The Bookbinder's Secret: A Novel by A.D. Bell ~ My Review

Hello, my friends!  Today, I have a book review for you! It' been a long time since I've reviewed a book. But St. Martin's Press offered me an eCopy of The Bookbinder's Secret, and I took it! 😃

The Bookbinder's Secret

by A.D. Bell

Expected Publication Date: January 13, 2026

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 400 

Received: I received an eCopy from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review.

Rating: 4 stars

Book Description

Every book tells a story. This one tells a secret. 

A young bookbinder begins a hunt for the truth when a confession hidden beneath the binding of a burned book reveals a story of forbidden love, lost fortune, and murder. 

Lilian ("Lily") Delaney, apprentice to a master bookbinder in Oxford in 1901, chafes at the confines of her life. She is trapped between the oppressiveness of her father’s failing bookshop and still being an apprentice in a man’s profession. But when she’s given a burned book during a visit to a collector, she finds, hidden beneath the binding, a fifty-year-old letter speaking of love, fortune, and murder. 

Lily is pulled into the mystery of the young lovers, a story of forbidden love, and discovers there are more books and more hidden pages telling their story. Lilian becomes obsessed with the story but she is not the only one looking for the remaining books and what began as a diverting intrigue quickly becomes a very dangerous pursuit. 

Lily's search leads her from the eccentric booksellers of London to the private libraries of unscrupulous collectors and the dusty archives of society papers, deep into the heart of the mystery. But with sinister forces closing in, willing to do anything for the books, Lilian’s world begins to fall apart and she must decide if uncovering the truth is worth the risk to her own life.

 

My Review 

The Bookbinder’s Secret by A.D. Bell is a great mystery!

Set in the early 1900s, Lillian is an apprentice bookbinder (rare for a woman). She is given a badly burned book in which she finds a letter hidden in the binding. She becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to the lady who wrote the letter and her lover.

Lillian continues searching for the other five books in the series in hopes of uncovering the rest of the hidden story. She picks away at it, gaining small clues as she travels the country. She meets some interesting and strange people along the way. But danger follows her closely, threatening her and her loved ones.

I thought it was an impossible task, but Lillian would keep scratching away at it. First out of curiosity, then out of fear and desperation to find the truth and end her nightmare.

Along the way, she also learns about love and just how small her world really is.

I also loved the story within the story! With every book she finds, more of the mysterious lady's story is revealed.

FTC Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for my eCopy of the book, and congratulations to A.D. Bell for the release of The Bookbinder's Secret!

Book Links

Amazon US (paid link)

Add to Goodreads

FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase a book through the link provided. Thanks!

So friends, what are your thoughts? Does this sound like a book you would like to read?

"Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord" by Celeste Connally ~ My Review

 Hello, my friends! It's been a while since I've posted a review. This is more of a mini review, but I thought I'd post it anyway. 😃

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord

by Celeste Connally

Publication Date: November 14th, 2023

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Pages: 304

Received: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.

Rating: 5 stars

Book Description

Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie in Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, a dazzling first entry in a terrific new Regency-era mystery series with a feminist spin. 

When Lady Petra Forsyth’s fiancé and soulmate dies just weeks ahead of their wedding, she makes the shocking proclamation—in front of London’s loosest lips—that she will never remarry. A woman of independent means, Petra sees no reason to cede her wealth and freedom to any man now that the love of her life has passed, nor does she intend to become confined to her country home. Instead, she uses her title to gain access to elite spaces and enjoy the best of society without expectations. 

But when ballroom gossip suggests that a longtime friend has died of “melancholia” while in the care of a questionable physician, Petra vows to use her status to dig deeper—uncovering a private asylum where men pay to have their wives and daughters locked away, or worse. Just as Lady Petra has reason to believe her friend is not dead, but a prisoner, her own headstrong actions and thirst for independence are used to put her own freedom in jeopardy.

 

My Review

Fabulous story! What a page-turner! I found myself thinking about the story when I wasn't reading it. 

Lady Petra is a strong, independent woman with a curious mind. And I like that! She is also concerned for the welfare of others, even those not of her station, like the street urchin Teddy. 

