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Timeless Victorian Collection #3
The Orient Express
THE ORIENT EXPRESS.
With three brand new Victorian Romance novellas by Elizabeth Johns, Annette Lyon, and Nancy Campbell Allen.
TO BREAK A BETROTHAL by Elizabeth Johns:
Recently orphaned heiress Kate Worthington must travel to England from her home in India to break an outdated betrothal contract. Surely the lure of money will tempt Lord Darlington to release her! A gentleman befriends her whilst she is aboard the luxurious Orient Express, and the attraction she feels firms her resolve to break the betrothal. What she does not count on is Lord Darlington’s hidden depths. She has so much to lose, least of which is her heart.
DETECTIVE GRACE MEETS HER MATCH by Annette Lyon:
Even private investigator Grace Thomas needs a vacation, yet she can’t exactly turn off her detective skills at a whim. Boarding the Orient Express might be a vacation for some, but Grace finds that her senses are on high alert. She prides herself in being one step ahead of any flirtatious gentlemen, and fellow passenger Marshall Bailey is no exception. When Grace discovers that Marshall is traveling under another name, she learns that her first impressions aren’t always correct, and that she’s mistakenly allowed him to play havoc on her heart. Marshall will just have to convince Grace to give him a second chance.
MARRIED ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS by Nancy Campbell Allen:
Detective Vincent Brady must recover a priceless statue before it falls into the wrong hands. The only problem is that the American woman who’s carrying it for her brother has no idea the value. Vincent catches up with Emily Grant, but convincing her that he’s not out to harm her or her brother is harder than Vincent expected. Finally, Emily agrees to travel with Vincent on the Orient Express, and they plot how to rescue her brother while keeping themselves out of harm’s way. Vincent soon discovers that out of all the hardships he’s overcome in his lifetime to rise to his current detective status, convincing Emily to take a chance on him even harder.
With three brand new Victorian Romance novellas by Elizabeth Johns, Annette Lyon, and Nancy Campbell Allen.
TO BREAK A BETROTHAL by Elizabeth Johns:
Recently orphaned heiress Kate Worthington must travel to England from her home in India to break an outdated betrothal contract. Surely the lure of money will tempt Lord Darlington to release her! A gentleman befriends her whilst she is aboard the luxurious Orient Express, and the attraction she feels firms her resolve to break the betrothal. What she does not count on is Lord Darlington’s hidden depths. She has so much to lose, least of which is her heart.
DETECTIVE GRACE MEETS HER MATCH by Annette Lyon:
Even private investigator Grace Thomas needs a vacation, yet she can’t exactly turn off her detective skills at a whim. Boarding the Orient Express might be a vacation for some, but Grace finds that her senses are on high alert. She prides herself in being one step ahead of any flirtatious gentlemen, and fellow passenger Marshall Bailey is no exception. When Grace discovers that Marshall is traveling under another name, she learns that her first impressions aren’t always correct, and that she’s mistakenly allowed him to play havoc on her heart. Marshall will just have to convince Grace to give him a second chance.
MARRIED ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS by Nancy Campbell Allen:
Detective Vincent Brady must recover a priceless statue before it falls into the wrong hands. The only problem is that the American woman who’s carrying it for her brother has no idea the value. Vincent catches up with Emily Grant, but convincing her that he’s not out to harm her or her brother is harder than Vincent expected. Finally, Emily agrees to travel with Vincent on the Orient Express, and they plot how to rescue her brother while keeping themselves out of harm’s way. Vincent soon discovers that out of all the hardships he’s overcome in his lifetime to rise to his current detective status, convincing Emily to take a chance on him even harder.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2018
146 people are currently reading
415 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Johns
80 books360 followers Like many writers, Elizabeth Johns was first an avid reader, though she was a reluctant convert. It was Jane Austen's clever wit and unique turn of phrase that hooked Johns when she was "forced" to read Pride and Prejudice for a school assignment. She began writing when she ran out of her favorite author’s books and decided to try her hand at crafting a Regency romance novel. Her journey into publishing began with the release of Surrender the Past, book one of the Loring-Abbott Series. Johns makes no pretensions to Austen’s wit but hopes readers will perhaps laugh and find some enjoyment in her writing.
Johns attributes much of her inspiration to her mother, a retired English teacher. During their last summer together, Johns would sit on the porch swing and read her stories to her mother, who encouraged her to continue writing. Busy with multiple careers, including a professional job in the medical field, author and mother of small children, Johns squeezes in time for reading whenever possible.
Johns attributes much of her inspiration to her mother, a retired English teacher. During their last summer together, Johns would sit on the porch swing and read her stories to her mother, who encouraged her to continue writing. Busy with multiple careers, including a professional job in the medical field, author and mother of small children, Johns squeezes in time for reading whenever possible.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
April 3, 2018
4.5*
I love the Orient Express! If I could choose a train to go ride and enjoy, this would definitely be the one! Could you imagine? David Suchet, who plays Hercule Poirot, did a special for the series Poirot. It took place on the Orient Express train. So cool. If you haven't watched it I highly recommend it. Especially if you've read this collection or are planning to. I'm pretty sure you can find it on YouTube.
Having those images from the special in my mind, reading this collection was so much fun. Picturing the different characters as they boarded the train, were in their compartments or dining and lounge cars. The opulence and beauty. It gave a great added dimension for me.
I enjoyed the different stories included in this collection. An upcoming betrothal, a detective and writer, and a missing/stolen artifact with a marriage(fake) of convenience. Super fun collection and characters. These authors kept me captivated while reading. Unfortunately I wasn't able to read straight through these or within a couple days. So I was pretty slow reading this but still enjoyed it nonetheless.
Anyone who enjoys a good mystery/suspense story, hidden identities, sweet romance all set in the Victorian era aboard a beautiful and mysterious train, grab this and enjoy!
Content: Clean.
I received a copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
I love the Orient Express! If I could choose a train to go ride and enjoy, this would definitely be the one! Could you imagine? David Suchet, who plays Hercule Poirot, did a special for the series Poirot. It took place on the Orient Express train. So cool. If you haven't watched it I highly recommend it. Especially if you've read this collection or are planning to. I'm pretty sure you can find it on YouTube.
Having those images from the special in my mind, reading this collection was so much fun. Picturing the different characters as they boarded the train, were in their compartments or dining and lounge cars. The opulence and beauty. It gave a great added dimension for me.
I enjoyed the different stories included in this collection. An upcoming betrothal, a detective and writer, and a missing/stolen artifact with a marriage(fake) of convenience. Super fun collection and characters. These authors kept me captivated while reading. Unfortunately I wasn't able to read straight through these or within a couple days. So I was pretty slow reading this but still enjoyed it nonetheless.
Anyone who enjoys a good mystery/suspense story, hidden identities, sweet romance all set in the Victorian era aboard a beautiful and mysterious train, grab this and enjoy!
Content: Clean.
I received a copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
April 8, 2018
Before I read this collection I hadn't heard about the Orient Express, so I found the history fascinating and loved learning more about this era. Each story shared various details about the train and its stops, and they also had a common element of one of the main characters being a detective. The first story has a fun twist with hidden identities and an exciting plot that played out beyond the journey on the train. The second story also had a twist with the female being the detective, although her jaded attitude about men was a bit off-putting. There is much more internal dialogue than shared dialogue and I missed the bonding between Grace and Marshall that could have occurred when they were angsting instead. The last story was my favorite, and one I plan to read again in the future. There is a great connection between Emily and Vincent, and I loved seeing them grow closer together as they worked together to save her brother and solve his case. The romance is awesome and I loved the way the story wrapped up. Another great collection from Timeless Romance!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
March 27, 2018
I thoroughly enjoy the Timeless Collections and the Victorian Collections are no exception. This newest collection takes place on the famous Orient Express train, but the scenes aren’t limited to the train, and include several cities along the train’s route.
TO BREAK A BETROTHAL by Elizabeth Johns—Kate Worthington is traveling alone to England from India, where she has lived her entire life, to try and dissolve a marriage contract her father arranged before he died. She has no intention of marrying Lord Darlington, whom she only met once before when she was 9 and he was 17 years old. On the train she meets an army man she would like to get to know better. Stephen “Brown” is on one last assignment for the Crown before returning home to England to sell his commission, take his title, and marry an heiress, which he isn’t looking forward to. His assignment is to catch a spy and the only description he has is it’s a female in her early twenties, with dark hair and a slim build who travels as a lady. This describes Kate exactly.
Elizabeth Johns is a new author to me, but I truly enjoyed this story of mistaken identities. Kate and Stephen are both really likeable characters.
DETECTIVE GRACE MEETS HER MATCH by Annette Lyon—Grace Thomas is on the Orient Express for a vacation but she can't seem to get her detective skills to do the same. She runs the Harward and Sons Detective Agency which she inherited when her grandfather, who started the business, died. She seems to mostly investigate unscrupulous men and cheating husbands. When she meets Marshall Bailey waiting to board the train she thinks he's a rogue and takes it upon herself to protect the women on the train from him. Against her will she starts to enjoy Marshall's company until she finds out he's also known by another name, Eldrick Stiles, and she throws him back into the category of men who can't be trusted. Marshall Bailey aka Eldrick Stiles when he's writing one of his popular novels is getting away from the public on the Orient Express. He's confused by Grace because sometimes she seems to be two different women. At one point he accuses of her "wearing a mask". Will these two let down their guards and be completely honest with each other?
I liked this story but didn't care much for Grace who thought all men, with the exception of her beloved grandfather, were dishonest, cheaters or worse. She repeats this thought to herself a lot, and it doesn't occur to her that her point of view could be because women who have loving, honest men in their lives don't need to hire her. I like that Marshall pointed that out to her. Speaking of Marshall, he's a doll, and I love his character. A man who actually blushes and has a hard time speaking to women!
MARRIED ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS by Nancy Campbell Allen--Emily Grant needs to save her irresponsible older brother who's in trouble again. He won an Egyptian statue in a card game and gave it to her to send back to the U.S., but it's the real thing, not a replica, and an organized crime ring wants it. Emily needs to get on the Orient Express so she can trade the statue for her brother. Scotland Yard Detective Vincent Brady has been after the Mattingly brothers and the crime ring for a while, so when Scotland Yard hears about the kidnapping he's put on the case. The train is full, but luckily for Emily, Detective Brady has been following her and has already purchased his train ticket. To get her on the train he pretends she's his wife!
This was my favorite story in the book. Emily is smart, brave and I love her taste in clothes. Vincent Brady is tall, handsome, and smart. I loved the dialogue between them, and that he didn't treat her as a silly female; he listened to her and looked out for her.
All of the stories are clean as far as romance, language and graphic violence.
TO BREAK A BETROTHAL by Elizabeth Johns—Kate Worthington is traveling alone to England from India, where she has lived her entire life, to try and dissolve a marriage contract her father arranged before he died. She has no intention of marrying Lord Darlington, whom she only met once before when she was 9 and he was 17 years old. On the train she meets an army man she would like to get to know better. Stephen “Brown” is on one last assignment for the Crown before returning home to England to sell his commission, take his title, and marry an heiress, which he isn’t looking forward to. His assignment is to catch a spy and the only description he has is it’s a female in her early twenties, with dark hair and a slim build who travels as a lady. This describes Kate exactly.
Elizabeth Johns is a new author to me, but I truly enjoyed this story of mistaken identities. Kate and Stephen are both really likeable characters.
DETECTIVE GRACE MEETS HER MATCH by Annette Lyon—Grace Thomas is on the Orient Express for a vacation but she can't seem to get her detective skills to do the same. She runs the Harward and Sons Detective Agency which she inherited when her grandfather, who started the business, died. She seems to mostly investigate unscrupulous men and cheating husbands. When she meets Marshall Bailey waiting to board the train she thinks he's a rogue and takes it upon herself to protect the women on the train from him. Against her will she starts to enjoy Marshall's company until she finds out he's also known by another name, Eldrick Stiles, and she throws him back into the category of men who can't be trusted. Marshall Bailey aka Eldrick Stiles when he's writing one of his popular novels is getting away from the public on the Orient Express. He's confused by Grace because sometimes she seems to be two different women. At one point he accuses of her "wearing a mask". Will these two let down their guards and be completely honest with each other?
I liked this story but didn't care much for Grace who thought all men, with the exception of her beloved grandfather, were dishonest, cheaters or worse. She repeats this thought to herself a lot, and it doesn't occur to her that her point of view could be because women who have loving, honest men in their lives don't need to hire her. I like that Marshall pointed that out to her. Speaking of Marshall, he's a doll, and I love his character. A man who actually blushes and has a hard time speaking to women!
MARRIED ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS by Nancy Campbell Allen--Emily Grant needs to save her irresponsible older brother who's in trouble again. He won an Egyptian statue in a card game and gave it to her to send back to the U.S., but it's the real thing, not a replica, and an organized crime ring wants it. Emily needs to get on the Orient Express so she can trade the statue for her brother. Scotland Yard Detective Vincent Brady has been after the Mattingly brothers and the crime ring for a while, so when Scotland Yard hears about the kidnapping he's put on the case. The train is full, but luckily for Emily, Detective Brady has been following her and has already purchased his train ticket. To get her on the train he pretends she's his wife!
This was my favorite story in the book. Emily is smart, brave and I love her taste in clothes. Vincent Brady is tall, handsome, and smart. I loved the dialogue between them, and that he didn't treat her as a silly female; he listened to her and looked out for her.
All of the stories are clean as far as romance, language and graphic violence.
April 9, 2018
I guess my history lessons are lacking because I didn't realize how cool and real the Orient Express was! I honestly didn't know much about it. I loved getting a glimpse of it through the eyes of three different sets of characters and enjoyed that it played a central role in connecting these novellas.
Each story is a lot of fun, as there are twists that weren't expected--at least, not by me. There is an arranged marriage (betrothal), a woman who owns a detective agency and is set on finding her man, and a fake marriage, which are some of my favorite tropes. Each story had a bit of a mystery and some intrigue, which added to the overall entertainment. I could see the books play out in my mind like movies, especially the sweet romances.
I really enjoy these collections because they're not only entertaining, but they each deliver a clean, wholesome, and fun story that leaves me feeling slightly more educated about the time period. And the romance is sigh-worthy.
Content: very mild violence; mild, sweet romance
*I received a copy, which did not affect my thoughts and opinions*
Each story is a lot of fun, as there are twists that weren't expected--at least, not by me. There is an arranged marriage (betrothal), a woman who owns a detective agency and is set on finding her man, and a fake marriage, which are some of my favorite tropes. Each story had a bit of a mystery and some intrigue, which added to the overall entertainment. I could see the books play out in my mind like movies, especially the sweet romances.
I really enjoy these collections because they're not only entertaining, but they each deliver a clean, wholesome, and fun story that leaves me feeling slightly more educated about the time period. And the romance is sigh-worthy.
Content: very mild violence; mild, sweet romance
*I received a copy, which did not affect my thoughts and opinions*
March 21, 2018
I love the Timeless Romance anthologies. There are always some of my favorite authors and new ones to discover and the stories are just long enough to give me my romance fix!
The new one is The Orient Express and each story takes place in Victorian times aboard what else? The Orient Express!
The first story is by Elizabeth Johns. She is a new author to me, but I'll definitely be looking for more from her! We are introduced to Kate who has lived with her father in India for most of her life, but after her father's recent death, she is traveling to England. Her father had made a betrothal contract for her to Lord Darlington, but Kate is determined to break it. She met her betrothed once when she was nine years old and he was seventeen and he seemed like an arrogant jerk, so she just wants to break the contract and run her father's business. Aboard the Orient Express, she meets an army officer who intrigues her. Unbeknownst to her, he is working for the Crown, trying to find a female spy and he suspects her! A fun story of cat and mouse, mistaken identities, and risking it all for love.
The second story is by Annette Lyon about a jaded female detective, Grace Thompson. She meets a man onboard the Orient Express who seems trustworthy and likable. Grace allows herself to trust him, only to find out he isn't who he's purported to be. Marshall Bailey is traveling incognito for good reason, but he meets a beautiful young woman who seems to see through to his very soul. Both of them are keeping secrets, but when they come out, will they be able to trust each other enough to find love?
The last one is by Nancy Campbell Allen. She's one of my favorite authors and this story did not disappoint! Emily Grant's brother has a few vices that include gambling. He wins an Egyptian artifact in a card game and gives it to her, not realizing that an organized crime ring is after it! Emily must travel to Constantinople to exchange the artifact for her now kidnapped brother. Vincent Brady, a detective who is trying to catch the ringleaders of this crime ring follows Emily and comes to her aid in getting her a seat on the Orient Express---posing as his wife! She has no choice but to agree and comes to find out her new "husband" is an honorable man that she could very well lose her heart to. A sweet tale of love.
I really enjoyed all the stories in this anthology. The plots were developed and the characters memorable which is especially nice for novellas. A great afternoon read!
Originally reviewed on http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com
The new one is The Orient Express and each story takes place in Victorian times aboard what else? The Orient Express!
The first story is by Elizabeth Johns. She is a new author to me, but I'll definitely be looking for more from her! We are introduced to Kate who has lived with her father in India for most of her life, but after her father's recent death, she is traveling to England. Her father had made a betrothal contract for her to Lord Darlington, but Kate is determined to break it. She met her betrothed once when she was nine years old and he was seventeen and he seemed like an arrogant jerk, so she just wants to break the contract and run her father's business. Aboard the Orient Express, she meets an army officer who intrigues her. Unbeknownst to her, he is working for the Crown, trying to find a female spy and he suspects her! A fun story of cat and mouse, mistaken identities, and risking it all for love.
The second story is by Annette Lyon about a jaded female detective, Grace Thompson. She meets a man onboard the Orient Express who seems trustworthy and likable. Grace allows herself to trust him, only to find out he isn't who he's purported to be. Marshall Bailey is traveling incognito for good reason, but he meets a beautiful young woman who seems to see through to his very soul. Both of them are keeping secrets, but when they come out, will they be able to trust each other enough to find love?
The last one is by Nancy Campbell Allen. She's one of my favorite authors and this story did not disappoint! Emily Grant's brother has a few vices that include gambling. He wins an Egyptian artifact in a card game and gives it to her, not realizing that an organized crime ring is after it! Emily must travel to Constantinople to exchange the artifact for her now kidnapped brother. Vincent Brady, a detective who is trying to catch the ringleaders of this crime ring follows Emily and comes to her aid in getting her a seat on the Orient Express---posing as his wife! She has no choice but to agree and comes to find out her new "husband" is an honorable man that she could very well lose her heart to. A sweet tale of love.
I really enjoyed all the stories in this anthology. The plots were developed and the characters memorable which is especially nice for novellas. A great afternoon read!
Originally reviewed on http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com
March 16, 2018
I so enjoyed this set of stories. I just watched the movie the Orient Express and it was so fun to read some great authors put there stories on that historic train. The stories could have stood on there own. They were very well done and I was so sad when each one ended. I will love reading these again when I need a good set of short stories. These were all clean and had a bit of mystery to them.
April 17, 2018
I love when a new book comes out in any of the Timeless Collections. This one is set on the Orient Express and I loved the setting of a train and how each book felt the same in that way but different in the actual stories and writing styles. I also love the variety of authors contributing to these books. Each book has different authors making each one feel fresh and new.
Overall I enjoyed these books! The first book had such a sweet romantic progression. I loved that as a reader, I knew things the characters didn't because watching them figure things out was so satisfying. 4 stars
The middle book got a little wordy for me, too much time in the characters heads, not enough dialogue and movement in the story. I skimmed a bit and still understood everything so that one wasn't my favorite, but it was still good. I loved that that Marshall was an author! 3 stars
The last book had some light intrigue, mystery and action which made the forward progression constant and I loved that. It had me invested from the very beginning. 4 stars
Content: clean, some mild peril and violence in the last book
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Overall I enjoyed these books! The first book had such a sweet romantic progression. I loved that as a reader, I knew things the characters didn't because watching them figure things out was so satisfying. 4 stars
The middle book got a little wordy for me, too much time in the characters heads, not enough dialogue and movement in the story. I skimmed a bit and still understood everything so that one wasn't my favorite, but it was still good. I loved that that Marshall was an author! 3 stars
The last book had some light intrigue, mystery and action which made the forward progression constant and I loved that. It had me invested from the very beginning. 4 stars
Content: clean, some mild peril and violence in the last book
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 12, 2018
I loved these stories. I also appreciate that they are each different, even though they share a theme. They are clean with happy endings.
March 12, 2018
The Orient Express is a wonderful addition from the Timeless Victorian Collection. It includes three stories by three talented authors. Which are:
To Break a Betrothal by Elizabeth Johns
Detective Grace Meets Her Match by Annette Lyon
Married on the Orient Express by Nancy Campbell Allen
This is a great collection. I have enjoyed the writings by Annette Lyon and Nancy Campbell Allen in the past and they did not disappoint here. It was a pleasure to be introduced to Elizabeth Johns and look forward to her work in the future.
I give The Orient Express 4 1/2 stars.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review was 100% my own honest opinion.
To Break a Betrothal by Elizabeth Johns
Detective Grace Meets Her Match by Annette Lyon
Married on the Orient Express by Nancy Campbell Allen
This is a great collection. I have enjoyed the writings by Annette Lyon and Nancy Campbell Allen in the past and they did not disappoint here. It was a pleasure to be introduced to Elizabeth Johns and look forward to her work in the future.
I give The Orient Express 4 1/2 stars.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review was 100% my own honest opinion.
January 18, 2022
Why am I so in love with trash literature 😭
Was this book good? No. Quite frankly, it was objectively bad in multiple ways. But, I had a great time reading it. I'm really torn between giving this 4 stars or 3 stars. For all three of the stories, I tended to really love the beginning and middle, but the ending fell flat. They weren't awful or anything, but things felt really rushed to a ridiculous degree. (I mean, in two stories the characters essentially decide to get engaged after knowing each other for literally 2 days. 2 DAYS!!! Tf.) Okay, now that I’m typing that out there’s no way I can give this book above a 3… Maybe if this had been a proper book and not a collection of novellas I could have understood the relationships more. A lot of these stories were really interesting and probably could have been expanded into full-length books.
I found it kind of odd that all three stories had a mystery/adventure plot line. My guess is that all the authors associated the train with Murder on the Orient Express and just kind of ran with it. Luckily for me, I like mysteries and think romances are best when they aren’t the main focus and there’s another plot to follow, but I can see that being annoying to some readers.
There’s a whole series of these themed novella collections and I definitely want to check more out! Since they’re so short they don’t require a lot of commitment and all look like fun. And, of course, I’m a sucker for the Victorian era 😊
Was this book good? No. Quite frankly, it was objectively bad in multiple ways. But, I had a great time reading it. I'm really torn between giving this 4 stars or 3 stars. For all three of the stories, I tended to really love the beginning and middle, but the ending fell flat. They weren't awful or anything, but things felt really rushed to a ridiculous degree. (I mean, in two stories the characters essentially decide to get engaged after knowing each other for literally 2 days. 2 DAYS!!! Tf.) Okay, now that I’m typing that out there’s no way I can give this book above a 3… Maybe if this had been a proper book and not a collection of novellas I could have understood the relationships more. A lot of these stories were really interesting and probably could have been expanded into full-length books.
I found it kind of odd that all three stories had a mystery/adventure plot line. My guess is that all the authors associated the train with Murder on the Orient Express and just kind of ran with it. Luckily for me, I like mysteries and think romances are best when they aren’t the main focus and there’s another plot to follow, but I can see that being annoying to some readers.
There’s a whole series of these themed novella collections and I definitely want to check more out! Since they’re so short they don’t require a lot of commitment and all look like fun. And, of course, I’m a sucker for the Victorian era 😊
April 18, 2018
I really liked this collection of short stories with the theme of the Orient Express. Great descriptions about the train and the opulence it had. The setting reminded me of Murder On the Orient Express, which is one of my favorite movies.
I also liked how each story had some kind of element of mystery and suspense in some form. Overall great characters with really good situations, especially how they meet.
My favorite story was the last one. Loved Emily and Vincent and the way they dealt with their relationship.
I also liked how each story had some kind of element of mystery and suspense in some form. Overall great characters with really good situations, especially how they meet.
My favorite story was the last one. Loved Emily and Vincent and the way they dealt with their relationship.
March 13, 2018
I loved each of the three stories in this collection. I have read books by each of these authors and have loved them. This is a fun way to be introduced to these authors if you haven't read any of their books. Each story has a bit of intrigue involved and each is a clean romance. Another great Timeless Collection.
March 21, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed each of these stories. I liked all of the couples, and the setting--aboard the Orient Express--was really cool. I also really enjoyed the Victorian era for the time period; I haven't read nearly enough books set then!
To Break a Betrothal by Elizabeth Johns
Kate is appalled that her now-deceased father arranged a marriage between her and Lord Darlington. She's only met him once, years ago, but his attitude then was enough to convince her she wants nothing to do with him. She sets out for England to convince him that he doesn't want to marry her, either--and she finds herself even more sure that she doesn't want to marry him when, aboard the Orient Express, she meets just the sort of man she could find herself wanting to share her life with.
Stephen has one last duty to complete for the War Office before he returns home to marry an heiress. Disguised as Mr. Brown, he searches for a spy--and in the meantime, finds himself charmed by a fellow traveler, Miss White...but as neither he nor she is traveling under their rightful name, he fears the secrets they hold could prove disastrous when they are revealed.
This was a fun story, and I liked both characters. I haven't read much by Elizabeth Johns before (only one other novella, I think), but I'm glad I had the chance to read her novella here.
Detective Grace Meets Her Match
As the (secret) owner and only employee of a detective agency, Grace has found men as a lot to be untrustworthy rogues. She prides herself on being able to notice details and read people--and plays whatever role she needs to in order to protect others. So when she meets Marshall Bailey, she can tell he's hiding something and determines to protect other women from his nature. Only, as she spends time with Marshall, she finds that perhaps his nature isn't what she originally thought.
Marshall Bailey may be a successful author, but he isn't so good at talking to people, especially women. However, he finds himself both drawn to and confused by Grace, who is flirtatious one minute and angry with him the next.
Marshall is pretty adorable; I loved how he wasn't at all the rogue Grace thought he'd be. Grace was kind of rough around the edges; her distrust of men made her unkind to Marshall at times. I thought she was a realistic character, if not always entirely likable. I enjoyed seeing their story unfold and the ending was very sweet.
Married on the Orient Express by Nancy Campbell Allen
Emily Grant's brother has been abducted, and his captors demand that Emily provide a valuable statue he won in a card game before he will be released. Emily sets out to save him--only to be joined by Vincent Brady, a Scotland Yard detective working the case. With no room left on the Orient Express, Emily can't get a ticket--until Vincent tells everyone they are married. Posing as husband and wife, the two must devise a plan to rescue Emily's brother, but they also find themselves hoping that this journey will not be the end of their relationship.
This was my favorite of the three stories. I just really, really liked smart, capable Emily and strong, smart Vincent. I loved how Vincent wasn't dismissive of Emily, but instead he supported and welcomed her ideas at the same time as he watched out for her. This was a very sweet and enjoyable story.
I loved this collection! I can't wait for more!
I received a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
To Break a Betrothal by Elizabeth Johns
Kate is appalled that her now-deceased father arranged a marriage between her and Lord Darlington. She's only met him once, years ago, but his attitude then was enough to convince her she wants nothing to do with him. She sets out for England to convince him that he doesn't want to marry her, either--and she finds herself even more sure that she doesn't want to marry him when, aboard the Orient Express, she meets just the sort of man she could find herself wanting to share her life with.
Stephen has one last duty to complete for the War Office before he returns home to marry an heiress. Disguised as Mr. Brown, he searches for a spy--and in the meantime, finds himself charmed by a fellow traveler, Miss White...but as neither he nor she is traveling under their rightful name, he fears the secrets they hold could prove disastrous when they are revealed.
This was a fun story, and I liked both characters. I haven't read much by Elizabeth Johns before (only one other novella, I think), but I'm glad I had the chance to read her novella here.
Detective Grace Meets Her Match
As the (secret) owner and only employee of a detective agency, Grace has found men as a lot to be untrustworthy rogues. She prides herself on being able to notice details and read people--and plays whatever role she needs to in order to protect others. So when she meets Marshall Bailey, she can tell he's hiding something and determines to protect other women from his nature. Only, as she spends time with Marshall, she finds that perhaps his nature isn't what she originally thought.
Marshall Bailey may be a successful author, but he isn't so good at talking to people, especially women. However, he finds himself both drawn to and confused by Grace, who is flirtatious one minute and angry with him the next.
Marshall is pretty adorable; I loved how he wasn't at all the rogue Grace thought he'd be. Grace was kind of rough around the edges; her distrust of men made her unkind to Marshall at times. I thought she was a realistic character, if not always entirely likable. I enjoyed seeing their story unfold and the ending was very sweet.
Married on the Orient Express by Nancy Campbell Allen
Emily Grant's brother has been abducted, and his captors demand that Emily provide a valuable statue he won in a card game before he will be released. Emily sets out to save him--only to be joined by Vincent Brady, a Scotland Yard detective working the case. With no room left on the Orient Express, Emily can't get a ticket--until Vincent tells everyone they are married. Posing as husband and wife, the two must devise a plan to rescue Emily's brother, but they also find themselves hoping that this journey will not be the end of their relationship.
This was my favorite of the three stories. I just really, really liked smart, capable Emily and strong, smart Vincent. I loved how Vincent wasn't dismissive of Emily, but instead he supported and welcomed her ideas at the same time as he watched out for her. This was a very sweet and enjoyable story.
I loved this collection! I can't wait for more!
I received a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
April 20, 2018
Three delightful novellas about detectives traveling on the famous Orient Express.
#1 To Break a Betrothal by Elizabeth Johns
A nice jaunt into a Regency set on the plush train.
Kate has lived in India most of her life. Her father has died so she travels back to England on the Orient Express. She is an heiress now, so she decides to go incognito on her journey to reunite with her betrothed. It is a long arranged marriage to a man she only met once as a child.
Enter Stephen who is in the service of the Queen. He is also traveling under an assumed name, Mr. Brown. Stephen is on the train, trying to complete one last duty before finishing his Army commission and stepping into the role of Lord Darlington.
Kate is reluctant to go through with the arranged marriage and is bent on breaking the betrothal.
In his undercover operation, Stephen is looking for a lady spy. Is Kate in his sights as a possible suspect or does he have other aspirations? Find out in this well written, lovely, novella.
#2 Detective Grace Meets Her Match by Annette Lyon
Two strangers meet on the Orient Express. One is a novelist with the pen name Eldrick Stiles, traveling under his real name Marshall Bailey. The other is a detective also traveling under an assumed name. But there is a twist! The detective is Grace Thompson.
This novella describes Grace and Marshall getting to know one another. There is lots of trepidation on both parts but an undeniable attraction.
What interested me was Marshall’s thoughts. It seems Annette is speaking from experience about the real life of an author— the part the public doesn’t see. All the insecurities and the mundane tasks. I like seeing the “ real stuff”. It makes the characters likeable and genuine.
I was fascinated by Grace and her initial distust of men. She looks for possible scoundrels in order to protect other women from their wiles. She is always looking for a man as upstanding and compassionate as her grandfather.
