March 7, 2017

The Elusive Miss Ellison by Carolyn Miller - Review

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Book Details:
The Elusive Miss Ellison by Carolyn Miller
Historical Fiction
Regency Brides #1
Kregel Publications: February 28, 2017
Trade Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN: 9780825444500

About the book:
Pride, prejudice and forgiveness...

Hampton Hall's new owner has the villagers of St. Hampton Heath all aflutter--all except Lavinia Ellison. The reverend's daughter cares for those who are poor and sick, and the seventh Earl of Hawkesbury definitely does not meet that criteria. His refusal to take his responsibilities seriously, or even darken the door of the church, leave her convinced he is as arrogant and reckless as his brother--his brother who stole the most important person in Lavinia's world.

Nicholas Stamford is shadowed by guilt: his own, his brother's, the legacy of war. A perfunctory visit to this dreary part of Gloucestershire wasn't supposed to engage his heart, or his mind. Challenged by Miss Ellison's fascinating blend of Bluestocking opinions, hoydenish behavior, and angelic voice, he finds the impossible becoming possible--he begins to care. But Lavinia's aloof manner, society's opposition and his ancestral obligations prove most frustrating, until scandal forces them to get along.

Can Lavinia and Nicholas look beyond painful pasts and present prejudice to see their future? And what will happen when Lavinia learns a family secret that alters everything she's ever known? 

What did I think about this book:
I am glad I was given the chance to try this new author. The historical aspect of this book was something I really enjoyed. It was also nice that it has a Pride & Prejudice feel to the story. The characters were well developed. The descriptions of the settings were detailed so you felt as if you were in the English countryside with Miss Ellison. I enjoyed that Miss Ellison was so opinionated and not afraid to speak when and what she wanted. It was fun how Miss Ellison and Lord Hawkesbury played off of each other. It was like they loved to hate each other. I also liked the little twists in this story as well. This was a fun book to read and I am looking forward to book two. 

About the author:
Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia. She is married, with four gorgeous children, who all love to read (and write!).

A longtime lover of Regency romance, Carolyn's novels have won a number of Romance Writers of American (RWA) and American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers. Her favourite authors are classics like Jane Austen (of course!), Georgette Heyer, and Agatha Christie, but she also enjoys contemporary authors like Susan May Warren and Becky Wade.

Her stories are fun and witty, yet also deal with real issues, such as dealing with forgiveness, the nature of really loving versus 'true love', and other challenges we all face at different times.

1 comment: