A romantic comedy in Georgian England
598914
I enjoyed this charming novella with a perfect blend of witty, funny and sexy. This story is a spin-off of Duke of Sin and features Hippolyta Royle, who appeared in several Maiden Lane novels.  The wealthiest heiress in England, she is an intriguing character, discreet but haughty.

On a moonlit night, Hippolyta is on the run, tracked by the fox hounds of the Duke of Montgomery. Lost, drenched and covered in mud, she is rescued by Matthew Mortimer, the new earl of Paxton. Despite her prissy attitude, he mistakes her for a down-on-her-luck actress, or, even worse, a beggar or a whore. He doesnt believe a word she says but is unable to leave her in the lurch and offers to take her to London. What follows is a delightful travel diary, with the most unlikely animal companion.

Due to the novella format, the evolution of Hippolyta and Matthews relationship is rather instant and I would have enjoyed more story and character development. But the elegant writing style, the humor and the witty banter totally won me over. Matthew brings a lot of sexiness and sweetness to this story. He definitely is Hippolytas knight in shining armor! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this romantic comedy and recommend it as a perfect summer read!

An advanced copy of this book was provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
4707068
Julianne Donaldson's Edenbrooke is a novel set in England in the Regency period. It follows seventeen-year-old Marianne Daventry from her grandmother's home in Bath to Edenbrooke, a country estate, where she will meet her twin sister and learn to become a proper lady. At Edenbrooke, she befriends the man of the house, Philip Wyndham, a friendship that is tested once her sister Cecily arrives and declares that Philip is the man she wishes to marry.

Edenbrooke will appeal to those who love Jane Austen and historical fiction, and it is also a great starting place for readers who may have an interest in Regency England but are somewhat daunted by Austen. Edenbrooke is written in more modern language that will help young adult readers relate to Marianne and follow the plot much easier, something that is convenient considering the several side plots that intertwine with the budding romance of Philip and Marianne.

I loved that Marianne wasn't an overly proper young lady. She prefers spending time in an orchard and twirling to sitting inside, something that prompts her grandmother to order her to observe the older women at Edenbrooke and learn how to be proper. Marianne has trouble with this, but it seems to only endear her more to Philip Wyndham.

The romance between Philip and Marianne is sweet and drawn out over the course of the novel. Marianne misunderstands certain events and conversations, causing her feelings to flip-flop almost constantly, but the misunderstandings are quite normal for an innocent girl of her age. In addition to being handsome, Philip is patient and waits for Marianne to come around and realize both his and her true feelings. To draw a comparison to Austen, Philip is Marianne's Mr. Darcy.

Edenbrooke is an easy, light read that will leave the reader wishing for a visit to the English countryside of Marianne's time. Everyone can relate to at least one of the characters, which makes the writing come alive and engage the reader in Marianne's adventures.
 I would definitely give Edenbrooke five stars!

Review by Lauren W., age 17, Mensa in Georgia
1879763
This is one of the author's later Regency romances (her next-to-last one, in fact) and while it's not nearly her best, it's not bad at all. It could also practically be titled "Regency Road Trip." Charity Steane (but who prefers to be called "Cherry") has the misfortune to be the daughter of a con man and wastrel who essentially abandoned her to a private school when she was small -- and neglected to pay the bills. Charity was eventually packed off to the country home of her aunt, who saw her as a source of free household labor and treated her abominably. Having taken all she can stand, Charity packs her old portmanteau and sets out on foot for London, to seek assistance from her grandfather, who had cut all ties with her father. However, though she's nineteen, Charity looks and acts much younger and has almost no experience at all of the world. Cut to young Viscount Desford who has been visiting his parents and is also on his way back to London. He sees Cherry trudging along the road and, being both a gentleman and a Good Person, picks her up for her own safety, promising to escort her where she's going. When Granddad (who wasn't expecting company) is discovered to have gone off to the country himself, Des is stuck with the bewildered and panicky girl, for whom he now considers himself responsible. What is he to do with her while he tries to locate the old man? He can't take her to his own home -- people would talk. So he conveys her quickly to the home, not far from his parents' place, of his very old friend, Henrietta Silverdale. Nearly ten years before, Des and Hetta had been the subjects of a parental conspiracy to get them married off, which they had successfully resisted, but they've remained very close and have frequently come to each other's rescue. So Hetta will look after young Charity while Des pursues his quest for her relief.

