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chelseavk's review
emotional
inspiring
slow-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
3.0
I really liked the main characters and their journeys in this book. I also found the faith aspect of the story to be strong and realistic. My only compliant, but one that greatly diminished my enjoyment, is that the book was too long and slow. It felt very drawn out and I kept struggling to hold on to my interest and had to remind myself of all I did love about the story to motivate myself to keep reading.
rjd's review against another edition
4.0
I think this might be my favorite of the series. I will admit, the first series is my favorite. But this one is good. I just prefer a bit less "suspense" even as mild as it is in this series.
cakt1991's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. Full review here: https://courtneyreadsromancesite.wordpress.com/2018/11/29/review-of-miss-serenas-secret-regency-brides-a-promise-of-hope-2-by-carolyn-miller/
bellesmoma2021's review
5.0
Miss Serena’s Secret (2018) by Carolyn Miller is the second novel in her Regency Brides: A Promise of Hope series. This book comes in all forms including eBook, and is 344 pages in length. With a full-time job and a very busy six-year old at home, this novel took me two days to read. I received a copy of this book in paperback form from the author via her publisher, Kregel Publications. In no way has this influenced my opinion of the story. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. I give Miss Serena’s Secret 5+++++ STARS. This novel is a Regency-era Christian Romance set in England.
Carolyn Miller is a gem. Her novels are wonderfully crafted and well-written, thoroughly researched, and populated with endearing characters that pull the heart strings. Miss Serena’s Secret is SO good — absolutely my new favorite of Carolyn’s novels. Miss Serena’s Secret is highly engaging, replete with timely messages and excellent reminders of God’s promises, and very romantic. This is a book that has made my re-read pile for sure.
My favorite aspect to this novel is the hero, Harry. I love so many things about him. He is handsome and suave and swoon-worthy, but he is also kind, compassionate, and has a heart to help others. But Harry has a reputation for being a gambler extraordinaire and a massive flirt. He doesn’t want to be that man anymore. So, he works to be a better man. He goes to church and actually listens to the sermons. He reads his Bible. He begins to pray. With the help of God, Harry starts to become the man he wants to be. He does experience a moment of extreme weakness and his pride pulls him back into old habits, which means his former guilt and shame return. This moment is SO realistic! How many times have I sworn to be better at something only to fail soon thereafter? How many times have I allowed guilt and shame to daily remind me I am a failure? Too many times to count! But, when I take my head out of the sand, go back to God and ask for forgiveness, I am suddenly put back on the right path. And this is one of my most favorite things about Harry. As he learns to better walk with God, when those moments of struggle pop up, he goes straight to praying to God. What an excellent reminder to us all!
Serena is such an endearing heroine! I absolutely love her strength, fortitude, talent, and heart. One thing that really got my tiger mommy in a blaze occurs when Serena is judged as not being able to do something well simply because she is young. I hate when adults look down on teens and young adults and deem them incapable simply because of their age. I am a high school teacher. I work with teens and young adults every day. Trust me when I say young people can be extremely talented, skilled, and capable. As I was reading this moment in Miss Serena’s Secret, God put 1 Timothy 4:12 on my heart: “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.” What I really love so much about Serena is that she is an embodiment of this verse. This is definitely a novel I will share with my daughter when she is a teenager because Serena is an example of this quality Christian young person that Paul discusses in 1 Timothy.
My most favorite message in this book is that past mistakes do not need to define a person. This is such a difficult message to grasp because it can take time to overcome the pesky feelings of guilt and shame associated with past errors. But, as Isaiah 43:25 explains, God wipes out transgressions and does not remember our sins. It’s a truly beautiful promise from God, and an excellent point Carolyn makes so clear in this novel. God doesn’t let our past define us, so why do we?
This review does not do this book justice. There are so many more reasons why this book is SO good, but I will leave all those reasons for you to discover on your own. Suffice to say, Miss Serena’s Secret is a great story. The characters are excellent, the themes are timely, and the action is engaging. The romance that builds between Harry and Serena is both realistic and quite satisfying. My inner 15-year old girl heart is very happy with this story! I truly cannot recommend Miss Serena’s Secret enough. I implore you to purchase a copy of this novel today. You will not be disappointed!
Carolyn Miller is a gem. Her novels are wonderfully crafted and well-written, thoroughly researched, and populated with endearing characters that pull the heart strings. Miss Serena’s Secret is SO good — absolutely my new favorite of Carolyn’s novels. Miss Serena’s Secret is highly engaging, replete with timely messages and excellent reminders of God’s promises, and very romantic. This is a book that has made my re-read pile for sure.
My favorite aspect to this novel is the hero, Harry. I love so many things about him. He is handsome and suave and swoon-worthy, but he is also kind, compassionate, and has a heart to help others. But Harry has a reputation for being a gambler extraordinaire and a massive flirt. He doesn’t want to be that man anymore. So, he works to be a better man. He goes to church and actually listens to the sermons. He reads his Bible. He begins to pray. With the help of God, Harry starts to become the man he wants to be. He does experience a moment of extreme weakness and his pride pulls him back into old habits, which means his former guilt and shame return. This moment is SO realistic! How many times have I sworn to be better at something only to fail soon thereafter? How many times have I allowed guilt and shame to daily remind me I am a failure? Too many times to count! But, when I take my head out of the sand, go back to God and ask for forgiveness, I am suddenly put back on the right path. And this is one of my most favorite things about Harry. As he learns to better walk with God, when those moments of struggle pop up, he goes straight to praying to God. What an excellent reminder to us all!
Serena is such an endearing heroine! I absolutely love her strength, fortitude, talent, and heart. One thing that really got my tiger mommy in a blaze occurs when Serena is judged as not being able to do something well simply because she is young. I hate when adults look down on teens and young adults and deem them incapable simply because of their age. I am a high school teacher. I work with teens and young adults every day. Trust me when I say young people can be extremely talented, skilled, and capable. As I was reading this moment in Miss Serena’s Secret, God put 1 Timothy 4:12 on my heart: “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.” What I really love so much about Serena is that she is an embodiment of this verse. This is definitely a novel I will share with my daughter when she is a teenager because Serena is an example of this quality Christian young person that Paul discusses in 1 Timothy.
My most favorite message in this book is that past mistakes do not need to define a person. This is such a difficult message to grasp because it can take time to overcome the pesky feelings of guilt and shame associated with past errors. But, as Isaiah 43:25 explains, God wipes out transgressions and does not remember our sins. It’s a truly beautiful promise from God, and an excellent point Carolyn makes so clear in this novel. God doesn’t let our past define us, so why do we?
This review does not do this book justice. There are so many more reasons why this book is SO good, but I will leave all those reasons for you to discover on your own. Suffice to say, Miss Serena’s Secret is a great story. The characters are excellent, the themes are timely, and the action is engaging. The romance that builds between Harry and Serena is both realistic and quite satisfying. My inner 15-year old girl heart is very happy with this story! I truly cannot recommend Miss Serena’s Secret enough. I implore you to purchase a copy of this novel today. You will not be disappointed!
fiction_aficionado's review against another edition
4.0
If you’re looking to be fully immersed in the Regency world for a few hours, then Carolyn Miller needs to be on your author radar. She captures everything I love about the Regency world in her stories—the manners, the settings, the pastimes, even the language—and often more besides. And I particularly love that her stories are grounded in everyday Regency life rather than focusing on the glitz and glamour of the London Season. Especially if it means we get to visit places like Welmsley Hall. If only I could actually see that view she describes!
As with all of Miller’s novels, this one has a strong cast of leading and supporting characters—some of whom are more likeable than others! (*cough, cough* Lily Milsom *cough, cough*) The eponymous Serena Winthrop—"she of the tranquil aristocratic countenance and flashing eyes”—is in some ways a paradox: forthright and refreshingly honest (some might say ‘pert’) in her opinions, and yet guarding several secrets at different stages during the story. But she was an easy character to like and sympathise with.
Henry was even easier to like, even if some his troubles arose as a result of his own poor choices (mostly in the past). As with some of Miller’s other novels, we get insight into the ‘working’ life of a British gentleman—in this instance, as Henry conflicts with his father over how to manage and prosper their estate. Over the course of the story, he transforms from a man who finds it “far easier to preserve his reputation as an amusing fribble or a capable sportsman than be taken less than seriously for aspiring to be more” into one who is only too aware of his shortcomings and deeply desirous of changing. Add in a dose of dry, understated British wit, and you have a charming hero you can’t help but fall in love with.
Carolyn Miller doesn’t shy away from throwing a little drama at her characters, either, so expect a few curve-balls that force them to take stock and make some difficult choices. And fans of Winning Miss Winthrop will be pleased to know there’s plenty of Catherine and Jonathan here, not to mention a little teaser at the end that will whet your appetite for the final book in this series, The Making of Mrs Hale.
Another enjoyable excursion into the Regency world.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
As with all of Miller’s novels, this one has a strong cast of leading and supporting characters—some of whom are more likeable than others! (*cough, cough* Lily Milsom *cough, cough*) The eponymous Serena Winthrop—"she of the tranquil aristocratic countenance and flashing eyes”—is in some ways a paradox: forthright and refreshingly honest (some might say ‘pert’) in her opinions, and yet guarding several secrets at different stages during the story. But she was an easy character to like and sympathise with.
Henry was even easier to like, even if some his troubles arose as a result of his own poor choices (mostly in the past). As with some of Miller’s other novels, we get insight into the ‘working’ life of a British gentleman—in this instance, as Henry conflicts with his father over how to manage and prosper their estate. Over the course of the story, he transforms from a man who finds it “far easier to preserve his reputation as an amusing fribble or a capable sportsman than be taken less than seriously for aspiring to be more” into one who is only too aware of his shortcomings and deeply desirous of changing. Add in a dose of dry, understated British wit, and you have a charming hero you can’t help but fall in love with.
Carolyn Miller doesn’t shy away from throwing a little drama at her characters, either, so expect a few curve-balls that force them to take stock and make some difficult choices. And fans of Winning Miss Winthrop will be pleased to know there’s plenty of Catherine and Jonathan here, not to mention a little teaser at the end that will whet your appetite for the final book in this series, The Making of Mrs Hale.
Another enjoyable excursion into the Regency world.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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