"Winning Miss Winthrop" by Carolyn Miller

I don't know if Carolyn Miller is becoming a better writer or if I'm just becoming more appreciative of her writing style. (I suspect it's a mix of the two.) Whatever is happening, though, I find that I love each of Miller's novels more than the last, and Winning Miss Winthrop, the first in her new "A Promise of Hope" series, is one of the best books I've read so far this year!

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Years ago, the man who stole Catherine Winthrop's heart rejected her—and she's never recovered from the grief. Now tragedy has brought him back into her life. This time it isn't her heart he's taking, it’s her home and her family's good name.

Jonathan Carlew's serious demeanor and connection to trade, not to mention the rumors surrounding his birth, have kept him from being a favorite of the ladies, or their parents. Now, suddenly landed and titled, he finds himself with plenty of prospects. But his demanding society responsibilities keep pressing him into service to the one woman who captured his heart long ago—and then ran off with it.

These two broken hearts must decide whether their painful past and bitter present will be all they can share, or if forgiveness can provide a path to freedom for the future.

Set in the sumptuous salons of Bath, Regency England's royal breeding ground for gossip, Winning Miss Winthrop is the first volume in the Regency Brides: A Promise of Hope series. Fans of the wholesome and richly drawn first series won't want to miss this new set of characters—or appearances by their old favorites.

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Fans of Jane Austen's novels will love this latest regency novel from Carolyn Miller. Winning Miss Winthrop has shades of Persuasion and Sense and Sensibility, coupled with a mother who feels ripped from the pages of Pride and Prejudice. (Seriously, every time I read Catherine's mother's lines, I heard Mrs. Bennet, the 1995 miniseries version, in my head.) The story doesn't feel like a copy of Austen, though—instead, it feels like it fits right into Austen's world.

After Catherine Winthrop's father dies with no heir, the estate is entailed to Jonathan Carlew ... the man who broke Catherine's heart. Or did she break his? Misunderstandings abound throughout the novel, leaving me dying for Catherine and Jon to talk about what went wrong in their relationship. The problem? They both thought they knew exactly what had happened, but each only had half the story.

As the novel progresses, the (seemingly) unrequited love hums beneath the surface, making the final resolution all the sweeter. The story beyond the romance is also intriguing, as Catherine adjusts to her new life (and takes on Bath, a common setting in Austen's novels) and Jon struggles with his new responsibilities as Lord Winthrop. Also, Lavinia and Nicholas from The Elusive Miss Ellison make several appearances in the novel, tying this book to Miller's previous series.

From beginning to end, I was completely enthralled with this novel (and I read it all in just over a day, as I simply couldn't put it down). While I loved Miller's previous novels, Winning Miss Winthrop is special. Fans of regency romance will love it! 5 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Miller's The Elusive Miss Ellison (4 stars), The Captivating Lady Charlotte (4-1/2 stars), and The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey (5 stars).

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Carolyn Miller lives in New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of Regency romance, Carolyn's novels have won a number of RWA and ACFW contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Kregel Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”