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A Night in Grosvenor Square by Sarah M. Eden, Annette Lyon, and Heather B. Moore

January 24, 2018 by bubblebathbooks 1 Comment

A MATCH FOR PRINCESS POMPOUS by Sarah M. Eden
Matchmaker Adelaide Northrop may be embarking on her greatest challenge yet. Miss Odette Armistead has been dubbed “Princess Pompous” by Society’s elite, and Odette’s parents are desperate to see her married off to a respectable gentleman. When Adelaide first meets Odette, she is expecting a young lady who fits the pompous description. Instead, Adelaide discovers that Odette is far from conceited, but has chosen to wear a mask in a desperate attempt to hide her love for a gentleman who has been chosen for someone else. It seems that Adelaide has far more than matchmaking to accomplish.

CONFECTIONS AND PRETENSE by Annette Lyon
Anne Preston dreams of opening her own dessert shop some day and saves every spare penny she earns working at Gunter’s Tea Shop. She makes ice cream molds to perfection, bakes and decorates cakes, and hopes to one day be an independent shop owner. When an American man orders an ice, Anne is immediately taken with Davis Whitledge, but he is far above her station in life, so she tries to forget about his cordiality. Soon, she finds herself in a dangerous situation when confronted by two troublemakers, and Davis happens to be nearby. He sends the scoundrels on their way, but this only makes Anne more of a target. He doesn’t understand London ways, and his generosity has the potential to steal Anne’s dreams, or to make them soar.

LITTLE LONDON by Heather B. Moore
Ellen Humphreys has never had a Season, has never danced the waltz, and will likely never do so while confined to watching over her ill mother at their country estate. Therefore, Ellen creates her own Little London, and imagines all the gentleman she’d dance with and all of the friendships she’d have with other young ladies, if only she were allowed to have a Season. When Quinn Edwards, the Marquess of Kenworth, comes upon her quite by happenstance while Ellen is imagining herself in a London ballroom, she is mortified about her playacting. But a chain of events is set off from this one meeting that has Ellen questioning if her reputation would ever survive a Season or another encounter with the marquess.

Sissy:

How, Bubby, after writing countless Regency romances, can these Timeless Regency Collection writers keep coming up with new and fresh twists on their genre?

Bubby:

I really couldn’t tell you. There’s a reason why I’m a reader, not a writer. But it is impressive. Eden, Lyon and Moore never disappoint!

Sissy:

Let’s start, for example, with A Match For Princess Pompous by Sarah M. Eden. Who would have come up with the idea of a protagonist who is a lady of quality, “working” under the table as a matchmaker? It becomes obvious in this story that Adelaide Northrup, the matchmaker, could have her own series.

Bubby:

Yes, please. I thought the same thing and I really hope that Sarah M. Eden wrote this novella as a teaser to an upcoming new set of books featuring Adelaide. I’d buy those.

Sissy:

We end up, via Adelaide’s skills, getting not one, but two happy endings. I shall never complain about a happy ending!

Bubby:

Next we have Confections and Pretense by Annette Lyon. The idea that an American businessman and an impoverished confections maker would fall in love in a whirlwind romance is so lovely and original. Hooray for Americans in Regency books!

Sissy:

Down with the gentry and their Regency period snootfests!

Bubby:

Right? Davis Whitledge and his American ideals about class equality made this novella quite entertaining.

Sissy:

Little London by Heather B. Moore begins so whimsically with the imaginations of Ellen Humphreys, a classic “poor little rich girl.” How she garners the attention of a Marquess and has her life-long dreams come true is an enchanting tale.

Bubby:

A Marquess, you know, is below a Duke and above an Earl in importance. OK, I didn’t know either but Google did and that’s the same thing!

Sissy:

In my opinion, Heather B. Moore, Annette Lyon and Sarah M. Eden are a dream team when it comes to romance, whether in the form of anthologies or stand alone novels. They always give me so much more than I expect. May they have long lives and ever-sharpened writing pencils.

