I’m thrilled to welcome my Aussie author friend Carolyn Miller to Inspy Romance. Many of you may have seen or read Carolyn’s regency romance books. Today you’ll learn about her love for Christian contemporary romance (CCR). Carolyn has kindly offered a giveaway of her first published CCR – Restoring Fairhaven: Merriweather Island (Independence Islands Book 6).
Narelle: What was your inspiration for writing Restoring Fairhaven?
Carolyn: My husband is a horticulturalist and has worked in some fabulous places around the world – including Lyme Park, which was depicted as Mr. Darcy’s home Pemberley in the 1995 miniseries Pride and Prejudice. It’s meant I have a great affinity for people who work in gardens, and thought this would be a fun angle to explore for this book series. I love Becky Wade’s My Stubborn Heart, and wanted to explore how someone overcomes grief, which we see as both the garden and heart of Max Fairhaven are restored. So if you love gardens and don’t mind seeing a sassy-tongued girl trying to make it a man’s world, then I hope you’ll check this book out!
Narelle: Please tell us about the Independence Island series and the Merriweather Island setting.
Carolyn: The very first books I ever wrote were contemporary romances, so I have a bunch of stories I want to see published one day (more about that soon!). When the Independence Island series was presented, I saw this as an opportunity to step away from my historicals and revisit my writing roots while partnering with some amazing contemporary authors.
The Independence Island series is a novella series from six authors (Chautona Havig, Melissa Wardwell, Kari Trumbo, Rachel Skatvold, Tabitha Bouldin and yours truly) that is set in fictional islands off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia. Each author writes about one of the islands with some interlinking characters and settings, which makes the series a lot of fun to read – and write!
Merriweather Island is an island the residents are keen to keep non-touristy. They’ve employed mobile businesses (such as Greener Gardens) to help keep things as relaxed and chilled as what their parents and grandparents knew. It’s a place where locals know each other, trust each other, and can be a tad suspicious of newcomers. The beaches are nice, the weather is mild, but some of those gardens are needing attention. Hello Samantha Green of Greener Gardens.
Narelle: Do you have a favourite character in the story?
Carolyn: I have to admit I love Samantha. Family obligations might have brought her back to Merriweather after her adventures around the world, but her ‘can do’ attitude, and grit to hold her ground against those who think she should be the southern belle she never was, make her real, relatable, and engaging. She’s definitely got some family dramas going on, but she overcomes with grace – and a sense of humor that certain reclusive writers on the island don’t always appreciate!
Narelle: Did you have any specific issues to research for the story?
The plant life of the South Carolina / Georgia area was the main element for me (an Australian) to research. The Independence Islands might be fictional, but the setting still needs to be grounded in a degree of reality, so it was fun to explore some of the things so different to where I live. Like hurricanes – we don’t get hurricanes in my corner of Australia (we do get tropical cyclones further north!) – so looking at how these sorts of events impact on vegetation etc was really interesting.
Narelle: Did you find it easier or harder to write Restoring Fairhaven compared to your trade length Regency romances?
My Regency historicals are all at least 90k words, so it felt like a joy to write only 50,000 words. It did mean there had to be less subplots and more focus on the main characters, but having written nine Regency Brides books in a relatively short amount of time, it felt marvellously refreshing to write a contemporary like Restoring Fairhaven. (And it didn’t hurt that I didn’t need to research whether a word or phrase was in use during Regency times!)
Narelle: Please share with us your plans for future contemporary Christian romance (CCR) books.
I have another four books that form part of the Independence Islands series, with the next Regaining Mercy (about a failed reality TV star) releasing in June 2021 (and available for preorder now). I’m also in the planning stages with Narelle Atkins and some other Australasian-based authors about a Christian western-set series, so watch this space!
