The Lady Glass by Anneka R. Walker (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What is your favorite fairy tale?  My favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast and my daughter’s favorite fairy tale is Cinderella.

The Lady Glass is the third novel of the “Enchanted Regency Romance Series.”  It combines two of my favorite things – Regency romance and fairy tales.  After reading The Lady Glass, I really want to go back and read the first two novels in the series.

Theresia Dvorak is an orphan, and her stepmother has taken all of her inheritance.  She has spent many years at Mrs. Stone’s Distinguished Ladies’ Seminary but has returned to her childhood home looking for a beautiful glass vase that her father, a master glass maker, had crafted and gifted to her for her dowery.  She discovers that her stepmother is giving it away to someone at a house party and she decides she will go to the party and retrieve her inheritance.  It is not quite so easy, and she finds herself caught up in an international intrigue.  Will she find her glass vase and will she also find love along the way?

My thoughts:

·       The first chapter hooked the reader into the story immediately when Theresia tries to help an elderly man who is beset by a thief, but they both are saved by a mysterious gentleman, Rolland.

·       I enjoyed Theresia’s Bohemian background and the discussion about glassmaking, although I wish there was even more detail on glassmaking and Bohemia.  I’m ready to research this more.

·       I enjoyed that this was a retelling of the Cinderella story in a very inventive way.  It was a fun and romantic story.  I liked seeing all the elements of the Cinderella fairy tale pop up in fun ways.  For example, a trunk of beautiful clothes appear for Theresia right before the ball.

·       I also like historical mystery and this story had an interesting mystery story as well.  I liked the intrigue and espionage and how it was related to the Vienna Congress.

·       Rolland and Theresia had a great romance, and I loved their verbal sparring.  I would call this story an enemies to lovers’ trope.

·       Theresia plays the violin, and I loved learning about lady violin players of that time.

·       This was a clean read.

·       The Lady Glass is part of a series but can be read as a standalone novel.

·       I loved the beautiful cover of this book and the beautiful illustration between each chapter.

Overall, The Lady Glass by Anneka R. Walker is a delightful regency romance that blends fairy tale with mystery into a new and unique tale.   I enjoyed this novel and I highly recommend it.

Book Source:  Review copy from Covenant Communications, Inc. as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Theresia Dvorak has nothing left of her parents—nothing save her dowry, a priceless crystal vase stolen and sold by her own stepmother. Theresia will do anything to secure what is rightfully hers—even assume a false identity and steal her future back. When she gains entrance to a house party and has a memorable run-in with the handsome naval captain Rolland Reese, her mission is compromised. She swore never to trust an Englishman again, but when he makes a daring proposal she cannot refuse, she must work side by side with him if either of them is to achieve their aim.

Rolland is stunned when his homecoming from the war takes a decidedly deadly turn. The quickest solution is to throw a house party and invite all the suspects. With the stakes incredibly high, Rolland must root out the killer before they turn their sights to the next potential victim: his own father. The mysterious Theresia is undoubtedly the most suspicious of his guests, but against all odds, he finds himself risking everything to protect her. As Rolland unravels a tangle of clues, he faces the greatest threats of all: a heart of fire and a future as fragile as glass.

AUTHOR BIO

Anneka R. Walker is a best-selling author of historical and contemporary romance. With humor and an abundance of heart, she crafts uplifting stories you won't soon forget. She is the winner of the Swoony Award, the LDSPMA Praiseworthy Award, and various chapter contests. Her books have received praise from Publishers Weekly, Historical Novel Society, Midwest Book Review, and Readers Favorite. She graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in English and history and hopes to never stop learning. She is a blessed wife, proud mother of five, lover of Jesus, connoisseur of chocolate, and believer in happy endings.

To Kiss a Wallflower by Jen Geigle Johnson, Heather B. Moore, and Anneka R. Walker (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Title:  Timeless Regency Collection – To Kiss a Wallflower

Author:  Jen Geigle Johnson, Heather B. Moore, and Anneka R. Walker

Narrated by:  Shane East & Shakira Shute

Publisher: Mirror Press

Length: Approximately 8 hours and 31 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Mirror Press.  Thank-you!

 What would be the perk of being a wallflower?  I have never read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but I realized as I listened to this audiobook collection that all of the ladies have a reason why they like being a wallflower.

 To Kiss a Wallflower is a Timeless Regency Collection of three delightful novellas.  I had an enjoyable time listening to these stories and I was only sad that they had to end.  I just love the Timeless Regency Collections.  I have enjoyed every one I’ve read.  This is the first time I have listened to one as an audiobook experience, and it was wonderful.  There were two narrators, Shane East & Shakira Shute who alternated chapters depending on what perspective was narrating.  It was very entertaining.

  I will give my thoughts on each of the novellas below.

 “The Wallflower’s Dance,” by Jen Geigle Johnson

Lottie is tongue tied in social situations, but she always has her good friend Denny to help her out and have someone to dance with.  After she unexpectedly inherits a fortune, she finds herself suddenly no longer a wallflower and pursued by many eligible young men.  But what if the only man she wants has really been there all along?  This was a friends to lovers trope and I loved it.

“Letters to a Wallflower,” by Heather B. Moore

Ellen has been proclaimed a “diamond of the first water,” and her mother is pushing her into marrying a titled gentleman.  After betting with her cousin Dinah, Ellen dresses down and joins the wallflowers hoping for an evening of peace.  What she doesn’t know is that Lord Ravenshire’s mother has told him to dance with all of the wallflowers in his search for a wife.  Lord Ravenshire just wants to do the minimum to appease his mother so he can return to his estate.  When Ellen and Lord Ravinshire meet, they find they have a lot to talk about.    Will they be able to find common ground?  This had fake dating and I loved this story.

 “To Marry a Wallflower,” by Anneka R. Walker

Charlotte has been betrothed by her father to a man she has never met, Lord Templeton.  Charlotte would rather stay a wallflower, but she is curious about the man she is going to marry.  When she finds a man who knows Lord Templeton, she pretends to be her cousin to find out more information from Mr. Luke.  What she doesn’t realize is that Lord Templeton had the same idea.  This was a cute story of mistaken identity.

I didn’t have one favorite story, I enjoyed all three.  I loved that the ladies all embraced their own natures and their wallflower status.  I also liked that they all decided they were going to stand strong and forge their own path in the world.

QUICK FACTS

·       Title: To Kiss a Wallflower

·       Series: Timeless Regency Collection (Book 19)

·       Authors: Jen Geigle Johnson, Heather B. Moore, & Anneka R. Walker

·       Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Inspirational Fiction

·       Publisher: Mirror Press (June 21, 2022)

·       Length: (305) pages

·       Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook 

·       ISBN: 978-1952611261

·       Tour Dates: June 20 – July 1, 2022

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

To Kiss a Wallflower is the nineteenth book in the Timeless Regency Collection, a bestselling anthology series from Mirror Press. The book features three novellas from acclaimed historical romance authors whose stories reveal that eventually, all wallflowers will have their chance at love . . . This is where it begins.

“The Wallflower’s Dance,” by Jen Geigle Johnson

Lottie Hughes likes people, as long as they aren't too close. Does it bother her that no one asks her to dance? Yes, but she's not sure how to drum up dance partners when she has almost no dowry, no title, and freezes up when anyone tries to talk to her. When she suddenly inherits a huge amount and is the new center of attention all over London, her secret dreams might come true but also her worst nightmares. Suddenly everyone wants to talk to her. Men ask her to dance. And she is inundated with interested suitors. She fights to stay close to the few friends she knows are true. One man saw her before her life changed forever. But does she want to accept his help when he, too, might be insincere?

“Letters to a Wallflower,” by Heather B. Moore

Ellen might be beautiful and considered a diamond of the first water by Society, but she is so very tired of the pressure to marry a titled gentleman so that her beauty won’t go to waste. When her cousin Dinah dares Ellen to attend a ball with no frills and to stand with the wallflowers, Ellen takes on the dare. What’s in the wager for her? The prize cuttings of her aunt’s extraordinary roses. But what Ellen isn’t expecting is Lord Ravenshire to engage her in the most interesting conversation. When she confesses to him of her opposition in marrying for a title, he confesses his distaste of the London scene. They strike a bargain together, one which will either push them apart or lead to a future sweeter than either of them could have imagined.

“To Marry a Wallflower,” by Anneka R. Walker

Charlotte Winters is destined to spinsterhood until she turns down an unwanted proposal and everything changes. With gossip rampant, her father attempts to salvage her reputation by betrothing her to another. Soon she is sent off to her aunt’s to meet Lord Templeton, her intended. Anxiety-ridden, Charlotte begs her aunt to let her observe Lord Templeton from afar before their introduction. She never planned to pretend to be her fictional cousin to learn more about him, or to fall in love with Lord Templeton’s friend in the process. Lord Templeton dreads returning to the empty halls of Newcliff Manor. When his father’s old friend, Mr. Winters reaches out for assistance, Lord Templeton finds himself returning home engaged to a woman he has never met. Desperate to learn more about Miss Winters, he befriends her cousin. He wouldn’t have spoken to her, or lied about his identity, if he’d known the quiet woman would sneak into his heart.

ABOUT THE SERIES

Since 2015, Mirror Press has been presenting the Timeless Regency 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 - I loved the unique twists that each author used in their stories and how they tied them into the theme.”— Julie Carpenter, Goodreads

·       “What a great set of stories! If you have read any of these three authors you know you are in for a treat. If you aren’t familiar with them, prepare to add their names to your list of favorites.”— Shauna Jones, Goodreads

·       “I thoroughly enjoyed all three of these novellas. They were lighthearted, fun, and took me away from my worries for a while.”— A Bookish Romantic, Goodreads

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS

AUTHOR BIOS

Jen Geigle Johnson

An award-winning author, including the GOLD in Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards and LDSPMA Praiseworthy's top award for Romance, Jen Geigle Johnson has more stories circulating in her brain than can possibly be told. She discovered her passion for England while kayaking on the Thames near London as a young teenager. History is her main jam. Her literary heroes include the greats: Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. But she has modern sensibilities as well.

She loves to share bits of history that might otherwise be forgotten. Whether in Regency England, the French Revolution, or Colonial America, her romance novels are much like life is supposed to be: full of adventure.

WEBSITE |  TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

 

Heather B. Moore

 Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestseller and award-winning author of more than seventy publications. She's lived on both the east and west coasts of the United States, including Hawaii, and attended school abroad including the Cairo American College in Egypt, and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. She loves to learn about anything in history and, as an author, is passionate about historical research.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

 

Anneka R. Walker

Anneka Walker is an award-winning author raised by a librarian and an English teacher turned judge. After being fed a steady diet of books, she decided to learn about writing. The result was a bachelor's degree in English and history. When she isn't dreaming up a happy ending for a story, she is busy living her own with her husband and adorable children.

WEBSITE | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS