Hearts Entwined: A Historical Romance Novella Collection

Hearts Entwined: A Historical Romance Novella Collection
Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, Melissa Jagears
Bethany House Publishers, 2018

What do you get when you combine four top historical fiction authors in one book? A first rate collection of funny, romantic novellas, that’s what. Each story revisits minor characters from the authors’ previous novels and gives them a chance to shine on their own.

The Love Knot, by Karen Witemeyer, takes you to the Harper’s Station ladies colony. The colony is boasting more and more gentlemen these days, especially with the arrival of Claire Nevin’s former beau, who comes bearing a most unexpected package for her. Will they be able to overcome the hurt and misunderstandings of their past in order to make a future together?

In The Tangled Ties That Bind, by Mary Connealy, Connor Kincaid returns home to pursue Maggie Kincaid, the girl he grew up with as cousins by adoption. But Maggie has made other plans in his absence, and he has his work cut out for him to convince her that they can make a future together without sacrificing her dream of becoming a doctor.

Bound and Determined, by Regina Jennings, finds Private Bradley Willis assigned to escort a herd of camels and their owner across Indian Territory as punishment for disregarding orders. It seems like a simple enough task, but Bradley isn’t prepared for the the owner’s daughter to be as pretty as she is – or for her attempts to sabotage their trip.

Wealthy Marianne Lister will do whatever she has to do to convince lowly assistant Calvin Hochstetler that she isn’t afraid to leave her family’s wealth behind in Tied and True, by Melissa Jagears. She strikes out on her own, getting a job at a factory and moving into a low-rent apartment to prove to him that money and comfort aren’t worth much without love.

This post contains affiliate links. Read more about that here. This book was provided to me by author Regina Jennings in exchange for an honest review.

In what other work of historical fiction will you find everything from a lady doctor to camels crossing the prairie? I loved the variety of the stories and the predicaments these couples find themselves in. The first and last stories are a little more serious, exploring slightly deeper issues, and the middle two are so fun and funny. I think there is something for everyone in Hearts Entwined!

Although I sincerely and thoroughly enjoyed them all, if I was forced to choose a favorite I would probably go with Bound and Determined, by Regina Jennings. I just wasn’t expecting camels when I started this story, and between that novelty and the witty writing I just couldn’t set it aside. I’ve review several of Regina Jennings’ books in the past, and so far I haven’t met one I didn’t love.

Each of these authors is a personal favorite of mine and I could barely contain my excitement and anticipation when I learned they were going to collaborate on a new novella collection. All the stories will stand alone and be enjoyable and entertaining by themselves, but if you have followed any previous works by these authors you will especially enjoy the filling out of cameo characters from other books. This isn’t the first time these four authors have teamed up though. With This Ring? features more novellas with the same endearing characteristics as the ones in Hearts Entwined.

More by Karen Witemeyer: No Other Will Do & Heart on the Line
More by Mary Connealy: Too Far Down
More by Regina Jennings: Holding the Fort & For the Record
More by Melissa Jagears: A Love so True & A Bride for Keeps

I love novella collections for the fact that they allow you to sample different authors, either to find a new favorite or to get a taste of established ones you already know you’ll enjoy.

Do you like novella collections?