My Love for Jane Austen

The Austenesque book scout is delighted to present some wonderful news about giveaways for this week. Austenprose has posted an excerpt of Professor Claudia Johnson's upcoming release of Jane Austen's Cults and Cultures with a giveaway of three copies of the book. This contest is open to US residents only where interested parties need to leave a commen t mentioning why you are a member of Jane Austen's cult . The deadline to enter falls on next Wednesday, 23 May 2012 at 11.59 pm PT . Indie Jane 's Nancy Kelley has written a short review on Intimations of Austen by Jane Greensmith. Ms Greensmith has kindly donated two copies of her anthology of short stories to one reader from US or Canada and another to an international participant. All you have to do is leave a comment by 11.59 PST of next Monday, 21 May 2012 . Extra entries are also provided so take this opportunity to enter now. For this week, it is Kim Izzo's turn as the guest author at My J...

Rating: ★★★★★/★★★★★ Persuasion has always been my favourite among Jane Austen masterpiece. It is without hesitation that I selected A Modern Day Persuasion for my next read in my spare time. Penned by Kaitlin Saunders, this timeless tale of second chances and true love translates well to contemporary times with all major plotlines intact and the main characters receive little makeover to suit our twenty-first century taste. The setting of this novel takes readers across the Atlantic ocean to the western states in America which for me is a pleasure to explore another continent that I have physically never step foot before. Although the story is set in the present time, we get a glimpse of Anne Elliot's past through flashbacks of her mother when she was still alive before passing away due to cancer when she was only fourteen years old right to her first throes of romance three years on and the impact on her life. She met the love of her life when her eldest sister Elizabeth p...

A new novel called Wentworth Hall has just been released early this month. Inspired by the award-winning ITV and PBS television drama series Downton Abbey , this young adult fiction is a sure hit among fans of the series who cannot wait to view the third series which will air this fall in UK and early next year in US. Since this is a debut novel by Abby Grahame, featured guest posts by the author and reviews from prominent bloggers are posted on numerous blogs. US readers might even get the chance to read Wentworth Hall for free with hardcover copies generously sponsored by her publisher Simon & Schuster. Generally you have to leave a comment before the deadline approaches. The following are sites you can visit: April 23rd: Book Giveaway for Wentworth Hall, by Abby Grahame @ Jane Austen Today 23rd: Giveaway: Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame @ Edwardian Promenade 23rd: Wentworth Hall prize pack! @ TeenSpot.com 24th: Giveaway: Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame @ Book...

The Austenesque book scout has some good news on Jane Austen fan-fiction which she would like to impart to her dear readers. Fans of Mary Lydon Simonsen should take note that Becoming Elizabeth Darcy in e-book format is available to download for a special price of US$2.99 (usual price US$5.99) in celebration of Mother's Day and the beginning of summer season. The promotion runs throughout May on Amazon and Barnes & Noble . As Monday, 7 May 2012 is the bank holiday in UK, Karen Aminadra is offering a free Kindle copy of her book, Charlotte , on Amazon UK . So don't miss this opportunity and remember to download her book. Not to be left out, Wytherngate Press is holding a special Mother's Day promotion for the whole month of May on both the print and electronic editions of Laura Hile's Mercy's Embrace series and Frederick Wentworth, Captain series by Susan Kaye. The paperback format is available for purchase only at Wytherngate Press and cost...

The Austenesque scout has great news to share regarding book giveaways which may interest her readers. Laura Hile is the featured guest author at My Jane Austen Book Club where her own creation, Admiral Patrick McGillvary, in her Mercy's Embrace series is dispensing courtship advice to Mr Darcy from Pride and Prejudice . Read her fun post and leave a comment there by next Tuesday, 15 May 2012 to enter the giveaway for two copies of her first book in the series titled So Rough a Course . One copy is reserved for US participants while the other copy is open to international readers. Jakki Leatherberry has reviewed Cecilia Gray's Fall For You , the first in A Jane Austen Academy series, on Indie Jane . Two e-books are up for grabs for all readers. There are several ways to enter which you can learn from this post but leave a comment for every method you have completed. The giveaway ends next Monday, 14 May 2012 at 11.59 PST . Angela of Addicted to Jane Auste...

Welcome to another weekly edition of Austen-themed books giveaways presented by the Austenesque book scout. P O Dixon's He Taught Me to Hope: Darcy and the Young Knight's Quest is the subject of Meredith's review at her blog, Austenesque Reviews . There are two copies of the book donated by the author whereby one paperback copy is limited to US residents while an e-book version is open worldwide . All you have to do is leave a comment here by next Tuesday, 8 May 2012 . Meanwhile Jakki has reviewed another of P O Dixon's novel centred on Mr Darcy, the famous hero from Pride and Prejudice , on Leatherbound Reviews . Read her take Still a Young Man: Darcy is in Love and enter for the opportunity to win either a paperback copy of the book if you are staying in US or an e-book format for international participants. The simplest way is to leave a comment with your email address on the review but there are several ways to increase your chances of winning. T...

After the release of Elizabeth Kantor's The Jane Austen Guide to Happily Ever After , another author who is following suit in publishing a Jane Austen guidebook is Lori Smith. Her second Austen non-fiction book, The Jane Austen Guide to Life was officially available yesterday. If you have always wish to be a Jane Austen heroine but don't think her advice is relevant for today's complicated modern world entanglements, then I think this book is for you. Just as in the case of Elizabeth Kantor, Lori is virtually touring selected Austenesque blogs in conjunction with the release. Do drop by on her visits for you have the chance to win a free copy of The Jane Austen Guide to Life courtesy of her publisher when you leave your comments there. However please note the terms and conditions first since the giveaway is most likely open to US residents. The following is the schedule of Lori's blog tour: 1st May: The Jane Austen Guide to Life blog tour with author Lori S...

The Austenesque book scout is pleased to present good news regarding book giveaways for this week. Meredith has interviewed Linda Berdoll at her blog, Austenesque Reviews . Read the interview transcript , leave a comment mentioning what intrigues you about Linda's novel and be on your way to win one of two copies of The Ruling Passion . This fantastic giveaway closes next Monday, 30 April 2012 . Indie Jane 's Jessica has written a good review on P O Dixon's Pride and Prejudice variation, He Taught Me to Hope . There are two copies available to Indie Jane readers, one of which is in paperback copy and open to US residents while the other is open to all who would be playing for the e-book version. As usual, there are several methods that you can choose in order to participate in the giveaway which is open until 11.59 PST on next Monday, 30 April 2012 . Austenprose is hosting a competition to win a copy of Penguin Classics Hardcover edition of Persuasion an...

It is now time to reveal the winner of my second Austenesque giveaway for a paperback copy of Jane Austen Made Me Do It edited by Laurel Ann Nattress, blogger mistress of Austenprose . Since only one person is interested and left a comment on my post, GranJan wins by default. A heartiest congratulations to you, GranJan. GranJan, please contact me with your shipping address within a week . Otherwise, I will host the prize at a later giveaway. Do keep an eye on my next giveaway soon.

Rating: ★★★★★/★★★★★ I believe I have mentioned before that I work in a bookstore but not as a bookseller. I came across Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops as it was the promotional title and comes highly recommended by my colleagues. As someone who help serve customers sometimes when I was at the counter, it certainly piqued my interest to learn these strange and amazing comments and requests encountered by booksellers worldwide. This book, compiled by Jen Campbell, is a collection of humourous stories told in dialogue format and divided into three main sections. The two main sections feature anecdotes from a Scottish independent bookstore called Edinburgh Bookshop and Ripping Yarns, an antiquarian bookshop located in London. The last section comprises of tales in ten pages long from other bookshops in UK and around the world such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, US and Germany. Included are illustrations drawn by the Brothers McLeod which add to the hilarious and ...

The Austenesque scout would like to share with her reader another weekly round-up of Austenite contests which you can enter. Jennifer Petkus dropped by at My Jane Austen Book Club to talk about the inspiration behind her latest novel, My Particular Friend . Read her post and then leave a comment with your email address by next Monday, 23 April 2012 to be in the running to win her novel. There are one paperback copy and two e-book copies which you can choose from since this giveaway is open to all . Vera Nazarian is the featured author for this month at Dark Jane Austen Book Club . Read her post where she talks about her novel, Northanger Abbey and Angels and Dragons and leave a comment to win a signed, specially artistically "doodled" and gold seal embossed copy . Additional entries are also taken into account so hurry and find out before the giveaway closes next Monday, 23 April 2012 . Here is something for Italian readers. Maria Grazia has invited her fell...