A Timeless Romance Anthology: All Hallows' Eve Collection by Sarah M. Eden, Annette Lyon, Heather B. Moore, Lisa Mangum, Jordan McCollum, and Elana Johnson
Summary from Goodreads:
Another addition to the popular Timeless Romance Anthology series. ALL HALLOW'S EVE is not to be missed. Romance, thrills & chills. Need we say more?
In Sarah M. Eden’s mysterious novella OF GHOSTS AND GARDENS, if Enid Pryce has one downfall, it’s that she talks to the ghost in her garden, which doesn’t make her too popular among society’s elite. In fact, she returns to her home in Wales after a Season in Bath with not one offer of marriage. Deeming herself a failure at the nearly-spinster age of nineteen, she is pleasantly surprised when an English gentleman shows up in her garden, apparently intent on finding out more about the ghost. Burke Kennard, grandson of an English marquess, quickly becomes utterly charmed by the young Welsh woman, but the ghost in the garden is more likely to push them apart than pull them together.
In Annette Lyon’s enthralling story IT’S YOU, when Charlie and Anna both see the ghost of Nanny Mae, they think they’re losing their minds. Anna tries to find out more about the ghost and uncovers a decades’ old family secret. One that separated two people in love. Now, the ghost of Nanny Mae must set her wrongs to right. As Charlie and Anna explore the past, and the truth of what happened, they discover that the mistakes of the past might lead to love of the future.
In SOPHIA’S CURSE, a suspenseful novella by Heather B. Moore, Joan grows up in an abbey in France, believing that she is an orphan. A chance encounter with the foreboding owner of a neighboring estate, alters everything she’s understood about her parents. She discovers she’s an integral part of changing a decades-old curse, and that her life, as well as the handsome and intriguing Simon Rousseau’s life, are both in danger unless she makes an enormous sacrifice that will change the course of her dreams.
In Lisa Mangum’s haunting story THE SIRENS’ SONG, we meet recently widowed Oliver, the lead physician on a luxury cruise liner traveling to Greece. He hopes that the change of scenery will help ease his grief over his deceased wife, Cate. After falling overboard, though, he is captured by a siren and taken to a mystical island. Through the sirens' song, Oliver is able to relive his memories of Cate—both the good and the bad—as long as he gives away his memories of her. But can he sacrifice his best memory in exchange for one last chance to say good-bye?
In Jordan McCollum’s thrilling novella THE MAN OF HER DREAMS, homicide detective Alexandra Steen dreams about real murders before they happen, seeing the crime through the eyes of the killers. But the dreams never contain enough clues to save the victim before it's too late. Then one dream ends before a murder occurs—in a place she knows. She finds herself racing against time to prevent the deadly act, only to discover that the intended victim is a man she thought she’d never see again. Seven years might have passed since her breakup with Nick, but the years haven’t changed her feelings for him. Now, she must convince Nick that her dreams are real and find a way to prevent his death.
In Elana Johnson’s chilling story THE GHOST OF MILLHOUSE MANSION, Naomi knows her crush on Colt Jennings is unreasonable. When he invites her to his reclusive mansion to restore an old wooden rocking horse, Naomi can’t resist accepting the job. The more time Naomi spends touring his home, the more interested she becomes in Colt. Until she sees a man in the library who vanishes into thin air. She thinks she’s losing her mind until Colt tells her about the ghosts he’s been seeing for years.
4 Stars
Received ebook in exchange for an honest review
My Review:
This collection combines 3 historical stories with 3 contemporary stories. I admit I lean toward liking historical fiction over contemporary. It is a personal preference. However, all 6 of these stories offer clean romance and a supernatural element.
In these stories we meet ghosts, we encounter years' long curses, and we are pulled in to the Greek Sirens' song. This collection has a spooky and mystical feel to it. I tend to like happy stories and even though these stories feel different, they still deliver stories that wrap up with a positive vibe and hope for future love.
I have read each of the A Timeless Romance Anthologies and this is the first one that had a story that brought full tears to my eyes. Bring the tissues for one of the stories. You'll have to read all of them to find out which one. It definitely affected me on a different level than the other stories.
The next collection to come out is the Under the Mistletoe Collection. I look forward to reading this one in time for the Holiday Season.
AND, the creators have started a new All Regency Line of collections. The first is coming in October and will be the Timeless Regency Collection: Autumn Masquerade. I am excited to have more of these anthologies to read as well as being introduced to "new to me" authors.
