L. G. RollinsReviews

4 1/2 stars

I loved this novella collection! Each story was so different and unique, but each was lovely. The connecting theme is love growing out of friendship set in my favorite season of autumn.

The Plucky Miss Ruth by Laura Rollins is a creative take on a time loop much like the Groundhog Day movie. Every day, Ruth Hughes feels stuck in the same repeating routine. Each day she tries to figure out a new way to break the cycle. Her routine is somewhat disrupted when she bumps into Lord Harvey Lambert and the two quickly reacquaint themselves. They conspire to help Ruth’s cousin Nettie reconnect with a former love believing that if they can get them back together, the time loop will be broken. I loved the fun way these two plotted together to help Nettie, and how their relationship grows from friendship and mutual admiration. Their second kiss was my favorite.

Mr. Dowling’s Remedy by Annette Lyon is an amazing heart-wrenching romance between two people unfairly sent to an asylum. Beverly Stanton’s step-father wants her out of the way. She’s too intelligent for his liking and stands in the way of his financial plans. Crandall Dowling is a former medical student most likely suffering from Tourette Syndrome who’s demonized and thought of as evil. They become fast friends working to find a way out of the asylum. But when a tragic event occurs, both realize how much they’ve come to care for one another. I loved this romance. Though the setting is bleak and highlights the injustices of Victorian asylums, the story is ultimately hopeful and beautiful.

A Railway Through the Roses by Lisa H. Catmull is an enjoyable story of childhood friends finally seeing each other in a new light. Adrian Everard’s father has given him an ultimatum to marry. He must quickly find a wealthy wife to save the factory which supports many in their small Langton Village and convince his childhood friend, Lady Anne Baxter to allow him to build a railroad on her property. Anne has secretly wanted Adrian to see her as more than a business partner/friend for six years. Ever since her parents died, Adrian has been the one to comfort and support her. Anne decides to do everything to warn off his potential fiancés. Though she hates change, she must ultimately choose whether to sacrifice for the village while Adrian marries another, or fight for her home and Adrian. I loved the various scenes where these two wind up alone together and the teasing nature of their relationship. Their kiss in the boat was my favorite. *sigh*

It’s hard to decide which of these three I liked best because they were all so well written, romantic, and different. It’s a great collection that made me want to read more of each author’s works. Highly recommend to fans of clean Victorian romances. I received an advanced complimentary copy through AustenProse PR. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.½

Loved this first book in the Lockhart family series! Laura Rollins is quickly becoming a favorite author. I enjoy the way she writes sympathetic characters with plenty of heart and depth. This book had all the elements I enjoy: a dastardly villain, a slow burn swoony romance, an intelligent heroine, and definite intrigue/suspense.

Marianne Twisdale has suffered her father’s abuse for too long. When his gambling debts place her in a precarious situation where she’s forced into a betrothal to an even more violent scoundrel, she has only one way out. She must discredit Lord Sheldon Lockhart and only then can she be released from the marriage contract.

Lord Sheldon Lockhart is intrigued by Marianne when he meets her at a neighborhood party. As a new barrister, he is on the trail of a Lord Cockell, a man who preys on the gambling habits of gentleman extorting money, property, and favors when they can’t pay back his loans. He believes that Marianne’s father is Cockell’s latest victim and he’s determined to find a way to rid the area of the vile villain.

Marianne is an intelligent, sympathetic character. I enjoyed her witty banter with Lord Sheldon and the plucky way she deals with the abuse of not only her father, but Lord Cockell. Lord Sheldon is a swoony hero who is charming not only when he’s matching wits with Marianne at chess, but showing care and compassion in trying to help her. The two work so well together and it was enjoyable watching their romance bloom. Lord Cockell is a villain you love to hate. He is despicable in every way including the slimy way he acts towards Marianne.

So excited to continue on with the rest of the series! The Lockhart siblings were introduced in this story and I can’t wait to read about them. Definitely recommend this to those who love clean Regency romance with a hint of suspense.

Content: physical and mental abuse by father and betrothed½

The Audacious Miss Eliza by Laura Rollins commences the Daughters of Courage series, introducing several women whose stories are to come, but focusing on Miss Eliza Mulgrave and her relationships. The intriguing sisterly dynamic between Eliza, Dinah (her sister), and Rachel (her cousin) flowed throughout the novel. Furthermore, the novel explored female friendship bonds as Eliza and Augusta end up in a love triangle with Lord Lambert.

Speaking of Lord Lambert, I found myself wanting more interaction between Eliza and Lord Lambert at the start of the book. However, as their friendship budded into romance, my interest increased and, by the middle, I was absorbed into the story. The romantic tension heightened once Lambert determined to win Eliza and I thoroughly enjoyed the moves he made in those romantic moments.

The Audacious Miss Eliza by Laura Rollins is a light, Regency-era romance with themes about being true to yourself and the importance of relationships. Readers who enjoy clean, historical reads that entertain while staying light will likely enjoy this novel.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Werewolves living amongst humans, funding for science experiments on the verge of ending, and a six-story steam-powered submarine, are the building blocks for this story of love and betrayal.

How much abuse should a person accept from a life-long friend? How about from one forced to live on the edge of society? Doctor Elise Sterling has more patience than I. So many things may have been different if she’d been less forgiving, but then she mightn’t be the caring person she is. Her desire to better the lives of those around her keeps her focused.

How far would you go to regain a normal life? A life without excruciating pain and a need to hide from hunters. If Doctor Sterling’s experiment works, werewolves may no longer need to experience such pain.

Once things get underway, all goes smoothly. What possible wrench could halt these gears? The answer is one I would never have guessed – and it was brilliant!

I love the direction this story takes. I love the variety and quality of the characters, except William. Even when he was acting sweet, I didn’t like him. Although, without him, the entire future of the doctor’s experiments would probably falter.

I love the details of the imagery. Like all the onlookers, I was fascinated with the Gearhound and her captain, Nathaniel Hopkins. Iron framework and glass panes add to the strength and beauty of the expansive submarine. I would love to sail the ocean in the observation room, watching as sea life swims all around. Captain Hopkins, though not easily convinced, at all times, remains faithful to his moral compass and sense of duty. Everyone needs a Captain Nathaniel Hopkins in her life.

I am excited to see where this story leads. Is a cure found? Or will a better understanding alter human nature? What role does copper play in all this? Hopefully, I learn some of these answers in Book 2 of the Steam and Shadow series.

I haven’t read very many books in the steampunk genre, but I’ve read enough to know what to expect. This book took me by surprise, but in a good way!

After a disease ravages a small town, Samuel is at a loss and believes it to be his duty to find a cure. Leila is on a mission and when she and Samuel partner up, it becomes a race against time to not only save themselves but everyone they love.

My favorite part about this book was the beautiful imagery and the way the author forces images into your brain. The opening scene with the crows diving to their deaths was so powerful that it set a wonderful foundation for the rest of the story to be built on. All the characters are three-dimensional, and at the end of the story, I found myself wanting more.

Fantastic book. So fantastic that I think I’ll make the time to read book one and two in the series (since I started on book three).

I was provided a free copy of this book and have left a voluntary review.

I would like to thank Sweetwater Books for a copy of this book to review. Though I received this book for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: After the forest dwellers destroy her home and kill her father, Aerbrin sets off on a journey to find the truth about her people, her kingdom, and the mysterious Zaad stone that contains a power she never imagined. Magic and mystery join forces in this intriguing fantasy world. Full of shifting alliances and twists you won’t see coming, it’s a can’t-miss read.

As the first book in a planned trilogy the required world development and character backgrounds take place here. Though that slows the pacing of the tale somewhat, this book does pick up speed fairly early on. Aerbrin is the first protagonist we meet, but not the only main player in this story. Both her cousin Hilfawn, and the mysterious Timbrick also play large roles. While Aerbrin's tale is unwinding in one direction, both Hilfawn and Timbrick start out on separate paths that soon converge, leaving them to walk the rest of their story together. This of course means that the story is told via multiple points of view, which actually works pretty well in this case.

What I enjoyed the most in this book were the characters. Some, like Aerbrin's, I was drawn to from the very beginning. She's a strong, independent female, yet we get to experience her emotions without her becoming weak or ineffectual. Meanwhile I found Hilfawn to be rather off putting initially, yet as the story progresses more of her layers are exposed, showing that she isn't the shallow ditz she comes across as. In fact it seems she plays that role because it's what's expected of her, so she takes full advantage of it. Then there's Timbrick. Of the three primary protagonists he is the one least explored, though that may simply be due to his circumstances. If there's one thing that stands out about him it would be his ability to place others before himself.

As for the antagonists there are plenty to go around, and they do their job quite well. They are very easy to dislike, and so far no redeeming qualities have shown through. Yet I hold out hope that at least one will develop some qualities that make it more difficult to completely hate them, thus creating a more complex personality to wrestle with.

While the arc of the story is relatively smooth, there are still spots where things either go to slowly for my taste, or things are glossed over to quickly. But as this is the first book in a trilogy I'm holding out hope that those situations will be more deeply addressed, or help clarify future points as the rest of the story unfolds.

I'll admit that I wasn't sure if this was the first book in a series or intended as a stand-alone story until the very end when I read the details about the author. That made it frustrating in parts, as I simply didn't think there'd be enough time to resolve all the various plot lines; yet by the end I felt that this could have worked as a stand-alone book or as the first in a series. Had it been a single book the ending would have been weaker than it should have been, but as a series opener the story still has room to grow. It will be interesting to see if there really is enough material to get a solid trilogy out of this story, and likely one I'll be keeping an eye on.