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Charms of Albion #2
Sailor's Jewel
Anything might happen on a ship in the open ocean.
As Rhoe sets out on a trip on the luxurious ocean liner, she expects to spend a pleasant week reading, talking at length to her brother Cyrus, and quietly enjoying herself. When she returns to Albion, she'll be taking up a new and demanding job at the Temple of Healing.
Hugh has been aboard ships half his life, so finding his sea legs isn't the problem. But since his father died and his much older half-brother inherited the shipping line, he's not sure where he fits or what his role could be. This trip, he's working to smooth things along for the first class passengers, making sure they have a memorable and delightful voyage.
Of course, the sea has her own mysteries. Something is moving in the deeps, affecting the pelagic mermaids and other ocean life. Rhoe, Hugh, Cyrus, and others must work together to find out why and bring everyone safely to shore.
Join Rhoe and Hugh for practical conversations, the mysteries of the ocean depths, and the pleasures of a journey in good company.
Sailor's Jewel is a romance of 84,000 words set in the magical community of Great Britain in 1901 with a happily-ever-after ending.
As Rhoe sets out on a trip on the luxurious ocean liner, she expects to spend a pleasant week reading, talking at length to her brother Cyrus, and quietly enjoying herself. When she returns to Albion, she'll be taking up a new and demanding job at the Temple of Healing.
Hugh has been aboard ships half his life, so finding his sea legs isn't the problem. But since his father died and his much older half-brother inherited the shipping line, he's not sure where he fits or what his role could be. This trip, he's working to smooth things along for the first class passengers, making sure they have a memorable and delightful voyage.
Of course, the sea has her own mysteries. Something is moving in the deeps, affecting the pelagic mermaids and other ocean life. Rhoe, Hugh, Cyrus, and others must work together to find out why and bring everyone safely to shore.
Join Rhoe and Hugh for practical conversations, the mysteries of the ocean depths, and the pleasures of a journey in good company.
Sailor's Jewel is a romance of 84,000 words set in the magical community of Great Britain in 1901 with a happily-ever-after ending.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2021
7 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Celia Lake
47 books76 followersCelia Lake spends her days as a librarian in the Boston (MA) metro area, and her nights and weekends at home happily writing, reading, and researching.
Born and raised in Massachusetts to British parents, she naturally embraced British spelling, classic mysteries, and the Oxford comma before she learned there were any other options.
Born and raised in Massachusetts to British parents, she naturally embraced British spelling, classic mysteries, and the Oxford comma before she learned there were any other options.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 7, 2023
delightful installment
I've very much been enjoying Albion, and was waiting impatiently for a new chance to visit. I was not disappointed.
I've very much been enjoying Albion, and was waiting impatiently for a new chance to visit. I was not disappointed.
October 20, 2023
Delightful. Just ordinary magical shipboard shenanigans…with a hint of kraken. Oops!
September 16, 2025
This is the first book I've finished from Celia Lake.
I really enjoyed this historical fiction with enchanting magical touches and a slow-burn romance.
Technically, timewise, this isn't as much of a slow-burn as it feels because the great majority of the book takes place during a sailing voyage from England to New York. The reader is given the POVs of both Rhoe and Hugh.
I LOVE the writing style in general. It reads like a classic Victorian novel, with formal, lovely, elegant language and witty banter. If you're looking for a modern-style romantasy, this is definitely NOT it, and it is so refreshing!
At the beginning of the voyage, Hugh, a dashing wizard/mage man who works in the ship industry, meets Rhoe, a Healer mage/witch, who is traveling with her brother Cyrus.
They spend a lot of time talking and discussing their world over teas, dinners, and dances. During their many pleasant formal conversations, the reader learns about the magical world. The side characters include a few catty, mean ladies with their gossip. We get to witness magic in the water, mermaids, and other magical sea lore, including a special jewel. These are the highlights, in between a great amount of talk about the politics and social mores of the characters' lives.
I spent the first 70 percent of the book wishing that Cyrus--even though I really LIKED him and was happy to know that he gets his own book in Ms. Lake's series--would go off and let Rhoe and Hugh interact alone.
But FINALLY, around the 82 percent mark, the budding friendship growing between Rhoe and Hugh becomes more. The wait was worth the payoff. And the spice level is refreshingly low, sweet, and discreet.
The only drawback in this book is the heavy amount of dialogue. I skimmed through some very long conversations where I felt like I was in a dark room during the pages and pages of talking. What they talked about was often intriguing, but at some points it felt repetitive, with no break for a physical description of their environment where they sat talking, and this made the pace feel slow.
Still, I really liked this book and now I want to read all of Celia Lake's books.
I really enjoyed this historical fiction with enchanting magical touches and a slow-burn romance.
Technically, timewise, this isn't as much of a slow-burn as it feels because the great majority of the book takes place during a sailing voyage from England to New York. The reader is given the POVs of both Rhoe and Hugh.
I LOVE the writing style in general. It reads like a classic Victorian novel, with formal, lovely, elegant language and witty banter. If you're looking for a modern-style romantasy, this is definitely NOT it, and it is so refreshing!
At the beginning of the voyage, Hugh, a dashing wizard/mage man who works in the ship industry, meets Rhoe, a Healer mage/witch, who is traveling with her brother Cyrus.
They spend a lot of time talking and discussing their world over teas, dinners, and dances. During their many pleasant formal conversations, the reader learns about the magical world. The side characters include a few catty, mean ladies with their gossip. We get to witness magic in the water, mermaids, and other magical sea lore, including a special jewel. These are the highlights, in between a great amount of talk about the politics and social mores of the characters' lives.
I spent the first 70 percent of the book wishing that Cyrus--even though I really LIKED him and was happy to know that he gets his own book in Ms. Lake's series--would go off and let Rhoe and Hugh interact alone.
But FINALLY, around the 82 percent mark, the budding friendship growing between Rhoe and Hugh becomes more. The wait was worth the payoff. And the spice level is refreshingly low, sweet, and discreet.
The only drawback in this book is the heavy amount of dialogue. I skimmed through some very long conversations where I felt like I was in a dark room during the pages and pages of talking. What they talked about was often intriguing, but at some points it felt repetitive, with no break for a physical description of their environment where they sat talking, and this made the pace feel slow.
Still, I really liked this book and now I want to read all of Celia Lake's books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2022
Magic at Sea
Sailor’s Jewel is Rhoe and Hugh’s story. Rhoe was a secondary character in Carry On. I appreciated her being a plus size character without that being the primary focus. It was fun to read about magic at sea, and how it affected sea creatures of the magical and non-magical variety. I thought the love story, while quiet and a slow burn, to be very sweet. I am definitely looking forward to reading Cyrus’s story. It’s on my TBR. Very enjoyable addition to the world of Albion.
Sailor’s Jewel is Rhoe and Hugh’s story. Rhoe was a secondary character in Carry On. I appreciated her being a plus size character without that being the primary focus. It was fun to read about magic at sea, and how it affected sea creatures of the magical and non-magical variety. I thought the love story, while quiet and a slow burn, to be very sweet. I am definitely looking forward to reading Cyrus’s story. It’s on my TBR. Very enjoyable addition to the world of Albion.
September 3, 2021
Solid outing in this series, the ship voyage version. I especially liked the relationship between the two main characters and the fact that the conflict and issue felt organic and functioned better with this author's style of storytelling. Very much enjoy exploring this world.
September 23, 2022
Another sweet book by Celia Lake. In this Cyrus, an important council member takes his sister, Rhoe, on on ocean liner before she takes her vows to Belisama and continues her work as a healer. Cyrus is carrying a magical jewel to take to Boston on behalf of the council. However, it appears that the jewel's power may be stirring up some of The Ones Below.
The sibling relationship in this is sweet and I really enjoyed their interactions. The love interest, Hugh, wasn’t my favorite but Rhoe is absolutely delightful. As usual in these books, everyone is pretty competent and kind, tea is drunk, ideas are shared, and problems are solved. I really love these gentle books.
The sibling relationship in this is sweet and I really enjoyed their interactions. The love interest, Hugh, wasn’t my favorite but Rhoe is absolutely delightful. As usual in these books, everyone is pretty competent and kind, tea is drunk, ideas are shared, and problems are solved. I really love these gentle books.
June 23, 2023
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. I didn't feel the chemistry between the two romantic leads for much of the book, although I admit that they make an adorable couple by the end. Other than that, the plot involves smart, kind people doing their best in various ways. There's a lot of talk about self-determination and choosing a career path that fulfills you while also doing good in the world. I am so glad that Cyrus is going to get his own book (coming in 2022) because he's a wonderfully complex and lovable character.
October 10, 2023
An ocean voyage on a magical liner in 1901 leads to romance & adventure for a dedicated Albion Temple healer & a shipping family's heir.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews