The Elusive Miss Ellison + Giveaway!

The Elusive Miss Ellison
Written by: Carolyn Miller
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Month, Year: February 27, 2017
Amazon | CBD | B+N

A brief summary from Carolyn Miller:
Handsome appearance counts for naught unless matched by good character and actions.

That’s the firm opinion of not-so-meek minister’s daughter Lavinia Ellison. So even though all the other villagers of St. Hampton Heath are swooning over the newly returned seventh Earl of Hawkesbury, she is not impressed. If a man won’t take his responsibilities seriously and help those who are supposed to be able to depend on him, he deserves no respect from her. In Lavinia’s pretty, gray eyes, Nicholas Stamford is just as arrogant and reckless as his brother-who stole the most important person in Livvie’s world.

Nicholas is weighed down by his own guilt and responsibility, by the pain his careless brother caused, and by the legacy of war he’s just left. This quick visit home to St. Hampton Heath will be just long enough to ease a small part of that burden. Asking him to bother with the lives of the villagers when there’s already a bailiff on the job is simply too much to expect.

That is, until the hoydenish, intelligent, and very opinionated Miss Ellison challenges him to see past his pain and pride. With her angelic voice in his head, he may even be beginning to care. But his isn’t the only heart that needs to change.

These two lonely hearts may each have something the other needs. But with society’s opposition, ancestral obligations, and a shocking family secret, there may be too many obstacles in their way.

Fans of Georgette Heyer, Lori Wick, and Julie Klassen will enjoy the spirited exchanges between the bluestocking minister’s daughter and the bruised war hero as they move past pride and presumption to a humbled appreciation of God’s grace and the true strength of love.

About The Author:

Carolyn Miller lives in New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of Regency romance, Carolyn’s novels have won a number of RWA and ACFW contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers.

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My Thoughts:
When societal rules and expectations hinder the needs of the people, Lavinia Ellison, daughter of the local vicar, tosses those rules out the window with the dirty wash. God said to help the widows and orphans in distress, not pretend they don’t exist! But not all the members of her father’s church agree with Lavinia’s out-of-the-box ways of serving, including the new Earl of Hawkesbury, Nicholas Stamford, who would rather flirt and frolic around the countryside than spend time and money to fix the village he oversees. But Nicholas’ cavorting nature is all an act to cover a deep remorse, one he believes will never be healed. Besides, why bother the time and money to fix a village he won’t be spending much time in..right?

With heated words exchanged frequently, circumstances throw Lavinia and Nicholas together in ways they never imagined. Will Nicholas ever learn what it means to be compassionate? Will Lavinia ever learn to tame her barbed tongue? Or, will both parties let the hurts of past lead the future, and forever be at odds with one another in their small village?

It astounds me that The Elusive Miss Ellison is Carolyn Miller’s debut novel. Upon finishing reading this delightful Regency tale, I found myself frantic to find more works by Carolyn, only to remember that this was, in fact, the first novel in the Regency Brides: A Legacy of Grace series.

I.Need.More!!!

More of Lavinia Ellison’s caring heart and fierce devotion to the villagers in need of help and healing. More of Nicholas Stamford’s engaging spirit and numerous, if rather bumbling, attempts to make up for the wrongdoings of the past. More of God’s healing weaving into Lavinia and Nicholas’ hearts. The Elusive Miss Ellison is an exquisite read and I highly recommend ya’ll purchase it for your own personal libraries!

Giveaway:
Regency romance fans have another must-read novel to add to their lists: Carolyn Miller’s The Elusive Miss Ellison. Enjoy the spirited exchanges between the bluestocking minister’s daughter and the bruised war hero as they move past pride and presumption to a humbled appreciation of God’s grace and the true strength of love. These two lonely hearts may each have something the other needs. But with society’s opposition, ancestral obligations, and a shocking family secret, there may be too many obstacles in their way.

Settle in for a cozy night of reading with a cuppa and a Kindle from Carolyn!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of The Elusive Miss Ellison
• A Kindle Fire
• Two William Morris mugs (winner’s choice)
• A box of tea

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on March 22. The winner will be announced March 23 on the Litfuse blog.

I was graciously provided a free copy of this novel from Litfuse, NetGalley, and Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.