Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Title: Austen at Sea

Author:  Natalie Jenner

Narrated by:  Rupert Graves

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Length: Approximately 11 hours and 11 minutes

Source: Audiobook from NetGalley and physical book from St. Martin’s Press as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour.  Thank-you!

If you could meet any author alive or dead, who would you want to meet?  I love the adventure of the Stevenson sisters in Austen at Sea to see the brother of a most beloved author.  I would love to meet Jane Austen, the Bronte Sisters, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Louisa May Alcott and so many more.

Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson are the daughters of a Massachusetts State Supreme Court judge.  They want more out of this world.  They wish they could go to college or have a career, but in 1865, their formal education is complete.  Their favorite author is Jane Austen.  They write to her only surviving brother, Sir Francis Austen to express their love and to learn more about her.  He invites the two sisters to visit England, as well as two brothers who are rare booksellers from Philadelphia.  What rare artifact does he want them to see?

Thoughts on this novel:

·       I loved the world, great characters, and unique story of this novel.  I wish I could visit this world.

·       The overarching question of this novel was what are the rights of women?  Can a wife own her own property separate from her husband?  Can she make her own decisions about her property?

·       I loved the sections of the novel where the Massachusetts State Supreme Court judges read Jane Austen’s novels and discuss them.  It was entertaining.

·       Louisa May Alcott is on the ship with our main characters as they journey to England.  She was a fantastic and fully sketched character.  I love that she had the ship put on a play of A Tale of Two Cities for entertainment.  I would love to see an entirely separate novel on just Louisa’s adventures.

·       I loved Sir Francis Austen as a character.  He had an interesting life himself and I would love to see him star in his own novel.  At this point, he is at the end of his life, and he is thinking about his sister’s legacy.  Should he leave her letters or burn them as his daughter wishes?

·       About halfway through the novel, the book takes a turn and the story goes in another direction.  I was confused at first and it took me a bit to get my bearings.

·       I loved Rupert Graves as the narrator.  He was an entertaining narrator and I loved his voice.

·       I have enjoyed every Natalie Jenner novel I’ve read, but I would rate this one as my favorite with The Jane Austen Society.

Overall, Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner is a beautiful and extraordinary story with unforgettable characters.  I loved the look into the lives of Austen fans in the 19^th century when Austen’s family is still alive.  I also liked the discussion of women’s rights.

 

COVER REVEAL - Murder at Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

Do you like cozy historical mysteries, Jane Austen, and great characters? Then you may be interested in a new novel, Murder at Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly. I'm happy to share all that I know about this new novel and reveal the beautiful cover.  This new novel will be available on November 25, 2025.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

In this latest Regency-era mystery, Jane Austen’s clever Emma Knightley navigates shocking changes in her family—while meeting her match in a deadly adversary . . . 

Emma’s spirits are elevated after she and husband George Knightley host a joyful holiday celebration at the Hartfield estate. But it’s instantly a bitter January when her father makes an unexpected announcement—he and Miss Hetty Bates have decided to marry. Not only must Emma relinquish her role as mistress of the household, but also accept the reality that the excitable Miss Bates will become her stepmother . . .

More unwanted news arrives during an extravagant betrothal ball at Donwell Abbey, the grand Knightley estate where Emma and George will soon permanently reside. Nearly every villager in Highbury revels in the dazzling affair—except Emma’s hardworking lady’s maid, Prudence Parr. To Emma’s horror, Prudence is found dead, sprawled across the stones of the library terrace . . .

The woman’s tragic fall is quickly ruled a terrible accident and whispers circulate around personal troubles leading up to her untimely demise. But Emma’s instincts tell her that something far more sinister is at play. Now, Highbury’s matchmaker-turned-sleuth vows to outwit a cunning criminal before an innocent man loses his freedom—or Donwell Abbey plunges into a darker mystery . . .

AND THE BEAUTIFUL NEW COVER .....

What do you think? This is the second novel in the Emma Knightley Mysteries series. I am so looking forward to this follow-up novel!!

Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding

 

Title:  Emma of 83rd Street

Author:  Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding

Narrated by:  Brittany Pressley and Teddy Hamilton

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 40 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio. 

What character from a classic novel can you imagine living a great life in modern times?  Emma Woodhouse from Jane Austen’s classic novel, Emma, has always seemed to me to be a woman that could make it in any time period.

Emma Woodhouse is beautiful, rich, and clever.  She lives with her father in an Upper East Side neighborhood in Manhattan.  Emma successfully matches her sister with their childhood friend, Ben.  Ben’s brother, George Knightley, is their neighbor.  Will Emma successfully find a match for her new friend Nadine? Will she find a love of her own?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I read this audiobook last month for the March pick for the JASNA Northwoods book club.  Our club all enjoyed this book.

·       I loved Emma’s love for the classic Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful love.  She takes Nadine to a showing at Christmas.

·       There are dual narrators in this novel, Emma and Knightley.  This worked wonderfully on audiobook with two different narrators.

·       I love how Emma can be made modern in so many different ways.  My gold standard is the 90’s classic movie, Clueless, but I loved the characters and settings for this modern-day version.

·       I thought this novel did a good job of keeping true to Austen’s characters while making its own story and characters.

·       The novel was steamy towards the end.  It got to be a bit much for me as I am more a closed-door romance fan.

·       There was a nice set-up at the end of the next novel, Lizzie of East Hampton. This is a modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice.  The first chapter was also shared.

·       This novel was the first in the “For the Love of Austen” series.

·       This novel was a friends-to-lovers romance although at times it seemed liked enemies-to-lovers as Emma and George liked to bicker.

·       It was a fun lighthearted novel that I really needed at the time I was reading it.

·       Emma and George Knightley had great chemistry.

·       This book would make a fun romcom movie.

·       I loved Emma and George’s character growth throughout the novel as Emma tries to get a job and stand on her own two feet.  George must leave his past behind and learn to not be so critical of himself and others.

Overall, Emma of 83^rd Street by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding is a delightful modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma with great characters, story, setting, and chemistry.

Pickering Place by H.M. Jones

 

What is a debut novel that you loved?

Chloe Mora is eighteen years old and has grown up in a small town in Iowa.  Her Tia Miranda has had surgery on her foot and could use help from Chloe getting around Boston.  Chloe can also use the opportunity to visit colleges.  She has never left home, and this will be quite the adventure.  Will Chloe find herself and love?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I read this book last month for a March pick for the JASNA Northwoods book club.

·       This was a modern retelling of Northanger Abbey. 

·       I enjoyed the great introduction where the author describes her love of the original novel.

·       I enjoyed that Chloe Mora loves all things paranormal like Twilight.

·       It was an interesting modernization of Northanger Abbey.  It kept all of the elements of the original story and brought it into modern times.  The General Tilney character, Mr. Bath, sends Chloe back to Boston on her own on a train with no money or cell phone.  This gave the same vibe as Catherine’s dismissal in Northanger Abbey.

·       I enjoyed Michael and Mindy Bath and their friendship with Chloe. 

·       This was a quick read.  I could call it a coming-of-age novel and a romantic comedy. 

·       I liked the multi-cultural aspects of this book.  It was nice to learn about what it was like for Chloe being of the two “brown” girls her age in her small town and the delights of going to a large much more diverse city.  Although there was a minus to this as a book club member pointed out that the Spanish phrases were use incorrectly in the dialogue.

·       The dialogue was very stilted.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, but the writing seemed amateurish with one-dimensional characters.  This read like a first-time author’s work, that holds the promise for more interesting work in the future.

Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.com