Blog Tour Review: A Timeless Romance Anthology: Annette Lyon Collection by Annette Lyon

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jul 312015
 

Annette Lyon Collection25729345 Product Description
 Title:A Timeless Romance Anthology: Annette   Lyon Collection
 Author: Annette Lyon
Published: July 3, 2015, by Mirror Press 350p, 
Genre:Clean Romance
FTC, FYI: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review

Reviewed by Sheila

Book Description:
The ANNETTE LYON COLLECTION contains brand new contemporary romance novella OUR SONG, as well as five hand-picked readers’ and reviewers’ favorites of Annette’s popular Timeless Romance Anthology novellas. Readers will love this selection of three contemporary and three historical romance novellas.

In OUR SONG, a charming romance novella, Cassie and Matt have been dating in the Yellowstone area for two years, and things are, well, average. When Cassie meets up with two college friends who are visiting, their love lives like sound like fairy tales: rose petals, chocolates, candles on the beach… Cassie goes home feeling like she’s missing out. After all, repeatedly watching Old Faithful erupt and walking through sulfur-smelling gases at Fountain Paint Pot don’t exactly say “romance.” Maybe things with Matt aren’t going anywhere, and it’s time to move on. Then she discovers that perception and reality are completely different things. Now she can only hope it isn’t too late to show Matt how much she really cares.

In the sweet novella GOLDEN SUNRISE, Natalie takes time out of her crazy schedule to fly to Vegas for her best friend’s wedding. Sierra and Jason, high-school sweethearts, are finally getting married. Fortunately for Natalie, her old high-school flame, Adam, has a work commitment and can’t be there as best man. But when she arrives at the wedding rehearsal—late and ragged—Adam is there. When Adam makes a wild suggestion, Natalie just may take him up on it, even though she knows he’s moved on. A single choice may mean Natalie is taking a shot at reclaiming the past—or that she’s putting her heart in harm’s way a second time.

FIRSTS AND LASTS, an enchanting novella, begins with Dani’s last week in New York. She’s failed in her dreams to catch a break as an actress and is now ready to return home and dust herself off. As she visits the places on her final to-see list, she meets Mark, another New York City transplant with big dreams. Except Mark hasn’t given up on his. As they spend the day together, Dani realizes that even though she hasn’t hit the “big time” she might be living her dream after all. Only problem: she has a one-way ticket back home.

In the compelling novella WAR OF HEARTS, Anna, a journalist, is desperate to escape the magazine where Pete, her now-former boyfriend, also works. Heartbroken and still in love with him, Anna snags an assignment to cover the Winter War in Finland. She arrives at a snowy Finnish battlefront only to discover that Pete is already there—as her photographer. She’s determined to be professional about the situation until a battle breaks out in camp, putting her and Pete in harm’s way and putting their love to the test.

The captivating novella BETWEEN THE LINES follows Jane Martin, who is intelligent but extremely shy, especially around men. When the Aid and Cultural Society proposes a letter-writing program, Jane signs up, hoping she can find true friendship. The program doesn’t run as smoothly as expected, and unknown to Jane, one of the men in her city becomes her writing friend. Thomas Allred has always known shy and quiet Jane, but reading her letters written to his secret persona, opens his eyes to what an amazing woman she is. The only trouble is, Jane doesn’t know that the man who she is falling in love with through letters is also Thomas, the man who is falling in love with her in person.

In the charming novella A TASTE OF HOME, we meet Claire Jennings, who’s on her way to spend Christmas with her family. As she rides the train with William Rhodes, who grew up across the street, memories of Christmases past flood her mind. He may be twenty-one now, but she can’t forget his torturous teasing from their school years. At the rail station, Claire discovers that her home is under quarantine because her little brother has measles. She’s stuck in town, away from her family, on her favorite holiday. William stays behind with her, and as Christmas Day approaches and her homesickness deepens, she discovers that perhaps he has changed in more ways than one.

My Review:
I love the Timeless Romance Anthologies. The novellas have grown on me, and I look forward to having short stories to read when I don’t have a lot of time.

In this anthology, author Annette Lyon has written all six of the novellas. The first one is brand new and the other five novellas are some of her best from other anthologies. The first three novellas are contemporary and the last three are historical fiction. It’s really hard to pick just one that stood out for me, because there was something to like about each novella.

Annette always writes great characters, and I especially loved Claire and William from the novella, A Taste of Home and Anna and Pete from the novella, War of Hearts. Their stories made me wish to read more about them and what happened later. One common thing you’ll find in all of Annette’s stories, is that your heart will be touched by what you read. You are pulled in quickly and care about the happiness of the couple and how they will eventually get together. You can also be assured of a nice, clean romance, that is still filled with kisses that will make you melt. The overall message from these stories is to open your eyes and embrace love when its there right in front of you.

This book is one more I recommend you put on your summer romance reading list.

Amazon * Barnes and Noble

If you want to read about other Timeless Romance Anthologies go to this site
Timeless Romance Anthologies

 

Meet Author: Annette Lyon
Annette Lyon is a Whitney Award winner, the recipient of Utah’s Best in State medal for fiction and the author of ten novels, a cookbook, and a grammar guide as well as over a hundred magazine articles. She’s part of the Timeless Romance Anthologies line of sweet romance stories, a senior editor at Precision Editing Group, and a cum laude graduate from BYU with a degree in English. When she’s not writing, editing, knitting, or eating chocolate, she can be found mothering and avoiding the spots on the kitchen floor.
Website * Facebook * Twitter
Tour Schedule:
July 27th
Katie’s Clean Book Collection http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/
Bookworm Lisa http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/
I Love to Read and Review Books http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/

July 28th
Lindzee Armstrong http://www.

A Timeless Romance Anthology (Winter Collection) — Combined Review

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Oct 232012
 

A Timeless Romance Anthology: Winter Collection

Authors: Sarah M. Eden, Heidi Ashworth, Annette Lyon, Joyce DiPastena, Donna Hatch, Heather B. Moore

Publisher: Mirror Press, LLC

Published: October 1, 2012

ISBN13: 9781301381166

ebook: 269 pages

Goodreads Summary of all 6 Short Stories: Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed brand new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Winter Collection. A collection unlike any other, readers will love this compilation of six sweet historical romance novellas, set in varying eras, yet all with one thing in common: Romance.

The Road to Cavan Town by Sarah M. Eden, set in 1864 Ireland, combines Eden’s sense of humor with her signature sweet romance. Alice Wheatley walks each weekend into town, accompanied by Isaac Dancy. And while Alice finds herself falling in love with the gentleman, unfortunately he has his eyes set on the belle of the town, Miss Sophia Kilchrest. Alice must find a way to turn Isaac’s eyes toward her.

Regency author Heidi Ashworth’s delightful story, It Happened Twelfth Night, set in England 1812, follows Luisa Darlington who discovers the man of her dreams, Percy Brooksby, isn’t in love with her as much as she thought he was. When Percy’s friend, the mysterious foreigner, Mr. Flynn, visits for the twelfth night holiday, he promptly sweeps Luisa off her feet, quite literally. Luisa is left catching her breath in more ways than one.

An Unexpected Proposal by Annette Lyon is a captivating romantic novella, set in remote Wood Camp, the snowy canyon of Logan, Utah, 1880. When Caroline Simpson is forced to thwart the aggressive advances of Mr. Butch Larson, she discovers that her long-time friend, James, has genuine affection for her. But as stubborn as Caroline is, she minimizes the feelings he’s awakened in her, and it takes almost losing James to admit her true feelings for him.

In Joyce Di Pastena’s charming medieval story, Caroles on the Green, we enter England of 1151, in which Lady Isabel has a dilemma. She promises herself that she’ll marry the man who sent a ring hidden in her pastry since the man she truly loves, Sir Lucian de Warrene, has proved to be impossible and exasperating. To forget him, Isabel sets her eyes on other eligible men, only to face another confrontation with Lucian—who isn’t about to back off and leave her to her newest plot.

Donna Hatch’s enchanting novella, A Winter’s Knight, begins when Clarissa Fairchild’s coach just happens to break down in front of the most forbidding estate in the county, that of Wyckburg Castle, a place where young brides have been murdered for generations by their husbands. Clarissa is horrified yet curious all in the same breath. When she meets widower Christopher de Champs, Earl of Wyckburg, she must decide if she should flee or uncover the greatest secret in the county about her handsome rescuer.

In Heather B. Moore’s exciting turn-of-the-century story, A Fortunate Exile, Lila Townsend finds herself the victim of a broken heart—broken by the most notorious bachelor in 1901 New York City. If that isn’t bad enough, her father sends her to Aunt Eugenia’s remote farm where Lila must wait for her father’s anger to subside and the gossip columns to find new fodder. When Lila meets her aunt’s boarder, Peter Weathers, she discovers a man who isn’t afraid to stand up to her formidable family and take a chance on a woman with a sullied reputation.

Mindy’s Review

4 1/2 stars. I was very excited to review these wonderful short stories by such talented authors.  As I read them, I appreciated the individual style of each talented lady.  All six stories are well-written and I was immediately taken into each story.  The benefit of a short story is how quick the plot moves a long.  I also enjoyed the way each author introduced the plot and characters quickly, but I never felt they were rushed.  It was so nice reading six fantastic romance stories that were clean, romantic, and heart pounding.  At the end of each, I was wishing for more.  I reveled in each story, but I must say I did have a favorite.  Donna Hatch’s A Winter’s Knight.  It reminded me a bit of Beauty and the Beast.  With a mysterious earl, ancient curses, and one curious red head, I was instantly hooked.

I think what I appreciated the most was how strong the women in these stories were.  Even though the time periods represented vary, each woman brought to the table a fire of knowing who they are.  A few learned that process during the course of the story, but found themselves and stood their ground.

Sheila’s Review

I was so thrilled to get to read a collection of stories written by some of my favorite authors.  I know that these women can write, and I have read their previous work.  I have to say I was not disappointed.  The best part is that these are clean stories full of romance.  Reading this anthology was like eating a platter of appetizers:  you were able to get yummy bites of everything.  The only thing I didn’t like is that I would just start to get into the story and then it would be done.  All of these stories could easily be continued in a longer novel.

On the plus side, these stories are perfect for the busy reader.  You could read one, enjoy it, finish it and then go off and run your errands.  Then later that inght, you could come back and read another story.  I was telling someone about the anthology.  They asked if I had a favorite story out of the six, but it would be hard to choose just one.  All of the stories had unique, and fun characters set in various eras. I liked the spunk of the women in the anthology.  I loved the romance and the awakening that takes place when you realize that love is there. **sign**

I can see these anthologies becoming guilty pleasure for women everywhere , especially those that want to read about romance without the gratuitous sex that is prevalent in today’s society.  Curl up in your jammies, grab your hot chocolate and get lost in this anthology of timeless romances! 

Read more about this anthology from the Blog and Facebook page.  There is a Spring Anthology coming next year!

AMAZON / BARNES AND NOBLE / SMASHWORDS