My Love for Jane Austen

Rating: ★★★★★/★★★★★ As readers of this blog, I'm sure you are familiar that most of the time I would begin my review by mentioning how I came across this gem in my search for good Austenesque novels to read. This is no different compared to previous reviews. You may also know that I have been a long time fan of any Jane Austen-themed novels and would not hesitate to pick it up and put it on my list for books that I am going to read. Although it was available at my bookstore last year, I am only able to read it now. Barbara Cornthwaite, the author of this novel is a member of Crownhill Writers Guild , an independent publishing house specialising in Jane Austen retellings. With the likes of Pamela Aidan ( Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman ), Susan Kaye ( Frederick Wentworth, Captain ) and Laura Hile ( Mercy's Embrace ) which write some of the best Austen-themed novels, George Knightley, Esquire lives up to my expectation of a classic masterpiece worthy of Emma in which it is bas...

The Austenesque scout is glad to tell her readers about two giveaway that was posted this week. Stephanie's Written Word is hosting a giveaway as part of TLC book blog tour . You could win a paperback copy of The Postmistress by Sarah Blake when you leave a comment with your valid email address here . This contest is open to US and Canadian residents and ends next Thursday, 7 April 2011 at 12 noon . The winner will be randomly selected and notified through email. Book review can be read at this post before you decide to enter this contest. Lastly, there is a fabulous giveaway on Facebook organised by Teresa Thomas Bohannon, Regency Romance Author where she hopes to bring authors and readers together. Go to Books are Beautiful Giveaway to read and agree to the rules first before entering the giveaways. There are 16 books on offer so far and generally you must click on each picture of the prize that you would like to win, fill in the entry form and ' like ...

Today is a very big day for debut author, Cindy Jones because it is publication day for her first novel, My Jane Austen Summer: A Season in Mansfield Park . It tells of Lily Berry, who lost her job when her boss caught her reading Northanger Abbey , a novel by Jane Austen. Her friend invited her to spend the summer at a Jane Austen literary festival in England and there embarks on a adventure that she'll never forgets. Cindy will be celebrating this special day by having four blog tours. There will also be giveaways when you leave a comment at each blog. The prizes are an autographed copy of her novel and a package of Lily Berry's Pink Rose Tea which is created and sold by Bingley's Teas, Ltd. Please refer to the following blogs and read the rules carefully as one of them specifically states that it is only open to US and Canadian residents . 1) An Interview with Lily Berry, Protagonist of My Jane Austen Summer @ Austen Authors 2) Launch Day: Here We Go! @ Fir...

The Austenesque scout is delighted to tell her readers of five giveaways that you may be interested. Margaret C. Sullivan, the author of The Jane Austen Handbook: Proper Life Skills for Regency England and Editrix of AustenBlog is featured as a guest blog on Austenprose . There is a giveaway for three copies of her etiquette book for Regency times at the end of the post . To win, leave your comment stating which proper Regency life skills you think one of Jane Austen's erring characters might have benefited from or guess what the C. in Margaret's name stands for. Please note that contest is open to US and Canadian residents only and it ends at midnight PT on Wednesday, 30 March 2011 . Winners will be announced the next day. Jane Austen Today managed by Vic Sanborn, is also having a giveaway of the same prize as above. Just leave a comment here with your question about Regency era or Jane Austen's life to win a copy of the delightful reference guide. Contest...

The Austenesque scout is pleased to inform her readers about three giveaways for this week. Meredith, blogger mistress of Austenesque Reviews is hosting a book giveaway for two new copies of The Jane Austen Handbook: Proper Life Skills from Regency England donated by the publisher, Quirk Books. This Regency etiquette book is actually a re-release of the same contents but with a different cover and was first published in 2007. If you are interested to win, just leave a comment and your email address here . You can also read her review and get more information on how to earn additional entries here . The bad news is this contest is open to US residents only and ends next Wednesday, 23 March 2011 . The second giveaway on offer is Georgette Heyer's novel, Cotillion . This contest is organised by Meredith at her blog and is open to all international readers . To enter, leave a comment here suggesting which Georgette Heyer novel she should read next . For those who have never...

Rating: ★★★★★/★★★★★ Thanks to Meredith of Austenesque Reviews for highlighting this Austenesque novel at her blog post , I came to know of this young adult novel with a very pretty and cute cover. I'm sure by now you know that I am easily swayed to read any stories that is somehow connected to Jane Austen's novels or her life whether it is modern adaptation, contemporary fiction, sequels, prequels, retellings or variations. So this is no different from my type of books that I usually peruse although it is categorised under Teens section in the bookstore. The premise of the story is interesting and reminds me of a time when I enjoyed Enid Blyton's boarding school tales in the Malory Towers and St. Clare's series. In this novel, Elizabeth Bennet, a native of Hoboken in New Jersey, is a talented pianist who has earned a music scholarship to study at the exclusive Connecticut all-girls boarding school called Longbourn Academy. Longbourn Academy is filled with wealt...

The Austenesque scout is happy to tell her readers about a giveaway for this week. Raquel Sallaberry, co-blogger of Jane Austen Today is celebrating one year of contributing posts and articles on Jane Austen and her novels. To win this lovely handmade Sense & Sensibility notebook , just comment at this post . This giveaway is open to all international readers except Brazil and ends on Monday, 21 March 2011 . Best of luck!

Rating: ★★★★/★★★★★ Initially I was drawn to read this novel because of the beautiful illustration on the front cover painted by Jane Odiwe, one of my favourite Austenesque novelist. For anyone who has read Pride and Prejudice , they will recognise that the title of this book refers to Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley who are both secondary characters in Jane Austen's best loved oeuvre. This novel can be classified as a retelling based on events in Austen's original tale of mistaken presumptions, class prejudices and moral upbringing but with expanded and added scenes to move the story along. Pride and Prejudice is basically a story told from Elizabeth Bennet's point-of-view. That is why I find this book refreshing because I would love to know Jane and Mr Bingley's thoughts and reaction during their lengthy separation from each other until they meet again nearly a year later. This is also the perfect opportunity to compare the similarities and differences between th...

Today is a special day for Kara Louise as her second novel for Sourcebooks titled Only Mr. Darcy Will Do will be released. Previously self-published as Something Like Regret , this is a Pride and Prejudice variation which begins after Mr. Darcy's disastrous first proposal to Elizabeth Bennet at Hunsford. The story diverged from there onwards and tells about the Bennet family reduced circumstances after the sudden death of Mr. Bennet. As with other authors of Austen-inspired novels, Kara is doing a virtual blog tour to promote her latest novel. Her publisher, Sourcebooks will be sponsoring a few copies of her novel when she visits the blogs stated below. Take note that most giveaways are only for US and Canadian readers. Read the rules first to know whether you qualify to enter or not. Kara Louise's blog tour information (quoted from her blog ): February 28th: Only Mr. Darcy Will Do @ Delightful Diversions from the heart... March 1st: Celebrating My 2nd Book!...

The Austenesque scout is delighted to let her readers know about four giveaways for this week. Alexa Adams at her blog, First Impressions is offering her readers an opportunity to own a free copy of Jane's Fame: How Jane Austen Conquered the World by Claire Harman . Simply leave a comment here with your email address to qualify. Contest deadline is on Wednesday, 16 March 2011 . To earn an extra entry , state in your comment why you think Austen's novels have such a broad and lasting appeal . Over at Austenesque Reviews , Meredith Esparza is hosting a giveaway of a brand new copy of the same book as the above. For a chance to win this book, leave a comment with your email address here . There are also additional ways to increase your chances of winning. Read it here . Sad to say that this giveaway is available only for US residents . Contest ends next Wednesday, 9 March 2011 . Maria Grazia is interviewing Austenesque writer, Susan Kaye at My Jane Austen Book C...