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A review by fiction_aficionado
The Captivating Lady Charlotte by Carolyn Miller
5.0
Lovers of Regency romance, look no further. This is one of the most satisfying Regencies I have read in a long time, partly because the style of writing hearkens to that of Austen and Heyer, but mostly because of everything this story holds: I love that it gives the ‘arranged marriage’ trope a thoughtful treatment that I haven’t come across before; I love the way Lady Charlotte matures over the course of the story; and I love that it was full of wonderful period detail, such as Charlotte’s presentation at Court, a visit to Vauxhall Gardens, and the general experiences of both Town and country life.
Like most eighteen-year-olds, Lady Charlotte chafes under that sense of being an adult, yet not quite an adult. She’s been presented at Court and now has some freedom to move about in society, but her mother dictates where she may or may not go, and whom she will associate with and speak to. She comes across as a little petulant and self-absorbed at the beginning of the story, but it is to her credit that she allows her cousin Lavinia’s (The Elusive Miss Ellison) gentle reproofs to take root as she considers the truth that while she may not have as much control over her circumstances as she wishes, she does control how she responds to those circumstances. And thus begins the maturation of the captivating Lady Charlotte.
It was lovely to see Lavinia and Nicholas feature so prominently in this story, and especially to see the way in which Lavinia’s Godly example paved the way for Charlotte to think more deeply about what true love is: that it is more than feelings and emotions; that it is patient, always seeking the good of the other person; that it is steadfast in all things; and that it can be cultivated. Charlotte definitely blossoms through this friendship, as does her relationship with William, hesitant though it may be.
And William...there’s something about the quite ones that always squeezes my heart. They’re harder to pull off in fiction, but Carolyn Miller manages to capture the nuances that bring warmth and vitality to William’s character, despite his less gregarious nature. Sometimes it truly is slow and steady that wins the race!
If you love Regency romance, don’t pass this one up!
I received a copy of this novel from the author. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Like most eighteen-year-olds, Lady Charlotte chafes under that sense of being an adult, yet not quite an adult. She’s been presented at Court and now has some freedom to move about in society, but her mother dictates where she may or may not go, and whom she will associate with and speak to. She comes across as a little petulant and self-absorbed at the beginning of the story, but it is to her credit that she allows her cousin Lavinia’s (The Elusive Miss Ellison) gentle reproofs to take root as she considers the truth that while she may not have as much control over her circumstances as she wishes, she does control how she responds to those circumstances. And thus begins the maturation of the captivating Lady Charlotte.
It was lovely to see Lavinia and Nicholas feature so prominently in this story, and especially to see the way in which Lavinia’s Godly example paved the way for Charlotte to think more deeply about what true love is: that it is more than feelings and emotions; that it is patient, always seeking the good of the other person; that it is steadfast in all things; and that it can be cultivated. Charlotte definitely blossoms through this friendship, as does her relationship with William, hesitant though it may be.
And William...there’s something about the quite ones that always squeezes my heart. They’re harder to pull off in fiction, but Carolyn Miller manages to capture the nuances that bring warmth and vitality to William’s character, despite his less gregarious nature. Sometimes it truly is slow and steady that wins the race!
If you love Regency romance, don’t pass this one up!
I received a copy of this novel from the author. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.