Miranda Atchley's Blog, page 17

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books I Wanted To Read in 2017

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.

So we all know that every year thousands of books are published. Many of those books catch our attention and we add them to our to-be-read lists. Yet sometimes, we just can’t get to them when we’d like to. Today we’re dealing with just that subject. For this Top Ten Tuesday, we’re listing ten books that we wanted to read in 2017, but just didn’t get to. And without further ado, here’s my list.


10: Jane of Austin
I’ve heard mostly good things about this book. It’s a modern take on Sense and Sensibility, which is one of my favorite books, so I’d like to read it sometime.


9: Maud
L.M. Montgomery is my favorite author. I would love to read this novel based on her teen years sometime.



8: The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey
I really liked the first two books in The Regency Brides. They’re good regency romances. Looking forward to seeing how the series wraps up.



7: Behind The Scenes
I read the prelude to the Apart From The Crowd series, At Your Request, and really enjoyed it. I hope to read the novels someday.



6: Anon, Sir, Anon
I don’t think this book was released last year, but after reading Heffington’s Fly Away Homelast year, I added this historical mystery to my want-to-read list. Unfortunately, I didn’t get around to reading it last year, but I do have it on my Kindle and am looking forward to reading it this year.


5: A Dangerous Legacy
This book has been everyone online lately! It seems like a really interesting read.


4: The Valley of Fear
Obviously, this book was not published in 2017. I started reading the Sherlock Holmes mysteries last year, and this is the next one up for me.


3: A Heart Most Certain
I just downloaded this book and it seems like it will be a great read. Can’t wait to read it!



2: As Time Goes By
I loved the first book in The Mulligan Sisters series. It’s a really great WWII novel that I’m pretty sure is my favorite by Melody Carlson. I’m really looking forward to revisiting the series.


1: This book sounds really interesting. It’s set during the Edwardian era which is my favorite. I can’t wait to read it someday.
So how about you, readers and friends? Were there any books you really wanted to read last year, but just didn’t get a chance to? Tell me about them in the comments!
-Miranda Atchley

A Trip To Regency England | Review: The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay

The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay
About The BookMary Davies finds safety in her ordered and productive life. Working as an engineer, she genuinely enjoys her job and her colleagues—particularly a certain adorable and intelligent consultant. But something is missing. When Mary’s estranged childhood friend, Isabel Dwyer offers her a two-week stay in a gorgeous manor house in England, she reluctantly agrees in hopes that the holiday will shake up her quiet life in just the right ways.But Mary gets more than she bargained for when Isabel loses her memory and fully believes she lives in Jane Austen’s Bath. While Isabel rests and delights in the leisure of a Regency lady, attended by other costume-clad guests, Mary uncovers startling truths about their shared past, who Isabel was, who she seems to be, and the man who now stands between them.Outings are undertaken, misunderstandings arise, and dancing ensues as this company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation, work out their lives and hearts.

My Thoughts
Like Reay’s other novels, I did enjoy The Austen Escape. I love seeing the classics appreciated and the references to Austen’s novels. And the visit to an English manor house, wearing the costumes and pretending that it’s the early 19thcentury…. Gotta admit, it sounds pretty fun!
Mary was probably among my favorite Reay heroines. I think she was a more down to earth character. Isabel was a different story. While at times I did feel sorry for her, she was a very irritating character. Yet one thing I think a lot of people would relate to Isabel on is the want to “escape”. While many of us don’t take it as far as she did, I think most of us do want to escape reality when things get too hard.
In the book there was a reference to Northanger Abbey and the thought that Catherine Morland seemed overshadowed throughout parts of the book, yet became the heroine of her own story by the end. I think it was the same for Mary. At times, it seemed like Isabel was taking over the story, though as the book came to an end, Mary took charge, started making her own decisions, and became a heroine.
One thing that I do wish were different about this book is how seldom God is mentioned. While I don’t like authors that beat you over the head with scripture, I do wish that faith, prayer and God was mentioned more in this book, especially since it is marketed as Christian fiction and is published by Thomas Nelson.
All in all, I thought The Austen Escape was a good book. Fans of contemporary fiction that appreciate the classics will definitely enjoy this novel.

I give this book 4 out 5 stars.

Books Read in 2017

Can you believe that the year 2017 is almost over? I can’t. Sometimes it felt like it dragged a little, but for the most part, it zipped by! And now that the year is ending, it’s time to look back at the year and what all took place. In this case, I’m looking over what all I read. Would you care to join me, readers and friends? Below I’ve listed all the books I read this year and gave a rating on a scale of 1-5 for each book. So without further ado, here are the books I read in the year 2017.
January Dining, Dating, and Desperation   Home, Hearth, and The Holidays  Daddy-Long-Legs  Grave Consequences   Conductor of Light Heiress  Once: Six Historically Inspired Fairytales The Many Faces of World War I  The Watsons   Five Magic Spindles
February All The Future Holds   Susan B. Anthony: Rebel, Crusader, Humanitarian   Mere Christianity   A Will, A Way, and A Wedding  
March The Chronicles of Downton Abbey: A New Era Write Well: A Grammar Guide Queen Victoria Rilla of Ingleside Poems by Emily Dickinson, Series One Indie Publishing Handbook When Patty Went To College 
April Just Patty River’s Song River’s Call River’s End The Life of Charlotte  Brontë Volume Two Persuasion The Painter’s Daughter Dawn’s Prelude Monday or Tuesday Paint Me True
May Once Upon A Summertime Swept Away A Study in Scarlet A Study in Scarlet C.S. Lewis: A Life Inspired Lady Susan The Girl of the Woods A Daring Sacrifice Miranda Warning Cold Comfort Farm
JuneLilies in Moonlight  Bless Her Heart A Heart’s Disguise Waves of Mercy Tickled Pink Gone To Green Goodness Gracious Green The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes The Glory of Green Mansfield Park The Red Door Inn The Mystery of Mary The Butterfly and The Violin Grace’s Pictures Ashton Park A Sparrow in Terezin Ring of Secrets Fly Away Home Rally 'Round Green

July
Winter -3
Raspberries and Vinegar -2A Portrait of Emily Price -4 Whispers From The Shadows -4 The Illusionist’s Apprentice -5 The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes -4Exit Betty -3 On Distant Shores -4 The Hound of the Baskervilles -5
AugustCloudy Jewel -4 Cranford -5 Rules of Murder -2 The Return of Sherlock Holmes -3 A Distant Melody -4 Tea With Emma - 3 In Perfect Time -4 True Colors -3
September The White Feather Murders -5 Villette -4 Letters From Bath -4 While You’re Awake -5 Servant’s Hall -4 How a Star Falls -4 The Prayers of Jane Austen -5 
OctoberAnne’s House of Dreams -5  Of Things To Come Secret Adversary -4Ariel Custer -3 At Your Request -4The Portrait of a Lady- Volume 1 -3 I’ll Be Seeing You -5 Bellevere House -4 Emmeline -4
Pride and Prejudice -5
November The Portrait of a Lady Volume 2 -2 Perception -4Suit and Suitability -4Anchor in the Storm -4 Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey -5When Tides Turn -4Gentleman of Her Dreams -4The World of Downton Abbey -5Kerry -3Murder on the Orient Express -3The Elusive Miss Ellison -5 Shine Like The Dawn -4 A Wreath of Snow -4 Christmas at Harrington’s -3 A Lady of Esteem -3
December The Captivating Lady Charlotte -4 Plum Pudding Murder -3 The Hesitant Heiress -3 The Austen Escape -4 12 Days At Bleakly Manor -4 On This Day -3

Thank you for spending time here at A Real Writer’s Life this year, readers and friends! I appreciate it so much. Here’s to more time spent gushing over books and writing in the new year!

-Miranda Atchley

Mansfield Park Read-Along

Hello readers and friends! I checking in with a quick post to let you know about the Mansfield Park read-along Amber is hosting. It begins January 3rd. Read further for more details.

We'll read 12 chapters per week over 4 weeks (for a total of 48 chapters).Discussions will take place here on Wednesdays (the 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st).You can start reading on the 3rd, or feel free to begin right away!Use the hashtag #MansfieldReadAlong on Twitter to share in-the-moment thoughts and favorite quotes. Can't wait to read another classic with this group of friends!
-Miranda Atchley

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, readers and friends! I hope you all have a blessed holiday and that you remember The Reason we celebrate this day.

