What’s better than another fabulous romance collection from Barbour Publishing? How about one that’s full of stories of one of my favorite romance threads? Second chances at first love.

There are nine (yep, you read that right, NINE) novellas in the First Love Forever Romance Collection. And yes, I could review all nine, but we’d be here a while so instead, I’ll highlight a few of my favorites.

“A Most Reluctant Bride” by Cynthia Hickey was probably my favorite out of the nine (but it was a very close race between three of these stories for that top spot. In this story, Maggie Spoonmore marries a man she had a major crush on as a girl. As Maggie and Zach spend their days together as a married couple, her feelings return. Unfortunately, Zach only married her for the ranch. Maggie and Zach are great together. Zach respects and understands where Maggie’s talents lie (which is not in the running of the house) and wants her by his side.

Jennifer Uhlarik takes a bit of a different approach with a hearing-impaired hero and heroine in “Heartfelt Echoes.” A misunderstanding has kept distance between these two but when Millie’s mother sends for Travis McCaffrey, he wastes no time in coming to Millie’s rescue. But she’s not the same girl he remembers from school and something sinister is going on at her home.

Appropriately titled “First Things First,” as Susanne Dietz’s novella is the first in the collection, when Ward Harper returns to town, Georgie Bridge is both shocked and dismayed. Shocked because Ward is back, dismayed because he’s representing a man in a case against her father. With plenty of brothers and one of them in trouble, the Bridge’s turn to Ward for assistance. Can Ward crawl out of the shadows of his parents and be the man Georgie deserves?

That’s only a third of the stories in this collection. Each novella is on the longer side but still the right amount to kick back and finish in in one evening. It may introduce you to a new author and it could even re-introduce you to some characters you’ve seen before (as is the case with the stories from Carrie Fancett Pagels and Erica Vetsch).

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

What is sweeter than a first love? Finding them again and still feeling it! I liked that this collection covered men and women. I enjoyed this selection of love stories and the diversity of this collection. The characters and situations are so real, reading each story in one setting was a must! If you like sweet romance.. you should like this collection!

I received a copy from NetGalley; this is my honest review #NetGalley 4.25 stars
I noticed from most if not all the stories that they are part of a series on its own or the MC were part of another collection.
1. First Things First ***: Too much written prayers when the thought would have sufficed. It's a mix of Romeo & Juliet, Cowboy Outlaws and Contemporary Romance. Not too much drama.
2. A Most Reluctant Bride ****: Great strangers to lovers story (w/o the sex). Descriptions of every day life on a ranch. Fun read. You know they pray but it's not all written down.
3. Weeping Willow *****: The author has such a way of describing everything from the gray streaks of the clouds to the thumping one's shoes. If someone ever doubted that slaves have feeling too, this story should put it to right. No prayers or sermons but you KNEW they believed. Poignant, emotional, but sometimes predictable.
4. His Anchor *****: Such a lovely story. The perfect example of a forbidden love.
5. After the Ball ****: Predictable. Cowgirl vs. Socialite image from the h was getting old. The prayers are always "offered up", never written down.
6. Lighter Than Air *****: Prayers are offered and breathed. Nothing more. Verses and quotes kept at their shortest. Touching and sweet with a surprising end. Good work.
7. In Due Season ***: Fifteen years and you still haven't found it in your heart to forgive? And yet, like an hypocrite, you go to church every Sunday!!! Lots and lots of sermons and prayers. Such a waste of pages. "as aimless as a dandelion" -> the author could've chosen another flower since a woman in the story was named as such and the reference wasn't aiming to that woman.
8. Heartfelt Echoes ****: It started slow and (very) predictable but I liked how it got to the end will all the small surprises.
9. Prescription for Love *****: Mostly a story about the yellow fever pandemic in New Orleans and the doctor/nurse duo who worked through it. Well written.

I highly recommend this wonderfully written novella collection. 9 separate, stories of first loves, reunited in unique circumstances. A few of these stories are action-packed dramas too. Many suspense-filled moments. Many heart-tugging moments as well.
I loved every moment.

Great stories. Various interesting and sometimes colorful characters. Great story flow with the individual authors. All the stories were fun and entertaining to read. Really enjoyed this book.

This collection of love stories are sweet, clean, and heart-warming, Each story is written by an excellent author, and you’ll love the characters and settings in each one. These are stories that I’ll be reading again. The length of each story is perfect for an afternoon’s light, enjoyable reading, You’ll have fun reading this collection.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review. I was not required to to give a positive review. This is my honest opinion of the book.

I found this to be another great collection of short stories from Barbour Publishing. As the publishers tell us in the description, this is a collection of nine love stories of first loves rekindled. Your first love, as well as your first kiss is not easily forgotten. The stories all take place from the late 1800's through 1910. If you are familiar with any of the nine featured authors, you know you are in for an exciting experience. Each novella contained a strong female character from various backgrounds, many very humble beginnings. Each heroine has her own obstacle and dilemma she must deal with or overcome. The authors all add their unique style of writing which adds variances to the novellas. I enjoyed the historical factor and the faith based theme throughout each story. One of my favorites would be Weeping Willow by Marcia Gruver. A story about the American Civil War and a plantation in Virginia. It covered a longer time period than some of the other stories. It also was a very difficult time in history. Marcia's writing and characters were all very strong. It was evident in the writing that a lot of research was done covering this time period. You may like some stories better than others as I did. But I recommend this collections of Historical Romances. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley, Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A collection of nine novellas about first loves rekindled. Wonderful stories of faith, family, hope, courage, strength and love. The authors weave God's wondrous words and love along with lessons about trusting God while navigating through trials and tribulations. These stories are a good reminder that if we wait upon the Lord, He will provide for us. Patience is a hard thing for many of us. We try to hurry things along when God is telling us to wait and trust Him.

First Love Forever Romance Collection by various authors shares stories of love revisited and commitments renewed.
There are nine original stories in this collection by well-known authors such as Susanne Dietz, Carrie Fancett Pagels and Erica Vetsch. The stories are set in the 1800 and 1900’s. They all reflect a first love that has been lost due to some misunderstanding or circumstance not known to both parties. When circumstances bring the couples back together much prayer and forgiveness becomes necessary. Will forgiving lead to a new relationship or will friendship ensue? I found this collection very endearing and enjoyed every story. Each of the author’s unique styles keeps their story interesting and keeps the reader wanting more. I like this format as I can often finish a story in one sitting. I give this book a 5 of 5 stars and recommend it to everyone who loves Christian romance stories.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This collection of novellas is perfect for a short afternoon read or vacation. Contributions by various Christian authors are sure to please any reader of Christian fiction.

This is a compilation of nine stories from fictional women who lived in the late 1800s and early 1900s and how they were able to be reunited with their first loves. Despite the overarching romance theme in the collection, it was refreshing to read about the diverse circumstances in which all nine female characters hailed from humble backgrounds to those who were more educated and held teaching positions and even physical disabilities. The women in these stories possess strong characters and did not let their situations overwhelm despite knowing that their rights were limited.

Nonetheless, it was a bit disappointed that there were no people of colour in the stories expect in one story where there only mentioned as household slaves during the American Civil War era.

This would be a great book to cuddle with in the cooler months or when you need a pick me up and a flicker of hope that true love can exist.

I am not the target audience for these stories, but I did try to be objective. I averaged my scores and ended up just shy of 2.5 Stars, which I think is reasonable for a collection of short story romances, averaging less than 50 pages per story. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Story by story specific reviews are below:

First Things First By Susanne Dietze, 1.5 stars: This is a second-chance story, where the h&h are reunited after 5 years of separation. I am not sure that I bought into the reason for separation and them staying apart for so long, that aside it was a cute enough story that I am sure would appeal to those who like inspirational romance stories. This was very short, but there were MAJOR issues with the subplot, which involved missing three dozen head of cattle. This was set in 1870's Texas, aka the Wild West. Trusting God for answers does not mean "don't use your head and don't investigate." Stealing cattle means stealing food and cutting your chance of survival. Any man, regardless of their faith, would not be resting until the problem was solved, rather than unearthing the truth by pure happenstance.