Taking the loss of her friend Gwen to heart, Lady Petra must discover what happened to her. Her curiosity sends Lady Petra into dangerous situations. I was so anxious for her!

I highly recommend Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord for your reading pleasure!

FTC Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher.

Purchase Links

Buy: Amazon (paid links) • Barnes & Noble • Bookshop

Add to Goodreads

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

About the Author

Celeste Connally is an Agatha Award nominee, and a former

freelance writer and editor. A lifelong devotee of historical novels and adaptations fueled by her passion for history—plus weekly doses of PBS Masterpiece—Celeste loves reading and writing about women from the past who didn’t always do as they were told.

Connect with Celeste Connally

Website • X • Facebook • Instagram • Goodreads

Thanks for stopping by, dear readers! I'd love to hear what you think of this book! Have you read it? I have always found terrifying that women could be place in an asylum by their husbands or fathers. 

The Little Women Devotional by Rachel Dodge ~ My Review

Hello, my friends! I love a good devotional, and when it's mixed with my favorite literature - well that makes it just plain fun! I've read three different Jane Austen devotionals, but today I'm reviewing a Little Women devotional! 

The Little Women Devotional

By Rachel Dodge

Publication Date: December 1st, 2021

Publisher: Barbour Books

Pages: 232

Received: I received a hardback from the publisher for my honest review.

Rating: 5 stars.

Devotional Inspiration from the Lives of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy   

The Little Women Devotional offers lovely inspiration that explores the themes of faith, family, contentment, wisdom, and joy in the classic Louisa May Alcott novel, cherished by generations of readers. 

Each reading corresponds with a chapter from the book and invites you to embrace God’s guiding hand in your life as His cherished daughter. This beautiful chapter-by-chapter devotional includes original artwork throughout, and each reading includes examples from the novel, scripture, life application, and prayers perfect for groups, book clubs, or personal reflection.

 

My Review

The Little Women Devotional by Rachel Dodge is a beautiful book. Chapter by chapter, it pulls spiritual insights from Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. It combines them with scripture, personal application, and prayer. I loved the illustrations and found them whimsical and charming.

There is so much to glean from this devotional. From helping a neighbor or the less fortunate to Jo’s struggle with her anger. The need for encouragement and to fight the good fight.

I also thought it would be fun to read a chapter a day from Little Women simultaneously! I did not get a chance to do this because I was doing another study, and my time was limited. But I had a strong urge to do just that!

I have always loved reading devotionals that combine literature and scripture! If you are fond of Little Women, you will absolutely adore The Little Women Devotional! 

FTC Disclaimer: I received a copy of the story for my honest review.

Buy: Amazon (paid link)

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! 

Read my thoughts on Praying With Jane by Rachel Dodge.

Many thanks to Rachel Dodge and Barbour Books for my copy of The Little Women Devotional!

Do you read devotionals? Give it a try! I also think this would make a great gift! 

Bloomsbury Girls Blog Tour ~ My Review

Hello, my friends! I'm very happy to be part of the Bloomsbury Girls Blog Tour, and I was delighted to read the book!

Bloomsbury Girls 

A Novel

by Natalie Jenner

Publication Date: May 17, 2022

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 368

Received: A received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher.

Rating: 4 stars

Book Description

Natalie Jenner, the internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society, returns with a compelling and heartwarming story of post-war London, a century-old bookstore, and three women determined to find their way in a fast-changing world in Bloomsbury Girls.

Bloomsbury Books is an old-fashioned new and rare bookstore that has persisted and resisted change for a hundred years, run by men and guided by the general manager's unbreakable fifty-one rules. But in 1950, the world is changing, especially the world of books and publishing, and at Bloomsbury Books, the girls in the shop have plans:

Vivien Lowry: Single since her aristocratic fiancé was killed in action during World War II, the brilliant and stylish Vivien has a long list of grievances--most of them well justified and the biggest of which is Alec McDonough, the Head of Fiction.

Grace Perkins: Married with two sons, she's been working to support the family following her husband's breakdown in the aftermath of the war. Torn between duty to her family and dreams of her own.

