Colonel Brandon Level 101- 199 Books

[Elin]

150 JAFF
The Means of Uniting Them, P.O. Dixon http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40... ARC 3.5*
151 Loving Lydia, Leenie Brown, http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46... ARC 4*
152 Taking Another Chance, Brenda Webb, a gift from the author http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46... 4*
153 Darcy in Hollywood, Kincaid, modern. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46... 5*
154 Duels of Every Sort, K http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46... 3*
155 Pairings, JoanHall, vaguely amusing crazy pairings. https://m.fanfiction.net/s/12033658/1... 3*
156 The Propriety Fiction WadeH, FF https://m.fanfiction.net/s/13323306/9/ 4*
157 JoanHall, FF, oneshot. https://m.fanfiction.net/s/12088691/1... 3*
158 First Impressions, Peredan, FF. 34k Gender swap, too close to canon made the proposal and the Lambton interactions clammy.
https://m.fanfiction.net/s/6090307/13/ 2.5*
159 Pride, Prejudice and the Perfect Match, Marilyn Brant, K http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17... 4*

[Sheila]

Anji, I have to say (after having undergone open heart surgery myself almost 2 years ago) that for me the at home nurse and rehab and then the 12 week/3 days per week in-hospital rehab remade my life. I not only lost about 60 lbs. but I have warm up exercises, stretches, weights, etc. plus 40 minutes on the treadmill and a daily walk up and down all the aisles twice at our grocery store just about daily. I do take breaks for attending my grandchildren's activities but am almost OCD about getting my program in. I take about 10,000 steps per day according to my cell phone which acts as a Fitbit. As your husband is already active I am sure any program they give him will be a piece of cake.

[Anji]

Sheila wrote: "Anji, I have to say (after having undergone open heart surgery myself almost 2 years ago) that for me the at home nurse and rehab and then the 12 week/3 days per week in-hospital rehab remade my life.."

That's good to know, Sheila. The rehab nurse has given him a book that the hospital produces called The Heart Attack Manual. Although he's not had a heart attack, his rehab will be the same. It's got all sorts of useful information in it, including a week-by-week programme of exercise, changes he could make in his lifestyle regarding stress, diet etc. It covers the first six weeks after he comes home and will be a valuable reference for the future, too. We're still waiting to find out when he'll be having his angiogram.

[Anji]

Elin wrote: "150 JAFF
The Means of Uniting Them, P.O. Dixon http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40... ARC 3.5*
151 Loving Lydia, Leenie Brown, http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4666..."

Over halfway to Pemberley now Elin, great going! A bit of a mixed bag of ratings in this batch but I'm happy to see that you enjoyed Darcy in Hollywood.

[Elin]

Thank you Anji, I am well on my way to my 200 books goal this year. Which is good because I read less in the summer.
Hollywood Darcy was fabulous but some of my others reads was only mediocre. I am trying to tackle my unread pile on Kindle but I am not being very successful with all those summer freebies blinking new and shiny on Facebook. sigh...

[Anji]

Trevor was transferred to the cardiac unit in Leeds today for his angiogram. He phoned me at about 14:40 UK time to say he was waiting for it to be done. All being well, I may be able to drive over there tonight (it's only about 40 minutes) to bring him home. I've got everything crossed! It's been a loooong old week!

[wosedwew]

Good to have an update -- all the best to you and Trevor

[Mary]

Anji,hope the angiogram went well and that Trevor’s prognosis is a good one.

[Debbie]

Elin wrote: "150 JAFF
The Means of Uniting Them, P.O. Dixon http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40... ARC 3.5*
151 Loving Lydia, Leenie Brown, http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4666..."

Another long list, Elin! Congratulations on your impressive progress!

[Debbie]

Anji, we're looking forward to hearing good news from you soon. Lots of prayers for Trevor to have smooth sailing through his angiogram and in recovery.

[Anji]

Just want to let all you know that Trevor's coming home tonight. He's had a stent put in at Leeds General Infirmary and all went well. I'll be going to Leeds at about 10pm to pick him up. It's been a loooong week!

Many thanks once more for all of your lovely messages. We both appreciate them so much xxx

[Shelley]

Anji, many blessings to you and Trevor. Happy that all turned out so well.

[MichelleH]

Anji wrote: "Just want to let all you know that Trevor's coming home tonight. He's had a stent put in at Leeds General Infirmary and all went well. I'll be going to Leeds at about 10pm to pick him up. It's been..."

Anji, Dear. That is such good news. God be with you, be safe driving. Here's hoping you can catch up on some rest after he gets settled home. You surely have had a long week. I know he'll need some taking care of when he gets home. So don't feel guilty leaving the housework go.

