Reviews

The Dishonorable Miss Delancey by Carolyn Miller

fiction_aficionado's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I’ve been eagerly awaiting this book ever since the glimpse we had of Clara DeLancey in The Captivating Lady Charlotte suggested that there was something redeemable beneath the spoilt and spiteful society miss we have seen so far. And now I can give a sigh of contentment, because this story fulfilled all my hopes. Clara’s journey from resentment and despair through to shame and repentance and then the determination to become a better person was a difficult path to walk, but the opposition she faced along the way only served to make her stronger, and I grew to love her every bit as much as I do Lavinia and Charlotte.

Benjamin Kemsley is a true hero—in the literary and the literal sense! Noble in character if not in title, he has quite the story to tell, but it also left him a cripple and ended his career. The Prince Regent promised him a reward for his heroic actions, but nothing has come of it, and so he finds himself reliant on the generosity of his recently married sister and her husband, and responsible for chaperoning his youngest sister in London society. He can’t help but be drawn to a damsel in distress, but for all his gallantry, he’s the kind of guy who steals your heart quietly: piece by piece, smile by smile.

As with Miller’s other novels, it’s not just the story itself that captures, but the authenticity of the Regency world in which she immerses the reader. I love that we get the rustic side of Regency life as well as the metropolitan, the everyday along with the glitz and glamour, and I love that families are at the heart of her novels—in all their varied and trying glory! (And that’s sometimes very trying, in the case of Clara!) And most of all, I love the way in which her characters are challenged in their faith (or lack thereof), growing step by step, and often by an act of conscious will against their natural inclinations.

There’s no doubt about it; Carolyn Miller has become a must-read author for me, and I can’t wait for the release of her new series in 2018.

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.

thebookgirl's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Previously posted on The Young Girl Who Loved Books>


This book was a solid 4.5 stars for me.

I have really been wanting to read The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey for a while. I had previously heard about the writing of Carolyn Miller. Many people seem to really enjoy reading her books. So I thought I would give this book a go! Boy, did she not disappoint. I really believe the hype about this author is actually warranted for a change.

The characters in her novels feel so real and multi-dimensional, that I sometimes forget that I am just reading a novel. I love that her writing is captivating and so very engaging. Before I get into this book I do want to put a disclaimer out there that I did not have a chance to read her first two books in the Regency Brides series. I do plan on reading them in the future. I did enjoy this book but recommend you read the first two as the characters are revisited and you sometimes need context for scenes.

While this is a Christian fiction novel, I felt that it could be enjoyed by readers of faith and those of other belief systems. The story has a great moral purpose too it, which is something I really look for when reading faith-inspired books.

This book follows Miss Claire DeLancey, who is a mysterious character. She could be a villain or she could be a hero, it is rather hard to tell at the beginning of the novel. The book seems to imply she is a rather villainous woman. I found the character growth in this book to be some of the best I have ever read. I really began to enjoy Claire's character before the middle of the book.

The themes of this book are very interesting indeed. They include finding yourself, trusting God, forgiveness, redemption, finding a purpose, and relationships. I really feel like these various aspects just made this a great book.

This is a super clean book. I will put a disclaimer out there that The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey does contain a scene about potentially contemplating suicide, a scene where a woman is taken advantage of. There is some gambling. All of these are serious topics but are well done and not over the top.

I can't recommend this book enough. I really think you should check out this book. This is a quick fast paced book. It will be an instant classic for fans of the Historical Fiction novel.


I received a copy of The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey from Kregel Publications in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

kristin's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

I would like to thank netgalley and Kregel Publications for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Clara Delancy is follewed by scandal after the man of her dreams marries another. Benjamin Kelmsley is a veteran of His Majesty's Navy, who injured himself saving others.
More...