Book Review | The Making of Mrs Hale by Carolyn Miller

Review by Iola Goulton @iolagoulton

We first met Julia Hale in Winning Miss Winthrop, when Julia ran away to Gretna Green to marry Thomas Hale in defiance of her family's wishes.

But, as the old saying goes, "Marry in haste; repent at leisure." 

Julia is left destitute after her husband disappears. Six months later, she has sold everything she can and has no choice but to return to her friends and family in London and ask for help. They are pleased to welcome her home, believing she is either an abandoned wife or (possibly) a widow. They are less pleased when Thomas Hale returns home ...

This means The Making of Mrs Hale follows one of the lesser-used romance tropes: a married couple falling in love. Or perhaps they are rediscovering their love, as Julia clearly still has feelings towards Thomas and vice versa. But Julia has to fight to keep what she has—a marriage to a man she loves.

There is also an exciting suspense thread. Thomas is concerned his ending up in a Spanish prison may not have been an accident. This threatens him, Julia, and their attempts to rebuild their relationship while surrounded by disapproving family members.

I have always been a big Regency romance fan, and Carolyn Miller has established herself as a leading author in the Christian Regency genre. Her research is spot on, yet never gets in the way of the story (I wish this was universal, but I find there are more authors who think they can write authentic Regency than actually can).

In contrast, Carolyn Miller consistently comes up with realistic yet detailed plots. 

She fills her novels with realistic, complex characters facing issues that are true to the historic period, yet resonate with modern readers. Her novels are also definitely (and perhaps defiantly) Christian. They're not just "clean". Her characters are forced to evaluate themselves and their relationship with God, which is a refreshing contrast to a lot of the fiction being published by CBA publishers. Overall, I recommend Carolyn Miller and The Making of Miss Hale to anyone looking for genuine Christian Regency fiction.

Thanks to Kregel Publications and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Iola Goulton

Iola Goulton is a New Zealand book reviewer, freelance editor, and author, writing contemporary Christian romance with a Kiwi twist. She is a member of the Sisterhood of Unpronounceable Names (Iola is pronounced yo-la, not eye-ola and definitely not Lola).

Iola holds a degree in marketing, has a background in human resource consulting, and currently works as a freelance editor. When she’s not working, Iola is usually reading or writing her next book review. Iola lives in the beautiful Bay of Plenty in New Zealand (not far from Hobbiton) with her husband, two teenagers and one cat. She is currently working on her first novel.

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Experiencing History

Experiencing History by @CarolynMAuthor 

I never used to be a history buff. I didn't really study it in school, I only did one subject (in one year) at university. To be honest, my young and foolish self didn't really see the point.

Now, however...

As a writer of historical fiction I suppose it's inevitable that I pay closer attention to how history has shaped our world. I noticed this particularly on a recent family holiday as we spent time in the west coast of the USA: history is everywhere.

Our first day in Los Angeles was spent in Hollywood, where the stars and handprints of long-gone celebrities are etched into the pavement. That was nice, but the importance of history was brought home far more clearly when we visited the Huntington Library, where we saw a Gutenberg Bible (!) and a first Folio of Shakespeare (!) 

and a house filled with old and priceless artwork, ceramics and furnishings that made this Regency author’s heart beat faster. Then our trip along the coastal road to Big Sur and Monterey saw more stops at iconic – and old! - bridges and buildings, before we saw the amazing Yosemite National Park (established by Abraham Lincoln in the 1860s). The towering granite and ancient trees speak of God’s handiwork through millennia; some estimate some redwoods to be four thousand years old!

Our trip took us further north, where we have visited little towns like Eureka, where the beautiful Victorian-era buildings are topped by the eye-popping Carson mansion, built in 1885 by a millionaire who cared not for the conventions, saying words to the effect that “If I build it too plain they’ll say I’m a miser, if I build it too fancy they’ll say I’m showing off, so I might as well build it to please myself.” (Love it!)

Dinner that night was at the Samoa Cookhouse, another history-laden locale. This cookhouse, reputed to be the last cookhouse still serving in the ‘lumberjack-style’ of the 1800s, was a fabulous treasure trove of logging relics and photos from a bygone age. And the food was fabulous (and extremely generously portioned) too!

Writing historical fiction is always a fun blend of imagination, research and – when it allows – experience. As an Australian writing English Regency romance, my opportunity to ‘experience’ the life and times of lords and ladies of 200 years ago is pretty limited J, and means I’m often reliant on online journals and letters from that era to create a sense of authenticity. 

Trips like these don’t come very often, and I’ve been very conscious of God’s grace and largesse, allowing me (& my family) to experience such wonders of the world. 

I’m also very conscious that history is everywhere, with so much to absorb, if only we have eyes to see. 

How about you? Are you someone who notices history? What's a place of historical interest that's recently caught your attention?

Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. Together with her husband she has pastored a church for ten years, and worked part-time as a public high school English and Learning and Support teacher. 

A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature, and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her Regency novels include The Elusive Miss Ellison, The Captivating Lady Charlotte, The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey, Winning Miss Winthrop, and Miss Serena’s Secret, all available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, etc

Connect with her:       website| facebook| pinterest| twitter| instagram

Genre Interview with Carolyn Miller

Welcome to the Genre Interview. Carolyn Miller has kindly agreed to answer our questions related to writing genres. 

What genres do you write?
Carolyn Miller: I write Regency, a historical period usually associated with the era of Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’. It was named after the Prince Regent (later George IV) ruled in place of his father, ‘Mad’ King George during the years 1811-1820.

What market do you write for (Christian or general, clean reads etc)?

I write for the American Christian market 

In which genres do you have books available for sale?

My first novel 'The Elusive Miss Ellison' has just released in the US. My second Regency, 'The Captivating Lady Charlotte' releases at the end of June and is available for preorder now. They are available from Amazon.com, Amazon.com.au, Book Depository and Koorong.


How many books have you published in each genre?

One Regency at this stage, which is the first of my three books releasing this year.

Are you published traditionally, indie, or hybrid?

I’m published with Kregel Publications, a traditional US publisher.
 
Did genre influence your decision to choose a particular publishing model?

More the other way around. I wanted to experience the publishing world in the US, but was told my contemporary Australian-based stories (filled with Aussie characters and language) wouldn't sell in the US. So I switched to the genre I love to read: Regency. (Who doesn't love Mr Darcy?)

Are your published works available in print, ebook, or both?
Both.

Why do you write what you write? Do you feel called to write?
I love to write what I like to read: stories that offer hope that have happy endings, that offer a spiritual layer, as well as a dash of (Aussie) humour.

Many thanks to Carolyn Miller for sharing her thoughts on genre.

Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of romance, especially that of the Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature, and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. Her Regency novel 'The Elusive Miss Ellison' is now available from 

Amazon.com, CBD, Barnes & Noble and Book Depository

Connect with her:    www.carolynmiller.org    

                                 http://www.pinterest.com/camillering

                                 https://www.facebook.com/carolynmiller 

                             https://twitter.com/CarolynMAuthor