Evie Stone: In the first class of female students from Cambridge permitted to earn a degree, Evie was denied an academic position in favor of her less accomplished male rival. Now she's working at Bloomsbury Books while she plans to remake her own future.

As they interact with various literary figures of the time--Daphne Du Maurier, Ellen Doubleday, Sonia Blair (widow of George Orwell), Samuel Beckett, Peggy Guggenheim, and others--these three women with their complex web of relationships, goals and dreams are all working to plot out a future that is richer and more rewarding than anything society will allow.

 

My Review

Bloomsburg Girls is a novel set in London during the 1950s, just after WWII. During the war, many women went to work, filling jobs that men typically would hold. After the war, women were expected to return home to their domestic duties. But times were changing, and women wanted their independence. They did not want to be pushed out and under-valued.

Evelyn Stone (Evie), whom some of us first met in Natalie Jenner’s The Jane Austen Society, continues in this story. But don’t worry, Bloomsbury Girls is a stand-alone! You won’t have any trouble jumping into this one!

Evie, Vivien Lowry, and Grace Perkins all work at Bloomsbury Books. Each woman has their own reason for working there, and they soon learn they need each other to get ahead in this world. 

There are quite a variety of characters in the story. I enjoy getting to know each of them and seeing a couple of cameos from characters from The Jane Austen Society. Although, for me, a slow reader, it seemed to take forever to get to the heart of the story. There were so many characters to introduce! 

I loved the store illustration in the front of the book, mapping each department!

Bloomsburg Girls is a charming story! And a powerful story about women uniting for a common goal! #WomenStrong

FTC Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher.

Purchase Links

Buy: Amazon (paid link) • Barnes & Noble • Book Depository • Bookshop • Bookbub

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! 

Audiobook

Narrated by esteemed stage and screen actress Juliet Stevenson, enjoy the full unabridged edition of Bloomsbury Girls. “Stevenson delivers the satisfying triumph at the end with perfect polish.” —AudioFile Magazine

Audiobook Excerpt

https://soundcloud.com/macaudio-2/bloomsbury-girls-by-natalie-jenner-audiobook-introduction

Audiobook Links

Amazon (paid link) • Barnes & Noble • Book Depository • Bookshop • Goodreads

A Message From Author Natalie Jenner

Dear readers, I am immensely grateful for the outpouring of affection that so many of you have expressed for my debut novel The Jane Austen Society and its eight main characters. When I wrote its epilogue (in one go and without ever changing a word), I wanted to give each of Adam, Mimi, Dr. Gray, Adeline, Yardley, Frances, Evie and Andrew the happy Austenesque ending they each deserved. But I could not let go of servant girl Evie Stone, the youngest and only character inspired by real life (my mother, who had to leave school at age fourteen, and my daughter, who does eighteenth-century research for a university professor and his team). Bloomsbury Girls continues Evie’s adventures into a 1950s London bookshop where there is a battle of the sexes raging between the male managers and the female staff, who decide to pull together their smarts, connections, and limited resources to take over the shop and make it their own. There are dozens of new characters in Bloomsbury Girls from several different countries, and audiobook narration was going to require a female voice of the highest training and caliber. When I learned that British stage and screen actress Juliet Stevenson, CBE, had agreed to narrate, I knew that my story could not be in better hands, and I so hope you enjoy reading or listening to it. Warmest regards, Natalie

About the Author

Natalie Jenner is the author of the instant international
bestseller The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls. A Goodreads Choice Award runner-up for historical fiction and finalist for best debut novel, The Jane Austen Society was a USA Today and #1 national bestseller and has been sold for translation in twenty countries. Born in England and raised in Canada, Natalie has been a corporate lawyer, career coach, and most recently, an independent bookstore owner in Oakville, Ontario, where she lives with her family and two rescue dogs. Visit her website to learn more.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • Goodreads

Advance Praise

"Jenner follows The Jane Austen Society (2020) with another top-notch reading experience, using the same deft hand at creating complex, emotionally engaging characters [against] a backdrop chock-full of factual historical information... Fans of Christina Baker Kline, Kate Quinn and Pam Jenoff [will] appreciate this gem." —Booklist (starred review)

