Guest Post + A Giveaway! — Rachel McMillan, Author of The Herringford And Watts Series

Rachel McMillan is on the blog today helping me celebrate my 10 Year Blogiversary. Rachel is an author extraordinaire, an expert in the publishing business, literary agent, travel aficionado, and a must-follow on social media (oh the adventures she has!). She also is a lover of books. She reads voraciously and is always good for an outstanding book recommendation. Rachel’s guest post features one of her favorite (and mine) series, The Price of Privilege by Jessica Dotta. Thanks so much Rachel for sharing with us!

10 Reasons to Read The Price of Privilege

To try and pick favourite works of inspirational fiction, for me, is nearly impossible. I have read literally hundreds upon hundreds of them since I was 10 years old and discovered Vienna Prelude by Bodie Thoene for the first time. I decided that contributing to a blog series honouring the anniversary of a blog whose intent is marrying the right books with the right readers is best served if I expand the dialogue. Indeed, my favourite thing in the world to do is gush about books and find the perfect authors for the reader that will love them.  

And so I thought I would draw you into the world of my favourite Christian fiction trilogy ever written: The Price of Privilege series by Jessica Dotta.  

While many have heard of this trilogy or seen the scrumptious covers, and while Beckie has certainly spent time with it on her blog, I thought why not bring a look at a trilogy that inspires my faith and my inspiration as a historical romance novelist to a celebration of books?

So in honour of Beckie’s 10 year ( what a feat!!!!) anniversary of reaching the world through amazing books, here are 10 reasons why you need to put The Price of Privilege Trilogy at the top of your reading (or re-reading) list. A blend of My Fair Lady (there is a fabulous sequence where Julia is taken under the wing of the lord of the manor for lessons in pose and etiquette) and Jane Eyre with the intricacy of Dickens’ Bleak House, this is a series where nothing is as it seems, everything is at stake, and the final reveal at the end of a beautifully-plotted tale resulted in the most visceral emotional reaction I have ever had to a book. Sometimes I will wake up and just think about these books and the effect they continue to have on me.  In short, the best type of reading experience.

1. Booklovers you love love this series: including Jocelyn Green and Melissa Tagg, Jamie Lapeyrolerie and Courtney Clark and, of course, Beckie <3
2. The Gothic feel of London House and the various estates such as Am Meer and Maplecroft are perfect for a cozy autumn read with candles and tea or cocoa. This is the right kind of atmospheric book just perfect for the fall. 
3. The language is beautiful with moments that share the ironic wit of Jane Austen. For the drawing room scenes Austen excelled at in her most popular tales are captured herein as Julia begins to consider her inherited position as the Emerald Heiress.
4. You will think of Charlotte Bronte and the atmospheric world of Jane Eyre. 
5. The entire book is an allegory: from page one you are propelled into a story that functions rather like the journey of the Pilgrim’s Progress: but with far deeper emotional stakes.
6. The villains are dishy and the heroes are complicated. There is something for everyone here and no one is pure black or white or a cookie-cutter character. 
7. It is a profound love story: all natures of love from familial to friendship to romance to the way that God loves us though we turn from Him are deftly revealed in this carefully plotted and ultimately thematic treatise on the power of grace.
8. Julia’s not perfect, and like all fallible humans stumbles on her way to learning the profundity of God’s grace.
9. We should all aspire to be as convicted and passionate as Edward is about the Gospel. Julia’s childhood sweetheart is destined for a future as a clergyman, and Edward takes his passion for the word and his calling seriously. When questioned, he is determined to rise to the occasion and live his example.  
10. Likewise we should live it in action like Lord Isaac Dalry whose patient grace and good nature allow him to see the best in everyone steers him to unforgettable moments of action.

I urge everyone who loves romance and brilliantly written stories to invest the time in The Price of Privilege. It is robust — like a three course meal — and no matter how many times I read it, I come away with something new.  

The right books impress themselves on us for years — with longevity and the delight in returning to them again and again — like the best book blogs. So I could think of no better way to honour the commitment of Beckie and her lovely blog than by icing it with a gorgeous trilogy. Book bloggers are the heart of the publishing industry. Word of mouth continues –- beyond ads and careful marketing — to be the most effective way to drive a book’s reach and popularity, and as an author I love the care, joy and sheer dedication of book lovers. But, first and foremost, as a reader I love seeking out the opinions of trustworthy bloggers to help me find my next read.  

Rachel McMillan is the author of The Herringford and Watts mysteries, The Van Buren and DeLuca mysteries and The Three Quarter Time series of contemporary Viennese romances. Her first historical romance, The London Restoration, releases in Summer 2020 with Harper Collins and takes readers deep into the heart of London’s most beautiful churches. Dream, Plan, Go (May, 2020) is her first work of non-fiction. Rachel lives in Toronto, Canada and is always planning her next adventure.

Thanks so much, Rachel, for sharing today! Now I have to go back and read The Price of Privilege again! And if you haven’t read it yet, what is stopping you!?

Giveaway!

I am giving away a Big Box of Books to celebrate my 10 Year Blogiversary and included is a copy of Murder at The Flamingo, part of Rachel’s Van Buren and DeLuca mystery series. Click HERE for the link to the giveaway post.

Tags: historical mystery fiction, historical romance fiction, Jessica Dotta, Rachel McMillan