Monthly Wrap-Up - August 2020

 Hello, my friends! Well, it's been a month since I posted a "What Are You Reading?" post, and I joked the last time that I might as well post a "Monthly Wrap-Up" instead. Haha, so that's what I'm doing! I was in a gigantic reading slump all summer. I think it might be over - fingers crossed! 

Here's what I read in August:

Serious Moonlight* by Jenn Bennett - I finally finished this after starting back in February. I can't remember why I set it aside then, but I did pick it back up. It was okay, but it just never grabbed me. Maybe I still wasn't in the mood for it. 

Vassa in the Night* by Sarah Porter - I received this book a couple of years ago in a YA book subscription box and decided to give it a try.  This story is so bizarre and dark. Like Alice going down the rabbit hole, Vassa gets caught in an odd and dangerous convenience store. The story kept drawing me in; I had to find out what happens to Vassa and her magical doll! Although strange, I really enjoyed it! 

The Woman in the Window* by A.J. Finn - I loved this suspense/thriller! Anna Fox is stuck in her house; she's an agoraphobic who has panic attacks every time she steps out of her home. That in itself is interesting, add in that she sees something she shouldn't, and it's gripping! I liked how you weren't sure what was real and what was Anna's imagination. Did she really see what she thought she did? Also, I loved all the Hitchcock and old movie references! 

Eleven* by Patricia Reilly Giff - This is a great middle-grade mystery about a boy who finds a newspaper clipping of a missing boy in the attic, and it's him! Now he has to figure out who he is and who are the people he's living with. 

Audiobooks

The Scarlet Letter* by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I'm glad I listened to this one. It's was a little too wordy for me, I would have never gotten through it otherwise! It's an interesting look into the Puritan life and early America - also how guilt can slowly eat at you.

The Aussie Next Door* by Stefani London - This was a fun romantic comedy to listen to! The narrator, Summer Morton (no relation, lol), did a fantastic job with the character voices!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* by J.K Rowling - Listening to this on a long drive was wonderful! It's my favorite of the Harry Potter books. 

*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! 

I took a long road trip to Montana to visit a friend. It was so nice to get away and see another part of the country! We had planned to go hiking in Glacier Park and had reservations at a hotel there, but our plans where canceled due to COVID. Still, we had a good time hanging out at her house. We did a short hike and some kayaking. It was so beautiful! 

 

So, what was your August like? Did you get to venture out? As always, let me know what you are reading! It's a great way to find new books! Thanks! I hope you all are doing well! 

Guest Post with Victory Kincaid ~ Excerpt & Giveaway!

Hello, friends! I'm so happy to have Victoria Kincaid visiting here today with an announcement about two new audiobooks! She also has an excerpt from one of the books, plus there's a giveaway! Details are at the bottom of the page. 

Hi Candy!  Thank you for having me as a guest today!  I am here to announce the recent release of two new audiobooks for Darcy vs. Bennet and When Jane Got Angry—both narrated by Stevie Zimmerman, who (as always) does a wonderful job with the voices of our favorite Pride and Prejudice characters. 

Below is an excerpt from Darcy vs. Bennet.  Right before this scene, from near the beginning of the book, Elizabeth and Darcy have met for the first time at a masquerade ball and have danced.  While Darcy fetches some lemonade, Elizabeth notices Georgiana (whom she has seen Darcy speaking with but has not been introduced to) meeting a young man in the garden.  

     What was a girl of Georgiana’s tender years about, embracing and kissing a man like that?  Where was her companion?  She was not yet out, so she could not be betrothed, and no one would embrace a relative in such a way.  I must do something or William’s sister will soon be ruined!

     The easiest course of action would be to await William’s return, but obtaining lemonade could take some time in a large crowd.  It was why she had chosen that errand for him.  By the time he returned, his sister’s reputation could be damaged beyond repair.

     And Elizabeth knew no one else at the ball, no one who might intervene. 

