The Potter's Lady (Refined by Love)

Judith Miller's name alone is enough to make me pick up The Potter's Lady, but the cover art is exquisitely beautiful with its multicolored depiction of West Virginia. Wow! Since this is book two of Refined by Love series, I will also say that is the third reason I wanted to read it, to follow up on more of the McKay family. However, the book could be read as a standalone.

Uncle Hugh Crothers has died without legally making Ewan McKay a partner in the brick making business. Greedy Aunt Margaret forces Ewan out, and Ewan has to choose between two businesses to buy-- a brickyard or a pottery-- to support his family. Encouraged by his sister, Rose, newly graduated from design school, Ewan buys the pottery.

Although it seemed like a good decision, nothing goes well. The business loses customers, workers want to quit, and Rose and Rylan, two very important figures in the business, can't agree on anything.

I love the very realistic characters with their fears, hopes for change, suspicion born of mistreatment, and greed and avarice. Great lessons of trust, faith in God, hope, learning to listen to others' opinions, casting aside pride,and the results of caring only for oneself. The biggest lesson, perhaps, is that there is a God-shaped hole in each of us. If we don't fill it with Him, we are left floundering.

What a compelling story Judith Miller has woven! I was as anxious as the characters to see how it would all play out!

The Potter’s Lady is the second book in the Refined by Love series. I have read Brickmaker’s Bride, which is the first book in the series and really enjoyed both. You don’t have to read the first book in order to understand this one. The Potter’s Lady follows Rose McKay. Learning at school has been fun, but Rose is ready to come home. She has missed her brother Ewan, his wife Laura, and her sisters and can’t wait to get home. She can tell that something is bothering her brother, but doesn’t get the details right away. When he tells her they are going to be buying a new business she is excited. Rose hopes that she can talk him into buying a pottery instead of a brick yard, which is what he is used to. After visiting the pottery, Rose knows she can make beautiful and unique vases and help her brother make a profit.

When Rose meets Rylan, she finds out that everyone is not open to change. The men in the pottery don’t like when someone new comes in and changes things, even if they are for the better. Rose can only hope that one day, they will realize everything she is doing is for their good. When their pottery keeps being outbid on contracts, Rose feels like she might have bitten off more that she can chew. When a huge hotel chain announces a contest, Rose and Rylan see it as a chance to save the pottery. Can they work together to create a winning entry? Will they be able to put aside their differences for the greater good? Will they accept the greater plan God has for their lives?

The Potter’s Lady is full of twists and turns. At times I was nervous wondering what was going to happen next. Miller kept my interest through out the whole story. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance with a little back stabbing and mystery thrown in. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

Judith Miller has always trapped me in her books. Once I start reading them, I’m transported to a different world, a different time. The Potter’s Lady was no different and brought me to the 1870’s. I was in the middle if a train station (reminding myself not to be rude and keep my mouth shut) standing beside my husband while he talks business with an acquaintance. Wearing a long, huge, beautiful (but not comfy) ‘princess’ dress. My hair that was kept in rollers last night is now beautifully twisted and circled or braided atop my head with a few perfect curls dangling in just the right spots… Sorry, I’ll stop daydreaming now.. If you could not tell so far, I really enjoyed this vacation book :)

Rose McKay is just graduating design school and moving back home with her brother, Ewan, and his family. While traveling home with Ewan she finds out that he is no longer overseer of their uncles brickyard and is looking for a business to buy. They tour a brickyard, which Ewan knows all about and a pottery, which he knows nothing about. Rose and Ewan’s mother in law convince him the pottery would be the best choice for the family. This is where Rose’s training will come in. From the details, she is an excellent designer with great artistic instinct.

Along the way they are betrayed by an employee and a rejected suitor of Rose’s. They are being rejected for bids and barely hanging on in the pottery. All the time Mrs. McKay is going through an illness which turns into a miscarriage (after she’s not suppose to be able to get pregnant, which is sad in itself).

Finally, their chance to turn it all around. A huge competition for a hotel contract to produce all the dinnerware. Rose must work closely with Rylan, Ewan’s assistant. Convince the judges they did no wrong. While all the time they are slowly falling in love (after MANY disagreements). But they are perfect for each other, I seen this coming since I met the handsome Rylan….

The Potters Lady is a great historical read. I just love the romances of days gone by. It seems they were much more simple than it is in today’s world. People seemed to be a lot more polite and kind, if not only to your face. These historical reads always make me wish I was born to a different time. If only we could bring some of this back….

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts are all mine :)

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Loved it

Judith has a way with words that draws you in from the very beginning. Her writing is effortless and her characters are relatable and wonderfully flawed.

In this installment of her Refined by Love series, we follow Rose McKay, a newly graduated arts designer. She's excited to make her mark on the world and to get away from the school where the other girls played tricks on her simply because of her heritage. We follow her and her brother as they take a risk in buying a pottery and do all they can in order to make it succeed. Rose is conflicted about her feelings concerning two different men; Rylan and Joshua, while at the same time being in love with her work, decorating pottery. She wants desperately to make the pottery work and must eventually make a decision about a man and the future of the pottery.

You'll fall in love with Rose McKay as she struggles to find her place in the world and to prove to herself that she can do whatever she puts her mind to. All in all, this is definitely another win for The Bethany House!

(*Note: I received this book through Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own and solely my own.)

I really enjoyed reading The Potter's Lady. In this story, Rose McKay convinces her brother to invest in a pottery business. She loves designing pottery and wants to help in designing pieces that will make the new business venture a success. When the survival of the new business depends on the outcome of a contest that would result in an amazing pottery contract, Rose isn't sure who she can trust - company designs have been stolen.
I did enjoy this book - so much so, that I am excited to have received another in this series for Christmas! This is a sequel to another book, but knowing that does not interfere with enjoying this one. I also love when covers to books are beautifully designed, as this one is! I look forward to reading more of Judith Miller's books.

