Georgiana Darcy's Diary, Pemberley to Waterloo, and Kitty Bennet's Diary by Anna Elliott -3 Reviews and a FREE Book!

 

(Georgiana Darcy's Diary is free on Nook and Kindle.  I purchased the other two books.)

Georgiana Darcy's Diary Blurb:
Mr. Darcy's younger sister searches for her own happily-ever-after...

The year is 1814, and it is springtime at Pemberley. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have married. But now a new romance is in the air, along with high fashion, elegant manners, scandal, deception, and the wonderful hope of a true and lasting love.

Shy Georgiana Darcy has been content to remain unmarried, living with her brother and his new bride. But Elizabeth and Darcy's fairy-tale love reminds Georgiana daily that she has found no true love of her own. And perhaps never will, for she is convinced the one man she secretly cares for will never love her in return. Georgiana's domineering aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, has determined that Georgiana shall marry, and has a list of eligible bachelors in mind. But which of the suitors are sincere, and which are merely interested in Georgiana's fortune? Georgiana must learn to trust her heart--and rely on her courage--for she also faces the return of the man who could ruin her reputation and spoil a happy ending, just when it finally lies within her grasp.

Pemberley to Waterloo Blurb: 
Can their love withstand the trials of war?

Georgiana Darcy and Edward Fitzwilliam want only to be together. But when the former Emperor Napoleon escapes from his exile on the Isle of Elba, Britain is plunged into renewed war with France... and Edward is once more called away to fight.

To be with the man she loves, Georgiana makes the perilous journey to Brussels, in time to witness the historic downfall of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. But when Edward is gravely injured in the battle, she will need more courage than she ever knew she had to fight for their future together.

Pemberley to Waterloo is the sequel to Georgiana Darcy's Diary and is Book 2 of the Pride and Prejudice Chronicles.

Kitty Bennet's Diary Blurb:

A story of hope and second chances in Regency London.
Kitty Bennet is finished with love and romance. She lost her one-time fiancé in the Battle of Waterloo, and in the battle’s aftermath saw more ugliness and suffering than she could bear. Staying with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner in London for the winter, Kitty throws her energies into finding a husband for her hopelessly bookish sister Mary, and discovering whatever mysterious trouble is worrying her sister Jane. But then she meets Mr. Lancelot Dalton, a handsome clergyman with a shadowed past—and discovers that though she may be finished with love, love may not be at all finished with her.
Kitty Bennet’s Diary is Volume 3 of the Pride and Prejudice Chronicles. It can be read alone, but refers to events from Volumes 1 and 2.

REVIEWS
Georgiana Darcy's Diary:
It's delightful to catch up with Georgiana after Pride and Prejudice. Living at Pemberley with her brother and Elizabeth, she's become a more self-assured young woman, and is conquering her shyness. She's also trying to put her youthful mistakes with Wickham behind her, as she navigates the matchmaking waters her Aunt de Bourgh has tossed her in.  But being surrounded by fortune hunters only makes her dream of Edward Fitzwilliam more and she wants the kind of true love Darcy and Elizabeth share.  But Edward is not recovered from his physical and mental wounds.  Plagued by PTSD, he feels he has nothing to offer Georgiana.  Watching Georgiana gain confidence and come into her own, as she tries to draw her cousin Anne out from under the iron OCD thumb of her mother, had me silently cheering them on.  An unexpected twist gave even more emotional depth to these characters, and made me feel pity for even Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Overall, the machinations of her Aunt, the societal expectations of a wealthy young woman, and the ever-present conversational dance of manners is a lot of fun, and I felt the tone and vibe would have made Jane Austen happy.

Pemberley to Waterloo:
Pemberley to Waterloo picks up where Volume 1 leaves off, with Georgiana and Edward happily engaged.  But Edward soon receives orders to fight Napoleon, and Georgiana arranges to travel to Brussels with Kitty Bennet to be closer to him.  What starts out as an adventure soon turns into an experience of the horrors of war.  The balls and social reveling on the eve of battle are soon contrasted with the gritty reality of fighting, as Georgiana and Kitty realize that they are just a few miles from the fighting.  When the injured and dying stagger through the streets of Brussels and are left, Georgiana and Kitty rise to the occasion and care for the wounded and sit with the dying.  As the fates of their loved ones are learned, both women are forever changed. 
I felt that this book was quite removed from the tone of traditional Jane Austen novels, but I loved it. Georgiana and Kitty grow up fast in this novel.  Watching these pampered, upper-class women suffer through the horrors of the aftermath of battle and yet stay and take care of the soldiers, was a test of their characters that changed them forever, giving them a perspective few have, and an appreciation for life that few truly enjoy.

Kitty Bennet's Diary:
A newly somber Kitty, suffering from both personal regrets and nightmares of Brussels after the battle of Waterloo, has resolved to keep a diary and become a better person.  She is determined to help her somber sister Mary find a husband, and to personally avoid the foolishness of love at all costs. I really enjoyed this book. It felt like a comfortable return to the world of Pride and Prejudice, with familiar characters, the world of class, manners, balls and social requirements.  There's drama caused by misunderstanding and jealousy, and the return of a truly shallow and reprehensible rake.  My favorite part of this novel was watching Kitty forget about herself and just BE herself.  Kitty shines here, shrugging off her foolish and scandalous past behavior and letting her kind heart lead her actions. I loved seeing the sweet, funny, nutty scenarios Kitty keeps finding herself in, and of course that's when Lance turns up as well, seeing Kitty for who she truly is.  The scenarios may have been improbable and unlikely but this book was always delightful!



Georgiana Darcy's Diary is currently FREE from AMAZON and NOOK.
Pemberley to Waterloo on AMAZON and NOOK.
Kitty Bennet's Diary on AMAZON and NOOK.

Visit Anna Elliott's website HERE.
Anna Elliott's Goodreads page.

About The Author
:
The daughter of two English literature PhDs, Anna Elliott grew up in Connecticut in a house filled with books. She is a longtime devotee of historical fantasy and fell especially in love with Arthurian legend and Celtic history while at university. Anna now lives in the Washington, DC, Metro area with her husband and two daughters. She likes Jane Austen, British TV, Castle, Firefly, The Big Bang Theory, sewing toys for her children, and rainbows and unicorns, especially those drawn by her daughters. Mosquitos love her.

BLACKDOWN (A Thriller and Murder Mystery) by D.M. Mitchell

(I bought this book.)

Blurb:
‘THE MOST SAVAGE OF BEASTS IS TO BE FOUND WITHIN THE HEART OF MAN.’

It is 1817, Regency England. Thomas Blackdown, a thieftaker and ex-soldier, receives word that his brother and father are in deep trouble and need his help. But Blackdown is a man that harbours bitter memories; a man banished from his homeland because of a terrible accident, and so is reluctant to return to his ancestral home in Somerset.

However, once there he discovers that his brother has been savagely murdered – torn to shreds, some say by a mythical creature the locals call the Blackdown Beast. Thomas Blackdown does not believe in any creature of fantasy, and is determined to bring to justice his brother’s murderer, encouraged by his brother’s fiancé, Julianne Tresham, and aided by the faithful servant Addison.

But Blackdown is quickly drawn deep into a complicated web of deceit, power, greed and murder involving Lord Tresham – Julianne’s father – and the cold Sir Peter Lansdowne. What is the mysterious Lupercal Club? Why do ex-soldiers go missing from Commodore Pettigrew’s travelling theatre? What strange thing is happening in Devilbowl Wood where Blackdown’s brother was found mutilated? And does a savage, hellish creature really prowl the night?

Soon, Blackdown must fight for his own life and face up to his demons both imaginary and real. He will need all his wits and skills to survive if he is ever to discover the shocking truth behind the evil that has penetrated as far as the government itself.

Set in Regency England following the end of the Napoleonic wars, ‘Blackdown’ is D. M. Mitchell at his creative best, crafting a believable world of strange, larger-than-life characters, with his trademark intricate plotting and surprise ending, it is a novel that is a rollicking good thriller, horror and adventure story rolled into one.

And in Thomas Blackdown, Mitchell has given us a hero like no other before – a D’Arcy with bite, a Bond in breeches…

 
Review:
What a fantastic book!  It's a mystery, thriller, suspense, and historical all wrapped up in one incredibly enjoyable package.
Thomas Blackdown was kicked out of his ancestral home at the age of 13, and he has spent the last 20 years becoming a battle-hardened soldier and trying to forget his past. He's a fascinating man.  Although disowned by his titled father and treated with disdain and hate, Thomas has retained his sense of honor, nobility and compassion.  He's a hard man, but a just one.  Out of the army now, he's making a living as a successful thieftaker, making use of his skills. He's a mix of undercover operative, spy, soldier, and is basically just existing.
Returning home after such a long time, he's shocked at the condition of his family estate, and discovers that his brother has died since sending the letter two years ago.  He's persuaded to investigate his younger brother's death, which seems to have been caused by a legendary monster that dwells in the deep woods nearby.  This Blackdown Beast is apparently on the rampage again, and the violently shredded sheep may just be the beginning, as Thomas learns that several ex-soldiers working for a traveling entertainment troupe have disappeared as well.  He also learns that his father was falsely accused of treason, an old friend and neighbor is buying up the Blackdown property for reasons of his own, and a new nobleman in the area has created an armed police force that seem to threaten and intimidate more than they keep the peace.  The more Thomas investigates, the stranger and more connected these mysteries become, and before long he's threatened and then attacked.
The cast of characters is extensive and intriguing, and their lives are prisms through which life in 1817 Regency England and the village of Blackdown is viewed.   His father's lawyer may be a parasitic manipulator, the kindly neighbor may have ulterior motives, the traveling troupe members are hiding a dangerous secret, and the town is preparing for an ancient pagan festival connected to the Blackdown Beast.  The overwhelming power and impunity of the local nobles is in stark contrast to the desperation and grueling nature of the servants, townspeople and traveling entertainers. 
This novel is like a beautiful piece of classical music.  The characters are the orchestra, and the author the conductor - he appreciates and develops each instrument in the orchestra, carefully guiding their actions to create a richly interwoven tapestry of mystery.  The sense of dread and rapidly encroaching danger increases with each page, and by the time I got to the shocking twist near the end I could not put the book down!
A simply outstanding story!