     Without a conscious decision, Elizabeth found herself hurrying across the veranda and down the steps to the garden.  She sped along the garden paths, brushing against a couple of guests without apologies.  How fortunate no one knew her identity.  Finally, she reached the entrance of the small area she had observed before.  She paused for a moment to collect herself and then turned the corner. 

     The couple remained in position, intimately drawn together.  The man’s hand was stroking Georgiana’s hair while the other held her waist.  She touched only the sleeve of his coat but gazed into his eyes with adoration.  The man wore no mask, suggesting that he was also an uninvited guest.

     “Georgiana!  I have been looking all over creation for you!”  Elizabeth spoke loudly in the hopes of attracting attention from other guests.  She walked boldly toward the couple, ignoring the man and closing her hand around the girl’s wrist.  “I need your help desperately!  Mama wants me to dance with this most dreadful man.  He is fat and greasy, and he has the moistest hands in England.  You can talk to her about it!  She will listen to you.”

     She tugged a stunned Georgiana away from the man, who promptly released her and stepped back as if to pretend there had never been inappropriate contact.  

     “W-Who are you?” Georgiana stuttered. 

     “You don’t know this chit?” the man demanded of Georgiana. 

     “We spoke at length at dinner last night.  Pray, do not tell me you forgot already!  I told you—”    Elizabeth hoped a constant stream of chatter would drown out Georgiana’s objections and the young man’s questions.  

     A crease formed between Georgiana’s brows.  “I sat next to Lord Pippenworth last night.” 

     Elizabeth shook her head impatiently.  “Perhaps it was the night before.  I cannot recall…” 

     “You need not go with her!” the man cried as he grabbed Georgiana’s hand, pulling her in one direction while Elizabeth pulled in another.  

     “I do not know you!” Georgiana cried in dismay, trying to free her hand from Elizabeth’s grasp.

     Elizabeth talked over them, desperation making her bolder.  “—and then when I was dancing with William, he spoke of—”

     “William!” Georgiana and the young man said in unison.  Georgiana seemed perplexed, but the man had blanched.  No doubt he wished to avoid Georgiana’s brother.  

     “Yes.”  Elizabeth pretended to be oblivious to their alarm.  “He is an excellent dancer and cuts a fine figure…”

     “Why, I thank you,” said a voice behind her.  She whirled to see William standing in the entrance, holding a small glass of lemonade.  Had he always been so tall and imposing?  Fortunately, his glare was not turned on Elizabeth but on the other man, whose face had drained of color.  

     “Wickham,” William growled.  “There can be no legitimate purpose for your presence here.  You are no friend of the Berwicks.  And the last time we spoke, I warned you to stay away from Georgiana!”  He took a menacing step toward the brown-haired man, who cowered, pressing his back against the surrounding hedges.

     “No, Brother!”  Georgiana grabbed onto William’s arm.  “We are in love!  He will take me to Gretna Green.”  Then her hand flew to her mouth as if to stifle words already spoken.

Darcy vs. Bennet
by Victoria Kincaid

Elizabeth Bennet is drawn to a handsome, mysterious man she meets at a masquerade ball. However, she gives up all hope for a future with him when she learns he is the son of George Darcy, the man who ruined her father's life. 

Despite her father's demand that she avoid the younger Darcy, when he appears in Hertfordshire, Elizabeth cannot stop thinking about him, seeking him out, or welcoming his kisses.... 

Fitzwilliam Darcy has struggled to carve out a life independent from his father's vindictive temperament and domineering ways, although the elder Darcy still controls the purse strings. 

After meeting Elizabeth Bennet, Darcy cannot imagine marrying anyone else, even though his father despises her family. 

More than anything, he wants to make her his wife, but doing so would mean sacrificing everything else.... 

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!

When Jane Got Angry: A Pride and Prejudice Novella
by Victoria Kincaid

A Pride and Prejudice Variation  

When Mr. Bingley abruptly left Hertfordshire, Jane Bennet's heart was broken. Since arriving in London to visit her aunt and uncle, Jane has been hoping to encounter Mr. Bingley; however, it becomes clear that his sister is keeping them apart. But what would happen if she took matters into her own hands? Defying social convention, she sets out to alert Mr. Bingley to her presence in London, hoping to rekindle the sparks of their relationship. 

