Monday, September 19, 2022

Timeless Victorian Collection: An Autumn Kiss by Laura Rollins, Annette Lyon, and Lisa H. Catmull (Austenprose PR Book Tour)


Title:  Timeless Victorian Collection: An Autumn Kiss

Author: Laura Rollins, Annette Lyon, and Lisa H. Catmull

Narrated by:  Kim Bretton

Publisher: Mirror Press, LLC

Length: Approximately 7 hours and 9 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Mirror Press for being on the Austenprose PR Book Tour.  Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 Are you ready for autumn?  It’s a warm day today in Northeast Wisconsin, but our leaves are starting to turn.  I’m ready for 60-degree days, hot chocolate, and beautiful fall colors.

An Autumn Kiss is a delightful book.  It has three novellas in it, which I will discuss individually.

The Plucky Miss Ruth by Laura Rollins

This story charmed me right off the bat.  It has a bit of Groundhogs day to it as Miss Ruth Hughes feels she is caught in a time loop as every day is the same in her small village.  She enlists Lord Lambert to help her bring her friend, Nettie, back together with the fiancé she broke up with due to her parents’ rejection of him.  Now that Nettie’s parents have passed away, Ruth thinks that there could be time for a second chance romance.  As her and Lord Lambert help the budding romance, will Ruth find a romance of her own?

This story was very enjoyable.  I loved the charming characters and setting.  I loved how Ruth was reading all sorts of great books (for example, The Time Machine by H.G. Wells) and discussing them with Lord Lambert.  I always like a good second chance romance story and this had shades of my favorite Austen novel, Persuasion, in it. 

Mr. Dowling’s Remedy by Annette Lyon

This story intrigued me as it had a very different setting than most Victorian romances.  Beverly Stanton has been diagnosed with “hysteria” for reading novels and being sensitive to others.  Her stepfather has had her committed to the asylum against her will and is keeping her fortune.  While at the asylum, Beverly meets Crandall Rowling.  Crandall was on his way to becoming a physical when his verbal and physical tics caused his instructor to commit him to the asylum.  As their friendship blossoms, will Beverly and Crandall find a way out of the asylum, and will they find love?

I really enjoyed the unique setting.  It was all the more disturbing knowing that people were committed for the reasons that Beverly and Crandall were and that there was no way for you to get out.  I enjoyed getting to know their characters and it had an exciting conclusion.

A Railway through the Roses by Lisa H. Catmull

Lady Anne Baxter loves her home and is firmly on the shelf.  Her best friend, Mr. Adrian Everard needs to keep his father’s factory open.  He needs to build a railway and marry an heiress.  As potential brides come to town, Lady Anne realizes she doesn’t want Adrian to marry anyone else.  Adrian realizes that in order to save his family business, he may lose his best friend forever.  Will these two be able to work it out?

I love a friends to lovers’ story as well and this story was captivating.  I enjoyed how it took them time to realize how much they really meant to each other.  I like that Lady Anne had to realize as well how much she and her good deeds meant to the community as well.

I listened to this on audiobook and Kim Bretton was a wonderful narrator.  I enjoyed this book immensely.  It helped me to relax during my drives to and from work.

QUICK FACTS

·       Title: An Autumn Kiss

·       Series: Timeless Victorian Collection (Book 7)

·       Authors: Laura Rollins, Annette Lyon, & Lisa H. Catmull

·       Genre: Historical Romance, Victorian Romance, Inspirational Fiction

·       Publisher: Mirror Press (September 20, 2022)

·       Length: (275) pages

·       Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook 

·       ISBN: 978-1952611308

·       Tour Dates: September 12 – 25, 2022

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

An Autumn Kiss is the seventh book in the Timeless Victorian Collection, a bestselling anthology series from Mirror Press. The book features three novellas from acclaimed historical romance authors whose stories reveal if one kiss will change the lives of the three heroines.

