4-STAR REVIEW: EVER SINCE THE BALL by Kate Ellington

Publication Date: July 2, 2025

Miranda Harlake’s only chance to escape the detestable match her parents are arranging is a sham betrothal to her best friend, Peter, who proposes solely to save her from a loveless marriage. She gratefully accepts, though both know they’ll never wed.

Piqued by her parents’ scheming, Miranda secretly attends a masked ball and dances with a fascinating stranger all night. Upon discovering her partner was the insufferable George Rockford, she tries to forget the romantic evening they shared.

George, lonely despite his popularity and roguish ways, is intrigued by Miranda but she’s apparently immune to his charms.

Miranda must listen to her heart and find courage to be honest with everyone—especially herself—if for once she’s going to fulfill her own dreams.

Miranda Harlake wants nothing more than to make her own decisions, but standing up to her parents doesn’t come naturally to her. That’s why a pretend engagement with her best friend, Peter, sounds like a good idea to avoid a forced betrothal.

Author Kate Ellington serves up a sweet historical romance in Ever Since the Ball. When Miranda and Peter secretly attend a masked ball, Miranda encounters a man who stirs her attention.

The bulk of the story centers around misunderstandings, which in turn leads to drama and strife among the characters. While trying to maintain their faux engagement, Miranda ends up pushing away the one man she’s actually interested in.

Art plays a significant role in the story since Miranda and her parents are all artists. It also serves as a point of contention, though, because her parents always seem to be pushing her to do more.

Peter also faces his own set of challenges linked to a young woman. He must resolve concerns about the past before he can find happiness.

Ever Since the Ball centers around a young woman’s determination to make her own decisions and seek happiness.

Kate Ellington grew up in a woodsy New England town where summer days at the lake seemed to last forever. She read her first historical romance at age eleven when a teacher challenged her to find a book in the library written by an author she’d never heard of. Thus began a life-long love of love stories.

After graduating from college with an art degree she settled in the Pacific Northwest, where she currently resides with her family.

Kate wrote her first romance when she was sixteen, then set her pen down for years until another story floated into her head out of the clear blue sky. She jotted it down, just for fun, but soon it took on a life of its own.