My Jane Austen Summer: A Season At Mansfield Park by Cindy Jones

A contemporary tale set in Texas and Rural England.

Our heroine Lily escapes her life in Texas which is definitely not going to plan. She needs to stop stalking her Ex and his new Girlfriend. Now, after blurting out to them that she is going to England, She, has to follow through.

Her book shop owning fried a kindred spirit had shown her the re-enactment Jane Austen Mansfield Park Summer Literary Event and now she had to go.

So, after selling all her worldly goods to get her air fare she is on her way.

In England she meets a whole host of colorful and intriguing characters all stuffed into a crumbling ancient manor house. A house with vertually no plumbing and very little electricty.

Her roommate is a gothic rock chic who keeps running away. In the attic room is a beautiful man, her soul mate but with  a secret.

Lily is determined to rise to every challenge put before her, however impossible that may be. But for all her determination she can not stop the inevitable.

Journey through Lily’s Mansfield Park with her it’s a lot of fun and pretty entertaining, funny but with a darker under layer, as she come to terms with grief and disappointment.

Tags: Cindy Jones, Jane Austen, Mansfield Park
Filed under: Book Review

Here’s my Review of Vera Nazarians Book ~ Northanger Abbey and Angels and Demons

Firstly I have to admit that Northanger Abbey is not a favorite for me, that’s a start!

This story was just not my cup of Earl Gray. I love a bit of Dragon and was looking forward to reading this but I actually found it hard work to finish.

I am not going to get into all the reasons why, I just didn’t get into it at all. End of story!

So make up your own mind about it, I shall still be on the lookout for Mansfield Park and Mummies  by the same author.

Tags: Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey and Angels and Demons
Filed under: Book Review, Vera Nazarian

In My Latest Book Review I look at

He Taught Me To Hope by P.O.Dixon

A what if Pride and Prejudice variation that dares to go a bit further from the original than most while keeping the tone.

So, this Elizabeth crosses her Father and marries at seventeen against his wishes and is widowed not long after and left with a small Son.

Five years on she is back at home and agrees to marry a Mr Collins to save her family from disaster due to the entail on the estate.

Mr darcy meets a small boy obsessed with the Knights of the Round Table and heroic deeds and becomes his King Arthur, charmed by the boys spirit they become friends.

And, just to make things just a bit more impossible for Elizabeth and Darcy to get together.

Anne De Bourgh will have Mr Darcy for her Husband or Die trying.

With all these difficulties you would think the couple would never be able to overcome all the obstacles and come together.

This story I found to be quite compulsive, I could not put it down and had to keep reading all the way to the end.

http://podixon.com/

Tags: Anne De Bourgh, mr darcy, PO Dixon, Pride and Prejudice
Filed under: Book Review, P.O. Dixon

Book Review of Mr Darcy’s Bite by Mary Lydon Simonsen

If you have read my reviews of Mary’s books, Searching for Pemberley and The Perfect Bride for Mr Darcy, you will know I am quite the fan.

I like her style and this book is no exception, although this is a werewolf book (I’m giving nothing away here as the cover makes that clear).

It is also a sensitive look at how Darcy’s condition affects his life, the Estate of Pemberley and the people who work there. How it changes his hopes of a happy marriage and the pain and torment of falling head over heels in love with Elizabeth Bennet, knowing he will have to tell her about his condition, and, risk all in the hope that she will not reject him.

There are no angry mob scenes, no rabid wolf attacks but this is a moving love story about, love and understanding conquering even the largest obsticles.

Definately a recommended read.

Tags: elizabeth bennet, Mary Lydon Simonsen, mr darcy, werewolf
Filed under: Mary Lydon Simonsen

Death Comes To Pemberley by P.D. James

The story is set in 1803. Darcy and Elizabeth and of course Jane and Bingley have both been married happily for six years and their nurseries are filling up and life is moving along smoothly.

The only problems on the horizon is which of Georgina’s suitors will she choose and will Lady Anna’s yearly ball be the high light of the season.

That is until Lydia arrives uninvited screaming at the top of her lungs in a speeding chaise.

She is screaming that Wickham is dead and this is where the fun starts.

Deep interwoven stories have to come to light and a murderer has to be found. Some of the twists and turns take you into the lives of the people in and around the Pemberley Estate.

The emotions are laid open for you to immerse yourself into the story following the police as they try with the very limited resources of the times to solve the crime. No finger printing or DNA for them to work with here and even a murder weapon is nowhere to be found.

I very much enjoyed this book and am happy to recommend it to you especially if you enjoy a good period who dunnit.

Thank you P.D. James for giving us this one.

Tags: bingley, darcy, Elizabeth, Jane Austen, PD James, pemberley
Filed under: PD James

A Review of Victoria Connelly’s Dream of Mr Darcy

A charming romantic modern day tale of a young women who loves the writings of Jane Austen and when she gets a very lucky break she follows her favorite book ‘Persuasion’  to Lyme Regis and sinks everything she has into her dreams.

Buying a bed and breakfast hotel over looking the famous Lyme Regis Cobb.

She has barely finished  the first stage of her restoration and decorating, when a chance disaster at a local hotel lands the entire cast of the latest film adaption of Persuasion in her rooms.

Can she resist the stunning Oli who plays her hero Captain Wentworth or will she follow all the other ladies who have fallen for his charms.

A comedy of errors ensues with match making going array and flirtations left, right and centre.

I was rooting for the heroine to choose the right guy as I am sure you will be to.

There are some nice colorful characters that it is so easy to love a real feel good book.

Tags: captain wentworth, Jane Austen, Lyme Regis, Persuasion, The Cobb
Filed under: Victoria Connelly

The murder mysteries continue with The Intrigue At Highbury (Or Emmas Match) by Carrie Bebris

Of course Darcy and Elizabeth are once again caught up in all sorts of trouble and this time they are in Highbury.

They are waylaid on the road and robbed in Mr Knightleys jurisdiction as he is the local magistrate, they go to Domwell Abbey to report the incident and they end up landing themselves in the midst of a murder plot.

Frank Churchills Uncle has just dropped dead in the middle of dinner.

All the characters are beautifully written, you can practically hear the voices Jane Austen would have given them delivering the lines in this book.

And, althoughEmma is not my favourite character in Jane Austen’s books, I found my self enjoying this Who Dunnit very much.

Emma is still matchmaking and Mrs Elton is still as totally obnoxious as ever.

Emma’s father is in total fear of of over indulgence,  and, a death during dinner only adds weight to his fears.

Poor Elizabeth Darcy finds herself having to eat gruel to appease the poor anxious man.

I am so looking forward to Carrie Bebris’s take on Persuasion.

Tags: Carrie Bebris, darcy, Elizabeth, Emma, Mrs Elton, Persuasion
Filed under: Carrie Bebris

Book Review of Janet Mullany’s Blood Persuasion

This is the sequel to Jane and the Damned which I reviewed HERE..

At the end of the first book Jane Austen leaves the damned and takes the cure of the poisonous bath waters and far removed from the woman dressed in men’s clothing and  fighting side by side with the damned against the invading French. She, is now the spinster aunt in her neat and unbecoming cap.

The heart break of leaving her vampire consort is still there but she has her beloved writing.

Then new tenants move into her brothers house and William her maker want’s her back in his fold.

As the damned move in other threats arise and the villagers are no longer safe.

Danger comes to Janes own family, as does temptation.

This book has plenty of action, some great twists and some steam! Jane may be the spinster aunt but under it all her heart is still very much red blooded.

Janet Mullany even manages to make the mildest middle-aged Ladies capable of outrageous longings and self indulgent lusts.

For that I have to say, thanks, you rock Janet!

Tags: Blood Persuasion, Jane Austen Sequels, Janet Mullany
Filed under: Janet Mullany

The Dashwood Sisters Tell All

Ellen and Mimi named by their mother after Elinor and Marianne Dashwood of Sense and Sensibility, unfortunately these sisters don’t get along that well.

But on the death of their Mother, they find she had plans in place to send them both off on a quest together.

She had been a devoted Jane Austen fan and sent the sisters off on a Jane Austen pilgrimage to decide where to leave her ashes.

They have a few surprises on their arrival in Hampshire.

Not least of all the long lost love of Ellen’s life turning up on the same walking tour.

There is drama and comedy as they make their way through the lanes and headgerows of Hampshire, visiting Chawton and ending their tour in Winchester.

Are there secret Austen artifacts? Do the girls get their men? Are the formidables on the case?

Grab a copy and if you enjoyed Jane Austen Ruined My Life and Mr Darcy Broke My Heart, you are going to love this.

You can find out more about Beth Pattillo Here.

Filed under: Beth Pattillo, Book Review

The Trouble With Mr Darcy By Sharon Latham

The story opens with the Darcy Family on tour in post war Europe, visiting family and friends, Miss Georgina Darcy is smitten by cupids bow when she meets a Gentleman who is a talented young musician.

While Elizabeth and Darcy return home she continues her tour with her Aunt and Uncle, Lord and Lady Matlock.

The torrid romance between Darcy and Elizabeth continue they return to England to await a happy event, the birth of their second son.

But their sublime loving relationship is put to the test after the birth, as Elizabeth is plunged deep into a post natel depression, an unknown problem at that time.

Her, untreated symptoms almost lead to disaster as she withdraws further from those who love her.

Thank goodness for Uncle George Darcy, who steps in to help and get’s the couple back on track.

Soon after her recovery the whole family are back at Netherfield , rented to them for their stay during the happy event of Kittys Marriage.

But, some of the guests are not so welcome and as one might guest at the top of the list is Wickham!

He is at the centre of a very evil plot. Will this be the time he goes too far and his need to destroy Darcy ends in disaster.

You need to read this book, it is very gripping and full of action, so much more so than Sharons earlier books.

So, if you found the first books slow, give this a go, this novel is packed full of excitement and much more adventure.

A great holiday read .

Tags: darcy, Elizabeth, Netherfields, sharon latham, The Trouble With Mr Darcy
Filed under: Book Review, Sharon Latham