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A review by cctblog
The Captivating Lady Charlotte by Carolyn Miller
4.0
Earlier this year, I read Carolyn Miller's The Elusive Miss Ellison. In the novel, readers met Lavinia Ellison's cousin Charlotte, a young woman about to make her debut into society. Charlotte intrigued me, so of course I wanted to read The Captivating Lady Charlotte (which happens to have quite the captivating cover, I must say!).
When I read The Elusive Miss Ellison, I at first struggled to get into the rhythm of the writing. While it was rough going at first, I ultimately really enjoyed the book. I'm happy to say that I encountered no such problems with The Captivating Lady Charlotte! Author Carolyn Miller's writing is richer and more accessible in this book, and I enjoyed my reading experience from beginning to end.
I'll admit, at times while reading this novel, I wondered why on earth William was attracted to Charlotte. Yes, she was beautiful, but sometimes she seemed so young. (And, at 18, she really was young.) Easily swayed by flattery and a handsome face, Charlotte was difficult for me to like at first. But then there would be glimpses of who she could become—as she showed compassion for William's situation prior to meeting him, as she became her cousin Lavinia's companion during a time of trial, and as she loved William's baby daughter—and I could see a bit of what William saw in her. Throughout the novel, Charlotte grew up a lot, and by the end, I loved her character.
Though I wasn't always a Charlotte fan, I loved William from the first time he appeared on the page. Though he was far from perfect—he had clear trust issues, didn't always treat his daughter well, and jumped to conclusions—he also knew how to love well. He was also a well drawn and interesting character, and I so wanted him to find his "happily ever after."
(Side note: I kept thinking of Charlotte as Marianne Dashwood and William as Colonel Brandon. It's a pretty decent parallel, I think. There's even a "Willoughby.")
While The Captivating Lady Charlotte is not a young adult novel, I think it's perfect for teen girls. Why? Because it focuses on true love, love that goes beyond butterflies and physical attraction (though there's some of that, too), love that lives up to 1 Corinthians 13. That's something romance-obsessed teens don't see a lot of in the media, and I'm sure I would've benefited from reading a story like this when I was younger.
Disclosure of material connection: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.
When I read The Elusive Miss Ellison, I at first struggled to get into the rhythm of the writing. While it was rough going at first, I ultimately really enjoyed the book. I'm happy to say that I encountered no such problems with The Captivating Lady Charlotte! Author Carolyn Miller's writing is richer and more accessible in this book, and I enjoyed my reading experience from beginning to end.
I'll admit, at times while reading this novel, I wondered why on earth William was attracted to Charlotte. Yes, she was beautiful, but sometimes she seemed so young. (And, at 18, she really was young.) Easily swayed by flattery and a handsome face, Charlotte was difficult for me to like at first. But then there would be glimpses of who she could become—as she showed compassion for William's situation prior to meeting him, as she became her cousin Lavinia's companion during a time of trial, and as she loved William's baby daughter—and I could see a bit of what William saw in her. Throughout the novel, Charlotte grew up a lot, and by the end, I loved her character.
Though I wasn't always a Charlotte fan, I loved William from the first time he appeared on the page. Though he was far from perfect—he had clear trust issues, didn't always treat his daughter well, and jumped to conclusions—he also knew how to love well. He was also a well drawn and interesting character, and I so wanted him to find his "happily ever after."
(Side note: I kept thinking of Charlotte as Marianne Dashwood and William as Colonel Brandon. It's a pretty decent parallel, I think. There's even a "Willoughby.")
While The Captivating Lady Charlotte is not a young adult novel, I think it's perfect for teen girls. Why? Because it focuses on true love, love that goes beyond butterflies and physical attraction (though there's some of that, too), love that lives up to 1 Corinthians 13. That's something romance-obsessed teens don't see a lot of in the media, and I'm sure I would've benefited from reading a story like this when I was younger.
Disclosure of material connection: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.