I’m also really excited to be publishing a hockey-based series set in the Original Six cities of the National Hockey League, with the first releasing in October next year. These are standalone romances with engaging characters, humor and God-elements woven throughout, that early readers such as Rachel McMillan and Carrie Booth Schmidt have loved. I can’t wait to share more about them! (Find out more by visiting my website www.carolynmillerauthor.com and stay up to date with my bookish news by signing up for my newsletter there.)
Book Description:
Samantha Green of Greener Gardens gets more than she bargained for when she is employed to restore the overgrown gardens of the estate owned by a reclusive writer, whose romances about unrequited love have become bestsellers and movies, despite never having a happy ending. New to this role, Sam is determined to succeed, despite facing challenges with the business and her family.
Max Fairhaven just wants to be left alone. But the green-thumbed intruder to his island hideaway is stubborn, and her quick wits and sunny disposition soon get under his skin. Between banter and garden renovation she gradually brings some much needed life to this widower, as he begins to engage with the real world.
Can happily-ever-afters be found in real life as well as fiction?
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I really enjoyed reading Restoring Fairhaven and escaping to the gorgeous Carolinas island setting. Carolyn Miller is known for her regency romance series, and her first published Christian contemporary romance includes story elements that will delight her regency romance fans.
Max Fairhaven is a proper English gentleman who has hidden away from the world and poured his melancholy into his best selling fiction books. Samantha Green is the hard working gardening contractor who disrupts Max’s insular world and inspires him to evaluate his life choices.
Drawing on the beauty and the beast fairytale, a fun, sweet and faith-filled romance develops into something more than friends. Max and Samantha negotiate many obstacles and embarrassing moments on their journey to happily-ever-after. Highly recommended.
Book Giveaway
Thank you, Carolyn, for visiting with us. Carolyn is kindly offering a giveaway of a Kindle copy of Restoring Fairhaven. To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment on this post. The giveaway will close on Thursday and the winner announced in the Sunday Edition.
Questions for you: Have you visited (or would like to visit) a famous garden around the world – and why? How long do you like to wait between book releases in a series?
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
Thanks so much for having me today, Narelle – it’s so fun to talk about contemporary romance!
The book sounds like a winner and I love reading about the authors you interview. I have found some new to me authors. Thank you!
Hi Pam! I hope you get the chance to read it soon – happy reading!
I’ve read one of the books in this series so far so I’m looking forward to others.
For the garden question, it’s more than a garden as I visited Eden Project in the UK, it’s really special and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I got to hold and see an owl for the first time 😊
Re book releases, ideally the series would be complete so I can book binge 😂 However, 6-9 months is ok, when it hits a year or more, it definitely feels too long. On the plus side I guess I’m developing patience…
Hello Carolyn from SW Michigan USA. We have a beautiful park overlooking Lake Michigan that I have been visiting weekly since I was five years old. As a retired English and German teacher, now at 7 decades I am an avid arm chair traveler through my reading. I have been fortunate to travel to 9 foreign countries on three continents. I have visited gardens in numerous German and Swiss cities, plus the beautiful Emperor’s Garden in Tokyo, Japan which has 30 varieties of bamboo. Best wishes.
Hi Carolyn, You’re very welcome, and I’m glad you’re writing and publishing contemporary romances! 😊
Hi Pam, I’m glad you’re discovering new authors from my posts. Restoring Fairhaven is definitely a winner! Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Tamika, l’m glad you’re enjoying the Independence Island series. Wow, many years ago we spotted a white owl in a tree in our backyard. Eden Project sounds like a great place to visit. I’m with you and love binge reading series books! Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Renate, Wow, I had no idea there are 30 varieties of bamboo. Emperor’s Garden sounds like a beautiful and educational place to visit. Thanks for commenting. 😊
I enjoy these interviews and reading books that are recommended here. I mainly get them on kindle now as I have so many books gathered over the years. I am keen to get into Christian Romance as it has been an area I have not really been into . Restoring Fairhaven sounds like a good read.
Visited and LOVED the Victoria Gardens in Vancouver, BA
I like about 3 months between books in a series. Too close together, and it can be overwhelming. Too far apart and I might need to go back to book one to remember all the characters and the momentum diminishes.
I would LOVE to visit gardens around the world . When characters in novels escape to a garden for a bit of respite or to think, I’ve always wanted to explore such gardens…or jump into the scenes in the book. 🤪 Thanks for sharing the interview!! 🥰📚
When I visited a botanical gardens in Colombo (Sri Lanka) I was in awe of the vastly different plants, so different to anything in Tasmania and I’d really love to visit any garden that is quirky and unusual.
I don’t like to wait long at all between series, if I really enjoy the book I just want to keep reading series after series.
I like the sound of this book and love the idea that as the garden is restored so is life to the widower Max.
Thanks for sharing.
Welcome to Inspy Romance, Carolyn!
The most famous gardens I’ve ever been to are Butchart Gardens near Victoria… the one in British Columbia, Canada, not the one in Australia! My daughter, daughter-in-law, and I spent a lovely day there for Mothers’ Day (before they were mothers), and we so enjoyed the tulips, daffodils, and other spring flowers. I’ve always wanted to go back when the roses are in bloom, but so far, I haven’t accomplished that.
Hi, I have been to some very pretty gardens in Texas, I love to visit Botanical gardens. We went to one in Waco Texas and we also visited one in Corpus Christie. Thank you so much for sharing about this book, it sounds like a Great read. Have a Great weekend and stay safe.
Several years ago I visited a beautiful park in Vancouver that had such gorgeous flowers!
While it’s sometimes hard for readers to wait for the next book in a series, I understand that it takes time, so I don’t have specific expectations. But the sooner the better, of course 🙂!
I want to visit the Hortus Botanicus in Leiden, the Netherlands or the gardens of Versailles.. I’m used to waiting a year for the sequel of a series because in the Netherlands it can take quite a long time before there is a sequel. But your book sounds interesting @Carolyn! Thank you so much for sharing this @Narelle!
I have visited the gardens at the Biltmore Estate in NC. They were gorgeous! I would love to visit more. I vaguely remember visiting some kind of rose garden when I was really young and stepped across the Idaho border into Canada.
I am not too patient for series. I prefer to wait only a couple of months or wait until they’re all out and binge them at once. Which is bad, because I’m taking longer than a year for each book in my series! ;)
These interviews are fun! As for gardens – I love stumbling across “nature’s gardens” – wild flowers in a meadow, with little creeks bubbling through them – discovered as a complete surprise, with a sense that no one else might have ever seen that sight before. <3. Our DIL chose a lovely Japanese Garden setting (in Fort Worth’s Botanical Gardens) for their wedding day. It had that same sense of surprises around each corner, and was quite peaceful and lovely. Delightful.
I’ve heard of Carolyn’s books, and just may have some in my TBR stack! I have a friend who used to work at Calloway Gardens and now works as a private gardener. I like gardens, but have no desire to work on one of my own! I also don’t have much of a green thumb, and have lots of allergies, so that may be part of it!
The book looks cute, I would love to be entered in the giveaway!
This sounds like something I would love to read! Thanks for the recommendation!!
Hi Tamika – I’m so glad you enjoyed the first book in the Indy series. How wonderful to see such efforts at conservation and the like with gardens such as the Eden Project. I hope you enjoy Restoring Fairhaven!
Hi Renate! Thanks for sharing your garden travel adventures! I was in Michigan last year and visited the Frederik Meijer garden – most spectacular! I too, didn’t know about the many types of bamboo (maybe some story inspiration there!) but I love Japanese gardens. I find them so relaxing. My favorite Japanese garden so far is in Montreal at the Jardin Botanique – gorgeous!
Hi Heather! Yes, there are so many things to appreciate about Christian romance, whether it’s historical or contemporary. It’s great to read encouraging, positive stories that can take us to fascinating places around the world, give us hope, interweave faith, and entertain us. Lots of happy reading awaits!
Hi Yvonne! My sister lives in Vancouver, Canada, and a couple of years ago we were fortunate enough to visit the Butchart gardens in Victoria island – so gorgeous! I love the fact they turned what was a quarry into something so beautiful – a great story of redemption, right there! Thanks for sharing your thoughts today. Your series comments might well prove useful as I look to release further books down the track!
Hi Becky! I’m so with you on wanting to know more about what the characters in books are seeing and smelling when they are ‘in’ a garden. I’ve incorporated a few gardens and such scenes in some of my historical books, so it’s been fun to do that in these contemporary romances too. Especially when some of them are places people can visit in real life! Happy reading!
Hi Keona! Yes, it is fun – especially as an Aussie – to visit places so different to what we’re used to. A couple of years ago my family visited California’s redwoods and it felt almost fairytale like for us so used to eucalyptus (which are beautiful too – especially in Tasmania!). I hope you can enjoy Restoring Fairhaven soon!
Hi Valerie! Thanks so much for having me here today. Yes, Butchart Gardens are definitely worth going to – at any time of year! My sister who lives in Vancouver recommended them, and I’m so glad we stopped in on a misty morning in October. The autumn colours were gorgeous (but hello, all Canadian foliage is!) so I can just imagine how spectacular they could be in spring or summer.
I love it when struggling heroes find hope in the tender (and saucy :) ministrations of a heroine with so much to bring to the relationship! Sounds like a delightful read.
Early in our marriage, my wife and I visited Callaway Gardens in Georgia (USA not Asia) and were amazed at the beauty and immensity of the place (not to mention finding a *bunch* of extra golf balls in the rough :). Our own meager attempts at creating botanical beauty in our own back yard are now sorely overgrown and in sad shape. Does Samantha take travel jobs? It’s a small yard [sheepish grin].
Hi Alicia! I am so thankful for whoever it was who first decided botanical gardens should be a ‘thing’ – being able to visit such places gives a real sense of peace and inspiration, doesn’t it? I hope you enjoy reading Restoring Fairhaven soon.
Hi Betsy! Canada has many lovely gardens (as do many places, when I seek they can be found!). Reading a series can be fun, can’t it? And if you’re invested enough, then the timing of releases won’t necessarily matter as much. I think it’s interesting that the whole idea of bingeing on a series (books or screen) didn’t even seem to be a thing until relatively recently – although I’ll admit to watching 5 hours of the 95 Pride and Prejudice series in one sitting! Happy reading!
Hi Marilene! I haven’t yet been so fortunate to visit any European gardens (apart from UK ones) – but Versailles and Monet’s gardens are definitely on the bucket list! I can understand the lengthy delay with books in other countries (my first three historicals have been translated into Dutch). I hope you’ll get the chance to read this story one day :)
Hi Lila! I see lots of lovely pictures of the Biltmore estate so it’s definitely in my bucket list when travel is allowed again (and I’m over that way!). My first historical series saw three books released a year, which gave a degree of momentum, and helped me see how avid readers are when they really respond to characters in a series. Narelle Atkins is the person who first helped me see the value in writing a series at a conference near Melbourne Australia back in 2015 – I’m so grateful to her!
Hi Penelope. Oh, you sound like Anne of Green Gables, discovering delights in nature potentially unnoticed by others (I’m an Anne fan – can you tell?). I think that it’s so important to be a noticer in life – we’ll draw so much more pleasure when we notice the little (or big!) moments of beauty in nature, whether it’s a gorgeous rose or a peace-inducing sunset. And I imagine that the Japanese garden wedding was delightful (I’m rather partial to them, too).
Hi Trudy! In my household my husband is definitely the green thumb (there might just be a collection of pots sitting behind our deck that were either not watered or were watered too enthusiastically :) ) It’s been great to use some of his knowledge about gardens and running a landscaping company for my new series. (And as for the TBR stack? It’s definitely time to get them out!) :)
Hi Angeline! Restoring Fairhaven is a pretty fun read. I hope you can enjoy it soon!
