Trick or Sweet (Holidays With Jane, #3) in Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2016

Oct 26, 2017 J. W. Garrett rated it it was amazing

Shelves: era-modern-2, 2017, anthology-collection-vignettes, inspired-jane-austen, holiday-halloween

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

This is book 3 in the Holidays with Jane series. Our cadre of JAFF [Jane Austen Fan Fiction] authors has given us a wickedly cute and creative modern reimagining of Austen’s classic stories. Each is season themed for Halloween and Fall. These are clean stories; however, several do have a bit of magic thrown in for flavor. There is nothing dark or dangerous… just a bit of fun.

1) Holidays with Jane: by “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

This is book 3 in the Holidays with Jane series. Our cadre of JAFF [Jane Austen Fan Fiction] authors has given us a wickedly cute and creative modern reimagining of Austen’s classic stories. Each is season themed for Halloween and Fall. These are clean stories; however, several do have a bit of magic thrown in for flavor. There is nothing dark or dangerous… just a bit of fun.

1) Holidays with Jane: by Kimberly Truesdale: Persuasion: ends at 23%
This Persuasion reimagining features an Anne Elliot with a bit more power than was featured in Austen’s classic. After her mother’s death, family friend Rachel Russell became Anne’s mentor and tutor in the arts and began training her to accept and use her gifts. There was a secret in Kellynch House and Ellis Malduc wanted it. He would have to go through Anne in order to get it. Anne would have to wage battle in order to protect herself and the man she loved. Many of the names were the same and many were changed. The basic story of redemption and returning love was still the same.

2) Once Upon a Story: by Rebecca M. Fleming: Northanger Abbey: ends at 38%
Catie Morland is not having a good day. While taking a coffee break at Mansfield Perk, she meets two sisters from England… Cassie and Jane. Yeah, I know… but just go with it. They are touring Historic Literary places in the US and in their conversation with Catie, hear her story. Catie tells them of working with her college professor, Eleanor Tilney, of meeting her brother Henry and her budding feelings for him. They also ask Catie her part in the scandalous newspaper headlines that left a furious General Tilney. She then tells them of the part the Thorpe siblings [Bella and Jack] played in the debacle.

3) Insensible: by Cecilia Gray: Sense and Sensibility: ends at 54%
Miriam Dashwood is an events planner for the family business Dashing Events. Her elder sister Elinor is a librarian and younger sister is away at school and we don’t see her. This story is totally the POV of Miriam. She has suddenly discovered that their parents have absconded with the family and company funds and have gone to Argentina, leaving the girls to deal with the bills and creditors. Miriam had worked tirelessly on a big event that was within days of completion. Brandon Firestone had contracted Dashing Events to plan his Halloween Party. This creative story was interesting in how the author bent names to add a bit of humor to the story. I won’t spoil the surprise… just keep a close watch on the names.

4) Emma Ever After: by Melissa Buell: Emma: ends at 65%
Emma is hosting a fundraising Fall Ball that raises funds for her mother’s charity. We have all our favorite characters: Anne & Bob Weston, Grant Knightley, Harriet Smith, Rob [Robert] Martin, Philip Elton, John & Isabella [Bella] Knightley, Miss Bates [Librarian], Jane Fairfax, and Franklin Churchill [who goes by his stage name Frank Hill]. The best part of the story was the bachelor auction. I’m sorry… that was cute.

5) Mansfield Unmasked: by Jennifer Becton: Mansfield Park: ends at 82%
Now this was creativity on steroids. OMG! This was so cute. Our author did a mashup between Mansfield Park and Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummers Night’s Dream.’ Not seen that before, but when you read this story… it so works. What a hoot… as our story was the POV of Lady Bertram’s pug. His actual name was Puck; however, Lady Bertram doesn’t hear well and misunderstood his name and thus calls him Pug. He is a magical creature from a long line of magical creatures. He is the first to tell you and will recite his lineage in a heartbeat. If you are familiar with Shakespeare’s story, you know there is a lot of misplaced magic and love crossed, re-crossed and put back together again. Even though this is a modern story, our Austen characters are, at their core, the same as in the classic. The names are tweaked a bit; however, it is easy to keep them in line due to their behaviors. Poor Pug, best laid plans, but just maybe it will work out anyway.

