Description:
In Karen Witemeyer's "The Husband Maneuver," Marietta Hawkins decides to grab the reins when the ranch foreman she loves seems to be leaving forever. Regina Jennings offers "Her Dearly Unintended," where friends stranded by a rising river pretend to be newlyweds when a dangerous stranger arrives.
Mary Connealy's "Runaway Bride" finds a Texas ranger getting more than he expected when he rescues a young woman fleeing a dangerous arranged marriage. And Melissa Jagears' "Engaging the Competition" finds a young woman forced to assist the man she's often sparred with after an accident leaves him helpless. Each tale is a fun blend of history and romance that will delight readers.
About the Authors:
Karen Witemeyer is a winner of the Carol Award and has been a finalist for the RITA Award and National Readers' Choice Award. She lives with her husband and three children in Abilene, Texas. www.karenwitemeyer.com
Mary Connealy is well-known for her award-winning, bestselling historical romantic comedies. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband and has four grown daughters. www.maryconnealy.com
Regina Jennings is the author of five acclaimed historical romances. She lives outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with her husband and four children. www.reginajennings.com
Melissa Jagears, author of the Unexpected Brides series, is a homeschooling mother of three little ones on a tiny Kansas farm with a fixer-upper house. Her first novella, Love by the Letter, won the 2014 Carol Award for Best Novella. www.melissajagears.com
My Review: 4 stars
First off, you should know that I typically avoid novella collections like they have the plague. I almost always feel they are too short and the storylines lacking depth. That said, I actually really enjoyed this one! I knew I had to read it when I found out that two of my favorite historical authors (Karen Witemeyer and Mary Connealy) were a part of it, and they definitely didn’t disappoint! I appreciated the fact that each of the books are stories for secondary characters I’ve met in the authors’ full length novels (I’m actually not entirely positive about Melissa’s story, but I’m assuming). I believe that is part of the reason I enjoyed it so much. I already felt that I knew the characters a bit from the previous novels, so the shorter length didn’t bother me.
I usually chat about each novella, but I don’t really find that necessary, in this case. I very much enjoyed all of the characters and getting to see them find their “happily ever afters.” If you enjoy these authors and their books, I firmly believe you’ll love this collection! All of the authors did an excellent job of working with the shorter story and still bringing everything to life, then to a satisfying conclusion. It sometimes surprised me at how quickly I found myself finished with a story, but I didn’t feel as though any of them were missing something when I reached the final page. I am going to be honest and admit that I didn’t love Melissa Jagears’ novella, though I’m not a huge fan of her books (sorry!), so I was kind of expecting that. Despite that, I still enjoyed her story and hope fans of hers will, too!
Even if you, like me, tend to shy away from novella collections, I highly recommend giving this book a go! It was a delightful way to spend a few hours and I’m definitely looking forward to more collections from Bethany House!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review! I hope you enjoyed it!
If you're interested in looking into the book further, there are links below. Have a delightful day!
Amazon
Christian Book
Barnes & Noble
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