Carolyn Miller’s book The Elusive Miss Ellison is set in England during the Regency
period. It is the story of the young
Miss Ellison, who is the daughter of a kind vicar in a small village. Miss Lavinia’s goal in life is to serve
others. Not because she is haughty and
feels it might be her duty, but because her tender heart has great concern for
those who have less than her. Even
though Livvie tends mostly to the poor, she does rub shoulders with those is
society. In fact, one of her best
friends, Sophia Milton, is in pursuit of finding a husband. Livvie has other thoughts in mind though, and
is content to live out her days unmarried.
However, she is open to whatever the Lord may bring her way.
Nicholas, the young Earl of Hawkesbury, makes a
surprise entrance into the village of St. Hampton Heath. It is now his duty to take care of his local
tenants making sure their homes are looked after. Although, he never imaged meeting Miss
Ellison again, he soon learns about her intense passions, which are often spoken
out loud without abandon to anyone who may be willing to listen—including the
young earl.
After meeting him, Livvie spends many of her days
furious at this Earl of Hawkesbury. Not
only has his past touched her family’s life in ways that are unforgivable, but
his present actions do nothing to help the people of her village. He seems content to live in his stately home while
never considering those he is more than able to help. She does not understand who this man is or why
his actions are so lacking in possibility.
Will he ever change his ways? Or
is she being too harsh in her judgement of him?
Miller’s book showcases a lovely glimpse into the days
of Regency England, which is one of my favorite time periods to read about. Her characters portray what individuals may
have felt during this time and the struggles they endured. It is interesting to read about the different
levels of society and propriety and how various characters intermingle with
each status of persons.
The goodness of Livvie and her bent to become too involved
with charities and the sometimes brashness of Nicholas make for a delightful
read. The scenes between these two
characters cause the reader to wonder what future events will be part of their lives
while also considering their past connections.
I liked that Miller also included family members to
play a vital role as they gave invaluable wisdom and advice to those around
them. Livvie would not have known how to
make proper choices without it, and she would never have grown up into the
woman she needed to be. In the same way,
servants around Nicholas are often bold enough to give their thoughts on certain
subjects to him.
If you enjoy reading stories set in beautiful England,
you will adore this book. Also, if you
delight in reading historical works, you will love learning more about the
people who lived in Regency England. I
highly recommend checking this book out!
Happy reading!
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to Litfuse for my copy.
About The Book
*The arrival of the new Earl of Hawkesbury has the entire village aflutter--everone except Lavinia Ellison, that is. In fact, in Livvie's eyes, he is just as arrogant and thoughtless as his brother--who stole the most important person in her world.
Nicholas is weighted down by guilt, by ancestral obligations, and by the legacy of war. He hadn't anticipated that a perfunctory visit home would engage either his mind or his heart. Then the hoydenish, intelligent, and very opinionated Miss Ellison challenges him to see past his pain and pride. But between society's opposition, his brother's reckless past, and a shocking family secret, there may be too many obstacles for the two of them to ever truly get along.
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 their painful histories and presumptions to a humbles appreciation of God's grace and the true strength of love.
*Synopsis is from the back cover of the novel.
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.
Visit her at www.carolynmillerauthor.com.
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