"An illuminating yarn... Fans of emotional historical fiction will be charmed." —Publishers Weekly

"Bloomsbury Girls is an immersive tale of three women determined to forge their own paths in 1950s London. Jenner has proven to be a master at spinning charming, earnest characters and paints a vivid picture of postwar England. I wanted to stay lost in her world forever!" —Stephanie Wrobel, internationally bestselling author of Darling Rose Gold

"Bloomsbury Girls is a book lover's dream, one of those rare reads that elicits a sense of book-ish wistfulness and nostalgia. Jenner has created a colorful cast of characters in a story about friendship, perseverance, and the ways that determined women can band together in a man's world. You're in for a treat." —Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary

"In a London still reeling from the ravages of World War II and the changes war has brought to English society, three young women take their futures into their own hands. With Bloomsbury Girls, Natalie Jenner has penned a timely and beautiful ode to ambition, friendship, bookshops, and the written word." —Janet Skeslien Charles, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Library

“In post-war London, Bloomsbury Books survived The Blitz until Vivien Lowry, Grace Perkins, and Evie Stone set off their own bomb on the stuffy all-male management. What ensues is the most delightful, witty, and endearing story you will read this year. Natalie Jenner, bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society, proves that she was not a one hit wonder. Like Austen, her second book is even better than the first.” —Laurel Ann Nattress, editor of Jane Austen Made Me Do It 

 

Book Trailer

Congratulations to Natalie Jenner on the release of Bloomsbury Girls! 

Many thanks to Laurel Ann Nattress from Austenprose PR for organizing and including me in this tour!

And to St. Martin's Press for sending me a beautiful copy of the book!

Well, friends, what do you think? Is Bloomsbury Girls a book you'd like to read? Let me know in the comments below!

Daughter by Kate McLaughlin ~ My Review

Hello, my friends! I'm posting my review of Daughter by Kate McLaughlin. I was lucky enough to get an e-ARC of the book for my honest review. 

Daughter

A Novel

by Kate McLaughlin

Publication Date: March 8th, 2022

Publisher: St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books

Pages: 336

Received: From the publisher via Netgalley.

Rating: 4 stars

Book Description 

Scarlet’s life is pretty average. Overly protective mom. Great friends. Cute boy she’s interested in. And a father she’s never known – until she does. 

When the FBI show up at Scarlet’s door, she is shocked to learn her father is infamous serial killer Jeffrey Robert Lake. And now, he’s dying and will only give the names and locations of his remaining victims to the one person, the daughter he hasn’t seen since she was a baby. 

Scarlet’s mother has tried to protect her from Lake’s horrifying legacy, but there’s no way they can escape the media firestorm that erupts when they come out of hiding. Or the people who blame Scarlet for her father’s choices. When trying to do the right thing puts her life in danger, Scarlet is faced with a choice – go back into hiding or make the world see her as more than a monster’s daughter. 

Kate McLaughlin’s Daughter is a novel about trying right deadly choices that were never yours to begin with.

 

My Review

In Daughter: A Novel, Scarlet Murphy, aka Brittany Lake, finds out she’s the daughter of the infamous serial killer Jeff Lake.

Fifteen years earlier, Scarlet’s mom divorced Lake, changed her name, and disappeared with her two-year-old daughter. Now Jeff Lake is dying in a prison hospital, and he says he is willing to give up the names and locations of his other victims, but only to his daughter.

That would be so crazy to find out that you are the daughter of a serial killer - and not in a good way!

When I first heard about Daughter, I was intrigued and knew I had to read it! It was excellent and kept me engaged. Although, it did go in a different direction than I thought it would. The romance in the story surprised me (because something like this would turn your life upside down), but I was glad Scarlet had someone to talk to who liked her for who she was and not because of her father.

Scarlet was courageous for facing Jeff Lake. She really wanted to help the other families, and I like the creative ways she was going about that and trying to take the spotlight off Lake and onto the forgotten victims. 

It is a YA novel, so not overly graphic, but there is drinking, drug use, sex, and foul language.

