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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

This New Contemporary Romance Has Southern Charm from Down Under

by Chautona Havig · 12 Comments

This week, I chatted with author, Carolyn Miller about her Regency novels, her Independence Islands books, and her upcoming contemporary romance series! via @chautonahavig

I’d seen the covers of her books–lovely Regency titles that intrigued me.  However, when we put out the call for authors in our upcoming series, The Independence Islands, I never imagined I’d see her name among the applicants.

Well, let’s just say that not only was Carolyn Miller an excellent addition to the team, her books… guys, her books!  I’ve read two of the island books now, and I hear the third is winging its way to my inbox.  And well… what do I think?  I think…

carolyn miller

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This New Contemporary Romance Has Southern Charm from Down Under

It can’t be easy for an Aussie to transition from contemporary Australia to Regency England, but I bet it’s even harder to transition from that to contemporary Southern USA.  Well… If it is, you’d never know it, because Carolyn Miller has mastered it.

In this interview, we chatted about her original contemporary works (did you know she wrote romantic suspense?  Was that the one she won awards for?  I don’t know.  Here’s the thing.  I should have known.

Because her second islands book?  Yeah.  Definitely romantic suspense in it.  With just a bit of tweaking it would have been classified as Romantic suspense.  How awesome is THAT?

Well, last month was her debut contemporary novel as well as her first one of the Islands series, Restoring Fairhaven.

restoring fairhaven carolyn millerJust as an overview of the story, Samantha (Sam) Greene takes over her father’s landscaping business and has to deal with quite a bit of pushback from the men of the business but even more, a man whose assistant hires her to tackle the enormous grounds at the Fairhaven estate.

This poor guy is grieving and brooding, which works for the kind of books he writes.  Yep, he’s an author (think Nicholas Sparks novels on steroids).  Of course, personalities clash, and things just get really interesting.

This book has three primary things going for it.

  • Characterization:  Miller writes lovely flawed characters who you can relate to and watch grow and stretch.  I loved liking and disliking people and the works.  It was great.
  • Plot:  Her story is heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time, so it’s really cool to see how she handled those.
  • Spiritual aspects:  She didn’t get all preachy, but she did have a few spots where my brain went, “Hmm… what does the Bible say about that… cool…” and off I went to study, which is my favorite.

But as we said, Carolyn Miller got her start in Regency Romance.

With three series out and one beginning soon, she has quite a list ready for you.

  • Regency Brides (A Legacy of Grace)
  • Regency Brides (Daughters of Aynsley)
  • Regency Brides (A Promise of Hope)
  • Regency Brides (Regency Wallflowers–coming  April 2021)

I am most interested in the one about the girl who went to Gretna Green and the “after the wedding” story, so I’ll be reading that, but since I can’t remember which one it is, I’m going to start with her first book and work my way through until I can find it.

But she joined the Independence Islands series to dip her toe into the contemporary waters because…

She has a contemporary “hockey” series coming out next year (just in time for the winter Olympics) and readers need to know she can do this!  Seriously, hearing the story of the closing ceremonies in Vancouver that inspired Carolyn’s first book… I’m so excited about her hockey series, so check that out next year!

You can find more about Carolyn Miller on her WEBSITE where you can also find her social media links as well as fascinating photos of her trips to England (Bath, the Peak District, Scotland, etc.) as well as gardens on the Independence Islands page (she cheats. Her husband is a horticulturist… just sayin’).

And I’m going to give away a copy of Restoring Fairhaven to one commenter!

US residents will receive a paperback, and international will receive an eBook (sorry!).  Just leave a comment about an interesting garden you visited and why you found it interesting.  I loved the gardens at the Bellagio in Las Vegas a few years ago!

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Comments

  1. Joy Suzanne Hunt says

    February 1, 2021 at 6:00 pm

    The most interesting garden I’ve visited was my sister’s “chickadee cafe.” You know my parents got chickens last year – they are pen pals with Neville. Well, apparently there are certain plants that are good for chickens, so my sister planted a little garden in the chicken run with chicken-friendly plants.

