The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig

Title:  The Mischief of the Mistletoe

Sub Title:  A Pink Carnation Christmas

Publisher:  Penguin Group

Publication Date:  2010

Pages:  339

Source:  Purchased from Amazon

ISBN: 978052595872

 This was a wonderful book to read for Christmas!  It has so many things that I love!  It has romance, mystery, intrigue, suspense, and humor and it is all wrapped around a Christmas Pudding!  Yes, I said a Christmas Pudding.  It is a wonderful mystery that is written in the style of Jane Austen, and the mystery begins with a message found in a Christmas Pudding!  This is the first book in the Pink Carnation series that I have read, and it was wonderful.  The book  does not have to be read in any particular order, as I was able to know what was going on without having read any of the other books.  I loved the characters in this book, and even Jane Austen herself makes a few appearances. But, my favorite character is Turnip Fitzhugh.  He is handsome, smart, athletic and just seems like a perfect hero.  I will definitely be reading more of Lauren Willig's books!  I am a big Jane Austen fan and of course I have read all of her books, so I am always looking for books that are written in the same fashion as hers.  Sometimes I am disappointed, but not with Lauren Willig's stories.  In the book Jane Austen Made Me Do It,  Willig's  story was one of my most favorites and after reading this one, I suspect that she will be permanently in my favorite authors list.  I look forward to reading her other books. 

Here is a little sample of the humor that is found in this book.  "As he  clasped her right hand with his left, prancing in a circle with Danforth and Lucy Ponsonby, she smiled up at him and unselfconsciously gave a little puff of breaath to blow a stubborn lock of hair out of her eye. 

It was the most uncously seductive thing he had ever seen.  Turnip nearly lost his footing.

Of course at this point, she could  debone a kipper with a fish knife and he would find it seductive, he was that far gone."

Read more » // 1 comment

Jane Austen Made Me Do It Edited by Laurel Ann Nattress

Title:  Jane Austin Made Me Do It

Publisher:  Ballentine Books

Publication Date:  2011

Pages:  432

Source:  Ballentine Books

ISBN:  9780345524966

This wonderful book is full of stories written in Jane Austen fashion.  Each writer was asked to pair a story with their favorite Jane Austen Quote.  It is editied by my friend Laurel Ann Nattress over at Austenprose.com. Laurel Ann also wrote the introduction which is great all by itself!  This book is for all Jane Lovers! I found that as I was reading the stories, I would forget that I was not reading Jane Austen.  The stories are that good!  There are 22 original stories and each one is as good as the first.  If my saying over and over  how wonderful this book is doesn't make you want to read it, then look at some of the authors names, because  that should change your mind and give you reason to read it!  Here is a list of the wonderful authors in this book: Syrie James, Jane Odwie, Lauren Wilig, Stephanie Barron, F.J.Meir, Monica Fairview, Adriana Trigiani, Jo Beverly, Beth Patillo, Margaret Sullivan, Elizabeth Aston, Amanda Grange, Janet Mullany, Maya Slater, Myretta Robens, Diana Birchell, Alexandra Potter, Jane Rubiano and Caitlen Rubiano-Bradway, Pamela Aiden, Brenna Aubrey, Carrie Bebris, and Laurie Vierra Rigler.
Now that is an impressive list!  I cannot pick a personal favorite, but I will say that I loved how some of the stories incorporate Jane Austen in the stories and the way she interacts with her own story characters.  If you are a Jane Austen fan, you really need to read this book!  And who knows, it may even inspire you to write your own Jane Austen story!

Read more » // 4 comments

Jane in June Challenge/Hop/ Giveaway June 1 thru June 30, 2011

Thank you Book Rat for hosting this lovely Challenge!!

http://www.thebookrat.com/2011/01/jane-in-june-invitation.html

This is open Internationally as long as Book Depository will ship to you.  If in the U.S. I will have it shipped from Amazon.

I am giving away a copy of Jane Austen Made me do it by Laurel Ann Nattress.  It is not going to be published until October 11, 2011, but I will pre order it for a lucky winner and have it shipped to you the day it comes out.  You can visit Laurel Ann's blog at    She has a great Jane http://austenprose.com/ Austen blog that I think you will love.  In addition I will include a copy of Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor:  Being the first Jane Austen Mystery by Stephanie Barron.  

To enter please follow my blog and fill out the form below.  That's it! Please visit all of the other participating blogs by clicking on the link above or the picture in my side bar.



I will notify the winner on July 1, 2011!

Read more » // 4 comments