Warnings: None
I would let my 17 year old read this collection.
Lord Fenton's Folly by Josi S. Kilpack
Summary from Goodreads:
Lord Fenton is a gambler, a dandy, and a flirt—and he must marry or else he will be disinherited, stripped of his wealth and his position. He chooses Alice Stanbridge for two simple reasons: he once knew her as a young girl, and she is the least objectionable option available to him.
However, Alice has harbored feelings for Fenton since their first meeting ten years ago, and she believes his proposal is real. When she discovers it is not, she is embarrassed and hurt. However, a match with the most-eligible bachelor in London would secure not only her future but that of her family as well.
Determined to protect herself from making a fool of herself a second time, Alice matches Lord Fenton wit for wit and insult for insult as they move toward a marriage of convenience that is anything but a happy union. Only when faced with family secrets that have shaped Fenton’s life does he let down his guard enough to find room in his heart for Alice. But can Alice risk her heart a second time?
5 Stars
Received ebook in exchange for an honest review
My Review:
You may have noticed that I really like to read. This book is so good that I found myself reading while I was brushing my teeth. I just couldn't put it down.
Josi Kilpack has recently started writing for the A Proper Romance Line of Shadow Mountain books. And, as you could tell from the beginning of my review, I LOVED this book!
As the story begins, I get a sense of who Lord Fenton is. I put him in a category with other gambler, dandy, flirts that I've read about in other Regency books. He is in fact, a gambler, a dandy, and a flirt. But he is oh so much more. I am surprised with where Josi Kilpack took this character. It is not an angle I have read about before. I appreciate that she found another side to a character that could have been very 2 dimensional.
Alice amazes me with her ability to continue when all looks so bleak. She is able to match Lord Fenton's verbal jabs. She is able to continue with grace when bullied. And she takes great care of others when they need it, even when she is hurting.
I am pleasantly surprised by this story. I love Regency books and some have a formula. This one didn't follow that formula for me and kept me guessing as to how it would resolve.
Warnings: None
I would let my 17 year old read this book.
Marrying Christopher by Michele Paige Holmes
Summary from Goodreads:
Having seen both his sisters Grace and Helen happily married, Christopher Thatcher is free to pursue his dream of life in America. With adventure in his heart and mind, he boards one of the first steamships set to cross the Atlantic in the record breaking time of only twenty-five days. Within the first two of those, his resolve—to avoid women and the complications they often bring to a man’s life—falters when he meets Marsali Abbott, a young woman with a past even more troubling than his own. Whether from years of habit protecting his sisters, or simply because he feels drawn to Marsali, Christopher chooses to help her and becomes her friend. As the truth about what awaits Marsali in America becomes evident, he is faced with a more difficult choice, one that will impact their lives far beyond four weeks together at sea.
4.5 Stars
Received ebook in exchange for an honest review.
My Review:
Ahhh, I love a good, clean romance. This is the third book in Michele Paige Holmes' "A Hearthfire Romance" collection. Although each of these three books can be read separately, I feel that they are best in order. They are chronological and the characters do develop as the books go on.
Christopher Thatcher is such a likable character. I root for him in whatever his pursuits are from the beginning of the story. I want to see him happy. Marsali is much like Christopher. She comes from a mixed background, both gentry and then poverty as a servant for her aunt and uncle. Christopher wants to make it on his own, become his own man. Marsali is the same. She is finally escaping her aunt and uncle. However, she has 4 years of indenture at the end of her trip. From the very beginning of the story, from the moment these 2 meet, they find they have things in common, they develop a friendship, and then more. I enjoy watching their relationship develop.
I ache for these 2 characters when they arrive in America. Through a series of unfortunate events, they are separated. I hate seeing all of the conflict, but at the same time, I know that that is a part of the story and development of these 2 characters. Sometimes I want to strangle some of the characters! Ugh!
One of the things I really love about these 3 books, is they have happy endings. I don't consider this a spoiler because if you have read Michele Paige Holmes' books, then you know they will resolve in a positive way. At the same time, I wish that the ending had a bit more to it. I don't know what that bit more is, but I wanted more. Maybe it is just that I didn't want this set of characters and their stories to end.
This author has other stories coming out as parts of collections. I look forward to reading more by her.
Warnings: None
I would let my 17 year old read this book.
