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

A terrific collection of historical novellas.  I found each one to be well written and I throughly enjoyed the story lines.  I recommend to fans of historical romance.

First Love Forever Romance Collection is a delightful mix of nine stories set from 1858-1905. They are all unique and totally wonderful. They are united by themes of second chances, restoration, trust and the love of a Father whose timing is always perfect. A really charming collection. I could not pick a favourite as they were all delightful.
First Things First by Susanne Dietz is delightful. It is about second chances, the love of a family, trust and having correct priorities. "Choose to trust God rather than fight Him." We need to surrender our lives to God and trust Him with our loved ones. "And you can handle it better than God can?" Do not pick up burdens you were never meant to carry. God needs to be first in our lives, everything will then slot into place. The story also shows we are not destined to repeat the sins of our parents and cannot be held responsible for them. A sweet and wise read.
A Most Reluctant Bride  by Cynthia Hickey is a delightful tale about dreams, hard work, trust and God. The heroine is very modern and feisty. She knows what she wants and pursues it. There is a beautiful bond between her and her horse. This story is amusing at times and warms the reader's heart.
Weeping Willow by Marcia Gruver is a wonderful story about love, loss, loyalty and hope. Set during the American Civil War it has its focus on the cruelty of slavery that divided the north and south. The forward thinking, big hearted heroine realises that slavery is wrong. "One day they would all share heaven." We are all equal. Her love for her childhood servants is huge. She realises that the old order of things is wrong. "Just because things have always been this way doesn't make it right." She lives with love and hope in her heart. My favourite quote was "She up and ran off with Jesus." A heart warming tale.
His Anchor by Carrie Fancett Pagels is a most delightful romance, very reminiscent of a Cinderella rags to riches story. There is a wonderful, warm family atmosphere. Being a big fan of all Carrie Fancett Pagels novels, it was wonderful to have familiar faces pop up from other books. The story is about love and caring for family. The reader is reminded of the command to take care of the widows and orphans. A mysterious benefactor brings a smile to the reader's face. Positively wonderful.
After The Ball by Martha Rogers is a wonderful light romance about knowing and following your heart and being true to yourself. It warns against the dangers of malicious gossip. The novel is about treasures. We need to decide where our heart and our treasure lie. Do we put our trust, hopes and dreams into money? Or people? A positively delightful read.
Lighter Than Air by Lorna Seilstad is a real heart warming story. Set in 1900 the world is changing as new discoveries are being made. Teaching is important. "What we teach... could change the world." Science opens up minds and new possibilities. It is an age to be brave. We need to surrender to God's plans. "Safe doesn't make you lean on God. It makes you lean on yourself." God has far more planned for us than we could ever dream or imagine. There is a time for playing safe and a time for taking a risk for God. Such a wonderful read.
In Due Season by Connie Stevens is a story about loss, regret, second chances and forgiveness. The story shows how no one is ever out of reach of God's love. There is the free gift of grace for all who wish to receive Him. Life is too short for regrets. We need to keep the past in the past and live in the present. Family is important, so is building bridges. God's timing in all things is perfect. A sweet read.
Heartfelt Echoes by Jennifer Uhlarik is a great story about second chances, New creations, love and sacrifice. We all have scars. Some are visible, others not. Our scars do not define us. It is who we are in Jesus that matters. The story surrounds two characters who are deaf but that does not hold them back. This is a story of suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat. A wonderful and entertaining read.
Prescription For Love by Erica Vestch is a delightful story exploring dreams, callings and missions. We all have dreams but we must not put pressure on others to fulfil our dreams. That is a burden they were not meant to carry. Our mission field may be overseas or it may be our own neighbourhoods. Wherever we are is our mission field. Modern medicine and new methods were used to fight old diseases. Hospitals were springing up but poor immigrants viewed them with suspicion. The story surrounds an outbreak of yellow fever in New Orleans. It shows how education, kindness and working together were needed to beat the illness. "Sometimes you have to trust others to do what you can't." It is also a story of restoration. A delightful read.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

I couldn't put this book down. Everyone know that your first love always has a place in your heart and each story told the struggle of finding your true love.

First Things First by Susanne Dietze


Georgie is at the courthouse with her father as one of their neighbors is suing him.  Non other than her first love Ward is the neighbors lawyer.  Nothing like coming back to town to start your own Lawyer’s office and run into Georgie first hand.

Ward starts coming around Georgie more but the town still thinks he is of the low life caliber due to his alcoholic parents.  When his mother has embarrassed him enough will she change her ways?  Will he and Georgie come back together.

These characters were great I love how Georgie is really independent and Ward stands his ground a little but scared at times of the future. I look forward to reading more by Susanne Dietze

 
A Most Reluctant Bride by Cynthia Hickey


Maggie is about to lose the farm her father worked so hard to keep going.  He has now passed and her mother wants to move back to Boston.  Zach has learned of this and came up with a business proposal.  They marry for Maggie to keep the farm and Zach to finally have a ranch he has been longing for.  

He really adores Maggie but at times she is unsure and wanders why he really married her.  Could it really be fore love?

Maggie and Zach are great together.  The banter is funny at times and her mom well, I didn’t care her much as the way she treated Maggie and wanted to leave.  But that made the story.  I really enjoyed it.


 
Weeping Willow by Marcia Gruver


Willow has loved Julian since she was 9 years old and defended her from the other boys. Even though she is 17 he still thinks of her as a child but yet he knows she is pretty.  

Julian decides to join the war as he is apposed to slavery but he does fight for the South. He asks for Willow to write and one they do.  One day he comes back and is hurt and decides to come home to get better. While there he and Willow get close.  He is ready to head back and ask her to wait.  Her other best fiend joins the war efforts as well and now both men are gone.

Julian is missing and they think he is dead.  Willow fights her mom to wait and wait but then decides she better marry her best friend if Julian is never coming home.  Will it be too late for real love?

I like this story the most I think as the author brings out some issues the slaves had at that time.  Some family did treat their slaves like family and not “slaves.”  While others were awful. We see a family split apart and Willow trying to bring them back together. 

I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

 
His Anchor by Carrie Fancett Pagels


Sadie has been trying to take care of her mother and siblings while her father is off doing god knows what.  They struggle and she hopes the man she has been dating for a while is about to propose but he has other ideas.   She just wants to get away from the way they live. Robert her best friends uncle comes to her aid and saves her from ruin by her so called boyfriend.

Fast forward several years…With her father missing and her mothers death she has to work in a pup to try and make enough to put money on the table.  She has no clue Robert has returned after all these years. She quits after the owner of the pup doesn’t pay her and uses the wages to pay her father’s debt. Robert helps the family as she is trying to find their father.  Will she let Robert keep helping and love her and will she find her father?

A lovely story of second chances and forgiveness.  Sadie has it rough and all she cares about is finding love and talking care of her siblings.  The plot was great and the characters were well developed.  

 
After the Ball by Martha Rogers


Chase helps his father in Dallas most of the year with the oil business.  For two months during the summer he goes to his grandfather’s ranch which he lovers. He has been doing this for years and would love to take over.  He would also love to make Susannah, the foreman’s daughter,  his wife. 

Susannah would love for Chase to stay at the ranch for good but she knows he will never leave his father’s business. She is happy to see them and they have a few fun times together but she thinks there can be nothing more. She is not as good as the ladies he has been seen which in Dallas.

When Chase ask her to the ball in Dallas she says she will go but can she make it through the night?

These two characters were great and Chase’s grandparents where run to read about.  
 
Lighter Than Air by Lorna Seilstad


Titus falls from his hot air balloon right into Ella’s boarding school yard. She is shocked when she finds out it is him. She doesn’t want him anywhere near her.  

After he can get up and move a bit he goes to see Ella and they talk about where he will stay and he seems to think she still likes him.  He saves the house from a fire and they give him a dinner which was fun to read as he went against the “normal rules of eating” and used the wrong fork, picked things up with his hands etc to annoy Ella which it worked.
He also saved everyone from a Tornado that came through.  The more he does the more Ella is finding it hard to stick to her own rules.

Can these two work things out before he gets the balloon fixed and leaves?
Will Opal’s mom come back and find the Titus still at the school?

Loved all these characters and what was best is Ella loving Jane Austen it was nice to see some references in this story.  There are some things readers will learn from the weather to ballooning.  

A great read.

 
In Due Season by Connie Stevens


Leah is a bit shocked that her dad is remarrying but her father wants to send her to School of Pharmacy so she can take over the business.  She would gladly like to go and try to forget the man who left her 15 years ago.

Gareth has been going from job to job until he met Orsen Dansby and now works for him.  He heard that his mother or the same name as his mother was at a hospital in town.  He had to go see for himself after all these years of her leaving.  

His father passed a little bit ago and got the letter asking him to go back to Whitley and take up the land and home or sell it.  When he sees Leah again he asks her to listen to the reason he left.  Will she listen or keep being the spinster in town?
Gareth and Leah were great and the way he took care of his mother and told  her about Jesus and read the Bible really touched a cord.  A lovely read that anyone would love.

 
Heartfelt Echoes by Jennifer Uhlarik


Travis was called to Virginia City by Millie’s mother saying they needed him. Millie is deaf just like Travis but she can’t read lips like he can.  

She is tripped by a boy coming out of he mercantile with some medicine for her mom and cuts her had.  No one understands here even the men that work for her step father.  When she sees Travis she is horrified as she is now different from the surgery she had to get her hearing better.  It left her scared.  Travis didn’t want her back when and she knows he doesn’t want her now after the horrid look on face when he saw her.

Will Millie let Travis look after her and help her if something happens to her mom? Or will there be more sinister things going on?

I liked this story because of the twists and turns it had.  I won’t spoil the story but you will be on the edge of your seat on this one.  Characters were great and plot really good.



 
Prescription for Love by Erica Vestch


Natalie has gotten yellow fever and still trying to recover when she is told that she has to stay behind and be a nurse to a physician the needs help.  She is hoping in change everyone’s mind but for now will go help.

Phin has gotten the mobile unit ready to go to the poorest part of town.  He is ready to help these people who are scared to come to the hospital.  When he hears Natalie’s voice he turns in shock but mask his face from any emotions.  She left him and picked missionary work over him 5 years ago he is over her.

Yellow Fever breaks out and they both work around the clock as more and more cases come to light.  Can these two come together and work things out and will Phin’s brother succumb to the fever?

I adored these two and the back ground of the Yellow Fever as interesting to read.  The love these two share and the compassion is priceless.  A wonderful feel good read.

I voluntarily read this book thanks to NetGalley.

Sweet stories of love lost and found. Each author brings a very different love story that captures the heart and shows how love is discovered in various ways. I enjoyed these stories. I received a copy of this book from the authors and publisher and this is my personal and honest opinion.