Missing Lily Blog Tour with Review

Here's a description of the book:

“You don’t know who I am,” I whispered. He didn’t move—either away from me, or closer—and after an interminable moment, I stepped back and hurried out of the house. 

He didn’t follow me as I fled into the night. 

 Lylin was not used to being alone—much less alone, hurt, and lost. So when she is separated from her guard and forced to abandon her horse, she counts herself lucky to stumble upon a manor house. Still frightened by those who chased her into the night, she keeps her identity a secret, calling herself Lily as she accepts the help of kind servants, and the compassion of Lord Fallon. When they fall into an easy friendship, she wonders if her secrecy was too hasty. However, as she gets to know the manor and its residents, Lylin discovers that she’s not the only one hiding secrets, and it may be a very good thing that her host doesn’t know her true identity as a member of the royal family.

My Rating

Fall/Spring

My Review

Missing Lily is a simply sweet YA romance story that includes a hero with a tiny bit of brooding but mostly a lot of heart. It's an easy read that's not steeped in research but has enough of a historical setting to appeal to the imagination (complete with a palace and monarchy).

The story starts out with a chase, hidden identity, and adorable romance. When it expands beyond the home of Lord Fallon to include Lylin's family and destined life, new complications arise that throw the hero and heroine into emotional chaos. What begins as something sort of along the lines of Belle stumbling upon Beast's castle in Beauty and the Beast (with a hero that's much quicker to reveal himself a gentleman, mind you) turns into a tale of jealousy, shattered hopes, misunderstandings, and bottled-up fears.

It's rather a frustrating read, in that sense, as so much could be resolved (or prevented) by open communication - but I suppose that's part of the fun of a romance, to a point! And the climax is rather dark for what was more of a lighter falling-in-love and being-thwarted-in-love story until then. While the romance is the driving force, there is an emphasis on familial relationships, as well - both functional and dysfunctional - which plays into that climax.

The wide emotional range didn't overly affect me, personally, but it still made for an interesting read, and there are some really cute moments (and...*potential minor spoiler alert, though you probably know it's coming!*...an eventual happily ever after). Larsen's first book, Just Ella, seems to be quite popular among fans of clean romance, and I imagine fans will find a lot to love with this overall sweet sequel.

*With thanks to I Am A Reader Blog Tours and the author for providing me with an e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Follow the blog tour at I Am a Reader!

Purchase on

AMAZON * Barnes & Noble * iTunes

Not yet read Just Ella?

It is on sale for $3.99 for the duration of the blog tour.

Grab your copy on Amazon.

About the Author (Annette K. Larsen)

I was born in Utah, part of a crazy, fun family of nine. I grew up in Flagstaff, AZ and St. Louis, MO before striking out on my own college adventure in Virginia. I decided to try my hand at writing novels after I was married and living in Idaho. I write clean romance because it’s my favorite genre, but often difficult to find.

I have Charlotte Brontë to thank for the courage to write novels. After being bombarded with assigned reading about women who justified abandoning either their families or their principles in the name of love, I had the great fortune of reading Jane Eyre. And that was it: finally, a heroine who understood that being moral and making the right choice was hard, and sometimes it hurt, but it was still worth it. After rereading it several years later, I realized that if I wanted more books to exist with the kinds of heroines I admired, then I might as well write a few myself. My books are about women who face hard choices, who face pain and rejection and often have to face the reality of sacrificing what they want for what is right. The consequences are often difficult or unpleasant, but in the end, doing what’s right will always be worth it. I believe there is no substitute for good writing or good chocolate. Fortunately, one often leads to the other.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Blog

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash  ~ Ends 6/15/14 

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced at I Am a Reader as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter, or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
 a Rafflecopter giveaway