Austenesque Lovers TBR Challenge 2019 discussion

Normally, I would not put a group event right at the start of the challenge, but with the encouragement of Patricia, I would like to bring back the Group Read activity a few times this year.

We will be aiming to start this group read mid-month, January 15th, rather than the 1st.


UPDATTE Dec 23rd 2018 As of now, our original chosen book is still unavailable for purchase or loan so I am making the executive decision to go with the fallback plan I mentioned in the last group message.
For those planning to participate in the Group Read starting January 15th, our new book will be A Very Austen Valentine by Robin Helm, Laura Hile, Wendi Sotis, Barbara Cornthwaite, Susan Kaye, and Mandy Cook. This book is available for pre-order and will release Dec 29th. It will be available in the Amazon Kindle Unlimited program, too.

I thank those who recommended our original book and I hope it will release soon so we can all enjoy it. :)

If you are planning to participate, leave a comment below. What's your pre-read impression of the book?

Sophia will post occasional guide questions to get the ball rolling, but feel free to pose your own questions, discussions, or observations as you read. If you are concerned your comment/question might fall in the spoiler category, please warn at the top of your comment so we are prepared.

I'm in!! Exciting news that there is a sequel. I hope there isn't too much disturbance in the Emma/Knightley force to create drama.

Kirk wrote: "I'm in!! Exciting news that there is a sequel. I hope there isn't too much disturbance in the Emma/Knightley force to create drama."

Super! I can't wait. I'm hoping all the drama happens around and not to them as well. :)

Adding it to my calendar... thanks Sophia and Patricia ;)

writer... wrote: "Adding it to my calendar... thanks Sophia and Patricia ;)"

Glad to have you join us. :) Hopefully, the book will release on time.

I am going to join this round looking forward to it

Yay, Lenora!

I’d love to join! But, will I still enjoy this if I haven’t read Emma first?

Torrie wrote: "I’d love to join! But, will I still enjoy this if I haven’t read Emma first?"

Hmm, not sure. This is a sequel and probably assumes the reader is at least familiar with the earlier Emma story, but it also sounds like it's leading into a new direction when I read the synopsis.

Have you seen any of the Emma movies even if you haven't read the book? That would probably be enough of a catching up, too, Torrie.

But, yes, you are most welcome to join. :)

Sophia wrote: "Torrie wrote: "I’d love to join! But, will I still enjoy this if I haven’t read Emma first?"

Hmm, not sure. This is a sequel and probably assumes the reader is at least familiar with the earlier E..."

Hmm. I've watched Clueless lol. I'm going to look for the Gwenyth version online. Although...I may just wait on this one.

Loved Clueless, but probably wouldn't help you out here.

However, if we end up going with the back up book instead of this one, we would love to have you join. I've not seen any more hints that this one is going to release since the announcement in October. The back up is A Very Austen Valentine anthology.

Sophia wrote: "Loved Clueless, but probably wouldn't help you out here.

However, if we end up going with the back up book instead of this one, we would love to have you join. I've not seen any more hints that th..."

I'll keep my eyes on this! Thank you :)

Sure thing!

FYI......from the author's blog...

"Delays, delays, delays…
20
Thursday
Dec 2018

I’m so sorry. I goofed. I announced that the new book would be released by Christmas….and it won’t be. That’s the bad news. The good news is that when it is released, it will be a much better book than what I would have done otherwise. I don’t want to give a new release date now, because I don’t want to mess up again! But the next time I give a date, it will be a for-real, for-sure, guaranteed date! It shouldn’t be too long.

Thank you for your patience, and so sorry, again, for the false alarm."

Not your fault. I saw the same post if we're talking about Match Made in Worthing. :)

No worries. I think the back up book sounds fab, too, and I think lots of us won't be disappointed. :)

Sophia wrote: "Not your fault. I saw the same post if we're talking about Match Made in Worthing. :)

No worries. I think the back up book sounds fab, too, and I think lots of us won't be disappointed. :)"
Yes, I copied that from the author's blog. :(

We'll have the author's novella in the new anthology, but still have the Emma sequel to anticipate for later. :) New release dates can be tricksy things.

