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Nocturne
In her first posting as governess, Ella Montgomery discovers beautiful Blackheath Manor hides family secrets and suppressed passions. Mysterious piano music in the darkness of night draws Ella to the talented Thomas Worsley, the brother of her employer, the Earl of Renthorpe. Grievously wounded in the Napoleonic Wars, Thomas is held prisoner at Blackheath by more than his blindness and scars. Driven by bitter jealousy, the Earl has ensured Thomas is only a memory, his name etched on a marble memorial in the Bedfordshire village graveyard. Drawn together by their love of music, Ella and Thomas begin a clandestine affair, but how far will the Earl go to keep his family's secret? Nocturne is a novella from Elizabeth Ellen Carter whose full-length titles include Warrior's Surrender, Moonstone Obsession and Moonstone Conspiracy, the Roman era thriller Dark Heart and the three book Heart of the Corsairs series..
Australian Romance Today's pick of the Most Anticipated Romances of 2016.
Australian Romance Today's pick of the Most Anticipated Romances of 2016.
182 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2016
9 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Ellen Carter
60 books353 followersUSA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Ellen Carter is an award-winning historical romance writer who pens richly detailed historical romantic adventures. A former newspaper journalist, Carter ran an award-winning PR agency for 12 years. She lives in Australia.
On the publication of her debut novel in 2013, Carter was heralded by critics as ‘a writer worth keeping an eye on’ with a style reminiscent of classic suspense novelist Daphne du Maurier. This impression has been borne out in her subsequent work.
Her full-length novels frequently feature psychologically complex relations between the central characters and often delve into dark themes.
Nonetheless, she also occasionally turns her hand to sweet romance (always with a touch of adventure) suitable for younger readers as well as older fans looking for a change of pace.
Elizabeth Ellen Carter’s full-length titles and several novellas have been published by Dragonblade Publishing since 2017. She also regularly contributes to various multi-author anthologies and is a member of The Bluestocking Belles group of Regency romance authors.
On the publication of her debut novel in 2013, Carter was heralded by critics as ‘a writer worth keeping an eye on’ with a style reminiscent of classic suspense novelist Daphne du Maurier. This impression has been borne out in her subsequent work.
Her full-length novels frequently feature psychologically complex relations between the central characters and often delve into dark themes.
Nonetheless, she also occasionally turns her hand to sweet romance (always with a touch of adventure) suitable for younger readers as well as older fans looking for a change of pace.
Elizabeth Ellen Carter’s full-length titles and several novellas have been published by Dragonblade Publishing since 2017. She also regularly contributes to various multi-author anthologies and is a member of The Bluestocking Belles group of Regency romance authors.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 25, 2016
What a delightful surprise.
I really liked Nocturne…and, to be honest, I was a little surprised. Maybe it was because I didn’t do any research and started it without knowing the plot, length or genre. I kind of expected it to be historical, but that was the extent of my knowledge. I’ll start off by saying this is a sweet read, meaning that it’s clean. No sexy times in the boudoir for this couple. I didn’t really miss it though which is surprising. I’m the first person to say that it’s easier to see the connection between characters once they’ve opened up and exposed themselves to each other, literally and figuratively. In this case, the storyline and the connection were easy to believe just by seeing the couple interact with each other and the characters around them.
Ella feels so alone. Her father, a clergyman, has just passed and he was her only living relative. With help from Bishop Stanton, a friend and colleague of her father’s, she is able to obtain a position as a governess. Her first posting is at Blackheath Manor looking after twin five-year-old girls. When she first gets to the manor, she is a little intimidated. The housekeeper is not a friendly woman…but she’s an angel compared to the horrible Earl of Renthorpe, William Worsley. The earl makes it very clear to Ella that she will have to prove herself if she wants to keep her cushy job. On her first night, freezing to death, she wasn’t feeling very cushy. Just as she’s finally able to fall asleep she hears beautiful music playing…but she thinks it’s in her dreams.
Thomas Worsley is a ghost. That’s what the people of Blackheath Manor think anyway. He only comes out at night to play beautiful music. No one sees him, but they do hear him. At first, Ella does not connect that the beautiful music and the ghost are connected, but on further investigation she find the gentleman sitting at the piano in the dark. He knows she’s there instinctively and takes pleasure in her enjoyment of his music.
Ella and Thomas form a friendship, but there are a lot of secrets that prevent them from becoming more than friends. Their feelings grow stronger and they work together to find answers to the problems keeping them apart.
This is a short story that packed a punch. Nocturne was a very well written and researched tale. I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters and felt a connection to more than just the main ones. There were mysteries and intrigues, sweetness from the two little girls and vulnerability from Ella knowing that she had to put up with a mean employer to keep her position and security. The journey, while quick in page length, covered their love story from the beginning through to them finding a happy ever after. Just what I like to read in my romance stories.
