Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Ireland Reading Challenge 2011


I came across this reading challenge today and even though I will be starting this late,  I think it sounds like a lot of fun. 


The challenge has three commitment levels:


Shamrock level: 2 books
Luck o’ the Irish level: 4 books
Kiss the Blarney Stone level: 6 books



I am choosing the Shamrock level: 2 books.


For the complete details and to sign-up yourself here is the link - Ireland Reading Challenge 2011 .



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Thursday, May 12, 2011

Darcy's Voyage: A Tale of Uncharted Love on the Open Seas - Kara Louise

Darcy's VoyageIn this enchanting and highly original retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet sets out for the new world aboard the grand ship Pemberley's Promise. She's prepared for an uneventful voyage until a chance encounter with the handsome, taciturn Mr. Darcy turns her world upside down.

When Elizabeth falls ill, Darcy throws convention overboard in a plan that will bind them to each other more deeply than he ever could have imagined.

But the perils of their ocean voyage pale in comparison to the harsh reality of society's rules that threaten their chance at happiness. When they return to the lavish halls of England, will their love survive?


I GIVE THIS BOOK 1 star1 star1 star1 star1 star


MY THOUGHTS
'Darcy's Voyage' was such a delightful story, that I just couldn't put it down. To me, this is one of the best 'Pride & Prejudice' sequels/retellings that I have ever read. It is so different from the original and yet keeps the authenticity of the classic story that we know and love.

When Darcy and Elizabeth first meet, it is on a carriage where at first they are annoyed by one another, but soon they become quite comfortable with each other. When Darcy exits the carriage, to finish his trip in his personal carriage that is waiting for him, they both realize that they never got the other's name.

The story then jumps ahead two years to when Elizabeth, who is going to visit her Aunt & Uncle Gardiner in America, again meets Mr. Darcy aboard Pemberley's Promise where they literally bump into one another on two different occasions - though neither of them remember that they had met two years before. Darcy is traveling to America to escort his sister Georgiana home, whose companion has had a family emergency and can't leave America for a unknown amount of time.

Elizabeth cares for the women in steerage who have fallen ill, even giving up her bunk to one of them - she then sleeps on the floor! Darcy keeps noticing Elizabeth, that she cares for her fellow passengers welfare; that she, unlike the rest of the women aboard ship, seems to take little notice of him and that she enjoys taking early morning walks. While on one of these walks, Darcy joins Elizabeth and they begin to converse. After a few days of early morning walks together, they realize that they have a lot in common and that they really enjoy each other's company. With most of the original cast of characters not aboard ship (i.e. Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Wickham, Miss Bingley and Lady Catherine de Bourgh), Darcy and Elizabeth are able to fall in love without anyone or anything to hinder them - though neither lets the other know of their feelings. When Elizabeth falls ill, Darcy is so deeply concerned for her welfare that he makes a most unusual proposal.

I won't get into too much detail about the rest of the story or I might give too much away, but I thought that the characters were very well written and that the story makes you want to keep reading until you reach the end. The story flawlessly intertwines many parts of the original story, such as the conversation where Darcy says that his"good opinion once lost is lost forever".  I loved how even with such a twist in the story, it somehow stays true to Jane Austen's style of writing - you feel as though these are the real Elizabeth and Darcy, just in a different situation and not just someone's interpretation of them.

Darcy's Voyage has now become my favorite Jane Austen fan fiction book. I absolutely love this book and it is one that I could & will read again and again. I highly recommend that you read this book, especially if you love 'Pride & Prejudice' fan fiction books.  I hope that this is one that you will love as much as I do.

AUTHOR'S WEBSITES
http://karalouise.ahhhs.net/
http://www.austenauthors.com/

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Sunday, May 8, 2011

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!!





HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE MOMS IN THE WORLD. I HOPE THIS DAY IS FILLED WITH FAMILY,  LAUGHTER, JOY AND HAPPINESS. THIS VIDEO BROUGHT A SMILE TO MY FACE AND I HOPE IT WILL BRING ONE TO YOURS AS WELL. HAVE A WONDERFUL MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

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Friday, May 6, 2011

The Sister Wife by Diane Noble




I read this book about a year ago and it was a book that I loved.  If I remember correctly I believe I read this book in one night, staying up into the wee hours of the morning because I didn't want to put it down. If you want to read a book that captures your attention and never lets it go, you should read The Sister Wife by Diane Noble. Even though it has been over a year since I read this book, it remains fresh in my mind. Also this is a book that I could read again and want to read it again soon. This is a fantastic book that I highly recommend. I am awaiting the second book in this series and hope it is just as great as the first one was.


I give this book 1 star1 star1 star1 star1 star


The Brides of Gabriel Series
  1. The Sister Wife: Brides of Gabriel (Book One) by Diane Noble
  2. The Betrayal: Brides of Gabriel (Book Two) by Diane Noble (will be available July 26, 2011)
Author's website
http://www.dianenoble.com/





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Thursday, May 5, 2011

FREE KINDLE BOOKS

A Tailor-Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer  (I have read this one, it is GREAT!!!)


Relentless (Dominion Trilogy #1) by Robert Parrish


Too Close to Home (Women of Justice Series #1) by Lynette Eason


Disaster Status by Candace Calvert


It Happens Every Spring (The Four Seasons of a Marriage Series #1) by Catherine Palmer & Gary Chapman


Making Waves: A Novel by Lorna Seilstad


Invisible (Ivy Malone Mystery Series #1) by Lorena McCourtney (I have read this one, it is very good)


Hide in Plain Sight by Marta Perry


Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart


When Night Falls by Margaret Daley


A Very Special Delivery by Linda Goodnight


Love Me If You Must (Patricia Amble Mystery Series #1) by Nicole Young


Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella, Book 1) by Janice Thompson


Daughter of Joy (Brides of Culdee Creek, Book 1) by Kathleen Morgan


Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1) by Virginia Smith


The Call of Zulina by Kay Marshall Strom (I have read this one, click here to see my review)


Light of Eidon (Legends of the Guardian-King, Book 1) by Karen Hancock


Craving God: A 21-Day Devotional Challenge


Two Wars by Nate Self

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Thicker Than Blood - C.J. Darlington

Thicker than Blood Christy Williams never imagined that a stolen Hemingway first edition would lead her back to the sister she left fifteen years ago.But when things begin to unravel, she finds herself on May's doorstep, fearing for her life.


After a bittersweet reunion, will the two discover that some hurts can't be healed, or is there a tie that's thicker than blood?


I give this book: 1 star1 star1 star1 star1 star

My Thoughts:
"Thicker Than Blood" is a great read and I couldn't put it down, I finished it in one night. I really enjoyed reading this book and I am looking forward to reading her next book "Bound By Guilt". 

Author's Website:

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Monday, May 2, 2011

Charlotte Collins: A Continuation Of Jane Austen - Jennifer Becton

Charlotte Collins: A Continuation of Jane Austen's Pride and PrejudiceCharlotte Collins: A Continuation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
by Jennifer Becton

                                          View all my reviews


(From back cover)


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 conversations, she must work feverishly to secure her income and home. She gives no further thought to the prospect 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 the gentleman of her acquaintance and of true love.


I give this book 1 star1 star1 star1 star1 star.

My thoughts
I recently discovered "Charlotte Collins: A Continuation Of Jane Austen". This is the first book that I have seen that was focused on Charlotte and I knew that this was a book that I had to read. Charlotte is one of the characters from Pride & Prejudice that I always wanted to know more about. And after finishing the novel, I am delighted to say that I absolutely enjoyed reading Charlotte Collins much more than I even thought I would. Jennifer Becton brought Charlotte to life for me, by making her personality show through more . I saw a more caring, feeling & lovable side to Charlotte (Lucas) Collins that I personally never saw before. I feel like I know Charlotte so much better now. I loved this book from start to finish and I think that this author is an excellent story-teller. I am looking forward to reading Jennifer Becton's next novel Caroline Bingley, which should be available soon. Also I would love to read even more about Charlotte & Maria in future books, even if it is just a small part in the book giving an update on their lives.


Author's website
http://bectonliterary.com/


Jennifer Becton is on Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/JenniferBecton


A short sequel
Maria Lucas: A Short Story in the Personages of Pride & Prejudice Collection [Kindle Edition]

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