Celebrating June Book Birthdays

Congratulations to Kara Isaac and Carolyn Miller who are celebrating Book Birthdays in June!

Then There Was You by Kara Isaac (independent release, June 2017) 

Paige McAllister needs to do something drastic. Her boyfriend can’t even commit to living in the same country, her promised promotion is dead on arrival and the simultaneous loss of her brother and her dream of being a concert violinist has kept her playing life safe and predictable for six years. Things need to change. A moment of temporary insanity finds her leaving her life in Chicago to move to Sydney, Australia. There she finds herself, against many of her convictions, as a logistics planner for one of Australia’s biggest churches, and on a collision course with her boss’s son.

Josh Tyler fronts a top-selling worship band and is in demand all over the world. But, in the past, his failed romantic relationships almost destroyed both his reputation and his family. He's determined to never risk it happening again. The last thing he needs is some American girl tipping his ordered life upside down. Especially one who despises everything he’s ever worked for and manages to push every button he has.

When Josh and Paige are thrown together to organize his band’s next tour, the sparks fly. But can they find a way to bridge the differences that pull them apart? Or will they choose the safety and security of what they know over taking a chance on something that will require them to risk everything?

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The Captivating Lady Charlotte by Carolyn Miller (Kregel, June 2017) 

Her heart is her own--but her hand in marriage is another matter

Lady Charlotte Featherington is destined for great things on the marriage market. After all, as the beautiful daughter of a marquess, she should have her pick of the eligible nobility when she debuts. She, however, has love at the top of her list of marriageable attributes. And her romantic heart falls hard for one particularly dashing, attentive suitor. Sadly for Charlotte, her noble father intends her betrothed to be someone far more dull.

William Hartwell may be a duke, but he knows he was Charlotte's father's pick, not the young lady's own choice. And the captivating Lady Charlotte does not strike him as a woman who will be wooed by his wealth or title. While she has captured his heart, he has no idea how to win hers in return--and the betrayal and scandal his first wife put him through makes it difficult for him to believe that love can ever be trusted. His only hope is that Charlotte's sense of responsibility will win out over her romantic notions.

Can a widowed duke and a romantically inclined lady negotiate a future and discover love beyond duty? Will they be able to find healing and hope from the legacy of grace?

Poignant and charming, this is another beautifully written, clean and wholesome Regency romance from Carolyn Miller in the tradition of Georgette Heyer and Julie Klassen. Fans of The Elusive Miss Ellison will meet compelling new characters--and a few old friends.

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Book Review: The Captivating Lady Charlotte by Carolyn Miller

Review by Jenny Glazebrook

THE CAPTIVATING
LADY CHARLOTTE

REGENCY BRIDES - A LEGACY OF GRACE

By Carolyn Miller

Published by Kregel Publications

“A STORY OF HIGH HOPES, DEEP FORGIVENESS, AND A QUIET KIND OF LOVE THAT RINGS WITH TRUTH. DRAMA AND HIGH SOCIETY COMBINE IN A TALE REGENCY LOVERS WON’T WANT TO MISS!” - Roseanna M White, best-selling author of the Ladies of the Manor series

Blurb:

All she wants it to marry for love. And as the belle of the season, Lady Charlotte Featherington should have her choice of suitors. But even this captivating lady must obey her noble papa’s wishes – and the marquess has determined that his daughter will wed a widowed duke, not a dashing young lord.

All the ninth Duke of Hartington wants is for the lady who has captured his heart to love him in return, despite their arranged marriage. But the betrayal of his first wife and the scandal she dragged him into make it nearly impossible for William to believe a woman’s heart can ever be trusted.

Now this wounded widower and the romantically inclined young lady must find a way to negotiate a future together and learn the real meaning of both trust and love. Can the legacy of grace help them to find healing and hope?

Poignant and charming, in the tradition of Georgette Heyer and Julie Klassen, this is another beautifully written, clean and wholesome Regency romance from critically acclaimed author Carolyn Miller.

Review by Jenny Glazebrook:

Much like the first book of Carolyn Miller’s, I thought this novel was beautifully written and full of spiritual truths subtly wound into the story. Any lover of Jane Austen’s works is sure to love the story of Lady Charlotte. I felt as though every word were carefully thought out and cleverly expressed, making this book a pleasure to read.

Charlotte was presented as an immature but compassionate young lady willing to grow. Her openness and humility made her likeable from the start and every step of the way I wanted the very best for her. Her mistakes made her real; a character I could connect with in my own humanity.

The Duke of Hartington, (William) was a favourite of mine from the beginning and I was delighted when Lady Charlotte began to recognise his value. His mild, gentle manner disguised a strength and self- control that was worthy of great respect. The betrayal he suffered at the hands of  previous wife caused him to have trust issues, but these were dealt with beautifully by the author in a satisfying and timely manner.

I found myself responding to the spiritual truths in the novel. My favourite lines relating to a character deeply grieving the loss of a loved one, were: ‘Did God promise a life of roses? Or was faith more about remembering His presence and strength in the midst of suffering?’

Pain was not dismissed but realistically faced by the characters. The author took the opportunity to let her characters feel deeply, face their pain with honesty and then trust. There were no glib responses or brushing over the real issues or questions created by such hurt.

I was pleased to find characters from the first book, ‘The Elusive Miss Ellison’ significantly involved in this story. It satisfied my desire to hear more of them after finishing the first book.

I admit that when I first began reading I found it hard to take in all the clever ideas and expressions, feeling as though I was not doing the story justice. However, this was purely where I was at and I was soon drawn into the story and completely absorbed. This novel is true to the regency era and this includes the language and expressions. Every bit of effort put into reading this novel was well worth it.

A clever, satisfying, beautifully written tale.

Carolyn Miller's books can be purchased from Amazon and Koorong.