#3 Married on the Orient Express by Nancy Campbell Allen
A bogus marriage involving a Scotland Yard detective and a young American lady trying to save her brother make for a merry mystery aboard the Orient Express. Who do detective Vincent Brady and Miss Emily Grant trust on their way to Constaniople to rescue her brother who is being held for ransome? Will they reach him before it’s too late? Will their pretend marriage turn into something more? Another great novella. It really held my interest.
*I recieved this ebook from Kathy at I Am A Reader for review. All opinions are my own.*
#1 To Break a Betrothal by Elizabeth Johns
A nice jaunt into a Regency set on the plush train.
Kate has lived in India most of her life. Her father has died so she travels back to England on the Orient Express. She is an heiress now, so she decides to go incognito on her journey to reunite with her betrothed. It is a long arranged marriage to a man she only met once as a child.
Enter Stephen who is in the service of the Queen. He is also traveling under an assumed name, Mr. Brown. Stephen is on the train, trying to complete one last duty before finishing his Army commission and stepping into the role of Lord Darlington.
Kate is reluctant to go through with the arranged marriage and is bent on breaking the betrothal.
In his undercover operation, Stephen is looking for a lady spy. Is Kate in his sights as a possible suspect or does he have other aspirations? Find out in this well written, lovely, novella.
#2 Detective Grace Meets Her Match by Annette Lyon
Two strangers meet on the Orient Express. One is a novelist with the pen name Eldrick Stiles, traveling under his real name Marshall Bailey. The other is a detective also traveling under an assumed name. But there is a twist! The detective is Grace Thompson.
This novella describes Grace and Marshall getting to know one another. There is lots of trepidation on both parts but an undeniable attraction.
What interested me was Marshall’s thoughts. It seems Annette is speaking from experience about the real life of an author— the part the public doesn’t see. All the insecurities and the mundane tasks. I like seeing the “ real stuff”. It makes the characters likeable and genuine.
I was fascinated by Grace and her initial distust of men. She looks for possible scoundrels in order to protect other women from their wiles. She is always looking for a man as upstanding and compassionate as her grandfather.
#3 Married on the Orient Express by Nancy Campbell Allen
A bogus marriage involving a Scotland Yard detective and a young American lady trying to save her brother make for a merry mystery aboard the Orient Express. Who do detective Vincent Brady and Miss Emily Grant trust on their way to Constaniople to rescue her brother who is being held for ransome? Will they reach him before it’s too late? Will their pretend marriage turn into something more? Another great novella. It really held my interest.
*I recieved this ebook from Kathy at I Am A Reader for review. All opinions are my own.*
May 19, 2018
Murder On The Orient Express is one of my favorite Agatha Christie books so I was excited to see it was going to be the setting for these short stories. The stories did not disappoint. It is another great collection to add to the Timeless Victorian series.
To Break A Betrothal by Elizabeth Johns
I loved this one. I was immediately invested in the characters story. I enjoyed the mystery and the romance. The highest praise I can give a novella is to say I wish it were longer and that was the case with this one.
Detective Grace Meets Her Match by Annette Lyon
I had a little harder time warming up to this couple but I did enjoy the story.
Married On The Orient Express by Nancy Campbell Allen
I loved this one as well. Loved the characters and the bit of mystery. I wish it had been longer.
To Break A Betrothal by Elizabeth Johns
I loved this one. I was immediately invested in the characters story. I enjoyed the mystery and the romance. The highest praise I can give a novella is to say I wish it were longer and that was the case with this one.
Detective Grace Meets Her Match by Annette Lyon
I had a little harder time warming up to this couple but I did enjoy the story.
Married On The Orient Express by Nancy Campbell Allen
I loved this one as well. Loved the characters and the bit of mystery. I wish it had been longer.
May 16, 2018
It is probably be due to Murder on the Orient Express, but I find myself associating this particular train with mystery and murder. This collection reflected my own association, but also made it a place for romance.
From stolen items to pseudonyms, forgeries and Scotland Yard, the Orient Express was a collection that took me for an enjoyable ride! I loved the strong female heroines (heiress, detective, and headstrong American) and the intelligent men who can keep up with them.
From stolen items to pseudonyms, forgeries and Scotland Yard, the Orient Express was a collection that took me for an enjoyable ride! I loved the strong female heroines (heiress, detective, and headstrong American) and the intelligent men who can keep up with them.
February 6, 2020
Three different stories that take place on the Orient Express! Could there be anything more enchanting! Loved the atmosphere the authors created. The third one wins all the stars though. Nancy Campbell Allen is becoming one of my favorites.
March 28, 2018
I thoroughly enjoy The Orient Express. This collection of stories have the famous Orient Express train in common.
TO BREAK A BETROTHAL by Elizabeth Johns—Kate Worthington has no intention of marrying Lord Darlington her betrothed since childhood. She leaves her beloved nanny in India and travels alone to England aboard the Orient Express. An army man, Stephen "Brown" is serving his last assignment to the crown before returning to England to take his title and marry a heiress. He takes an interest in Kate because he suspects her of being a spy. Its not long before Stephen knows exactly who Kate Worthington is and how she fits into his future.
DETECTIVE GRACE MEETS HER MATCH by Annette Lyon—Grace Thomas is an unlikely detective trying to have a vacation aboard the Orient Express. She is the sole detective of Harward and Sons Detective Agency, which she inherited upon her grandfathers death. She has little respect for men as she normally investigates cheating husbands. Viewing Marshall Bailey as anything but a gentleman, she takes it upon herself to protect other women on the train from the scoundrel she suspects him to be. Marshall is traveling under his own name but is more famously known as Eldrick Stile when he's writing one of his popular novels. This proves to Grace that he cannot be trusted. Marshall is confused by Grace as she acts like two different women. He is shy and uncomfortable in conversing with Grace that only adds to all the misdirection. Will this pair be truly honest with one another before they get to their destination?
MARRIED ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS by Nancy Campbell Allen--Emily Grant is always saving her irresponsible older brother. Having won a small gold Egyptian statue in a card game he surmises it to be a fake and gives it to Emily as a gift. She promptly packs it up and sends it back to the U.S. only to learn it's the real thing, not a replica and an organized crime ring has kidnapped her brother to exchange him for it. Scotland Yard Detective Vincent Brady is interested in capturing the Mattingly brothers who run the crime ring. Emily must board the Orient Express to make the exchange. Detective Brady has purchased the last remaining tickets on the Orient Express, the only way for Emily to board in time to save her brother is to pretend to be his wife. In close proximity the two can't help but get to know each other better.
TO BREAK A BETROTHAL by Elizabeth Johns—Kate Worthington has no intention of marrying Lord Darlington her betrothed since childhood. She leaves her beloved nanny in India and travels alone to England aboard the Orient Express. An army man, Stephen "Brown" is serving his last assignment to the crown before returning to England to take his title and marry a heiress. He takes an interest in Kate because he suspects her of being a spy. Its not long before Stephen knows exactly who Kate Worthington is and how she fits into his future.
DETECTIVE GRACE MEETS HER MATCH by Annette Lyon—Grace Thomas is an unlikely detective trying to have a vacation aboard the Orient Express. She is the sole detective of Harward and Sons Detective Agency, which she inherited upon her grandfathers death. She has little respect for men as she normally investigates cheating husbands. Viewing Marshall Bailey as anything but a gentleman, she takes it upon herself to protect other women on the train from the scoundrel she suspects him to be. Marshall is traveling under his own name but is more famously known as Eldrick Stile when he's writing one of his popular novels. This proves to Grace that he cannot be trusted. Marshall is confused by Grace as she acts like two different women. He is shy and uncomfortable in conversing with Grace that only adds to all the misdirection. Will this pair be truly honest with one another before they get to their destination?
