Winning Miss Winthrop by Carolyn Miller: A Kregel Blog Tour Review

Regency Brides: A Promise of Hope #1 

320 Pages, March 27th, 2018, Kregel Publications 

Print and Ebook 

 Catherine Winthrop has cried out to God too many times to count. Years ago, the man who stole her heart rejected her--and she's never recovered. Now tragedy has brought him back into her life. This time it isn't her heart he's taking, it's her home and her family's good name--and she has no one to share her grief.

Jonathan Carlew's life may look enviable from the outside--wealthy, handsome, landed--but the mystery surrounding his birth has shadowed his entire life. Now as he ascends to the barony, fresh challenges await, including a scheming mama who wants him to embrace power, even at the cost of losing love. How can he remain the kind, honorable man he strives to be and still meet the demands of his new society responsibilities?

These two broken hearts must decide whether their painful past and bitter present will be all they can share, or if forgiveness can provide a path to freedom for the future.

 My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

I discovered Carolyn Miller last year, with The Elusive Miss Ellison, the first novel of her first Regency Trilogy, and I quickly came to rank her as one of my favourite authors of Regency Fiction/
Fans and new readers alike should be delighted with this first installment in her new series, which follows a character who was mentioned a few times in the first series but stayed on the sidelines. That young lady was Catherine Winthrop, daughter of a country baron, and erstwhile friend of Lavinia Ellison.
Her story is reminiscent of that of Anne Elliot, the heroine of Jane Austen's 'Persuasion', who encounters a former suitor, years after he jilted her and left her heartbroken. 

Indeed, this novel, like its classic counterpart, has much in its favour, with the beautiful descriptions of the landscape of Gloucestershire, and the city of Bath, as well as some of the outfits worn by the female protagonists. The characters, old and new, were well-drawn, and it was lovely to see Lavinia Ellison, from the last books, finally get something she had wanted for a long time. Yet at times, I felt that there were a few too many characters to keep up with, and I struggled to remember who they all were and how they were connected. The family tree in the front helped, but did not cover everyone.

On a personal level, I think I really related to Katherine, who wanted to settle down and marry but had serious confidence issues which made her think herself unlovable, in light of my own struggle with singleness.  
The theme of forgiveness was also very well presented. It bears mentioning that it was connected with the faith element in the story, which was very strong. I did not feel that detracted from it, but I know some readers prefer to have such content mentioned upfront.

I do feel that the main obstacle to the romance between Catherine and Johnathan Curlew/Winthrop the hero was a little on the cliched side.
As with many romance novels, they were kept apart mostly by misunderstandings, which could have been solved, in some part, by better communication. I understand that this is central to the story, but both of them came over as a little melodramatic from time to time. Then again, even Austen's heroines could be melodramatic: Marianne Dashwood being a prime example.

My only other complaint was the occasional Americanisms and a couple of incidents towards the end which came over a little bit implausible. Those weren't enough to spoil my enjoyment of this excellent novel though.Recommended for all fans of the Regency Fiction and Inspirational Romance genre.

I signed up for the Kregel Blog Tour of this title and received a free ebook edition via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

The Heart's Appeal by Jennifer Delamere Review

London Beginnings #2

March 6th, 2018, 328 Pages, Bethany House 

Print, ebook, and audio 

Strong-minded and independent Julia Bernay comes to London to study medicine and become a doctor--a profession that has only just opened up to women. She witnesses a serious accident, and through her quick actions saves the life of an ambitious young barrister named Michael Stephenson.

Coming from a family that long ago lost its money and its respectability, Michael Stephenson has achieved what many would have thought was impossible. Hard work and an aptitude for the law have enabled him to rise above his family's stigma and set him on the path to wealth and recognition. But his well-laid plans are upended when the accident brings Julia into his life.

Michael soon discovers he's met a woman every bit as stubborn and determined to make her mark on the world as he is. Sparks fly--but will they find common ground?

My Review:  ⭐⭐⭐

 

Thanks to the recent release of the audiobook, I got through this title in two days, but sadly there is no listing for the audiobook, so I had to use this one. I did get approved for this title on NetGalley, so I guess I have that excuse.

