The road to true love never did run smooth, but a few bumps along the way make it all the more thrilling. This timeless truth is showcased in Three Little Words, a charming compilation of short stories written by a trio of popular LDS romance novelists. Readers are invited to follow the journeys of three young women as they encounter love where they least expect it.
Rescuing Bailey by Jennie Hansen
For as long as she can remember, Bailey has loved the boy next door. But despite her feelings, his schedule and his little brother keep getting in the way. Will her childhood crush finally blossom into something real, or will she discover that true love is waiting just around the corner?
Three Little Words by K.C. Grant
The bet is simple: Elizabeth, a speech therapist, has three days to teach a country bumpkin with a drawl as thick as molasses how to speak like a gentleman. But as she gets to know her charming student, it soon becomes clear that there may be more to him than meets the ear.
A Crying Shame by Aubrey Mace
Cassidy is in love with the idea of love, though after her most recent breakup, the possibility of finding Mr. Right seems hopeless. But when she meets a handsome classmate in her painting class, she may end up learning more about chemistry than about art.
This was such a fun read! I haven't read much by these authors so that peaked my interest in it even more. I'm happy to say that I enjoyed each one of these stories! They each had a different feel and I liked that, too.
Rescuing Bailey: Bailey has loved Dieter, her next-door neighbor, for years. Something happens and she leaves town by accepting a job in Chicago. Her father's heart attack brings her back and she has to face the situation that caused her to leave in the first place. My heart broke for Baily at the beginning of the story. I kept hoping things would work out the way I wanted them to and they did!
Three Little Words: This is My Fair Lady in reverse. Elizabeth is a speech therapist who makes a bet with her roommates that she can transform someone's speech within three days. They get to choose and Matt appears to be the perfect candidate. He has some secrets of his own, though. It wasn't hard to see the collision course their relationship was on but it was a fun journey.
A Crying Shame: This story was hilarious! Cassidy's boyfriend, Colby, recently broke up with her and she is a hot mess. Her choice of lounging attire cracked me up! Her best friend, Elle, takes her out one night to paint. Cassidy's not thrilled to be there but then she meets Max and the flirting began. The majority of this story took place in one night and what a night it was! I laughed out loud a lot while reading this one.
The final story entertained me the most but I thought the entire book was well done. I look forward to reading more from each of these authors in the future!
I received a copy from the publisher for an honest review. My opinion is 100% my own.
This was a fun collection of novellas by three authors familiar to me. Each novella has a different vibe but they were all light, romantic and easy to read.
If you love the "boy next door" kind of romances, Rescuing Bailey will make you happy. It's like the boy next door times two! :) Bailey is a little thick headed in regards to the boys next door but she figures it out in the end and I guess that's what matters.
Three Little Words was a very short spin off of "My Fair Lady" only the gender roles are reversed. A moment of misunderstanding leads to a whole tangle of lies and misunderstandings and that makes for some fun reading for sure! It was fantastic to watch two people who were out to prove something to each other fall in love instead.
I loved A Crying Shame. I just couldn't help myself. The whole story is set in almost one place- an art class. It was a fantastic first meeting story with flirting and butterflies in the stomach. This one left me with a big smile on my face.
I'm so glad I got to read and review this book. My thanks to Covenant for providing the review copy. It was a great diversion and it made me happy. Ooh, and I also love the cover. :)
Sometimes it only takes three little words to send your life pointed in a new, and better, direction. The Love Unexpected books explore the fact that love sometimes happens when you least expect.
This book has three short stories that are very different. Each is unique and leave you with a warm and happy feeling upon completion. The characters are great and I enjoyed my time spent with them. The stories move quickly and are well developed, even though they are short.
This book is great for the times you need a quick story. You can get through the stories quickly. Or, you can sit down and enjoy the whole book at once!
THREE LITTLE WORDS was a compilation of three sweet romance novellas. The reading was light and fun with just enough depth to keep things interesting and help make the characters relatable. I enjoyed the stories overall and hope that this is the beginning of more such compilations to come from this publisher.
Rescuing Bailey by Jennie Hansen. This was a really cute story. I wanted to give the heroine a talking to and maybe some shaking up, but eventually she got her act together. The hero was a great guy and even though he was a little reserved, I had to cheer him on when he basically declares himself. Loved the ending.
