely a love story as many a historical romance. How can they possibly be together when she is pretending to be a cabin boy who never wants to return to the sea and he is certain he will only ever love the sea? The twists and turns are surprising and agonizing. But in the end, they are determined to find a way.

The action is intense and exciting throughout the novel. From the battles with the French ships to the attempted mutiny to their contrasting experiences in Antigua, I never know what to expect. I loved the different sides of the sea that Hawks gives her readers. We see the ocean at her worst with men fighting and dying. And we see her at her best breaking down simple sand walls and searching for mementos in the water. I felt my journey was similar to Georgana’s in how she views the sea. At first, I wasn’t enthusiastic about this setting. But as the story progresses and we are introduced to the different perspectives of the sea, I began to see why it draws Peyton in so. I could see why Georgana spends hours simply drawing waves. And I could see how it can hard to say goodbye.

The writing is quite lovely and the descriptions of life on the water are superb. I loved the descriptions of the waves and the color of the water contrasting with the smells and sights of the powder monkeys during a battle. I smiled at the detail of the collection of mementos from the sea that Peyton brought his mother. I felt the anguish and despair with Georgana when she seemed to lost everyone she loved. And I nearly cried tears of joy when she finally finds a place to call home with her true love.

Beautiful romance with the right amount of tension and passion. We know that our two star crossed lovers will find a way to be together. But the many twists and turns that come their way kept me guessing all along the way. Grateful to receive an ARC and to read this unique and enjoyable historical romance!

It's always great to add another sweet and chaste romance novel to the list of what I can recommend to library patrons.
A female protagonist, Georgana Woodall, spirited away by her captain father from her abusive grandmother, tries to keep her identity hidden and hold her own against a rough-and-tumble crew of men and boys. The male protagonist, Dominic Peyton, a fair, charming and honorable lieutenant, takes it upon himself to mentor "George" to stand up for himself. Eventually Peyton rifling through the personal effects in his trunk and coming across some old newspapers, with lists of lost ships and obituaries of dead crew members, has him suspect "George" is not who he seems. All these things take place within the juxtaposition of a confined ship sailing across a vast, endless and at times very dangerous ocean, for several months on this particular journey. A slow build that nevertheless creates romantic tension and leads to a satisfying ending.

Arlem Hawks has blown me away with her debut novel, Georgana’s Secret. Romance is my favorite genre, regardless of how many non-romance reviews are here on the blog. But, I know good romance, and this is it.

This novel tugs at all the emotional heartstrings. You have a young girl who has lived a life no child should ever live. Then, with things unfolding as they do, she ends up as a cabin boy catering to her ship’s Captain father. She then endures mistreatment from the crew. Thus leaving one bad situation for another.

When Dominic takes her under his wing, the story comes together. The reader knows that George is a girl that brings a few laughs as long as Dominic is clueless. I had a few good chuckles at Dominic’s expense.

This trope is not new to me. I expected a generic accidental feel of George’s bindings or what have you as the revelation. But, the reveal was much more brainy, and I loved it! Dominic is smart in addition to his brawn, and that the author used this method excited me.

One reason why I love historical romance novels is that I can experience a life that I otherwise couldn’t. Where else would I find myself on a frigate leading merchant ships to the Caribbean using a sextant? I mean, you can go anywhere with a good book, but historical romance has a little something extra. It makes me feel alive. Georgana’s Secret is so good that I never once believed I wasn’t aboard the Deborah.

I am pleased to award Georgana’s Secret a full 5 out of 5 stars. If romance is your thing, you definitely will not want to miss this one. Now, if I could find my own Dominic, we would be all set.

I love reading books in new and interesting settings, they instantly become engaging in and of themselves regardless of the storyline. While I've read a lot of books with brief mentions of sailing, I've not read many where the whole story is aboard a ship, and a navy ship at that. I loved how realistic Arlem Hawks portrayed life aboard a ship and that she didn't romanticize the less pleasant aspects of it. I really felt for Georgana's struggles and her feeling of isolation. I mean what girl wouldn't feel lonely being the only female around and a secret one at that. Dominic was like a breath of fresh air, his passion for the sea and life was so contagious. Their romance was sweet and slow burning, which was satisfying to read. There was just so much to love about this story, adventure on the high seas, secret identities, unexpected love. Arlem Hawks has done a wonderful job of this novel and I expect great things from her in the future.

