The Unexpected Past of Miss Jane Austen

Austen Adventures #2

by Cass Grafton

Rose Wallace thought her time-travelling adventures were over. Jane Austen is about to prove her wrong.

After becoming trapped in present-day Bath due to a mishap with her time-travelling charm, Jane Austen is safe and sound back in the 1800s thanks to Rose’s help. Now, Rose is ready to focus on her fledgling romance with dreamy Dr Aiden Trevellyan.

But when Jane reappears in the present, it looks like Rose and Aiden have no choice but to follow her back to 1813…

Staying in the Austen household, Rose and Aiden are introduced to a number of interesting figures from the past, including Jane’s eccentric – and surprisingly modern – neighbour. Suddenly Rose’s life is in need of a re-write as she discovers some unexpected ties to Jane Austen's world and her past.

The sequel to The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen is perfect for fans of Victoria Connelly's Austen Addicts series and The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler.

Genres: Time Travel, Fiction, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Historical

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 24, 2019

About the author

Cass began her writing life in Regency England, enlisted Jane Austen’s help to time-travel between then and the present day and is now happily ensconced in 21st century Cornwall.

Well, in her imagination and soul; her heart and physical presence reside in northern England with her ever-patient husband and Tig and Tag, their cute but exceptionally demanding moggies.

A bit of a nomad, Cass has called three countries home, as well as six different English counties, but her aspiration is to one day reunite with her beloved West Country.

In the meantime, she writes feel-good contemporary romances set in Cornwall and, in doing so, manages to live there vicariously through her characters and settings.

An Ambassador for the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation, Cass is also a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Jane Austen Society UK and the Society of Authors.

Reviews

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

After adoring The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen and getting that tantalizing teaser there at the end while needing to get more time with Rose and Aidan, I was primed and ready when this sequel arrived. Another engaging installment in the Austen Adventures series.

The Unexpected Past of Miss Jane Austen is a follow up sequel and works best when read in order.

Rose and Aidan have just come to a tentative understanding to start seeing each other when who should appear back in Rose's day, but Jane Austen herself requiring Rose to come with her back into the past because Jane needs her. Rose is pretty sure telling Aidan the truth and dragging him into this latest time-traveling venture will scotch her chances with him for good when he runs from the crazy woman who thinks her friend is the real Jane Austen and that she can travel through time. But, Aidan surprises her and stands fast even when forced into Regency gentleman's attire and the inconveniences and mode of the past. She is not able to turn her focus to the mysterious mission Jane feels she needs to be there for in the past.

In my mind, it was only to be expected that after traveling into alternate reality and being such an Austen fan that Rose would get an adventure into Jane Austen's past. I already thought this pair of authors treated well the situation of Rose, an Austen fan, and later Jane Austen's arrival on scenee with their meticulous attention to all the important details. This was even more so when Rose and Aidan go into the past and see it all first person. Life in Regency Era Chawton Cottage and the Great House were brought vividly to life.

The characters were nicely fleshed out. Aidan's enthusiasm for seeing his archeology projects two centuries before and exploring Regency life with a historian's eye as he mingled with the Austen men and quietly strengthened his relationship with Rose. Then with Rose being troubled by the time travel, by a vulnerability where Aidan was concerned, and then of course her mixed feelings on the matter Jane wishes her to believe in. Later, there is the tension about being in the past or going back to the present. I felt Rose was come into her own and more confident in herself even with all the precarious situations she had to navigate.

The neatest part, as an Austen fan, was seeing Jane in the setting of her family that included her beloved sister Cassandra, her mother, and two of her brothers, Charles and Edward. They were all in on Jane's secret and had varying responses to a time traveling, novel-writing family member. I was as jazzed as Rose's bestie Morgan to see a literary rock star right where she lived.

But, probably the most poignant story thread wasn't even the romance though I did love the deepening of that. It was a surprise reunion for Rose. I teared up a few times over it and particularly in the end.

This wasn't a dramatic book, though there are most definitely tense moments, heartwarming scenes, and times of excitement. It was gentle and paced out slowly. There were lag moments for me when I was antsy for faster progress, but for the most part, I was content to relax into the world and characters' lives the authors painted.

The catalyst for the story and the reason there was so much tension was Jane Austen's charm. I loved getting the story behind it at last and seeing the charm necklace as a book character in itself.

Things ended on a high note, but I felt there was the opportunity for more story if the authors wished it. Because, yes, there was another tantalizing bit at the end that could lead to further adventures in time for Rose and Aidan.

All in all, this was a heartwarming, gentle story of time travel, love and friendship, family reunion, and a dream come true for a Jane Austen fan due to a dash of whimsy brought by a certain charm. Those who enjoy women's fiction with a spot of magical realism and cozy time travel stories particularly if they are Jane Austen lovers should give this one a chance.

My thanks to the authors for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps More About Rose Wallace’s Past Than Jane Austen’s

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars


TYPE OF NOVEL: Austen-Inspired Original, Jane Austen as a Fictional Character, Time Travel/Time Slip

SERIES: Austen Adventures Book 2

NOTE: Potential readers should read The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen first to fully appreciate and understand all that is taking place in this second book of the series.

SETTING: Technically, Bath, England present day, but also Chawton, England 1813

SYNOPSIS: Similar to Doc Brown at the end of Back to the Future, a time traveling Jane Austen arrives in the future to urge Rose Wallace to travel back to 1813 with her to help unravel a mystery. Rose, and her long-time crush-turned-sorta-new-boyfriend, Dr. Aiden Trevellyan, accompany Jane to 1813 and her home in Chawton. Meeting other Austens, seeing Jane Austen in her world, and discovering a secret about Rose’s history send Rose and Aiden on quite the adventure! One that brings about new discoveries, blossoming relationships, and unexpected troubles…

WHAT I LOVED:

- Well-Balanced: Such seamless writing! Cass Grafton and Ada Bright are such a fantastic writing duo. Once again, their prose feels even and consistent the whole way through the story. In addition, I enjoyed that there was a good balance between the elements of mystery, history, time travel, and romance in this tale.

- Staying with the Austens: I love the idea of being an unexpected houseguest at Chawton, don’t you? It was a lot of fun to see how Mrs. Austen and Cassandra interacted with these newcomers. And to witness an authentic portrayal of their daily lives – what chores they would undertake, what routines were a part of their day. I also enjoyed seeing more of Captain Charles Austen and Edward Knight in this story – I cannot help but feel that Jane Austen was very lucky to have such brothers. 🥰

- Chawton in 1813: Through visits, research, and discussions with residents/experts of the area the authors take great pains to give accurate details and descriptions of both Chawton Cottage and the Great House in 1813. I greatly appreciated this meticulous attention to detail and accuracy. In addition, readers are thoughtfully reminded of the challenges us modern-day folk would face in living in 1813 – with water being unsafe to drink, food being less appetizing, strict rules of propriety, and of course, all the issues with hygiene.

- Relationships: In the first book of this series I fell in love with the relationships between Rose and Morgan, and Rose and Jane (also loved Morgan and James). In this story we see those close bonds of friendship continue to strengthen. I also loved seeing some new relationships develop between Rose and other characters – which may have sometimes felt quickly formed, but they were so heartwarming to witness that I didn’t mind.

WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:

Hard to Compare: It might be because I am comparing this book to the first book in this series, which was such a spectacular adventure, but there were some moments where I was hoping for a little more action or activity in this tale. This story focused mainly on Rose and her coming to terms with some discoveries. I wouldn’t have minded seeing some more attention or development with some of the other characters.

CONCLUSION:

I think the moral of these stories should be that you should not attempt any sort of time travel unless you have the support of some dear friends! I thoroughly enjoyed this journey back into 1813 with my dear favorite authoress, and I cannot wait to see what could happen next for Rose, Morgan, Aiden, James, Jane, and this beguiling, magical charm! This series is a fantastic choice for readers who enjoy time travel tales, sweet stories about friendships, and seeing Jane Austen as a main character!

Austenesque Reviews

[Carole (in Canada) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful collaboration between Ms. Bright and Ms. Grafton in the adventures of a time traveling Jane Austen! I was completely charmed by this second novel and don't tell anyone, but I think they have outdone themselves with this one! I loved it! I strongly recommend that you read the first book, 'The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen', as 'The Unexpected Past' picks up immediately after it.

"I'm in. I've only just found you Rose. I've no intention of letting go of you so soon." (quote from the book)

As Aiden Trevellyan and Rose Wallace are finally on the same page, Jane Austen pops back into Rose's life and completely upends it, again! She needs Rose to come back to 1813 with her, and Aiden willing agrees to go with them. But it takes some time before Jane is willing to tell them why. What a shocker it is when she does!

"Recalcitrant though time had been in recent days, Rose was conscious of its stillness, of its weight around her - around them both - as they stood enfolded in each other's arms for the first time..." (quote from the book)

What can I say, but that the writing is seamless and the story flows so beautifully. There is humour, mischief, and poignancy. I loved the portrayal of Jane, Cassandra, their brothers, Charles and Edward, along with the rather irascible Mrs. Austen. The interactions of the characters, the etiquette of Regency times limiting the 'togetherness' of Aiden and Rose, made for such an entertaining read. It all came alive before my eyes. I must say, Jane Austen is such a mischievous and clever woman and lovingly conveyed.

"Let us be above vulgar economy, Mama." "Let us drink French wine and eat ice whilst we may." (quote from the book)

We learn more about the 'power' of the charm and where it came from. I think it was brilliantly conceived, and if we are lucky, another story may come from it.

I highly recommend this delightful novel.

I was fortunate to have won this book in a giveaway with no expectation for a review. I just couldn't help myself!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another fun time traveling tale. This time it’s modern day Rose and Aiden who go back to 1813 with Jane. I love the way these authors write Jane Austen as a character.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the storyline was quite slow, it was an overall fun book to read. I didn’t realize it was a series though until I was about halfway through. I will probably read the first book as well.

[Denise Westlake · Rating 4 out of 5]

"All will be well." And there is book #3, perhaps, in the works.
Love the couples or Jack and Morgan and Aiden and Rose.

[Georgiana 1792 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quando ho letto The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen sapevo che presto sarebbe uscito il sequel, The Unexpected Past of Miss Jane Austen, ma non avrei mai immaginato che le autrici si inventassero un viaggio nel tempo al contrario; un viaggio in cui era Rose ad approdare nell'epoca di Jane Austen, e non viceversa.
Invece, trasferendosi nel 1814, e quindi a Chawton e con tre romanzi pubblicati, le nostre autrici hanno escogitato un motivo davvero peculiare per cui Jane Austen dovesse tornare 11 anni dopo a prendere la sua amica del XXI secolo. In realtà per Rose passa solo un giorno dalla precedente visita di Jane, ma che sorpresa nello scoprire il motivo per cui Jane Austen la vuole portare con sé nel passato!
Naturalmente, non può tutto filare liscio: viaggiare nel tempo è sempre rischioso!
Ritroviamo alcuni personaggi del primo romanzo oltre a Jane e ad alcuni membri della sua famiglia; in particolare Cass, Mrs. Austen, Edward e soprattutto il capitano Charles Austen, colui che, regalando la collana con il ciondolo magico, ha consentito a Jane di viaggiare nel tempo.
Le autrici si rivelano ancora una volta molto preparate sulla vita di Jane Austen e sul carattere dei suoi familiari, oltre che sulla storia dei luoghi austeniani.
E le ringrazio per avermi fatto scoprire la canzone Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) , che in Italia non credo si sia sentita molto negli anni '70.

When I read The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen I knew that there would be a sequel, The Unexpected Past of Miss Jane Austen, but I never thought that Ada Bright and Cass Grafton would concoct a travel backwards, a travel in which was Rose to move into Jane Austen's era and not the other way around.
Nevertheless, relocating in Chawton in 1814, the authors come up with a peculiar reason for Jane Austen to come back eleven years after her adventure in Bath and take her Twenty-first century friend with her. Actually, for Rose she comes back just one day after leaving, but what a surprise when Rose founds out the reason why Jane wants to take her in the past with herself!
Of course, it's impossible that everything goes smoothly: time travelling is always hazardous!
In this novel we find again some of the characters from The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen (and we can follow the developement of the romantic relationship between Rose and Aiden), but, above all, we find Jane Austen and some of her family members, namely Cass, Mrs. Austen, Edward and Captain Charles Austen, the one who presented Jane with the magic charm, affording her to travel through time.
Once again, the authors show their expertise over Jane Austen's life and her relatives' temperament, as well as over the places she lived in and their history.
And I thank them for making me discover such a beautiful song as Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) ! I know it was very popular in the Seventies, but I'm Italian, and I think it was not so successful here!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Anna]

In The Unexpected Past of Miss Jane Austen, book 2 in the Austen Adventures series, Ada Bright and Cass Grafton pick up right where they left off in the first book, The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen. Rose Wallace has just helped Jane Austen make it back to the Regency era with the help of a time-traveling charm and realized her crush, the archeologist Dr. Aiden Trevellyan, feels the same way about her when Jane returns to the present and insists that they travel with her back to Chawton in 1813.

This time it is Rose who is taken out of her comfort zone, and she soon learns that living in the time of her favorite author is not as delightful as it seems in Jane's books. Rose and Aiden are welcomed by Jane's sister, Cassandra, and her brothers, Edward and Charles, and while Aiden is thrilled to see the village as it was during Austen's time, Rose is more preoccupied with the reason behind their speedy departure from 21st century Bath -- especially as it pertains to her own past.

I adored The Unexpected Past of Miss Jane Austen as much as I did the first book. The time travel aspect was fun, especially to see the modern-day transports adjust to the clothing (or lack thereof), shoes, and even food and drink of Austen's time, not to mention the lack of hygiene and modern medicine. There is plenty of humor to balance out the more emotional scenes, and even as the reason for Rose's travel back into time (and what it might mean for her future) is revealed, Bright and Grafton keep the tone light and hopeful -- and there is always Jane or Charles to provide some levity.

It is clear that Bright and Grafton took time to research what Chawton was like in the early 1800s to show readers how much had changed by Rose's time, and their affection and respect for Austen and her family really shine through. Their Jane felt authentic to me, in her words and her actions, and that made me love the book all the more. I enjoyed following Rose and Jane through time, watching Rose navigate her ties to both the past and the present, and seeing Rose and Aiden's relationship strengthen in such a short time under such weighty circumstances. The world that Bright and Grafton have created is fascinating, their characters endearing, and I didn't want the book to end. I sure hope there will be a third book in the series, as I'm not ready to let go of Rose and Jane, their friendship, or their adventures just yet.

Review originally posted on Diary of an Eccentric.

[Mystica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This combined the best of several genres - history, English literature, time travel, modern romance. The combo worked very well, each one complementing each other, not jarring and not out of place despite the huge differences in time, and naturally everything was different from food to drink to dress to attitudes.

Rose and Aiden are transported back in time along with Jane Austen who was living in modern times to her (JA) own time. Going back 300 years so they are aware all of them of the future of Jane Austen, her popularity, her death (at this time she had only four years to live). Rose discovers her father who disappeared when she was two. He was on a boat and his body was never found. He is also part of the time travel saga. He now appears in JA time as a much married man with a family. It is Jane who discovers the fact of Rose's father and then convinces Rose herself.

That is the main story but it is the little tidbits about the actual living conditions in Jane Austen's time of the 1800s which were fascinating. The food (horrible), the water (undrinkable), the bedding (uncomfortable) and the clothes (difficult). The standards of behaviour not easy for a 21st century miss and one had to conform.

The book and its story and characters were both entertaining and educative.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute time travelling Jane Austen adventure. The story in this one seemed a bit forced but it was nice to have Rose and her friends back in the past for some time, vs Jane visiting current day.

One thing that bothers me about these books is the unnatural latch that Rose and Morgan have. While Rose is in the past all she can think about is getting word to Morgan, it's almost obsessive at times. Then while the girls are separated they are constantly writing pretty worthless letters misusing parchment and ink which wasn't a hot commodity back in those days. It's a small thing but definitely drives me a bit nuts. Morgan's character is also very oddly stereotypical American ditz, which I can't relate to even though I am American myself.

Overall a fun read though. I'd like to read more about Charles and Edward myself.

My copy was provided by NetGalley for review, all opinions are my own.

