The Carousel Painter [Paperback]

Judith Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Without the means to support herself after her father dies, Carrington Brouwer receives the opportunity to use her artistic talent at her friend's father's carousel factory. But the men at the factory are not happy that a woman has been given the very desirable job of painting the elaborately carved horses. When mishaps occur at the factory and jewelry disappears from the home of the factory owner, accusations swirl. Is the handsome young factory manager truly Carrie's ally or will he side with those who believe she should be fired?

Editorial Reviews

Review

Miller's ... attention to historical detail and her convincing heroine make this an enjoyable novel for lovers of historical romances and inspirational women's fiction. --Library Journal

"Judith Miller's The Carousel Painter is a delightful read about a spunky young woman who has a lot to learn about herself and the world around her. Although she is thrilled with her new job, the men in the factory do not welcome a woman worker, and Carrie finds her job and her new lifestyle to be more of a challenge than she can handle alone. To add to these difficulties, expensive items are stolen from the Galloways, and Carrie is a prime suspect. Carrie must learn to swallow her pride and trust God to handle the outcome.... The Carousel Painter is a story filled with romance, mystery, and historical detail. I recommend it, and I look forward to reading more books by Judith Miller." --5 Minutes for Mom

From the Back Cover

Carrie loves painting the beautiful carousel horses...but can she stand strong against the many who don't want her to keep the job? When Carrington Brouwer receives the enviable job of painting carousel horses for a factory in Ohio, she believes her future is secure. But after an expensive necklace disappears from the home where she's been staying, she's caught up in a search for the truth that puts her entire livelihood--and her developing relationship with the factory manager--at risk. Can she lead police to the real culprit before she loses everything?

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764202790
• ISBN-13: 978-0764202797
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,091,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Judith is an award winning and best-selling author of historical fiction for Bethany House Publishers. With a love of history, a dash of romance and a touch of mystery, Judith transports her readers to another time and place. Her passion for history and love of God keep her inspired. Judith and her husband are empty-nesters who live in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Judy blogs with four other historical novelists at www.writespassage.blogspot.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable historical fiction with unique premise, September 1, 2009

By 

Janna R. Ryan (Nebraska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Carousel Painter (Paperback)

I was really intrigued by the storyline that Judith puts forth in her newest book. The intricate workings of the carousel factory really piqued my interest and I loved reading the description of how the carousel horses were made. The way new designs are developed and how a beautiful horse can be ruined. All of this was fascinating to me.

Even better though was the storyline itself that introduced me to a lovely character, Miss Carrington Brouwer. Here is a young lady that has been dealt a hard hand in life. Her mother passed away and now her father has died as well and she leaves France to come to America to stay with a friend because she has been left penniless with only two of her father's paintings to her name. Her friend Augusta Galloway's mother is less than pleased to have someone staying with them and so she quickly tries to find a way to make it on her own and starts working as a painter at Mr. Galloway's Carousel Factory. She has much working against her. No other women work there and she is not welcomed. Even though she is an artist, fellow workers don't consider that adequate training, and the factory manager seems to have a problem with her. She must try and find a way to fit in, discover her faith in God through the many accusations that come her way, and maybe find God's will for her life and love along the way.

This is a quaint story that I really enjoyed. For a good historical romance with a touch of mystery, pick up "The Carousel Painter".

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Carousel Painter, August 30, 2009

By 

librtea - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Carousel Painter (Paperback)

Set in the late 19th century, The Carousel Painter by Judith Miller is the story of Carrington Brouwer, a young woman who moves to Ohio following the death of her father. Having already lost her mother years before, Carrington finds herself alone and longing for a place to call home. Carrington's best friend Augusta Galloway invites her to stay with the Galloways in Ohio, and she gladly accepts the offer. She is happy to become part of a family again. When Carrington is hired to paint carousel horses at the local factory, her feelings of independence and optimism soar. However, things are not quite so simple and straightforward. Events at the Carrington home and on the job threaten her newly acquired sense of security and hopefulness.
The Carousel Painter is a light, readable story if you ignore Carrington's inane nervous giggling and some of the contrived aspects of the plot. The annoying giggling literally opens and closes the story and occurs frequently and regularly throughout. Somehow though, the story line manages to remain sufficiently engaging to warrant the effort required to ignore this less than endearing characteristic. The discussions about Christianity and morality between Carrington and others seem natural and believable. And it is interesting to learn how carousel horses are created. Overall, a nice enough story.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As Much Fun as Riding a Carousel, October 9, 2009

By 

Ann H. Gabhart (Kentucky) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Carousel Painter (Paperback)

Most everyone has fond memories of perching on one of the beautiful horses on a carousel and going round and round. Reading this story was just as much fun. The characters were interesting and the background even more so. I enjoyed getting a glimpse into a carousel factory. Judith Miller has a way of transporting her readers into another era and then telling her story in page-turning fashion. A little history, a good dollop of romance and a side dressing of mystery makes The Carousel Painter a good read.