Austenesque Lovers TBR Challenge 2022 discussion

If you are willing to place one of your May reading choices in the hands of another person, leave a comment here with at least five books and no more than ten from your TBR shelf. Participants need to leave comments no later than April 25th.

Here's how it will work:
Sophia will match people up and leave a comment with a list of who will choose for whom.
When you see the person you are to pick for, then just look at their list in the above comments and leave a new comment with their name and the book you chose for them by April 30th.

You also need to watch and see what book your person chose from your list for you.
You have the rest of the month to read the book.

So if this sounds like something you would like to do, just comment below leaving your name and list of book choices for someone to pick your May book.

Okay here are mine:

1. Susan Adriani: Misunderstandings and ardent love
2 Jennifer Altman: To conquer Pride
3 Kate Beauford: A highly reprehensible connection
4 Nicole Clarkston: Nefarious
5 Laura Hile: Darcy by any other name
6 Jennifer Joy: Accusing Elizabeth
7 KC Kahler: A case of some delicacy
8 Lory Lilian: A man with faults
9 Jenetta James: Suddenly Mrs. Darcy
10 Abigail Reynolds: Conceit and concealment

I'm in!

1. Much Ado About Persuasion by Barbara Cornthwaite
2. The Grail: The Saving of Elizabeth Darcy by Don Jacobson
3. Maria Bertram's Daughter by Lucy Knight
4. A Match Made at Matlock: A sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice by Jan Ashton, Julie Cooper, Amy D'Orazio, and Jessie Lewis
5. The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen Flynn

1)Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas (reread)


2)Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor(read two centuries ago or so)


3)Holiday w Jane: Christmas Cheer or Will You Be Mine? (rereads)



4)Much Ado about Persuasion


5) Captive Hearts

I’m in!

1. The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow
2. Cake and Courtship by Mark Brownlow
3. Dangerous Magic: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Monica Fairview
4. Live, Love, Longbourn by Jennifer Becton
5. What Happened on Box Hill by Elizabeth Gilliland
6. Captive Hearts: A Persuasion Variation by Kelly Miller

Love this challenge!

Total Want of Propriety, Volume 1: Darcy's Reformation : A Pride & Prejudice Variation

The Darcy Brothers

Where There's a FitzWILLiam Darcy: There's a Way

Reversed Fortune: A Regency Romance inspired by P&P

A Wedding Under Duress: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Mr Darcy's Resolve

My list :

1. A Wilful Misunderstanding: A Pride & Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
2. Mistress of Netherfield https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
3. Madness in Meryton: A Pride & Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
4. Rescuing Elizabeth Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
5. The Golden Apples of the Sun: A Variation on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
6. The Reintroduction of Fitzwilliam Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

I'm in!

Jane Austen's Country Life by Deirdre Le Faye

The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray

Jane Austen's Table: Recipes Inspired by the Works of Jane Austen by Robert Tuesley Anderson

Emma by Jane Austen

Presumption: An Entertainment: A Sequel to Pride and Prejudice by Julia Barrett

I'm in!
Which of these favourites should I reread in May?

1: Fair Stands the Wind by Catherine Lodge
2: The Red Chrysanthemum by Linda Beutler
3: London Holiday by Nicole Clarkston
4: Cresent City book 1 by Jack Caldwell
5: Lucky 13 by Cat Gardiner

I’m in - all of these choices are unread by me and all have an average Goodreads rating of 4.4* or more.

1. Dragons Beyond the Pale
2. Fearful Symmetry: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
3. Disability and Determination: An Elizabeth and Darcy Story
4. Mr. Darcy's Daughter: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
5. Torn: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
6. The Other Bennet Sister
7. Forgotten Betrothal
8. The Earl's Conquest
9. So Material a Change: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
10. Miss Bennet's Dragon

I'm in.

1. Epiphany: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

2. The Appearance Of Goodness: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

3. The Golden Daffodil: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

4. The Whisky Wedding: a Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet story

5. The Darcy Plot: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

6. Madness in Meryton: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

Howdy, everyone! I'm so glad you could join 'someone else pick it' for May.

I have randomly drawn names from those who submitted a list of books and will put those just below.

For those who are new to this fun activity, here is what you do next:
1. Find your name in the left hand column and then go to the right hand column to see whose name you drew.
2. Go back up in the discussion thread and find that person's list. Choose a book from that list. And, then make a comment to that person of what book you chose for them. Do this by APRIL 30TH, please.
3. Watch for the person who drew your name to post their pick from your booklist.
4. Start your books on or after May 1st and feel free to come back and leave a comment of what you thought of the book.
If you want to discuss as you're reading, you can comment on your impressions as you go. Just make sure to mark any spoilery comments at the beginning of your comment.

Katja > abmom
Sophia > CindySR
Kirk > Elin
Abigail > Sue
Sam > Craftyhj
abmom > Patricia
CindySR > Katja
Elin > Sophia
Craftyhj > Kirk
Sue > Abigail
Patricia > Sam

Enjoy your May reading!

Howdy, CindySR!

I pick the oldie Presumption by Julia Barrett for you. :)

Hi, Sue! I confess I haven’t read or even heard of any of your picks. Yikes! But Madness in Meryton: A Pride & Prejudice Variation sounds like fun—who doesn’t like a Groundhog Day story? So that’s my pick for you.

Hi Elin!

Looks like you enjoyed all five about
equally. I could go by something logical
like longest time since read. Bah!

While I had some issues with a bit of the content...

The choice....Crescent City part one seems to be the most "different" of the books.

I had a physical copy(I think I won it) but give it to my partner's mom(my partner was born in NO but she grew up in Baton Rogue). I don't know if she has ever read it. Lol, if we visit them this summer, I should check out all the bookcases. Last summer we ended up being there 5 weeks(I had planned on 9 days... luckily they have two houses a 1/4 mile apart in rural St Francisville) but I read mostly e-books.

Hi Kirk,

I haven’t read any of your choices so I am plucking blind so to speak. I do however have Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas sitting on my audible so I’m going to pick that for you. Maybe I’ll listen to it in May and we can compare thoughts.

Happy reading.

Craftyhj wrote: "Hi Kirk,

I haven’t read any of your choices so I am plucking blind so to speak. I do however have Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas sitting on my audible so I’m going to pick that for you. May..."

Great!!! Thank you!

I looked Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas a lot—should be fun to reread it before the new one!

Craftyhj wrote: "I’m in - all of these choices are unread by me and all have an average Goodreads rating of 4.4* or more.

1. Dragons Beyond the Pale
2. [book:Fearful Symmetry: A Pride & Prejudice V..."

Oh my, what a list you gave me to chose from. All stellar choices.

I will go with Forgotten Betrothal.

Not-a-Bennet is my favorite Trope. Enjoy!

Sam wrote: "Craftyhj wrote: "I’m in - all of these choices are unread by me and all have an average Goodreads rating of 4.4* or more.

1. Dragons Beyond the Pale
2. [book:Fearful Symmetry: A Pr..."

Thanks Sam. I’m going to try to manage a few of them this month.

hi abmom :)

On your list

1. A Wilful Misunderstanding: Hm, I haven't read this particular book but I find you generally can't go wrong with Amy D'Orazio so this could be a good one.


2. Mistress of Netherfield: this is unfamiliar to me. I like the thought that Elizabeth has a financial independence of her own.


3. Madness in Meryton: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
I read the WIP version of this and it was a fun twist of the Groundhog day.

4. Rescuing Elizabeth Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
I gave this five stars, it was a fun adventure. There was a character who went from illiterate to writing quite articulate letters within a year or two so yay for education.

5. The Golden Apples of the Sun: I have not read this. I like the title but have no idea how it relates to ODC.

6. The Reintroduction of Fitzwilliam Darcy: Not familiar with this book but it sounds interesting.

I am going to go with Madness in Meryton because I am planning to read it again one day, and I wouldn't mind terribly if I found myself reading it again the next day.

Craftyhj wrote: "Sam wrote: "Craftyhj wrote: "I’m in - all of these choices are unread by me and all have an average Goodreads rating of 4.4* or more.

1. Dragons Beyond the Pale
2. [book:Fearful Sy..."

I don't think you'll be disappointed by any of them. I vacillated between that and So Material a Change, which is also phenomenal.

sam h. I chose reversed fortune. I like the plot lineg to it and wonder if you recommend it

enjoy!

Patricia, I've only read 2 of your choices by Iris Lim and Riana Everly. Though I'm a great fan of mystery, my choice for you would be Amy's "A short period of exquisite felicity " because you can never go wrong with her.

Thanks Katja! Looking forward to the madness.

Patricia wrote: "sam h. I chose reversed fortune. I like the plot lineg to it and wonder if you recommend it

enjoy!"

Thanks Patricia! I was on the fence about it, so I appreciate the challenge ;) Will let you know...

Abigail wrote: "I’m in!

1. The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow
2. Cake and Courtship by Mark Brownlow
3. Dangerous Magic: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Mo..."

