Babblings of a Bookworm

Wednesday, 28 October 2015

A Jane Austen Christmas by Carlo DeVito - Excerpt and Giveaway

Last weekend, the clocks went back here in the UK, so it's getting dark earlier now, and once that happens, I can start to believe that we're in the run up to Christmas. Obviously Christmas these days is very different to what it was in Austen's time (says a person who does most of their present shopping online!). Many of the things we view as 'traditional' are actually Victorian in origin, though some traditions from earlier have made it through to the present day.

Today I have an excerpt from 'A Jane Austen Christmas' by Carlo DeVito, a book focusing on what Christmas could well have been like for the Austen family, with the spotlight on six Christmases in particular. Read on for an excerpt and a giveaway of a hardcover copy to a reader in the United States/Canada. Let's set the scene with a short excerpt showing a little of the preparation that would have been done for Christmas...

Winner - Angel of the Centerfold by Michaela Robertson

Blog Tour - Angel of the Centerfold by Michaela Robertson

Last week the blog tour for Meryton Press' newest release, 'Angel of the Centerfold' stopped by here with an excerpt of the book. Meryton Press were giving away a paperback copy to a commenter here.

The winner, drawn at random, is...

Winner - The Unthinkable Triangle by Joana Starnes

Book cover: The Unthinkable Triangle by Joana Starnes

Sorry I'm a bit late in posting this, I've had a crazy busy week. I was very happy to welcome the lovely and talented Joana Starnes to the blog last week when she shared an excerpt from 'The Unthinkable Triangle'. Joana was kindly offering an ebook giveaway of the book to a commenter here.

Today I chose the winner of the giveaway, using random.org, for a change. And the winner is...

Angel of the Centerfold - Excerpt and Giveaway

Banner: Blog Tour for Angel of the Centerfold from Meryton Press

Today the blog tour for Michaela Robertson's Angel of the Centerfold stops off here. Michaela has an excerpt for us, and Meryton Press are giving away a paperback copy of the book to a commenter here (more details below). So let's find out a bit more - just who is Lliam Dafydd V?

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The Unthinkable Triangle by Joana Starnes - Guest Post and Giveaway

Today I have the great pleasure of welcoming a visitor to Babblings of a Bookworm, the lovely Joana Starnes, writer of some wonderful Austenesque books. Joana has previously written a sequel to 'Pride & Prejudice' (which I reviewed for Leatherbound Reviews), P&P variations that also featured characters from 'Persuasion' and 'Sense & Sensibility' and taken our dear couple to Cornwall. This time her muse has conjured up a potentially problematic scenario; What if Colonel Fitzwilliam decided to propose to Elizabeth in Hunsford, and was accepted? Eeeep! Joana has brought us an excerpt to enjoy and she's offering a giveaway of a kindle version of 'The Unthinkable Triangle' to an international commenter here. Read on for excerpt and giveaway details.

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Winners of Sketching Mr Darcy by Lory Lilian

Book cover: Sketching Mr Darcy by Lory Lilian

It was lovely to have Lory Lilian drop by with her latest book 'Sketching Mr Darcy'. Lory kindly offered to give away e-book copies of the book to not one, but TWO winners, and they are:

BrendaNZ

and

Dezigner

Congratulations! Ladies, I will email you.

Many thanks to Lory for the giveaway, and to all the people who viewed and commented on the post.

If you missed out, the book is available to buy in both ebook and paperback. You can get it on Amazon UK, Amazon US, and many other places.

Book Blurb:
The morning after the Netherfield Ball, Fitzwilliam Darcy is ready to leave Hertfordshire, taking his friend Bingley away from the lady of his choice and distancing himself from her sister, who has disturbed his tranquility for weeks. The path, meant to lead him away, unexpectedly brings him close to the person he most wants to avoid, and saving Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s life becomes not only his immediate goal but also a decision that affects his future. A strong and powerful yet forgotten bond from their past—combined with startling events in the present—brings Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy into a marriage not planned but accepted by both, forcing them to break the barriers between them in order to build their future happiness. The book includes mature content.

Thursday, 1 October 2015

Planned Reading for October 2015

Hello everybody. I am a bit sad that September has gone. It's my favourite month, partly because the weather is often just perfect; radiant Autumn days, but mostly because it's the month I have my birthday. I was 21 again ;) I had some nice book-y additions to my bookcase, including a very special volume, and if I have chance I will share some pics of them later this month.

Things were very busy in September. I am trying to finish off a training course and working full-time, so I am feeling the squeeze. October is likely to be the worst of it though, my course has to be completed by the beginning of November so I'm on a tight schedule.

However, I do have a nice line up for you this month....

Firstly I will be welcoming the lovely Joana Starnes with her latest book, 'The Unthinkable Triangle' which has a potentially angsty premise. Here, Colonel Fitzwilliam is quicker than his cousin and proposes to Elizabeth at Hunsford (No, no, no, no, nooooo!). I have read other versions where Elizabeth has an alternative suitor, but the angst-factor could really be ramped up if she became the wife of Darcy's close friend and relative. I am feeling a little trepidation here, however, Joana had another unthinkable triangle in one of her previous books, 'The Subsequent Proposal' where Darcy gets engaged to my second favourite Austen heroine, Anne Elliot, and here everything was resolved to my delight and satisfaction. All the books I've read by Joana have been wonderful reads, hopefully this one will prove to be just as enjoyable.

Book Cover: A Jane Austen Christmas by Carlo Devito

I will be reading 'A Jane Austen Christmas' by Carlo Devito, which is due out this month. This is a look at some of the Christmases Jane Austen celebrated, drawing on excerpts from her letters and some further information relating to Christmas games and traditions of the time.

We will have the blog tour of the new book from Meryton Press 'Angel of the Centerfold' by Michaela Robertson. You can see the cover reveal and blurb of this here. There will be a chance to win a copy of the book here so keep your eyes peeled for that.

And last, but certainly not least, I hope to feature a gentleman visitor towards the end of the month. I will keep an air of mystery around that for now in order to pique your interest!

Remember, there is still enough time to enter the giveaway for one of two ebooks of Lory Lilian's 'Sketching Mr Darcy' if you are quick. You have until the end of the day on Friday 2 October, simply comment on the review post to enter.

I hope you have a month ahead of you with more reading time than I am likely to manage! What books do you think you'll read this month?

Wednesday, 30 September 2015

Cover Reveal - Angel of the Centerfold by Michaela Robertson

Today I have a cover to share with you. This is the cover of a new book which is due to be published by Meryton Press on 1 October, 'Angel of the Centerfold' by Michaela Robertson. Drumroll please....

Sketching Mr Darcy by Lory Lilian - Review and Giveaway

Today I am joined by author Lory Lilian who is offering to give away an ebook of her latest book ‘Sketching Mr Darcy’ to TWO lucky readers here. I will hand you over to Lory, and then you can see what I thought of the book.

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"Sketching Mr. Darcy" is different from my other books because it is the first one that takes a big step away from the original – it moves from the day after the Netherfield Ball into a forced marriage scenario.

For some reason, all the time as I wrote this story, I had in mind Elizabeth and Darcy’s dance at Netherfield: a battle of wills, with two powerful characters trying to stay strong in a situation which they could not control entirely, struggling to discover the person next door – literally next door, as they slept in separate rooms smile emoticon – and to deal with their own feelings. In a certain way, the entire story is a dance – whose steps none of the characters knew well enough - lasting two weeks and almost 400 pages!

Hope you will enjoy following it to see how the dance ends – and I am sure Ceri’s review will be an excellent guidance through it!

Thanks everyone and good luck with the giveaway!

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Book cover: Yours Forevermore, Darcy by KaraLynne Mackrory

Hello everybody. I am so sorry for taking a while to post the winner of the giveaway of the ebook copy of 'Yours Forevermore, Darcy' by KaraLynne Mackrory. The winner was randomly selected a few days ago, and she is....

Dung Vu!

Congratulations, Dung Vu, I will be in touch.

Many thanks to KaraLynne for her guest post, to Meryton Press for providing me with an e-ARC of the book to review and sponsoring the giveaway, and to the lovely Jakki of Leatherbound Reviews who arranged the blog tour.

Though the blog tour has now finished some of the giveaways may still be open, and a full list of them is at the bottom of this post.

If you'd like buy a copy it's available to purchase now:

ISBN: 978-1-68131-000-8

Buy links: • Amazon US • Amazon UK •

Author Bio:

KaraLynne is an amazing mother who never makes mistakes, never gets upset with her children and never ever has a dirty house. Ever. She always has her dishes done and the floors spotless and dinner is always prepared and ready on time. Her kids are always clean, polite, respectful and loving, especially to each other. She never gets irritated with her husband when he doesn’t turn his socks right side out for the laundry and they always agree on everything. She delights in nothing else but to serve her family and never wants or needs time for herself. She takes great care to shower every day and put make up on so that she is always beautiful and presentable. She never wears her pajamas all day or for days in a row and she is the epitome of womanhood. Most of all, she has a great sense of humor and loves to write.

Okay, in all honesty – KaraLynne Mackrory is no newbie to the writing world. She made her debut as an author at the tender age of 13 when she wrote her first set of bad poetry. Angsty and emotional – teenage-drama filled – they were unbelievable disasters. Such contributions to the literary world were deemed so terrible that today they are kept behind lock and key to protect others from their awfulness. As a young adult she steered clear of soap opera drama inspired works and achieved a degree in Social Work. It was not until her late twenties that she returned to her roots in writing. Since then she has published three Austen inspired novels so full of romantic sensibilities as to give you a toothache and a grin and hopefully a few contented sighs. She is thrilled to report that Falling For Mr. Darcy, Bluebells in the Mourning and Haunting Mr. Darcy: A Spirited Courtship are a mite better than the bad poetry.

Connect with the Author: • Blog • Facebook • Twitter • Pinterest • Goodreads •