I am very late to the discussion, but I am in for this! I think I can really get into reading some short love stories in time for Valentine's Day. I already have my Kindle Unlimited copy, so I am all set.

Just got my book. Gotta love KU!!

is it the book that was released today??

Woohoo that Barb and Debbie are joining.

@ Patricia- yes, it released today I believe. :)

For those who are interested in a bit more about the writers behind the stories, here's the blog launch party post for the book @ More Agreeably Engaged blog: https://moreagreeablyengaged.blogspot...

Also a chance to score a giveaway copy, too. :)

how much of book do we need to read by what day??

Read at your own pace, Patricia. With it being novellas you can break it up anyway you would like. :)

I mean what day is first discussion??

Oh, LOL, sorry about that. Well, I will post some starter questions on the 15th when the group read officially starts and then probably a few follow-up questions nearer the end of January. The starter questions can be answered as you go and get the feel for the book.

In some previous book reads, people were making comments about the book before the month even started! We don't wait until Sophia gets her starter questions out there if we have something to say, Patricia.

@ Debbie This is exactly right, Debbie. Everyone is welcome to get the jump on the book and start reading when they would like, ask questions, or make comments. My part is more if someone wants to discuss, but doesn't know what to say.

@ Patricia- Right now, we are discussing pre-read impressions if you have any like impressions of cover, level of excitement over the author, title, and blurb. :)

@ Judy Yay!!!! So glad you're going for it with the first Group Read

I'll be dipping in and out of the group as usual but will try and read a bit more than last year. I'll skip this one as my reading has been sketchy and I have a lot of catching up to do.

Sure! No problem, Teresa. Feel free to join the discussions here if you like.

i will Sophia. It's this group and my GH one that keeps me going.

I have a few non fiction books about Jane that I want to read. So I'll post a bit about those when I get to them.

I'm so glad. I find this group an encouragement, too. :)

I’m in! New to this group and super excited!

Elizabeth Chereb wrote: "I’m in! New to this group and super excited!"

Great! Enjoy!

Elizabeth Chereb wrote: "I’m in! New to this group and super excited!"

That's wonderful, Elizabeth. I'm looking forward to a fun reading year with the group, too. :)

I'm a little late to the party, but I am looking forward to this!

Not late at all, Dana! Glad to have you. The official start isn't until the 15th, but I suspect most of us will jump in sooner. :)

so far I am really liking laura hiles story. if I am thinking this right, its like a mini sequelto her mercy embrace series. :)

Really? I love those books. I can't wait to read it. It's about Sir Walter, right?

I haven't done a Group Read before but I already have the book from KU. Looking forward to the group discussions.

I had a chance to read Laura Hile's Sir Walter story -- HEA for two unfavorite characters!

What does hea mean??

Patricia wrote: "What does hea mean??"

Hi Patricia. HEA means Happy Ever After. You may also see HFN, which means Happy for Now

Glad you can join us, Wose!

Joining in on this one! Kinda happy the original wasn't available since I'm not ready for sequels yet lol.

Torrie wrote: "Joining in on this one! Kinda happy the original wasn't available since I'm not ready for sequels yet lol."

It definitely worked out well and is great that we had a nice replacement ready to go. :)

I’m in! I’m on the blog tour for this one anyway. :) I loved their first Christmas anthology so can’t wait for this one.

Serendipity, then. I love when things work out like that. Glad to have you, Anna!

I'm about halfway through already. thing I love about anthologies you feel you're getting reading done and they're quick reads when you have busy schedule

Dana wrote: "You may also see HFN, which means Happy for Now"

I've never come across that one! Thanks, Dana!

Others acronyms that pop up a lot here are ODC for Our Dear Couple, ODG for Our Dear Girl (Elizabeth, of course!), and FMS for Forced Marriage Scenario. I know there are others, but those are all I can think of for now.