Hearts Entwined

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

The ways of love can be complex. Sometimes a relationship full of unexpected twists and unlikely turns leads to a bond that's strong and secure. Join Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears for novellas that follow the winding path of romance in stories that celebrate a love that lasts forever.

The Love KnotWhen 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 BindConnor 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 DeterminedAs 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 TrueWealthy Marianne Lister is in love with business assistant Calvin Hochstetler, but he can't see past the difference in their social 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?

Available for Purchase:

AMAZON  BARNES&NOBLE  CHRISTIANBOOK  BAKER BOOK HOUSE

My Opinion:

What a wonderful collection of historical novellas!! I found myself getting lost in each story and being captivated until the end.  They each include faith, forgiveness, hope, humor, trust, but most of all love.  In the first book we find a young woman who left New York with a broken heart and settled in Texas.  When an unexpected package arrives on the train from her sister, she is both surprised by the package and the person who brought it. Now she needs to learn forgiveness and learn to trust again. In the second book we meet a young man who's returning home to Colorado after spending the last 5 years in Texas.  He thinks he has his life all planned out, but he should have known things were not going to go his way when he ran into an overprotective mother buffalo. (I loved this scene.) Connor must figure out how to convince a young woman how deeply his feelings for her are.  The third story is set in the Indian Territory in August 0f 1885. We meet a young man who is in the cavalry and is sent to help move a herd.  Just one problem, the herd isn't cattle, but camel. He must deal with not only the camel, but an intriguing and irritating female who was trying to sabotage her father's plans and thereby his mission.  The last novella was set in Kansas City, Missouri in September of 1908.  In this novella we meet a young totally captivated by a young man, who she knows her parents would think is completely below her because of the difference in finances.  The heart wants what the heart wants and she will do anything to convince everyone otherwise. 

I enjoyed each of these stories thoroughly.  Of course, for me this wasn't a surprise since I enjoy the author's books.   I found myself going from one book to the next until I finished the very last page.  This is a book I would recommend to anyone who loves a good story, likes to feel apart of each story and likes a story that will put a smile on your face.  

I received this book from the publisher as part of their book blogger program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ozark Mountain Romance #3

Rather Than Wait for a Hero, She Decided to Create One
Betsy Huckabee has big-city dreams, but nobody outside of tiny Pine Gap, Missouri, seems interested in the articles she writes for her uncle's newspaper. Her hopes for independence may be crushed, until the best idea she's ever had comes riding into town.

Deputy Joel Puckett didn't want to leave Texas, but unfair circumstances have made moving to Pine Gap his only shot at keeping a badge. Worse, this small town has big problems, and masked marauders have become too comfortable taking justice into their own hands. He needs to make clear that he's the law in this town--and that

job is made more difficult with a nosy reporter who seems to follow him everywhere he goes.

The hero Betsy creates to be the star in a serial for the ladies' pages is based on the dashing deputy, but he's definitely fictional. And since the pieces run only in newspapers far away, no one will ever know. But the more time she spends with Deputy Puckett, the more she appreciates the real hero--and the more she realizes what her ambition could cost him.

 Published December 6th 2016

 by Bethany House Publishers 

Available for Purchase:

AMAZON  BARNES & NOBLE  CHRISTIANBOOK  

Meet the Author:

 

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a

degree in English and a history minor. She is the author of A Most Inconvenient Marriage, Sixty Acres and a Bride, and Caught in the Middle, and contributed a novella to A Match Made in Texas. Regina has worked at the Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with her husband and four children and can be found online at www.reginajennings.com.

My Opinion:

Regina Jennings is a talented author, but to me she is fairly new as I have only read a few of her books.  Each book I have read I have loved and this book is no different.  This is the third installment in her Ozark Mountain Romance series.  For me, this was a stand alone.  

The author whisks the reader away to the small town of Pine Gap where we meet Joel Puckett arriving via the train ready to assume his role as deputy to the the area and help the sheriff solve the problem of masked bandits in the area.  Joel's arrival puts him in the path of the masked bandits and I must admit I was hooked on this story.  

Betsy Huckabee is a beautiful, young woman who lives with her uncle who runs a newspaper.  She moved in with him upon the death of his first wife to care for his children and run his house.  Betsy has a love of writing stories, but must send her articles to Kansas City for consideration and so far she's had little success.  Suddenly Joel appears and so does her inspiration for a knight in shining armor/hero for a fictional ladies page.  Just one problem, how can a character be all fictional when he's based on the exploits of a real life version?

I absolutely loved this story.  It has elements of mystery, suspense, humor, romance, love and forgiveness. Both Betsy and Joel captured my heart in this story.  The plot is engaging and flows effortlessly.  Needless to say once I started reading it I couldn't put it down until the last page was turned.  

This is a book I would recommend to anyone.  

**I received this book from the publisher as part of their blogger review program.  All thoughts or opinions are expressly my own.  

 

 

With This Ring?

Four top historical romance novelists team up in this new collection to offer stories of love and romance with a twist of humor. 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.

 

Published January 5th 2016 

 by Bethany House  

4 Stars

My Thoughts:

Bethany House has released a collection of 4 historical novellas by some of my favorite authors.  Each story is a stand alone and in no way connected to the others. Each story is well written and pulled me in immediately.  Each were laced with both humor, romance and a small amount of suspense.  The settings are late 1800's and take you from Texas to the Ozarks and ending in the Kansas plains.  

The Husband Maneuver is the first novella which is set in Texas during the spring of 1892 where Miranda Hawkins finds herself in a crossroads.  She lives with her father on the Double H Ranch and his ranch hands.  One in particular caught her attention years ago, Daniel Barrett.  Daniel is her father's foreman, but previous to his employment he was a well known, bounty hunter.  In fact much to his disgust he was the lead characters in a dime store novel, Dead-Eyed Dan, in which Miranda was a fan of.  When she over hears a Dan telling her father he had bought himself a ranch and would be quitting, Miranda knew she needed to do some quick maneuvering if she was to end up with the man of her dreams.  

The second story, Her Dearly Unintended, takes you to the Ozarks during a raging thunderstorm where Katie Ellen is alone tending the farm.  Josiah Huckabee was either a blessing or a nuisance.  A few years ago she had thought they had more than a friendship, but after a comment her made she finally knew her place as nothing more than an inconvenience.  Josiah knew Katie Ellen had been a little bit prickly the last few years, but when the storm came up and knowing she was alone he went to check on her.  Unfortunately with the bridge washed away and trapped Josiah feels this is the opportunity for them to settle their differences. 

The Runaway Bride, brings us Carrie Halsey and John Conroy and story filled with supsense.  Carrie's father has essentially sold her to the highest bidder and she refuses to see the wedding through.  She flees her home in the dead of night and runs into none other than Big John Conroy Texas Ranger.  John was hired to help her escape her father's clutches and get her to Colorado to her sister.  As the two set on their every step is dogged by would be kidnappers hired by the intended groom. Will they reach her sister in time?

Engaging the Competition, is the fourth and last novella in this collection.  We meet Harrison Gray and Charlotte Andrews who had grown up together in their small town.  Harrison is a school teacher and Charlotte has taken over the running of the family ranch after the death of her father.  In their younger days Harrison and Charlotte had been rivals after she bested him in a shooting match, of course her take on the events were quiet different from his.  Events have thrown them together one more time during a tornado and sparks began to fly. 

Fourth unique and different situations, but full of love, humor and some suspense.  

Collectively the characters are complex and very real issues, but very lovable. The plots flew effortlessly and kept my attention.  Each story held a certain amount of romantic tension and humor that kept me entertained until the last page was closed.  These are clean, feel good romances. 

If you love history, romance and humor then this is definitely a good book for you.  I would recommend it to anyone. 

*I received this book from the publisher for a honest review free of bias or outside influence.  

 Available for Purchase:

Christian Book 

Lifeway 

Barnes and Noble 

Amazon 

Meet the Authors:

 

http://www.karenwitemeyer.com/ 

 CBA bestselling author, Karen Witemeyer, writes historical romance fiction for Bethany House, believing that the world needs more happily-ever-afters. In 2011, her debut novel, A Tailor-Made Bride, was a finalist in the Best First Book categories for both the prestigious RITA® award and the National Reader's Choice Award. Karen holds a master's degree in Psychology from Abilene Christian University and is a member of ACFW, RWA, and her local writers' guild. She is an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bakes a mean apple cobbler. Karen makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children.

 

http://www.reginajennings.com/ 

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children.

 

http://www.maryconnealy.com/ 

 Mary Connealy is the bestselling author of romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Carol Award winner and a Rita and Christy and IRCC Award Finalist.

  Mary says her writing journey is similar to a lot of others. Boil it down to persistence, oh, go ahead and call it stubbornness.

 

 http://melissajagears.com/

Melissa Jagears is a homeschooling mom who writes Christian Historical Romance after everyone is asleep. She’s the author of the Unexpected Brides Series with Bethany House. The prequel ebook novella, Love by the Letter is free to try. 

 

Ozark Mountain Romance #2

At Love's Bidding

After helping her grandfather at their Boston auction house, Miranda Wimplegate discovers she's accidentally sold a powerful family's prized portrait to an anonymous bidder. Desperate to appease the furious family, her grandfather tracks it to the Missouri Ozarks and makes an outlandish offer to buy the local auction house if they promise not to sell anything until he arrives.

Upon their arrival, however, they discover their new business doesn't deal in fine antiques, but in livestock. And its manager, ruggedly handsome Wyatt Ballentine, is frustrated to discover his fussy new bosses don't know a thing about the business he's single-handedly kept afloat. Faced with more cattle than they can count--but no mysterious painting--Miranda and Wyatt form an unlikely but charged partnership to try and salvage a bad situation getting worse.

 

Published December 1st 2015

 by Bethany House  

5 Stars 

On wow, Regina Jennings has written another hit!

She takes the reader on an adventure from Boston to the Ozark Mountains in Missouri in this historical romance.  

We are introduced to two lovable characters, Miranda  Wimplegate and Wyatt Ballentine, and a host of other quirky characters.  There's good flow and pace that kept my attention.  

Miranda is a Boston born, young woman who has spent her life hiding in the shadows so to speak.  Some would say she is shy, but to me she she was someone who had never taken any chances or asserted herself.  She has always bowed to others' decisions and is lacking self confidence.  

Wyatt has always felt like an outsider.  He was orphaned at a young age and taken in by a wonderful family.  The Ballentine's attempted to reach his extended family in Boston to only be told he was not a legitimate family member and they were not interested in him.  Wyatt grew up feeling rejected by one family, but accepted by his foster mother and father.  

When a valuable painting is accidentally auctioned off Miranda and her grandfather follow leads in order to get not only the painting back, but also to protect their good name in business.  The first order of business is to follow the  lead on the painting and that leads to an auction house in Pine Gap, Missouri.  Grandfather has procured the auction house, sight unseen, and intends to go there to retrieve the painting before anything can happen to it.  Unfortunately this auction house is nothing they have encountered before, it sells animals.  Upon their arrival it seems that things go from bad to worse.  Grandfather's health starts a sudden decline.  Miranda suddenly finds herself in the position of not only voicing her opinions, but also at times taking charge.  

This is a wonderful story.  It is a combination of humor, romance and intrigue.  There's a mystery to be solved, but Miranda does something more than solving a mystery.  This young woman finally finds her true self.  This is an engaging plot with well developed characters.  

This is a book I would recommend to anyone who loves a good romance, humor and a plot twist.  

I received this book from the publisher as part of their book blogging program for a honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  I thank them for this opportunity. 

Available:

Amazon 

Barnes and Noble 

Christian Book 

Lifeway 

iBooks 

 

 

 

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children.

 

Connect with Regina:

Website 

Facebook 

Twitter