So little time...

My February Wins!

2012-03-03T02:00:00.000-08:00

February has been the best month I’ve had as far as winning books! I wanted to take a moment and thank the authors and bloggers for these wonderful books. Hopefully, I will be posting reviews for all of these in the near future!

The Thorn and the Blossom by Theodora Goss from

A Word's Worth

The Spinster’s Vow by Enid Wilson from

Coffee Times Romance

Compulsively Mr. Darcy by Nina Benneton from Love Romance Passion

A Jane Austen Devotional by Thomas Nelson from

Austenesque Reviews

Forever and a Day by Delilah Marvelle from Austen Authors

$25 Amazon gift card given by Shelly Bell from

Happily Ever After Thoughts,

which I purchased Selly's ebook A Year to Remember with.

I’m so grateful for each of these authors and the blogs that featured them! Thank you!

Plus, a FB friend sent me this really cool Jane Austen tote bag! Awesome! Thank you, Ashlie!

The Cell Phone Lot By Stephanie Elliot

2012-03-01T02:00:00.000-08:00

I wanted to read something fun and quick, something I could read in one sitting. Looking through my kindle, I found a novella, The Cell Phone Lot. It was just what I was looking for! I loved it!

Grant was feeling unease about his weekend. He was at the airport to pick up a girl he had met on an online dating site. He really didn't think meeting her was a good idea, but here he was, at the cell phone parking lot.

Bridge was waiting in the same parking lot for her sister who was going to spend the weekend with her. Her cell phone battery dies and her car won't start. Grant comes to her rescue.

When both of the arriving flights are delayed....

I'm not going to tell you what happens next, it's a novella, right! It's a sweet love story. It's made me sigh at the end. :)

Comments are always welcome!

Pride and Princesses By Summer Day

2012-02-20T02:00:00.000-08:00

This wasn’t as much of a modern Pride and Prejudice as I thought it was going to be. There was an element of Pride and Prejudice and a little of Emma (more like Clueless) but it was also a story of its own.

Best friends,Phoebe and Mouche, are juniors at Sunrise Performing Arts High School, and are tired of unromantic boys who show no interest in wooing a girl. The girls decide to write a guide they call The Boy-Rating Diary. They have read all these old dating and beauty guides called Mrs Robinson’s Advice, Sophia’s Pathway to Beauty and How to please your Potential Husband, to name a few (I love the titles of these guides and the quotes sprinkled through out the story!). They have come up with a set of rules for dating. As part of their “research” they go on practice dates and compare notes. The object of the diary is to create a dating manual for teenage girls.

While writing the rules for the manual, The Dating Game is created. To win the game you have to get asked to the prom by Mark Knightley!

Mark Knightley is hot, rich, arrogant, quiet and misunderstood by the girls. His best friend is Jet Campbell, who is also hot, easy going, always smiling and very likable. Joel Goodman is a good-looking smooth talker and not to be trusted. Do these characters remind you of anyone?

The Princesses (a group of mean girls) find out about the game and want to play. Phoebe and Mouche let them in on the game but don’t share all their secrets.

The competition drives a wedge between Phoebe and Mouche and they learn about friendships and what is more important than winning.

It was really a good story with a surprising ending, one that I didn’t see coming. Unfortunately, I felt it was a bit scattered, the story didn’t flow well. I would have to stop sometimes and back track a little to figure out what was going on. It is for this reason I give this a 3 star rating instead of a 4.

3 out of 5 stars

Have you read it? What did you think? I would love to hear from you!

Kissed in Paris By Juliette Sobanet

2012-02-17T02:00:00.000-08:00

I loved, loved, loved this story! It is a fast-paced romance that I would highly recommend.

When event planner, Chloe Turner, wakes up in her hotel room in Paris with nothing but a skimpy red dress (not her own), high heels, her underclothes, and a vague memory of the night before, she is in big trouble! Her wedding is in six days, how is she is supposed to fly home with no passport or money? Even her engagement ring is missing! To make matters worse, the police are questioning her over some suspicious activity going on in her bank account. Chloe, who is normally very organized, in control, and ready for any disaster, finds herself in a situation she has no control over!

Julien, a undercover agent, persuades Chloe to go with him. Chloe follows Julien around Paris, evading the police looking for Claude to get her passport back so she can go home. She starts to wonder if she made the right decision, can she really trust Julien? Why is she having these feelings for Julien when she is engaged to Paul? And how is she going to explain all this to Paul? She just keeps getting in deeper and deeper!

From the very beginning of this story it took off and kept going! I didn’t know who to believe. I loved Chloe! She kept on trying to figure out how to get out of the mess she was in. All the while she was tired, confused and her feet hurt from the only shoes she had; high heels!

I loved the prologue! It was written as a series of emails between Chloe, her sisters and her boss. It is very telling of her, her relationship with her sisters and her fiance.

I also spotted Charlotte and Luc from Sleeping With Paris! They make a cameo appearance. What fun! I love it when an author gives you a peek at their previous characters!

Kissed in Paris is a fabulous read, and I think you'll enjoy it as much as I did! I just love the cover, too!

I can't wait to read Juliette Sobanet's next novel! You can read my review for her first novel, Sleeping With Paris right here.

I give this 5 out of 5 stars.

About the Author:

Juliette Sobanet is a graduate of Georgetown University and New York University in France, and she has lived and studied in both Paris and Lyon. She is currently a French professor in the Washington, DC area where she lives with her husband and their two massive cats. When she's not writing, she's eating chocolate, practicing yoga, or scheming on when she can travel back to France. Visit Juliette's website at http://www.juliettesobanet.com/

Please, feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Captain Wentworth Home from the Sea By Mary Lydon Simonsen

2012-02-13T02:00:00.000-08:00

I tell you, you cannot go wrong reading one of Mary’s books! She always amazes me with her creativity, wit and her knowledge of history. In this book, there is not so much history, but a lovely story that made me feel good the whole way through!

Captain Wentworth, who has no memory of Anne due to a head injury, returns with his sister and her husband who have let Kellynch Hall. Anne’s father, Sir Walter, has left Anne at Kellynch Hall to help the Crofts get settled. During this time, Anne and Captain Wentworth get to know each other again. Anne has never stopped loving him, but can love find its way back into his heart again?

I love that Anne gets a second chance, but as Captain Wentworth’s memory starts coming back, will Anne’s happiness be jeopardized?

I really felt for Anne as her father treats her like a servant, but I’m glad she begins to make decisions based on what is good for her and not be persuaded by her family and friends.

I adored this variation! I couldn’t put it down! It’s a good thing it is a novella and I was able to finish it in one sitting!

I give this 5 out of 5 stars!

This completes the Variations category of the Jane Austen Spinoffs 2012 Reading Challenge.

That's 2 of the 8 categories.

About the Author:

Mary Simonsen has been writing Jane Austen re-imaginings in her head for thirty years. She finally put pen to paper in 2006 and published her first novel, Searching for Pemberley with Sourcebooks. Since that time, she has been as busy as a bee writing stories with tie-ins to Austen’s novels for Sourcebooks as well as self-published titles, including her latest, Becoming Elizabeth Darcy. Her favorite Austen title: a tie between Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice. Mary is a wife, mother, grandmother, and fanatical recycler. She lives in Arizona.

Awake By Jessica Grey

2012-02-06T02:00:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to have the opportunity to read an ARC of Awake! I truly enjoyed every minute of it!

What would happen if after more than 800 years had passed, Sleeping Beauty was kissed by the wrong person? And what if that person switched places with Sleeping Beauty?

Alex, Becca and Luke are interning at the Gem and Mineral Museum for the summer when a new exhibit comes in. In the exhibit is this beautiful bed encrusted with gems. Alex arrives early to the museum and finds Luke sleeping in the bed! Sitting on a crate nearby is a Princess! It turns out the Princess, Lilia de la Foret, has been sleeping in the bed for nearly 900 years! Luke and Lilia have switched places! Alex, Becca and Lilia band together to figure out how to break the spell and free Luke!

Grey paints a vivid picture of magic working in unison with nature. It’s an enchanting adventure of courage, self-discovery and friendship. The story is woven together with humor, mystery and true love. Grey was also able to stir in me those feelings you get during a first kiss! *sign*

I adore how Luke always tries to protect Alex, even while he is asleep. He is the strong silent type, not pushy but always there when you need him!

I loved this story! I would give it 5 out of 5 stars.

ARC provided by author.

About the Author:

Jessica Grey is an author, fairytale believer, baseball lover, and recovering Star Wars fangirl. A life-long Californian, she now lives in Montana with her husband, Edward, and two children, Maddie and James, where she spends her time writing, perfecting the fine art of toddler-wrangling, and drinking way too much caffeine.

You can find Jessica online at www.authorjessicagrey.com and www.fairytaletrilogy.com

Comments are always welcome!

Death Benefits By J. W. Becton

2012-02-04T02:00:00.000-08:00

I’ve been looking forward to reading Death Benefits, Becton’s second book in her Southern Fraud Thriller series and here it is! Hurray! After reading Absolute Liability I was hooked! You can read my review for that here.

On this case, Julia and Vincent are together again, investigating a death benefits claim. The deceased is Theodore Vanderbilt, his body has been badly burn in a car accident. But something’s not right here and red flags are going up everywhere. Vincent and Julia are sent out to investigate. Along the way they stumble into other crimes and find themselves in some dangerous situations.

I like the way Becton slips in a few chapters from the criminal’s point of view, without letting us know who it is. She also adds interesting characters into the mix! Who wouldn’t like the feisty Mrs. Twilley; she’s a hoot!

I’m also enjoying the continuing side story of Julia’s personal investigation to find her sister’s rapist. It’s interesting to see what the affects of rape has done to Tricia and the rest of the family.

Death Benefits is an action packed thriller that puts you on an exciting path of strange twists and turns that had me wondering what was going to happen next! It’s a great whodunit, but with just enough physical attraction between Julia and Vincent to keep the romantic in me happy!

Another fantastic story! Now, I can’t wait until the next one At Fault. That should be out sometime this year! I can’t get enough of Vincent! #MarkVincentfangirl

I give this 5 out of 5 stars!

ARC provided by the author.

About the Author:

J. W. Becton (a pseudo-pseudonym for historical fiction author Jennifer Becton) has worked for more than twelve years in the traditional publishing industry as a freelance writer, editor, and proofreader. Upon discovering the possibilities of the expanding ebook market, she created Whiteley Press, an independent publishing house that has sold more than 55,000 books since 2010. Absolute Liability, the first in the six-book Southern Fraud Thriller series, became an Amazon Kindle Best Seller and made the Indie Reader Best Seller list for three nonconsecutive weeks, and At Fault (Southern Fraud 3) will be out in 2012.

Sleeping With Paris By Juliette Sobanet

2012-02-02T02:00:00.000-08:00

Charlotte Summer is about to live her dream; marry a wonderful man who loves her, live in Paris and study at Sorbonne University.

Two days before their big move to Paris, Charlotte finds out her fiancé has been cheating on her. Upset and heartbroken, she goes on to Paris by herself. This isn’t the first man to cheat on her and as a result she decides she is never going to be hurt like that again. She is no longer going to get involved in a relationship, she is going to have fun and date like a man! She begins a blog “Sleeping With Paris, a Girls’ Guide to Dating like a Man in the City of Love”

Her plan is to just have fun, have sex with no commitment, and blog about it along the way. She gets quite a large following, women who can sympathize with her. But can she really do that, date like a man?

One of the guys she casually dates is her neighbor, Luc. She meets him on her first day there, coming out of the communal shower in the building were she lives. On her blog she calls him Half-Naked French Hottie. Oh, I fell in love with him!

I really liked this story! We spend almost a year and a half with Charlotte. She goes through many emotions, makes new friends and discovers something really important, herself. I was not always happy with her decisions, in fact I found myself yelling at Charlotte, “You’re screwing this up!” (Don’t you love it when you’re so into a story you start talking to the character?) But it is through these mistakes that she finds herself, and love.

I give this a 5 out of 5 stars.

On a side note: I really want one of those croissants filled with the melted, dark chocolate! Yum!

About the Author:

Fitzwilliam Darcy Rock Star By Heather Lynn Rigaud

2012-01-30T02:00:00.000-08:00

WOW! What a fantastic book! There wasn’t a dull moment in this! Fitzwilliam Darcy Rock Star is a great modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. I totally love Darcy and Elizabeth, they are both so intense. The way they get into their music to sort out their feeling is really cool.

When members, Fitzwilliam Darcy, Charles Bingley and Richard Fitzwilliam of the rock band Slurry, are in need of an opening act for their tour, they ask the all girl band, Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Bennet and Charlotte Lucas, of Long Borne Suffering, to join them and soon the sparks fly, hearts are broken, and misunderstandings happen! There are other issues in the story, one which touches on addictions.

Darcy is talented, smart and incredibly HOT! He also has control issues. Elizabeth is also smart, talented and very independent. The combination is explosive!

Touring seems like it would be very exhausting! Rigaud does show that being a rock star can be grueling but playing their music is what they love.

I loved how they would sometimes talk to each other through their music, either because it was the only way they could express how they felt or there wasn’t time to talk but they could get a message across in a song.

Fitzwilliam Darcy Rock Star ROCKS! I just had to say that. :) In case you haven’t figured it out I loved this story and would definitely give it 5 out of stars!

I would also give it a mature rating for some sexual content.

This completes the modern category, #5, from the Jane Austen Spinoffs 2012 Reading Challenge.

Comments are always welcome!

Weathered too Young By Marcia Lynn McClure

2012-01-26T02:00:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've read a Marcia Lynn McClure novel and it was so good to read this one. I love the way she writes!

Lark needs a place to stay for the winter, she is running out of options, with no job and no money she takes a job cooking and cleaning for two bachelors, Slater and Tom Evans. Their longtime housekeeper passed away and they had been trying to cook and clean, and run their ranch by themselves. Slater doesn't want Lark there in the beginning but he quickly comes to care for her even though he might not recognize the fact. The two brothers are as different as night and day. Slater is always grumpy and Tom is good-humored and likes to tease. Slater thinks Lark is hiding something, but is she the only one? Slater seems to be hiding something too.

I love a good damsel in distress story and Lark fits the bill! She is a strong woman, willing to work hard but she worries the brothers are going to send her away.

Slater is a handsome, cantankerous man. In his younger days, he spent ten years on the trail before returning home. With both their parents passed on, he and Tom run the ranch together. His hard life has aged him, he feels old and weathered, too old for someone like Lark, but he soon learns to read her and has a strong desire to protect her.

Set in the old west, this historical romance is an easy read. I love both McClure’s Contemporary Romances and her Historical Romances. My favorite contemporary romance of her’s is “Love Me”. I absolutely love that story!

I would give Weathered too Young 5 out of 5 stars!

I'd love to hear from you! Please, leave a comment!

Lizzy’s Choice By Clytie Koehler

2012-01-23T02:00:00.000-08:00

In this Pride and Prejudice variation, Elizabeth confronts Darcy on the dance floor at the Netherfield ball about Wickham. Darcy leads her out to the balcony and tells her all...including the near elopement of Wickham and Georgiana. Later that night, Elizabeth has nightmares that she marries Mr. Collins. After the ceremony she is riding in the “carriage of doom” with Collins to Hunsford where Lady Catherine is waiting with a whip in hand! I found the dream, with the way Mr. Collins was looking at Elizabeth and Lady Catherine’s whip, all rather creepy!

Darcy also has nightmares of Elizabeth marrying Mr. Collins. He cannot let her marry Collins!! He decides he must do something to stop the marriage. He takes a morning ride to think things through. Elizabeth also needs to clear her mind, so she decides to walk up to Mt. Oakham. They cross paths and after much discussion they agree on a courtship of sorts. They have plenty of issues to overcome, so they decide to keep the courtship a secret for a while. However, they do agree to confide with Mr. Bennet.

While I didn’t like the beginning of this book, I thought it got better! There is a lot going on in this story, with Lydia being seduced by Wickham and the family having to decide what to do if she “increases” to Caroline Bingley becoming mentally unstable and displaying some bizarre behavior!

I absolutely loved Jane’s talk with Darcy. Jane is very straight forward with him and he finds out there is more to Jane than he thought, which leads to a better understanding between them.

There are a few things that I found out of place. One is the family meetings they would have where they came up with the “Bennet Family Code of Conduct”. That seems too modern for a regency novel.

Overall, I liked it, but I felt it lacked something, deeper emotions maybe.

I rate it 3 out of 5 stars.

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Comments are always welcome.

