Celebrate July with Must-Read Sales!!

Whether you are celebrating Canada Day, the 4^th of July, National Fried Chicken Day (mmm!), Bastille Day, Cow Appreciation Day — my personal favorite, or any other special day this month, why not celebrate with a book?

Several authors are having e-book sales this month. Now’s your chance to get one of these wonderful novels by some of your favorite authors!

Three Graces by Victoria Connelly is currently £1.49 for you Kindle owners in the UK!

Carys Miller doesn’t believe in the aristocracy nor does she believe in the supernatural. So, when she finds herself married to Richard Bretton, 12th Duke of Cuthland, and living in his haunted house, she wonders if she’s going mad.

As the new mistress of Amberley Court, Carys discovers she’s now in charge of a house the size of a small village. And, as if that isn’t enough to be getting on with, she finds herself in the most unpopular of roles: a stepmother to young Cecily and Evie. 

Carys desperately needs help but she doesn’t expect it to come from an eighteenth-century duchess who simply refuses to leave Amberley.

Three Graces is a romantic fantasy about mothers, daughters, lovers and ghosts, and how the past always manages to find its way into the present.

Abigail Reynolds's novel Mr. Darcy's Refuge is on sale on Amazon for ONLY $0.99 US and £0.73 UK!! Get this while the sale lasts!! 

It is a proverbial dark and stormy night when Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth Bennet in the most insulting manner. Just as she begins her famous refusal, a crack of thunder presages the pounding at the door as the residents of the flooded village of Hunsford seek refuge from the storm at the parsonage atop the hill. Even worse, the flood has washed out the only bridge leading to Rosings Park, leaving Darcy stranded with Elizabeth at the parsonage. The river isn’t the only thing that overflows in Hunsford when Darcy and Elizabeth are forced to work together to deal with the crisis under the worst possible circumstances. And it may already be too late to redeem Elizabeth’s reputation….

In this Pride & Prejudice variation, the lane dividing the Hunsford parsonage from Rosings Park has been replaced by one of the flood-prone Kentish rivers. The storms are real – the spring of 1811 was remarkable for numerous thunderstorms in Southeast England.

Bewitched, Body and Soul by P O Dixon is currently ONLY $0.99 US and £0.77 UK!! Want to discover what happens if Elizabeth Bennet goes to London in Jane's stead? Pick this up today! :)

Kindle,  Kindle UK,  Nook 

Determined to discover the reason for Bingley's hasty departure from Netherfield, Elizabeth goes to town in Jane's stead. Her initial scheme having been thwarted and with nowhere else to go, she turns to one who is sure to put her in Bingley's path--Mr. Darcy.

Darcy realizes it will take more than time and distance to erase the memory of the beguiling country miss. When she arrives unescorted on his doorstep, will he help her? Or will he soon discover he is in grave danger of falling as much in love with her as ever before?

And what of his best friend's younger sister who has long had Darcy in her sights? Will Darcy pursue the young lady who meets Society's expectations of just what the next mistress of Pemberley ought to be or will he follow his heart? 

Jennifer Becton's Charlotte Collins: A Continuation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is on sale for the bargain price of $0.99 (£0.73)!!. If you enjoy learning more about Austen's minor characters, then Becton's Parsonages of Pride and Prejudice Collection is a MUST READ! 

Kindle, Nook, Kindle UK

When Charlotte Lucas married Mr. Collins in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, she believed herself to be fortunate indeed. Her nuptials gained her a comfortable home and financial security. If she acquired these things at the expense of true love, it did not matter one whit. To Charlotte, love in marriage was nothing more than a pleasant coincidence.

As the years of her marriage dragged by, Charlotte began to question her idea of love as she suffered continual embarrassment at her husband’s simpering and fawning manners. When Mr. Collins dies, finally relieving everyone of his tedious conversation, she must work feverishly to secure her income and home. She gives no further thought to the possibility of love until her flighty sister Maria begs her to act as her chaperone in place of their ailing parents. Hoping to prevent Maria from also entering an unhappy union, Charlotte agrees, and they are quickly thrust into a world of country dances, dinner parties, and marriageable gentlemen.

