Holidays With Jane - Summer of Love - Guest Post by Author Jessica Grey and Giveaway

You may have heard of the 'Holidays with Jane' series of anthologies - each book contains six modern versions of Jane Austen's major novels, each story is written by a different author and they are tied together by a theme, so the first book is Christmas Cheer, the second Spring Fever, third is Trick or Sweet and this latest book is a summer-themed book. I was really excited to see that the latest 'Holidays with Jane' was coming out this month and so I invited one of the authors, Jessica Grey, along to Babblings of a Bookworm to introduce us to the book with a guest post. Jessica brings along a book giveaway too. Read on for more details!

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Book blurb:

Holidays with Jane: Summer of Love

Break out the flip flops, bathing suits, and umbrella drinks, the authors of Holidays with Jane: Christmas Cheer, Spring Fever, and Trick or Sweet are back to celebrate summer with six new modern Jane Austen adaptations.

Slip Holidays with Jane: Summer of Love into your beach bag to add a little Austen to your vacation.

Twice Upon a Sea

by Melissa Buell

For Anne Elliot breaking up with Finn Wentworth her freshman year of college was the hardest moment of her life. Now six years later and working as a media liaison for the Naval History office, she runs into Finn—an experienced marine archaeologist. Is this her second chance at winning Finn's heart or will she be lost at sea?

Castle of the Seas

by Nancy Kelley

Two weeks in the Caribbean aboard The Castle of the Seas sounded like a dream to Cat Morland. But when her brother’s roommate turns overly possessive and her own best friend starts acting like a stranger, the dream is on the verge of being a nightmare. Can her new friends, Henry and Ella, redeem the trip for Cat? And is there any chance Henry could be more than a friend?

An (Un)Even Exchange

by Jennifer Becton

Nora Dashwood’s plans for a relaxing summer fall apart when her sister Marianne arrives on her doorstep to get over a recent breakup. As if that weren’t enough, Nora must also deal with her delusional neighbor Lucy, a private investigator with an overeager client, and a handsome man with a secret past. Will Nora’s life ever return to normal, or will she have the romance she never dreamed of? 

Firecracker

by Jessica Grey

Sixteen year old Emmalyn Woods knows three things:

1. Camp Hartfield is THE only place to spend summer.

2. Ben Knightley will always be her BFF.

3. She has love all figured out...for everyone else.

But when Emma's attempt at creating fireworks for two fellow campers blows up in her face, she realizes she might not actually have love—or life—figured out.

Mine 

by Cecilia Gray

Fanny has been waiting the entire school year for her Eamon to come home from college for the summer so they can see if the sparks she felt the last time they were together are real. Only he doesn't come home alone. Eamon brings new friends and he has new interests. And when his actions threaten her home and her future, Fanny has to wonder whether he's really her Eamon after all.

Of Rivers, Rocks, and Rich Men

by Rebecca Fleming

Liz Bennet has one rule when it comes to rich men: just say no. The summer she returns home to Meryton, Georgia, she begins to wonder if that’s a rule worth breaking. Her sister’s new boyfriend shows her rich men can be nice; but it’s Will Darcy, mastermind behind Pemberley Acres, who challenges everything she’s ever believed -- and sets sparks flying. Eventually. 

Holidays with Jane: Summer of Love on Amazon

Holidays with Jane: Summer of Love on Goodreads

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In Summer...

by Jessica Grey

Thank you to the lovely Ceri for offering me a guest posting spot on her blog! I’m excited to be here today and tell you all about Holidays with Jane and our newest book, Holidays with Jane: Summer of Love.
The Holidays with Jane series actually started with a conversation between fellow author Melissa Buell and me. She texted me one day and asked if I’d be interested in writing an Austen Christmas themed short story with her. Um...of course I would! Melissa and I were already in the early planning stages of a modern P&P adaptation, so this seemed like a fun side project. Then I started thinking more about it...this is always a dangerous idea. Always.
“You know what would be fun?” I told Melissa. “If we got four other authors and each of us did a modern Christmas adaptation novella of the six main Austen novels. I’ll even take Mansfield Park cause almost everyone hates it and I hate it more than everyone, but I will fall on my sword cause it was all my idea. How fun would that be?”
So Holidays with Jane: Christmas Cheer was born. We were SO lucky to get fantastic authors Jennifer Becton, Cecilia Gray, Kimberly Truesdale, and Rebecca M. Fleming to join us in in our insanity.
Then came more thinking...even more danger! “There are six main Austen novels and there are certainly more holidays than JUST Christmas...” and Holidays with Jane became a series. To date we have released: Christmas Cheer, Spring Fever, Trick or Sweet, and NOW we are happy to introduce Summer of Love.
I’m super excited about Summer of Love for two reasons: 1) the brilliant Nancy Kelley is joining us (with a Northanger Abbey story set aboard a cruise ship!) and 2) I love summer.
Some people use love as a throw away word. I’m probably guilty of this sometimes too. But when I say I love summer, I really, really love summer. I am a summer baby, through and through. I was born at the end of June and I grew up in Southern California - the land of almost eternal summer - listening to the Beach Boys on my parents’ vinyls. Now that I live somewhere where it’s almost always winter (7600 feet high in the Rocky Mountains!), my love of summer has only intensified.

Even though I am the palest person in the world, I worship the sun, warmth, and dream of beaches and picnics in the park. I am basically Olaf from Frozen, but even more awkward.

When the authors were dividing up the Austen novels and matching them with holidays/seasons, the only one I insisted on having was Emma for summer. I had this crazy idea that Emma would be perfect as a teenage Summer Camp counselor. There were many times during the writing of the story, Firecracker, that I sincerely doubted my original vision, but I am happy to say that Emma came through as a satisfying summer story.

I hope that whatever your favorite holiday and/or season is, the Holidays with Jane series can add a little Austen to your celebrations. There are two more collections to come!
What are your favorite things about summer? Let me know if the comments below and be entered to win a copy of Holidays with Jane: Summer of Love.

Author bio: Jessica Grey is an author, fairytale believer, baseball lover, and recovering Star Wars fangirl. A life-long Californian, she now lives with her two children in the Rocky Mountains where she spends her time writing, complaining about snow in April, and drinking way too much caffeine.

Giveaway time!

Giveaway: One copy of Holidays with Jane: Summer of Love. For residents of the US/Canada, your choice of an ebook or paperback, for residents outside the US/Canada we will provide an ebook copy in your choice of format. Please leave a comment by the end of the day on Wednesday 29 June and include contact details so that you don't miss out on claiming your prize.

Thank you so much to Jessica for the guest post and giveaway. It is great to find out more about how the 'Holidays with Jane' series came about. I hadn't thought about it before reading your post, but Emma in the modern day would love being a camp counsellor - so many people to direct!