A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh | Book Review and Blog Tour
Heads up, y'all! My favorite Regency author is back with a brand-new series!
Back Cover
As the daughter of Viscount Aynsley, Caroline Hatherleigh knows every rule of society and has 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 long-extinct creatures 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 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, all Gideon's efforts to keep her secret may be in vain. And the threat of scandal may lead to broken hearts and passionless propriety. If the shaky bond he and Miss Hatherleigh have nurtured isn't strong enough to overcome their differences. three lives may be torn apart.
Carolyn Miller's many fans will be thrilled with her newest series, packed with the authentic characters and abundant historical detail that have put her firmly in the ranks of today's most beloved Regency romance authors.
My Thoughts
This book took me on a journey that made me chuckle, wince in pain at times, and left me with a smile. Now I want to visit the Devonshire coast more than ever! I could almost smell the salt air and see the cliffs. Carolyn Miller's knack for life-like dialogue, exquisite detail, and genuine characters kept me immersed until the last page.
Miss Caroline Hatherleigh was a less-than-lovable character in books past, and I loved how she is brought to the foreground and I saw her in a whole new light. I enjoyed watching her learn about loving others, humility, and ultimately coming to the Lord. It reminded me somewhat of a previous book, The Dishonorable Miss Delancey. For some reason it was a little hard to connect with her as a character, although I enjoyed her blossoming spunk as she shed the layers of bland social expectations.
Gideon Kirby (isn't that a great name?) is a fossil-hunting scientist with a flair for danger and a past breathing down his neck. But are the secrets that haunt him going to be his downfall? And is scandal going to ruin his chance at love forever? I can't say much about him without spoilers - just go read the book. I loved his nobility and protectiveness - and his antics with his best friend Aidan Kenmore made me laugh out loud. Aidan was probably my favorite character, with his Irish quips and common sense.
I appreciated how this book touched on three distinct issues: creation science; domestic violence, and the value of life that starts at conception. I applaud the author for wanting to speak to these things, but the discussion did sometimes feel like a detour from the actual story.
Oh, and a fun little tidbit? There's a Regency wedding! The traditions of the time were so different from weddings today.... and yet there is so much that is still the same! I get goosebumps (the good kind!) thinking about how many couples, for hundreds of years, have vowed "in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, as long as we both shall live".
I look forward to reading about Caroline's sisters, Cecilia and Verity, in the next two books of the Daughters of Aynsley trilogy. They release in July and November of this year - so stay tuned!
I give this book 4.5 stars.
Interested in seeing the full blog tour and what others are saying about this book? Click the link below!
https://www.kregel.com/blogtours/books-on-tour/a-hero-for-miss-hatherleigh
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of the Kregel Publications Blog Tour program. All opinions expressed here are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.*