But when an unprincipled gentleman compromises Charlotte’s reputation, her romantic thoughts disappear at the prospect of losing her independence. As she struggles to extricate herself from her slander, her situation reveals both the nature of each gentleman and of true love.

Review: Christmas with Mr. Darcy by Victoria Connelly

Spend Christmas at Purley Hall with all its splendor! 

Victoria Connelly brings her readers a delightfully entertaining holiday novella. Our favorite Austen Addicts are reunited at Purley Hall for Dame Pamela Harcourt’s first annual Christmas conference.

Sparing no expense, Dame Pamela has created an atmosphere to rival any grand house party. I couldn’t help but wish I were in attendance. Between diverting parlor games, friendly competitions and dancing, along with a surprise guaranteed to render fellow Janeites speechless, this is promising to be a Christmas to remember for many of the guests. After dinner cocktails, aptly named Fitzwilliam Fizzer and Pink Bingley, sparked much dialog amongst the ladies of the group, who added their own suggestions of Wicked Wickham and Tickling Tilney. I found myself becoming thirsty for a nice glass of punch, as the merriment in the story is contagious.

In addition to the holiday mirth, Connelly weaves in a little mystery. When her first edition of Pride and Prejudice goes missing, Dame Pamela is nonplussed. Who would have taken a most beloved novel? Surely no Janeite would commit such an act. After all, Janeites are a most amiable group, almost like family. Adding to the mystery is a list of personal belongings that have gone missing from fellow conference goers. Is the culprit Pamela’s brother Benedict, the black sheep of the family who only comes around when he needs money? He has been sizing up the cost of several items at Purley Hall. What about the new Janeite in attendance, the taciturn Jackson Moore? He does strike one as being a little peculiar.

Connelly creates an idyllic setting, laden with picturesque imagery, allowing me to experience Purley Hall’s Christmas splendor first hand: freshly fallen snow, holly, ribbon, trimmed trees, and crackling fires. The atmosphere summoned my Midwestern roots. Having always enjoyed a good snowstorm, I was reveling in the thought of being snowed in with those dear to me, just like our friends at Purley Hall.

What’s even better is that one does not need to have read the previous Austen Addicts books to enjoy this holiday tale. Having done so, may offer you a better understanding of the characters’ personalities, such as Mrs. Soames, but it does not affect the reader’s enjoyment or understanding. Connelly creates characters that readers feel they know. In the same way Austen lovers feel connected to Fitzwilliam Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Anne Elliot, and Captain Wentworth, through her marvelous characterization, that same familiarity is felt with Connelly’s beloved characters, Katherine Roberts, Warwick Lawton, Dan Harcourt, Robyn Love, Doris Noris, and, yes, even the tartar Mrs. Soames. Because Connelly also draws parallels between her characters and Austen’s, the novella was even more enjoyable as I attempted to pick out all of the Austen references and quotes.

 

Whether you are an Austen Addicts follower or newbie, if you are looking for an enjoyable and quick holiday read that will fill you with Christmas cheer, then Christmas with Mr. Darcy is just the thing. As always, Victoria Connelly has left me wanting more, particularly more of Katherine Roberts and Warwick Lawton from A Weekend with Mr. Darcy.

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Disclaimer: Review copy provided by author

Mr. Darcy Forever Vlog: Why Jane Austen?

One of the things I just love about Victoria Connelly’s Jane Austen Addicts Trilogy is how each heroine is obsessed with Jane Austen. They not only love Austen’s six novels, but she offers each of them a sort of comfort.  In A Weekend with Mr. Darcy, Katherine Roberts finds Jane Austen is the only thing keeping her sane. Needing a break from her chaotic life, Katherine sojourns to Hampshire to attend a Jane Austen Addicts conference. Oh, the solace of surrounding oneself with other Janeites. After all, people who share our love for Jane Austen are some of the kindest people.

In Dreaming of Mr. Darcy, Kay Ashton decides moving to Lyme Regis is just the thing she needs to finish her book, The Illustrated Darcy. What better inspiration for painting the seafront and Cobb than being there? It is here Kay turns to Northanger Abby and Persuasion for comfort and discernment.