I think I enjoyed this book better than the last one, which I felt was rather far-fetched at the beginning. The story was interesting, and a lot of the details were interesting and well-drawn, especially about the geographical region where the story was set. Some of the details about the early days of women in the medical profession and their struggles to be accepted were fascinating. Of course, I liked the parts about Julia's Latin lessons too, as a Latin student myself, although this was a minor aspect of the story.

The romance was well done without being overwhelming or mushy for the most part (except a couple of scenes): and some of the relationships between secondary characters such as Michael's sister and brother-in-law provided more depth.

So why the lower rating? Two reasons. One was that I found Julia rather interfering. I understand that she wanted to be a missionary and help people, but her actions were not always related to that. At times, she seemed like she was trying to 'fix' everyone else's life and problems. That might work out in Fiction, but it doesn't always do so in real life.

Second: the Americanisms. In some parts of the story, there seemed to be a concerted effort to avoid American terms and phrases, but the lapses stood out. A Londoner talking about police officers on every 'block', which is not and has never been a unit for measuring distance in Britain, was one example. In other places, they used terms like 'gotten' and 'candy'.
I don't know whether the use of certain American terms was a result of deliberate editing choices to make the story more understandable for American readers or not, but I find them jarring.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own. I was not influenced by the Publisher and was not required to write a positive one.

First Line Fridays 24: A Search for Refuge by Kristi Ann Hunter

That time of the week again! I have not been doing much in the way of actual reading these last couple of weeks, or at least not much fiction. I have just finished my second Julie Klassen audiobook, through the Audible Romance package.  That's The Girl in the Gatehouse and The Silent Governess down. 

The book I am including today is a novella, published only in e-book format (so far), which is a prequel to the upcoming full-length novel A Defense of Honor, which is due out in June. Both books mark the beginning of a new Regency romance series by Kristi Ann Hunter.  A lady who already has the 4-book Regency Hawthorne House series to her name. 

I had to to go Amazon.com to get the novella, because, for some bizarre reason, it's still not available on Amazon.uk, but is available on other ebook platforms, including Google Play books. When the full-length follow up comes in June, I will have to get used to using the American spellings in the title. We Brits spell defense with a c and put a 'u' in honour. Like that.

Margaretta Fortescue desperately needs to disappear from London society, and her only hope is to follow the rumors of another young woman who recently made a life for herself away from the glare of society. Her search leads her to the market town of Marlborough where, in spite of her efforts to avoid attention, she can’t seem to elude local solicitor, Nash Banfield.

All Nash wants is a quiet, sedate life—no risks or surprises. When Margaretta, clearly on the run and unwilling to answer questions, interrupts his solitude, his curiosity and his principles won’t let him leave this determined woman without assistance.

But will the truth of what Margaretta is running from be worth finally opening his heart up to a chance at love?

Isn't that a beautiful cover? The first line reads:

"Marlborough, England, 1804

Margaretta had used the word desperate many times in her life, but she'd never truly known the meaning  until she stood in the open door of a mail coach, clutching an eight-month-old letter and praying that someone in this minuscule market town  would know where the author had gone when she moved on"

 Good, isn't it? Although I am not sure Marlborough is that small. Now it's your turn, and don't forget to click the meme to see what others are reading. 

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Across the Blue by Carrie Turansky.

About the Book

 

Title: Across the Blue  

Author: Carrie Turansky  
Genre: Historical romance  
Release Date: February 20, 2018

Love soars to new heights in this Edwardian romance filled with adventure, faith, and inspiration, but how much will it cost Bella and James to follow their dreams? Isabella Grayson, the eldest daughter of a wealthy, English newspaper magnate, longs to become a journalist, but her parents don’t approve.
They want her to marry well and help them gain a higher standing in society.

After she writes an anonymous letter to the editor that impresses her father, her parents reluctantly agree she can write a series of articles about aviation and the race to be the first to fly across the English Channel, but only if she promises to accept a marriage proposal within the year. When James Drake, an aspiring aviator, crashes his flying machine at the Grayson’s new estate, Bella is intrigued. James is determined to win that race across the Channel and gain the prize Mr. Grayson’s newspaper is offering.
He hopes it will help him secure a government contract to build airplanes and redeem a terrible family secret.

James wants to win Bella’s heart, but his background and lack of social standing make it unlikely her parents would approve. If he fails to achieve his dream, how will he win the love and respect he is seeking? Will Bella’s faith and support help him find the strength and courage he needs when unexpected events turn their world upside down?

Click here to purchase your copy!

 My Thoughts 

 

I have not yet finished the book. I'm nearly three quarters of the way through, its just that time constraints have prevented me from doing so. So my review is based on what I have read so far. 

The story is good, and I like the original premise about the early days of aviation and the race to be the first person to fly across the English Channel. I so like the character of James Drake, he seems to to be a pretty down-to-earth guy.  Honest and honourable, and doing an important job without much recognition. Also the Professor is an amazing character.

However, I'm not sure I really warm to Isabella, the heroine. She seems to lack depth, and her stance on marriage is pretty typical, even cliched. At times she seems like a conduit for modern opinions, with entirely unrealistic expectations. 

The stigma attached to illegitimate birth, for instance, was still considerable in the early 1900s. So James' grandparents could not realistically have allowed their unmarried daughter to keep her illegitimate son, and stay living with them. I don't believe they were unduly selfish, cruel or obsessed with their reputation for doing so. 

That was the social morality of the time. Its likely that their daughter would never have been able to find a husband in that situation, and then would have no security when her parents died.

I am enjoying the book, though, overall, and want to see how it will all be wrapped up. Of course, I was provided with an Ebook from Netgalley via Celebrate Lit Bloggers. I am not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. 

About the Author

Carrie Turansky has loved reading since she first visited the library as a young child and checked out

a tall stack of picture books. Her love for writing began when she penned her first novel at age twelve. She is now the award-winning author of nineteen inspirational romance novels and novellas. 

Carrie and her husband, Scott, who is a pastor, author, and speaker, have been married for more than thirty years and make their home in New Jersey. They often travel together on ministry trips and to visit their five adult children and five grandchildren. Carrie leads women’s ministry at her church, and when she is not writing she enjoys spending time working in her flower gardens and cooking healthy meals for friends and family. She loves to connect with reading friends through her website, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Guest Post from Carrie Turansky

Following your Dreams

By Carrie Turansky

In Across the Blue, Bella Grayson and James Drake both go to great lengths to pursue their dreams. Bella longs to become a journalist and write for one of her father’s newspapers, but in 1909 England, aristocratic young women did not work as journalists. A young woman’s path was set by the unwritten rules of society. At eighteen she was presented at court, and then she took part in the London social season and hoped for a marriage proposal from a young man from a wealthy family, with an estate and title. Marriage, having children, and taking part in social and charitable events was the prescribed course for their lives.

But Bella has a different future in mind. She wants to marry for love, and she won’t settle for anything less. She also wants to write articles about the important events of the day that will inform and inspire people. She wants to be a world changer, and that is a very unique role for a woman in England in the Edwardian Era. At that time women didn’t have the right to vote yet and very few pursued any kind of career.

James is an aviation pioneer, and his dream is to build an airplane that will allow him to be the first to fly across the English Channel. This is no easy accomplishment, and he faces many challenges as he pursues his dream. Aviation is brand new. Wilbur Wright demonstrated his airplane in France the year before and stunned Europeans with his skill. With the help of his mentor, Professor Steed, James conducts experiments, refines his design, and makes countless test flights. It takes great courage and determination to overcome setbacks and make it through near-fatal crash landings, but James has his heart and mind set on perfecting his airplane and reaching his goal.

What about you? What hopes and dreams do you have for your future? What goals would you like to accomplish? As you think about your dreams and future plans I hope you’ll gain some insight from James and Bella’s experiences in Across the Blue. When they considered the cost of pursuing their dreams they realized their plans and choices impacted others as well as themselves. James and Bella believed striving for their dreams is important, but they learned it must be balanced with commitments to family and friends, and most of all a commitment to following the Lord on the path He has for them.

Following our dreams and working toward accomplishing our goals, especially those the Lord puts on our heart, is important. However, sometimes we may have to put our dreams on hold and wait for the right time and season. We don’t need to be discouraged when this happens. As we listen to the Lord and ask Him to guide and direct us He will show us the right path at the right time to follow it.

Just like James and Bella, I hope you’ll pursue your dreams but also hold them with an open hand, allowing the Lord to guide and direct you each step of the way. When you do I’m confident you’ll be headed toward seeing your dreams become reality in His time and in His way. “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord; plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

With that wonderful promise in mind, I hope you’ll enjoy reading Across the Blue and joining Bella and James as they pursue their dreams. You’re in for a high-flying adventure, romance, and inspiration, and I can’t wait to share this new story with you. Happy reading to you!

Blog Stops

 

Bookworm Mama, February 22

Carpe Diem, February 22

Blogging With Carol, February 22

Reflections From My Bookshelves, February 23

Reading Is My SuperPower, February 23

Karen Sue Hadley, February 23

Christian Bookaholic, February 24

Mary Hake, February 24

Among the Reads, February 24

The Power of Words, February 25

History, Mystery & Faith, February 25

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, February 25

Maureen’s Musings, February 26

Rachel’s Back Talk, February 26

Smiling Book Reviews, February 26

Radiant Light, February 27

Faithfully Bookish, February 27

The Fizzy Pop Collection, February 27

Bibliophile Reviews, February 28

Remembrancy, February 28

Two Points of Interest, February 28

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 1

Book by Book, March 1

Bigreadersite, March 1

proud to be an autism mom, March 1

Pause for Tales, March 2

Have A Wonderful Day, March 2

margaret kazmierczak, March 2 (Interview)

Pursuing Stacie, March 3

Neverending Stories, March 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 3

Texas Book-aholic, March 4

Janices book reviews, March 4

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 4

Simple Harvest Reads, March 4 (Guest post from Mindy)

Moments Dipped in Ink, March 5

My Writer’s Life, March 5

Baker Kella, March 5

Kat’s Corner Books, March 6

A Greater Yes, March 6

A Baker’s Perspective, March 6

Romances of the Cross, March 7

Henry Happens, March 7

For The Love of Books, March 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carrie is giving away a grand prize of an autographed copy of Shine Like the Dawn and $30 gift card to Christianbooks.com!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c987

First Line Fridays 23: Across the Blue by Carrie Turansky

That time of the week again! Britain has welcomed in March with heavy snowfall and even blizzards and temperatures below freezing.  Where I am, the snow that fell last night has frozen. So it's more like bleak midwinter than the opening of spring. So, it's staying inside today, working from home and hopefully doing some reading. 

I'm including the book that I am currently reading for the Celebrate Lit Blog Tour, which I am due to post for on Wednesday. Across the Blue is Carrie Turansky's latest Georgian Historical novel, the title is a reference to the English efforts to make the first aeroplane flight across the English Channel in the early 20th century. 

I know some other members have included this book in previous weeks, so no more introduction is really needed. 

Isabella Grayson, the eldest daughter of a wealthy, English newspaper magnate, longs to become a journalist, but her parents don't approve. They want her to marry well and help them gain a higher standing in society. After she writes an anonymous letter to the editor that impresses her father, her parents reluctantly agree she can write a series of articles about aviation and the race to fly across the English Channel, but only if she promises to accept a marriage proposal within the year. When James Drake, an aspiring aviator, crashes his flying machine at the Grayson's new estate, Bella is intrigued.

James is determined to be the first to fly across the Channel and win the prize Mr. Grayson's newspaper is offering. He hopes it will help him secure a government contract to build airplanes and redeem a terrible family secret. James wants to win Bella's heart, but his background and lack of social standing make it unlikely her parents would approve. If he fails to achieve his dream, how will he win the love and respect he is seeking? Will Bella's faith and support help him find the strength and courage he needs when unexpected events turn their world upside down?

Now you can comment with the first line of the book you are reading, and visit the link to see what the others in the group are doing. Happy Friday and Happy reading!