Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion

Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion from Regina Jeffers is the perfect book for readers who love Jane Austen’s Persuasion!

It gives us a glimpse of how Frederick Wentworth and Anne Elliot met, and their consequent courtship period, before moving on to the main story which is a retelling from Wentworth’s point of view alternated with their life at sea after their marriage. By bringing all of this together in one single book, Mrs. Jeffers created the most complete Persuasion book one can find; it is a prequel, a variation with different POV and a sequel!

In the beginning I found the alternation between the events a little confusing, but I soon started to enjoy these alternate chapters and particularly how they converge into the story’s ending.

I loved seeing Frederick Wentworth in his youth meeting Anne Elliot, falling in love with her and having his heart shattered. I always wondered why there weren’t more books that focused on this particuar period because I always had a big curiosity about how they met, why they fell in love with one another, and how was Anne’s refusal delivered; Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion came to satiate my need for this 🙂

I particularly enjoyed the fact that we are presented with Wentworth’s POV instead of Anne’s because it gives us a more masculine view of every scene, and it makes us feel more close to him as a character than to Anne. He will not seem as cruel or fickle as in Persuasion because we are able to see his side of the story, and we know what is on his mind and heart in each scene. By seeing the story through his eyes we will find him more romantic and irresistible than in Persuasion, and those who may have had reserves regarding him, may very well forget all about that when reading this book.

I know some people are not as fond of Wentworth as I am, but I believe that if they read this book, they will come to like him more. It is very different to witness every scene from his point of view, and to understand when he realized he was paying too much attention to Louisa Musgrove and that such behavior had to stop.

Even though I enjoyed immensely this book, I would have liked to see a little more of their courtship when they were young, and to understand a little better why Wentworth fell in love with Anne. But this was not a prequel per se, and being only an introduction to the book itself, I understand the author would not want to spend too much time in this period of the story.

It is very curious, but in Persuasion I felt more empathy towards Anne, in this book I felt more empathy towards Wentworth as Anne sometimes appeared to be a character towards whom I felt pity and could not like so much. This was a very positive aspect, as it allowed me to appreciate the story from both points of view and have a wider assessment of both personalities and how they are perceived by themselves and by others.

As mentioned earlier, this book is the most complete novel one could find based on Jane Austen’s Persuasion and I have no doubt that all Persuasion enthusiasts will love it considering how deep it goes into the lives and personalities of Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliot. It is a romantic tale that brings to light a new side of Wentworth that will make each reader fall in love with him even more. I highly recommend it to JAFF readers.

You can find Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion at:

Amazon.com

A Man With Faults

 

When I saw the cover of A Man With Faults I knew I had to read the book as soon as it got out, and when I saw the blurb I couldn’t believe my eyes! Lory Lilian, the Queen of Hot Mush, was going “angst” on this book! As a true angst addict, these were the best news I could have and it was with great expectation that I started reading it.

It turned out to be the perfect balance between an angsty beginning and a passionate, loving romance in the end. The balance between the angst and the romance makes A Man With Faults a perfect book for every reader as it will please all tastes.

In this variation Elizabeth refuses to read Mr. Darcy’s letter and without any reason to hope she will think better of him, or the pleasure of clearing out his name, he is a broken man.

So the book begins with Darcy in a dark place, and I confess I absolutely loved how Lory Lilian tortured him and how she made him react, especially towards Elizabeth. He was hurt, angry, and acting resentfully. He is not an easy character, he is harsh, complicated and I absolutely love it!! But above all, he remains honorable even when it means giving up on his own happiness. You know Darcy…

I also loved to see that Elizabeth didn’t need to read the letter to see Whickham for who he was. She is an intelligent lady who can see the signs in front of her. She just can’t see how much she loves Darcy and how much he loves her…But we wouldn’t have any love story if they figured it out immediately would we?

As I said, I love to see Darcy get tortured, and Lory Lilian did an excellent job at that! She did it using the plot I love the most, but I only like to see him suffer if the reward he will have in the end makes it up for all the suffering, and once again, the author nailed it!! Elizabeth’s letter was pure perfection! I could feel Darcy’s joy while reading it and I could think of no better way to give him his much deserved happiness. In fact, we are given the opportunity to see the couple’s happiness in the end, so those who love some “Darcy/Elizabeth together time” will be pleased with the last chapters of the book.

I’ve been talking about Darcy and Elizabeth because they are the main characters of the story, but as always Lory Lilian did an excellent job at developing secondary characters, not only already existing ones, such as Georgiana who plays an important role in this book, but also new characters like Darcy’s Aunt, Lady Hardwick, and Mr. Slade.

Georgiana is a fragile, insecure girl who finds in Lizzy the friend she never had, and it is because of her that our couple will be compelled to spend much time together.  Lady Hardwick is an intelligent, funny woman who helps our dear couple achieve their HEA and Mr. Slade’s story is intriguing. I honestly would love to know more about his relationship with Lady Hardwick 🙂

As expected Lory Lilian delivered a powerful, intense romance that can not be missed by any JAFF reader. It gave me a tremendous pleasure to read this book and I highly recommend it.

You can find A Man With Faults at:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

A Very Darcy Christmas Review & Giveaway

Hello everyone,

I was very happy to know that Victoria Kincaid was releasing a holidays vagary. I had been wanting to read something from her for a while and this was the perfect timing to do it.

I have been reading several P&P books that occur during the Christmas periods and A Very Darcy Christmas from Victoria Kincaid was one of my favorites. It is a very light, fast paced book filled with humor but also romance from a quarter we would not expect.

After their marriage Darcy and Elizabeth didn’t have many opportunities to spend quality time together, so they are eager to spend the Christmas season alone at Pemberley while Georgiana is visiting Lady Catherine. All they wanted was some peace and quiet, but that is very far from what they will get.