Bingley is thrilled to encounter Jane and renew their acquaintance, but his sister has told him several lies about the Bennets - and his best friend, Mr. Darcy, still opposes any relationship. As Jane and Bingley sort through this web of deceit, they both find it difficult to maintain their customary equanimity. 

However, they also discover that sometimes good things happen when Jane gets angry.

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

Victoria Kincaid is the author of several popular Jane Austen variations, including The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth, Pride & Proposals,  Mr. Darcy to the Rescue, When Mary Met the Colonel, and Darcy vs. Bennet. All of her books have been listed in Amazon’s Top 20 Bestselling Regency Romances.  The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth was nominated for a Rone award, and Pride and Proposals was recognized as a top Austenesque novel for 2015 by Austenesque Reviews.

Victoria has a Ph.D. in English literature and has taught composition to unwilling college students. Today she teaches business writing to willing office professionals and tries to give voice to the demanding cast of characters in her head.

She lives in Virginia with an overly affectionate cat, an excessively energetic dog, two children who love to read, and a husband who fortunately is not jealous of Mr. Darcy.  A lifelong Austen fan, Victoria has read more Jane Austen variations and sequels than she can count – and confesses to an extreme partiality for the Colin Firth miniseries version of Pride and Prejudice.

Connect with Victoria

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

September 3 —  Babblings of a Bookworm

September 4  — My Jane Austen Book Club

September 5 — From Pemberley to Milton

September 6 – More Agreeably Engaged

September 10 — Austen Authors

September 11– Diary of an Eccentric

September 12 – Savvy Verse and Wit

September 20 – So Little Time...

September 21 – My Love for Austen

September 23 — Austenesque Reviews

* * * GIVEAWAY * * *

It's giveaway time! Victoria is generously giving away one audiobook of Darcy vs. Bennet and one audiobook of When Jane Got Angry to two of my lucky readers (one audiobook per winner)! Enter through the Rafflecopter below.

• One person will win an audiobook of Darcy vs. Bennet.
• One person will win an audiobook of When Jane Got Angry.
• Enter through the Rafflecopter and comment below.
• Winners will be randomly selected.
• Open Internationally! 
• Last day to enter the giveaway is Sept. 27th, 2019, by the end of the day - Pacific Time.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Many thanks to Victoria Kincaid for visiting here today, and for her generous giveaway! Woot! 

Wow! Elizabeth was very brave to rush out to save Georgiana! I wonder what Darcy thought about that! What do you think? 

What Are You Reading? ~ June 19, 2019

* * Post contains affiliate links. * *

Happy Wednesday! June's been a busy month for me! I'm loving the beginning of the summer, but I'm afraid it's going to go by way too fast! LOL! 

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

Here's my list:

Currently Reading:

I'm presently reading That Night by Cecily Wolfe. The first chapter grabbed me. Then it leveled off and has been kind of slow. I'm hoping it gets better! I do like that the story is talking about how you can overdose on heroin the first time you do it. 






Recently Finished: 

I recently finished The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen. I loved it! I would highly recommend this one for your summer reading! ~ 5 stars!

I also finished listening/reading to The Child by Jan Hahn. It was terrific! I love Pride and Prejudice variations, and Jan Hahn never disappoints! ~ 4.5 stars

I love that you can switch back and forth from listening to a book on Audibles and reading it on Kindle. 




What's Next?

I want to read a couple more chapters of A Feast For Crows by George R.R. Martin before I pick-up something new. 








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! 

Have a great week, friends! Be sure to share what you've been reading! 

New Audiobooks from Victoria Kincaid! ~ Excerpt & Giveaway!

Hello, Friends! It's my pleasure to have Victoria Kincaid on the blog today! We are celebrating the release of two of her books that are now available on audiobook! Woohoo! President Darcy and The Unforgettable Mr. Darcy! 