Thanks to Bethany House for the review copy. My opinions are my own.

The Potter’s Lady is the second book in the Refined by Love series by Judith Miller. It takes place in rural Virginia in the late 1800s and continues the story of the McKay family.
As the book begins, Rose McKay has just graduated from design school, and convinces her family to invest in a pottery. No one in the family has ever owned a pottery before, but Rose is convinced her design experience will help to make the business a success.
Meanwhile, Rylan Campbell has only ever known the pottery. He began working there at only 13, and the owner is the father he never had. When the pottery is sold to the McKays, everything starts to change-and Rylan isn’t sure it’s for the better. Regardless, he is determined to help the McKays make the pottery a success.
When the pottery mysteriously begins to lose contracts, and is unable to gain new ones, Rylan and Rose set out to win a design contest that will solve the company’s money woes.
Will they be able to save the business, and is someone trying to sabotage all their hard work?
My Thoughts: I liked this book. It is well-written, has an interesting story line, and well-developed characters. I did not read the first book, and although it would have been nice for more background, it wasn’t necessary for this story. If you enjoy historical fiction with a little romance, this is a fun, easy read. The only thing I would have wished for would have been some type of epilogue. I spent so much time waiting for the good guys to figure out the bad guys, it would have been nice to hear what happened “after the story” as it were. Otherwise, this was a good book, and I recommend it!
As always, thanks to Bethany House for providing me with a free copy of this book for my unbiased review.

Pin on PinterestThe Potter's Lady (Refined by Love) was a fun read. I am amazed once again by how ladies could be treated during olden days. I know some women are still treated similarly in other parts of the world.

I love reading about women who still want to be women, but want to stand up for some of the basic rights in life.

This book was a great one to read on the cool days we have had recently.

Thanks to Bethany House for a copy of The Potter's Lady (Refined by Love)
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This was the first book I've read by Judith Miller. When I received a free copy from the publisher, I put it aside. I was hesitant to pick it up for a few reasons: I'm not a fan of historical books, I only read Christian themed books, and I can't stand mushy, unrealistic romance novels. I walked by the coffee table looking at this book for a couple of weeks. It was only after a long day of tube feeding newborn baby goats that I needed to step away from my own reality for a while so I finally picked it up. The beginning took a while to get me interested. I was still in this mindset that I wasn't going to like it, but I kept reading. I'm really glad I did! I have to admit that I made a massive mistake by judging this book based on my own expectations. The history of the setting didn't bore me, it ended up being Christian based after all, and most importantly, there was no passionate sex scenes or romance to disgust me. I have stereotyped and prejudged this book long before I picked it up and I was wrong. This was a really good book that I didn't want to end. Judith Miller puts a new definition on a love story.

I can tell you that this book doesn't require reading the first in the series to make it understandable. I can tell you that it's full of common everyday themes like greed and what people will do out of jealousy and spite. It made for a wonderful story that made you wonder what happened after the book ended. The characters were believable and the story was well written. It's one of those books you want to curl up on the couch with a warm blanket and a hot cup of tea. I will definitely be reading more of Judith Miller in the future. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

In 1872, Rose McKay has just completed her studies in design at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women. Although she is very gifted, and has in fact just been honored with the "Excellence in Design Award" for her upholstering fabric design, she is anxious to leave the school. She would miss her mentor-ship with Mrs. Fisk, but not the cruelty of the other patrons. She is in fact, quite excited about returning home and beginning a life away from the ridicule of those whom considered her not of their standing.

As her brother, Ewan, escorts her home to the hills of West Virginia, Rose learns of her family's decision to purchase either a brick yard or a pottery. Of course, since Rose has been educated in the crafting of designs, she has hope that the family will choose a pottery. With the joyous visions of crafting designs for a family pottery is a most anxious concern about a "surprise" welcome home party. Rose detests social engagements, especially one designed around her.

It is on their way home in which Rose will discover the path for her future. Their side journey to the Bancock Pottery Works, will provide countless hours for Rose to consider the "needs" of others, the frustration of Mr. Rylan Campbell, her personal challenges with relationships, and her talents in creating designs that will be "exceptional" enough to win back customers and the biggest designing opportunity for any potter.

Rylan Campbell is a man who is dedicated to the owner of Bancock Pottery Works, in fact it is his loyalty to Mr. Bancock in which Rylan will discover his spiritual strength and wisdom to help the McKay's transition into the pottery business. Rylan will discover the power of prayer, the "ownership" of decisions for the pottery and its employees, his craftsmanship as a designer, and the wisdom in dealing with his frustrated relationship with Rose and her determination.

"Though a dart of fear shot through her,
Rose straightened her shoulders and avowed their pottery
would become the finest and most prosperous
in all of West Virgina."

What will determine the pottery's prosperity or failure will be determined by Rose's ability to choose truth beyond her passion. Will she continue a business and social relationship with Joshua Harkness, and all of the "assumed" benefits for the pottery? Can Rose trust Rylan's insights and suggestions? Can she trust her own instincts?

Ewan's whole future as a business man, as a family man, and as brother will be conflicted between his trust in Rose and his partnership with Rylan. Can this team discover why their contract bids are always turned down? Will it be possible for them to win the contract from the Franklin Hotel?

With a story line that is woven together by faith, honesty, and trust, The Potter's Lady will offer you an insight into a woman's determination in "seeking to know" truth.

Experience Rose's journey and a story well crafted,
MrsK http://mrskbookstogo.blogspot.com/