Rosie’s #Bookreview Team #RBRT THE ELIZABETH PAPERS by @JenettaJames #SundayBlogShare

Today’s team review is from Liz, she blogs here https://lizannelloyd.wordpress.com/

Liz has been reading The Elizabeth Papers by Jenetta James

The Elizabeth Papers by Jenetta James

The Elizabeth Papers is both a gentle romance set in modern day London and Derbyshire and an intriguing mystery that takes us back in time to the early 19^th century. The name Mr Darcy instantly indicates that the Elizabeth of the title is Elizabeth Bennett of Pride and Prejudice, but don’t dismiss this novel as a parody or bandwagon follow up. The plot is original and the modern characters, private detective, Charlie Haywood and talented young artist Evie Pemberton, are distinctive and well developed. Their relationship has parallels with that of Elizabeth and Darcy but their adventure leads them into different avenues.

It took me a while to feel at home with the characters of Elizabeth and Darcy, but then time has passed and they have been married for several years, so of course their relationship would have changed somewhat. The issues raised in Pride and Prejudice still cause problems but with a very different outcome. Although you don’t need to have intimate knowledge of that book, it certainly enhances your enjoyment of this novel if you do.

Book Description

“It is settled between us already, that we are to be the happiest couple in the world,” said Elizabeth Bennet at the conclusion of “Pride & Prejudice”—but was it true? 
Charlie Haywood is a London-based private investigator who has made his own fortune—on his own terms. Charming, cynical, and promiscuous, he never expected to be attracted to Evie Pemberton, an independent-minded artist living with the aftermath of tragedy. But when he is hired to investigate her claims to a one hundred and fifty year old trust belonging to the eminent Darcy family, he is captivated. 
Together they become entwined in a Regency tale of love, loss, and mystery tracing back to the grand estate of Pemberley, home to Evie’s nineteenth century ancestors, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy. As if travelling back in time, a story unfolds within their story. All was not as it seemed in the private lives of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, but how can they ever uncover the whole truth?
How could they know that in 1817 Elizabeth Darcy began a secret journal? What started as an account of a blissful life came to reflect a growing unease. Was the Darcy marriage perfect or was there betrayal and deception at its heart?
Can Evie and Charlie unearth the truth in the letters of Fitzwilliam Darcy or within the walls of present-day Pemberley? What are the elusive Elizabeth papers and why did Elizabeth herself want them destroyed? 
“The Elizabeth Papers” is a tale of romance and intrigue, spanning the Regency and modern eras, reminding us how the passions of the past may inspire those in the present. 

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

About the author

Jenetta James is a mother, lawyer, writer, and taker-on of too much. She grew up in Cambridge and read history at Oxford University where she was a scholar and president of the Oxford University History Society. After graduating, she took to the law and now practises full-time as a barrister. Over the years, she has lived in France, Hungary, and Trinidad as well as her native England. Jenetta currently lives in London with her husband and children where she enjoys reading, laughing and playing with Lego. She is the author of Suddenly Mrs. Darcy which was published by Meryton Press in April 2015. The Elizabeth Papers is her second novel.

Twitter @JenettaJames

Rosie’s #Bookreview Team #RBRT THE ELIZABETH PAPERS by @JenettaJames #Austenesque #HistFic

Today’s team review is from Jenny, she blogs at http://jennyworstall.wordpress.com

Jenny has been reading The Elizabeth Papers by Jenetta James

Reviewed by me as part of Rosie Amber’s Review Team.

The Elizabeth Papers is an intriguing romantic suspense novel that flashes seamlessly between the lives of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy once they are married, and Evie and Charlie in the present day.

I was drawn to it immediately as Elizabeth Bennet is my favourite Austen heroine. I don’t think it is possible to capture completely the chemistry between Darcy and Elizabeth nor Elizabeth’s brilliantly witty and teasing speech patterns unless your name is Jane Austen, but in my opinion this book stands up with the best of the sequels to Pride and Prejudice and for this reason I have given it five stars.

