Tag: Contemporary Era Fiction

Death on a Winter Stroll: A Merry Folger Christmas Mystery, by Francine Mathews — A Review

From the desk of Sophia Rose:

There’s always a little thrill of excitement that courses through me when I pick up a new to me series by an author with whom I’m happily familiar. Francine Mathews writes the clever and engaging historical Jane Austen Mysteries and I have long planned to pick up her contemporary Merry Folger Nantucket mysteries. With the added incentive of wintry holiday festivities as backdrop for a murder investigation, I got under my throw beside a cozy fire and let the book take me on the Winter Stroll and into a diverting mystery. Continue reading “Death on a Winter Stroll: A Merry Folger Christmas Mystery, by Francine Mathews — A Review” →

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Jane Austen’s Lost Letters: Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery (Book 14), by Jane K. Cleland — A Review

From the desk of Sophia Rose:

Outside of a long-lost manuscript, the discovery of an unknown Jane Austen letter is enough to set every Jane Austen fan into a tizzy. Hence, I was primed with excitement when I spotted this latest Jane K. Cleland title in her popular Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery series. Not having read the previous series installments, I was a tad wary of starting with this one, but Jane Austen’s Lost Letters turned out to be a cozy, entertaining installment that stood alone just fine. Continue reading “Jane Austen’s Lost Letters: Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery (Book 14), by Jane K. Cleland — A Review” →

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Jane Austen Made Me Do It’s Tenth Anniversary Celebration & Giveaway

From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: 

Happy Monday dear readers! It is a special day for me. Ten years ago on October 11, 2011 my short story anthology Jane Austen Made Me Do It was published by Ballantine Books.  I can’t believe how the years have flown by.

The collection includes 22 original short stories and reading group material from bestselling authors Jo Beverley, Syrie James, Adriani Trigiani, and Lauren Willig; top Austen sequel writers Stephanie Barron, Pamela Aidan, Elizabeth Aston, Amanda Grange, Alexandra Potter, and Laurie Viera Rigler; mother and Continue reading “Jane Austen Made Me Do It’s Tenth Anniversary Celebration & Giveaway” →

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Jane Austen and Shelley in the Garden: A Novel with Pictures, by Janet Todd — A Review

From the desk of Tracy Hickman:

Janet Todd’s latest novel is described as “a (light) meditation on age, mortality, friendship, the tensions and attractions between generations, hope, and the excitement of change” on the back cover. Turning over the attractive green paperback with its decorative motif of foliage and Jane Austen silhouettes, I noticed the subtitle: “A Novel with Pictures.” Thumbing through the pages I glimpsed a sketch of a hedgehog, dozens of nature snapshots, a Welsh flag, a Jane Austen ten-pound note, and the Mona Lisa with sunglasses and a mustache. Jane Austen and Shelley in the Garden begins with the famous line from Pride and Prejudice, revealing a streak of irreverence: Continue reading “Jane Austen and Shelley in the Garden: A Novel with Pictures, by Janet Todd — A Review” →

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The Bennet Women, by Eden Appiah-Kubi — A Review

From the desk of Sophia Rose:

Jane Austen’s works have a timeless quality that make them appealing for contemporary retelling. The Bennet Women, by debut author Eden Appiah-Kubi, is a new adult tale inspired by Austen’s Pride and Prejudice centered around the young women living at Bennet House on a private college campus who experience the ups and downs of life and love. We shall see if this diverse offering of modern characters can translate the social conflicts and romance from early nineteenth-century into modern-day.

The Bennet Women opens with the introduction of EJ, the RA (Residential Assistant) of the Bennet House, Continue reading “The Bennet Women, by Eden Appiah-Kubi — A Review” →

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Ladies of the House: A Modern Retelling of Sense and Sensibility, by Lauren Edmondson — A Review

The Ladies of the House by Lauren Edmondson 2021

From the desk of Sophia Rose:

Some might quote that old chestnut about ‘when life tosses you lemons…’ to those who are going through life’s trials, but in the cutthroat world of DC politics in this exciting new release, one learns the only thing to do with lemons is cut them up and put them in a cocktail while saluting backstabbing one-time friends. Lauren Edmondson chose to retell a classic and portray three women going through the refining fires of grief, loss, and political scandal. While The Ladies of the House stays true to the heart of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility it also accurately portrayed life in America’s capital and politics that will resonate with many. Continue reading “Ladies of the House: A Modern Retelling of Sense and Sensibility, by Lauren Edmondson — A Review” →

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A Preview & Exclusive Excerpt of Ladies of the House: A Modern Retelling of Sense and Sensibility, by Lauren Edmondson

 

The Ladies of the House by Lauren Edmondson 2021From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: 

Like touring Pemberley, discovering great new books is a hard business. I am a passionate subscriber to Publisher’s Marketplace for the latest book deals. I troll through publisher’s catalogs, scour Amazon for Indie books, and follow way too many authors newsletters than is humanly possible to read all in pursuit of the next great read to share with you all.

Lately, the new book landscape has been resplendent with authors eager to grab my attention with gorgeous covers, intriguing descriptions, and…the always fateful Jane Austen connection. My latest find in Continue reading “A Preview & Exclusive Excerpt of Ladies of the House: A Modern Retelling of Sense and Sensibility, by Lauren Edmondson” →

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Persuading the Captain: An Austen Inspired Romantic Comedy, by Rachel John— A Review

From the desk of Sophia Rose:

Modernizing a classic through a retelling can be fraught with authorial peril. One must do more than simply slap a pair of blue jeans on a heroine and put some slang on her lips, but at the same time, one has a duty to the legacy of the classic and the reader should recognize the original story within the fresh tale. Did author Rachel John avoid these pitfalls in Persuading the Captain, inspired by Jane Austen’s final novel Persuasion? Stick around and see. Continue reading “Persuading the Captain: An Austen Inspired Romantic Comedy, by Rachel John— A Review” →

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A Preview & Exclusive Excerpt of Dating Mr. Darcy: A Romantic Comedy (Love Manor Romantic Comedy Series Book 1), by Kate O’Keefe

Dating Mr Darcy by Kate O'Keeffe 2020From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: 

Happy Holidays to all of our fabulous readers! Are you still shopping and making merry? I have trimmed my tree and decked the halls and am all ready to kick back and relax a bit during the remaining of the holiday season.

Today I happy to present a light, fun, and humorous Austenesque rom-com for your consideration. Dating Mr. Darcy is the first book in Kate O’Keeffe’s “Love Manor” trilogy, a combination of Pride and Prejudice meets The Bachelor reality TV show. It is a contemporary Austen-inspired novel to bring a smile and a quick escape. Continue reading “A Preview & Exclusive Excerpt of Dating Mr. Darcy: A Romantic Comedy (Love Manor Romantic Comedy Series Book 1), by Kate O’Keefe” →

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Jane in Love: A Novel, by Rachel Givney — A Review

Jane in Love by Rachel Givney 2020From the desk of Sophia Rose:

Australian filmmaker, and debut writer, Rachel Givney brings us a whimsical time travel romantic adventure for none other than Jane Austen herself with her new novel, Jane in Love.  What does the twenty-first century have to teach this well-loved author? Equally important, what does Miss Jane have to teach her counterpart in the twenty-first century?

Jane is twenty-eight and living with her aging parents in Bath. Her writing isn’t good enough to get published and her mother threatens to burn any further attempts. Mrs. Austen insists Jane focus on the Continue reading “Jane in Love: A Novel, by Rachel Givney — A Review” →

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All Stirred Up: A Novel, by Brianne Moore — A Review

All Stirred Up by Brianne Moore 2020From the desk of Sophia Rose:

A modern-day Persuasion retelling set in Edinburgh against the backdrop of the high-end restaurant world. What could be more delicious? I eagerly picked up this book by a debut author who knows her way around a professional kitchen and resided in Edinburgh. It was quite obvious the author made these, along with her love of literature, the superb ingredients she stirred into a low-heat second chance romance. Continue reading “All Stirred Up: A Novel, by Brianne Moore — A Review” →

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Recipe for Persuasion: A Novel, by Sonali Dev — A Review

Recipe for Persuasion 2020From the desk of Sophia Rose: 

Jane Austen’s Persuasion gets a modern facelift Desi-style in this standalone sequel to Sonali Dev’s 2019, Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors, as Indian American chef, Ashna Raje, and Brazilian footballer, Rico Silva, encounter each other once again as acrimonious cooking partners on a reality TV show. I love that the author has cooked up a series of modern retellings of Jane Austen’s classic works by giving members of the Raje family their chances at romance.

In Recipe for Persuasion Ashna’s family is convinced a reality cooking show is just the jumpstart her dying Continue reading “Recipe for Persuasion: A Novel, by Sonali Dev — A Review” →

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