~ FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE DUSK'S DARKEST SHORES ~

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~ FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE ~

--  'DUSK'S DARKEST SHORES'  --

AUTHOR CAROLYN MILLER

~Post Includes:  Book Spotlight + Link to

Excerpt, Review, Author Bio & Giveaway~

 

ABOUT THE SERIES:

 

While most stories set in Regency England focus on the rich, the young, and the beautiful, award-winning author Carolyn Miller decided she wanted to give readers something different for a change. Her new Regency Wallflowers series follows the commoners, away from the hustle and bustle of 1810s London, out in the Lake District of England. She tells the stories of women who are slightly older and have few prospects for marriage, women who might be considered “wallflowers.”

 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

How can a meek wallflower help a returning war hero whose dreams are plunged into darkness?

Mary Bloomfield has no illusions. Her chances for matrimony have long since passed her by. Still, her circumstances are pleasant enough, especially now that she has found purpose in assisting her father with his medical practice in England's beautiful Lake District. Even without love, it's a peaceful life.

That is until Adam Edgerton returns to the sleepy district. This decorated war hero did not arrive home to acclaim and rest, but to a new battle against the repercussions of an insidious disease. Mary's caring nature cannot stand to see someone suffer--but how can she help this man see any brightness in his future when he's plunged into melancholic darkness, his dreams laid waste by his condition?

Adam wants no charity, but he's also no coward. If this gentle woman can work hard, how can he do less? Together they struggle to find a way forward for him. Frustration and antipathy slowly develop into friendship and esteem. Then a summer storm atop a mountain peak leads to scandal--and both Mary and Adam must search the depths of their closed hearts for answers if they hope to find any future path with happiness at its end.

Best-selling author Carolyn Miller is back with a fresh series that will not only thrill readers eager for more of her work, but bring in new fans looking for beautiful writing, fascinating research, deftly woven love stories, and real faith lived out in the Regency period.

Click here to read an excerpt.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

 

Carolyn Miller is an inspirational romance author who lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children.

 

A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English literature and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. She enjoys music, films, gardens, art, travel, and food.

Miller’s novels have won a number of RWA and ACFW contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT CAROLYN AT:

www.carolynmillerauthor.com  

Facebook (Carolyn Miller Author) 

Instagram (@CarolynMillerAuthor) 

Twitter (@CarolynMAuthor)

 

 

REVIEW:      

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

A moving Regency era romance by a gifted storyteller . . .

 

'Dusk's Darkest Shores' is the first novel I have had the pleasure of reading by this talented author. I can assure you, it will not be the last!

 

This story begins with a well-written introduction to the characters and the village of Amberly in the Lake District of England in March, 1811. England is deeply entrenched in the Napoleonic Wars and a local man, Adam Edgerton, a decorated war hero, arrives home from war quite ill.

 

Mary Bloomfield is twenty-nine years old with no offers of marriage and seemingly no interest in romance. Her allegiance is to her physician father's medical practice as she assists him as a nurse and comforter of his patients. She is involved in mixing up the medicines and herbal treatments they use to aid their patients. Mary is dedicated to her work, and she is committed to her family and her community.

 

Adam Edgerton is a childhood friend of Mary's older brother, Robert, who is still away from home serving in the war. As a young girl, Mary followed Adam and Robert on their adventures across the countryside. Because of their past history, Dr. Bloomfield asks Mary to spend time with with Adam as he recovers from his illness. He wants her to help Adam to regain his strength and acclimate to his new life back home.

 

After some initial rough patches, Adam and Mary form a delightful friendship filled with engaging conversations and witty banter. The humor in this story delighted me, and I thought the author did an excellent job on conveying the light atmosphere of their banter and the effect it had on the mood of both parties. Friendship blooms between the two in this very realistic romance.

 

Another element of the story which I enjoyed were the author's descriptions of the scenery of this part of the world which I have never visited. I almost felt as if I were seeing the valley below the hilltop where both families lived, feeling the rough edges of the stone walls along the roadway, and smelling the fresh, clean air of the area.

 

There are tragedies in the village which cause Mary great anguish, and she relies on the Lord and Adam for strength and a respite from her grief. There are a couple of mysteries surrounding the village which keep the story moving forward at a nice pace. There is one episode of suspense which I appreciated as a fan of suspenseful fiction. 

 

I liked reading about the deep friendships which Mary has forged with those families whom she has served as a healer. There is a younger sister, Joanna, who caused me to cringe whenever she appeared on the page. (If you read the story, you'll find out why . . . )

 

Most of all, though, the faith thread in this story was beautiful, realistic, and inspirational. Readers are privy to the feelings of many characters who experience God's presence and strength just when they need it most.

 

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read a good, old-fashioned historical love story. Fans of Christian/clean historical romance, Christian/clean romance, and Christian/clean fiction will enjoy this book.

 

I received a paperback copy of this book from the publisher, Kregel, through Audra Jennings's PR. All thoughts and opinions expressed are solely my own.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

 

 

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