[MichelleH]

Elin wrote: "150 JAFF
The Means of Uniting Them, P.O. Dixon http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40... ARC 3.5*
151 Loving Lydia, Leenie Brown, http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4666..."

Your reading speed is truly inspirational. I'm almost jealous. However, I can't remember details from books I read two weeks ago unless I read the blurb, let alone two months ago. So I'm not sure reading faster would be to my benefit.

BUT....I don't just want to compliment the quantity of your reading, I'd also like to thank you (and everyone else from this group) for posting the online stories from fanfiction sites. I have been reading more of them and enjoying the experience a lot, at least for most of the things I went looking for--based on star ratings or comments made by the post person. So thanks Y'all.

[Debbie]

Time for a Debbie update!

164. Elizabeth's Refuge: An Elizabeth and Darcy Story - 3.5 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I REALLY like the beginning and the ending. The middle? Not so much.

165. Dear Mr. Darcy - 4.5 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Very cute. P&P meets You've Got Mail. Sort of.

166. Cousin Emma: A Pride and Prejudice Variation - 5 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mashup of Emma with (mostly) P&P

167. Tact: A Pride and Prejudice Variation - 5 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Same idea as A Most Civil Proposal (which is a book I really ought to re-read). In this one, Elizabeth has such a gift for diplomacy that I wish we could send her to the modern Middle East to negotiate all those countries into peaceful coexistence with the rest of the world.

168. No Other Recourse: A Pride and Prejudice Variation - 5 stars
Novella. Fast-moving. Nice romance. Love this Darcy!

169. Fitzwilliam's Folly (reread) by Beau North - 5 stars
This is actually one of the short stories in Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen's Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues, but Christina Boyd is offering it as a thank you to anyone who signs up for The Quill Ink email list. Great yarn starring Colonel Fitzwilliam with a few P&P scenes playing in the background:
https://www.thequillink.com/blog?fbcl...
I loved it when I first read it as part of the collection; I loved it again this time!

170. Mr. Collins of Hunsford - 2 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Don't bother.

171. Mr. Darcy's Courtesan: a Pride and Prejudice variation - 3 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Had potential, but characters are too inconsistent and/or illogical. And language is too modern and informal.

[Kirk]

Debbie wrote: "Time for a Debbie update!

164. Elizabeth's Refuge: An Elizabeth and Darcy Story - 3.5 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I REALLY like the beginning and the end..."

Great!

[Kirk]

Anji wrote: "Just want to let all you know that Trevor's coming home tonight. He's had a stent put in at Leeds General Infirmary and all went well. I'll be going to Leeds at about 10pm to pick him up. It's been..."

Great news indeed! Best wishes!

[Kirk]

Elin wrote: "150 JAFF
The Means of Uniting Them, P.O. Dixon http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40... ARC 3.5*
151 Loving Lydia, Leenie Brown, http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4666..."

Fantastic!

[Anji]

Nice going, Debbie. Nearly three quarters of the way to Pemberley, which looks like somewhere in Warwickshire if you draw a straight line from the Dorset coast to Derby. Warwick Castle is worth a visit if you have the time!

Hubby update: we didn't get home until just after midnight, as there was a query about one of his meds and we had to wait for a doctor to get in touch with the cardiac unit about it. At that time of night, there aren't as many on duty as there are during the day, so we had a bit of a wait. Still, he's home now, thank goodness and we're going to have a lazy day today as we wind down a bit from the stresses and strains of the past week. Now comes four to six weeks of recovery and rehab before life can even begin to return to normal.

[Mary]

Anji-great to hear that your hubby is home,able to sleep in his own bed and begin to get back to his old self.

[Debbie]

Oh, Anji, that's good news indeed! Yes, there's rehab in Trevor's immediate future, but the worst is behind you now.

[Sheila]

Anji, glad to hear you and Trevor are home now. Prayers and best wishes for a great recovery and rehab time for him. Take care of yourself, also, as you have been stressed and not resting.

Debbie, great list of books, great progress. I am going to have to check out several of those.

[Debbie]

I forgot one book in my list:

172. A Lady's Reputation by Amy D'Orazio (ARC - not released yet) - 5+ stars
GREAT story!! I think there will be a big buzz over it when this one comes out.

[Debbie]

MichelleH wrote: "I'd also like to thank you (and everyone else from this group) for posting the online stories from fanfiction sites. I have been reading more of them and enjoying the experience a lot, at least for most of the things I went looking for--based on star ratings or comments made by the post person. So thanks Y'all."

Thanks, Michelle, for my share of your compliment. I appreciate Elin and all the others who post about the online JAFF they're reading, too. I'm always nicking stories off other's lists!

[Sheila]

Debbie wrote: "I forgot one book in my list:

172. A Lady's Reputation by Amy D'Orazio (ARC - not released yet) - 5+ stars
GREAT story!! I think there will be a big buzz over it when this one comes out."

