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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 145: A Chat with Debut Women's Fiction Author, Sara Brunsvold
byChautona Havig

Debut Author, Sara Brunsvold, is bursting on the Christian Women’s fiction scene with an amazing book, The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. With characters who have captivated my heart from page one (and enough quirkiness to keep my attention to the last), Sara Brunsvold is sure to become a favorite author, and this book is already on my top five of the year before it’s even released!

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

This Novel Isn’t Even Available Yet, and It’s in My Top 5!

If you’d told me that I’d fall so in love with two chapters of a book that it would push that book into my top five of the year so far, well… I’d have laughed.

The joke’s on me because it happened with Sara Brunsvold’s The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. This debut women’s fiction novel has a bit of a split-time element and is set in Kansas City. Trust me when I say that meeting Clara was one of the most fun introductions to a character I’ve ever had. I just love this woman, and I’m drumming my fingers to get to read more about her.  Not surprising considering it won the ACFW Genesis’s award a couple of years back. 😀

Sara says her passion is intergenerational stories, and you definitely get this with Aidyn and her “assignment,” Mrs. Kipp.  But you also get inter-cultural and ideological influences in this book as well.

And then there’s that next book she has coming out.  You know, the one about a gal cooking her way through her grandma’s German cookbook?  Yeah.  The one we have to wait until early 2024 for?  Yeah. That one.  Sigh.

When Sara told us about her favorite authors, a lot of things made sense.  Just sayin’. Find out which of Katherine Reay’s books are her favorites and how she fangirled over Reay’s response to an email (and why you should email your favorite author!).

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold

Aidyn Kelley is talented, ambitious, and ready for a more serious assignment than the fluff pieces she’s been getting as a cub reporter for the Kansas City Star. In her eagerness, she pushes too hard, earning herself the menial task of writing an obituary for an unremarkable woman who’s just entered hospice care.

But there’s more to Clara Kip than meets the eye. The spirited septuagenarian may be dying, but she’s not quite ready to cash it in yet. Never one to shy away from an assignment herself, she can see that God brought the young reporter into her life for a reason. And if it’s a story Aidyn Kelley wants, that’s just what Mrs. Kip will give her–but she’s going to have to work for it.

Debut author Sara Brunsvold delights with this emotional multigenerational story that shows that the very best life is made up of thousands of little deaths to self. You’ll want to be just like Mrs. Kip when you grow up!

This book is 40% off with free shipping from Baker Book House. That’s less than the Kindle version if you like paper!

You can learn more about Sara at her WEBSITE (and sign up for that newsletter so you can get Mrs.Kip’s 8 Rules to Live By). Oh, and if she does those videos of her cooking through that book, you’ll want to know when/where to find them.

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

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  • and more!
Episode 145: A Chat with Debut Women's Fiction Author, Sara Brunsvold
Episode 145: A Chat with Debut Women's Fiction Author, Sara Brunsvold
May 20, 2022
Chautona Havig
Episode 144: Chatting about Restored Grace with Kathleen J. Robison
May 17, 2022
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Episode 143: A Chat with Romantic Suspense Author, Mary Alford
May 13, 2022
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Episode 142: A Chat about A Promise Engraved by Liz Tolsma
May 10, 2022
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Episode 141: A Chat with Elizabeth Goddard about Critical Alliance
May 3, 2022
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Episode 140: A Chat about When the Meadow Blooms by Ann H. Gabhart
April 29, 2022
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Episode 139: A Chat with Middle-Grade Author, RM Ruiz
April 26, 2022
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Episode 138: A Gush about a Good (more like GREAT) Read & GoodReads
April 22, 2022
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Episode 137: A Chat with Contemporary Romance Author, Mandi Blake
April 19, 2022
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Episode 136: A Chat with Middle-Grade Historical Author, Marie Sontag
April 15, 2022
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