Across the Star-Kissed Sea by Arlem Hawks - OPTIONAL

Across the Star-Kissed Sea by Arlem Hawks, 288 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2024. $18.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Her father’s criminal acts tainted the family, forcing May (19yo) and her mother to join the workforce to provide for themselves. When May’s employer dies, her options are to become a scullery maid in the home her mother works in or else take the future into her own hands. May applies for the position of lady’s maid to a naval captain’s wife, which leads to more discoveries about herself and her heart than about the sea and the world.

A little adventure, a little swashbuckling action, and a lot of romance hindered by misunderstandings and secrets are in store for readers here. May’s story is ultimately about trust—forgiveness of others and self, navigating hurt and vulnerability, and the courage to choose trust anyway. Sometimes we ourselves are our biggest obstacles to overcome, and happiness awaits our efforts to try again.

The majority of characters are English, though there are a handful of French and Spanish characters mentioned. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, mentions of harlots, partial nudity, kissing, and innuendo. The violence rating is for assault, mild blood and gore, and naval battle scenes.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen