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.

GUEST AUTHOR JULIA WINTER – A DELETED SCENE FROM A VERY FINE PLACE, A NEW PRIDE AND PREJUDICE VARIATION

Today I’m delighted to welcome back Julia Winter to My Jane Austen Book Club! Julia’s new Pride and Prejudice variation, A Very Fine Place, was published on 17 October 2025 by Glass Hat Press. It’s her third variation, rich with atmosphere, family intrigue, and—of course—the promise of love.

Set partly in 1811 Calcutta and later at Pemberley, Julia’s story brings us a Darcy who must navigate inheritance, resentment, and danger in his own home—while finding unexpected understanding with Elizabeth Bennet.

MURDER, MISCHIEF AND MR. DARCY: JAYNE BAMBER’S CLWYD CASTLE

 

Hello dear readers,

We’re thrilled to welcome back Jayne Bamber to My Jane Austen Book Club! Jayne is well known for her clever and creative Austen-inspired stories, and this autumn she’s bringing us something delightfully different — a whodunnit with a Jane Austen twist!

Just in time for Spooky Season, Jayne introduces her upcoming release, Clwyd Castle, a mystery inspired by the cult classic film Clue. Expect wit, intrigue, and a gathering of familiar Austen faces — including Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, Henry Tilney, and even Lady Susan — all drawn into a darkly comic web of secrets and blackmail.

Let’s hear from Jayne herself and enjoy an exclusive excerpt from this thrilling new tale...

JAYNE BAMBER PRESENTS HER NEW PRIDE AND PREJUDICE VARIATION: KINDLY MEANT INTERFERENCE

Hello readers, it’s great to be back at My Jane Austen Book Club! I’m so excited to share another sneak peek of my new release, Kindly Meant Interference, which is coming to Kindle on June 18th. I had a blast writing this P&P variation, largely because I really have a soft spot for Caroline Bingley. 

In this retelling, she plays an integral role in Darcy and Elizabeth’s love story. After overhearing Darcy say he will never marry her on the night of the assembly, Caroline decides that the best way to continue enjoying access to Pemberley and Darcy’s social connections is to be the dearest friend of his future wife. And when Darcy admires Elizabeth’s “fine eyes” at Lucas Lodge, Caroline knows who his future bride ought to be. 

Today I am sharing an excerpt from that party at Lucas Lodge. When Caroline sees Elizabeth not as a rival but more of a project, the course of the story takes a very different course….

Jayne Bamber

WHY WE READ (OR WRITE ABOUT) JANE AUSTEN

 

Yours Truly is honoured to have been invited to share thoughts on why we continue to read and write about Jane Austen. My heartfelt thanks to Christina Boyd for featuring my piece on her website and for including me among her wonderful monthly guest contributors in this delightful series.

If you’ve ever wondered why Jane Austen has captivated me for so long—and why I’ve been blogging about her all these years—please join me over on Christina’s Quill Ink to read more.

You can read my piece HERE

JAYNE BAMBER, JUST BETWEEN US: AUTHOR GUEST POST, EXCERPT, GIVEAWAY.

 

Hello, readers! It's a treat to be back at My Jane Austen Book Club to share about my newest release. My eleventh novel, ‘Just Between Us’ is available for pre-order, and at the end of this post I’ll be sharing an excerpt from this Pride & Prejudice retelling….

 Jane Austen once said, “My characters shall have, after a little trouble, all that they desire.” I give the Bennet sisters more than just a little trouble. Kitty has a minor heartbreak when her unrequited crush marries another, while Lizzy and Darcy have a whirlwind courtship but are separated for two years, and Jane gets her man but at a very steep cost. 

DOUBLE BOOK RELEASE! AMANDA KAI, A LITTLE BIT FOOLISH & SWIPE RIGHT FOR MR DARCY

 

I’m here today celebrating a double book release! A Little Bit Foolish is a collection of Pride and Prejudice April Fool’s stories, and Swipe Right for Mr. Darcy is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice.

In 2021, I began a new tradition of releasing a new comedy story on April Fool’s Day with my  short story Unconventional, an Austentatious Comedy that Defies Expectations!   The following year, I wrote An Unexpected Party.  Last year, my plans for a short story were interrupted by the release of my full-length variation A Favorable Impression, and thus I did not complete an April Fool’s story in 2023. Therefore, this year, I decided to release a whole collection, including 3 brand-new stories!

HEATHER MOLL, MR DARCY'S VALENTINE: GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY.

HEATHER MOLL WRITES ROMANTIC VARIATIONS OF JANE AUSTEN’S CLASSIC NOVELS. SHE IS KNOWN FOR HER HISTORICAL DETAILS, UNIQUE PLOTS, AND CHARACTERS TRUE TO THE BELOVED ORIGINALS. SHE'S BACK TO MY JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB TO PRESENT HER 'MR DARCY'S VALENTINE'. LET'S WELCOME HER BACK! M.G. 

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.)