A SEASON AT SANDITON. TALKING JANE AUSTEN WITH AUTHOR ROSE SERVITOVA

 

Congratulations on the release of your  A Season at Sanditon. How did you come to write your completion of Jane Austen’s unfinished last novel?

 I had already completed Jane Austen’s other unfinished work, The Watsons, and had been asked by readers if I would ever consider completing Sanditon. At first, I answered ‘no’ as it was being finished for screen by ITV/PBS but when their story went very much in a different direction to how I felt I might finish it, I changed my mind. There is, I felt, plenty of room for different interpretations and I’m happy with my own version.

THE LAST HOUSE IN LAMBTON BLOG TOUR: GRACE GIBSON'S GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY

 

Thank you so much for hosting me and sharing news of my new release, Maria Grazia!

I know we are all saturated beyond endurance with the global pandemic and are actively striving to put it behind us.

GODMERSHAM PARK BLOG TOUR: INTERVIEW WITH GILL HORNBY

  

I am so excited to kick off an exceptional historical fiction novel blog tour here at  My Jane Austen Book Club!  Godmersham Park by Gill Hornby is a story based on actual events, people, and locations in Jane Austen’s life, which takes place at the grand country estate of Jane’s wealthy brother Edward and his large family. 

To discover more about it, please read my interview with author Gill Hornby and, then,  feel free to leave your comments here and spread the good news! 

BRENDA S. COX, FASHIONABLE GOODNESS. CHRISTIANITY IN JANE AUSTEN'S WORLD.

 

Sydney Smith, Anglican Clergyman and Proponent of Catholic Rights: Potential Model for Henry Tilney

By Brenda S. Cox

Includes excerpts from Cox’s new book, Fashionable Goodness: Christianity in Jane Austen’s England

 Jane Austen was committed to the Church of England (Anglican Church), and she worshiped in its churches and chapels regularly. Her father, two of her brothers, and many of her friends and relations were Anglican clergymen. The Church of England was a state church. Parliament made laws concerning worship and churches. The archbishops and bishops of the church sat in the House of Lords. (Much of this is still true.) Everyone was required to pay tithes (10% of their income or agricultural produce) to the clergyman of the parish where they lived. (This is no longer true.)

A DUTIFUL SON BLOG TOUR: MESSAGE FROM AUTHOR KELLY MILLER, EXCERPT, GIVEAWAY

Thank you so much for having me today, Maria Grazia! I am excited to begin my blog tour for “A Dutiful Son,” my Regency “Pride & Prejudice” variation! This excerpt is from Chapter 1 and is in Fitzwilliam Darcy’s point of view. It takes place at the Meryton assembly, where he will have his first encounter with the Bennets. The opening words are from Mr. Bingley.

Kelly Miller

REGINA JEFFERS, HORSE RACING IN THE REGENCY. INTRODUCING ELIZABETH BENNET'S GALLANT SUITOR.

 

HORSE RACING IN THE REGENCY

In my latest Austen-inspired novel, Elizabeth Bennet’s Gallant Suitor, part of the action centers around a horse race—specifically one with a horse called “Bingley’s T,” owned by Charles Bingley. Yes, I have Bingley take Netherfield not only to satisfy his father’s wish for his son to own property, as would a proper gentleman of the time, but also to satisfy Bingley’s obsession with horses. In my tale, Bingley hopes to develop a line of thoroughbreds. “Bingley’s T” is an Arabian mare and untested and an unknown in her first race.

HEATHER MOLL - AN APPEARANCE OF GOODNESS BLOG TOUR

 

Thanks for the warm welcome back to My Jane Austen Book Club! I’ve loved mysteries since my mother handed me Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock when I was 9. Looking back, I’ve put elements that add to a good mystery in my other books, but An Appearance of Goodness is the first that could be called a mystery—even though it’s still firmly in the romance genre. Historical mysteries with slow burn romances are my faves, and that element is definitely in my latest release Pride and Prejudice variation.

SHADES OF PEMBERLEY, INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR SHELLY E. POWELL

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

 Six years after the death of George Wickham, Lydia is once again determined to catch a husband, but when her oldest daughter, Kelsey, realizes her mother is resorting to her usual, shameless tactics, Kelsey is determined to put an end to the pattern. Yet, stopping her mother seems impossible. Perhaps the only way to save the infamous Lydia Wickham from her own impropriety and spare her family from ruin is to distract her with what she craves most: the attention of a fine gentleman. But when fine gentlemen are scarce, what can Kelsey do but make one up? Unfortunately, the only person willing to help her is the handsome but swaggering Nathaniel Worth, a man with all the telltale signs of trouble. As Kelsey reluctantly confides in Nathaniel and pulls him into her schemes, she can't help but notice his kindness, charm, and incredibly dark eyes, but she'll never admit she's in love. Despite her best efforts, all Kelsey has done is proven to herself she is much more of a Wickham than she ever wanted to be. How can she give her heart to another when she cannot trust herself?

THE LADY'S GUIDE TO DEATH AND DECEPTION BLOG TOUR: REGENCY SPY MARY BENNET IS BACK!

 

About the Book

What is a spy willing to do when both her heart and her country are at risk?

Life changes once again for British spy Miss Mary Bennet when Napoleon Bonaparte escapes from the Isle of Elba. Mary quickly departs England for Brussels, the city where the Allied forces prepare for war against the French. But shortly after her arrival, one of the Duke of Wellington's best officers is murdered, an event which threatens to break the delicate alliance between the Allies.

BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY: LARI O'DELL, MR DARCY'S PHOENIX

About the Book 

A phoenix brings them together. Will a curse keep them apart?

When the hauntingly beautiful song of a phoenix lures Elizabeth Bennet to the Netherfield gardens, she has a vision of an unknown gentleman. He whispers her name with such tenderness that she wonders if this man is her match. Unfortunately, her gift of prophecy has never been exactly reliable.

A SEASON OF MAGIC BLOG TOUR: AUTHOR GUEST POST, EXCERPT AND GIVEAWAY

Thank you so much for having me on My Jane Austen Book Club! I’m so excited to share with you my newest Pride and Prejudice variation, A Season of Magic! As you might be able to guess by the title, it is a fantasy story set in a magical version of Regency England. 

My two favorite genres to read are Jane Austen variations (of course) and romantic fantasy. So it isn’t really a surprise that some of my favorite books combine the two of them! 

BLOG TOUR - SHANNON WINSLOW, COLONEL BRANDON ... IN HIS OWN WORDS

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Colonel Brandon is the consummate gentleman: honorable, kind almost to a fault, ever loyal and chivalrous. He’s also silent and grave, though. So, what events in his troubled past left him downcast, and how does he finally find the path to a brighter future? In Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen gives us glimpses, but not the complete picture.

Now Colonel Brandon tells us his full story in His Own Words. He relates the truth about his early family life and his dear Eliza – his devotion to her and the devastating way she was lost to him forever. He shares with us a poignant tale from his military days in India – about a woman named Rashmi and how she likewise left a permanent mark on his soul. And of course Marianne. What did Brandon think and feel when he first saw her? How did his hopes for her subsequently rise, plummet, and then eventually climb upwards again? After Willoughby’s desertion, what finally caused Marianne to see Colonel Brandon in a different light?

WHAT IS IT ABOUT PERIOD DRAMA? COUNTING DOWN TO THE NEW PERSUASION

 

(by guest blogger Lizzie Nelson)

Along with everybody else, I have been counting the days until the new Persuasion is released. Good or bad, I will lap it up.

I often wonder what it is about period dramas that captivate me so. Why are they so incredibly fulfilling? At 56, I am past the age of seeing myself as a Jane Austen heroine; unaware of her compelling yet understated beauty, quick witted, independent,resigned to spinsterhood and then finding love.I am married and jolly content, I am in my own happy ending and have not the slightest yearning for excitement and romance… I think.

LAURA MORETTI, WHO IS ELIZABETH BENNET'S SOULMATE? EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

What if you could hear, in your soul, the inner music of your soulmate, the person you are destined to marry?

England, 1811. Elizabeth Bennet has just begun to ‘hear’. The inner melody of her soulmate resonates in her soul. She is destined for someone…but who? Who is this mysterious gentleman who will one day ride into her life and change her existence forever? Is he living close by, or is she hearing his music from afar? Is he rich? Is he poor? Has she already met him?

Elizabeth flirts, she converses, she sketches the character of any gentleman she meets to determine whether their personality fits with the deep, beautiful, sometimes sombre notes she perceives. With the help of her sister Jane, who is happily married to her soulmate Charles Bingley, Elizabeth makes a list of all the possible soulmates in the area.
The haughty, disagreeable Fitzwilliam Darcy certainly does not appear on this list.

A shame. Because Darcy, who has no doubt that Elizabeth’s music is the one that haunts him, is falling more desperately in love with her each day.

