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Distilling Sunlight: a 1920s historical fantasy romance
Gemma is rarely bored, but she's often on her own.
Coming up on her fortieth birthday, Gemma has a wonderful life. A father who adores her, projects that challenge her, and a range of people to talk to. When she remembers to get herself out of her alchemy lab at a reasonable time of day for the rest of the world, that is. She's the first to admit that her focus can be scattered and chaotic. Especially compared to the steady consistency of other people in her life.
Sam keeps wanting things to be better.
Widowed two years ago with two growing sons, his life has many good things in it. But it's also full of constant how his brewery is doing, what changes in the law will mean for sales, and the trouble his sons get into at school. He had big ideas that might help out other veterans of the Great War, but only if he can actually get the brewing to do what he wants. The problems popping up with contamination at a number of breweries are even more urgent.
When Sam asks for help, he doesn't expect anyone like Gemma. She certainly doesn't know much about a commercial brewery and her home and family are nothing like anything Sam understands. When she keeps sticking with the problem, at least Sam doesn't feel so on his own.
Join Gemma and Sam for a tale full of the many brews that make up a life as they tackle practical problems together. Distilling Sunlight is a later-in-life romance about looking ahead to a different future than you expected, working with the skills and resources you have, and bringing a little sunlight back into the world. Set in 1928, this book involves a number of characters seen in previous books, but can be read in any order. Content notes can be found on the author's website.
Coming up on her fortieth birthday, Gemma has a wonderful life. A father who adores her, projects that challenge her, and a range of people to talk to. When she remembers to get herself out of her alchemy lab at a reasonable time of day for the rest of the world, that is. She's the first to admit that her focus can be scattered and chaotic. Especially compared to the steady consistency of other people in her life.
Sam keeps wanting things to be better.
Widowed two years ago with two growing sons, his life has many good things in it. But it's also full of constant how his brewery is doing, what changes in the law will mean for sales, and the trouble his sons get into at school. He had big ideas that might help out other veterans of the Great War, but only if he can actually get the brewing to do what he wants. The problems popping up with contamination at a number of breweries are even more urgent.
When Sam asks for help, he doesn't expect anyone like Gemma. She certainly doesn't know much about a commercial brewery and her home and family are nothing like anything Sam understands. When she keeps sticking with the problem, at least Sam doesn't feel so on his own.
Join Gemma and Sam for a tale full of the many brews that make up a life as they tackle practical problems together. Distilling Sunlight is a later-in-life romance about looking ahead to a different future than you expected, working with the skills and resources you have, and bringing a little sunlight back into the world. Set in 1928, this book involves a number of characters seen in previous books, but can be read in any order. Content notes can be found on the author's website.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2026
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2 people want to read
About the author
Celia Lake
48 books75 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 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 11, 2026
A slow—even glacial—relationship buildup. Competent people coming across each other while solving a mystery, then collaborating on their strengths. Well-meaning, loving, respectful, non-toxic family. Deeply emotionally satisfying.
March 12, 2026
I love revisiting the world Lake has created and in this book we get to see the romance of the daughter of one of the previous characters. There are also several appearances of other characters-so possibly some very minor spoilers if you start with this book.
Gemma Smythe-Clive is a 40 year old alchemist. She’s happy with her work and living with her father, but possibly a little lonely. When her father, in his role on the Council, is presented with a problem at some of the breweries, he suggests Gemma look into it.
Sam misses his wife who died of cancer after he got back from the war, but he’s busy raising his two boys and managing his brewery. Magic helps, of course, but it’s still a lot of work and worry. When several of the local breweries have problems with contamination, he goes to the council for help. He wasn’t expecting Gemma to be the help, but she’s clearly competent and hard-working.
Nearly all of Lake’s books are cozy historical romances set in a magical alt-Britain. There are many overlapping characters and stories, so the more I read, the deeper and more real the world feels. Distilling Sunlight is one of the gentler stories with little action, and no peril or angst. There’s a slight mystery, but it’s mostly the story of two somewhat middle aged people finding each other - very sweet and enjoyable.
Gemma Smythe-Clive is a 40 year old alchemist. She’s happy with her work and living with her father, but possibly a little lonely. When her father, in his role on the Council, is presented with a problem at some of the breweries, he suggests Gemma look into it.
Sam misses his wife who died of cancer after he got back from the war, but he’s busy raising his two boys and managing his brewery. Magic helps, of course, but it’s still a lot of work and worry. When several of the local breweries have problems with contamination, he goes to the council for help. He wasn’t expecting Gemma to be the help, but she’s clearly competent and hard-working.
Nearly all of Lake’s books are cozy historical romances set in a magical alt-Britain. There are many overlapping characters and stories, so the more I read, the deeper and more real the world feels. Distilling Sunlight is one of the gentler stories with little action, and no peril or angst. There’s a slight mystery, but it’s mostly the story of two somewhat middle aged people finding each other - very sweet and enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews