Austenesque Lovers TBR Challenge 2019 discussion
Challenge Levels
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Colonel Brandon Level 101- 199 Books
well hello Colonel!! 87-The Gardiner Connection 3 stars
88-Discovery 3 stars
89-The Most Natural Thing 3 stars
90-Slightly Married NON_JAFF 4.5 stars Audible
91-The Journey 2nd read Audible 5 stars
92-Slightly Wicked 4 stars NON-JAFF Audible
93-Slightly Scandalous 4 stars NON-JAFF Audible
94-Mr. Bennet's Daughter: An Elizabeth and Darcy Story 3 stars (i didn't like how this was dealt with by the characters but enjoyed the plot).
95-Slightly Tempted 4 stars NON-JAFF Audible
96-Slightly Sinful 4 stars NON-JAFF Audible
97-A Sense of Obligation: A Pride and Prejudice Variation 4 stars 2nd read
98-Love Unsought 4 stars, a bit unplausible but i went with it.
99-With the Colonel's Help: A Pride and Prejudice Variation 4.5 stars very enjoyable.
100-A Trifling Cold: A Pride and Prejudice Variation 3.5 stars rounded up.
101-Slightly Dangerous 5 stars NON-JAFF Audible
Whew all caught up. As you can see i was sucked into the Bedwyn saga and loved it! Man, what an interesting family. Does have adult scenes. the narrator is also very good.
wosedwew wrote: "Colonel Brandon -- 101 to 150 Books101. A Floury Apron: A Pride and Prejudice Short Story 3 Stars
102. [book:Dear Jane: The final book in the Highbury Trilogy, inspired by Jane Au..."
Great progress. Your #117 had been on my list but now I'll remove it. It seemed to long and likely to have issues. Thanks for reviewing!
Elin wrote: "Grear progress Debbie! Thank you Debbie and Sheila. Well, I had some stinkers Sheila, what can I say. My stinker radar must be off... The good news is that I found my 116 on Dwiggi, where it is fin..."I have read that one. A little time back I made up an alphabetical list of all the JAFF books I have read so it is easier to look them up.
Sara wrote: "well hello Colonel!! 87-The Gardiner Connection 3 stars
88-Discovery 3 stars
89-The Most Natural Thing 3 stars
90-Slightly Married NO..."
Fantastic progress - congrats!
Sheila wrote: "Elin wrote: "Grear progress Debbie! Thank you Debbie and Sheila. Well, I had some stinkers Sheila, what can I say. My stinker radar must be off... The good news is that I found my 116 on Dwiggi, wh..."That's a really smart idea. Although usually I can remember and luckily I try to only read those that I can log on GR to keep track!
However, some authors don't want their stories reviewed on GRs so it is difficult to check and then if you don't even remember which year...even more difficult to find.
Mod
Wow, look at that big stack of likes to amazings. The Colonel's definitely glad to have your visit. :)
Sara wrote: "well hello Colonel!! 87-The Gardiner Connection 3 stars
88-Discovery 3 stars
89-The Most Natural Thing 3 stars
90-Slightly Married NO..."
Love the Bedwyns!
Sara wrote: "well hello Colonel!! 87-The Gardiner Connection 3 stars
88-Discovery 3 stars
89-The Most Natural Thing 3 stars
90-Slightly Married NO..."
Congrats!!!
Thank you to all of you for the kind words and sympathy you've expressed on our recent loss. I've read them all out to my husband. Your support has meant so much to us both. We're still feeling sandbagged by it all, which is why you've not heard from me recently. I've still been reading though, but mainly shorter stuff as my brain hasn't been capable of concentrating on longer works, apart from the audiobooks I listen to on my commutes. I've also decided to take a holiday (possibly a lengthy one) from social media (FB mainly) as seeing memories pop up of things we did a year ago with our two dogs is just too painful to cope with right now. Who could have predicted that, a year on, we'd have lost both of them?
I'm still going to be here though and easing gently back into interacting with you all again. When I feel the time is right, I'll be popping back into commenting on some of the Austenesque blogs I follow, too.
Mod
Take as long as you need and don't feel pressured to jump in too soon. You're always welcome to rest on the sidelines. :)
Anji, you will be in our thoughts and prayers still. I hope you can find some peace away from the photos for now. But I am sure that in the future those will continue to be treasured when you look at them. Take care of your self. We will be here.
Time to update my list:112. Heart of the Fae - 5+ stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is the first of a two-part adult fantasy version of Beauty and the Beast - which, of course, has its parallels to Pride and Prejudice so I'm calling it JAFF!
113. Veins of Magic - 5+ stars
Fantastic conclusion to #112. Amazing fantasy writing!