But does Elizabeth really want to fall in love? In truth, does she really want to have a soulmate?

KISS ME GOOD NIGHT, MAJOR DARCY: FEATURETTE, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY

 

 ABOUT THE BOOK

The wind ruffled Darcy’s hair. “You’re beautiful.”

Happiness surged through Elizabeth's body like electricity. This moment was as close to perfection as she had ever known.

1943. World War II has torn the continent since 1939 and tested families, the Bennets included. Elizabeth and Jane nurse wounded soldiers and civilians in a London hospital. The other sisters volunteer as best suits their inclinations. Mr. Bennet rattles about Longbourn. Wickham sniffs about the edges of the estate—and the Bennet daughters.

 

Even the ever-present threat of death from the skies cannot prepare Jane and Lizzy for the most devastating news. The words one never wishes to hear are delivered by two officers, each scarred by years on the front lines. In the dark days that follow, devotion is tested, and affection blooms.

FROM APATHY TO ACTION! JASON IZATT & THE BIRTH OF THE JANE AUSTEN'S WORLD IPAD APP

 

From Apathy to Action - the Birth of the “Jane Austen’s World” iPad App

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a Jane Austen fan in possession of an iPad must be in want of a Jane Austen app!”

 First of all I have a confession to make. I haven’t always been a Jane Austen fan. When we were first married, we watched the movie Emma … and I was bored to tears! I couldn’t understand the genre or the relationships. There was very little action. It just wasn’t for me.

NEW! THE BARRISTER'S BRIDE BLOG TOUR: EXCERPT AND GIVEAWAY

  

I'm so very happy to welcome Suzan Lauder back to My Jane Austen Book Club and to kick off  a new Blog Tour for her just released  Austen-inspired novel, The Barrister's Bride. Ready to discover more? Just scroll down and enjoy. Oh! And good luck in the giveaway contest! MG

BLOOMSBURY GIRLS BLOG TOUR: WELCOME BACK NATALIE JENNER!

I loved her debut novel, The Jane Austen Society,  so much that I couldn't wait for her second book to be released. I'm incredibly glad and honored to be opening the international blog tour of Bloomsbury Girls! Scroll down for all the information you may need to get intrigued by the new compelling world created by Natalie Jenner. Enjoy reading, watching and listening!  

THE MURDER OF MR WICKHAM BLOG TOUR: READ AN EXCERPT

 

Here I am with a new awesome book recommendation, an Austen-inspired murder mystery novel perfect for you,  in which a summer house party turns into a thrilling whodunit when Jane Austen's Mr. Wickham—one of literature’s most notorious villains—meets a sudden and suspicious end.  Scroll down and enjoy discovering more about Claudia Gray's The Murder of Mr Wickham! MG 

BLOG TOUR: LUCY KNIGHT, HOW I CAME TO WRITE MARIA BERTRAM'S DAUGHTER

 

Thank you, Maria Grazia, for hosting me on my blog tour. I thought your readers might be interested to know how I came to write Maria Bertram’s Daughter as I understand that Mansfield Park sequels are unusual. Personally, it is one of my favourites. There is so much symbolism in it, and it is so rich in characters, mostly unpleasant. My other favourite is Sense and Sensibility because that, too, is full of monsters. I used to read Jane Austen for the romance, but now I read her mostly for the laughs, which come mainly thanks to the hypocrisy and unintentional self-revelation of the secondary characters.

AN AFFECTIONATE HEART BLOG TOUR: AUTHOR GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY

 

Thanks for welcoming back to My Jane Austen Book Club to talk about An Affectionate Heart!

Spinster. Ape leader. Old maid. These are Georgian-era words that could have been applied to women like Miss Bates, Elizabeth Elliot, Charlotte Lucas, and the Parker sisters. The insulting idea of an older, unmarried woman surrounded by cats isn’t a new one. Although she’s only 21, Elizabeth Bennet in An Affectionate Heart is another poor, unmarried woman with little agency over her own life.

As Emma Woodhouse tells us, if you’re an heiress it’s not so bad to be single, but if you’re poor like Miss Bates you practically deserve to be ridiculed. There was intense social prejudice against unmarried women and few respectable means of employment for the women of this class. Aside from all the typical reasons to marry, many women felt a duty to their families to marry to relieve them of the burden of providing for them.

BETHANY DELLEMAN PRESENTS HER PRIDEFUL & PERSUADED: WHO CAN CAROLINE BINGLEY MARRY?

 

In my novel, Prideful & Persuaded, Caroline Bingley meets three Austen men in Bath: Sir Walter Elliot (Persuasion), Tom Bertram (Mansfield Park), and Frederick Tilney (Northanger Abbey). Two of these men are current or future baronets and all three have very wealthy estates. Is it reasonable for a lady like Caroline to think that men of this level of wealth and rank would marry her? If we set aside whether Darcy likes Caroline or not, did she have a chance with him in Pride & Prejudice? I will explore these questions using evidence from Jane Austen’s works. 

BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY - AUSTEN UNIVERSITY MYSTERIES: WHAT HAPPENED ON BOX HILL?

 

Thank you so much for having me, Maria Grazia!  Hello to all the readers of My Jane Austen Book Club! I have been loving getting to be a part of so many wonderful Jane Austen book review blogs and getting to meet fellow Austen fans. Feel free to say hi in the comments, and make sure to look out for the giveaway below!          

Elizabeth Gilliland

MY DEAREST MISS FAIRFAX, WHAT JANE AUSTEN'S EMMA DID NOT KNOW

Hello, Maria Grazia and lovely readers!

While I was innocently chatting away with people on Goodreads about Jane Austen related topics, a stray comment about Emma turned into a conversation, which turned into an idea…which eventually turned itself into my newest novel, My Dearest Miss Fairfax!

 Now I'm ready and more than willing to answer your questions!

Jeanette Watts

VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR : HER COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, THE TIMELESS GEORGIAN COLLECTION (BOOK 1)

Her Country Gentleman is the first book in the Timeless Georgian Collection, a new anthology series from Mirror Press. The book features three novellas from bestselling historical romance authors whose stories reveal that not all love is found in London.

KATHERINE COWLEY, THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A LONDON SPY - Q/A POST, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY

 

What is the book about?

The True Confessions of a London Spy is about Mary Bennet solving a murder mystery in London. A messenger for Parliament has been found dead, and there are fears that it is part of a greater plot against the government…

BLOG TOUR - STEPHANIE BARRON, JANE AND THE YEAR WITHOUT A SUMMER

 

“…a page-turning story, imbued with fascinating historical detail, a cast of beautifully realized characters, a pitch-perfect Jane Austen, and an intriguing mystery. Highly recommended.”—

Syrie James, bestselling author of The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen

Hello and welcome to an incredible new blog tour, which I'm honoured to be part of! Stephanie Barron is the best-selling author of a fantastic series of Jane Austen mysteries, and these days her  Jane and the Year Without a Summer (Book 14) is out!  We have an exclusive excerpt to read and discuss here at My Jane Austen Book Club. Aren't you eager to scroll down and discover more?  Looking forward to your comments!  

THREAD OF MAGIC BOOK TOUR: INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR MONICA FAIRVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Hello and welcome back to My Jane Austen Book Club, Monica! And we are very glad to welcome back our favourite Austen-inspired mage, your Mr Darcy, of course.

Thank you, Maria. It is such a pleasure to visit your blog again. Answering your interview questions has become a familiar ritual that I look forward to when I have a new book. I hope my readers enjoy these interviews as much as I do.

CAPTIVE HEARTS BLOG TOUR: EXCERPTS & GIVEAWAY

Hello and welcome to Captive Hearts Blog Tour! If you love Jane Austen's Persuasion you can't miss reading Kelly Miller's new book, but  first, scroll down,  discover more and read an excerpt!  MG

CAPTIVE HEARTS

Will Captain Wentworth realize too late that he has a second chance at love?

With a successful naval career and a fortune to his name, Frederick Wentworth receives a hero’s welcome from his sister’s neighbours.

 One person, though, presents a source of vexation. Years earlier, Miss Anne Elliot had reneged on her promise to marry Wentworth, revealing a significant character flaw. Yet Anne’s unmarried state at the age of seven and twenty, her altered demeanour, and her resolute avoidance of Wentworth raise questions that gnaw at his composure.

BLOG TOUR, A PROMISE OF FOREVER BY CHRISTINE COMBE

 

Thank you for having me, Maria Grazia — I am so very happy to be stopping by today.

 

Greetings fellow Austenians, and welcome to the first day of my blog tour! I am very excited to be visiting My Jane Austen Book Club once again to talk about a new book. Available on Amazon starting today is A Promise of Forever, my second standalone Austen variation. This book is the fourth JAFF novel I’ve published since I began in the genre in 2018, and I really hope you’ll like it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.