“The Plucky Miss Ruth,” by Laura Rollins

 

Miss Ruth Hughes is certain she’s caught in a time loop—every day she wakes to find it exactly as the one before. A thrilling prospect to be sure. If the many books she reads on time travel has taught her anything, it is that to break free she must complete an all-important task. For Ruth the task is straightforward: reunite a couple, once desperately in love but forced apart by society. Unfortunately, things are not always as easy as they first appear. Struggling, Ruth opens up to the handsome Lord Lambert and he readily agrees to help. With autumn on the brink of turning into winter, time is running out for Ruth to help the ones who need her most. And, with a bit of luck, perhaps she can even find a little time for her own happily ever after.

“Mr. Dowling’s Remedy,” by Annette Lyon

Crandall Dowling’s aspirations of becoming a physician collapse when he develops symptoms that land him in an asylum. He’s been at Sherville Retreat long enough for autumn leaves to appear when Beverly Stanton arrives. She’s held under the dubious diagnosis of “hysteria” but seems perfectly sane, unlike Crandall, though his verbal and physical tics don’t seem to scare or even bother her. Beverly and Crandall develop a friendship fueled by an undeniable attraction that under other circumstances could become more. But in an asylum, one cannot plan a future, let alone one of love or marriage. Then tragedy strikes, testing staff and patients beyond anyone’s training. When the dust settles, Beverly’s diagnosis may be reversed, but if she leaves, what will become of her? What of Crandall? And what of their autumn-born love?

“A Railway Through the Roses,” by Lisa H. Catmull

Mr. Adrian Everard has tried everything to keep his father’s factory open, but a single solution remains. Marry an heiress before Christmas to fund the desperately needed railway. The local landowner, Lady Anne Baxter, will not agree to sell her garden—or her heart. Indeed, his childhood friend is determined to sabotage all his efforts to find a wife. As the deadline for Adrian to choose a bride draws close, one thing becomes painfully obvious. Saving the factory will mean losing the woman he loves forever.

 

ABOUT THE SERIES

Since 2015, Mirror Press has been presenting the Timeless Romance Collection, a curated anthology of novellas and short stories featuring bestselling authors from the contemporary and historical romance genres. The collection has hit the USA TODAY bestselling list and charted at #1 at Amazon.com. Learn more about the series and other anthologies published by Mirror Press at their website.  

 

ADVANCE PRAISE

·       5 STARS – “…a fun collection and each of them have something unique from most of the romances I've read. Very enjoyable reading.”— Maria Thomas, Goodreads

·       “This anthology is truly wonderful. Each story is very distinct from the others, and each is also very compelling. It will keep you reading and wanting more with each page and chapter.”— Shauna Jones, Goodreads

·       5 STARS “absolutely adored this collection of short stories! I would recommend this collection to anyone who needs an escape for a couple of hours.”— Jzcotter03, Goodreads

 

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS

 

AUTHOR BIOS

 

Laura Rollins

Laura Rollins has always loved a heart-melting happily ever after. It didn’t matter if the story took place in Regency England, or in a cobbler’s shop, if there was a sweet romance, she would read it.

Life has given her many of her own adventures. Currently she lives in the Rocky Mountains with her best friend, who is also her husband, and their four beautiful children. She still loves to read books and more books; her favorite types of music are classical, Broadway, and country; she loves hiking in the mountains near her home; and she’s been known to debate with her oldest son about whether Infinity is better categorized as a number or an idea.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

Annette Lyon

Annette Lyon is a USA Today bestselling author, a 9-time recipient of Utah’s Best in State medal for fiction (three times for novel-length works and five times for short fiction), and a Whitney Award winner for BAND OF SISTERS. She's the author of over a dozen novels, at least that many novellas, a cookbook, a popular grammar guide, and over a hundred magazine articles.

She’s a founder and regular contributor of the Timeless Romance Anthologies line of sweet romance stories, which she served as editor for its first three years. She's also one of the four co-authors of The Newport Ladies Book Club series. She graduated cum laude from BYU with a degree in English.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS


Lisa H. Catmull

I write clean and wholesome romances in the Victorian era and sweet contemporary romances. My books have been nominated for Swoony, RONE, and Whitney awards.

I taught Middle School English and History for seven years before pursuing screenwriting and writing. I currently live between a canyon and a lake in Utah with my husband, two cats, and two rambunctious children.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS


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