MARRIED ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS by Nancy Campbell Allen--Emily Grant is always saving her irresponsible older brother. Having won a small gold Egyptian statue in a card game he surmises it to be a fake and gives it to Emily as a gift. She promptly packs it up and sends it back to the U.S. only to learn it's the real thing, not a replica and an organized crime ring has kidnapped her brother to exchange him for it. Scotland Yard Detective Vincent Brady is interested in capturing the Mattingly brothers who run the crime ring. Emily must board the Orient Express to make the exchange. Detective Brady has purchased the last remaining tickets on the Orient Express, the only way for Emily to board in time to save her brother is to pretend to be his wife. In close proximity the two can't help but get to know each other better.
March 19, 2018
Three mysteries to be solved, and three romances to be played on board the Orient Express around the turn of the 20th century. This was a thoroughly enjoyable trilogy that made me forget the outside world while I got lost in the luxury and intrigue of the train speeding through Europe. I especially liked the third story.
To Break a Betrothal by Elizabeth Johns—3.5 out of 5
After the unexpected death of Kate’s father in India, she returns on her own to England to meet the man her father contracted her to marry when she was born. She had met him the one time they had returned to England when she was 9 and he was 17. She thought him arrogant and now hopes that Lord Darlington will be open to releasing her from the betrothal, even if she has to give him 20% ownership in the company she now owns. Stephen is on board the Orient Express trying to catch a female spy planning to wreak further destruction on England. He wonders if Kate is his suspect, and is quite taken aback when he learns that she is his intended.
Detective Grace Meets her Match by Annette Lyon—3.5 out of 5
Grace Thompson is very proud of the skills she’s honed running her grandfather’s detective agency. When not working, she uses them to protect herself and others from unscrupulous men, which in her experience, is most men. But on board the Orient Express, she meets a couple of men who are like her grandfather—trustworthy in every way. Is it possible that there are more of these types of men than she thought? And is Marshall Bailey, aka Eldrick Stiles, one of them?
Married on the Orient Express by Nancy Campbell Allen—4 out of 5
Detective Vincent Brady is determined to catch the ring leaders of a worldwide crime ring that is stealing precious artifacts. The key is to catch them in the act of getting back a small Egyptian statue that was lost in a card game to a man who then gave it to his sister, Emily. Emily is now on her way from England to Constantinople to free her brother and give back the statue. When Emily finds that the only way she can get a seat on the train is to pretend to be married to Vincent, she agrees. But what happens when this adventure ends?
To Break a Betrothal by Elizabeth Johns—3.5 out of 5
After the unexpected death of Kate’s father in India, she returns on her own to England to meet the man her father contracted her to marry when she was born. She had met him the one time they had returned to England when she was 9 and he was 17. She thought him arrogant and now hopes that Lord Darlington will be open to releasing her from the betrothal, even if she has to give him 20% ownership in the company she now owns. Stephen is on board the Orient Express trying to catch a female spy planning to wreak further destruction on England. He wonders if Kate is his suspect, and is quite taken aback when he learns that she is his intended.
Detective Grace Meets her Match by Annette Lyon—3.5 out of 5
Grace Thompson is very proud of the skills she’s honed running her grandfather’s detective agency. When not working, she uses them to protect herself and others from unscrupulous men, which in her experience, is most men. But on board the Orient Express, she meets a couple of men who are like her grandfather—trustworthy in every way. Is it possible that there are more of these types of men than she thought? And is Marshall Bailey, aka Eldrick Stiles, one of them?
Married on the Orient Express by Nancy Campbell Allen—4 out of 5
Detective Vincent Brady is determined to catch the ring leaders of a worldwide crime ring that is stealing precious artifacts. The key is to catch them in the act of getting back a small Egyptian statue that was lost in a card game to a man who then gave it to his sister, Emily. Emily is now on her way from England to Constantinople to free her brother and give back the statue. When Emily finds that the only way she can get a seat on the train is to pretend to be married to Vincent, she agrees. But what happens when this adventure ends?
October 8, 2022
It is a rare feat when I cannot finish a book, especially books with tropes I adore–however, this book took the whole entire cake and threw it out the train. Within the confines of this anthology was three novellas, written by very well-known clean romance writers. This is what drew my attention, and what more was that it was set during a time that The Orient Express was still running, which made me get the book as soon as I had read the synopsis and title.
Sadly, I couldn’t finish this novel and neither did it leave me a desire to, as the female leads were preposterous with their actions, and there were many times the dialogue seemed to have no point furthering the story. It seemed as if the conversations written were just there to add filler into the pages. The two beginning novellas had heroines that seemed to be level-headed and mature. However, as the stories progressed the women grew unstable with their emotions and would act unbecoming of who they presented themselves to be in the beginning of the story. It was an absolute disaster.
The last novella was what sealed the fate of this book for me. As the beginning seemed genuinely written well, with acceptable and understandable emotions the heroine was feeling towards the hero. The anthology had ALMOST redeemed itself, until the halfway point of the story… I need to mention this, I have a strong disliking for political propaganda into a story that has no reason to be in there, when it does not further the story or the character development. It was just there, like the big elephant in the room. I shut the book, and gave up entirely because I want stories that have proper development, not crazy and unnecessary dialogues, that give no point to the story itself.
It’s a dark and sad day for me to have to write that this was one of the most dissatisfying novels I’ve read this year. It pains me to say that when I know how hard these novelist work to make these stories, but it was not my cup of tea. I give this anthology only ONE STAR, and that is for the courageous men who were written into the novel who were the only level-headed people in the entire anthology.
Sadly, I couldn’t finish this novel and neither did it leave me a desire to, as the female leads were preposterous with their actions, and there were many times the dialogue seemed to have no point furthering the story. It seemed as if the conversations written were just there to add filler into the pages. The two beginning novellas had heroines that seemed to be level-headed and mature. However, as the stories progressed the women grew unstable with their emotions and would act unbecoming of who they presented themselves to be in the beginning of the story. It was an absolute disaster.
The last novella was what sealed the fate of this book for me. As the beginning seemed genuinely written well, with acceptable and understandable emotions the heroine was feeling towards the hero. The anthology had ALMOST redeemed itself, until the halfway point of the story… I need to mention this, I have a strong disliking for political propaganda into a story that has no reason to be in there, when it does not further the story or the character development. It was just there, like the big elephant in the room. I shut the book, and gave up entirely because I want stories that have proper development, not crazy and unnecessary dialogues, that give no point to the story itself.
It’s a dark and sad day for me to have to write that this was one of the most dissatisfying novels I’ve read this year. It pains me to say that when I know how hard these novelist work to make these stories, but it was not my cup of tea. I give this anthology only ONE STAR, and that is for the courageous men who were written into the novel who were the only level-headed people in the entire anthology.
September 4, 2023
TO BREAK A BETROTHAL (Elizabeth Johns) -- VG
Kate Worthington is traveling under an alias because she is a wealthy shipping heiress traveling alone on the Orient Express. She has recently been orphaned yet must marry her betrothed (since they were children) soon after arriving in England. She wants to break the betrothal contract because she only remembers Lord Darlington as an arrogant upstart. Twelve years later, it is time to marry. While on the luxurious train, she meets a kind man and is very taken with him. He is serving in the army as a spy and cannot tell Kate he is Lord Darlington until his case is finished. When Kate learns the truth, she is upset.
DETECTIVE GRACE MEETS HER MATCH (Annette Lyon) -- VG
Grace Thompson is boarding the Orient Express and casually meets Marshall Bailey. Although she is a private investigator by profession, she is impressed with the man (over her own objections). Marshall travels under his real name but is better known by another name. She realizes that her first impressions are wrong when she learns more about him. However, she is also traveling under an assumed name. When they each allow their barriers to fall, they realize they share more than they thought.
MARRIED ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (Nancy Campbell Allen) -- VG
A Scotland Yard detective, Vincent Brady, is on the trail of a group of Egyptian artifact thieves. Unfortunately, an American ne'er-do-well won a valuable statue in a poker game and has been apprehended by crooks who want it back. He gave it to his sister, Emily Grant. Kenyon has sent his sister a telegram to come on the Orient Express with the statue. Because of the wording in the telegram, Emily knows that her brother is in trouble. Emily meets Vincent while trying to get a ticket for the full train. He tells the ticket agent they are married so she can get on the train. This was the most interesting of the three stories but also unrealistic.
