book reviews and tales of writing from Carrie Zimmerman
Description:
Betwixt the secret passageways, danger lies in wait. When Evangeline Pemberton visits Gavin Lioncroft’s sprawling manor, his intensity instills fear, until his wicked attentions seduce her. But when a guest is murdered, Evangeline is torn. Could the man to whom she is so powerfully drawn, also be a ruthless killer?
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From the back of the book:
How to Tempt a Duke?
By refusing to be tempted at all…
He’d returned from war a duke. No Rafael Daughtry was battling a force more terrifying than Napoleon’s army – his family. Thankfully, his childhood friend Charlotte Seavers had agreed – reluctantly – to a bargain. While Rafe would provide her with the home she’d lost, Charlotte would provide him with a chaperone for his unruly twin sisters.
But who would chaperone Rafe? For the feisty young girl he remembered had blossomed into a sensual woman – a woman whose haunting beauty and deeply kept secrets drew him like no other. Charlotte had good reason to mistrust men – yet could Rafe’s sizzling seduction convince her to give in to temptation?
This story was perfect. There was emotional plot lines, one in particular that made me cry, and a lot of funny moments as well. Rafe is a fun and interesting character. He returns from war a Duke, even though he wasn’t expecting it. The death of his Uncle and two cousins have left him next in line. Rafe isn’t ready to be a Duke and comes to rely on Charlotte to help him find his way and to help him deal with his younger twin sisters. The relationship between Charlotte and Rafe was funny, sweet, and romantic. I can’t wait to read the next story in the series about Rafe’s sister, Nicole. Although the story I’m really hoping we get to read at some point is Lydia’s story.
the book girl gives HOW TO TEMPT A DUKE by Kasey Michaels 5/5!
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Callie falls head over heels – literally!
Callie is tired of being a clumsy geek-girl. So during a school trip to London she buys her ticket to popularity: a pair of real Prada pumps. But then she wobbles on the cobblestones, trips in her too-high heels, and conks her head. When she comes to, it’s the year 1815!
Luckily she meets kindhearted Emily, who mistakes Callie for a long-lost friend. Sparks soon ignite – of the nice and not-so-nice variety – between Callie and Alex, the handsome but totally arrogant Duke of Harksbury. Too bad Alex seems to have something sinister up his ruffled sleeve…
Can Callie save Emily from a dire engagement, win a kiss from Alex, and prove to herself that she’s more than just a loud-mouth klutz before her time in the past is up?
This was a cute read, but there were some things that threw me out of the story. The thing I liked about the story is: Callie is transformed as she pretends to be Rebecca in 1815. She goes from a shy, clumsy girl to a confident young lady. My main problem with the story was Callie’s age. In 2009 she is 15 years old, but in 1815 she is at least 18 because she is the same age as Emily who has already had a season and is engaged. Plus, Alex is drawn to her and he is, in Callie’s estimation (although I’m not sure if it is ever confirmed), 19. I just couldn’t get past the thought that she was a child.
the book girl gives PRADA & PREJUDICE 3/5!
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Here are the winners for all of the Austen Week Giveaways! Please email me at carrie@thebookgirl.net with your mailing address ASAP and for which contest you are the winner . Winners have 7 days to claim their prize before I pick another winner. Thank you to everyone who tweeted and blogged about Jane Austen Week. It was a lot of fun!!
The three lucky winners of ACCORDING TO JANE by Marilyn Brant are:
The winner of MR. DARCY, VAMPYRE by Amanda Grange is:
The winner of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES is:
The winner of THE TRIALS OF THE HONORABLE MR. DARCY is:
The JANE AT THE MOVIES WINNER is:
and the GRAND PRIZE WINNER IS…..
Elizabeth Z.
Today is the last day to enter the contests for Jane Austen week! I’ll announce the winners at some point on Sunday (it might take me awhile to gather all of the entries and pick winners). Make sure to enter them all. I will be gathering comments from all posts to pick the Grand Prize winner!
Here is a list with links to all of the contests…
According to Jane by Marilyn Brant
Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange
From the back of the book:
Their attraction is so hot, it should be against the law…
Judge Fitzwilliam Darcy is terribly bored – ready to hang up his black robe and return to the life of a country gentleman – until he meets Elizabeth Bennet, a fresh-faced attorney with a hectic schedule and no time for sexy but haughty judge. Sparks fly as the two match wits and battle their overwhelming attraction.
When Darcy and Elizabeth are unexpectedly thrown together at an international conference, things heat up, and Lizzy starts to discover the man beneath those swirling black judicial robes. But when ethical considerations intrude, neither wants to give up their career, and it seems nothing will ever be able to bring Darcy and Lizzy back together…
This book started off rocky for me, but I soon came to be completely enchanted. I had to distance myself a little from the original Darcy and Lizzy and once I did that I loved the book. The story loosely follows the plot of Pride and Prejudice, but the main similarities are the names and characteristics of the main characters. Darcy is as haughty and distant as ever in the beginning, but being with the spirited Lizzy changes him for the better. I loved all of the similarities to the story (once I overcame my problem with Darcy dropping the f-bomb) and was surprised by some of the places that deviated from the original plot line.
