Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2016 discussion

I'm aiming to review as I go along, something I've been very bad at up till now. Anyone reading this thread - please feel free to shout out at me if I've added more than three books to this list without posting a link to a review! N. B. The Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Audible (if it's an audiobook) reviews will be identical to the Goodreads one. Yes, I'm lazy enough to do that, I'm afraid.

1: The Last Waltz by Pat Santarsiero

Goodreads review posted here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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2: Blubells in the Mourning by KaraLynne Mackrory

Goodreads review posted here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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3: Just finished the audio version of Pride and Persistence by Jeanna Ellsworth

Goodreads review posted here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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4. Just finished The Gentleman's Impertinent Daughter by Rose Fairbanks.

Goodreads review posted here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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5. Another audiobook added to my total. Just finished listening to Anne's Adversity by Jennifer Joy.


Goodreads review posted here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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6. The Darcy Brothers by Abigail Reynolds, Monica Fairview, Cassandra Grafton, Maria Grace and Susan Mason-Milks.

Review now posted:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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7. Finished my re-read of Northanger Abbey this morning.

Review posted here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


I'll add a separate post around the end of every month with my progress so far. Hoping to make it to the Mr. Bennet level eventually but not sure I'll get there, so I'm under rather than over estimating what I'll achieve. Also, I've decided to start a new post for each month rather than continually re-edit this one. Just started one for February with book no. 8.

Hi, Anji, have you read KaraLynne Mackrory’s Haunting Mr. Darcy - A Spirited Courtship? If not, you should pick it up; I actually like that one better than Bluebells.

I agree with Abigail, but I did enjoy all of her books. "Haunting" is delightful!!

Hi Abigail and Claudine. There's a copy of Haunting Mr. Darcy on it's way to me. I was lucky enough to win three books of my choice in a Meryton Press competition late last year and that was one of my choices. I'm really looking forward to reading it, especially as I like a bit of paranormal mixed in with my JAFF (apart from vampires).

Bluebells keeps getting recommended to me on Amazon, and I have been wondering about it. I wasn't sure if wanted to take the risk.

Ahnya, it's been awhile since I read Bluebells in the Mourning, I I loved it!!! I keep meaning to go back and re-read it one day, but my TBR list is huge!!

Ahnya- you should definitely read 'Bluebells'. Quite a lot of angst but a lovely read nonetheless.

Oh yes, Ahnya, Bluebells is a wonderful read! I am a huge wimp and angst-weenie and I loved it.

Both Bluebells in the Mourning and Haunting Mr. Darcy are well worth the time to read. Angst in one - situation funnier in the second. Enjoyed both.

Thanks everyone for the recommendation, it is now on my kindle wish list. I already had Haunting Mr. Darcy.

Just in case anyone thinks I've jumped ship this past week, I haven't! Some of you will know that I moonlight as a beta reader and right now, I have my first beta project of the year underway. Obviously, I can't give any details but I will be including and reviewing the book in my list once it's published.

Great!! Look forward to it!!

Great!! Look forward to it!!

Bluebells and Haunting Mr. Darcy are both excellent reads. But I have to say that the latter one reminded me so much of the movie Just Like Heaven.

Claudine wrote: "Great!! Look forward to it!!"

The book concerned is Accusing Elizabeth: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Jennifer Joy

I'll be re-reading it soon and posting a review.

Abigail wrote: "Hi, Anji, have you read KaraLynne Mackrory’s Haunting Mr. Darcy - A Spirited Courtship? If not, you should pick it up; I actually like that one better than Bluebells."

"Haunting" arrived a couple of days ago, Abigail. Hope to get to it in the next couple of months.

Claudine wrote: "I agree with Abigail, but I did enjoy all of her books. "Haunting" is delightful!!"

My copy of "Haunting" arrived just a couple of days ago. I hope to get to it in the next couple of months.

Sheila wrote: "Bluebells and Haunting Mr. Darcy are both excellent reads. But I have to say that the latter one reminded me so much of the movie Just Like Heaven."

I don't think I've seen that film Sheila. My copy of " Haunting" arrived a couple of days ago and I hope to read it in the next couple of months or so.

Oops, answered my question from the Caroline Bingley thread!

Abigail wrote: "Oops, answered my question from the Caroline Bingley thread!"S

Know what you mean, Abigail. Sometimes it's difficult to keep track of everything!

I think you drew me in the 'Someone else pick it for me' February draw. Have you decided on anything from my list for me to read yet?

Aak, Anji, I’m so sorry! Somehow I fell off that thread and never got the announcement of the pairings (or the page and a half of posts that came after). I don’t want to impose Longbourn on you because I thought it was a very bad book; and obviously, An Obstinate, Headstrong Girl is out of the question. ;-)

So I’m going to suggest that you read Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid, which I quite liked. I’m currently reading an annotated edition of NA, so it will be as if we are reading together! (Sorta.)

Thanks Abigail. I'll read the original first, I think, as it's been a few years since I last read it. Then I'll go straight into Val McDermid's version. Interesting what you say about Longbourn. I've heard very mixed things about it. No one seems to sit on the fence. Folk seem to either love it or hate it. By the way, I wouldn't have had a problem at all with you recommending An Obstinate, Headstrong Girl!

My dislike of Longbourn is not based on the grittiness that so many people have disliked; the lives of servants really were gritty! I thought the plot meandered, and I didn’t like how the author changed the original characters and scenes to suit her purposes. When the canonical characters are too different in a modern writer’s story, I’m often left with the suspicion that the author has used the Jane Austen connection as a “hook” for sales, without really respecting the original.

OK, Abigail, I'll bear that in mind when I eventually get around to reading it. I've often thought that if I was living in Regency times, I'd most likely be one of those servants having to endure that gritty life and not one of the gentry or aristocracy.

Anji wrote, “I’d most likely be one of those servants . . .”

Most of us would be!

Hope I didn’t give away too much about Longbourn.

END OF MONTH UPDATE - 7 DOWN.

If I can keep up that average, it means 84 for the year. I'd like to make it into Mr. Bennet's Library by the end of 2016 but things coming up later this year may throw a spanner(s) in those particular works. Keeping my fingers crossed that one of those spanners isn't back surgery, which I found out may be a possibilty just a couple of days ago.

Some of the items on my list are more novella length rather than full length so they may help increase the reading rate from time to time.

Surgery is a scary thought, but if you're suffering with your back hopefully it will be worth it. I struggled to read while I was convalescing from my hip problem, but enjoyed watching some period dramas as it requires less concentration.

Anji, it's a great start. I too had a slow start this year, partly because of work, family things, and I had several ARCs.

Anji wrote: "Hi Abigail and Claudine. There's a copy of Haunting Mr. Darcy on it's way to me. I was lucky enough to win three books of my choice in a Meryton Press competition late last year and that was one of..."
I'm okay with Vampires, as they can still be very attractive and sexy, but I am not fond of Zombies...

Haunting is one of my very favorites.

Ceri wrote: "Surgery is a scary thought, but if you're suffering with your back hopefully it will be worth it. I struggled to read while I was convalescing from my hip problem, but enjoyed watching some period ..."
I had surgery in December and hoped to get a lot read, but I also found concentrating to be difficult afterward. I am trying very hard to catch up!

Good luck Anji! I agree with Barbara that recovery can go either way, but taking care of yourself is the first priority!

Barb wrote: "Anji wrote: "Hi Abigail and Claudine. There's a copy of Haunting Mr. Darcy on it's way to me. I was lucky enough to win three books of my choice in a Meryton Press competition late last year and th..."

My copy of Haunting arrived last week, Barb, and it's high up on my list. I'm with you on the zombie thing, too. Not sure if I'll be able to watch P&P&Z!

Ceri wrote: "Surgery is a scary thought, but if you're suffering with your back hopefully it will be worth it. I struggled to read while I was convalescing from my hip problem, but enjoyed watching some period ..."

Know what you mean about reading and hospitals/convalescing, Ceri. That's usually when I get the crochet/cross stitching out. Different sort of concentration, I guess. I do have a cross stitch kit that's a picture of Chawton Cottage which I bought at the gift shop there. Maybe, if I have to have surgery, I can get that started! I wonder if that would count towards my total?

Claudine wrote: "Good luck Anji! I agree with Barbara that recovery can go either way, but taking care of yourself is the first priority!"

Thanks, Claudine!

I hope you can avoid the back surgery and still get some relief! I am awaiting a referral to a back specialty clinic to see if I need to go down the same road, so I can sympathize about the worry. Nothing like a good Austenesque novel to take one’s stress away!

Abigail wrote: "I hope you can avoid the back surgery and still get some relief! I am awaiting a referral to a back specialty clinic to see if I need to go down the same road, so I can sympathize about the worry. ..."

I hope I can avoid it, too, Abigail. I'm waiting for an MRI scan to see exactly how bad the problem is and if surgery will be necessary. In the meantime, lots of painkillers and reading!

Anji and Abigail, I hope all goes well with you two. Surgery is scary, but if you get relief from your problems hopefully it will be the end. Good luck to you both.

Thanks Carol. I too hope both Abigail and I can avoid it.

As I am reading of the distress both of you are suffering my heart goes out to you and my prayers. What is that saying about if you have good health? So sorry for your pain and hope the doctors may be blessed with wisdom in your treatments.

Thank you, Carol and Sheila, for all your kind thoughts!

Good health and quick recoveries to Anji, Abigail, and everyone this year!

Sheila wrote: "As I am reading of the distress both of you are suffering my heart goes out to you and my prayers. What is that saying about if you have good health? So sorry for your pain and hope the doctors may..."

Thanks so much Sheila.

Paige wrote: "Good health and quick recoveries to Anji, Abigail, and everyone this year!"

Thanks for the good wishes Paige.

I decided to start a new post for a new month, instead of continually editing the one I started in January.

8. My latest audiobook has been The Importance of Being Emma by Juliet Archer .

Review now posted:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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Two books to add this time.

9. When Mary Met the Colonel by Victoria Kincaid

Review posted:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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10. Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid

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Two more audiobooks to add:

11. Persuasion: Unabridged by Jane Austen

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12. Almost Persuaded: Miss Mary King by P.O. Dixon

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13. To Refuse Such a Man: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by P.O. Dixon narrated by Pearl Hewitt

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14. Accusing Elizabeth: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Jennifer Joy

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15. Jane Austen Lives Again by Jane Odiwe

Review now posted:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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16. Yours Forevermore, Darcy by KaraLynne Mackrory

Just posted my review of Val McDermid's Northanger Abbey:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've posted the first two reviews of the four I owe.

Persuasion: Unabridged

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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Almost Persuaded: Miss Mary King

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here's the links to the reviews for the other two:

Accusing Elizabeth: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Jennifer Joy:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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To Refuse Such a Man: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by P.O. Dixon:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here's the link to my review of Jane Austen Lives Again by Jane Odiwe:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Reveiew for Yours Forevermore, Darcy by KaraLynne Mackrory now posted:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

END OF MONTH UPDATE - 9 DOWN. RUNNING TOTAL = 16.

So another month begins and spring is, hopefully just around the corner. Having said that it's really miserable today here in Yorkshire. Grey, cold, windy and raining.

Not a bad month for me TBR-wise. Two more than in January, despite it being a shorter month. I do have another beta project underway which I won't be able to count till after publication, obviously. This one is coming a chapter at a time, rather than as a solid block all at once, so I can get some other reading done inbetween, just not as much.

I may take a break from JAFF audios once I finish my current one as I recently bought Juliet Stevenson's narration of North and South. It's over 18 hours long, so it should keep my commutes interesting for a few weeks. It seems I've almost exhausted Audible's catalogue of JAFF audios and I've only got about half a dozen left, plus the rest of Jane Austen's own works.

I am impressed that you are reaching that stage of almost being out of audibles. I don't read that way as I am retired but I see NO end in sight on reading of JAFF on kindle or in paperback. I still have many of my older paperbacks I need to re-read to post reviews on. But someone is always recommending a new book and I have no will power not to jump on it. Hope you are feeling better.