That's the set-up, somewhat reminiscent of a Hollywood-style romantic comedy, and it works very well. The supporting characters are equally well drawn and the action is more pall-mall than usual in Heyer's work, as Desford, playing the gallant knight errant, hares off to Harrowgate and Bath, interviewing reluctant servants and dealing with rebellion on the part of his own butler and groom, whose sense of the social niceties are more rigid than his own. The pattern you would expect, from experience in reading Heyer's books would be for Des and Charity to discover their feelings for each other in the last chapter, but -- well, I won't give the ending away. But it's an enjoyable weekend's read.
1287720
The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy is a novel that explores the idea of Anne de Bourgh (daughter of the insufferable Lady Catherine de Bourgh) being the reason why one of the greatest couples of all time come together. With the assistance of Darcy's younger sister, Georgiana, and his dear friend, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Anne does everything she possibly can to assure that her cousin marries Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

Unlike a lot of Jane Austen fan fiction, this novel follows very closely to Pride and Prejudice, resembling more a retelling than a brand new story itself. That isn't to say it's not enjoyable. There's added scenes (including some behind-the-scenes looks at Austen's scenes), some very nice character insight and new scenes of things we've always wondered about. The biggest changes I noticed were the alterations to Georgiana and Anne themselves. Georgiana is two years older in this tale and not nearly as quiet and shy. She also have a feverish love of romance novels, which reminded me some of Catherine Morland. Anne is far-removed from the sickly, weak woman we find in Austen's original. There are also some additions to the loves and suitors of others but I'll save that for you to read for yourself.

All in all, I find this book charming (and not to mention refreshing as I really enjoyed seeing things through the eyes of people who are normally background characters) and I'll be moving up Mary Lydon's other Austen title on my to-read list as well.
4530664
In the quiet and picturesque village of Highbury there lived a self-professed matchmaker of little experience and expertise yet she believed herself to be in possession of superior observational skills and the ability to see into everyone's heart. Emma Woodhouse, our twenty-one year old matchmaker of Highbury, rates the marriage of her governess to a wealthy and respected gentleman, Mr. Weston, as one of her laudable matchmaking successes and decidedly takes on the challenge of finding a suitable wife for the vicar of Highbury, Mr. Elton. Alas, Emma is not the talented matchmaker she thinks she is and makes frequent blunders in judgment and is often blind to the romantic inclinations of the people around her...

What then ensues is a spectacular comedy of manners that is heartwarming, satirical, lively, and charming.

Mr. George Knightley, brother-in-law to Emma, does not approve of Emma's new matchmaking hobby or her new friendship with Harriet Smith, "the natural daughter of nobody knows whom." Harriet Smith, a seventeen year old parlour border at the local school, is inferior to Emma in sophistication and sense. Mr. Knightley would much rather see Emma with a companion that is her equal in intelligence and influence her positively. Mr. Knightley is one of the few people in Emma's life that recognizes her faults; and believing her too often indulged and spoiled he makes no qualms about admonishing her for these faults. Unfortunately, Emma is often willful and ignores Mr. Knightley's wise counsel.

Jane Austen is quoted to have said Emma was a "heroine whom no one but myself will much like." This is true for some Austen fans who rank Emma Woodhouse as one of their least favorite heroines. However, there many readers that find her likable and claim her to be one of their favorite Austen characters. Emma Woodhouse is unique in that she is wealthy and well provided for, thus giving her little inducement to marry. In addition, even though she enjoys pairing up her friends and neighbors, Emma has little inclination or interest in finding love for herself and declares that she will never marry. (So much for having a romantic heroine!) Nonetheless, I am very fond of Emma, her lack of experience in the world has made her naive and the indulgence of her family has swelled her head, but she is not an unworthy or unlikable heroine. Throughout the course of this novel Jane Austen beautifully depicts the journey of Emma's maturation and displays her blossoming into a self-aware, humble, and sensible woman.

