Mr. Bennet Level: 51+ Books

[Carol]

Love it, Claudine! I haven't watched TV in so long, I'm not sure it still works!

[Shannon]

Claudine wrote: "I haven't added to my list here, but I just looked at my GR app and I read 9 books this week... Crazy... And that now makes 86 JAFF books for the year, once I add the rest of the books I read this ..."

That is amazing! We just got rid of our cable because I never watch TV and the rest of the family is satisfied with Netflix. I haven't missed it. Would much rather be reading :) Looking forward to seeing your updated list!

[Sheila]

OH, I find time for TV, i.e., Poldark, Outlander, Sherlock, Foyle's War, etc. But I never watch any daytime TV and now during the summer there is just about nothing on but Poldark. So I am reading more during the summer.

[Claudine]

I used to watch some BBC shows and House of Cards, but when I sit down for the night, I always tell myself if rather be reading JAFF... To see my list go to my read shelf and view it in date read. You'll see the majority of my reads there.

[Talia]

It is almost the time I get to read each week and I haven't posted last week's books so here they are.

A Peculiar Connection: I like the author to begin with and liked the book. I had put off buying it as the story blurb didn't thrill me but am happy to report that it was very good. No highwaymen though. ;)

Pride and Proposals: A Pride and Prejudice Variation: My husband won this for me in a giveaway, thank you to him! I love Colonel Fitzwilliam. He is one of my fave characters almost as much as Darcy. I don't want to spoil anything about the book so I won't say much. I liked it very much. There was one big story element that I thought was a cop-out but overall, it was a fun read.

[Talia]

Now, if only Lory Lillian's new book would be released!!

[Talia]

Monica wrote: "I've seen it as "in the works" on Meryton Press website, coming out in July, but I couldn't find a blurb - do you know what it's about?"

Nope. I have no idea but I love her so I will buy it straight away.

[Claudine]

Me too... It should be any day now... Initial release date was July 6...

[Sophia]

Now that's a nice husband to win you a book. Glad they were good, Talia!

[Talia]

Sophia wrote: "Now that's a nice husband to win you a book. Glad they were good, Talia!"

He supports my reading habit.

[Abigail]

Talia wrote, “He supports my reading habit.”

An excellent form of codependency!

[Ceri]

By the way, Lory's new book has now been released. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011...

[Talia]

Ceri wrote: "By the way, Lory's new book has now been released. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011..."

Waiting for the paperback. It would be so much cheaper if I could love reading books on my ipad.

[Ceri]

I read ebooks, but I couldn't do it on an ipad, I think a kindle is so, so much nicer to read from, and the battery life is much better on a kindle too, as much as I love my ipad for other things.

[Claudine]

I read on my new kindle too but before I bought it last month, I read 80+ books on my iPhone 6 plus... Which actually changed my life and made me find time to become an obsessive reader!!!

[Ceri]

Getting a kindle completely changed my reading life, I started reading more and the excitement of getting a book delivered instantly and not having to wait can only be fully understood by fellow bookworms :)

[Sheila]

The only draw back is when you want to go to a favorite scene and re-read it. Hard to skim pages!

[Claudine]

I completely agree!! I never would've thought that books could be so powerful... But how do you keep track of notes as you read. I do miss my Post-it's... My Berdoll books have so many in them it's crazy but I love to reread them!

[Ceri]

It depends which kindle you have but on the ones I have you just press and drag to highlight text. It's actually far easier than using post it notes. Then to view them back you just select view notes (or something similar). But if it's a favourite scene you can just add a bookmark, which I think you do by pressing the top right corner of the screen, then when you get up the menu you can say go to and select the bookmark, I think that's how it works anyway!

[Claudine]

Good to know... Thanks! I'm new to my kindle and trying to devise useful methods for myself. Did you read the "Tapestry of Lives" series? I'm finishing book one now and I adore it!!

[Talia]

Ceri wrote: "I read ebooks, but I couldn't do it on an ipad, I think a kindle is so, so much nicer to read from, and the battery life is much better on a kindle too, as much as I love my ipad for other things."

