Austenesque Lovers TBR Challenge 2023 discussion

Austen Gold Group Read is a two part activity that will wrap up our year of activities and hopefully give readers more books to consider while fitting in one last book for the year.

Time to award your GOLD winners!
The first section of the challenge is easy. LIST your favorite Austenesque books read during 2023. Release year does not matter and try to keep it under ten. Make sure both title and author are listed because we definitely want others to peruse and maybe find their next favorite, too. You're welcome to share why the book made your list, if you like. Leave your lists any time between now and the end of the year though, preferably, by Dec 1st.

Read another GOLD Winner!
Once you leave your list, peruse the other lists and choose to read a book from someone else's list that you think sounds good. Even better if it's already on your own TBR pile. If you don't spot one from another list that you already have access to, try choosing one from your own list that you know a group member has given a five-star rating.

Because it's the holiday season, feel free to start reading early. Happy Reading, fellow challengers!

Here is my list


Taken: A Pride & Prejudice Variation Mary Anne Mushatt AB Read

Bound by Love by Jann Rowland Jann Rowland PB Read

Irresistibly Alone Julie Cooper PB Read

River of Dreams J. Dawn King AB Read

The Last House in Lambton Grace Gibson AB Read

To Save Elizabeth: A Pride & Prejudice Novel Variation Zoe Burton PB Read

'Tis the Season: Variations on a Jane Austen Christmas Amy D'Orazio AB Read

Murdering A Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Deborah Ann Kauer - Got this in!

I did not get to the mini challenge of my choice.



Didn't get to these in the end

Her Sisterly Love: A Pride & Prejudice Variation Lucy Marin AB

An Odd Situation: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Sophie Lynbrook

Mark of Character: A Pride and Prejudice Soulmark Story Sarah Courtney



I am sure I could have added a slew more, but I figured it would be best to keep it short :)

Okie Dokie. Here's my gold list:

1. The Last House in Lambton by Grace Gibson
I loved her description of housekeeping tasks in that time period and seeing the connection between Lizzy and Mrs. Reynolds as much as the romance.
2. And, speaking of Mrs. Reynolds... loved her role in making this one dramatic and emotional, Unfounded by Jessie Lewis
3. Doubt Not, Cousin: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Barry Richman swept me off my feet with family saga fabulousness.
4. A grand finale from a grand series that you really must start from the beginning for all the Jane Austen detective work Jane and the Final Mystery by Stephanie Barron
5. Being Mrs Darcy by Lucy Marin is even better with Harry Frost reading it.
6. The Late Mrs. Willoughby by Claudia Gray. Only two books in and I'm loving this murder mystery series even better.
7. That brings me to another detecting adventure, The Portraits of Pemberley: A Jane Austen mystery by Elizabeth Gilliand
8. Celestial Persuasion by Mirta Trupp was a splendid prequel twining so much with Jewish history, age of sale, Argentine history and good storytelling
9. Speaking of age of sail and Persuasion, hello The Sailor's Rest by Don Jacobson narrated by Benjamin Fife
10. So good to see Cat Gardiner back in the saddle with The Darcy Files: Compilation of Pride and Prejudice-Inspired Short Romances

I really had to restrain myself and stop there, but you're welcome to check out my 2023 Austenesque Lovers TBR Challenge shelf and see what else got my golden five stars.

I do have to give a shout out to an unpublished story that really caught my fancy, too. It is on fanfiction.net, Merriment and Wisdom (a Mansfield Park variation from the beginning)

by Lucy Marin

Kasey Stockton

Elizabeth
Adams

Julia Seales

Summer Hanford

M.J. Stratton

Julie Klassen

Victoria Kincaid

As usual, I exceed the limits.

1. Adventures at Morecastle https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9281150/0/ 5 stars.
2. Nine Ladies: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... 5 stars.
3. A Splendidly (Un)suitable Match https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... 5 stars.
4. Fearful Symmetry: A Pride & Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... 5 stars.
5. A double wedding http://web.archive.org/web/2009122123... 5 stars.
6. Far From The Tree: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... 5 ++ stars.
7. Mr. Darcy Falls on His Feet: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... 5 stars.
8. Threads of Magic: A Pride and Prejudice Fantasy Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... 5 stars.
9. Dangerous When Wet: A Pride & Prejudice Variation Novella https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... 5+ stars.
10. Transforming Mr. Darcy: A Magical Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... 5+ stars.
11. Seasons of Waiting: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... 5+ stars.
12. Mistress of Netherfield https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... 5++ stars.
13. Two More Days at Netherfield https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... 5 stars.
14. Five Daughters Out at Once: A Pride & Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... 5+ stars.
15. Confessions of the Scandalous Mrs. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... 5 stars.
16. Faults of Understanding: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... 5 stars.