Georgana Woodall lives on her Father's ship the HMS Deborah dressed as a young man, only her father and her know that fact. Until Lieutenant Dominic Peyton comes aboard their ship. This story has suspense, drama, danger, mutiny, twists, turns, and romance I enjoyed reading. This is a new Author to me. I received a copy of this book via Net Galey and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This Regency romance is endearingly adorable. Regency romances are so fun because they take place during a very small and somewhat bizarre period in history when so-called Mad King George III was deemed incapable of ruling the United Kingdom and his son and heir governed [defined loosely] as Regent in his place. Though the Napoleonic Wars with France were on everyone’s mind, even more important was a preoccupation with high society, especially among those who aspired to the “bon ton,” - French for “in the fashionable mode” - and there were a plethora of rules about how young men and ladies could behave, dress, and interact.

Georgana Woodall, 18, is flouting all the rules: in order to get away from her abusive grandmother, she disguised herself as a male named “George” and joined her father, a navy captain, on his ship as his cabin boy. She can’t hide her lack of toughness though, and the other boys on the ship harass her. First Lieutenant Dominic Peyton, compassionate and handsome (needless to add), is determined to mentor George to help him survive and gain the respect of the other boys.

Alas, Dominic is strangely drawn to George, and George can’t help but fall for Dominic.

It’s not at all as predictable as it sounds however; there are some surprising twists in store for readers, leading up to the delightful denouement.

Evaluation: I raced through this book; I loved the wonderful characters, warts and all, and watching them and their interrelationships evolve throughout the story.

We often only see Regency Romance in ballrooms and Mayfair - here we get to meet 2 people - who may not have ever met one another, but for the Heroine's need to seek freedom. Secret Identity - check - Romance at sea - check check. The writing is solid and keeps the reader engaged - you truly feel how Georgana is feeling through the pages. I love when i get a chance to read a book that breaks away from traditional Regency. It's nice to step away from the balls and house parties. It's such a beautiful story between 2 souls who find connection with one another. I'm excited to read more from this author.

This is not your typical Regency she-dresses-as-a-he story. Georgann Woodall is disguised as a boy by her father, a sea captain, so he can keep her safe on his ship where her abusive grandmother can't find her. For 3 years she works as a ship boy and attendant to her captain/father, her real identity unknown to the rest of the crew. That is, until 1st lieutenant Dominic Peyton is assigned to the same ship. Peyton takes the 'boy', George Taylor, under his wing and teaches the 'boy' how to defend himself against harassment by the other boys. As their friendship grows, Dominic makes the stunning deduction that 'George' is the offspring of Captain Woodall, and a daughter at that. Unknown to Georgann, he begins to have feelings for her while she believes his kindness is only pity for a tormented boy.
I loved this story, especially how Georgann's secret identity is slowed peeled away until she realizes that Lt. Peyton loves her. Their harrowing voyage includes a sea battle and mutiny that threatens to destroy the life that Georgann realizes that she truly wants.

Outstanding book!! This proper romance takes place on a navy ship- which seems a highly unlikely place for a proper romance! I enjoyed becoming more familiar with ship terms and spent some time googling to become more informed.

Georgana Woodall escaped her abusive Grandmother by disguising herself as Goerge, a cabin boy, and serving her father- the captain of the ship. Spending 3 years on board, often being ridiculed by the other third class boys was more appealing to Georgana than being with her Grandmother or hidden away at a school because she knows her father loves her.

Lieutenant Dominic Peyton loves the sea and all that comes with it. He doesn't have time for or need women outside of his mother who he desires to support. As first Lieutenant, he sees George often and upon discovering the extent of the 3rd class boys' ridicule, teaches him to defend himself from the other boys. His strength and kindness are recognized by many aboard the ship. A letter from his Mother half way through the voyage changes some things for Dominic which made the second half of the voyage interesting!

The romance was swoon-worthy despite some obvious obstacles. Dominic and Georgana were both easy to like and relatable. The good and bad characters in the story (and those in between) had depth and growth. So many books have the men going off to fight on ships- I appreciated going with this time! I read this in a day- could not put it down and then I continued to think about it after I finished it. Cannot recommend highly enough to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, proper romances and just a good book!

