Kregel Blog Tour & Review ~ A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh Regency Brides: Daughters of Aynsley #1 By Carolyn Miller

About the book:

Can a proper noble lady find a future with a fossil-hunting man of faith?

As the daughter of Viscount Aynsley, Caroline Hatherleigh knows every rule of society and she's always followed them precisely. But when she visits south Devonshire and encounters a fossil-hunting scientist and his sister, her assumptions about what is right are shaken. Questions she has never considered about the importance of friendship and faith suddenly confront her—and her comfortable understanding about how the world works is thrown off balance. What if God wants to be the center of her life, rather than merely a social obligation?

Gideon Kirby loves science, and hunting down proof of past lives is a joy he won't willingly give up. But his scientific leanings are being challenged both by his personal beliefs and by local smugglers in the Devonshire countryside. And every day his sister's illness becomes more desperate, her care growing more demanding. Adding a viscount's daughter to the mix is a complication Gideon never expected—especially since he must stay far away from this young woman he's falling for in order to protect his beloved sister's secret.

When a mysterious stranger visits the village, that secret will be exposed, no matter how Gideon fights. Then tragedy strikes in a smugglers' cave. And the threat of scandal may lead to broken hearts and passionless propriety. Will the shaky bond these two have nurtured be strong enough to overcome their differences, or will the trust they've withheld from each other tear three lives apart?

Read an EXCERPT.

Purchase:

CBD (best PB price)

My Review

5 STARS!!!

‘He might have come to the southeast of Devon searching for ancient treasure, but he suspected he had found treasure of a very different kind.’

I highly recommend this first book in the new series Daughters of Aynsley by acclaimed Regency author Carolyn Miller. I love how the author brings Christianity and science together in the character of Gideon Kirby. He is intelligent, self-sacrificing, and diligent in his pursuit of scientific discovery. He holds his sister in high esteem and is unafraid to show his care for her in his gentle ministrations and protective nature. He loves the Lord and is unafraid to pray aloud or ask for prayer for himself. He is not a perfect man but one who is firm in his beliefs and yet struggles with matters of the heart.

Caroline Hatherleigh introduces herself into Gideon’s life in a rather forward manner for the times and suddenly he is challenged in his loner thinking and intrigued by her interest in his scientific pursuits. That is not all she is interested in but she is of upper society and believes him not to be. You can see where this is going, right? Typical Regency, you might say, but there are hidden depths to this story and multiple layers that make it much deeper and richer than any ordinary Regency. Miller is more than adept at creating community with a myriad of impressive and appealing characters.

The realness of how Caroline came to know Christ touched me deeply. I was beginning to wonder how that was going to play out and then when it did, I was bowled over with compassion for her character. Bravo to Ms Miller for showing what a struggle it can be for the unbeliever, and the many questions that can arise in their minds as the Holy Spirit works in their heart. It was a beautiful scene when Caroline finally and fully surrendered to Christ.

There were times I thought I had a little too much scientific information flowing into my brain but in spite of that, Miller completely drew me into the story. I actually had to stop at one point and Google the creature Gideon was searching for to find out if it really existed. It did! And my extra reading was just as fascinating as what Miller put on the pages. I learned something new and that makes this book even better than I anticipated!

There are several characters that will settle down in your heart and bring you joy, like Caroline’s grandmother. She’s irascible in the beginning but pretty awesome in the end. And Aidan…what can I say? He’s an Irishman! I could go on and on but I’ve topped five hundred words [GASP] so I hope you’ll pick up a copy and discover all the lovely nuances contained within A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh. It really is a great book!

I received a copy from the publisher but was not required to post a review. No compensation has been received.

Side note: I wish I had a copy to offer for giveaway but I already promised to give my copy to a friend who didn't make the tour. Y'all need to Google the book and include GIVEAWAY in the search. Maybe there are some out there somewhere! :-)