Austen in August :: {aka Fun Times I'd Forgotten About}

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So yeah. I'd totally forgotten about this annual shendig over at The Book Rat this year! (I know. The horror.) But I discovered my folly today and proceeded to giggle my way through the following post. Which I just had to share with y'all! Go here, read it, guffaw at the ridiculously awesome menfolk, and then come back here and tell me how cool it was that I shared it with you! :D

Also, in honor of these lovely shenanigans, I thought I'd share a mini review of an Austen sequel I read just the other evening....

Miss Eleanor Tilney: or, The Reluctant Heroine 
by Sherwood Smith
I've had this one on my TBR ever since reading Ms. Smith's Henry and Fanny a couple years ago. Don't know why it took me so long to get to it, but what fun! I LOVED getting a peek into Eleanor and Henry's minds. To watch Catherine from their point of view and figure out what it was that endeared her to them so quickly. This is a short story, but it packs a wallop of joy and loveliness in a small amount of pages. I love Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey and I'm so pleased that Ms. Smith took these beloved characters and treated them with love and kindness while staying true to Ms. Austen's writing. And seriously. There's a certain scene that only made me love Mr. Henry Tilney even more than I already do! The man is such a charmer and here we find him much the same only we get to understand him a bit better. Loved it! Will definitely be reading it again and highly recommend for Janeites who enjoy sequels! :)

Bite-Sized Reviews :: Edition Nineteen

I've realized that it is now almost July and I have SO many books yet to be reviewed! I thought I'd manage to get caught up by now, but alas... So! I decided the easiest way was just to do several mini reviews. Especially as it's been a while since I've read some of these and I'm not certain I have enough words to capture the stories properly. I do remember enjoying them all though! Does that count for anything? :)

Onward to the fun stuff!

Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufmann & Meagan Spooner
I loved it! This was an epic ending to the overarching storyline and definitely went in ways I wasn't expecting. Gideon and Sofia are completely perfect for each other and their journey to figuring that out is quite the adventure! I absolutely LOVE this entire series and highly recommend them!

Only Through Love by Mary Jane Hathaway
After loving The Pepper in the Gumbo, I couldn't wait to read more about Charlie. She is such a wonderful character! Watching as she makes mistakes, yet learns from them and grows stronger made me root for her. And I really, really wanted to give her a great big hug so many times while reading this!

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
I'd never read this classic until now, which seems crazy! But I definitely enjoyed it. The March family is the type that makes you wish you could jump into the story and be swept up in all their adventures and fun. I loved the sisters imaginations! And the way that everybody they came in contact with for any length of time immediately became part of the family. I especially loved how they took Laurie in. As I read part one (which was my favorite half of the story), I kept thinking this book would make the perfect read-aloud. Part two disappointed me several times and I ended the book wishing I'd stopped with part one. But overall I am really glad I read it! Just thinking back on all the fun they had as children makes me smile. I can easily see why it's considered a classic!

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
I listened to the audio of this and surprisingly really liked it! Tim Curry is an excellent narrator, by the way. :) This little story is very different. I wasn't really sure what to expect from it, but I ended it somewhat satisfied (because as Lemony Snicket himself points out, it is a Bad Beginning :) and most certainly intrigued! Enough that I hope to read the rest of the series someday. It was very fun to watch as the children use their limited skills (since they are children) to figure out a way to (kind of) defeat the villain!

Heir to Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
This little book reminded me how very much I love Ms. Donaldson's writing! And I was absolutely thrilled to get Philip's perspective upon meeting Marianne. The only problem I have with it? It's entirely too short! But that's a good problem, yes? :) I ended it positively itching to pick up Edenbrooke again. Excellent!

When Mary Met the Colonel by Victoria Kincaid
Simply a cute little re-imagining of Mary Bennet's story (from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen). Short but sweet! And it made me smile, which is all I can ask.

Bookishly Ever After by Isabel Bandera
This was cute! Phoebe is an avid reader, so much so that it overtakes her real life. To the point that she kind of can be a bad friend? Her friends do tend to forgive a lot sometimes, but she's so sweet that it's understandable. There's nothing earth-shattering about this story, it's a pretty easy setup and delivery. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't read it! Because Phoebe and Dev are pretty adorable together. My favorite bit was their friendship. I love a good friendship-turned-more story! When you're in need of a fluffy bit of entertainment, this one would suit perfectly. :)

Bite-Sized Reviews :: Edition Fifteen

Here I am again! More reviews for your reading pleasure. As I stated before, this is the Christian Fiction (plus one Jane Austen sequel) edition of my review-catch-up-pile. :) And now, on with the reviews!

