Title: An Autumn Kiss
Series: Timeless Victorian Collection (Book 7)
Authors: Laura Rollins, Annette Lyon, & Lisa H. Catmull
Genre: Historical Romance, Victorian Romance, Inspirational Fiction
Publisher: Mirror Press (September 20, 2022)
Length: (275) pages
Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook
ISBN: 978-1952611308
Tour Dates: September 12 – 25, 2022
An Autumn Kiss is the seventh book in the Timeless Victorian Collection, a bestselling anthology series from Mirror Press. The book features three novellas from acclaimed historical romance authors whose stories reveal if one kiss will change the lives of the three heroines.
“The Plucky Miss Ruth,” by Laura Rollins
Miss Ruth Hughes is certain she’s caught in a time loop—every day she wakes to find it exactly as the one before. A thrilling prospect to be sure. If the many books she reads on time travel has taught her anything, it is that to break free she must complete an all-important task. For Ruth the task is straightforward: reunite a couple, once desperately in love but forced apart by society. Unfortunately, things are not always as easy as they first appear. Struggling, Ruth opens up to the handsome Lord Lambert and he readily agrees to help. With autumn on the brink of turning into winter, time is running out for Ruth to help the ones who need her most. And, with a bit of luck, perhaps she can even find a little time for her own happily ever after.
“Mr. Dowling’s Remedy,” by Annette Lyon
Crandall Dowling’s aspirations of becoming a physician collapse when he develops symptoms that land him in an asylum. He’s been at Sherville Retreat long enough for autumn leaves to appear when Beverly Stanton arrives. She’s held under the dubious diagnosis of “hysteria” but seems perfectly sane, unlike Crandall, though his verbal and physical tics don’t seem to scare or even bother her. Beverly and Crandall develop a friendship fueled by an undeniable attraction that under other circumstances could become more. But in an asylum, one cannot plan a future, let alone one of love or marriage. Then tragedy strikes, testing staff and patients beyond anyone’s training. When the dust settles, Beverly’s diagnosis may be reversed, but if she leaves, what will become of her? What of Crandall? And what of their autumn-born love?
“A Railway Through the Roses,” by Lisa H. Catmull
Mr. Adrian Everard has tried everything to keep his father’s factory open, but a single solution remains. Marry an heiress before Christmas to fund the desperately needed railway. The local landowner, Lady Anne Baxter, will not agree to sell her garden—or her heart. Indeed, his childhood friend is determined to sabotage all his efforts to find a wife. As the deadline for Adrian to choose a bride draws close, one thing becomes painfully obvious. Saving the factory will mean losing the woman he loves forever.
EXCERPT
A Railway Through the Roses, by Lisa H. Catmull
Chapter One
Adrian Everard was the last man I wanted to see first thing in the morning while carrying a vase of flowers, but I forced my best smile. My baroness smile. I held out a hand and hid my annoyance. “Mr. Everard. To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”
“Lady Baxter.” He clasped my hand and gave me his most dangerous, adorably sheepish smile. The one that had almost convinced me to agree to his preposterous idea. “I apologize for the earliness of my visit. I neglected one detail from our conversation yesterday.”
He hadn’t let go of my hand yet, and my fingers fit perfectly in his. It was hard to remember that we stood in my entrance hall instead of a ballroom, as we had so many times before.
I shifted the vase to my other arm and tried to pull my hand out of his grip. He startled and dropped my fingers abruptly. I motioned awkwardly toward my library. “Shall we?”
“After you.” Adrian rubbed the back of his neck. “The guests arrive any moment for my father’s blasted house party.”
I stopped abruptly and arched an eyebrow coolly.
Adrian held up his hands. “Don’t look at me like that. You’re invited to all the events.”
He had always been a bit oblivious, so I wondered if it was even worth an effort. “It’s not that.”
“What?” Adrian shifted from one foot to another. “I called you Lady Baxter instead of Annie. I’m on my best behavior today. I knew you’d be awake, and the early hour really can’t be helped.”
I sighed and set the vase on the closest sideboard. “Adrian, why is your father hosting this blasted house party?”
He grinned. “It’s not really swearing if I’m around you.”
He was hopeless. “And the party?”
Adrian tugged at his waistcoat. “Father rounded up some heiresses for me to marry.”
My temper rose at his casual tone, but I took a deep breath and resumed my walk down the hall. “And will you tell the charming and intelligent heiresses about your deuced bad luck or the blasted contraptions that pass as train carriages?”
He cleared his throat behind me. “You’ve never complained before. We talk man-to-man about all our business.”
I stopped again. “Man to man?”
“You know what I mean, Annie. Business associate to business associate. You own half the countryside around here, so I treat you like an equal. Why should I start watching my language now?”
I shook my head and continued to my library, muttering beneath my breath, “And you wonder why you’re still unmarried.”
“I heard that,” Adrian said. “I don’t swear around women, just around you.”
I picked up my pace. “You may be my closest neighbor and oldest friend, but sometimes I want to strangle you.” It didn’t matter what I wore or how I did my hair, Adrian never saw me as a woman, just as another business partner.
“What? I won’t say one inappropriate thing at the house party, I swear.”
I laughed.
“Wrong choice of words,” he admitted. That grin was going to be the death of me. I couldn’t stay mad when one side of his mouth tilted up and that single dimple appeared.
We both knew I would agree to anything he asked, but I intended to put up a fight first. Adrian put a hand on my arm to stop me at the door of my library. “Promise you’ll come to some of the events.”
I tried to say no. “You can be miserable on your own,” I said. “I have no desire to marry at present.”
“I know,” Adrian said, glancing around. His hand fell off my arm. “Where’s Fenton? Is he joining us?”
“He and Aunt are just finishing breakfast.”
Adrian’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Good chap.”
I nodded. “The kindest and best.”
We hovered in the doorway together. His pale green eyes, flecked with auburn, were framed by thick eyelashes. His eyebrows were an odd mixture of rust and brown, almost as dark as his hair.
The clock chimed the hour as my cousin rushed down the hallway. “Didn’t know we were starting early today.” He looked between us. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing.” Adrian rushed past me into the burgundy-wallpapered room. “Morning, Fenton.”
I seated myself behind my mother’s thick mahogany desk as Adrian slipped into his favorite chair across from me. His gaze caught mine, and my stomach flipped.
Since 2015, Mirror Press has been presenting the Timeless Romance Collection, a curated anthology 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.
5 STARS – “…a fun collection and each of them have something unique from most of the romances I've read. Very enjoyable reading.”— Maria Thomas, Goodreads
“This anthology is truly wonderful. Each story is very distinct from the others, and each is also very compelling. It will keep you reading and wanting more with each page and chapter.”— Shauna Jones, Goodreads
5 STARS “absolutely adored this collection of short stories! I would recommend this collection to anyone who needs an escape for a couple of hours.”— Jzcotter03, Goodreads
AUTHOR BIOS
Laura Rollins has always loved a heart-melting happily ever after. It didn’t matter if the story took place in Regency England, or in a cobbler’s shop, if there was a sweet romance, she would read it.
Life has given her many of her own adventures. Currently she lives in the Rocky Mountains with her best friend, who is also her husband, and their four beautiful children. She still loves to read books and more books; her favorite types of music are classical, Broadway, and country; she loves hiking in the mountains near her home; and she’s been known to debate with her oldest son about whether Infinity is better categorized as a number or an idea.
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Annette Lyon is a USA Today bestselling author, a 9-time recipient of Utah’s Best in State medal for fiction (three times for novel-length works and five times for short fiction), and a Whitney Award winner for BAND OF SISTERS. She's the author of over a dozen novels, at least that many novellas, a cookbook, a popular grammar guide, and over a hundred magazine articles.
She’s a founder and regular contributor of the Timeless Romance Anthologies line of sweet romance stories, which she served as editor for its first three years. She's also one of the four co-authors of The Newport Ladies Book Club series. She graduated cum laude from BYU with a degree in English.
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I write clean and wholesome romances in the Victorian era and sweet contemporary romances. My books have been nominated for Swoony, RONE, and Whitney awards.
I taught Middle School English and History for seven years before pursuing screenwriting and writing. I currently live between a canyon and a lake in Utah with my husband, two cats, and two rambunctious children.
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I really enjoyed this anthology! All three are good stories.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that, Wendy! I haven't read them yet.
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