A Timeless Romance Anthology: Mail Order Bride Collection by Stacy Henrie, Kristin Holt, Annette Lyon, Sarah M. Eden, Heather B. Moore, and Sian Ann Bessey
Summary from Goodreads:
Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Mail Order Bride Collection. Six historical romance novellas set in the Old West.
WRITTEN IN HER HEART, a charming novella by Stacy Henrie, Georgeanna is getting desperate. She can’t fund her favorite orphanage unless she marries and secures the rest of her inheritance left by her father. But her father’s financial planner, Clay, can't understand why she's not content with her current situation. Georgie determines to send out a notice as a mail order bride to attract suitors who won’t know her financial situation. Little does she know, Clay takes up the pen and sends her letters of his own under an assumed name. After years of working for Georgie’s father, Clay realizes he isn’t ready to watch her marry another, not when his heart is already claimed by her.
In Kristin Holt’s delightful novella WANTED: MIDWIFE BRIDE Dr. Naomi Thornton thinks she has it all: a beautiful house, a loving husband, and a fulfilling career. But when everything she holds dear is ripped away, Naomi has no choice but to start over. What will she find in the wild and untamed Wyoming Territory? Dr. Joe Chandler has waited years for a wife with the knowledge, skills, and tender heart he yearns for in a medical colleague and lifetime companion. When a midwife arrives with more expertise and secrets than he counted on, Joe quickly discovers there’s more to love and marriage than a simple mail order contract.
In THE SOUND OF HOME, a captivating novella by Annette Lyon, Marilyn is given the choice of either marrying the despicable Victor or being charged with a murder she didn’t commit. Refusing to believe that either is her fate, she finds a third option: she answers a mail order bride advertisement and boards a train to Wyoming to wed a man named Harry. Moments after her arrival, she learns that Harry isn’t who he seemed to be, and the advertisement turns out to be a giant mistake. Harry’s brother Thomas agrees to let her stay until she can figure out what to do next—after all, she simply cannot return to New York—but Marilyn quickly finds herself developing feelings for Thomas.
In Sarah M. Eden’s endearing novella FOR BETTER OR WORSE Gerald Smith, on the advice of his well-meaning neighbors, has decided it’s time to change his lonely existence. Mary Hill, on the advice of her empty pocketbook and non-existent roof over her head, has decided it’s time to secure herself a future. A mail-order marriage, they both realize, is no guarantee of happiness, but it is a risk they are willing to take. However, coming face to face on the train platform, the hapless couple discovers an unexpected truth: marriage to a perfect stranger is sometimes far preferable to the prospect of a lifetime with someone you used to know.
Heather B. Moore’s sweet novella THE INCONVENIENT BRIDE sees Carmela traveling from Boston to Colorado, eager to meet the man she’s been corresponding with and will soon marry. Her brother’s new marriage leaves little room for Carmela in her old life. Upon arrival in Leadville, she faces a rude awakening, and the only one who can understand her predicament is her fiance’s brother, Samuel. But Samuel can’t possibly help her out of an awkward situation, can he? It would be better for all if she returns immediately to Boston and pretends she never traveled to Colorado in the first place.
THE PRICE OF SILVER, an engaging novella by Siân Ann Bessey, Katie leaves New York for Idaho to marry Jake, a man she’s written to a couple of times. But when she steps off the train, his brother Caleb is there to greet her. Jake has gone to take a mining job he couldn’t pass up. Caleb takes Katie back to the family ranch to wait for Jake’s return. The more Caleb gets to know Katie, the more he envies his brother, but he can’t let his heart overrule his head unless Jake changes his mind about his intended bride.
5 Stars
Received ebook in exchange for an honest review
My Review:
It is fun to read an entire collection of Mail Order Bride stories. I think it is a fascinating part of our country's history. There is potential for adventure, love, a new start, and of course, the potential for disaster as well.
With many Mail Order Bride stories, there is a formula: Man advertises, Woman responds and travels to Man's location. Man and Woman meet and get married, and then fall in love.
This collection mixes that formula up. With misunderstandings, heartbreaks and abandonment, desperation, loneliness and stupidity, somehow these stories find a way to bring 2 people together. There isn't a simple formula. Each has some sort of twist to keep the reader interested. With that being said, this is the Timeless Romance Anthologies, so each story does have happiness within all of the mix ups.
Warnings: None
I would let my 18 year old read this collection.
You can purchase this book at
A Timeless Romance Anthology Blog
Barnes and Noble
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Not Always Happenstance by Rachael Anderston
Summary from Goodreads:
From the Power of the Matchmaker series
Lani has lived in Hana, Hawaii for five years. She's learned to surf, fish, dive, and manage her grandmother's bed and breakfast. She's also learned to take one day at a time the way it should be taken--relaxed and unrushed, savoring every moment.
But, like a large wave on the brink of breaking, her life is about to crash out of control. A proposal of marriage, a conniving grandmother, a cryptic Asian woman, and a handsome guest, and suddenly everything calm begins to churn, everything clear becomes confused, and all that was normal segues into peculiar.