I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of Nocturne via the author for an honest review.
To buy Nocturne from Amazon - http://amzn.to/21hUBXh
I’m an Aussie chick who loves to read and review romance, drink coffee, be a Style Setter and stalk David Gandy. To see more of my reviews, fashion, food and pervathons -
I really liked Nocturne…and, to be honest, I was a little surprised. Maybe it was because I didn’t do any research and started it without knowing the plot, length or genre. I kind of expected it to be historical, but that was the extent of my knowledge. I’ll start off by saying this is a sweet read, meaning that it’s clean. No sexy times in the boudoir for this couple. I didn’t really miss it though which is surprising. I’m the first person to say that it’s easier to see the connection between characters once they’ve opened up and exposed themselves to each other, literally and figuratively. In this case, the storyline and the connection were easy to believe just by seeing the couple interact with each other and the characters around them.
Ella feels so alone. Her father, a clergyman, has just passed and he was her only living relative. With help from Bishop Stanton, a friend and colleague of her father’s, she is able to obtain a position as a governess. Her first posting is at Blackheath Manor looking after twin five-year-old girls. When she first gets to the manor, she is a little intimidated. The housekeeper is not a friendly woman…but she’s an angel compared to the horrible Earl of Renthorpe, William Worsley. The earl makes it very clear to Ella that she will have to prove herself if she wants to keep her cushy job. On her first night, freezing to death, she wasn’t feeling very cushy. Just as she’s finally able to fall asleep she hears beautiful music playing…but she thinks it’s in her dreams.
Thomas Worsley is a ghost. That’s what the people of Blackheath Manor think anyway. He only comes out at night to play beautiful music. No one sees him, but they do hear him. At first, Ella does not connect that the beautiful music and the ghost are connected, but on further investigation she find the gentleman sitting at the piano in the dark. He knows she’s there instinctively and takes pleasure in her enjoyment of his music.
Ella and Thomas form a friendship, but there are a lot of secrets that prevent them from becoming more than friends. Their feelings grow stronger and they work together to find answers to the problems keeping them apart.
This is a short story that packed a punch. Nocturne was a very well written and researched tale. I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters and felt a connection to more than just the main ones. There were mysteries and intrigues, sweetness from the two little girls and vulnerability from Ella knowing that she had to put up with a mean employer to keep her position and security. The journey, while quick in page length, covered their love story from the beginning through to them finding a happy ever after. Just what I like to read in my romance stories.
I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of Nocturne via the author for an honest review.
To buy Nocturne from Amazon - http://amzn.to/21hUBXh
I’m an Aussie chick who loves to read and review romance, drink coffee, be a Style Setter and stalk David Gandy. To see more of my reviews, fashion, food and pervathons -
April 2, 2017
3.5/5.0
“Nocturne” is a clean read with two main characters drawn together over music and sorrow.
Read full review in the 2017 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.
“Nocturne” is a clean read with two main characters drawn together over music and sorrow.
Read full review in the 2017 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.
June 15, 2016
I fell in love with the timid heroine and the magnificent although broken and reluctant hero.
Every word, every note and every scene carried me away. I fell in love with the timid heroine and the magnificent although, somewhat broken and reluctant hero. Elizabeth Ellen Carter brings new meaning to the word Romance.
Every word, every note and every scene carried me away. I fell in love with the timid heroine and the magnificent although, somewhat broken and reluctant hero. Elizabeth Ellen Carter brings new meaning to the word Romance.
February 12, 2019
🌙Night Music🎶 🎹
Regency Era Romance💞
Emma Montgomery 💃💋becomes a governess after the death of her beloved father. Her first job is at Blackheath Manor, the mansion of William Worsley, Earl of Renthorpe. She will be governess to his twin, five year old daughters.
She noticed in portraits, there were two twin brothers, too, Robert and Thomas🐺🎹🎶. William looks about the same age. When she attends church, she sees a plaque that says both Robert and Thomas died the same day during the war.
At night she hears beautiful, classical, piano music, and finally she goes to the music room to see who it is. The man playing so expertly looks like William, but it turns out he is Thomas🐺🍆🌋🎹, and he's very much alive. A saber slash in the war blinded him and left a large scar across his face, but Emma💃💋 thinks he is wonderful!
This is a Short and sweet novella you can read in about an hour or so. It's well written and the unique plot had me turning pages until it was finished!
Regency Era Romance💞
Emma Montgomery 💃💋becomes a governess after the death of her beloved father. Her first job is at Blackheath Manor, the mansion of William Worsley, Earl of Renthorpe. She will be governess to his twin, five year old daughters.
She noticed in portraits, there were two twin brothers, too, Robert and Thomas🐺🎹🎶. William looks about the same age. When she attends church, she sees a plaque that says both Robert and Thomas died the same day during the war.