[Selah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s not a bad book at all, but the pacing is SO SLOW. I do enjoy the characters, most especially Jane Austen herself. There was one instance of horrific grammar that I cannot forgive.

[abmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

How I wish I(of course, all of us) had access to such a charm! I'm not very familiar with Jane Austen's life but was very happy to have a peek at it. I could see where she drew her inspirations from. This was again a well written story with good pace and interesting characters. May be we'll meet Jane again in another story of this series.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank netgalley and Canelo for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Austen Adventures series. I loved the first book and this book has lived up to the first one.

Rose, Aiden and Jane are back! This time Jane is convinced that someone connected to Rose is living next door to her, and that Rose and Aiden must travel back to 1813 to solve the problem.

I enjoyed meeting Jane's family and all of the period details.

[Mrs. Bridget Wiltshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read and much better than the first book. I love Jane Austen and the idea of her time travelling is funny. Lots of period details, wry humour romance and craziness.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This follow-up novel to The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen finds Rose Wallace travelling back in time, along with her archaeologist crush Aiden Trevellyan, at the behest of one Miss Jane Austen, who believes it is vital that Rose travel back with her to the year 1813, the year Jane publishes Pride and Prejudice. There, Rose, and Aiden, attempt to navigate a vastly different culture (and the inability to bathe regularly or access toothpaste) while trying to figure out how to get back home. But the reason Jane has brought Rose back just may make Rose want to stay in 1813, even without Google or cell phones.

I enjoyed this time-slip novel, despite having not read the first installment. I was confused about a few things, especially how the charm worked in the cathedral. I don't think that had to do with my not having read The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen, although my general lack of familiarity of how the portal works is due to that. The one thing I feel was inconsistent was the way Jane's brothers went back and forth between referring to Rose as Miss Wallace and ma'am. For as much historical accuracy as the novel had, that felt incorrect. And I was surprised by the seeming inaccuracy, especially when it happened within a few lines of each other.

[Fatima]

I didn’t really read this book. I finally found out why Jane Austen needed these characters to time travel with her and I found that it did not interest me what happened after. The writing was not very compelling either. So I’m going to not continue with it.

[Lesa Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose Wallace thought her time-travelling adventures were over, but Jane Austen is about to prove her wrong...
After helping Jane Austen return safe and sound back to the 1800's, Rose is ready to focus on her fledgling romance with Dr. Aiden Trevellyan. But when Jane reappears in the present asking for help once again, Rose and Aiden have no choice but to follow her back to 1813.
Staying in the Austen household, Rose and Aiden are introduced to a number of interesting figures from the past, including Jane's eccentric and surprisingly modern neighbor. Suddenly Rose's life is in need of a rewrite as she discovers some unexpected ties to Jane Austen's world and her own past.

[Sophia-Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

From meeting Miss Austen again, the adventures start with a drive to Hampshire, to Chawton Cottage to be precise, and a new time adventure begins anew. Jane Austen there upon transports both Aiden and Rose to Chawton 1813, where Miss Austen finally tells why Rose is there, along with Aiden.

An unexpected secret is revealed of Rose’s past and possibly even her future. Certain events take places, which had me on the very edge of my sofa half the time, wondering what the heck Cass and Ada was up to this time, even if the answer followed swiftly. ‘The particular charm’ is again a leading character of sorts in this sequel. Cass and Ada’s way of writing these books are beyond description, it feels like returning to Bath, every time I open their ‘Charm’ books as I have come to call them, and again I can only congratulate them on a book well written! And suddenly understood why Cass and Ada spent much of their visit to England in Chawton *wink*

Aiden and Rose are dancing around each other continuously, which made me quite despair if they would end up together. And when the magic of Miss Austen’s charm is in question Rose has a decision to make… Can she make a life in the past with a family she never knew… or will she be able to return to the present with the man who has taken up a place in her heart?

And what is Jane Austen not telling them…? And what will Aiden think of Rose and her choice?

And the ending… my god, AGAIN these two lovely ladies leave us with an open ending!!!! “The End… or is it?” *Wink*

[Isabella ~Mikku-chan~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another marvelous, terrific book where Rose and Aiden are surprised by the dear Jane Austen, seeking them for help.