We are spotlighting President Darcy today, but Victoria is generously giveaway a copy of both audiobooks! Details are at the bottom of the page. 

Hi Candy!  Thank you for having me back to visit!  December 2018 was a blur of activity in memory as I raced to release Darcy and Deception.  What got lost in the shuffle was the release of two new audiobooks.  President Darcy, narrated by Lucy Emerson, is my first modern Pride and Prejudice variation and the first with an American-accented narrator.  The Unforgettable Mr. Darcy is narrated by Stevie Zimmerman, who did a terrific job with The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth as well as many other JAFF books.  You can visit the links above to hear samples of the narration.

 FTC Disclaimer: Links above are 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!

President Darcy
by Victoria Kincaid

President William Darcy has it all: wealth, intelligence, and the most powerful job in the country. Despite what his friends say, he is not lonely in the White House. He’s not. And he has vowed not to date while he’s in office. Nor is he interested in Elizabeth Bennet. She might be pretty and funny and smart, but her family is nouveau riche and unbearable. Unfortunately, he encounters her everywhere in Washington, D.C.—making her harder and harder to ignore. Why can’t he get her out of his mind?
 

Elizabeth Bennet enjoys her job with the Red Cross and loves her family, despite their tendency to embarrass her. At a White House state dinner, they cause her to make an unfavorable impression on the president, who labels her unattractive and uninteresting. Those words are immediately broadcast on Twitter, so the whole world now knows the president insulted her. Elizabeth just wants to avoid the man—who, let’s admit it, is proud and difficult. For some reason he acts all friendly when they keep running into each other, but she knows he’s judging her. 
 

Eventually, circumstances force Darcy and Elizabeth to confront their true feelings for each other, with explosive results. But even if they can find common ground, Mr. Darcy is still the president—with limited privacy and unlimited responsibilities—and his enemies won’t hesitate to use his feelings for Elizabeth against him. 
 

Can President Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet find their way to happily ever after?

Please enjoy the excerpt below from President Darcy:


     As the woman—Elizabeth Bennet— stepped out of the closet, brooms and mops went crashing to the floor.  She flinched, and Darcy tightened his grip on her hand, drawing her closer to him as if the cleaning implements represented a serious threat to her safety.  It was ridiculous and inappropriate, and Darcy had no idea why he did it.  

     The woman seemed to provoke unexpected reactions from him.  How else could he explain his unwarrantedly casual reaction the potential danger she might represent?

As he double-checked to ensure she was unharmed, Darcy was struck by her eyes—a deep, mossy green he had never seen before on another human being.  With such a uniform color…they really were quite fine.  He couldn’t look away.  No, it would be more accurate to say he didn’t want to look away.  

     She was about average height for a woman, which meant that she peered up at Darcy, who came in at around six feet.  A sweet, heart-shaped face accentuated those marvelous eyes.  Lustrous, wavy dark hair tumbled over her shoulders and down her back.  And that dress—a floor-length black silk sheath that skimmed all her curves without revealing too much.  In fact, it revealed just the right amount of her creamy skin…

     Rather pointedly, she cast her eyes down at her hand.  Which he was still holding.  He noticed her fingers, delicate and tapered and so small, nestled in his grasp.

     The touch of her hand was the single most wonderful sensation he had ever felt.

     His fingers caressed her fingers.  

     Her hand trembled in his.

     He had no desire to release her. 

     The rest of his body also responded to her proximity.  Leaning toward her, he scented a vaguely floral fragrance…perfume or shampoo perhaps.   He flushed with a warmth that had nothing to do with the temperature in the hallway, moisture collecting on his forehead and the back of his neck.  His mouth was suddenly parched, and his tongue licked dry lips.  Her eyes followed the movement. She is staring at my mouth.    

     If only I could touch more than her hand.  Darcy’s hand rose, needing to learn if her hair was as soft as it appeared.  But then the (apparently very small) part of his brain that was still sane reminded him that the woman was a stranger, and he aborted the movement. 

