Blog Tour Stop & Giveaway: Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson

I know I've been a bit silent around here on my blog (all work related), but I have read some mighty AMAZING books lately that I can't wait to share.  Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson came out on September 10th and was one of those books that I have been passing around to friends and neighbors, and just about anyone who I can get to listen!

Today I'm excited to be the next stop on a Blog Tour for Julianne's newest book Blackmoore, and I really can't say enough about it, so let's get to it.

About Blackmoore:  "Kate Worthington knows she can never have her heart’s desire and so believes she will never marry. But Kate’s meddlesome mother has other plans. Kate journeys to the stately manor of Blackmoore on the cliffs above the seashore, where she must face the truth and the man that has kept her heart captive.

Set in northern England, Blackmoore is a Regency romance that tells the story of a young woman struggling to learn to follow her heart. With hints of Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters, Blackmoore is a page-turning tale of romance, intrigue and devotion."

Review:  Here is a book that is so good that it makes writing the review almost too hard to write. Do I need to pull out an old fashioned ink and quill to do this time period novel its due credit?    In some ways, there is nothing short of a good old fashion I loved it that will work.  Julianne Donaldson has written a heart-rending romance that cannot be called sweet, and yet it is sweet; it cannot be called tragic, and yet it can be tragic; it cannot be called gut-wrenching, and yet it is gut-wrenching; and it surely cannot be called tear-jerking can it, and yet I definitely spilled many a tear reading this tear-jerking romance.  It was that good.

What can I say about this glorious novel?  Written with an Austen-esque/Bronte feel to it, Donaldson has captured all that is dark, brooding, and lovely about a Regency and Romantic period novel--and some that you didn't know that you missed.  Kate Worthington, as our main heroine, has sworn off marriage and has looked to India as the next frontier for adventure.  But as any reader knows, young ladies are expected to marry, and marry young and well.  Thankfully her dear friend Henry Delafield, the next in line to own Blackmoore, has grown up with Kate and knows her heart and her deepest desires.  Surely this "adventure" to India is misguided?  Although he is returning to Blackmoore to get engaged to his own fine young lady, he has invited Kate back to visit Blackmoore with him and his sister, hoping to uncover what might be behind her plans.

The novel, from beginning to end, is nothing short of a complete joy to read.  There are moments you think you know what is going to happen, and moments you know so until things change.  Regardless, I found myself shedding tears and loving these characters so thoroughly that I kept flipping pages back to the beginning to remind myself of things they had said in previous conversations.  On the whole, this novel was a pure delight to read and one that I felt sad to conclude.  It was one of those books that I almost wish I could unread, just so I could have the experience of reading again!

Giveaway Details!  Now, if YOU would like a chance to win one copy of this great read from the publisher, here's what you need to do.  First, go to facebook and "Like" Julianne Donaldson's facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/DonaldsonJulianne  Second, just leave me a friendly hello below w/ your name and email address so I can contact you if you win!  The giveaway will run through 9/25.  I will email the lucky winner personally.  (Sorry, this giveaway is U.S. & Canada only.)

Author Details:  Julianne Donaldson grew up as the daughter of a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. She learned how to ski in the Italian Alps, visited East Berlin before the wall came down, and spent three years living next to a 500-year-old castle. After earning a degree in English, she turned her attention to writing about distant times and places. She lives in Utah with her husband and four children.

Thank you so much to Shadow Mountain and Julianne Donaldson for the opportunity to review Blackmoore.  To check out other reviews, giveaways, and stops on the tour, visit the Blackmoore Blog Tour site at Shadow Mountain's site.

Review: Emma: A Latter-Day Tale by Rebecca H. Jamison

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Emma's her name and matchmaking is her game! Quirky life coach Emma wants to help her first-ever client, a lonely nanny named Harriet. But all of her attempts at matchmaking result only in embarrassing miscues and blunders, leaving the pair disheartened and confused. This modern take on the Jane Austen classic shows that sometimes the greatest match is the one we make for ourselves."

Review:  First off, let me say that Emma is one of those characters from Austen's repertoire of female leads that you either take to right away or find slightly off-putting with her need to "help" other people.  I always seemed to find myself in that second category, but liked to see the development of her character over time and enjoyed seeing her taken down a peg by Mr. Knightley as she learned that maybe her ways are not always the best or seemingly correct all of the time.  (We all learn that, right?)  It's that humility moment though that makes me learn to like her, so I always stick with her.

Well, as an avid "Janeite," I've read or watched a lot of different variations of Austen's novels.  I thought this Emma was cute and endearing, although slightly pushy at times in her desire to coach others--especially Harriet, or Harri as they call her.  What I wasn't expecting was the strong Latter-day Saint cultural reference points for the novel.  Okay, so the title states it pretty explicitly, but I somehow naively thought it would just be part of the cultural backdrop of the story.  It actually played a pretty cultural forefont in the novel with single adult activities, missionaries, and a conversion and baptism in the story that I didn't see coming.  I won't lie; it felt odd in an Austen tale.  I was just thinking romantic tale, not religion.

The real highlight in the story had to be Justin, or our Mr. Knightley.  He was SPOT ON in my book.  I loved him from the get go and found myself scanning pages to find him.  (Is that bad?)  He was so well paired with Jamison's character Emma that I knew she'd written him just right, but you couldn't help but wish you could interview him and say, "What in the world do you see in her right at the beginning that we're not?!?"  Over time, you start to see it and understand that he is just a little older than she is and sees the world differently--thank goodness.  In short, I thought Justin was a cutey.  Emma just had to grow up a bit.

I can't say that Emma still ranks up there on my chart of favorite characters, but I like that Austen gives us a character with some gumption to speak up!  This Emma is no different, so good for her as well.  If you're up for a more religious, squeaky clean sort of read, this is a version you might wander into. 

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on an advanced review copy provided through Netgalley by Cedar Fort Inc.

Don't forget to stop by my last post for a giveaway of Emma!  The giveaway ends this Wednesday, so stop by today!

Blog Tour Stop & Giveaway: Emma: A Latter-Day Tale by Rebecca H. Jamison

I'm so excited today to have the opportunity to have Rebecca H. Jamison here today on my blog to introduce her new book Emma: A Latter-Day Tale, which is a fun retelling of Jane Austen's novel Emma, but from an LDS perspective (which fits with a lot of students here in my area).  When I was approached to read this novel, I was pretty intrigued with this retelling, so I thought I'd give it a try, so thank you to Rebecca Jamison and Cedar Fort for this fun opportunity!  Also, don't forget to check out the giveaway at the end.

Jane Austen's No Excuse Approach to Writing

Jane Austen had plenty of excuses to stop writing. She lived in a time when it wasn’t completely acceptable for a woman to write novels, let alone publish them. In fact, she kept her writing secret for years, hiding her manuscripts away whenever guests arrived. She wrote multiple novels before any of her writing was published. When she finally did publish her work, she had to rely on her brother to negotiate with the publisher, and she published under a pen name. Her first published novel, Sense and Sensibility, was published fifteen years after she started writing it.

Writing itself was difficult for Jane. By her own admission, she was a bad speller. Her writing desk was tiny. Just imagine what she’d say to you if you complained that your computer crashed. At least we have ballpoint pens! Even on her deathbed, with nothing more than pen, ink, and paper, Jane Austen managed to write Persuasion and revise Northanger Abbey.

Yet there was a time when Jane didn’t write much. During the years she lived in Bath, perhaps because of poverty or discouragement, she wrote very little. Later, when she went to live with her brother, she could have told herself that she hadn’t written in years and that it would be silly to go back to it. Thankfully, she chose to write.

Those of us who write have many of the same excuses. Though it’s now acceptable for women to publish novels, it’s not really acceptable for anyone other than a published author to admit she’s writing a novel. We’re luckier than Jane, in that we have word processors, laptops, and other technology to help us write. What we don’t have is time. It takes ingenuity and sacrifice to fit writing into a busy schedule. And, like Jane, we writers can easily fall victim to discouragement. One day of not writing can easily turn into years. The moral of Jane Austen’s story for me is this: Write anyway.

Rebecca H. Jamison Biography

Looking for love? Rebecca H. Jamison would love to set you up with that special someone, but you’re better off reading her books. She has a terrible track record as a matchmaker.

Rebecca grew up in Virginia. She attended Brigham Young University, where she earned a BA and MA in English with an emphasis in creative writing. In between college and graduate school, she served a mission to Portugal and Cape Verde.

Rebecca enjoys running, dancing, reading, and watching detective shows. She and her husband have six children. You can learn more about her at  

www.rebeccahjamison.com

Book Summary for Emma: A Latter-day Tale

Title: Emma: A Latter-day Tale

Author: Rebecca H. Jamison

ISBN: 978-1-4621-1260-9

Price: $16.99/$19.99

256 pages

Short Blurb: Emma's her name and matchmaking is her game! Quirky life coach Emma wants to help her first-ever client, a lonely nanny named Harriet. But all of her attempts at matchmaking result only in embarrassing miscues and blunders, leaving the pair disheartened and confused. This modern take on the Jane Austen classic shows that sometimes the greatest match is the one we make for ourselves.

Cover Blurb:

NOT Looking for Love: Single woman (23) seeks best friend to chat on the phone, shop the clearance racks, watch chick flicks, try out messy cooking projects, and eat Dove dark chocolates.

Emma isn’t so good at the whole life-coaching thing. Her first client ended up with a broken heart and is threatening to relapse in her bad habits. Now Emma has problems of her own to deal with, and all those problems start with one name: Justin.

Justin is her best friend, so it’s hard for Emma not to feel betrayed when she suspects he is falling for her childhood rival. And she knows she’s losing him despite her best efforts. No matter how much she tries, she keeps running up against obstacles. How is she supposed to help other people when she’s drowning in her own failures?

Fans of Jane Austen’s Emma will love this modern retelling of the classic romance novel. Fall in love with Emma’s latter-day tale of redemption, forgiveness, and the quest for true love.

Links

Blog:   www.rebeccahjamison.com

Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaHJamison

Youtube book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuZdfRJX8_s&list=LLIqrEppn8mTaoOdSpZk_9Jw&feature=mh_lolz

To buy:

Amazon:    http://www.amazon.com/Emma-Latter-day-Rebecca-H-Jamison/dp/1462112609

Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/emma-rebecca-jamison/1114719387?ean=9781462112609

Excerpt:

It was amazing how much more snow Phil could pick up with his shovel than I could with mine. He cleared three feet of the driveway before I was done with one.

“When we’re done, if you have time, you should come in and meet Harri. I think you two will get along.”

Phil stopped and looked at his watch. “I’m planning to do a couple more driveways before it gets dark.”

“I’ll go get Harri now if you’re in a hurry. She wants to meet you.”

Phil leaned on his shovel. “Harry is a she?”

