#1 Amazon Bestselling Romance Anthology in Clean Romance Six new contemporary romance novellas from bestselling authors.
WHAT FALLING FEELS LIKE by Jolene Betty Perry High school was years ago, and Kendell is ready to admit that Tyler, her best friend’s younger brother, has matured into a good-looking man. But the once-popular Kendell is recovering from a marriage-gone-wrong, and she regrets turning Tyler down for high school prom. On their road trip to deliver a refurbished camper, Kendell rediscovers all the reasons she liked Tyler, but it might be too late to rekindle their friendship.
ANTIQUES ROAD TRIP by Sarah M. Eden Kelsey is living out her dream for the weekend as she participates in a reality show contest by living on a 19th century film set. The contestant who wins the show receives a trip to England and $100k, more than enough to get her through grad school. When she meets Devon, who was coerced by his sister to participate, friendship blossoms. When things go wrong for Kelsey, Devon is there to help, and she soon realizes that winning the contest isn’t what she most desires.
WOULDN’T IT BE NICE by Ranee` S. Clark When Jacqueline's boyfriend Colin drops out of their long-planned road trip with friends to put his job first—again—it's the final nail in the coffin of their dying relationship. But then Hudson, her best friend’s brother, takes Colin's spot for the road trip, and Jacqueline’s disappointment in her ex takes a back seat to the chance for reestablishing the close ties she once had with Hudson. When their friendship detours into romance, it forces Jacqueline to question her reasons for breaking up with Colin and her future with Hudson.
HEAD OVER HEELS by Annette Lyon Tristan is proud to be an entrepreneur, running a popular singles’ lifestyle blog. So when she gets an offer to cover a singles convention in Las Vegas, she needs to find a way to get there from another freelance job in Salt Lake without breaking into her personal savings. Her friend sets her up with a co-worker who happens to be driving that way, and Tristan is more than surprised to come face-to-face with a man she has a lot in common with, not to mention seems to click with right away. The two decide to play a prank on Tristan’s friend, and pretend that they are smitten with each other, but soon, the lines between pretend and reality start to fade.
TWO DOZEN ROSES by Heather B. Moore Dayna reluctantly takes time out of her busy work life to drive her mother up the Pacific Coast Highway from California to her brother’s home in Oregon. Strangely enough, they keep running into two brothers who are traveling the same route in honor of their sister’s memory. The older brother Garrett is a merciless flirt, but the younger brother Roman is who captures Dayna’s attention. Soon she realizes that the brothers are extremely competitive, and she’s just become their next target.
TRY, TRY AGAIN by Aubrey Mace Sarah’s secret crush on Justin takes a sudden turn when he breaks up with his girlfriend and declares that he’s interested in Sarah. She believes he’s just on the rebound, and they slowly drift apart. Six months later, Sarah still can’t stop thinking about what might have been. She ropes her friend into taking a road trip to visit Justin, hoping for a second chance. When Justin sees her, he wants answers, and Sarah has to decide if she’s brave enough to finally tell him the truth.
These Timeless Romance anthologies are like a box of chocolates. Hershey's, though, not See's or Lindt.
Each of these stories is based around a road trip. My ratings and comments for each of the six:
3.25 stars for "What Falling Feels Like" by Jolene Betty Perry. An interesting take on post-high school meetup of the popular girl and the younger nerdy guy who had a crush on her. Now Kendell (the girl) is divorced and recovering from hard times, bad decisions and a user of an ex, while Tyler is the hot guy inclined to make her regret dissing him back in high school.
3 stars for "Antiques Road Trip" by Sarah M. Eden. A fun read for non-hardcore Jane Austen fans, in the form of a TV reality show contest in the context of acting like you're in Regency times. Well, sort of. It's more like Austenland. It's a sweet-hearted tale, as most of Sarah Eden's are, but a little shallow and not really memorable.
4 stars for "Wouldn't it be Nice" by Ranee` S. Clark. Jaqueline dumps her boyfriend Colin, who's been continually putting his journalism career ahead of their relationship. She takes off on their planned road trip without him, and meets up with her best friend's brother Hudson, who's been in love with her for years. Off with the old and on with the new! ... or is it? Sort of a love triangle-ish story, but avoids most of the pitfalls. I enjoyed it.
3 stars for "Head Over Heels" by Annette Lyon. Singles blogger Tristan meets an interesting guy named Mac at Salt Lake Comic Con (before it was renamed FanX), at a speed-dating event. When she suddenly needs a quick ride from SLC to Las Vegas, her good friend sets her up to do the road trip with MacKenzie. Haha. Fun meet-cute and gender-twisted names, but otherwise I'm not going to remember this one either.
3.75 stars for "Two Dozen Roses" by Heather B. Moore. A mother-daughter road trip up the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) accidentally synchs up with a similar road trip of two brothers ... both of whom are interested in Dayna. The brothers, Garrett and Roman, have a LOT of baggage, and that extends to their romances. Will she choose the flirty guy who's charming her mother, or the quieter brother?
2 stars for "Try, Try Again" by Aubrey Mace. Sarah's dream comes true when her co-worker Justin suddenly breaks up with his girlfriend, announces that Sarah is the girl of his dreams and kisses her. But when she freaks out a little and asks for more time, Justin backs way off and disappears from her life. Did she make a mistake that can't be undone? A road trip (which she ropes her very pregnant girlfriend into joining her on) to Justin's grandfather's funeral in another state might be the way to show Justin she really wants him. Maybe. Sarah blew hot and cold and kind of drove me (and her girlfriend) batty. And her deciding to crash the funeral viewing in another state when they both still live in the same city was a head-scratcher for both me and Justin.
You always know what you're getting with these "Timeless Romance" novella collections, but I always seem to buy them when I see them on a 99c sale. They're harmless and sweet, nice palate cleansers between other heavier reads, and sometimes they're really appealing. This particular collection, with six novellas by different clean romance authors, wasn't one of my favorites, and none of the stories REALLY grabbed me (in a good way), but it's not bad if you like this kind of light contemporary romance reading.
I adore going on road trips, in fact I’m going on one this weekend! I debated saving this for the trip, seemed like fitting reading material, but I just couldn’t wait to dive in. I don’t know if I’ve read any books with this setting so I was excited to see where these stories would go. I really enjoyed these and will be looking for more books with this kind of setting.
What Falling Feels Like by Jolene Betty Perry This was cute, a fun way to start the anthology.. I love the whole crushing on your siblings friend trope, maybe since I had three older brothers and always had crushes on their friends. Kendell is just getting over a recent divorce and agrees to take Tyler with her on a road trip to visit his sister. She does not expect this grown up and hot version of Tyler. Not at all how she remembers him from high school. Sparks fly and its fun to not only see a friendship rekindle but a romance as well. Sweet read.
I’ve seen Ms. Perry’s books around a lot (she has some awesome covers), to be honest I’ve always been nervous to read them since I know some of hers are not clean while other are. I can never keep straight which pen-name writes the clean ones (be a lot easier if they were all clean, haha), but after reading a couple of her stories in anthologies lately I realize I should make the effort to track down her clean ones. I enjoy her writing style and storytelling.
Content: Clean romance, mild innuendo (talk of her previous married relationship), no language or violence
Antiques Road Trip by Sarah M Eden This was scrumptious! I seriously loved every minute. I loved Ms. Eden’s take on road trips, totally unexpected. Our heroine, Kelsey, has signed up for a new reality TV show called Antiques Road Trip where contestants get to dress in 1815 attire and reenact an old-fashioned “road trip” by traveling in old coaches and staying at inns, etc. I would totally watch this show if it were real (and love to be a contestant). Kelsey was a fun heroine, totally obsessed with everything Austen. Our hero Devon was a likable character, joining the show more for his sister than for a love of history, he takes on his role as “Lord Devon” with grace and determination. My only quibble or whatever was who the show’s winner was, on one hand I was of course happy with who one, but I did wonder how they won and how points were determined. The romance is sweet and just an overall satisfying and heartwarming story.
Content: Clean romance, no language or violence
Wouldn’t It Be Nice by Renee S Clark This was so good! Lots of chemistry and angst. I’m normally not a big fan of love triangles, but thought this one was great and believable! Jac was a likable character and I was glad she took the time to actually think through her choices and decide with more than just her heart. I also loved the setting for this one, a road trip through Alaska. Great setting and fun characters with swoony romance, this was had it all!
Content: Clean romance, no language or violence
Head Over Heels by Annette Lyon This was cute and I loved that it happened to be a road trip I’ve made many times, from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas. Made it really easy to picture where they were and what they were seeing along the way. Tristan has started her own successful blog all about dating, its grown so big she’s able to travel around the country and check out the different dating scenes. Her current stop is at the Salt Lake Comic Con for a round of speed dating with comic enthusiasts. Its there that she meets the one and only Loki! Okay, so its not the actual Loki, but a close second. I thought this was a cute read, Mac and Tristan had sparks from the start and it was fun to be a part of their trip. Cute story.
Content: Clean romance, no language or violence.
Two Dozen Roses by Heather B Moore Cute! Fun road trip setting, driving up the California coast to Oregon. My husband and I did that trip a few years ago, so beautiful! Dayna has been hurt by love and has become a bit of a workaholic to avoid any romantic relationships. The last place she expects to find love is on a road trip with her mother. When they keep running into these two handsome brothers are their stops she begins to let her guard down. I liked this one, it was well written and fun. Both characters had a lot going on, but were willing to give the other a try.
Content: Clean romance, no language or violence
Try, Try Again by Aubrey Mace This was a cute second-chance love story. Even though Sarah has secretly had a crush on Justin for awhile now, she is unprepared when he admits he has feelings for her. Panicking she closes up instead of letting him in and they drift apart. When she finally works up the courage to let him know how she feels, she’s worried maybe it’s too late. Sarah and Justin were cute together, had a good friendship to build on and you can’t help but root for them to figure things out. Cute read.
If you are a fan of light romance and novellas this book is for you! I bought this thinking there were four novellas in the collection but there are actually 6 so each one is super short. Each road trip is completely different from the next. There is little adventure but lots of fun! I love road trips so I knew I wanted to read this book. There is no time to really connect with the characters but I still really enjoyed this collection. I normally read Christian fiction exclusively and I assumed this was but it is not. It is clean and I would be comfortable recommending to other CF readers.
Road trip anyone?? After reading this, I'm dying to go on a road trip--somewhere, anywhere! I've written a short review about each one below. This is a great collection and I loved every single story!
I love the way these collections each have a similar thread to bind them together, but they all have unique voices, due to being written by different authors. There are many different ways to find love and it seems that each story had a fresh style. I found a connection with many different characters and felt as if I was almost a fly in many cars, observing these people and feeling a part of each story.
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WHAT FALLING FEELS LIKE
It's interesting how people change over the years and how sometimes you realize what you want has been there all along. Regrets come along and a second chance to make things right with a good friend is always lucky thing. I love the whole "falling for your friend's brother" kind of thing.
I really enjoyed the interactions that Tyler and Kendell had with each other. They way they were able to pick up their friendship on a road trip to New Mexico (after a rocky start) right where they left off, just warmed my heart.
ANTIQUES ROAD TRIP
What an interesting concept! In a slight way, this reminded me of Austenland, where modern people get to live in a way of days gone past. Kelsey has the chance to go on a road trip, Regency style, in an effort to win a contest. She's well-versed in the ways of Jane Austen and is determined to win. Devon is doing this for his sister. He's not perfect at that way of life, but makes a heroic effort. These are two great characters and the secondary characters are entertaining in their own ways.
The chemistry between this two fairly leaps off the pages. I loved their interactions and the ways that they would help each other. The ending was a pleasant surprise! I love the way this story was modern, but still had a Regency feel to it--it's the best of both worlds.
WOULDN’T IT BE NICE
There are many types of romances that I adore and this is one of them--liking your best friend's older brother. Now that I think about it, this story also had a love triangle. I don't mind those at all, especially this one, as it was handled in a very tasteful way. I know as teens, those big brothers can be annoying, but then they grow up...and can grow on you.
Typically, a quick head-over-heels kind of love isn't very believable, but this one totally is! They've known each other for years, and when the flames of attraction and interest suddenly ignite, there's no stopping what's meant to be. A surprising twist turns that all upside down. For a novella, this one is well-rounded and had me very engaged.
HEAD OVER HEELS
I've never thought about meeting the man of my dreams at a Comic Con! It's so sad when a quick meeting there leaves a girl wanting for more, but Tristan has no way of finding her Loki again. A humorous second meeting puts Tristan on a road trip from Salt Lake to Las Vegas with a man who seems to be her match.
The way these two characters click just feels so right. I love the way they work together to get back at their friend and that long car ride really gives them time to discover their common threads. My heart was warmed by this road trip and the results from it. And bonus? These two are really into 80s music.
TWO DOZEN ROSES
This road trip on the PCH is a little scary, interesting, and more than Dayna bargains for! After running into two brothers at a few different stops along the way, she realizes that no two brothers are exactly alike. I love the way she handles each one, coming closer to the one she likes and gently keeping the other one at bay. I love the part her mother plays in the story, as well.
I think one of my favorite things about this story is that each of the characters has weaknesses to overcome and they aren't portrayed as perfect, yet they are still likable. This is a great mini story with good lessons mingled within the pages. And that ending...it's the best!
TRY, TRY AGAIN
Never assume you know anything. That's a great lesson for Sarah to remember. She and Justin both seem to do things spontaneously--him breaking up with his girlfriend for her and her taking a road trip to Idaho for his grandfather's funeral. There are many stops and starts to this potential relationship, but I love the way these two connect and develop.
Second chance relationships are always intriguing and so much fun to see play out. This is a great ending to this collection and I enjoyed it a lot!
Kelsey:" 'I wouldn't wish to give your family the impression that I'm overly forward.' "
Devon:" 'I'm sure they'll just think that you are regularly forward.' "
Kelsey:"She bit her lips closed. Her eyes scrunched at the corners."
Devon:" 'I said that wrong, didn't I?' "
Kelsey:"She nodded. 'And kind of insulted me at the same time.' "
Road Trip Collection (2016, Mirror Press), 17th in the A Timeless Romance Anthology series by various authors, is a collection of six contemporary novellas. Timeless Romances are always a fun, safe read. Tadiana, another GoodReads reviewer, calls them brain candy!
Average rating across the six stories: 4.25 stars
Narration: The narration was very good. It's been too long to rate it more precisely, but I would have rated it somewhere in the neighborhood of 4-5 stars.
From the blurb: "High school was years ago, and Kendell is ready to admit that Tyler, her best friend’s younger brother, has matured into a good-looking man. But the once-popular Kendell is recovering from a marriage-gone-wrong, and she regrets turning Tyler down for [the] high school prom."
The year after Kendell graduated, she turned down an invitation to go with Tyler for his senior prom because he wasn't cool enough. Later, Kendell got married at twenty-two even though "everyone warned" her... and then the marriage didn't last a year. Now that she's seen an older, more handsome Tyler, she feels guilty about turning him down four years ago. That's just not cool. So, from my point-of-view, Kendell doesn't seem very mature.
After encountering Kendell, Tyler muses to himself, "I've spent a stupid amount of time today checking my e-mail and listening to messages I've already heard, just to show her how busy and important I've become." ….. Oh, brother. There's a lack of maturity here also...
That said, it was a very sweet story. It was a little bit more kissy than I tend to go for, but nothing unchaste. Ironically, at one point later on, the characters acknowledge that they still have some growing up to do. They may have been joking - I'm really not sure - but … no kidding! ------------------------------------------------
From the blurb: "Kelsey [Kirkpatrick] is living out her dream for the weekend as she participates in a reality show contest by living on a 19th century film set. The contestant who wins the show receives a trip to England and $100k, more than enough to get her through grad school. When she meets Devon, who was coerced by his sister to participate, friendship blossoms... "
Devon's stream-of-consciousness: "That head dip meant "Got it" and "Hello" and "Go away, you're annoying me" and a million other things. It was kind of useful, actually."
The customs of the Regency era are discussed among the characters in the context of the reality show, and I think that it's really well done. Ms. Eden seems to have a good grasp on what is - or isn't - "common" knowledge about the Regency era.
This story was my favorite, but I may be biased because it was contemporary people acting like historical characters…
From the blurb: "When Jacqueline's boyfriend Colin drops out of their long-planned road trip with friends to put his job first—again—it's the final nail in the coffin of their dying relationship. But then Hudson, her best friend’s brother, takes Colin's spot for the road trip, and Jacqueline’s disappointment in her ex takes a back seat to the chance for reestablishing the close ties she once had with Hudson...
I enjoyed seeing a road trip play out amongst a group of friends. It seemed authentic.
Kudos to Ms. Clark for having the hero silently asking permission to kiss the heroine: "... ,his expression asking for her permission. She granted it by leaning into him."
For the situation, I felt there was too much kissing.
From the blurb: "Tristan is proud to be an entrepreneur, running a popular singles’ lifestyle blog. So when she gets an offer to cover a singles convention in Las Vegas … Her friend sets up a carpool with a co-worker who happens to be driving that way, and Tristan is more than surprised to come face-to-face with a man she has a lot in common with..."
I enjoyed this one, though I didn't care for the weird practical joke that they played on a mutual friend. It seemed immature.
From the blurb: "Dayna… drive[s] her mother up the Pacific Coast Highway from California to her brother’s home in Oregon. Strangely enough, they keep running into two brothers who are traveling the same route in honor of their sister’s memory. The older brother Garrett is a merciless flirt, but the younger brother Roman is who captures Dayna’s attention... "
I'm no expert, but I'm skeptical as to whether it's accurate that Roman would really need to pay for his sister's medical bills after her death.
Garrett was so annoying and disruptive that it was difficult to imagine Roman voluntarily hanging out with his brother.
"Dayna and Roman had exchanged thirty-seven texts. Not that she was counting." I'm seeing a trend that I REALLY don't like immature heros and heroines. Somehow it seems more common in contemporary stories. Maybe that's part of why I don't like them as much?
From the blurb: "Sarah’s secret crush on Justin takes a sudden turn when he breaks up with his girlfriend and declares that he’s interested in Sarah. She believes he’s just on the rebound, and they slowly drift apart. Six months later, Sarah still can’t stop thinking about what might have been. She ropes her friend into taking a road trip to visit Justin, hoping for a second chance."
*I liked the chapter titles. It's something a lot of authors don't do. Chapter eight is Funeral Crashers.
*I wasn't thrilled with lottery tickets being part of the story. It's just not something I enjoyed hearing about.
*I enjoyed the racoon and the hot dog.
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Random comment: An oddity - I find that an unusual number of these Timeless Romances are set in Utah or Salt Lake City. It's actually a little bit distracting.
Is the collection clean/chaste? Yes, definitely.
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The bottom line: This collection does a good job of incorporating the idea of a road trip into each of its short stories. This book would be a good fit for fans of clean, contemporary romance.
I will definitely read more of the Timeless Romance Anthologies, especially if I can continue to get some of the audiobooks for $1.99.
This was a great collection and the way the authors wrote stories about road trips were lovely. I'll share my enjoyment of this series soon!
I have read books by most of these authors and have loved them. A great group of authors came together on this collection and the couple that I hadn't read before I am definitely excited to check out more of their work.
I debated about writing a little blip about each novella but I have been so busy that getting to my computer to write a review for this and several other books is going to have to curtail that detail. So you'll get an all inclusive review today. ;)
Honestly there wasn't one of the novellas that I didn't like. My favorite three out of the whole group though were, What Falling Feels Like, Wouldn't It Be Nice and Try, Try Again. Those definitely were my favs and the MCs were great. I loved their story, I loved their challenges...I just loved them.
Almost all of the novellas had MCs that knew each other but had not been in contact with each other for years. A couple of the novellas the MCs met for the first time. Some great meet cutes in these stories(even for the ones who already knew each other, their re-acquaintances were sweet). I loved watching the characters, who were all flawed, who all had some struggle and heartache, meet and start to overcome those flaws by helping each other. I loved the road trip aspects to the stories, definitely made a fun setting and forced these characters to be in close confined quarters together for a longer period of time. Definitely an anthology that I will read again and again, one at a time or the whole collection over. I really enjoyed it!
I received a free copy from a review source in exchange for an honest review.
I love that the stories in this collection are so very different from each other, even with the same theme! The premises are creative, the details are fun, and the romance is sweet as always. I love taking road trips, especially with my husband since he prefers driving and I can read my books :) These stories capture the feeling of adventure and escape that hitting the road has in store. The most light-hearted of the bunch and my personal favorite is 'Head Over Heels" with the classic road trip element of singing 80's ballads at the top of your lungs, a Tom Hiddleston look-alike, and the out-of-nowhere romance that ensues (what a fun first kiss!). The other novellas offer a bit more relationship drama/angst, and Sarah Eden's regency reality show takes the term road trip to a whole new level with horse drawn carriages. Highly recommend- a great summer read!
(Thank you to Ebooks For Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
I always enjoy these Timeless Romance Anthologies but I especially liked this one. Do I say that every time? This was one of my favorites. (I think I might say that every time as well) These are some of my favorite authors and it's awesome having stories by them all in one place. (I know I say that every time!)
The road trip theme is such a fun one. I loved how each of these authors took it to a different place and in a different way. Sarah Eden really knocked it out of the park with her take on the road trip theme. So fun!
All sweet romances. All clean. All will leave you with a smile in your heart and hopefully on your face as well! I've got nothing but love for this collection!
These are short stories with the theme roadtrip. This was a fun collection all the story's are contemporary but Sarah Eden's story has the characters steping back in time and was one of my favorites. I also really enjoyed the last story and was laughing through out it. This was a fun collection and I really enjoyed it. I love all these romance anthology books, they are my go to rereads when I have nothing to do and a little extra time. Always clean and sweet with happy endings:}
Road trips – what a fun and unique setting for a collection! This is another great addition to the Timeless Romance Anthology series. Yep! I seem to say that every time. Because it’s true. Two of the authors in this collection were new to me. I have met so many wonderful authors through this series!
What Falling Feels Like by Jolene Betty Perry – Kendell hasn’t seen Tyler since she refused to go to prom with him. Tyler has loved Kendell, his sister’s best friend, for a long time. Now, Kendell is delivering a refurbished camper to a customer and has agreed to give Tyler a ride, so he can deliver some furniture. He’s definitely grown up since she last saw him!
This was a sweet second chance story. I really enjoyed it. I appreciated the way the author developed the relationship between Kendell and Tyler. This was a new author for me. I would definitely be interested in reading more of her work.
Antiques Road Trip by Sarah M. Eden – Kelsey is on a reality show contest. The contestants take a 19th century road trip, carriages, clothes, mannerisms and all, as they try to win $100,000 and a trip to England.
I loved this story! The idea was so clever. I got to read a contemporary story and a regency story at the same time. It was great to watch the characters try to act and speak correctly, especially the guys.
Wouldn’t It Be Nice by Ranee’ S. Clark – Jacqueline has planned a road trip with her friends. When her boyfriend, Colin, drops out, Jac’s long time friend, Hudson, takes his place. As friendship becomes more, Jac must decide whether she wants to be with Colin or with Hudson.
This story has its’ own take on a romance with a friend’s brother. It was fun to see a whole group of friends on a road trip together. I really liked Hudson. I was glad he finally got his chance with Jac. This is the other author that was new to me. I look forward to seeing what else she has written.
Head Over Heels by Annette Lyon – Tristan runs a blog about the singles’ lifestyle. She is at comic con in Salt Lake City when she is invited to cover a singles event in Las Vegas. But there’s one problem, she must be in Vegas by tomorrow. Tristan’s friend, Alyssa, arranges a ride for her with MacKenzie. Tristan is surprised when it’s not a girl that picks her up, but Mac, aka. Loki, her last date from a speed dating event at comic con.
This was such a fun story! I could just imagine Alyssa’s inner smile as she set Tristan up, knowing she assumed Mac was a girl. And Mac knew the perfect way to get his relationship with Tristan going. I would love to see the continuation of their story.
Two Dozen Roses by Heather B. Moore – Dayna is taking a road trip with her mom. They are surprised when Roman and his brother continue to show up at the same stops along the way.
This was a fun take on a road trip romance. Thank you Dayna for not falling for Garrett’s charm! I really don’t like those guys that think they can get any girl they want. I liked watching Roman figure out ways to talk to Dayna alone. I really liked this story!
Try, Try Again by Aubrey Mace – Sarah kind of blew it the first time she had a chance to date Justin. Now she’s hoping to use his grandpa’s funeral as a chance to see him again.
What an interesting excuse to see someone again, but it worked! I was proud of Sarah for going. It was so hard for her to open up, that I really am amazed she went. It was a very good thing though! This was another great story in the collection!
I was given a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This collection had me feeling nostalgic about road trips! I was ready to pack up a cooler, pack up the car, and head out on an adventure. And then I remembered that I have small children and my experience involves Disney movies, bathroom breaks, and a crying baby. So, I am back to living vicariously through these novellas...
I loved the road trip theme: the freedom, the music up/windows down experience, and for this collection, the romance. I genuinely enjoyed each of the stories.
I loved What Falling Feels Like by Jolene Perry because even though I never liked any of my friends' brothers, I am a sucker for that plot line.
Antiques Road Trip by Sarah Eden was a fresh idea. It was a reality show with its contestants traveling by carriage and pretending to live in the regency era. Priceless!
Wouldn't It be Nice by Ranee S. Clark was well written. It convinced me to buy her other books! It was exciting to me because the characters drove to Alaska. It might be the first story that I've read that takes place somewhere where I have lived. The descriptions were so accurate, and the romance between another girl and her friend's brother was very sweet!
Head Over Heels by Annette Lyon was one that I read over again already. It was about Tristan and Mac who meet at a comic con convention. When Tristan needs a ride to Vegas, a friend arranges a ride for her, leading her to believe that it's a girl picking her up, when really it's the man she'd just met and been crushing on. To get back at Alyssa for her misleading ways, Tristan and Mac decide to mess with her and pretend that they like each other. I loved the concept, and watching Tristan and Mac realize that neither one of them was pretending. Sweet and oh so funny!
Two Dozen Roses by Heather B. Moore was a fun jaunt up the Pacific Coast Highway in California. I loved that the characters Dayna and Roman met doing the same tour that an article had recommended. It was one of those, "fancy seeing you here" moments.
Try, Try Again by Aubrey Mace was fun in that the road trip was to a funeral. Not just any funeral, but the funeral of Sarah's coworker's grandfather. The coworker that she liked and then chickened out on when he said he liked her. It was a great recipe for awkwardness with a great cast of supporting characters.
Content: clean (some kissing) Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Whenever I read one of the "Timeless Romance Anthologies" I am amazed at the creativity and the broad ideas that come from a theme. The stories are contemporary, but Sarah Eden's has a regency twist. I have to admit that I had a huge smile when I read that one.
I do not think that I have ever had anything negative to say about the collections produced for this series. The author's are talented and produce quality work. For me it is a a given that I will pick up any and every "Timeless Romance Anthology" that I can get my hands on.
This collection has six stories that center with unexpected love that stems from a road trip. (One story isn't completely unexpected). The stories are sweet romance. The characters begin the relationship on the trip and that is where the story ends, at the beginning of a forming relationship. I like that they didn't have an ending of marriage within a very short period of time. The hope of "a happily ever after" is left to the readers imagination.
The stories are novellas. The perfect length when you need a story to fit in a short period of time, at the pool with the kids, nap-time, etc. The stories are clean and fun to read.
A Timeless Romance Anthology: Road Trip Collection is a series of six short, contemporary romantic stories. The protagonists in each are young and emotional, often making very human mistakes in love. The theme of love with childhood friends is present in more than one story. These are quick, easy reads with likable, relatable characters. They are funny, if at times predictable. Some stories feature unusual settings, including a historical reality show and a comics convention. This collection will appeal to readers who are looking for a light, fun summer book. It will remind them of lives similar to their own, and of loves they may have now or memories of those they've had in the past. They'll come away from it having had a few laughs, smiling.
I received an eARC of this book via I Am a Reader in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
A Timeless Romance Anthology's Road Trip Collection is a sweet, clean, contemporary mix of short novellas. I love this series! The authors pick a theme that is common in romance novels and write six novellas centered on it. This time the theme (as the title suggests) is road trips. It’s a fun read for Summer when most are taking vacations already to read about others on the road, and I loved each author’s spin on the books. There’s a story about best friends, a game show, recent heart aches, and new love. It’s a great mix when you need to read something on the go or want a quick contemporary fix.
What Falling Feels Like by Jolene Betty Perry ★★★★ What Falling Feels Like is a heart-breaking story about Kendell and her best friend’s little brother Tyler. Kendell was the popular girl in high school, had it all, so now that she is divorced and feels like she has nothing, she isn’t prepared for the former gangly teen that followed her around. Tyler is anything but gangly. He’s filled out and at 21 a successful businessman. He is everything Kendell feels she doesn’t deserve, especially after how she treated him. Tyler wants nothing more than to rub his success in Kendell’s face, until he sees her again. Then that old crush feeling rekindles along with a powerful urge to protect her from herself. Together they are spending a few days on the road to visit his very-pregnant sister. Kendell still heart-broken from her divorce finds herself falling for the new Tyler who is really the guy she grew up with, she’s just finally taking notice. I enjoyed their story. Kendell was a little hard for me to like at first, but I was impressed by the author’s ability to show her character growth in just under 60 pages. It’s sweet, and I’ll admit to tearing up just a bit.
Antiques Road Trip by Sarah M. Eden ★★★★★ Antiques Road Trip is one of my favorites from the collection. The author does something I wasn’t expecting. She blends contemporary with historical and it worked. Kelsey studied women’s history in college and was always fascinated with the 1800s. When a game show offers her the chance to be a contestant with the prize a trip to Europe and $100,000, she jumps at it. The twist of the show, she will be in character as a woman from the 1800s AND will be taking a road trip with others during that time period. Devon only signed up to be a part of the game for his sister who is slowly dying from ALS. He knows little about the time period other than what his sister forced him to watch in those movies. I really enjoyed this one! I liked the way the author brought the past into the present. I also enjoyed reading the connection between the two main characters. It was sweet and like finding two pieces of the same puzzle.
Wouldn’t It Be Nice by Raneé S. Clark ★★★★★ Another favorite from the collection, Wouldn’t It Be Nice is the only true road trip story in the collection, meaning it is the only one that the entire story takes place on the road. Jacqueline has just dumped her long time boyfriend when he refused to take off of work to go on the road trip he helped plan with her and her lifelong friends. Heartbroken, she arrives thinking she will be a fifth wheel to her sister and best friend and their beaus, when her friend’s brother arrives to take her boyfriend’s place in the van. Hudson is a few years older than Jac, but was just as much her friend as his sister was. Having been away at medical school, Jac has missed Hudson so he coming on the trip is perfect for her, until his sister lets slip that as kids Hudson planned his wedding with her as the bride. I loved reading this story, the sweet friends turned more and the incredibly swoon-worthy moments. Seriously the pining for her ex and wondering if she’s moving too fast isn’t even on the radar because of the relationship built between Hudson and Jac by the author. Loved it!!!
Head Over Heels by Annette Lyon ★★★★★ Head Over Heels satisfied the nerd in me and turned out to be a humorous, swoony story. Tristan is a struggling entrepreneur with her own lifestyle blog about navigating the single life. The blog is wildly successful, just not very monetary. While in Salt Lake City, she gets an offer she cannot pass up to do an article on a singles conference in Las Vegas. The catch is she has to figure out a way to get there without breaking the bank. Her friend sets her up with a coworker and the two hit it off and decide to play a prank on their mutual friend. What started as fun though quickly turns into something real and Tristan wonders if it is one-sided. This is a sweet story (albeit with some serious insta-love) full of 80’s pop music and some comic con fun. Really enjoyed it!!
Two Dozen Roses by Heather B. Moore ★★★ I’m torn on how to feel about Two Dozen Roses. In this novella, workaholic Dayna takes time off to drive her mother to her brother in Oregon on the scenic highway. The two decide to do all the touristy stops along the way and come across Roman and his brother Garrett who are traveling the highway in honor of their deceased sister. Dayna is immediately turned off by Garrett who reminds her of her lying ex-husband, but the quiet brother Roman intrigues her with his honesty and direct questions. It’s a sweet story with some swoon-worthy moments, but because it is a short novella I felt it was really rushed and i didn’t have a chance to really get to know the characters or their motives, unlike some of the other stories in the collection. It was just okay for me.
Try, Try Again by Aubrey Mace ★★★ Again I’m torn on how to feel about this novella Try, Try Again. Sarah has harbored a crush on Justin since she’s known him, but when he turns the tables admitting he cares for her too, she tucks tail and runs. Six months later she finds herself still pining for him when she comes across an obituary for Justin’s grandfather. She cons her best friend into a 6 hour road trip just so she can see him again. I personally was a little lost. Sarah liked Justin, Justin liked, even kissed, Sarah, yet somehow six months goes by without the two exchanging words? I don’t get it. Then the characters didn’t really seem to fit the story. I mean how old are they?! Sarah’s friend is married and very pregnant, yet Sarah works in an OB’s office answering phones part time. The maturity of the characters didn’t match their actions. They acted like teens, adolescents in my opinion, yet I got the impression they were supposed to be older, maybe just out of college? I’m not sure and this bothered me, even though it was only supposed to be a short story.
I loved the new Timeless Romance Anthology: Road Trip Collection. Each novella has the central theme of a road trip, but they are all so different!
The first one, What Falling Feels Like by Jolene Betty Perry, has a cute divorcee who refurbishes trailers while trying to get her life back together. She meets up with her best friend's younger brother that always hung around with them in high school. They take a little road trip to his sister's house and realize that maybe the feelings from high school weren't quite all resolved. Quite emotional for a short novella.
The second one is Antiques Road Trip by Sarah Eden. This one is about a reality show where the contestants dress like 19th century ladies and gentleman and have to get through challenges from the time period in order to win a trip to England and $100,000. There were so many sweet moments between Devon and Kelsey. I didn't know which one I wanted to win until near the end. This is one that you might need a tissue for, however, with a heart-tugging ending.
The third one is Wouldn't It Be Nice by Ranee Clark. Jacqueline's neglectful boyfriend lets her down and she's done. Leaving on a road trip with her friends, her old neighbor and childhood friend Hudson suddenly takes her boyfriend's place in the van. During the trip he tells her he has always had feelings for her, but things gets complicated when the boyfriend suddenly shows up. Who will she choose? Loved the characterization in this one and I definitely had a preference as to who I wanted her to pick!
The fourth one is Head Over Heels by Annette Lyon. This one was a fun and flirty meeting at a convention that leads to a road trip to Las Vegas. I loved all the witty banter between these two sprinkled with the romantic tension, especially with the feigned engagement. (Singing the 80s song together made me smile. I loved that part!)They were adorable while they were "pretending" and it was fun to see when the lines got blurred between what's real and what's not. Loved the ending!
The fifth one is Two Dozen Roses by Heather Moore. I was a little surprised to see a mother/daughter duo, but it totally worked. Dayna is driving her mother up the coast to her brother's home and they keep running into Garrett and Roman who are also traveling the same route to honor their sister's memory. I loved the emotional undertones and how kind Roman was. There was a really sweet energy in this one.
The last one was Try, Try Again by Aubrey Mace. Sarah has always loved Justin, and she might have a chance with him after he breaks up with his girlfriend. She doesn't want to be the rebound girl, though, and doesn't pursue it. After six months, though, the what-might-have-beens are kicking in and she takes a road trip to see him and figure out if they really have a chance or not. This one will pull you right in and hold you there hoping they'll get their happily-ever-after.
I love the Timeless Romance Anthologies because they are a sweet bite of romance. Each story is just long enough to pull you in and satisfy you like a slice of chocolate truffle. It hits the right spot every time!
I received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. Romance, clean. Loved this collection! The stories are short, but the diversity of the different authors made it a fun read!! Loved all the different situations that were put together by them. Some very different situations, locations, and of course characters. Each of the authors put their take on love and romance. It was fun to read and have the HEA in each story. "In What Falling Feels Like" JBP creates a cute setting where where Kendall and Tyler reconnect after many years. Tyler gradually wins over Kendall's heart in a new way instead of friends there is something else! SME "Antiques Road Trip" was a fun escape from the real world. The team aspect of the experience gets Kelsey and Devon to interact and meet. They both recognize their attraction, and as they watch each other in their roles, their attraction grows. Sweet story! "Wouldn't It Be Nice" has Jacqueline's boyfriend doesn't know how to relate to, and take time for her, she spends some time with her friend's brother, one of her best friends from her childhood and teen years. Hudson's plan as a young boy is still written in his heart and as things fall apart with Collin for Jacqueline, she sees his friendship as more than that, something that is more precious. Sweet falling! In "Head Over Heels" Tristan and Mac meet briefly at at ComicCon and Tristan is left wanting more! Little do they both know they have a friend in common who sets Tristan up with a ride for Mac that turns into so much more than a ride! This one was a little fast of a fall for me, but still a fun read! In "Two Dozen Roses" Dayna meets Roman on the PCH as she and her Mom, and Roman and his brother Garrett. Garrett tries to push his way into Dayna's notice, but it is Roman's genuine kindness, and honesty that she finds attractive. His yellow then red roses were the perfect finish! In "Try, Try Again" Sarah's hesitancy to act on her secret crush on Justin, as Justin declares his feelings for her, leads to a 6 month impasse in their relationship. Sarah convinces her best friend, who is very pregnant to drive to Justin's Grandfather's funeral. Of course, the magic happens, they take a gamble and a chance on love. They were all fun stories, very sweet, clean reads. Just the perfect set of short contemporary sweet love stories to read for a fix! Thanks for another great collection!
