A collection of six stories designed to satisfy your need for something sweet when life is busy and time is short. So, grab a cup of tea and indulge in one of these Austen-inspired tales.
From Oxford Cottage by Leenie Brown
A Music Room Meeting A look at the beginning of Richard and Harriet's relationship
From Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
With All My Love A letter from Edmund to Fanny
From Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Mr. Bingley Plans a Ball Mr. Bingley returns to Netherfield
From Tolerable to Lovely A ballroom blunder stops Mr. Darcy's famous disparagement
A Battle of Wills and Words Elizabeth engages in a verbal joust with Colonel Fitzwilliam
Two Days in November Darcy and Elizabeth embark on a plan to bring happiness to Jane
Leenie Brown has always been a girl with an active imagination, which, while growing up, was both an asset, providing many hours of fun as she played out stories, and a liability, when her older sister and aunt would tell her frightening tales. At one time, they had her convinced Dracula lived in the trunk at the end of the bed she slept in when visiting her grandparents!
Although it has been years since she cowered in her bed in her grandparents’ basement, she still has an imagination which occasionally runs away with her, and she feeds it now as she did then ─ by reading!
Her heroes, when growing up, were authors, and the worlds they painted with words were (and still are) her favourite playgrounds! Now, as an adult, she spends much of her time in the Regency world, playing with the characters from her favourite Jane Austen novels and those of her own creation.
When she is not traipsing down a trail in an attempt to keep up with her imagination, Leenie resides in the beautiful province of Nova Scotia with her two sons and her very own Mr. Brown (a wonderful mix of all the best of Darcy, Bingley, and Edmund with a healthy dose of the teasing Mr. Tilney and just a dash of the scolding Mr. Knightley).
A small collection of sweet vignettes and short stories that acted as a sampler of this new to me author's writing. I enjoyed her ability to develop character, setting, and plot in mere pages.
A Music Room Meeting Colonel Fitzwilliam and Harriet, childhood friends and now falling in love as adults who must be patient in the face of her brother refusing them because the Colonel's career is so dangerous. An adorable, whimsical P&P side story.
With All My Love Fanny Price receives a love letter from Edmund in this Mansfield Park sequel. Very romantic!
Mr. Bingley Plans a Ball Mr. Bingley pays a call on Mr. Bennet shortly after his departure from Netherfield and sorts out all the tangles in one brief meeting. A more astute, decisive Bingley, me likes.
From Tolerable to Lovely Oho! An amusing Mr. Darcy changes the whole course of the story by admiring after insulting a certain beautiful lady at an assembly dance.
A Battle of Wills and Words Bulldog Lizzy goes on the defense when Colonel Fitzwilliam teases for the story of her proposals from Darcy. Amusing P&P sequel.
Two Days in November A sweet and heartwarming P&P variation in which Darcy is moved by Lizzy's sisterly affection when he learns of Jane's past and this understanding leads to decisions and actions that bring about great happiness for two couples.
Some of these were vignettes- barely a scene really- while others were fully fleshed out stories. I had my favorites in this bunch and it served its purpose of showcasing the author's work making me eager to press forward and try more of her work.
1. A Music Room Meeting - Romantic interlude with the Colonel. 2. With All My Love - A love letter from Edmund to Fanny. 3. Mr Bingley Plans a Ball - There is a shrewd mind behind the amiable Bingley. 4. From Tolerable to Lovely - A twist at the assembly. 5. A Battle of Wills and Words - the Matlock's are introduced to Elizabeth. 6. Two days in November - A swoon worthy twist to the inbetween days after the Bennet sisters removed from Netherfield.
“A love story, at least a convincing one, requires three elements – the lover, the beloved, and the adventures they have together.” Jane Smiley
These were short, sweet and just right for a quick read.
1) A Music Room Meeting: ends at 14% This was a short window of time with a meeting between our beloved Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lady Harriet Phillips. Our dear Colonel was playing the piano in the music room and Harriet slipped in to listen to him. It seemed her brother, the former Colonel Edmund Phillips was now Lord Lillesley. The former Colonel’s brother Matthew had died and he now found himself a viscount and in the House of Lords. He was also Richard’s supervisor in a different type of business that was not explained in this piece.
This scene was actually part of Oxford Cottage, which I enjoyed very much.
2) With All My Love: ends at 17% Mansfield Park: This was a letter to Fanny written by Edmund. OMG! Wow, what a letter. I defy anyone to read it and not blush. It was so romantic and touching. Way to go Edmund!
