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
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.
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Review:
Such a lovely collection! I listened to the audiobook version, which was nicely read by the narrator. Hearing a historical romance set in England read to you in a British accent just makes the experience that much more immersive, doesn’t it? 🙂
THE PLUCKY MISS RUTH by Laura Rollins was a sweet story that give us two romances in one! The title character, Miss Ruth, isn’t even thinking of a romance for herself for much of the story–she’s focused on helping her cousin Nettie recover from the difficult year she has been having. When she encounters a slight acquaintence, Lord Lambert, on one of their daily walks, she soon enlists his help in reuniting her cousin with her etranged former fiance. Watching Ruth fall into love without even realizing it is just as delightful as witnessing the second chance at romance that she facilitates (after only a few teensy, tiny hiccups along the way, of course).
Rating: 4 stars / A-
MR. DOWLING’S REMEDY by Annette Lyon has one of the most unique settings for a historical romance that I think I’ve ever seen–the main characters are inmates in an asylum. Beverly Stanton is there because of a vague diagnosis of “hysteria” (AKA her stepfather wanted to be rid of her inconvenient existence) and Crandall Dowling is there with an even less realistic disgnosis of…demonic possession, apparently? He actually has what seems to be Tourette syndrome, and goodness, is it difficult to watch how he is treated for much of the book. Beverly isn’t bothered by his situation, though, and I loved watching them secretly fall in love while trying to find a way for them to be able to have a life outside of the asylum. The way in which they do manage to find their HEA is as believable as it is rewarding, though, yikes–things do get rather intense there for a bit!
Rating: 4 stars / A-
A RAILWAY THROUGH THE ROSES by Lisa H. Catmull is a sweet friends-to-lovers story. It’s told through Annie’s POV, so we’re not 100% sure that Adrian has the same feelings for her that she’s fairly clueless about until the last chapter in a half, but we’re just as hopeful that he does as is everyone else close to her. This one also has a lovely secondary romance happening in the background for her cousin, and the glimpse into HEA that the epilogue gives us for both couples is especially satisfying.
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
About the authors:
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.
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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.
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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.