Planned Reading for August 2014

I have more time off work than usual this month, as it's school holiday time. This could mean more reading time, or maybe my lovely children will run me ragged and I'll be too tired to read, we will see! These are my planned reads for August:

I plan to read some Austen, hurrah! Over the years I've read three of her books a lot (Pride & Prejudice, Persuasion and Emma) and the others just once, years ago and then not since. Last year I reread Mansfield Park and I felt very differently about it to my initial read so it's definitely worth revisiting them all. I'm planning on reading both Northanger Abbey and Sense & Sensibility this year. Misty over at The Bookrat is hosting her annual Austen in August event later this month, and a group read is usually part of that. If it works out that the book for the group read is one of the ones I plan to read this year then I'll read along, if not, I'll probably read Northanger Abbey all on my lonesome!

I am taking part in the Longbourn to London blog tour, organised by Leatherbound Reviews. This book is an exploration of Elizabeth and Darcy's betrothal and early marriage, as the country girl from Longbourn prepares for a lifetime with a man from a higher level of society. I've read a book by the author, Linda Beutler, before, The Red Chrysanthemum, and I enjoyed that, so hopefully I'll enjoy this one too. I'll be reading Longbourn to London and sharing my thoughts with you on this towards the end of the month. 

For my Mansfield Park inspired read I hope to read The Matters at Mansfield: Or, The Crawford Affair by Carrie Bebris. I don't know much about this book. I understand that it's part of a series of mysteries, which will be a change for me, as although I quite like mysteries, I usually read romance. Mr and Mrs Darcy are the investigators.

I've had the whole series on my wishlist for ages, and then last month this one was discounted. It was fate!

You may be wondering how I'm getting on with my Austenesque Reviews Top 10 Summer Reads challenge that I mentioned last month... well I will tell you; very badly! I haven't read a single one! I have a choice of 5 still unread:
All Roads Lead to Austen – Amy Elizabeth Smith
At the Edge of the Sea – Karen M Cox
Austenland – Shannon Hale
Austentatious – Alyssa Goodnight
Echoes of Pemberley – Cynthia Ingram Hensley

So hopefully I'll read at least one of these. What do you plan to read this month?