Hi Paula Marie! I do hope you get the chance to enjoy Restoring Fairhaven soon! Thanks so much for dropping by.
Hi Lincoln! Traveling to see gardens can be so inspiring – and aspirational – that I can forget these fabulous places have full-time staff to make it beautiful. My husband might be a horticulturalist, and what he’s done in transforming what was virtually a bare block into spaces filled with plants and lush garden beds is impressive – but he’s not working here full time, which leads to interesting questions about who has been doing the watering when he’s working away. (Oops) And yes, I think Samantha is interested in travel…?
Butchart Gardens in Victoria, Vancouver Islands is absolutely gorgeous and definitely a worthwhile spot to visit. I like to garden but the soil on our property is not so good and it would take several truckloads of good soil to service all the area I try to garden. BUT, I still try.
I think researching the vegetation in a foreign place sounds like an interesting thing to do. I wonder if you actually went to the region to poke around in the gardens and feel the atmosphere. It sounds like a great series to get a hold of .
I went to a botanical garden once and really enjoyed it. Id love to go visit English estates and see their gardens sometime. Some of them are so pretty!
Hi Heather, My tbr list is too long, and one of the reasons why is this blog, lol. Enjoy reading Christian romance and I hope you’ll have a chance to read Restoring Fairhaven. 😊
Hi Yvonne, The Victoria Gardens sound amazing, and visiting Vancouver is on my travel bucket list. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Becky, I want to explore the gardens I read about, too! When my husband and I were first married and I lived in Sydney, we’d often catch a ferry to the city and spend half a day at The Royal Botanic Gardens. A tranquil and beautiful escape in the city. 😊
Hi Keona, I imagine the gardens in Colombo are a tropical paradise. Like Carolyn, I’ve visited California’s beautiful redwoods near San Francisco. Thanks for stopping by. 😊
Hi Valerie, That sounds like a lovely way to spend Mother’s Day. I’d love to visit Butchart Gardens and BC. 😊
Hi Alicia, I’ve briefly visited Texas twice for writing conferences, but I haven’t had a chance to visit any gardens there. I hope you’ll have an opportunity to read Carolyn’s book. 😊
Hi Betsy, The closest I’ve been to a garden in Canada is the Peace Arch on the US side of the border. One day I hope to visit. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Marilene, You’re very welcome, and I’d love to visit your European gardens. So much history to explore in a beautiful setting. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Interviews are very fun & I love having different types of gardens. I really like this contest.
Yes, I will wholeheartedly agree that a visit to Butchart gardens is definitely worthwhile! Thinking of you with your garden challenges.
Hi Meredith! Oh, how fun it would be to visit that part of the US – or at least Savannah and surrounds! Thank goodness this Aussie can access the wonderful world wide web for research.
And yes – definitely a series to check out! :)
Hi Megan,
I’ve been so fortunate to visit a few lovely English and Scottish estates which inspired several scenes in my historicals (you can see pics on my website http://www.carolynmillerauthor.com) Any chance to visit a botanical garden is definitely worth taking! Or at least worth reading about lovely gardens in contemporary romances… ;)
Hi Amy,
There are so many interesting types of gardens to love! Thanks so much for commenting.
