Book Review & GIVEAWAY: Bewitched, Body and Soul By P.O. Dixon

**Sigh** Love. That's how I felt after I finished Bewitched, Body and Soul. It left me with a warm fuzzy feeling inside. It had all the elements of Pride and Prejudice but they were a little mixed up. Fun! 

In this story, after the Netherfield ball, Jane receives Caroline's letter implying Bingley’s preferance for Georgiana, leaving Jane in despair. As a result, Elizabeth goes to London to visit the Gardiners in her stead. Sure of Bingley’s love for Jane, Elizabeth sets out to find the truth. She goes to see Caroline first. With no luck there, she goes to Darcy House where she finds her self alone with Mr. Darcy. In her quest to find the truth will Elizabeth find herself in a compromising position with Mr. Darcy?

Caroline is not the only woman in the story vying for Mr. Darcy’s attention. Lady Gwendolen is also trying to become Mistress of Pemberley, the only difference ... she is much more agreeable than Caroline. 

Georgiana also plays a key-role in bringing our two lovers together. I liked how she informs Elizabeth about Wickham’s deceit.

This was a quick, fun read. I enjoyed seeing everything play out a little different but of course end up with a happily ever after! If you love JAFF, you won’t want to miss this one!

I won my copy of Bewitched, Body and Soul from Leatherbound Reviews.

Giveaway is over.


About the Author:

P O Dixon writes Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice adaptations with one overriding purpose in mind—falling in love with Darcy and Elizabeth all over again. Her initial exposure to Pride and Prejudice was in 2007. After watching the 2005 film at least two times a day for as many weeks, she determined she needed to know much more of the story's hero. After reading the novel, along with several excellent ‘what-if’ books that told the story from Mr. Darcy’s perspective, she came across a link to the online Jane Austen Fan Fiction community. Her life has never been quite the same. 

She lives in North Carolina with her husband and preteen daughter, Elizabeth. 

Connect with P O Dixon Online:

