Your online source for Jane Austen and her legacy
From the desk of Theresa Smith:
“You,” Elisabetta breathes, maliciously, almost delightedly. “You will be blamed. So be careful, Lucrezia. Be very, very careful.”
In The Marriage Portrait, O’Farrell gives us a fictional retelling of the short life and marriage of Lucrezia de’ Medici (1545-1561), third daughter of Cosimo l de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, fateful first wife of Alfonso d ’Este, Duke of Ferrara. Continue reading “The Marriage Portrait: A Novel, by Maggie O’Farrell — A Review”
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:
Happy Monday Dear Readers,
The month of October is a favorite of mine with the arrival of fall leaves and pumpkin spice lates. It is also the month to celebrate All-Hallows-Eve with Gothic stories.
I am happy to introduce you to a new author to the historical suspense genre, Hannah Linder. Her debut novel Beneath His Silence has all the Gothic feels — a young heroine who goes undercover as a governess to discover her sister’s killer, a hero who is hiding secrets, an ancient English manor house, and a mystery to uncover. Continue reading “An Exclusive Interview with Hannah Linder, Author of Beneath His Silence”
From the desk of Rachel McMillan:
I first discovered Molly Greeley’s forthcoming novel Marvelous in a Publisher’s Lunch deal memo. Knowing Greeley was a fan-favourite after her two deliciously engaging re-imaginings of Jane Austen’s world (The Clergyman’s Wife, and The Heiress) I would read anything she wrote. The true story behind the couple from the “tale as old as time” that may have inspired the Beauty and The Beast fairy tale was my favourite trope-y catnip. Continue reading “Marvelous: A Novel, by Molly Greeley — A Review”
From the desk of Barbara Rogers:
As a huge fan of Catherine Lloyd’s Kurland St. Mary series, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her latest Victorian mystery series, Miss Morton and the English House Murder.
A Family Tragedy Changes the Heroine’s Life
Lady Caroline Morton, daughter of the deceased Earl of Morton, is penniless with a tarnished reputation, through no fault of her own. No, not her fault at all, but society tars her and her sister with the Continue reading “Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder: A Miss Morton Mystery (Book 1), by Catherine Lloyd — A Review”
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:
Happy Monday Dear Readers,
Coming your way tomorrow is a gorgeous new curated edition of Jane Austen’s final novel, Persuasion. It includes the complete unabridged text and thirteen pockets throughout containing replicas of items from the story such as maps, pages from newspapers, and recreated correspondence written as if you were picking up the very letter addressed to one of the characters in Austen’s novel. Wow. Just wow! The full title is a mouthful, but here it is: Persuasion: The Complete Novel, Featuring the Characters’ Letters and Papers, Written and Folded by Hand. Continue reading “Persuasion: The Complete Novel, Featuring the Characters’ Letters and Papers, Written and Folded by Hand, by Jane Austen, curated by Barbara Heller — A Review”
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:
Happy Friday Dear Readers,
Are you ready to be inspired? If so, I am happy to introduce you to moving story of a life-long Jane Austen fan who began her journey in the 1940s, earned her PhD in teaching and reading Jane Austen at the age of 88, and published her first book at 90. The Jane Austen Remedy traverses nine decades of “living, loving, and learning” by unravelling memories of relationships and life experiences. It is the “moving account of the reassessment of a full life through the prism of Jane Austen’s beloved works.” Enjoy! Continue reading “A Preview & Exclusive Excerpt of The Jane Austen Remedy, by Ruth Wilson”
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:
For those of us who are fans of Jane Austen movie adaptations and binged the Netflix mega-hit Bridgerton, the announcement of a movie adaptation of Suzanne Alaine’s popular Regency-era novel, Mr. Malcolm’s List, was the best news this period drama lover could receive. While our anticipation ran high, we were also anxious if the production company could pull it off. Inevitably, any Regency-era romantic comedy will be compared to Austen on the screen, some of which are excellent (I am looking at you Pride and Prejudice 1995) and others missed the mark entirely and will remained unnamed. The fact that Alaine’s novel was very clever and entertaining, and she would be the screenwriter, was highly in its favor. Continue reading “Mr. Malcolm’s List (2022) Movie — A Review”
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:
Happy Monday Dear Readers,
Bestselling historical romance author Mimi Matthews is joining us today for an exclusive interview regarding her forthcoming novel, The Belle of Belgrave Square. It involves a heiress who escapes her difficult family by a marriage of convenience to a questionable military hero. There are strong literary themes and nods to classics like The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery and the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. Continue reading “An Exclusive Interview with Mimi Matthews, Author of The Belle of Belgrave Square + Giveaway”
From the desk of Molly Greeley:
Three women, separated by time but connected by blood and the strength of their unusual powers. An ageless, sinister, smooth-talking minister who stalks each of them in turn. A setting—the Ozark Mountains—as steeped in magic and folklore as it is in natural beauty, where compasses refuse to point North and where ghosts hide in shadowed hollows. From its very first page, Paulette Kennedy’s The Witch of Tin Mountain sets itself up as an enthralling work of Gothic fiction—and none of the pages that come after disappoint. Continue reading “The Witch of Tin Mountain, by Paulette Kennedy — A Review “
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:
On Monday, September 19th I was glued to the TV watching the funeral service for HM Queen Elizabeth II. Since I live in the US and did not want to stay up all night, I recorded the 6-hour BBC coverage. It was a moving and awe-inspiring event; very well planned out by the former Queen and executed to precision by her family, staff, and the military.
No one does parades like the British! After crying for six hours, I was spent and ready for something Queen Elizabeth related that was upbeat. The 2015 movie, A Royal Night Out totally filled the bill. Continue reading “A Royal Night Out (2015) Movie – A Review”
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:
Happy Monday Dear Readers!
Fall is on its way to the Pacific Northwest. It’s time for pumpkin spice lattes, colorful fall leaves, and autumn-inspired reading.
I am pleased to have a special guest with us today. Author Annette Lyon has contributed a novella to the newly released anthology, An Autumn Kiss, published by Mirror Press. Annette is a USA Today bestselling author, a Whitney Award winner for Band of Sisters, and a founding editor of The Timeless Romance Anthologies. Continue reading “An Exclusive Interview with Annette Lyon, Co-Author of An Autumn Kiss”
From the desk of Tracy Hickman:
If women who read are dangerous, what about women who write? Following my review of Stefan Bollmann’s Women Who Read Are Dangerous, I thought I would explore its “sister” book: Women Who Write Are Dangerous, also by Bollmann.
Francine Prose, American novelist, essayist, and critic, sets the stage for Bollmann’s exploration of women writers in the foreword: Continue reading “Women Who Write Are Dangerous, by Stefan Bollmann — A Review”
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