I keep thinking I might buy one but there are so many to choose from. I have no idea which one to get.

[Talia]

My books this weekend are:

Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer: This is one of the best collections out there. I loved most of the stories.

Pemberley Quaking: Oh my goodness, what to say. I am happy that this author has been picked up by a publisher so that someone will start editing her books. She can't write very well but what she does do well is make up the most outlandish storylines. I mean they are the Sharknados of JAFF. At every turn, someone was dying in terrible ways. It was very entertaining. I would turn only to yell to my husband, "So-and-so is now dead." It was hilarious.

[Sheila]

Ceri wrote: "It depends which kindle you have but on the ones I have you just press and drag to highlight text. It's actually far easier than using post it notes. Then to view them back you just select view not..."

I see highlights others have placed in books I am reading and I think that if you place such it shows up for others. I have not attempted to bookmark but will copy what you wrote here as there are certain scenes I love to read again, i.e., Outlander: the reunion of Claire and Jamie in the Printer's Shop after 20 years of separation over time.

[Ceri]

@Talia: I am not familiar with the more expensive one, think it's called the Voyager, but the one I'd get is a paperwhite. It has a built in light so you can read it in dim or dark rooms and it's just lovely to read. I read a while back that people's sleep patterns are disturbed by too much use of light emitting devices, it's. Particular type of light in that's the problem because it tells your brain that it's daytime. A tablet emits this light but a paperwhite doesn't, so it's good to use as much as you like :)

@Sheila: I will have to double check I'm correct in what I said, I was working from memory! I am pretty sure that's how you do it though.

[Talia]

Ceri wrote: "@Talia: I am not familiar with the more expensive one, think it's called the Voyager, but the one I'd get is a paperwhite. It has a built in light so you can read it in dim or dark rooms and it's j..."

Thanks. I keep thinking about it. If only I knew someone with a kindle so I could try it out.

[Claudine]

I think Target or Best Buy have demos. Wish I could lend mine to you...

[Talia]

Claudine wrote: "I think Target or Best Buy have demos. Wish I could lend mine to you..."

Oh thanks! I thought they were only at Amazon. I will be in Colorado tomorrow so I will see if I can swing by one of those stores.

[Ceri]

I hope you get to try one. They sell them in a few stores here (UK), ones that sell electrical goods and even supermarkets and they all have display ones you can try so I'd presume you could find display models to try too. Do you really not know anybody who has one? They are so popular that I know a lot of people who have them.

[Ceri]

I hope you get to try one. They sell them in a few stores here (UK), ones that sell electrical goods and even supermarkets and they all have display ones you can try so I'd presume you could find display models to try too. Do you really not know anybody who has one? They are so popular that I know a lot of people who have them.

[Talia]

Ceri wrote: "I hope you get to try one. They sell them in a few stores here (UK), ones that sell electrical goods and even supermarkets and they all have display ones you can try so I'd presume you could find d..."

Yes, no one I know has one. We live in Wyoming which is not full of tech people.

[Shannon]

I second the Paperwhite. You can read outside with it as well whereas with my iPad or Kindle Fire I cannot see anything outside. It is also cheaper :)

[Sheila]

70.) Jane and Austen 4
71.) Scent of Desire: A Pride and Prejudice Expansion 3
72.)His Uncle's Favorite 5
73.) Darcy's Temptation: A Sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice 5
74.) No Cause to Repine: A Pride and Prejudice Variation 4
75.) Sketching Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice alternative journey 5

[Abigail]

Wow, Sheila, 75! You continue to amaze.

[Sophia]

Neatly done, Sheila!

I see one I hadn't come across before and it got a five from you so I know if must have been fab.

[Talia]

This week's books are:

Suddenly Mrs. Darcy: I found this book wanting. It was well written but I could barely make it through. Where is my witty, impertinent, lively Elizabeth? I found that I was wishing Darcy would die so that she could be free of him. It is so dreary for me. I like the author but I will be selling this one.

No Cause to Repine: A Pride and Prejudice Variation: Phew! I read this one after the previous one and so this was a breath of fresh air. Back came the wit! Back came the romance! Back came bumbling Darcy! Ah! Thank you! Loved it!

[Claudine]

I'm so sorry you didn't like this book! I loved it, though I have heard your points echoed by other readers. For me, I felt this is the way things really could have unfolded during these times. Women had such little power... Darcy tried to be "honorable," but was again, so torn with his responsibilities... I loved the visit to Rosings... The way Elizabeth and Colonel Fitzwilliam teased each other and annoyed Darcy with their banter... I agree too that the book was well written and I think her next will be a great read...

[Talia]

Claudine wrote: "I'm so sorry you didn't like this book! I loved it, though I have heard your points echoed by other readers. For me, I felt this is the way things really could have unfolded during these times. Wom..."

I understand your point of view but Elizabeth was just crushed and did not "rise to the occasion." I did not recognize either character. There was no romance there for me. Writing Elizabeth in a terrible situation no matter how realistic is not what I am looking for in a book.

[Claudine]

Yes, several people feel the same way. I resisted those types too for a while, but I swallowed some of my concerns and tried some more angst-ridden P&P reads, such as "Stronger Than Pride," and I surprisingly loved it. "Goodly Creatures" is the next difficult read I'll try, it deals with rape. But it's not for everyone and maybe it's a wide stretch for JAFF but I think the wide range makes JAFF such a pleasurable read!! I am constantly amazed at the new story lines JAFF authors create. I am finishing the "Tapestry of Lives" three book series and it's so true to canon with memorable new story lines and original back stories for our beloved characters... Glad you enjoyed "No Cause to Repine!"

[Talia]

Claudine wrote: "Yes, several people feel the same way. I resisted those types too for a while, but I swallowed some of my concerns and tried some more angst-ridden P&P reads, such as "Stronger Than Pride," and I s..."

My husband says it is like watching Star Trek but having the show scientifically accurate. No light speed, no starship, no vulcans, etc. It is a romance story with social commentary. Suddenly Mrs Darcy is all social commentary. I just can't do it.

I read The Mistress's Black Veil: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary where Elizabeth was a prostitute to support her family and I liked that book more. At least, it had a semi-believable love story.

So glad that you liked it though. I am glad that it was well written which is why it got 2 stars from me. So sad!

[Claudine]

I love your husband's point! Yes, lots of social commentary happening here...

I've been looking to read the other book you mentioned, but Elizabeth as a prostitute is a hard one to accept... But for me, if there's a HEA, I can probably be interested in the book... Thanks for the suggestion! I love these chats!

[Talia]

Claudine wrote: "I love your husband's point! Yes, lots of social commentary happening here...

I've been looking to read the other book you mentioned, but Elizabeth as a prostitute is a hard one to accept... But ..."

I love chatting with you too. My hubby is a big Darcy fan. He even has the sideburns.

[Claudine]

That's hysterical! I love that look! My husband would never... And he thinks my Darcy obsession is crazy!!!

[Talia]

Claudine wrote: "That's hysterical! I love that look! My husband would never... And he thinks my Darcy obsession is crazy!!!"

He gets rewarded for his Darcy-ness. Perhaps your husband does not know this?

[Claudine]

I am laughing so hard at this response! My husband would be rewarded too for this! But, I don't think he has it in him! You're a lucky girl!!!

[Abigail]

Sounds like both Talia and her husband are lucky . . .

[Talia]

I read Sketching Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice alternative journey yesterday. I loved it. I read an Amazon review that didn't like Darcy's previous relationship. I am pleased to say that it was written very well and in no way diminished the love story between E and D. I thought it was definitely up to par with the author's other books so if you love her other books you will more than likely love this one. I can already see myself rereading this one again and again.

[Claudine]

Oh good... I'm reading it next...

[Ceri]

I have that planned in to read this month too. Glad to hear it's a good read :)

[Sophia]

I was curious about that one so thanks for the quick mini review, Talia!

[Sheila]

BTW - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009 is a link to the Outlander 7 book series its on sale from $49.99 down to $1.99. that's quite a big drop. A friend on Amazon just gave me a tip which she said came from a friend on Goodreads but I didn't see it.