Refusing Mia

by Annette K. Larsen

Princess Mia must choose a husband—but what if the one she wants doesn't want her back?

When she meets the intriguing Lord Havington, something about him feels different. Their connection is undeniable, yet he pushes her away at every turn. Is there something wrong with her, or is there more to his refusal than he's willing to admit? Mia must walk away and marry for duty—or fight for the one man who holds her heart.

This short story is a prequel to Just Ella and the other Books of Dalthia.

The ebook can be downloaded for FREE with newsletter signup at AnnetteKLarsen.com

Genres: Novella, Fiction

90 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2025

About the author

I love words. I always have. In songs, in poems, in books, in movies—words move me. In my younger years, I dabbled in writing as a therapy and an escape, but I never expected it to become more than that. While deep in the depths of mommying several small children, I took seven years to write my first book, Just Ella. During that time, I taught myself how to write a novel through a whole lot of trial and error. Not the most time-efficient method, but it gave me an education I wouldn’t have received from a class or a how-to book. Something about the struggle of writing without a formula or rules worked for me. I wrote for me. I wrote from my heart space, and I think that’s the reason that Just Ella has found room in so many of my readers’ heart spaces.

I write clean romance because I love it. I love the discovery of new love. I love the relationship building that’s done with looks, words, brushing fingers, and tentative kisses. Jane Eyre is the hero of my youth and taught me that being true to yourself and clinging to your convictions will be hard, but it will bring you more genuine happiness than giving up on yourself ever can.

I am an extraordinarily happy wife, and a mother of five kids. I’ve lived in Utah, Arizona, Missouri, and Virginia, but my heart is now firmly ensconced in Idaho where we’ve built a home and a community.

I love chocolate, waterfalls, pretty teacups, the sight and sound of ocean waves, and most especially my husband and my five littles. I love books that leave me with a sigh of contentment, and I aspire to write stories that do the same for my readers.

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Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be back in Dalthia again 😍

I loved this little Novella, it made me realise how much I missed this fairytale world.

In Refusing Mia, we follow the princesses’ oldest sister, Mia. We don’t see much of her throughout the series but this was a nice addition and I loved her story!

My only wish is that it was a little longer.

5⭐️

[Lorin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this wonderful book! I loved the characters and the plot! I had a hard time putting this really wonderful book down! I will be reading the next book in this really wonderful series! I really love all of Annette Larsen's books!

[Smasher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content:

Profanity: None.

Violence: None.

Sexual: Mild. Hand-kisses, dancing close, hugging, and kissing with hands on waist/in hair. Nothing steamy or spicy.


This is a short novella and prequel to the Dalthia series, featuring Ella's older sister Mia and how she finds and falls in love with her husband.

The book spans about two years with time skips, but it's done exceptionally well. I forgot how well Annette Larsen does character arcs and banter. Oh, how I love banter. Mia and Archer are so cute and quirky together. I enjoyed how it all played out, and why Archer refuses Mia as a romantic interest. Seeing how that was layered as I read was exactly how it happens in real life. You find things out, it shifts the way you see others and approach them, and then it just deepens as the relationship goes on.

Archer is a sweetheart and a nerd and I loved him. His hang-ups were totally valid, but boy did I enjoy how Mia didn't let him get away with being vague and always asked him for clarification on his actions and words. She knew what she wanted, and she made sure she understood him by asking him to explain himself. Repeatedly.

You wonderful woman. Thank you for being that character that stomped all over the miscommunication trope.

The fact that it took them two years to finally figure out that their individual issues didn't matter, was also realistic and I loved that, despite my deep empathy for poor Mia as she wallowed in that hurt that Archer was leery of their age difference. What is age when it comes to commonality and experience? I've never read a romance with an age gap that I actually felt was totally healthy and valid. Good job on this author! Most people have such an issue with it that I've not found it done well in any other book and it made me low-key uncomfortable, even though I've got real life experience that it works. (ahem, my parents for one).

I so enjoyed this, and look forward to reading more of Annette's books in future. She's a tad hit-and-miss for me in the Dalthia books, but Marilee and Ella's books are some all-time favorites of mine. SO GOOD.

[K. Q. Kimler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read to get through! You could practically feel the tension as Mia is struggling with finding a husband, especially as there’s one that has caught her attention, and yet it doesn’t seem he wants her. It was a short read to get through, but I’d say worth checking out! Definitely can be read before any of the other books in the series and you’ll definitely be rooting for the love in this!

[Ami Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful short story! It is the prequel to several fairytale retellings, and starts off the sequence with panache. The story deals with the search for true love, and reminds me a bit of The Princess Who Believed in Fairytales by Marcia Grad. I loved how Mia was true to herself, and how things came to a lovely conclusion.

[Pascale’s*ARC,Unwind,Read,Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun side story from a series of books by the same author. It’s very short and the reader should be familiar with at least one of the other books in the series in order to understand it. I enjoyed it.

[B.J. Sikes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet romance between a young princess and a widowed lord.

[Madison McAuley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Cute story for fans of the Dalthia series.