The more regency stories I read, the more I love them. England in the early 1800’s was a much different world, for women especially, and stands as such a strong backdrop for this inspiring story.

Dusk’s Darkest Shores is a beautifully written, well-crafted story! Carolyn Miller makes visualizing and immersing oneself in Regency England effortless. It’s easy to connect with the characters and I love how authentic their situations, expectations, and responses feel.

Mary is one of my favorite characters I’ve read from this time period. She has a sweet, yet spunky demeanor. She has a kind heart yet isn’t a pushover, smart yet humble, imperfect but strives to be better, and is most admirable in her appreciation and contentment with most situations.

Adam is a super-complex character with countless of dissimilarities from Mary. But somehow their personalities complement each other as they cause each other to grow. Adam faces many challenges, and yearns to overcome them, though he often doubts (or is afraid to believe) that his goals are attainable.

Wonderfully crafted characters!
I mainly connected with Mary, but truly empathized with nearly every character. (It took great effort with a few of them, though. Ha!) Adam’s mother annoyed me, but as a mother myself, I understood her actions and reactions even if I hope I would’ve reacted differently. I liked Dr. Bloomfield, Mary’s dad, and feel he added depth to the story. I struggled to connect with Joanna and Emily on an emotional level, but they greatly enriched the story as well. And if anyone can’t empathize with Adam and his struggles, then I worry about them. He, in my opinion, is the heart of the story.

An important spin to this story (and series) is that it is somewhat unconventional for a regency tale. Its focus is on women less than wealthy, beautiful, and admired. The ones some might consider wallflowers. Brilliant!

Most compelling, is the steady thread of faith that binds this tale together. Persevering the winding paths of darkness, struggles, and unanswerable questions often leads us to a brighter and more rewarding life, as Mary and Adam discover.

I don’t think I’ve ever described a book as gentle before, but the adjective is fitting. Dusk’s Darkest Shores is a tender, stirring, spiritual, and rewarding story that will leave you feeling brighter and more blessed.

Sometimes, I have a really difficult time reviewing books because they’re SO good I’m at a loss for words. Dusk’s Darkest Shores by Carolyn Miller is fantastic, and yes, I’m a bit at a loss for words to describe just how amazing this story is. Nothing I say here in this review will do this book justice. However, I can say that this book is now my most favorite that Miller has penned to date. The plot is highly engaging. I could not put this book down and I did read well past my bedtime two nights in a row! The characters are superb. Mary is a great heroine and she 100% wiggled her way into my heart. She is so patient and hard-working and supremely compassionate. I love her genuine heart for others and her ability to self-sacrifice. Mary sees a person in need and she drops everything to help. How Mary interacts with Adam is the BEST! She is kind and understanding but she also won’t let him get away with self-pity and emotional defeat. She encourages him when Adam needs encouragement, but she also gets a bit cheeky with him when Adam needs to calm down and laugh a little. Mary really is an excellent heroine for Adam. And, Adam is a really good hero, too. I love how he sees Mary for the good soul she really is. I love how he sees her when very few really do. In our superficial world where super-model looks appear to be all that matters, it is so refreshing to escape into a beautiful story where character matters more than good looks. The fact that Adam can see Mary for who she is beyond her looks made me love his character all the more. What a great man!

Of the many topics discussed in this book the discussion on prayer and God answering prayers is the topic that resonated with me the most. I think that many people see God as a genie in a bottle. The thought on prayer is that if I ask God for X, He will give me X or it proves God doesn’t exist. God is not a genie who is there at our beck and call to give us whatever we want. Not even Jesus, Himself, got what He wanted (Luke 22:42) and He is the Son of God. Rather, we are told that it is always about God’s Will. There is a great line from Mary: “Sometimes I wonder if trusting in God even despite a lack of seeming answers might be the faith God is really looking for.” I wholeheartedly agree with Mary on this idea. It’s not about getting what we want every time we go to God in prayer. Rather, it’s about trusting God even when our prayers don’t get answered the way we think they should. In the end, it’s more about fostering a relationship with God not about getting things. I really loved this reminder, and may even have needed it!

Dusk’s Darkest Shores is a poignant story that will stick with me long after the final page has been turned. This is definitely a book that is going on my re-read pile. I love it and I truly cannot say enough good things about it. If you are a fan of excellent storytelling, if you love a good Regency Romance, or if you just enjoy a story that allows you to escape into a beautiful fictional world, then I highly recommend Dusk’s Darkest Shores.

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author via Audra Jennings at I Read With Audra through NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is a good novel exploring the plight of men returning to England from fighting in the Napoleonic campaigns. Miller has done a good job of creating an unlikely romance in the midst of suffering. Her writing style is a pleasure to read and her characters crafted well to fit the time.

There are several themes explored in the novel. One is the plight of the returning soldiers. Many had no means of living and were not treated well. Some, like Adam, returned home with a debilitating disease. Miller explores the frustration felt by Adam and his battle with feeling useless. But we also see just how far one can go with a disability when there is encouraging help.

