Ooh, what a fabulous thing to talk about: books, and what I’m reading!

I’ve been a reader all my life – it was probably inevitable with a librarian for a mother. I love to read, and I find it’s my perfect wind-down at the end of the day, so I love to read a little (or preferably a lot!) just before I go to bed. I have a Kindle which makes it easier for my poor husband who gets up early for work each day, so with strategically-arranged pillows I can get a few more chapters or reading in after the lights goes out.

Ever since I’ve been a little girl I’ve always had way more books than most people I know. To me a house looks kind of strange if there aren’t books in it. Books are such a personal thing that really give a good insight into who lives there.

If a person was to look at my bookshelves they would see someone who loves older authors like Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, Agatha Christie, Leslie Charteris (my husband loves The Saint books), and LM Montgomery. They’d see a lot of newer Christian romance authors too.

Some of my favourite authors (the ones that take up the most shelf space) include Becky Wade (My Stubborn Heart is still my absolute fave of hers; I’m looking forward to her new series); Susan May Warren (loved her Christiansen family and Deep Haven series, those characters felt so real); Courtney Walsh, Kara Isaac, and so many more.

I’ve just finished reading an ARC of Angela Strong’s Hero Debut which comes out later this year. I loved it, just like I enjoyed her Christy-finalist Husband Auditions for its humor, relatable characters, and faith elements.

@CarolynMAuthor tells us all about her reading life. #amreading #books Share on X

I’m currently reading the first in the Freedom Ridge series, Rescued by the Hero by Mandi Blake, and enjoying this fake relationship romance. It’s fun to see how other authors approach different tropes and bring a fresh perspective to a familiar theme.

An author I discovered recently is Tara Grace Ericson and her Bloom Sisters books (I binge-read them over a week). As someone who aims to write relatable Christian fiction with living-out-their-faith characters I really enjoyed this non-sanctimonious series. (I actually messaged her and told her so!)

On my Kindle I have the usual thousand-and-one titles to attend to, but I’m looking forward to reading Courtney Walsh and Lindsay Harrell’s recent Christmas books (hey, I was reading other things). I’ve also got some secular books to check out because it’s summer holidays here in Australia, so I’m looking forward to reading The Flat Share, An Island Wedding (by Jenny Colgan who wrote one of my faves The Bookshop on the Corner), and an Aussie historical The Lighthouse Keeper when I’m on holidays by the sea.

I love how books can transport us to various places, time periods, emotions, and people, and can make us laugh, cry, think, and feel. It’s something I hope to do with my writing, and something I’m so glad when readers write and let me know how much they loved a book or related to a character or felt God speak to them through my fiction.

I love to read – and I love books!

 

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. 

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. Her Regency and contemporary novels include The Elusive Miss Ellison, The Captivating Lady Charlotte, The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey, Winning Miss Winthrop, Miss Serena’s Secret, The Making of Mrs. Hale, A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh, Underestimating Miss Cecilia, Misleading Miss Verity, Joy to the World, Dusk’s Darkest Dawn, Restoring Fairhaven, all available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, etc  

 

Find out more by visiting Carolyn’s author page.