Timeless Romance Anthology: Blind Date Collection

Authors: Annette Lyon, Sarah M. Eden, Heather B. Moore, Victorian Lieske, Rachel Branton and Sariah Wilson

Genre: Historical & Contemporary Romance; Clean

I really enjoyed this collection. I has 3 contemporary romance and 3 Regency/historical novellas. All of them were super fun. I enjoyed reading from my tried and true favorites and the ones from new authors that I hadn’t read yet. Blind dates are a fun way to introduce the characters to each other.

“The Promise that Katy Did” by Annette Lyon, is a super fun and sweet. Katy is a sweet young woman who is an orphan, but takes care a sweet lady who has her best interests at heart. When she dies, Katy is on her own and must move and take a new job to take care of herself. In the mean time, she meets Mr. Balmer and then she has some choices to make and she only has 2 days to decide! Fun and sweet!

Sarah M. Eden, in “A Lady of Sense” never disappoints, and this one is no exception. This is a classic regency romance and is a great read. Eleanor is a sweet heroine and Peter is the best hero. Eleanor is misused by her parents and she must marry the man her father has chosen, except he is an old and lecherous man. She manages to persuade her father to let her have one more chance to find someone suitable and she does, but her fathers deeds make it impossible. Eleanor has to give up Peter, but he isn’t that easy to give up! This is classic regency and so fun!

In “A Second Chance” by Heather B. Moore, Viginia desperately needs a second chance because her first choice proved to be very bad. In an age where divorce is a scandle, Virginia must pick herself up and begin again. This is a fun and sweet romance set in turn of the century Chicago. Max is a very good hero and sets out to win Virginia and her son. Of course, misunderstandings ensue and the ride is fun and enjoyable. Sweet romance at its best

“Braelynn’s Blind Date” by Victorine E. Lieske is a sweet and enjoyable contemporary romance. The mixup for the blind date is super fun. And then when Braelynn ends up working for her botched blind date the fun and misunderstanding begin in earnest. This was my first book by Victorine and I loved it. She is a fun and interesting author. Things move along quickly and the romance is the best.

Rachel Branton’s “Bianca’s Hope” is a great read and fun romance. Bianca is on rough times and needs to figure out things. Her blind date turns out to be someone her heart won’t forget and she has to learn to see him with different eyes. Her pre-concieved ideas about him are certainly all wrong. I enjoyed this sweet romantic read and will read some more by Ms. Branton.

“Blind Spot” by Sariah Wilson is so fun. This is a novella set in the Monterra world invented by Sariah. It is great because Ria is so set on find a prince and ends up falling for her roommate’s brother, who is the bartender where she works. Ria goes on so many blind dates that go so wrong, it is kind of funny that she can’t see what is right in front of her! I love how the story turns out and how Ria figures out that she doesn’t need ot marry a ‘real’ prince in order to find ‘her’ prince.

Loved these stories! Such a fun way to spend the afternoon with a short novella. Sweet, clean and romantic. You will love them all!

Robyn Reviews: Timeless Regency Collection AUTUMN MASQUERADE by Josie S. Kilpack, Donna Hatch, Nancy Campbell Allen

Book Description:

A MERRY DANCE by Josi S. Kilpack. When Lila overhears her uncle talking about a man coming to look for property in the county, she doesn’t think twice, until her uncle says he hopes Lila will find enough interest to marry the man. How can she marry someone named Mortimer Luthford, not to mention that his advanced age of thirty-three, and especially since she’s already in love with her absent cousin Neville? But when Mortimer arrives, Lila has to try every trick known to women to act not interested in the rather fascinating man, which proves a very difficult façade to maintain.

UNMASKING THE DUKE by Donna Hatch. The last thing Hannah Palmer wants to do is flirt with men in a crowded ballroom, but when her sister throws a Masquerade Ball, Hannah can’t say no to the invitation and takes comfort behind a mask. She dances with a charming masked man, matching him wit for wit. When the glorious evening culminates in a kiss, and the two remove their masks, Hannah is horrified to discover the man she’s been flirting with all night is her most despised neighbor, the Duke of Suttenberg. No matter how charming the duke was at the ball, and how wonderful the kiss, he is the last man she’d ever accept.

WHAT’S IN A NAME by Nancy Campbell Allen. Penelope Timely has a terrible secret. She’s been writing letters to the Duke of Wilmington, pretending to be her ever-proper twin sister, Persephone. Now, the duke has written that he’ll be coming for the Autumn Masquerade Ball and Festival. Penelope will have to continue the charade while the duke is in town in order to protect her sister. The Duke of Wilmington isn’t fooled for a moment, but instead of confessing that he knows about the deception, he finds himself utterly charmed by Penelope and jumps into the game of deception to see how far the twin sisters will take it.

Audience: Adult

Genre: Clean historical romance

Length: 235 pages

Rating: 5

Review: This is another Timeless Romance winner! My favorite genre is historical/regency, so it's no surprise that I love this book! It's always fun when mishaps and intentions are misunderstood and the throw in masquerades and the fun and romance just begins.

It is said that eavesdroppers hear no good of themselves and the first story, A MERRY DANCE, by Josie S. Kilpack, starts out with an eavesdropper and Lila overhears something she doesn't want to hear. This is such a fun story about thinking you know exactly what you want and realizing that you didn't rally know! This story is fun, romantic and even has some hard choices to make. The characters are real and fun to get to know.

UNMASKING A DUKE, by Donna Hatch was so much fun. I really liked how she showed that sometimes we put on a mask and that isn't who we really are. Hannah and the Duke each have a mask, but they must learn to look beyond the mask and see who they really are. Lots of misunderstandings, romance and fun is to had while reading this story. I really like the supporting characters in this story, especially the Dukes mother. She's a sweetheart.

In Nancy Allen’s WHATS IN A NAME, two sisters have switched places and now they must pretend to be someone they are not. Penelope has been corresponding with The Duke of Wilmington using her sisters name, but now the duke has arrived and she must pretend to be her sister. She's afraid she will lose the man she has come to love when he finds out she has deceived him. However, the Duke is not fooled and the fun begins. There are swoon worthy moments, misunderstandings and a happily ever after.

Grab a cup of cocoa, a cozy blanket and curl up on the sofa and r eat these enchanting and enjoyable stories. You won't want to put them down!

Content:

Sex - 0

Violence - 0

Language - 0

Overall Content Rating - PG (Adult Themes)

Source: Review copy

BECOMING LADY LOCKWOOD by Jennifer Moore Book Blast

Becoming Lady Lockwood Amelia Beckett is delighted to be a widow. Married by proxy to a man she'd never met, Amelia recognizes that a fortuitous entry into widowhood frees her from meddlesome chaperones and matchmakers. Heiress to her mother's sugar plantation in Jamaica, she happily anticipates working in a man's world, with the additional credibility of her new title: Lady Lockwood. But with the arrival of Captain Sir William Drake, her plans quickly go awry . . . William has traversed the Atlantic with one purpose. If he cannot prove that Amelia's marriage to his brother was a fraud, she will be entitled to a sizeable portion of his family's estate. He is determined to return this duplicitous Lady to London for an official hearing, and he carries with him a letter that will ensure her cooperation . . . Left with no choice, Amelia joins the captain on his return voyage to England, and the two quickly find that ship life does not allow for evasion. Amelia and William are ceaselessly thrown together, and amidst fierce storms and ocean battles, what began as antipathy seems to be evolving quite unexpectedly. But as they draw ever closer to their destination, will the impossibility of their circumstances shatter any hope of a future together?

Praise for Becoming Lady Lockwood

"Moore does a lovely job of showcasing sizzle in this must-read for fans of regency and historical romance." ~ Foreword Reviews

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Deseret Book

Excerpt

The crew released more sails as the breeze quickened, and Amelia watched, craning her neck as her island home, Jamaica, the pearl of the Antilles, gradually became no more than a small green mound on the horizon. A wave of homesickness washed over her. The ship rolled on the larger ocean waves, and she realized that her discomfort was not strictly limited to nostalgia. She was growing increasingly seasick. Just as she reached this realization, she heard steps coming toward her and turning saw Captain Drake approaching. “Miss Becket, you are looking most unwell. I must insist you take to your quarters and lie down.” Even though he was completely correct, and her stomach was threatening to empty itself, the lack of compassion in his demeanor put her on the defensive. “Indeed, Captain Drake. While I am touched by your concern for my well-being, I have no intention to retire, as I am feeling quite well.” The ship pitched again, and Amelia’s stomach pitched along with it. “I assure you, my concern is for the deck of my ship and for my crew charged with keeping her ­in shipshape condition.” Did the man’s arrogance know no bounds? Amelia felt her head spin in a wave of dizziness, and the captain grabbed onto her elbow. “Your face is green, Miss Becket. I insist you take to your berth.” He spoke sharply, turning to the marine next to her. “Corporal, fetch Dr. Spinner to Miss Becket’s quarters.” She wrenched her arm from his grasp. “Captain, I am not in the least ill.” She spoke through clenched teeth, afraid that if she opened her mouth, the contents of her stomach would make a most unwelcome appearance. She rested her hand in a manner that she hoped appeared casual against the netting of hammocks lining the rail of the ship. But truthfully, besides her determination not to allow the captain to order her about, it was the only thing holding her up. Amelia nearly swooned with relief as Sidney Fletcher hurried toward them. “Miss Becket, are you unwell?” He held her elbow in the same manner as had Captain Drake a moment before, and Amelia leaned against him. “Will you allow me to escort you to your quarters then?” “Thank you, Mr. Fletcher. That would be most welcome. How very gentlemanly of you.” She looked toward Captain Drake and narrowed her eyes. A slight smile tugged at the corner of the captain’s lips, and Amelia found that it infuriated her. But when she opened her mouth to tell him so, her stomach betrayed her, and she was horrified to see her breakfast splatter over Captain Drake’s shiny boots. Amelia and Captain Drake stared at each other in disbelief for one mortifying instant before she felt her stomach clench again and pressed her gloved hands against her mouth. “A bucket!” Captain Drake bellowed.

  Author Jennifer Moore Jennifer Moore is a Passionate reader and writer of all things romance, helping her find balance with the rest of her world, which includes a perpetually traveling husband and four active sons, who create heaps of laundry that are anything but romantic. Jennifer has a BA in linguistics from the University of Utah and is a Guitar Hero champion. She lives in northern Utah with her family. You can learn more about her at authorjmoore.com. The author's first book, Becoming Lady Lockwood, is a regency romance centered on the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars of the early 1800s.

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        Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 8/5/14 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 here 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 publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Preview the first two chapters of A CONTEMPTIBLE AFFECTION

Chapter One

London

June 1816

It does not signify, Lady Iris Colburn insisted, but her jaw remained clamped shut as she watched Dominick lead a tall girl with shining brunette locks out onto the floor for a country dance.

Lady Lettice Morgan, Iris’ best friend, stiffened beside her. Lettie had enough sense not to comment, but Iris knew the thoughts running through Lettie’s mind. The same ones plagued Iris’. Dominick had danced with this unknown girl twice now. Why was he singling her out when everyone knew he would propose to Iris?

A CONTEMPTIBLE AFFECTION Launch Extravaganza

So maybe you guys have noticed some really crazy stuff going on around here. Like me publishing my Regency novella, A CONTEMPTIBLE AFFECTION. Here's the pretty cover:

And the blurb: 

After Lord Dersingham spurned her last season, Iris Colburn promises to never allow him back into her heart, despite his excuses, his long-standing connection to her family, or the fact that she once loved him.

But upon her return from Paris, Iris finds it is more difficult than she expected to keep Lord Dersingham at arm's length. His presence at nearly every social function Iris attends reminds her more of their blissful past than the sting of his rejection. Worse, she fears she is falling for him again.

If it wasn't for his outrageous behavior, that is. He asks Iris' father for permission to court her -- again -- but then showers attention on the disreputable Miss Halliday.

Iris doesn't know what kind of game Lord Dersingham is playing, but with her heart and her pride on the line, she will do anything to win.

I'm in the mood to throw confetti and give away things. Like, well, obviously, copies of A CONTEMPTIBLE AFFECTION (both ebook and paperback) and, in honor of me attempting to write regency, I'm also going to give away something from a true master.

The Next Big Thing

Have I ever extolled the many virtues of Kaylee Baldwin? Well, she's my critique partner and totally awesome. And she tagged me for a post called "The Next Big Thing" about your current WIP.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I have always loved historical romances, but never considered myself one of those people who could pull it off -- until I wrote a half-historical, half-contemporary romance about a girl who travels back to 1909. Once I realized that, oh yeah, I am a historian and I can do this, I took a stab at Regency.

The inspiration actually came from a scene in a Georgette Heyer book -gah, can't remember the name, but I know it's one of my favorites. One of the love interests talks about always intending to offer for the heroine. She doesn't end up with him, but it got me thinking. How would a girl respond to a guy who's been charming and in her life, wooed her a time or two, but never made the big step until it was too late for him. Eventually the characters all evolved into a crazy different story!

Coming Soon! A CONTEMPTIBLE AFFECTION

Cover Image copyright Raisa Kanareva 2012

After Lord Dersingham spurned her last season, Iris Colburn promises to never allow him back into her heart, despite his excuses, his long-standing connection to her family, or the fact that she once loved him.

But upon her return from Paris, Iris finds it is more difficult than she expected to keep Lord Dersingham at arm's length. His presence at nearly every social function Iris attends reminds her more of their blissful past than the sting of his rejection. Worse, she fears she is falling for him again.

If it wasn't for his outrageous behavior, that is. He asks Iris' father for permission to court her -- again -- but then showers attention on the disreputable Miss Halliday.

Iris doesn't know what kind of game Lord Dersingham is playing, but with her heart and her pride on the line, she will do anything to win.

TBR Notice: Courting Miss Lancaster

Courting Miss Lancaster by Sarah M. Eden
Do I really need to explain this choice? Have you not read my reviews of Sarah's books yet? Have you been paying attention here at all?? "Courting Miss Lancaster" is the last of Miss Eden's books I have left to read. I keep trying to shuffle it to the bottom of the pile since I expect it will be another year before there's another one to horde and giggle over. I should savor it. Somehow it keeps climbing back to the top . . .
Buy the book.
Learn more about Sarah.

Variety Excerpt: From "Small Deceptions" by H. Linn Murphy

Francesca Kennington merely wants to be left to her studies, despite her mother's best efforts to saddle her with a rich husband. Then she meets a mysterious gentleman, who leads her on a romp through the ballrooms and countryside of Georgian England. Their romance blossoms but secrets cause Francesca's house of cards to tumble. She must find a way to put her life back together, while still following her heart.

Excerpt: 

Chapter 1—Mr. Hedge

Larks trilled in the hedges, filling the warm breezes with song. It was a languid, cerulean afternoon, dotted only with a very few shreds of cloud. A russet-headed and bespectacled young lady strode rapidly down the lane, muttering to herself and occasionally swiping at the weeds at the side of the road with a stick she had found. One could almost say she stomped pettishly, punctuating her angry diatribe with swipes of her stick.

Variety Article: "The Regency Townhouse or what living in London should be like" by David Wilkin

The Regency Townhouse or what living in London should be like

Our heroes and heroines of Regency Romances are members of the elite ton. The very top of society. In this instance that rung on the ladder below royalty, for the Crown Prince and his siblings did not lead lives that one generally wants to characterize with romance. (Though one does see that the sons of George III led lives often of steadfastness to their paramours. William IV was with Dorothea Bland-Mrs. Jordan for over 20 years, as an example.) A need for money often forced the issue of their affairs to come to a head.

 So the very top of the ladder, those who lived in Palaces, are not what we are concerned with. Though in the countryside, many of the great estates that the nobility and aristocracy lived in were as palatial as any home to a European Princeling. The Country was not Town (London) and when in Town one lived differently from how one lived at the ancestral mansion.

 

"Friends & Foes" by Sarah M. Eden: This is Not So Much A Review ...

 ... As it is an Ode.

Let me start with a story. First kisses. They're usually awkward and, well, messy. At least in real life--not so much in fiction. And when it comes to my first kiss with Adam. It was early, early morning on January 1st, 2002. He'd just pulled up in front of my house to drop me off after the New Years Institute dance, at which I'd denied him a midnight kiss owing to the fact that my only recently-made ex was there. Instead, I'd given him a chocolate kiss and told him that would have to do. As we sat there in front of his house, preparing to say goodnight, he leaned toward me. In one expertly smooth motion he slipped the chocolate kiss into my hand and whispered, "Can I trade this for a real one?" Then he laid one on me. It was a mere brush of the lips and the slightest of touches. When I opened the door a minute later, I practically tumbled out. And I'll admit to the cliche. After I closed the door of my house, I leaned against it and grinned my face off. It was a magical moment.