6) Beyond Midnight: by Jessica Grey: Pride and Prejudice: ends at 98%
Even though this was a high school setting, you soon forget that. I loved this story. It was so cute and I loved the P&P [Pride and Prejudice] references as that so resonated in the high school scheme of things. Our author skillfully managed the base characteristics from Austen’s classic into the hormone riddled teenage years without becoming cartoonish. Senior Will Harper will never bet on the World Series against his sister Ana ever again. His loss cost him greatly. He has to dress as Mr. Darcy [whoever that is] and attend the Trick or Sweet dance. It is the fund raiser for the Drama Club and Ana is going as his Fairy Godmother. Yea, it is predictable, but cute, with a bit of magic thrown in.
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Sep 20, 2015 Kirk rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2017, 2022, 2015, 2022-austenesque-tbr, jane-austen, 2019, austenesque-lovers-tbr-pile-2015, austenesque-lovers-tbr-2017, 2018-austenesque-tbr-published, 2018

While I should have waited in October to read this collection, I really enjoyed it. I don't do "scary", but the most "scary" in the collection was the most riveting. All the stories were interesting. I look forward to the next collection! ...more

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Jan 02, 2017 Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: jane-austen

Fall Into the Season with Festive Austenesque Stories

If you haven’t heard of Holidays with Jane, it is an anthology series of Austen-inspired holiday-themed short stories. There are six stories in each anthology (one for each Jane Austen novel) and each story takes place in present-day. The lovely ladies who collaborate on these anthologies have published four anthologies so far (Christmas Cheer, Spring Fever, Trick or Sweet, Summer of Love) and have a new one scheduled to release soon – Thankfu ...more

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Sep 20, 2015 Maria rated it really liked it

Shelves: austen-related, austenesque-lovers-challenge-2016

Get ready for another emotional journey that will lead you to a wonderful world devoted to Jane Austen! Once again these six extraordinary authors gave us Janeites a gift and penned a lovely collection of short stories (this time inspired by Halloween) not to be missed!

Must be Magic - Kimberly Truesdale

Anne Elliot is not safe. Although she is a witch and has supernatural powers to protect herself, she cannot do anything against a dangerous threat that has arrived in her neighbourhood and is det ...more

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Sep 25, 2019 Sophia rated it really liked it

Shelves: holiday-romances, contemporary-romance, jane-austen-austenesque

Tis that time of the year when I search out fall-themed reading and was pleased to have this treat of an anthology to hand. Fun modern Austen novel retellings for each novel by a variety of authors with a Halloween theme woven into them.

Must Be Magic by Kimberly Tisdale
A Persuasion retelling with a surprising magical twist for Anne and a dark enemy in the shadows as she has a reunion full of regret with Fareed, the man she loved and rejected.

Once Upon a Story by Rebecca Fleming
Engaging Northange ...more

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Oct 22, 2016 Sheila Majczan rated it really liked it

4.5 stars

Each of these stories took one of Jane Austen's book and made it into a modern October/Halloween tale. And it was very pleasing to read how the authors worked together to include similar elements in each, i.e., Mansfield Perk.

While it is difficult to give a rating to a book in which there are five short stories, I do believe this one rates right up there. I won't reveal which one was my most or least favorite but I will say that last one with a "Mr. Darcy" in a wet T-shirt had me laughi ...more

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Nov 06, 2017 Carmen8094 rated it really liked it

Shelves: romanzi-e-saggi, e-book, austen-related

Trick or Sweet è una simpatica raccolta di racconti ispirati ai romanzi di Jane Austen, ma in puro stile Halloween!

- Must be magic, di Kimberly Truesdale, è la novella basata su Persuasione. Era quella che mi incuriosiva di più, ma purtroppo si è rivelata invece la più noiosa. Tanto di cappello all'autrice per aver re-immaginato e riscritto tutta la storia, ma né una Anne dotata di poteri, né un segreto in pericolo custodito nella vecchia casa di famiglia sono bastati ad accendere la magia. 3/5

- Trick or Sweet è una simpatica raccolta di racconti ispirati ai romanzi di Jane Austen, ma in puro stile Halloween!

- Must be magic, di Kimberly Truesdale, è la novella basata su Persuasione. Era quella che mi incuriosiva di più, ma purtroppo si è rivelata invece la più noiosa. Tanto di cappello all'autrice per aver re-immaginato e riscritto tutta la storia, ma né una Anne dotata di poteri, né un segreto in pericolo custodito nella vecchia casa di famiglia sono bastati ad accendere la magia. 3/5

- Once upon a story, di Rebecca Fleming, vede invece la dolce Catie di Northanger Abbey incontrare al Mensfield Perk due sorelle londinesi, tali Jane e Cassandra, e raccontare loro la sua disastrosa festa di Halloween, a causa della quale potrebbe perdere l'amicizia dei Tilney e soprattutto il suo Henry. 4/5

- Insensible, di Cecilia Gray, è probabilmente il mio preferito. L'autrice si focalizza sul personaggio di Marianne (qui Miriam) di Ragione e Sentimento, lasciata da sola e senza un soldo dai genitori a gestire la Dashing events. Oltre all'immane problema dovuto all'organizzazione dell'imminente party di Halloween richiesto dallo studio legale di Brandon Firestone, Miriam dovrà anche vedersela con l'attrazione che prova nei confronti dell'affascinante avvocato e del rocker della band Willow Bee. 4/5

- In Emma ever after, Melissa Buell crea l'ambiente perfetto per Emma Woodhouse, che si inventa madrina di un'asta di single in occasione del party annuale d'autunno, soddisfacendo il suo desiderio di matchmaking ed attirando su di sé lo scetticismo dell'amico di sempre Grant Knightley. 3/5

- Con Mansfield unmasked, Jennifer Becton opera un vero e proprio mash-up tra il romanzo di Jane Austen e l'opera di Shakespeare Sogno di una notte di mezza estate. L'autrice elegge a novello Puck il cane Pug, che cerca di far comprendere il valore della sua amata Pryce al giovane Spencer, con tutti gli equivoci tipici della commedia del bardo. L'idea è sicuramente originale e ben eseguita, ma io non ho mai amato Sogno di una notte di mezza estate, e questo ha sicuramente influenzato il mio giudizio anche nei confronti del racconto. 3/5

- Beyond midnight, scritto da Jessica Gray, è stato invece una sorpresa. Non confidavo molto né nell'ambientazione liceale, che non amo particolarmente, né nel fatto che il racconto fosse basato su Orgoglio e Pregiudizio, il romanzo di Jane Austen in assoluto più fatto oggetto di retelling, che, per questo motivo, mi è venuto un po' a noia. Invece la storia è molto carina e dolce, con un tocco di magia. 4/5

La raccolta si è rivelata davvero molto divertente, ho apprezzato le ambientazioni moderne e il fatto che tutte le autrici siano riuscite a conservare intatto lo spirito dei romanzi originali e a rendere così bene i vari protagonisti, da renderli ben riconoscibili al lettore. E' stato inoltre simpatico individuare il filo che lega tutte le storie, il Mansfield Perk, e ritrovare qui e là dei nomi familiari (Darcy Williams, West e Taylor Allen, Elton e Lance Knightley in Insensible, ad esempio, o l'insegnante di inglese Mr Willoughby in Beyond midnight).

http://iltesorodicarta.blogspot.com/2... ...more

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Oct 18, 2024 Ceri added it

Shelves: austen-inspired, short-stories

I love the concept of this series; each of Austen's main six novels get a modern update, tied around a particular season. This is the Halloween edition. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the book as much as I wanted to. Some of the stories were just not for me. Highlights were a story from the point of view of Lady Bertram's Pug(!) and the Pride and Prejudice story, which was set at a high school dance. ...more

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