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A review by fiction_aficionado
The Making of Mrs. Hale by Carolyn Miller
5.0
One of the things I liked about Carolyn Miller’s stories right off the bat was that they take a slightly less beaten path in Regency romance fare. There’s less emphasis on the glittering world of the haut ton and the social whirl of the Season, more emphasis on the day-to-day lives, concerns, and responsibilities of the middle classes and landed gentry—be they titled or no. But in terms of “off the beaten path”, this one surpasses them all. When the excitement and romance of an elopement to Gretna Green wear off, where do a young couple find themselves? In the case of Julia and Thomas, disillusioned, destitute, and on different continents.
The beginning of this novel, in particular, is grittier than your average Regency romance, owing to Thomas Hale’s imprisonment in Spain, but even beyond that, there are some difficult obstacles for this couple to overcome—abandonment, secrets, betrayal of vows. This is no fluffy Regency read! But I actually think it’s been one of my favourites of Carolyn Miller’s novels so far (the other being The Captivating Lady Charlotte). I liked that it dealt with the consequences of imprudent choices and that these characters had to grapple with some serious problems—life-threatening ones at times!
As is always the case with Carolyn Miller’s novels, the characters’ spiritual maturation is just as important as their general maturation, and their circumstances provide plenty of opportunity for that, particularly in the areas of forgiveness and grace. Overall, it was a read that engaged me from first page to last, and I look forward to her new series coming in 2019.
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.
The beginning of this novel, in particular, is grittier than your average Regency romance, owing to Thomas Hale’s imprisonment in Spain, but even beyond that, there are some difficult obstacles for this couple to overcome—abandonment, secrets, betrayal of vows. This is no fluffy Regency read! But I actually think it’s been one of my favourites of Carolyn Miller’s novels so far (the other being The Captivating Lady Charlotte). I liked that it dealt with the consequences of imprudent choices and that these characters had to grapple with some serious problems—life-threatening ones at times!
As is always the case with Carolyn Miller’s novels, the characters’ spiritual maturation is just as important as their general maturation, and their circumstances provide plenty of opportunity for that, particularly in the areas of forgiveness and grace. Overall, it was a read that engaged me from first page to last, and I look forward to her new series coming in 2019.
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.