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anjleo's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
beckys_bookshelves's review
5.0
Dusk’s Darkest Shore is a pure Regency delight set in the Lake District in England. Carolyn Miller gives you all the feels in this amazing love story. I was drawn in from the beginning and did not want the story to end.
I felt so connected to main characters Mary Bloomfield and Adam Edgerton. Carolyn Miller writes beautiful and tender scenes between Mary and Adam as we follow their journey from acquaintances to two people who are deeply in love. Her secondary characters added to the story and I enjoyed watching their transformation. She effortlessly weaves in God’s sovereignty and explores why every prayer is not answered in the story.
Dusk’s Darkest Shore is a delightfully written Regency story with authentic characters, some mystery, and a timeless love story. Regency readers will love the attention to detail of the times and will be looking forward to the next two books in the series. I highly recommend it.
I was given the book by the publisher and not required to write a review.
I felt so connected to main characters Mary Bloomfield and Adam Edgerton. Carolyn Miller writes beautiful and tender scenes between Mary and Adam as we follow their journey from acquaintances to two people who are deeply in love. Her secondary characters added to the story and I enjoyed watching their transformation. She effortlessly weaves in God’s sovereignty and explores why every prayer is not answered in the story.
Dusk’s Darkest Shore is a delightfully written Regency story with authentic characters, some mystery, and a timeless love story. Regency readers will love the attention to detail of the times and will be looking forward to the next two books in the series. I highly recommend it.
I was given the book by the publisher and not required to write a review.
books_n_blossoms's review
4.0
If you are a Regency era fan, Dusk's Darkest Shores is one you don't want to miss! I'm always exited to begin a new series by authors I enjoy. I immediately liked Mary Bloomfield. She wears her heart on her sleeve and treats everyone so kindly. She has grown up helping her father, the local doctor, with the ailments of the people in their little village.
Then along comes returning war hero, Adam Edgerton, who is betrothed to Mary's sister dearest friend, Emily. Unfortunately, Adam isn't the same man as he was before he went to war. Something Emily can't quite accept.
Mary's father and Adam's mother convinces her to help Adam adjust to being home again. While Mary is willing to help, Adam is rather disagreeable. Mary has her work cut out for her. Let's just say, her kindness is certainly tested.
Now, I do want to mention Mary's sister, Joanna and her friend, Emily (Adam's betrothed). They are rude and nasty and I have to admit not liking either of them. They're selfish and treat Mary deplorably, which then fascinates me because they are constantly seeking her out for comfort and wisdom, neither of which do either of them ever seem to appreciate. Whew, glad I got that off my chest. HA!
That aside Adam is cantankerous and gives Mary a lot of grief. Can I just say in Mary's defense that she really needs friends. Or just one friend. This town she's grown up in and they all look at her askance when she's only ever been godly towards everyone. So when Adam treats her in the same way, I wanted to knock him upside the head.
One of the facets I appreciated about this story was that Mary showed grace and perseverance time and time again. Whether it was with the local minister (don't get me started on him), her obnoxious sister, or Adam's crabbiness, she was considerate and thoughtful. Her faith got her through most of the situations she found herself in throughout this story and it definitely impacted Adam. I appreciated that it clearly came from following her parents' example, although Joanna seemed to have missed that boat.
I'm not going to give anything away in regards to the people in the story. I wish a couple of the people were the main characters of book 2, but it doesn't look like they are. Poo! That's ok, I'm still looking forward to the next one. hahahaha
*I received this book for review. This is my personal opinion.
Then along comes returning war hero, Adam Edgerton, who is betrothed to Mary's sister dearest friend, Emily. Unfortunately, Adam isn't the same man as he was before he went to war. Something Emily can't quite accept.
Mary's father and Adam's mother convinces her to help Adam adjust to being home again. While Mary is willing to help, Adam is rather disagreeable. Mary has her work cut out for her. Let's just say, her kindness is certainly tested.
Now, I do want to mention Mary's sister, Joanna and her friend, Emily (Adam's betrothed). They are rude and nasty and I have to admit not liking either of them. They're selfish and treat Mary deplorably, which then fascinates me because they are constantly seeking her out for comfort and wisdom, neither of which do either of them ever seem to appreciate. Whew, glad I got that off my chest. HA!
That aside Adam is cantankerous and gives Mary a lot of grief. Can I just say in Mary's defense that she really needs friends. Or just one friend. This town she's grown up in and they all look at her askance when she's only ever been godly towards everyone. So when Adam treats her in the same way, I wanted to knock him upside the head.
One of the facets I appreciated about this story was that Mary showed grace and perseverance time and time again. Whether it was with the local minister (don't get me started on him), her obnoxious sister, or Adam's crabbiness, she was considerate and thoughtful. Her faith got her through most of the situations she found herself in throughout this story and it definitely impacted Adam. I appreciated that it clearly came from following her parents' example, although Joanna seemed to have missed that boat.
I'm not going to give anything away in regards to the people in the story. I wish a couple of the people were the main characters of book 2, but it doesn't look like they are. Poo! That's ok, I'm still looking forward to the next one. hahahaha
*I received this book for review. This is my personal opinion.
cctblog's review
5.0
Oh, my, this book! I was completely engaged practically from the first page. Dusk's Darkest Shores tells the story of 29-year-old Mary (who at that time was definitely considered an old maid) and her older brother's childhood friend Adam. Marriage has never been an option for Mary, but she is perfectly happy helping her father in his medical practice and visiting those in her community who need help. When Adam returns home from war wounded and ill, Mary becomes his companion, helping him learn to navigate his new normal. And for the first time, Mary begins to wonder if marriage might actually be possible for her.
I loved Mary and Adam's relationship! Their banter was so fun, and I loved that they built a friendship before anything else. Adam and Mary were both complex characters by themselves, and I loved following all of their relationships (not just the romance). There was a twist near the end that disappointed me (because that meant the book wasn't going the way I wanted it to), but I should've just trusted Miller, as she brought the story to a very satisfying conclusion!
I'm so glad that Miller is writing about older, "unmarriageable" women in this series, as that's sorely lacking in Christian romance, and especially in Regency romance. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
Disclosure of material connection: I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.
I loved Mary and Adam's relationship! Their banter was so fun, and I loved that they built a friendship before anything else. Adam and Mary were both complex characters by themselves, and I loved following all of their relationships (not just the romance). There was a twist near the end that disappointed me (because that meant the book wasn't going the way I wanted it to), but I should've just trusted Miller, as she brought the story to a very satisfying conclusion!
I'm so glad that Miller is writing about older, "unmarriageable" women in this series, as that's sorely lacking in Christian romance, and especially in Regency romance. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
Disclosure of material connection: I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.
academy252's review
4.0
This story has no shortage of drama and adventure. Carolyn Miller’s writing kept me quickly turning pages. She has a great talent for descriptive writing and for crafting a beautiful narrative. I was enthralled with this tale. I loved the life of Mary and her compassion and sensitivity toward those she worked with even in the darkest and hardest of situations. She had a real gift for comforting and encouraging those she treated. It is a beautiful story!
I truly enjoyed being a part of this blog tour team. I received a copy of the book for free from Kregel Publishing. I was only asked to read it and give an honest review to share with my readers. I am delighted to recommend this novel and look forward to the next two in the series. If you love regency era novels and hardship forged love stories this is a perfect fit for you.
For the full review head over to my blog link in my profile.
I truly enjoyed being a part of this blog tour team. I received a copy of the book for free from Kregel Publishing. I was only asked to read it and give an honest review to share with my readers. I am delighted to recommend this novel and look forward to the next two in the series. If you love regency era novels and hardship forged love stories this is a perfect fit for you.
For the full review head over to my blog link in my profile.
eressea's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cakt1991's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I received a free copy from the publisher as part of a blog tour and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Carolyn Miller is one of my favorite Christian Regency authors, so I was excited to read Dusk’s Darkest Shores before I even knew what it was about. Upon finding out more information, both from reading the blurb and being provided more insights with the blog tour information, one aspect did concern me, that aspect being the blindness of the hero, Adam. For one, I’m blind myself, and it’s always delightful to see representations of blind characters on the page (even if they’re rarely, if ever, ownvoices). But then there’s the disturbing trend where romance (both inspirational and secular) tends to engage in a trend of pacifying able bodied readers by finding “miracle” cures for disabled people so they become more “worthy” of love, and add the whole “miracles can happen when you pray” aspect of some sects of Christianity, and my skepticism mounted.
While I can only speak for myself, and other readers might feel differently, I feel Miller captured the nuances of the internal and external ableism Adam deals with upon initial diagnosis, as those he previously thought were close to him looked upon him with pity, either praying for a cure or severing their association, and Adam deals with the prospect of getting used to navigating the world differently.
