The Earl and Miss Muffet

 

A secret house party,
A hidden past,
A growing love she must fight to keep.

Never look a man in the eye. Never speak to him. These are the rules Elena must live by if she is to endure life with her sister. But Elena isn’t the shy, awkward girl she portrays herself to be. An invitation to a house party—without her sister—might be the very reprieve Elena has longed for. Determined to keep Lord Crawford at a distance to avoid repercussions, she nonetheless finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. Can she find the courage to forsake the strict guidelines that have ruled her life long enough to take a chance at love?

When Lord Crawford’s mother invites the quiet Miss Elena Muffet to stay with them, he is in no mood to force conversation with her. He’d rather dwell on his broken heart than play host. After a few days in Miss Muffet’s company, he discovers there is more to her than she portrays. Her timidity melts away in his company, and she blossoms into a woman he never expected. Time spent with Miss Muffet makes Anton the happiest he’s been in a long time, but she is not the woman he planned to spend his life with. Can he discern the dictates of his heart before her fears send her running from him forever?

The Earl and Miss Muffet is a sweet and clean Regency romance novella. Although it can be read as a standalone, it is the third book in the Regency Ever After series, featuring beloved shared characters from past stories.

Review:

I have never read a retelling of a nursery rhyme, and Ms. Walker did it so well in using Miss Elena Muffet as the main character. While she is very shy around Lord Anton Crawford (who I thought at first was going to be the spider), it was someone else entirely who reminded me of a black widow. 

I laughed when Elena tripped over the tuffet that was in the library. I thought seeing that particular piece of furniture from the rhyme woven into the story was cleverly woven into the story was perfect. 

I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Anton and Elena grow. Both were shy to enter into anything more than surface conversation, but seeing them share with each other and trust their hearts were safe was very gratifying and just what I hoped would happen. Anton did a splendid job of defending and protecting Elena. Bravo! Miss Muffet for having the courage not to run away.

I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages. It is one that you could gift to a young lady or an elderly friend; all would be happy to have the opportunity to read it.

I received a gifted copy of the book. All opinions in this review are my own; I was not required to write a positive review.