Monthly Archives: November 2017

Melanie Stanford writes romance and YA of different genres. Her first novel, SWAY, a modern-day retelling of Jane Austen’s PERSUASION, debuted December 2015 from Samhain Publishing and was shortlisted for the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize. Since Samhain’s closure, Melanie decided to republish SWAY herself, along with the rest of her Romance Revisited series: CLASH, a Romance Revisited novella, COLLIDE, and a third novel coming 2018. She also has short stories featured in the Austenesque anthologies THE DARCY MONOLOGUES and THEN COMES WINTER.

Melanie reads too much, plays music too loud, is sometimes dancing, and always daydreaming. She would also like her very own TARDIS, but only to travel to the past. She lives outside Calgary, Alberta, Canada with her husband, four kids, and ridiculous amounts of snow.

Website: http://melaniestanfordbooks.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelMStanford/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelanieStanfordauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melanie_stanford/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14079511.Melanie_Stanford

Melanie would like to offer to one of our readers a 25 $ Amazon gift card so that you can obtain any of her books. To enter the giveaway click here.

Good Luck everyone!

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November 25, 2017 · 2:58 pm

Black Friday Deals

Hello everyone,

How are you this weekend? On my corner of the world winter is finally here! After months of sunny days without so much of a drop of water, we are finally seeing some clouds in the sky which is always a good thing because it makes reading on the couch and an even more agreeable activity.

Black Friday is only now becoming a thing in Portugal, and I honestly do not pay a lot of attention to it, but this year I kept seeing books on sale, and several friends from Facebook kept sending me messages with the new deals they discovered asking me to share them with everyone else. I started doing it on Facebook, but decided to do my own shopping today because I would have more time to see what I really wanted to buy for myself and my friends, however the list was much bigger than I expected, and I thought that since I was already doing a list of my own to see what was worth grabbing and what was not, I might as well share my findings with everyone else and save others the trouble to do it. So I wrote this post very fast to share with you the Black Friday Deals I found. I hope you find it useful to re-charge your kindle or even to do your Christmas shopping for your janeite friends 🙂

Fitzwilliam Darcy, An Honourable Man by Brenda Webb

The Netherfield Affair by Penelope Swan

Four Days in April by Maria Grace

Shadow of Anubis by Adele Dixon

Love Blooms at Pemberley by Cassandra Knightley

Georgiana Darcy’s Diary by Anna Elliot

Jewels on the Water by Rachel Elizabeth

An Heir For Pemberley by Jane Grix

0,99$ deals

Sketching Character by Pamela Lynne

Family Portraits by Pamela Lynne

Dearest Friends by Pamela Lynne

Mr. Darcy Noble Connections by Abigail Reynolds

Mr. Darcy’s Rival by Kara Louise

Ardently by Caitlin Williams

A Fair Prospect vol. I, II and III by Cassandra Grafton

The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen by Cass Grafton and Ada Bright

Sway by Melanie Stanford

Mistaking Her Character by Maria Grace

Pemberley : Mr. Darcy’s Dragon by Maria Grace

The Darcy’s First Christmas by Maria Grace

The Last Adventure of Scarlet Pimpernel by Jack Caldwell

Bourbon Street Nights by Jack Caldwell

Leap of Hope by Shannon Winslow

The Proud and the Prejudiced by Colette L. Saucier

The Courtship of Edward Gardiner by Nicole Clarkston

An Unwavering Trust by L.L.Diamond

From 1,99$ to 3,99$ deals

Something: Old, New, Later, True: A Pride & Prejudice Collection by Christie Capps

Dangerous to Know by Christina Boyd

Folly and Forgiveness by Lizzy Brandon

Darcy By Any Other Name by Laura Hile
Promises By Wendi Sotis
The Gypsy Blessing By Wendi Sotis

A Lesson Hard Learned by Wendi Sotis
Dreams and Expectations by Wendi Sotis
Understanding Elizabeth by Robin Helm

Now that I have a few more titles in my Kindle, I really have to start reducing the TBR pile, so I’m going to grab a blanket and read for a couple of hours in my couch 🙂 I hope this was helpful to all of you 🙂

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November 23, 2017 · 12:11 pm

True Love Comes to Delaford

Good Afternoon everyone,

You all know that Pride and Prejudice is my favorite Austen novel, but sometimes I need a break from Darcy and Elizabeth and it feels great to have the company of other characters. Unfortunately there aren’t as many variations of Austen’s other novels out there as I would like, but I believe that trend is slowly changing and I keep seeing more and more books that develop her other novels.

