About the Book

Book: Refining Josie

Author: Carolyn Miller

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: December 6, 2022

What’ll it take for the prodigal daughter to share her deepest secrets… and her heart?

Josephine Green returns to the islands in an attempt to reconcile with her family, but with a cloud over the family business, and little in the way of gardening skills, Josie’s painful past and flaky ways prove less than endearing for Greener Gardens’ hardworking crew.

Stuck without any other options, Josie is forced to accept her sister’s offer of a job that takes her to Breakers Head where she encounters Aussie teacher, Lachlan Jones.

A long-lost relative might’ve brought Lachie to a tiny music recording studio on the Independence Islands, but it’s also brought questions about how to care for someone he barely knows, especially considering he’s the last family she has. Questions regarding his future soon pale when he encounters the vibrant-haired Josie, whose sass and attitude takes some getting used to.

Neither imagined more until they began to bond over music and environmental causes. Both discover that first impressions need not be lasting ones.

But with the future of Gardens Gardens looking shaky, and Josie’s faith and self-worth just as tenuous, can deepening a friendship into something more ever work? And what happens when Lachlan’s work means he has to return to Australia after Christmas? What’ll it take for two hearts to heal and make a future possible?

This Breakers Head novel is Carolyn Miller’s final book in the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

Click here to get your copy!

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. She loves reading, music, films, gardens, art, travel and international food, and really enjoy creating worlds where flawed people can grow in faith, hope and love.
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 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, and Underestimating Miss Cecilia, all available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Koorong, etc

More from Carolyn

Wow! Well, here we are celebrating the release of Refining Josie, my final book and THE final book in the Independence Islands series. It’s been a journey, hasn’t it? Six authors, five islands, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

As a long-time lover of gardens, plants, flowers and trees, it’s been so fun showcasing various parts of what life could be like as someone working in the gardening industry on these islands. I’m married to a horticulturalist, who once upon a time worked at Lyme Park, which was showcased in the 1995 production of Pride and Prejudice. He has also worked at Kew Gardens in England, and it was fun to use some of his experience in these books. (You can see some of my pics on Instagram and on my website)

For Refining Josie I was glad to finally round out some of the family challenges Samantha Green and her family’s ‘Greener Gardens’ business have had to deal with along the way, and to give Josie Green her own voice. This is a story about a prodigal daughter, and some of the ‘why’ behind the behavior, factors I think readers will relate and respond to well.

As an Aussie, I was also happy to include an Aussie hero, someone with some challenges of his own, so I hope you enjoy getting a tiny taste of a Hugh Jackman-esque hero.

Come visit the Independence Islands once more, and enjoy Refining Josie, a story of heart, hope, humor and a dash of Christmas romance.

Happy reading!

Carolyn

My Thoughts

Refining Josie is the last book in the Independence Island series. The series is written by multiple authors and are all tied together by the island theme. This book is written by Carolyn Miller. While the book has characters that were previously introduced this book can be a stand alone. This has to be my favorite book out of the whole series.

Josie is back working at her father’s business, Greener Gardens. She isn’t thrilled to be back with her sister, Sam who seems to judge her every step of the way. Josie has had a lot of pain in her life. She’s currently not a believer and is annoyed that everyone she encounters talks about God. She isn’t thrilled with the “pity” job her sister has given her. One day she accompanies another employee to a job site and finds out the gardening gene did not pass down to her. She seems to have made a fool of herself in front of their client Victoria and her guest, Lachlan.

Lachlan came to Breakers Head Island when a familial match showed he had a family member he didn’t know about. Ed, has now passed and he’s helping his widow. He is pleased to find a new family connection. Lachlan is from Australia and teaches school. He’s also a Christian. When he meets Josie he is drawn to her. He feels God has been telling him to pray for her.

I loved seeing the characters interaction. Josie comes across as bitter and angry. She’s built a wall around her. Lachlan who feels drawn to her helps to chisel the wall around her by slowly reminding Josie that God loves her.

This book does touch on rape and abortion. However the author has done a great job in reminding us that our past sins don’t define our future. That God forgives us no matter how far we’ve drifted away.

The story is well written. I’ve enjoyed my time on each and every island in this series. I’m excited to what may come from the authors in the future.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.