THE MAKING OF MRS. HALE and A HERO FOR MISS HATHERLEIGH by Carolyn Miller, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

The Making of Mrs. Hale is the third book in the Promise of Hope series.

One of my favorite genres is historical fiction and within that Regency is special. So when I discovered Carolyn Miller wrote in this time period, I just had to try her books. I immediately fell in love with her stories and the people who inhabit them. I have devoured each one as they came out. This one is exceptionally good.

Hope resonates through this book, even in the midst of hopeless situations.

A hasty marriage finds Julia and Major Thomas Hale at odds with each other, mostly because Thomas has gone off on some business and has not returned, putting Julia in a precarious position. Julia has been left to fend for herself. She has run out of funds and slinks back home to London, only to find her brother and her mother gone from their residence.

Trouble seems to follow Thomas. Some might find this unrealistic, but I know of several people who fit the adage: If he didn’t have bad luck, he would have no luck at all. Thomas has landed in a Spanish prison, thinking he has left Julia provided for. There is much intrigue as the story plays out.

Carolyn Miller shows family loyalty but sometimes at the cost of showing little mercy.
Several characters take a journey of faith as they learn to forgive, repent and find their bearings and, yes, hope once more. One of the best parts was the clear-cut message of the Gospel. This was done in an authentic way as people seek the Will of God and as others help to water the faith that is there. Hard subjects such as imprisonment, poverty, and infidelity are handled with finesse and grace.

It is nice to see old friends from Carolyn’s other books dropping by and having a part in the story, too.

If you haven’t tried a book by Carolyn Miller, I highly recommend you do.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

Note: See Winnie and Susan's Reviews too!

BackCover Blurb:
Marry in haste, repent in leisure—Mrs. Hale is about to find out how painful that repentance can truly be.

Julia Hale ran off to be married in Gretna Green, following romance instead of common sense. But her tale isn't turning into a happily ever after. Her new husband is gone and she doesn't know where—or if he's ever coming back. Julia has no option but to head home to the family she betrayed by eloping and to hope they'll forgive her. Especially now that she might be carrying a baby from her brief marriage.

Carolyn Miller's clean and wholesome Regency romances continue with The Making of Mrs. Hale, following familiar characters as they learn how restoration can occur by finding hope and healing through a deep relationship with God. Full of rich historical details and witty banter, this series continues to draw in fans of Jane Austen, Sarah Ladd, and Julie Klassen.

Available as digital ebook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook:
Buy The Making of Mrs. Hale at Amazon
Buy The Making of Mrs. Hale at Christianbook.com

A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh is a thoroughly enjoyable Regency book and the first in the Daughters of Aynsley series.

The Regency period is one of my favorites to immerse myself in, and Carolyn Miller writes this genre admirably. What intrigued me was the fascination with archeology of the time period. It was well-represented in this tale.

Mr. Gideon Kirby is searching for fossil specimens in the cliffs around Sidmouth in Devon, England. He is also caring for his ailing sister, Emma. Miss Caroline Hatherleigh has been shuffled off to her grandmother’s house in the same village in order to circumvent a possible awkward situation. As the story unfolds, Caroline becomes friends with Emma. There are many things that keep the story interesting. Among theese are: deepening friendships,coming to Salvation, shaky romances, a reprehensible villain, exciting discoveries, secrets kept and revealed, and gratitude for family and friends.

The faith journey of Caroline was very clear and believable.

The setting was a joy to experience. The inclusion of a complete wedding ceremony of the time period caused me to rethink how such ceremonies have changed, and what the emphasis of the ceremony should be.

If you enjoy Regency tales in the style of Jane Austen— run to the nearest book store and obtain a copy of this riveting first book in the new series by Carolyn Miller.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kregel Publishers on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

BackCover Blurb:
Can a very proper noble lady find a future with a fossil-hunting man of faith?

As the daughter of Viscount Aynsley, Caroline Hatherleigh knows every rule of society—and she’s always followed them precisely. It’s simply the way things are done in her world. When she visits south Devonshire and encounters a fossil-hunting scientist and his sister, her assumptions about what is right are shaken. She is suddenly confronted by questions she has never considered about the importance of friendship and faith—and her comfortable understanding about how the world works is thrown off balance.

Gideon Kirby loves science, and hunting down proof of past lives is a joy he won’t willingly give up. But his scientific leanings are being challenged by both his personal beliefs and by local smugglers in the Devonshire countryside. And every day his sister’s illness is becoming more desperate and her care grows more demanding. Adding a proper Viscount’s daughter to the mix is a complication Gideon never expected—especially since he has a secret that demands he stays far away from this young woman he’s falling for in order to protect his beloved sister.

When a mysterious stranger visits the village, that secret is set to be exposed, no matter how Gideon fights. Then tragedy strikes in a smugglers cave. And the threat of scandal may lead to broken hearts and passionless propriety. Will the shaky bond these two have managed to build be strong enough to overcome their differences—or will the trust they’ve withheld from each other end up tearing three lives apart?

Available in digital ebook, paperback:
Buy A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh at Amazon
Buy A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh at Christianbook.com