Review Briefs: Silver Bells & Twist of Fate

Silver Bells Collection (A Timeless Romance Anthology)Silver Bells:
Six Historical Christmas Novellas
(A Timeless Romance Anthology)
by Lucinda Brant, Sarah M. Eden, Heather B. Moore, Lu Ann Brobst Staheli, Annette Lyon, & Becca Wilhite
Adult Historical Romance, Christmas
Ebook, 292 Pages
October 14th 2014 by Mirror Press    
 
Summary

Amazon #1 Bestselling series in *New Release* for Clean Romance

Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Silver Bells. Readers will love this collection of six historical romance novellas, all centered around the Christmas season.

In NY Times & USA Today’s bestselling author Lucinda Brant’s delightful novella, FAIRY CHRISTMAS, Kitty Aldershot is orphaned and forced to live on others’ charity. Offered a home under the generous roof of her relatives, the Earl of Salt Hendon and his countess, Kitty wants for nothing, not even the affections of Mr. Tom Allenby. But when Kitty stumbles across a letter written by Lady Caroline that reveals how Mr. Allenby would be ruined should he marry the likes of Kitty, she realizes she has been fooling herself all along. Kitty’s world crumbles around her as she recognizes she will forever be alone with no prospects at all.

Sarah M. Eden’s charming romance novella A CHRISTMAS PROMISE, Sean Kirkpatrick is trying to get to his new place of employment, Kilkenny Castle, in order to start as the new stablehand. His only requirement is to drive a team of high-spirited nags from Dublin to Kilkenny in a certain amount of time. Unfortunately he winds up in a muddy field, stuck, lost, and running out of time. He’s about to lose the job before he can prove himself capable of finishing his first assignment. When Maeve Butler arrives on the scene, Sean isn’t sure if she’s intent on rescuing him or bent on torturing him with her fiery wit and lovely dark eyes.

In Heather B. Moore’s enchanting novella, TWELVE MONTHS, Lucien Baxter’s best and most incorrigible friend, Will, dies unexpectedly, leaving behind his new bride and unborn child the week before Christmas. Will’s last request is that Lucien watches over Cora, not just as a benefactor, but as a husband. When Lucien does his duty and proposes to Cora, he’s turned down flat. But over the course of the next few days, Lucien discovers that marrying Cora wouldn’t be any sort of duty after all, but a matter of following his heart.

In Lu Ann Staheli’s sweet romance novella, A FEZZIWIG CHRISTMAS, Dick Wilkins and his best friend Ebenezer Scrooge have been looking forward to the annual Fezziwig Christmas dance for weeks. Ebenezer is practically engaged to Annabelle Fezziwig, and Dick hopes to start courting her younger sister, Pricilla. Once the dance starts, and Pricilla arrives, as pretty and charming as ever, Dick discovers that he’s not the only man vying for her attention. His best friend advises Dick that he has to win Pricilla’s heart, as well as her mother’s favor. Losing his heart has suddenly become very complicated.

A TASTE OF HOME, a captivating romance by Annette Lyon, we meet Claire Jennings, who’s on her way to spend Christmas with her family. As she rides the train with William Rhodes, who grew up across the street, memories of Christmases past flood her mind. He may be twenty-one now, but she can’t forget his torturous teasing from their school years. At the rail station, Claire discovers that her home is under quarantine because her little brother has measles. She's stuck in town, away from her family, on her favorite holiday. William stays behind with her, and as Christmas Day approaches and her homesickness deepens, she discovers that perhaps he has changed in more ways than one.

Becca Wilhite’s entrancing novella, MY MODERN GIRL, follows Margie, who lands her dream job as a clerk at Macy’s department store in New York City. Margie might be new in town, but she’s determined to succeed and prove to Henry that moving to the city was the right decision.

My Review

I love reading short romantic Christmas stories. They're sweet. They're fun. I can finish one in a single sitting and at the end they leave a smile on my face. These stories are no different.

FAIRY CHRISTMAS by Lucinda Brant - 4 stars
This was a sweet story that involved two romances. I found both to be sweet. I also liked the contrast between a younger and older couple falling in love and how the differences in their behavior. No one is ever too old to fall in love.

A CHRISTMAS PROMISE by Sarah M. Eden
 - 4 stars
This story was pretty much love at first sight. What I liked is that it was sincere and humorous. I also loved the feel of family with Maeve and her brothers. Another good story.

TWELVE MONTHS by Heather B. Moore - 3.5 stars
This was an interesting story. Basically the couple who should have probably been married in the first place are thrown together when her husband and his best friend passes away from an illness. There were some sweet moments.

A FEZZIWIG CHRISTMAS by Lu Ann Staheli - 3 stars
This felt like a retelling of Scrooge/A Christmas Carol, but about a younger and much happier Ebenezer and his co-worker and friend Dick. There were two romances in this one as well. It was a cute story, but not my favorite of the set.

A TASTE OF HOME by Annette Lyon - 5 stars
This was my favorite story from the set. I pretty much loved it from the first page to the last. I really liked the the two main characters had known each other their whole lives. Their history felt a little like Anne and Gilbert from Anne of Green Gables, especially with Will teasing Claire when they were younger because he had a crush on her and was trying to garner her attention. When they are thrown together again years later, that adoration is still there and Claire begins to notice Will in a different way. It was a sweet and heartfelt story, showing that Christmas can be found in more than just traditions, or places, or things, but in the people we love.

MY MODERN GIRL by Becca Wilhite - 4 stars
This story cracked me up. Margie was so focused on becoming part of her peers in the new flapper era that she lost sight of who she was and what she had in Henry. Oh, dear Henry. That guy was too good for her, but she made up for it in the end. I especially loved the symbolism of the glass hearts. Reminded me a little of the movie Sweet Home Alabama.

Overall Silver Bells was a sweet set of romantic Christmas stories. They each gave me a sweet happily-ever-after ending and reminded me that Christmas can be full of so much love.


Content: There was some innuendo and references to infidelity, but I would consider this clean.

Source: From a review site, which did not affect my review in any way.

Twist of Fate (A Holiday Romance Novella)Twist of Fate
(All I Want Anthology)
by Rachael Anderson
Adult Contemporary Romance, Christmas
Ebook111 Pages
June 2014 by HEA Publishing

Only $0.99 for Kindle!
Summary

When a postcard meant for Kenzie winds up in Ty's mailbox, Ty's faced with a decision. Should he tell her that her fiancé is breaking up with her and let it ruin her favorite holiday, or should he do what he's wanted to do since he met her - make a move and hope that he can win her over before she discovers there won't be a wedding after all?

My Review

This was my second time reading Twist of Fate, but the first was when it was included in the All I Want Anthology. I didn't realize I had already read it until I got through the first couple of changes and recognized that the heroine's first name was almost the exact copy of the hero's last name. I remembered it being a really fun and sweet story and so I didn't mind reading it again.

I pretty much swallowed this one up. I loved how Ty tried to work through Kenzie's resolve and get her to fall in love with him even though she was supposedly engaged to someone else, someone Ty felt didn't deserve her. I loved Ty's eccentric mother. She added some conflict and livened up the story a little. I also loved Kenzie's family and their knowing looks. My favorite part would have to be towards the end when Ty desperately tries to rectify things with Kenzie. It was sweet, fun, and lovely. This one definitely made me melt. Twist of Fate was an enjoyable Christmas romance that I won't mind reading again.

Content: Clean

Source: From a review site, which did not affect my review in any way.


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