Jane Austen Reading Challenge

2012-01-18T10:43:00.000-08:00

I have taken on the Explore the Many Genres of Jane Austen Spinoffs 2012 Reading Challenge on goodreads and I thought I should make a plan about what to read. Here is my list:

1. Variation Stories ~ Captain Wentworth Home From the Sea by Mary Lydon Simonsen

2. Sequel ~ Bachtsturm Castle: A Gothic Austen Novel byEmily C. A. Snyder

3. Jane Austen as a Fictional Character ~ Jane and the Madness of Lord Byron by Stephanie Barron

4. Paranormal ~ Northanger Abbey and Angels and Dragons by Vera Nazarian

5. Modern Adaptation ~ Fitzwilliam Darcy Rock Star by Heather Rigaud

6. Mystery ~Pride and Prescience or The Deception at Lyme both by Carrie Bebris

7. Supporting Characters ~ Charlotte Collins by Jennifer Becton

8. Books by Jane Austen ~ not sure which one right now... I can figure this out later.

As you can see, I have a few categories that I still haven't decided on. What I need are some good suggestions for:

#3 Jane Austen as a Fictional Character

#4 Paranormal

What new variations are coming out this year?

Do you want to join me in this challenge? You can click here.

Jan. 19, 2012
I've just updated my list but I still would love suggestions. P&P variations are my favorite and I feel I've read them all (I'm sure I haven't). I might have to reread one, if you know any that are coming out this year let me know!

Jan. 28, 2012
Okay, I added a variation that I have not read yet! My list is looking good! I'm still open for suggestions!

The Wedding Date By Christie Ridgway

2012-01-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

This was a fun little book I read during the Christmas holidays. I had been watching The Wedding Date, the movie, with Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney and thought I would like to read the book. So, I got on Amazon to find it and found there are a few books with that title. This one I could get on my kindle, so I bought it. Let me make this clear, this is a different story, NOT the story from the movie.

Trick Webster, while walking on the beach, finds a bottle with a note in it. The message is to Poseidon asking him for the perfect man, tall, blond and handsome. It is signed Emma. Far from feeling like the “perfect” man, Trick is disappointed in the “shopping list” of a perfect man. Still, he is intrigued enough to look around on the beach and see if he can find Emma.

Emma needs a date to her ex-fiancé’s wedding, who is going to marry her boss's daughter. To save face, Emma has been telling everyone at the office she is dating the perfect man. Now she just needs to find him! Trick finds her sitting on the beach, after spending the day before looking for her.

Both, having been hurt by love before, are not looking for love and are leery of it. As they get to know each other, can they keep this strictly business?

Emma is so cute! I love how she thinks Trick is unemployed and in need of a job, when he is actually wealthy and doesn't need to work! And Emma drives Trick crazy! He is so attracted to her but thinks she’ll be just like his ex-fiancé and will find him not "perfect.”

It’s a fun, quick read! I loved it.

I'd love to hear what you think! Please, leave a comment!

Review and Giveaway!

2012-01-16T08:53:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! Today I'm guest blogging at Indie Jane! I have reviewed the book Promises by Wendi Sotis. She has provided two copies to be given away! So hurry over there to win! You only have until January 23. You can click here and go straight there! Thanks!

An Unpleasant Walk by C. Rafe Carlson

2012-01-10T15:23:00.000-08:00

An Unpleasant Walk is a Pride and Prejudice variation that begins at Hunsford. While walking on one of her favorite paths, Elizabeth encounters Colonel Fitzwilliam. Things turn ugly when the Colonel suddenly pins her to a tree and attacks her. He tells her she will become his mistress and he will come to her later that night to make her his. Darcy finds her bruised and upset as she is making her way back to the parsonage. After learning the truth, he vows to help her. He forms a plan to get her to London without anyone finding out what happened and before the Colonel can come back to finish what he started.

I really like the idea of this story. I wasn't happy about Colonel Fitzwilliam being a scoundrel of the worst kind, but I thought I could get over it and love Darcy being a hero and saving Elizabeth. But most of the time her recovery is with the Gardiners. It seems to take her a long time to recover.

I did like how before getting to London, Darcy and Elizabeth were able to talk and clear the air about Jane and Bingley, and Mr. Wickham. Her shock in learning the truth about Wickham, and Colonel Fitzwilliam’s behavior makes her question her ability to judge people’s true character. Darcy is so patient and kind to Elizabeth with how he handles himself around her, especially right after the attack when she startles easily.

One of my favorite characters in this story is Mrs. Higham, the widow of the previous parson. Knowing the need to have a chaperone, Mr. Darcy asked Mrs. Higham to accompany them back to London. She is instrumental in explaining the situation to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and on occasion, counciling Mrs. Gardiner about Lizzy’s condition.

For me, there was just too much sadness in this story; it took too long to resolve. Elizabeth is not the strong woman who is able to reason out what happens to her and jump back quickly. It does end well and I enjoyed that. But overall it's not one that I would read again.

I would love to hear from you! Please, leave a comment.

Mr. Darcy’s Letter by Abigail Reynolds

2011-12-31T15:07:00.000-08:00

Hurray! I brand new book from Abigail Reynolds! I really liked this book! There were times I couldn’t put it down, but with the holidays at hand, I had to!

In this Pride and Prejudice variation, Elizabeth refuses to read Mr. Darcy’s letter, the one he writes to her after his proposal at Hunsford. As a result, Elizabeth is unaware of Mr. Wickham’s true character. She confides in him when she returns to Lougbourn and he tries to convince her to accept Darcy. What is Wickham up to?

I liked the addition of Mr. Wickham’s older brother in this story. Even though he is a bit rough, he is a descent man. Bingley actions surprised me a little, although we know he is easily swayed. I was disappointed in Elizabeth for not reading Mr. Darcy’s Letter! Which leads to one misunderstand after another! Of course, that’s what the story is about!

The story ended too quickly for me, it felt like it just stopped. There is one intimate scene for those of you who don’t care for that.

If you are a fan of Reynolds you won’t want to miss it!

Comments are always welcome!

Christmas at Pemberley By Regina Jeffers

2011-12-19T11:17:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you have a wonderful holiday season! And what a better way to get into the Christmas spirit than by reading "Christmas at Pemberley"! It is a beautiful story!

About 2 years into Darcy and Elizabeth’s marriage, the Darcys are traveling home to Pemberley when they have to seek shelter from a storm and icy roads. They are stranded at a crowded inn for several days. Unknown to Elizabeth, Darcy has arranged for her family to come to Pemberley for Christmas. Besides the Bennets and the Bingleys, Pemberley receives some other unexpected company. One is Lady Catherine! What is she doing there? Nothing good I’m sure! Caroline Bingley, Colonel Fitzwilliam (always a favorite of mine and he didn’t disappoint me in this one!), along with a few new characters are all in attendance. Georgiana has her hands full trying to entertain everyone.

Meanwhile, the Darcys, while stranded at the inn, meet the Josephs. Mrs. Joseph is about 8 months pregnant. What happens at the inn is beautiful and full of meaning as Ms. Jeffers captures the spirit of Christmas.

I really enjoyed this story and was pleasantly surprised to find an inspirational message in it! Although, it jumps back and forth a bit too much for me, it comes together nicely at the end. Overall, it’s a wonderful story and a great Christmas read!

Your comments are always welcome!

The Mysterious Death of Miss Austen by Lindsay Ashford

2011-12-04T23:22:00.000-08:00

I really liked this book! I love Jane Austen and her work but I don't know much about her personal life, so I didn't have any preconceived notions about Jane's family. Please keep in mind that this is a fictional story based on letters and diaries.

Written from the point of view of Anne Sharp, who worked as a governess for the children of Jane Austen's brother Edward. It was there that Jane and Anne became lifelong friends. Anne began to suspect Henry Austen of having an affair with Edward's wife Elizabeth. Everybody liked Henry, he was a very charming, easy to get along with kind of guy, but he was also very manipulating. There were other odd things going on in the family, but was Anne reading too much into what she saw?

I kept trying to figure out if this was all just Anne's active imagination or was it really happening. I loved trying to figure it out. It all came together at the end.

I liked learning about the family and trying to put the pieces together of what was going on. Also, did Jane write her family members into her stories?

Lindsay Ashford is a contemporary crime/mystery novelist and has a degree in criminology. When she moved to Chawton, the village where Jane had lived, she began to investigate Jane’s death.

Any thoughts? I'd love to hear from you!

Mr. Darcy's Undoing By Abigail Reynolds

2011-11-27T23:59:00.000-08:00

I read Mr. Darcy's Undoing several years ago when Reynolds was self publishing her books. It was then called Without Reserve. She was picked up by Sourcebooks, who then rereleased it as Mr. Darcy's Undoing.

The Story starts after Darcy's disastrous proposal in Kent. When she receives another proposal from a third man she decides to accept it even though she does not love him, at least she likes him and it would secure her family in the unhappy event of her fathers passing. Darcy returns with Bingley and is surprised by Liz's engagement. He goes away and returns for Bingley's wedding to find Elizabeth not married. Darcy begins to pursue her again but this time she won't have him because of her fallen reputation. She is concerned Darcy's reputation will be damaged if he marries her. Darcy cannot except this and is very persistent!

I really felt for Mr. Darcy, even I didn't like to see Elizabeth with another man! But I loved that Darcy doesn't give up. He is so determined, that he goes so far as to enlist the help of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet.

This is a fast moving, don't want to put down read. It focuses mainly on Elizabeth and Darcy. It does contain a few sexual scenes.

Abigail Reynolds is the author of several P&P variations or what-if stories. Among them is my favorite From Lambton to Longbourn, rereleased as What Would Mr. Darcy Do?. When I need a quick Darcy fix I love to read her short story Intermezzo.

What is your favorite Abigail Reynolds story?

His Good Opinion By Nancy Kelley

2011-11-21T09:24:00.001-08:00

I have read a couple of Pride and Prejudice retellings from Darcy's point of view and I must say I loved this one!

His Good Opinion starts out just before Ramsgate where Darcy surprises Georgiana with a visit and ruins Wickman's plan to elope with her. Nancy Kelley is able to expand on some of the conversations that I always wished Jane Austen would have done.

Can I just say, I love this Darcy! I love being in his head, knowing his thoughts. We see him reflecting on what Elizabeth said when she refused him. He begins to notice how he treats people beneath him. I also like the relationship he has with Georgiana, he confides in her more.

Another favorite of mine is Colonel Fitzwilliam. I delight in the banter between him and Darcy. This is the Colonel Fitzwilliam that I like! He's funny, charming and loves to tease Darcy. There were times he had me laughing out loud.

This is Nancy Kelley's first novel and a beautiful story. A definite must read! She is currently working on another story about Colonel Fitzwilliam that I can't wait to read!

Tell me what you think! I'd love to hear from you!

Guest blogging today!

2011-11-14T10:31:00.001-08:00

Today, I'm guest blogging on Indie Jane! You can read my review of Pride and Prejudice: the Jewess and the Gentile by Jane Austen and Lev Raphael. You can find it here. I hope you stop by!

definitely not mr. darcy by karen doornebos

2011-11-11T08:58:00.001-08:00

I loved it!! I definitely didn’t want it to end! Those were the first words out of my mouth when I finished the book!

Chloe Parker thinks she is going to London to do a documentary about life in 1812 England. What she discovers after arriving is that is not a documentary at all, it’s a reality TV show! She and several other women are competing to win a proposal of marriage from Mr. Sebastian Wrightman and a $100,000 prize. They have to live like people did 200 years ago. Everything had to be authentic, everything from what they wore, ate, to how they bathed. There was no cell phones, no internet, no electricity, no plumbing (she had to go in a chamber pot, with the embarrassment of the chambermaid caring it out and disposing of it! Yuck!) No Deodorant, no make up except a little strawberry rouge. It was all very interesting to read about!

I loved how they had to earn accomplishment points by learning how to needle point, make ink, mend a pen, etc. And the women were not always that nice in their endeavors to win the man and the money.

Karen Doornebos did a fantastic job on this story! It was fun to read. It made me realize, I’m glad I wasn’t born 200 years ago. With my luck, I probably would have been a chambermaid! This is a must read!

I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Tell me what you think! I'd love to hear from you!

Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy by Barbara Tiller Cole

2011-11-04T13:56:00.000-07:00

Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy is a mash up of Pride and Prejudice and A Christmas Carol. I loved this! When I first saw this book I thought it was a great idea and it didn’t let me down!

Darcy is a miserable man. He has lost the woman that he loves. He fears Elizabeth can never forgive him for Lydia’s marriage to Wickham. He feels, if he had just told the truth about Wickham this never could have happened!

It is nearly Christmas and Darcy sits in his study, drinking himself into oblivion. After falling asleep he is visited by the ghost of his mother, Anne Darcy. Who has come to tell him he needs to change his ways or suffer the consequences. She tells him that he will be visited by three other ghosts before the night is through. The ghosts of the past, present and future. One of the ghosts is Darcy’s father, I really liked how he was able to address some of the issues between them.

I loved when Darcy witnesses Elizabeth’s reaction to his comment about her not being tolerable. I also like how we learn a little bit about how things are going for Lydia and Wickham. We find out what life could be like for both Elizabeth and Georgiana.

Although, this is a short story (on my kindle only 1122 locations) it is a very fun read!

I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Let me know what you think. I'd love to hear from you!

Mr. Darcy's Bite by Mary Lydon Simonsen

2011-10-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

Here’s a good read just in time for Halloween! A Pride and Prejudice werewolf story. But this isn’t your typical werewolf story, it is a romance. Oh, Mr. Darcy is most definitely a werewolf but this is not a gruesome story. In fact, Mary Simonsen made the whole werewolf thing very interesting and surprisingly organized!

After months of Mr. Darcy calling on Elizabeth, he still hasn’t proposed and Elizabeth is getting annoyed by the whole business. Mr. Darcy is trying to figure out how tell Elizabeth that he is a werewolf. He takes her to Pemberley to tell her. While there she learns a lot about the werewolf community. She realizes the danger Darcy is in and how he needs someone next to him who can help him. She also discovers that he is not alone in the woods...there is a female wolf with him.

One of my favorite characters is Lord Fitzwilliam, the Colonel’s older brother. I love that he is a reoccurring character in Mary’s stories! He is such a lovable scoundrel! Another favorite of mine is Lady Marguerite, Darcy’s aunt on his father’s side. She is a straight forward person who tells it like it is. What a hoot! I enjoy characters like that! Mr. Darcy has also surrounded himself with an incredible staff.

I could go on and talk about another scene in the story that I love but I don’t want to spoil it for you! Let’s just say I really liked this story!

Tell me what you think! I'd love to hear from you!

My AGM Experience!

2011-10-19T09:59:00.000-07:00

I had a blast at my first AGM! It was four days of bliss, I mean what could be better than spending a long weekend with Jane Austen and friends! Let me tell you some of the highlights.

The first day was more than I thought it was going to be. I was there much earlier than expected and was able to attend "The Mysterious Death of Jane Austen" given by Lindsay Ashford the author of a book with the same title. It was fascinating! She gave a brief description of her background as a crime writer and how she came to live at Chawton and what led her to start investigating Jane's death. The book she has written is a fictional account of JA's death.

The next class "Managing Muslins" was not what I had hoped. There was a brief description about fabric but mostly on how to find things at thrift stores and making them work. She also touched on hats and accessories. I would have like to learn more about the fabric themselves and had swatches to look at. It was still a good session and I did learn a few things.

Here is a picture of the speaker's children modeling their regency attire.

I took an English Country Dance class, that was so much fun! I did better than I thought I would for the first three dances. The fourth dance I was totally confused, so I sat out the last!

The lectures by Dr. Joan Ray and Andrew Davies were fantastic! Andrew Davies brought video clips from his movies and discussed them.

Isn't this picture of the stitching on this cravat beautiful? It is all hand stitched.

This was in the "Gentlemanly Pursuits" session, where I learn a little bit about snuff, tying a cravat and firearms.

One of my favorite sessions was "Ports of the Period." Susan Mason-Milks and I went to this together. We sampled a couple of different ports. Let me tell you they tasted smooth! It is something I'll be drinking again. This was a fun session and all the women and gentlemen in the room seemed to have a good time...there was a lot of hooping and hollering going on!

At the banquet I sat with these lovely ladies. Dinner and conversation was good!

Look at this dessert!

During "how to talk like Mrs. Palmer" these two young ladies demonstrated how girls can exaggerate speech. They did a great job! They weren't even part of the lecture! The speaker, Pat Michaelson, ask if anyone would like to come up and give a demonstration. They volunteered, unrehearsed and playacted, they sounded like two birds fluttering about. Ms. Michaelson talked about exaggerated speech, using too many words like amazingly, horridly, monstrously, vastly, and the overuse of exclamation points. It totally reminded me of how I write on twitter!!!

I went to a book launch and two book signings. I brought a stack of books home with me!

I spent sometime with some wonderful women!

All around I had a fantastic time! I hope to do it again! It was the perfect weekend!

I would love to hear from you! Please leave a comment!

Caroline Bingley By Jennifer Becton

2011-10-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

Caroline Bingley is a woman most people care little about...okay, dislike a lot. So why write a story about her? Why indeed! Jennifer Becton did a marvelous job writing this story. We see Caroline for who she really is. We see her struggle to get back what she lost or what she had hoped to gain, without having to admit doing anything wrong.

The story starts when Caroline is banished, by her brother Mr. Bingley, to the home of her mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. Newton, in Northern England. While in Kendal, Caroline forms a plan to get into the upper society, a place she has always wanted to be. An old school friend is back in the area with her brother, William Charlton, who, with the passing of his father, will become a baronet. If she can marry him she can come back to London and not apologize for anything! Of course, every good plan has a few flaws.

Then there is Mr. Rushton, a person Caroline wants nothing to do with, but he is someone who stirs something inside her.

Before leaving London, Mr. Bingley has hires a companion for Caroline, Mrs. Rosemary Pickersgill. I love Mrs. Pickersgill! She takes all of Caroline’s rude behavior with such dignity and in the end proves to be a great value.

Mrs. Pickersgill and Mr. Rushton were my favorites! They didn’t let Caroline get away with much and they helped her see things clearer.

Amazing! I actually came to care for Caroline Bingley! This is a great story!

5 out of 5 stars!

Tell me what you think. I would love to hear from you!

Willoughby's Return By Jane Odiwe

2011-10-03T11:11:00.000-07:00

I’ve just finished reading Sense and Sensibility with IndieJane Book Club, so I decided I should read Willoughby’s Return (a sequel to S&S) right after. I am so glad I did! The book was really good!

It’s roughly three years later, Marianne is very much in love with her husband Colonel Brandon. Things are not always smooth sailing for the couple. Whenever a letter arrives from Eliza, Colonel Brandon’s ward, the Colonel is off to Lyme to take care of whatever is ailing her or her daughter. Marianne is jealous and resentful of the relationships his has with them.

Marianne hasn’t seen Willoughby in those three years. Suddenly he is back in there lives, showing up at functions that they are attending. While Brandon is out of town, Willoughby tries to find opportunities to speak to Marianne. This creates more tension between Marianne and Colonel Brandon.

Margaret Dashwood is now of age and has a love interest, Henry Lawrence. Unfortunately he is friends with Willoughby! There is also a mystery between Henry and Mademoiselle de Fontenay. To me, Margaret is a combination of Elinor and Marianne, doing somethings without thought of the consequence and then behaving sensibly at other times.

Mrs. Jennings is still her happy meddlesome self! Always assuming love matches and spreading gossip.

I really enjoyed reading this story. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Tell me what you think! I love hearing from you!

Mr. Darcy's Proposal by Susan Mason-Milks

2011-09-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

I always enjoy spending time with Darcy and Elizabeth. I especially like reading variations. This Pride and Prejudice variation begins in Hunsford, right before Darcy proposes to Elizabeth. Before he gets to the parsonage to propose, she receives a letter from Jane explaining that her father is seriously ill. He is not expected to live much longer and Jane pleads for her to come home quickly. In her distress, Elizabeth tells Darcy, who then offers her the use of his carriage. She questions why he would want to help since he doesn’t like her. She goes on to tell him she knows how he interfered with Jane and Bingley. This surprises him, he doesn’t propose and decides to try to change her opinion of him.

Darcy follows her to Hertfordshire bringing Bingley with him. He proposes to her there, stating that he can help her and her family in the event of her fathers death. After thinking about his offer she decided to take him up on it. It is understandably, an unhappy time for Elizabeth.

After Mr. Bennet’s death, Darcy and Elizabeth go to Pemberley, where many misunderstandings begin. I must say, I was getting a little frustrated with how long it was taking for them to begin understanding one another. When they finally resolve their differences it is very good!

Overall I really enjoyed reading this story. I would give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

Let me know what you think! I'd love to hear from you!

2011-09-20T10:53:00.000-07:00

An Arranged Marriage

By Jan Hahn

I LOVED this story! Written in the first person from Elizabeth’s point of view. Mr. Bennet passes away just days after Elizabeth refused Darcy’s proposal at Hunsford. She is so consumed with grief she forgets about Darcy’s letter and there for her opinion of him doesn’t change much. Six months later Darcy shows up at Longbourn and offers to marry Elizabeth again. This time it is an arranged marriage. If she accepts, it would help out her family tremendously. Not a good way for a marriage to begin! They go through many misunderstandings. Colonel Fitzwilliam and Georgiana are very much in the story and Lady Catherine makes an appearance. We all know how it will turn out and getting there was very good! This is definitely one I will reread in the future!

Let me know what you think. Thanks!

2011-09-17T21:15:00.000-07:00

Double Dipping

By Marilyn Brant

Marilyn Brant has written another sweet story! You might want to grab a bowl of ice cream while reading this one!

Cailtin Walsh is a second grade teacher who just found out her favorite school festival, the Harvest Hoopla, is being canceled. The man responsible for this decision is the new financial director, Garrett Ellis. Garrett has been hired to find out who has been pocketing money from the schools funds. After an investigation of each other, they team up to find the thief. They are attracted to each other right away but there are trust and commitment issues that keep getting in the way. There are some pretty hot scenes in this story. It was fantastic! It had me laughing and on occasion crying, I love it when a story does that to me. I didn’t want to put it down!

Please leave me a comment and tell me what you think!

2011-09-12T11:25:00.000-07:00

Absolute Liability

by Jennifer Becton

Wow! Fantastic book! It starts out immediately when Julia Jackson, a fraud investigator, is thought to be abducted. Julia, a former Mercer Police Officer, who now works for the Georgia Department of Insurance has to work fast through her cases to figure out who might want her out of the way. The DOI brings in another agent to help her with her investigations. Enter Speciall Agent Mark Vincent - Love him!

The suspects all have very unique and interesting personalities! My favorite is Leona, a woman body builder! Then there is Roger McKade, suspected of setting fire to his furniture warehouse. Throw in a couple of independent insurance agents. With all the suspects, I was busy trying to guess who the guilty party was through out the story.

During the whole of it, Julia is dealing with some family issues concerning her sister.

