Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Fortune and Felicity ~ Spotlight!

Happy Release Day! Monica Fairview’s new book Fortune and Felicity is out today! Woot! Congratulations, Monica!

I’m thrilled to show you this book! It looks beautiful, and I’m looking forward to reading it! I know I’ve said this before, but I wish I read faster so I could read all the books! 




Fortune & Felicity
by Monica Fairview

In this Pride & Prejudice variation, Elizabeth and Darcy have a second chance to get things right. Will they be able to come together this time, or will pride intervene yet again? 

Seven years after Darcy’s disastrous proposal, Darcy is in need, not of a wife, but of a governess for his young daughter. Imagine his surprise when he discovers Elizabeth Bennet on the list of possible candidates provided by the employment agency. The question is, should he take her on as a governess, or would he be playing with fire? 

Elizabeth Bennet is forced by her reduced circumstances to take on a position. However, when Mr. Darcy invites her for an interview, she is embarrassed and humiliated. How could she possibly live under the same roof as the man she had rejected so strongly seven years ago? 

Whatever decision she makes, there will be a high price to pay… one way or the other. 

Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads

FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 


About the Author

Monica Fairview writes Jane Austen variations and sequels. After graduating from the University of Illinois, she worked as a literature professor and then as an acupuncturist in Boston before moving to London.

Monica loves anything to do with the nineteenth century, and obsessively follows every period drama she can find. On rainy days, she loves to watch ‘Pride & Prejudice’ (all adaptations), ‘North & South’, ‘Cranford’, or ‘Downtown Abbey’.

Among Monica’s Kindle best-selling novels are Mysterious Mr. Darcy, the Darcy Novels trilogy, two books in the Darcy Cousins series, and the quirky futuristic P&P inspired Steampunk Darcy. She has also published several traditional Regencies. Her latest Pride and Prejudice what-if is Fortune and Felicity.

Monica Fairview’s real claim to fame is that she lived in Elizabeth Gaskell’s house in Manchester as a teenager, in the days when it was faded and neglected, so you could say she has the smog of North and South in her blood. 

Apart from her avid historical interests, Monica enjoys reading fantasy and post-apocalyptic novels, but avoids zombies like the plague. She loves to laugh, drink lots of tea, and visit Regency houses, and she is convinced that her two cats can understand everything she says.

She is a member of the UK Romantic Novelists’ Association.

Connect with Monica Fairview



If you want to see my thoughts on Steampunk Darcy, click here! (Hint: I loved it!) 

Many thanks to Laurel Ann Nattress @ Austenpose for organizing and including me in this tour! 

So, what do you think? Are you looking forward to reading this as much as me?

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Lakeshire Park Blog Tour ~ My Review

Hello, my friends! It's my pleasure to be part of the Lakeshire Park Blog Tour! 



My Review

Lakeshire Park is a sweet Regency romance. This fun, low angst story is perfect for the current trying times! 

Set in 1820, Amelia Moor and her sister Clare will soon be on their own. When their step-father, Lord Gray, dies, he obligation to them ends. With no family, money or inheritance, they will be destitute. Lord Gray gave them one season to find husbands, but the girls returned home with no attachments. 

When an invitation comes to attend a house party, it’s Amelia's hope to secure a match between Clara and Sir Ronald. Because time is running out. Lord Gray is deathly ill.

It’s not going to be as easy as Amelia hopes! They find Georgiana Woods and her brother Peter are at the party also, and Georgiana wants Sir Ronald for herself. Peter is there to help Georgiana get want ever she wants. Amelia finds Peter one of the most infuriating man she’s ever met. Still, she strikes a bargain with him to stop interfering. He agrees to leave Georgiana and Clara to their own devices if Amelia agrees to spend every afternoon with him. 

I loved Peter and found him very amusing. He likes to irritate and tease Amelia. And because of a disagreeable first impression, Amelia looks for every reason not to like him. 