And while I feared there would be a bit of a savior complex in his relationships with Mary and her father, I didn’t feel that was the case. While it was hard to tell if Mary looked on him more with pity at first, they developed a believable affection between them, and I liked that she was the one to truly see and support him as he is now, as opposed to mourning and longing for a return to what he used to be.
This is a really beautiful romance that has a lot to offer, from the tender romantic arc to the historical tidbits baked into the narrative. Fans of sweet historical romance will love this one!
Carolyn Miller is one of my favorite Christian Regency authors, so I was excited to read Dusk’s Darkest Shores before I even knew what it was about. Upon finding out more information, both from reading the blurb and being provided more insights with the blog tour information, one aspect did concern me, that aspect being the blindness of the hero, Adam. For one, I’m blind myself, and it’s always delightful to see representations of blind characters on the page (even if they’re rarely, if ever, ownvoices). But then there’s the disturbing trend where romance (both inspirational and secular) tends to engage in a trend of pacifying able bodied readers by finding “miracle” cures for disabled people so they become more “worthy” of love, and add the whole “miracles can happen when you pray” aspect of some sects of Christianity, and my skepticism mounted.
While I can only speak for myself, and other readers might feel differently, I feel Miller captured the nuances of the internal and external ableism Adam deals with upon initial diagnosis, as those he previously thought were close to him looked upon him with pity, either praying for a cure or severing their association, and Adam deals with the prospect of getting used to navigating the world differently.
And while I feared there would be a bit of a savior complex in his relationships with Mary and her father, I didn’t feel that was the case. While it was hard to tell if Mary looked on him more with pity at first, they developed a believable affection between them, and I liked that she was the one to truly see and support him as he is now, as opposed to mourning and longing for a return to what he used to be.
This is a really beautiful romance that has a lot to offer, from the tender romantic arc to the historical tidbits baked into the narrative. Fans of sweet historical romance will love this one!
bellesmoma2021's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sometimes, I have a really difficult time reviewing books because they’re SO good I’m at a loss for words. Dusk’s Darkest Shores by Carolyn Miller is fantastic, and yes, I’m a bit at a loss for words to describe just how amazing this story is. Nothing I say here in this review will do this book justice. However, I can say that this book is now my most favorite that Miller has penned to date. The plot is highly engaging. I could not put this book down and I did read well past my bedtime two nights in a row! The characters are superb. Mary is a great heroine and she 100% wiggled her way into my heart. She is so patient and hard-working and supremely compassionate. I love her genuine heart for others and her ability to self-sacrifice. Mary sees a person in need and she drops everything to help. How Mary interacts with Adam is the BEST! She is kind and understanding but she also won’t let him get away with self-pity and emotional defeat. She encourages him when Adam needs encouragement, but she also gets a bit cheeky with him when Adam needs to calm down and laugh a little. Mary really is an excellent heroine for Adam. And, Adam is a really good hero, too. I love how he sees Mary for the good soul she really is. I love how he sees her when very few really do. In our superficial world where super-model looks appear to be all that matters, it is so refreshing to escape into a beautiful story where character matters more than good looks. The fact that Adam can see Mary for who she is beyond her looks made me love his character all the more. What a great man!
Of the many topics discussed in this book the discussion on prayer and God answering prayers is the topic that resonated with me the most. I think that many people see God as a genie in a bottle. The thought on prayer is that if I ask God for X, He will give me X or it proves God doesn’t exist. God is not a genie who is there at our beck and call to give us whatever we want. Not even Jesus, Himself, got what He wanted (Luke 22:42) and He is the Son of God. Rather, we are told that it is always about God’s Will. There is a great line from Mary: “Sometimes I wonder if trusting in God even despite a lack of seeming answers might be the faith God is really looking for.” I wholeheartedly agree with Mary on this idea. It’s not about getting what we want every time we go to God in prayer. Rather, it’s about trusting God even when our prayers don’t get answered the way we think they should. In the end, it’s more about fostering a relationship with God not about getting things. I really loved this reminder, and may even have needed it!
Dusk’s Darkest Shores is a poignant story that will stick with me long after the final page has been turned. This is definitely a book that is going on my re-read pile. I love it and I truly cannot say enough good things about it. If you are a fan of excellent storytelling, if you love a good Regency Romance, or if you just enjoy a story that allows you to escape into a beautiful fictional world, then I highly recommend Dusk’s Darkest Shores.
I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author via Audra Jennings at I Read With Audra through NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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