Across the Star-Kissed Sea Review

About the Book

 When May becomes a lady’s maid at sea, she’s hoping for an innocent adventure but instead must navigate rough waters, deadly combat, and unexpected love.

Mediterranean Sea, 1811

May Byam grew up following her father to his work at the ropemaking factory and listening to her uncle’s tales of life aboard a Royal Navy ship. After tragedy and scandal shatter her family, May is desperate to escape the shame that follows her. Despite her mother’s pleadings against it, May signs on as a lady’s maid to the young wife of a naval captain. If she’s going to run, she may as well do it in honor of her late uncle and cousin and where there is food, shelter, and perhaps even adventure. But the frosty reception she receives from the ship’s clergyman makes her feel far from welcome.

Heartbroken young Chaplain Elias Doswell returns to a harsh life at sea, but preaching to disinterested sailors isn’t the escape he’d hoped for—until a captivating young woman boards the ship. However, a case of mistaken identity ensures that he starts off on the wrong foot with the newly hired lady’s maid, who clearly wants nothing to do with him. But the close quarters of the ship forces the pair together, and May begins to see a side of the handsome clergyman she didn’t expect. As they struggle to navigate their deepening feelings, the danger of war with the French looms on the horizon, threatening their lives—and their love. (Goodreads)

BUY HERE

My Thoughts

I started this book having no clue that it was tied to Georgana's Secret which is the book Hawks wrote previously with a similar setting. I LOVED that book so I was even more excited to dig into this one! While you don't have to read the previous book, I do recommend it because this story means so much more if you do! 

I just love stories that are set on a ship and this book holds quite the adventure. The characters are well developed and so fun to read. The only thing is that I I really struggled to like May's character. By the end I did like her but I didn't see a lot of character development by the last page. Elias is such a unique individual and I applaud the author for creating a hero that isn't perfect. I so enjoyed getting to see the life of Dominic and Georgana again and I think that was the highlight for me while reading. This isn't my favorite by this author but still a good read. 

This is a good book for an escape to the high seas!

Three Stars. 

"I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."