Bubby:

Interesting fact: these three ladies are the founders of the Timeless Romance Collection anthologies. Usually only one of them contributes a story to a collection, so this anthology is rather special. I loved every word. As long as they (and their friends) keep writing these collections, I’ll keep reading them.

 

Click HERE to buy A Night in Grosvenor Square

Filed Under: Author, By Author, By Genre, Regency Romance, Reviews Tagged With: Annette Lyon, Heather B. Moore, London, Romance, Sarah M. Eden, Timeless Romance Anthology

Happily Ever After Collection – A Timeless Romance Anthology

November 1, 2017 by bubblebathbooks Leave a Comment

Happily Ever After

Six brand new fairy tale retelling romance novellas by Jessica Day George, Julie Wright, Sarah M. Eden, Julie Daines, Heather B. Moore, and Annette Lyon.

Bubby:

Woohoo! A new Timeless Romance anthology! I’m so excited, especially since this anthology has a lineup of some of my most favorite authors ever. These anthologies are seriously my go-to for sitting back, relaxing and escaping from my daily drudgery. One of these anthologies, a diet Coke and a piece of chocolate (and 30 minutes of silence) are all I need to regain my calm. Not that I ever lose my calm in the first place…

Sissy:

You are as calm as the smooth Mediterranean sea. On a placid summer morning. At all times.

Bubby:

That was uncharacteristically kind, Sissy. What do you want in return for these beautiful lies?

Sissy:

I lie not. I may have thrown up a little bit in my mouth but it was totally sincere. And I can sincerely tell you that I was skeptical about more fairy tale retellings. It seems like I’ve read a billion of them. OK, maybe a million. OK, maybe a thousand. Regardless, these surprised me in a good way. Most of the retellings changed and twisted things in such a way that, while still recognizable, they became fresh and new.

Bubby:

I totally agree. Out of the oh-so-many fairy tale retellings, these are some of my favorites. Why do we keep reading new incarnations of the same stories over and over? I think it’s because they are part of our childhood and therefore they are magical. When we read them, it’s like getting a little bit of that magic back again.

Sissy:

Let me just say that ALL of these stories are really good. But if I had to pick a favorite-

Bubby:

Which you do…

Sissy:

It would be Mail-Order Princess by Jessica Day George. The New World setting, the inclusion of Native Americans, and just the way Jessica Day George created a new tale out of an old tale, were all fantastic. By the way, Mail-Order Princess is a retelling of The Six Swans, out of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale collection. Sometimes you gotta lay on the couch and read books you know will have a positive ending and not darken your psyche. It’s good therapy. Bubby and I need a lot of therapy…

Bubby:

Speak for yourself! I guess I have to pick a favorite too, since I want to be just like Sissy in every way. It’s a very difficult decision, but I choose Scarlet by Heather B. Moore. This is a retelling of Red Riding Hood, basically, but as with many of these stories, there are bits of other stories thrown in for interest. I loved that Heather B. Moore was able to create so much character development in so few pages. I’d love to tell you more, but you know how it goes. Spoilers and all that. Suffice it to say that you’ll love the ending. In fact, you’ll love all these stories so much that it’ll be hard for you to choose a favorite too!

Sissy:

I have several close second favorites and when reading the Goodreads reviews, I saw that people have vastly different opinions. That is good news for you, dear reader, for you are sure to find your own favorite within the pages of this Happily Ever After collection.

 

Click HERE to buy Happily Ever After by Jessica Day George, Julie Wright, Sarah M. Eden, Julie Daines, Heather B. Moore and Annette Lyon

 

 

Filed Under: By Genre, Fairy Tale Retelling, Reviews Tagged With: Annette Lyon, Heathr B. Moore, Jessica Day George, Julie Daines, Julie Wright, Sarah M. Eden

Valentine’s Day Collection (A Timeless Romance Anthology Book 19)

February 13, 2017 by bubblebathbooks 2 Comments

Valentine's Day, romance novella, love stories

A BRUSH WITH THE LAW by Janette Rallison
Bethany has endured a streak of depressing Valentine’s Days. And this one is turning out no different. Her friend set her up on a blind date—and Bethany can only hope that James will be a decent guy. But it seems the fated day has other plans, and Bethany finds herself in the middle of a comedy of errors that make a blind date with a stranger the least of her problems.

EVERY OCCASION by Heather B. Moore
When Maurie moves back to her hometown to open up her dream shop, she calls a local construction crew for help. Former teenage crush Grant shows up on her front porch, answering the call for the construction job, and Maurie’s memories of her troubled childhood return with full force. When she discovers Grant has a troubled past of his own, Maurie realizes that she might have misjudged him all along.

HOLD YOUR BREATH by Jenny Proctor
As Kayla trains for the Olympic swimming trials, she vows to never let another boyfriend get in her way. When she finds out her younger sister’s new high school swim coach is Nate—the guy Kayla had a huge crush on when they were in school together—Kayla realizes that her resolve is weakening. But Kayla isn’t willing to risk giving up her Olympic dream for anyone, not even charming Nate.

THE ULTIMATE BACHELOR CHALLENGE by Annette Lyon
When Sam’s long-time boyfriend, Steve, texts that he has something important to ask her on Valentine’s Day, she’s sure that he’s going to propose. Determined to look great for the big day, she hits the all-night laundromat to wash her favorite outfit. When her clothes are chugging away in a machine, Steve calls and pops a question—not one she ever would have expected. Reeling with shock, she’s left facing the holiday alone, unless you count the other person at laundromat, a guy leaning against his own washer, intent on his phone.

DEAL BREAKERS by Heather Tullis
The last place Colette wants to be stranded is the snowed-in Denver airport, especially when her sister is enduring chemo treatments and needs Colette’s help back home. When Colette runs into another stranded passenger—none other than former college boyfriend Drew—she can’t believe how much he’s changed . . . and hasn’t changed. Drew is still the same amazing guy that Colette was foolish enough to blow off for someone else. By the time she’d realized her mistake all those years ago, Drew’s heart had been too broken to give her a second chance. Now Colette can only hope that she can work her way back into his heart.

HEY, HELEN! by Sarah M. Eden
On the surface, Helen seems to have her life figured out. Her advice column, Hey, Helen!, is gaining more readers every week. She regularly hangs out with the guy next door, laughing and chatting over pizza and work. But when her feelings for her handsome neighbor begin tiptoeing toward something more than friendship, Helen can’t help hoping Neil might feel the same way. Between her own uncertainties, his friend-zone treatment of her, and a pair of loudly interfering parents, Hey, Helen! could use a little advice in love.

Bubby:

Well, here we are, folks. Less than 24 hours from V-Day. The day that can make or break relationships, depending on the quality of the chocolate one receives. But seriously, Valentine’s Day isn’t that important at my house. Why should we let a calendar date determine when we treat our loved ones well? Dangit, I want good chocolate and pampering treatment ALL THE TIME, not just once a year! The best gift for me (besides the aforementioned chocolate) is a good book with lots of romance and happy sighing at the end. The stories in the Valentine’s Day Collection absolutely fit the bill.

Sissy:

This particular Valentine’s anthology is the perfect gift for a reader!  The stories contain the ideal blend of romance, humor, relatable characters and unusual settings and situations. The first tale, A BRUSH WITH THE LAW by Janette Rallison, had Bubby rolling on the floor (a disturbing sight) –

Bubby:

Hey, just the thought of our poor heroine trapped outside on a balcony in her underwear makes me want to roll on the floor some more right now!

Sissy:

Please spare me! All the novellas were really entertaining, but one of my particular favorites was HEY, HELEN! by Sarah M. Eden. Quirky characters abound and their witty repartee is absolutely delightful. I identified with the main character’s career so much that I want to turn this blog into a “Hey Bubby & Sissy” forum for the dispensing of wise nuggets to the masses. Plus, the Valentine’s Day advice is great.

Bubby:

I.E., no stuffed animals or grocery store boxes of chocolates. Nothing in those inflatable heart-shaped balloons.

