Jane Austen and Esty

I wore my #JaneAusten knee highs to book talk to 7th graders #booknerd

A photo posted by Jennifer Rummel (@yabooknerdlibrarian) on Feb 3, 2017 at 11:06am PST

Which go really well with my Regency Charm Bracelet at my shop:

 

Regency for the win!

Mini Review: Dark Days Club

 * Start of a new series *

Lady Helen will be presented to the Queen. She hopes that it goes well. Her family hopes that the Queen will not bring up her traitorous mother, and that her daughter will not suffer from the connection. The presentation goes well, despite the mysterious moment between the Queen and Lady Helen about her mother.

Strange things start happening around Lady Helen. A maid goes missing from their household. She draws the attention of a Lord with a disreputable reputation who claims a distant family connection. He tells her the world is full of demons and she's a demon hunter - just like her mother.

Lady Helen isn't sure what to believe, but once she witnesses a demon attack, her life will never be the same.  She searches for answers and understanding while trying to figure out how this will change her life.

My Thoughts: I didn't realize this was the start of a series - until the ending. And that left me disappointed. Why? Well - for one thing, the book was just shy of 500 pages. There was no real ending - just a new path for the main character.

There were so many questions left unanswered - I assume these will be addressed in the next book, but they were important questions. 

That's not to say I didn't like the book, because I did. It just took me a long time to read and I was frustrated at the end to learn there was more to the story and that big questions hadn't really been answered. 

I liked the heroine - even though she sometimes made poor choices given her circumstances. I loved the time period. I loved Lady Helen's relationship with her maid Darby. I didn't like her relationship with her brother. I love the combination of Regency with paranormal; it was well done. I'm looking forward to the next book (and those answers)

Cover Thoughts: Fantastic
Source: My Library

Review: Courting Magic

Five years have passed, Kat's still the same as ever. She's still a bit wild. She's still a magical guardian. Most importantly, Kat's about to make her debut into society.

Unfortunately, the timing couldn't be worse.

There's a rogue magician using illusion magic to elevate himself into society to steal jewelry. Kat's been summoned along with Alexander and two other gentlemen to discover the identity. Can they find the culprit without ruining Kat's debut?

My Thoughts: I love Kat's stories and I'm so excited to read this novella. I've been wondering what happened to Kat as a teen for ages and this answers all my questions. I love that Kat's coming out and that in five years, she hasn't changed much. Although I did notice that her patience seems to be a little bit stronger when dealing with her family. I love her over-protective family, especially seeing Lucy again. The magical battles, the dancing, the garden moment were all perfection. Happy sigh. I love visiting characters again and this was a fabulous visit with Kat. 

Cover Thoughts: Great
Source: Sent for review

Review: Renegade Magic

*Sequel to Kat, Incorrigible*

Kat and her family are getting ready for Elissa's big day. Kat doesn't want her sister getting married, not because she doesn't want her to be happy, but because everything will change. She's going to miss her sister and her scolding.

Kat and Angeline set up the decorations early in the morning, using magic to make everything perfect. However, the day's ruined when an uninvited guest interrupts the day with slander of magic against the family.

Elissa and her new husband hurry off on their honeymoon, leaving the rest of the family worried. The next day, according to Stepmama's plan they family heads off to Bath for Angeline's debut.

There, she will forced to find a suitable suitor. However, in light of the circumstances, Angeline has a plan of her own. Only Kat sees her devious smile. Kat knows it's up to her to make sure everything turns out right, but after her disgrace in front of the other guardians, she's not sure she's up to the task. When she stumbles upon a dangerous magical situation, her mentor refuses to believe her. Can Kat save her sister from making a foolish mistake and contain the magic situation without any major mishaps?

My Thoughts: I spent a semester in college in Bath and loved it. I loved walking down the streets again, looking at the familiar buildings along with Kat. Her wonder of the city made me smile and long to walk down the streets again myself.


I hated that Elissa's happy day was ruined, but what a scandal! Mrs Carylye reminds me of Lady Catherine. She's horrible, but entertaining too. I loved Angeline's horrific, but genius idea. She's very determined and willful.  I really liked Lucy. I felt bad for her stuck with her family as they were horrible. I liked how Kat's father came out of his books and into the story. He's a wonderful character.  I loved the moments in the baths, especially with the magic flowing. I cheered for Kat as she helped her sister, her cousin, and tried to stop the magic. Kat grew up when she reached for help from an unlikely source. However, she's still lying and still creating mini scandals with her wild schemes, which are so endearing.  


I can't wait to the next book to wrap up the trilogy!

Cover Thoughts: Amazingly cute! I love the magical lights
Source: my Library
Challenge: YA Historical Fiction Challenge 2012

Adult Review: A Rogue By Any Other Name

Life for Penelope hasn't been easy these last few years after her infamous broken engagement. Now her father's determined to marry her off. He's included recently acquired land in her dowry, which makes her more attractive to the men about town - and one man in particular. 

Twenty years ago, Bourne lost his entire estate (everything that wasn't entailed) in a game of cards. He's vowed revenge and he'll stop at nothing to achieve it. When his former lands become available through marriage, he kidnaps Penelope, forcing a marriage between them.

Penelope was overjoyed to see her childhood friend. However, she quickly realizes he's not the same boy she once adored. While they have a marriage of convenience, she negotiates a better life for her two younger sisters. Part of that negotiation involves selling their marriage as a whirlwind romance based upon a childhood love.

Will their feelings actually grow in time to reflect the love match they pretend for the ton?

My Thoughts: I LOVED the start of this new four book series! Of course, I adore the author. I loved her Love By Numbers trilogy and her YA book The Season. Honestly, I'll read anything she writes. I loved Penelope. She was tower of strength. I loved her negotiation skills. I loved her "sacrifice" for her sisters. I loved the moments between her and Bourne, especially the ice skating date. I enjoyed the gaming hell. I can't wait to read more about the Fallen Angel and the partners. I also loved the set up for the next book!


Cover Thoughts: Gorgeous! I love the color.

Source: Purchased (and signed by the author!)


Up Next: One Good Earl Deserves a Lover out in December

Meeting Sarah MacLean (again)

Last Tuesday I had an unexpected free evening, which magically just happen to coincide with the release of A Rogue By Any Other Name.  Isn't the cover beautiful????

 

This is the start of a new quartet.  I can't wait to dive into it. I've only held off reading it because I know I'm going to need to devout an entire day to it.

I first read Sarah's book The Season - her first novel, a YA historical romance. I LOVED it. I had the chance to meet her that year at BEA.

Then she came out with her adult regency romance trilogy, which I loved. She also started me reading regency romances.

So imagine my happiness at being able to meet her again last week.

Plus she gave me a big hug when she saw me.  

Details from the signing from notes I took on my phone.

* Jane Austen is the gateway author to romances

* Georgette Heyer wrote the romances that the world believes as fact, but it's not all true. She however, is still the master.

* Characters intertwined from various books

*Wanted the casino to be more like a character and not a setting. The casino - historically called gaming hells - is still surprising her with it's dark secret passage ways and other aspects.

*Swore she would never writhe a "marriage of convenience novel" but she did because it's the only way the story would have worked with Bourne.

*Bourne named from Jason Bourne (who doesn't love him?) Otherwise when she's in need of a name, she'll look at the streets of London. Sometimes she honors family friends by taking their last names too.


*The second book in the series will be out in December! And it's entitled: One Good Earl Deserves A Lover.

*She wrote The Season on a dare. She will also be returning to YA (after the quartet is complete) but it won't be a sequel to the Season. I can't wait to read more YA books from Sarah.

In all actuality I can't wait to read more books from her full stop.

Sarah and I

Review: Secrets of Sophia Musgrove

Sophia Musgrove navigates through society with her best friend Lucy. She adores anything French - in terms of fashion. Both of them love to shop and pour over fashion pieces in magazines together.

However, lately, she's begun to think there's more to life than balls, fashion, and gossiping.

At her sister's wedding, she meets a young man - Mr. Stevens. He asks if he can call on her when they are both back in town.

Sophie's excited to meet him again. He introduces in politics into their discussions. Sophie admits that her father doesn't discuss politics with her, but that she'd like to know more about the world.

Soon, she's sneaking out to meetings, lying to her father, and planning a dangerous mission.

Will her new found interest in politics ruin her reputation or has she finally found her calling?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this read - I admit it's my favorite historical time period. I Love reading about the balls, the dresses, and the gentlemen. I admired Sophie for wanting to know more about her world. I admired the way she took charge of situations - including fights with her father, rejecting suitors, and helping her sister at her wedding. I loved Lily and Lucy (although at times I got them confused because of the similarities of their names) I loved the romantic parts of the tale. This appears to be the start of a new series, I'm so looking forward to more adventures for Sophia.

Cover Thoughts: I adore this cover - it's perfect!

Source: My Library

Mysterious Saturday Review: Mischief of Mistletoe

Jane Austen's friend Arabella Dempsey's life took a turn for the worse. She's spent the last several years as a companion for her Aunt. Recently, her aunt married a man Arabella thought would ask for her hand. Now, in order to save her pride and gain some sort of freedom, she's taking a teaching position at Miss Climpson's Select Seminary for Young Ladies in Bath.

After her interview for the position, she runs into a gentleman. As she falls to the ground, his Christmas pudding falls with him. As she leans over to pick up the pudding, she notices writing disguised within the pudding.

Together Arabella and Turnip reveal the message - stating a location and meeting time at an outdoor party. They immediately suspect French spies surrounding England. Arabella agrees to accompany the blundering gentleman to sniff out the potential spy.

Will the uncover the spies and their plans or will danger find them?

My Thoughts: This book takes places after The Seduction of the Crimson Rose and before The Temptation of the Night Jasmine. I love this series for its blend of Regency Romances with spies! Plus, this edition to the series holds a favorite historical person: Jane Austen! As the adventure unfolds, the characters make way for a Yuletide house party - which the readers have witnessed from a very different perspective which I quite enjoyed. This installment of the series stayed in the Regency era and did not mention the modern day characters. Plus, Turnip's blunders, while funny, often work in his favor.

Cover Thoughts: I really like it. I love the mistletoe around the cover and the title wrapped up like a present.

Source: My Library

Challenge:

The Season

Alex is dreading "the Season." Her mother can't wait to introduce her to society and find her a suitable match. Alex isn't interested in marriage, she doesn't want to be on display or hide her intelligence. Between her three brothers teasing her; she sure it will be a disaster - despite the fact that she has beautiful gowns to wear. Her two BFFs Ella and Vivi help her navigate the waters. Soon she's dancing with friends of her brothers, out riding with her honorary brother, and making social calls. At first, it's exciting and horrifying at the same time, but then, Alex begins to look at Gavin (her honorary brother) in a different light. She never noticed how handsome he was before. But things are different between the two of them all of a sudden - first, his father just died suddenly, making him an earl and secondly, they've been fighting about suitors. Gavin believes that his father's death wasn't an accident. He wants to proof it. Alex tries to help him, but he pushes her away. Can he really be the "one," or is Alex imagining that he feels anything more for her than a sisterly affection?

The Season is Sarah MacLean's first novel - and she's found her niche as she perfectly combines the romance of the Regency Era with a mystery. I'm already looking forward to her next book. I'm wishing that this book is part of a trilogy, each featuring the three friends and their pursuit of romance in society.

Interested? Check out the author's blog too.