About the Book

Book: Not Exactly Mr. Darcy

Author: Carolyn Miller

Genre: Romance/Contemporary/Christian Fiction

Release Date: December, 2025

Pride, Pemberley, and Second Chances

When history-loving Olivia Bennett’s teaching contract isn’t renewed, she is considered her family’s logical choice to care for her ailing grandmother in a tiny English village. While there, she soon finds additional work at nearby Hartbury Hall—one of England’s great houses once used as Pemberley in a filmed production of Pride and Prejudice. The head gardener there, however, proves to be anything but the gentlemanly hero of that famous book. Little does she know that behind Liam Browne’s brusque exterior is both a family tragedy and a legacy that demands truth and honor, creating a crisis that only Liv’s vivacious determination can resolve. Along the way, she may just learn that appearances count for naught. . .and that love can be found in unexpected ways.

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About the Author

Carolyn Miller is an inspirational Regency and contemporary romance author who 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.

A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives.

More from Carolyn

My Impressions

“Yet something surged up, demanding he live again. To risk, to dream, to trust, to hope.”

Carolyn Miller’s Not Exactly Mr. Darcy has left me in the feel-good state of watching a great play or movie. I am emerging from this book in the mood to give all the other (imaginary) theater-goers around me a hug in this highly charged, enhanced emotional state. 

With themes of forgiveness, honesty, grumpy/sunshine mcs, and working as a team against impossible odds, this novel has much to offer. Trusting God and finding God’s path in life are major emphases.

This fun contemporary romance takes on shades of the Regency era as our disgruntled Australian heroine, Liv Bennett, finds run-down Hartbury Hall and gardens unavailable to visitors. This, in her mind, is totally unacceptable, as a movie adaptation of Pride and Prejudice has been filmed using the manor grounds some ten years previous. She believes the manor could be attracting crowds of paying customers. The biggest obstacle seems to be, at first, the surly gardener, Liam. 

Before Liv knows it, she is doing more than babysitting her convalescing English grandmother whom she came to visit. She is working as head planner to restore the manor and gardens for visitors. Lack of funds, jealous townspeople, jealous ladies, an uneasy relationship with Liam, all work against Liv in her attempt to resurrect this showcase. Will all her work pay off, or will it be for naught? Will she regret her time in England, working her tail to the bone, losing a bit of her heart in the process?

I could just imagine the restoration of the great hall as it took place. I could not imagine having the organization and knowledge that Liv has to bring everything together. The enthusiasm?! Wow, even surly, disheartened Liam can’t help but notice. The growth arc for Liam is so gratifying to watch. It is a very slow process, though, like a caterpillar making a cocoon, becoming a chrysalis, then finally a butterfly. 

Of course, the path to true love might lead through the gardens, but it certainly is not neat and tidy! 

While Liv believes “God could be trusted with opening the right doors and closing the wrong ones. In everything.” Life has a way of  developing complications, and just when things seem nearly perfect, Liv is required to examine how thoroughly she will choose to live out her faith. 

I loved the way the first part of the novel hinted at so many unknowns that the reader slowly discovers, including Liam’s past and just who George is. Three cheers for George, by the way! Great secondary supporting character!

Recommended for fans of history, Anglophiles, and Pride & Prejudice and Jane Austin fans. 

I received a copy of the book from the author through Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought my own ebook. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“Hope was a dangerous thing. He’d lived with hope before, only to see it crash and burn.” (Liam)

“God might love him, but God’s blessings felt distant, like a star that one would never touch. He’d made too many wrong choices to ever feel secure that God’s love was still warranted.” (Liam)

“What if she’s the answer to your prayers?” – George

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! I thoroughly enjoyed this contemporary romance with Regency references!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 6

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 6

The Sacred Line, January 7

Leslie’s Library Escape, January 8

Vicky Sluiter, January 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 9

Texas Book-aholic, January 10

Life on Chickadee Lane, January 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 11

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 12

Tell Tale Book Reviews , January 12

For Him and My Family, January 13

Lyssa Loves Books, January 13

Blossoms and Blessings, January 14

Mornings at Character Cafe, January 14

Holly’s Book Corner, January 15

Mrs. Ryan Moser’s book and movie reviews , January 15

Pause for Tales, January 16

Mary Hake, January 16

Cover Lover Book Review, January 17

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, January 18

To Everything There Is A Season, January 19

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carolyn is giving away the grand prize of a print copy of the book and a $25 Amazon eGift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/P3So9/not-exactly-mr-darcy-celebration-tour-giveaway