Greetings From the Flipside by Rene Gutteridge and Cheryl McKay
So I admit that I was a bit confused about what was going on in the first couple chapters, but once I settled into the flow it didn't take long to get swept up into the story. I really liked Hope! Watching as she stumbled her way into figuring out where she wanted her future to go was at times cringe-worthy, but always cheer-worthy. I wanted the best for her and really enjoyed getting to travel her journey with her. So glad this book is on my shelf so I can reread at my leisure. :)

A Bouquet of Love by Janice Thompson
As always, I love getting more peeks into Bella Neeley's awesome family! And adding in a neighboring Greek family whose pride is just as big (and formidable) as the Rossi's made for loads of fun. Can I just say that Ms. Thompson writes great characters? I can always feel the chemistry crackle between her main couple, and Cassia and Alex are no exception. I laughed and swooned my way through this story and closed the final chapter with a happy sigh. SO much fun! :)

A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter
I stood in the store unable to put this book down, that's when I knew it had to come home with me. Miranda and Marcus' chemistry and banter are delightful! I laughed the whole way through this story, but that's not to say there isn't an intriguing mystery to add some depth and tension to it. The characters are where Ms. Hunter excels though. I think I'd like to meet the Hawthorne's if they truly existed. They are a wonderful family!

A Lady of Esteem by Kristi Ann Hunter
Technically this novella comes before A Noble Masquerade, but it doesn't really have to be read in that order (I read it second). Either way you read it, I'm sure you'll enjoy the fun of watching a man determined not to be swayed by love only to fall for someone unexpected. Amelia and Anthony are too adorable for words. Now I'm looking forward to what Ms. Hunter has in store for her readers next!

Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter
Ms. Hunter has been on my list of favorite authors for several years and this story just helps cement her there. I absolutely loved the gentle way Beau took care of Eden, even when not certain what her motives were for arriving as she did. Ms. Hunter is so good at writing a swoony hero! Seeing both of them fall in love, almost against their will, is so very sweetly done. And some of the obstacles in their way are handled maturely and nicely, which I appreciated. A perfect story for a cozy evening in front of the fire! :)

Tiffany Girl by Deeanne Gist
While I wasn't a fan of Ms. Gist's earlier work, her stories that take place around the Chicago World's Fair have very quickly risen to the top of my favorites list! Her thoroughly researched history is fascinating and her characters are amazing. Flossie, for all her faults, quickly made me love her and her interactions with Reeve never failed to make me smile. I skimmed it at the store, brought it home, and proceeded to devour it all in one sitting. It was just that good!! If you enjoy historical novels, I urge you to read this one. It is very evident that Ms. Gist put a great deal of time into making sure her history would be as correct as possible. Excellent read!!!

The Gifting by K.E. Ganshert
A fabulous beginning to this amazing series. Ms. Ganshert kept me on the edge of my seat the entire way through and I loved it. :D But I was definitely glad I waited to read this until all three books were out because HELLO cliffhanger!

The Awakening by K.E. Ganshert
The tension only rises here in book two. I continued to be impressed with this world that Tess lives in. For the record, I loved Tess, even if she tends to be quite frustrating at times. But Luka? *swoon* And that ending?! Not nice, Ms. Ganshert. Not nice at all.

The Gathering by K.E. Ganshert
An epic conclusion! Tess begins this book in a pretty bad place, so I could forgive her for making some hard choices. But there were definite moments, as the story went on, where I just wanted to shake her. Yet she's had to grow up quickly and has this huge responsibility lying on her shoulders. Which I felt like the adults in her life could have helped her handle better, quite frankly! But frustrations aside, I loved every minute of this story. SO glad I was able to read all three books one after another, as each kept me hooked in until the final page. This series truly is fantastic!

Henry and Fanny: an Alternate Ending to Mansfield Park by Sherwood Smith
This is precisely what the title says. If you've ever wondered "what if Fanny ended up with Henry instead of Edmund", then you just might enjoy this. I did! Ms. Smith strove to make it feel very much like Austen's writing and did a fair job of it in my opinion. And whether you agree with this new ending or no, it is an enjoyable read and a nice addition to Ms. Austen's famous work. :)

Bookish {and Not So Bookish} Thoughts :: Edition Three

This is a weekly meme hosted by Bookishly Boisterous where we write about stuff. I happened to see this via Birdie at Lady of the Manor and thought I'd join in.

1. Okay, so I am waaayyy behind on my blog reading (per my usual), but I happened to stumble across Naomi's awesome summary of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Go. Read. Laugh. The girl can write! :)

2. I've been trying to crank out my long overdue reviews around here, but it seems slow going! However, that does not mean I haven't been reading. I have been finding so many wonderful stories recently and I hope to share the happy with y'all soon! Until then, know this: fairytale retellings are awesome, so you should definitely check out Stitching Snow, if you haven't already. It's loads of fun!

3. Speaking of reading, have any of you read Jane Austen's Mansfield Park? I confess I have not. I have seen a couple adaptations of it, and wasn't properly impressed. But Lianne states a pretty great case for reading it, so go read her informative (and fabulous) post! And incidentally, while she was rereading the book back when, we happened to have a twitter convo about whether Fanny should have ended up with Edmund or not. I happened to recall this when I saw that Sherwood Smith had written a new ending for the book and out of curiosity, I started it and actually really enjoyed it! Do any of you happen to have any feelings on this subject?

4. Still interested in more Austen info? I happened to see this picture on pinterest the other day, which led to me seeking out more info. This post I found was fun, plus it has another shot of Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley 20 years later, aka 2015 (from the '95 P&P). They've both aged very gracefully!

5. I just read Rachel's review of the third? or fourth? Signed, Sealed, Delivered movie. It reminded me that I recently discovered the series on dvd and need to watch it! I've watched the first movie that started it, as well the Christmas movie last year and loved both. Amber and Rissi have exclaimed over how much they adore this series and all the movies as well. Since it comes so highly recommended, perhaps you ought to check out it? Just a suggestion. ;) Will let you know more later of my own thoughts on the series! {Also, I heart Oliver O'Toole.}

Here he is, in all his old-fashioned wonderfulness.

6. Cinderella came out on dvd last week and let me just say once again that it is DELIGHTFUL. You know, I never realized how much I loved fairytales until the last few years. There's just something about them. I do think I'm a bigger fan of fairytale retellings than the actual fairytales themselves (and quite happily there are so many out there for me to devour! :), but the real deal is still very fun. And Lily and Richard as Cinderella and her Prince are absolutely adorable! You should watch it.

7. Are you an avid reader? I read over this list and decided I definitely fit that category. (I know. Big surprise.)

"Autumn, the years last, loveliest smile."

~William Cullen Bryant

8. Autumn begins tomorrow! I can't believe how fast this summer has flown. I say that for every season, but it's true every single time! Where does time go anyway? I admit, as much as I'm going to miss my sandals (because I will), it has been nice to have cool nights and crisp mornings. Especially when they're rainy like yesterday! Rainy days make me happy. Yes, I'm one of those weirdos.

9. Birdie is hosting a watch-along of Far From the Madding Crowd (the '98 version, not the new one) in October. Head over to her blog for the info! I haven't seen any versions of this story myself, but have heard great things about the newest one. Hopefully I get the chance to watch one of them soonish.

10. And last, but not least, I am planning a trip in October in which I will get to spend some time with dear friends that I have not seen in entirely too long! Needless to say, I am beyond excited for October to arrive. (And also fully cognizant that I just got through wondering how time goes so quickly and here I am wishing it away. I'm contradictory like that. ;)

So what's new with you?

Bite-Sized Reviews :: Edition Nine

I am SO behind on my book reviews! I read Searching for Captain Wentworth clear back in November and here it is February already. That's craziness. It's past time I got caught up, so I decided I'd do another bite-sized review post for a couple of them. Enjoy! :)

Searching For Captain Wentworth ~ Jane Odiwe
I admit that the title is what first caught my eye. Anything to do with Persuasion is bound to! :) But the story within was delightful enough to capture my interest and keep me "turning" the pages on my kindle. It's not a rewriting of, but more based on, Ms. Austen's original. How exciting would it be to time travel back and actually speak with Ms. Austen herself? That's precisely what the heroine of this story gets to do! And how the time travel works doesn't fully make sense, but who cares? With simultaneous romances going on, one in real life and one in Austen's time period, the cute and fun is enough to make me happy to suspend my disbelief. With our heroine doing a balancing act between two worlds and two handsome, but confusing gentlemen, as well as getting to converse with Jane and her family, and trying to figure out what's real and what's not, life's a little busy. Ms. Odiwe's characters are so much fun! If you enjoy Austen sequels, then I would certainly recommend this one. Time travel and Jane Austen make a fabulous combo! :)

 

Old Fashioned ~ Rene Gutteridge
This one surprised me with how very sweet it was! I was slightly apprehensive that it would get into too much detail on Clay's theory and all the why's and wherefore's, and the actual romance part would end up more of an afterthought or something. But no! Watching these two people stumble around and make mistake after mistake, yet be unable to deny the chemistry and attraction going on between them was cute! Just when I'd be sure that Amber would finally give up on this seemingly crazy guy, she'd bounce back all the more determined to figure him out. Let me just say that Clay and Amber are charming. Watching them fall in love despite themselves is quite entertaining. And all the side characters with their quirks and loud opinions on the relationship they're watching take place just added to the fun. I'm so glad I picked this one up!

Thoughts On 'Death Comes to Pemberley'

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As I am positive most of you are aware, I am a huge Jane Austen fan. And having read many a sequel based on her stories, to say that I was excited when I heard they were adapting one of them would be an understatement! Now that I've watched it, I knew I needed to post about it. Because as I so eloquently said on twitter, I have FEELINGS. ;)

Okay. To be perfectly honest? If the words "Jane Austen" are attached to a project, you can bet that I'll watch it! Whether it turns out that I love it or hate it, I will absolutely be watching it regardless. Because I just love watching any of Austen's characters come to life via a real person. Whether an actual adaptation or a reimagining, I never get tired of them. At least I haven't yet. I am one of those people who is always glad for another adaptation. In fact, I wish there'd be as many adaptations of her stories as there are of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre! (I mean seriously. There are so many of those!) Ms. Austen could use a few more to catch up. Tell me I'm not the only one who thinks that?

I could not wait to see Darcy and Lizzy's married life on my screen. Though I do admit to having some concern about what this would turn out like. Whether this Darcy and Lizzy would live up to my expectations or whether I would enjoy watching a mystery with Lydia and Wickham having prominent roles. And I can quite happily tell you that I was far from disappointed! I loved it. Pure and simple. :)

First of all, it's beyond wonderful to see Darcy and Lizzy after they're married. The first scene they're in together is so cute! Their playfulness and flirtiness is adorable. Yet they haven't lost their individual personalities. Darcy has softened and warmed up due to Lizzy's influence, but he's still got a little stern edge to him. Still a little stiff and awkward, which is completely to be expected. People do change, but their inherent personalities don't do a complete 180 and disappear. So it was nice to see Darcy come onscreen and I could recognize him immediately, even without knowing Matthew Rhys was going to play him.

And Lizzy! Anna Maxwell Martin is a wonderful actress. I've loved her in so many other period dramas, so I figured she'd do a fine job. Which she did. I do admit, however, that at the beginning of the series I was wondering about her. Lizzy is spunky (Thanks, Courtney, for the word! :) and I wasn't sure I could sense that at first. But with a little more time spent with her, and also the realization that of course she'd change some too after getting married, I grew to really like Ms. Maxwell's version of her. Her warmth and teasing of Darcy (And his teasing her back! Absolutely loved that.) is so much fun. Where would these Darcy siblings be without Lizzy in their lives? Let's not even contemplate such a thing!

(via) I think this may be my favorite scene. :)

Darcy and Lizzy together? And happy? With an adorable and precocious son? (Who totally takes after his mother's energy and fun! ;) Is absolutely wonderful. I actually wish that the mystery would take less prominence and we could just spent the rest of the series hanging out with Darcy and Lizzy in their happiness. (What? I'd totally watch three hours of just them interacting together. They're adorable I tell you! ;) Of course, this wouldn't be a period drama without a little drama, right? So the sweetness of Darcy and Lizzy gets shook up a little when a murder happens on their property and Wickham is involved.

Which brings in many of the other original characters, Lydia and Wickham, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Georgiana, Jane, and even Lady Catherine herself! Lizzy and Lady Catherine's scene is quite amusing. It was great to see that Lizzy hasn't lost any of her quick wit when it comes to parrying Lady Catherine's biting remarks. Wickham is, of course, his usual awful self. Lydia, while irritating, does have her cute moments and shows she's grown up a little. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet haven't changed any and neither has Jane. She comes to give Lizzy some comfort and it was oh so good to see the sisters' relationship is still as lovely as ever. Georgiana has grown up and now has a potential suitor of her own, though she's pretty loathe to admit to it at first. The two of them are quite delightful together though. Eleanor Tomlinson does such a fantastic job of bringing Georgiana to life! She was definitely one of my favorite characters.

While the mystery aspect isn't my favorite, I'd rather focus on the characters, it's certainly very well written. (P. D. James clearly knows her stuff. I'm thinking I should read the book sometime.) I'm one of those people who never figures out whodunit until the characters themselves do, so the twist near the end snuck in and surprised me! For those of you who may have read the book, and anyone else really, you probably saw the twist coming a mile away. But alas, I'm a little dense when it comes to clues. I'd never make a good detective!

Filming wise, it was so fun to see Chatsworth House again. This location was used in the 2005 P&P and was a nice little callback to that. It's quite stately and pretentious looking, but I liked that Lizzy seemed comfortable there. In P&P, it felt very stiff and here it felt more like a home. Whether that was intentional or not, I'd like to think that it was due to Lizzy making it feel that way. :)

I could continue on, but clearly this post is an explosion of words already and I'd hate to bore you. But suffice it to say that the series is excellent! Have you watched it? Or read the book? What did you think? Tell me, tell me! I'd love to chat about it with you.

A Piratical Blogathon & Review: Pirates and Prejudice by Kara Louise

Ahoy, matey! Aye, tis Talk Like a Pirate Day! An' me kind friend, Hamlette, is havin' a party to celebrate. Ye better be headin' right on over there and join in! Or stick around these parts and meet a privateer by the name of Captain Smith who might try an' hornswaggle ye, ifen's yer not careful-like. Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen! (And whatever else an actual pirate would say.) (Also, if you're in need of some help in the "pirate speak" department, I discovered this helpful little website.)

(I contemplated trying to write this entire review in pirate speak, but alas, twas a bit too hard for me. So regular old English will have to do! ;)

Fun! That was the first word that came to mind once I closed the final pages of this book. As a Jane Austen fan, I've read several sequels and retellings of her stories. Some better than others, I admit, but I've read a couple by Ms. Louise before and enjoyed them immensely. So when I got the chance to read this one, I was rather thrilled! And I found it to be a quick and fun bit of Austen-themed fluff. Great for a moment when you're seeking some Jane-related goodness, along with mindless entertainment.

Based around Pride and Prejudice (as if you can't tell, right? ;), the story starts off just after Elizabeth has refused Mr. Darcy's proposal. And proceeds to venture into a completely different storyline from there! This is Mr. Darcy as you've never seen him before. Who would have thought he'd have a bit of pirate inside him? From mistaken identities, rope-swinging across ships, meeting Mr. Bennet's sister and her family, real pirates out for revenge, a possible suitor or two vying for Lizzy's hand, sword fighting and kidnappings, as well the search for a proper pirate crew, and everyone fighting for their lives, the swashbuckling adventure never stops. Ms. Louise packs quite a bit of storytelling in just one little book!

If you enjoy pirate stories, Jane Austen sequels, a bit of both, or are just looking for something a little different, this is the book for you. A bit silly in moments, but who wouldn't want to sail on the high seas with "Captain Smith" along? So just sit back, grab a bowl of popcorn, and let the adventure begin!

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes and Noble

"Oh, thank you, so much!" Mrs. Dillard exclaimed. "I do not know whether I am more uncomfortable from being so hungry or soaked from the rain!"
The ladies laughed as Timmons turned to leave, but he abruptly stopped. Elizabeth looked up when she heard a gasp and saw four men standing menacingly at the entrance to the cave. She felt a great sense of foreboding as the men suddenly drew swords, muskets, and pistols from their belts. She shuddered as she noticed their glaring looks and threatening posture.
"Pirates!" Mrs. Joyner screamed and crumpled into a heap on the ground.

Or should I say: I'm shovin' off!

Bite-Sized Reviews :: Edition Seven

I've been reading quite a few books recently! Well......quite a few books for me. You may read a new one every day, but I'm not quite up to that speed yet. ;) Anyway! There's been several pretty cute ones and I decided to cover some of them today. So it's mini-review time! :)

Making Marion - I randomly chose this off the "new books" shelf at the library. I liked the cover and the synopsis sounded cute. And it was! Cute I mean. For a fun read for entertainment purposes only, this is the story for you. Very loosely based around the story of Robin Hood and Maid Marion, it combines real time with past memories. While plenty of stories use this model, I did feel the transitions to Marion's past weren't as smooth as I preferred. And there were other moments I would get jarred out of the story and have to try to immerse myself again. So it isn't a perfect story by any means. But cute nonetheless.

Jane Austen in Scarsdale: Or Love, Death, and the SATs - Modeled loosely on my favorite Austen story, Persuasion, of course I had to pick it up when I saw it at the used bookstore! And I did enjoy my time spent with Anne and Ben. But fyi, the majority of the book is lots of details about college admissions and what students (as well as parents, teachers, and guidance counselors!) have to go through as they try to pick and choose what schools to apply to. The love story really takes a back seat during most of the story. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing! It was an enjoyable read and Anne's adventures with her students and parents can be either nightmarish or amusing, depending on the parent or guardian involved. So all in all, I'm glad I read it.

Courting Magic - I've been hearing great things about the Kat, Incorrigible series for quite some time now and just hadn't gotten around to reading them yet. So when I saw this novella was available, I decided it was perfect to give me a taste of Ms. Burgis' writing and to see if I'd want to read more of the series. And I do! Because this story was SO much fun! Now I want more details on what's happened in Kat's younger years, so you can bet I'm planning to pick up the first three book sometime soon. Read this one for a feisty heroine, mystery and magic, and a sweet romance! :)

Flat-Out Celeste - I read Flat-Out Love a few years ago, and while I wasn't blown away, I did think it was a fun story. So I decided to try a sample of this one on my kindle and Celeste had me at hello! I can see why her family is so protective of her and why they love her so much. Trying to make your way through your teenage years when you're just a little different than everyone else is never an easy thing to do. And Celeste has much to learn. Then Justin enters the picture. He's as quirky as Celeste and they simply get one another. They like each other just as they are, none of this trying to change each other stuff. They're so good for each other! Definitely a fun romance.

The Headmistress of Rosemere - SO wonderful! For some reason, I had been hesitant to read this one. But that was silly, because it's perfectly delightful! ;) I'm happy to say some of the things that bothered me about The Heiress of Winterwood were not present here at all. And Ms. Ladd's writing has only gotten better. Switching between Patience's POV and William's, we get to watch the mysteries unfold alongside them. And we get to watch them fall in love! But it's not just a straight-up romance, which is great. There's so much going on and the answers are strung out so we're waiting with baited breath for what will be discovered next! Ms. Ladd is a fabulous storyteller and I'm so glad I gave this one a chance. (Thanks to my local library. :) I'll certainly be adding this one to my own bookshelf soon!

Ten of My Favorite Austen Sequels & Retellings

Every book blogger and their friend seems to join in the Top Ten Tuesdays over at The Broke and the Bookish (and why not when they're so much fun?). I actually contemplated joining in myself this week, but I couldn't get enthused for the topic. Then I remembered that Misty at The Book Rat has been hosting an Austen in August extravaganza and decided that listing my favorite Austen sequels could be fun. I felt some actual enthusiasm for that topic, hence this post.

So! Here are my Top Ten Favorite Jane Austen Sequels/Retellings:

10 - Pies and Prejudice by Heather Vogel Frederick - It's simply too cute! It's not really an extremely faithful retelling, but it's fun regardless. And one I can recommend to younger teens.

9 - Attempting Elizabeth by Jessica Grey - Who wouldn't want to be able to literally jump inside one of Austen's characters? At least once? To be able to actually meet Captain Wentworth.....*sigh* ;)

8 - The Second Mrs. Darcy by Elizabeth Aston - This one isn't a straight retelling or sequel exactly. It's about Mr. Darcy's extended family. And it's wonderful!

7 - Drive and Determination by Kara Louise - One of the first modern retellings that I ever read, it's still a favorite. Plus the author has an awesome name, don't you think? ;)

6 - Pemberley's Promise by Kara Louise - Imagine Mr. Darcy and Lizzy on the open seas!

5 - Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman series by Pamela Aiden - Yes, technically this is three books. But if you've ever wanted an indepth look into the workings of Mr. Darcy's brain, this is the series for you!

4 - The Pursuit of Mary Bennett by Pamela Mingle - I have been searching for a sequel that would do Mary justice. I always wanted some redemption for her. Having attempted several stories about her, this is the first that I read completely through and really enjoyed!

3 - Captain Wentworth's Diary - by Amanda Grange - As Persuasion is my favorite Austen story, of course I love to read more about Captain Wentworth! Ms. Grange gave me just what I wanted. :D

2 - For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund - Amazing! I'm still blown away by this retelling. Ms. Peterfreund's reimagined scifi world is so well described. I can't count the many times I've reread this book. Highly recommended to everyone!

1 - Sanditon by Jane Austen and "Another Lady" - The first eleven chapters are written by Ms. Austen herself and the transition between writers is very smooth. This remains my absolute favorite sequel to date. Countless rereads of it as well as bent pages will testify to that! ;) Whether the second author takes the story where Austen wanted it to go we will never know. But as for me, I think it's wonderfully written!

So there you have it! Mind you, as much as I love Jane Austen stories, I haven't actually read tons of them. But I sure do enjoy them. Do you have a favorite?

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Bite-Sized Reviews :: Edition Six

Just a couple this time around! Hope everyone's been having a lovely week.

Pies and Prejudice by Heather Vogel Frederick - You know I love Jane Austen sequels, so of course I had to try this one. It was cute! The different characters from Pride and Prejudice spread their personality traits out among these book club girls and figuring out what storylines were going to go with which girl was fun. A delightful story! And while it's part of a series, you don't have to read the previous titles to understand what's going on.

The Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey - Since I seem to be on a fairy tale re-telling kick recently, I decided to go with Mulan's story. (Truthfully, I found the book used, for a great price, and couldn't leave it there. ;) I've been curious about Ms. Dokey's books for a while now and I have to say she didn't disappoint me! Mulan feels more real than just a simple fairy tale. And while things happen pretty quickly, I was rapt enough to be unable to put it down. Most definitely a great story! And now I'm anxious to try some of her other re-tellings. :)

Bite-Sized Reviews :: Edition Five

I thought I'd do some reviewing of the books I read in the previous six months, that I hadn't posted about. Fun, right? I should warn you that the "bite-sized" reviews will be more like mini bites. I realized I have several books to mention and didn't want to bore you with a huge, long post! I supposed I could have posted about each separately, but that'd take forever. So! This is what you get! :)

Secret Society Girl series by Diana Peterfreund - I've been wanting to read this series for quite some time. Secret societies? Are pretty fascinating stuff, it turns out! Amy and Poe had me at hello though. ;)

A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont - I really wanted to like this one. The premise sounded really fun, but I was barely halfway through and had to force myself to keep going. It had me hooked enough to want to find out what happened, but I couldn't ever really connect with Emma. Her choices and thoughts and how she acted never seemed to add up to someone relatable and real for me. And the insta-love connection? I never did figure out what they saw in each other. It was still an interesting story regardless.

The Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Pamela Mingle - Really liked this one! Ms. Mingle made Mary very likeable and gave her a happy ending. I've always had a soft spot for Mary and finding sequels that give her a good life are hard to find. It was pretty predictable, but that did not lessen my enjoyment! :)


Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck - Sigh. I want to be a princess! ;) Definitely enjoyed this one. Not quite as much as Once Upon a Prince, but oh my. It was delightful!

Ruby Red trilogy by Kerstin Gier - Another series I'd been waiting for! I was so excited when the library had all three books. I proceeded to take them home and read them all in one sitting! So much mystery and fun. Loved Gwyneth and Leslie's friendship. Definitely worth the wait.

The Chocolate Heart by Laura Florand - As delicious and wonderful as her others! If you're a fan of her stories, then you'll enjoy this one as well. :)

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson - With mystery and intrigue, and a pretty sigh-worthy romance, Ms. Donaldson has done it again, as they say! SO much sweetness and fun to be found here. Absolutely one to enjoy and reread as the notion arises.