The Enchanting of Miss Elliot (Aprons and Veils: Book Three) by Grace Hitchcock

 

The Harvey Girls, the ladies who tamed the Wild West with fine china, good pie, and exceptional service with complete propriety.

I really like the Harvey Girl stories. This one is about Lorna, a tough ranch girl who has had a crush on Gaston (who is now a sheriff) for some time. She a accepts a dare from her brother to become a Harvey Girl and sets out to become independent as well as distance herself from unrequited love. The Death Rider gang has escaped and is out for revenge. As usual a tumultuous tale with sweetness, danger, conflict and love bundled in. Lorna finally finds friends that she never had before. Beautifully wrapped up with openings for continued stories. A story where you can fall in love with the characters and sigh over. 

I received this book free from the author, publisher and CelebrateLit book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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About the Book

Book: The Enchanting of Miss Elliot (Aprons and Veils: Book Three)

Author: Grace Hitchcock

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: July 29, 2024

She thought he was her forever—he had other plans.

Of all the dares Lorna Elliot had accepted, becoming a Harvey Girl waitress was by far the dumbest—and she’d pulled some pretty foolhardy antics. Her back was sore. Her feet were swollen. And she had done it to herself in a fit of pique over a Texas Ranger who was mooning over another woman. Lorna had longed for distraction at the time, but after weeks of training, she might keel over and die in the middle of the dining room floor with a plate of apple pie in one hand and a pot of coffee in the other. But, she’s an Elliot. And Elliot’s never quit. The only thing she’d ever quit was attempting to win Ranger Reid and now that he’s the new sheriff in her hometown, it’s going to be impossible for her to move on unless she takes control of her heart—for better, or for worse.

Sheriff Reid had never wanted to settle down until he had fallen hard for a runaway mail-order bride turned Harvey Girl who chose another. When news of an outlaw’s escape lands on his desk, he eagerly rides out in pursuit all the way to Topeka and overhears the outlaw’s plans that revolve around the wealthy Elliot family and their daughter, Lorna. It’s up to Reid to see his childhood friend safe . . . despite Lorna insisting that she can protect herself without him.

 

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About the Author

Grace Hitchcock is the award-winning author of multiple his­torical novels and novellas, including the American Royalty, True Colors, and Aprons & Veils series. She holds a Master’s in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives on the Northshore of New Orleans, with her husband, Dakota, sons, and daughter in a cottage that is always filled with the sounds of sweet little footsteps running at full speed. When not writing, or chasing babies, she’s baking something delightful and can usually be found with a book clutched in her fist.

 

 

 

More from Grace

Q & A with Grace Hitchcock

Q: What is your favorite trope to read? Which of your books have that trope?

To name a few, I love stories about marriage of convenience, fake dating, mail-order brides, runaway brides, and enemies to lovers. In my books, I do have some of those tropes, but I adjust them to fit my story

My Harvey Girl books by tropes:

Runaway Bride: The Finding of Miss Fairfield

Mail-Order Bride: The Pursuit of Miss Parish

Friends to Lovers/Fake Dating: The Enchanting of Miss Elliot

I’d love to write an enemies-to-lovers trope in the future!

Q: Have you ever been asked to spice up, or down, a kissing scene? How did you do it?

For my May release, To Catch a Coronet, the editor challenged me to make the kissing scene longer and more romantic. Haha it took me my entire writing session that day to make the short scene two paragraphs longer in order to make the kissing more swoon-worthy, while still staying true to the level of affection I have in my books. With that critique in mind, I attempted to add a bit more “swoon” in The Enchanting of Miss Elliot as well.

Q: What historical novel has most impacted you? How?

Grace: I feel like every season, there is a novel that touches me. The one that stuck the longest has to be Tracie Peterson’s Westward Chronicles (a Harvey Girl series). They are moving, unique tales that inspired me to write my own Harvey Girls series! I re-read the Westward Chronicles every few years.

Q: How does your faith integrate into your writing in practical ways? 

Grace: No matter how subtle my theme or short the verses, my stories will always point the reader to the Lord. Usually, whatever I am personally learning spiritually while writing impacts my heroine/hero in some way.

For The Enchanting of Miss Elliot, the heroine, a firm believer, is despairing that God will not give her the desires of her heart and sets out to find a new future and a re-directing of her heart. It’s a very realistic struggle, and the reader can see through the story the beauty of trusting God in our daily walk and with our biggest dreams.

Q: What’s your life like outside of writing?

Grace: Besides reading at least one to two books a week, I love to take long walks to the park with my family, exercise on my bike, plan the family’s next travel adventure, and try new baking challenges. As a wife and mama of three, I usually have some happy recipients for the new recipe.

Q: Will there be more Harvey Girl books from you?

Grace: Yes! I am currently working on Book Four in the Aprons & Veils series, The Vanishing of Miss Victoria. It will release mid-2025.

About The Vanishing of Miss Victoria:

Love got her into this mess—never loving again would get her out.

Corinna Victoria Roberts had never been lucky—not in her choice of husband, or her lot in life after the man she’d eloped with had promptly abandoned her, taking her gold and jewels with him. When her husband’s thieving, lawless relatives show up at her door announcing his death and demanding that her late father’s restaurant empire be signed over to them, her life is in danger. She flees to take a position no one expects of her—as a Harvey Girl waitress in New Mexico.

