Muskoka Promise

Muskoka Shores #6

by Carolyn Miller

All Anna Morely has wanted since she was a child is to feel loved. All Tom Woodmore has wanted is to uphold the law without fear or favor. When a traffic incident brings these two opposites together, sparks fly. But Anna's wealthy family has certain social expectations that a humble police officer doesn't exactly meet. And after the death of his fiancée, Tom has his own challenges in learning to risk his heart again. And then there is the matter of whether Anna will ever reconcile with her too-persistent friends...Join Anna and Tom as they discover the path to real love holds unexpected joys and trials, and that God's promises can always be relied on - including in beautiful Muskoka.

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 9, 2024

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of romance, Carolyn loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her bestselling, award-winning Regency and contemporary novels are stories that offer hope, heart, and a twist of Aussie humour. Connect with her at www.carolynmillerauthor.com where you can find our more about her books, and sign up for her newsletter to be the first to know her book news.

Reviews

[Becky of Becky's Bookshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muskoka Promise by Carolyn Miller is part of the Muskoka Shores series, but can be read as a stand-alone novel. Anna Morely has wanted to find love for so long. She has watched her friends’ lives and has stepped back being a part of their world as it is just too hard. Tom Woodmore lost his fiancé and continues overworking as a police officer. When Tom meets Anna, he wonders if they could be more than friends.

I have greatly enjoyed the Muskoka series and have been waiting for Anna’s story. I loved watching her transformation and heart change. Tom is the hero that you love and want things to work out for. I enjoyed revisiting with the characters of Muskoka and catching up on their lives. When I read Carolyn’s Miller’s books, I learn more about God and more about myself.

Muskoka Promise has fabulous romance, great banter, an interesting mystery, beautiful friendships, and characters I connected with. This is a beautiful story that you do not want to miss. I highly recommend Muskoka Promise by Carolyn Miller.


I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a review.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Muskoka Shores series is such a good one! The characters in this community felt like real people as I read all of their various stories. I have enjoyed all of these books.

I believe that you could pick up Muskoka Promise and enjoy it on its own, however, you will notice that the main character, Anna, has quite a grudge and some deeply hurt feelings toward her former friends for a good portion of the story. The author did a good job of showing the reader what Anna’s perception of the events were that led up to Anna separating herself from her closest friends, however, you will get the full stories and understanding of the build up to Anna’s melt down if you get to know her as a side character in the earlier novels.

I have to admit that I did not like Anna very much in the other books. It was easy to be frustrated with her. She was very needy and desperate to find a man and then resentful toward her friends when they fell in love. However, I did feel badly for her as it seemed that she had her focus in life on all of the wrong things for awhile. But, reading this story, I appreciated that Anna’s eyes began to open to the fact that she had reacted badly to her friends’ joys. She was still resentful for quite a bit of the book, but she did begin to have a heart change as the story moved forward. I was impressed with her emotional and spiritual growth and also impressed that the author created that growth in a believable way. Anna was not immediately selfless or able to keep her heart attitude in a better space. She struggled and she had set backs and she felt like she was failing in changing her focus to God. Her struggle to change her attitude was exactly that…a struggle.

I really liked Tom and felt for him and all that he had gone through. I liked that he was attracted to Anna because of her humor and snark and the many things they seemed to have in common. I also liked that he thought she was beautiful as she was, even as she was struggling with her weight. He had hard choices in this story and he tried to make the right decisions, even when they went against what his heart wanted.

I’m excited to see that there is supposed to be at least one more book in this series! I am looking forward to it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[It's Sunrise Again · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great book in the Muskoka series. I wasn't sure if I'd like Anna, and I've struggled with her behaviour in the previous stories. However, there was a great redemption arc that showed her character.

[Jessica Wilhelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another GREAT addition to the Muskoka Series! I’m so glad we finally get Anna’s story!
I was hurting for her and hoped she got a chance to redeem her story.

Even though Anna’s friends meant well by trying to help her, Anna took the truth hard that she isn’t going to find security and contentment in a guy. All of her friends are all getting engaged, married and having kids, why should she miss out? Those are Anna’s hopes and dreams, but it seems like she’s getting everything wrong.
Will she find her identity in God, who won’t let her down and leave her?

Tom, still hurting from the sudden death of his fiancée two years ago, wonders if he will ever feel alive, if he will ever love again.
Tom meets Anna, wants to help her, and discovers there might be a spark. But he sees that Anna is struggling with contentment, and instead of trying to fulfill Anna himself, he wants to let God work on her heart. He prays for her, that she would seek God for her confidence and to trust His promises for her future, before anything or anyone else.
I loved that. He didn’t rush in, even though he wanted to. He waited until she had confidence in Christ.

I loved this story, how we don’t have to be defined by our past or our current relationships or situations. We can look ahead and trust that God will fulfill his promises.

[Jimnlori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muskoka Promise by Carolyn Miller is the sixth book in the Muskoka Shores series and a definite must read if you love inspirational contemporary romances set in small towns.
When Anna Morely is unable to find the love and contentment that she is looking for in her life and struggles with her friends being brutely honest with her, she cuts her friends out of her life and stops attending church. However after a traffic incident that prompts a chance meeting with officer Tom Woodmoore she wonders if this relationship might finally be love.
Tom is uncertain about starting a new relationship after having his heart broken when his fiancee passed away, but there is something about Anna that piques his interest.
While seeking God and his promises, can Anna and Tom get over their hurdles reconciling their pasts, finally open themselves up for love?
I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

I received an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.

[Kaye Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting for Anna’s story! She had appeared in previous books in the Muskoka series and she seemed a troubled soul with a chip on her shoulder. So to encounter her here and live out her story of healing and redemption and her journey into her relationship with the handsome detective Tom, who had hurts and pain of his own in his past, has been a real joy. Carolyn Miller has certainly excelled again in bringing these two together into a relationship of healing and growth in their Christian faith , and the past hurts experienced by Anna in her relationships with her long time friends have been healed as Anna’s faith has been restored and matured.
Throw in some exciting police work by Detective Tom and his cohorts and you have a very satisfying conclusion to the Muskoka series. I didn’t want it to end, and I will miss this group of friends and their shared joys and some sorrows in the beautiful Muskoka Shires surroundings

[Brittany Searfoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was another great installment in the Muskoka Shores series. Anna’s story was exciting, encouraging, and surprising in both the plot and character development. There were many unexpected events that happened throughout the story, and the ending was filled with so much drama! I couldn’t stop reading until I reached the end. I enjoyed the witty banter between the characters, the underlying plot of a case to be solved, and the very real spiritual battles of the main characters. I was challenged and encouraged by the spiritual truths woven throughout the story since some of Anna’s concerns about her future and her journey to a deeper relationship and trust in God have been mine as well. The themes of forgiveness, waiting on God, and overcoming fear were prominent and treated in a biblical manner. I highly recommend this book, as well as the rest of the series, and I am looking forward to the next story.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna has been a main staple in the Muskoka series and now she gets to tell her story. She’s only ever wanted her own love story; to be wanted and desired. Watching all of her friends find this deep connection has been painful for her. As a result, Anna has isolated herself and convinced herself she’s better off. Then she meets Tom, a handsome and charming detective, who is unabashedly interested in someone who shares his Christian belief. As they hit it off and start getting to know one another, Anna realizes some things need to change. She misses her friends and her relationship with God and she’s not loving the chip that’s taken up residence on her shoulder. There’s several moments where the story reminds us there are no guarantees and relationships are essential. I love the themes of forgiveness, redemption, and second chances. Add in some humor and a slight mystery and you’ve got another great book in the Muskoka series.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

[Christie Pollard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna has become bitter because all her friends have found and love and marriage, leaving her alone as a single in a couples’ world. Will renewing her relationship with God also restore her relationships with others and allow her to open her heart to what God has for her? As she commits her expectations to the Lord, that commitment is soon tested. Tom is a detective with the local police department. He is about to go undercover in an investigation that may include her family friends. Will a relationship with Anna compromise the investigation?

This is a great story with wonderful Christian principles. 1) Learning to pray and trust God rather than leading with emotions. 2) Don’t look to others for happiness; find your joy in the Lord.

Quote: “…two imperfect people made right by God.”

I received a free advance copy of this book. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

[Joan Arning · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed joining Anna as she gives her future to God and realizes that she does not need a man to fulfil her even as she watches her friends marry and have families. Anna's family is wealthy and her mother expects her to marry wealth and to help her with an elaborate fundraiser! When an acquaintance asks how much of the funds raised actually go to help the unfortunate, Anna starts to ask questions. I loved how detective Tom's mother does some unusual matchmaking! I recommend Muskoka Promise to others. I received a complimentary e-book from the author, Carolyn Miller. This is my honest opinion.

[Shelene Wilhelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I wasn’t exactly experiencing what Anna was going through, I still felt a connection as she found her identity in Christ. As she turned things over to Him, I wanted to cry with her. I felt her pain and her surrender.
Carolyn Miller does an excellent job making us feel what the character is feeling.
“ She was trying to cling to what God said about her. To think on His promises. The fact she was loved, that He had good plans for her, that He wanted to give her a hope and a future. But it was hard. So hard. Like a test she kept failing.” While reading that, I wanted to yell, “Yes!”

[Evelyn Foreman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story begged to be read in one sitting and I obliged! Wow. Filled with every imaginable emotion, characters uniquely illustrated, add in intense danger and perfection is achieved! This entire series continues to entertain, yes, but more importantly inspires the reader to search his or her own heart, seeking truth only the Heavenly Father can and will provide. More than deserving of a 5 ⭐️ rating!!

[R.j. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a very satisfying conclusion to the series. I found the characters to be so real that I felt like I knew them. Overall this was a lovely read and I would strongly recommend it. Be sure to read the rest of the series first though!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Kristina Cordova · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been my absolute favorite book of the whole series and it took me by surprise. I wasn't really all that interested in reading Anna's story. But my oh my was this one a good one. This book (and series) felt like reading Sweet Magnolias but better. I loved the friendship in this series and the way it played out.

[Mia2Four · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna’s story is very touching and Sam is the perfect Christian guy for her. Love how her friends rally around her with love and forgiveness.