MY REVIEW:
On our last visit to Merriweather Island, readers spend some time with Samantha Green who has returned to the island to run her father’s landscaping company while he recover from serious health issues. Hoping to make her father proud of her Samantha accepts a huge landscaping makeover job for the neglected estate of famous author Max Fairhaven who has become quite reclusive and who hopes all the outside activity will not interfere with his writing. Who would ever expect the sparks to fly with the casual landscaper with dirt under her fingernails and the oh-so-proper Englishman?
Restoring Fairhaven was entertaining up to the very last page. I thoroughly enjoyed the often clever and witty conversations between Max and Sam and loved witnessing their growing friendship and attraction. It was fun to see Max gradually come out of his shell under Sam’s influence and in turn seeing how Sam was able to become more trusting due to Max’s acceptance. A beautiful setting, real life situations and problems, and evidence of an unseen Hand working in their lives makes this novel a delightful read. 
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
|
Book: Restoring Fairhaven Author: Carolyn Miller Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance Click here to get your copy! |
 |
Love hurts, or so the songs say, so who wants it?
Taking on her ailing father’s gardening business on Merriweather Island, Samantha Green only wants to escape her ex and to make her father proud.
But Sam gets more than she bargained for when Greener Gardens accepts the job of restoring the gardens of a reclusive writer, Max Fairhaven, whose historical novels about romance and unrequited love litter bookstore shelves and movie marquees all over the world.
Max much prefers the fictional world to the real, and the gardening girl’s interruptions means he’s driven from his writing cave far too often for his liking.
How’s he supposed to craft stories with her distracting him all the time?
Things change when he learns something of Sam’s family challenges, and his admiration slowly kindles. With his secretary’s goading, he’s forced to confront the past, while facing the fact that he needs to change in order to avoid a lonely future.
Gentle pruning and a whole lot of banter forges a friendship between this not-so-Southern belle landscaper and the half-British author. But is their budding attraction enough to grow into a flourishing happily-ever-after?
Restoring Fairhaven is the final “Merriweather book,” but don’t forget to embark on a tour of the next island in this series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.
The Independence Island Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. Together with her husband she has pastored a church for ten years, and worked as a public high school English and Learning and Support teacher. I’m a long time lover of gardens, plants, flowers and trees! I’m married to a horticulturalist, who once upon a time worked at Lyme Park, the site of Mr. Darcy’s magnificent Pemberley from the 1995 production of Pride and Prejudice, and who has also worked at Kew Gardens in England.
Some of my garden and plant highlights include visiting Blarney Castle’s Poison Garden in Ireland, New Zealand’s Hamilton Gardens, Dunrobin Castle in Scotland, Frederik Meijer Gardens in Michigan, the redwoods of Yosemite, California, Butchart Gardens in Victoria Island, Canada, and Jardin Botanique in Montreal, Canada.
I love to post pictures of flowers and trees on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/carolynmillerauthor/) and have included pictures of some of these places at my website (www.carolynmillerauthor.com) I have incorporated some of the gardens and plants in a number of my historical novels, including the gorgeous gardens at a castle in Scotland where I set Misleading Miss Verity.
I’m so excited to be introducing readers to my new contemporary books, where I can bring some of my love of gardens (& my hubby’s expertise!) to a new audience. Restoring Fairhaven sees readers introduced to a range of gardening experts who together will bring the gardens of the Independence Islands back to life.
If you’re someone who has enjoyed The Secret Garden, or Becky Wade’s My Stubborn Heart, you’ll be sure to enjoy this story of a reclusive writer and the gardening guru sent to restore his gardens – and his heart.
Happy reading!
Carolyn
BLOG STOPS:
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 16
lakesidelivingsite, January 16
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 17
April Hayman, Author, January 17
A Novel Pursuit, January 17
Texas Book-aholic, January 18
Rebekah Reads, January 18
Blogging With Carol, January 18
Inklings and notions, January 19
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 19
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 20
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 20
Mary Hake, January 20
Sara Jane Jacobs, January 21
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, January 21
CarpeDiem, January 21
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, January 22
Cultivating Us, January 22
Kathleen Neely, January 22
Livin’ Lit, January 23
Ashley’s Bookshelf, January 23
Simple Harvest Reads, January 23 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Older & Smarter?, January 24
Artistic Nobody, January 24 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
For Him and My Family, January 25
Mypreciousbitsandmusings, January 25
Inkwell Inspirations, January 25
deb’s Book Review, January 26
Blossoms and Blessings, January 26
Joanne Markey, January 26
She Lives To Read, January 27
Locks, Hooks and Books, January 27
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, January 28
Splashes of Joy, January 28
Godly Book Reviews, January 28
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 29
Daysong Reflections, January 29
To celebrate her tour, Carolyn is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon prize and a paperback copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/105a8/restoring-fairhaven-celebration-tour-giveaway
Sounds like a great book. I can’t wait to read it.
I like to think, that, after the end of the story, that Max now writes fantasies about his new, romantic new life with Sam.
This sounds really good
I’ve heard great things about this book! Excited to read!
Thank You for Sharing your Review With Us and For Being on the Restoring Fairhaven Book Tour, it really sounds like a Great Read.
Sounds like a fun series. I’ve enjoyed the tour. Thank you for hosting.
Thank you for sharing your lovely review and the book and author details, this sounds like a mist read book and series for me