114. The Buccaneer and the Bluestocking (non-JAFF) - 5 stars
115. The Lieutenant and the Lady (non-JAFF) - 5 stars
I've been working my way through this nicely written 5-book Regency romance series and took a break from JAFF to finish off these final two.
116. Letters from Elizabeth (unpublished) - by I found my Mr. Darcy - 5 stars
www.fanfiction.net/s/11332802/1/
SUCH an impressive story told via correspondence. Like Lady Susan, only without the humor. Trigger warning for battered wife syndrome/off-page violence. Elizabeth is unhappily married to Mr. Collins. Three chapters.
117. Letters from Darcy (unpublished) - by I found my Mr. Darcy - 5 stars
www.fanfiction.net/s/11444392/1/
Same story as #117, only told from Darcy's POV via his correspondence. Eight chapters. I'd raise my rating from 5 to 5+ if the two sets of letters had been combined chronologically.
.... and I'm told that the author has done so with a third version available on the meryton.com fanfic site! Will be reading that one soon!
118. Arabella (non-JAFF) - 5 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It's been a couple of months since I dipped into a Georgette Heyer novel. This was another delightful romp.
119. Recovered and Restored (unpublished) by I found my Mr. Darcy - 3.5 stars
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12086434...
Sketchy one-shot where Darcy has spirited Elizabeth from Longbourn and has some 'splaining to do!
Great progress again. I thought you would be golfing this weekend. Some of these sound like I would enjoy them. Just too many on that pile!
Myrtle Beach is having record heat for Memorial Day weekend. Heat index is well over 100 degrees F - way too hot for golf! We're staying inside in the air conditioning....though I did have a doo wop performance last night.
Sheila, if you decide you want to look at #116, #117, instead read the combined version. Here's the link: http://meryton.com/aha/index.php?show...
I'll be getting to it when I finish my current re-read of Nefarious: A Pride and Prejudice Variation.
I am sure that was taxing enough if the weather is as you say. We continue to have lots of rain but temperatures are mostly in the 70's. Although today it went into the 80's. Our pool just opened on Friday and lots of people were in it today.
Mod
Bummer you guys are sweltering down there. We are having the mildest Memorial Day that I can remember. I actually wore a light jacket to the parade this morning.
Debbie wrote: "Time to update my list:112. Heart of the Fae - 5+ stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is the first of a two-part adult fantasy version of Beauty and the Be..."
Great!!
Debbie wrote: "Time to update my list:112. Heart of the Fae - 5+ stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is the first of a two-part adult fantasy version of Beauty and the Be..."
Great going, Debbie! The combined version of your 116 & 117 is definitely worth reading.
171. Slices of Life by Laure001 14 chapters. Modern AU. After his catastrophic love declaration at Hunsford, Darcy's relationship with Elizabeth takes an unexpected turn. Most of the story is texts sent and received and thought about. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13149846...172. Our Lady of Longbourn by leavesfallingup (A reread, 32 chapters) “Lizzie gradually takes over the running of Longbourn after becoming aware of her father's neglect... with impacts far greater than she could have ever imagined.” https://m.fanfiction.net/s/13151029/1/
173. The Mist of Her Memory: A Pride & Prejudice Romantic Suspense Variation 5 stars
174. By Charm or By CHOICE?: Pride and Prejudice continues... 3 stars
175. Bewitched, Body and Soul: Miss Elizabeth Bennet 4 stars (Audible copy)
176. A Successful Elopement by maddyv: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13009072...
25 chapters, “What if Mr Darcy had never made it to Ramsgate? Georgiana elopes and the Darcy family must weather the consequences...”
177. Most Delightfully Situated Through Her Means by Ms Pimprenelle: “Lady Catherine, on her way to Pemberley, finds herself a travel companion and decides to be of use.” https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12766162...
178. What Might Have Been by mrsdarcy2032: 3-stars http://meryton.com/aha/index.php?show...
“Darcy never learns of Lydia’s elopement. She is never recovered and the Bennets leave Hertfordshire under a cloud of scandal.” Rating: clean one-shot in two parts.
179. Smile, Mrs. Wickham by I found my Mr. Darcy: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11284858...
“George Wickham has been missing for three days. Where is he? What is Lydia thinking? First person Lydia POV with a cameo appearance by Mrs. Darcy. Rated M for themes of domestic violence. Super short, one-shot.”
180. His Darling Friend: A Touches of Austen Novella 4 stars
Thank you, Mary. Some short ones mixed with longer ones seems to get me through.
Great list, Sheila. I have to check out Our Lady of Longbourn!
