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A review by english_lady03
Underestimating Miss Cecilia by Carolyn Miller
4.0
Another great Regency from Carolyn Miller. I find the second book in a Trilogy can lag sometimes, before picking up in the 3rd novel. The 'Middle Child' syndrome of the literary world so to speak. The second books in Miller's first two series have not been weak: and this one generally lived up to expectations.
Cecelia was a strong and fierce lady who did not appear to be so. Unlike her sister she doesn't openly defy convention, but she does stick by what she believes in. She doesn't give up because it’s easy or comfortable: except in the case of Edward Amburst. I think she gave up on him rather too easily, and because of misunderstandings that could have been easily resolved.
Edward was I think my favourite character: he made a brief appearance in the last novel of the last series 'The Making of Mrs Hale' as a rakish aristocrat who courted scandal by stepping out with a married woman. Now he is transformed and has found faith: with Cecelia's inspiration he decides he wants to help the poor and marginalized people of Regency society. Including Gypsies and Irish migrants.
For much of the book though, Edward believes he must earn forgiveness, from God as well as his family to make up for his past misdeeds. He avoids Cecelia despite feelings for her, because he believes he doesn't deserve happiness.
One of the strengths of this author's books is the way the characters must work through real struggles and problems like this. This theme did allow for adding of certain historical details which enrich this series, including the Peterloo massacre of 1819.
It’s a very good book overall, I just wonder if too much was squeezed into it with all the political events and social commentary. Some of this involved a lot of telling rather that showing, just came across as a bit simplistic or not fully developed. Some events and people were just mentioned for a few scenes and then forgotten about. Perhaps the story was a little too ambitious in blending all the politics with a simple Regency romance.
That romance between Cecelia and Edward was probably the best part of this story, developing and burning slowly, as well as her relationship with her sister Verity. Apart from Cecelia’s immediate family my only other minor niggle is that there were rather a lot of characters to keep up with in this novel, many of whom enter halfway or two thirds of the way through.
This book was still a four-star read, which fans of Carolyn Miller and Inspirational Regencies will enjoy.
I signed up for the Kregel Blog Tour of this book and was sent a copy. This did not influence my review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Cecelia was a strong and fierce lady who did not appear to be so. Unlike her sister she doesn't openly defy convention, but she does stick by what she believes in. She doesn't give up because it’s easy or comfortable: except in the case of Edward Amburst. I think she gave up on him rather too easily, and because of misunderstandings that could have been easily resolved.
Edward was I think my favourite character: he made a brief appearance in the last novel of the last series 'The Making of Mrs Hale' as a rakish aristocrat who courted scandal by stepping out with a married woman. Now he is transformed and has found faith: with Cecelia's inspiration he decides he wants to help the poor and marginalized people of Regency society. Including Gypsies and Irish migrants.
For much of the book though, Edward believes he must earn forgiveness, from God as well as his family to make up for his past misdeeds. He avoids Cecelia despite feelings for her, because he believes he doesn't deserve happiness.
One of the strengths of this author's books is the way the characters must work through real struggles and problems like this. This theme did allow for adding of certain historical details which enrich this series, including the Peterloo massacre of 1819.
It’s a very good book overall, I just wonder if too much was squeezed into it with all the political events and social commentary. Some of this involved a lot of telling rather that showing, just came across as a bit simplistic or not fully developed. Some events and people were just mentioned for a few scenes and then forgotten about. Perhaps the story was a little too ambitious in blending all the politics with a simple Regency romance.
That romance between Cecelia and Edward was probably the best part of this story, developing and burning slowly, as well as her relationship with her sister Verity. Apart from Cecelia’s immediate family my only other minor niggle is that there were rather a lot of characters to keep up with in this novel, many of whom enter halfway or two thirds of the way through.
This book was still a four-star read, which fans of Carolyn Miller and Inspirational Regencies will enjoy.
I signed up for the Kregel Blog Tour of this book and was sent a copy. This did not influence my review and all opinions expressed are my own.