At night she hears beautiful, classical, piano music, and finally she goes to the music room to see who it is. The man playing so expertly looks like William, but it turns out he is Thomas🐺🍆🌋🎹, and he's very much alive. A saber slash in the war blinded him and left a large scar across his face, but Emma💃💋 thinks he is wonderful!
This is a Short and sweet novella you can read in about an hour or so. It's well written and the unique plot had me turning pages until it was finished!
May 5, 2016
Elizabeth Ellen Carter writes compelling heroes and heroines who fight the restraints and evils of their times with equal determination. She also writes really scary villains and I trembled in my boots whilst reading Warrior’s Surrender. So it was a delicious surprise to read Nocturne and discover that it was a domestic drama set during the Regency period, but underscored with all Elizabeth’s usual themes and appreciation for the subtleties of human virtues and vices.
Ella Montgomery is forced to take a position as a governess on the death of her father. She is a sweet woman, shy and used to being described as plain. Blackheath Manor, the home of her employer the Earl of Renthorpe, overflows with the terror of hidden secrets. The secret of all this subterfuge is Thomas, the Earl’s brother, who was dreadfully wounded and blinded in the war against Napoleon and is kept hidden as a secret by the family, which has declared him dead and even erected a memorial to him.
Thomas feels his life is all but over and is resigned to being secreted away. His only pleasure comes from the piano he plays in the evening after the family has gone to bed. He meets Ella when she follows the sound of the music downstairs, and they begin a clandestine romance in the dark. But Ella will lose her position if she is caught and the stakes are even higher for Thomas. His harsh and angry brother has a great deal more than face to lose if the world discovers Thomas is still alive. Can Ella overcome her shyness and use her wits to forge a path to freedom for them?
This is a delightful read rich with nuance and complexity. Highly recommended
Ella Montgomery is forced to take a position as a governess on the death of her father. She is a sweet woman, shy and used to being described as plain. Blackheath Manor, the home of her employer the Earl of Renthorpe, overflows with the terror of hidden secrets. The secret of all this subterfuge is Thomas, the Earl’s brother, who was dreadfully wounded and blinded in the war against Napoleon and is kept hidden as a secret by the family, which has declared him dead and even erected a memorial to him.
Thomas feels his life is all but over and is resigned to being secreted away. His only pleasure comes from the piano he plays in the evening after the family has gone to bed. He meets Ella when she follows the sound of the music downstairs, and they begin a clandestine romance in the dark. But Ella will lose her position if she is caught and the stakes are even higher for Thomas. His harsh and angry brother has a great deal more than face to lose if the world discovers Thomas is still alive. Can Ella overcome her shyness and use her wits to forge a path to freedom for them?
This is a delightful read rich with nuance and complexity. Highly recommended
March 19, 2016
Beautifully evocative and thoroughly researched, I was keen to get hold of this story as soon as I read the blurb. I love flawed/wounded heroes and this is in the style of a Beauty and the Beast story with the bonus of glorious music I could 'hear' as I read certain scenes.
Ella and Thomas are an unusual couple who are unlikely to meet under normal circumstances. Thomas is the 'ghost' about whom Ella's twin five-year-old charges are quite blasé. Music awakens Ella at midnight and draws her to the piano. Upon investigation, she meets the pianist, Thomas, who is allowed 'out' to play while the household sleeps. Thus begins a relationship hedged around with mysteries and a sense of real danger. How far will Thomas' brother, the earl, go to keep the family secrets?
This is a sweet read, historical because of its setting but don't let that stop you if you don't usually read this genre. It's beautifully written and there is a sense of slow burn as the protagonists dare to dream of a better life for both.
Ella and Thomas are an unusual couple who are unlikely to meet under normal circumstances. Thomas is the 'ghost' about whom Ella's twin five-year-old charges are quite blasé. Music awakens Ella at midnight and draws her to the piano. Upon investigation, she meets the pianist, Thomas, who is allowed 'out' to play while the household sleeps. Thus begins a relationship hedged around with mysteries and a sense of real danger. How far will Thomas' brother, the earl, go to keep the family secrets?
This is a sweet read, historical because of its setting but don't let that stop you if you don't usually read this genre. It's beautifully written and there is a sense of slow burn as the protagonists dare to dream of a better life for both.
March 12, 2016
This is my first read from Elizabeth Ellen Carter. She really paints a lovely picture with words and knows how to create lovable characters (as well as not so lovable ones). I was first captivated by the cover and the synopsis. I love music and ghost stories. It turns out it's not really a ghost story, but that's okay. It's also not my normal type of romance. I prefer steamy sexy stories and this was very tame. No sex. I actually didn't miss it...too much. It's a story about family secrets and a woman who is caught in the middle. This also contains one of my favorite themes: the wounded warrior. Such a touching romance.
