Across the Star-Kissed Sea (Proper Romance Regency)
In 1811 Portsmouth, England, impulsive May, 19, is filled with anger and grief over her father’s “abandonment” of the family when he was convicted of embezzlement and transported. So, when her mother is offered a position as a lady’s maid at a grand house, May feels abandoned once again. Instead of meekly accepting the offered scullery maid position to stay near her mother, May answers an ad for a lady’s maid to the wife of a naval captain. Having heard seagoing tales all her life, May looks forward to the adventure.
Elias is a second son and a clergyman. He’s taken a position as chaplain on board a Royal Navy ship in part to prove he’s not a coward—an idea that springs from battle trauma when he was a 12-year-old ship’s boy. He’s also hurting from the latest in a series of broken romances. With misunderstandings from the moment they meet, this romance develops aboard a Royal Navy ship with its strict rules and forced close quarters. The author’s research on battles, ships, and details of daily life are skillfully interwoven into the story.
It’s refreshing to have a Regency romance that doesn’t involve balls and the hothouse life of a debutante. There are Christian themes of forgiveness throughout, but it’s not preachy. Although both protagonists are a bit exaggerated in their strongly-held emotions (anger for her, shame for him), it’s a fun read. Because this story is very chaste (rated G), I’d recommend it for teens or adults.
