Her Country Gentleman is the first book in the Timeless Georgian Collection, a new anthology series from Mirror Press. The book features three novellas from bestselling historical romance authors whose stories reveal that not all love is found in London.
“Spring at Tribbley Hall,” by Sian Ann Bessey
When Charlotte's grandmother invites her to accompany her to Norfolk, Charlotte jumps at the chance to visit the sea and escape the fuss surrounding her sister's wedding preparations in London. Lord William Cheston, on the other hand, is most unhappy when his mother informs him that her old friend and a granddaughter are coming to stay. Not only is it lambing season, but he's also dealing with the mysterious loss of several sheep. The last thing he needs is a child underfoot. When Charlotte and William first meet, he does not realize that the lovely young lady is the granddaughter in question, and she assumes that the man dressed in work clothes in the barn is a servant. Soon afterward, however, Charlotte stumbles upon a clue to William's sheep's disappearance, and when her life is placed in jeopardy, William is forced to choose between saving his unwanted houseguest and catching the thief. “Love of My Heart,” by Sarah M. Eden
Cordelia Wakefield has never lived anywhere but London and is not overly happy when her family is forced to retrench to a small estate near Teviotbrae, Scotland. An ill-fated game of battledore and shuttlecock brings her face-to-racquet with Sebastian, who runs the home farm at nearby Teviot Castle. What begins as a clash of personalities, expectations, and preferences, soon leads to a friendship neither had expected. As the magic of Teviotbrae weaves its spell, the possibility of something more than friendship begins to blossom. But what future is there for a lowly farmer and a London lady? “Miss Smith Goes to Wiltshire,” by Rebecca Connolly
Martha Smith wants to marry for love and will not be persuaded otherwise. She is highly sought after in Society for her beauty and status but refuses to consider any suitor whose only claim is that his prospects meet with her mother's approval. Her widowed mother has had enough of Martha's romantic sensibilities and is sending her to stay with unfortunate cousins in Wiltshire to show her that marrying for love is a risk that is too great. Benjamin Steele, Lord Hillier, is working on his new and dilapidated estate when he first catches sight of the striking Martha Smith. Becoming Lord Hillier has only brought him a house that needs significant repairs, tenant farms that had been abandoned, and only the money he'd already possessed. He wants meaning in his life, and he's more than willing to work for it. Though worlds apart in all else, on this point they can agree: a life of meaning would change everything.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Timeless Georgian Collection is a new series featuring novellas set in England during the Georgian era (1714 – 1830). It is part of A Timeless Romance Anthology series published by Mirror Press — a curated collection 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.
My Review
These anthologies are my favorite when I need a quick story escape, this one is no different.
Spring at Tribbley Hall - What begins as a comedy of errors between our main characters becomes two sleuths searching for the truth. These two characters complement each other and they get past their misunderstandings without the extra drama that is sometimes found in stories with this trope. It was a refreshing lovely story and an excellent first story in this anthology. The chemistry between the characters was perfect as was the tone of the story.
I loved Charlotte's grandmother and her friend's scheme to get the two young people together. Grandma was a hoot. I love when stories feature the eccentric older character that helps the young see what is right in front of them.
Love of My Heart - Can I just say that this story made me want to scream at Cordelia's parents as well as Sebastian's grandfather? I wanted to slap them full of sense.
That being said, I loved Cordelia and Sebastian. They are unique and have such great chemistry. He sees her which is something that she needed considering her relationship with her parents. She also saw him for who he was, and don't we all need that.
This story was completely delightful with humor and romance.
Miss Smith Goes to Wiltshire - This story was absolutely delightful. It is a girl escaping her mother's push for a title when she wants to have a marriage of love. Martha and Ben come together very organically. He sees this great lady and she is made of more and works with him. She sees him for the determined hard worker he is and the story is beautiful.
This combination of authors and stories is fantastic and I was so excited to see them together in this anthology. This whole anthology is one I would read again and again. The stories are beautiful, entertaining, and the perfect escape.
I received an early copy and this is my honest review.
AUTHOR BIOS
Sian Ann Bessey
Born in Cambridge, England, but grew up on the island of Anglesey off the coast of North Wales, Sian left her homeland to attend university in the U.S. and earned a bachelor's degree in communications with a minor in English.
She began her writing career as a student, publishing several magazine articles while still in college. Since then, she has published historical romance and romantic suspense novels, along with a variety of children's books. She is a USA Today bestselling author, a Foreward Reviews Book of the Year finalist, and a Whitney Award finalist.
She loves to travel and experience other cultures, but when she's home, her favorite activities are spending time with her family, cooking, and reading.
Sarah M. Eden
Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today bestselling author of multiple historical romances, including AML's "2013 Novel of the Year" and Foreword Review’s 2013 “IndieFab Book of the Year” gold medal winner for Best Romance, Longing for Home, and the Whitney Award's "2014 Novel of the Year," Longing for Home: Hope Springs.
Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops. She holds a bachelor’s degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library. Sarah lives with her husband, kids, and mischievous dog in the shadow of a snow-capped mountain she has never attempted to ski.
Rebecca Connolly
Rebecca Connolly is the author of more than two dozen novels. She calls herself a Midwest girl, having lived in Ohio and Indiana. She's always been a bookworm, and her grandma would send her books almost every month so she would never run out. Book Fairs were her carnival, and libraries are her happy place.
She has been creating stories since childhood, and there are home videos to prove it! She received a master's degree from West Virginia University, spends every spare moment away from her day job absorbed in her writing, and is a hot cocoa addict.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Emily. I am glad that you enjoyed it. I liked that this collection had a different setting in the country and that it is set in Georgian times. I am looking forward to the next collection in the Timeless Romance anthologies, To Kiss a Wallflower in June.