Georgana's Secret - Review

Georgana's Secret

By: Arlem Hawks

Publication: January 12th 2021 by Shadow Mountain

320 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, Adult

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A Regency romance on the high seas.

1811, HMS Deborah

Georgana Woodall dreams of freedom—freedom from her past and freedom from her secret. She has been living on her father’s ship for years, disguised as a cabin boy named “George.” But hiding her true self is becoming more difficult, and she yearns to break free of her life on the sea.

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.

Georgana quickly loses her heart to Dominic’s compassion and care, but needing to maintain her disguise as a cabin boy, she is convinced nothing can come of her affection.

Georgana’s Secret is about two hearts yearning to find a safe harbor, and possibly, a lasting love.

I have been on a historical fiction journey for a couple of years now. Where I once used to comment that I rarely read historical fiction, I'm now devouring just about anything I can get my hands on. I almost passed by Georgana's Secret, but I really enjoyed it so I'm glad that I didn't.

Georgana grew up living with her grandmother and mother when her father was off at sea in the Navy. However, her grandmother was quite abusive to both her mother and Georgana. She was adept at hiding it from Georgana's father, but after her mother's death, her father stole her away and hid her on his ship in disguise. She might have escaped her grandmother's clutches, but she isn't safe from harm. The other ship boys harass George due to the captain's special treatment. And plus, there's the fact that the ship is a Navy vessel and the country is at war so battle happens.

Dominic is assigned to Georgana's father's ship as First Lieutenant. And he takes George under his wing and teaches her how to defend herself against the harassment of the other boys. The two develop a friendship. Georgana begins to develop feelings, but maintaining her disguise is too important. At the same time, Dominic's mother reveals the fact that Captain Woodall has a daughter named Georgana, and the coincidence is too much for Dominic not to put the facts together.

That being said, I was a little hesitant about the progression of their relationship. Georgana didn't know Dominic knew she was a girl. So her hopes of more than friendship developing between them was a bit odd to me.

Favorite quotes:

-“To dance is to be a little ridiculous, is it not?”

-"...if I am to keep it from the world, I will not keep it from you. I wish to never hide my thoughts, my feelings from you again.”

I tried to think what I might wish to be different about Georgana's Secret and I couldn't really come up with anything. I feel like because of that the story and characters deserve a 4-Star rating. Have you read Georgana's Secret ? What did you think? Let me know!

A Captain for Caroline Gray - Review

A Captain for Caroline Gray

By: Julie Wright

Publication: March 2nd 2021 by Shadow Mountain

336 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Regency London

Caroline Gray’s third season in London society ends as badly as her first two—no marriage proposal, no suitor, not even a glimmer of an interested prospect. She suspects it’s because she is far too quick to speak her mind to men who are put off by her forthright opinions, her eager intellect backed by a formal education, and her unconventional ideas about the future. She is far more daring than demure to suit the taste of her class. Besides, Caroline thinks there will always be next season to find a husband.

However, her family’s dwindling income leaves Caroline with only one choice to secure her future: a one-way ticket to sail with the Fishing Fleet to India, where the son of a family friend waits. If the match doesn’t work, Caroline cannot return home.

Captain Thomas Scott loves the thrill of the open sea, and as commander of one of the ships of the “Fishing Fleet,” he ferries scores of young English girls to the shores of India to find husbands. The voyages pay well, but he struggles to understand why families would allow young women to be matched with total strangers so far away.

The trips have always been routine and uneventful—until this trip’s first night’s dinner with one Miss Caroline Gray. She engages in a lively political conversation, presenting opposing viewpoints to the conventionally opinionated gentlemen at her table. Captain Scott is secretly amused and delighted at her boldness, not to mention quite drawn to her beauty.

The rest of the passengers are shocked by her behavior and Caroline finds herself an outcast, suffering harsh judgments from the other passengers. However, she finds an unlikely ally in Captain Scott which quickly draws them closer.

Both know an arranged marriage awaits Caroline at the end of their voyage, yet the attraction between them is undeniable. Caroline will have to decide if she will honor her mother’s wishes and marry a man in India whom she has never met—thus securing a future for her and her mother—or be brave enough to throw convention to the wind and commit to love a sea captain. He may be enchanted by her bold and unconventional ways, but will his love and admiration last?

