It’s been quite a while since I have read a Fern Michael story and when I saw this book, I knew it would be a beautiful spring story.

Three different authors and three different stories make for three wonderful experiences.

The book by Michael’s was definitely a unique way to build a romance. The male love interest was someone everyone knew except for the female main character.

Small towns have a way of growing on you and this story offered an interesting take on life in a small town. A sweet way to write a story!

Book Two by Lori Foster was so special. I love the natural way Foster tells this story. Nothing is forced and the characters are amazing. It is like a warm hug featuring a sweet blended family. It’s a feel-good story that shows off Foster’s fabulous storytelling abilities.

Book Three by Carolyn Brown brought back so many memories for me! I am a huge lake girl and the feeling of nostalgia was strong with this one. Good friends, healing, and a budding romance made this a memorable, feel-good story I loved.

Overall, Lilac Time is a wonderful addition to your spring and summer romance stories. A sweet and heartwarming choice!

Each story in this book was hopeful and well written. The characters were kind and caring. You really came to care and root for them to find happiness and love. I would recommend this book to my family and friends. I found myself sad when each story ended because I wanted more.

Sweet as Honey by Fern Michaels Natalie Simmons moved back to her hometown to take care of her father. She reconnected with old friends and started to enjoy her hometown and found love. Everything She's Ever Wanted by Lori Foster AnnaBeth Sanders and her little dog Ruby who loves the daughter (Mia) of her elderly neighbors nephew Devlin Connely. Everytime she interacts with Devlin and Mia she falls more in love. The Memory Cabin by Caroly Brown Jenna Stewart enjoys seeing her friends Amber and Kelly once a year. Jenna has been stuck in a rut since her mother passed away and had divorce papers served to her. Her friends bring good and bad memories. She is not prepared for the news they come with though. She meets Carson who is dealing with his own emotional journey.

There are three novellas in this book that you will really enjoy!! They all had wonderful, entertaining stories & characters including adorable animals. The first short story by Fern Michaels was good but we didn’t get to know Garrett, the male love interest & it would have been better if they actually got to know each other during the story. Overall, this is a quick, funny, entertaining book with three short stories that I recommend!!

What an amazing book, you get three stories from three amazing authors in one book! Each story takes you on a journey of self revelation! Each story pulls you in, and you can't put it down! 5 stars for this one!
Fern Michaels takes you on a journey with Natalie, who's over her ex and heads back home to help care for her dad, and her first encounter is with a beekeeper, who cuts her off and she has an instant dislike for him, that is until she gets to know him! Great story you will enjoy!
Lori Foster gives us the story with Annabeth, who lives next to an older gentlemen, who has a hot nephew with the cutest little girl, who her dog absolutely loves! You will absolutely fall in love with these characters!
Carolyn Brown brings us Jenna, some what of a loner, who on the day she lost her mother, also had her ex husband say he wanted a divorce! Now she's living out in her families cabin, waiting for her once a year visit from her two friends, who she met while in a support group. She see's everyone else has finally moved on with their lives, and she's still stuck in her rut! Follow her story as she realizes she needs to make some changes in her life to truly move on! You will love this one!

Lilac Time
Fern Michaels
Lori Foster
Carolyn Brown
April 29, 2025

These ladies give readers 3 delightful novellas. Each gives us a taste of finding love when the women had no faith that the miracle would belong to them. In the first story we find Natalie visiting her folks. Her father had just completed hip surgery. She would help while her mother completed her work hours. It was nice being back home with them in Florida. She found herself spending time volunteering and heading toward the Saturday market group. She made friends there and found herself at home.
The second gave us Annabeth living in her own home for the first time. She was raised in the foster care system. This new situation was splendid! Next door lived an older gentleman who enjoyed talking and her company. Along came his family to care for him and she became a special member.
The last story has Jenna Stewart in her mother's home in Texas. She had spent many summers in the cabin beside the lake. She was looking forward to her friends spending the week for their annual memory sharing. After her mother passed and she became divorced. Her life was lonely so these one time yearly vacations were special for the trio.
Lilac Time will be published by Kensington Books.com on April 29, 2025. I was able to read their latest book via NetGalley. Lilac Time is a joy to read. The three selected novellas give readers a glimpse at the middle-aged women´s lives and how they turned magical. Enjoy!

Three stories, three amazing authors, and three women who found love again. Their journeys are different, but their stories start with taking the first step to move forward in life. It takes time, some stumbling, but they keep moving forward, and come to where they find the sense of peace, and the feeling of home. Reading it was like slowly going down a river, and seeing all the wonders that are meant to be seen when the time is right.
I received an ARC from Kensington through NerGalley.

these are three short stories by some of my favorite authors. I loved each story. good book and a quick read.

Loved all 3 stories in this book . Each author had a story of substance and I enjoyed each one. These are all GREAT FEADs

Lilac Time is a compilation of stories from three award winning authors, Fern Michaels, Lori Foster and Carolyn Brown. While each story is fantastic, my review will be for Everything She’d Ever Wanted by Lori Foster.

This story features AnnaBeth and Devlin. Devlin lost his wife and mother to his daughter Mia in a traffic accident years ago. He has been a single father, taking care of his aging Uncle while trying to keep his sanity. AnnaBeth lives next door to Devlin’s uncle Sony and helps to care for him when Devlin can’t be around. Over the past year Devlin has caught her attention for more than just what an incredible father and nephew he is. AnnaBeth’s dog Ruby has also developed an attachment to Mia.

Realizing they share a mutual interest, AnnaBeth and Devlin decide to give love a chance, but will his mother in law put an end to it before it begins.
A sweet story about finding love again and moving on from the past. Never forgetting but not letting it rule your future. A quick read but great one from Lori Foster.

Three of my favorites. I normally don't care for short stories. They just never seem to be enough. Not so with this book. I don't know how they accomplished it but each one was wonderful. Heartwarming with just enough romance, that you won't want to put it down. I savored each story. Even though they were each different they all made you reflect and think about them when you finished. Well done!

These three always write heartwarming, feel good romance. Not all is shiny and perfect. There's a good share of suspense and/or strife at times but you know they good guys will win and find their happily ever after.

Sweet As Honey by Fern Michaels sees Natalie starting out thinking of Garrett as an arrogant jerk. And her reasons are pretty good. Why then does everyone else think so well of him? Why must she keep running into him? It was fun to follow these two through their zig and zags on the way to love.

Everything She'd Ever Wanted by Lori Foster is the story of Annabeth and single father, Devlin. Annabeth is alone. She's always been alone. She's made a nice life for herself and bought a house. She now lives next door to Devlin's uncle, the sweetest guy ever. Devlin's young daughter often stays with him and Annabeth quite enjoys her. The little girl is so in love with Annabeth's dog that you'd think it was hers. Before Annabeth knows it she's building her own unique family with these wonderful people. Her attraction to Devlin turns out not to be one-sided. It's not all smooth sailing, of course, but their HEA is touching and so sweet.

The Memory Cabin by Carolyn Brown is Jenna's story. She's moved into her lake cabin and continues an annual get together with her two besties from a grief group they all joined. Each has suffered great loss and the group, and even more so their friendship, has really helped. This year proves to be very pivotal though with the two friends both leaving to live out their promising futures. Jenna is soon spending time with her attractive new neighbor, Carson, the new park ranger. As she deals with her friend's leaving and their trips turning into unplanned potential future events she finds her heart healing anyway. With the help of her friends, she comes to some closure on her grief and steps into the open to claim her hidden success as an artist and gallery owner. It was all very touching with tears, smiles and laughs to please.

Thanks to the authors and NetGalley for the ARC.

You can NEVER go wrong with a book by Lori Foster, and this one was triple that with the other authors and stories. Absolutely cherished each one. Loved it! Highly recommend.

This is a collection of three stories filled with second chances, love, pets, and family.

Everything She's Ever Wanted by Lori Foster
This is such a sweet love story that will tug at your heartstrings and highlights that family isn't always blood related. I couldn't help but fall in love with all of the characters and may have shed a few happy tears.

The Memory Cabin by Carolyn Brown
Change is in the air in this story about three girlfriends who get together for a week every year to share their lives - both the positives and the not-so-positives. But the friends offer support to each other as they look toward the future. This is one of those stories where you want to have a tissue handy.

Sweet As Honey by Fern Michaels
This story highlights Natalie's journey as she moves on from her ex. I just wish there would have been more scenes with the interactions between her and Garrett.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I liked all 3 of the novellas
Sweet as Honey - Fern Michaels
Natalie Simmons is a graphic designer and works online designing and maintaining websites for bands and recording artists. After a relationship with her boyfriend, Alec, ended, she gladly returns to her hometown to help care for her dad who had hip replacement surgery.
While volunteering at the local farmer's market, Natalie formally meets Garrett and his sister, Georgia, who owns and runs the Honey Business Apiary.
Garrett is happy running his business and playing with his dog, Mr. Bumbles. I felt that the characters didn't spend enough time together for a romance novella .

Everything She'd Ever Wanted
Anna Beth lives with her Chiweenie dog, Ruby. She watches over her elderly neighbor, Sony, who lives alone. She enjoys spending time with him. To her he feels like family.
Sony is visited often by his nephew, Devlin. Devlin's daughter, Mia. Anna Beth is happy to visit with all of them and is secretly in love with Devlin.
The set-up and slow burn relationship which was mostly before the novella started makes this work as it doesn't feel like insta love.

The Memory Cabin - Carolyn Brown
Jenna Stewart loves to paint and works online with art galleries. On the same day that her husband of 11 months handed her divorce papers her mom passes away.
Jenna moved into her mom's cabin on lake. Carson Makay, is the new park ranger. Jenna saw Carson 15 years ago when his family stayed in a cabin next to them.
Once a year Jenna and her 2 friends, Amber and Kelly, get together at the cabin to share memories, both good and bad. They met at grief counseling 10 years ago and instantly became friends. This is a year for changes in all their lives and Carson coming back is a sign for Jenna

Three sweet short stories, SWEET AS HONEY by Fern Michaels, who would not fall in love with the wonderful beekeeper. Then there is EVERYTHING SHE’D EVER WANTED, by Lori Foster, a wonderful single dad who has his hands full and a neighbor who just can’t help hoping to join their little family. Finally, THE MEMORY CABIN by Carolyn Brown, an annual tradition and a new love, who doesn’t love the spring.

I went into this one having only ever read ne of the collaborating authors and was looking forward to getting to know the other two. All in all this was an okay read but not a standout one. I read each story between longer, heavier reads and a# a palate cleanser, they worked. I can’t say that this was a favourite but I’m sure for fans of these authors , it will be a top read. TBR and Enjoy!

I was so excited for this anthology/Novela featuring three of my favorite authors.
EVERYTHING SHE EVER WANTED by Lori Foster
I absolutely fell in love with the characters in this book. For a novella, they just had so much personality. AnnaBeth lost her parents at a young age, and she was put into the foster care system. She eventually worked her way into a neighborhood with an amazing neighbor. They kind of adopted each other. Sony would call on Annabeth whenever he needed something. And Annabeth was always willing to help. Annabeth also had a sweet little dog that she named Ruby.

Uncle Sony had a nephew that would come by when he could. And that nephew’s name is Devlin and he just so happens to be extremely attractive. With a delightful little girl named Mia.

Ruby and Mia became best friends right away. So you can kind of say that this little family ended up coming together because of the dog.

THE MEMORY CABIN by Carolyn Brown

I cannot imagine what it would be like to be Jenna. Who lost her mom and was served with divorce papers from her somewhat useless husband on the very same day.
There’s this saying the grass is always greener. Jenna had two friends, Amber and Kelly that she met in grief counseling. They made a habit of getting together once a year to exchange memories and catch up. In what is called “The Memory Cabin”After hearing what Amber and Kelly had to say, Jenna felt better. And decided that maybe she could love again.
Carson Makay finished his military duties and came home to replace his uncle Victor as the park Ranger. Also, he’s carrying his burdens over the loss of a good friend.
He is pretty attracted to Jenna. Could this be Jenna’s new love?

SWEET AS HONEY by Fern Michael’s

Natalie, it’s a bit confused why everybody in town loves the local beekeeper Garrett. Natalie’s first impression of him was not that great. But the more she got to know him the more she could understand how the rest Of The Town felt.
Another great read with wonderful characters.

I find books that are a compilation of short stories to be very relaxing at the end of a long day and these three all star authors feed my soul. First up is Fern Michaels', "Sweet as Honey. "Natalie and Garrett's story is all about building expectations until the very end. The plotting was so unique and had me using my imagination to guess what would happen in their future.
Next up is Lori Foster's, "Everything She'd Ever Wanted." I read everything Lori Foster writes and this story truly warmed my heart. Annabeth is someone you can't help but fall in love with and she deserves all the best things in life. Devlin and his family have the ability to make all of her wishes come true. I didn't want this HEA to ever end!
The grand finale is Carolyn Brown's, "The Memory Cabin." A sweet, slow burn romance about three friends discovering their second chance at happiness. A testament to never give up!

My Thoughts

SWEET AS HONEY FERN MICHAELS

Thirty-four-year-old Natalie Simmons thought of herself as a tomboy-nerd, or a nerdy-tomboy because growing up an hour from Ocala National Forest Natalie was able to indulge in outdoor activities and dressing comfortably became her go to preference for clothing.

Before she realized almost 15 years had passed since Natalie spent any time in the area where she grew up.

When she moved home to help while her father recovered from hip surgery Natalie rediscovered how laid-back things were in her previous small town Florida life compared to the faster pace lifestyle she had grown used to a mere three hours away in the city of Jacksonville.

Over the weeks that Natalie spends helping out her parents and reconnecting with her best friend Diana her needs and wants for life change in the best possible ways.

By end of this story what started out as a short-term plan turned into a new beginning for Natalie, in more ways than one.


EVERYTHING SHE’D EVER WANTED LORI FOSTER

We are introduced to main character AnnaBeth Sanders and her tiny Chiweenie dog, Ruby, who’d fallen head-over-paws in love with five-year-old Mia the daughter of her elderly neighbor Sony’s hot nephew, Devlin Connely.

AnnaBeth had met Devlin the year before, playing it cool around him, his Uncle Sony and Devlin’s adorable daughter Mia every time she interacted with them but falling deeper in love the entire time.
Luckily for her those feelings were not just on her part but reciprocated by all three making the dream of one day having a family to call her own a reality for AnnaBeth.

THE MEMORY CABIN * Carolyn Brown

Jenna Stewart finds solace in reuniting once a year with her friends Amber and Kelly.

Having helped each other over the years to confront and overcome life changes that caused them mental anguish and grief.

Now however there are even more future changes as Jenna finds out and must find a way to stay positive about for each of her friend’s sake.

The common theme for each short story is change and second chances.

While each of these authors have always excelled in keeping a full length novel interesting and making me happy to have read them this particular collection worked but I did not feel any real compulsion to finish any of the three offerings in one sitting as I normally would.

[EArc from Netgalley]
On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.