Three Little Words by K.C. Grant. This one started off so well and I thought it was going to be a great story, but it kind of fell flat for me. It was a very quick romance and it didn't quite work for me realistically, nor did I feel the chemistry between the two characters or how they both would fall for each so quickly, especially the heroine who didn't know what was going on. Lots of potential - just wasn't for me.
A Crying Shame by Aubrey Mace. This was my favorite out of all three stories. There heroine has some issues at first since she wants to be in love, but really isn't. I loved the dialogue between her and her best friend and loved the best friend. The heroine did grow on me. I loved how she eventually decided to be herself and not who she thought guys wanted her to be. There was some great chemistry, fun humor, and sweet moments. The ending was also fantastic. I would read this one again, especially the last half at Paint Nite. Max. *sigh*
The books have some LDS characters, but besides references (that felt a little out of place) of them not drinking coffee or alcohol, the stories read like sweet romance. Any LDS or general romance reader would enjoy these.
Content: Clean Source: I would like to thank Covenant Communications for my complimentary review copy, which did not affect my review in any way.
I love a good, clean romance and three novellas in one book is always a bonus! Novellas seem to be quite popular right now and they are a great way to get a quick fix in a short amount of time. Each story is unique with a common thread--love.
With Rescuing Bailey, the reader is given a sweet "boy next door" kind of romance, with the story of an unrequited childhood love. Bailey has a knack for being so in love with the idea of being in love, that she sells herself short time and again. She's a girl with her head in the clouds, but is determined to prove herself as being the opposite.
Three Little Words is a fun story. Elizabeth's friends give her three days to prove that her speech skills can be taught to anyone and they've decided that Matt, a Texas hick, is her student. She tries hard to change him to help him be more successful in society, the workplace, etc. They're both fun characters and their encounters are entertaining.
In A Crying Shame, Cassidy is almost desperate at first. She wants love, but feels it's a hopeless cause for her. And the *surprise*! What a fun first meet! I loved this one and absolutely adored the characters. Cassidy has a great relationship with her best friend and the romance in this one is so swoony and sweet.
These are all great stories and a great way to start off the new year. I recommend this book to readers who love good, clean, romantic fun!
Content: mild romance (kissing); mild religious elements in the second story. Clean!
*I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
A common aspect of these three delightful stories is that the main character needed to re-evaluate her perception of others. I enjoyed the unrequited love theme in Rescuing Bailey, but didn't quite connect with her character. There was a bigger focus on her day-to-day actions than showing the interactions with Gunter. She came off as an isolated person who didn't reach out to others. In Three Little Words, I was instantly a fan of the nod to My Fair Lady, with a fun twist since Elizabeth is in the role of Higgins and her project Matt didn't actually need reforming. My favorite of the three was A Crying Shame, once Cass's BFF Elle gets her out of her heartbreak hangover and challenges her to have fun for once at a evening painting class. It was a realistic portrayal of Cass slowly warming up to the idea of being herself and discovering that she and others really do like the real her. Her admirer Max is adorable with his sincere flirting and the descriptions of the class made me want to bust out a canvas and some acrylics :)
(Thank you to Covenant Communications for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
This is a very fun compilation of clean romance stories. I enjoyed each of the novellas immensely. As much as I enjoyed each one, Aubrey's was my favorite. I am a big fan of her books. They are always full of solid writing and whit with charming characters. Elle stole the show, she was a hoot. I loved how Cass couldn't hold it together, it was funny and Max was a doll. Don't get me wrong, I really liked Jennie's and K.C.'s novellas too! They were both well-written with very likable characters. Each had funny moments and lots of heart. Received a paperback copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited to get this collection because they had stories by some of my favorite authors!
The first story is by Jennie Hansen called Rescuing Bailey. Bailey's next door neighbor is constantly rescuing her---from a tree as a little girl to a broken heart as an adult woman. But when she runs away to find her footing, she thinks she's over it until her father's heart attack. Coming home brings up a lot of emotions for Bailey. Can she trust her feelings for any man? And is it too late for her and the boy who's always been there for her? I really enjoyed this story. The characters felt fleshed out and even though it was a short story, I didn't feel short-changed at the end. Loved it.
The second story in the book is Three Little Words by K.C. Grant. This one took place in New York and it felt so real with the way it was portrayed and made for a good setting. Elizabeth is a speech therapist that believes the way you speak and present yourself can open professional paths up for you. Her roommates aren't so sure and make a bet with her that she can't take a Texan guy with a strong accent and turn him around in three days. Only, her subject has a few Texas-sized secrets of his own which makes for a page-turner to see how it turns out. Cute, flirty, and romantic, and this one had an epilogue which really helped me feel the closure I needed for this short story.
The last one in the compilation is A Crying Shame by Aubrey Mace. Aubrey is one of my favorite romantic comedy writers and this story was just like her others---you will laugh with the characters as you get to know them and enjoy the romantic journey that much more. Cassidy has been unceremoniously dumped and her best friend Elle is determined to move Cassidy past that jerk. Forcing Cassidy to go to Paint Nite with her is her solution and when she maneuvers Cassidy next to a cute guy in the class, the story really takes off. I have to admit, I laughed at the "trees" she was painting and the art teacher's reactions. But the best part was the building relationship between Cass and her cute painting partner. The ending definitely left me with a smile.
This was the perfect book to start off the year with because the stories were short so I could fit them into a busy schedule and yet they ended well so I didn't feel like they were rushed. If you're looking for a quick romantic snack, then this is the book for you!
This anthology has three quick-paced novellas. Each of the authors seemed to be experts in their field and the book was easy to read and well-laid out and designed. In Rescuing Bailey, the heroine has been in love with her next door neighbor, Dieter, for years. When she gets home from college, she expects a marriage proposal since they have dated for so long, but instead she gets blindsided. Escaping to Chicago for a job opportunity, she nurses her broken heart for three years until her dad has a heart attack. Returning to Utah scares her, but she does what she must. Will her heart ever heal, or will she find love where she least expects it?
In Three Little Words, Elizabeth is a speech therapist who helps people sound smart. When her friends make a bet that she has three days to turn a hick-speaking cowboy into an educated man with no accent, she takes them up on it. But when she gets to know the man beneath the cowboy hat and lingo, her heart gets tangled up and she doesn’t know what to do. She risks losing her independence and pride, but hearts don’t seem to care about trivial things like that.
In A Crying Shame, Cassidy has just told her boyfriend that she loves him. When he doesn't return those words, or even fake an attempt, she is ready to give up on love. But her friend, Elle, won’t allow her to hide away in her room with her pregnant pet gerbil forever. She forces her to a Paint Nite, where she meets a guy who charms her despite her intention to never fall for a man again.
Each of these stories were enjoyable and could be read in a single setting. Even though they were short (which is why I rated the book 4 instead of 5), there was enough character development that I liked the characters and laughed at a few witty dialogue sections. This seemed to be a very professional anthology and I would definitely recommend it to romance aficionados. Like a chocolate chip cookie, it was solid and filled my need for a sweet read.
*** I was given this book for free from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review
I received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. Romance, clean. 3 different takes on a love story. Beautifully set in diverse settings, and circumstances. The impediments to each of the HEA's is different in each story. The first, love is right in front of Bailey all along, but she is blinded by the older brother. Bailey's determination to try and find love when it is right in front of her, finally lead her in the right direction for her. Back to her home, back to her heart, and back to a place that is more meaningful, genuine, and real for her. Loved the different settings that are portrayed, and Bailey's finally 'seeing' what was in front of her all along. In the second story, more of a comedy of errors, but still genuine characters, with sweet emotions. I loved how Elizabeth was so blind to her student, but his heart and head were so into her that he was willing to risk playing the 'fool' to spend time with her in NY. The unraveling at the end, was a 'Cinderella' moment where he was 'unmasked'. Cassidy's story was fun. Her reluctance, her friend's insistence to help her get out and heal, and the man she meets and takes a chance on, even while she was still mourning the loss of her last love. I have read all of these authors before, and loved this collection. Sweet, sincere, honest characters, that had genuine heartfelt emotions. The settings were diverse, and it all came together for a fun, sweet, romantic read.
Rescuing Bailey: I didn't love the last book I read from this author, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one (with the exception of the names, I get hung up on names, and sometimes they just really seem to affect the flow of the story). It was just the right length and gave me all the happiness I needed for this little novella.
Three Little Words: I was looking forward to this one the most after reading all the blurbs on the back of the book. Sadly, it fell a little flat for me. For all her teaching about how speaking can elevate your status (which I agree with) Elizabeth seemed to have difficulties speaking, and while that was a little thing, it was a little book so it just grated on me the whole time.
A Crying Shame: I love this author and look forward to reading and re-reading her books. My only complaint with this book was that it was a novella. This definitely could have been a full length novel that I would have devoured and really gotten into, but all of a sudden it was over and I was sad to be pulled away from the story that was entertaining and fun. Since I can't read a longer version of this story I will just have to go back and re-read this one again and again :)
* I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Three clean romance novellas perfect for Valentine's Day reading. I hadn't read any books by these authors (that I remember) before receiving a review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley but now I'm interested in their longer works. The drama of the girl in the last story, "A Crying Shame," cracked me up. It was so much how I remember thinking I was supposed to think about relationships in college that I laughed out loud. When I finished I was satisfied with the fun and light read poking a little fun at relationship melodrama.
The first story, "Rescuing Bailey," seemed a bit floaty in terms of feeling undecided for the first few chapters about whether it was going to be a longer developed story or speed up quick to make the novella length. I enjoyed the progression and was grateful the main character didn't leap into a relationship before she had figured herself out.
The middle story, "Three Little Words," was an enjoyable read too. I am curious about the character Andrea as she seemed to have more of a story to tell than the time she had here to tell it. She was a minor character but interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This novella collection contains three stories about finding love where you least expect it. While the first story was my favorite, I enjoyed all three. The first story revolves around Bailey who discovers that the man she was planning to marry is engaged to her best friend causing her to take a job in Chicago rather than have to face the humiliation. But when she comes home in response to her father's heart attack she discovers that her former boyfriend's brother, Gunter, is also around and her feelings toward him start to shift. The second story revolves around Elizabeth and Matt. This one I didn't enjoy quite as much because both characters are hiding something from the other as their feelings start to develop, but things work out in the end. And the third story flirtation I found rather amusing as Cassidy is just getting over being dumped and learning to paint at the same time. For those who like short novellas that can be read quickly and easily, that have clean, sweet romance to them, I can recommend this collection.
The description of this compilation of novellas was appealing, so I ignored my hesitance (I haven't been a fan of Jennie Hansen's books in the past) and I'm happy that I did. If you are looking for light, clean romances, consider Three Little Words.
Rescuing Bailey turned out to be the best Jennie Hansen book I've read, and my favorite story in this book. I liked the boy next door angle and not seeing the true feelings of someone who has been in your life for years. It made the story fun. I liked the characters and the happy ending.
I believe that Three Little Words is the first story I've read by KC Grant. It reminded me of a modernized My Fair Lady. It was cute even though it was predictable. There was a surprise or two though, and the journey was fun.
A Crying Shame is also a cute story, but super short. I haven't been to a paint night before, but it made for a fun setting. I liked the characters and the overall story, but it was over much too soon for me.
I enjoyed this compilation immensely! For "Rescuing Bailey" I was drawn right in! Her pain resembles the pain the reader has felt at heartbreak and then, conversely, the joy of finding someone who loves you for who you are.
In "Three Little Words" my favorite thing was probably watching the characters react as they continued to be thrown into intentionally awkward situations. I felt like, out of the three novels, this one was "okay." But I still enjoyed it.
Lastly, "A Crying Shame," had me laughing and grinning up one side and down the other. As an artist, I especially liked this one in the, "I have no idea what I'm doing so I'm just going to experiment," side of things (the characters having been thrown into an amateur painting class. This pretty much reflects my entire first year of college...). But, really, the thing that probably made it one of my favorites was how it felt like we were experiencing with Cass a Really Good Date.
I can't help but end up smiling after something like that. ;)
I absolutely loved this collection of three short love stories! It was a great way to read a book when I didn't have a ton of time on my hands. Each story can be read pretty quickly yet still has the feeling of a full length novel! Hansen's story was emotional and I was surprised at the depth of feelings portrayed for a book less than full length. It was a great story! Grant's story was hilarious and reminded me a little bit of a favorite movie of mine, it was great! Now Mace's story was my all time favorite out of the collection! Cass's character was so real, so raw, so jump-off-the-page that I was just sucked into her story and couldn't put it down! All of the stories were great! A bonus for me is that I found two new authors from this collection! One I already have loved but now I have two more to add to my list! If you love sweet contemporary romances and you want a quick pick me up, then you will love the Three Little Words collection!
What a delightfully entertaining novella collection with fun and romance. Author’s Jennie Hansen, K.C. Grant, and Aubrey Mace, have brought their stories together in an exciting and enjoyable book. Each novella is filled with enchanting and amusing characters that readers will love and each story is uniquely different, but compatible to be included in a novella collection together. These lighthearted stories will have readers laughing and enjoying themselves all along the way. I recommend this story to readers that enjoy exciting clean, contemporary-romance stories.
Genre: romance, contemporary; LDS Publisher: Covenant Communications Publication date: January 1, 2015 Number of pages: 227
Content Rating: G Book Rating: 5 stars
A review copy of this book was provided by Covenant Communications.
Recusing Bailey - Not so smart “girl next door” has a hard time figuring out that the best thing that has ever happened to her is living right under her nose. It’s a cute, sweet and fun happily-ever-after. Three Little Words – A misguided speaking coach is wrongly led to believe that the man that she is going to ‘fix’ is a backward hick from Texas. Meanwhile, said hick has his own agenda. This has some funny moments. There were moments I truly felt sorry for our heroine. She was just trying to make a living. I loved the Central Park scenes.
A Crying Shame- This was my favorite. It was a fresh, unique story. It’s a meet-cute, and well done. I love the art class setting. I loved our hero – so sweet. I enjoyed everything – even the villain. I will definitely end up re-reading this one.
This was a fun, quick read. Each story is just the right size for the busy person who needs a much needed break to read. The first story Rescuing Bailey is a cute boy next door story. Bailey just needs to readjust her thinking first to realize which boy next door is for her. The second story, Three Little Words was a cross between My Fair Lady and Pillow Talk. Two movies I loved. I love the interaction between Elizabeth and Matt. The third and final story, A Crying Shame starts out with a breakup and ends up with the perfect guy. I enjoyed each story but I think my favorite was Three Little Words.
Cute compilation of 3 stories which each share "Three Little Words". They can mean the start of something great, or the end of something that was never meant to be.
Three short stories. They were short but cute. The ending of the first two seemed a bit rushed but not bad for novellas. The third story by Aubrey Mace was definitely my favorite. It is well written and fast paced. It was cute. It's worth the read just for that one alone.
This is a compilation of 3 novellas. They don't have anything in common except that they are contemporary love stories. As is the case with many short stories, I felt like there wasn't as much characterization as I would have liked. They were cute and easy to read.
3 really cute love short-stories. The middle one was my favorite, it was a combination of my fair lady and pillow-talk. Got a copy of this for my birthday ;)
This was a set of three short stories. The middle one bugged me a bit. It seems like they took the plots of Pillow Talk and My Fair Lady and just copied them without any originality.
The book I️ chose to read is Three Little Words by Jennie Hansen. This is an LDS book about how relationships don’t always go as planned. The main character Bailey loved the boy next door her entire life, when she went away for school she thought she would come home to a proposal and a soon to be wedding. Things didn’t necessarily go as planned so Bailey moved away from her long time home. When she moved away she met someone else so she enjoyed where she lived, but when she found out her dad's health was taking a turn she instantly regretted moving away. Reading this book helped me to understand that life isn’t as smooth as it seems, you will approach life in a calm and graceful manner but that doesn’t mean that’s how life will be. Jennie Hansen does an amazing job at grasping the readers attention. This book has so much going on that if you get side tracked you will probably get confused. The three girls in this book thought they would never find their loved ones, in the end they found them when they were least expecting it. There is so much to grasp in this book, never give up, life isn’t always planned out for you and in the end everything is going to be all right. Jennie does a great job at putting many different topics into one novel. It isn’t overly crammed to where nothing makes sense. Usually I get very bored when I read, however Jennie Hansen's story never fail to keep me on my toes. I would suggest any LDS youth read this novel. Not just because it is about romance but it has so many great life lessons hidden in the text that honestly any youth could benefit reading. Great things will come even when you least expect it, so stand tall and be proud of the person you are.