Today I have as my guest Virginia Kohl, an author who is contributing to this change and whose debut novel, True Love Comes to Delaford, is a variation of Sense and Sensibility, one of my favourite Austen novels.

She interviewed my two favourite characters from Sense & Sensibility, Colonel Brandon and Elinor Dashwood, and I hope you all enjoy getting to know them better.

Elinor Dashwood’s father dies, leaving the fate of his family in the hands of two self-serving vultures. With diminished chances of making a respectable match and several uneventful Seasons behind her, the fiercely independent, bibliophile focuses on helping her family adjust to their new life. However, as her friendship with an honorable gentleman grows, the twenty-year-old begins experiencing feelings she never thought possible.

When Colonel Brandon resigned from the army to become the master of his family’s estate, he thought his best days were behind him. For years, the bachelor of five-and-thirty has successfully avoided every attempt of his well-meaning friends to find him a suitable wife. Although, he soon finds himself questioning his long-held beliefs regarding his single status, when Miss Dashwood strolls into his life.

In this refreshing whimsy, Virginia Kohl explores the possibility of Elinor Dashwood and Colonel Brandon’s devoted friendship turning into more.

You can find True Love Comes to Delaford at:

What would Lizzy Bennet do?

My name is Virginia Kohl. I have written a Sense and Sensibility whimsy titled True Love Comes to Delaford. Today, the main characters, Elinor Dashwood and Colonel Brandon, have kindly agreed to an interview. So without further ado:

Colonel Brandon, Miss Dashwood. Welcome and thank you for joining me.

Colonel Brandon, Elinor Dashwood: *bow and take a seat* Thank you.

First, please share with the readers where you are from.

Colonel Brandon: I grew up at my family’s estate, Delaford, in Dorsetshire.

Elinor Dashwood: My family is originally from Sussex. We lived at Norland Estate until my father’s passing earlier this year.

My condolences, Miss Dashwood. How would you describe your childhood?

Elinor Dashwood: Thank you. It was ideal. I always felt loved, safe, and important. My parents made my younger sisters and I their greatest priority and supported all of our dreams and ambitions.

Colonel Brandon: For me, the accompanying memories are not the fondest. I have never had a close relationship with my parents or older brother. The military was where I finally found camaraderie.

Where do you live now?

Elinor Dashwood: We now live at Barton Cottage in Devonshire. A lovely place on the grounds of Sir John Middleton’s residence, Barton Park.

Colonel Brandon: After resigning from the army, I returned to Delaford.

Both sound delightful. Do you share your home with a pet?

Colonel Brandon: Yes, I have two curly coated retrievers named Magnus and Zeus.

Elinor Dashwood: Unfortunately, we are unable to have any due to my sister, Marianne’s sensitivities. Although if we could, I would love to have a dog.

Dogs are lovely companions. If you were to name one physical attribute that sets you apart from others, what would it be?

Elinor Dashwood: Instead of the ton-approved, yet impractical quizzing glass, I wear spectacles. A nice pair of round-rimmed, silver spectacles.

Colonel Brandon: *Taking a deep breath* I have an old war injury that causes me to limp during times of harsh weather or exhaustion.

I hear you both are quite skilled at the game of Whist.

Elinor Dashwood: *sharing a chuckle with the Colonel* I would not describe myself as skilled by any means. When an additional player is needed, I join in so Mrs. Jennings (John Middleton’s mother-in-law) can enjoy her game.

Colonel Brandon: It is more a matter of frequency than skill. As this is one of Mrs. Jennings’s favorite pastimes, I am often asked to play during my visits.

Speaking of pastimes, which do you enjoy?

Colonel Brandon: While at home, I enjoy a quiet evening reading in the library. When invited to Barton Park, I engage in sports such as duck hunting with John.

Elinor Dashwood: In addition to reading and jam making, I enjoy writing. I always carry my journal with me to write down everything from recipes and ideas, to various stories.

Reading is a common interest. Do you have a favorite book?

Colonel Brandon: *Smiling over at Elinor* Miss Dashwood and I enjoy engaging in literary parlays. There are so many we have discussed that it is hard to simply choose one favorite.

Elinor Dashwood: *Nodding in agreement* Two that come to mind are Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe and Frances Burney’s Camilla.

Since Robinson Crusoe is a favorite novel, which three items would you take on a deserted island.

