Elin’s Comments (group member since Dec 31, 2022)

Elin’s comments from the Austenesque Lovers TBR Challenge 2023 group.

Thank you Kirk and Shelley!

Thank you, Jeanne!

It came up at the latest JAff reader/writer get-together that an author should not rate or review another author for ethical reasons. Even if to leave a high rating. I stopped doing that when I started publishing but dabbled a little with it this summer. It didn't feel right, even if I only left ratings/reviews for 4 or 5 star books.
This group is another matter. This is where I keep track of my own reading, and the comments I make is what I look up when I am contemplating rereading. (I am not good at spreadsheets and such. Would not like to tackle that to keep track...)
When I said honest, I didn't mean to be mean. I try to be kind, and circumspect. If I thought that a book was boring I will call it a slow burner, or if the first person narrative was badly done, I will simply mention that it was written in first person, etc.
The gloves come off if it is extremely provoking, like a modern I read where Darcy ties Elizabeth’s hands and feet, fill her pockets with stones and throws her into the river to run off with Caroline. Elizabeth drowned and I hated it enough to not recommend it...

I joined this group in 2017, and I absolutely love it. Even if I have been less active, I like to find recommendations her, and my favourite reviewers, that I trust and have similar tastes as are here. If no one mind my small contributions, I would like to continue :)

I'm having qualms about the ethics of me participating in this group and me voicing my opinion on other authors' work. I have to be honest, and my opinions will not always be favourable.
What is your opinion on the matter? Should an author/reader not participate in a public group, or is it okey?

DECEMBER:

189.
Darcy’s Christmas Scheme, Zoe Burton
D arrived late and brought Georgiana to Netherfield. Fall in love at first sight but Elizabeth had been hurt/jilted and was sceptical. Sugar heavy.

190.
A Winter Afternoon,
A lovely North and south fic.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14303369...

191.
How to get caught under the mistletoe, Alix James
A wonderful, funny and romantic Christmas themed novel with the action unfolding in London. E, J and Charlotte's lovestories. E a tad on the too sarcastic side.

192.
Who is Elizabeth’s Soulmate, Laura Moretti
Eclectic paranormal where people could hear their soulmate's music.

193.
Happy Christmas from the Darcys, Barbara Silkstone.
A modern, light-hearted involving dogs, orphans and a crazy Caroline, Christmas story.

194.
The Last House in Lambton, Grace Gibbons
Lovely deep slow-burner with a dark ambiance.

195.
Lucky 13, Cat Gardiner
Reread. I do love this modern, Darcy as firefighter calender candy and Elizabeth running the ad campaign. And despite a weird ex-boyfriend interaction, I still love it.

196.
The Knight Before Christmas, Marilyn Brant
Reread. My traditional Christmas read, a modern, chaste, romantic Emma variation. Recommend!

197.
The Yuletide Brides, Glynnis Campbell
This steamy medieval Christmas quadrilogy was not what I am looking for in a Christmas read. No Christmas spirit, just steam...

198.
An unexpected merry gentleman Anngela Schroeder.
A sweet, romantic and lighthearted novella. Bingley befriends the Gardiners and return to Netherfield. Mr and Miss Darcy soon follow. Recommend!

199.
Mr Darcy’s Christmas Letter, Melanie Rachel.
A delightful, compelling book that started out a little gloomy but with several laugh out loud funny moments towards the end. Definitely worthy of a reread next Christmas.

200.
Snowflakes at Pemberley, Jennifer Kay
DNF 54%, unengaging. Elizabeth is in Lambton with her aunt when they happen upon D at the assembly. What followed was dry and predictable.

201.
The Christmas Trade, Iris Lim
Reread. Holds up very well the second time around. A modern fake boyfriend trope novella. Highly Recommend!

202.
An Old Aquaintance, Cat Andrews
Modern lovers to enemies trope. DNF, 68%. A riveting story but I am not in the mood for ODC moving on and dating other people.

203.
At Bernwood Manor, Iris Lim
Freebie signing up for her newsletter.
A lovely romantic and chaste second chance, Regency novelette.