There definitely seems to be some sparks between Julia and Vincent.

This is the first of a six-book series. I can't wait to read the rest. One thing I have to know...Please tell me that Vincent is going to be in the rest of the series!

I'd love to hear what you think. Please, leave a comment!

What's going on?

2011-09-09T19:51:00.000-07:00

When did this happen? I now carry around a notebook to jot down my thoughts! Crazy! My adventure into writing is doing weird and strange things to me. Before I couldn't think of a anything to write. If I did and it was too long and I would not want to take the trouble to write down all those words. Now I love words! Again, I say crazy!

Hopefully, I'll have a new book review for you soon. I'm leaving to spend a week at the beach and I have a list of books to read. I can't wait! No school! YAY! I actually have more loaded on my kindle than I could possibly read in one week.

Here is a list of a few I'd like to get through:

Absolute Liability ~ by Jennifer Becton (currently reading)
Double Dipping ~ by Marilyn Brant
An Arranged Marriage ~ by Jan Hahn
Sense and Sensibility ~ by Jane Austen (reading with book club)
When Everything Falls Apart ~ Edited by C. E. Ellicott

Well, that sure is wishful thinking! I will have to do some family things, so I won't be reading all the time. Two of my older kids won't be joining us, they have school and work obligations. So they will stay home and take care of the dogs and chickens. But the rest will be with us.

What are you reading? Please leave a comment! Thanks!

On Any Given Sundae By Marilyn Brant

2011-09-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

I read this book in June and this is a revised review of the one I posted on goodreads.

I really like this book! Elizabeth was a shy, brainy-yack in high school & Rob was the popular jock. Almost ten years later they are thrown together when their uncles leave them for the summer to run "Tutti Frutti" ice cream shop. Rob is a successful restaurant owner in Chicago and has to return to his small hometown to help run the ice cream store. Poor Elizabeth! Can you imagine having to work with someone you had a crush on in high school! I loved that Elizabeth would stutter when she was nervous. You could understand why she was quiet & shy. Her friends were such characters and I loved how they pitched in to help run the shop! Great read!

I have Ms Brant’s new book “Double Dipping” on my TBR list and I am sure I won’t be disappointed!

2011-09-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

Darcy on the Hudson

By Mary Lydon Simonsen

Mary Simonsen definitely did her homework on this one. There is an incredible amount of history woven through out the story. The story begins in the summer of 1811. Mr. Darcy, his sister Georgianna and Mr. Bingley are on there way to visit America. While there they meet the Bennet family. Of course sparks fly between Elizabeth and Darcy but there American/British differences keep them apart. It is a turbulent time between the two countries.

A pleasant surprise in this story is Mrs. Bennet. I loved her! She is much more firm with Lydia and Kitty. She believes her girls should be capable to take care of themselves, they were taught to cook and do chores. She was wise, had common sense and her husband was proud of her.

Something else I found interesting, there are similar quotes as in the original Pride and Prejudice but are said by different people.

Excellent story! I enjoyed it very much.

Scrapbooking and Writing...

2011-09-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

Today I am supposed to begin my marathon with the MotherLOAD, a scrapbooking class on Big Picture Classes. The last nine weeks have been basic training, getting ready for twenty-six days of a layout a day.

During this class I also took another class called Write Now with Amy Sorensen, also an onlline class with Big Picture Class. That was an intense class. I didn’t finish but I learned a lot! We had a writing prompt everyday and three writing assignments a week for four weeks. Yesterday was the last day of that, but I can go back and excess the class handouts, audio messages and videos. It was well worth it!

So as I had both of these classes going on, I also started our homeschool year on August 8. Needless to say it was a busy and crazytime.

Both of these classes have taught me to let go. Let go of my perfectionism, to stop worrying about what other people think (I can’t really shut that one off very well!). Another thing that keeps me from writing is the fear of offending someone. That they might take what I say the wrong way. That is one reson I started this blog. It’s my blog and I can write what I want! (that sounded unkind). What I mean is that I hope I can write without fear on here.

Furthermore I have that blank page staring at me. The writing prompts helped with that. Just write. Just write and eventually something of substance comes out or as Amy puts it “an original thought”.

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I don’t know if I’ll every be a writer of stories. I don’t know if I am that creative or if I have that good of an imagination. I never thought I’d be that much of a reader but I am now. Who knows what the future will bring.

So, I think I’ll clear off my scrapbook table (finish the last two layouts I made) and get ready for my marathon! Wish me luck! Or better yet say a prayer for me!

My work table!

A Modern Day Persuasion by Kaitlin Saunders

2011-08-30T12:18:00.000-07:00

Okay, I’m a huge Jane Austen fan and I read many Jane Austen variations and some sequels. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite! I love P&P what ifs and variations. Persuasion is my second favorite story of Jane’s.

A Modern Day Persuasion follows the original story Persuasion pretty much exactly. Ms. Saunders did a wonderful job adapting it to the modern day. She worked out all the details so it would make sense in today’s world. I loved that in this version you know what Rick (Captain Wentworth) is thinking. The letter Rick leaves for Anne toward the end is very romantic.

This is a clean romance.

My First Post!!

2011-08-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

ahhh....my first post! What to write, what to write? The question is why did I start a blog? Especially when I don’t have enough time in the day to get done all that I need or want to get done! Well, I’m doing it to make myself write. Two, to have some place to post things more than what I would on facebook. To post about the books I read and what’s going on in my life. When I post on facebook everyone (my friends) can read it and really, who wants to read everything about me? At least on here I feel like no one else is going to read it! ;-) unless they really want to!

It’s a beginning! Now I’m not looking at a blank wall!! Please be patient with me as I begin this adventure. Hopefully my writing will get better the more I do this. That’s my plan. That’s the answer to my question!