FTC Disclaimer: I received an ARC of the story from the publisher for my honest review.

Buy: Amazon (paid link)

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! 

I am finding that I'm really getting into mysteries and thrillers! What about you?

Jane and the Year Without a Summer by Stephanie Barron ~ Blog Tour ~ My Review

Hello there, my friends! I was thrilled to be included in this blog tour! I have always wanted to read one of Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen mysteries, but never got around to it! Like my title and tagline say, "So little time... ...so much to read!"  It's so very true! 

Jane and the Year Without a Summer

Being a Jane Austen Mystery, Book 14

by Stephanie Barron

Publication Date: February 8, 2022

Publisher: Soho Press

Pages: 336

Received: I received a paperback from the publisher for my honest review.

Rating: 4 stars.

Book Description

May 1816: Jane Austen is feeling unwell, with an uneasy stomach, constant fatigue, rashes, fevers and aches. She attributes her poor condition to the stress of family burdens, which even the drafting of her latest manuscript—about a baronet's daughter nursing a broken heart for a daring naval captain—cannot alleviate. Her apothecary recommends a trial of the curative waters at Cheltenham Spa, in Gloucestershire. Jane decides to use some of the profits earned from her last novel, Emma, and treat herself to a period of rest and reflection at the spa, in the company of her sister, Cassandra.

Cheltenham Spa hardly turns out to be the relaxing sojourn Jane and Cassandra envisaged, however. It is immediately obvious that other boarders at the guest house where the Misses Austen are staying have come to Cheltenham with stresses of their own—some of them deadly. But perhaps with Jane’s interference a terrible crime might be prevented. Set during the Year without a Summer, when the eruption of Mount Tambora in the South Pacific caused a volcanic winter that shrouded the entire planet for sixteen months, this fourteenth installment in Stephanie Barron’s critically acclaimed series brings a forgotten moment of Regency history to life.

 

My Review

Jane and the Year Without a Summer is the 14th book in Stephanie Barron’s Jane Austen Mysteries series and the first one I have read! Saying that I can tell you that I found this to be an excellent stand-alone. So don’t worry, you can read them in any order! 

 

I was very impressed with Barron’s research into Jane Austen’s life and how she combines real and fictional to write a remarkable story. The mystery was well done with some nice twists. 

Jane and her sister Cassandra take a trip to Cheltenham Spa to drink the waters and consult a doctor concerning Jane’s ill health. While there, they meet some interesting people and find a mystery to unravel! I love how tenacious Jane is - she notices the small details that seem to go unnoticed by everyone else. 

I did find the first half of the book slow, but I loved the second half! I’m also a fan of footnotes and was happy to see them sprinkled throughout the story!

Knowing what we know about Jane’s health and that Barron follows Jane’s life pretty accurately makes the ending bittersweet. 

Jane and the Year Without a Summer is a delightful read! If you love Jane Austen mixed with a bit of murder, masquerade, and intrigue, this is the book for you (and probably the series as well)!

FTC Disclaimer: I received a paperback of this novel from the publisher for my honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon (paid link) • Barnes & Noble • Book Depository • Bookshop • Bookbub

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

Francine Mathews was born in Binghamton, New York, the last
of six girls. She attended Princeton and Stanford Universities, where she studied history, before going on to work as an intelligence analyst at the CIA. She wrote her first book in 1992 and left the Agency a year later. Since then, she has written twenty-five books, including five novels in the Merry Folger series (Death in the Off-Season, Death in Rough Water, Death in a Mood Indigo, Death in a Cold Hard Light, and Death on Nantucket) as well as the nationally bestselling Being a Jane Austen mystery series, which she writes under the penname, Stephanie Barron. She lives and works in Denver, Colorado.

Connect with Stephanie Barron

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • Pinterest • Bookbub • Goodreads

Many thanks to Laurel Ann Nattress of Austenprose PR for organizing and including me in this tour! 

Congratulations to Stephanie Barron on the release of Jane and the Year Without a Summer!

So friends, any thoughts? I'd love to hear from you!

