#KitAndElizabeth #NetGalley

Elizabeth has always known that she was unwanted, born a girl, instead of an heir. She also refused to marry a Duke because he was in love with someone else. Her parents were angry with her and placed blame for all they had lost, on her. Elizabeth, is a strong young woman, who is determined to make the best of a hard situation. Kit was such a fun character, I loved that he could see past what people thought of Elizabeth, and help her find herself, when all she could see was the ugliness, that her parents planted in her mind.

I liked the premise of this book better than the actual execution. I liked seeing Elizabeth learn more about herself--her opinions and likes and dislikes and standing up for herself. I also liked Kit; he was an endearing character. The romance between them felt a little flat--I just didn't quite feel it. There were also sometimes that the story felt inconsistent--like Elizabeth is so concerned about behaving as she should that she's appalled at the idea of going to a country dance while she's supposed to be in mourning but doesn't bat an eye at being alone with Kit on numerous occasions--including in a gamekeeper's shed. All in all, it's a nice, clean romance but I didn't enjoy it as much as the author's other books.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I am always thrilled to find a new author, and Karen Tuft writes with such sincerity. Lady Elizabeth Spaulding is faced with the dilemma of agreeing to release Lord Halford, from a family agreement to wed, or to accept her parents request to marry. Believing him to love another, she cannot go ahead with such a plan but in doing so, faces the wrath of her parents. Since the day she was born, she has been made to feel guilty for being born a female and it is this tragedy, that almost wears Elizabeth down. However, Lady Walmsley seeks her out as a companion and in doing so, brings her together with Lord Cantwell, who is known as Kit to his friends. The beautiful friendship and romance that develops between Kit and Elizabeth, who affectionately calls Lizzie, steadily grows in this story, and is glorious to read about.
It was hard not to fall in love with Kit, whose honesty and sincerity are so very evident. He is a wonderful friend to Anthony, a concerned young man when asked to look out for Lady Walmsley, and so very gentle and thoughtful in his care of Lizzie. Yet, his confidence and endearing manner are what Lizzie needs as she develops her own sense of self-worth in this story. I also enjoyed seeing her rise beyond her parents and their cruel treatment of her, and to find love with Kit. The secondary characters of Lady Walmsley and Phillip were also a treat, and I hope to read more about Phillip and even the Duke of Aylesham, in the future.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This lovely novel begins with the pivotal ballroom scene from "The Earl's Betrothal", but this time everything is seen from Lady Elizabeth Spaulding's perspective. My heart just broke for her. Unloved by her hateful parents, she is merely a pawn in her evil father's machinations.

Lord Cantwell is the best hero! Patient, kind and intuitive, he helps Elizabeth become confident, secure and happy. If Psychology were a discipline back then Kit would have been a natural.

This is technically a stand-alone book, although I have read the previous three. Characters from these other novels make appearances here near the end. I loved the sweet and poignant acorn theme.

I enjoy Tuft's writing style. Her prose is clear and descriptive, and this novel is clean. Regency customs are accurately portrayed. Another reviewer expressed hopes for a story about Phillip or the Duke of Aylesham. Either sounds lovely.

Thanks to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for a copy of this wonderful novel.

Oh how I loved this story. ❤ My heart felt for Elizabeth from the very first page when she's being berated by her father before attending a ball where they hope Anthony, the new Lord Halford, will announce his engagement to Elizabeth. Elizabeth is the daughter of the Duke of Marwood, but instead of being loved and adored, she's grown up having her parents blame her for everything that doesn't go the way they want even it's things Elizabeth has no control over--being born a female, not being able to get either Lord Halford to marry her (we find out it's actually because of who her parents are and not because of anything Elizabeth said or did, which I suspected right away), her father's bad investments and their financial woes. The list goes on and on. The more I read I more I wondered how such awful people could have such a wonderful, kind-hearted daughter?

Once her father's creditors come calling he leaves the country and Elizabeth and her mother go to their country estate. Elizabeth basically becomes a recluse during this time, rarely leaving the estate and being subjected to her mother's constant emotional abuse, she becomes a shell of the girl she once was. The future seems bleak for our dear Elizabeth until Lady Walmsley and Kit, the Earl of Cantwell, descend upon the house after hearing that the Duke of Marwood has died. When they arrive they can't believe Elizabeth is the same young woman from just the year before. Before you know it the sly older woman manages to wisk Elizabeth away from her mother, and the new Duke and Duchess of Marwood.

Speaking of Kit aka Christopher, the Earl of Cantwell is the best!! He's fun, caring, trustworthy, a gentleman at all times, the best of men and completely swoony. (sigh) Kit decides to help Elizabeth find who she is inside--the person she was meant to be. He helps her start to find what she likes and doesn't like, teaches her fencing, and how to swim. He's patient with her to a point but he wants her to speak her mind.

I loved Lady Walmsley. She's older but crafty, and if she wants something to happen, she'll definitely find a way to get it done. Thank goodness Elizabeth made a good impression on her the year before or who knows what would've become of her. I loved when Lady Walmsley told Elizabeth to call her Aunt Margaret. So sweet.

Elizabeth is a wonderful character--she's everything her parents wanted her to be and everything they were not. She was trained to run a household some day, but not to have her own opinions. This was a young woman who'd grown up constantly being told she was a disappointment, "I have ever only been a disappointment and have been making amends for it since the day I was born." She grows so much in the short time she lives with Lady Walmsley. I loved her list of likes and dislikes and I was so happy the first time she blurted out something kind of snarky at Kit because he was aggravating her. One of my favorite parts is near the end when she stands up to her awful, selfish mother. I cheered inwardly for her.

This is a wonderful book that caused such a range of emotions while reading it. Karen Tuft is becoming a go-to author for me. If you've read The Earl's Betrothal and wondered what happened to Lady Elizabeth this is the rest of her story. This is a standalone and you don't have to read The Earl's Bethrothal first, but you may want to do so after reading Kit and Elizabeth.

I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley and Covenant Communications. All thoughts and opinions expressed in my review are my own.