Arlem Hawks – Timeless Novels

Beyond the Lavender Fields – Review

January 27, 2022timelessnovels

by Arlem Hawks

Publisher : Shadow Mountain (February 1, 2022)
Language : English
Hardcover : 384 pages
ISBN-10 : 1629729353
ISBN-13 : 978-1629729350

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1792, France

Rumors of revolution in Paris swirl in Marseille, a bustling port city in southern France. Gilles Étienne, a clerk at the local soap factory, thrives on the news. Committed to the cause of equality, liberty, and brotherhood, he and his friends plan to march to Paris to dethrone the monarchy. His plans are halted when he meets Marie-Caroline Daubin, the beautiful daughter of the owner of the factory.

A bourgeoise and royalist, Marie-Caroline has been called home to Marseille to escape the unrest in Paris. She rebuffs Gilles’s efforts to charm her and boldly expresses her view that violently imposed freedom is not really freedom for all. As Marie-Caroline takes risks to follow her beliefs, Gilles catches her in a dangerous secret that could cost her and her family their lives. As Gilles and Marie-Caroline spend more time together, she questions her initial assumptions about Gilles and realizes that perhaps they have more in common than she thought.

As the spirit of revolution descends on Marseille, people are killed and buildings are ransacked and burned to the ground. Gilles must choose between supporting the political change he believes in and protecting those he loves. And Marie-Caroline must battle between standing up for what she feels is right and risking her family’s safety. With their lives and their nation in turmoil, both Gilles and Marie-Caroline wonder if a révolutionnaire and a royaliste can really be together in a world that forces people to choose sides.

I love Arlem Hawks’ writing. Her book last year, Georgana’s Secret, was one of my favorite books of the entire year.

I just didn’t feel as drawn in to Beyond the Lavender Fields. Maybe because of everything the world is going through right now, but this book just wasn’t my favorite. I love the historical fiction aspects of what I read, but this had a touch too much of the political plotline. It seemed much more focused on the politics and less on the characters and other themes.

There were some really excellent messages in the book. It is not just about what we are fighting for, but how we are fighting for it.

This is still an extremely well written book about the French Revolution, but it just wasn’t for me.

Top 21 Books of 2021

December 31, 2021timelessnovels

This year has been filled with so many amazing books! Every single book on this list earns a 5 star rating and comes highly recommended. Some of them are now even some of my favorite reads of all time. Thank you so much to all these authors, and all the other authors out there, for everything that goes into their books; the worlds they create for us to escape into, the characters we come to care for, the research needed for all the rich history. There is so much that I am deeply appreciative of. Thanks for an incredible year of books!

Blog Tour and Review: Georgana’s Secret

January 13, 2021January 14, 2021timelessnovels

by Arlem Hawks

Publisher : Shadow Mountain (January 12, 2021)
Language: English
Paperback : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 162972792X
ISBN-13 : 978-1629727929

1811

A Regency romance on the high seas. Two hearts yearning to find a safe harbor, and possibly, a lasting love.

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. While trying to adjust to a new crew, 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.

Georgana is quickly losing her heart to Dominic’s compassion and care but is convinced nothing can come of her affection. She cannot continue to live her life on the sea, and having already missed too many seasons in London, her chances of being welcomed back into polite society and finding a suitable husband are quickly slipping away.

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

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.”

Arlem Hawks began making up stories before she could write. Living all over the Western United States and traveling around the world gave her a love of cultures and people and the stories they have to tell. With her travels came an interest in history, especially the history of her English heritage. When she isn’t
writing, Arlem is baking her characters’ favorite foods, sewing Regency dresses, learning how to play the tin whistle, and water coloring. She lives in Arizona with her husband and two children. Having previously published four historical romance novellas, Georgana’s Secret is her debut novel.