Hearts Entwined - Four Historical Romance Novellas of Love (With a Twist of Humor)

Hearts Entwined is a book filled with four novellas by authors Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears. They are stories of love with some humor mixed in.

FROM THE BACK COVER:

"The Love Knot" (Karen Witemeyer) - When Claire Nevin's troubled younger sibling sends her an unexpected package by rail, the gift and the man who delivers it--an unexpected face from the past--threaten to upend Claire's life forever. Fighting to hold on to all she has built, will she lose what matters most?

"The Tangled Ties That Bind" (Mary Connealy) - Connor Kincaid returns home determined to win the hand of the woman he was too young for when he left. But Maggie is training to be a doctor in a distant town, while Connor's about to settle on a ranch. Will either be willing to give up their dream? Or will they both have to give up the love of a lifetime?

"Bound and Determined" (Regina Jennings) - As punishment for his recklessness, Private Bradley Willis is sent on an errand to help a retired cavalry officer move a herd across Indian Territory. No one told him the herd would be camels instead of cattle, nor that the officer's headstrong daughter, Ambrosia Herald, would seem to be trying to undermine the whole enterprise. He's definitely been saddled with more than he's bargained for.

"Tied and True" (Melissa Jagears) - Wealthy Marianne Lister is in love with business assistant Calvin Hochstetler, but he can't see past the difference din their socail status. When Marianne takes a job to prove that she is prepared for a life of hard work alongside the man of her dreams, will it be enough to convince Calvin to risk it all for love?

MY THOUGHTS:

I do love books that include several novellas as they are great books to carry with me when I have to sit waiting for appointments. This book is exceptionally good because I enjoy all four authors. However, for this blog I am highlighting Tied and True by Melissa Jagears.

Ms. Jagears always presents a sweet romance with strong storylines. I love the characters in this novella and how the author showed that stations in life really don't matter as long as you have the love of the Lord in your hearts.

The heroine, Marianne Lister comes from a wealthy family but has cared for Calvin Hochstetler, a business assistant, for a long time. She flirts with him but he keeps his distance as he knows his station in life is far below hers. But Marianne's heart belongs to Calvin and she is detemined to prove to him that money doesn't mean anything to her, She decides to get a job in a factory to prove to Calvin she doesn't need her family's money.

I enjoyed how Ms. Jagears allowed the reader to see Marianne's big heart. In fact I believe the reader sees it faster then Calvin sees it.

I would highly recommend this anthology of novellas for anyone who enjoys clean historical novels.

I would like to thank author Melissa Jagears and Bethany House for my copy of Hearts Entwined. I received my complimentary copy with no expectations of a positive review.

Smiles & Blessings,

With This Ring - A Novella Collection of Proposals Gone Awry by Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Mary Connealy , & Melissa Jagears

While I love reading a full length novel, I thoroughly enjoy reading novellas. They are quick reads that can help tide a reader over until the next novel reaches their hands.

With This Ring?  is a collection of four stories by Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Mary Connealy, and Melissa Jagears. It is an enjoyable read by four wonderful authors.

"The Husband Maneuver" by Karen Witemeyer is a sweet story about Marietta Hawkins and Daniel Barrett. Marietta has loved Daniel for years and now finds he may be leaving her father's ranch. What will Marietta do to in order to get Daniel to propose? 

This was a sweet story that I would love to see a full length novel to carry on their story. 

"Her Dearly Unintended" by Regina Jennings is the story of Josiah Huckabee and Katie Ellen Watson. While assisting Katie Ellen in trying to get her cows safely across the river, Josiah hadn't anticipated being stranded with her. When a stranger appears, Josiah and Katie Ellen pretend they are newlyweds in order to protect Katie Ellen. Will their fake marriage turn into something real?

Another sweet story with misunderstandings and a happy ending.

"Runaway Bride" by Mary Connealy is the story of Carrie Halsey and Texas Ranger Big John Conroy. Carrie's father has planned an arranged marriage for her but Carrie's sister, Audra steps in and has Big John come to her rescue. 

There was a lot of tension in this novella and I found it quite enjoyable. I would love to see an expanded story though.

"Engaging the Competition" by Melissa Jagears. This is the story of school teacher Harrison Gray and tomboy Charlotte Andrews who goes by the name of Charlie. Charlie's father has died and her mother hasn't accepted he truth yet. A neighboring farm has been stealing her animals and her ranch hands. She decides she must marry one of their family in order to keep her home and help her mom to get over her father's death. She proposes to August Whitaker and he accepts. 

The pastor can see Charlie has only gotten engaged out of convenience and he asks Harrison to go check on Charlie at her ranch. This causes Harrison and Charlie to face their past together. Charlie had embarrassed Harrison in front of his friends and Harrison couldn't get past it. Now they have been given another chance, but it is too late? Can the feelings of the past take them into a future together? And what about August?

I loved the entire collection of novellas but I must admit my favorite was "Engaging the Competion". I fell in love with Harrison and Charlie and would love to see an extension of their story.

I would highly recommend this book of novellas to anyone who loves a good sweet read and who enjoys short reads.

I would like to thank Melissa Jagears and Bethany House for my copy of With This Ring. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review.

Smiles & Blessings,

A Most Inconvenient Marriage by Regina Jennings

I always like to read books by authors I have never read before. Sometimes I am extremely happy with my choice, other times I'm not so happy. I can honestly say that from the first page to the last, I was extremely happy with my choice to read Regina Jennings' book A Most Inconvenient Marriage.

The book begins in the last few months of the Civil War, in St. Louis, Missouri. Abigail Stuart is a nurse at the Gratiot Street Prison where she tends to Confederate prisoners of war. Her family has turned her out and the only place she has is the prison, at least until they transfer the prisoners out and close down the prison. As the story begins, she is tending to a man who calls himself Captain Jeremiah Calhoun. He has lost an arm in the war and has developed gangrene. Knowing he will be dead soon, he proposes to Abigail offering her a marriage of convenience which includes his farm, livestock and horses, providing she will look after his ailing sister, Rachel, and his mother. Abigail agrees and after a quick wedding, Jeremiah dies and she leaves for the Ozarks to begin her new life on Jeremiah's farm.

Her new life isn't going to be as easy as she thought as she has to confront Laurel, Jeremiah's former fiancee, Rachel, his temperamental sister, and his family and friends who all feel Abigail is telling a tall tale about marrying Jeremiah. But the biggest confrontation is when the real Jeremiah Calhoun shows up quite alive. Will Abigail pack her bags and leave? Will the real Jeremiah fall in love with Abigail? Will Abigail fall in love with him? Or will Laurel capture Jeremiah's heart all over again. These answers can all be found inside the covers of this wonderful book, A Most Inconvenient Marriage.

Ms. Jennings has created strong believable characters in Abigail and Jeremiah and the tension between these characters is quite palpable. There are a lot of moments that tickle the funny bone in this book as well. I would highly recommend A Most Inconvenient Marriage to anyone who enjoys reading a good clean historical novel.

On a 5-Star scale - 4 1/2 stars!!!!

I would like to thank Bethany House for my copy of A Most Inconvenient Marriage. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

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