A Captain for Caroline Gray by Julie Wright ~ Blog Tour ~ My Review

Hello, my friends! I'm so excited to be part of A Captain for Caroline Gray Blog Tour! I really wanted to read this one, and I'm so glad I did!

"An unconventional woman finds herself at home at sea in this stirring Regency from Julie Wright…This adventure is sure to entice fans of historical romance."— Publishers Weekly

A Captain for Caroline Gray

by Julie Wright

Publication Date: March 2, 2021

Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing

Pages: 336

Received: I received a copy of the book for my honest opinion.

Rating: 4 stars

Regency London 

Caroline Gray's third season in London society ends as badly as her first two—no marriage proposal, no suitor, not even a glimmer of an interested prospect. She suspects it's because she is far too quick to speak her mind to men who are put off by her forthright opinions, her eager intellect backed by a formal education, and her unconventional ideas about the future. She is far more daring than demure to suit the taste of her class. Besides, Caroline thinks there will always be next season to find a husband. 

However, her family's dwindling income leaves Caroline with only one choice to secure her future: a one-way ticket to sail with the Fishing Fleet to India, where the son of a family friend waits. If the match doesn't work, Caroline cannot return home. 

Captain Thomas Scott loves the thrill of the open sea, and as commander of one of the ships of the Fishing Fleet, he ferries scores of young English girls to the shores of India to find husbands. The voyages pay well, but he struggles to understand why families would allow young women to be matched with total strangers so far away. 

The trips have always been routine and uneventful—until this trip's first night's dinner with one Miss Caroline Gray. She engages in a lively political conversation, presenting opposing viewpoints to the conventionally opinionated gentlemen at her table. Captain Scott is secretly amused and delighted at her boldness, not to mention quite drawn to her beauty. 

The rest of the passengers are shocked by her behavior and Caroline finds herself an outcast, suffering harsh judgments from the other passengers. However, she finds an unlikely ally in Captain Scott which quickly draws them closer. 

Both know an arranged marriage awaits Caroline at the end of their voyage, yet the attraction between them is undeniable. Caroline will have to decide if she will honor her mother's wishes and marry a man in India whom she has never met, thus securing a future for her and her mother, or be brave enough to throw convention to the wind and commit to love a sea captain. He may be enchanted by her bold and unconventional ways, but will his love and admiration last?

 

My Review

Faced with the harsh reality of being a spinster and being passed around to relatives that would take her in or going to India to meet a man to marry - Caroline chooses the adventure of going to India.

I was fascinated that this was a thing. I mean, I knew about mail order brides of the U.S., but I didn’t realize that women would do something similar in England. It makes sense, though. The ratio of men to women at this time was low. They were called “Fishing Fleet women” who would brave the seas and unknown diseases to find husbands. 

I really enjoyed Caroline’s time aboard the ship, along with the other passengers and crew. Learning what life was like in India for those new brides was so interesting! I loved it!

I truly loved Caroline - She’s brave, curious, and intelligent. She enjoyed talking about politics and learning how things worked. Her beauty attracted gentlemen, but her outspokenness and honest opinions would turn them away.

A Captain for Caroline Gray is a wonderful adventure and a fine proper romance! I would highlight recommend it!

FTC Disclaimer: I received an ARC of the story from the publisher for my honest review.

Buy: Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Book Depository • Bookshop • Deseret Book 

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

Julie Wright wrote her first book when she was fifteen and has written over twenty novels since then. She
is a Whitney Awards winner for best romance with her books Cross My Heart and Lies Jane Austen Told Me, and she is a Crown Heart recipient for the novel The Fortune Café.

She has one husband, three kids, one dog, and a varying amount of fish, frogs, and salamanders (depending on attrition). She loves writing, reading, hiking, playing with her kids, and watching her husband make dinner.

She hates mayonnaise.

