Sea and Stars
Some songs are worth hearing, no matter the cost.
The Isle of Skye, 1847.
When Arabella Porter, a lonely healer gifted with fairy magic, receives a mysterious letter from the past, she journeys to Mystic, Connecticut in search of the father she has never known. There she crosses paths with James Alden, a handsome shipbuilder whose shadowy history hides secrets of its own.
Both thrown together and kept apart by circumstances beyond their control, James and Arabella must reconcile their forbidden desires for each other with their loyalty to their families, their longing for choice, and their need for freedom. When Arabella’s independence stirs town gossip and suspicion, James must decide how much he is willing to sacrifice to protect her from a past far more dangerous than it seems.
Filled with Gothic imagery and Celtic folklore, Sea and Stars is a slow burn but sensual Beauty and the Beast retelling set in the real world. It is for all those who believe in the transformative power of true love.
Published by Incantation Press
Cover Art by Holly Dunn Design
Winner of the 2026 Literary Titan Gold Book Award
Incantation Press is delighted to announce that Sea and Stars has won the Literary Titan Gold Book Award, presented to books that contain excellent writing, original content, the meticulous development of unique characters, fresh themes, innovative narratives, elegant prose, and extraordinary achievements in literature
Editorial Reviews
Five Star Review from Literary Titan
"Sea and Stars felt to me like a lush, earnest, and feminine novel about choosing which traditions to keep and which ones to cut loose. I found its emotional generosity persuasive. Its conclusion brings the story full circle in a way that feels both romantic and spiritually grounded. I'd recommend it to readers who enjoy historical romance with folklore in its bones, Gothic family secrets, strong heroines, sea-haunted settings, and stories about women learning that home can be inherited, built, and bravely reimagined" (Literary Titan)
Read the full review at the button below
Featured on Literary Titan Podcast
"Kelly Jarvis writes landscape as if its alive. The Isle of Skye isn't just a setting; it breathes around Arabella, all sea mist, thistle, moor wind, and starlight. I felt the tenderness of the early chapters especially, when Arabella's healing practice is rendered through small, tactile acts: tea, salves, candles, herbs gathered from difficult ground. The prose can be lavish, but it's rarely an empty ornament. Its richness suits a story about women who have been taught to read the world symbolically, to find meaning in weather, flowers, wounds, and dreams" (Literary Titan)
Listen to the full review at the button below
Starred Review from Independent Book Review
"What grounds the novel most, however, is the relationship between Arabella and James. For all their misunderstandings, there is a sense that they are always moving toward one another, even when they struggle to understand why. It is in these softer, more uncertain moments that Sea and Stars sings" (Lauren Hayataka, Independent Book Review)
Read the full review at the button below
Praise for Sea and Stars
"Sea and Stars is a lyrical blend of history, folklore, and family drama, highlighting the courage of a young woman who crosses an ocean in search of truth" (Juliet Marillier, internationally acclaimed, award-winning author of Daughter of the Forest and Heart’s Blood)
"Sea and Stars by Kelly Jarvis is a story that lingers long after the final page. It reveals the quiet magic woven into everyday life, while beautifully capturing the tradition of generational craft" (Freya Aguiar, award-winning author of Water Wishes: Bound by Tides)
"I loved this book, and I feel I will be carrying its magic with me for a long while" (Vanessa Couto, creator of Romancing the Threshold)
"Sea and Stars is a tale of the complications and force of family relationships, of matriarchal strength, of political ideologies, of the power of practices and beliefs, of the longing for home, of friendship, of passion and promise, and of romance and love. Powerful storytelling, beautifully crafted, I cannot recommend it highly enough" (Deborah Sage, award-winning poet)
Read full reviews and leave your own on Goodreads and Amazon
"Absolutely captivating- truly the best novel I’ve read in YEARS. I love the attention to enchanting detail, I love the mystical settings of the Isle of Skye and Mystic, I love the main character Arabella and her strength balanced with openness to love (such a rare mix in a female protagonist but the author absolutely nailed it!)- and the gentle hints of Beauty & the Beast… I can’t imagine a better book. And of course I love James… wow! A bewitching whole-sensory story with hints of fiery passion- absolutely everything I love in a book! Kelly Jarvis has written a one-of-a-kind, exquisite story that will stay in my heart forever… one I will easily re-read again and again! " (Lauren Gandharva, creator of Let the Goddess Heal You)