 “Her real name is Harriet. She moved here a couple months ago and she’s hardly met anybody. I think you’ll like her.”

Phil threw his head back, laughed, and started shoveling again. “I thought you were trying to introduce me to your new boyfriend.”

“You think I would be out here shoveling snow while my new boyfriend stays inside?” I grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at him. I didn’t mean to hit him in the face, but that’s where it landed.

Phil wiped the snow off his face and grinned. “I wondered why you were dating such a loser.” I expected him to throw a snowball at me, but he just stood there. “So you don’t have a boyfriend?”

I giggled a little at his awkwardness. “Nope. Harri doesn’t either.”

Phil threw another shovelful of snow away from the driveway. “So you . . . I mean, you and your friend are . . . available?” Phil didn’t open his mouth enough when he talked. That was the one thing about him that always distracted me. I couldn’t help staring at his mouth.

I had to force myself to look into his eyes. “Why is that a shock, Phil? Every woman in that house right now is available. You can take your pick—Harri, me, or Barbara. You’re surrounded by single women.” It was safe to assume Phil wouldn’t pick me. I was at least three inches taller than he was, and it was a rare man who dated a taller woman.

Giveaway:  For the giveaway, Cedar Fort has one e-book version in Nook, Kindle, or PDF to award.  To be considered, leave a comment telling me what you are going to try not to give yourself any excuses with during the last half of the year.

Because the giveaway is digital format, as long as you can accept via these formats, you can enter!  :) Please leave a comment by next Wednesday, 8/14 by midnight and include your email address. 

Thank you again to Rebecca Jamison for stopping in today on her Blog Tour!  Don't forget to check out her other stops. You can check them out right here.  Also, stop back by later on this week for my review of her book!

Review: Pride and Pyramids by Amanda Grange

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Pulled into the craze of Egyptology, the Darcys and their lively children embark on an expedition to find a hidden tomb and uncover its treasure. Not only are immeasurable riches awaiting them in the exotic land of the Sphinx, but also danger and betrayal and the chance to lay an ancient grudge to rest...

Amanda Grange, bestselling author of Mr. Darcy's Diary and Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, teams up with Egyptologist Jacqueline Webb to create a breathtaking historical tale. The Darcys' adventures at the hands of these talented -storytellers open up whole new realms of exploration for lovers of Jane Austen and the Regency world."

Review:  Pride and Pyramids by Amanda Grange, was one of those novels that I thought I wouldn’t like.  I know that sounds like a bad way to approach a book, but I will own up to my hesitation.  Once I got going with the story, however, I found that I really enjoyed it and wanted to keep reading.  

Obviously set post-Pride and Prejudice, we find Elizabeth and William Darcy married with a family of beautiful children.  To their brood, they introduce this journey of a lifetime to Egypt to visit the ancient sites as other upper class members did in their day.  To the story we add the intrigue of a doll, that seems to have taken on a life of its own and overtaken their daughter.  (Strangely, it reminded me of that tiki doll episode of the Brady Bunch when Greg was “cursed” by the doll in Hawaii?  Yes, very much like that.) 

I liked the adventures the family went on, and I enjoyed the idea of them going to Egypt together.  In some ways I thought there was no way William Darcy would have permitted the endangerment of his family on such a major journey, and yet I still kind of liked considering it.  Overall, I just thought it was a really fun, engaging, and entertaining continuation story.  If you like adding to the familiar tale of Pride and Prejudice, then this is a fun story to continue with.

*FTC Disclosure:  Review is based on a library copy of the novel.

All Things Austen: "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries" and Austenland

Am I the last person who is completely Jane Austen crazy to miss this awesome web series, "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries"?  I think so.  If you haven't yet checked it out, you really should.  I'm pretty new to web series as a whole, but I love the short vlog (video blog) format.

You can catch "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries" at:
http://lizziebennetdiaries.tumblr.com/
http://www.youtube.com/lizziebennet
https://www.facebook.com/TheLizzieBennet
https://twitter.com/TheLizzieBennet

Here's episode 1:

 During my "hiatus" from blogging, I had the opportunity to go view Austenland at the Sundance Film Festival.  I owe my friend at work a HUGE thank you and favor for asking me to go along to help chaperone.  It was so fun, and I really loved watching it with an auditorium full of teenagers.  They oohed and aahed at all the right places, which was hilarious.  There was one moment that was especially memorable when one of the actors mentioned people who are "obsessed" with Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice.  A number of students in front of us all turned around and looked at my friend (who named her daughter Austen--and is SO stinking cute) and me (with my Darcy mouse pad).  It was hilarious and we both started laughing.  I think they have caught on to our love of all things Jane Austen???

I'm happy to say that the movie has been picked up and should be out some time this summer.  I can't wait to see it again!  For those who have read the book, you can expect a light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek, humorous version of the story we love.  I found myself laughing more than anything and relaxing into a really good time.  Here's a link to the clip, if you haven't caught it yet:  http://youtu.be/9IL5r-yg6Is

In the end, I'm so glad that Jane Austen continues to live on.  Whether it's through the pure form or through adaptations and retellings, I'm all there.  I kind of wonder what is in the future for Jane Austen?  What a thought!

Thanks for humoring my Jane Austen fangirling.  Have you checked out either of these Austen releases?  

Review: Searching for Pemberley by Mary Lidon Simonsen

Synopsis:  Set against Regency England, World Wars I and II, and postwar England, three love stories intertwine in surprising and fateful ways...