Nice going! Looks as though you've just about got Pemberley in your sights, Sheila. Like Debbie, I'll have to check out Our Lady of Longbourn.
Beware that some readers thought Elizabeth was too much like a superwoman but the author explains that in her experience within the service she knows of people who see a problem and get it fixed! So she is writing from experience. Nothing wrong with a woman who is strong, focused, intelligent and who seeks to fill in her knowledge by seeking education on subjects from books and people she knows.And thanks for the compliments.
Mod
Glad to see Mist of His Memory got a five. That one is intriguing to me.
121 Friends and Lovers, DarcyDeFirth, FF, 83k, rated: K (should have been M due to explicit sexual descriptions). 29 chapters, of those were the first 16 introduction! That is the longest introduction I have ever read, it is practically novel length. Enters pre-canon with Darcy meeting Bingley and a twist to Anne de Bourgh. Loved the banter between D&B. No insult at the assembly and no obstacles for ODC. Long winded. 3*122 Georgiana's Friend, C.P. Odom, download, M, 183k. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44...
123 Compromised, TJ, PL, M, A compromise at the Netherfield ball, steamy and boring. 3*
124 The Muse, Jessica Evans, PL, M, modern PnP http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24... 5*
125 Nefarious, Nicole Clarkston and J.W. Garrett, K, epic, T http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45... 5*
126 It's Always Been You, L.L. Diamond, K, modern PnP, M. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46... 5*
127 Caroline Bingley, Mistress of Pemberly, very short, AHA, chaste
http://meryton.com/aha/index.php?show... 3*
128 Lamb to the slaughter, jancat, MRR, chaste
http://meryton.com/aha/index.php?show... 3*
129 The most interesting man, MRR, T.
PnP from Bingley's POV filling in the blanks from canon, no ODC pagetime.
http://meryton.com/aha/index.php?show... 4*
130 New understanding and a good game of chess, lady geek chick, FF, 2k
https://m.fanfiction.net/s/13297588/1/
2,5*
Great going, Elin! Seen a couple there that intrigue me.
You're moving right along, Elin! Well done!
Staying indoors for the air conditioning and reading through our sweltering Memorial Day weekend and the successive steamy days, so here are my latest:120. It's Always Been You - 4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Frankly, this was disappointing. Probably more like 3.5 stars. Fluffy, trite storyline, and not enough to tie it to Pride and Prejudice to really be a variation. It IS very romantic and well written. Others probably will like it more than I did.
121. Pick Me Up (unpublished) by SAdriani - 4 stars
http://www.meryton.com/mrr/sadriani/P...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For those who don't mind extremely dirty content. This is really, REALLY funny.
122. Nefarious: A Pride and Prejudice Variation - 5++ stars
Amazing P&P story. Brilliant writing. This was my second read-thru, and I was even more impressed the second time. I'll get a full review up eventually when I have the inspiration to do it justice!
123. An Intolerable Situation: A Pride and Prejudice Variation - 4.5 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For about the first half of the book, I struggled to keep reading it. The second half truly is worth hanging in there for. It gradually becomes a crazy farce and is really funny. I just loved it!
124. Our Lady of Longbourn (unpublished) by leavesfallingup - 3.5 stars
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13151029...
I probably would've rated this higher if it had ended at the resolution of the FIRST crisis. (Darcy is shot by assassins.) But then two other completely unrelated plots against Elizabeth and Darcy pop up and are thwarted in succession. And, yes, I was bothered by Elizabeth's perfection throughout the whole story. I was okay with her being brilliant and masterful with organizing and investing, etc., but she really needed some flaws. Did she HAVE to perform on the pianoforte so brilliantly? And ALWAYS know exactly the right thing to say and do in every situation? It definitely got annoying. I enjoyed Kitty's storyline a lot, though. Very unusual.
Debbie wrote: "Staying indoors for the air conditioning and reading through our sweltering Memorial Day weekend and the successive steamy days, so here are my latest:120. It's Always Been You - ..."
Great work debbie. I'm working on #123 and I'm in the middle. Like you i'm waiting to get on with it. It's taking me soo long to read because too much mr. Collins. I think the beginning should be shorter like 1/2 its size. It's interminable.
I was impatient too, but I got over it, Sara. I'll be curious to see what you think of the way the plot plays out.
@Debbie - how do I get access to #121, any idea? I like this author's writing, and I LOVE filthy and funny. :)
Debbie, I'm currently reading your 124 and trying to find some fault in Elizabeth. No luck so far! Your 123 sounds intriguing.
Michelle wrote: "@Debbie - how do I get access to #121, any idea? I like this author's writing, and I LOVE filthy and funny. :)"It's been a while since I became a member, so I'm fuzzy on details myself. I'm pretty sure I started with www.meryton.com and requested membership. Got set up with username and passcode. Not sure why, but there's also a common username and passcode that changes periodically, and you need THAT to access the "reading room" where the posted stories are found. My computer remembers all that stuff for me, so I don't even know what the current second level username or passcode is right now.
Anyone else want to jump in here? Did I explain that correctly?
Anji wrote: "Debbie, I'm currently reading your 124 and trying to find some fault in Elizabeth. No luck so far! Your 123 sounds intriguing."You will find no flaws, Anji. Elizabeth is Perfection Personified!
Debbie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "@Debbie - how do I get access to #121, any idea? I like this author's writing, and I LOVE filthy and funny. :)"It's been a while since I became a member, so I'm fuzzy on details ..."
That's correct, Debbie!
Mod
And, I'm with you, I like a character who has to grow a little at least and look askance at too perfect ones.
Great way to beat the heat.
Debbie wrote: "Staying indoors for the air conditioning and reading through our sweltering Memorial Day weekend and the successive steamy days."Thank goodness the weather has been middling here. We've been alternately somewhat cold and somewhat warm, because we have NO HEAT AND NO AIR CONDITIONING! The AC unit gets put back onto the house at the end of the project - in July :-/ - and the heating stays off because of concern about carbon monoxide poisoning until they have all the ducts or whatever set up.
Speaking of my big remodel, I'd appreciate prayer. It seems like they're ripping up more and more of my house without putting any part of it back together, and now they're saying they want to rip up more of it. This last one is upsetting because it was not anticipated and I'm upset about the affects of it AND it will require ripping up the basement which is the only place my kids can go! The one room left on the first floor is full of STUFF from the other rooms, the front yard is half mud, so only playable for about 10 minutes, and the backyard has a huge dirt mountain right near the house, so the backyard - even though there's a large amount of space behind the dirt - is unplayable because that area needs to be crossed to play in, and knowing the personality of my kids, that just won't work. I'm in tears today. There are no less than THREE unhappy issues that we "can't do anything about" being sprung on me today, and that's after having to rip apart two rooms without prior notice a couple of days ago! Anyway...., Prayers please!!!!
Mod
Ugh, you all are going through the wringer. Hopefully, you'll get some great news about another part of it not taking as long as predicted so it balances out. :)
This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. -- Psalms 118:24I feel your pain and will pray for you.
Take care of yourself.
Take care of your children.
The rest -- can look out for itself.
Jeremiah 29:11 "'For I Know The Plans I Have For You' Declares the Lord, 'Plans to Prosper You and Not to Harm You, Plans to Give You Hope and a Future.'"Crying relieves the tension... so give yourself permission to cry. Then you can dry your eyes and face whatever comes your way. You've got this. Keep telling yourself that this too shall pass. It is for a little while and then you can look back and rejoice that you made it through. Then you will have a newly remodeled home with lots of room/space for the kids. Deep breath, my dear. You can do this. We're here for you.
Oh Marlene, I feel for you, having lived through something similar at the previous house we lived in. It was absolutely no fun at all whilst it was happening but the result was worth it in the end. At least we had no family at that time, unlike yourself.
Marlene wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Staying indoors for the air conditioning and reading through our sweltering Memorial Day weekend and the successive steamy days."Thank goodness the weather has been middling here. ..."
Oh, Marlene, I am so sorry to hear this and will be praying for health and patience and workmen doing their job quickly, efficiently and excellently for all your family's sake. So very sorry you have to go through this.
Marlene,so sorry to hear that your building project has suddenly become bigger than you expected. Like others have said,keep your head,take a deep breath and look to the future. The hassle and disturbance will be worth it in the end. Just keep on ‘keeping on’. 😌
Big renovation projects are notorious for getting even bigger and taking longer than originally projected - depends on the "bones" of the house and what hidden issues are lurking behind those walls. I'm so sorry, Marlene. At least it's springtime/summertime so your kids can spend more time outdoors. And someday the work WILL be complete and you'll have those lovely new rooms. Hang in there, dear!
Austenesque Lovers TBR Challenge 2019
Books mentioned in this topic
Mr. Darcy's Enchantment: A Pride & Prejudice Variation (other topics)A Mother's Favorite Wish (other topics)
The Green Ball (other topics)
The Trap (other topics)
The Bell: A Pride and Prejudice Novella (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Robin M. Helm (other topics)Lady Jaeza (other topics)
K Scott Wood (other topics)
Wendi Sotis (other topics)
Laura Hile (other topics)
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