Normally during *pregnancy I struggle through reading and reviewing books. I've surprised myself this pregnancy with reading just as vivaciously as ever. Until October. October is such a busy month for us. Our two kids have birthdays in October as well as my dad, Husband, and my nephew. Not to mention typical Halloween and fall events. Add to that binge-watching a series on Netflix and a children's consignment sale, and well, I had my worst reading month in years. That being said, A Captain for Caroline Gray is the first book I've read post-October. And even though I read it quickly, I'm starting to feel my normal pregnancy ambivalence towards writing reviews. But I'm going to do my best here.

I enjoyed A Captain for Caroline Gray , and I read it quickly. I could relate to Caroline in some ways. She's not interested in making herself like most of the other women she knows. She's outspoken in her opinions and knowledge. And this rubs people the wrong way. It was projected as a cultural thing from the period. A woman during this time shouldn't pursue knowledge in specific areas. But truth be told, no one likes a know-it-all of any gender during any time. But she fights to be true to herself even when she questions whether she should change or not.

The book description is deceiving. Thomas does love sailing, yet he hopes to secure his finances in a way that will allow him to settle down and get married. Sailing wasn't his plan, it was his father's. Also, the description indicates that Thomas knows all along that Caroline is sailing towards an arranged marriage. Two things are wrong with that. One, the arrangement she has is to go to dinner with a man with the potential to decide to marry him. There's no set agreement beyond that. And Thomas isn't aware of the arrangement until feelings are involved and confessed and acted upon.

There was another aspect of mystery and danger. I didn't mind this part, but the relationships are always what drives me to read.

Favorite quote:

-"There are far better ways to spend a Wednesday evening during the season than with people who work so hard to be fashionable that they will never truly be in fashion.”

A Captain for Caroline Gray gets 4 Stars from me. I enjoyed the relationship journey between these two characters. The secondary storylines and characters were just as interesting. I'll be looking for more by Julie Wright. Have you read A Captain for Caroline Gray ? What did you think? Let me know!

*This review was written in November when I was still pregnant but not posted to my blog until closer to the publication date of the book.

2021 Series Enders Reading Challenge - February Wrap Up

Time for our Monthly Wrap Up for the 2021 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Neither Sandy nor Holly finished any series enders this month.

Which series enders did you finish? Link the up below. Don't forget to include the title, your name, & your blog name (Ex: Requiem - Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know) Also, the February giveaway runs from February 25th - March 25th. On March 25th we will use random.org and the linky entries to pull a grand prize winner.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Can't Wait for A Trial of Sorcerers

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

A Trial of Sorcerers (A Trial of Sorcerers, # 1)

By: Elise Kova

Expected Publication: March 4th 2021 by Silver Wing Press

pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Ice is in her blood.

Seventeen-year-old Waterrunner Eira Landan lives her life in the shadows — the shadow of her older brother, of her magic’s whispers, and of the person she accidentally killed. She’s the most unwanted apprentice in the Tower of Sorcerers until the day she decides to step out and compete for a spot in the Tournament of Five Kingdoms.

Pitted against the best sorcerers in the Empire, Eira fights to be one of four champions. Excelling in the trials has its rewards. She's invited to the royal court with the “Prince of the Tower,” discovers her rare talent for forbidden magic, and at midnight, Eira meets with a handsome elfin ambassador.

But, Eira soon learns, no reward is without risk. As she comes into the spotlight, so too do the skeletons of a past she hadn't even realized was haunting her.

Eira went into the trials ready for a fight. Ready to win. She wasn't ready for what it would cost her. No one expected the candidates might not make it out with their lives.

This is the first book in a young adult, epic fantasy that's a tale of competition, coming of age, distant lands, elemental magic, and romance. It's perfect for fans of the Legend of Korra, Truthwitch, and A Sorcery of Thorns.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Announcing: Remy Jeriah

Well guys, our third (and last planned) baby has arrived. Baby Boy, Remy Jeriah, was born on January 21st. He's healthy, and I am as well.

I have a couple of planned posts schedule to go up through the end of the month, but I am taking a much needed blogging break for the month of February. I already have posts scheduled for March, so I will be back.

If you are a publisher or author and I still need to review your book, it's coming. :)

Thank you all for allowing me some time to soak up my new baby (as well as an upcoming home rennovation). I look forward to catching back up with you all very soon. In the meantime, I hope you all are doing well!