February 2, 2016
Nocturne is a delightful read, simmering with gentle passion and compassion in a world bereft of both. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and went off to sleep last night all feel-good! Thank you, Elizabeth Ellen Carter
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January 25, 2017a lovely story, would liked it to be longer
February 4, 2017
A touching story about true love that sees the beauty that lies beneath the surface.
December 25, 2018
Hauntingly beautiful music lures governess Ella Montgomery from the safety of her room in a cold and loveless manor to the impassioned fingers of a man who uses the keys of a grand piano to express what his heart no longer dares to dream. For a woman who believes music is part of her very soul, Ella falls in love with not only the mysterious man’s tunes, but also the darkness he contains - a darkness she is certain she can free if only he’ll give her, and them, a chance. But just like a crescendo of notes, secrets, jealousy and anger threaten to tear them apart.
Such a beautiful story. I could hear each note, every tinkle of the keys as Ella made her way to the room where Thomas sat waiting for her to free him from the ghosts of his past. While it was a chaste and gentle story, and fits in seamlessly in the time in which the story is set, the amount of passion and the depth with which Ella and Thomas grow to love one another is beautifully captured in this story. I could hear 'their' music playing long after I'd finished their tale.
Such a beautiful story. I could hear each note, every tinkle of the keys as Ella made her way to the room where Thomas sat waiting for her to free him from the ghosts of his past. While it was a chaste and gentle story, and fits in seamlessly in the time in which the story is set, the amount of passion and the depth with which Ella and Thomas grow to love one another is beautifully captured in this story. I could hear 'their' music playing long after I'd finished their tale.
September 3, 2025
Incredibly great read.
The circumstances in which Ella and Thomas meet are unique. The story takes the reader on a journey of musical discovery. Old rivalries arise in the house and tensions grow.
The characters are well drawn without great detail and the plot moved forward at a good pace. Secrets are revealed and conflicts are dealt with quite well. All in all, a very satisfying read. I'm looking forward to more by this author.
The circumstances in which Ella and Thomas meet are unique. The story takes the reader on a journey of musical discovery. Old rivalries arise in the house and tensions grow.
The characters are well drawn without great detail and the plot moved forward at a good pace. Secrets are revealed and conflicts are dealt with quite well. All in all, a very satisfying read. I'm looking forward to more by this author.
June 9, 2018
Another spectacular read by Elizabeth Ellen Carter, one which will keep you captivated long after you have turned the last page.
November 13, 2018
2.5 out of 5 stars
December 1, 2018
A beautifully-written sweet romance with Jane-Eyre-esque overtones. Lovely.
August 7, 2019
An unusual and beautiful love story.
October 10, 2021
A Gentle Gothic romance with a happy ending.
December 31, 2020
Loved it so much..but the end ruined it
July 5, 2016
This story captivated me with its passion, angst, and beauty. A most unlikely love story that is made all the more beautiful with the thread of music weaving in and out like a river under flood – unstoppable, gaining momentum.
Well known for her full length historical novels, Elizabeth Ellen Carter delivers a punchy, emotional, and passionate story. A must read.
Well known for her full length historical novels, Elizabeth Ellen Carter delivers a punchy, emotional, and passionate story. A must read.
March 29, 2017
Posted on What I'm Reading
I had a chance to read Nocturne by Elizabeth Ellen Carter. Honestly, I don't know how I feel about the story. I finished last week and I'm still processing. Nocturne wasn't bad story, but it also didn't stand out to me. I tried to see where it's categorized as in the romance-land, and it came out to be a gothic romance. I can see where you people see that. I mean the location is kind of dark and dreary with sinister feel. The heroine Elle not sure how she fits into the picture as the new governess. We also have the hero Thomas who is a shadow of himself living with his brother who happens to be the Earl. Then I also felt that it wanted to go in an inspirational kind of read, but never quite did. There were phrases that kind of made me think that.
Like I said Nocturne wasn't a bad read, but didn't wow me. I think story probably should have been longer, but it is what it is. There are those who loved the story. It's more like meh to me.
Copy provided.
I had a chance to read Nocturne by Elizabeth Ellen Carter. Honestly, I don't know how I feel about the story. I finished last week and I'm still processing. Nocturne wasn't bad story, but it also didn't stand out to me. I tried to see where it's categorized as in the romance-land, and it came out to be a gothic romance. I can see where you people see that. I mean the location is kind of dark and dreary with sinister feel. The heroine Elle not sure how she fits into the picture as the new governess. We also have the hero Thomas who is a shadow of himself living with his brother who happens to be the Earl. Then I also felt that it wanted to go in an inspirational kind of read, but never quite did. There were phrases that kind of made me think that.
Like I said Nocturne wasn't a bad read, but didn't wow me. I think story probably should have been longer, but it is what it is. There are those who loved the story. It's more like meh to me.
Copy provided.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews