giveaway – Timeless Novels

Blog Tour and Review: The Holly and the Ivy

October 10, 2022October 8, 2022timelessnovels

by Sarah M. Eden, Esther Hatch, Dana LeCheminant, Anneka R. Walker

Publisher ‏: ‎Covenant Communications (October 3, 2022)
Language ‏: ‎English
Paperback ‏:‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏: ‎1524422223
ISBN-13 ‏: ‎978-1524422226

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Spend the holidays with four of your favorite historical romance authors, whose stories of Yuletide romance will brighten the season with humor, hope, and the promise of true love.

“The Holly and the Ivy” by Sarah M. Eden
As nursemaid to the eight-year-old Duke of Kielder, Robbie will spend her holidays with her young charge as a guest of Lord and Lady Jonquil. While the couple makes the child’s holiday magical, the handsome gardener works his own magic on Nurse Robbie’s heart.

“Hiding Christmas” by Esther Hatch
Celebrating Christmas in Scotland will only invite persecution. But that never stopped Kirstine’s English grandmother. When they are almost caught, Kirstine is forced to beg for the help of the one man she cannot abide.

“A Twist of Christmas” by Dana LeCheminant
A Christmas house party offers two members of the ton an irresistible opportunity: a weekend of anonymity. But their charade comes with unexpected romantic consequences.

“A Season to Love” by Anneka R. Walker
Alice Hunt is searching for a Christmas miracle: a husband of her choosing. With the threat of an arranged marriage looming, she looks to an unlikely matchmaker for help.

“The Holly and the Ivy” by Sarah M. Eden

Adam is my favorite Sarah Eden character, and I loved that this story took place when he was 8 and just a “little Duke” at the time. If you haven’t read Adam’s other stories yet, I highly suggest you do.

Robbie and Howard had a sweet romance. I liked seeing Robbie’s point of view of having been with Adam for 8 years but she knew her time with the family was drawing to a close now that Adam was being sent away for his education.

Adam missed celebrating Christmas because his mother sent him away and he was alone at school during the holiday. The Jonquils, Robbie, and Howard help create Christmas for Adam to celebrate in April. While this takes place in the story, it is not the main focus. The story focuses more on Adam growing up and taking on the serious role of a Duke, and Robbie trying to find out where she fits in.

No spoilers, but there is an Easter egg at the end of chapter 15 for people who have read other connected books, and I was losing it!

“Hiding Christmas” by Esther Hatch

While not illegal any longer, Christmas is still frowned upon in Scotland. Every year Kirstine and her grandmother have to travel a few days by carriage in order to celebrate in England with family.

This year, Kirstine’s grandmother starts one of their Christmas traditions early, and in order to hide it from Kirstine’s cousin, the new kirk elder, estranged neighbor Mr Parker gets roped into the trip to England.

Mr Parker has never felt like he fit into English society. When his friend and fellow soldier talks about his home and family in Scotland, Mr Parker feels drawn there.

This story was so cute, sweet, and funny! I always think it’s harder to have fully developed characters in a novella that you can connect with and a non rushed storyline, but this story nails it.

“A Twist of Christmas” by Dana LeCheminant

Graham is a Viscount who is tired of people only seeing him for his title and overlooking his younger brother for his lack of one. They decide to switch places for a house party so Graham can have a break and blend into the background, and Henry can be seen for the wonderful man his brother knows he is.

Lady Elizabeth is a Duke’s daughter, and she and her companion Jemma decide to switch places as well for the house party.

I love how Graham got awkward around Beth because he liked her. It was adorable. They had some really cute scenes together.

I have never read this author before, and I really enjoyed this story. Her book The Thief and the Noble is on my TBR list and now I want to bump it higher up on the list.

“A Season to Love” by Anneka R. Walker

As the last of her sisters to remain unmarried, Alice prays that God will bring her a husband before she is forced to marry someone not of her choosing. The pastor Mr Perry overhears her plea, and they work together to find her a husband.

I loved that Mr Perry wasn’t your traditional serious clergyman. He wanted people to realize the man behind the clergyman, and he had a fun, playful side.

I liked the dynamic of this couple and how they played off of each other.

The children in this story are so cute. I liked the choir boys and little “Freckles”.

I always enjoy interconnected stories, especially novellas. You can read it as a standalone, but if you have read Julia and Ivy’s stories, you already feel connected to this family.

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Blog Tour and Review: Healing Hazel

September 27, 2022September 26, 2022timelessnovels

by Jennifer Moore

Publisher : Covenant Communications (September 8, 2022)
Language : English
ISBN-10 : 1524422185
ISBN-13 : 978-1524422189

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A Victorian Romance

Hazel Thornton has one great ambition: to help the sick and wounded as a nurse. But that dream can never become a reality. After a devastating childhood trauma, she has spent her life battling fits of panic that make it impossible to finish her studies. Everything changes, however, when a trip to Spain takes a perilous turn that derails her plans to visit her father for Christmas and immediately plunges her into the dangers of a brutal war.

With single-minded focus, she springs into action to help her fellow travelers. To ensure their continued care, she begins work at a Spanish hospital alongside Dr. Jim Jackson, a man whose only emotion seems to be wariness of his new assistant. Armed with gifts of support from each of her dearest friends, a group that dubs themselves the Blue Orchid Society, Hazel embarks on a journey of hope and healing to battle the demons of her past with the help of the doctor who has captured her heart.

Hazel Thornton can have an unassuming personality, but she cares so deeply for others and wants to help them. She is still in training to be a nurse, but after a train accident on the way to see her father for Christmas, her skills are required in full force.

Despite the fact that Hazel suffers from panic attacks, she rarely lets it stop her from doing what needs to be done. Her profession is very high stress and every second matters, yet Hazel powers through. She also finds herself in a country where she doesn’t speak the language and her friends are incapacitated. So much is going against Hazel, yet she maintains her positive attitude and stays strong.

Dr. Jim Jackson is an American doctor working with the Red Cross. He can come across as having a gruff exterior, but he also wants to heal people.

Hazel and Jim had a slow and quiet relationship. They were attracted to each other right away, but due to the circumstances, their relationship stayed more on a professional level.

This story is much more than their romance. I really like reading about the events that took place in this story, and I love the friendship of the women in the Blue Orchid Society.

While this is part of The Blue Orchid Society series, and we get to see some scenes with the other members, this book can very easily be read as a standalone.

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Blog Tour and Review: A Tenuous Betrothal

August 22, 2022August 21, 2022timelessnovels

by Jen Geigle Johnson

Publisher : Covenant Communications (August 8, 2022)
Language : English
ISBN-10 : 1524422576
ISBN-13 : 978-1524422578

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Orphaned and penniless, Rhianna has no hope of a happy ending-until she learns of a generations-old connection to the royal family of Oldenburg. But marrying a prince would come with its own set of problems.

Rhianna Davies is well-acquainted with heartache after the painful loss of her parents. At the arrival of her ghastly uncle, she is brought even lower: Rhi has been banished from her family’s estate home and must rely on the kindness of her tightly knit Welsh miners for help. Without the protective love of her parents, Rhi has no illusions that hers will be a happy ending-until an addendum to her father’s will arrives in the hands of a prince.

Marc Wilhelm, Prince of Oldenburg, is in Wales with one purpose: to claim his betrothed. A long-ago promise between their fathers forges an indelible link between Rhi and Marc, but there remains just one problem: neither wants to marry a stranger. With no remaining ties to Wales, Rhi agrees to accompany Marc to Oldenburg, where he will forfeit their betrothal so she may have her pick of husbands. But their journey takes them down unexpected paths, from the depths of a Welsh mine to the marriage mart of London to a warm reception in Oldenburg. Rhi and Marc discover that their connection and their challenges run deeper than either anticipated, but whether from their own hesitations or from danger that threatens without, the couple might be thwarted before they can even begin the happily ever after they so richly deserve.

Left an orphan and with an uncle who treats her poorly, Rhianna Davies is looking for a place to call home. I liked Rhi. She isn’t weak, and she cares about the workers at her family’s mine and wants to keep them safe. She doesn’t want to rush into an arranged marriage with someone she doesn’t love.

Marc Wilhelm has become betrothed to Rhianna through an agreement with their fathers. While he feels a certain sense of duty, he believed himself unable to wed. Marc bothered me at times. He knew his feelings for Rhi but feared for her safety so he didn’t want to pursue a relationship. That was understandable. However, he still played with her feelings and continued to flirt with her. I know he was battling with himself, but he made things a lot harder on her.

I like interconnected stories, and this group of brothers is fun. These books can all be read on their own, but I find them more enjoyable when you read them in order. I liked seeing more of Henri and Kristoff in this book as well as the other brothers. Kristoff’s book should be funny, but I think Henri’s is the one I most look forward to.

I always like reading the author’s notes, and I liked the inclusion of the author’s family connection to Wales and mining in the story.

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Blog Tour and Review: The Dreaming Beauty

July 18, 2022July 18, 2022timelessnovels

by Anneka R. Walker

Publisher : Covenant Communications (July 11, 2022)
Language : English
Paperback : 256 pages
ISBN-10 : 1524422061
ISBN-13 : 978-1524422066

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An Enchanted Regency Romance

Once upon a dream, two cursed people fell in love…

Tansy White doesn’t want to end up alone like her three aunts who raised her, but when she is betrayed by her would-be betrothed, she fears she might never change her fate. At her aunts’ suggestion, she seizes the chance to visit Rose Cottage, the country home of her late mother. For years, dreams of the cottage have haunted Tansy, and she is convinced it holds the answer to her hidden past. But after getting caught in a terrible storm, she meets a man who is just as determined as she is to learn all her secrets.

Marcus Taylor, brother to the Duke of Westmorland, is also troubled by vivid dreams. On a sleepless night, as a tempest rages outside his brother’s estate, he makes a discovery far more mysterious than any dream: a young woman, cold as ice, lies unconscious in the library, and he is sure she is the key to solving his problems. When she makes, what begins as a shared quest for information turns into an unexpected friendship. As they piece together the fragments of their past, they discover a tangled web of lies, and their feelings for each other become just as entwined. But is their love as strong as their dreams. . . or their fate?

Growing up, my favorite fairy tale was Sleeping Beauty. The Dreaming Beauty was such a great twist on this classic! I loved all the little nods to the original, but I liked the storyline and characters in this book even better. Anneka Walker is such a beautiful storyteller. This book has romance, mystery, and so many secrets.

Marcus Taylor has always had to live his life in his step brother’s shadow. His entire focus has been to help Simon with the Dukedom. Simon comes off as somewhat lazy and irresponsible, but his family are also enablers because they do everything for him and he never has a need to do it himself.

Tansy White has always been conflicted by her dreams. Her aunts have kept her parentage from her, and she feels like a large part of herself is missing.

Tansy and Marcus are both kind hearted people who struggle with finding the balance of family and putting their personal needs first. I loved them together. They had some beautiful scenes under the stars.

I loved that there were some appearances with characters from The Masked Baron. That is such a great book! I hope we have more books in this series. I would love for Simon to get his own story. The covers in this series are stunning!

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Blog Tour and Review: Where Dreams Meet

July 14, 2022July 18, 2022timelessnovels

by Jennifer Moore, Renae Weight Mackley, Carolyn Twede Frank, Carla Kelly

Publisher : Covenant Communications (June 30, 2022)
Language : English
ISBN-10 : 1524421529
ISBN-13 : 978-1524421526

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To Love a Spy
by Jennifer Moore

New York, 1781
Despite her family’s betrayal of the Crown, Susannah Partridge remains loyal to the king. But when she becomes embroiled in the treasonous activities of her charming neighbor, Eli Matthews, Susannah must determine where her allegiance truly lies.

Southern Belle, Yankee Heart
by Renae Weight Mackley

Richmond, 1861
The Union is splintering, and Northern dressmaker Rebecca Steed finds herself stuck in the South with little money and even less hope. But being stranded in Virginia comes with an unexpected silver lining in the form of Nathan Hill, a man whose opposition to slavery and determination to do what is right quickly win her affection. But how can she give her heart to a soldier who may never come back from the war?

Where Dreams Meet
by Carolyn Twede Frank

New York, 1892
When Jane O’Shea arrives at Ellis Island from Ireland, she has nothing but a desire to make her way in the world. With help from Peter Dockery, a gentle stranger, Jane embarks on her new life. As the couple faces seemingly insurmountable odds, they discover that adversity is better faced alongside the one you love.

The Sun, Moon, Stars, and You
by Carla Kelly

Washington, DC, 1905
Nothing could have prepared Lieutenant Hank Thornton for his new post in Washington, DC. As a military aide to President Teddy Roosevelt in the White House, Hank is to be nothing more than a dashing dance partner at various political events. It isn’t until he meets Minnie Gallagher, an intrepid copy corrector at a local paper, that he begins to see the possibilities of this odd assignment.

Where Dreams Meet is a collection of four stories throughout America’s history.

“To Love a Spy” by Jennifer Moore

I recently read When the Day Comes which takes place during the early days of the American Revolution, so I loved reading this time period further on in the war even more right now. It actually isn’t a period I have read a lot of books from, and between these two books, I have really been enjoying this time period.

When I had first begun reading this story, I mentioned to a family member that the story is about a Loyalist and a Patriot. We discussed what it must have been like for people during that time to choose sides. Susannah ends up struggling with that very problem. I really liked reading about her thought process behind it.

I had also heard about similar tavern situations in Massachusetts and how the British used them. I liked that this story was told from one of the points of views of the family. I had recently visited one of these taverns, and after reading this story, I visited two more of them.

“Southern Belle, Yankee Heart” by Renae Weight Mackley

Northerner Rebecca Steed is in Virginia on business buying fabric when they declare the vote to secede. This forces Rebecca to either stay in Virginia, or lose all the money she spent on her fabric. She is pretty quick to pass judgement on all Southerners. While there are some outspoken ones with very bad points of view, she attributes that to all of them. The longer she stays in Virginia, the more she learns her judgements could have been too rash.

Nathan Hill is a businessman who travels back and forth between the hotel Rebecca stays at. Rebecca declares him a fence sitter, but she is immediately attracted to him. Since he is a Southerner, she doesn’t want to develop any feelings for him.

Nathan and Rebecca have a conversation about just being an American. During this time period was the brother against brother war. Yes, there were real issues that needed to be resolved, but they decided to fight instead of resolve them properly. This is still the same case today. Instead of all being Americans (over even better – just humans), people like to divide people along political lines, or race, or income, or any number of things. People still haven’t learned.

“Where Dreams Meet” by Carolyn Twede Frank

Jane O’Shea arrives in Ellis Island from Ireland and she doesn’t have enough money to cover the train fare to her family in Missouri. Peter Dockery notices her plight and helps her out. Not only do they share a destination, but they also have something else in common.

I really enjoyed reading this story. There was a little less history than than previous two stories, and I would have liked a little more Irish background, but I loved the storyline and the characters. I read this story very quickly because I found it so interesting. I liked the message that adversity can make us stronger.

“The Sun, Moon, Stars, and You” by Carla Kelly

Minnie Gallagher is a copy editor who dreams of being a journalist. She also believes that women should have the right to vote. Minnie is very sweet and polite to people, but she is also a very strong, intelligent woman.

After insulting the President’s infamous daughter Alice, Hank Thornton is assigned the menial duty of escorting her on horse back rides and cataloging wedding gifts. Unlike his fellow lieutenants, Hank doesn’t have lofty goals. His dreams may be simpler, but that doesn’t mean he has no ambitions.

Hank and Minnie had a more quiet and sweet courtship as they got to know each other more. I also liked the supporting characters in this story. I loved all the historical elements throughout this story. It was interesting to read the author’s note at the end and find out what had really happened. This was a cute story with a lot of deeper meaning.

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Blog Tour and Review: Midnight’s Budding Morrow

May 31, 2022May 28, 2022timelessnovels

by Carolyn Miller

Publisher : Kregel Publications (May 31, 2022)
Language : English
Paperback : 312 pages
ISBN-10 : 0825446546
ISBN-13 : 978-0825446542

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Can real love grow between a wallflower and an unrepentant rogue?

Sarah Drayton is eager to spend time with her best friend at her crumbling Northumberland castle estate. Matrimony is the last thing on her mind and the last thing she expects to be faced with on a holiday. Yet she finds herself being inveigled into a marriage of convenience with her friend’s rakish brother.

When James Langley returns to his family’s estate, he can’t be bothered to pay attention to his responsibilities as the heir. War is raging and he wants only distraction, not serious tethers. But his roguish ways have backed him into a corner, and he has little choice but to obey his father’s stunning decree: marry before returning to war, or else. Suddenly he finds himself wedded to a clever and capable woman he does not love.

Sarah craves love and a place to belong, neither of which James offered before returning to the battlefront. Now everyone around her thinks she married above her station, and they have no intention of rewarding her for such impertinence. It isn’t until her husband returns from war seemingly changed that she begins to hope they may find real happiness. But can she trust that this rake has truly reformed?

When tragedy strikes, this pair must learn to trust God and his plans. Will they be destroyed . . . or will they discover that even in the darkest depths of night, the morning still holds hope?

Midnight’s Budding Morrow is a story of redemption, forgiveness, and finding love. I always like when characters are imperfect because it is more realistic, and I enjoy seeing their growth throughout the story.

After his father blames him for his mother’s death, James Langley struggles with drinking and gambling. To pay off a debt, he is forced into a marriage of convenience with his sister’s friend Sarah Drayton.

While we see James being disrespectful to Sarah, we never see him at his lowest point, so it seemed a little easier to be forgiving. Most of the time he came across as a really good guy who was trying to do better. I had more issues with his father. His father was unforgiving of an accident and held onto that grudge for years. Then the way he manipulates people is abominable.

I can’t go into detail because I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I will just say that this was an incredibly hard book to read right now. I am going through a similar situation to Sarah, and to read it happening and then her emotions has been difficult. Sarah’s emotions were written as very raw and on point to the tragedy she was going through. I felt an instant connection to her. Though she handles them a lot more extremely than I do. I really felt for her.

I always like reading a story about forgiveness. No matter who a person is, we all need some type of forgiveness in our lives, and we need to forgive others.

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Blog Tour and Review: An Unfamiliar Duke

May 24, 2022May 22, 2022timelessnovels

by Sian Ann Bessey

Publisher : Covenant Communications (May 16, 2022)
Language : English
Paperback : 240 pages
ISBN-10 : 1524419915
ISBN-13 : 978-1524419912

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At eleven years of age, Rosalind Ainsworth was convinced that Sebastian Lumley, the future Duke of Kelbrook, was the most odious young man she’d ever met. And ten years later, after having had no contact with the nobleman in the intervening time, her opinion of him has not changed. Unfortunately, neither has the marriage contract their fathers signed soon after her birth.

As Rosalind’s twenty-first birthday and the appointed wedding day approaches, Sebastian makes a rare appearance in London. His first meeting with Rosalind since childhood goes less than perfectly, but Sebastian has a compelling reason for honoring their marriage contract―a reason outlined in a document kept behind his workshop’s locked door.

After a quick wedding, the new couple relocates to Finley Park, where their acquaintanceship slowly blossoms into affection. But when Sebastian’s secretive work threatens their fledgling relationship and Rosalind’s life is placed in jeopardy, Sebastian finds himself forced to choose between the man he has pledged to help and the woman he has come to love.

Rosalind Ainsworth has been engaged to the Duke of Kelbrook since birth. As a gangly 14 year old, he bars her from his all boys tree house, and she wants nothing more to do with him. Ten years later he appears back in her life right before their expected wedding, and all she knows about him is the little boy from the tree house.

Rosalind and Sebastian have a slow burn relationship. They are finding out all the things they have in common while navigating their way through this new unknown relationship.

I love how they communicated with each other with the sweet little notes under the door. As someone who banned girls as a child, I love how now Sebastian respects his wife enough to listen to her comments on math and take them seriously.

Sian Bessey always includes interesting historical information in her books, and I enjoyed learning more about the different inventions during this time. I even looked up the Iron Bridge to find out more about it, since I found it fascinating. I also loved how the love of math brought Rosalind and Sebastian closer together.

I have been loving this series. Each book has been different but all have the history, adventure, and characters I adore.

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Blog Tour and Review: Bargaining for the Barrister

March 28, 2022March 27, 2022timelessnovels

by Anneka R. Walker

Publisher : Covenant Communications (March 7, 2022)
Language : English
Paperback : 240 pages
ISBN-10 : 1524421499
ISBN-13 : 978-1524421496

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Louisa Cox is tired of fortune hunters pursuing her dowry. So when Lady Kellen offers to help her find an eligible suitor, Louisa eagerly accepts and makes a list of what she wants in a husband. The man selected is barrister Paul Sheldon. He may be a complete stranger, but he has one thing in his favor: he is unaware of her fortune. What Louisa did not anticipate was his curious behavior―or being so attracted to him.

When Paul catches wind of the matchmaking organization his mother and her friends are establishing, he pities the fellow who will be caught in their scheme―until he realizes he is to be their first victim. Horrified, Paul determines to thwart his mother’s plans by whatever means necessary. After meeting his intended, however, his increasing desire to be near her threatens to disrupt his convictions. Louisa is everything he could want in a wife, and when an unexpected adventure sets in motion the very plan he had determined to halt, he almost wishes his mother’s plot could succeed. But Paul harbors a secret and a past that make it impossible for him to give Louisa the life she deserves.

Paul Sheldon has gone through a lot of things growing up, and he feels like he has to prove himself and earn his own way in life before even considering marriage.

“A man of intelligence could easily retain his fortune—unless, of course, he also possessed a charitable heart.”

Louisa Cox has always been pursued for her dowry by fortune hunters. She believes that a match made by the Matchmaking Mamas would be best for her.

“This petite woman hid her spirit behind her sweet smiles and soft voice, but he knew better. Louisa Cox was a force strong enough to knock the sense from a man and make him question all his life choices.”

Anneka Walker gives us complex characters with a lot of heart. Both the main characters are going through difficult struggles, but they face them in very different ways.

I loved that there were so many funny scenes in this book, but they were never over the top.

I loved all the Rebels, and I hope that every one of them gets to have their own story. I didn’t want to leave these characters, and I’m glad we will get to see them again.