CONFINED WITH MR DARCY - LET'S HELP THE JANE AUSTEN'S HOUSE MUSEUM!

Thank you, Maria Grazia, for having me today! I’m so excited about Confined with Mr. Darcy. It’s not often that I get to write something short and sweet, but this was my perfect opportunity—and I get to help Jane Austen House Museum’s Covid-19 Survival Appeal at the same time. So many small museums are hurting and may have to close for good. I wanted to help one of these museums, one that means a lot to me. I hope people will help me by purchasing Confined with Mr. Darcy on Kindle or paperback. It’s available on Kindle Unlimited, so if you try it out and like it, please consider purchasing your own copy for a future re-read. Let’s raise as much money as we can for Jane Austen House Museum!

REBELLION AT LONGBOURN BLOG TOUR - EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY

Join me in welcoming Victoria Kincaid back to My Jane Austen Book Club. She's here to celebrate her new release with an excerpt and the giveaway of an ebook copy.

Hello Maria Grazia and thank you for welcoming me back!  Readers’ reception of Rebellion at Longbourn has been very favorable so far, and I hope your readers will enjoy the excerpt below.  It takes place when Darcy visits Longbourn after a two-year absence. He has been away and only recently learned that Collins took possession of the estate.

“Oh yes!”  Charlotte’s expression softened as it always did when she discussed her son.  “His name is Robert, and he…” Mr. Darcy had unwittingly hit on the only subject that would make Charlotte Collins garrulous, but he seemed quite content to listen to her enumerate her son’s amazing achievements, among them: holding up his head, rolling over, smiling, and growing two teeth. 

As Charlotte spoke, Elizabeth suddenly realized Mr. Darcy was staring at her hands.  As the weather grew warmer, she had not troubled herself to don gloves after working in the kitchen.  But her bare hands were red and chafed, bearing callouses and blisters—the unmistakable signs of labor.  They were not the hands of a young lady.  Elizabeth flushed and fought the urge to hide her hands under the folds of her gown. 

There is nothing I might do now, she consoled herself.  He has noticed and is unlikely to forget.  The damage is done. 

Why should I care what he thinks of me anyway? He is wholly unconnected to me and my life. 

TEN REASONS TO READ AND LOVE THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY

When I started my own Jane Austen Book Club online back in 2010 it was because I couldn’t find like-minded fellows to create a real one in my little hometown in Italy. But thanks to the web and the Internet,  I could discover how many lovely, devoted, enthusiastic Janeites are there all over the world.

While reading the newly released The Jane Austen Society, the charming debut novel by Natalie Jenner, I was brought back to that initial passionate desire to spread the love for Jane Austen and to be part of a community. I enjoyed it so much! I  was brought back to Hampshire and Chawton, which I visited only once in my life, but whose touching memories will stay with me forever. 

Here are 10 reasons why you should read The Jane Austen Society.

JANE AUSTEN'S FIGHTING MEN: PERSUADED TO SAIL

Greetings, everyone. Jack Caldwell here. I’d like to thank Maria  Grazia for the opportunity to visit with you today to talk about my latest book, PERSUADED TO SAIL: asequel to Persuasion and Book Three of Jane Austen’s Fighting Men.

PERSUADED TO SAIL picks up at the end of Persuasion—the wedding of Anne Elliot to Captain Frederick Wentworth. Planning an uneventful honeymoon cruise aboard HMS Laconia to Frederick’s posting in Bermuda, the Wentworths’ plans are thrown into disarray by the Hundred Days Crisis.

Hold on a second. What is the Hundred Days Crisis?

To explain this, I have to go back to the genesis of the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815). This era of conflict arose out of the Wars of the French Revolution (1792-1802). Europe had been locked in a bloody conflict between the homicidal French Republic and the autocratic European monarchies. The chaos allowed a little-known general from the French island of Corsica, Napoleon Bonaparte, to prove his military prowess, to seize power in a coup d'état, and then smash the Coalition armies and force a peace. Peace only lasted a year, and a third coalition of European powers was formed in 1803 to fight the self-styled Emperor Napoleon.

ELAINE OWEN, GASKELL VS AUSTEN. AUTHOR GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY

Hi everybody! I’m thrilled to be able to visit with you today via My Jane Austen Book Club! A million thanks to Maria Grazia for letting me introduce myself and my newest novel, Margaret of Milton, to you!

Margaret of Milton is a variation on the beloved novel North and South, by Elizabeth Gaskell. On a blog dedicated to Jane Austen it may seem strange to feature a book based on a different author’s work! But as many Janeites have discovered, the writings of Elizabeth Gaskell contain some intriguing parallels and differences from Austen. Today I’d like to talk about the lives and writings of both authors.

RAKES AND ROSES BLOG TOUR OPENS TODAY!

Bestselling author Josi S. Kilpack tours the blogosphere May 4 through May 22, 2020 to share her third novel in the Mayfield Family series, Rakes and Roses. The blog tour kicks off here today and will see forty popular book bloggers specializing in historical romance, inspirational fiction, and Austenesque fiction will feature guest blogs, interviews, exclusive excerpts, and book reviews of this acclaimed Regency romance.  

OUTMATCHED BLOG TOUR: EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY

Hello! My name is Jayne Bamber and it’s great to be back at My Jane Austen Book Club, to talk about my new release, Outmatched,  a fusion of Sense & Sensibility and Mansfield Park – coming to Kindle May 8^th. I kicked off my blog tour at AustenAuthors by discussing the first deviation from canon I entertain in the story: Maria Bertram’s rejection of Mr. Rushworth when Sir Thomas returns from Antigua. Today I would like to share a taste of the next twist to turn Mansfield Park upside down – Mrs. Rushworth is not willing to take no for an answer. I can’t give The Big Secret away, but I would like to share just a little bit of one of the most pivotal moments in the story, which ultimately inveigles the cast of Sense & Sensibility in the Bertram family fracas….

LAKESHIRE PARK BLOG TOUR: MEGAN WALKER ON HER LOVE FOR JANE AUSTEN

Debut novelist Megan Walker tours the blogosphere from 6 April through May 1, 2020 to share her new historical romance, Lakeshire Park. Forty popular book bloggers specializing in historical romance, inspirational fiction, and Austenesque fiction have featured and will feature guest blogs, interviews, exclusive excerpts, and book reviews of this acclaimed Regency romance novel. Today Megan Walker is our guest at My Jane Austen Book Club. Please, welcome her in the section comment and get ready to enjoy her post about her favourite Austen novels: Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice.

FORTUNE & FELICITY BLOG TOUR: INTERVIEW WITH MONICA FAIRVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Hello Monica and welcome back to My Jane Austen Book Club! It’s been a while, since the release of Mysterious Mr Darcy. It was two years ago already! I’m glad to be here discussing with you your upcoming Fortune & Felicity, again a Pride and Prejudice Variation. What is it that you especially love in Austen’s P&P,  which inspires you to write about its characters and to imagine new scenarios for them?

It’s wonderful to be back again. It feels like such a long time since I’ve visited. It’s a good time to be reconnecting online as well, especially with all the things that are happening. Please stay safe, everyone.

NEW RELEASE: MISS AUSTEN BY GILL HORNBY

Gill Hornby and the two editions of Miss Austen, the US one on the left and the UK one on the right

Miss Austen, the untold story of Cassandra Austen and her famous sister Jane,  is out today in the US  (Flatiron Books, New York) 

You can’t miss it, it’s an absolute must for any Janeite.  It’s also a delightful, clever, entertaining read, perfect for finding some solace and escape in these troubling times. You’ll find comfort and joy entering the daily life of the two young Austen sisters and their family. You’ll feel the bittersweet melancholy of Cassandra doing her best to preserve her beloved sister’s reputation, while making a balance of her own choices and her own life.

L.L. DIAMOND, UNDOING: AUTHOR GUEST POST & EXCERPT

Thank you so much for having me! It’s been a long five-year road to publishing Undoing, so I’m so excited for everyone to finally see what I’ve been holding on to for all this time. I thought I’d share a bit of my inspiration and thought process behind Elizabeth’s husband, Thomas Osborne, Duke of Leeds. I have a small excerpt after, a letter from Elizabeth to Jane. I hope you enjoy!

In Particular Intentions, I use the Earl Fitzwilliam as a nod to the actual earldom many believe Jane Austen used to show Fitzwilliam Darcy’s ties to the nobility in Pride and Prejudice, and I had some fun in a similar way with Undoing as well.

Have you ever heard of Lady Amelia Darcy? No, she is not a character in a Jane Austen novel. She was a real woman and the only surviving child of Robert Darcy, the 4^th Earl of Holderness. Now, you are probably asking what her connection is to Undoing. Well, I will not say that is a simple answer, but I will give you the real and the fiction of Amelia Darcy.

In 1773, the real Lady Amelia Darcy married Francis Osborne, who was at that time the Marquess of Carmarthen. After Amelia’s death, Osborne became the 5^th Duke of Leeds. When I first started writing Undoing over five years ago, I called the duke in my story by a different title (that’s a story for another blog post!) and his first name was Thomas. When I began updating it, I remembered this link between a real-life Darcy and a dukedom and wanted to use that link in my story as well—a little reality mixed in with the fiction.

DUKE DARCY'S CASTLE BLOG TOUR: EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY

Duke Darcy's Castle is the third book in the series Dare to Defy by Syrie James, but it is a story you can read and enjoy independently from the previous instalments.

It's been my happy place for a few days, a pleasant reading reminding me of a splendid tour in Cornwall a few years ago. The action takes place, in fact,  in a remote, enchanting tidal island inspired to real Mount St. Michael, St. Gabriel's Mount.   

The novel is set in the late Victorian Age and it has all the elements an engaging historical romance can offer:  a captivating hero, a brilliant heroine, a steaming love story.

Kathryn Atherton arrives at St Gabriel's Mount unexpected  - well, they weren't expecting a lady - and with one purpose in mind: to be appreciated as an architect by the Tenth Duke of Darcy, Lance Granville, whose ancient castle needs renovation and refurbishment. Her professional success, in a world exclusively inhabited by male architects,  is very difficult to achieve, but that is just what Kathryn wants to pursue and she will not let  any distraction or obstacle to lead her astray.  

Lance Granville has just left his own career in the Royal Navy to inherit the family title and become the Tenth Duke of  Darcy, something he has never wished for himself. When a very attractive woman architect appears in his residence, he just can't believe his eyes.

Kathryn and Lance will hit it off immediately  and the attraction between them will not make things easy for either of them. 

This is the premise to a delightful love story that will keep you intrigued and excited till the last page. 

JEANETTE WATTS, A WOMAN'S PERSUASION - AUTHOR GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY

Thank you for hosting me on your wonderful book club!

While all of us feel the irresistible pull of the spirited Lizzie Bennett, I am not the only person who has a special love for Anne Elliot from Persuasion.

Anne is dutiful, steady, and puts the needs of others before herself. Does that make for a dull heroine? Maybe to some. But I love "overlooked" people. It's always fun to find the introvert in the room, and go start a conversation. Introverts frequently have plenty to say. They spent less time talking and more time thinking.

OBSTINATE HEADSTRONG GIRL BLOG TOUR: KAREN M. COX, WHY ELIZABETH?

For over two hundred years, Elizabeth Bennet has enchanted and inspired readers by being that “obstinate, headstrong girl” willing to stand up to the arrogance and snobbery of her so-called betters. Described by Austen as having a “lively, playful disposition,” Elizabeth embodies the perfect imperfections of strong-willed women everywhere: she is spirited, witty, clever, and loyal.

The book under the spotlight today is a romance anthology, ten Austenesque authors sketch Elizabeth’s character through a collection of re-imaginings, set in the Regency through contemporary times. 

In ELIZABETH: OBSTINATE, HEADSTRONG GIRL, she bares her most intimate thoughts, all the while offering biting social commentary about life’s absurdities. Elizabeth overcomes the obstacles of others’ opinions, not to mention her own flaws, to find a love truly worthy of her—her Mr. Darcy—all with humor and her sparkling charm.

“I think her as delightful a character as ever appeared in print…” wrote Jane Austen in a letter to her sister Cassandra, January 1813―and we think so too!

Foreword by NY Times & USA Today bestselling author Tessa Dare. 

Stories by Amy D’Orazio, Jenetta James, Christina Morland, Beau North, Joana Starnes, Karen M Cox, Elizabeth Adams, Leigh Dreyer, J. Marie Croft, and Christina Boyd.

GEORGIANA BLOG TOUR - AUTHOR GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY

Thank you for hosting me here at My Jane Austen Book Club and letting me talk about my latest release, GEORGIANA: Pride & Prejudice continued… Book Three.

What was the impetus for Georgiana’s story? I had a couple of ideas that percolated for a while before scenes and dialogue began to solidify in my brain. I wanted her experience at Ramsgate to not only mould her character but to have some impact on what would happen later in the story.

TENTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF 1932 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE REVISITED

Thank you for letting me stop in here at My Jane Austen Book Club! This month, I’m celebrating the tenth anniversary of my debut novel, 1932, by re-releasing the book with a new cover, some book group questions, and some new scenes and chapters. 

SENSE WITHOUT SENSIBILITY BY KEENA RICHINS - AUTHOR GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY

I love interconnected stories where characters from one story will be in another one. I always find them fun to read. So it was a no-brainer that when I decided to modernize the Jane Austen stories, that they would all be interconnected.

The easiest way to pull this off was to have Darcy be the CEO of a huge corporation and have most of the other characters either work for him directly or indirectly in some form. But I also loved the idea of characters from other books being best friends. Colonel Brandon and Captain Wentworth both had military service in Austen's version. That makes it easy for them to have met each other during their naval service in my modern version and, since they both were denied their first loves, become instant best friends.

Frank Churchill from Emma has a rather controlling aunt. Edward Ferrars from Sense and Sensibility has an equally controlling mother. Having those two bond together due to similar family situations was a fun connection.

The Elliots from Persuasion were aristocrats (Sir Elliot is a baron). They're in their own class and so it made sense to make them a family of lawyers, dealing with high-end cases. The first chapter of Persuading Him (my modern version of Persuasion) shows Anne Elliot working on a case for Darcy v Wickham (mwahaha).

Another fun fact is that Jane Austen used the last name of Smith rather often in her books. This gave me the fun opportunity to make those Smiths the same person. So, Anne's good friend, Mrs. Smith, in Persuasion is now also the Mrs. Smith that is related to Mr. Willoughby in Sense and Sensibility (I made her a cousin instead of the aunt).

PROMISED BLOG TOUR - LEAH GARRIOTT ON HOW MUCH JANE AUSTEN INFLUENCED HER WRITING

A new awesome blog tour starts at My Jane Austen Book Club! Let's welcome Leah Garriot and her newly released Promised to our online club and wish her all the best on the rest of the tour.   

Debut novelist Leah Garriott tours the blogosphere February 17 through March 15, 2020 to share her new historical romance, Promised. Forty popular book bloggers specializing in historical romance, inspirational fiction, and Austenesque fiction will feature guest blogs, interviews, exclusive excerpts, and book reviews of this acclaimed Regency romance novel. 

Hello everyone! Thanks to Maria Grazia for hosting my first stop on the blog tour for my novel Promised, a Proper Romance set in the Regency England world of 1812. Since the Georgian and Regency periods have become somewhat synonymous with romance thanks to the great romantic satirist Jane Austen, I thought I would take this opportunity to share a little about Jane Austen’s influence on my writing.

TWO MORE DAYS AT NETHERFIELD BLOG TOUR

 "Oh!" cried Miss Bingley, "Charles writes in the most careless way imaginable. He leaves out half his words, and blots the rest."

   "My ideas flow so rapidly that I have not time to express them -- by which means my letters sometimes convey no ideas at all to my correspondents."

Hello Maria Grazia and thank you for welcoming me back to My Jane Austen Book Club to share my new release, Two More Days at Netherfield, with you and your readers. An overhearing and an extended stay during Jane’s illness shift this story’s plot away from canon, but Bingley’s notoriously bad handwriting also has a significant impact on Darcy and Elizabeth’s journey to their happy ever after.

FIND WONDER IN ALL THINGS - FEATURE POST

*****Book Blurb*****

“There could have never been two hearts so open… Now they were as strangers”

—Persuasion

Mountain Laurel Elliot is like her name—she blooms best in the cool comfort of shade, hidden in the Kentucky foothills of Appalachia. Alone on her mountain, she lives a private existence with only her pottery—and her regrets—for company.

James Marshall had a secret dream and Laurel was part of it, but dreams sometimes lead to unexpected places. James’s heart broke when Laurel cut him loose, but he moved on—and became successful beyond his wildest dreams.

For one glorious summer, James and Laurel had each other, but life has kept them far apart.

Until now.