Hi Lila, Yes, I’m an unrepentant series binge reader, too. Once I’m hooked into book 1, I want to keep reading and reading (time permitting, of course, since real life gets in the way, lol). Thanks for commenting 😊
Carolyn, I’m so glad I gave you good advice, and I’m enjoying your series books! 😊
Hi Penelope, I’ve enjoyed visiting the Japanese gardens in Cowra (a town in NSW, Australia) and, in 2008, I loved the beauty and serenity of the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Trudy, Yes, definitely read the Carolyn Miller books in your tbr list! At present my husband and I are slaves to watering the 50 square metres (500+ square feet) of lawn we laid with the help of our teens a few weeks ago. There’s a storm here tonight and I’m so excited to hear all the rain – which means I can sleep in a bit later tomorrow, lol. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Angeline, I hope you’ll have an opportunity to read Restoring Fairhaven. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Paula, You’re very welcome. I hope you’ll have a chance to read Carolyn’s book. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Lincoln, I have vast experience in finding wayward golf balls that don’t land on the fairway, lol. My son and husband would love to play golf at Callaway Gardens! Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Sandra, I’d love to visit Butchart Gardens. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Meredith, yes, I’d love to visit Carolyn’s island setting. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Megan, yes, English castles and estates is on my travel bucket list, too. I’ve watched Antique Roadshow on tv and admired all the pretty garden settings. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Amy, I’m glad you’ve enjoyed our interview, and I hope you’ll have an opportunity to read Carolyn’s book. Thanks for commenting. 😊
I have never been much of a golfer and that was my first experience on a real golf course. I tell everyone that I shot a 97 on my first-ever golf game. They’re impressed until I tell them I played the 9-hole executive course, LOL! We decided that we would score our game by how many more golf balls we came back with than what we started with :).
Enjoyed the interview and am reading the book now. (And really enjoying it)
Thank you for the post!
I’ve visited Palace of Versailles and gardens – it’s beautiful!
My husband and I have visited Butchart Gardens in Victoria Canada years ago and LOVED it! We definitely want to go back again someday.
As far as books, I don’t like to wait six month to a year between releases. I don’t mind a month or maybe three months between each book. I read WAY too much to try to remember all the details or characters. If it’s too long, I just wait for all of them to release and do a binge read :-)
Don’t enter me into the contest as I will be reading, reviewing and participating in a blog tour for “Restoring Fairhaven”. Oh and fun fact: I got to meet Carolyn & her sweet husband in April of 2019 when she did a book signing tour in the US! What a wonderful couple.
I have been to some gardens in Toledo, Ohio where I live. I am not sure they are world famous. In regards to releases of books in a series, it depends on if the previous book left a cliffhanger. If there is a cliffhanger, I am like everyone who wants the answer right away. Normally, I am fine with six months to a year. I have a lot of authors that I enjoy so there is always a lot on my TBR pile. Thank you for sharing your time and talent.
I’ve been to Longwood Gardens, Ladew Topiary Gardens, Middleton Place, and the US Botanical Garden.
I love Anne Shirley, too! (with an e, of course)
I love watching all 5 hours of the 1995 Pride & Prejudice version all at one time, too! I re-watch that one quite often as it’s one of my favorites!
Hi Jenny, I’m glad you’re enjoying Carolyn’s book. It’s a fun read. 😊
Hi Natalya, I’d love to visit the Palace of Versailles. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Trixi, The binge reads work for me! I’m glad you’ve had an opportunity to meet Carolyn in person. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Debra, I’m not a fan of waiting too long for the next book if there’s a cliffhanger. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Denise, I’d love to visit more gardens in the US. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Yay Jenny! That makes my heart happy to hear!
Oohh, Natalya – lucky you! Have you seen the film A Little Chaos? It’s about the making of those gardens in Versailles – definitely a place I’d love to visit one day!
Hi Trixi! Butchart gardens is definitely worth visiting if you can make it – very nice! I remember after our catch up in Oregon that my sister and I visited Portland’s lovely Japanese garden – another great place to visit! I hope you enjoy reading Restoring Fairhaven!
Hi Debra – I think that’s one of the great things about books – they can be a wonderful way to explore more of the world, especially in COVID times! Thanks for stopping by – happy reading!
Hi Denise! Sounds like you’re a bit of a garden fan too! It’s great to be inspired by gardens, isn’t it? I hope you’ll enjoy reading about the garden in Restoring Fairhaven soon!