American Maggie Joyce, touring Derbyshire in 1947, visits an 18th century Georgian country house that she is told was the model for Jane Austen's Pemberley. More amazingly, the former residents of the mansion, William Lacey and Elizabeth Garrison, were the inspiration for the characters Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice.

Through letters, diary entries, and oral history, a couple in the nearby village share stories of the people they say inspired Jane Austen. They also tell their own love story, made difficult by their vastly different backgrounds—she was one of the social elite while he was the son of a servant. When their son, Michael, travels home from his RAF station in Malta, Maggie may have just found her very own Mr. Darcy..."

Review:  I really liked the idea of this novel, but will admit to having struggled with all that was going on.  Between the historical possibility that Darcy and Elizabeth might have been real people, to the relationships between Maggie and several other characters, it was about all I could keep up with.  The writing is good and solid, with a classical feel to it that lends itself well to this story.  You feel like you're reading about several different time periods and I think Simonsen manages to set the tone really well.

As mentioned, however, I did get lost a bit.  Maggie is not only dealing with her role in WWI & WWII, which would be overwhelming and daunting all on its own, but she is also dealing with the history that she is uncovering about Jane Austen's most famous couple.  I couldn't tell who I wanted to latch onto.  Was I supposed to be watching Maggie's reaction to finding out that Darcy and Elizabeth might be real, or was I supposed to be more concerned with her survival and relationships in the present?  I realized that they were supposed to mix together, but it did take me until about half way through the book before I really cared about both stories.

Overall, I thought this was a charming book, but one that takes a little bit of a commitment to stick to in order to get the story.  I do think there is a specific audience for this book.  If you're a fan of Jane Austen and like these stories that consider the conditions in which Austen wrote her novels, then you might check this out.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a review copy provided by the publisher, Sourcebooks.

Re-Read Review: Austenland by Shannon Hale

As a BAD book blogger, I haven't been supporting Utah Book Month as I should.  We really do have a lot of great authors here in Utah, many of whom come out and support our local get togethers and local events.  They are really awesome!  Right now I'm in the middle of reading Bree Despain's third novel in her Dark Divine series and I'm getting ready to read Shannon Hale's Midnight in Austenland.  Before I pick up Hale's next novel though, I went back to re-read Austenland so I could remember some of the details, and it was even better the second time through!

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Jane Hayes is a seemingly normal young New Yorker, but she has a secret. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, is ruining her love life: no real man can compare. But when a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined.

Decked out in empire-waist gowns, Jane struggles to master Regency etiquette and flirts with gardeners and gentlemen;or maybe even, she suspects, with the actors who are playing them. It's all a game, Jane knows. And yet the longer she stays, the more her insecurities seem to fall away, and the more she wonders: Is she about to kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?"

Review:  This was a fun book to read from the get go.  I liked the it the first time, and I loved it on the second go around.  I distinctly remember not liking the Darcy-esque character in this novel, which is ironic, right?  Aren't we supposed to not like him and then realize how prejudice we were?  Yes, I do think that's the case.  The first time I read it, I just remember  being sucked into the re-enactment of our favorite, romantic read, Pride and Prejudice.  This time, I remembered some of what was to come and paid more attention to the characters that I knew were the nice guys--you know, the way you watch the romantic lead in a movie when you know that's how he'll end up?  You just seem to notice all the sweet things they do to show that they're not the person they are putting on.  That was the case in this re-read; I picked up on some fun interactions that I didn't the first time around.

As far as sweet escape reading goes, this is high on that list.  I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Austenland and its twist on the Jane Austen tale.  The ending is very reminiscent of a great chick film, which I loved.  I'm in need of another one of these, so I hope the film comes out soon!  On the whole, this was just a real delight to dive into and relive all over again!  Now I'm ready for the movie to come out, which I'm hoping will come out before the end of the year.  

All right.  Now I can head off to read Midnight in Austenland!

By the way, here is a fun film exclusive if you're interested in the movie that will be coming out.

Review: Mr. Darcy Forever by Victoria Connelly

I wish I had a schedule where I could have hopped on Mr. Darcy Forever sooner.  Thank goodness for a nice Spring Break that gave me a chance to sit down and read it in one sitting.  In my world, that's a bit of a luxury, and I loved it!  This was a prefect book for my break.

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Estranged sisters Sarah and Mia Castle have spent a lifetime fighting over the men in their lives. They finally begin to make amends at the annual Jane Austen Festival in Bath, England. During the festival, the sisters realize that they can't bear to be apart. They discover that their sisterhood forms a bond stronger than their mutual connection as Jane Austen addicts. And in true Jane Austen fashion, they each begin to lose their hearts to dashing gentlemen."

Review:  Having read an earlier novel of Connelly's, I knew I was in for a nice, modernized treat with this newest book.  Let me just start off by explaining that Pride and Prejudice doesn't really play a role in the novel.  The title, in my own opinion, is a tie to the perfect Austen character, as the rest of the book is more geared toward Sense and Sensibility.  

In the beginning of Mr. Darcy Forever, I had a difficult time tracking the present and the past as it jumped from the present estrangement between the sisters, Sarah and Mia, to the past events that split them up.  I can tell you right now that we don't learn of the conflict until well into the book.  Usually that would irritate me, since I like to understand the characters so that I can attach myself to their actions and reactions.  In this case, it worked out really well and had me realizing how quickly I jump to conclusions--maybe like these two sisters did to begin with.

As mentioned, it takes a long time to understand what came between these two sisters.  Sarah, who has OCD and needs to control everything, appears to be the nuisance or villain.  Although we might feel for her and her idiosyncrasies, it seems like she might have driven the two apart by her actions.  However, Mia increasingly comes across as immature and possibly as responding too emotionally to her situation.  Come on.  Can't Mia see after these years of being apart how silly and immature she used to behave?  This is what I thought in the beginning.  Readers of Jane Austen's novels will quickly start to draw connections to Sense and Sensibility in the story.  This is in no way exactly like the classic story, but there are some definite similarities to the Dashwood sisters, with some interesting and surprising twists to the story.

Mr. Darcy Forever was a delightfully emotional read.  Austen fans will readily recognize aspects of Austen's classic, while getting a modern look at Bath and our characters' complex, modern lives.  I really enjoyed the novel and its characters and appreciated the way the story unfolded so as to not feel predictable or overworked.  Overall, a good clean Austen modernization.  

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a review copy provided by the publisher.

Review: Compulsively Mr. Darcy by Nina Benneton

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "For anyone obsessed with Pride & Prejudice, it's Darcy and Elizabeth like you've never seen them before.

This modern take introduces us to the wealthy philanthropist Fitzwilliam Darcy, a handsome and brooding bachelor who yearns for love but doubts any woman could handle his obsessive tendencies. Meanwhile, Dr. Elizabeth Bennet has her own intimacy issues that ensure her terrible luck with men.

When the two meet up in the emergency room after Darcy's best friend, Charles Bingley, gets into an accident, Elizabeth thinks the two men are a couple. As Darcy and Elizabeth unravel their misconceptions about each other, they have to decide just how far they're willing to go to accept each other's quirky ways..."

Review:   This retelling and modernization of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is definitely a unique and different twist on the original story.  While the characters and outline of the plot are there, rife with misunderstandings and romance, this storyline is much different.  For one, it starts off in Vietnam where Elizabeth is a doctor and Darcy has arrived with his friend Charles to help their friends adopt a baby at an orphanage that Jane helps run.  The two sisters immediately assume that Charles and Darcy are a gay couple who have come to adopt, but who wish it to remain quiet.  Elizabeth can't then come to grips with her attraction for Darcy, nor his apparent attraction to her?  The two do eventually work out the truth, as in the original tale--minus this new little twist.  Their time together then becomes a roller-coaster ride of romantic misunderstandings and outside interferences.

I did find this retelling interesting and new.  Some of the issues in their romantic relationship seemed a bit silly at times, such as Elizabeth's "virginity" issue.  I've always felt that some sexual tension or scenes played out in the pages of these retellinngs aren't necessarily out of place, as they are a more modern look at a normal adult relationship, but sometimes I have to giggle a bit at how they are included in the story.  I'm not convinced that with all else that was going on in the story that it needed to be such a focal point.  I definitely loved the tension that was created through these characters' misunderstandings and think that Benneton created an interesting tale to surround our favorite P&P characters.

Overall, I would say that if you're a fan of Austen retellings and modernizations, then definitely give Benneton's book a read.  It is unique and full of action that will keep you flipping pages to see how they work them all out.  All around, a thoroughly entertaining read.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on an advanced review copy provided by the publisher, Sourcebooks.

Review: Dreaming of Mr. Darcy by Victoria Connelly

Let me not be shy about my love for Captain Wentworth.  His ability to be so long suffering and to carry a flame for Anne Elliott across the years has always made him one of my all-time favorite heroes.  How could I then pass on a lovely novel set in the present day in Lyme?  That's not it though.  It's on the set of another filming of Jane Austen's famed Persuasion.  In short, Victoria Connelly's Dreaming of Mr. Darcy was my perfect fit.

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Fledgling illustrator and Darcy fanatic Kay Ashton settles in the seaside town of Lyme to finish her book, The Illustrated Darcy, when a film company arrives to make a new adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion. Kay is soon falling for the handsome bad boy actor playing Captain Wentworth, but it's the quiet screenwriter Adam Craig who has more in common with her beloved Mr. Darcy. Though still healing from a broken heart, Adam finds himself unexpectedly in love with Kay. But it will take more than good intentions to convince her that her real happy ending is with him."

Review:  I really enjoyed reading Dreaming of Mr. Darcy.  Considering it was more about Captain Wentworth, including plenty of references to reading Persuasion, I felt like it should have been Captain Wentworth that we were dreaming about!  That wouldn't have lost me for one second.  

When our heroine settled into Lyme and her new B&B, she didn't seem to be some lovelorn woman trying to shake off a dodgy past.  Instead, Kay seemed to be a sweet girl who was living her dream to live on the sea coast.  I really loved the premise behind Kay settling into Lyme and opening her B&B, only to have the newest film crew becoming her first customers.  There is a fun, bumpy love story between Kay and the star playing Captain Wentworth, but a variety of other love interests for other characters are also running about.  The biggest love triangle though becomes one that no one knows about other than Adam, who has fallen for Kay from first sight, but can see that she is falling for the big movie star.  In short, he can see what's going on, but can't resist his love for Kay.

If there was one wish I could have made for this fun, romantic sort of modernization, it would be a slower build up to the relationships.  Call me a cynic, but I would have liked to see Adam come to realize his interest in Kay and not be smitten from the first moment.  I think that would have helped me cheer him on a bit, rather than see him as a romantic sap.  He was such a lovable character that I spent a good portion of the book feeling like our flighty heroine might not be good enough for him!  In the end, it all works out and there are moments of delightful tension.  Overall, I would say that it is the perfect night by the fire type of read and one that I'll be sharing with my girlfriends who love Austen-esque stories.  