Here's my top ten, (had a problem limiting it to ten, could easily have been at least 15), in no particular order:

1. The Darcy Files: Compilation of Pride and Prejudice-Inspired Short Romances by Cat Gardiner
Collection of four stories from different time periods. A welcome return for Ms. Gardiner

2. Dangerous When Wet by Jennifer Joy
A comedy made all the better by Harry Frost's performance.

3. The Sailor's Rest by Don Jacobson
P&P/Persuasion mashup. Great story, enhanced by Benjamin Fife’s performance. Relieved the tedium of many hours of weeding in our garden.

4. Her Last Words by S. Neha
Another sublime comedic performance by Harry Frost!

5. A Gentleman's Honor by Melanie Rachel, in conjunction with A Gentleman's Justice, both performed by Harry Frost.

6. Dear Nameless Stranger: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Jeannie Peneaux, narration by Mandy Gasson.
Sad and funny at the same time.

7. Mr. Knightley in His Own Words by Shannon Winslow
Possibly Ms. Winslows best “In His Own Words” tale.

8. A Timely Elopement: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Joana Starnes, with Stevie Zimmerman's usual fantastic performance.

9. Here There Be Dragons by Maria Grace.
The latest “Jane Austen's Dragons” book. Lots of Anne and Wentworth, which can only be a good thing!

10. TBA. Will add this later, as it’s not yet published but I got a sneak preview at the beta stage, lucky me! I’ll add another comment below once it's generally available.

There's a lot of amazing titles listed so far. I've actually gone through those named above and created a shelf of those I possess but haven’t read yet. Will possibly have to pick one at random as there’s six of them.

I just love seeing these lists and knowing I've got some really good reading right on my shelves already. I'm with a few of you and have a stack forming just from everyone's lists. :)

Lots of favourites in the lists so far - I shall get mien together in the next day or so.

I have settled on a list of 12 (inflation is a real thing!). My long list was 30 so I think getting it down to 12 was pretty good going.

1) His Choice of a Wife: A Variation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice by Heather Moll

2) Son of a Preacher Man by Karen M. Cox

3) Mansfield by Misty Dawn Pulsipher

4) Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev (or indeed any of the series which I would recommend reading in order)

5) The Truth About Family by Lucy Marin

6) The Warmth of Her Affection: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Elsie Fulbrook

7) Enduring Connexions by J. Marie Croft

8) Unfounded by Jessie Lewis

9) Irresistibly Alone by Julie Cooper

10) Mark of Character: A Pride and Prejudice Soulmark Story by Sarah Courtney

11) Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza

12) I Dreamt of Netherfield by Lin Mei Wei

I would also give an honourable mention to the Heartstone trilogy by Elle Katharine White which were not necessarily 5* reads individually but made for an excellent story arc across the 3 books.

I'm discovering I like the really different variations more LOL

1. To Wake the Sleeping Dragon: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Selene L Garrou
2. Interwoven by Melanie Rachel
3. Turnabout: A Regency Romance inspired by P&P by Sydney Salier
4. Nine Ladies: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Heather Moll
5. An Unexpected Inheritance: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary by Melanie Rachel
6. Letters from the Heart by Kay Bea
7. Just Deserts: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Gruinard
8. London Holiday by Nicole Clarkston
9. Irresistibly Alone by Julie Cooper
10. Oxford Cottage: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Leenie Brown
11. A Tapestry of Lives by Jean Sims
12. The Talented Daughters of Longbourn: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Laraba Kendig

In no particular or peculiar order....

1)Mrs. Gardiner Takes a Hand by Jeannie Peneaux

2)Rosewood: A Midsummer Meet Cute by Sayantani DasGupta

3)Pudge and Prejudice by A.K. Pittman

4)The Pursuit of Mary Bennet: A Pride & Prejudice Novel by Pamela Mingle

5)Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin reread

6)The Year in Between: A Sense and Sensibility Variation by Christina Morland(!!!) reread

7)Loving Miss Tilney: A Forbidden Love Regency Romance inspired by Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey by Heather Moll

8)Ghosted by Amanda Quain

9)Much Ado about Nada by Uzma Jalaluddin

10)Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza

11)For the Love of the Bard by Jessica Martin
More Willie Shakes than JA. But, the Persuasion element oh my! Still moves me....

12)Jane and the Final Mystery by Stephanie Barron

13)The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim

14)The Mis-Arrangement of Sana Saeed by Noreen Mughees

Hi again. I’m adding the tenth book to my list at comment no. 6. It’s only about a week away from publication now and I see there’s a listing here and at Amazon for it already. It’s available for pre-order, too. I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak at the beta stage and it’s amazing!

10. Spellbound at Pemberley: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Abigail Reynolds

I’m still can’t quite believe I got to beta for Abigail Reynolds!

Anji wrote: "Hi again. I’m adding the tenth book to my list at comment no. 6. It’s only about a week away from publication now and I see there’s a listing here and at Amazon for it already. It’s available for p..."

Wow, so cool, Anji!

Anji wrote: "Hi again. I’m adding the tenth book to my list at comment no. 6. It’s only about a week away from publication now and I see there’s a listing here and at Amazon for it already. It’s available for p..."

Very cool!! (and I am little bit Jeally)

Lucky you!

I think I am going to read The Last House in Lambton by Grace Gibson. It has sat in my TBR for most of the year and as two others have included it in their golden list I am sure I shall love it.

I can't decide between London Holiday and Loving Miss Tilney: A Forbidden Love Regency Romance inspired by Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, but I'll get it sorted out soon (I hope).

Craftyhj wrote: "I think I am going to read The Last House in Lambton by Grace Gibson. It has sat in my TBR for most of the year and as two others have included it in their golden l..."

I loved that one!

Poised and ready to go with my December Sprint choice of Holidays with Jane: Christmas Cheer and will probably alternate stories with my December Gold choice of 'Tis the Season: Variations on a Jane Austen Christmas. Whilst I’ve been trawling through my historic Amazon acquisitions recently, I’ve discovered that I also have most, if not all, of the individual stories as separate books, obtained mainly as freebies, which I hadn’t realised until now! Hey ho!

Read the first chapter of Mr Darcy's Christmas Calendar by Jane Odiwe this morning.

Anji wrote: "Poised and ready to go with my December Sprint choice of Holidays with Jane: Christmas Cheer and will probably alternate stories with my December Gold choice of [book:'Tis the Seaso..."

I noticed I had done that last year with the Tis the Season stories when I was reading one I got free and it started to seem very familiar. :)

Enjoy all your lovely Christmas stories, Anji!

Sophia wrote: "I noticed I had done that last year with the Tis the Season stories when I was reading one I got free and it started to seem very familiar. :)

Enjoy all your lovely Christmas stories, Anji!"

At least I got the entire anthology at a very good price last month. £0.99 for all nine stories was a bargain! I don’t know if it could be regarded as cheating a little, but I'll be logging the stories individually as I read them i.e. nine entries instead of one 🤫🤫🤫

Anji wrote: "Sophia wrote: "I noticed I had done that last year with the Tis the Season stories when I was reading one I got free and it started to seem very familiar. :)

Enjoy all your lovely Christmas storie..."

No, they're offered separately so you're in the clear. :)

Anji wrote: "Here's my top ten, (had a problem limiting it to ten, could easily have been at least 15), in no particular order:

1. [book:The Darcy Files: Compilation of Pride and Prejudice-Inspired Short Roman..."

Yeah for including Mr Knightley In His Own Words! Was including it in the bonus Dec and can include it here too! Alas, toooo much backstory for me. 3.5-3.75

2nd read: Holidays with Jane: Christmas Cheer


At JASNA AGM in Denver, I had the great delight of meeting two of the authors all too briefly.

First one for me completed,

Mr. Darcy Falls on His Feet by Sophie Lynbrook

a delightful short read filled with festive fun.

Yay for a festive one, Craftyhj!

I finished the final story in my December Gold choice 'Tis the Season: Variations on a Jane Austen Christmas anthology last night. What an excellent set of stories. All fully fledged but short enough to read in an hour or so in an evening.

Anji wrote: "I finished the final story in my December Gold choice 'Tis the Season: Variations on a Jane Austen Christmas anthology last night. What an excellent set of stories. All fully fledg..."

I loved that anthology. Glad you could enjoy a 'bedtime' story from it each evening. :)

My gold read list

1. Irresistibly Alone https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... 5++ star
2. Turnabout: A Regency Romance inspired by P&P https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... 4 stars.
3. Her Sisterly Love https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... 5 stars.
4. Doubt Not, Cousin: A Pride & Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... 5 stars.
5. An Odd Situation: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... 5 stars.
6. To Wake the Sleeping Dragon: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... 3 stars.
7. The Warmth of Her Affection: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... 5 stars.
8. Just Deserts: A Pride & Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... 4 stars.
9. Mark of Character: A Pride and Prejudice Soulmark Story https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... 5++ stars.
10. From Another Perspective: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... 4 stars.
11. Once Upon a Time in Pemberley https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... 5 stars.
12. I Dreamt of Netherfield https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... 5 stars.
13. His Choice of a Wife: A Variation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... 4 stars.
14. The Last House in Lambton https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... 5++ stars.
15. Enduring Connexions https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9... 4.5 stars.
16. River of Dreams https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... 5 stars.
17. A Matter of Prudence https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... 5 stars.

What a fab reading month with all these golden ones, abmom!