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kebreads's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed all these stories. They made me really want to go to the beach, though.
Too Good to be True:
This was a cute short story. Given Gwen's past, I was quickly invested in her getting a happily ever after. I liked seeing the relationship between Gwen and Jack grow, but it still felt fast based on the information we learn about them. I liked how the author hyphenated the possible names of a person when Gwen couldn't remember their name.
Content: passionate kissing
Rating: 4.5 stars
Gone Fishing:
This story had great characters and a great storyline. I liked seeing how Claire dealt with her circumstances. Miguel intrigued me since he wasn't like the usual hero's I read about, but I liked him. This story made me want to visit the ocean. I was grateful for the epilogue because it rounded out the story and made it feel complete.
Content: clean
Rating: 4.5 stars
The Pier Changes Everything:
This was a cute story. I liked how the reader is given information about Alexandria bit by bit. I didn't expect everything that got revealed. And I liked watching the unfolding of her and Michael's relationship. I would have liked this story to have an epilogue.
Content: 1 swear word
Rating: 4 stars
A Hero's Song:
I liked this story of second chances. I quickly grew to root for the characters as their weaknesses as well as hopes and dreams were revealed. I especially liked Lance's manager. She was a great down-to-earth character.
Content: 2 swear words
Rating: 4 stars
Stay With Me:
I liked the dynamics between the characters in this book, but I feel the story would have been more powerful if it had been longer, allowing the reader to get to know the characters much better. The scenes that were described really endeared the main characters to me, but I think it would not have felt so rushed at the end if some of the experiences that were mentioned had been shown. But, I still really liked this story.
Content: Clean
Rating: 4 stars
A Place to Call Home:
This story was my favorite of this collection. It made me laugh. My husband kept asking what I was laughing at, and I kept explaining it was the story I was reading. I liked that the main characters made mistakes and weren't perfect. And I liked the main characters valued things of more than just superficial worth.
Content: Clean
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Review Copy
Too Good to be True:
This was a cute short story. Given Gwen's past, I was quickly invested in her getting a happily ever after. I liked seeing the relationship between Gwen and Jack grow, but it still felt fast based on the information we learn about them. I liked how the author hyphenated the possible names of a person when Gwen couldn't remember their name.
Content: passionate kissing
Rating: 4.5 stars
Gone Fishing:
This story had great characters and a great storyline. I liked seeing how Claire dealt with her circumstances. Miguel intrigued me since he wasn't like the usual hero's I read about, but I liked him. This story made me want to visit the ocean. I was grateful for the epilogue because it rounded out the story and made it feel complete.
Content: clean
Rating: 4.5 stars
The Pier Changes Everything:
This was a cute story. I liked how the reader is given information about Alexandria bit by bit. I didn't expect everything that got revealed. And I liked watching the unfolding of her and Michael's relationship. I would have liked this story to have an epilogue.
Content: 1 swear word
Rating: 4 stars
A Hero's Song:
I liked this story of second chances. I quickly grew to root for the characters as their weaknesses as well as hopes and dreams were revealed. I especially liked Lance's manager. She was a great down-to-earth character.
Content: 2 swear words
Rating: 4 stars
Stay With Me:
I liked the dynamics between the characters in this book, but I feel the story would have been more powerful if it had been longer, allowing the reader to get to know the characters much better. The scenes that were described really endeared the main characters to me, but I think it would not have felt so rushed at the end if some of the experiences that were mentioned had been shown. But, I still really liked this story.
Content: Clean
Rating: 4 stars
A Place to Call Home:
This story was my favorite of this collection. It made me laugh. My husband kept asking what I was laughing at, and I kept explaining it was the story I was reading. I liked that the main characters made mistakes and weren't perfect. And I liked the main characters valued things of more than just superficial worth.
Content: Clean
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Review Copy
chanizzle's review against another edition
3.0
Too good to be true- multiple mistakes and incorrect words used so that was annoying - 2 stars. Gone Fishing- 2 stars. The Pier changes everything - 2 stars. Hero’s song - 3 stars. Stay with me - 3 stars. A place to call home - 3.5 stars. = 2.5 stars for the anthology.
aublar's review against another edition
4.0
This was a cute collection of romance novellas if you like that kind of thing. The last one was my least favorite- the pacing was weird and the romance blasé. But the other ones were really good and most took place on the beach which was fun!
ghumpherys's review against another edition
5.0
The Timeless Romance collections are some of my all-time favorites! Each collection has six short stories by different authors that are all unique, yet tied around a central theme. The authors (some of my favorites!) all write such sweet, clean romance stories. I love that each story can be read in a single sitting and I love that they all have a happy-ever-after ending.
The California Dreamin’ Collection is the latest collection and it did not disappoint! Each story takes place in California and there is plenty of the beach, ocean and celebrity status to go around. Only one of the stories felt a bit rushed to me as far as the relationship development goes (as often happens in a short story), but that sort of thing generally doesn’t bother me too much. I loved that some of the stories had characters who already had a history together, and I also enjoy the stories where the characters are meeting for the first time. So much to love!
I received an e-book version of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The California Dreamin’ Collection is the latest collection and it did not disappoint! Each story takes place in California and there is plenty of the beach, ocean and celebrity status to go around. Only one of the stories felt a bit rushed to me as far as the relationship development goes (as often happens in a short story), but that sort of thing generally doesn’t bother me too much. I loved that some of the stories had characters who already had a history together, and I also enjoy the stories where the characters are meeting for the first time. So much to love!
I received an e-book version of this book in exchange for an honest review.
nicolepeck's review against another edition
4.0
Too Good to be True by Heather B. Moore: Cute story, a bit predictable but still enjoyable. I liked the setting of La Jolla Beach and Gwen's wedding photography business on the beach. I liked that both Jack and Gwen were trying to find themselves and then dealing with their connection and trying to make their way as a couple while still dealing with their past and their current situations. Adding in both their sisters made for outside support and outside problems too. There was a lot going on in this short story, trying to resolve some things and get their relationship going in a quick read. I would have liked more time to develop the story, the characters, and their relationship further.
Gone Fishing by Kaylee Baldwin: This was a fun, light, cute story, set on a fishing tour boat. There was a lot I thought was fun about this story -- the setting, the play between Miguel and Clarie and Brig (Claire's dad), as well as Clarie's mom and what Claire was running away from. There were cute little moments throughout the story of the characters relating to each other, teasing and fighting against each other, deep sea shoe rescue and deep sea kid rescue. Really fun story!
The Pier Changes Everything by Annette Lyon: This was an interesting concept of two people meeting at the pier, only to find out that the chance meeting for both of them was a reconnection from their youth. It was a bit predictable, but the characters and story line were well thought out and executed, with some fun settings and twists along the way to move the story along -- I'd love to go to the crepe place they ate it!
A Hero's Song by Jennifer Moore: This was a bit cheesy and stretching the reality a bit for me, but I still enjoyed the story line of Lance trying to reconnect with AnnMarie. I really liked how he took her poem and made it into a song. I also enjoyed the addition of the character Marilyn and how she fit into the story, for both characters.
Stay With Me by Shannon Guymon: I really liked Jo. She was real and had a great personality. I liked how she connected with the kids she was the nanny for and also with Fitz. I definitely could have seen this one stretch into a longer story, developing their relationship a little bit more. It was a bit predictable with the big blow-up with Jo's employers, but there was a great resolution to the conflict and leading to the ending of the story. The story and characters were relate-able, even with the Hollywood/famous setting. A fun read!!!
A Place to Call Home by Sarah M. Eden: Fun story about a single dad and his search for a new place for him and his son to leave, unknowingly set up with the realtor! A very cute story, and I loved the interactions between the characters and the humor in the story. I definitely would have loved this one to be longer so I could have spent more time with the characters, but for the short story it was, it was very well done -- nothing felt rushed or pushed or too much.
Overall, another fun anthology, with all the stories set in California! (As I had just finished the Tangerine Street series, I kept expecting some of that magic to seep into these stories and to remind myself this was a completely separate series!!)
***I received a copy of this book from one of the authors in exchange for my honest review.***
Gone Fishing by Kaylee Baldwin: This was a fun, light, cute story, set on a fishing tour boat. There was a lot I thought was fun about this story -- the setting, the play between Miguel and Clarie and Brig (Claire's dad), as well as Clarie's mom and what Claire was running away from. There were cute little moments throughout the story of the characters relating to each other, teasing and fighting against each other, deep sea shoe rescue and deep sea kid rescue. Really fun story!
The Pier Changes Everything by Annette Lyon: This was an interesting concept of two people meeting at the pier, only to find out that the chance meeting for both of them was a reconnection from their youth. It was a bit predictable, but the characters and story line were well thought out and executed, with some fun settings and twists along the way to move the story along -- I'd love to go to the crepe place they ate it!
A Hero's Song by Jennifer Moore: This was a bit cheesy and stretching the reality a bit for me, but I still enjoyed the story line of Lance trying to reconnect with AnnMarie. I really liked how he took her poem and made it into a song. I also enjoyed the addition of the character Marilyn and how she fit into the story, for both characters.
Stay With Me by Shannon Guymon: I really liked Jo. She was real and had a great personality. I liked how she connected with the kids she was the nanny for and also with Fitz. I definitely could have seen this one stretch into a longer story, developing their relationship a little bit more. It was a bit predictable with the big blow-up with Jo's employers, but there was a great resolution to the conflict and leading to the ending of the story. The story and characters were relate-able, even with the Hollywood/famous setting. A fun read!!!
A Place to Call Home by Sarah M. Eden: Fun story about a single dad and his search for a new place for him and his son to leave, unknowingly set up with the realtor! A very cute story, and I loved the interactions between the characters and the humor in the story. I definitely would have loved this one to be longer so I could have spent more time with the characters, but for the short story it was, it was very well done -- nothing felt rushed or pushed or too much.
Overall, another fun anthology, with all the stories set in California! (As I had just finished the Tangerine Street series, I kept expecting some of that magic to seep into these stories and to remind myself this was a completely separate series!!)
***I received a copy of this book from one of the authors in exchange for my honest review.***
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