A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh

Miller (The Making of Mrs. Hale) delivers a winsome exploration of life, love, and faith in Regency England. The snobbish Caroline Hatherleigh can’t imagine finding interesting people of the right social rank in the coastal town of Devon, where she is visiting her grandmother, until she meets Emma Kirby and her husband, the handsome and intelligent fossil scientist Gideon Kirby. Her growing friendship with Emma and attraction to Gideon brings Caroline inner discontent and curiosity about their Christian faith—for Emma seems to radiate peace. Indeed, Gideon and Emma are hiding a secret that could erupt in scandal if discovered: they are actually siblings, and Emma is hiding from her abusive husband. Between tending to his sister’s well-being, his burgeoning career, and his growing feelings for Caroline, Gideon’s world threatens to unravel—but he prays for a miraculous resolution. Caroline, determined to mature from her haughty aloofness, learns how to be a true friend, and how to trust her newfound faith. In a lively subplot, Miller delves into the 19th-century conflict between the Christian faith and the science of paleontology. But it is her inclusion of faith issues with an authentic portrayal of Regency society that will continue to delight her growing fan base. [em](Mar.) [/em]