Saturday, July 24, 2021

About the Book

Book: Regaining Mercy

Author: Carolyn Miller

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: June 29, 2021

regaining Mercy A mom ready to do anything for her son. A man determined to win the woman he loves.

Going on Love at First Glance had seemed like such a good idea. She didn’t care about finding Mr. Right. No, Mindy Murray chose the reality TV show for more mercenary reasons. A mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do when it comes to feeding her son.

When Mindy returns to Elnora, the girl from the “wrong side of the island” just wants a chance to rebuild her reputation. Too bad the folks at church don’t practice what the preacher preaches.

Enter Dermott Reilly. The interim boss at Greener Gardens has always had a soft spot for Mindy and her son, but with his new responsibilities, an important garden competition, and a few other concerns, he finds it difficult to prove himself to her.

A tropical storm and a missing child prove that sometimes grace appears in the most unusual ways.

Regaining Mercy concludes the Elnora Island romances of the Independence Islands Series, featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily ever-afters.

The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

carolyn-miller-HR-4 Carolyn Miller is an Australian author of inspirational romance, particularly that of the Regency era, and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds where flawed people can grow in faith, hope and love through stories that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives.

More from Carolyn

Have you ever wondered what might happen if a failed TV reality star was to return home to her narrow minded community? What if she’s been tarred and feathered with disgrace?

In our world of insta-fame, selfies and fakebook, I find it fascinating that so many people are entranced by so-called reality TV, with its editing and narratives and shiny-eyed hopefuls chasing money, love and dreams. But what if it doesn’t work out? What happens next? How do you resume ‘normal life’ when you’ve been living in a very artificial world?

I enjoy writing fiction that is grounded in reality, with realistic, flawed characters who are on a God journey to find faith and freedom. My contemporary and historical novels often see characters struggle with the choices they’ve made (don’t we all?), which is exactly what single mom Mindy is dealing with.

Combine Mindy’s challenges with those faced by gardening expert, Dermott, a man whose stone wall building skills are better than his way with women, or his inability to hide his attraction to his former co-worker’s younger sister.

Regaining Mercy encourages us to see ourselves as God does, to not let the labels of the past to shape our future. Along the way, readers will enjoy the honest portrayals of family, friendship and faith.

I’m so glad people are really enjoying my new contemporary books, where I can bring my love of gardens (& my horticulturalist hubby’s expertise!) to a new audience. Want to see what’s growing in my garden? Check out my website www.carolynmillerauthor.com – and you might even see some of my husband’s famous stone walls!

If you enjoy stories of hope, heart and humor, then you’ll be sure to enjoy this novel about a prodigal and the patient gardener who helps her find God’s mercy – and renewed hope for her heart.

Happy reading!

Carolyn

MY REVIEW

If you have not started reading this series, what are you waiting for? I really liked this story and have a soft spot for your feature character Mindy. While I have never been on a reality show, I can relate to her in other ways. Her childhood was not the best and it has left scars on her heart. It broke my heart that others judged her because her parents were not the best role models.

Mindy is trying to survive and support her son the best way she can. Now maybe she didn’t make the best decision by being on a show but all she wanted was to provide for her son Jon. Coming back to the island after her appearance on the show brings out sone very unfriendly people who have no problem insulting her. I cringed at the comments made by some of the people about Mindy. There is some positive in her life though. Her neighbor Tina is a blessing to Mindy and is always there to lend a hand. She is a perfect example of helping those in need and loving unconditionally. I loved how Tina stood by Mindy as she struggles with her life. She gives words of encouragement and is a great person to lean on.

Dermott was a good character who has a big heart. He is friends with Mindy and stands up for her when someone says hurtful things to her. That part of the story in the grocery store reminded me of things happening today. We need to stand up for each other and not allow hatred and bullying to happen. I thought the author did a great job of illustrating how important it is for us to speak up and not allow the enemy to damage a person’s self esteem.

I want to mention Jon because I think he is a very important character in the story. Mindy has raised him on her own and we see glimpses of Jon struggling with interacting with people. I know Mindy wanted to seek help for him, but money was a factor and I think pride was peeking its head out as well. She doesn’t want to accept help because she feels like a failure. But really what she is doing is not allowing Jon to get the help he needs to live a normal life.

Mindy is in desperate need of finding her way back to God. She has a problem with trust, pride and forgiveness. It was interesting to see how the author addressed these topics with faith. I enjoyed the story and would love to see a follow up story about her.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.