204.
Tis Season, anthology
Heart Enough, Amy D'Orazio, DNF. D engaged to Anne.
Welcome Home, Mary Smythe
Stranded at Pemberley, Jenetta James
Christmas at Blacktorn Manner, Lucy Marin

205.
Mr Darcy Steals a Kiss, Alix James

I made it to the Pemberley library, yay!!!

Master of Puppets is 0.99 for a week, celebrating its first anniversary and a new cover. The content is unchanged.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BPJYYD2C

28 authors have united and offer ebooks, paperbacks, and audiobook prizes. The link to enter:
https://authoramandakai.wixsite.com/h...

Thank you, Jeanne!

Thank you, Craftyhj!
Best of luck with your goal and happy reading!

NOVEMBER:

173.
Notorious, Katherine Harlow
A flat and predictable steamy romance. 3*

174.
Ice Cold Boss, Olivia Hayle
A compelling story, though lacking in depth. Faye needs a job and after numerous recetions as an architect, sends a drunken, extreamly honest, application for an assistant possition at an architect firm. 4.5*

175.
My Funny Valentine
Read aloud word.

176.
My Funny Valentine
Read aloud myself. Off to beta readers.

177.
My Funny Valentine
Polishing after beta feedback. Off to editor.

178.
The Scarred Duchess
Beta read.

179.
Fredrica, Georgette Heyer
Funny with unusual hero and heroin. 5*

180.
Shirley, Charlotte Brontë
Research, the industrial depression 1811-1812. Not my cup of tea but a useful look into the cotton mills's environment of the time.

181.
My Funny Valentine first edit.

182.
The Perfect Love Song, Riana Everly.
An echo of Austen’s sweet, chaste, speed-dating modern variation. Jane and Bingley’s story. Lovely but not my cuppa.

183.
My Funny Valentine second read editor.

184.
My Funny Valentine
Read after proofreading and sent to formatting.

185.
Persuading Outback Angie, Barbara Randall
Modern Persuasion set in Australia. Ok, but not written in an engaging way, too naive, and too many unnecessary descriptions.

186.
Mr Darcy and the Designing Woman, Regina Jeffers.
Interesting premise but unengaging. Elizabeth is interested in architecture and Pemberley house has burnt down. Despite the immediate attraction between ODC, D went to a house party and courted a couple of ladies. Another fire prevented him from proposing and E&D wed about halfway through. Why the book continued after that I have no idea, but I liked that Mr Bennet stepped up and took care of his family.

187.
Holiday machinations, Elizabeth Adams
A lovely Christmas themed novelette that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy.

188.
Pemberley Misteltoe, Emmaline Hoffmeister/Ayr Bryar
Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy plan a small gathering for Christmas but received a number of uninvited guests.


Just 12 more to get to Pemberley, fingers crossed!

Fabulous progress, Kirk!

Thank you, Kirk!

Thank you, Jeanne!

OCTOBER:

159.
The Shadows of Absence
Paperback

160.
The Trouble with Friends, Kelly Miller
A riveting love triangle with a lovely story arc for Georgiana and Mary. 5*

161.
The Appearance of Goodness, Brenda Webb
Unputdownable, heart-wrenching story with Darcy having an identical twin brother. 5*

162.
Compromise & Consequence, Sue Barr
Reread 3. Elizabeth as Spanish royalty. ODC together at odds. 5*

163.
Taming grumpy Dr Beast, Stephanie Harrell
Either I'm able to predict the future, or I have read this book before, under another title/author.
A slow, not well thought out book. Inconsistencies. Lily's father has alzheimer and she is covering for him at work as a book restorer, hired by a grumpy, billionaire dr.

164.
North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell
A beautiful, swoon-worthy love story
5*

165.
A Room With a View, E.M. Foster
Recommended on a list of 30 classic romance must reads. The author of Howards End.
Not my cuppa. I didn't like any of the characters and that is a must for me to enjoy a book.

166.
Agnes Grey, Anne Bronte.
Recommended on the list mentioned above.
The romance in the second half of the book was lovely in its understatedness. The first half was a tedious narrative of misbehaved children torturing baby animals etc, and the heroins martyric thoughts. If reread, start at 54%.
4*

167.
The Grand Sophy, Georgette Heyer
My first Heyer, and definitely not the last. I loved this humorous adventure and the bonkers heroine. But, as with North & South, I was left a bit baffled at the end, wondering if the last chapter was missing. The resolution comes at very last page, and I would have loved a few pages of happiness at the end. (By that, I do not mean the tedious listing of who married who, and how many children they begot, but just seeing the couple happy for a couple of pages.) 5*

168.
The Trouble with Friends, Kelly Miller
A compelling, beautifully written, page turner, with a funny game of who loves me--who loves me not. 5*

169.
My Funny Valentine, plot holes, flow, inconsistencies.

170.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Anne Bronté
Riveting, Unputdownable!
The love story of Gilbert Markham and Helen Huntingdon. She is married to a debauched brute and run away from him. 5*

171.
My Funny Valentine
Fixing abrupt transistions.

172.
Selected Poems by John Keats
Delightful 5*

Closing in on that Pemberley library. Fingers crossed, I think I am going to make it. Yay!

Thank you, Jeanne!
Where Love Resides will be free this weekend, in celebration of the JAff get-together.

Thank you, Kirk <3

Thank you, Kirk!
I have started the injections, so all will be well as soon as the side effects wears off. Ironically, the side effects are the same as the symptoms I am trying to get rid off.

So am I, and that it was something that can be fixed, yay.
I store everything important in a cloud. Finger crossed, it will never malfunction!

Thank you, Jeanne!
The flood didn't help, no. I lost all my notes and links for TSoA. I stored it in a notepad I haven't been able to retrieve. I usually don't do a backup until the story is completely finished. Lesson learnt...

I am sorry I have been a bit absent lately. I have been unwell, and I was rather relieved it was nothing worse than diabetes, phew... It is a good thing that I have no problem with needles, though, lol.

But I managed to publish The Shadows of Absence with a little hiccup to spice things up. I did so before Jo had finished her third reading, and therefore, for the first three days, the manuscript had some minor issues. The errors have been corrected, but please download the new version if you bought it hot off the press. Btw, this was entirely my fault and doesn't refelect on Jo. Her communication was very clear. I plead a short-circuit in my brain, that proves that it is time for a long break...

SEPTEMBER:

143.
Enemies with Benfits, Roxie Noir
Hilarious contemporary, compelling, romcom with an enemies-to-lovers plot. The main characters reminded me a little of Darcy and Elizabeth, and sure enough, PnP is mentioned in the book :) 5*

144.
An Unpleasant Sort of Man, Michelle D'Arcy
Murder mystery slow-burner. Wickham is found dead, and Darcy became a suspect. An eavesdropping Elizabeth came to his rescue, and ODC's relationship developed slowly from then on. A bit too slow, hence the deduction of a star. 4*

145.
The Darcy Files, Cat Gardiner
A wondeful collection of sweet short stories from WWII, the 60s, and modern times. 5*

146.
Darcy or Lizzy, Cassandra B. Leigh
A funny bodyswap trope that dragged. 3*

147.
The Shadows of Absence
Read after first editing by Jo.

148.
The Wallflower, Frances Reynolds
Unique and inventive. Assembly moved to London, with grave repercussions for Elizabeth, who was shunned because of Darcy’s insult. First person narrative. 5*

149.
A Picture Of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde
It's not my favourite. I found it an unamusing, psychedelic, a muddle of contradictions, implausible poppycock, and it didn't help that it was unengaging. It is a quotable book, but not a pleasant read.

150.
Billion Dollar Beast, Olivia Hayle
Light, funny, steamy enemies to lovers. 5*

151.
The Seven Sins of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Julue Cooper.
Hilarious, exquisite, laugh-out-loud banter, slow second half where there was one twist too many. 5*

152.
The Shadows of Absence
Read after second editing by Jo.

153.
Best Friends Backups & Something More, Renee Clark.
Contemporary SnS genderswap variation. Dry and unengaging.

154.
Bossing Mr Knightley, Ava Monroe
Modern Emma. Abandoned after Emma peeed in Edgar's coffemaker carafe. Gross!

155.
New Discoveries, Eightyearsandahalf
A cute Persuasion oneshot.

156.
The Shadows of Absence
After Jo's third reading.

157.
The Shadows of Absence
After proofreader.

158.
The Shadows of Absence
After formatting.