     I should probably say something.  His lips were parted, ready to speak, but all his thoughts appeared to have melted away at her touch.  

     Bing cleared his throat.  “We should get to the dinner.” 

     The words worked their way through Darcy’s sluggish brain.  He understood their import, but the thought of releasing Elizabeth Bennet’s hand horrified him.  He desperately needed to touch more of her, not less.  

     “Just a second, Bing,” he snapped.  

     Elizabeth blinked, her eyelashes fluttering.  Is she as affected by the touch as I am?  “I-It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. President,” she said with a note of finality that suggested she preferred he return her hand.   Damn.  Could she guess he’d been thinking improper thoughts—when he knew literally nothing about her except her name?  It seriously had been too long since he’d had a date.  

     Dropping her hand as if it had burned him, he stepped backward, putting more distance between them and trying to collect thoughts that seemed to have been scattered by a powerful wind. 

     Why was he reacting this way to this woman?  She was pretty—well, more than pretty. Beautiful.  And that dress displayed a body he would certainly describe as “hot.”  But he saw beautiful, well-dressed women every day.  

     And she’d been hiding in a closet, he reminded himself.  It wasn’t normal behavior.  She also didn’t appear capable of assembling coherent sentences. It truly was a shame she wasn’t more …eloquent.  Lack of intelligence was always a deal-breaker for Darcy. 

     Although it was probably a good thing.  If she were smart, too, she’d be irresistible. 

     Bing cleared his throat loudly. 

     Finally, Darcy tore his eyes from her vivid, dark green ones, but he was still rubbed raw by her proximity.  He didn’t know why she affected him like this, but Darcy couldn’t let her—or anyone else—notice the results.

     Taking out his handkerchief, he blotted his brow and mopped the back of his neck before discreetly wiping his sweaty hands and returning the handkerchief to his pocket.  Elizabeth stared, likely marveling at how profusely the President of the United States could sweat.  Bing regarded Darcy warily; he knew how out-of-character this behavior was.

     He had embarrassed himself sufficiently; remaining any longer would only produce more shame and more perspiration.  It was past time to appear at the dinner and get away from the spacey woman with the lovely eyes.  

     Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode down the hallway.  Behind him, he heard Bing ask, “Will you join us at the dinner, Ms. Bennet?” 

     Damn!  I should have asked that.  She had me too flustered.  

     “Um…sure,” she said uncertainly. 

     No regrets, he told himself sternly.  The woman couldn’t string two sentences together.  Her beauty was nothing but a momentary distraction. 

     Darcy tugged his cuffs into place and straightened his bow tie.  Taking the service hallway was intended to help him make up time after his last meeting ran late, but the encounter with Ms. Bennet had further delayed his schedule.  Time to focus on the dinner and his political priorities for the evening. 

  About the Author

Victoria Kincaid is the author of several popular Jane Austen variations, including The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth, Pride & Proposals,  Mr. Darcy to the Rescue, When Mary Met the Colonel, and Darcy vs. Bennet. All of her books have been listed in Amazon’s Top 20 Bestselling Regency Romances.  The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth was nominated for a Rone award and Pride and Proposals was recognized as a top Austenesque novel for 2015 by Austenesque Reviews.

Victoria has a Ph.D. in English literature and has taught composition to unwilling college students. Today she teaches business writing to willing office professionals and tries to give voice to the demanding cast of characters in her head.


She lives in Virginia with an overly affectionate cat, an excessively energetic dog, two children who love to read, and a husband who fortunately is not jealous of Mr. Darcy.  A lifelong Austen fan, Victoria has read more Jane Austen variations and sequels than she can count – and confesses to an extreme partiality for the Colin Firth miniseries version of Pride and Prejudice.

Connect with Victoria

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads

* * * GIVEAWAY * * *

It's giveaway time! Victoria is graciously giving away one audiobook of President Darcy and one audiobook of The Unforgettable Mr. Darcy to two of my lucky readers!

Thank you, Victoria!

• One person will win an audiobook copy of President Darcy.
• One person will win an audiobook copy of The Unforgettable Mr. Darcy.
• To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below.
• Rafflecopter will randomly select the winner.
• Open to US and UK residents only.
• Last day to enter the giveaway is March 21, 2019, 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Many thanks to Victoria for visiting with us today and having this terrific giveaway with me!! 

**I have to tell you, I've read and LOVED The Unforgettable Mr. Darcy!**

So, friends, what do you think of President Darcy?

I Could Write a Book Audio Release!

Hello, my friends! Woohoo! Exciting news! I Could Write a Book is now available in audio!

 

I Could Write A Book
by Karen M Cox

“Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever and rich…” 

Thus began Jane Austen’s classic tale set in an English village two hundred years ago. Yet every era has its Emmas: young women trying to find themselves in their own corners of the world. 

I Could Write a Book is the story of a self-proclaimed modern woman: Emma Katherine Woodhouse, a 1970s co-ed whose life is pleasant, ordered, and predictable, if a bit confining. Her good friend George Knightley—handsome, sharp, and sophisticated—has come home to fulfill his destiny: run his father’s thriving law practice and oversee the sprawling Donwell Farms, his family legacy in Central Kentucky horse country. George and Emma have a friendship that has endured since childhood, but now they’re adults with grown-up challenges and obligations. As Emma tries to orchestrate life in quaint Highbury, George becomes less amused with her antics and struggles with an increasing and sometimes unwelcome fascination with the young woman she’s become. 

Rich with humor, poignancy, and the camaraderie of life in a small, Southern town, I Could Write a Book is a charming romance with side helpings of self-discovery, friendship, and finding true love in the most unlikely places. 

I Could Write a Book is narrated by Emily Rahm, a New York City actress who hails from the South, giving Emma a delightfully understated and authentic flair, and rounding out the cast of Highbury characters with wit and charm.

Available now on Amazon, Apple Books, and Audible.

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

Karen M Cox is an award-winning author of five novels accented with history and romance: 1932, Find Wonder in All Things, Undeceived, I Could Write a Book, and Son of a Preacher Man, and a novella, The Journey Home, a companion piece to 1932.  She also loves writing short stories and has contributed to four Austen-inspired anthologies: “Northanger Revisited 2015” appears in Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer, “I, Darcy” in The Darcy Monologues, “An Honest Man” in Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen’s Rakes and Gentleman Rogues, and “A Nominal Mistress” in Rational Creatures.

I Could Write a Book is her first audiobook.

Karen was born in Everett WA, which was the result of coming into the world as the daughter of a United States Air Force Officer. She had a nomadic childhood, with stints in North Dakota, Tennessee, and New York State before settling in her family’s home state of Kentucky at the age of eleven. She lives in a quiet little Central Kentucky town with her husband, where she works as a pediatric speech pathologist, encourages her children, and spoils her granddaughter. 


Channeling Jane Austen’s Emma, Karen has let a plethora of interests lead her to begin many hobbies and projects she doesn’t quite finish, but she aspires to be a great reader and an excellent walker—like Elizabeth Bennet.

Connect with Karen

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Pinterest • Instagram • Tumblr • Amazon Author Page

If you would like bits of authorly goodness in your inbox each month (updates, sales, book recommendations, etc.) sign up for her News & Muse Letter. She loves to hear from readers, so don’t be shy. Contact her through social media, her website, or on-line stores.

Emily's Bio:

Originally from Dallas, Texas, Emily Rahm is an actress residing in New York City with her husband, Kendall, and her dog, Monroe. She loves to read, so narrating was a natural extension of her literary affinities and her acting skills. Her favorite movie is The Princess Bride, and her favorite ice cream flavor is Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. You can find her at her website: www.emilyrahm.com , and on Twitter, and Instagram. 

Congratulations to both Karen Cox and Emily Rahm on the release of this audiobook! Very cool! :)