Connect with Julie Wright

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • Bookbub • Goodreads

"A charming historical romance in which smarts and sass are vindicated."— Foreword Reviews

"…a delightful, not exactly traditional Regency romance. Teen readers will enjoy this adventurous journey with its proactive heroine and exotic settings."— Booklist, starred review

Join the virtual blog tour of A CAPTAIN FOR CAROLINE GRAY (Proper Romance Regency), Julie Wright’s highly acclaimed historical romance novel March 1 – 28, 2021. Over forty popular blogs specializing in historical romance, inspirational fiction, and Austenesque fiction will join in the celebration of its release with excerpts, spotlights, and reviews of this new Regency-era novel set aboard an English ship bound for India. 

Blog Tour Schedule

March 01 My Jane Austen Book Club (Excerpt)

March 01 Austenprose — A Jane Austen Blog (Review)

March 02 Storeybook Reviews (Review)

March 02 Lu Reviews Books (Review)

March 02 Bookworm Lisa (Review)

March 03 Probably at the Library (Excerpt)

March 03 Our Book Confessions (Review) 

March 03 Lady with a Quill (Review) 

March 04 The Caffeinated Bibliophile (Review) 

March 04 Fire & Ice (Review)

March 05 Literary Time Out (Review) 

March 05 Among the Reads (Review)

March 06 Books and Socks Rock (Review) 

March 07 Encouraging Words (Excerpt)

March 08 So Little Time… (Review) 

March 09 For Where Your Treasure Is (Review) 

March 10 Laura's Reviews (Review) 

March 10 My Bookish Bliss (Review)

March 11 Heidi Reads (Review) 

March 12 Reading with Emily (Review)

March 13 The Christian Fiction Girl (Review) 

March 14 Silver Petticoat Reviews (Excerpt)

March 15 Austenesque Reviews (Review)

March 16 The Lit Bitch (Excerpt)

March 16 Greenish Bookshelf (Review) 

March 17 Inkwell Inspirations (Review)

March 18 A Darn Good Read (Review) 

March 19 Relz Reviewz (Review)

March 20 Book Confessions of an Ex-Ballerina (Review) 

March 20 Christian Chick's Thoughts (Review)

March 21 Jorie Loves a Story (Review)

March 22 From Pemberley to Milton (Review) 

March 23 Gwendalyn's Books (Review) 

March 23 Historical Fiction with Spirit (Review)

March 24 Captivated Reading (Review) 

March 24 Books, Teacups, & Reviews (Excerpt)

March 25 Rosanne E. Lortz (Review)

March 26 Cup of Tea with that Book, Please (Review)

March 26 Randi Loves 2 Read (Review)

March 27 Library of Clean Reads (Review) 

March 28 The Bibliophile Files (Review)

Many thanks to Laurel Ann Nattress @ Austenprose for organizing and including me on this tour, and to Shadow Mountain Publishing for the advanced copy of the book!

Did you all know about "Fishing Fleet women", or was that just me? Haha! 😆 

The Jane Austen Society Blog Tour ~ My Review

Hello, friend! I was thrilled to have a chance to read The Jane Austen Society and to be part of the Blog Tour! 

I loved the setting and the idea of a group of people brought together by their love of Jane Austen.

The Jane Austen Society

by Natalie Jenner

Publication Date: May 26, 2020

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 320

Received: I received a paperback from the publisher for my honest review.

Rating: 3.5 stars.

Book Description:

Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable. 

One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England's finest novelists. Now it's home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the last bit of Austen's legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen's home and her legacy. These people—a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star, among others—could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, some from the recent war, others from more distant tragedies, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society.

My Review

The Jane Austen Society is a charming yet bittersweet story about a group of people who come together to preserve Jane Austen’s legacy.

This group of unlikely people are all suffering through their own personal tragedies and loneliness. Coming together, they form wonderful bonds of friendship and romance. Secrets are revealed, and hearts are healed.

Some of my favorite parts of the story are when the characters would discuss Austen’s work. They would also spend time thinking about, say Darcy or Elizabeth, and comparing themselves to those amazing characters. There is always something to learn from Jane’s work. And I loved all the quotes throughout the book!

There was so much to like about the characters in The Jane Austen Society. I always pictured Spencer Tracy as Dr. Gray. I loved Adam. He was a quiet man and a deep thinker. When he spoke, they realized there was much more to Adam than they knew. Evie was also a favorite of mine! And there were many times I wanted to shake Frances Knight. Lol. I’ve only named a few, but really, they are all dear characters.