As Lani struggles against the current to hold her ground, she realizes that she can either continue to fight and eventually lose, or take a take a leap of faith, hold her breath, and ride the wave wherever it takes her.
4.5 Stars
Received an ebook for an honest review.
My Review:
This is the next story in the Power of the Matchmaker series. Each story is stand alone, they just have the common thread of Miss Pearl, the Matchmaker. She appears in each story.
In Not Always Happenstance, Miss Pearl plays an important role, not just as a matchmaker, but also in life lessons. Miss Pearl becomes a good friend to the characters in the story and I enjoy reading about her.
Lani is at a crossroads in her life. She doesn't want to face it though. What was meant to be a temporary situation has become a wonderful part of her life. She doesn't want to leave. With experiences and talks with her grandmother, Miss Pearl, and the new guest at her Bed and Breakfast, Lani is able to see what she truly wants and she is willing to face what may come with that decision.
As much as this story has romance, and I like it, what I truly like about this story is that both main characters, Lani and Easton (the man who becomes her love interest), come to know themselves better and what they want in their lives. Sometimes each of us has those times that we do what we think we are supposed to do. Or we do what we have always done, without giving it much thought. These 2 characters become more deliberate in their decisions and figuring out what they want in their lives and who they want to be. What a wonderful thing to be able to find that in your life and find love at the same time.
Warnings: None
I would let my 18 year old read this book.
Three Little Words by Jennie Hansen, K.C. Grant and Aubrey Mace
Summary from Goodreads:
The road to true love never did run smooth, but a few bumps along the way make it all the more thrilling. This timeless truth is showcased in Three Little Words, a charming compilation of short stories written by a trio of popular LDS romance novelists. Readers are invited to follow the journeys of three young women as they encounter love where they least expect it.
Rescuing Bailey by Jennie Hansen
For as long as she can remember, Bailey has loved the boy next door. But despite her feelings, his schedule and his little brother keep getting in the way. Will her childhood crush finally blossom into something real, or will she discover that true love is waiting just around the corner?
Three Little Words by K.C. Grant
The bet is simple: Elizabeth, a speech therapist, has three days to teach a country bumpkin with a drawl as thick as molasses how to speak like a gentleman. But as she gets to know her charming student, it soon becomes clear that there may be more to him than meets the ear.
A Crying Shame by Aubrey Mace
Cassidy is in love with the idea of love, though after her most recent breakup, the possibility of finding Mr. Right seems hopeless. But when she meets a handsome classmate in her painting class, she may end up learning more about chemistry than about art.
4 Stars
Received ebook in exchange for an hones review.
My Review:
I enjoy reading compilations of short stories. I like the length of the stories and I like to get to know new authors through the collections. I have read another short story by Aubrey Mace. I also like happy stories. With a title like "Three Little Words" I hoped I was getting a clean and happy collection.
And, the stories are all that I hoped for. The stories are stand alone, they do not connect to each other. They do each have scenes where "three little words" are spoken. In some cases, saying those words is the start of a deeper relationship. In others, it has the opposite effect. Each story leaves me feeling like there is hope found in love and sharing that love with the right person for you.
Warnings: None
I would let my 18 year old and my 14 year old read these stories. (Ugh, my teenagers are growing up!)
I can't possibly make a list of my top 10 books this year. But I would like to point out some authors that I have grown to love this year and look forward to reading more of their work. (This doesn't include authors I've loved for years, just ones I've grown to love this year.)
Check out their wonderful books!
Links below are to their blogs/websites.
Michele Paige Holmes
Jennifer Moore
Josi S. Kilpack
Jennifer Peel
Donna K. Weaver
Broken Things to Mend by Karey White
Summary from Goodreads:
***This book is part of the Power of the Matchmaker series that features one recurring character—the match maker—but it is a STAND-ALONE novel.***
Celia is in desperate need of a change--a change of scenery, a change of pace, and a complete redo of all relationships. Not knowing what else to do, she opens a map, closes her eyes, and lets fate decide her future. Then she packs her meager belongings and buys a one-way ticket to a little town on the fringes of Oregon's Deschutes National Forest called Sisters. She's wanted a family for years. Will she find one in Sisters?
What Celia doesn't plan to find is a strange Chinese woman whose meddling ways keep throwing her in the path of a handsome, but reserved, forest ranger. But no matter how kind or dependable Silas seems to be, there are some things in Celia's past that neither of them can escape, and this time, the damage might be too much to mend.
4.5 Stars
Received ebook in exchange for an honest review
My Review:
I have really grown to love Karey White's books. Most recently I read her The Husband Maker Series. It's excellent!
As soon as I found out about the Power of the Matchmaker Series, I couldn't wait for the first book. I have read books by many of the authors writing in the series, but not all of them. I was so glad that Karey White was writing the first release because I was familiar with her work.
The Power of the Matchmaker Series is a set of 12 Novels, one released each month during 2016. A Prequel sets the stage by introducing us to Mae Li AKA Miss Pearl, The Matchmaker. Each of these 12 Books is a stand alone novel. However, Miss Pearl, The Matchmaker, appears in all of them.
As Broken Things to Mend begins, we get a back story of the male main character, Silas. This introduction to Silas helps us understand who he is and some of the experiences that have shaped him as an adult. However, we know little of the female main character, Celia. Her story unfolds in bits and pieces. The two characters are brought together by The Matchmaker, but it is up to them to decide whether to pursue their attraction or not.
These two characters are both in "broken" places. At times it is very hard to read about their troubles. I ache for each of them. They feel inadequate and unlovable. I enjoy reading about their healing, both individually and together.
I was slightly surprised by the outcome of this story. In some ways I predicted how it would end, but I wasn't sure how the author would get there. The ending was a bit abrupt, but also resolved.
Spoiler in the warnings.
Warnings: Rape, not graphic
I would let my 17 year old read this book.
Timeless Regency Collection: A Midwinter Ball by Heidi Ashworth, Annette Lyon and Michele Paige Holmes
Summary from Goodreads:
From the publisher of the #1 Amazon bestselling A Timeless Romance Anthology series in Clean Romance.
Join three bestselling regency romance authors, Heidi Ashworth, Annette Lyon, and Michele Paige Holmes, for three new regency romance novellas in A MIDWINTER BALL.
MUCH ADO ABOUT DANCING by Heidi Ashworth. Two years have passed since Lord Northrup declared his intentions for Miss Analisa Lloyd-Jones and forbade any other man to court her. Angry at the neglect, Analisa stopped reading his letters, never even breaking the seals. Tired of waiting, Analisa joins the house party at Mrs. Smith’s famous country home, determined to find a beau. When Lord Northrup unexpectedly joins the party, Analisa discovers she is no longer repulsed by the man who first laid claim to her hand.
SWEETER THAN ANY DREAM by Annette Lyon. Olivia Wallington is firmly established as a spinster, but that doesn’t stop her from dreaming about the perfect man. Ever since her father’s death, Olivia has been forced into seclusion by her mother. When her brother and his wife come for a visit, they discover the extent to which she lives under their mother’s thumb. With their help, Olivia sneaks out to attend a local ball, where she meets Edward Blakemoore. For a few divine moments, all of her dreams seem possible. But even someone like Mr. Blakemoore would be hard pressed to get past Mrs. Wallington’s fortress of protection—or past Olivia’s pride.
AN INVITATION TO DANCE by Michele Paige Holmes. Lady Ella has been isolated on her father’s estate since her mother’s death as her father travels the world. When Alex Darling arrives with a letter from her long-dead fiancé, and a demand that she travel to London for a series of engagements, Ella thinks her father instigated the strange demands and agrees. In London, she discovers the truth behind her fiancé’s death, and that new love might be possible in the arms of the most unexpected man.
5 Stars
Received ebook in exchange for an honest review.
My Review:
I am thrilled that A Timeless Romance Anthology has started putting together the Timeless Regency Collections. The first is Autumn Masquerade and this one is the 2nd collection. Next will be Spring in Hyde Park.
Each of these stories follows a woman who is in need of change in her life. She may be smothered by overprotective families or lonely or isolated from society. This need within each of the women helps them to make decisions that propel them in to a different place in their lives. By being brave they find happiness and love.
Warnings: None
I would let my 17 year old read this collection.
Twelve Days in December by Michele Paige Holmes
Summary from Goodreads:
A Christmas Novella from the bestselling Hearthfire Romance series by Michele Paige Holmes:
Five months isn’t enough time to grieve the death of her husband and marry again, but when the unexpected opportunity to take her sister’s place as the bride of wealthy New York businessman, William Vancer, presents itself, twenty-four year-old Charlotte Holbrook agrees. Their marriage of convenience will provide a secure future for her son, while William will be able to claim the inheritance he needs to expand his company westward.
To begin their perfect and perfectly safe arrangement, William allots the last twelve days in December to become acquainted with his new family—a task more easily accomplished than he had imagined. For in Charlotte he finds a tender heart and companion, while stepping into the role of father to her son, brings William a great measure of joy as well. Before the twelve days have passed, he finds himself wishing their marriage of convenience could be something much more.
For Charlotte, every day with William is one of overwhelming gratitude, as he anticipates and provides for her needs, as well as the fondest desires of her heart. More than material comforts, William offers friendship as well, and a loving concern that Charlotte has gone too long without. Guilt ridden, she struggles with her growing attraction and wonders how she can ever remain loyal to her first husband, while allowing herself to love William as he deserves.
5 Stars
Received ebook in exchange for an honest review
My Review:
This lovely novella is a companion to Michele Paige Holmes' Marrying Christopher. Charlotte and William rather quickly marry when they hardly know each other. The arrangement seems like a good business deal for both parties. Wonderfully, they find that it is more than a business deal. As they get to know each other and spend time together, their attraction grows.
I like the simple moments that bring these two characters together. It is the moments of spending time as a family, playing together, and talking. It isn't a whirlwind. This makes for a very sweet story that leaves me feeling happy during this Christmas season.
Warnings: None
I would let my 17 year old read this story.
A Timeless Romance Anthology: Mail Order Bride Collection by Stacy Henrie, Kristin Holt, Annette Lyon, Sarah M. Eden, Heather B. Moore, and Sian Ann Bessey
