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 … 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.
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The Elusive Miss Ellison is the intriguing start to Carolyn Miller’s Regency Brides: A Legacy of Grace series. I thought this was a very good read. Lavinia and Nicholas’ story was one that I really enjoyed. I adored them both and I loved watching them grow throughout. They had to learn some important lessons of forgiveness, hope, love and faith. There were a few twists and turns I did not see coming. It was so very good.
I am giving The Elusive Miss Ellison four and a half stars. I am looking forward to reading the next installment from the Regency Brides: A Legacy of Grace series, The Captivating Lady Charlotte, to see what happens next. I recommend this one for readers who enjoy clean and inspiration Regency Romance.
I received The Elusive Miss Ellison from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
Regency romances are admittedly not my favorite genre as most are about rich people who go to dances and have big parties. As a hard-working, middle class girl, reading about rich people really isn’t my thing. However, Carolyn Miller’s The Elusive Miss Ellison centers around the daughter of the local minister and how she tends to the poor in her village. Enter the male protagonist, Nicholas the Earl, and we see Ellison respond to his fancy ways with disdain while trying to remember to have a Christian attitude. Her unique personality, especially the friendship she shows the earl’s servants, is appreciated by some, while viewed as scandalous by others. Both main characters change throughout the story, as they each recognize their pride and begin to appreciate and care for one another. Ellison eventually discovers the upper class isn’t as far away as it seems.
Carolyn Miller brings a fresh spin to the typical Regency novel and is sure to attract readers with a variety of interests.
*I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
Carolyn Miller writes her first inspirational Regency novel in her new trilogy.
In The Elusive Miss Ellison, the entire village – except for Miss Lavinia Ellison — eagerly anticipates the arrival of the new Earl of Hawkesbury. She believes him to have the same reputation as brother: reckless and arrogant. Lavinia is the unmarried bluestocking daughter of the local minister. Nicholas is a former war hero and reluctant Duke, unprepared for the problems his brother left unsolved and the other obligations he faces. When Nicholas, the new Earl, is challenged by feisty Lavinia to move beyond his wounded pride, it may provide too many obstacles for them. A family secret adds to the complications they face.
Like Austen’s original Pride and Prejudice, wealthy Nicholas suffers from too much pride and is a snob! Feisty Lavinia suffers from too much prejudice towards his family and their effect on others around them. Both of them come to an appreciation of God’s forgiveness as they move past their own histories.
Miller does an excellent job in portraying Regency England with its historical details and solid characterization. Like anyone, her characters face real problems in terms of finances, others’ expectations, and finding one’s place, allowing the reader to identify with them as they struggle to become better people. While the storyline is somewhat predictable, it follows the pattern of a good Regency novel; the faith element is light, the romance is clean, and it is a cozy read!
A second book, The Captivating Lady Charlotte, will be released in summer 2017. Fans of Julie Klassen, Jane Austen, and Regency romances will welcome this new author!
If you like Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, you’ll enjoy this book as there are many similarities, although this one is told with a Christian worldview, delving into the challenge of balancing faith and love with pride and action. I enjoyed the witty repartee between the two main characters and found the story far more detailed than I expected with a few surprises along the way.
Great regency book, reminded me a lot of Jane Austen’s female characters!
When I first read this novel I felt as though Jane Austen were back! Same lovely story with delightful characters and humor! I just love this authors novels!
If you like Jane Austen, and humour but with some underlying serious themes, you’ll love this.
I will say up front that I’m not a big romance fan so you won’t see many recommendations for romance on my page. However, I do like Jane Austen and was intrigued to read a Christian fiction version.
This book made me laugh. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the faith elements as it felt like they weren’t just ‘added’ but were an integral part of the book.
I look forward to more of Carolyn’s work. Especially hoping for some Australian stories in the future.
A thoroughly enjoyable regency type romance
I absolutely loved this book! The characters were so engaging and the conversations were witty and realistic. I ordered the next one as soon as I finished this one. If you enjoyed Pride and Prejudice, you’ll definitely enjoy this story with a Christian slant.
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“The Elusive Miss Ellison” by Carolyn Miller 2017
Debut novel Book One in Legacy of Grace Series
I picked this book off the library shelf because I loved the dress on the cover. I know that’s not a good reason to read a book but I found Carolyn Miller’s writing to be so very interesting. This is an inspirational historical novel.
Nicholas, the Earl of Hawkesbury has inherited his title after his brother had died. He returned to St Hampton Heath to get away from London and the match making mamas.
The first thing he did was to go to the Reverend at the local church and ask for forgiveness. When he was fifteen, he had egged his brother into racing a friend. His brother had traveled down the village road without care and ran down the vicar’s wife who died because of the accident. The vicar’s small daughter had witnessed it.
Lavinia, the vicar’s daughter, sees Nicholas as the brother of the man who killed her mother.
Nicholas was intrigued by the elusive Miss Lavinia Ellison. She challenged him at every turn to look into his heart and learn to forgive himself. This brought him to find comfort in turning to the Lord.
Lavinia comes to the understanding that she too has to find strength to forgive and not judge Nicholas.
Secrets abound. The story goes to London. But can Nicholas and Lavinia’s differences be too much to overcome? Will God give them the gift of Love?
I’d tell you more but that would spoil the story for you. This book is well worth reading. Happy reading!