Why Not? Because I Said So Book Reviews and Author Interviews. : A Timeless Romance Anthology: European Collection-Review

Monday, December 30, 2013

A Timeless Romance Anthology: European Collection-Review

Product Details

Title: A Timeless Romance Anthology: European Collection
Authors: Annette Lyon, G.G. Vandagriff, Michele Paige Holmes, Sarah M. Eden, Heather B. Moore, Nancy Campbell Allen
File Size: 1326 KB
Print Length: 283 pages
Publisher: Mirror Press (October 30, 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00GAB1IVS

Book/Story Descriptions
In War of Hearts, Annette Lyon’s exciting novella, 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.

In G.G. Vandagriff’s enchanting novella, The Earl of Oaksey Takes a Wife, Melissa Burroughs is the new Countess of Oaksey. Her whirlwind romance and subsequent elopement was worth every divine moment, even if her parents did disapprove. When Melissa learns about her new husband’s apparently empty pockets, she wonders if the intimacy they’ve shared is only the ruse of a fortune-hunter. Melissa is devastated and determines to live a separate life from her new husband. But the Earl has other plans, which do not include staying away from his wife.

In Michele Paige Holmes’ charming story, Gift of Love, Ethan Mooreleigh knows he’ll never love another woman after the loss of his beloved wife. Yet he needs a male heir to inherit his vast fortune. Ethan’s best friend, Stuart, has an idea and retrieves his sister, Amelia, who has been living in a convent since the tragic death of her parents. Amelia only agrees to enter into the contract marriage because there’s a child involved, Ethan’s neglected three-year-old daughter. When Amelia meets Ethan for the first time at the altar, she realizes that the last thing she wants her marriage to be is loveless. But winning a man whose heart is still broken may be impossible.

A Lesson in Love, a delightful novella by Sarah M. Eden, captures the uncertainties of newlywed life. Lucy Stanthorpe arrives for the London Season, planning to attend every ball and musicale with her new husband, Reed, only to discover he has no intention of taking part in the social whirl. Spurred on by their family and friends, Lucy and Reed each formulate increasingly outlandish plans to teach the other a lesson in appreciation. Their battle of wills threatens to pull the young couple apart unless they can both soften their stubborn hearts.

In An Ocean Away, Heather B. Moore’s captivating story, Gina Graydon knows the last thing she’ll attract on her holiday in France is an eligible bachelor. Tall, outspoken, and with a weakness for laughing at the wrong moment, not to mention being much too occupied with reading gothic romances, Gina decides she’d rather live in her fictional world. Besides, the only man who pays attention to her at the resort hotel happens to be her father’s worst enemy. And that is far from romantic. Reading in a secluded garden, and dreaming about the perfect kiss, all keep Gina much too busy to consider Mr. Edmund Donaldson any sort of hero.

Nancy Campbell Allen’s entrancing novella, What Happens in Venice, follows Evangeline Stuart as she determines to enjoy her vacation in Venice—her first and likely her last since she lives under the strict confines of her step-father’s control. When she meets the mysterious and romantic Conte Bellini, who happens to be Italy’s most eligible bachelor, she decides he is all part of the dream of visiting Venice. It’s impossible for her to believe that his interest in her is anything more than kindness to a foreign visitor. But when he discovers the true betrayal of her step-father, Evangeline learns the Conte may be the one person with the power to restore her happiness.

My Review
I have grown to love the Timeless Romance Anthologies, but this one is my favorite by far. This one held such magic in each story. The stories and the characters stayed with me for such a long time. All of the stories are a clean historical romance. Some of the couples are even married when the story begins. It's nice to see this. It would be hard to pick a favorite, even though the last one was set in Venice, Italy where I've been wanting to go visit. ;)

One thing I suggest to readers, go in reading these stories knowing they are not full length novels. These are short stories and so you are not going to get the full plot/character development you would see in a full blown novel. There is a reason I'm mentioning this in my review. There were some reviews that mentioned they didn't like the stories because they weren't long enough. If you order a root beer, but are upset it doesn't taste like a lemonade, it's still going to be a root beer. In other words, if you pick up a book of short stories, you are getting short stories not full length novels. The anthologies are written by seasoned writers that know how to write romance. Go in reading them knowing you are getting a snippet of the character's lives, a good short story full of romance, intrigue, and you'll love this anthology! I know I was enchanted by these stories that were well-written, clean, and entertaining.

About the Authors

Nancy Campbell Allen

I'm a writer with 11 published novels so far.

I'm also a freelance editor with a degree in Elementary Ed, the mother of 3 and the wife of 1.

Nancy Campbell Allen, a graduate of Weber State University, has dreamed of becoming a writer since early childhood. Her goal is "to provide LDS women with fun fiction that they can read without guilt." In addition to writing, Nancy enjoys reading, book shopping, traveling, skiing, and learning of other times, people, and places, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Mark, and three children live in Utah.

Nancy enjoys hearing from her readers. Visit her at http://ncallen.blogspot.com/

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Heather B. Moore is the award-winning author of several historical novels which are set in Ancient Arabia and Mesoamerica. She is not old and doesn’t remember the time period, so Google has become a great friend. Although she has spent several years living in the Middle East, she prefers to forget the smells. Heather writes her historical thrillers under the pen name H.B. Moore so that men will buy her books. She is also the author of two non-fiction books, and several women’s novels including the co-authored series The Newport Ladies Book Club, the anthology series A Timeless Romance Anthology, and the historical romantic suspense novel Heart of the Ocean. These are all written under her real name so that women will buy her books.
Heather graduated from Brigham Young University with a major in Fashion Merchandising and minor in Business Management.
Visit Heather’s website here: www.hbmoore.com
If you’re an aspiring writer, she also manages the editing company: www.precisioneditinggroup.com

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Sarah M. Eden is the author of multiple historical romances, including Whitney Award finalists Seeking Persephone (2008, Covenant Communications) and Courting Miss Lancaster (2010, Covenant Communications). Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances. She holds a Bachelor's degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library. Sarah has twice served as the Master of Ceremonies for the LDStorymakers Writers Conference, acted as the Writer in Residence at the Northwest Writers Retreat and is one-third of the team at the AppendixPodcast.com. Sarah is represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg at Foreword Literary Agency.

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Michele Paige Holmes spent her childhood and youth in Arizona and northern California, often curled up with a good book instead of out enjoying the sunshine. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education, and found it an excellent major in which to indulge her love of children's literature.
Her first novel, Counting Stars (Covenant Communications 2007), won the 2007 Whitney Award for best romance. Her companion novel, a romantic suspense titled, All the Stars in Heaven (Covenant 2009), was a Whitney finalist, as was her first historical romance, Captive Heart (Covenant 2011). My Lucky Stars (Covenant 2012) completed the Stars series.
You can find Michele on the web at michelepaigeholmes.com

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Annette Lyon has been writing ever since second grade, when she piled pillows on a chair to reach her mother's typewriter. A cum laude graduate from BYU with a degree in English, she has had success as a professional editor and doing newspaper, magazine, and business writing, but her first love is writing fiction. She's perhaps best known for her historical novels centered around the four old Utah temples.
Her most recent novel, Band of Sisters: Coming Home (January 2013) is the sequel to the Whitney Award-winning novel Band of Sisters.
One of the most rewarding parts of Annette's writing career has been collaborating on The Newport Ladies Book Club series. Her first book in the series, Paige, was released in 2012. Her second, about the character Ilana, will be released early 2014.
Annette has won Utah's Best of State medal for literary arts in fiction two times, in 2007 and again in 2013. In addition to being a Whitney Award winner, she’s a two-time Whitney finalist, for Spires of Stone (2007) and Paige. She has received three publication awards from the League of Utah Writers and took first place in the 2009 Funds for Writers essay contest.
Be sure to also drop by her blog!
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G.G. Vandagriff is the full-time writer of eleven books, including the Whitney Award Winner The Last Waltz: A Novel of Love and War. A Meridian columnist for ten years, she is a survivor of bi-polar disorder and has written, with her husband and son Deliverance from Depression:Finding Hope and Healing Through The Atonement of Christ. She and her husband, David, also a writer, live in Provo, having raised their three children in the Midwest.