Austenesque Lovers TBR Challenge 2019 discussion
Challenge Levels
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Colonel Brandon Level 101- 199 Books
Anji wrote: "Just realised that Inhaven't posted an update here recently, so this is quite a lengthy one, Sorry!126. [book:The Ladies of Rosings Park: A Pride and Prejudice Sequel and Companion to The Darcys ..."
Fantastic!!!
Debbie wrote: "After reluctantly giving my honest 3-star review of Wade H's Emma Bee, I picked up the last two of his works in the GR listings that I hadn't read yet. The planets are back in their..."Steady progress: I am going to have to read Letters from Cheapside
Kirk wrote: "102) With Regards to Mrs Bennet 3.0Five Chapters incomplete. Difficult reading
With Regards to Mrs Bennet
103) Royals 4.25
Certainly not directly JAFF...."
Lots of progress, great, Kirk.
Wow! Look at you go, Anji! And all those 5-star reads! Good for you!!
Anji wrote: "Just realised that Inhaven't posted an update here recently, so this is quite a lengthy one, Sorry!126. [book:The Ladies of Rosings Park: A Pride and Prejudice Sequel and Companion to The Darcys ..."
Congratulations on all this progress. I have read many of these myself. Nice when you have a run of good books!
Oh my! What fabulous books you have read Anji, loaded with five stars.
Just when we thought life couldn't throw any more crap at us, I had to take hubby to hospital at 3.30 this morning. Suspected heart attack.
Oh, no, Anji. You remain in my prayers. What is his name and I will make my prayers more specific? So sorry to read of this.
Sheila wrote: "Oh, no, Anji. You remain in my prayers. What is his name and I will make my prayers more specific? So sorry to read of this."Sheila, that's so kind of you. His name is Trevor and we're hoping he may be discharged later today. Things may not have been quite as serious as we thought. Currently waiting for the doctors to let us know the results of the most recent set of tests. Fingers crossed!
Anji,so sorry to hear about your husband. Hope it’s not as serious as they first suspected and that the tests reveal more.
Sheila wrote: "Kirk wrote: "102) With Regards to Mrs Bennet 3.0Five Chapters incomplete. Difficult reading
With Regards to Mrs Bennet
103) Royals 4.25
Certainly not d..."
Thx!
Anji wrote: "Sheila wrote: "Oh, no, Anji. You remain in my prayers. What is his name and I will make my prayers more specific? So sorry to read of this."Sheila, that's so kind of you. His name is Trevor and w..."
Crossing my fingers and toes! Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Mod
Add my hugs and prayers for Trevor to the rest. :)
Mod
You had some stellar reading.
Anji wrote: "Sheila wrote: "Oh, no, Anji. You remain in my prayers. What is his name and I will make my prayers more specific? So sorry to read of this."Sheila, that's so kind of you. His name is Trevor and w..."
Whatever it turns out to be you are now both on my prayer list.
Thanks for the good wishes, friends. We've just got back from hospital (it's almost 9.30pm here now) after being there since 3.30am. They don't think it was a heart attack (thank goodness) but more likely an angina attack. He's no previous history of cardiac problems and is going to be having more tests as an out-patient, rather than keep him in, plus he's suddenly got a lot more medication to take each day. Just have to wait and see how things develop. Our National Health Service in the UK has its critics and its problems but today we're thankful for it and the fact that it's free at point of delivery, including the medication, as Trevor's over 60.
I wish we could say the same here in the USA but the cost would be unreasonable. At least with insurance and Medicare a great deal of the cost is covered. Lots of medication led to me having "dry eye" and "dry mouth". I use drops now for my eyes - especially at night.
Anji -- keep us posted on your husband's progress. Will pray for his recovery
Mod
161. Lady Huntingdon to the Rescue (unpublished) by Perpetua Langley - 5 starsFree short story/sequel to Cousin Emma: A Pride and Prejudice Variation when you sign up to be on the author's email list: https://us12.list-manage.com/subscrib...
This is a quick read, a delightful little tale about Lady Huntingdon (nee Kitty Bennet), who's hopeless when it comes to managing her husband's estate -- or even finding her way around it without getting lost. She's panicking over the hunting party she and Lord Huntingdon are hosting, especially with the intimidating Darcys and the Dowager Duchess among the expected guests. Will she be exposed for the silly airhead that she is?
I LOVE this! Ms. Langley's usual whimsical humor and entertaining characters.
162. Regret & Retribution (unpublished) by theofoz - DNF (2 stars?)
www.fanfiction.net/s/9486128/1/
I made it to 35 of 51 chapters. Meandering plot with nothing driving it. Beyond boring, except for the premise that Elizabeth married Colonel Fitzwilliam, who died in her arms after being injured in battle. She and Darcy are both widowed with children (she's actually pregnant with Richard's child), they're deeply in love with each other, but they wait until a respectable period of mourning to marry. Lots of 21st century behavior (such as they frequently sleep together and show affection before marriage with the approval of their families). Writing itself is quite good, but this LONG book has no structure that I can find.
163. Taking Another Chance: A Pride and Prejudice Variation - 3.5 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Everyone else who's reviewed this loved it, so I feel like the Grinch. It has a lot going for it, but I thought Darcy and Elizabeth both acted nonsensically, delaying the inevitable HEA. When it arrived, the HEA stuff went on for chapter after chapter, long after I lost interest.
Mod
Sara wrote: "For instance, colonel was spelled "colonial" EVERY TIME!"I have a guess on that one! The author may have mis-spelled colonel and then clicked on the WRONG OPTION to fix the spelling. And did a "replace all."
I remember a professor of mine wrote an article about speechreading - another term for lipreading - and his entire article had "spearheading." The "replace all" explanation above is the one he gave. Thankfully, I believe that he wasn't quite done with his article at the time.
Elin wrote: "Great progress Debbie! Several 5* as well, I must check out The Power of The Sword as it sounded unique and creative. Hello Elin, I know this is late in response to your list. I'm having trouble accessing L. L. Diamond's story on AHA. That link takes me to AHA, but claims content not found.
http://meryton.com/aha/index.php?show... Is this correct?
wosedwew wrote: "Anji -- keep us posted on your husband's progress. Will pray for his recovery"Progress report: sorry to have to report that Trevor's been admitted to the Coronary Care Unit at the local hospital. His chest pains returned and were getting more frequent, so at 9.30 Sunday evening, it was back to the UK equivalent of the ER. Definitely looks like a heart attack this time. I saw him settled into bed and then came home to try to get some sleep. Not sure how well I'll do at that. I got home about 1:50am Monday and am now in bed having a cup of herbal tea that's supposed to aid sleep. At least he's in the right place if anything else untoward happens.
Anji wrote: "wosedwew wrote: "Anji -- keep us posted on your husband's progress. Will pray for his recovery"Progress report: sorry to have to report that Trevor's been admitted to the Coronary Care Unit at th..."
Oh, Anji, again...so sorry to read of this development. Praying.
Anji-so sorry to hear that your hubby is back in hospital. Here’s hoping that it’s a short stay. I’ll be thinking of ye.
Anji wrote: "Thanks for the good wishes, friends. We've just got back from hospital (it's almost 9.30pm here now) after being there since 3.30am. They don't think it was a heart attack (thank goodness) but more..."Prayers sent up from me for wisdom for those administering and evaluating the tests. Take it easy, both of you.
Anji--I'm praying for you and Trevor. Like Marlene said, praying for those caring for him at the hospital.
Many thanks, friends. I managed to get a bit of sleep during the past few hours (it's now nearly 7:30am). Just phoned the hospital and he's sleeping but OK, or as OK as he can be right now. No deterioration during the night.
Mod
Hugs, zombie lady without the sleep. :)
Such scary stuff, Anji! We're with you in spirit, and definitely in our prayers for both of you.
Hoping they can provide answers and relief for you and your husband!
Update time: I keep forgetting. Sorry:159. [Reread] The Courtship of Edward Gardiner: Nicole Clarkston: 5-stars
160. [Reread] [Unpub] Miss York’s Match: LadyJaeza: 3-stars https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12710750...
161. [Unpub] The Propriety Fiction: WadeH: 5-stars
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13323306...
162. [Reread] [Unpub] The Duchess of Devonshire: fancyface8105: 5-stars
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12276851...
163. [Reread] [Unpub] Circles: WadeH: 5-stars https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12341599...
164. [Reread] [Unpub] Bonded Hearts: fancyface8105: 4-stars
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12486751...
165. [Reread] [Unpub] Fleeting Destiny: fancyface8105: Not Finished: 4-stars https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12516567...
166. [*Unpub] A Moment of Weakness or Courage: elliotbennet: 4-stars
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12875173...
25 chapters: blurb: “What if Jane and Elizabeth had not been in Meryton to meet Wickham? What if they had spent some additional time with Darcy and Bingley that day instead? And what if in a moment of weakness, or courage, Darcy allowed Elizabeth to glimpse his growing feelings for her? How might all of their paths have been different from the story we know and love?”
167. [Reread] [Unpub] Gossip Requited: prhood: 4-stars
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13175718/1/
168. [Reread] [*Unpub] The Green Ball: Ms Pimprenelle: 4-stars https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12726410...
OMG!! This puts a whole new twist on the ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ story. I shall not eat green eggs and ham… Sam, I am!! I had to read the author’s reveal at the end in order to understand what actually happened. I didn’t catch it at all. Wow! How creative… and disturbing. Short and clean.[1st read 5-8-19] [2nd read 7-8-19]
Yay, Jeanne! Nice stack of books you got there!
Mod
That sounds like a hoot with the Green Eggs and Ham tie-in.
J. W. wrote: "Update time: I keep forgetting. Sorry:159. [Reread] The Courtship of Edward Gardiner: Nicole Clarkston: 5-stars
160. [Reread] [Unpub] Miss York’s Match: LadyJaeza: 3-stars https://www.fanfiction..."
Way to go Jeanne. I've now nicked re-reading your #162. I'm now reading #164. Both I've read before but it's always good to visit again! It's like seeing an old friend again.
Thanks, Debbie.Well, Sophia, it is like this... it's Caroline's party so you know it's gonna be bad.
LOL!! Sara, so glad you enjoyed them. Yeah, old friends are the best when you just want to see a friendly face or read an old favorite.
Thanks, guys.
Oh Anji, I just saw your post about your husband. I remember when my hubby had his heart attack back in '09. In a few months, it will be 10 years ago when he had 4-bypass surgery. Our local hospital sent him to another hospital located a two-hour drive away. I had to get a hotel near the hospital so I could stay near him. I'd drive home and check on the house but it was a worry none the less. You are in my prayers.
J. W. wrote: "Oh Anji, I just saw your post about your husband. I remember when my hubby had his heart attack back in '09. In a few months, it will be 10 years ago when he had 4-bypass surgery. Our local hospita..."Thanks Jeanne, and everyone else, for your good wishes. It now appears that he hasn't actually had a heart attack as such, because the artery concerned is only partially blocked. They're calling it Acute Coronary Syndrome which is one step below in severity. So, it looks as though the next stage is an angiogram to find out the extent of the blockage and take it from there. One of the possibilities, depending on what they find, is surgery to put a stent into the obstructed artery. Whatever happens, the recovery and rehab is exactly the same as for heart attack patients. At the moment, he's in our local hospital which is ten minutes away, depending on how bad the traffic is (it can get really bad in our town), but any significant surgery would probably be done in the city of Leeds, about 40 minutes drive away, which is our nearest major cardiac centre. So at least I'd still be able to visit from home, thankfully, unlike yourself Jeanne. I'll post any more significant updates as and when they happen. Again, many thanks for all your support - it's very much appreciated.
Oh, and I've just read your 168, Jeanne. It's probably my scientific background but as soon as I saw the word green, and that the blancmange and the punch had both been coloured green, I had a strong suspicion as to what was going to happen. As you say, very disturbing!
#168... it went completely over my head even though there were clues throughout the story. I just couldn't put all the pieces together to realize what was happening. I'm keeping you and your husband in my prayers. It can be scary. My husband had ignored signs of a heart attack so we... I was completely blindsided when I realized what was happening. When we were in the ER and he was questioning my husband... I was hearing his symptoms for the first time. I just looked at the doctor and shook my head. I had no idea. Men... stoic to a fault.
At least you finally have a definitive diagnosis. Stent surgery is pretty routine these days and not terribly risky, Anji. Trevor should be fine. Any procedure is worrisome, of course, but try not to let yourselves get too stressed over it. And it's a blessing that the distance from your home won't be a hardship. Chin up, girl!
J. W. wrote: "Update time: I keep forgetting. Sorry:159. [Reread] The Courtship of Edward Gardiner: Nicole Clarkston: 5-stars
160. [Reread] [Unpub] Miss York’s Match: LadyJaeza: 3-stars https://www.fanfiction..."
Way to go, Jeanne. I will have to read some of these as per your rating. Green Eggs and Ham - now you have me intrigued. Great Progress.
Anji wrote: "Progress report: sorry to have to report that Trevor's been admitted to the Coronary Care Unit at the local hospital.....Definitely looks like a heart attack this time. I saw him settled into bed and then came home to try to get some sleep. Not sure how well I'll do at that.."Oh, no. More prayers sent up. We do appreciate you keeping us updated.
J. W. wrote: "Update time: I keep forgetting. Sorry:159. [Reread] The Courtship of Edward Gardiner: Nicole Clarkston: 5-stars
160. [Reread] [Unpub] Miss York’s Match: LadyJaeza: 3-stars https://www.fanfiction..."
Great!
Anji my thoughts and prayers go out to you and Trevor. My father has appr. 7 stints and he got the last 12 years ago and he is doing fine heart wise. so hang in there.
Many thanks for all of your good wishes, once again, friends. Trevor and I really appreciate it, more than you can imagine. He's now off the heart monitor and waiting for the Leeds hospital to have a free slot for him, hopefully sometime this week. He'll stay in our local hospital until then but is now being encouraged to get out of bed and start getting mobile again, for which he is most grateful. One of our neighbours has said that you don't expect to see the words 'Trevor' and 'enforced bed rest' in the same sentence! He's that sort of guy; always active, always busy with some job or other. Some of that activity will have to take a back seat over the next few weeks during his recovery and rehab, though. The cardiac rehab nurses are going to be visiting him once he gets home and they've already given him an extremely informative handbook of what to expect and what to do (or not) over the first six weeks post-discharge.
J. W. wrote: "My husband had ignored signs of a heart attack so we... I was completely blindsided when I realized what was happening. When we were in the ER and he was questioning my husband... I was hearing his symptoms for the first time. I just looked at the doctor and shook my head. I had no idea. Men... stoic to a fault." Oh, poor you, that must have been horrible! At least, you ended up in the right place eventually, thank goodness.
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)
More...
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)
More...
126. The Ladies of Rosings Park: A Pride and Prejudice Sequel and Companion to The Darcys of Pemberley by Shannon Winslow audiobook performance by Marian Hussey 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is one of those books that is definitely enhanced by the audiobook performance. It's told, in the first person, from the POV of four of the female characters associated with that grand estate: Anne de Bourgh, her mother Lady Catherine, Anne's companion Mrs. Jenkinson and Charlotte Collins. Personally, I don't think we don't hear enough from Charlotte. Marian Hussey's performance of the four characters was fantastic, using a very distinctive voice for each one. I particularly liked her Lady C. and Mrs Jenkinson. It's a companion piece to some of Ms. Winslow's other works but could be read/listened to as a standalone.
127. Mrs Bennet is Dead / Charlotte's Gambit by P.R. Hood (unpublished) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
When Elizabeth refuses Mr. Collins, her mother's nerves get the better of her and she suffers an apoplexy and dies. Charlotte decides to make a move but the result is unexpected.
128. The Power of a Sword: a Pride & Prejudice Varation by P.R. Hood (unpublished) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Had to give this five stars for the sheer outrageousness of the story. Based on the scene at the Netherfield Ball from the 1995 dramatisation of P&P, where Lydia is seen running around brandishing a sword. That act has unforeseen consequences.
129. Compromised!: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by J. Dawn King audiobook performance by Stevie Zimmerman ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (reread)
Elizabeth comes across Darcy in a grove while she's at Netherfield looking after Jane. He's in some distress over a letter he's received. Her embrace to comfort him is seen and they are thus "Compromised!" But that's not the only compromise of the title. Various shenanigans occur during the story, involving some of our favourite villains. Wonderful performance by Stevie Zimmerman, as always.
130. Behind the Metadata Wall; a Pride & Prejudice Vignette by Lady Jaeza (unpublished) reread ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Saw this on someone else's list and I just had to reread it! Our favourite Austen characters are waiting for a new fanfiction story to start posting! Which led me to reread....
131. Backstage at Pride & Prejudice by Jack Caldwell (unpublished) reread 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Similar premise to 130 but only with P&P characters. Typical Jack Caldwell humour.
132. Darcy in Hollywood: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Variation by Victoria Kincaid beta🌟⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Darcy the movie star! And he really is a right pain in the you-know-where to start with, after he nearly runs Elizabeth over in his Ferrari. The main plot follows canon reasonably closely, but some of the sub-plots don't and I thought they were brilliant!
133. At Death's Door by Shaelenina ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10958304...
Author's blurb: "One week after the Netherfield Ball, Lizzy receives a letter from Georgiana Darcy informing her that Mr. Darcy is gravely ill and asking for her to come to London to be with him."
I might have rated this slightly higher if not for the typos and out-of-era language use (several 'hellos' and an 'okay' amongst others)
134. Longbourn's Songbird by Beau North 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Set in post WWII USA, Darcy is a wealthy industrialist who buys the Bennet family's cotton farm. Some major changes from canon, especially with respect to Richard Fitzwilliam, Charlotte Lucas and Anne de Bourgh, but it all adds to a wonderful alternative-era re-telling/variation. And Bingley gets a backbone!
135. The Colonel: A Longbourn's Songbird Novel by Beau North 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Quite possibly Beau North's best book to date. The events of 134 are told through Richard's eyes and are intertwined with his son Ben's part of the story, which is set in the aftermath of 9/11, That drives him back to his family home, where he finds a stack of old letters written to and by his now-deceased father. It's heart-wrenching at times but an absolutely wonderful story.