About the Book
Can a very 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. It’s simply the way things are done in her world. When she visits south Devonshire and encounters a fossil-hunting scientist and his sister, her assumptions about what is right are shaken. She is suddenly confronted by questions she has never considered about the importance of friendship and faith—and her comfortable understanding about how the world works is thrown off balance.
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 by both his personal beliefs and by local smugglers in the Devonshire countryside. And every day his sister’s illness is becoming more desperate and her care grows more demanding. Adding a proper Viscount’s daughter to the mix is a complication Gideon never expected—especially since he has a secret that demands he stays far away from this young woman he’s falling for in order to protect his beloved sister.
When a mysterious stranger visits the village, that secret is set to 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 managed to build be strong enough to overcome their differences—or will the trust they’ve withheld from each other end up tearing three lives apart?
Excerpt
“Oh, there she is. Look.”
As if unable to disobey her command, he found himself looking through a glass window into the plush carriage passing by, straight into the widened blue eyes he wanted to forget. Breath constricted, and he had to drag his gaze away, to refocus on the deeply rutted road ahead. He exhaled heavily.
Beside him, he heard a soft chuckle. “I thought so.”
“You thought what?”
“I thought I recognized that look.”
“What look?” he snapped.
The chuckle rounded into laughter. “That look. The one with red cheeks and fixed aversion that only cries embarrassment.”
“I’m not embarrassed.”
“Of course you aren’t”
Really, sisters could be most provoking.
“Why would you be? Just because you saw a pretty young lady, and she noticed you, and I noticed you both noticing each other—why would you be embarrassed?”
“Emma,” he said, in what he liked to think was his warning voice.
“Gideon,” she said, mischief dancing in her eyes.
“You are truly the most obnoxious, irritating—”
“Irritatingly wonderful sister in the whole wide world. I know,” she said complacently, before adding, “it is probably best not to encourage your hopes, anyway, judging from the look of her grandmother. She looks like she’d as soon as have you cast into the sea as speak to you.”
He guided Nancy through the gates, but not before casting a quick look at the gray sea skirting the village. The dowager viscountess possessed a degree of authoritativeness that made such an action not unlikely. Well, perhaps a little less likely in this day and age. But were this a different century, she seemed the sort not unwilling to cry “off with their heads.” Or at least see him pinioned in the stocks.
“i think you would do better, sister dear, to think on the sermon we just heard, and refrain from idle speculation.”
“But refraining from idle speculation is so boring, Gideon.” She sighed. “You always prefer the logical and measurable. You know such things can make you very dull.”
But such things also kept one from making a fool of oneself. After his one sad flight into romantical fancy eight years ago, he had no desire to embarrass himself again. Not even for a rather striking young lady with blue eyes.
Review
Just when you find yourself lamenting the lack of undergroundologists in Regency romance, along comes Carolyn Miller to set things right. And if you’re wondering what an undergroundologist is, it’s exactly what it sounds like—and they don’t come much more honourable than Erasmus Gideon Kirby Carstairs. That’s one of the things I love about Carolyn Miller’s heroes: they’re original and down-to-earth, not in-your-face, “look at me, I’m a Regency hero” type men. And in this case, Gideon’s search for the fossilised remains of an ichthyosaurus added an interesting dimension to the story.
But Gideon’s scientific pursuits are only one part of his story, as he’s also caring for his sister Emma in her poor health and trying to keep her hidden from her abusive husband. In many ways, Emma is the central figure in this story, because it’s her budding friendship with Caroline that brings Caroline into Gideon’s company and causes Caroline to begin examining not only her manner towards others but her lack of belief in God. Actually, if I can let you in on a little secret, I think Emma was probably my favourite character in this book—along with Lord Kenmore. They added just the right liveliness of manner to balance the less effusive Gideon and Caroline.
Speaking of Caroline… Having met her briefly in previous books, I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy reading about her as a heroine in her own right, but the author does a good job of portraying her as a young woman who is making an effort to amend her character flaws, even if she occasionally reverts to old habits. I can’t say she’s my favourite of Miller’s heroines, but I loved the authenticity of her character growth.
In terms of the romance, this is definitely one for Regency lovers who enjoy a gradual build up in the romantic tension, despite both characters having felt the tug of attraction at first sight. It was actually a little surreal reading Gideon’s response when he first laid eyes on Caroline, because it put into words exactly how I felt the first time I saw my own husband: “He couldn’t help but feel like a connection deep and marvelous had suddenly wrenched into awareness, something he’d be forever helpless to ignore.” Nevertheless, the complexities of Gideon and Emma’s situation—not to mention the usual strictures of propriety—mean these two take very tentative steps toward exploring that instant connection they feel.
The story winds up with a nice little bit of suspense, and amidst all of that, the glimpses we get of Ned Amherst and Caroline’s sister Cecilia have definitely whetted my appetite for the next in the series.
Readers who delight in being thoroughly immersed in the Regency world that exists outside of London ballrooms should definitely be picking up Carolyn Miller’s novels.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
About the Author
Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia. She is married, with four gorgeous children, who all love to read (and write!).
A longtime lover of Regency romance, Carolyn’s novels have won a number of Romance Writers of American (RWA) and American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers. Her favourite authors are classics like Jane Austen (of course!), Georgette Heyer, and Agatha Christie, but she also enjoys contemporary authors like Susan May Warren and Becky Wade.
Her stories are fun and witty, yet also deal with real issues, such as dealing with forgiveness, the nature of really loving versus ‘true love’, and other challenges we all face at different times.
Connect with Carolyn: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
Wonderful review, Katie!
That review makes me want to read this book!
I can lend you a real copy if you like 🙂