Courtney Ellis

2019 - Audrey lost her job as a nurse because of her drinking and is taking care of her grandmother.

Gran dies, but before she passes she leaves a note for Audrey about a cottage in Yorkshire, England, that she left to Audrey.

What also is puzzling to Audrey is why did Gran leave the cottage all those years ago and why if she had been a Lady why wasn't the cottage grand. Audrey finds the cottage charming and full of things from Gran's past.

Under the floorboards are even more interesting pieces of Gran's life. She kept them secret for all those years.

1915 - We meet Emilie, Gran's mother, and Audrey's great grandmother.

Emilie lives in luxury, but feels hemmed in with all the restrictions put on her by her family and their decision to have her marry someone she doesn't love.

Emilie escapes to London with nothing but scorn from her family and joins the VAD's - nurses in the Voluntary Aid Detachment. Nursing isn't for Emilie, but she finds her true love in one of the hospital beds.

We follow both women and learn how everything is connected.

I fell in love with the cottage and would love to live in it.

Does Audrey sell the cottage or go back to her life in the United States with her controlling sister and father and a life of nursing she hopes is still there for her?

I know which one I would choose.

The writing is wonderful, and the cover is a pull-in, but I enjoyed the present-day chapters more than the 1915 ones.

The 1915 ones were a bit too long even though they gave necessary background.

If you love remote villages and WWI, this book should be a wonderful read for you. 4/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.… (més)

This book checked all the boxes for me - historical fiction, a woman artist, gothic country estate, mysterious royal affected by the Great War, a family of secrets, loss, and hope - as well as the fight for female equality.

Like many other reviewers have stated, this captivating debut novel can be described as Beauty and the Beast meets Downton Abbey. I sympathized with main character Bertie Preston, an artist struggling to be taken seriously just after WW II. Through Bertie and the other female characters, the author explores the themes of misogyny and prejudice towards women during this time period.

But that description might make you think it's a dry book and it's anything but. There is romance (is Bertie and Julian's relationship more than a summer fling?), lifestyles of the rich and famous (fascinating descriptions of a noble way of living: clothes, food, servants, attitudes, and morals), and family secrets (relationships, facades, mental health) just to name a few plot points.

I don't want to share any spoilers, but do want to say I had no idea how this novel was going to end, even though I did figure out the family secrets. But that didn't make any difference to enjoying the story. I definitely recommend this and will be on the lookout for her next book!… (més)

Bertie Preston is surprised when she gets a letter from the Earl of Wakeford who wants to commission her to make a series of paintings of his home at Castle Braemore. She is eager to accept since she believes it will lead to more commissions from others in his social set and provide security for her to set up her own studio. When she arrives, she finds the Earl isolated in his room after suffering terrible injuries while serving in the First World War.

The Earl only accepts visits from his older sister Gwen. His younger brother Roland has been trying to handle things on the estate and his younger sister Celia hasn't spoken to him since he went off to war the last time. Needless to say, Bertie is disappointed in the situation but she quickly falls in love with the area and is intrigued by all the residents of Braemore. She is especially curious about the Earl. His injuries don't disturb her since she spent part of the war as a VAD nurse dealing with lots of wounded soldiers.

Bertie gradually works her way into the Earl's confidence and finds a man who has taken lots more than physical injuries in the war. Julie, Earl Wakeford, was always a shy, quiet, gentle man. The war changed him immensely. He fears leaving his rooms, has nightmares, and is deeply depressed. Even so, he is concerned for his family. His sister Gwen is also a war widow who was left with two small children including her adopted daughter Anna. Roland is a homosexual and Julian wants to shelter him. Celia is an angry young woman who is having trouble dealing with what she sees as betrayal by her older brother. Julian's younger siblings are having a magical summer and only Julian knows it will be their last since the estate is bankrupt and will need to be sold when the fall comes.

Bertie is encouraged by Gwen to form a relationship with Julian but doing so, falling in love, was never in her plans. She wanted her independence and her art. She isn't sure she can deal with all the problems that come with Julian no matter how deeply she falls in love with him.

I liked the way the story was arranged with chapters going back to earlier years to explore how the current situation came about. I liked that there were more viewpoints than just Bertie's. The story was very emotional. The horrors and effects of war were an almost constant background of everything that happened. The way the war disrupted society is shown in how the characters lives were all changed by it.

This was wonderful historical fiction with intriguing characters. I recommend it.… (més)

When you first pick up "Uncluttered," you may think it is like other books on the market that encourage us to improve our lives by getting rid of excess stuff. Keep reading. Author Courtney Ellis has a much deeper and more meaningful agenda. The space we clear from clutter and the time we free from busyness makes it possible to focus on God and appreciate our many blessings, large and small. We can all do better at fulfilling our higher purpose.

Ellis illustrates her points with believable and humorous stories from her own life as a pastor, wife and mother of small children. Her family has spent a year putting these concepts into practice. You may think that "keeping the Sabbath" is an antiquated notion, But unplugging from social media (and starting the day with donuts) has worked for the Ellis household.

She also supports her thinking with excerpts from notable Christian writers and Scripture. This is a well-thought-out, engaging book.

I was fortunate to have access to an advance copy. The title will go on sale on February 1.… (més)