3) Mr. Bingley Plans a Ball: ends at 22% OMG!! I loved this interaction between Mr. Bingley and Mr. Bennet. Oh, I want to read a story about that. This Bingley was so cunning and smart and so shrewd that he was a step ahead of Darcy. The machinations of Bingley and Mr. Bennet was so devious as they made plans for the future happiness of two of the Bennet ladies. How cute. They also planned the unhappiness of a certain scum-bag-rat-bastard. Yeah, that was cool.
4) From Tolerable to Lovely: ends at 27% This scene from the Meryton Assembly was a variation from canon in that Darcy did not insult Elizabeth and actually asked her to dance. We were given insight into his POV on how he felt in new situations and the reasons for his avoidance of meeting and interacting with strangers.
5) A Battle of Wills and Words: ends at 48% This was when Darcy introduced his family, Lord and Lady Matlock, their daughter Miss Amelia Fitzwilliam and, of course, our dear Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam to Elizabeth’s sister Jane, her mother, and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner.
The battle of wills and words was between Elizabeth and those that would try to intimidate her, tease Darcy or put Jane on the spot. Our dear Colonel had never engaged in verbal swordplay to this extent before and he was having a difficult time keeping up. Lord Matlock was intrigued with the wit and intelligence of the young woman that had captured his nephew’s heart and was making his war-weary- military son squirm in his seat. After a comment from Lord Matlock, he soon found himself squirming in his seat. What fun! The family certainly enjoyed this display.
6) Two Days in November: ends at 70% A short window of time where Elizabeth explains to Darcy why Jane keeps her emotions under close regulation. It is a different take on canon. We also see D&E conspiring together to promote the affection between Jane and Bingley. We have Collins visiting and Wickham has arrived with the militia. This story ends at 70% of the book.
The rest of the book consisted of excerpts and samples of Brown’s other works: Oxford Cottage For Peace of Mind Listen to Your Heart Through Every Storm The Choice Series: Her Father’s Choice: Book 1 No Other Choice: Book 2 His Inconvenient Choice: Book 3
This is a collection of short stories mostly inspired by Pride and Prejudice, though there is one inspired by Mansfield Park. It lives up to the promise of being “a bit of fluff to brighten your day.” My favorite stories were “A Music Room Meeting,” where Colonel Fitzwilliam gets his happily ever after, “From Tolerable to Lovely,” in which Darcy and Elizabeth’s first meeting plays out much differently, and “A Battle of Wills and Words,” in which Colonel Fitzwilliam learns the hard way what happens when one tries to spar with Elizabeth Bennet.
Status: unread *** Received an Advance Reader Copy/Gift from author - provided with no expectation of, or promise of a review (favourable or otherwise). ***
This collection contains 6 short stories/vignettes. "A Music Room Meeting" brings Colonel Fitzwilliam to the continued notice of Miss Harriet Phillips. "With All My Heart" has Edmund Bertram of "Mansfield Park" fame writing to Fanny Price. "Mr. Bingley Plans a Ball" has Mr. Bingley returning to Netherfield after Darcy and the Bingley sisters follow him to London. "From Tolerable to Lovely" has Darcy apologizing for his "tolerable" remark at the Meryton assembly by asking Elizabeth to dance. "A Battle of Wills and Words has Darcy's family asking Elizabeth a multitude of questions after their engagement is announced. "Two Days in November" deals with November 18 and 19. Elizabeth relates a tale of Jane's first love who was killed in a storm. Then Darcy proposes before Collins gets the chance.
Just like the title says, short and sweet Austen inspired stories. One relates to the author's own book 'Oxford Cottage', a Pride & Prejudice variation (one I have not read yet). It is based on Colonel Fitzwilliam and a young lady named Harriet. This is the only one that I found just a bit too short. The second short story is a based on Mansfield Park with Edmund writing a love letter to his wife, Fanny...very sweet and loving letter.
The next four are based on Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth and Jane Bennet that I liked most of all. There is a different side to Bingley that we get to see which I quite enjoyed, along with a softer side to Mr. Darcy that is quite endearing. One story has Elizabeth battling wits with the Colonel.
All in in all, a lovely read when time is short or one needs a light story to brighten one's day.
Teatime Tales: Short and Sweet Austen-Inspired Stories
Very enjoyable short stories mostly about Darcy and Elizabeth and their relationship. Would have liked a few to be longer just to find out how the dilemma in each story would turn out if more had been in the tale.
Six short stories inspired by Pride and Prejudice, and Mansfield Park. A couple of which I would have like to have been longer as I was really enjoying the tales.