About the Book
Title: A Very Austen Romance
Authors: Robin Helm, Laura Hile, Wendi Sotis, Barbara Cornthwaite, Chautona Havig, Mandy H. Cook
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: June, 2020
A Very Austen Romance features a delightful medley of novellas, each set in Jane Austen’s Regency world. Your friends from Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility, enjoy new adventures in this lovely collection of stories by Robin Helm, Laura Hile, Wendi Sotis, Barbara Cornthwaite, Mandy Cook, and Chautona Havig.
Be treated to prequels, spin-offs, and sequels of Austen’s novels, along with original and supporting characters in starring roles. If historical romance is your preference, you’ll love these well-crafted stories written by beloved authors in the genre.
Click here to get your copy!
My Thoughts
"King of Hearts" by Robin Helm: I thought this was a cute story and was interesting being in Kitty's point of view. I thought that it was going to have some sort of tie to Alice in Wonderland with the name of the story and the quotes from the book, but I didn't see any kind of tie to Alice. It was a little rushed with there being three possible suitors and when she finally settles on one, there really isn't anything showing them falling in love. It is a novella so there isn't a lot of time to show things, but they barely knew each other. The ending wrapped things up, but in a way felt a little like info overload.
"You've Got to Kiss the Girl" by Laura Hile: I enjoyed reading this story. It was an interesting twist on Pride and Prejudice and what might have happened. I liked how the parts that were straight from the book were incorporated into the story. It was fun getting to see some of the characters in a different light.
"A Step Too Far" by Wendi Sotis: I think this is the first story/book I have read by Wendi Sotis so I wasn't sure what to expect. I found this story to be sweet and well paced. It was another alternative to Pride and Prejudice and explored what would have happened had Darcy and Elizabeth met under different circumstances. I liked this version very well.
"John Knightly Wins a Wife" by Barbara Cornthwaite: This story was by another new to me author. It is always fun to find new authors from collections like these. This story differed from the first three in that it was not centered around Pride and Prejudice but on Emma. The story seemed to jump from one person's view to another which was a little confusing at times.
"Charming Miss Dashwood" by Chautona Havig: Like the previous story, this one also did not follow Pride and Prejudice. This one (as evidenced by the title) is based on Sense and Sensibility. Knowing Chautona Havig used the movie as inspiration, I imagined the characters as the ones from the movie.
"In the Looking Glass" by Mandy H. Cook: This story was by another new-to-me author. I'm not sure what this story is based on. I was thinking it was Mansfield Park but then Fanny turned out to be a Bingley so maybe it is a conglomeration of the different stories. Or maybe it is supposed to be about Charles and Jane's children. Without some reference to know for sure who the characters were, it didn't really feel like a Jane Austen adaptation. The story was well written, but the romance was almost non existent and seemed synthetic.
"John Knightly Wins a Wife" by Barbara Cornthwaite: This story was by another new to me author. It is always fun to find new authors from collections like these. This story differed from the first three in that it was not centered around Pride and Prejudice but on Emma. The story seemed to jump from one person's view to another which was a little confusing at times.
"Charming Miss Dashwood" by Chautona Havig: Like the previous story, this one also did not follow Pride and Prejudice. This one (as evidenced by the title) is based on Sense and Sensibility. Knowing Chautona Havig used the movie as inspiration, I imagined the characters as the ones from the movie.
"In the Looking Glass" by Mandy H. Cook: This story was by another new-to-me author. I'm not sure what this story is based on. I was thinking it was Mansfield Park but then Fanny turned out to be a Bingley so maybe it is a conglomeration of the different stories. Or maybe it is supposed to be about Charles and Jane's children. Without some reference to know for sure who the characters were, it didn't really feel like a Jane Austen adaptation. The story was well written, but the romance was almost non existent and seemed synthetic.
About the Authors
Robin Helm‘s books reflect her love of music, as well as her fascination with the paranormal and science fiction.
Previously published works include The Guardian Trilogy: Guardian, SoulFire, and Legacy; the Yours by Design series: Accidentally Yours, Sincerely Yours, and Forever Yours; Understanding Elizabeth; More to Love; and Lawfully Innocent. Ms. Helm also contributed stories to A Very Austen Christmas and A Very Austen Valentine.
She plans to publish Maestro in 2020.
Her life in (usually) sunny, small town South Carolina is busy, but affords time for writing, reading, teaching piano, and playing games on her phone. (Would you believe she’s an elder in a war game?)
Readers are loving Laura Hile‘s joyous Regency novels. Her signature style—with intertwined plots, cliffhangers, laugh-out-loud humor, and romance—keeps them coming back for more.
The comedy Laura comes by as a teacher. There’s never a dull moment with teen students!
Laura lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and a collection of antique clocks.
Her fiction is for everyone, even teens.
Wendi Sotis lives on Long Island, NY, with her husband and triplets. While searching for Pride and Prejudice from Darcy’s point of view, she became thoroughly enamored with Jane Austen Fan Fiction or JAFF. In early 2010, she dreamed of an idea for a story and hasn’t stopped writing since: Promises, Dreams and Expectations; All Hallows Eve; The Keys for Love; Safekeeping (with just a dash of Austen); The Gypsy Blessing; Foundation of Love (The Gypsy Blessing 2); and A Lesson Hard Learned.
The Marriage Pact, and some of Wendi’s works-in-progress, have branched away from JAFF to Regency Romance (the Loving an Aldridge Series) and Contemporary Romantic Mysteries (the Implicated series). Wendi will also continue bringing Darcy and Elizabeth together again and again in an unusual manner.
Barbara Cornthwaite lives in the middle of Ireland with her husband and children. She taught college English before “retiring” to do something she loves far more; her days are now filled with homeschooling her six children, trying to keep the house tidy (a losing battle), and trying to stay warm in the damp Irish climate (also a losing battle). She is surrounded by medieval castles, picturesque flocks of sheep, and ancient stone monuments. These things are unappreciated by her children, who are more impressed by traffic jams, skyscrapers, and hot weather.
Mandy Cook was an RN for over ten years, half of which she served in the Navy, living in far-flung places, enjoying experiencing the world while following her calling. Just before she and her handsome Marine were both deployed to different places, they married. They now have three children, ages five and younger.
She previously published The Gifted, using her nursing experience to lend accuracy to her story about an ER nurse who is handed a gift that changes her life forever. Adversity, and a long history of secrets, constantly battle against her natural instinct for truth and justice, but will the truth be worth the dare?
Mandy also contributed a story to A Very Austen Valentine: Austen Anthologies, Book 1.
Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her on the web and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.Take a Book-Themed Quiz
Giveaway
To celebrate their tour, the A Very Austen authors are giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.
Becky, thank you for taking the time to review our anthology. A Very Austen Romance is not a short book!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the stories. I am also a fan of these anthologies.
Thanks, Becky, for hosting us today, and for your review! I love that I can have a story in the anthology and still be a fan of all my co-authors' works at the same time :-)
ReplyDeleteGood luck to everyone in the giveaway!
Thank you for taking the time to read and review. We really appreciate it, especially with you reading all the stories like that! Impressive.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds like an amazing read.
ReplyDeleteHi, Becky! Thank you for hosting us! I always love to be a guest on your blog. Good luck, everyone!
ReplyDeleteI sounds good. I like historical. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read, thanks for sharing and for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting book!! Thanks! Joy H
ReplyDelete