Welcome to my tour stop! Read my review of this delightful novella collection below...
To Kiss a Wallflower
(Timeless Regency Collection #19)
By Jen Geigle Johnson, Heather B. Moore, & Anneka R. Walker
Adult Historical Romance, Regency, Inspirational
Paperback, Audiobook & eBook, 305 Pages
June 21, 2022 by Mirror Press
Summary
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
My Review
TO KISS A WALLFLOWER is a collection of three short stories involving heroines who are all wallflowers, or at least posing as such, and the men who fall in love with them. The characters are likable and the stories include some humor and sweet romance. An overall delightful collection.
THE WALLFLOWER'S DANCE by Jen Geigle Johnson is a story about a woman who is witty, smart, kind and beautiful but who freezes up in company. She has a titled gentleman as a best friend who she has always been able to talk to and who she doesn't want to lose. When her circumstances change, so does her relationship with him. What ensues is a bit of a mess as she tries to figure out who she should marry and her friend tries to figure out his own heart. There was some rough dialogue and several things that were unrealistic, but I liked the characters and found the story to be enjoyable.
LETTERS TO A WALLFLOWER by Heather B. Moore was my favorite story from this collection. In this story the heroine poses as a wallflower the night the hero comes to a London ball in search of a wife, per his mother's demands. They end up coming to an agreement that suites them both but find things change unexpectedly. I loved both of these characters and the chemistry between them that literally leapt off the page. I also enjoyed the way the author allowed meaningful looks between the main characters but also between some of the family members. It was a well-written story and a delight to read!
TO MARRY A WALLFLOWER by Anneka R. Walker was a fun story about two individuals who become betrothed without ever meeting each other and then practice a bit of subterfuge to find out information about the other. It's a sweet story with palpable chemistry and great characters who I couldn't help but loving. The ending was especially sweet. Definitely a joy to read!
In the end, was it what I wished for? This was an enjoyable and entertaining collection. A good pick for those looking for that happily-ever-after contentment in short-story form, and for fans of clean historical romance with good chemistry and lovely characters.
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Austenprose PR, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
About the Authors
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.
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.
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.
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