Her heart is her own–but her hand in marriage is another matter Lady Charlotte Featherington is destined for great things on the marriage market. After all, as the beautiful daughter of a marquess, she should have her pick of the eligible nobility when she debuts. She, however, has love at the top of her list of marriageable attributes. And her romantic heart falls hard for one particularly … for one particularly dashing, attentive suitor. Sadly for Charlotte, her noble father intends her betrothed to be someone far more dull.
William Hartwell may be a duke, but he knows he was Charlotte’s father’s pick, not the young lady’s own choice. And the captivating Lady Charlotte does not strike him as a woman who will be wooed by his wealth or title. While she has captured his heart, he has no idea how to win hers in return–and the betrayal and scandal his first wife put him through makes it difficult for him to believe that love can ever be trusted. His only hope is that Charlotte’s sense of responsibility will win out over her romantic notions.
Can a widowed duke and a romantically inclined lady negotiate a future and discover love beyond duty? Will they be able to find healing and hope from the legacy of grace?
Poignant and charming, this is another beautifully written, clean and wholesome Regency romance from Carolyn Miller in the tradition of Georgette Heyer and Julie Klassen. Fans of The Elusive Miss Ellison will meet compelling new characters–and a few old friends.
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This is the first book by Carolyn Miller that I’ve read and I am quite impressed. This is the second book of a series and I didn’t read the first book (but will do so shortly) prior to reading this one; this book can definitely be read as a stand-alone, though my curiosity is quite peaked about the couple in the first book who has a significant role in this book.
The writing is fluid and quite easy to read. The author really knows how to put the feelings of her characters into words that are so poignant, beautiful, articulate, and heart-wrenching. This Regency novel is a bit different from the others I’ve read; the novel focuses heavily on character development as the main drive of the story which I enjoyed more than I thought I would.
Now the characters…..Lady Charlotte starts out as an immature, selfish, self-indulgent, self-absorbed eighteen year old debutante daughter of a marquess who is looking for “love” to marry while her parents look for a “suitable” match. William is a duke and a recent widow, burned and embittered by a wife who did not love him and sought love elsewhere. The story starts as they meet and develops as both Charlotte and William mature, grow, and truly understand what love means. I loved watching Charlotte become a woman in the story.
There is also intrigue and mystery in the plot that intensify towards the latter part of the book, which kept me turning the pages to find out who and why and how. The component of faith and prayer was prominent in the story and very well-intwined in the personalities and actions of the main (and supporting) characters.
The ending felt too swift and I wanted a bit more of the story…but, alas, I will have to wait for the third book, The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey.
I am thankful for this copy of the book I received from the author and Kregel Publications through Where Book Fun Begins. I was not required to give a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
This is the second book I have read by this author and I have enjoyed both books very much. I can hardly wait til the next one comes out. The writing is superb and riveting. I laughed, I cried, I cringed and I became very angry at times. These characters came to life for me. Bravo Carolyn, Bravo!!
I did find the H and h both equally frustrating, but I could also understand their ways of thinking. Lady Charlotte Featherington is young and oh so tired of being treated as a child. However, in the beginning she was somewhat childish. William, the Duke of Hartington, came along and though the road was rough at first, things began to change for the both of them. Through it all, neither of them lost sight of God in their lives, which is where He should be in everyone’s lives.
If you love clean, historical romance, then this book is for you. I can’t say enough about this story to do it justice, so I will let you make up your own minds. Give it a try. Enjoy!
SPLENDID! Ms. Miller has crafted a riveting Regency romance. I was immediately engaged into the drama. The danger lurking in the shadows kept me on the edge of my seat. Lady Charlotte’s discovery of true love was a joy to watch unfold.
Recommend to readers who enjoy inspirational, historical fiction.
I borrowed a copy from my local library. I’ve expressed my honest opinion.
I enjoyed this clean regency tale so much! It is not necessary to read the first book in the series in order to understand this novel. I have read The Elusive Miss Ellison and was thrilled to see the main characters show up at various times in this book, giving us a peek at their continuing love story.
In this novel, Charlotte grows so much. She begins the story as a rather flighty young lady who is easily swayed into believing that attraction is the same as love. By the end, she has not only learned that true love is an entirely deeper emotion, but has also made a beautiful faith journey, as well.
The Duke, William, was a wonderful character who deserved a wife who would love him wholeheartedly. He struggled with trusting Charlotte and was not always forthcoming about troubling events in his life. He also grew in his emotional and spiritual walk throughout the story.
(4.5 stars)
The opulence of high society Regency England is well-described in the beginning of this story, with Charlotte’s life seeming perfect and ideal. She has several suitors to choose from, yet wants more from her marriage than a title- she wants the affection and lasting love she witnesses in a few couples around her. She’s a bit naive and judgmental, but I grew to like her more as she matured and learned to look beyond shallow appearances. William is in a vulnerable position- being attracted to Charlotte but not allowing himself to fall in love with her for fear of being hurt again. A sweet Regency romance with some angst and drama.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
I misjudged this book, originally, because of something that happened in the beginning made me think it was going to be steamy, so I abandoned it. I’m so glad I accidentally came across the book again and decided to read further. This book is clean, has great spiritual insight, is a sweet romance, and has a great storyline. The author deals with some of life’s issues tastefully. I am so glad I read it, and I am looking forward to reading the third book. Great job!
Beautiful written piece of historical fiction.
This story is power packed with loss and
grieving, emotion and family issues, fear
to love again,forgiveness, personal growth,
friendship and love. There is even some
mystery and suspense with malicious
mischief to add flair to the story.
Spiritual inspiration flowed freely making
the read heartfelt. The difference between
unconditional love with trust and frivolous
crushes with flirting became very clear.
Descriptions were so vivid and detailed that
the reader feels as if they are back in the
1844 era. The ballgowns were exquisite.
The carriage rides exciting.
The main characters, Lady Charlotte
Featherington and Duke William Hartwell
were well fleshed out, interesting and
artfully creative. The supporting characters
were colorful, well defined, some with good
intentions and some devoid of any feelings
but deceit, viciousness and evil.
Recommended read.
I volunteered to read The Captivating Lady.
Charlotte. Thanks to the author and bookfun.org
for the opportunity. My opinion is my own.