An Unexpected Proposal

by Annette Lyon

From USA Today bestselling author Annette Lyon comes a delightful historical romance novella:

While working at a wood camp in the Logan canyon during the winter of 1880, Caroline Simpson is forced to thwart the aggressive advances of Mr. Butch Larson, and in the process discovers that her long-time friend James has genuine affection for her. But as stubborn as Caroline is, she minimizes the emotions James has awakened in her, and it takes almost losing him to admit her true feelings.

AN UNEXPECTED PROPOSAL debuted in WINTER COLLECTION, the first volume of the bestselling and RONE Award-winning Timeless Romance Anthology series, and is now available as a standalone short.

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Novella

49 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2015

About the author

Annette Lyon is a USA Today bestselling author, an 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.

Annette is represented by Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Her first suspense novel, Just One More, releases 2023 through Scarlet Suspense.

Reviews

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a few elements that I adore in a story and this one has a couple of them. First of all, I love a story set near to where I grew up, even if it was about 100 years earlier. I can visualize the places I've been to so well when I've actually seen them and it really brings a story to life. This book is no exception. Annette Lyon is a master storyteller in the historical fiction/romance genre and I always eagerly look forward to what she'll weave next. Another element that I love is that of a long unrequited love and that moment of realization by the unrequiter (okay...that is not a word) is priceless. This story is endearing and sweet with a few moments of danger.

Content: mild romance; mild moments of peril. Clean!

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a clean romance novella. It takes a talented author to write a quick story with characters you care about and have a great story too. Annette Lyon has done just that. I really enjoyed AN EXPECTED PROPOSAL. Caroline knew she cared for James, but didn't realize how much until she thought she could lose him. Perfectly written and engaging story.
I received an ebook copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Ballet in AK · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Unexpected Proposal by Annette Lyon (3 stars)

A sweet story that takes place in Cache Valley, and in Logan Canyon, Utah in the 1880’s.

It’s a novella and there a lot of angst, but it has an HEA and is a quick read.

Caroline undergoes quite a change of heart from the beginning of the story to the end. Her defense of her virtue in the beginning is a great scene and the proposal scene is a keeper!

James is a faithful beau and the little we know about him is that he’s a good man.

One thing that bugs me is that Caroline sits in a window seat for days, hardly eating or sleeping, while waiting for news of the rescue party. Meanwhile, her mother is working the farm and bringing her trays of food. (Too much drama queen for my taste.)

A sweet, light story and a quick read.

*poor, **ok, ***good, ****very good, *****something special

[Danielle Carpenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is supposed to be a romantic story and is touted as such. It felt like to me a woman who didn't know her own mind, and a man who loved the wrong woman. I felt sorry for our hero, but our heroine whose eyes I was supposed to be seeing through. I disliked with real intensity. No woman should treat a man that way then go beg at his feet. She made her decision and should lie in the bed she made. Our hero is the kind loving soul he always has been from the beginning of the story.

[Maria Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super short read but tells a pretty full story. I felt like what was written about the characters made us know them pretty well.

Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: sexual assault and resulting defensive action

[Georgina Parkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a short novella this was a pretty alright read. Nice and sweet and I could see myself reading more from this author.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice sweet short story that was enjoyable. I received it for free. This is my voluntary opinion.

[Lisa Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

With its beautiful book cover, An Unexpected Proposal is a story set in Mormon Pioneer days. Caroline is working in the kitchen of the Larsens home helping to feed and clean after men who are there to cut and haul trees for construction. Caroline is mistreated by the male chauvinist, Butch, and finds herself afraid to be anywhere near Butch. Her job requires her to serve the men their food, but even in front of the other men, Butch behaves inappropriately towards Caroline. Will any of the other men stand up for Caroline and will her longtime childhood friend, James, notice what Caroline needs? This story will stir your emotions!

[Eileen Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading "An Unexpected Proposal" by Annette Lyon because she juxtaposed forced 'intimacy' versus chosen intimacy. Someone who truly loves respects another person's choice for the level of intimacy involved.

The setting and historical details interested me too. The poor moon had a multiple personality according to the heroine's mood.

And the hero gave the best compliment of all: she made "perfect, crisp bacon."

[Julia Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute novella about a childhood friendship that blossomed over the years. Sometimes we don't always realize that what we already have is pretty great! I haven't read the rest of the Timeless Anthology this was included in. I plan to look that up and read those ones too. They always put great sets together and this was a good one! Great job Annette as always!

Note: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Karen Tuttle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic quick read

I really enjoy this author. I read anything she has written and have never once been disappointed. I love the fact that I can share her stories with my Granddaughter. Though the novella format is short, her characters are so well written I don't feel they lack depth. She manages to present a fully formed personality in just a few words. I can always recommend her books with confidence. Great story.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay. I admit, I'm a sucker for novellas. I love oneshots especially... also when I'm getting behind on my reading. This is the first time I've ever read a Mormon (well, it does not explicitly say that the main characters are LDS, I don't think, but I mean, come on, Cache Valley. Haha) historical romance. As I've said again and again, I'm not much into childhood-friends-turned-sweethearts stories, but this is very fluffy and adorable.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read! I loved Annette Lyon's "An Unexpected Proposal"! Caroline is a strong character with many lovely qualities and feels safe with her best friend James, but it takes a scary moment and some unwanted advances from someone else to make her realize her true feelings for her best friend, but is it too late for her to let him know?

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thought this was a little silly, Caroline was a little ridiculous in her dreams of stringing suitors along. James was gracious enough to take her back after her growing up overnight. Anyway...

Moral Note: A man makes unwelcome advances on a woman including grabbing her breast. Didn't think that needed to be in there.

[Hailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute read

I enjoyed this novella. It was cute and fun and a really short read. I thought the characters were relatable and liked how Caroline did not understand her feelings and had to grow to understand them.

[Tori (Book Chick) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I liked the setting at the wood camp and the first 1/2 I enjoyed. But I just didn't feel a real connection to the characters. Sometimes that happens with novellas.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun quick read.

I really liked this novella. It could have used an edit, but I liked the story. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

[Elaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute sweet little book. Took me about an hour to read. It was definitely something I needed to read after reading a long book series. Thanks for writing this short romantic book.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, quick story. There were s few proofreading errors.

content: clean

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is a quick easy read. The story line moves quickly and the characters are likable. It is set in Cache Valley and since that is where I live, that added to the joy of reading it!

[Deon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this on #KindleUnlimited

[Daisy Dandelion · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is short and sweet. Sweet and short. It appears that the final editing was....forgotten?

[Jean Hall]

I downloaded this book but wasn't able to read it.