Sissy:

The only grocery store flowers I will accept are from Costco, otherwise, forget it. No blue carnations with baby’s breath, thanks.  And tchatchkes of any sort are right out.

Bubby:

Amen! If you are still searching for Mr. Wonderful, there is a great selection of book boyfriends here for you to choose from.  You’ll find everything from Olympic swimmers, carpenters and policemen to bloggers, college students and random men at the airport. Are you spending Valentine’s Day with the one you love or by yourself with Netflix?  Doesn’t matter– the Valentine’s Day Collection should be part of your plans.

Sissy:

In fact, if I had my druthers, Valentine’s Day would consist of take-out food at home and snuggling on the couch with my honey reading books. However, Mr. Sissy, once recumbent, falls asleep in three seconds flat (because that’s his superpower) so I will read a wonderful book like the Valentine’s Day Collection while he watches Independence Day – The Valentine’s Version. Is that a thing?

Click HERE to buy the Valentine’s Day Collection

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Filed Under: Author, By Author, By Genre, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: Annette Lyon, Heather B. Moore, Heather Tullis, Janette Rallison, Jenny Proctor, Novellas, Romance, Sarah M. Eden, Valentine's Day

A Timeless Romance Anthology: Mail Order Bride

February 29, 2016 by bubblebathbooks Leave a Comment

mail order bride

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.  

Sissy:  The idea of being a mail order bride is particularly unappealing to me as I can’t get out of my head all the possible negative outcomes of such a move.  Any toothless, stinky, backwater wino could hire/coerce someone to write an attractive sounding bunch of letters to an innocently desperate young woman and she could find herself west of nowhere in the clutches of wife-beating Walter and his six runny-nosed, lice-infested offspring.  What then, I ask, what then?

Bubby:  That’s quite the scenario that you paint, Sissy.  That probably actually happened back in the day, but for the purposes of these stories we will ask you to suspend your disbelief  and trust in the inevitable happy ending. (For more on the true story of mail order brides in the old west, check out this excellent article in The Campfire Chronicle).

Sissy:  True love and happiness it is, then.  Lucky for me the first novella, Written in Her Heart by Stacy Henrie, was possibly my favorite and thus allows me to plunge fully into the happy love place.  It takes Georgeanna getting desperate enough to send out mail order bride notices to get long time friend Clay to realize how he feels about her.  What does he do about it?  Something different from what you might think!

Bubby:  Wanted:  Midwife Bride by Kristin Holt introduces us to Naomi and Joe.  Naomi has to run from her evil rotten no good bas-

Sissy:  Basket of worm droppings husband?

Bubby:  Yes, exactly!  And Joe has been waiting all his life for a woman who can be his full partner.  The whole situation seems too good to be true for Naomi.  Then the shooting starts… 

Sissy:  Sounds exciting.  And dangerous!   Equally dangerous and fully despicable Victor in The Sound of Home by Annette Lyon is trying to force Marilyn to marry him.  If she refuses, he will have her framed for murder.  She tries to escape the situation by answering a mail order bride ad.  The man sending for the bride, Harry, provides a sweet and interesting twist that I really enjoyed.

Bubby:  For Better or Worse by Sara M. Eden also has a twist–when mail order bride Mary meets-groom-to-be Gerald, the wrong sort of sparks fly.  It turns out that they knew each other before, and that’s not a good thing!  Can they put the past behind them and discover some chemistry? I’ll never tell.

Sissy:  The chemistry sure was cooking in The Inconvenient Bride by Heather B. Moore, but not between Carmela and her proposed groom.  He turns out to be inconveniently dead, and his brother Samuel is not quite sure what to do with the exotic, stranded bride on his doorstep.

Bubby:  The Price of Silver by Sian Ann Bessey is another story involving two brothers and one bride.   Katie might be torn between Jake and Caleb, but in the end two hearts will not be denied their choice.

Click HERE to buy A Timeless Romance Anthology:  Mail Order Bride

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Annette Lyon, Heather B. Moore, Historical Fiction, Kristin Holt, Romance, Sarah M. Eden, Sian Ann Bessey, Stacy Henrie, Western

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