My pick for you Abigail is What Happened on Box Hill. I enjoy a Modern variation and whodunits. I haven't read it yet, but it's on my list now.

Cool, thanks, Sue! I have it on my Kindle already. Plus that will be a two-birds-one-stone read for me because the genre of the month in another of my groups is mystery/detection. Love a twofer!

Sophia wrote: "Howdy, CindySR!

I pick the oldie Presumption by Julia Barrett for you. :)"

Thank you, I just ordered it from the library. 😉

CindySR wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Howdy, CindySR!

I pick the oldie Presumption by Julia Barrett for you. :)"

Thank you, I just ordered it from the library. 😉"

Hopefully you'll have a great read, Cindy. *crossing fingers

Abigail wrote: "Cool, thanks, Sue! I have it on my Kindle already. Plus that will be a two-birds-one-stone read for me because the genre of the month in another of my groups is mystery/detection. Love a twofer!"

Love when I can do a two-fer like that. :)

Hello @Katja!

I read the GR pages for each of your picks and decided that
#5 Darcy By Any Other Name
looks like the most fun! I look forward to your review!

Thanks CindySR :) I know it's not May yet but I'm 45% through this book and so far it's brilliant :)
Darcy is getting rid of the good parson's worst habits and charming Elizabeth with his conversation. Collins has to deal with Caroline and Lady Catherine.

It's 650 pages or so, much longer than what I usually like but nothing has felt like filler material so far.

Katja wrote: "Thanks CindySR :) I know it's not May yet but I'm 45% through this book and so far it's brilliant :)
Darcy is getting rid of the good parson's worst habits and charming Elizabeth with his conversa..."

Sounds like something I would enjoy as well, thank you!

Thanks, Sue, for recommending What Happened on Box Hill—I enjoyed it a lot! Four stars for me, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

I started mine. Reversed Fortune...
I am not usually a fan of this author, but I am enjoying the writing so far. Loving "Collins" and Lizzy falling in love. However, I have not yet gotten to Lady Anne meeting Collins.

Challenge completed - we are a COVID household at the moment so there is not much else to do except read and crochet!

Forgotten Betrothal - 4* from me. This is a very good book in the “not a Bennet” trope. I really enjoyed it and the twist referred to in the title was excellent and well thought out. The reason I dropped the star was too many incidents of “reflecting back”. I would prefer more of the story to have been experienced first hand rather than in someone’s head later in the day/week/month. All in all an excellent read though. I will see if I can crack a few more from my list.

Hope your household pulls through well, Crafty!

Abigail wrote: "Hope your household pulls through well, Crafty!"

Thanks!

Craftyhj wrote: "Challenge completed - we are a COVID household at the moment so there is not much else to do except read and crochet!

Forgotten Betrothal - 4* from me. This is a very good book in ..."

Wishing you all well, Craftyhj! Glad you have good books and some yarn work to keep you occupied while you wait it out.

Craftyhj wrote: "Challenge completed - we are a COVID household at the moment so there is not much else to do except read and crochet!

Forgotten Betrothal - 4* from me. This is a very good book in ..."

May you all get through it happily and stress-free!

Read mine. Reversed Fortune: A Regency Romance inspired by P&P

I enjoyed the story more than I thought I would, considering I am not a fan of this author's writing. However, I found the ballance between potential high drama of the story balanced well with the lighter tone of the writing. Creating a more fun loving enjoyable book as opposed to a dark angst filled drama

Crafty, I'm so sorry y'all are sick. Hope all goes well for you and yours. I'm praying for a complete recovery. Blessings.

J. W. wrote: "Crafty, I'm so sorry y'all are sick. Hope all goes well for you and yours. I'm praying for a complete recovery. Blessings."

Many thanks - I think we are on the mend now

Craftyhj wrote: "Hi Kirk,

I haven’t read any of your choices so I am plucking blind so to speak. I do however have Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas sitting on my audible so I’m going to pick that for you. May..."

I hope you get a chance to listen! I enjoyed my reread...for the most part. Here's hoping this one hits the small screen...w less James/Mary and a happier ending.

Kirk wrote: "Craftyhj wrote: "Hi Kirk,

I haven’t read any of your choices so I am plucking blind so to speak. I do however have Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas sitting on my audible so I’m going to pick ..."


I’m glad you enjoyed it.

I finished my May read Madness in Meryton. It was very interesting. When I read the synopsis, I expected a light hearted read but the author has put in some serious thoughts into the story which makes it different. This is the second book I'm reading by this author and I like her writing.

Glad the surprise of the serious part worked out.

Happy to hear it was enjoyable for you