Book description from Book Bub:
“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?”
My Review:
I’ve read every book in the last two series that Carolyn Miller has written, and I’ve been eagerly looking forward to this first book in her new series. Mrs. Miller creates such wonderful characters, and I think Caroline Hatherleigh is one of her best. It was so interesting watching her undergo a character change as the story progressed. Gideon made a wonderful “hero” for Caroline. He not only saved her from danger, but he also was the one who was the first to encourage her to read the Bible. Reading the Word of God brought about the change in her life, and in turn, Carolyn influenced the lives of others around her.
Faith plays a huge part in this storyline. The author’s done some good research on fossil-hunting in the 19th century and the some of the incredible finds during that period. I appreciated that she not only made Gideon a fossil hunter, but that he was looking at his fossil finds as a way of learning more about God as Creator. The fossil hunting scenario works well in the book and gives it a different twist from the usual regency storyline. There’s also a part of the story that involves the spousal abuse of Emma, Gideon’s sister. The relationship between Gideon and Emma is one of love and self-sacrifice and adds much to this book.
This is a clean and sweet Christian regency with no foul language. I truly enjoyed reading this book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.