A Most Reluctant Bride By Cynthia Hickey, 2.5 Stars: This was a friends-to-lovers trope, sort of second chance, after some time apart. I believed in their separation more than the first because she was only 14 then, and he saw her as a child. I thought this one felt more true to time. I still had some “yeah right” moments, but they were primarily reserved to relatively minor details. There was definitely much more common sense here. For example, when a fox is stealing eggs from the coop, the heroine grabs a gun to get the fox. That led to a moment best forgotten, but at least her actions made sense.

Weeping Willow By Marcia Gruver, 3.25 Stars: I am not sure if I am just starting to get into these, but each seems to be better than the last story. This story took place over a series of years that basically covered the American Civil War. The writing was strong, and the dialogue seemed period appropriate, along with the research. For the time it spanned and the heavy themes that were covered in it, it worked much better than expected in the novella format. Still, it would have been much better as a grand, sweeping sort of novel.

His Anchor By Carrie Fancett Pagels, 2.5 Stars. The locale is what interested me the most, having visited Mackinac Island before and it’s recognizable buildings, such as the Grand Hotel. The romance was not very well developed, but I did feel for Sadie, who was in desperate straights. She had some real-life struggles that made her relatable.

After the Ball By Martha Rogers, 2.25 Stars. Another OK short story. This one takes place in the 1900s, not sure of exact year. There are cars in it. I didn’t find it particularly compelling. This had conflicting worlds between Dallas and ranch about an hours drive from it. In the city, there was the oil business and snooty society. The conflict and resolution did not have much to it.

Lighter Than Air By Lorna Seilstad, 2.75 Stars. This was the type of story I was expecting when I realized I was reading a group of short stories of Christian Historical Romances. This was a second chance story with the reason for their separation being his disbelief in God. Six years later he’s seen the light and they can trust in each other. He is a meteorologist and she is the principal of a girl’s school. It was sweet and contained and did what it could in 50ish pages.

In Due Season By Connie Stevens, 3 Stars. This one was a little weird for me because it took place very near where I grew up. It was a fictional town, but it was set in actual counties, and there appeared to be real research put into it. Not that the others haven’t had it, but I was a bit surprised at the the last names used being common in this area. There was a plot hole with what the future holds and not much time spent with the main couple together, but I thought their reactions seemed genuine. Not sure I appreciate the reason driving them apart in the first place, but it was a decent story for 50ish pages.

Heartfelt Echoes By Jennifer Uhlarik, 2 Stars. I had problems with the plot, which was quite holey, and the reasons that kept them apart, needing a second chance. Both MCs are deaf. They both have issues with parents who have been selfish and are repenting. I am not sure if this would bother people that are reading this for the Christian parts, but I thought it ironic for the father to say he’d quit drinking if God brought his son back just once. I guess my thoughts are if you’re going to make a deal with God, you need to start delivering on your end first. In other words, just stop drinking. Oh yeah, at least we are told he stops, but I always have issues when alcoholism is treated so simply. Ultimately, this one felt the least resolved thus far.

Prescription for Love By Erica Vetsch, 2.5 Stars. This one featured a doctor and nurse pairing that was another second chance story. I thought it was interesting with regards to the setting, but it definitely needed more pages for the story. I liked the hero quite a bit.

Another very nice collection from Barbour Puplishing. This one featuring first loves, the guy or gal that they first fell in love with. Sometimes it was the one who got away or a childhood crush, but were worth the wait. My favorite stories were Lighter Than Air by Lorna Seilstad about a hot air balloonist and a school principal and Heartfelt Echoes by Jennifer Uhlarik about a deaf couple which had the added bonus of being a follow up story to one of my favorite stories from a previous collection The Courageous Bride Collection. Nice stories and an interesting spin, ranging a wide variety of time spans and places. Only draw back for me was with so much separation, the reason for couples that really loved each other to be apart for as long as 15 years, was too often a dumb misunderstanding. Some were things like war, and that is realistic but just assumptions and letting someone you deeply love go because you won't, for example, talk to them was frustrating. I am also finding that the stories are cut a little short even for short stories in that as soon as you find out the couple is going to end up together the story ends... but often that when the romance just started and conflict ended. I know they are going to end up together but I want to read about their romance! Still great short stories with endearing characters. Prescription for Love in New Orleans during a Yellow Fever outbreak was a particularly interesting one too that deserves favorible mention.