Last, but surely not least, are Sara and Mia Castle from Mr. Darcy Forever, who are more like Elinor and Marianne Dashwood.  Knowing this about themselves, the sisters are able to use Austen’s characters to help them through some difficult times. It is on their annual trip to the Jane Austen Festival in Bath that they realize the healing powers of Bath.

Listen in on Sara Castle’s thoughts on why Jane Austen is still so popular and what Austen means to her.

Just like Sara, I love how timeless Austen's characters are. Sometimes when I am out shopping or at the park with my children, I like to observe people (or even my friends and family members) and find various traits in them that Austen's characters hold.

I love Austen's humor.  Her wit, irony, and the way she pokes fun at society keep me entertained. I enjoy watching Elizabeth Bennet, Catherine Morland, and Anne Elliot grow and find courage, reminding me there is always room for change.

Why do you like Jane Austen? What kind of comforts has Jane Austen provided you?

Review: Mr. Darcy Forever by Victoria Connelly

From the Publisher:

Sisters are forever...

Sarah and Mia Castle are closer than best friends and share just about everything, including a deep and abiding love for all things relating to Jane Austen. Their annual trip to the Jane Austen Festival in Bath is a highlight of their lives—until the year they discover that no matter how close two sisters may be, it's impossible to share one man between them. Even ifhe does seem like their own perfect Mr. Darcy, if one wins him, won' t both of them lose?

Planning a staycation this summer? Whether you are a Janeite, travel enthusiast, or romantic, Victoria Connelly offers a stress-free, cost-free, delightful getaway. Through her trilogy, Connelly takes readers to Hampshire in A Weekend with Mr. Darcy, Lyme Regis in Dreaming of Mr. Darcy and Bath in Mr. Darcy Forever.  Jane Austen Addicts Trilogy is the perfect summer read, allowing readers to escape reality and voyage to the beautiful sights of England and experience flirty romance first hand.

In the pages of Connelly’s novel, you will visit the Royal Crescent, Pump Room, Pultney Bridge, the Circus, and spend a week in Devon at Barton Cottage. It was here I could see the myriad of colors the scenery offered: pink and red campions, bluebells and lush green fields. I watched women in Regency dresses, adorned with bonnets and reticules, and men in tight breeches promenade through the Royal Crescent. It was as if I was a passerby, observing the elegantly dressed people and seeing firsthand the beautiful stonework and history of Bath. It’s these breathtaking sights that make each book memorable.

Similar to the other two books in the trilogy, in Mr. Darcy Forever, we are given two romances for the price of one! Sisters, Sara and Mia Castle, normally attend the Jane Austen Festival in Bath together each year. However, after a falling out, the two have not spoken nor attended the festival for three years. Throughout the story, the reader is taken back in time to Sara and Mia’s holiday at Barton Cottage and slowly given the sordid details behind their row. The transitions between present day Bath and the Barton Cottage flashbacks flow smoothly. I could not put down the book because I had to know what kind of guy could come between these best friends.

Coming face to face with their pain, each sister finds the healing power in talking about the past three years. Having opened up about their private struggles, there is an immediate bond formed between each sister and her new beau. Could these guys be the Mr. Darcys Sarah and Mia have been searching for? While their relationships do move rather fast, it did not bother me because they connected on such an emotional level already. And hey, any guy willing to enter a Mr. Darcy wet t-shirt competition must be a keeper, right?

I loved how many characters from A Weekend with Mr. Darcy and Dreaming of Mr. Darcy make cameos. It was like bumping into old friends. This was such fun trilogy; I cannot believe it is over. I really enjoyed my sojourns to Hampshire, Lyme Regis and Bath.

Those who find yourselves as sad as I am that the trilogy is over, put away your hankies, for Ms. Connelly is planning a novella sequel for Kindle called Christmas with Mr. Darcy, which will unite the main characters from each trilogy as they attend a special conference at Purley Hall in Hampshire.

*Stop by Thursday to watch my vlog for Mr. Darcy Forever!*

Mr. Darcy Forever
Available on Amazon
Available on Barnes and Noble
Available on Sourcebooks

Victoria Connelly's website: http://victoriaconnelly.com/
Twitter: @VictoriaDarcy
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