Now, where can I get myself a good deal on a little place on the English coast?  It sounds pretty promising.


*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a review copy sent by the publisher.

Merry Christmas & a Giveaway Winner!!!

First off, Merry Christmas to one and all! I've been delightfully sidetracked and kept busy by family and friends.  I see salads and plenty of fruit and veg in my future to help me account for all of the goodies we've been eating, but it has felt pretty worth it for the moment!  We're staying in today, decked out in our pjs (even for Christmas dinner), and will be tucking into a stack a books later in the day.  That's my present to myself!

Also, I didn't get my Austen B-day Soiree winners posted on Friday, so I thought now would be a perfect gift to someone! 

The winner of a nice grab bag (drawn at random from Random.org) of Austen-related novels is: 

Heather M. 

Congrats!  I've sent you an email and will hope to hear from you some time after Christmas so I can get this little extra Christmas surprise off to you. 

Thanks to everyone who joined in on Jane Austen's Birthday this year and the great posts for the Austen Soiree.

Well, that's my hello on this Christmas Day.  However you spend this wonderful holiday, I hope you have a great one!

Happy Birthday to Jane Austen: Soiree & Giveaway

Happy Birthday to the amazing Jane Austen!  

Along with many other Jane Austen fans, bloggers, and authors, we want to take a moment to offer a gift in celebration of Jane Austen's Birthday.  One of the things I thought would be interesting to share a bit about today was the food that Austen would have been eating in her day.  What might have been shared around the table in celebration of her birthday?  Other than customary roasts of beef, chicken, partridge, lamb, etc., we would find lovely breads, marmalade, and soups.  What about the birthday cake?

Although the birthday cake as we know it today probably did not really gain popularity until near the end of Austen's life or just after, cakes and puddings in celebration of special occasions have existed since the Ancient Romans.  In that case, what kind of cakes existed in Jane Austen's day?  According to "The Jane Austen Centre," she might have enjoyed a Pound or Gingercake, a Boiled Pudding or Fruit Trifle, or even pie or cookie.  Regardless of the exact treat, I thought I'd share a couple of the recipe links here for you to check out and maybe try out over the holidays this year.

Here are a few:

Christmas Fruit Cake
Christmas Pudding
Just a Trifle
Gingerbread Cakes
Rich Pound Cake

Although fruit and nuts might have been more along the line of what they would have served for dessert, these delicious sweet treats were around in Austen's day and might have graced her table on her birthday, at some point. 

In celebration of Jane Austen's birthday, a number of us are going to be offering up wonderful treats and giveaways of our own. 

For the Giveaway:  I have a number of Austen-themed books that include:  The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy, Prom and Prejudice, and more!  I'd like to share these books in a nice grab bag to one person in the U.S. or Canada.  All you have to do is leave a comment, along with your name and email address where you can be reached.  The giveaway will close on December 23rd at midnight.

For other great posts and giveaways, please visit the following blogs and sites:

Sharon Lathan (Austen Author)
O! Beauty Unattempted!
Austenprose
Semi-True Stories
First Draft  (Cindy S. Jones, Austen Author)
Regency Sketches
Brant Flakes
Mesmered's Blog
The Heroine's Bookshelf
vvb32 reads
The Fiction vs. Reality Smackdown
Regina Jeffers (Austen Author)
Alyssa Goodnight
Jane Austen in Vermont
Jane Started It!
Choc Lit Authors' Corner
Reading, Writing, Working, Playing
The Jane Austen Film Club
El Salon de Te de Jane
Kaitlin Saunders  (Austen Author)
Patrice Sarath  (Austen Author)
Jane Austen Brasil
Jane Austen Sequels (Jane Odiwe, Austen Author)
Stiletto Storytime
Jennifer W. Becton
Urban Girl Takes Vermont
Pemberley Variations  (Abigail Reynolds, Austen Author)
Austen Authors
November's Autumn
My Jane Austen Book Club


Check them out!  There are amazing giveaways going on in celebration of Austen's birthday today. 

Thanks to Maria Grazia, of My Jane Austen Book Club, & Katherine Cox, of November's Autumn for hosting and putting together this great event.

A Darcy for Everyone!

In celebration of Jane Austen's birthday on Friday, Sourcebooks is offering a fantastic selection of Austen-inspired novels for $1.99 wherever ebooks are sold.  This giveaway runs from today, December 13th through December 30th.  

Here are some of the great offerings:

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many of these books have been reviewed here at One Literature Nut if you're interested in checking out a review.  Otherwise, you can go to Sourcebooks for more information on this great Austen sale!  Check them out and enjoy.

Author Interview & Giveaway: Sharon Lathan of Miss Darcy Falls In Love

I'm excited to be hosting Sharon Lathan today, and I had a chance to ask her some questions that I'd been dying to ask!  With her daughter's recent wedding, I don't know how she finds the time to do all that she does, but I'm so excited to have her here today.

As the author of Miss Darcy Falls in Love and five other great Darcy saga novels, help me welcome Sharon!

Question:  How far do you see yourself writing into the Darcy series?

To be honest, and I know this will disappoint some people, I do not see myself writing past Dr. George Darcy’s story, which is what I am working on currently. Never say never, of course, but I really want to explore other options. I want to create characters that are 100% mine. Maybe it is a need to prove myself. Yet it is also a decision from a career standpoint. I can reach a wider audience with a novel that is not Austen related. Nevertheless, I do love these characters and somehow doubt they will let me go so easily!

My Response:  Well, you can always come back and write one that might jump out at you!  If not, I'll definitely check out your other adventures.

Question:  Without giving away anything too big, what other book ideas have you tossed around in your mind?  (Just curious. )

Well, aside from completing Dr. Darcy’s tale, I have 3 ideas for Regency romances that I have already shared with my agent. He loves them! I intend to expand on those, write a few chapters when I can, and see where that leads. I have also tossed around a couple contemporary ideas that I would someday like to tackle. More of me needing to prove myself capable, I guess!

Question:  What other characters in Pride and Prejudice would you like to see come more to the forefront in the story, maybe in the future?

 I have long wanted to write a better future for Charlotte Collins. I have spun ideas from time to time, but never taken it further. I feel she is okay in the life Austen gave her, however my romantic heart thinks she could do better! I also have a slight sympathy for Caroline Bingley and thought it would be fun to see another side of her. I really love the children I gave Darcy and Lizzy, all of them terrific characters IMHO that I would like to write about someday.

Question:  With your daughter’s wedding coming up (Congrats!), how does that affect your writing and do you etch out specific times to work on it?

To be honest, currently I am so focused on the wedding and the release of Miss Darcy Falls in Love that I have little free time! By the time this interview posts the wedding will be over and hopefully all my blogs written so that I can enjoy the release experience and seriously attend to my WIP.

*FYI--Sharon's daughter actually got married on 11/4th.  Congrats!

Question:  What other authors have you come to know and gotten tips from as a writer?

Oh so many! My first exposure to a collective of writers was the Casablanca Authors and we are still great friends. They are my go-to gals. Now I also have the fabulous Austen Authors that are my buddies and support. I have been blessed to meet so many terrific writers. Some have become friends and others I have only listened to at conferences or shared short conversations with, but all who have taught me about this business in various ways. And I cannot forget my local chapter of the RWA, the Yosemite Romance Writers. I love being a part of a fellowship of writers! Nothing compares.

Question:  Who would you still love to meet?  (Author or publisher)

 Of those I greatly admire I would love to meet Karen Marie Moning. Hopefully I will get lucky at the Romantic Times Convention next April. *fingers crossed*

My response:  That would be pretty awesome!  If you do, you'll have to share with us.

Question:  As we head into the holiday season, what are your wishes?

 I wish for a relaxing season filled with loads of family get togethers, as I always do, but this year especially because in March my daughter and her new husband will be moving to Maryland. Next, I have to admit that I am wishing most fervently that Miss Darcy Falls in Love will be a raging success! That would certainly be a fabulous Christmas present. Lastly I hope for extreme peace and quiet so I can get back to work on Dr. Darcy’s novel. I miss that fella.

Thank you so much to Sharon for stopping by today!  If you haven't yet checked out her books, Miss Darcy Falls in Love is a great book to try out.

Synopsis of Miss Darcy Falls in Love--

Noble young ladies were expected to play an instrument, but Georgiana Darcy is an accomplished musician who hungers to pursue her talents. She embarks upon a tour of Europe, ending in Paris where two very different men will ignite her heart in entirely different ways and begin a bitter rivalry to win her. But only one holds the key to her happiness.

Set in post-Napoleonic Empire France, Miss Darcy Falls in Love is a riveting love story that enters a world of passion where gentlemen know exactly how to please and a young woman learns to direct her destiny and understand her heart.

Excerpt--

    “Forgive my boldness, Mr. Butler, but I find I am curious as to what you do plan to do with this education? Not to align myself with Lord Essenton’s discouragement, since it pains me greatly to imagine your talent wasted and never shared with those who appreciate fine music, however, I can, to a degree, comprehend his reasoning.”
    Sebastian did not answer immediately. He stepped onto a fallen log, tossing the shreds of bark from the twig he had been stripping into the bushes that covered the descending slope of Fourvière, and stared solemnly at the distant horizon. Georgiana began to fear she had angered him and was preparing to apologize when he spoke.
    “I ask those questions of myself frequently, Miss Darcy. I regret my father’s attitude, wish he were more understanding and supportive, and even feel angry upon occasion. Yet, logically, I know he has a point. What can I do with this… gift? Will I ever be able to use it other than to entertain my family and our guests?”
     The question hung on the air, Sebastian finally tossing the mutilated twig over the edge and turning to look at Georgiana, his gray eyes hard as slate and his voice firm. “I may not know my entire future, Miss Darcy, but I do know that someday I will be Lord Essenton, with an estate I love as my responsibility. I will have a wife and children. I will serve in the House of Lords. And I will play and compose music. I cannot separate and deny portions of who I am and all that is central to my happiness,” he finished with a shake of his head.
    They stared at each other for a long stretch. Sebastian’s countenance was as serious as she had ever seen. Gone was the amused twinkle that perpetually lit his gray eyes and the characteristic lilt to his full lips. Suddenly he appeared years older than three and twenty, intense and sure. It was as if he strained to communicate nonverbally to her, sensing that she would understand his heart. And the oddity was that she did, at least to an extent. As a woman with a set future before her, indulging in pointless whimsies, no matter how passionately felt, was easily tempered.
    Or were they?
    For years her dreams had been invaded with desires for more. Denial became second nature, knowing that for her, those dreams could never be realized. Mr. Butler, however, was a man, thus having no reason to reject his passions or accept inevitabilities.
    She nodded, holding his gaze. “I do understand, Mr. Butler. Perfectly. I applaud your persistence. Perhaps it is my naïveté and optimism, but I think your father will eventually understand and be as proud of you as the others in your family.”
    “Perhaps,” he agreed. “Someday.”


Sharon’s Bio--

Sharon Lathan is the best-selling author of The Darcy Saga sequel series to Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. Her previously published novels are: Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One, Loving Mr. Darcy, My Dearest Mr. Darcy, In the Arms of Mr. Darcy, A Darcy Christmas, and The Trouble With Mr. Darcy. Miss Darcy Falls in Love is Georgiana’s tale of love and adventure while in France. Complete with a happy ending. In addition to her writing, Sharon works as a Registered Nurse in a Neonatal ICU. She resides with her family in Hanford, California in the sunny San Joaquin Valley. Visit Sharon on her website: www.sharonlathan.net and on Austen Authors, her group blog with 25 novelist of Austen literature: www.austenauthors.com

To win a free copy of Sharon Lathan's wonderful book Miss Darcy Falls in Love, leave a comment or question for Sharon, along with your email address by next Saturday, 11/26 by midnight.

Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to:

Margaret

I drew from Random.org and you're the winner of Jane Austen Made Me Do It!  Thanks to everyone who joined in the giveaway! This is a great collection of short stories, so I highly recommend that those of you who are interested in dabbling in Jane Austen stories, or are already die-hard fans to give it a try!

Thanks again to all who participated!  I loved your responses and hope to see you again.  Also, a big thank you to Laurel Ann Nattress for a lovely blog post here and for all her work on the book.

For more information on the novel, please see my review of Jane Austen Made Me Do It.

Review: Miss Darcy Falls in Love by Sharon Lathan

Oh, how I love Sharon Lathan's books.  Seriously, Sharon's books are a much needed break from my own reality and have helped mellow the romantic cynic in me.  Forget what I think "reality" is in romance, I want Sharon's version!  Recently after finishing our first term at school, I felt like I was at my breaking point.  I picked up Sharon's book, for what I thought would be a couple chapters for a quick work break, that turned into a complete devouring of her book.  In one sitting, I started and finished Miss Darcy Falls in Love and can say that it was just what I needed.

Synopsis:  Shifting away from our most famous Darcys, Miss Darcy Falls in Love follows Fitzwilliam's prized sister Georgiana in a European tour that actually sent Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam home in the previous installment, to welcome their second child.  In the meantime, Georgiana finishes up her tour, stopping in France to visit friends.  There she meets up with Sebastian Butler, a fellow music lover who has been allowed to leave his land-owning responsibilities by his father to pursue music at the famous Conservatoire in Paris.  Before entering school, he and Georgiana strike up a great friendship, centered on their interest in music.  Sebastian and Georgiana both, are too conservative and gentle-minded to consider that their friendship might actually be a blossoming love, simply regarding one another more as the best of friends.  That is, until dashingly handsome Lord Caxton, teacher at the Conservatoire, takes an interest in Georgiana.  Somehow, with the push of another suitor, perhaps Sebastian and Georgiana might realize their friendship as something more?

Review:  In the characteristically romantic style of author Sharon Lathan, Georgiana Darcy's story feels nothing like a departure from our most famous Darcy couple, but feels more like a beautiful continuation within the family.  For fans of Pride and Prejudice, I think that most readers will agree that we want to see Georgiana happy in love someday, especially after all that she endured with George Wickham.  Now as an adult, and seeing the wonderful relationship of her older brother with Elizabeth Bennet, nothing could be better than to see Georgiana equally as happy in love.

Picking up where The Trouble With Mr. Darcy left off, we follow Georgiana home through Europe.  Focusing less on the travel aspect, and more on character development, we meet friends of the Darcys such as with Sebastian Butler.  Sebastian is not an ordinary character for his time, in that he is not necessarily aloof or terribly complicated.  That does not mean that he was not interesting.  His sweet character was kind and generous around others, but it was his passion for music that lent him that certain cluelessness that we love in Austen's men.  Sebastian, in all his gentleness, has made fast friends with Georgiana and shared a real passion for music that bonds the two.  Their friendship was sweet and delectable.  As for Lord Caxton, who comes along to complicate it all, he seemed more like the villain than the possible love interest, which made it all the easier to love Sebastian and root for his awakening to what he had with Georgiana.

Sharon's novels do contain sensual scenes, that are grippingly romantic.  If that is not your scene, let me warn you now.  I wouldn't say that this novel is nearly as sensual as previous books though.  I get that some people do not enjoy having a romantic interlude spelled out for them, but I can't say that is a reason to completely denigrate an author's story.  Sharon's writing has never felt overplayed, in my opinion, and her writing style has this period feel to it that is stunning.  As readers, we not only get swept away in the beauty of her writing, but we also develop a greater interest in her characters.  In every way, these characters feel real and applicable to us, with their dreams and emotions spelled out on the page.  Mixing the period with the timelessness and complications of romantic love, I simply can't get enough of the romance Sharon writes.  Beyond being a fan of all things Austen and loving this period to begin with, Miss Darcy Falls in Love is a delectable and delightful romantic romp back to a time when men and women held back on saying what they felt, yet showed it in a number of reserved, romantic ways.  Although the sixth in the Darcy saga, Miss Darcy Falls in Love can be read as a stand alone.  And for cynics of romance, which I would usually count myself a part, these books make me want to believe!

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a review copy sent by the publisher.

For more information on the novel or on the writer of this great series, check back on Friday for a lovely interview I had with Sharon Lathan!