Yet another brilliant collection of stories! I loved the themes and stories of this one, the historical romance genre can sometimes begin to feel repetitive but this collection was sweet while continuing the messages of faith.

Once again, a couple of favorite authors bring lovely stories to life with engaging plots, fleshed out characters, and vivid scenery. Dietze and Pagels routinely contribute to these collections and I was pleased with the charm and charisma of their novellas. All of the stories in this collection have a solid faith theme and are enjoyable. I think fans of historical fiction will be happy to while away a few hours immersed in First Love Forever Romance Collection. I was provided an electronic copy of the book by the publisher through Netgalley with no expectation of a positive review. No compensation has been received.

I loved each one of the books in this collection. All were well written. The characters were engaging. The love stories were full of ups and downs, per real life. Highly recommend this collection.

Nine lovely stories about first love.
South Texas 1877. Georgie is fighting God, her mother and those around her for control of her life. Can she possibly learn to trust Ward again, after all those accusations or will she have to marry who her mother wants her to?

Arkansas 1880. Maggie would rather be in the barn, breaking horses and whatever else as long as she doesn't have to stay in the house. Will all be lost now that daddy has died or can she once again find love with Zach and bring the the ranch back to its former glory?

Virginia 1858. Willow has grown up on a plantation with slaves meeting her every need or want. Enter the idea that these people might have feelings just like she does, and the doubt begins. Julian and his family don't believe in slavery, and yet he is willing to fight against the north beside his neighbors. When he goes missing in action, will Willow be obligated to marry for second best?

Mackinac Island 1894. Sadie feels like she has loved Robert forever. How can someone who is well known and respected, knowing many important people ever consider her anything other than a friend? After all, she is nobody!

Dallas, Texas. Chase wants to be a rancher, with all the hard work, the glorious sunrises and sunsets and the fresh air. Is he destined to work with his father in oil production or will he be able to follow his dream and marry his first love, Susannah?

Missouri 1900. Ella is the headmistress of an exclusive girls boarding school, a position she trained for and works very hard at. Love didn't fit in before and certainly won't now, even if her first love literally drops out of the sky onto the school grounds.

Kansas 1901. As the town spinster, Leah is not interested in hearing anything about love and certainly not about Gareth, the man who left her at the altar 15 years earlier. Will pharmacy school be in her future?

Nevada 1875. ASL or American Sign Language was something new and not familiar to most people. Reading lips was certainly the best way to understand what people were saying to you, something Travis had perfected over the years. Millie, on the other hand, had never learned this skill and as a result had a hard time communicating with others. Could they possibly discover why Millie's mother was dying and once again find the love they used to share?

Louisiana 1905. Natalie was told from childhood that she was to follow her father's dream and become a missionary to Panama. Thinking mission work was something she could only do in Panama she left her first love behind, only to return home with yellow fever five years later. Was God about to change her understanding of mission work and give her love as well?

I received this collection from NetGalley with no expectation of a positive review.

Ooh so good! This was a well thought out and written collection. I always enjoy reading from each of these authors. They did great together!

I normally am not a huge fan of these types of stories (where the couple was together and then comes back after many years), but the ones I've read so far in this collection have been great. I especially loved the first story. Coming from a past of having an abusive alcoholic dad and being judged from that, I could really relate to the hero of this story. I loved seeing this romance come together.

First Love Forever Romance Collection is a collection of nine historical romance stories where first loves are rekindled. This collection includes the following stories:
First Things First by Susanne Dietze
A Most Reluctant Bride by Cynthia Hickey
Weeping Willow by Marcia Gruver
His Anchor by Carrie Fancett Pagels
After the Ball by Martha Rogers
Lighter Than Air by Lorna Seilstad
In Due Season by Connie Stevens
Heartfelt Echoes by Jennifer Uhlarik
Prescription for Love by Erica Vetsch
I enjoyed every one of the stories. My favorite ones would have to be Carrie Fancett Pagels‘ His Anchor and Erica Vetsch‘s Prescription for Love.
5 stars