I have to admit I had a hard time getting into the story. Maybe it was because I have been in a major reading slump. There was also a lot of sadness at the beginning of the story, and I just wasn’t in the mood for that. The second half was much better as they all came together to save as much of Jane's legacy as possible. 

I think The Jane Austen Society would make a fabulous movie as well! 

FTC Disclaimer: I received an ARC of the story from the publisher for my honest review.

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About the Author

Natalie Jenner is the debut author of THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY, a fictional telling of the start of the society in the 1940s in the village of Chawton, where Austen wrote or revised her major works. Born in England and raised in Canada, Natalie graduated from the University of Toronto with degrees in English Literature and Law and has worked for decades in the legal industry. She recently founded the independent bookstore Archetype Books in Oakville, Ontario, where she lives with her family and two rescue dogs.

Connect with Natalie Jenner

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Join the virtual online book tour of THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY, Natalie Jenner’s highly acclaimed debut novel May 25 through June 30, 2020. Seventy-five popular blogs and websites specializing in historical fiction, historical romance, women’s fiction, and Austenesque fiction will feature interviews and reviews of this post-WWII novel set in Chawton, England. 

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE:

May 25 Jane Austen's World

May 25 Austenprose—A Jane Austen Blog

May 26 Frolic Media 

May 26 A Bookish Affair 

May 26 Courtney Reads Romance 

May 26 Margie's Must Reads

May 26 The Reading Frenzy

May 27 Book Confessions of an Ex-Ballerina

May 27 Gwendalyn's Books

May 27 Romantically Inclined Reviews 

May 28 Getting Your Read On 

May 28 Living Read Girl

May 28 The Lit Bitch

May 29 History Lizzie

May 29 Silver Petticoat Reviews 

May 30 Cup of Tea with that Book, Please

May 30 Historical Fiction Reader

May 31 Jane Austen in Vermont 

June 01 From Pemberley to Milton 

June 01 My Jane Austen Book Club 

June 01 AustenBlog 

June 02 Lu's Reviews 

June 02 The Green Mockingbird

June 03 The Interests of a Jane Austen Girl

June 03 Relz Reviews 

June 03 Impressions in Ink 

June 04 The Caffeinated Bibliophile 

June 04 Life of Literature 

June 04 Laura's Reviews 

June 05 Reading Ladies Book Club

June 05 Bookish Rantings 

June 06 From the TBR Pile

June 07 Rachel Dodge 

June 07 An Historian About Town 

June 08 Bringing up Books

June 08 Austenesque Reviews

June 09 Captivated Reading

June 09 Savvy Verse and Witt 

June 10 Lady with a Quill

June 10 Drunk Austen 

June 11 Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell

June 11 Inkwell Inspirations 

June 12 Nurse Bookie

June 12 A Bookish Way of Life 

June 13 Calico Critic

June 14 Jane Austen's World

June 15 Stuck in a Book 

June 15 Storybook Reviews 

June 15 Confessions of a Book Addict

June 16 Literary Quicksand 

June 16 Becky on Books

June 17 The Reading Frenzy 

June 17 Anita Loves Books

June 18 Chicks, Rogues, & Scandals

June 18 The Write Review 

June 19 Diary of Eccentric 

June 20 Cracking the Cover

June 21 Short Books & Scribes

June 22 Reading the Past 

June 22 Babblings of a Bookworm 

June 23 My Vices and Weaknesses

June 23 The Book Diva Reads 

June 24 Books, Teacups & Reviews 

June 24 Wishful Endings

June 25 Robin Loves Reading

June 25 Bookfoolery

June 26 Lit and Life 

June 26 Vesper's Place 

June 27 Foxes and Fairy Tales

June 28 Probably at the Library

June 28 Scuffed Slippers Wormy Books

June 29 The Anglophile Channel

June 29 So Little Time…

June 30 BookNAround

Many, many thanks to Laurel Ann Nattress for organizing and including me on this tour, and to St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of the book!  

So, friends, what are your thoughts? I'd love to hear from you!