Another theme in the novel centers on women and their place in society at the time. A young woman is attacked and mistreated yet the Magistrate tends to not believe her. Our heroine, Mary, does believe her and tries to encourage her. Mary is a bit of a pistol, nearing thirty and not married. She helps her doctor father and really doesn't fit into society, lacking beaus. And then there is Emily, a young woman who fits well into social circles. She was engaged to Adam before he left for war but now cannot face the thought of marrying a less than able man. An additional theme in the novel is the exploration of God and miracles. Will He still heal today? Why doesn't He protect those who love Him from devastating harm? How do we trust Him in the midst of suffering?

I enjoyed this novel. It is an entertaining story of tragedy, emotional healing, and trust in God. I was also delighted to learn about herbs used to heal at the time.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Carolyn Miller’s newest release is a refreshing perspective on the lives of commoners during the regency era in the lake district of England. It’s a unique take on this genre, shifting the focus from the aristocracy with their marriage pursuits to those working the land.
Dusk’s Darkest Shores features a disabled hero, who learns to deal with his disability through the efforts of the town doctor’s daughter, Mary. Adam, the war hero, returns home with little fanfare, instead becoming the subject of gossip and harsh critiques. Upon the insistence of Adam’s parents and Mary’s father, she helps the injured soldier learn to function with his disability. She helps him to live again.
Mary is a sensible character who is unjustly treated in the town. She is kind, intelligent, and a faithful helper to her doctor father. She is a woman of faith, and appears to have the gift of healing. Yet, she is resolved that her lot in life is to remain single as England is desperately short on eligible bachelors to wed.
One can’t help but to feel Adam’s agony as he deals with the reality that faces him when he returns home. As he struggles with his new reality, Adam proves to be an honorable character. He has seen much of the world as a soldier and doesn’t care much for talk around town and desires to be the son he should have been before he left for war.
The pages are peppered with colourful characters – some endearing, some not. Youthfulness is contrasted with mature steadfastness as Mary converses with many of the younger, single women in town. There are enough medical problems in town to keep Mary focused on assisting her father, and she chooses to work hard instead of lamenting over singleness.
There’s a bit of a mystery going on, a tragic circumstance that has Mary questioning her faith, a broken engagement, topped off with a sweet story of friendship. Of course there is a happily-ever-after, but maybe not quite what you may expect.
I didn’t miss the pomp and circumstance of other regencies, and found myself lost in the story of common people.
I look forward to the next book in the Wallflowers Series.

Dusk’s Darkest Shore is a pure Regency delight set in the Lake District in England. Carolyn Miller gives you all the feels in this amazing love story. I was drawn in from the beginning and did not want the story to end.

I felt so connected to main characters Mary Bloomfield and Adam Edgerton. Carolyn Miller writes beautiful and tender scenes between Mary and Adam as we follow their journey from acquaintances to two people who are deeply in love. Her secondary characters added to the story and I enjoyed watching their transformation. She effortlessly weaves in God’s sovereignty and explores why every prayer is not answered in the story.

Dusk’s Darkest Shore is a delightfully written Regency story with authentic characters, some mystery, and a timeless love story. Regency readers will love the attention to detail of the times and will be looking forward to the next two books in the series. I highly recommend it.

I was given the book by the publisher and not required to write a review.

I LOVE Regency romance. Even better are clean Regency romances. I’m excited to discover a new to me Regency author, Carolyn Miller.

Mary Bloomfield is firmly on the shelf. She is a nice, but plain woman and is a wallflower at any party. There is a lack of men with the Napoleonic Wars raging and she unfortunately has not found someone to love. Her life is nevertheless fulfilling as she helps her father, who is a doctor, as a nurse in their neighborhood in England’s Lake District.

Mary finds herself caring her brother’s childhood friend, Adam Edgerton, after he returns from the Napoleonic Wars with a disease. He struggles with how to continue on with his life with his newfound handicap. He is depressed and frustrated, but with the help of caring Mary, will he be able to find a new path in life?
I greatly enjoyed this story. I really cared for the characters. I loved how caring Mary was, but to tell the truth, I really enjoyed her very annoying and selfish sister as well. I like that Mary was deeply rooted in her faith and used prayer to help those cases that were the hardest. I also like that this book really looked at the struggles they both faced and how they worked through them with the power of their faith.

There was also a sad side story about a young woman who is a victim of rape and is shamed by the village. Her story really saddened me. I liked that Mary had compassion for this young woman.

I loved the author’s note at the end of the novel explaining her research and her faith journey. It was very interesting.

Favorite Quotes:

“Music and laughter swirled through the assembly room, a shiny, animated scene within a life-sized bauble.” – What a great first line!!

“Perhaps such was the nature of love, that one could be blind to the folly of the chosen object of affection.”

Overall, Dusk’s Darkest Shores was a great Regency romance that focused on the characters’ faith journey. I enjoyed it.

Book Source: Review copy from Kregel Publications for being a part of the Blog Tour. Thank-you!