My favorite thing about "Emma" is the charming village of Highbury and all who reside within. There is such a pleasant mix of endearing and exasperating characters: Miss Bates, a poor spinster who dearly loves to share news with her neighbors; Mr. Woodhouse, such a generous and a caring man who suffers from nervous anxieties about the health of his family and friends; Mr. Weston with his jolly and sanguine temperament; and Mrs. Elton, who believes herself to be the first in consequence in the town and is extremely vulgar and conceited. According to Miss Bates "there are few places with such society as Highbury." How very true!

While "Pride and Prejudice" is the most famous and popular of Jane Austen's six major novels, I believe that "Emma" is truly an excellent, accomplished novel that is not to be overlooked. I may not recommend it to someone for their first experience with Jane Austen, as it is a bit lengthier than the others, but I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy traveling to the time and world of Jane Austen whether it be in book or on screen!

Austenesque Reviews
4641216
After seeing this book on several of the book blogs I follow, I quickly added Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl to my library reserve list.  If you enjoy Jane Austen, you will adore this romance set in the Regency period.  As a matter of fact, I saw elements from Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility, all three of which I greatly enjoyed.  It is a short novel and did only take me two days to read, but it was fun.  I have read that it can be considered "a gateway to more Jane Austen" for teens and I love the idea of any YA literature encouraging an appreciation for the classics.  The cover of the book also claims that those who liked I Capture the Castle will love this as well.  I didn't particularly care for that one as much as I had hoped I would, but this was wonderful.

A young woman of seventeen, Althea, lives in a poorly built castle with her mother, very young brother, and two horrible step-sisters.  The family is barely making ends meet and Althea has known for years the only possibility of saving her family from financial ruin is for her to marry well.  If she fails to find a wealthy husband, not only will her brother lose his only inheritance, the castle, but the servants and tenant farmers would be left with nothing as well.  Fortunately for Althea, she is a well-known beauty in her part of the country.  If only she could find the right man...

While some reviewers have objected to the idea of using one's beauty to secure a rich husband, the time in which this novel is set leaves our main character few other options.  I love the way the author handles the topic.  Love based on beauty is accepted, love based on wealth is not.  Or perhaps it is that a man may base his affections on shallow things, but a woman is expected to be accepting of whatever affections come her way.

"'So...' he thought this over.  'If I lost my money you wouldn't love me anymore?'

'If I became ill,' I countered, 'so that my hair fell out in clumps and my skin was covered with scabs and I limped, would you still love me?'

'Egad!' He stared at me, evidently attempting to picture this.  He turned a little green....

'It's not the same thing,' he said at last, looking sulky.  'Admiration of a woman's beauty in a man is...it's spiritual.  It shows he has a soul....But,' he went on, withdrawing his gaze, 'any consideration of the contents of a man's purse by a lady he is courting is...mercenary and shows a cold heart.'"

Later in the book, I loved this quote:

"It never ceases to astound me how often an unattractive man like Mr. Godalming considers himself above marriage to an equally unattractive woman."

This was a fun, very quick read and I would recommend it to any Jane Austen fan.  It is even on my Christmas gift list for one or two of them!
2223903
Elizabeth gives Georgianna a diary and she begins to write of the people and events at the house party at Pemberly. Romantic with plenty of action and written in Jane Austin's vernacular. Will Georgianna find her true love as her brother did? Read and see.
999457
So many colorful and amusing characters in this story of  the romance between an Artistic Gentleman and a practical lady as they work together on a play at the gentleman's country house.  The local villagers are excited to participate, the lady's cousin plays Juliette (the play being Romeo and Juliette).  There are delightful orphans, even an ersatz Tiny Tim with a club foot, a juggler, dancing dogs and a belle dame who dresses in her deceased husband's  old clothes.  Sir Swithin Idle , a memorable character in another of Joan Smith's stories, even makes an appearance here as  romantic rival to the Artistic Gentleman.  This is a sweet and very funny story of regular folk attempting Art and falling in love.
966103
BBC's adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's Wives and Daughters beautifully captures the nuances of family and personal relationships, against a Victorian backdrop. The writing by Andrew Davies [who also gave us Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth] is excellent as is the casting. Added to this are the gorgeous period authentic costumes, the lush landscape of the English countryside and a beautiful score.

The story centers around young Molly [played to perfection by the talented Justine Waddell] who is the daughter of local doctor, Dr. Gibson [Bill Patterson]. Both father and daughter are very close but the dynamics of their relationship changes with Dr. Gibson's remarriage to the self-absorbed and ludicruous Hyacinth [Francesca Annis]. Molly finds herself chafing under the Victorian strictures imposed by her stepmother, and finds some relief with the arrival of her glamorous step-sister, Cynthia [Keeley Hawes]. Both Molly and Cynthia form a friendship though their personalities are polar opposites. Cynthia is vivacious and a social butterfly, and very aware of her charms and effects on the opposite sex whereas Molly is unassuming and possesses a more natural sort of beauty.

The Hamley brothers, Osborne[Tom Hollander] and Roger [Anthony Howell] add romantic interest and Molly is dismayed by Roger's infatuation with Cynthia, as she herself harbors romantic feelings for him. Meanwhile Squire Hamley [Michael Gambon] plays an ambitious man who wishes to see his sons married into the 'right' family, i.e. with proper connections and wealth. The rest of the story deals with what happens to these young people with some revelations to spice things up!

This is one of my favorite BBC period dramas and Andrew Davies' screenplay is fantastic, bringing to life the intricacies of human relationships during Victorian times. Highly recommended!
4680694
A pleasant way to spend a few hours in old England with Trollope. Gorgeous settings, beautiful costumes, romance and intrigue. Closer to Jane Austen than Downton Abbey in tone.
3632669
Very enjoyable! Reminds me of Austen's Emma. Anyone who likes period productions will enjoy it. Also, Julian Fellowes does a great Alistair Cooke parody.
39445
In 18th century England, when Charity Barlow's parents are killed in a carriage accident, she finds herself alone and suddenly under the guardianship of the Marquess of St Malin, her godfather. But when she arrives at his castle overlooking the sea, Robert, her godfather's nephew advises her that the Marquess has died and he has now inherited the title. But her surprises do not end there. In the will, she and Robert are to marry in order for them to inherit the vast fortune. And so they marry, albeit reluctantly, setting the story for much tension. The heroine is strong, verbally uninhibited, and able to fight for herself against a husband who pays her little regard. The hero is arrogant, charming, has been hurt in the past, neglectful, and not sensitive to his new wife's needs.

This light romance, although a touch predictable, unfolds at a good pace and is easy to read. It's a great book to escape into, with a fun story line and a great heroine. Although the hero is a bit frustrating at times, I think it actually helps make the story better by creating more tension. We are able to see all his faults, watch as he redeems himself, and then we slowly come to accept him just as Charity finally does. The story unfolds in a London castle and the author did a terrific job of describing the details and opulen
4058201
I enjoyed reading "The Country House Courtship" by Linore Rose Burkard, set in Middlesex, England, 1818. It is a clever regency novel using characters from her previous story, "Before The Season Ends." In this story, little sister Beatrice is all grown up and ready to spend a season in London as her sister Ariana did so successfully five years before. She has visions of grandeur and a luxurious marriage with a gentleman of standing.

While visiting her sister in the Aspindon country estate, Beatrice is introduced to two men: a handsome, poor curate who used to pursue her sister (and whom the child Beatrice once promised to marry) and a dashing, polished, somewhat mysterious gentleman, although neither of them seems to perfectly fit what she is looking for in a husband. And she still has her heart set on going to London. When her sister falls ill, her hopes are all but shattered until her eyes are opened to truths and she realizes her priorities have been out of order. In the end, I was relieved that she finally matured and made the right, albeit obvious, decision.

I felt like I was waiting for a long while to see a deeper plot develop. But it did get going and I enjoyed the story. It was well edited and it flowed well. There is a nice glossary in the back to explain some of the English words. "The Country House Courtship" is an easy read, a nice diversion for those who enjoy the regency period.
1626393
The enormously talented Emma Thompson wrote the marvelous screenplay for this brilliant adaptation of Jane Austen's novel of the same name. Ms. Thompson rightly won a Academy Award for Best Screenplay for her efforts. The film itself, first class in every respect, received seven Academy Award nominations and was named Golden Globe Best Picture of the Year.
The film revolves around the two Dashwood sisters, the passionate and highly impetuous Marianne (Kate Winslet) and the more conformist and restrained Elinor (Emma Thompson), who have had a sudden reversal of fortune, having been left impoverished upon the death of their father. Their financial condition is exacerbated by the evil machinations of their sister in law, Fanny Dashwood (Harriet Walter), who manipulates her husband, their half brother, into pinching pennies with them, causing them no end of hardship.
This nineteenth century tale of morals and manners details the romantic trials and tribulations of the Dashwood sisters. Marianne falls in love with a scoundrel, John Willoughby (Greg Wise), who leaves her high and dry for a woman with a fortune. Meanwhile, the kind and courteous Col. Brandon (Alan Rickman) falls in love with Marianne and suffers from unrequited love for some time, until Marianne regains her senses. Elinor falls in love with Edwards Ferrars (Hugh Grant), her evil sister in law's brother, and he with her, but many obstacles to their pairing are interposed along the way. All comes out right in the end, however, but it is the getting there that makes this film a must see.
A witty, funny, and romantic film, it boasts a first class  ensemble cast. While Ms. Thompson may be a bit long in the tooth for the role which she plays, her thespian talents and charm enable her to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat. Beautifully directed by Ang Lee, this film should top the list of those who love Jane Austen and those who adore superlative period pieces.
4717331
This is just a great movie.  It is a beautiful, gentle romantic comedy.  It is based on. Jane Austen novel of the same name.  If one is a "reader", as I am, I recommend reading the novel first.  I almost always like good novels better than good movies.  This is one of the few exceptions.

In full disclosure, I am a huge Emma Thompson fan.  She is my personal favorite female Shakespeare actress.  She both wrote and acted in this movie.  She is more than great.  Kate Winslet is also a great actress and is also excellent, as feel she always is.
2027242
Sometimes, all I feel like is a light-hearted, amusing romance with a bit of action and some heartfelt moments. That is exactly what I got. For some reason, the Regency Era is the ideal time period to fit the bill. Maybe it's because it was such an age of extremes. While war raged with France right across the channel, an elegant facade was always kept in place on the home front.

I can relate to the heroine, Lady Miranda Hawthorne, as my well-meaning mother used to tutor me on socially acceptable behaviour until I didn't know if I was coming or going. In Lady Miranda's case, it was all to do with 'being a lady.' At least we no longer live in a time period when the expression, 'Be yourself,' was light years away. Miranda provides many moments of comedy, as she's free-spirited and spontaneous but has to rein it in. Even though she's memorised all the right moves, we always know her true self isn't far beneath the surface.

There is lots she has to keep secret, including the fact that she's been writing to her brother's school friend, the Duke of Marshington, since she was eight years old. They are more like journal entries, as she never actually posts them to the boy, even though she's heard rumours that he might be a kindred spirit. The idea of him is enough to help her pour out her heart. When her brother's handsome new valet catches her eye, Miranda mentions those feelings in her letters too. That's about the time when one of her letters accidentally makes it way to the Duke of Marshington for real!

We might imagine that women of her era and station (who couldn't even prepare a cup of tea) lived wonderful lives, but working hard at being ladies of leisure was a 24 hour job I would have found hard to take on. A lady can't even show the world such an unnatural weakness as sneezing if she is to be taken seriously. You can't help wishing a happy ending for her, and I found the hero very swoon-worthy and a perfect match for her. He's had a sad childhood, but is still resourceful and heroic. His sense of humour probably helped a lot.

I hope the future novels in this series focus on members of her family, and especially her two entertaining brothers. I'm sure their stories would be great.
1078545
Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is an account of society in the early nineteenth century.  Austen primarily focuses on the ridiculous pressure to marry.  She does an exquisite job satirizing or "poking fun" at the extreme views of those who lived during that time.  She gives the reader a good look at how truly important first impressions are and how love can conquer all.  Austen develops her main characters Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, with very conflicting character traits.  These conflicting traits allow the build up of tension between these two characters.  This gives the novel a pleasant amount of intensity that leads to an ousting ending.  Austen sucks you into a thoroughly enchanting world, making the novel impossible to put down.  I recommend this novel to those who enjoy intellectual wit and have a soft heart for romance.  Pride and Prejudice is a wonderfully endearing novel that is bound to touch women of every age.