I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.

I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
In this fun maritime tale, Georgana’s ship-captain father has hidden her away from her abusive Grandma on his ship. Georgana assumes the identity of George Taylor, a young ship’s boy, for three years. On what’s to be her last journey before she comes out in society, she meets Lieutenant Dominic Peyton. The two quickly form a bond at sea, but Peyton only knows her as a young boy. On their way to Antigua, Peyton slowly begins to unravel Georgana’s three-year secret, and the two begin to fall for one another.
I loved reading Georgana’s Secret. I love reading any nautical expedition, but this story was especially fun. While Georgana and Dominic’s romance fell a little flat in my eyes, the adventurous plot definitely made up for the main characters’ shortcomings. The secrets, the drama, the politics, the danger, the sorrow, every aspect of the plot was adventurous and all-around entertaining.
As the HMS Deborah crossed the Atlantic, the crew came across a couple of enemy ships. Several thrilling maritime battles ensued, pitting the crew against French privateers. These battle scenes were extremely well-written (and often anxiety-inducing). Oftentimes, I find it difficult to find battle scenes realistic, but I found the writing refreshingly accurate.
I also felt Hawks navigated maritime politics really well. The tenuous relationship between Lieutenant Peyton and the slighted Lieutenant Jarvis, as well as Jarvis’ relationship with the Captain was surprisingly well-developed and set up Jarvis’ attempted mutiny quite well. The battle scenes coupled with the ship politics definitely gave me Pirates of the Caribbean vibes. This is definitely a new favorite.

My Thoughts:

I love the unique story of Georgana.
As a young girl, and beginning to mature and develop, she became another person in order to be near her father and safe. She is uncomfortable in this role. She is bullied and abused because of this role. She is always on guard hoping her true identity will not be discovered. Her impersonation is difficult but required.
I am reminded of how difficult it is to try and be someone else in order to please another. I am reminded of men and women who are in relationships who pretend to be someone they are not. It is a burden and taxing. These issues are never deeply explored, but Hawks touches on them in Georgana’s story.

I love the character Dominic.
Lieutenant Dominic Peyton is a good son, and he is an officer in His Majesty’s Royal Navy. He is not looking for a romantic relationship. He believes it will detour him from life and career at sea. After boarding the HMS Deborah, he notices a cabin boy who is in trouble. It is interesting Dominic makes time to be compassionate and kind. I feel this is an admirable trait in a man who seems to be singularly focused on his career. But he is also a good son and treats his mother well. This is often a predictor of how a man will be in a relationship. Further, I feel a part of him knows the truth about Georgana.

I’d like to have read more about Georgana’s father. I know enough about him to be curious for further character development.

Another character who is an intriguing secondary character, Etienne. He is the ship’s doctor.

I love reading about life at sea, encounters with the enemy, duties for the crew, medical procedures onboard ship, emergency situations, and the relationships between the males.

Men can be friends with men. Women can be friends with women. Men and women can be friends. And all these relationships can happen without sex. It is possible. Romance doesn’t happen to two people because they are in a platonic relationship. Romance is a result of a mix of other factors. It is possible for a reader to wonder is there could have been a sexual relationship between Dominic and Georgana—Dominic thinking Georgana was a boy. I don’t know, that’s a far reach. I still believe a part of him knew her identity.

Source: I received a complimentary paperback copy/NetGalley e-book from Shadow Mountain. I am not required to write a positive review.

This was the first book I have read by this author. The setting is a British frigate sailing to the West Indies and back during the time of Regency England. On board is the Captain, a life-long sailor in His Majesty’s Royal Navy. His staff consists of George, Peyton, and Jarvis. George is the captain’s cabin boy, but really is the captain’s daughter in disguise. Dominic Peyton is the captain’s First Lieutenant, and most recent sailor to join the ranks of the RMS Deborah. Lastly, Mr. Jarvis the Second Lieutenant, known for chasing privateers and abusing anyone that stands in the way of what he wants. He was recently looked over for the position of First Lieutenant.

This story has it all: romance, battles, plagues, miracles, and mutinies. Although set in the past, the author deftly handles issues that resonate with the modern reader. The first is physical and mental abuse. The Captain brings his daughter on board disguised as the cabin boy to rescue her from his own mother. Georgana had spent years being abused both physically and mentally from her own grandmother. While the physical wounds had healed, the mental and emotional wounds were raw, leaving her own sense of self-worth diminished. Another modern theme is the physical and mental injuries caused by war. The author lightly but empathetically responds to this reality that so many young men and women face today. Lastly, I loved the message of girl power that the author sends to any girl or woman that may read this. In the end, the sweet girl is the one who saves the day!

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars because the author had well-developed characters (including the minor characters) and a well-developed plot. Arlem Hawks takes a somewhat predictable regency romance plot, and twists it—not into something different, but into something better!!

Thank you to the publisher, Shadow Mountain, for providing me with the NetGalley ARC for review; however, the opinions in this review are mine.

To escape her abusive grandmother, for three years Georgana Woodall has masqueraded as George Taylor, Boy Third Class, on H.M.S. Deborah, the Royal Navy vessel her father commands. For those three years she has lived with the fear that her secret could be discovered at any time, which would ruin her father's career and destroy her reputation completely. She has also endured bullying by the other boys due to her small stature and the perceived favouritism by Captain Woodall. By keeping her close and assigning her less dangerous duties, he is protecting his daughter the best way he can.

When Dominic Peyton joins the ship's company as first lieutenant, the kind-hearted and observant officer notes how George's treatment by the captain sets him apart from the other boys and contributes to his loneliness. Determined to change matters, Dominic befriends the timid George and gradually draws him out from behind his self-imposed protective barrier, taking him ashore when he learns the lad hasn't left the ship in the three years he's been onboard and even teaching him how to physically defend himself against the other boys. As their friendship develops, Dominic becomes more puzzled by the relationship between George and the captain, and eventually, with the seeds sown by his mother on his last shore leave, he puts all the clues together and realises that George is in fact a female. Dominic keeps this knowledge to himself. While his outward manner towards George doesn't change, his feelings for the eighteen year old Georgana certainly do. Unable to declare himself, Dominic continues to watch over Georgana, keeping her secret, but even he, as much as he tries, cannot keep her safe from the dangers of life in the Royal Navy or the actions of a vengeful fellow officer.

This is a superbly written romance that is also a wonderful piece of naval fiction. I found Arlem Hawks' portrayal of life onboard a Royal Naval ship totally believable. The small details she included made many of the scenes memorable. One of my favourites is Dominic teaching George the Sailor's Hornpipe, but I also enjoyed Dominic's joy in climbing the rigging or standing on the bowspirit. She also captures the chaos and confusion of a ship in battle and Georgana's dangerous role as a powder monkey.

Georgana's Secret is a very heart warming story, full of adventure, with a hero and heroine that definitely belong together. It is an excellent debut novel. A treat for Regency romance fans!

This was a really cute story! I liked that it was different than a lot of other regency romances. It was fun to watch the relationship between Georgana and Dominic develop and manage the suspense of her secret and life on a ship.

I was very excited to read this author's romantic adventure on the high seas. I'd read a few of her fairy tale retellings and enjoyed her writing style.

In Georgana's Secret, we find Georgana disguised as a cabin boy named George on her father's ship. She has escaped an abusive situation, but now must live her life with a very big secret. But when Lieutenant Dominic Peyton takes an interest in the "boy" things start to change. Suddenly her longing for freedom becomes more urgent when she dreams of maybe finding love. But can she take the risk?

I really enjoyed this detailed adventure romance. It had a little bit of everything---pirates, ship battles, illness, exotic destinations, and even a mutiny! Of course having all of those things made the pacing a bit uneven, but the detail and depth to the characters as they underwent all the trials made it easy to overlook that. I loved Dominic as our hero, his kind heart and tenderness toward Georgana is swoon-worthy. Georgana has a difficult time of it, trying to overcome a past and reach for a future. She was definitely a relatable character and I was rooting for her to get her happily-ever-after. I also loved the secondary characters, especially the French doctor aboard the ship. I would love to know more of his backstory! But the relationships among the crew and main characters were really well-done and give a perspective of life at sea in that time period that felt real. I will definitely be looking for more from this author!

This was a wonderful masterpiece. I really enjoyed every minute of this story.

We follow a young cabin boy named George, or is it Georgeana, as she struggles to hid who she is on a ship full of men. The only one who knows her true identity is the captain, her father.

When George starts to have feelings for the new Lieutenant Payton, things start to take a turn for the worse on the ship. Action and adventure pursue and poor George struggles to survive.

With every turn of the story, I found myself rooting for George. Will she be able to hid her true identity and stay safe, or will she give in to those feeling and reveal who she truly is to Payton?

My review will be live on the blog, Book Confessions on 2-14-2021.

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!

Georgana's Secret is one of *the* most romantic stories I've read in a while (and it's definitely among my top 10 favorites!). It's truly beautiful, from its gorgeous cover to the wonderful prose and story within its pages down to that delightful epilogue. It's a book that both made me want to devour it in one sitting while at the same time pause and take the time to savor pretty much every line since the author is that talented and fairly transports the reader into this novel's setting.

In this book, I loved getting to know both Ms. Georgana Woodhall and Lt. Dominic Peyton (and I'm so grateful the author gave us both their POVs!). I loved their conversations, their strength of character, the banter as well as the character growth (maybe this latter point was more in Georgana). Granted, it was really sweet and swoony to see how, slowly, their feelings started developing for one another and growing from caring and friendship to the stronger pull of attraction and the possibility of love.

Of course, not everything is rosy-eyed in this story, and I'm grateful to the author for that since it made everything that much more real. The story greatly benefits from the extensive historical research done on its behalf, and instead of dragging it down with all the minutiae, it serves to better illustrate to the reader what life at sea specifically entailed (from food to watches, cleaning, drills, battles, storms, and other dangers) to everyone aboard (from third-class ship's boys to lieutenants and even captains).

Overall, a marvelous Sweet Historical Romance that left me with the biggest grin on my face, and is sure to satisfy fans of this genre as well as the author. ~ 5+ stars

PS: thanks to this book, the phrase "Sound English cannon" will never fail to make me smile.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

Nothing like a snow day on Wednesday to wash floors, do laundry, and READ!! This Regency Romance set on the high seas definitely had me hooked. The characters of Georgana and Dominic were interesting and I liked that the chapters were told from both of their perspectives. This was my first Arlem Hawks read but it certainly will not be my last.






Publication Date 12/01/21
Goodreads review published 05/02/21
Review also on Instagram and Facebook

Arlem Hawk's debut novel is a well-written adventurous Regency-era romance set aboard a Royal Naval ship. I was captivated from the beginning right to the end, with not a dull moment or lapse in the story. This story is also so much more than just romance. It's about enduring under harsh circumstances while still maintaining integrity.

Georgana Woodall is the daughter of a Navy officer who is mostly at sea. She and her mother suffer under the psychological and physical abuse of her paternal grandmother. When Georgana is fourteen her mother dies, and her father, now a ship captain, whisks her away with him to sea once he discovers the abuse she has suffered at the hands of his mother. For three years she is disguised as his cabin boy, George. Lieutenant Dominic Peyton joins the crew and takes George under his wing, not realizing she is a girl until they start spending more time together.

What I loved most about this book is the character development. Georgana is a 17-year old girl who has lived a hard life both in London with her grandmother and on the ship, working hard as a cabin boy so that the crew would not suspect. She is quiet and meek, but strong and compassionate as she strives to do her part while experiencing the hardships of navy life and bloody battles with enemy ships. Dominic is full of life and love for the sea. He is loyal, kind and so likable with his grins that light up his face. I loved these two characters and how they show strength of character. How they fall in love with each other's personality, perseverance, and determination.

The author brought to life what it was like to live as a navy officer on a battleship in the early 1800s. I actually did research so that I could better envision the author's detailed description of the ship's parts and decks. (The author has Youtube videos where she discusses historical details, which I found very interesting.) She didn't romanticize this life but rather showed what it was like through the eyes of a young girl who slowly blossomed into a young woman experiencing the joys and pangs of first love. I think this novel would make a great action-adventure romance movie.

I am so impressed by this author's debut novel that she is now on my list of favorite authors of historical fiction. I can't wait to read her next book!

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!

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.

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.

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 !

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!

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

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.

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

*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!

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.

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 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!

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!

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.

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.

I’ve loved Arlem’s novellas and was so excited to read a full length from her! This book seriously did not disappoint. It was unique, informative, and so captivating. The characters felt so real, and I loved the way the “secret” came out. The stakes were high, and I didn’t want to stop turning pages! SO good!

Georgana's secret was a delight! The perfect blend of sweet romance and high seas adventure, Georgana's Secret is the perfect read for any historical fiction fan. I adored Georgana's courage and wit, and her relationship with Dominic was both enchanting and romantic. Dominic gets a big A+ from me as well. **Swoon**

Packed with lots of action and adventure, Proper Romance book Georgana’s Secret by Arlem Hawks, takes the reader to the high seas with the British navy during the Regency era. A swoony, compassionate, sea-loving hero and a brave, caring young lady masquerading as a cabin boy are the main characters that bring the story to life. The author did a great job creating realistic characters and a dramatic storyline that kept me turning the pages. I’ll be looking forward to more tales from this talented writer. 4.5 stars

Every so often I read a romance that just resonates so much with me. And right now, I can't stop thinking about this one.

There was so much to love about this book that I think--no--I know I'm going to miss something. First and foremost, however, I'd be remiss if I didn't laud the writing of this story.

Ms. Hawks pulled me into this story so quickly and kept me enthralled. These two characters; Georgana and Dominic were such good people. Lovely, passionate, and such a joy to read about.

The romance in this was slow-building (as Dominic thought Georgana was actually "George" for quite some time), but once we got there--it was well worth the wait.

And, the ocean--well, quite simply, I love it. So, having a story take place on the seas, during a time when sailing encompassed bug-ridden meals and hardly clean water--there was so much detail and excitement in this.

These characters, and their struggles, were so captivating and realistic. I wish I could read more about them, honestly. And I can't wait to read more from Ms. Hawks.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book!

This book is an absolute gem that lives up to all the hype! Georgana lives with her father on the HMS Deborah, a ship in the Royal Navy. For years she lives under the guise of the Captain's cabin boy, George, and is subjected to teasing, abuse, and ridicule. There is so much history and inside look at life on the ship you get lost on the high seas with Georgana.
There is strife with the crew, several battles, and mutiny. But among all the bad at sea, there are a few friends and the new First Lieutenant, Dominic, who she tries very hard to hide her secret. The flow of this book is truly like the sea, calm and quiet moments intermixed with tumultuous conflict.

This book checks all the boxes for history, adventure, suspense, and romance. I am so excited to read Arlem Hawk's standalone prequel that comes out in February which is Etienne's story.

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Georgana’s Secret was lovely and interesting regency romance that revolved around Georgana Woodall and Lieutenant Dominic Peyton’s love story taking place at high seas aboard HMS Deborah. It was about Navy life, struggle and dangers of living on ship, standing up for yourself, letting go of past, finding self-confidence, compassion, caring for loved ones, friendship and love.

Writing was vivid, immersive, engaging, and steady paced. It was written in third person narrative from Dominic and Georgana’s alternative perspective. Plot was interesting filled with lots of emotion, adventure with well written secret identity and girl disguised as boy arc.

Prologue was sad that took me back to Georgana’s childhood in 1799. It described how difficult, Georgana and her mother’s situation was with controlling and abusing grandmother, how they cherished moments with her father whenever he returned for break and how difficult it was to say goodbye when he was called back for duty as Navy captain.

Eleven year later, Georgana was now living with her father on HMS Deborah disguised as a captain’s cabin boy named George Taylor for past three years, ever since her mother death, when captain Woodall discovered about his mother’s abusive treatment towards his only daughter. Life on ship was nothing like she dreamed as child. Being a ship boy in favour of Captain, able to dine with captain while captain invited officers to dine only occasionally, and had to do less work than others didn’t bode well with crew of ship and specially among rest of third-class boys who harassed her regularly. It was miserable for her to live alone with a burden of secret.

But things changed when Dominic Peyton arrived on ship as first lieutenant. When he witnessed George’s harassment, he immediately put a stop to it, offered him help, and took him under his wing. It made thing even worst for George but for the first time she felt she wasn’t alone, she found a friend in Dominic who taught her to defend herself, life on a ship became bearable and could feel hope and happiness in friendship of Dominic. But as she spent more time with him, it was becoming hard for her to disguise the girl she really was and hide her real feelings. She was convinced nothing would come out of all she felt for Dominic as Dominic’s first love was sea and she didn’t want another navy man in her life.

It was interesting to read Georgana and Dominic’s adventure on sea, to find out when Dominic would figure out George was a young lady, what would happen after that, what second lieutenant was planning and how crew of the ship would react on discovering George and captain’s secret.

Georgana was great character. I felt for her when I read her thoughts about her grandmother. Even after escaping clutches of her grandmother she couldn’t escape her stinging words that gave her nightmare. I agreed with her feeling about not her situation and thought on what was more terrifying, life with grandmother or lonely life on high sea with bullies. But I loved how care and compassion of Dominic brought change in her. Her dilemma on whether to tell Dominic her true identity or not and how he would react to it was genuine. I admire her love for her father and how she didn’t wish to burden her father or make him feel sad by complaining what she was going through on ship. I enjoyed reading her development from timid, meek and low self-esteemed girl to lady who proved to be strong, brave, and how she started believing in herself and her ability to do anything.

Dominic was lively, caring and compassionate man. His spirit and love for sea was infectious. I enjoyed reading his relationship with his mother. It was lovely he refused to accept promotion so he could provide more for her and collected little things from all his voyages. I loved how he noticed George wasn’t happy on ship, kept offering help and even tried to talk about it to Captain. I admired him for understanding and respecting Georgana and captain’s secret and Georgana’s wish about their relationship.

What I loved most was detailed description of HMS Deborah. It was interesting to read life at sea and challenge of convoy mission in era of Napoleonic war. Storm, disease, battle, insubordination, crew’s displeasure and even mutiny made story atmospheric. Romance gave light touch to it. It was slow and steady. I enjoyed reading Gergana and Dominic’s friendship, their growing relationship, strong bond, and conversations between them. They understood each other well and I loved how they cared for each other.

Twist and turns were good. Dominic discovering George’s identity and second lieutenant’s ill intentions were easy to guess but I couldn’t predict the battle before climax and how it affected characters and situation on ship. All scenes from climax to end were interesting to read. I loved how Georgana saved everyone’s life. I’m still confused about her father and Dominic’s last minute action but I’m glad things were wrapped up nicely with happy ending.

Overall, Georgana’s Secret was unique, engaging, and well written historical fiction and regency romance with high sea adventure and interesting characters.

Georgana is the daughter of a sea captain. He lived a majority of her life at sea, leaving her and her mother to stay with his verbally and physically abusive mother. When the abuse became severe enough for him to notice, Georgana's father secreted her away on his very own ship, turning her into a cabin boy for three full years.

Lt. Dominic Peyton takes care of his mother. He is also a lover of the sea and has taken this voyage in interim before deciding if he wants to take a captain position (which would keep him away from his mother longer than he would prefer and possibly be a financial burden on her.) He is on the voyage with Georgana and takes her (as cabin boy, George) under his wing. We watch as the inevitable discovery of her true identity and what it will mean to all those on the ship.

Super cute story. Extremely clean, fun story, fun characters, and an interesting look at what life on a boat that would see "action" on the seas would be like. I will for sure let my teenager read this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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.

This was a sweet regency story that took place mostly on a ship. Dominic and Georgana were both unique characters, but I felt that the farce of Georgana being a cabin boy drug on a little too long in the story. I would have enjoyed more if Dominic had found out about Georgana earlier on and they had to hide their relationship. However, this story with the bully cabin boys and Javier being the bad guys definitely added some intrigue. I found Georgana's father to be a rather disappointing character. With the way he'd left Georgana with his grandmother, even knowing she was abusive to him as a child and how he couldn't come up with a better situation but to hide Georgana on his boat. He was a massive disappointment. Overall, a sweet story about two people finding love in an unexpected place.

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the eARC! I apologize for my delay in reviewing.