I don’t have an extra copy of this book, but will gladly pass on my copy to some lucky commenter. So, if you don’t have a problem with an used book leave a comment and I’ll announce the winner tomorrow!
ETA: One of the comments said that they were worried, since I was giving away my copy, that it wasn’t so great. It is great, I bought a new copy for myself (I like to support the authors that I get advanced copies from), but it hasn’t made it here yet and since I pre-ordered it with some other books it won’t be here till mid-November. I’m giving away my review copy, since I can mail it this week and the winner wouldn’t have to wait.
the book girl gives THE TRIALS OF THE HONORABLE F. DARCY by Sara Angelini a 4/5!
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“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”
So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton – and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennett is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers – and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield. Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, sword fights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you’d actually want to read.
Based on the last line of the cover blurb I’m not the intended audience for this book. But, I wanted to read it because of the hype and my love of all things Austen. I couldn’t finish it. I’m a big fan of the zombie books. Mark Henry’s Amanda is one of my favorite characters of all times. I just think that if there needed to be a Pride and Prejudice with a zombie theme, the author should have taken the time to write and entire new book. Not just add bits and pieces. I will say though that the writing does flow well and that the author was able to mimic Jane Austen’s writing well.
I’m giving away a copy of this book, even though I didn’t like it. I like that I have it in my collection of all things Jane and think that other collectors would too. And I hope the winner will give the book a chance. Just because I didn’t care for it doesn’t mean you will. Every reader has different taste and that what makes us all so wonderful:)
To enter leave a comment on this post. Contest will remain open until midnight on Saturday and winners will be announced on Sunday. US residents only!
A MARRIED MAN IN POSSESSION OF A DARK FORTUNE
MUST BE IN WANT OF AN ETERNAL WIFE…
I have to admit that I struggled with this book. It took me a while to get into the story. But once I did, I was thoroughly entertained. The story is told from Elizabeth’s point of view and gives the reader the details of what happens after the wedding while Darcy and Elizabeth are on their honeymoon. I really would have liked it if the story had given both Darcy and Elizabeth’s point of view. There isn’t really a lot that I can say without giving away some spoilers. I think this book would be good for any fan of Jane Austen and Pride & Prejudice.
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To win a copy of your own leave a comment on this post. US residents only. Contest will run through Saturday night with the winner posted on Sunday.
Here is a trailer for the book:
Jane Austen at the Movies
I love all of the different Jane Austen movies. From the straight adaptations of her novels (Emma and P&P are my favorites) to the Austen inspired versions (Bride & Prejudice and Lost in Austen).
My favorite scene is the lake scene from the Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice. I love him as Darcy. When I reread the book he is always how I picture Darcy to look. In Emma, I love the part towards the end when Emma realized how she feels about Knightly and is concerned about what his brother might say to him about her. “I hate John, I love John.” I’ll be repeating that line over and over after watching the movie. I watched it a few weeks ago and was repeating the line when my 4 year old overheard me. She wanted to know who John was and
Here are some my favorite clips from different Austen movies.
The last scene from P&P:
First Date scene with Darcy from Bride and Prejudice:
Lost in Austen –
Cute montage about Austen couples:
Leave a comment on this post with your favorite Austen movie moment and the winner will win their choice of Pride & Prejudice (BBC version) or Lost in Austen. Contest runs through Saturday at midnight. Winner will be announced on Sunday. US addresses only, please.
From the back of the book:
It begins one day in sophomore English class, just as Ellie Barnett’s teacher is assigning Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. From nowhere comes a quiet “tsk” of displeasure. The target: Same Blaine, the cute bad boys who’s teasing Ellie mercilessly, just as he has since kindergarten. Entirely unbidden, as Jane might say, the author’s ghost has taken up residence in Ellie’s mind, and seems determined to stay there.
Jane’s wise and witty advice guides Ellie through the hell of adolescence and beyond, serving as the voice she trusts, usually far more than her own. Years and boyfriends come and go – sometimes a little too quickly, sometimes not nearly fast enough. But Jane’s counsel is constant, and on the subject of Sam, quite insistent. Stay away, Jane demands. He is you Mr. Wickham.
Still, everyone has something to learn about love – perhaps even Jane herself. And lately, the voice in Ellie’s head is being drowned out by another, urging her to look beyond everything she though she knew and seek out her very own, very unexpected, happy ending…
This book will definitely be on my top ten list for this year. The story follows Ellie from a teenager to her college years and beyond. I loved how we got a whole look at her life instead of just the glimpse we are usually given in books. Ellie’s relationships with Jane, her family, and men are complicated and real. There is a lot of kissing frogs and trying to find out who she is and what she wants. Jane gives her advice that sometimes is right and sometimes is wrong. I don’t want to give away to much, because I think EVERYONE should read this book.
And three lucky commenters will get a chance to win their own signed copy of ACCORDING TO JANE. Ms. Brant was kind enough to send me some extra ARCs to give out as prizes during my Jane Austen week. Leave a comment on this post with a what you would want your internal Jane to say to you. I would want her help in knowing the right thing to say in hard situations. I never know what to say. Contest will be open until Saturday at midnight. Winners must check back to see if there name is drawn. US addresses only please.
the book girl gives ACCORDING TO JANE 5/5!
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