"Can a textile heiress from England make an impact on America's Civil War?"
The Last Heiress
By: Mary Ellis
Genres: Romance Historical | Inspirational Historical
Posted: January 24, 2015
Upon arrival in Wilmington, North Carolina, Amanda is delighted to see her sister once again, as it's been five long years since Jackson took Abigail away.
Determined to make her father proud, Amanda sets out on her business to get cotton moving across the pond once again to England. Little does she know about the politics of this war and how society views a woman trying to upset the established order of business. No one takes her seriously. However, in town, she meets a charming shopkeeper, Nathaniel Cooper, who owns a grocery store and takes Amanda very seriously. They discover they have a lot of philosophies in common and also a penchant for stubbornness. Amanda's business in America wanes as she and Nathaniel get to know each other better, and she's not in much of a hurry to return to England.
The war heats up, and Nathaniel finally decides to join the Confederacy, not because he agrees with slavery, but because he wants to protect his long-lost brother who recently showed up at Nate's store. Will there be anything left of Wilmington when Nate returns? Will Amanda still be there for him?
THE LAST HEIRESS is a heartwarming historical romance that explores some of the impact the Civil War had on business owners in the south, as well as businesses in England. The story also discusses various feelings about slavery, social status and how the rich manipulate the law to benefit themselves. Amanda and Nathaniel are both strong characters who speak their mind freely, not only with each other, but with everyone else. This keeps Amanda out of the good graces of her brother-in-law most of the time. As the war worsens, the plot takes some unexpected turns and keeps you completely engaged as it thickens. Mary Ellis has written a delightful romantic tale, set in an important historic period for our country. She has certainly done her research on this topic.
Book Summary
Bestselling author Mary Ellis (A Widow's Hope) presents The Last Heiress, a new romantic standalone that intertwines the lives of a British manufacturing heiress and an American merchant caught in the turbulent time of the War Between the States.
When Amanda Dunn sets sail from England for Wilmington, North Carolina, she hopes to somehow restore shipments of raw materials for her family's textile mills, which have been severely disrupted by the American Civil War. Though there is not much one individual can do, the wealthy young woman feels she must try, as her mother and hundreds of employees at Dunn Textiles are dependent on Southern cotton.
When Amanda meets Nathaniel Cooper, her desire to conduct business and quickly return to England changes. Though captivated by one another, neither is fully aware of the other's true nature.
Nathanial, who on the outside appears to be a poor but hardworking merchant, is actually a secret Yankee sympathizer who will stop at almost nothing to bring about freedom for those who live under subjugation, even when that involves questionable judgment. And Amanda's wealth is made possible by underpaid workers living in slums around the mills, not much different than American slavery.
Can these two earnest souls find the best in one another rather than focus on what could tear them apart? And though they both believe they are on God's path, how will their decisions affect those around them?
Read an Excerpt
Book Club Extrast
by: Mary Ellis
Harvest House
February 1, 2015
On Sale: February 1, 2015
Featuring: Nathaniel Cooper; Amanda Dunn
352 pages
ISBN: 0736950524
EAN: 9780736950527
Kindle: B00RYB9NHY
Paperback / e-Book