Amelia is a practical person. She doesn’t believe in love. Not romantic love, but making sure Clara is happy is essential to her.  And she’s willing to do anything to make sure Clara’s future is secure. But could spending so much time with Peter change her belief in love? 


I delighted in reading Lakeshire Park! It was fun, sweet, and a lovely getaway!



  
Lakeshire Park
by Megan Walker

Publication Date: April 7, 2020
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Pages: 256
Received: From the publisher for my honest review.
Rating: 4 stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION: 

Brighton, England 1820  

Amelia Moore wants only one thing--to secure the future happiness of her younger sister, Clara. With their stepfather's looming death, the two sisters will soon be on their own--without family, a home, or a penny to their names. When an invitation arrives to join a house party at Lakeshire Park, Amelia grasps at the chance. If she can encourage a match between Clara and their host, Sir Ronald, then at least her sister will be taken care of. 

Little does she know that another guest, the arrogant and overconfident Mr. Peter Wood, is after the same goal for his own sister. Amelia and Peter begin a rivalry that Amelia has no choice but to win. But competing against Peter--and eventually playing by his rules--makes Amelia vulnerable to losing the only thing she has left to claim: her heart.

Buy:  Amazon* • Barnes & NobleBook DepositoryIndieboundAudible*
Add to Goodreads.

*FTC Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!


About the Author

Megan Walker was raised on a berry farm in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where her imagination took her to times past and worlds away. While earning her degree in Early Childhood Education, she married her one true love and started a family. But her imaginings of Regency England wouldn't leave her alone, so she picked up a pen and wrote her first novella, A Beautiful Love: A Regency Fairy Tale Retelling which was published in 2019. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband and three children. Lakeshire Park is her debut novel. 


Connect with Megan Walker



LAKESHIRE PARK BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

April 06      The Silver Petticoat Review (Guest Blog)
April 06      Katie's Clean Book Collection (Review)
April 06      The Readathon (Review)
April 06      Getting Your Read On (Review)
April 07      Heidi Reads (Review) 
April 07      Romance Junkies (Guest Blog)
April 08      The Calico Critic (Spotlight)
April 08      Timeless Novels (Review)
April 09      Gwendalyn's Books (Review)
April 09      From Pemberley to Milton (Excerpt) 
April 10      Courtney Reads Romance (Review) 
April 11      Clean Wholesome Romance (Spotlight)
April 12      The Christian Fiction Girl (Review)
April 12      English Historical Fiction Authors (Guest Blog)
April 14      Joy of Reading (Review) 
April 15      The Book Diva’s Reads (Review)
April 15      Katie's Clean Book Collection (Interview)
April 16      Frolic Media (Excerpt)
April 17      The Lit Bitch (Review)
April 18      Book Confessions of an Ex-Ballerina (Review)
April 19      Robin Loves Reading (Review)
April 19      My Jane Austen Book Club (Guest Blog)
April 20      Bringing Up Books (Review)
April 20      Austenprose—A Jane Austen Blog (Review)
April 21      Lu Reviews Books (Review)
April 22      Bookworm Lisa (Excerpt)
April 22      Austenesque Reviews (Review)
April 23      So Little Time…So Much to Read (Review)
April 24      Half Agony, Half Hope (Review)
April 25      Relz Reviewz (Review)
April 26      Bookish Rantings (Review) 
April 27      Probably at the Library (Review) 
April 27      Christian Chick's Thoughts (Review) 
April 28      Laura's Reviews (Review) 
April 28      Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen (Review) 
April 29      Heidi Reads (Interview)
April 29      Bookfoolery (Review)
April 29      From Pemberley to Milton (Review) 
April 30      The Caffeinated Bibliophile (Excerpt)
April 30      A Bookish Way of Life (Review)
May 01      Bookworm Lisa (Review) 
May 01      Impressions in Ink (Review)



Many thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing for sending me a copy of Lakeshire Park!

A big THANKS goes to Laurel Ann at Austenprose for organizing and including me in this blog tour!

Friends, I hope you get a chance to read Lakeshire Park! Please, feel free to leave a comment below! 

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

What Are You Reading ~ April 22, 2020

* * Post contains affiliate links. * *


What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finished reading, and what you plan on reading next! 

Current Read 


I'm currently reading Attachments* by Rainbow Rowell. I'm loving this story! I started reading it because I needed something to read in bed. I read on my Kindle Fire with the blue light turned off and very dim so I don't disturb my husband. The problem with this story is that it's funny and I have to muffle my laughter! LOL! 





Recently Finished


I finished reading In the Shadow of Blackbirds* by Cat Winters. I loved this paranormal mystery set during the 1918 Flu epidemic. Historically, I didn't realize (it just didn't click in my head) that this epidemic hit at the same time WWI was going on and we lost so many men during that too. What a crushing time. Plus, there were photographers claiming to be able to capture the spirit of a loved one on film. ~ 5 stars.





What's next?


I'm going to start reading Taken* by Mary Anne Mashatt soon. 








*Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 


So, tell me, what are you reading? I hope you are all doing well!  

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

The Bennet Affair Blog Tour ~ An interview with Elizabeth Bennet & Excerpt

Hello, my friends! Riana Everly is visiting today with a fun interview with Elizabeth Bennet and an excerpt from her new book, The Bennet Affair! I hope you enjoy both the interview and the excerpt as much as I did! 





Riana's interview with Miss Elizabeth Bennet



Riana: Good afternoon, Miss Bennet. Thank you for joining
Image of Lady Caroline Gordon, 
my version of Elizabeth Bennet
us today. It is a pleasure to have you here.


EB: It is my pleasure to be here. I am pleased to answer your questions.

Riana: First of all, our readers would love to know more about your bedchamber at Longbourn. I think we would all like a room like that. What can you tell us about it?

EB: Oh, I love my bedchamber! Longbourn started off as a Medieval stronghold, with high walls and towers, a place to defend against attackers and to protect its inhabitants. Over the centuries, much of the old buildings crumbled or were taken down, to be replaced with newer, more modern buildings. At this moment, the only part of the Medieval stronghold that survives is the tower, which now is attached to a very modern building with all the amenities of our times. My parents and sisters have their rooms in this new building, and there is a long passageway that connects to the tower on all three stories of the house.

But my bedchamber is in the tower! I loved this room as a child, and when I made my discovery, I knew I had to have this room as my own.

Riana: What discovery was that, Miss Bennet?

EB: You seek to discover my secrets! (She laughs) Very well. When the tower was built, there needed to be means of moving throughout the structure and even escaping the building in times of attack. There are secret passages and hidden stairwells built into its very walls, and when I was a child I discovered one of these sets of stairs. There is an entrance from my room through a panel by the fireplace, leading up to the storage space above and down to the small sitting room below. No one else seemed to know about this hidden passage, and it became my refuge, there to sit with a lamp and read, free from the noise of my family.

Riana: How wonderful! Were you never frightened there?

EB: Oh, no indeed! The stairwell is narrow but not overly so, and I was the only person in the house who seemed aware of it. I felt very safe there. It was my own perfect magic kingdom.

Riana: Our readers would also love to hear about your first encounter with Mr. Darcy. Are you willing to talk about that?

EB: (Her face clouds over) Very well, although I do not look back on that memory with much pleasure. It was at the Meryton Assembly, where men were scarce. Our new neighbour, Mr. Bingley, arrived with a small party of guests, and he urged Mr. Darcy to dance with me. The man refused, saying it would be painful to stand up with one such as myself. 

Only later did I discover that he meant the words literally – that he had been gravely injured, and that dancing was beyond his capabilities at that time, that such an activity would bring him a great deal of physical pain. I ought to have forgiven him at once, but his initial words had been so callous and rude, it was a long time before I could tolerate his company with enjoyment.

Riana: Thank you so much for your time today. It is always a delight to speak with you.


Image of Drum Castle in Scotland, which I imagine to look a bit like Longbourn, with its ancient tower and more modern main house


Excerpt:

“What are you doing here?” 

This time he was able to formulate a response. “I awoke and heard a noise…” She levelled her eyes at him. “That is, I was looking for something to read and…” His eyes were wide and the expression of disbelief upon his face almost convincing. “I came in here and…” He shook his head and raised a hand to brush his dishevelled hair from his face, then grimaced at the pain the motion seemed to have caused. At last he took a deep breath and burst out, “There is a secret staircase in your walls, leading into this room, and three men emerged, then escaped into the night.”

Now it was Lizzy’s turn to be stunned. If he were so shocked, if he were telling her this, he could not at all be one of Papa’s collaborators. Nor could he be a professional spy, like the one she had overheard in the carriage. Could he? Besides which…

“What? Another staircase?” the words escaped her before she could think to hold them back.

He blinked again, but this time his expression was of surprise. “Another one? You mean to say that there is more than one hidden staircase?” And then, after a moment he added, his voice more even, “Why were you more alarmed at the presence of another hidden stairwell than at the presence of three strangers in your walls? What do you know about them?”

Now it was her turn to search for words. “I do not completely trust you, Mr. Darcy, but these days I find I trust no one. I believe we need to have a candid conversation. We could use the sitting room, but even now I fear being overheard. I may be mad to suggest this, but I beg your indulgence and your discretion. Please follow me.”

Whatever was she thinking to do this? She had been so careful earlier to have both Mr. Darcy’s footman and a maid in his room whilst she was tending to his megrim, but now she was considering something so very much more scandalous. She claimed she did not trust him, and she had tried very much not to like him, but despite both her efforts and Mr. Wickham’s words, she felt that this man was no threat to her, whatever danger he may be to her reputation were they to be found together alone at this hour of night.

With a fortifying breath, she led him from the library and into the drawing room, where she turned to face him again. “Please close your eyes, sir. I would keep as much of this secret as possible.” He obliged by both squeezing his eyes shut and turning around. She found the knob on the side of the fireplace that matched the one in her room above and waited for the panel in the wall beside it to open. “You may look again.”

“Most interesting,” was all he said, and he followed her up the narrow curving stairwell until she reached the landing by her chambers. With a push of a lever, the panel opened, and she led this most unexpected guest into her private bedroom.

She set the lamp upon a small table near the fireplace, and drew up two chairs, offering one to her guest. He seemed surprised by his surroundings, although he kept his movements calm, allowing only his eyes to rove around the space.

“Your bedchamber, Miss Elizabeth? I understand now why you asked for my discretion.” He nodded, which she took as an acceptance of that charge. “I would have imagined you to reside in the main wing of the house with your family.” He left unsaid the question of her choice, but she chose to answer it, regardless.

“I had to plead for months to be allowed this room. Mama was set against it, but after I discovered the stairs…”

“So you have known about these for a long time.” He bestowed upon her one of his private smiles, and she knew he understood her.


“Yes, and I was certain Papa did not know. But the other stairs, the ones leading to the library, those I knew nothing about!”





The Bennet Affair
by Riana Everly

Blurb 

A tale of secrets, sweethearts, and spies!

Elizabeth Bennet’s bedroom in the ancient tower of Longbourn has always been her private haven. So what are those footsteps and shuffling noises she’s now hearing from the room above her head? Drawn from her bed one dark summer night, her clandestine investigations land her in the middle of what looks like a gang of French spies!

William Darcy’s summer has been awful so far, especially after barely rescuing his sister from a most injudicious elopement. Then he is attacked and almost killed nearly at his own front door in one of the best parts of London. Luckily his saviour and new friend, Lord Stanton, has a grand suggestion—recuperate in the countryside and help uncover the workings of a ring of French spies, rumoured to be led by none other than country squire Thomas Bennet!

Drawn together as they work to uncover the truth about the Frenchmen hiding in their midst, Elizabeth and Darcy must use all their intellect as they are confronted with an ingenious code machine, a variety of clockwork devices, ancient secrets and very modern traitors to the Crown. And somewhere along the line, they just might lose their hearts and discover true love—assuming they survive what they learn in the Bennet affair.

The Bennet Affair is a full-length JAFF novel of about 112, 000 words.

Buy: AmazonBooks2Read
Add to Goodreads

FTC Disclaimer: Book link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!

About the Author

Riana Everly was born in South Africa, but has called Canada home since she was eight years old. She has a Master’s degree in Medieval Studies and is trained as a classical musician, specialising in Baroque and early Classical music. She first encountered Jane Austen when her father handed her a copy of Emma at age 11, and has never looked back. 

Riana now lives in Toronto with her family. When she is not writing, she can often be found playing string quartets with friends, biking around the beautiful province of Ontario with her husband, trying to improve her photography, thinking about what to make for dinner, and, of course, reading!

Riana’s novels have received several awards and citations as favourite reads of the year, including two Jane Austen Awards and a Discovering Diamonds review.


You can follow Riana's blog, and join her on Facebook, and Twitter (@RianaEverly). She loves meeting readers!



Connect with Contact





Blog Tour Schedule

April 21 ~ So Little Time… 
April 24 ~ Author Takeover at The Historical Fiction Club



Thank you, Riana, for visiting here today! It's always a pleasure to have you here!

Wow! I love Elizabeth's bedchamber! It would be so fun to explore the secret chambers! This story sounds so interesting! I'm really looking forward to reading it! Thank you! 

So, friends, what do you think? Are you intrigued by that excerpt? 

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

What Are You Reading? ~ April 15, 2020

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Happy Wednesday, my friends! I hope you are all doing well! We celebrated Easter here by watching church online and having a delicious dinner together. I also made some scrumptious cinnamon rolls for breakfast! 


What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finished reading, and what you plan on reading next! 

Current Read

I just started In the Shadow of Blackbirds* by Cat Winters. So far, it's terrific. It is set in 1918 during the Spanish Flu epidemic. It feels much like today with everyone wearing masks! I bought this book last year when I heard Cat Winters speak at the LA Festival of Books. I didn't realize it was set during an epidemic until I saw a tweet by Cat recently. So, I thought now would be a good time to read it! Lol!




Recently Finished


I finished reading Lakeshire Park* by Megan Walker. I'm working on a review now and should have it posted on the 23rd as part of the blog tour! I hope you can stop by for that! 






What's next? 


I will probably start reading Taken* by Mary Anne Mushatt. 








*Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 



Here's a picture of my delicious cinnamon rolls!



So, tell me, what are you reading? Stay safe out there!  

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

What Are You Reading? ~ April 8, 2020

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Hello, my friends! I hope this post finds you all well! I didn't get any reading done last week because I was busy making masks for my family and some of my kid's co-workers. And I forgot to post my Wednesday post! So, I'm going to let you know what I've been reading since the last time I posted! :)


What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finished reading, and what you plan on reading next! 

Current Read



I'm currently reading Lakeshire Park* by Megan Walker. I'm not too far into it, but I'm enjoying it! It's a Regency romance. I'm part of the upcoming blog tour and will be posting a review.






Recently Finished


I finished reading Educated: A Memoir* by Tara Westover. What a fascinating read! I thought the beginning when Tara was a child was a bit slow, but boy, as she got older, it was incredible. I don't know how her family survived some of the incidences she describes in the story. I couldn't stop reading it. ~ 5 stars.





I also finished reading Live, Love, Longbourn* by Jennifer Becton. I really enjoyed this feel-good story! I loved the quirky little town the Bennet sisters live in, and with Charlotte going to be the chef at Elizabeth's new Inn, I thought it had a little bit of a Gilmore Girls feel to it! I can't wait to read the rest of the sister's stories! ~ 4 stars

Jennifer Becton talks a little about what inspired her to write Live, Love, Longbourn. You can check that out here. 




What's next? 

I'm not sure... whatever catches my fancy! ;) 


*Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 





So, tell me, what are you reading? Stay safe out there!  
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