Oh my word, this is appalling. I was going through my NetGalley list and saw that I never reviewed this.

A shame, truly, because Georgana's Secret was CUTE. I adored the story. I loved the mystery. I loved the setting and the world building. I did have a complaint, and that's because there were in fact zero pirates of the morally grey villain variety.

Thank you dear ShadowMountain fam!

A regency romance set not in fancy ballrooms or in a mansion, but on the high sea! Hawks introduced the naval regency story in 'Commander of his Heart' (which I thoroughly enjoyed as well), but takes it to a whole new level in Georgana's Secret. It's not all romance, but enough to keep my heart happy, while the adventure will make me remember this read for a long time (and dreaming of Dominic...oh Dominic...). Great read!

This was a delightful read! The world was incredible, the characters well-developed, and the ending was satisfying! For anyone who enjoyed The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle or Becoming Lady Lockwood by Jennifer Moore, I highly recommend this book.

The author does a wonderful job of portraying the hardships and hazards of being in the Navy during war in 1810. The detail and description of ship life and the layout of the ship showcases the author’s research and attention to detail. A spellbinding proper Regency romance story set in the high seas 1811. .Georgana Woodall disguised herself as the Captain’s cabin boy ‘George’ to sail with his father, the Captain of the ship to escape her abusive grandmother whom she had to live with when her mother passed away. Leaving one abusive situation was quickly replaced by another, among the ships’ crew who was jealous of George’s favor with the Captain. Lieutenant Dominic Peyton witness to the bullying by some members of the crew takes George under his wing teaching self defense and survival skills while in the ship. What happens next is a sweet and tender romance as Dominic discovers Georgana’s secret. I thought the writing was immersive and rich in accurate historical detail.
The reality and hardship of life in the ship made me flinch and broke my heart for how a young woman chooses to remain in hiding to be with her father enduring all the abuse, rather than being in London society at the time. I really appreciated how Hawks wrote Georgana’s character so well into the story.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for the ARC.

Gripping read, with instantly likable characters, terrific chemistry, and engaging plotline that had me entranced until the very end.

Lt. Dominic Peyton has forgone a promotion in order to keep a steady paycheck coming to support his mother. He signs on with the HMS Deborah under Capt. Woodhull, befriending a timid cabin boy, taking "George" under his wing.

Georgana "George" Woodhull has spent the last three years at sea, longing for more, but afraid to go back to what she left behind. But Peyton's friendship puts everything at risk.

A compelling read with characters that you want to cheer for from the start. Peyton is a honorable man, who does his mother proud. He doesn't responsibilities lightly. I loved him for how he sees someone overlooked by many, and takes the time to offer kindness.

The author realistically brings to life onboard a ship, with details that add to the flow of the story, as well as helping me understand the lives of the other characters. I liked how Capt. Woodhull is always trying to protect Georgana, even if his methods aren't conventional, he truly wants what is best for her. I loved how Georgana came to life under Lt Peyton's friendship, and how he helps her grow in confidence. And the chemistry was just perfect!

Overall, a completely enjoyable read from beginning to end, with fantastic characters, excellent pacing, plotting, well researched, and phenomenal chemistry that brought a smile to my face. A wholly satisfying read, that had me rooting for it all to work out in the end. Definitely recommend this amazing historical romance set on the high seas during the Napoleonic Wars!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

GEORGANA’S SECRET
Arlem Hawks
Regency Romance

There is a secret lurking on the decks of the HMS Deborah. A young girl is posing as a ship boy in order to stay close to her father. All she ever dreamed about was falling in love. Will this happen aboard the ship?

This was a great regency romance on the high seas. I throughly enjoyed it and all of the action that was packed into it. This is definitely a 5 star read for me. I would recommend this for not only romance readers but also for anyone who likes a great high seas adventure.

Great debut book by Arlem Hanks! I loved how the author balanced story and romance. I am very excited to see what she writes next!

Loved this tale of secrets and hidden identity. Beautifully written and spellbinding. Harlem has brought many facets of history, romance, and fun together in these pages and I enjoyed reading it thoroughly.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Highly recommend and a perfect weekend read.

I love regency novels-- and this one hit the spot! I was absolutely enthralled by the story and was obsessed with following the story.