Another great collection of novellas. What Falling Feels Like is about Kendell and Tyler. Tyler is Kendell's best friends younger brother. He has always liked Kendell but she only saw him as a friend in high school. Kendell has had her heart broken from a bad marriage and sees things differently. When she takes a road trip with Tyler she sees what she had been missing out by not noticing him as more than a friend. She is definitely interested in him but is he still interestedly? Antique Road Trip is about Kelsey and Devon. They are on a reality show where you have to pretend to be a character during Jane Austin's time. Kelsey and Devon play the part of an engaged couple. Their feelings for each other start to grow as they get to know each other. Wouldn't It Be Nice about Jacqueline and her neighbor Hudson. They were good friends growing up and then went separate ways after high school. Jacqueline, her sister Ivy and a male co worker, Hudson and his sister and her fiancé are going on a 3 week road trip from Billings Montana to Alaska. Jacqueline finds out Hudson used to be interested in her and she realizes that she has feelings for him too. Is there still a chance for the two to get together? Head over Heels is about Tristan who is female and Mackenzie who is male. Their mutual friend tricks them into driving together to Las Vegas and the two decide to pretend to fall in love as payback. Will they really fall in love? Two Dozen Roses is about Dayna and Roman. Dayna is driving her mother along the coast to her brother's house in Oregon. Roman and his brother are driving along the same road and stopping at many at the same places. Roman and Dayna get to know each other and sparks start between them. What will happen after their road trip? Try, Try Again is about Sarah and Justin. Justin breaks up with his girlfriend because he realizes he wants to be with Sarah. Sarah has always liked Justin but doesn't think he would be interested. When Justin tells Sarah he wants to be more than friend, she panics because she doesn't believe it could be real. Justin misinterpretes Sarah's panic and moves on. Sarah is afraid she has missed her chance so she goes on a road trip to Idaho to go to Justin's grandpa's funeral to have a chance to talk to him. Will Sarah be too late?
At first I wondered what six stories about romance on a road trip. Would they all be about a couple stuck together in a car trying not to be awkward and like each other at the same time?? I'm happy to say I was pleasantly surprised about each story. They were all great stories!
What Falling Feels Like by Jolen Perry I loved that Kendall or Ken is a girl and she buys, refurbishes and sells campers. The relationship was just the right kind of tension, too.
Antiques Road Trip by Sarah Eden What a fun, clever story about a reality show (I strongly dislike reality shows) set on a 19th century film set. Do you know how many women would give up their 20th century luxuries to be in a show like that?
Wouldn't It Be Nice by Renee Clark Who will Jacq pick? The old boyfriend or the best friend's brother? You'll have to read the anthology to find out!
Head Over Heels by Annette Lyon From Comic Con to Vegas, all in the presence of a handsome stranger who likes to dress in cosplay, Tristan has no chance. When the two decide to pull a prank on Tristan's friend and pretend they are engaged (they're in Vegas after all) things get a little dicey between prank and real life.
Two Dozen Roses by Heather Moore I liked this story about a mother and her daughter taking a road trip together along the coast. Of course, they meet a couple of handsome strangers.
Try, Try Again by Aubrey Mace I have to say, I loved the pregnant friend in this story. And it really was a good story. What twitter-patted female drags her pregnant friend to a funeral to see the lost love of her life?
Overall, I really loved this anthology. These are my new favorite way to get a quick, clean romantic read. I hope to add more of these anthologies to my summer reading.
I was given an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
While road trips aren't often more than a few days long, the forced intimacy of being stuck in a car together for days is a pretty good catalyst for getting to know someone fast. The premise of a road trip is an interesting event to spur a romance and each story in this anthology approached it differently. I was impressed at how unique a story set around a road trip could be!
It was hard for me to find a favorite in this anthology, so I'll showcase one.
The second story, by Sarah Eden, included a Regency-era road trip via carriage as part of a reality show. I've read several reality-show-based romances recently and wasn't sure I was interested in another. I enjoyed this story, though, for the aspects it didn't have. The characters weren't ridiculous or catty. They weren't out for revenge or unreasonable. Instead this story was more similar to Shannon Hales' AUSTENLAND, exploring the best parts of simpler times and trying to figure out if those around you are genuine or playing a role.
The other road trips in this collection consisted of an inter-state business trip with a friend's younger brother, a long-planned vacation with three couples, a trip up the coast with the protagonist's mother, catching a lift with the friend of a friend, and an impulsive trip to a funeral. And somehow each of these certainly innocent and not uncommon premises find a bit of romance.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Great emotion and dialogue. Not a single typo. Jolene Perry is a new author to me, but one I sincerely liked. Well written story, especially for a novella, because the reader is prepared for the end so she doesn't feel short-sheeted but rather satisfied. Perfect romantic road trip story of a broken girl and the guy who had once loved her but had been forced to let her go. **I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
At first I wanted to rate Antiques Road Trip by Sarah M. Eden with only four stars for making Kelsey sick and for taking her out of the picture, but then when Kelsey comes to the rescue for Devon and his sister, I choked up so tightly I wanted to give it a six! Only one typo spotted (last page), and I'm wishing for Ms. Eden to conjure up another contest!
Ranee S. Clark's story, Wouldn't It Be Nice, centered around Jacqueline and her displeasure with a boyfriend of two years, and also a sudden, budding, romantic relationship with her long-time best friend who is brother to her best female friend. The tension slowed in the middle until her ex showed up unannounced, bringing the problem to a head, thus clearing the way for Jac to make a choice.
I have always loved short stories and Anthologies are a little treasure trove of amazing authors. The Road Trip Collection is good, some of the romances quicker than others, but I do love the authors that are used to put this anthology together. This anthology offers 6 different stories and each one seems to do a great job of catering to different people tastes in romance. My favorite would have to be Head Over heels by Annette Lyon. It was a cute storyline introducing two very educated individuals that are forced into a road trip by a mischievous match-making friend. From a convention in Salt Lake to a convention in Las Vegas, Tristan has a long ride ahead of her to realize that best things come when you aren’t expecting them.
Of all the Timeless Romance Anthologies I read, I feel this one was a little so so. Or maybe I felt that because I read it so slowly. The stories were nice, but it took me a while to get into the mood for them.
I think the anthology got off to a great start and come to think of it, all stories were really great. But I felt the book as a whole didn't have that sort of energy the other books had. I did love the stories individually. Some of them were really great. I think Antiques Road Trip and Head over Heels were just amazing stories. The last story dragged a little for me, even in terms of reading it.
I do look forward to reading the next anthology and wish the authors luck.
Road Trip Collection is a collection of six stories from the Timeless Romance Anthology. These stories include: What Falling Feels Like by Jolene Betty Perry Antique Road Trip by Sarah M Eden Wouldn't It Be Nice by Ranee S Clark Head Over Heels by Annette Lyon Two Dozen Roses by Heather B Moore Try, Try Again by Aubrey Mace This collection has three of my favorite authors and three unknown to me authors. I just love anything by Annette Lyon, Sarah M Eden, and Heather B Moore. Their stories in this book do not disappoint. I look forward to reading more by the other authors, as well. A fun, clean book. Highly recommend 5 plus stars
Creative road trip scenarios steeped in romantic tension. A few of the stories have a nice helping of laugh out loud comedy. I had my favorites but overall, the stories work well together. I think many of us can relate with some of the situations presented. :)
I was given an advance reviewer's copy in exchange for my honest review.
As always, another entertaining, clean, sweet, romantic read from the Timeless Romance Anthology ladies!
Review to follow.
*Thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are my own.*
Note: I was given a complimentary copy for an honest review.
These are each short stories wrapped around the theme of a road trip. What I like best about them is that they give me an example of each author's writing style which makes it easier to decide if I want to read their standalone books.
Book 1 - What Falling Feels Like, Jolene Betty Perry
13 chapters
This is a tender story of second chances. Kendell is recovering from a heart breaking failed marriage. She's broken and fragile. However, she's doing what she can to move on and has started a business restoring old campers. Her first one is done and ready for delivery to where her best friend, Ivy, lives. But, when she arrives to pick up Ivy's brother, Tyler, she never expected him to be so impressive and good looking. Now, she feels the embarrassment of her lack of care with her personal appearance. Had she sunk that low? Can she handle being with him for the long drive ahead?
Tyler hasn't seen Kendell in around 4 years. He remembers everything about her since his sister was her best friend. When he finds a new truck at the dealership near his sister, he arranges to drive with Kendell. He just never realized that his love for her would still be real. But, what is he supposed to do with her broken spirit? He can't face losing her twice.
The character development is impressive for a short story of only 13 chapters and the emotions are realistic. I loved how they were open and honest with each other and the time frame worked for me.
My rating - 5 stars
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** Book 2 - Antiques Road Trip, Sarah M. Eden
7 Chapters
This is a simple story, yet still interesting enough to read in one sitting. The TV show theme didn't come across as all that realistic, but it wasn't that bad. I did appreciate how the various characters made the effort to be honest and open to each other. They didn't let the competition around them change who they really were.
My rating - 4 stars
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** Book 3 - Wouldn't It Be Nice, Ranee S. Clark
7 Chapters + Epilogue
This story actually packs a surprising amount of detail in it. It focuses on Jacqueline (Jac) who has been dating Colin for a couple of years. However, after a road trip with their friends is all planned, he backs out due to his work. When her long time, childhood friend, Hudson, shows up to replace Colin in the van, she starts to rethink her relationships with each man.
Somehow, the author successfully pulled off a love triangle story. I was impressed. It has plenty of emotions and realistic conversation / interaction between characters.
My rating - 5 stars
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** Book 4 - Head Over Heels, Annette Lyon
7 chapters
This is a cute story of a girl with a man's name, Tristan, and a guy with a girl's name, MacKenzie, and a matchmaking, meddling friend. It's hard to say much without giving away spoilers. It's a simple story and things seem to happen quickly, but not so fast to be unbelievable.
My rating 4 stars
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** Book 5 - Two Dozen Roses, Heather B. Moore
9 chapters
This is a different twist on a road trip in that the main characters were traveling separately, but because they were traveling the same route, decided to team up with each other.
I thought that the characters expressed realistic emotions, and I appreciated the open and honest conversations between the characters. Finally, I liked the ending - I liked the heroine's expectations of the hero. She had a logic about her that was refreshing.
This is a fun story about a young woman who harbors a lot of fear and struggles to communicate her feelings. She worries and fears the worst, running away from what (who) she wants. Fortunately, she finds a backbone and takes a step to correct her mistakes, but still struggles with communicating her emotions. Yet, when she almost loses her chance the second time, she finally opens up and confesses her feelings.
What really saves this story is the humor. It's totally funny. And, the timeline for the romance is believable.
My rating - 5 stars
Merged review:
Note: I was given a complimentary copy for an honest review.
These are each short stories wrapped around the theme of a road trip. What I like best about them is that they give me an example of each author's writing style which makes it easier to decide if I want to read their standalone books.
Book 1 - What Falling Feels Like, Jolene Betty Perry
13 chapters
This is a tender story of second chances. Kendell is recovering from a heart breaking failed marriage. She's broken and fragile. However, she's doing what she can to move on and has started a business restoring old campers. Her first one is done and ready for delivery to where her best friend, Ivy, lives. But, when she arrives to pick up Ivy's brother, Tyler, she never expected him to be so impressive and good looking. Now, she feels the embarrassment of her lack of care with her personal appearance. Had she sunk that low? Can she handle being with him for the long drive ahead?
Tyler hasn't seen Kendell in around 4 years. He remembers everything about her since his sister was her best friend. When he finds a new truck at the dealership near his sister, he arranges to drive with Kendell. He just never realized that his love for her would still be real. But, what is he supposed to do with her broken spirit? He can't face losing her twice.
The character development is impressive for a short story of only 13 chapters and the emotions are realistic. I loved how they were open and honest with each other and the time frame worked for me.
My rating - 5 stars
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** Book 2 - Antiques Road Trip, Sarah M. Eden
7 Chapters
This is a simple story, yet still interesting enough to read in one sitting. The TV show theme didn't come across as all that realistic, but it wasn't that bad. I did appreciate how the various characters made the effort to be honest and open to each other. They didn't let the competition around them change who they really were.
My rating - 4 stars
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** Book 3 - Wouldn't It Be Nice, Ranee S. Clark
7 Chapters + Epilogue
This story actually packs a surprising amount of detail in it. It focuses on Jacqueline (Jac) who has been dating Colin for a couple of years. However, after a road trip with their friends is all planned, he backs out due to his work. When her long time, childhood friend, Hudson, shows up to replace Colin in the van, she starts to rethink her relationships with each man.
Somehow, the author successfully pulled off a love triangle story. I was impressed. It has plenty of emotions and realistic conversation / interaction between characters.
My rating - 5 stars
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** Book 4 - Head Over Heels, Annette Lyon
7 chapters
This is a cute story of a girl with a man's name, Tristan, and a guy with a girl's name, MacKenzie, and a matchmaking, meddling friend. It's hard to say much without giving away spoilers. It's a simple story and things seem to happen quickly, but not so fast to be unbelievable.
My rating 4 stars
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** Book 5 - Two Dozen Roses, Heather B. Moore
9 chapters
This is a different twist on a road trip in that the main characters were traveling separately, but because they were traveling the same route, decided to team up with each other.
I thought that the characters expressed realistic emotions, and I appreciated the open and honest conversations between the characters. Finally, I liked the ending - I liked the heroine's expectations of the hero. She had a logic about her that was refreshing.
This is a fun story about a young woman who harbors a lot of fear and struggles to communicate her feelings. She worries and fears the worst, running away from what (who) she wants. Fortunately, she finds a backbone and takes a step to correct her mistakes, but still struggles with communicating her emotions. Yet, when she almost loses her chance the second time, she finally opens up and confesses her feelings.
What really saves this story is the humor. It's totally funny. And, the timeline for the romance is believable.