The attention to detail is faultless, both in the historical settings and in the present day world of art and detection, but the tale really becomes interesting when Evie and Charlie, the present day characters, make a visit to Pemberley and the two worlds collide…but no, I can’t spoil the mystery for you! I thoroughly recommend this book – but make sure you put some unbroken time aside because once you are hooked (in the very first chapter) you will have to read on and on until the mystery is solved.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com also available free from Kindle Unlimited

Rosie’s #BookReview #Team #RBRT THE ELIZABETH PAPERS by @JenettaaJames #Austenesque #HistFic

Today’s team review is from Noelle, she blogs at http://saylingaway.wordpress.com

Noelle has been reading The Elizabeth Papers by Jenetta James

The Elizabeth Papers is a book in the genre of the Eyre Hall Trilogy by Luccia Gray and Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James. But it does more than just extend from the end of a classic Regency novel – it combines with modern story line in a perfect blend.

At the end of Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy are blissfully married. At the beginning of The Elizabeth Papers, Darcy writes to his solicitor of his wishes to establish a trust for his female descendants, based on his observations of the uncertain futures of his wife’s four sisters. His marriage is chronicled in the diary of the pregnant Elizabeth, who begins by recounting the joys of a happy marriage and a family of two daughters. The author then jumps to 2014, when one of the female Darcy descendants, the greedy Cressida Carson, hires an investigator, Charles Haywood, to determine if some of the Darcy female descendants are falsely collecting from the trust. She wants him to find evidence that Victoria, fifth daughter of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam, was not actually their daughter, based on a one hundred and fifty- year-old rumor. This will increase her share of the trust. One of Victoria’s descendants in Evie Pemberton, a young artist just coming into her own, and Charles misrepresents himself to her to begin his search.

The segue back to 1819 is smooth and the reader once again becomes entwined in the lives of the Darcy family: Wickham, the amoral husband of Lydia, Elizabeth’s sister, dies and Lizzie gives birth to yet another girl. This outcome weighs heavily on Lizzie’s mind since she knows her husband needs an heir.

All of the characters in Pride and Prejudice return in this book, fully realized, and the modern characters are drawn with insight and warmth. I would describe more, but I don’t want to spoil the story for potential readers.

Remarkably, the novel transitions smoothly from the intimacy of Lizzie’s experiences, written in the first person, to the third person narrative of Charles’ and Evie’s growing relationship and their ultimate trip to Pemberley Hall in their search for the evidence of Victoria’s birth. I loved tension at the end of each chapter, not wanting to change eras, as the story moved back and forth. The introduction of an old portrait of Lizzie surrounded by her five daughters, painted by an eminent portraitist of the time, is a jewel tying the two stories together. Kudos to Janetta James for making being able to use these disparate mechanisms work so well in writing this highly literary and entertaining novel.

Was there deception in the Darcy marriage? Can Evie and Charlie find Lizzie’s diaries in the walls of present-day Pemberley? Was Victoria a legitimate daughter? You have to read The Elizabeth Papers to find out, and I highly recommend you do so!

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com available free from Kindle Unlimited

Rosie’s Review Team #RBRT THE ELIZABETH PAPERS by @JenettaJames #Austenesque #SundayBlogShare

Today’s team review is from Jessie, she blogs here http://behindthewillows.com

Jessie has been reading The Elizabeth Papers by Jenetta James

“Finis.”

I read the last line, sighed happily and mentally hugged the digital book to my heart (It’s a true downfall of e-readers, they just don’t snuggle like paper does).

This novel flipped between excerpts from Mrs. Darcy’s diary (yes, that Pride and Prejudice Mrs. Darcy) and the 2014 hunt for the lost diary. On the surface that sounds like it could be, well, boring.

It wasn’t.

The chapters switched between time frames in a way that I was never lost in one time yearning for another. I loved the romance, (of the happy sighing kind) and the hard to put down suspense of it all (I know, lost document suspense, believe it!). My only regret is that e-readers just don’t accept hugs like paperbacks do.

Would I recommend it? I have already told everyone who’s been willing to sit and listen that they should read this and you should too! If you’ve ever shown even a passing interest in Pride and Prejudice, historical fiction, sweet romance, contemporary drama or detective stories, try this book! I absolutely loved it and have moved the authors other book to the top of my “to be read” list!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I discovered this book because I’m a proud member of Rosie’s Book Review Team!

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com available free from Kindle Unlimited

What book have you read multiple times? Features Barb Taub’s Favourites

When I asked “What book have you read multiple time?” I didn’t realise how popular it would be.

Author Barb Taub has a long list of books.

I love this! And although I wish I could say that my go-tos are highbrow classics, I must admit to the following comfort re-reads: Good Omens (Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman),

The Hero and The Crown Series (Robin McKinley),

Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen of course), and (because I have zero shame) the Harriet Vane books of the Lord Peter Wimsey series (Dorothy L. Sayers).
Then we have Good Night Moon, which (after four kids) I will be able to recite verbatim on my deathbed. So there’s that…

Thanks Barb, some good books here.