I do not know how I would react if I lost my eyesight. I feel the author did a great job in describing how Adam felt when he lost his sight. I really loved how Mary helps Adam to see his new world and be able to work again. I enjoyed the little bit of mystery in the story also. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

After reading Carolyn Miller’s first book in the Regency Wallflowers I thought Dusk’s Darkest Shores was a brilliant title. We all go through events in our lives that are disappointing and heartbreaking. As the story is told, we are reminded that what each of us does and how we respond when faced with these things makes all the difference.

Adam Edgerton was the village’s handsome war hero who had everything to look forward to until an unexpected illness he contracted while fighting changed all of that. He was thrown into despair and would need someone to help him see life can be beautiful once again. I loved that he chose to find the good in his circumstances and didn’t lose hope. When his faith was tested He chose to still believe in God and His goodness.

Mary Bloomfield, in my opinion, was the true hero of the story. She chose to repeatedly forgive when wronged, gave selflessly to others in the village, and put aside her desires of marrying and happiness in order to honor a friend. At first she reluctantly helped Adam because her father, the local doctor, needed her to check on Adam and assist him. She provided encouragement, support, and friendship when Adam wanted to push her away and give into despair at times. Mary was the medicine that Adam needed and I loved watching their relationship develop and grow into something special. In Adam’s words to Mary he said, “After all, it was you who inspired me to dare to dream.”

This is an inspirational story and recommend reading it. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Kregel Publications of a copy of the book. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A beautiful story about two lost people finding each other. I love that the main character stays true to herself and doesn't let the threat of scandal stop her.

Carolyn Miller continues to amaze me with each new book. She has mastered the art of balancing both plot and characters into a satisfying tale. Her lyrical prose draws her readers into the beautiful setting of England's Lake District in this first book of what promises to be a delightful new series.

Mary, a local spinster aids her father in the recovery of an injured local war hero. As Mary and Adam's relationship grows, I thoroughly enjoyed how they drew upon their individual strengths and faith as they faced uncertainties together. I absolutely adored Mary, strong and full of grit, yet compassionate in her care of others.

Quietly told, this masterfully crafted tale has one of Carolyn Miller's most compelling messages yet. One of relying upon the power of faith and love amidst some of the darkest moments of our lives.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A war hero returns home, without the use of his eyes. Once a popular, sought-after gentleman Adam is relegated to a position of pity and abandoned by his fiance. The local doctor continues to care for him, as well as his daughter, Mary, who is merely acting on her father's instructions. She visits and assists the family and soon finds herself enjoying time spent with him. But Mary has resolved to spend her life as an old maid as society whispers about her.

I appreciated the honest wrestling throughout this story of answered prayer and God's providence. Although I think Mary's healing touch was a bit on the mystical side, there was firm affirmation of God's sovereignty in both answering prayers and not. I also enjoyed the quote "when he'd had his vision, it seemed he hadn't seen very clearly at all." It speaks to our own blindness as we judge and perceive others on merits other than through the eyes of God.

An inspiring and enlightening story from Carolyn Miller! Dusk’s Darkest Shores is a unique Regency, in terms of both characters and plot, and truly captivated me. Although I sometimes wished the romantic plot would move a bit faster, Miller has a superb way with words that will leave lasting impressions on the reader. I was greatly intrigued by several of the side characters, and I hope we see more of them and some plot lines from this book in future stories.

Dusk’s Darkest Shores may be my favorite of Miller’s books I’ve read so far. I felt deeply connected to Adam and Mary, and their illuminating story that teaches the value of both sight and insight. Don’t miss this wonderful series starter! 4/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

DUSK'S DARKEST SHORES by CAROLYN MILLER is boldly dedicated "To all those who dare to believe God." I like this strong statement of faith.
The story takes place in 1811 in Amberley in the beautiful English Lake District. Mary Bloomfield is a faith filled young lady of twenty nine who lives out her faith by helping her father in his medical practice. Not being as pretty as her younger sister Joanna or Emily Hardy, who is betrothed to the handsome Lieutenant Adam Edgerton, a war hero who is expected home shortly, she feels it unlikely that anyone would want to marry her.
Adam comes home a very different man to the one who left to go to war four years ago. Mary's father offers her help to the Edgerton family to encourage Adam to become interested in life again.
The characters are delightful and their repartee is often witty, although sometimes downright unkind!
It is a story about light dispelling darkness, about kindness and selflessness as opposed to self seeking, and about building others up rather than breaking them down.
The story is really inspirational, as we are reminded of the truth in Romans chapter eight verse twenty eight that God truly can bring good out of all things for His children.
It is a most enjoyable read and one I highly recommend.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Independent Publishers Group. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

What a wonderful start to a new series. This book is full of hope and inspiration. It has just enough drama to keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. This is a book you will think about long after you've read the last page. I loved it!
Thank you Independent Publishers Group -- Kregel Publications via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was my first time reading anything written by this author, but I look forward to reading more of her books.

I really enjoyed the characters of Mary and Adam. Both characters had dreams for their lives that they were not sure if they would be met but they kept trying to go through life with Gods help.

My review will be added to my blog: www.kroosreadsandreviews.blogspot.com and will be posted on bookbub.

Thanks to much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.