Blog: http://podixon.blogspot.com

Twitter: @podixon

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/podixon

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/podixon

Website: http://podixon.com

Email: podixon@podixon.com

~~~ Giveaway! ~~~

PO Dixon has graciously offered to giveaway one Kindle ebook copy of

 Bewitched, Body and Soul to one lucky person! All you have to do to enter is sign in with Rafflecopter and leave a comment! The more you do, the better your chance to win! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


The last day to enter is July 2, 2012. Good luck!

Time and Again: Charlotte of Miles Station By Deborah Heal

When Abby agrees to become a tutor and companion to 11 year old Merrideth for the summer, they both learn more than what text books could teach them.

Stuck in the middle of nowhere, Abby has a tough job ahead of her because Merrideth doesn’t want her help nor her company. Merrideth appears to be lazy and a bit spoiled but as Abby gets to know her better she finds Merrideth is really just an unhappy girl; unhappy that her parents are divorced, that her mom works all the time and never has time for her. 

Together they find a program on Merrideth’s computer that lets them take a virtual tour of the house they are living in. But it’s more than a virtual tour, they find themselves drawn into the life of Charlotte Miles, who lived in the same house 160 years earlier! 

They investigate the neighborhood and do research at the library to find out if what they are seeing on the computer is true. During this time they meet some interesting people and make some new friends.

When something happens to Charlotte, Merrideth becomes upset and questions God. She feels, just as in her life, God controls us like puppets for his amusement.  Abby goes back in the program and by changing views, she shows Merrideth what is happening from a different perspective. She can show Merrideth that things happen for a reason. Just as God can see everything, Merrideth could see how God was really protecting Charlotte.   

I enjoyed this story even though it never quite grabbed me. It moved along at an even pace and I learn somethings along the way. It has a great message without being preachy. I think it would be great for younger readers.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” Romans 8:28

I was provided a copy of the book for review.

Buy a copy of Time and Again here.

Any thoughts? I would love to hear from you!

Three's A Crowd winners!

Random.org has picked two winners!

to:

Margaret 

and

Erica!

Thanks to all who entered! 

If you didn't win you can buy a copy here!

Margaret and Erica you should be receiving an email shortly.

Goodly Creatures By Beth Massey

This Pride & Prejudice variation deals with a very hard issue...rape, based on this I was leary to read it, but I was happy to find the details of the rape were not expounded upon and as I read on, I found the story very good! I loved how Lizzy deals with the situation, how very strong and brave she is. How she is able to go on and help her family. There was a level of angst throughout most of the story that kept me wanting to read more! I had many late nights reading this, as it is a rather long story.

At age 15, Elizabeth is in London visiting the Gardiners. They go to the theater one night where they make the acquaintance of the Darcys. She becomes a visitor of Darcy House a few times until one day she finds herself alone with the Viscount, Darcy's cousin.  That's when her life is shaken and turned up side down.

I loved this Lizzy! Like I said, she is strong. I really liked how she didn’t wallow in self-pity, even though she had her fears, sadness and guilt to deal with, as she kept this secret even from her family. She also wanted to make sure her sisters weren’t as naive as she was.  

There is so much going on in this story I can’t possibly cover it all but let me say, I loved all the Bennet sisters and their new stories. Lydia is a bit more discerning in this variation, she is still silly and loves a man in uniform, but she is able to read people a little better. Mary is not as solemn, and I was amused when her and Mr. Bennet team up to solve a mystery! I loved Colonel Fitzwilliam, Georgiana, and several of the new characters Massey brings into the story, like Mr. Reynolds, the nephew of Mrs. Reynolds. Amazingly enough I even liked Mr. Collins! 

This story had me crying and laughing! But with all the emotions I felt through out the book, I felt the ending was a little flat. Don’t get me wrong they had their Happily Ever After. I felt for Lizzy’s pain, fear, and her brave front but I thought I should have felt more for her joy at the end. I was happy for her, it just didn’t evoke the same amount of emotion for me.

This story is a great read and I would definitely recommend it.

4 out of 5 stars.

I was provided a copy of the book for review.

Buy a copy: Amazon

About the Author:

Beth Massey lives in Chicago with her husband of forty plus years.

Her first love as child in Chattanooga, Tennessee was the theatre.  She spent her youth preparing for a creative life on the stage.  A voracious reader, she devoured plays and novels with an eye toward imagining how she would play certain characters.  Beth joined the Chattanooga Little Theatre’s youth  troupe at age eight.  She was awarded a work study scholarship to Monticello College in Godfrey, Illinois in the theatre department.  While there, she played numerous roles—from Shaw to Shakespeare.  After transferring to Barnard College in New York City as a junior in 1967, she switched her major to literature.  But, ‘the times they were a changing.’  She threw herself into the struggle against war, racism and the emerging women’s liberation movement that had broken out all over the United States.  One of her first acts of expressing her convictions was to participate in the Columbia University student strike in the spring of 1968. 

     It was during this time, she met her husband Bill.  Together the two—first as friends and then as partners—have devoted their lives to political activism.  Beth spent her working hours as a payroll manager.  In 2008, her job of seventeen years was outsourced.  Given a compensation package that allowed her to stay home with an already retired Bill, she embraced the opportunity that working ‘9 to 5’ had made a challenge for most of the years of their marriage.  Though Bill’s ability to be active has been curtailed by AMD, COPD and a debilitating essential tremor, his wit and knowledge are as sharp as ever.  Ms Massey now spends her days in the company of her well-informed best friend and the two are free to engage in a great deal of conversation.  Jane Austen would approve.  

     Beth may have left a life in the theatre behind, but the desire for a creative outlet and a need to sketch the human character is still fervent.  Goodly Creatures is the first endeavor of her new found leisure time.  

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

Book Launch: Three's a Crowd by Mary Lydon Simonsen and Giveaway

It is my great honor to host Mary Simonsen as she launches her new book Three's a Crowd.

Candy, Thank you for helping me launch Three’s A Crowd, my first mystery. Most of my readers know me for my Jane Austen re-imaginings, but after six years of penning stories about Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion, I was looking for a change—at least for a while.

Three’s A Crowd is the first in a series of mysteries involving Patrick Shea, a detective with a Criminal Investigation Department in London. Although Patrick’s career is on an upward trajectory, his love life is a bit of a mess, and that’s because he’s all about the job. He has a strong sense of right and wrong, and he wants to put the bad guys behind bars. His devotion to his career has cost him his marriage and a girlfriend, and it’s all he can do to carve out time for the eight-year-old son he adores. Three’s A Crowd is a novella and an introduction to Patrick Shea, a young, intelligent, witty, and dedicated professional. I hope you will give him a try. To encourage you to do so, I am giving away two e-books of Three’s A Crowd. Please leave a comment and your e-mail address. The winners will be announced on June 14, 2012.

About the Author:

Primarily a writer of Austen re-imaginings, Mary Simonsen has penned her first mystery, Three’s a Crowd. She has also published four novels with Sourcebooks, including Mr. Darcy’s Bite, and has self-published several Austen tie-ins, including her latest, Becoming Elizabeth Darcy. Her favorite Austen title: a tie between Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice. Her favorite mystery writer: Michael Connelly. Mary is a wife, mother, grandmother, and fanatical recycler. She lives in Arizona.

For more information on Mary's books, please visit her blog and Austen Authors. 

Candy's Review:

Mary Simonsen has stepped out of the Austen world and into a modern English detective story with Three's a Crowd. I did have to laugh when she mentions Collin Firth! This is not her first non-Austen work but I believe it is her first mystery. It’s a modern, edgy mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed!

Detective Sargent Patrick Shea is one hot copper! He works for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in London's Metropolitan Police. He has dreams of advancing to Scotland Yard.  He also has a high ethical standard and is very devoted to his job, so much so it has cost him his marriage.

Annie Jameson, Shea's ex-girlfriend, is assaulted and he feels it's his duty to find the assailant. He is investigating the case on the side because it did not happen on his patch. Why would someone want to hurt Annie and what did the assailant whisper in her ear?

I adore Patrick Shea! He’s cute, with a smile that would get him almost anything...at least from the ladies, but I didn’t find him at all cocky, just a genuine good-guy. He also has a good sense of humor which is a good thing because with his good-looks and that charming smile, the guys at the station (or nick as it’s called) often found something to poke fun at him with, especially after he receives a rose from a burglar that he has just captured! 

Three's a Crowd is a novella meant to introduce us to Patrick Shea. That does not mean it is lacking in any way; it felt complete. There are a few side stories (routine cases), which keep the story moving along as the main story builds. I found I really enjoyed getting to know Patrick and the rest of the characters in this story. I am looking forward to reading more in this series! 

Congratulations, Mary!

Book was provided by the author for review.

Buy a copy at  Amazon.

~~Giveaway!~~

Mary is giving away an e-book to two lucky people. All you have to do to win is:

• Leave a comment with your email address included!
• Tweet about giveaway (can be done once daily)
• Facebook about giveaway

Be sure to leave a comment for each thing you do. The last day to enter is June 13, 2012.