Romancing September author Fenella J Miller (Day 15)

Today is day 15 of out Romancing September Across The World Tour. We are going to meet Fenella J Miller, and later you can join her on Stephanie’s blog for a discussion on romance writing in today’s society.

Let’s find out more about Fenella;

1) Where is your home town?

I live in a pretty riverside village near Colchester in Essex, UK.

2) How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing on and off for most of my life but only had time to write a publishable novel when I took early retirement from teaching. My first book was published in 2005.

3) has it always been romance? How many romance books have you written?

Yes– I am a romantic novelist. However, only a couple of my books are straight story called romances, the rest of full of action and adventure. I have written 25 Regency romances, four World War II historical novels (some romance, but more coming-of-age and drama).

4) What time period is “A House Party” set in?

A House Party is the regency romantic adventure – set in England around 1812.

5) Oh My! There are quite some characters attending the house party, why don’t you introduce us to some of them?

Miss Penelope Coombs is a spirited and independent young lady who was slighted by Lord Edward Weston and has no wish to renew their acquaintance. Weston secretly works for the British government and suspects that the traitor has joined a group of travelling air balloonists. He invites them to his home hoping to unmask the traitor.

Lady Dalrymple, Penny’s eccentric great-aunt, accepts an invitation to the Lord Weston’s house party, much to Penny’s annoyance.

Add to this volatile mixture the handsome Frenchman, Count Everex and Edward’s charming cousin, James and you just know sparks will fly.

6) A Villain in a hot air balloon? How reliable is this mode of transport for our traitor?

In fact a hot air balloon is not technically correct as balloons at this time were filled with a highly flammable mixture of gases. It was a very unreliable method of transport for anyone as the vagaries of the wind and weather made travelling in a given direction almost impossible. They were known as ‘air-balloonists’. When balloons first appeared at the end of the 18th century, they were hot air balloons. Closely packed straw was loaded into a tray suspended below the balloon and a basket or platform hung beneath that for the pilot and passengers. The straw was lit and the balloon rose into the air. On one  famous occasion, in France, a group of eight intrepid dancers completed a quadrille on a platform hanging below the balloon. On another occasion, in England this time, a balloon landed in a field and the farmer and his workmen killed the pilot thinking he was the devil because he had arrived from the sky surrounded by flames

7) Where have you envisaged Headingly Court to be in the English Countryside?

Headingly Court is on the Suffolk coast – somewhere I know very well and this area was frequented by smugglers despite being so far from France. There are many wonderful stately the homes in this area.

8) You’ve chosen to re-publish this book, it originally went under the heading “The House Party” what changes have you made to the new edition?

I corrected some historical errors and removed some editorial mistakes. Although this book was edited/proofread by Robert Hale – I discovered several things that needed correcting. I change the title slightly so it would fit in with the other books which all start with “A …”.

9) Do your “Romantic liaisons” fit the time period you write about or have you dared to make them racy?

My books are all historically accurate – therefore my well bred young ladies do not have sex before marriage. I do allow my heroines a little fun, however, and you will find sensuous scenes but not sex scenes.

10) I can tell you love writing historical works. You have a Dukes series box set, are these books all inter-linked?

No – the only link is the period and the fact that the main protagonist is a duke.

11) I must ask about “Miss Bennet and Mr Bingley” what is this book about?

This is a retelling of Jane Austen’s wonderful Pride & Prejudice. I’ve written it from Jane and Charles Bingley’s viewpoints – but Darcy and Elizabeth also feature strongly. I explain what happened to Jane while she was in London and how Charles and Darcy occupied themselves during the months Jane and Bingley were a part. The book ends after Jane and Bingley are married. I’m intending to write a follow-up which will include Darcy, Elizabeth, Jane and Charles but the main character will be Kate. It will be set in Pemberley and will include ghosts!

12) I know your fans would like you to tell us what are you working on at the moment, can you give us a clue?

I am halfway through another Regency, The Duke’s Proposal, and hope to publish this on Kindle and the end of next month. This story will be a pure romance, but with a twist. The hero and heroine marry with love on neither side – although of course after many trials and tribulations  will be the expected HEA.

You can find “A House Party” here on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Thank you Fenella for being our guest today, Good Luck with the new book.