The Elusive Miss Ellison
By: Carolyn Miller
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About the Book (Backcover Blurb):
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?
Why I Choose this Book:
I originally ignored the offer to review this book as it looked too romantic for my tastes. After considering it though, and having it pitched to me with a Jane Austen angle, I reconsidered. Cause, Jane Austen. I very much disliked her work for years, but then was won over by her witty banter. I figured The Elusive Miss Ellison might prove to be the same way.
What I Thought about this Book:
Apparently I kinda forgot what it was like to read a book that’s main plot is romance, and it’s a bit more tedious than I had remembered. I’m all for a light dosage of romance in books, cause that’s realistic. But when it’s the whole plot? Well….
I am happy to say that the author did an okay job of not making the focus of the romance be totally on the outward appearances (although there was more of that than I would have liked). The author did a good job of keeping it fairly safe and non-detailed (for the most part). And, another good point for the author goes to the fact that there was a lot of good, useful Biblical teachings sprinkled throughout the book. They were presented in such a way that it didn’t feel preachy, and yet they gave the book purpose.
Overall I didn’t not like the book. In fact, I enjoyed parts of it, and it did keep me wanting to find out what happened next. Then came the plot twist – and well, the plot twist wasn’t really my cup of tea. It kinda left me shaking my head, and wondering why it had been added.
The character development was pretty good throughout the book. The characters were (for the most part) believable, and I also liked the main characters. The book very much had a Jane Austen feel to it, which was fun.
Conclusion:
So, this isn’t a book that I will probably re-read, nor is it one that I would necessarily recommend, but I don’t not recommend it either. It was a breezy read with some good components.
Rating:
I’m giving The Elusive Miss Ellison 3 out of 5 stars, and 4 out of 10.
*I received this book from Litfuse
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