Sunday 1 January 2017

Planned Reading for January 2017

Christmas 2016 reading related loot
Happy New Year everybody! I hope you had a lovely Christmas, if you celebrate it. I had a nice time, with lots of time spent with my children. I also got some Austen-y goodies from Santa (I know one of them is Bronte, but still!). In the picture there is 'From Prada to Nada' which is based on S&S, the 1940 'Pride & Prejudice, which is the first adaptation of the book that I ever saw, so I am fond of it, plus the third DVD is the 1980s version of Jane Eyre featuring Timothy Dalton (yum!). The items on the lower half of the picture are some note cards featuring vintage covers of Austen's works, a little portrait of lovely Colin Firth as Mr Darcy, a Jane Austen pin and a trolley token saying I ♥ Darcy, in case I need reminding when I am buying food! Did you get any nice reading treats?

I took some time off work and it was sorely needed, as I find everything hard to fit in around work and other commitments. I didn't get any reading done at all unfortunately but a new year is a new beginning! I always make resolutions, though how well they pan out is variable :) I would like to make sure I fit in some more reading and blogging time this year. I also intend to catch up on some of the reads that people have kindly gifted or sent me that I didn't manage to fit in previously. It's actually my blog birthday this month - I posted my very first post on 2 January 2014, although I didn't make the blog publicly viewable until about April, in case I didn't enjoy doing it. I should do something to celebrate it. Last year, I had a book giveaway, but I'm not sure what to do this time. What do you think? Is a book the best present or should I look out some Austen-related loot that people might like to win?

Book cover: Passages - A Pemberley Tale by Brenda Webb
I have a few visits lined up this month that I hope you will pop back for. Firstly, author Brenda Webb has a new book out, which is already receiving excellent reviews. In 'Passages - A Pemberley Tale' the characters of 'Pride & Prejudice' are taken along another path, as this story has taken a turn even before the events of P&P. Brenda will be stopping by soon with a guest post.

Book cover: The Best Part of Love by A. D'Orazio
Next, we have a new author that has written a number of excellent stories. I read her work on 'A Happy Assembly' but I don't know whether she posted on any of the other fanfic sites. I am happy say that she is publishing, and Amy D'Orazio will be dropping by with the blog tour of 'The Best Part of Love' which sees a widowed Elizabeth meeting up with Mr Darcy. Things aren't straightforward for our dear couple in this story!

Blog Tour: A Lie Universally Hidden by Anngela Schroeder
The blog tour for Anngela Schroeder's new book, 'A Lie Universally Hidden' stops by for my review. This book has both Darcy and Elizabeth already having a rival on the scene when they meet. You can see the cover reveal over at Just Jane 1813 today.

As for what I plan to read, well, aside from 'A Lie Universally Hidden' I am going to see where the wind takes me. I have plenty of books I'd like to catch up on! I hope you have some good reads planned for this month. Let me know in the comments :)

And please, if you haven't already, check out my favourite reads of 2016.

ETA: I forgot to say, if you'd like to have some company on your reading journey in 2017 you can join in the fun of Sophia Rose's Austenesque TBR Goodreads Group and if you're on Facebook, maybe you'd like to join us at Mr Darcy's Extensive Readers?


21 comments:

  1. Hi Ceri,

    What a lovely list of books to begin a new year with!

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  2. Gotta admits admit that A Lie Universally Hidden sounds intriguing! Both Darcy and Lizzy have a rival.....oh! the angst!! Am definitely looking forward to that one.

    I read 'The Best Part of Love' last year and I absolutely adored it!!! Romantic,angst filled...I don't think I'd a nail left while reading it!!

    Great to hear that Brenda has a new book out. One of the members in Sophia's group called it a dark read,so I'm guessing it,too,is an angst fest!
    Brenda is a writer for whom angst comes as second nature! I've read and loved her previous books so her new one is definitely on my TBR list.

    At the moment I'm reading 'Undercover' by Cat Gardiner,which I'm really enjoying.

    So happy reading Ceri!!
    Happy third birthday yo your blog! May there be many more to come.

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    1. I think they are all potentially angsty reads this month! I only plan to read one of them this month, though, so maybe my nails will survive! Thank you for your good wishes, Mary!

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  3. Happy new year Ceri! Love the mr Darcy portrait and the notecards. Happy reading :) I look forward to popping by this year.

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    1. Mr Darcy is looking lovely on my mantelpiece as we speak, Tamara :) happy reading to you too!

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  4. The dvd of Jane Ayre with Tim Dalton is brilliant. So true to the novel and really well acted by both H & h. I've watched it many times. Congrats on your blog anniversary and a very happy new year to you Ceri.

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    1. Thank you, Tough Cookie :) I am glad to hear that the Jane Eyre is a good one because I've never seen this version.

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  5. I have the Timothy Dalton version (actually I have about 6 versions of Jane Eyre) and love his eyes!

    Brenda Webb has a new book!!! I have been wondering if she was going to release a new book soon. I will be buying that a.s.a.p.

    And I want to read the other new releases. The Best Part of Love - was looking for that today and didn't find it. I thought it was going to released today.

    I just finished Darcy's Hope at Donwell Abbey - couldn't put it down...read it in one day. Loved it.

    Congratulations on the anniversary of your blog.

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    1. Well if you can wait a very short while for Brenda's book you might be able to win a copy because she is very kindly offering a giveaway here later this week :)

      I have seen quite a few versions of JE, I am sure at least three others but I have never been entirely satisfied with them. Maybe this will be the perfect one!

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  6. Lovely Christmas goodies from Santa. Glad you had some time off to rest and enjoy. I got From Prada to Nada from Santa two years ago and it was enjoyable.

    Your guest list is looking good. Can't wait to read Brenda and Anngela's latest. I've already devoured Amy's.

    Another anniversary? Time flies. Congrats on one more fantastic year of blogging and wishing you many more.

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    1. I am catching up with my commenting. Thank you for the good wishes and apologies for the late reply!

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  7. Carole in Canada2 January 2017 at 16:24

    Happy New Year and Happy Blog Birthday! Love the gifts you received...especially the mini portrait of Mr. Darcy! Looking forward to all your guests this month! I just started Darcy's Hope yesterday evening and it so vivid in it's descriptions.

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    1. Mr Darcy is still on my mantlepiece, giving me eyes :)

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  8. Hi Ceri! Great gift haul! So glad to see the 1940's P&P there and to hear that you are a fan of it! I am too and often find myself in the minority!

    Happy Blogiversary!!! I'm so thankful for your blog and reviews! I hope you have more time to do the reading and blogging you want to do. :)

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    1. The 1940 P&P was my first adaptation so I have a soft spot for it, but even if it wasn't I think I'd still like it. It is vastly different to P&P, but it's a fun old Hollywood black and white film and I have a soft spot for those too!

      So far, I am not finding much time for reading or blogging this year, I'm struggling a bit!

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  9. Happy Anniversary and looking forward to another great year of recommendations and reviews. Thanks Ceri.

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    1. Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Jen.

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  10. Love your Xmas goodies and your TBR list, fabulous choices! Can't wait to read them too (re-read, in the case of Amy's which took my breath away at AHA!). Hugs and have a great New Year!

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    1. I couldn't finish it on AHA, Joana, it was too angsty for me, I had to bail out before my heart stopped! I am sure people made of sterner stuff than me will love the book though, because Amy is a wonderful writer :)

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  11. A belated happy new year to you, Ceri! And happy blogiversary too. One of my resolutions is to get back to visiting my blogger friends' sites regularly. I was a slacker last year!

    Lovely Austenesque goodies there! I wouldn't mind seeing Mr Darcy looking at me from the mantle [If I had a mantle haha]! My mom got me the Timothy Dalton JE for my bday last year and he is just yummy! I didn't get any Austen related presents this year but I did get some other books so I'm happy.

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    1. Very belated Happy New year to you, and should I be giving you belated birthday wishes too? I still haven't watched Timothy Dalton JE. Need to get on it.

      I hope you manage to keep your resolution of checking in at blogs more often, but if you're anything like me, it can be hard to fit it in, much as you would like to.

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