Autumn Masquerade Author: Donna Hatch, Josi S. Kilpack, Nancy Campbell Allen
Series: Timeless Regency Collection #1
Genres: Romance Anthology
Format: eBook
Pages: 235
Date: October 1, 2015
Publisher: Mirror Press
From the publishers of A Timeless Romance series comes the Timeless Regency Collections.
A MERRY DANCE by Josi S. Kilpack. When Lila overhears her uncle talking about a man coming to look for property in the county, she doesn’t think twice, until her uncle says he hopes Lila will find enough interest to marry the man. How can she marry someone named Mortimer Luthford, not to mention that his advanced age of thirty-three, and especially since she’s already in love with her absent cousin Neville? But when Mortimer arrives, Lila has to try every trick known to women to act not interested in the rather fascinating man, which proves a very difficult façade to maintain.
UNMASKING THE DUKE by Donna Hatch. The last thing Hannah Palmer wants to do is flirt with men in a crowded ballroom, but when her sister throws a Masquerade Ball, Hannah can’t say no to the invitation and takes comfort behind a mask. She dances with a charming masked man, matching him wit for wit. When the glorious evening culminates in a kiss, and the two remove their masks, Hannah is horrified to discover the man she’s been flirting with all night is her most despised neighbor, the Duke of Suttenberg. No matter how charming the duke was at the ball, and how wonderful the kiss, he is the last man she’d ever accept.
WHAT’S IN A NAME by Nancy Campbell Allen. Penelope Timely has a terrible secret. She’s been writing letters to the Duke of Wilmington, pretending to be her ever-proper twin sister, Persephone. Now, the duke has written that he’ll be coming for the Autumn Masquerade Ball and Festival. Penelope will have to continue the charade while the duke is in town in order to protect her sister. The Duke of Wilmington isn’t fooled for a moment, but instead of confessing that he knows about the deception, he finds himself utterly charmed by Penelope and jumps into the game of deception to see how far the twin sisters will take it.
[bctt tweet=”Three new Regency Romance novellas. AUTUMN MASQUERADE http://bit.ly/1M2oCNz @josiskilpack @necallen @donnahatch”]
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About Donna Hatch
Multi-award-winning author of more than twenty best-selling Regency Historical Romances, Donna Hatch is a hopeful romantic and an adventurer at heart. Each book she writes is filled with wit and heart and plenty of swoon-worthy romance. Donna sings, plays the harp, and loves to ballroom dance. Her family, including six children and two cats, recently left their native Arizona for the Pacific coast of the US. No matter where they live, she and her husband of over twenty years are proof that there truly is a happily ever after.
About Josi S. Kilpack
Josi S. Kilpack began writing her first novel in 1998 and never stopped. She is best known for her popular Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series. She also writes Romance and Women’s Fiction and is one of the authors of the Newport Ladies Book Club Series.
About Nancy Campbell Allen
Nancy Campbell Allen is the author of 14 published novels and several novellas, which encompass a variety of genres from contemporary romantic suspense to historical fiction. Nancy loves to read, write, travel and research, and enjoys spending time laughing with family and friends. She ives in Ogden, Utah with her husband, three children, and a very large Siberian Husky named Thor.
I loved this collection! These are some of my very favorite authors and I love being able to read each story in a sitting. And of course, the happy endings always make smile!
In this collection, each of the stories has something to do with a masquerade ball. I think I enjoyed all of the stories equally — there was a girl trying hard act so that a potential suitor would not like her (often with hilarious results), there was a shy girl who was able to gain some confidence behind a mask, and there were twins who had to trade places. Loved them all!
Such fun, enjoyable Regency stories! I love that since there are only three in the collection they can be longer than normal. The plots of each are varied and intriguing, but all involve a masquerade ball, which is a fascinating setting. Some characters find their inhibitions lowered, allowing themselves to act according to their true personality and not the front society expects. Of course, there are always consequences… 😉 Some couples are looking forward to the ball with anticipation of a turning point in their relationship, only to have their plans upset. I think the common thread is that first impressions are not always correct and through the obstacles in their path, each character comes to know the object of their affection more deeply.
I have read several Timeless Romance Anthologies, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this new format of having three instead of six. I am very grateful I decided to give it a chance because I found I was completely thrilled with the outcome. This three story format allows for longer stories which leads to more closer with the character, something I often felt was missing with the six story format. You get the same delightfully swoon worthy romances but you have time to get to really know the characters and really cheer them on before you get to meet a new set of characters.
I absolutely love this book! All three stories! I’ve already recommended it to several people. Here’s my review on goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1411091111?book_show_action=false
All three stories in this compilation were wonderful. I loved how different they were even though they had the same basis. I loved that in Donna Hatch’s story we got to see previous characters. And I always love to read Josi S. Kilpack and Nancy Campbell Allen. These three authors are some of my favorites. I can’t wait to read more Anthologies.
Update: I didn’t realize when I read this book the first time that Unmasking a Duke is part of the Rogue Hearts series of books by Donna Hatch. Having just read that series I had to reread this book so I could finish up the series. I think I enjoyed these three novellas better the second time around so it made the reread worth while. (Unmasking a Duke stands alone so no worries if you haven’t read the series).
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First two I give 4 stars. The third I give 3.5. It was a little more edgy on the kiss descriptions. Not bad but just more edge