AUTHOR GUEST POST: JAYNE BAMBER, THE GUARDIAN GAMBIT

 

Hello, Readers! I am delighted to share my new release, The Guardian Gambit, a mash-up of Pride & Prejudice + Emma that is inspired by The Parent Trap – it’s a wild ride!

The story begins with Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Fairfax discovering they are identical twins when they meet for the first time just before their 21^st birthday. With the encouragement of their intrigue-loving aunt – Mr. Gardiner’s widow, now known as Lady Gresham – the twins exchange places and scheme to reunite their parents, Elizabeth’s “guardian” Mr. Bennet and Jane’s “aunt” Miss Bates.

BECOMING MRS. DARCY: AN INTERVIEW WITH J. B. GRANTHAM

 

Check it out at Amazon

This autumn brings an exciting new addition to the world of Jane Austen-inspired fiction. On Michaelmas, 29 September 2025, J.B. Grantham will publish Becoming Mrs. Darcy: Elizabeth’s Chronicles (Volume I) — the first installment in a thoughtful and heartfelt sequel to Pride and Prejudice. To mark the occasion, we are delighted to share an interview, in which she discusses the inspirations behind her new book, the challenges of writing in Austen’s voice and what readers can expect from Mrs. Darcy’s story.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE COMES TO LIFE IN A NEW AUDIBLE ORIGINAL

 

 Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice has charmed readers for over 200 years — but now, for the very first time, it arrives as an Audible Original audiobook with a star-studded cast.  

The English edition has just been released worldwide, with versions in Castilian Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Brazilian Portuguese on the way — proof that Austen’s wit and romance continue to speak across languages and cultures.

RETHINKING MR DARCY: IS HE REALLY THE ROMANTIC HERO WE LOVE?

 

Sebastian Faulks, in an essay marking Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary, offers a provocative re-reading of Pride and Prejudice — one that may challenge even the most ardent Mr Darcy admirers.

Faulks paints Darcy in stark terms: “mostly miserable” and, at times, “unforgivably cruel.” While modern adaptations have polished him into a brooding heartthrob, Austen’s own text is far more complicated. Faulks argues that Darcy is arrogant, socially tone-deaf, and even manipulative — especially in his treatment of Jane and Bingley. His famed proposal to Elizabeth, which many read as romantic tension, is framed by Faulks as a shocking display of class-conscious cruelty.

AUSTEN & THE ART OF THE SELF: IS ELIZABETH BENNET A MODEL OF SELF-LOVE?

This is the second in our ongoing series: “Austen & the Art of Self” – Exploring the self-help wisdom hidden in Jane Austen’s heroines. Read our previous post: Is Emma Woodhouse a Model of Self-Love?

Elizabeth as a Model of Self-Love

Of all Jane Austen’s heroines, Elizabeth Bennet may be the most beloved—and with good reason. Spirited, witty, and fiercely independent, Lizzy walks through Pride and Prejudice with a confidence that feels strikingly modern. She refuses to marry for convenience, she values integrity over wealth, and she’s unafraid to speak her mind, even to a man like Mr. Darcy. But beneath her quick tongue and clever observations lies something deeper: a strong and evolving sense of self-worth.

BARRY S. RICHMAN ON HIS LATEST RELEASE, FOLLOW THE DRUM, A UNIQUE P&P RETELLING

 

Today on My Jane Austen Book Club, I’m excited to welcome Barry S Richman, author of the newly released Follow the Drum—a bold and unique retelling of Pride & Prejudice set against the backdrop of military life. This variation brings Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy into a world shaped by duty, honor, and the realities of war, offering readers a fresh perspective on a beloved classic.

SUDDEN AWAKENING BOOK TOUR: INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR AMANDA KAI & GIVEAWAY

 

Interview with Amanda Kai

Hello Amanda and welcome back to My Jane Austen Book Club. Congratulation on your new release, Sudden Awakenings. It brings a fresh twist to Pride and Prejudice by introducing Elizabeth Bennet's struggle with sleepwalking. What inspired you to incorporate this unique aspect into her character, and how do you think it influences her relationship with Mr. Darcy?

Well, originally, I planned to write a compromise scenario based on the scene from the end of the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie, where Elizabeth walks out into the field in her nightgown and Mr. Darcy meets her there in a state of half-dress and they are witnessed by some gossipping neighbor.

However, I struggled to conceive a realistic reason for why these otherwise upstanding people would suffer from such a gross lack of propriety (even in the movie, it is a stretch, but I forgive it, just because I love it so darn much!)

BOOK TOUR - TALKING ABOUT MR BINGLEY JUST AS A GENTLEMAN OUGHT TO BE WITH AUTHOR BRANDON DRAGAN

 

ABOUT THE BOOK 

For centuries Jane Austen's classic novel, Pride & Prejudice, has been dearly loved the world over. However, few people know the truth about Mr. Darcy's closest friend, the affable Mr. Bingley–who is much more than he appears on first impression. 

Mr. Bingley: Just as a Gentleman Ought to Be is the previously untold story of a young man who unwittingly uncovers an evil cabal among the British Empire's aristocracy. Bingley confronts an enterprise so nefarious that he cannot help but act to redress it, even if it costs him his own reputation and the love of his life, the angelic Miss Jane Bennet.

BRIGID HUEY, LEARNING TO LOVE: A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND LITTLE WOMEN CROSSOVER!

 

Thank you for having me at My Jane Austen Book Club! I am so happy to be here to share my upcoming novel. Learning to Love is a Pride and Prejudice and Little Women crossover! In it, Amy and Laurie keep up a lively correspondence and grow closer through their letters.

We all know how digitized our world has become. I’m always texting, emailing, scrolling. As a writer, I used to write all my stories in notebooks. But I transitioned my writing from pen and paper to my laptop a few years ago. It’s more efficient (no more typing out what I’ve written) and I can type faster than I can write by hand.

AUTHOR GUEST POST & EXCERPT: JAYNE BAMBER, A QUICK SUCCESSION OF BUSY NOTHINGS

 

Today, we are thrilled to host author Jayne Bamber as our esteemed guest blogger. Jayne is here to present her latest release, a delightful fusion where the worlds of Pride & Prejudice and Mansfield Park collide. In her new work, titled A Quick Succession of Busy Nothings the Bertrams and Crawfords find themselves entangled in the bustling village of Meryton. The Bertram family faces upheaval, while the Crawfords seek new adventures. Amidst the backdrop of matchmaking schemes and societal intrigue, Jayne weaves a narrative that promises to enthrall readers of Austen-inspired fiction.We're privileged to offer you an exclusive excerpt from the book, so scroll down as Jayne Bamber shares a glimpse into her intriguing new story. MGxx

TALKING JANE AUSTEN WITH ... AUTHOR CAROLINE MALCOM-BOULTON!

 

A Unique Crossover

Caroline Malcom-Boulton is the author of The Three Witches of Milton,  a unique crossover novella which unites and explores elements from three of my absolute best favourite classic novels:  Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.

 Playing with quotes from these three inspirational novels and their iconic screenplays, Caroline Malcom-Boulton blends the English classics together, infusing them with an original plot, all so that we might explore the intriguing relationship of similarities between their characters and themes.

I invited  lovely Caroline to join me at My Jane Austen Book Club to talk Jane Austen and also to tell us more about her new release. 

HERE’S MY INTERVIEW

NO LESS THAN ANY OTHER BY MJ STRATTON: EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY.

 

Dear readers,

It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you a brand new Pride and Prejudice variation, "No Less Than Any Other," authored by MJ Stratton. This delightful novel presents an intriguing twist on the classic tale we all know and love. Are you ready to scroll down and discover more?

WITHOUT AFFECTION: INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR CAROLINE CARTIER & GIVEAWAY

Today, here at My Jane Austen Book Club,  we have a new guest,  Caroline Cartier, author of a brand new Pride and Prejudice Variation, “Without Affection.” Welcome, Caroline and thanks for finding the time to answer our questions.  Could you start by telling us a bit about yourself and your journey into the world of writing?

 Hi Maria! Thank you so much for letting me stop by your lovely blog! Let me see, what can I tell you about myself. I’m 43 and married with one daughter. I used to be a surgical coordinator, but I injured my spine during the pandemic and now I write books. 

MR DARCY'S BOOKSHOP, A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE VARIATION BY SUMMER HANFORD. INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY

Today, here at My Jane Austen Book Club, we have the pleaatting with Summer Hanford, the brilliant mind behind the new Pride and Prejudice Variation, Mr. Darcy's Bookshop. Welcome, Summer! Could you start by telling us what inspired you to explore the idea of Fitzwilliam Darcy as a bookseller?sure of ch

Hi Maria Grazia! First, thank you so much for hosting me today. I’m very excited to be here at My Jane Austen Book Club. Thank you for putting together such a nice gathering place for the Austenesque community.

BLOG TOUR - THE SCANDALOUS CONFESSIONS OF LYDIA BENNET, WITCH

Welcome to My Jane Austen Book Club! Today, we embark on a bewitching literary journey that merges the timeless atmosphere of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice with the enchanting world of magic. Get ready to uncover the secrets and confessions of the Bennet family like you've never seen before as we dive into The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch. Join us as we explore this wildly inventive and utterly addictive reimagining, and don't miss our exclusive interview with author, Melinda Taub, where we delve into the magic behind the pages.

NEW RELEASE: A FAR BETTER PROSPECT. TALKING JANE AUSTEN WITH AUTHOR M.J. STRATTON.

 

 

What is the book about?

Louisa Bingley had never defied her mother in her life, until she found something she wished to fight for. In love with a man with close ties to trade, Louisa refuses to give him up when her mother demands it.

But Mrs. Bingley is not to be reckoned with and through despicable means manages to force her daughter into a much more appropriate marriage to a gentleman named Mr. Hurst.

Married to a man she does not love and finding herself in increasingly desperate circumstances, the newly wed Louisa Hurst must learn to navigate her husband's expectations and demands while still trying to hold on to the threads of herself. Through all of this she must also survive the malice of her younger sister Caroline when the responsibility for her sister is thrust most unwillingly upon her.

Convinced contentment in life is all that she can expect, Louisa finds herself quite unexpectedly released from her unwanted marriage and free to pursue her own happiness. But does she dare take the chance at allowing herself to feel again?

 Along with Jane and Lizzy and all our favorites, Louisa Hurst gets her own happy ending in this Pride and Prejudice Vagary.

 

AUTHOR GUEST POST & EXCERPT: AMANDA KAI, A FAVORABLE IMPRESSION

Hi Maria Grazia, thanks so much for having me back at My Jane Austen Book Club to help me celebrate the release of A Favorable Impression!

This is the second book in my series of Regency-era standalones, each featuring a different path to Happily Ever After for Darcy and Elizabeth. I guess you could say that each book takes place in a different “universe”, with all the same characters appearing, but with varying circumstances, which makes for a unique story in each, even though they are all patterned after Pride and Prejudice, and they all arrive at the same destination in the end. I suppose that is why we love Pride and Prejudice variations so much though, right? 

A NEW NOVEL BY JAYNE BAMBER: HANDSOME, CLEVER AND RICH

 

It’s great to be back at My Jane Austen Book Club! Today I am here to share another excerpt of my new release, Handsome, Clever, & Rich, which is now available on Kindle Unlimited.

 

This Pride & Prejudice variation is a crossover with another of my favorites, Emma, and the titular heroine plays an important role in the story. While Emma’s love story is a gradual progression, Elizabeth’s path to romance is much rockier in this story. This retelling has styled her a Bennet by marriage rather than birth, and after a youthful elopement and brief marriage, the widow of four years has sworn never to wed again… until Elizabeth is convalescing at Netherfield and a moment of passion with Mr. Darcy leads to a compromise that jeopardizes the reputation of her Bennet relations.

THE SAILOR'S REST, THE NAVAL ADVENTURE JANE AUSTEN MIGHT HAVE WRITTEN. GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY.

 

The Naval Adventure Jane Austen Might Have Written

 The Sailor’s Rest, the latest Austenesque novel by Don Jacobson, has been released worldwide on March 28, 2023. Published independently, this is the author’s twelfth variation using Austen’s Canon as a basis for the story. The book is a cross-over (not a mash-up) of Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion. For plot purposes, the novel (approx. 117,000 words) is set on the Persuasion timeline in 1815. However, the age and plot constructs from Pride and Prejudice have been maintained to establish context.

CHRISTINE COMBE, WHY I KISSED YOU. AUTHOR GUEST POST, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY

Our guest today is Christine Combe, who is back to My Jane Austen Book Club to present her latest novel, Why I Kissed You. It's her 7th JAFF novel and it's a Pride and Prejudice Variation. Scroll down and enjoy reading. ! Good luck in the giveaway, of course! MG