I really enjoyed this novel. It was beautifully imaginative and quite sensual in its description. You could feel the tropical heat. The only limitation being a true story. Is that the ending was not quite what I expected. As a consequence I will be trying Sara Sheridan's mystery novels next at my daughters recommendation. This is an excellent choice for a holiday read.

Sara Sheridan does a great job on bringing to our attention, lesser known females who have played a part in our rich history. It always leads me to looking up more about these people.

In this case it is Maria Graham, a writer of travel and children's books. Of course not new nowadays, but this is the turn of the 19th Century and a woman did not have that sort of role. As a naval wife, she spent a lot of time abroad, seeing very little of her husband but kept herself occupied with her writing and travel. From Italy, to Chile and when widowed, Brazil.

When the opportunity to become tutor to a young princess presents itself, she needs a passage back to London but who will take her. A Naval widow and one who has a lot to say for herself.

It is on this journey that Sheridan shares with us and the life she experiences on board and when she gets back to London. All tied up with intrigue, disputes and a lack of respect for women in any sort of role other than that of wife and or mother.

This is a fascinating tale of a real woman who with the backdrop of the cocoa trade makes for an fascinating story and an education told so well by one of my favourite authors.

Naval widow Maria Graham is determined to live outside the confines that Georgian society would place on her. She has travelled extensively in South America and is a published writer. Returning to London to deliver her latest manuscript she finds passage on a ship captained by James Henderson. Henderson and his crew have a special delivery to make but when the Captain finds a secret he decides that he needs to change his life around. As attraction between Maria and Henderson grows so the distance to London shortens.
Reading this novel I found it a very gentle romance with a bit of social conscience thrown in. There are references to societal norms and to abolitionism which lift it above the being a merely saccharine sweet story and there is the subplot about smuggling and the taste for chocolate in development. however when I'd finished I read the endnotes and discovered that Maria Graham was an actual person which fascinated me. Sheridan has taken an episode in Graham's life and woven her novel around that, it's complete fiction but is grounded and I like that!

Historical fiction is where I turn when I need a break from crime thrillers, and Sara Sheridan has become one of my go-to authors.

I adored The Fair Botanist and The Secrets of Blythswood Square, so reading On Starlit Seas was a no-brainer for me.

As I've come to expect from Sheridan, her characters were well-rounded, complex and relatable. The storyline wasn't my favourite, (that honour belongs to The Fair Botanist) but that's not to say I didn't enjoy it. I did, immensely, but I prefer it when her books are set in Scotland.

Anyone who loves historical fiction cannot fail to enjoy this wonderful book.

A really interesting examination of a real life figure, this book is rich in romance, intrigue, and most importantly chocolate!

this was a good mix of history and romance. i love the fact we have a woman even in those days,doing all she can to pave the way for herself. and what a formidable woman she was. but also like many woman then and now she came up against horrific sexism and challenges to just be heard. to just be treated equal! but inspiring for all woman in recent times. to keep going. to keep following your dreams. and to keep fighting to be heard.
but how equally at the same time you can be gentle or feel vulnerable. and find rogue men on ships rather attractive!
this was a little different from the story i assumed it would be from the blurb. but im not sure thats a bit thing. but i was a little "oh" when it wasnt what i first assumed. but that could just be a me problem.