I loved how it had so great twist and turns & all the well-known characters, as well as the newly added ones are a delight and it was the utmost fun to get to know them. <3

The book ends on a very well pleasing note but has a hint that there might be another book - I'm curious and almost sitting on the edge if we can hope for more adventures of Rose, Aiden and Jane Austen... My fingers are crossed.

This gets 5 out of 5 stars; I recommend it wholeheartedly to everyone who loves good and engrossing stories, with a twist of well-known facts about famous people, in this case Jane Austen. :3

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Improvement on first book as Morgan has limited appearances and they go back to Chawton in Jane Austen’s time, so Jane is in it more. Some good historical details but the main problem is Rose. Although she is trying to be braver alit of time is taken up with her mixed feelings, indecisiveness and annoying self talk.
Pop sugar reading challenge 2021- a book you associate with a person or place.

[ElinorB · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthy sequel of the Jane Austen time-travel series. This book is filled with friendship, love, adventure and full of details book lovers and Janeites will rejoice in.

After enjoying the first book so much there was no question whether I would read the continuitation. It ended with a cliffhanger and the story picks up right where we were left.
Just when our heroine Rose thought her life would settle down and when she discovers her infatuation with Dr Trevellyen isn’t unrequited at all… in sweeps our favorite time-travelling author to sweep her up into another adventure.

Rose and Aiden travel back with Jane into the year 1813. Chawton is the main location this time. It is an important place for Jane Austen and her family. There is the Jane Austen Museum in her former home and the Great House where her brother Edward Knight nee Austen lived.

I’ve been to Chawton, Winchester and several other places in Hampshire related to Jane Austen’s life. While there I did learn about her life back then and additional information about her family.
Her sister Cassandra is mentioned a lot as being very close with Jane and of course the letters they always exchanged. Her brothers however are not so well known unless you read about the authors family life in more detail. Thus I was delighted to glimpse into Jane Austen’s home and family life and her interactions with her siblings. It gives further glimpses into her character and in context with the time-travel aspects the dialogues are hilarious. And modern language spoken by Rose and Aiden adds to the confusion of an overall unusual situation.

Plus as an avid reader you always wonder what it would be like to get to know your favorite author and learn about their life and how it influenced them. I certainly do. It has driven me to travel to the above mentioned places. And Jane Austen died in 1817 so it seems impossible. Not in this plot devised by Cass Grafton and Ada Bright. Rose getting that chance is a dream come true then. But is it really?

The 19th century is very different from the life we are used to in the 21st century. There aren’t modern inventions like tooth paste, electricity and many more. It certainly takes getting used to. Rose is struggling with adjusting to the 19th century. As an Jane Austen fan she has read a lot about it, sure. But putting it to practical use… something else entirely.
And her heart aches for getting to know Aiden now that she knows he has feelings for her as well. Courtship sounds romantic when reading about it in our beloved books. However their budding romance will have to develope with chaperones and sneaked moments together. Aiden really is remarkable. At first he does not want to wear the Regency clothes at all but he really cares for Rose and stands by her side. His curiosity as an archaeologist to see buildings he is used to seeing ruins of is a benefit as well.

And why did Jane bring Rose and Aiden back to 1813? There is a personal mystery connected to Rose that will challenge her further. Thankfully she has Aiden and the Austen family at her side, giving her support.

Rose goes on a personal journey and in many ways I can relate to her. Once again her friendship with Morgan shines through in many ways and she misses her dearly. The dynamic and bond reminds me of a friendship I have. I met her through Jane Austen and like Rose and Morgan we can talk for hours about books. The book is full of Harry Potter references and I love those. Jane Austen and Harry Potter might sound like an odd combination but you’d be surprised how many of my Jane Austen friends share a love of all things Harry Potter.

Once again Cass Grafton and Ada Bright manage to take us readers on another time-travel adventure full of love, friendship, and magic. You are transported into Jane Austen’s world and all those well researched pieces take you on road to discover more about your favorite author and the romance and society of former times.

Once again Jane Austen found the perfect words: “If adventure will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad.”

Rose is certainly going on an adventure. I recommend this book to fellow readers who enjoy this genre and are open to a little magic. I loved book one and if there is another book in this series I will certainly read the next books as well.

P.S. Next time I visit the Jane Austen Museum in Chawton I will pay more attention to all those items displayed there. And in my mind I’ll see the place like it was in Jane Austen’s time.

[Sarah Matchette · Rating 5 out of 5]

It doesn’t surprise me that I have fallen in love with the Austen Adventures series- I love these characters so much! Rose in particular is someone I identify with a lot- specifically her love of books and the importance she places on her independence and the life she’s built for herself. I don’t think I’ve ever read a series that manages to bring so much together- historical fiction, fantasy, romance, comedy- in such a coherent and enchanting way.

This book in the series was a lot of fun because it flips the first book on its head- instead of Jane Austen traveling to present day, Rose and co. travel back to the 19th century. I was as excited and anxious as Rose was to see what would happen- would they get back to the present? Why did Jane bring her back? What would happen with Aiden?

Austen fans will love the glimpses into the family life of the author, as well as the character of Jane herself- she’s exactly how I imagine her to be: steely, shrewd, smart as hell, and tough. The story itself is fun too, and ends on another cliffhanger that begs you to keep going. I’m sad I have to wait for the third book!

[Cate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sequel was very similar to the first, in that there is Jane Austen, one of her superfans, and time-travel. The only difference was that this time they go back to Jane Austen's time instead of Jane coming forward in time. It was as light and fun as the first (and I continue to be impressed with how well the two authors work together), but the pace was a little on the slow side for me. This book dealt with the culture shock of changing time periods a little more effectively, and there wasn't a huge cliffhanger at the end of this one (aside from ending with "The end... or is it?", which I don't really count as a cliffhanger). Thankfully the boring romance portion (because, frankly, it was!) was dialed back in this book.

Not the most amazing or captivating book I've ever read, but still fun. 3.5/5 stars

[Margaret Yelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen, so I was excited to read the second book. I found this book to be a entertaining read very well written. I personally enjoyed this book even more than the first one. Everything is back to normal at the start of the book and Rose and Aiden are finally starting to explore their feelings for each other. Things soon take an unexpected turn as Jane returns and what a story follows. I would recommend this book to everyone. I received an Advanced Readers Copy from the author and publisher and this is my honest review of the book.

[Christina Nielsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars.

A cute and lighthearted read. It took me a while to get the hang of the story, but I haven't read the first book in the series so that is my own fault.

The characters where charming and had their own cute quirks and attitudes that made them really loveable. The Austen siblings seemed well fleshed out, and they had a good bond. A lot of the time I feel like authors struggle with siblings and their bond and banter, which makes them seem not real. That was not the case with this book.

Some points of the story did feel a bit slow, and felt like it could have been made shorter or cut out. But all in all it was an enjoyable read.

[Craftyhj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I applaud the authors for their ingenuity in this 2 book series. Time travel is not normally my thing but I stayed up far too late to finish this one which is always a sign of an engaging book.

The characters are warm and believable and it was fun spending time with the Austen family rather than the families from one of her books. There are some charming interactions between all of the characters.

This story is complete although the door was left tantalising open for another time travelling jaunt.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've come to terms with the fact that one of my favourite genres is time travel, and having just lost a parent, this book was particularly moving. I highly recommend this book, but you really must read the first in the series, or you'll be quite confused! The authors create a believable blend of time periods with a delightful storyline, and I can't wait to see if there is a sequel!

[Myereading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it

This was book 2 of ‘The Austen Adventures’. I know nothing about Jane Austen, just her books. Now though, I want to learn more and isn’t that what a good book does-encourage the reader to find out more? Anyway, I really want a book 3. I want to find out about Jane’s further adventures. They surely can’t be done!

[Melmo2610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun series! I really enjoyed the adventures of Rose and Aiden when they journey back to 1813 with Jane Austen herself. The story line really drew me in and I could not put the story down. There are several instances where I laughed out loud and the ending is very well done. Great read and great series, I hope there are more books in this series.

[fiona marlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I'll hold up my hand and be ashamed to tell you I've only read a couple of novels by the marvellous Miss Austen. I have really enjoyed this story and the previous one. My husband is from Farringdon the next village, also mentioned briefly in the book. Really hoping there's another in the future. Thank you !