Tanner Sterling has hunted his last bounty. As the new foreman on his friend’s ranch, he wasn’t expecting to rescue a Harvey Girl from a raging river his first day. He is intrigued by the shy beauty and becomes friends with Corinna over many meals at the Harvey House. But, when a picture of her on a wanted poster with a massive bounty arrives in Tanner’s mail, everything he knows about Corinna shifts. If he doesn’t claim the bounty on her head, he knows far less honorable men who would love to ride off with the stunning Harvey Girl. Despite wanting to hang up his past along with his gun belt, Tanner will do anything to protect Corinna from the coming storm.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 16
Pens Pages & Pulses, August 16
Melissa’s Bookshelf, August 17
Karen Baney Reviews, August 17
Bizwings Book Blog, August 18
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 18
Texas Book-aholic, August 19
Devoted To Hope, August 19
lakesidelivingsite, August 20
Hannahbandanarama, August 20
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 21
Happily Managing a Household of Boys , August 21
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 22
Books You Can Feel Good About, August 22
Betti Mace, August 23
Book Looks by Lisa, August 23
Simple Harvest Reads, August 24 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
For Him and My Family, August 24
Jeanette’s Thoughts, August 25
Mary Hake, August 25
Connie’s History Classroom, August 26
Labor Not in Vain, August 27
Cover Lover Book Review, August 28
Holly’s Book Corner, August 28
Pause for Tales, August 29
Lights in a Dark World, August 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Grace is giving to two winners an autographed copy of The Pursuit of Miss Parish each!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2ddaa/the-enchanting-of-miss-elliot-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Answering Liberty's Call by Tracy Lawson

 

Adapted from the writings of Jeremiah Asbury Stone, Benjamin and Anna’s third son, and other historical records.

Interesting Historical fiction based on a true story in 1778. Anna Stone of Virginia heard about her brothers and husband where they were stationed at Valley Forge PA - the horrible conditions, sickness, lack of food and clothing. She is a healer and feels she can take some needed provisions and help to them. She had a sturdy horse and a plan where to stay, some with relatives as she went. It was still dangerous to travel alone, especially as a woman. She ended up wearing some of her husband's clothes part of the way. When staying at a relative's house she met one of Washington's men and was asked to deliver an important message to the General personally, believing she would be less likely to be perceived as a messenger. She was then in even more danger than before. It's an interesting recount of what happened, well told, bringing the people to life. The experience brings Anna a new sense of liberty and freedom in her own life, and a great sense of accomplishment. Gives you a glimpse into people's lives as our country was fighting for its liberty and independence from England, the contrast of the well off and poor, evil and good people, and political corruption even in the earliest days of our country, some insight as to why our declaration of independence and early laws were written as they were. And the bravery of people who fought for our right to freedom. They should not be forgotten or taken for granted.

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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Fiesty!
1911 Long Island, NY. Tale of an Irish family, mostly about two of the sisters who fight their father and each other for attention and independence. Their father is a self-made man, an immigrant from Ireland who worked hard to prove himself. Both sisters become grounded by the men in their lives. It’s great reading about the paths that they choose and how much they change when they allow their faith to grow and mature.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse

Stories about our American revolution are fascinating to me. I feel we need a reminder sometimes of how our government was formed, to appreciate what it took to gain our independence and form this strong foundation. This story is set in those early days and starts out with Faith, a smart, spunky girl - skilled in strategy - and a friend of George Washington. She grows into a lovely young lady who gives her efforts to the winning of our independence. Her household staff and close friends as well. They are able to incorporate their bible studies and quilting/sewing to the revolution effort. Faith meets a fellow Patriot, also friends with George, and their relationship grows along with the work they do. Of course it's very well written as Kimberley Woodhouse does. An excellent addition to the Mayflower Brides collection!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Tension and danger build. Twelve orphans who adopted each other as brothers and sisters, destitute and making a way on the streets of London any way they could. It's great to be with them all again, discovering their individual talents, seeing what God blessed them with, and the new relationships they find. This time a clockmaker and his daughter for Barclay. He's employed by a man who puts his "gifts" to work for good, but a thief isn't what Evelina expected, especially in proper society. But then his family is a lot closer to one another, and her fiancé has pointed out that she doesn't feel, that she's an automaton. Her father's invention will give their country an advantage but Germany wants it too. She has to go behind enemy lines to rescue her father, and is glad Barclay has connections. He and his family are there to help them out all along the way, bringing her family into better focus along the way. God uses us all, and doesn't expect any social status. Great story!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Baker Publishing Group, Bethany - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Description from the Publisher:
Once London's top thief, Barclay Pearce has turned his back on his life of crime and now uses his skills for a nation at war. But not until he rescues a clockmaker's daughter from a mugging does he begin to wonder what his future might hold.
Evelina Manning has constantly fought for independence, but she certainly never meant for it to inspire her fiancé to end the engagement and enlist in the army. When the intriguing man who saved her returns to the Manning residence to study clockwork repair with her father, she can't help being interested. But she soon learns that nothing with Barclay Pearce is as simple as it seems.
As 1915 England plunges ever deeper into war, the work of an ingenious clockmaker may give England an unbeatable military edge--and Germany realizes it as well. Evelina's father soon finds his whole family in danger--and it may just take a reformed thief to steal the time they need to escape.

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