While Darcy is out on estate business Elizabeth sees herself welcoming into her home guest after guest after guest who seem to think Pemberley is the perfect refuge for the holiday season. Hanging the greenery so soon might not have been a good idea after all, and in the blink of an eye Elizabeth is opening Pemberley’s doors to Georgiana who ran away from Lady Catherine’s matchmaking plots, the Lady herself who brings along 2 very different suitors, Mrs. Bennet who is obsessed with the idea of the French invading England and is seeking refuge in the north of the country, Mr. Bennet who has no choice but to follow his wife and try to minimize her hysterics, Lydia and George Wickham, and finally Colonel Fitzwilliam. Now, can you imagine what it would be like to have all these characters in one single house? Pemberley is big, but they do have to dine together, and the result of their social encounters is a never-ending laugh for us readers.

I’ve heard many people say that Mrs. Bennet’s obsession with the French made them laugh out loud several times, but even if Mr. Bennet’s method to calm his wife was just hysterical, and the results comical, I confess that for me the most humorous character was Lydia! I absolutely loved her character. She is Lydia in all her splendor, so you can imagine what kind of silly things she can do and say, but as if that is not enough, she actually manages to set Pemberley on fire not once, but twice!! The second time she does it is just marvelous with Darcy seeing it all happening in front of him but not being able to stop it. In fact, Darcy’s desperation throughout the entire book is just adorable, well, at least for us… Elizabeth will not think his black moods are so adorable…

But as I said this book is not just humorous, it also has a romance that I absolutely loved! I know that some people are not particularly fond of the couple Mrs. Kincaid decided to explore in this book, but I am. I love when authors choose to pair these characters, and Mrs. Kincaid did it extremely well! I loved the passion, the jealousy and the tender moments between these characters who developed a trust in one another that is absolutely superb.

This is a very entertaining book full of laughter and holiday spirit but it can be read at any other time of the year. It is funny, romantic and up to the standards Mrs. Kincaid already got us used to. She marvels at adding humor to her stories and yet keeping true to Jane Austen’s characters, and A Very Darcy Christmas is vivid proof of her proficiency in this type of stories.

You can find this book at:

Amazon.com – A Very Darcy Christmas

Amazon.co.uk – A Very Darcy Christmas

 

*** It’s giveaway time***

Victoria Kincaid brings her own Christmas gift to the readers at From Pemberley to Milton. She would like to offer one ebook copy of A Very Darcy Christmas to a randomly chosen reader who comments on this post. To increase the chances of winning, comment on the Guest Post that was published on the 3^rd of December, comments on both posts will be considered for the giveaway.

The giveaway is international and ill end on the 15^th of December, with the winner being announced shortly after.

Good luck everyone!

Meryton Vignettes Review & Giveaway

Hello everyone,

Meryton Vignettes is a compilation of six vignettes featuring several characters from Pride & Prejudice that took me completely by surprise.

First of all, I had never seen a book of vignettes. It is true that there are several compilations of short stories, but these are not exactly short stories, they are as the name indicates small pieces that could perfectly be integrated in a short story or novel. Now, you may wonder what are the advantages of reading just a vignette and not a full story, and I’ll tell you that apart from the delight of having just a glimpse of our beloved characters when we don’t have much time to read a full story, it is the possibility of having any kind of moment ahead of you and exploring many paths that would be blocked if the writer was writing a full story. The sky is the limit with vignettes and authors can write just about anything, that is precisely what Elizabeth Adams did.

Unlike all expectations, these vignettes are not centered in Darcy and Elizabeth. They do appear is some of the stories, but Elizabeth Adams choose to portray several other characters that are usually disregarded, and she did so in an astonishing way! She developed moments in these characters lives I never expected to read in any JAFF story, and to be frank, I don’t even think I will read some of these moments in the near future. She showed us a side of these characters that is usually not shown and they are not embellished to be part of a book, they are raw material, and I loved that!

But I will give you a brief description of the vignettes and my opinion on each one of them so you can understand what I mean.

 

Mistress of Longbourn

In this opening vignette, Charlotte returns to Longbourn 17 years after her marriage to Mr. Collins. I loved the tone of this vignette and to see everyone’s reaction to this event. It was the first time I read this particular moment occurring and it was interesting to see it from Charlotte’s POV.

There was one question that was left unanswered for me, but I have no doubts about Charlotte’s ability to become the Mistress of Longbourn, or Mr. Collins ability to become it’s master… Mrs. Bennet may have been a silly woman, but it will not be easy for Charlotte to fill her shoes as Mistress of one of the most proeminente estates in the neighbourhood 🙂

 

Life After Darcy

This snippet shows us Caroline Bingley’s life after Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s wedding. We will go through her feelings of rejection, anger and injustice until she is ready to move on, and when she does, we will see her as she truly is, as the real Caroline Bingley. In this story she will find her match who will give her a valuable lesson! I loved to see Caroline Bingley finally understanding what is most important in life and this was one of my favorite stories in the book. I reckon everyone will like this one 🙂

 

First Attachments

In this story we will see Lizzy’s attachment and developing relationship throughout the years to Jack Turner, the son of one of her father’s tenants. She will remember all the important moments in their relationship and consider how a true affection feels like. It is an impossible relationship of course, and it never goes beyond a friendship, but still it bothered me a little to see Elizabeth caring so much for someone who is not Mr. Darcy.

 

To Do Her Duty

Mrs. Bennet is the main character in this vignette, and it was the first time I ever saw her taking the leading role!

The story is told from Mrs. Bennet POV which I absolutely loved and will show a side of her that is very rarely portrayed. It was the first time I saw her go through a pregnancy and it was so touching I actually cried!! I really did! It is among my favorites in this book 🙂

 

To Fool a Fool

Prepare yourselves, this vignette describes the wedding night of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Collins. You heard me right, Elizabeth Adams did create this vignette. Don’t you think it takes a lot of courage to do that? I was shocked and amazed with To Fool a Fool, and I doubt any author will venture on writing that particular night in any other book. It takes a lot of bravery to write that night and Elizabeth Adams was not intimidated. However, do not fear! I will not give any details not to spoil it for you, but it is not as bad as it may seem 🙂

It is a bit humorous and ridiculous at the same time 🙂

 

He Had it Coming

This is the longest story in the book and it will focus on Lydia’s life after her wedding to Mr. Wickham. There are some books based on Lydia’s character, but this was the first time I saw a story so advanced in time and so dark. Seven years after her marriage, and tired of suffering abuses from her husband, Lydia sends a distress call to her sister Elizabeth who will come to her rescue. As I mentioned this is the longest vignette in the book and many events will occur in it. I will not say much more because I truly do not want to spoil it to you, but this is also on my top 3 favorite stories in the book. It is very, very good. I liked that Elizabeth Adams didn’t take a soft approach towards Lydia’s life and that she was not afraid to show us how miserable it was. I loved to see the development of Lydia’s character and the ending of course 🙂 After so much suffering, you can hope for a happy ending 🙂

 

I believe this compilation of vignettes is something every Janeite will like because not only it will give us the company of characters that are often overlooked, but it is also completely innovative in the premises! I have read scenes I never expected to read in a JAFF book and was amazed, shocked, grieved, merry and content at the same time. This is a delicious book with an interesting concept that I truly recommend.

 

You can find Meryton Vignettes: Tales of Pride & Prejudice in:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

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***It’s giveaway time***

Elizabeth Adams would like to offer one copy of Meryton Vignettes: Tales of Pride & Prejudice to my readers. The giveaway is international and is open until the 2^nd of December, all you have to do is comment on this post and share your thoughts on this book or the author. If you want to double your chances of winning, comment on the excertp post published on the 21st of November. Entries in both posts will be considered for the giveaway.

Good Luck everyone!

The Houseguest Review & Giveaway

Hello everyone,

I read The Houseguest when it was released in 2013 and absolutely loved it, so when the audiobook was released earlier this month, I knew it was the right time to re-acquaint myself with this story.

In this variation Georgiana begs Mr. Darcy to join him at Netherfield, and not wishing to disappoint his sister, he acquiesce. While she is there, she meets and befriends Elizabeth Bennet who is later on invited to spend a few days at Darcy’s London house while Mr. Darcy is out of town. But he returns earlier than expected and finding Elizabeth in Darcy House at his sister’s request, he has no alternative than to accept he will have to spend some time in her presence.

Both when I read and listened to this book I was immediately drawn into it not wishing to get away from the story. I always love books placed at Darcy’s house in London, there is a unique feeling to it and the coziness of this environment is perfect to allow Darcy and Elizabeth to develop a deep and strong relationship. And that is precisely what happens in The Houseguest.

Being forced to be in the same house for a few weeks, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth share several intimate moments and start to know each other much better. Their stolen moments at breakfast, the encounters in the library and the fight in the snow were breathtaking. I loved watching Darcy and Elizabeth in such intimate moments and having a prelude of how blissful their life together would be.

Through all this time we can feel the intensity of their relationship, and Elizabeth’s love when it starts to grow. Who doesn’t love to see Elizabeth gradually falling in love with Darcy? The moments they spend together are lovely and passionate but always within propriety, which is something I always appreciate, making this one of those love stories that sticks to my mind. (but don’t worry, those who love their passionate kisses will also find them in this book).

The characters are true to themselves, and some new additions are very interesting, namely Sir Malcom, Mr. Darcy’s rival. It was nice to see a rival for Mr. Darcy who was almost as perfect as Darcy himself. It was about time he had some real competition! But of course that Sir Malcom could never be Darcy, and after some turbulent times Elizabeth makes the only possible choice. I was only a little disappointed that Elizabeth was not more determined towards one of the two suiters and a little sooner. Of course she easily realizes who she really loves, but I wish she could have realized it sooner.

I didn’t remember the book had so many funny moments until I listened to the audiobook and some small details and inflections caught my attention. I also have to praise Brigid Lohrey for the merriment she was able to transmit in Elizabeth’s voice, she captured her teasing manner perfectly.

The Houseguest was very well written and I could easily imagine myself in every scene Elizabeth Adams describes. It has a low level of angst but enough to keep us turning the pages until the very end , and it is filled with romantic moments that allow Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth to slowly build an intimate and deep relationship. I highly recommend this book to any JAFF reader in need of a good romance.

 

You can find The Houseguest at:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

.

***

We often see the authors bio in guest posts but seldom remember to give the spotlight to the other people contributing to the success of a book. Many people are involved in the process of publishing a book but when it is released in audio version, the narrator is crucial to the success of the product, so we thought it would be interesting to let you know a little more about Brigid Lohrey who did a great job in narrating The Houseguest.

.

***Brigid Lohrey’s biography***

Brigid has always enjoyed reading classical literature. She loves Austen’s work, (and has even been to the Austen Museum in Bath!) and so jumped at the chance to narrate Elizabeth Adam’s The Houseguest as soon as she read it, as it was such a great story with colorful, quintessentially English characters which she loved bringing to life.

Brigid is a character actress and started narrating audiobooks three years ago. She began with the RNIB for whom she has narrated seven Australian titles from romances to psychological thrillers. For Spoken4 (available on Audible), she has narrated Kelly Rimmer’s When I Lost You and is also currently narrating Kelly’s latest book, A Mother’s Promise, which will be out in December 2016.

As well as audiobooks, Brigid has voiced commercials and corporate jobs for both the UK and Australian markets, as well as bringing characters to life in Radio Dramas such as the English rose Emma Finney in Dark Shadows: Beneath the Veil, and Dream Commando Wahn in Dr Who: Dreamtime with Sylvester McCoy for Big Finish Productions.

Find more about Brigid Lohrey at http://www.brigidlohrey.com or follow her on Twitter @brigidlohrey

 

*** It’s giveaway time***

To celebrate the release of The Houseguest on Audible, Elizabeth Adams would like to offer to my readers one audio or ebook copy of this book.

The winner can choose the format, and all we ask you to do is comment this post to let us know what you think of The Houseguest, or to share your good vibes with Mrs. Adams.

The giveaway is international and will end on the 25^th of November right after I publish my review of Elizabeth Adam’s latest release: Meryton Vignettes.

Good Luck everyone!

Elizabeth Adams signing my copy of The Houseguest in London earlier this year…

I just couldn’t resist 😉

Vampire Darcy’s Desire

Hello everyone,

How was your Halloween? Did you have fun?
Halloween is not an important tradition in my country, in fact, it is not a tradition at all, so I didn’t prepare anything special for this time of the year. However, I have been reading Regina Jeffers new edition of Vampire Darcy’s Desires and last night, of all nights, I had to stay up until I finished reading it. I could not just go to bed when my favorite characters were still fighting Wickham could I? I thought that spending the Halloween night reading this book had to mean something, and obviously, when I woke up this review was the first thing that came to my mind.

“Tormented by a 200-year-old curse and his fate as a half human/half vampire dhampir, Fitzwilliam Darcy vows to  a solitary life rather than inflict the horrors of his life upon an innocent wife and his first born son. However, when he encounters the captivating Elizabeth Bennet, his will is sorely tested.
As a man, Darcy yearns for Elizabeth, but as a vampire, he is also driven to possess her. Uncontrollably drawn to each other, they are forced to confront a different kind of “pride” and his enemy’s “prejudice,” while wrestling with the seductive power of forbidden love. Evil forces, led by George Wickham, the purveyor of the curse, attack from all sides, and Darcy learns his only hope to survive is to align himself with Elizabeth, who is uncannily astute is how to defeat Wickham, a demon determined to destroy each generation of Darcys.”

I love the paranormal and was eager to read a book where Mr. Darcy is a vampire, but I didn’t read the blurb and my head was so filled with The Vampire Diaries books that I was completly caught by surprise. Vampire Darcy’s Desire is very original and different from what I was expecting. I expected a vampire Darcy who could not get old, who could not survive without human blood, and who would turn Elizabeth into a vampire so they could live an eternal live together. But that was not at all what I found in this book. I encountered a tormented Darcy cursed to live without love and family. A Darcy destined to fight George Wickham until the end of his live and without any human affection to console him. A man who has never known hapiness and peace, and worse than that, a man without hope…Until he meets Elizabeth Bennet, and suddenly hope arises in his heart and he finally allows himself to live and dream of hapiness.

I wasn’t truly convinced by the beginning of their relationship, it seemed too sudden and physical, but I’m glad this small detail didn’t stop me, because as I continued reading, I discovered in Vampire Darcy’s Desires one of the most compelling relationships I’ve ever seen of Darcy and Elizabeth. Their love was everything I imagine it to be: intense and transcendent. We will have plenty of Darcy and Elizabeth moments, and the time they spend together will allow them to see they were destined to be together, and to form a bond that life itself could not destroy. Elizabeth’s love and trust in Darcy is pure perfection, and I felt nothing could ever tear them apart. Regina Jeffers creates in this book one of the most beautiful and strong love stories I’ve seen of our beloved characters. It is even hard to put into words how much I loved the way she developed their relationship.

Darcy was not so proud as we are used to and had some insecurities, which makes perfect sense considering his background in this book, but he is a flirtatious, passionate and sexy Darcy to whom I would gladly surrender.

Elizabeth is witty, courageous, independent, strong minded, dedicated and utterly in love with Darcy. Together they become a force of nature, and a force of nature they need to be to conquer the curse that has afflicted Darcy’s family for centuries! This is another aspect of the book that I loved, it wasn’t only excellent in terms of romance, but also in terms of adventure and terror! Some of the scenes were so well written I actually felt afraid, and at a certain point I had no idea how D&E would defeat Wickham. I loved Wickham’s character as well, and even if he is pure evil, I confess that at times I felt sorry for him.

Other characters caught my attention and I wonder if we will not see them again in a continuation 😉

Vampire Darcy’s Desire kept me hooked from the beginning until the end, and I highly recommend it to anyone in need of a great adventure and romance! It was the first book I’ve read from Regina Jeffers, but it will certainly not be the last one. If this is how she portrays Darcy and Elizabeth, then I will surely become addicted to her books.

You can find Vampire Darcy’s Desire at:

Amazon.com – Vampire Darcy’s Desire

Review of Letter From Ramsgate

Hello everyone,

An year ago I read a passage of Letter From Ramsgate that really caught my attention and  I’ve been eager to read it ever since, so I was very happy when the book came out this week and even more happy to discover this is just the type of angsty book I like 🙂

This story starts before the events in Pride and Prejudice take place but will afterwards follow the canon story with some curious deviations that will bring a smile to our lips. Elizabeth Bennet is invited by her aunt Mrs. Gardiner and Lady Edwina (a new character introduced in this book) to visit Ramsgate where she will meet Georgiana, Mrs. Younge and Mr. Wickham. Of course that Elizabeth’s presence in this town and the friendship she develops with Georgiana will have a big impact in the story, so we will be guided through a novel with more pride and less prejudice…Well, at least that’s what you’ll think in the beginning.

As I said, after the Ramsgate incident the story will follow canon, but Elizabeth will no longer be biased by Wickham’s stories or Darcy’s insult, in fact, she will hold Georgiana’s brother in the highest regard, so luckily for me, we will have a besotted Elizabeth and a strong, proud Darcy through most of the book. I liked to see how Suzan Lauder played with the characters and our knowledge of P&P by reversing some situations that occur in Austen’s story, such as the proposal scene.

But what I enjoyed the most in the book was Mrs. Younge’s character, in fact, Letter From Ramsgate presented me with the best characterization of Mrs. Younge I have ever seen. This secondary character from Pride and Prejudice, if she can even be considered so, becomes an essential character in this book with a background that explains much of what she is, what she became and I dare say what she will be. Suzan Lauder explored this character to the maximum by making her as human as possible. When I read this book I realized Mrs. Younge could be any one of us. She is someone with as many virtues and flaws as the girl next door, and given a certain input she can either make a good or a bad decision.

Mrs. Younge was not described in this book as a malicious woman, but someone lonely struggling through live in search of love and security. I saw her as someone in need of guidance, which is ironic given the position she is hired for. I cannot say I loved the character as I would not like to be friends with someone like her, but the truth is, she is one of the most real and developed characters I’ve seen, and that was clearly one of the things I enjoyed the most about this book. Georgiana Darcy’s growth from an insecure girl to a mature young lady was also very interesting and unexpected for me, but Mrs. Younge is definitely the character of the book in my opinion.

Now, I’ve probably made it sound as if Mrs. Younge is a big part of the book, but rest assured my friends, she is not. She plays a big part in it, but the majority of the book is centered in Darcy and Elizabeth. Our couple will spend a lot of time together and the author starts by growing our appetite by giving us scenes of them in a playful manner. They even dance at the Meryton Assembly which is a promising beginning! In Letter From Ramsgate they share several companionable moments but then, the angst arrives 🙂 (and that’s when I started devouring the book, I’m such an angst addicted).

Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth will go through turbulent times, and some of their dialogues will be hard and exciting at the same time, namely the one they have at the ball after the proposal, but in the end we will get the reward of seeing them together in the most unexpected and exotic scenario, so I believe this book will be appealing for those who love the romance between these characters, and also those who, like me, love the angst.

Want to know more about this book? You can find it on Amazon and read the blurb below:

 

***Book Blurb***

 

Sir, I am not known to you. I fear you may have concerns regarding some intelligence that recently came to me from your sister…

…a simple letter shatters illusions and turns the world upside down!

On holiday in Ramsgate, Elizabeth Bennet befriends shy, romantic Georgiana Darcy, who shares an adoring description of an ideal elder brother. When Georgiana discloses a secret infatuation with her brother’s “close friend” Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth’s altered perception of both men affects her actions and alliances.

The secret within an anonymous letter from Ramsgate ties Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth together but also separates them. A second missive unlocks the disguise, but Mr. Darcy realizes his true passions too late to assist Elizabeth in her darkest hour. Will the shocking disclosure of a forgotten letter transform his understanding of her heart and lead them to embrace their future?

Letter from Ramsgate is a Pride and Prejudice variation suitable for most audiences (youth and up).

***

Have I mentioned that Suzan was one of the first authors I got in contact with when I started my blog? I was really amazed at how nice and welcoming she was to someone like me who didn’t know much about this world. She even spoke a little Portuguese with me 🙂

If you want to know more about Suzan, let me share with you her bio and contacts:

 

***Author Bio***

 

A love for Jane Austen’s novels and Regency and Austenesque romance novels inspired Suzan Lauder to write her own variations, which led her to a passion for Regency era history and costuming, as well as social media book marketing. She cherishes the many friends she’s made as a result of these interests.

Suzan is a member of JASNA, VIRA, RWA (PAN and Beau Monde chapters), and is a registered professional engineer. She enjoys independent travel, design, Pilates, yoga, cycling, sustainability, upcycling, architecture, beta editing, and blogging. Most of the time, a Vancouver Island penthouse loft condominium with a view of the Salish Sea is home. For a few months each winter, Mr. Suze and their two rescue cats accompany her to their tiny Spanish colonial casita in Centro Historico of an industrial city in Mexico.

Letter from Ramsgate is Lauder’s second published novel and comes on the heels of her successful upcycled costuming blog series, the Thrift Shop Regency Costume Experiment. Her latest venture is blogging about her learning experiences while editing Letter from Ramsgate. Suzan’s first novel, Alias Thomas Bennet, is an Austen-inspired Regency romance with a mystery twist. She also contributed a short modern romance, Delivery Boy, to the holiday anthology Then Comes Winter. All Lauder’s published fiction is based on Pride and Prejudice and is available from Meryton Press.

Contact Info:

Website

Goodreads Author Page 

Facebook

Twitter

Amazon Author Page

Pinterest

 

 

If this is not enough to fulfill your curiosity, please follow the blog tour that has just started and read all the guest posts, excerpts and vignettes the author is sharing with her readers. And of Course, there is plenty of chances to enter the giveaways 🙂

 

***Blog Tour Schedule***

10/17   Guest Post, Excerpt, GA; My Jane Austen Book Club

10/18   Excerpt, GA; Margie’s Must Reads

10/19   Vignette, GA; Just Jane 1813

10/20   Review; From Pemberley to Milton

10/21   Vignette, GA; Babblings of a Bookworm

10/22   Excerpt, GA; Liz’s Reading Life

10/23   Guest Post or Vignette, GA; From Pemberley to Milton

10/24   Review; Tomorrow is Another Day

10/25   Guest Post, Excerpt, GA; So little time…

10/26   Vignette, GA; Austenesque Reviews

10/27   Review, Excerpt; Half Agony, Half Hope

10/28   Review; Diary of an Eccentric

10/29   Guest Post; A Covent Garden Gilflurt’s Guide to Life

10/30   Guest Post or Vignette, GA; More Agreeably Engaged

The Many Lives of Fitzwilliam Darcy Review & Giveaway

In Pride and Prejudice Mr. Darcy has months to think about Elizabeth Bennet’s accusations to his character. He has plenty of time to feel angry, upset, and finally understand and accept she might be right in some of the things she said. He has plenty of time to recognize he could become a better man if he choose to moderate his character, and he has plenty of time to make amendments for his previous actions.

But what if he didn’t have all those months? What if one day was all he had to change what needed to be changed? Will that ever be enough? Will he be able to make amends for his past actions in one single day? What course of action would he choose to take if he knew what was to come? And what exactly does he need to change to get it right?

In a Pride and Prejudice meets Groundhog Day story, Beau North and Brooke West present us with a creative and humorous tale that will keep us turning the pages from beginning until the end.

The Many Lives of Fitzwilliam Darcy was one of the books I most eagerly expected to read this year and as soon as I got my hands on a copy I devoured it in an instant. Longbourn’s Songbird from Beau North was one of my favorite books in 2015 and the collaboration between her and Brooke West on Then Comes Winter increased my curiosity towards their new book which did not disappoint. In fact, the prologue of The Many Lives of Fitzwilliam Darcy is so powerful and gripping that I can honestly say it is one of the best beginnings I have ever seen in a JAFF book. It took my breath away and I could not believe what I was reading! I could not fathom what could have led to that initial scene. Then I continued reading and I understood. Mr. Darcy was trapped in the worst day of his life, the day Miss Elizabeth Bennet refused his hand in marriage! As Darcy is forced to relive this day over and over again, we get to see many the facets of Fitzwilliam Darcy. We see the strong but stubborn Master of Pemberley, the generous gentlemen, the passionate lovebird and even an unknown childish and humorous Darcy. You’ll understand what I mean when you discover what happens to Lady Catherine’s furniture 🙂

The secondary characters in this book were carefully created not only to support the leading characters, but also to have a life and importance of their own, making The Many Lives of Fitzwilliam Darcy a consistent book in terms of character development. I enjoyed seeing Anne’s reactions and discourse, but most of all I loved the scene when Lady Catherine bursts into Darcy’s office to let him know that that insolent girl would not give up on him. Not only did I love the scene itself, but also Darcy’s perceptiveness which allowed us to see a side of Lady Catherine I had never seen before.

Overall this is a well written prose with a perfect balance between heart breaking intense scenes and humorous passages that will captivate all types of readers. It is creative, fun and well built, a true must read for the JAFF community.

You can find it at:

Amazon.com – The Many Lives of Fitzwilliam Darcy

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***Book Blurb***

“He could no longer claim to be Fitzwilliam Darcy of Derbyshire, brother to Georgiana, master of Pemberley. In that moment, he was but a man. A man filled with more frustration than most souls could bear. A man torn asunder by his desperation, his fruitless dreams and desires.”

After Elizabeth Bennet rejects his marriage proposal, Fitzwilliam Darcy finds himself in the most unusual of circumstances. At first believing the extraordinary turn of events has granted him an inexplicable boon, he is eager to put the humiliating proposal behind him.

He soon discovers that he is trapped in the same waking dream with no end in sight and no possible escape. All that he holds dear—his name, his home, his love—remains ever out of reach. How will he find his way back to his normal life? Will one mistake haunt the rest of his days? It will take all of his fortitude to weather the storms of his strange new fate, and all of his courage to grasp the promise of his future.

 

 

***Author Bios***

Beau North is the author of Longbourn’s Songbird and a contributor to the anthology Then Comes Winter. Beau is a native southerner who now calls Portland, Oregon home with her husband and two cats. She attended the University of South Carolina where she began a lifelong obsession with Literature. In her spare time, Beau is the brains behind Rhymes With Nerdy, a pop culture podcast and website, and a contributor at the San Francisco Book Review.

 

Contacts:

Facebook: Beau North Writes

Instagram:Miznorth

Twitter: @BeauNorth

Newsletter: tinyletter.com/BeauNorth

Podcasts: http://rhymeswithnerdy.com/

Blog: beaunorthwrites.com (coming soon)

Goodreads: Goodreads Author Page: Beau North

Amazon: Amazon Author Page: Beau North

 

Brooke West is a contributing author to the anthology Then Comes Winter. Brooke has a naturally creative soul that pulls her into myriad artistic endeavors. While writing fiction always has been her life’s passion, Brooke also finds joy in silversmithing, sculpting, and costuming. Between projects, she runs and practices yoga. She lives in South Carolina with her fiancé, son, and three cats.

 

Contacts:

Facebook: Brooke West

@WordyWest and @BrookeWest

Goodreads: Goodreads Author Page: Brooke West

Amazon: Amazon Author Page: Brooke West

 

 

 

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***Blog Tour***

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Want to know more about this book? Why don’t you follow the blog tour?

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October 8/ My Jane Austen Book Club/Launch Post & Giveaway

October 9/ Just Jane 1813/Interview with Beau and Brooke

October 10/ From Pemberley to Milton/Book Review & Giveaway

October 11/ A Covent Garden Madame Gilflurt’s Guide to Life/Guest Post

October 12/ Austenesque Reviews/ Excerpt & Giveaway

October 13/ Margie’s Must Reads/ Book Review & Giveaway

October 14/ Babblings of a Bookworm/ Book Review & Giveaway

October 15/ The Calico Critic/Excerpt & Giveaway

October 16/ Obsessed with Mr. Darcy/ Guest Post

October 17/ Diary of an Eccentric/Book Review & Giveaway

October 18/ My Kids Led Me Back to Pride and Prejudice/ Book Review & Giveaway

October 19/ More Agreeably Engaged/ Fitzwilliam Vignette

October 20/ So Little Time… So Much to Read/ Excerpt & Giveaway

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***It’s Giveaway time***

Beau and Brooke are giving away 8 copies of their book, which includes 4 ebooks and 4 paperback copies for readers with U.S. mailing addresses

To enter this giveaway, click here.

Good luck everyone!

Courage Rises Review & Giveaway

Courage Rises is Melanie Rachel’s first novel and I have to say it was a bold move for a debut book! I’ve got to praise Mrs. Rachel for this novel as it is not at all what I would expect of a first JAFF release.

The book is a sequel to Pride and Prejudice but, unlike many others, it does not focus on Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship. During most of the book our couple is separated and facing their own trials. Mr. Darcy receives a missive from Col. Fitzwilliam asking for his help on a mysterious mission in London, and leaves Pemberley to help his cousin and finish some of his own businesses. A few days later an outbreak of fever arises in the estate and Elizabeth’s strength and leadership skills are tested. If until this moment Mrs. Rachel was doing a great job at exploring Elizabeth’s insecurities regarding her new position, from this moment forward we are assured that Elizabeth is indeed the perfect Mrs. Darcy! She shows everyone why she was Mr. Darcy’s choice! She is intelligent, brave, altruistic, kind, firm and a true patroness to those under her husbands’ protection.

These two parallel stories were developed and written with a perfect pace and a good balance that kept me turning the pages without stopping. In the beginning of the book I was more interested in what is happening at Pemberley, but as I continued reading (and I read most of it in one day), I became more and more curious about the adventure that Col. Fitzwilliam, Darcy and Bingley found themselves at.

New characters will be introduced and one in particular caught my attention: Miss Sophia Hawkes. As I got to know her a little more and started dreaming about her future, the book finished! That’s right, there is a volume 2 coming to the bookstores in the beginning of next year, so be prepared because this story will not end here. We do get closure on Elizabeth’s story, and even some closure on Col. Fitzwilliam’s adventure, but if you are like me, you will want to know more about Sophia’s future.

I am therefore quite eager for the release of the continuation, Courage Requires, but until then I recommend this book to those in need of a good read. It does not have the romance we usually see in JAFF, because as I said, Darcy and Elizabeth spend much time apart, but that was not a turn down for me. Elizabeth writes Darcy several letters that tell us the status of their relationship and companionship. We can feel throughout the book they are not the recently married couple still learning each other’s habits, they are already a happily married couple who know one another quite well, and that sense of security was enough for me, so I did not crave for more Elizabeth and Darcy moments. The scene of Darcy’s return to Pemberley after hearing about the crisis is very good, the best Darcy/Elizabeth moment for me in the book, and I hope we get more scenes like that in Courage Requires.

Another aspect I appreciated in the book was the vocabulary as it is extensive and I got to learn a few words. This doesn’t happen that frequently despite the fact that I’m not an English native speaker, so I think that Mrs. Rachel did a great job in the writing.

Until the continuation comes out you can find Courage Rises at:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

***It’s giveaway time***

Melanie Rachel would like to offer an e-book copy of Courage Rises to one of my readers. The giveaway is international and all you have to do is comment this post and share with us your thoughts on this story.

The giveaway is open until the 24th of September and the winner will be announced shortly after that.

Good luck everyone!

A Fine Stout Love and Other Stories Review, Giveaway & Special Surprise

 

A Fine Stout Love and other Stories is a compilation of five carefully edited short stories written in such an intimate and beautiful way that they will inspire our hearts and prompt a smile in our faces every time we turn a page.

In the beginning of the book we are presented with a poem about Pride and Prejudice and how the author thought about creating new stories based on Jane Austen’s characters that I found absolutely delightful and original! It is a small detail but I loved it!

In each story we are immediately submersed into the characters world and that allows us to enjoy every single page as if it were the last page of our favorite novel.

All the stories occur during a specific timing of Pride and Prejudice original plot, so readers will need to read Jane Austen’s book first to fully engage into the short stories. However, the author always mentions in which specific timing the short story is taking place, so those familiar with P&P will easily immerse into them.

Even though I loved the book in general, these stories are very diferente and enticed in me different reactions, so I’ve written a few lines about each one of them.

 

Words in the wind

Timing: Saturday before the Netherfield Ball

In the first short story of the book, Elizabeth starts finding some notes from a secret admirer while leaving her house and on her way to Meryton, that make her flattered but extremely curious. During her walk, and besides the notes, she also finds Mr. Whickam and discovers how he truly is. Finally, upon reaching her destination, the church’s graveyard, she encounters another person, this time; it’s Fitzwilliam Darcy who has been receiving mysterious notes himself.

They discover their notes complement each other and when compiled they form a love letter Mr. Darcy wrote to Elizabeth in his journal.

The love letter is one of the most beautiful love letters I have ever read! I will not publish it here because it will spoil the sequence of the mystery notes, but believe me when I say it is just as perfect as Wentworth’s letter to Anne! I was fascinated by this letter; it was so beautiful, so romantic, so perfect!

I absolutely loved this short story, and was only sad not to discover earlier in the story who placed the notes that brought our couple together.

 

A Fine Stout Love or the Efficacy of Poetry

Timing: Longbourn after Mr. Collins arrives

This short story is told from two different perspectives: first Elizabeth’s and then Darcy’s.

The story will focus on a brief encounter between Darcy and Elizabeth but the writing captivates us and we are immersed immediately into their intimate meeting.

The story itself is very simple but captivating. Elizabeth writes a poem thinking of Darcy and after Lydia steels it to tease her sister, the paper ends up flying into the man himself.

Can you imagine Mr. Darcy reading a love poem destined for him? Or Elizabeth’s embarrassment at having him read it?

Darcy is teasing and charming and I loved him, just as much as loved this story 🙂

 

Neither Slumber nor steep

Timing: before Darcy’s second proposal

When she hears the rumors about Darcy’s engagement to Elizabeth, Lady Catherine literally drops dead (funny right?).

Because of her death, Darcy is prevented from going to Hertfordshire with Bingley and will only see Elizabeth at a church in London where they finally reveal to one another their feelings…in a most awkward way 🙂

I’ll leave the rest to your imagination…

 

Gold, all gold

Timing: While Jane is ill at Netherfield

Elizabeth has a very special gift that is different when it comes to Darcy. This story is very different from canon and it was a little too esoteric for me. I am not a big fan of these kind of premises and that is why this was my least favorite story in the book, however, I consider that readers with a more open mind to these subjects will like it considering it is very romantic.

 

Eden Unashamed

Timing: During the engagement

What if Mr. Darcy wrote a poem to Elizabeth that was accidentally discovered by another sister and ended up being read by the entire family before reaching the final recipient? Which consequences would a love poem written by a passionate man have on Mary Bennet? Could it make her change her perspective on love and marriage? What if Mrs. Bennet thought this poem had been written by Mr. Bennet for her? Could it give another color to their marriage?

In this story we are presented with 2 poems Mr. Darcy writes to Elizabeth and the first one made me swoon! I think Renne Beya should write poetry because in the 3 stories of the book where she wrote poems I was completely captivated. The poems are such romantic additions to these stories! They are very, very, very good and created a warmth in me that I usually only feel when reading my favorite poets.

 

Summing up, this book is a fantastic book, perfect for those moments when we need Darcy and Elizabeth but don’t have much time to read a novel, or for when we are eager to go straight to the romance. The stories can be read one at a time and will satisfy our need for immediate romance while giving us a sense that we’ve been with these characters for a long time.

The stories are very well written, captivating and we are immediately drawn into them making the book a pleasant and easy read. And the poetry, oh, the poetry! I’ve mentioned it before, but it is so utterly romantic! Even Elizabeth would agree that these poems would be the food of love!

The author did an amazing job with this compilation and I’m looking forward to read What Love May Come, the second volume of short stories Renée Beya will release later this year.

I’ve told her as much and she was kind enough to share with me a little of her new project. I loved it, and today I’m very happy to share with all of you the blurb , the cover and the very first excerpt of What Love May Come and Other Stories!

Yes, this is the special surprise I mentioned in the title, and I’m incredibly honored that Renée Beyea would allow me to share firsthand all this with you! I hope it makes you curious 🙂

 

***Book Blurb***

Join Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy as they discover the hope of second chances and the triumph of joy over sorrow in this novella-length story collection.

– Three years after the death of his wife, Darcy visits Longbourn to reminisce. Will he find laughter and maybe even love once more?

– While extended family celebrates, Elizabeth is privately mourning a miscarriage. Will attending a Christmas service bring solace to her grief?

– A shocking secret threatens Darcy and Elizabeth’s reunion twenty-five years after their Hunsford debacle. Can they surmount their pasts to rekindle their love?

– After reliving sublime moments in his marriage, Darcy faces the prospect of life without Elizabeth. How will he meet his future?

These poignant period shorts will moisten the eye and stir the heart, but like fine dark chocolate, their rich taste will linger long after they are finished.

 

***Guest Post***

Renée Beyea

Thank you, Rita, for the lovely review, for your generous hospitality in inviting me to visit From Pemberley to Milton once more, and for the opportunity to share with your readers the first sneak peek from What Love May Come and Other Stories (available this winter–*hopefully* before Christmas)! Although this second volume of Pride and Prejudice Petite Tales is more poignant than whimsical, like its predecessor, this collection stands alone and contains five short sequels and variations centered on Darcy and Elizabeth–complete with happy endings (just in case anyone’s anxious about the blurb, LOL). To whet the appetite, here’s a vignette set early in their marriage and taken from a sequel story titled “A Strange Mercy.” Enjoy!

*****

Darcy swept his palm over the silken counterpane and stopped before the little side table that held several treasured articles, among them a framed charcoal sketch. Sketch was an overstatement; scrawl was more apt and in his hand no less. He had chided Elizabeth for keeping it, but the sight pleased him now. He traced a finger along their initials and the misshapen heart, as he recalled that long afternoon spent in Pemberley’s library.

“Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth said.

“Hmm?” He lifted his attention from the volume in his hand. His wife balanced three steps up a sliding ladder, her eyes traveling over the book spines as rapidly as her fingers. He resisted telling her to remain on the floor and have a care for their unborn child.

She ceased her search and turned her head toward him. “Tell me about your family.”

“What do you wish to know?” He closed his book and set it on a nearby table.

“Your family–your ancestry.” She climbed down and approached. “I have met Lady Catherine, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and all your living relatives, and you have spoken of your father and mother, but I should like to know more of your family history, of the generations that preceded you.”

“Do you think to gratify my feelings in this?” He smiled. “For surely such a dry and dusty topic is of little interest to you.”

“No, truly, my love.” She knelt before him and took his hand between hers. “Your family is mine now and I should wish to understand”–she glanced up at him from the corner of her eyes–“that I might properly educate our children.”

She was teasing him, but with that same sweetness that initially won his heart. He was undeniably pleased and warmth radiated through his chest.

“Come,” he said and raised her to stand as he likewise gained his feet. He led her across the room to a writing desk where he withdrew a full sheet of foolscap along with one of his sister’s forgotten charcoals and began sketching his family tree. He might have referenced any number of documents, but he worked from memory, giving accounts as he went.

Elizabeth sat beside him in rapt attention, asking questions, sometimes bubbling with amusement or silent with shock. The butler interrupted to query if they wished dinner served in the library. They did.

On they pressed until by the genial glow of lamplight and the crackling of the fire, he finally added her initials with a flourish and joined her name to his.

“There you have it, my dear, in all its gruesome glory,” he said with not a little anxiety for her opinion. “What do you think now of the family into which you have married?”

“I think,” she said, her hand rubbing unconscious circles below her waist, “that I understand you better.”

“Do you?”

“Yes, and I think our son should count himself very fortunate to be born into such a heritage.”

He leaned forward and kissed her. “And all the more fortunate to be born to such a mother.”

*****

***It’s Giveaway time***

 

 

Renée Beyea would like to share her short stories with my readers by offering a giveaway of 2 ebooks. The giveaway is open internationally and the winners may choose either A Fine Stout Love (available now) or What Love May Come (available when released).

Let us know what you thought about these 2 books and which one you would like to win, if you have any questions, go ahead and ask! All comments posted until the 14^th of September will be eligible for the giveaway.

Good luck everyone!