March 30, 2018
The Orient Express
To Break a Betrothal by Elizabeth Johns (3 1/2 stars)
A delightful story of hidden identities allowing true character to shine through. The romantic tension was believable, not over-the-top contrived. Well-written, well-edited. Very enjoyable story.
Detective Grace Meets her Match by Annette Lyon (4 stars)
So enjoyable to be introduced to characters NOT of the nobility. Their characters and motivations were so wonderfully drawn. A truly enjoyable story.
The only issue, and it is a small one, is that the love/commitment seemed too happen too fast. They wanted to spend years and years with one another after only barely getting past the barriers each had erected. I wanted them to experience some long talks and excursions at cities where the train stopped. (And I wanted to experience it with them.) Then I would be happy with their wanting to be together for years and years.
That said, when you want a book not to end, it follows that it's a good book :-)
Married on The Oriental Express by Sarah M. Eden (4 1/2 stars)
Perfectly wonderful! Such a creative story and, as mentioned above, I'm enjoying stories about normal people, not nobility, for a refreshing change.
Very believable characters and the romantic tension is t contrived in the least--the situation provides all of the tension. The love developed quickly, but naturally. It felt complete and we, as readers, know what their lives will be like as a married couple-no loose ends.
*poor, **ok, ***good, ****very good, **** something special
To Break a Betrothal by Elizabeth Johns (3 1/2 stars)
A delightful story of hidden identities allowing true character to shine through. The romantic tension was believable, not over-the-top contrived. Well-written, well-edited. Very enjoyable story.
Detective Grace Meets her Match by Annette Lyon (4 stars)
So enjoyable to be introduced to characters NOT of the nobility. Their characters and motivations were so wonderfully drawn. A truly enjoyable story.
The only issue, and it is a small one, is that the love/commitment seemed too happen too fast. They wanted to spend years and years with one another after only barely getting past the barriers each had erected. I wanted them to experience some long talks and excursions at cities where the train stopped. (And I wanted to experience it with them.) Then I would be happy with their wanting to be together for years and years.
That said, when you want a book not to end, it follows that it's a good book :-)
Married on The Oriental Express by Sarah M. Eden (4 1/2 stars)
Perfectly wonderful! Such a creative story and, as mentioned above, I'm enjoying stories about normal people, not nobility, for a refreshing change.
Very believable characters and the romantic tension is t contrived in the least--the situation provides all of the tension. The love developed quickly, but naturally. It felt complete and we, as readers, know what their lives will be like as a married couple-no loose ends.
*poor, **ok, ***good, ****very good, **** something special
April 6, 2022
Kindle Unlimited 11/?
Rounded up to 3 stars as a whole just because of the last story. Otherwise, solidly 2 stars.
To Break A Betrothal by Elizabeth Johns - 2 stars. I dunno if I was just always really tired/distracted when I was reading this one, but I found myself losing interest in it often and not really giving two bits.
Detective Grace Meets Her Match by Annette Lyon - 2.5 stars. Grace was a bit too cynical and suspicious of all men being terrible excuses for human beings - she legitimately was actively searching for something to call every man she met out on because she's just so convinced that they are all worthless. She doesn't even consider (as brought up at the end of the story) that maybe she encounters so many bad men because it's her job to interact/tail/investigate the more pathetic of the lot. Did an okay job with the setting of the Orient Express. Wouldn't necessarily re-read but not bad.
Married On The Orient Express by Nancy Campbell Allen - 3.5 stars. The beginning didn't grab me but by the time Emily and Vincent were pretending to be married, I was on-board. Their interactions and fake marriage were cute and flirty. Plot was okay, but second to the romance. Good train setting. The ending for the romance was a little too insta-love for my taste but I'm willing to let it slide because it's a novella and I liked them so much.
Rounded up to 3 stars as a whole just because of the last story. Otherwise, solidly 2 stars.
To Break A Betrothal by Elizabeth Johns - 2 stars. I dunno if I was just always really tired/distracted when I was reading this one, but I found myself losing interest in it often and not really giving two bits.
Detective Grace Meets Her Match by Annette Lyon - 2.5 stars. Grace was a bit too cynical and suspicious of all men being terrible excuses for human beings - she legitimately was actively searching for something to call every man she met out on because she's just so convinced that they are all worthless. She doesn't even consider (as brought up at the end of the story) that maybe she encounters so many bad men because it's her job to interact/tail/investigate the more pathetic of the lot. Did an okay job with the setting of the Orient Express. Wouldn't necessarily re-read but not bad.
Married On The Orient Express by Nancy Campbell Allen - 3.5 stars. The beginning didn't grab me but by the time Emily and Vincent were pretending to be married, I was on-board. Their interactions and fake marriage were cute and flirty. Plot was okay, but second to the romance. Good train setting. The ending for the romance was a little too insta-love for my taste but I'm willing to let it slide because it's a novella and I liked them so much.
March 29, 2018
Another great Timeless Romance collection! I always get excited when a new one is coming out. I loved the setting of this one – the Orient Express. It was different and intriguing. Since it always makes me think of Agatha Cristie, I was glad to find some suspense in the collection as well.
To Break a Betrothal by Elizabeth Johns – 5 Stars
So cute! It was fun to have Kate and Stephen meet under assumed names. I loved the ways their true relationship was discovered. And I really liked both of them! I also loved the suspense part of the story.
Detective Grace Meets Her Match by Annette Lyon – 3 Stars
I really liked Marshall! Grace…not as much. Yes, she had her reasons for distrusting men, but she took it to the extreme. She used the littlest things as excuses to get angry and judge Marshall, who was an amazing guy. I could see why they would be a good match, but she had to stop giving him whiplash first.
Married on the Orient Express by Nancy Campbell Allen – 5 Stars
I loved this novella! Fake relationships are so fun, and I loved the way this one came to be. The suspense, danger and romance all combined to create an intriguing story. Emily was feisty and brave. Vincent was smart and capable. They were great together!
I received a complimentary copy of the book, which I voluntarily reviewed. I have given my honest opinion.
To Break a Betrothal by Elizabeth Johns – 5 Stars
So cute! It was fun to have Kate and Stephen meet under assumed names. I loved the ways their true relationship was discovered. And I really liked both of them! I also loved the suspense part of the story.
Detective Grace Meets Her Match by Annette Lyon – 3 Stars
I really liked Marshall! Grace…not as much. Yes, she had her reasons for distrusting men, but she took it to the extreme. She used the littlest things as excuses to get angry and judge Marshall, who was an amazing guy. I could see why they would be a good match, but she had to stop giving him whiplash first.
Married on the Orient Express by Nancy Campbell Allen – 5 Stars
I loved this novella! Fake relationships are so fun, and I loved the way this one came to be. The suspense, danger and romance all combined to create an intriguing story. Emily was feisty and brave. Vincent was smart and capable. They were great together!
I received a complimentary copy of the book, which I voluntarily reviewed. I have given my honest opinion.
April 9, 2018
This was very enjoyable to read. I'd heard of the Orient express, but I don't think I've read any books about it other than the one by Agatha Christie.
These were three short stories that all take place on the train, but in totally different circumstances. They are all romances and are all very fun and interesting to read!
In the first story a young woman is traveling alone to London to cancel her betrothal to a man she only met once twelve years ago. He happens to be traveling on the same train, and they are both traveling under fake names. Lots of fun stuff happens!
The second story is about a woman who is an independent detective (although people don't know that) and she meets up with a fellow who defies everything she believes about men--at least all the men she has investigated over the last several years. It was fun to see her opinion change about him.
The third story is about two people trying to save the woman's brother. They have to pretend to be married to get on the train to take an artifact to the bad guys in Turkey. It was an interesting story with lots of fun adventures.
I liked all of the stories and love reading all of these collections!!
These were three short stories that all take place on the train, but in totally different circumstances. They are all romances and are all very fun and interesting to read!
In the first story a young woman is traveling alone to London to cancel her betrothal to a man she only met once twelve years ago. He happens to be traveling on the same train, and they are both traveling under fake names. Lots of fun stuff happens!
The second story is about a woman who is an independent detective (although people don't know that) and she meets up with a fellow who defies everything she believes about men--at least all the men she has investigated over the last several years. It was fun to see her opinion change about him.
The third story is about two people trying to save the woman's brother. They have to pretend to be married to get on the train to take an artifact to the bad guys in Turkey. It was an interesting story with lots of fun adventures.
I liked all of the stories and love reading all of these collections!!
April 10, 2018
The Orient Express contains three stories about the intrigue and opulence of the long-distance passenger train that ran from Paris to Constantinople with various stops in between.
All three stories are lighthearted mysteries with a little romance thrown in. Novellas can always seem a little hurried in the relationship department but somehow all three authors not only make it work, but make it compellingly believable.
All three stories contain characters that are complex without being heavy, character’s in whose time I spent with was delightful, and as such, just a little too short.
I did feel like the middle story, “Detective Grace Meets Her Match”, had a fascinating plot, but too much of it was contained to their thoughts. Though in certain circumstance this is not necessarily a bad thing, with all the stories being a little more espionage and action oriented the 60% thought process and 40% action made it drag just a little bit for me.
Overall I really enjoyed all three stories and would definitely recommend them for anyone looking for a quirky combination of action, mystery and romance.
https://bookconfessionsblog.wordpress...
All three stories are lighthearted mysteries with a little romance thrown in. Novellas can always seem a little hurried in the relationship department but somehow all three authors not only make it work, but make it compellingly believable.
All three stories contain characters that are complex without being heavy, character’s in whose time I spent with was delightful, and as such, just a little too short.
I did feel like the middle story, “Detective Grace Meets Her Match”, had a fascinating plot, but too much of it was contained to their thoughts. Though in certain circumstance this is not necessarily a bad thing, with all the stories being a little more espionage and action oriented the 60% thought process and 40% action made it drag just a little bit for me.
Overall I really enjoyed all three stories and would definitely recommend them for anyone looking for a quirky combination of action, mystery and romance.
https://bookconfessionsblog.wordpress...
December 5, 2025
This is the first of these novella collections that I’ve found disappointing. The stories simply aren’t of the same quality as the others I’ve read.
**To Break A Betrothal** [3.5 stars]
I didn’t love this one. The relationship felt underdeveloped. I know it’s a novella and so expect some level of insta-love, but it just wasn’t believable. The overall plot was good and the writing was smooth, it just fell short in the execution.
Content: No foul language or sex. There is some mild violence resulting in a death. Lightly descriptive kisses only.
**Detective Grace Meets Her Match** [2 stars]
DNF’d at 50%. I’m not a fan of male-hating FMCs and this one was ridiculously so. I also found the writing longwinded, slow, and not at all engaging.
**Married On The Orient Express** [4 stars]
This is definitely the best in the set. It’s a good story, with action, danger, and even a little humor. It’s rushed for sure, and would have been better as a full novel, but it’s engaging and fun. Of course, it’s beyond insta-love, but done in a way that didn’t bother me.
Content: No foul language or sex, with minimal violence. Lightly descriptive kisses only.
**To Break A Betrothal** [3.5 stars]
I didn’t love this one. The relationship felt underdeveloped. I know it’s a novella and so expect some level of insta-love, but it just wasn’t believable. The overall plot was good and the writing was smooth, it just fell short in the execution.
Content: No foul language or sex. There is some mild violence resulting in a death. Lightly descriptive kisses only.
**Detective Grace Meets Her Match** [2 stars]
DNF’d at 50%. I’m not a fan of male-hating FMCs and this one was ridiculously so. I also found the writing longwinded, slow, and not at all engaging.
**Married On The Orient Express** [4 stars]
This is definitely the best in the set. It’s a good story, with action, danger, and even a little humor. It’s rushed for sure, and would have been better as a full novel, but it’s engaging and fun. Of course, it’s beyond insta-love, but done in a way that didn’t bother me.
Content: No foul language or sex, with minimal violence. Lightly descriptive kisses only.
March 28, 2018
Great Addition Brimming with Mystery and Intrigue
To Break a Betrothal—Enjoyable and filled with mystery, spies and mistaken identity. This one started out with a captivating plot and engaging characters. In my opinion, it fell short about half way through; the storyline, dialog and character development felt somewhat rushed.
Detective Grace Meets Her Match—An engaging and entertaining novella where seasoned detective Grace meets her equal in “people watching” expertise. She unexpectedly finds that not every man is cunning and deceptive, looking to manipulate women. An unexpected camaraderie develops and Grace finds that she may get her own happily ever after.
Married on the Orient Express—This thrilling novella had me gripping my kindle as I hurriedly pored over the pages. A dangerous situation has arisen and Emily must travel to save her brother. Unbeknownst to her, Detective Brady is the only one she should trust to get her brother home. As they work together, they bravely face alarming situations and nefarious mobsters.
To Break a Betrothal—Enjoyable and filled with mystery, spies and mistaken identity. This one started out with a captivating plot and engaging characters. In my opinion, it fell short about half way through; the storyline, dialog and character development felt somewhat rushed.
Detective Grace Meets Her Match—An engaging and entertaining novella where seasoned detective Grace meets her equal in “people watching” expertise. She unexpectedly finds that not every man is cunning and deceptive, looking to manipulate women. An unexpected camaraderie develops and Grace finds that she may get her own happily ever after.
Married on the Orient Express—This thrilling novella had me gripping my kindle as I hurriedly pored over the pages. A dangerous situation has arisen and Emily must travel to save her brother. Unbeknownst to her, Detective Brady is the only one she should trust to get her brother home. As they work together, they bravely face alarming situations and nefarious mobsters.
March 31, 2018
The Orient Express from the Timeless Victorian Collection is a new twist on the intrigue and luxury travel with which people associate the real Orient Express. Authors Elizabeth Johns, Annette Lyon and Nancy Campbell Allen introduce us to Kate, Grace and Emily, three young ladies on traveling on the Orient Express. Finding themselves traveling alone for various reasons, they all encounter unexpected friendship and intrigue as they travel the famed international route.
These award winning authors create well written stories with resilient characters that entertain, amuse, and charm. Great characters, unexpected plots and plenty of scheming along the way, The Orient Express is entertaining reading. I received a complimentary copy of A Grand Tour for my candid review.
These award winning authors create well written stories with resilient characters that entertain, amuse, and charm. Great characters, unexpected plots and plenty of scheming along the way, The Orient Express is entertaining reading. I received a complimentary copy of A Grand Tour for my candid review.
May 31, 2018
This book was interesting...a new concept in terms of setting. However, I found it less-than-captivating at times. I liked it enough to keep reading, but wouldn't re-read at least two of the stories in this book.
To Break a Betrothal: A cute story that I felt was a little slow at times. I enjoyed this story, but wasn't captivated by it. Three stars.
Detective Grace Meets Her Match: This too was a neat story. There was a bit more conflict in this one, and I found it less predictable than TBaB, though still uninspiring. Three to three and a half stars.
Married on the Orient Express: This was my favorite story. I loved the way the hero and heroine got along, and there was enough action to make it interesting. I'd give this one four stars.
To Break a Betrothal: A cute story that I felt was a little slow at times. I enjoyed this story, but wasn't captivated by it. Three stars.
Detective Grace Meets Her Match: This too was a neat story. There was a bit more conflict in this one, and I found it less predictable than TBaB, though still uninspiring. Three to three and a half stars.
Married on the Orient Express: This was my favorite story. I loved the way the hero and heroine got along, and there was enough action to make it interesting. I'd give this one four stars.
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