I agree...great book.

[Christina]

Anji wrote: "Hubby update: we didn't get home until just after midnight, as there was a query about one of his meds and we had to wait for a doctor to get in touch with the cardiac unit about it. At that time of night, there aren't as many on duty as there are during the day, so we had a bit of a wait. Still, he's home now, thank goodness and we're going to have a lazy day today as we wind down a bit from the stresses and strains of the past week. Now comes four to six weeks of recovery and rehab before life can even begin to return to normal."

Anji, just a quick note to say I'm glad you and your hubby are back at home! I wish for him a speedy recovery, and for you, a chance to relax a little after what must have been a very stressful period of time!

[J. W.]

So glad Anji you are home. There's no place like home. That is for sure. Blessings to you both.

[Anji]

Thanks, Christina and Jeanne. We've had a quiet weekend, but remembering where we were exactly a week ago (in A&E, or the ER, depending on which side of the Atlantic you live), I'll settle for a quiet weekend at home any time! He gets tired quite easily right now, but that's understandable given that it's early days yet. But we're following the programme in the rehab support material we've been given, so things should get better over the next few weeks. He was also very fit for a 70-year-old before all this came at us out of the blue a week ago last Friday.

[J. W.]

Update:

169. [Reread] [Unpub] Pairings (a one shot in four chapters): JoanHall: 4-stars https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12033658...
170. [Reread] [Unpub] Longbourn’s Trustee: P. R. Hood: 4-stars
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12647642...
171. [Reread] [Unpub] Lady Catherine Disposes: P.R. Hood: 4-stars https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12207486...
172. [ARC] Loving Lydia [Marrying Elizabeth: Book 3]: Leenie Brown: 5-stars
173. No Other Recourse: Emmeline Ashe: 5-stars
174. Taking Another Chance: Brenda J. Webb: 5-stars
175. [Reread] [Unpub] Taken: MAB: 5-stars
http://meryton.com/aha/index.php?show...
176. [Reread] [Unpub] A Fault in Their Characters: prhood: 4-stars
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13127795...
177. [Reread] [Unpub] Not So Wholly Unexpected: P. R. Hood: 3-stars https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12543350...
178. [Reread] [Unpub] Regrets, I Have But a Few: P. R. Hood: 4-stars
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12390547...
179. [Reread] [Unpub] Wishful Thinking: P. R. Hood: 3-stars https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12650311...
180. [Reread] [Unpub] Until Tomorrow: RafeDurk: 4-stars
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8417682/1/
181. [Reread] [*Unpub] Wickham’s Revenge: RafeDurk: 4-stars https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7390936/...
2-chapters, clean, quick read: paranormal: Blurb: ‘Wickham, bent on revenge, finds our dear couple during a walk through the shades of Rosings.’

[Marlene]

Anji wrote: "Hubby update: ...he's home now, thank goodness and we're going to have a lazy day today ... Now comes four to six weeks of recovery and rehab before life can even begin to return to normal. "

Anji, I'm praying right now for both of you. That the recovery be optimal and that you two both have great patience.

[Sheila]

J. W. wrote: "Update:

169. [Reread] [Unpub] Pairings (a one shot in four chapters): JoanHall: 4-stars https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12033658...
170. [Reread] [Unpub] Longbour..."

Wow...what fantastic progress! Congratulations. I have to check some of these out.

[Anji]

J. W. wrote: "Update:

169. [Reread] [Unpub] Pairings (a one shot in four chapters): JoanHall: 4-stars https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12033658...
170. [Reread] [Unpub] Longbour..."

You'll be crossing the border into Derbyshire very soon, Jeanne; excellent progress! In fact, right now, it looks as though you're just clipping the north-east corner of Leicestershire, the county I was born in. The Peak District isn't far away now!

[Debbie]

Great list of books there, Jeanne! Lots of good unpublished stuff, too. Nice!!

[Debbie]

Anji, an experience like what you and Trevor have gone through sure makes you appreciate simple blessings like a quiet, uneventful weekend, doesn't it? The fact that Trevor was very healthy and fit before his recent symptoms bodes VERY well for a smooth recovery process.

[Sara]

Wow Jeanne, I'm very curious about your #181. Sounds intreguing.

Anji, glad he's getting better. I hope he continues to improve.

[Kirk]

J. W. wrote: "Update:

169. [Reread] [Unpub] Pairings (a one shot in four chapters): JoanHall: 4-stars https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12033658...
170. [Reread] [Unpub] Longbour..."

Great!!!!

[MichelleH]

Anji wrote: "Thanks, Christina and Jeanne. We've had a quiet weekend, but remembering where we were exactly a week ago (in A&E, or the ER, depending on which side of the Atlantic you live), I'll settle for a qu..."

I'm so glad you and Trevor are at home now. I know the stent will show you it was the right decision. Scary to go through but isn't modern cardiac medicine a blessed marvel. I'm still keeping you in my thoughts as you face the weeks ahead. God bless you both.

[J. W.]

Thanks, Sheila, Anji, Debbie, Sara, and Kirk. I appreciate your encouragement. Sara ... if you like surprises and a bit of paranormal... you will get a kick out of that last one. Horrid but hilarious. I couldn't help but laugh.

[Debbie]

Yeah, I popped over and read that after going through your list. Talk about imagining outside the box!!

[J. W.]

Glad you read it. I needed a chuckle and to hear their thoughts was a hoot. I can't even discuss it without giving a spoiler. I can only recommend it as a quick shocking read.

[Sheila]

I think I will read that one next. There are a few on that list that I plan to read. Thanks for the recommendations.

[wosedwew]

J. W. wrote: "Update:

169. [Reread] [Unpub] Pairings (a one shot in four chapters): JoanHall: 4-stars "

Wow! Soon you will be at Pemberley!

[J. W.]

Hope you like it, Sheila. It is different,

Wose... I know. I wasn't sure I was going to make it. At my speed, it was going to be Christmas before I saw that beautiful building and its marvelous library. RL sucks.

[Sheila]

J. W. wrote: "Hope you like it, Sheila. It is different,

Wose... I know. I wasn't sure I was going to make it. At my speed, it was going to be Christmas before I saw that beautiful building and its marvelous li..."

I did read it - and I have read other JAFF in which such was the premise. Not saying so as not to SPOIL

[Anji]

J. W. wrote: "Glad you read it. I needed a chuckle and to hear their thoughts was a hoot. I can't even discuss it without giving a spoiler. I can only recommend it as a quick shocking read."

Just read your 181 myself. Didn't see that coming!

And many thanks to Debbie, Marlene, Michelle and Sara for your good wishes for Trevor's recovery.

[J. W.]

Anji, I know; wasn't that a shock?
So glad Trevor's better.

[Debbie]

We'll, I'd anticipated having less time to read this year, so I'd set my JAFF goal at a manageably low 175. Goal has now been met!

Guess I need to rethink and make a new one. I'm thinking 250 might be doable.

Anyway, here's my latest:

173. Wickham's Revenge (unpublished) by RafeDurk - 4 stars
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7390936/...
Thank you, Jeanne! Two chapters. The first is devastating and leads to a confounding development. The second is...unexpected!

174. No Other Recourse: A Pride and Prejudice Variation - 5 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Really good, action-packed. Short book, so it doesn't take that long to read.

175. Mr. Darcy & Elizabeth: The Fashionable and Young: a Pride and Prejudice Variation Romance - 3.5 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The current Mrs. Bennet is a noblewoman and a manipulative stepmother. I liked but didn't love this. Mr. Bennet's lack of concern about his "favorite" daughters doesn't ring true.

176. The Unknown Ajax HEYER!! - 5+ stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
LOVE this author! This is the best I've read yet...and there are so many more to look forward to!

177. Follies and Vices: A Pride and Prejudice Variation - 4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Good adventure romance. Not remotely credible, but fun.

178. Men Of Consequence: A Pride And Prejudice Variation - 4.25 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I couldn't give it 5 stars for reasons I explain in my review, but it's a marvelous, complex plot. Highly recommend.

179. Refusing Mr. Collins: A Pride and Prejudice Possibility - 4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
You might even feel sorry for Mr. Collins in this one. (Or maybe not!) It seems everyone wants him dead.

[Debbie]

Since this IS Colonel Brandon's level, I must report on my latest Alan Rickman sighting. I happened to catch Galaxy Quest on the telly Wednesday evening. Such a great, goofy movie! And Alan Rickman is fantastic in it - as adept at comedy as he is at everything else. Could listen to his voice forever and never get tired of that sexy growl (even when he's not aiming for sexy). R.I.P. to a great actor.

[Sheila]

Debbie wrote: "Since this IS Colonel Brandon's level, I must report on my latest Alan Rickman sighting. I happened to catch Galaxy Quest on the telly Wednesday evening. Such a great, goofy movie! And Alan Rickman..."

I agree.

[Sheila]

Debbie wrote: "We'll, I'd anticipated having less time to read this year, so I'd set my JAFF goal at a manageably low 175. Goal has now been met! Guess I need to rethink and make a new one. I'm thinking 250 might..."

Debbie, you have some interesting ones here. I have added two to my Kindle or Wish List. Won't buy the one about the brothel...just not my taste and I have enough to read without it. But great progress on your part. Congratulations.