-Miranda Atchley

Lately 12.13.2017

Hey readers and friends. I hope you’re all doing well. Can you believe it’s Christmastime? It’s crazy how fast this year passed by. I’ve got my Christmas trees up (I have two small ones that I put in my room) and have been listening to Christmas music on the radio. And as always, I’ve been doing some reading and writing. Here’s a look at that.
Reading
I recently read The Austen Escape , which a good read. I’ve read a few Christmas books, and some historical fiction.
Writing
I must admit that I’m having a harder time with this book at the moment. I go to write and then I just kind of get lost. It will require much more research than any other book I’ve written so far, and I will simply have to buckle down and get the research done. Other than that, I’ve been working on blog posts just so I can get some writing done.
That’s what I’ve been up to lately. What have you been reading and writing, readers and friends? What are some of your favorite Christmas songs and traditions? Tell me about them in comments.

-Miranda Atchley

Amongst The Roses Cover Reveal

Hello readers and friends! I have a fun post to share with you today. Today I’m helping to share the cover reveal for author Meghan M. Gorecki’s Civil War novel, Amongst The Roses. It’s the first book in The Keystone Legacy Series and releases April 12, 2018. Read further to find out more.


About The Book
The War Between the States shakes Margaret Bryant out of her comfortable upper-class life when her father enlists in the Army of the Potomac. Despite being safely ensconced above the Mason-Dixon Line in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Margaret finds her strength tested by opposition from familiar faces and Confederate threats. Will she let a young man from a lesser station into her heart even as war rages ever nearer to the home front?
Restless Connor Doyle sees the war as a way to escape from his family’s farm and his identity as a poor Irishman’s son. His brother, Adam, torn between duty to country and his family, enlists alongside Connor. Adam dares to hope in a future with Margaret when he begins a courtship correspondence from the war front. The two brothers make a vow to protect one another at all costs, but when faced with death and destruction from all sides—will they be able to uphold it?
The three bloodiest days in America’s history bring these three together at Gettysburg and tragedy’s cruelty threatens to tear two hearts apart—and bring two unlikely allies together.
MARK IT TO READ ON GOODREADS

About the Author
Meghan M. Gorecki is an author of inspirational fiction about what God can make beautiful from the ashes of history, and hearts. A lover and avid studier of people, times gone by, and fiction, she has been writing since childhood and now houses her books under Northern Belle Publishing. Coffee and red lipstick color her days as a redhead from a box, alongside her treasured tribe of family and friends in her beloved hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Connect with her on social media and at her blog/website at: northernbellemeg.comNorthern Belle PublishingAmazon// Facebook // Goodreads// Instagram // Twitter



Too impatient to wait till April?Snag Wrapped in Red today for just 99 Cents!Amazon// Goodreads
Congratulations to Meghan on her new novel! I’m excited to read this one.

-Miranda Atchley

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books of The Year

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.
I can’t believe that it’s already time to list our top ten books of the year. Where did this year go? I have no idea. I do know that this year was filled with great books. And today I’m going to list my top books of the year.


10: The Life of Charlotte Brontë Volume TwoWhen I found the second volume of this biography in the public domain section on my Kindle, I was excited. It was a great read. The Brontës were so interesting and I really liked reading about them.


9: The Elusive Miss Ellison I loved this book! It was a great read. I liked the Regency setting and the Pride and Prejudice theme.


8: The Hound of The Baskervilles This has been my favorite Sherlock Holmes mystery so far. I really liked the setting and how everything felt a little creepy out in the middle of the marsh. Really great read.


7: Mere Christianity I really enjoyed this book. I just love the way C.S. Lewis wrote.


6: The Illusionist’s Apprentice Kristy Cambron is such a good writer. I loved this whimsical historical with an air of mystery. I loved the 1920s setting and the quirky character of Wren.


5: I’ll Be Seeing You I’ve been a long-time fan of Melody Carlson, but I think this is my favorite book by her so far. I really enjoyed reading this WWII era novel and am excited to read the rest of the series.


4: Lilies in Moonlight This book was so much fun! I love the 1920s, and loved seeing a Christian novel set during this roaring decade. Lilly was a fun character to read about and Cullen was a good balance for her. And I loved Ruth Ann. I highly recommend this book!


3: Pride and Prejudice Okay, so this was a re-read, but I love this book so much that I couldn’t leave it off of my list! I enjoyed reading it during the read-along Amber hosted even more than I did the first time I read it. Who doesn’t love Lizzy and Mr. Darcy? And the rest of the large cast of characters that bring this marvelous book to life.


2: Cranford Cranford was such a good book. I love the setting and the stories of this woman-centric society. At times it was funny, and at times it was sad, but the entire book was a great read.


1: Daddy-Long-Legs I loved this book! The moment I finished it, I knew that it was not only going on my top ten books of the year, but also on my list of top ten books of all time. Judy and Jervie are just the best. Love it!
Thank you so much for stopping by today. Feel free to tell me about your ten favorite books of the year!

-Miranda Atchley

Review: The Captivating Lady Charlotte by Carolyn Miller

The Captivating Lady Charlotte by Carolyn Miller
Lady Charlotte Featherington is known to be a beautiful and lively young woman. Daughter of the Marquess of Exeter, there is no doubt that her hand in marriage will be asked by numerous eligible bachelors when she debuts into society. Charlotte knows this full well and cannot wait to meet the man of her dreams during her first London season. She thinks someone of her age with good looks and a love for literature, who is just as full of life as she is will be the man for her. Yet she doesn’t realize that she’s captivated the attention of Duke Hartwell. Much older than Lady Charlotte, Duke Hartwell is also a widower who’s late wife was at the center of many rumors around London. Known as a bit odd for being more involved with his farms than other dukes, Hartwell knows that his lackluster life is not what Lady Charlotte wants. Yet even so, Lord Exeter has arranged for Lady Charlotte and Duke Hartwell to marry. Will Lady Charlotte ever learn to love life away from bustling London?
Whereas in The Elusive Miss Ellison Lavinia and Nicholas reminded me of Lizzy and Mr. Darcy, Lady Charlotte and Duke Hartington totally reminded me of Marianne and Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility. Charlotte is feisty and full of life; she knows just what she wants. Duke Hartwell is a more meek character, but he knows when stand up for what he believes in and those that he loves. While I might not have loved this book as much as the first in the series, I still did enjoy reading about a London season in the early 19th century.
All in all, The Captivating Lady Charlotte is a well written novel that fans of Regency romance will enjoy.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Bookish Setting I'd Like To Visit

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.
We all have a list of places we want to visit someday. Sometimes we even have a list of time periods we’d chose to go to if we had the chance. The books we read inspire these lists greatly. Talented authors have a way of describing places in their stories that make the places and times seem so real. That’s what today’s post is all about. Here I’ve listed ten books with settings that I would love to visit.


10: Dawn’s Prelude I’ve always wanted to go to Alaska. This book set in the 1800s describes it beautifully.


9: The Sound of Diamonds It would be so neat to visit the 16th century. I’d love to visit some of the places Gwyn and Dirk stayed and traveled around.


8: When Tides Turn I love the 1940s, and Boston seems like a really interesting city. It would be so neat to see it during that time.


7: How a Star FallsThe scenes of the Oregon coast described in this novel sound so beautiful. The sound of crashing waves as the wind blows through the air; sounds like the perfect vacation.


6: At Your Request First, I want to mention how much I love the cover of this book. It is so beautiful! I would so love to visit New York City during the winter in the Gilded Age. To go ice skating in Central Park in a beautiful dress…. It sounds magical!


5: Pride and Prejudice Seriously, who wouldn’twant to visit Regency England!?


4: Jane Eyre I love the Victorian era. I would so love to visit England in the mid-1800s.


3: The Blue Castle I love this book. It is so good. I would jump at the chance to spend just one day in the 1920s. And if I could spend that day with Valancy, it would be all the better.


2: Anne’s House of Dreams Prince Edward Island is near the top of places I want to visit someday. L.M. Montgomery’s writings are the sole reason. The seaside town Anne and Gilbert move to in Anne’s House of Dreams sounds so beautiful.


1: A Castle in theSky When I was writing this list, I just had to add A Castle in the Sky. I’ve enjoyed writing about this era. I think it would be so much fun to visit New York in the 1910s.
So how about you, readers and friends? What are some times and places you’d like to see?

-Miranda Atchley