    That has not, of course, stopped the chickens from getting out and getting into the “not for chickens” plants on the other side of the yard!

    Reply
  2. Linda Palmer says

    January 28, 2021 at 4:31 am

    Interesting transition for Carolyn Miller. I’ve not read much by her as I don’t care for regency stories. But I love the Independence Island stories!

    Reply
  3. Elissa says

    January 27, 2021 at 5:24 pm

    The most interesting garden I’ve visited would be the golf course turned botanical gardens that my husband worked at when he was in high school/college. It was across the street from his house and the owner is a Japanese man who came to America with the dream of having a botanical garden. It wasn’t complete when my husband was still working there, but perhaps is now? We live across the country and can’t go check it out, but we should really ask his parents!

    Reply
  4. Linda Palmer says

    January 27, 2021 at 5:44 am

    I have visited a few rose gardens in parks. Those have always been fun. It’s always good if the plants are labeled.

    Reply
  5. Carolyn Miller says

    January 26, 2021 at 8:11 pm

    Thanks so much for having me, Chautona! It was heaps of fun! xx

    Reply
  6. MS Barb says

    January 26, 2021 at 8:45 am

    There are beautiful gardens at the conservatory at Como park, in St. Paul, MN (Decades ago, I had wedding pictures taken there (August 1973) & then I visited again w/ my 2 daughters, in 2014 after a niece’s wedding!

    Reply
  7. Lindsay says

    January 26, 2021 at 6:27 am

    ( Scotland resident here! ) A couple of years ago we ventured south to Derbyshire, in England and visited Chatsworth House. I was in my element and managed to drag 2 young children and a semi-reluctant but considerate hubby round the house. However it was when we all ventures into the gardens that the children became alive! A huge hedge maze, tiered water features, old pump buildings, great trees to scramble over, beautiful flowers and bushes, but most impressive was the huge football pitch sized lake/pond with a water fountain that uses natural deep pressure to spout forth and look majestic. It was truly wonderful day of exploring.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      January 26, 2021 at 8:18 am

      Aw, that sounds wonderful!

      Reply
  8. Michelle L. says

    January 26, 2021 at 6:00 am

    We have a local garden called Longwood Gardens. I believe it may be nationally known. I love it! It’s huge it has some of everything and I try to get there as often as I can.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      January 26, 2021 at 8:18 am

      That sounds beautiful–just the name.

      Reply
  9. Cheryl Arcemont says

    January 26, 2021 at 5:06 am

    I remember as a child visiting the Botanical Gardens in St. Louis, Missouri. My grandmother showed me new plants that I haven’t seen since. Truly a wonderful memory!

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      January 26, 2021 at 8:18 am

      Oooh, that sounds like a must-see place!

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
byChautona Havig

Fans of Lisa Phillips’ Last Chance County series are doing happy dances following the release of an exciting new spin-off series, Last Chance Fire and Rescue. Expired Return brings back a few favorite characters and kicks off another of Sunrise Publishing’s author/mentor led fiction seasons! Listen in to find out what happens when an author brings back a guy she dropped a building on a couple of books back…

 

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you!

When Fans Want More Exciting Stories, Smart Authors Listen and Deliver!

Let’s face it. Authors might SOMETIMES be “done” with a series, but readers often want more… indefinitely. Well, with the brilliance of Sunrise Publishing’s mentor model, authors get to collaborate with authors they trust to do their “worlds” proud while still having time to write new, exciting things as well. And some of the Sunrise lead authors even write in the spin-off series–like Lisa Phillips and Trisha Goyer!

This new Last Chance County series promises everything we love about Lisa Phillips’ world–danger, intrigue, heart-stopping suspense, drama… you know… all the feels. But in addition to her own release, Expired Return, this series also introduces us to new authors who have been carefully vetted and selected to ensure they do justice to Lisa’s Last Chance characters. I, for one, can’t wait to check it all out.

Lisa and I chatted about what she plans for the series,Lisa hinted about a possible super-secret reveal coming soon, and I even poked her with the idea of a Last Chance Christmas.

Help me convince them on that, will ya?

But this new book… Whoa…

Expired Return by Lisa Phillips

Pepper stood up. “How dare you.” She could spit fire at him right now. She’d loved and supported Victory since the day she was born. “You know nothing about me.”

“What’s this?”

Pepper whirled around at that voice. Heart. Breaking. She loved that gruff, commanding voice more than anything else in the world.

He wore a look a lot like Aiden’s. Blank, which she knew—or hoped—had to do with protecting his heart because he still cared for her. Except he probably hated her.

Donaldson sat back in his chair. “Allen.”

Former police officer Allen Frees had both hands on the wheels of his chair. He wore a fire department uniform of slacks and a white shirt. Emblems. A badge. His life of service hadn’t ended when he landed in that chair after a building blew up over his head.

As far as she’d been able to tell, it barely slowed him down.

She’ll give everything to protect her family.

He always knew she was the one.

Veterinary tech Pepper Miller lives a quiet life in Last Chance County. She’s watching her niece until her sister shows up…if she ever does. When Victory’s father demands he take over her care, Pepper knows something has gone wrong. With a new drug in town, and her sister embroiled in a dangerous bargain, it’s up to Pepper to protect the people she loves.

Even if it costs every secret she’s ever kept.

Fire Department liaison Allen Frees lives with the injuries he sustained as a police officer in a raid gone wrong. He’s put his life back together but getting the truck crew and engine squad to succeed might be his toughest assignment yet. When Victory is nearly kidnapped at a community event, Allen steps in to help Pepper keep her niece safe. The one thing he couldn’t fix was the love he lost, but he isn’t going to let Pepper walk away this time.

No matter what walls he has to break down.

Last Chance County returns in this blazing new series from Sunrise Publishing.

Last Chance Fire and Rescue

  • Book 1: Expired Return
  • Book 2: Expired Hope (coming soon)
  • Book 3: Expired Promise (coming soon)
  • Book 4: Expired Vows (coming soon)

Last Chance County

  • Book 1: Expired Refuge
  • Book 2: Expired Secrets
  • Book 3: Expired Cache
  • Book 4: Expired Hero
  • Book 5: Expired Game
  • Book 6: Expired Plot
  • Book 7: Expired Getaway
  • Book 8: Expired Betrayal
  • Book 9: Expired Flight
  • Book 10: Expired End

Learn more about Lisa and her books on her WEBSITE.

Learn more about the different seasons (series) offered by Sunrise Publishing or how to audition with them on the Sunrise Publishing WEBSITE.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
February 7, 2023
Chautona Havig
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Episode 204: A Chat with Sarah Sundin about The Sound of Light
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Episode 203: A Chat with Heather Greer about Window of Opportunity
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Episode 202: A Chat with Historical Christian Author, Laura Frantz
January 24, 2023
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Episode 201: A Closer Look at This YA Dystopian Series
January 20, 2023
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Episode 200: Comparing & Contrasting Two Split-Time Novels
January 17, 2023
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January 13, 2023
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Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first da Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first dates... no second dates. With his propensity to spout random (and often bizarre) animal facts while nervous (he's always nervous around women) it's no wonder. 
His sister has a solution--lots of dates. Great, heaping gobs of them. Go ahead. Be awkward. Get used to it. Then... then try with someone you really want to get to know. He's not so confident, but when a man gives his word... (Note to self: no more agreeing to Selby's plans without knowing what they are!)
Find out what happens in Random Acts (or is it Facts?) of Shyness.

This book just got a fresh makeover, thanks to the genius of @PlethoraCreative & @PerryElizabeth.
There's a link to how to find it in my bio.
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