Colonel Brandon: What an interesting question. I would take three items that served me well throughout my time in the military; my compass, my dragoon sword, and my tent.

Elinor Dashwood: I would bring a book about the flora and fauna of the island, my bible, and tea.

All useful items. Is there a particular meal you enjoy?

Colonel Brandon: Having spent many years in the East Indies, I have developed a taste for the cuisine. One of my favorites is a chicken curry in a cream sauce. It is served with a spiced tea beverage called Chai.

Elinor Dashwood: That meal sounds lovely. *An expression of genuine interest crossed her face before she turned to answer the question* I would have to say something more traditionally English such as Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.

Those both sound delicious. Who would you say is your closest friend? *noticing the glance they shared, I clarified* In addition to one another.

Colonel Brandon: John. We began serving together when I enlisted at sixteen.

Elinor Dashwood: Mrs. Louisa Delaney. She moved here from the East Indies last year when her husband’s regiment transferred.

Lastly, what do you hope the future holds for you?

Elinor Dashwood: I hope that my family continues to find happiness in Devonshire among our dear new friends.

Colonel Brandon: My life has recently undergone some changes *gazes over at Elinor* and I hope to be able to explore them further.

Thank you again for agreeing to this interview.

Colonel Brandon, Elinor Dashwood: *Stand up and bow* Thank you. It was a pleasure.

If you enjoyed this interview, you can read their story in True Loves Comes to Delaford available now in Kindle and trade paperback.

Virginia Kohl has been fascinated with the regency era since discovering Jane Austen’s works at the age of eleven. While others dreamt of Willoughby, it was Colonel Brandon who stole Virginia’s heart from the very beginning. Originally from Germany, she shares her Texas home with her illustrator mother and faithful rescue dog. When not passing her love of learning on to her students, this college math professor enjoys reading, writing, and being an active member of her local writer’s guild.

Virginia Kohl can be reached at www.facebook.com/VirginiaKohl3

Her debut novel can be found at www.amazon.com/author/virginiakohl

The accompanying tea blend can be found at www.adagio.com/signature_blend/blend.html?blend=127735

Virginia Kohl would like to offer signed one paperback copy of True Love Comes to Delaford to one of my readers. All you have to do is comment on this post and let us know your first impression on this book. The giveaway will end on the 29th of November and is open for readers with a continental USA address.

Good luck everyone!

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November 22, 2017 · 7:57 pm

Mr. Darcy’s Christmas Present

The Madness of Mr. Darcy is one of my all-time favorite books, and even though it had the perfect ending, and in line with the entire mood of the book, deep down I always wished I could see the characters living their happily ever after. I got so attached to them that the book wasn’t enough for me, I wanted more and I felt they deserved more, so when I heard Alexa Adams was publishing a short story which was the continuation of The Madness of Mr. Darcy, I went crazy! Well…not really, but I had to read it immediately.

In Mr. Darcy’s Christmas Present we will have an opportunity to experience ODC’s happily ever after, and what’s amazing about the story is that this happens without changing the characters, their disposition or circumstances. There is no dramatic change between the style of The Madness of Mr. Darcy and this small sequel, in fact, the mood with which it starts reminded me immediately of its predecessor and I loved seeing that despite the fact that we are seeing a happy couple, Mr. Darcy is still a tormented man overcoming his psychological issues with the help of his loving wife. But this is clearly a lighter story that was meant to transmit a happy atmosphere and answer the reader’s pleas for a brighter and longer ending, so I assure you that you will love this story.

Apart from Darcy and Elizabeth, who are obviously the main characters, we are also presented with a glimpse of all the other key characters of the previous book, and we get to know what happened to them and how they are living. I particularly liked seeing Wickham in this sequel, it was interesting to see how his relationship with Darcy evolved and how he changed as well.

The ending was exactly what I had wanted to read even thought I would have like it to be a bit longer.

Mr. Darcy’s Christmas Present was the best Christmas gift Alexa Adams could have given me. She gave me a loving novella where all the characters I wanted to see again are present to give me closure to one of the most intense and amazing books I have ever read. (If you haven’t read The Madness of Mr. Darcy yet, I highly recommend it).

You can find Mr. Darcy’s Christmas Present at:

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November 20, 2017 · 1:07 pm

Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues – A Wicked Game

Wickham

Good Afternoon everyone,

Today is my turn to host one of the authors of Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues, and I’m very, very happy to tell you that I’m hosting Katie Oliver with an excerpt of her story which is about Austen’s most infamous rogue: George Wickham!!!

That’s right, today the stage goes to the most hated rake we know of, and I’m kind of hoping that your feelings towards him will change a little…just a little, we can’t love Wickham after all, can we?…Hum…Maybe we can, what do you think?

I hope you enjoy the excerpt and I’m looking forward to know your thoughts on “A Wicked Game” 🙂

“One has all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it.” —Jane Austen

Jane Austen’s masterpieces are littered with unsuitable gentlemen—Willoughby, Wickham, Churchill, Crawford, Tilney, Elliot, et al.—adding color and depth to her plots but often barely sketched. Have you never wondered about the pasts of her rakes, rattles, and gentlemen rogues? Surely, there’s more than one side to their stories.

It is a universal truth, we are captivated by smoldering looks, daring charms … a happy-go-lucky, cool confidence. All the while, our loyal confidants are shouting on deaf ears: “He is a cad—a brute—all wrong!” But is that not how tender hearts are broken…by loving the undeserving? How did they become the men Jane Austen created? In this romance anthology, eleven Austenesque authors expose the histories of Austen’s anti-heroes.

Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues is a titillating collection of Georgian era short stories—a backstory or parallel tale off-stage of canon—whilst remaining steadfast to the characters we recognize in Austen’s great works.

What say you? Everyone may be attracted to a bad boy…even temporarily…but heaven help us if we marry one.

KATIE OLIVER is the author of nine novels, including the Amazon bestseller Prada and Prejudice, as well as the Dating Mr. Darcy, Marrying Mr. Darcy, and Jane Austen Factor series. She resides in South Florida with her husband (where she goes to the beach far less often than she’d like) and is working on a new series. Katie began writing as a child and has a box crammed with half-finished stories to prove it. After raising two sons, she decided to get serious and get published.

She is convinced that there is no greater pleasure than reading a Jane Austen novel.

Katie Oliver’s novels:

The Trouble with Emma?

Who needs Mr. Willoughby?

Prada and Prejudice

Love and Liability

And the Bride Wore Prada

Mansfield Lark

Love, Lies and Louboutins

Manolos in Manhattan

“A Wicked Game” by Katie Oliver

The hour was late when at last we bid each other good night and headed upstairs. Our candle flames danced and flickered, casting shadows on the wallpaper, rendering Pemberley’s dark corners even darker.

“Good night, monsieurs,” Lady Harlow called out as she, along with the other ladies, turned to follow Reynolds to their rooms in the east wing.

“Good night,” Darcy’s father replied. “I shall see you ladies in the morning. If there is anything you or the others require, you have only to let Mrs. Reynolds know.”

“Thank you.” As he left, she inclined her head to Lieutenant Fitzwilliam and me. “Bonne nuit.”

Though I searched her candlelit face, there was no hint of the coquette who had flirted with me so boldly earlier that evening. Her expression was composed and polite. Nothing more.

Fitzwilliam bowed, and I did the same. “Sleep well, ladies.”

I followed Darcy and his cousin down the hallway that led to the family wing and bid them a good night as I went, at last, into my room. I shut the door behind me and leaned back against it. At once, I regarded the four-poster bed.

Would I possibly share it tonight with Clémence Harlow? The thought left me half mad with desire … and aroused no small amount of apprehension within me at the same time.

I could not help but wonder if I would make a fool of myself. Would I know what to do, what to say? Would she laugh at me? Mock my ineptitude? Why had she behaved with such polite indifference just now? Had I only imagined her earlier interest?

Unsure of the answers, my self-doubt increased. I shrugged my frockcoat off, untied my cravat with unsteady fingers, and tossed it aside. I would wait. After all, I had little choice. I was at Lady Harlow’s mercy.

I flung myself back across the bed and stared moodily at the blue silk overhead. Of course, I reminded myself, the two of us must be discreet. We could hardly allow Darcy, or his cousin, or indeed any of the others, to suspect our attraction for one other. It would not do to give the game away so easily.

Silence settled over the great house as I lay on the bed and waited, listening for the sound of the doorknob turning. But there was nothing, only the crackling of flames licking the logs in the fireplace. I yawned. I had consumed several glasses of brandy after dinner, and now heaviness tugged at my eyes. I would close them, I decided, just for a moment.

As I drifted between wakefulness and sleep, I imagined I held her in my arms, nestled close against me, with her heart beating against mine like a tiny, wild bird.

Deep in the night, I sat up with a start. Somewhere nearby I heard a door open and close. Whispers, followed by hushed, angry words. Then silence.

I waited, my heart flailing, and listened with the preternatural hearing one has in the darkness, but the sounds were not repeated, and I could only suppose I had imagined them. With a mutter and a sigh, I lay back down and slept.

I dreamt of the warmth of Lady Harlow’s skin against mine. I dreamt of her mouth, so soft and sweet and yielding, as our lips clung together for the first time. She tasted of apricots. She smelled of summer and sunshine. I dreamt I touched her. Possessed her.

When I awoke, sunlight streamed into my room through a gap in the drapes, and I blinked. I found myself sprawled across the bed, still clothed, still lying atop the covers… alone.

Only in my dreams had Lady Harlow come to my room.

Don’t forget to follow the blog tour to know more about the other authors and stories, Wickham may be the most famous rogues, but the others are certainly as interesting as he is 🙂

Monday, November 6: REVIEW: Margie’s Must Reads, https://margiesmustreads.com

Thursday, November 9: REVIEW, Obsessed with Mr. Darcy, https://obsessedwithmrdarcy.wordpress.com

Monday, November 13: REVIEW, Austenesque Reviews, http://austenesquereviews.com

Tuesday, November 14: REVIEW, Olga of ROSIE AMBER team, http://www.authortranslatorolga.com/

Wednesday, November 15: (release day) REVIEW, Just Jane 1813, http://justjane1813.com

Thursday, November 16: REVIEW, Diary of an Eccentric, https://diaryofaneccentric.wordpress.com

Monday, November 20: FEATURE w/Katie Oliver (George Wickham), From Pemberley to Milton, https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpress.com

Wednesday, November 22: FEATURE w/Joana Starnes (Willoughby), Babblings of a Bookworm, http://babblingsofabookworm.blogspot.com

Friday, November 24: FEATURE w/Sophia Rose, (General Tilney), Herding Cats & Burning Soup, http://www.herdingcats-burningsoup.com

Monday, November 27: FEATURE w/Amy D’Orazio (Captain Tilney), My Jane Austen Book Club, http://thesecretunderstandingofthehearts.blogspot.com

Wednesday, November 29: FEATURE w/Brooke West (Henry Crawford), VVB32 Reads, https://vvb32reads.blogspot.com

Thursday, November 30: FEATURE w/Lona Manning (Tom Bertram), Lit 4 Ladies, http://lit4ladies.com

Friday, December 1: REVIEW, Lit 4 Ladies, http://lit4ladies.com

Monday, December 4: FEATURE w/Beau North (Colonel Fitzwilliam), Obsessed with Mr. Darcy, https://obsessedwithmrdarcy.wordpress.com

Thursday, December 7: FEATURE w/J. Marie Croft (John Thorpe), Harry Rodell blog/ROSIE AMBER team, https://harryrodell.wordpress.com/author/rodellh

Friday, December 8: REVIEW, From Pemberley to Milton, https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpress.com

Monday, December 11: FEATURE w/Jenetta James Hannah McSorley (William Elliot), Austenesque Reviews, http://austenesquereviews.com

Thursday, December 14: FEATURE w/Karen M Cox (Frank Churchill), Darcyholic Diversions, http://darcyholic.blogspot.com

Monday, December 17: FEATURE w/Christina Morland (Sir Walter Elliot), Of Pens & Pages, http://www.ofpensandpages.com

This blog tour has two giveaways going on .

One giveaway is a prize pack of 15 paperback books from the authors of this anthology. One lucky winner will win this prize! To enter for this prize fill out the rafflecopter form here!

And the other giveaway is for a collection of items called #RakesAndGentlemenRogues Pleasures Prize Pack, and this prize pack includes:

Bingley’s Teas (Willoughby and The Colonel)
‘The Compleat Housewife’ Notecards set
Jane Austen Playing Cards
6 Jane Austen Postcards
A Pride and Prejudice Print autographed by Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle

DangerousToKnow-GrandPrize2

To enter this giveaway all you need to do is leave a comment on the blogs hosting the tour

Both giveaways are open internationally and end on December 30th!

Good Luck everyone!

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November 18, 2017 · 4:32 pm

And the winners are…

Hello my friends,

How are you this weekend? I will be joining my family for a cousin’s birthday party this weekend but before I go, I would like to announce to you the winners of the latest giveaways I had here on From Pemberley to Milton.

I would like first of all to thank all the authors who visited and who brought these goodies to my readers, and also to each one of you who took your time to read these posts and share your thoughts with us on the comments 🙂

Now without further ado the winners of the giveaways are:

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in 61 Haiku (1,037 Syllables!)

*** Evamedmonds ***

Meant to Be

*** Mary ***

Elizabeth Adam’s collection

*** J. W Garrett ***

Congratulations everyone! Can you please just send me an email to ritaluzdeodato at gmail dot com confirming your email (for ebooks) and address (for paperback) so that your prizes may reach you?

Thank you and have a nice weekend everyone!

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November 15, 2017 · 1:42 pm

Meryton Mystery series on sale!

Hello everyone,

Today I am the bearer of good news! Jennifer Joy will once more present her readers with an incredible promotion on the Meryton Mystery series.

As you know this series has 3 titles: The Honorable Mr. Darcy, The Indomitable Miss Elizabeth and The Inseparable Mr. and Mrs. Darcy and the first two volumes will be on promotion from today until next Sunday!

The Honorable Mr. Darcy will be FREE and The Indomitable Miss Elizabeth will be 99c!!!

If you don’t want to miss this opportunity, grab your copy on the following sites:

The Honorable Mr. Darcy

The Indomitable Miss Elizabeth

Meryton Vignettes, Tales of Pride and Prejudice

And of course, once you read the first two books you’ll want to read the third and final book of the series, so you can find The Inseparable Mr. and Mrs. Darcy on the same places at regular price (4,99$): Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca.

I think Jennifer Joy is now becoming the mystery queen in the JAFF community so lets hear what captivates her about this sub-genre…

Jane Austen and mysteries … Why did you decide to mix the two?

It all comes back to what I love to read. I rarely read books twice, but I’ve made exceptions where my two favorite authors — Jane Austen and Agatha Christie — are concerned! Theirs are the stories I return to time and again. So, I thought, why not blend the genres and show Darcy and Lizzy falling in love while they solve a mystery?

A mystery? Last I counted, there are three in this series. What happened?!

Haha! Meryton seemed like such a peaceful place before the murders began.

Far be it from me to rush ODC to the altar when their courtship is fraught with so much danger and intrigue! The Honorable Mr. Darcy was planned as a standalone novel, but by the time I got to the end, it was clear that Darcy and Lizzy had a lot more story to tell … and Meryton had many more secrets to reveal yet.

Do you plan any more books in this series?

I have the next two books planned out, just waiting for their turn to be written. But first, I have a murderer to catch at Rosings… I won’t give anything else away because this standalone mystery/romance should be available to read next month.

Can’t wait until next month to hear more about the new book! Thanks for visiting today Jennifer, and for such a great promotion! I’m sure readers appreciate it too 🙂

If you’re into romance and mysteries and you want a good story to read this weekend, don’t miss this opportunity 🙂

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Filed under Free, JAFF, jane austen, Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice, Promotion

November 13, 2017 · 8:20 pm

Green Card Review & Giveaway

I have always prefered regency novels to moderns because I always felt they were more romantic and the love stories were stronger, but when Green Card was re-released I simply had to read it! I had heard too many good things about it and having read other amazing works from the author, I knew I had to give this one a try. I cannot say I regret it, by the contrary, Green Card was one of the best love stories I have read in the last few months, and definitely the best modern story.

After all the encouragements I received from Anita from My Vices and Weaknesses I can finally say that I am also completely rendered to Green Card and now I can truly understand the meaning of “you gave me Valhalla!”, it is one of the most beautiful moments in the book.

Green Card is not a Pride and Prejudice modernisation but we can see how Austen’s characters influenced the author. William Harper is British billionaire who needs a green card to remain in the USA coordinating an important merger of his company. Elizabeth Barrett is a full-time student working too many jobs to be able to pay her tuition, so when Harper presents her with a very generous compensation to marry him and pretend they are a couple for the following 2 years, she cannot refuse. What starts as a business contract ends up as one of the most romantic stories I’ve ever read, and we get to see it all happening during a 2 and a half years period.

Elizabeth Adams is a very talented writer and in Green Card she displays that talent through an engaging story, compelling dialogues, but above all, incredibly well developed characters.

Elizabeth Barrett got to my nerves sometimes, and I could not believe how lucky she was, but her relationship with her mother and the way it was developed made me love her a bit more.

William Harper is the perfect man and it’s impossible not to fall in love with him. He is everything a young man ought to be: intelligent, interesting, strong, sexy, jealous, attentive, a great listener, romantic, and did I mention incredibly rich? But what captivated me the most about his character was what remained hidden until the outburst he had in one of his fights with Elizabeth. When he opened his heart and showed her how prejudiced and wrong she was regarding him and his life, I was completely surrendered. The scene was so well written that I wanted to jump into the book and comfort him for hours and hours.

The romance that is built between these two characters is beautiful and sexy, slow and fast, real and dreamy, it is basically everything I ever wanted to read in a romance novel, it has it all and the memorable moments are too many to mention in this review.

I’m not American so the american traditions and the food element in the book had a big appeal to me. Elizabeth Adams made me come home, google grilled cheese and cook it for me and my husband! But if you’re fond of cooking there is no need to google the receipts because that is a bonus at the end of the book.

Green Card is an exquisite romance that I could not put down and that I recommend to everyone who loves an amazing love story!

Elizabeth Adams is a book-loving, tango-dancing, Austen enthusiast. She loves old houses and thinks birthdays should be celebrated with trips—as should most occasions. She can often be found by a sunny window with a cup of hot tea and a book in her hand.

She writes romantic comedy and comedic tragedy in both historic and modern settings.

You can find more information, short stories, and outtakes at elizabethadamswrites.wordpress.com

Books By This Author:

Modern Fiction

Green Card

Historical Fiction

The Houseguest

Unwilling

On Equal Ground

Elizabeth Adams would like to offer to one of my readers eBook versions of every JAFF book written by her (shown below). Isn’t that great? One single winner will get the entire collection of her work 🙂 To enter this giveaway all you have to do is to leave a comment on this post until the 17th of November. The winner will be randomly chosen and announced shortly after.

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November 9, 2017 · 8:56 pm

Meant to Be – Author interview & Giveaway

Hello everyone,

This summer when I visited England I met a very interesting and sweet lady who had written a book and was about to self publish a JAFF novel for the first time, her name is Andreea Catana, and by now she has not only released her first novel, Meant to Be, but also rejoiced in its success.

We shared our excitement for visiting Pemberley for the first time on that trip, we walked together on Pemberley grounds, had long conversations in our hotel room at night, and I can say it was a true joy to get to know her better.

At the time we worked on an interview that we wanted to publish when the novel was released, and today I’m sharing it with you. I hope you’ll like to know Andreea a little better, and that her sweetness will captivate you to read Meant to Be which is already on my To Be Read list, on the very top of it 😉

Hello Andreea, first of all let me let you how glad I am to meet you here in England! The scenery could not have been more perfect. As we walk on Pemberley’s grounds, can you tell me what is it about Pride and Prejudice that captivates you the most?

My first recollection of reading “Pride and Prejudice” is at age 10 when my mom gave it to me because she thought I might like it. At that time, I had little information on what literary value “Pride and Prejudice” had or even for that matter, who Jane Austen was. As a result, I was determined to read the book only and if only the story appealed to me or whether it was similar to “Oliver Twist”, which, at that time, was the best novel I had read. Needless to say, it was nothing like Dicken’s novel, and I absolutely loved it.

I was impressed with Elizabeth Bennet; she was so unafraid to speak her mind that she seemed like the type of young woman I might want to become someday, or, at least, to have as a friend. I had never seen a literary character like that who was that smart and always knew what to say, even when upset by someone or something.

And then there was… Mr. Darcy as well, whom first I disliked, then I loved. I could not believe that a gentleman like him could be so mean to my dear Elizabeth, who I felt was a friend of mine. You must take into consideration that I was 10 years old. But when Elizabeth forgave him, I forgave him.

When I re-read “Pride and Prejudice” time later, I secretly got a crush on Mr. Darcy, and it felt like a betrayal to Elizabeth Bennet. I might add in a jest that Mr. Darcy has been one of my most long-standing literary crushes and it’s very unlikely that he will be banished soon.

All in all, the more I read the book (and I read it quite often), the greater I find it. I like “Pride and Prejudice” because it is everything they say and write about and more. Because it is about finding the right home to settle down, choosing the correct path in life, being true to yourself, valuing friendship and family… and above all, that Mr. Darcy always finds Elizabeth Bennet.

I can see we share the same love for Pride and Prejudice and have similar reasons to love it, so I must ask, are you as excited as I am to be on Pemberley grounds? Is it as you imagined?

Absolutely! It is my first time in the UK so I am looking forward to what each day may bring. But when you imagine something and it turns out to be even more inspiring and wonderful than you thought possible you know you are having the time of your life.

Being at Pemberley is like being invited into Mr. Darcy’s very own home. I confess I even expect him to be home. Imagine what a treat that would be!

All in all, everything here at Pemberley is impressive! I love the gardens of Lyme Park and I cannot imagine a more beautiful place for Elizabeth and Darcy to take a stroll.

I know what you mean, for me this trip is being memorable and Lyme Park is definitely my highlight. What have you enjoyed the most until now?

The visit at Chawton House, Jane Austen’s home. It’s a rather small house, but so full of all sort of wonderful memorabilia. You can actually see the table where Jane Austen wrote her letters and parts of her novels. It’s moving to see that in a small world like Jane Austen’s some of the most amazing literary characters were brought to life into the world. It is magic actually!

I got inspired and quite emotional walking into that small hall of the Chawton Cottage, seeing the rooms, the personal objects. Everything is so alive that you would not think it’s been 200 years since Jane Austen is gone. It is strange but I do feel that by living her quiet life she managed to create for herself a great life and we should only be that lucky: to be authors of something that is immortal.

We’ve been talking about Jane Austen’s work and how it touched us, but how did you discover Jane Austen Fan Fiction?

I discovered it via Lory Lilian, who is one of my trusted and dearest friends. She confided in me while she was writing “Rainy Days” not so long ago ☺; she was so enthusiastic about the process of creating this new story that she made me read various drafts of it. And I was glad for she showed me how alive the passion for “Pride and Prejudice” was all over the world.

Of course, there are different authors and novels inspired by “Pride and Prejudice”, and each has its own value and fans ☺, and I do celebrate that. I am more than sure that there is place enough for everyone under the JAFF sun and there can never be too many books about ODC.

And what led you to follow Lory’s footsteps and write JAFF?

I like stories and I like writing. When Lory Lilian first told me about her “Rainy Days” and after I started reading the stuff the other authors were publishing on different Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice online forums, I got a little bit afraid – somehow I saw this act of writing Pride and Prejudice inspired books as a place of privilege.

I confess at that time, I was not courageous enough to dip my pen into the ink and write until I became convinced that I have my own version of the story to tell, or write about. It is even clearer to me that the magic of Elizabeth and Darcy is still there, the possibilities of them finding each other are endless, and I summarize it with the certainty that the end must only be one: Love is always the Answer.

Meant to Be is your first version of what Pride and Prejudice could have been had something different happened, what can readers expect from it?

To be entertained by it. I have tried to be as much inspired by Jane Austen’s work as it is allowed, keeping the same tone and the same events (almost) as in the book. I believe “Meant to Be” is a funny book with some unexpected twists and events. I do also believe that the characters of P&P are there – of course, as seen by me – but all in all, they are recognizable as such. It has been a work of many months, and I can only wish it to bring many pleasant moments of reading. It would be my greatest satisfaction.

I need to ask, has this trip inspired you to write more novels?

For sure it has inspired me to think the stories in a different manner. Writing, at least for me, has never been based on a formula that is unchangeable and this trip has confirmed me as much. The story of “Pride and Prejudice” is one, but there are many ways to tell it. I am convinced that two people cannot write exactly the same way even with the same “pen”. So you need to see your own “truth”, to hold it in your hands.

What this trip has managed to do for me is to give a direct touch of the world in which our beloved characters have “lived”. To get intimate with them if you want. History is – thank God – very much alive in the UK and I was so glad to see so many people interested in preserving such a dignified legacy, whether it is about British or Jane Austen’s legacy.

Also, there is the love you can feel in different places related to Jane Austen or “Pride and Prejudice”; it is as if each heart that was once pledged to Mr. Darcy by means of reading can be felt. Pride and Prejudice and Mr. Darcy have brought a lot of affection to plenty of places and it is recognizable from the very first step you take on such grounds.

What if Mr. Bingley rented Netherfield nine months later than in the original?
What if Elizabeth Bennet met Mr. Darcy first at Rosings while she is staying with her friend Charlotte Collins and he is visiting his aunt, Lady Catherine? What if Elizabeth is as attracted by Darcy’s fine eyes as much as he is by hers?
When their mutual attraction is tainted by pride, prejudice, misunderstandings, and false accusation, how will they reconcile their feelings when they meet again in Hertfordshire?
Follow this Regency Pride and Prejudice variation that takes you into a different—yet much the same—journey through the beloved story of Elizabeth and her Mr. Darcy.

You can find Meant to be at: