This novel really didnt do it for me. The male lead was boring and filling all the items from a stereotype list - I dont like that at all.

These novellas are starters to series that will have you hooked, especially Dancing with the Duke which a series a prequel to the Landing a Lord series.

This author manages to have a voice of her own, a feat itself in a very crowded genre, giving shape to original plots where our heros and heroines move and fall inevitably, irrevocably, madly in love with each other.

Prepare to get lost.

I voluntarily reviewed an Reader Copy of this book which I received through
Netgalley. I really liked this boxset. It really gave me an insight in this authors style and now I want to rad more of hers.

I loved this book. The only problem the I had was that the stories need to be a bit longer. Thanks to Netgalley, for this free copy. My opinion is my own.

i loved this collection of books. It would be even better if they were full books. I need more

I really enjoyed this collection of novellas. They were highly enjoyable reads that I was able to squeeze them in here and there. I would recommend this book to others!

I didn't really enjoy these novellas as much as I thought I would. But I did enjoy the writing style. So I might pick up some of the author's other works in the future.

DEAR STRANGER ~ 5 stars

I really enjoyed Sophia and Richard's story! Mistaken identity leads to true love. What more can you ask for?

DANCING WITH THE DUKE ~ 4 stars

Charlotte and Alexander's story was also an enjoyable read. I like those stories where the H/H realize that the love of their life has been right there in front of them all of this time!!

LADY HATHAWAY'S INDECENT PROPOSAL ~ 5 stars

I really loved Miranda and Andrew's story! Reunited lovers is always one of my most favorite types of stories!

FORBIDDEN IN FEBRUARY ~ 4 Stars

This is the second book of five that tells the story of the residents of the Duke of Beckworth's estate. Having read all 5 of them, I would definitely recommend reading them all together, although they could each be read as stand alone.

I enjoyed this short story by Medeiros. The attraction between Robert and Isabel was there from the beginning and it couldn't be denied by either off them, no matter how hard they tried. Two people who didn't want to get married, find that with the right person, marriage is just what they were looking for.

Publisher's Description:
Four previously released novellas now available in one volume.

DEAR STRANGER
At a masked ball, a jaded rake is surprised by his reaction to the one woman he should not pursue.

DANCING WITH THE DUKE
The Duke of Clarington intends to stay far away from all the young ladies and eager mamas hoping to ensnare a duke that Season. But his plan falls into tatters when he sees Charlotte Grant again for the first time in many years.

LADY HATHAWAY'S INDECENT PROPOSAL
The newly widowed Miranda Hathaway asks her former love, the Earl of Sanderson, to help her conceive a child—one whom she means to pass off as the next Hathaway heir. Miranda knows she is infertile, but her deception gives her three weeks with Sanderson. He plans to use that time to finally consign Miranda Hathaway to the past, while she hopes to build memories that will last her a lifetime.

FORBIDDEN IN FEBRUARY
Robert Milton’s very existence has proven to him that romantic entanglements are to be avoided at all costs. But then he meets Isabel Durham, and his desire for her could cost him the one thing he’s vowed never to lose—his heart.

My Thoughts:

I had read only one of this collection previously so I was in for a delightful surprise.
All four are short and sweet and still well told in spite of their length. I have heard of this author but had not read anything but the one novella by her before now.
I enjoyed all four stories, but I believe Dear Stranger was my favorite.
I gave this collection 4.25 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development. Novellas don't lend themselves to having time for their characters to be delved into much but we are able to glean just enough to enjoy these reads.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this collection from the publisher via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this collection of novellas which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Arguably you could tell me that it rates only a three, however, the author is just too talented in my opinion to downgrade it! Each of the previously released stories in this book are enjoyable. Some I found to be too short, some had a few gaps in the story, but all in all the talent of the author makes each enjoyable! From characters to plot lines, this is a collection of novellas that is well worth reading. I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna Swedenmom

DEAR STRANGER
At a masked ball, a jaded rake is surprised by his reaction to the one woman he should not pursue.

DANCING WITH THE DUKE
The Duke of Clarington intends to stay far away from all the young ladies and eager mamas hoping to ensnare a duke that Season. But his plan falls into tatters when he sees Charlotte Grant again for the first time in many years.

LADY HATHAWAY'S INDECENT PROPOSAL
The newly widowed Miranda Hathaway asks her former love, the Earl of Sanderson, to help her conceive a child—one whom she means to pass off as the next Hathaway heir. Miranda knows she is infertile, but her deception gives her three weeks with Sanderson. He plans to use that time to finally consign Miranda Hathaway to the past, while she hopes to build memories that will last her a lifetime.

FORBIDDEN IN FEBRUARY
Robert Milton’s very existence has proven to him that romantic entanglements are to be avoided at all costs. But then he meets Isabel Durham, and his desire for her could cost him the one thing he’s vowed never to lose—his heart.
These 4 delightful novellas are joined together in one book. I’d read a couple of these before but was no hardship to re read. The pace of the novellas is good, I would have preferred greater character depth but so hard to achieve in a short story. These are ideal for whiling away a few hours.

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

The first book Dear Stranger was my favourite. But l enjoyed them all. love the set 4 great story's in one set. Not to long and not to short that you can feel their is something missing

These novella's were wonderful and fun. Of course, each one is on a different story. The characters are believable and generous. In one novella, the duke sees a girl he has not seen in twelve years. Boy, has she changed. Each plot is unique and is interesting just for itself. Another, talks a widow believes herself unable to have children and asks the man she loved eight years ago, to help her have one. They were well written, moved smoothly and had a nice pace. I enjoyed them and I highly recommend this set of books.

Suzanna Medeiros has the gift of writing extremely sensual, loving, romances that hold a bit of a second chance or first love in their lines. Yes, these are novellas, but they are quick and to the point. Each is unique and well thought out by the writer to make the most of her words in a short story.

These were all great short stories, I am definitely intrigued into looking into the full series of each of these.

DEAR STRANGER
Lady Sophie Crandle mistakenly kisses her betrothed’s older brother, Richard, the Earl of Dearbourne, in a plan that was supposed to find her kissing Henry. This was a fast paced novella with great characters who find themselves in some steamy situations.

DANCING WITH THE DUKE
The Duke of Clarington finds himself at Almack’s as he has promised to dance with Charlotte, his sister’s best friend, who has always been in love with him. When the two see each other again, the sparks fly. The one disappointment was that this story was just not long enough.
LADY HATHAWAY'S INDECENT PROPOSAL

Miranda Hathaway has never forgotten Andrew, the Earl of Sanderson, despite being forced to marry another. However, after twelve years apart, the newly widowed Miranda Hathaway asks Andrew, to help her have a child. For a novella, these two characters are well developed. Ms Medeiros has managed to explore the complexity of these two characters and reveal their past feelings.

FORBIDDEN IN FEBRUARY
Robert Milton has lost his employer, Duke of Beckworth and his mother, leaving Robert in limbo and with no purpose. In settling his mother’s estate, he meets Isabel Durham. The romance between Robert and Isabel, reveals the complexities of their lives and the intense feelings that arise between them.

Oof. No. Just no.

This my first foray into this author's books and most likely my last. These "stories" were ridiculous. The plots had gaping holes, silly "obstacles" to relationships that were either not actual obstacles at all or could be (and were!) resolved within two paragraphs, hilariously shallow relationships, and tawdry bedroom scenes.

I've read plenty of HRs, including HR short stories. I realize that you can't develop a relationship as deeply as in a full-length novel, but if you can't develop any sort of believable relationship within the confines of a short story, then you shouldn't write them at all.

For instance... the heroine in the first story finds a man she really likes and wants to marry but needs to determine whether they are sexually compatible (because this really happened in the early nineteenth century). She mistakenly kisses his brother, who falls into insta-lust with her. He's quickly head over heels for her for absolutely no reason, since they don't even know each other - the story says something along the lines of (paraphrasing here) "though he didn't know her that well, she was so beautiful and nice and he caught glimpses that she might be intelligent." GROAN. That's just painful. Also, having the H/h jump into bed together within, oh, hours? of meeting each other is so bleah. A tasteful bedroom scene that's earned after the couple goes through some sort of conflict or relationship-building can be beautiful. The ones in these stories just felt kind of gross, and I skimmed through them.

So very sorry to be an ungrateful reader. I received an ARC from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is a collection of stories.
They are short but they work.

The Novellas: A Collection by Suzanna Medeiros

A sometimes steamy anthology of historical novellas including:

I. DEAR STRANGER: Sophie, wanting to make sure she will be compatible should she accept the proposal of Henry so asks for a kiss only to find out that the man she has kissed is the older brother – Richard – and sparks were ignited. How Sophie ends up with the brother that will make her happiest is told in this story.

II. DANCING WITH THE DUKE: Alexander has been asked to dance with his sister’s best friend Charlotte and is not looking forward to doing so…until he sees her. How he reacts and how she eventually snares the man of her dreams is fun to read.

III. LADY HATHAWAY’S INDECENT PROPOSAL: Miranda did what her parents, not her heart, wanted and twelve years later finds herself a widow without progeny. She still wants to experience what she missed with the man that is now the Earl of Sanderson so she propositions him. He decides, “why not?” and the affair is on until…well…read the story to find out.

IV. FORBIDDEN IN FEBRUARY: Part of “A Year Without a Duke” and one of my favorite collections of stories – this tells of Robert who is leery of love and the dangers it harbors based on the experience of his mother – well – things change after his mother dies and he meets Isabel…loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author – this is my honest review.

4 Stars

The Novellas is a collection of some of author Suzanna Medeiros' best works. I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading some of these oldies but goodies. As always though, I just wish the novellas could be a little longer. Still, they are all wonderfully written and beautiful romances.