"Jarvis has penned a magical tale that combines the chaos of love with the potency of feminism twirled into a captivating read. Yes - I stayed up way past my bedtime with this one (L. M. Pampuro, author of Maximum Panic, Maximum Trouble, and Maximum Mayhem)
"Jarvis’ lush physical descriptions bring alive the setting and characters, from Scotland's northern isle to a terrifying storm at sea to the seaport of Mystic in 1847; from James Alden’s demeanor—menacing? intriguing?—to the heroine’s enchanting appearance... Readers who want strong characters, fast-paced adventure and romance in a historical setting, and suspense about the outcome till the last few pages will love Sea and Stars" (University of Connecticut Professor Lois Church)
"This romance story, borrowing from tropes and symbols from Beauty and the Beast, goes several steps deeper, looking into freedom, dysfunctional family relationships, heritage, and respect, while presenting well-researched history about whaling, shipping, geography, and the town of Mystic itself, relayed in the very real voices of the story’s characters. I really loved this and highly recommend. The prose is lush, beautiful, and clear, and I could not put it down; Sea and Stars gave me a lot to think about" (Liz Husebye Hartmann, writer, poet, and creator of Valley of the Trolls)
"If you love…enemies to lovers with lots of steam, beautiful settings depicted in luscious prose, ancient Celtic magic and adventures in historical New England, this book is for you!" (Lynden Wade, author of The Tapestry Unravels: Weaving Old Tales into New)
"I cannot recommend this book enough. I stayed up late nearly every night to finish it. It's heart-warming, endearing, and truly beautiful. If you enjoy historical romances, particularly with a dose of fairy magic, this is one you need to pick up. I'm going to be thinking about it for weeks to come" (Katelyn Collison)
"An atmospheric, emotional journey filled with forbidden love, buried truths, and the kind of storytelling that wraps around you like a storm. If you love gothic settings, slow-burning tension, and romances that feel both timeless and electric, this is absolutely a must-read" (Amy Perry)
"Jarvis blends real history, light magic, and romance so well, in a realistic and extremely well-built, immersive setting. I cannot get over how vibrant and full and tonally perfect her early 19th century New England felt. It's incredibly difficult to do and she absolutely nailed it.
The romance and saga themselves were magical. The pining in the book was exquisite and the choices difficult, heightening the tension and emotion. This is a very special, very unique book that I just absolutely loved" (Felicia Grossman, best-selling author of the Once Upon the East End series)
"I feel like I am drifting on soft rolling waves when I am reading her story. I love all the Celtic folklore and magic woven into it" (Archer Atwood, author of The Willow's Moon Song Books)
"If you are looking for a story that is filled with exciting historical imagery and has the vibes of Beauty and the Beast then Sea and Stars is for you! This magical story takes place between the ancient and mysterious Isle of Skye in Scotland and across the sea in the new world of Mystic, Connecticut. There is enough mystery, romance, and adventure to keep a reader happy from beginning to end!" (Courtney Pityar)
"I'm reading this right now, and I'll be damned if I don't want a healer's cloak of my own" (Michele Castiola).
Sea and Stars Art
cover Design by Holly Dunn
I was lucky to work with Holly Dunn of Holly Dunn Design to create a custom cover for Sea and Stars. Holly not only created an illustration of Arabella surrounded by the Celtic knots and roses central to the story, she also hand painted the cover with watercolors to evoke an historical feel.
created by Alison Weber
Sea and Stars is a love story which follows the narrative beats of a Beauty and the Beast tale. Alison Weber, a talented writer and artist, captured a moonlit moment between the protagonists in this stunning illustration. You can learn more about Alison and her art at the button below.
created by Katherine Macdonald
Roses are central to a Beauty and the Beast story, and artist Katherine MacDonald sets James and Arabella among the rose bushes in her beautiful illustration for Sea and Stars.