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Visit the author's Goodreads page HERE.

THE DEVIL'S GRIN by Annelie Wendeberg

(I got this for free during a recent promotion.)

BLURB:
In Victorian London's cesspool of crime and disease, a series of murders remains undiscovered until a cholera victim is found floating in the city's drinking water supply. Dr Anton Kronberg, England's best bacteriologist, is called upon to investigate and finds evidence of abduction and medical maltreatment. While Scotland Yard has little interest in pursuing the case, Kronberg pushes on and crosses paths with Sherlock Holmes. The detective immediately discovers Kronberg's secret - a woman masquerading as a man in order to practice medicine - a criminal deed that could land her in prison for years to come. But both must join forces to stop a crime so monstrous, it outshines Jack the Ripper's deeds in brutality and cold-bloodedness. 


REVIEW:
If you love blends of historical fact and fiction, The Devil's Grin is for you.  It's a fascinating and compelling story of a woman forced to live as a man in order to study medicine in London at the end of the 19th century.  Although she is one of the most brilliant minds of her day, she would be humiliated and ignored if her colleagues discovered her true identity.  In order to maintain her sanity and her sense of self, she maintains an elaborate and time-consuming daily system of changing from man to woman and back again, spending her days as the renowned and respected Dr. Anton Kronberg, and her nights as Anna Kronberg, living in one of the worst slums of London.
When Dr. Anton Kronberg is called in to consult on a cholera death, she meets Sherlock Holmes, who immediately realizes her disguise.  Rather than "out" her, he quickly realizes her incredibly adept and agile intellect is a match for his own, and treats her as a peer in his investigation.  As they dig deeper into the suspicious aspects of the victim's death, both are placed in great danger, even as a discreet and unspoken attraction grows between them.
This fascinating mystery unfolds against a backdrop of London in 1895 and the inherent dangers of the city. 
Anna is a fascinating creature.  Encouraged by her poor father in her academic studies, she somehow has the intestinal fortitude to live as a man in order to go to medical school, and then to practice as a professor and scientist.  She's in constant danger as a woman living in the slums, and also as her male alter ego, because if she's discovered she risks jail.  Her unflagging mental vigilance, combined with her complicated twice daily gender switches is exhausting, and yet she has such a strong moral compass that she is able to stay the course.
I loved this book, and can't wait to read the next one.

Author's website HERE.
Check out the author's Goodreads page HERE.

  

Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen

(I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for review consideration.)

Blurb:

A vivid and compelling novel about a woman who becomes entangled in an affair with Edgar Allan Poe—at the same time she becomes the unwilling confidante of his much-younger wife.

It is 1845, and Frances Osgood is desperately trying to make a living as a writer in New York; not an easy task for a woman—especially one with two children and a philandering portrait painter as her husband. As Frances tries to sell her work, she finds that editors are only interested in writing similar to that of the new renegade literary sensation Edgar Allan Poe, whose poem, “The Raven” has struck a public nerve.

She meets the handsome and mysterious Poe at a literary party, and the two have an immediate connection. Poe wants Frances to meet with his wife since she claims to be an admirer of her poems, and Frances is curious to see the woman whom Edgar married.

As Frances spends more and more time with the intriguing couple, her intense attraction for Edgar brings her into dangerous territory. And Mrs. Poe, who acts like an innocent child, is actually more manipulative and threatening than she appears. As Frances and Edgar’s passionate affair escalates, Frances must decide whether she can walk away before it’s too late...

Set amidst the fascinating world of New York’s literati, this smart and sexy novel offers a unique view into the life of one of history’s most unforgettable literary figures.

Review:  Published by Gallery Books, Mrs. Poe will be available October 1, 2013.


Darkly atmospheric, Mrs. Poe imagines an eerie twilight world of people who are destined to have sad endings.  Knowing the fate of these historical characters allows the reader to observe the fictional events and conversations with a sense of foreboding, which heightens the deliciously creepy vibe of this novel.

Mrs. Poe is a novel about consequences, and the sometimes severe effect one's decisions have on those around him.  This theme is evident from the beginning, when we meet Frances Osgood.  She's been abandoned by her philandering husband, left to deal with his debt collectors and the care of their two young daughters.  As a poet noted for her children's stories, she makes very little money, and has been taken in by her good friend Eliza Bartlett and her husband.  As a respectable woman in 1840s New York City, she is trapped by her marriage, by her husband's abandonment, by the misogynistic legal system and by the societal restrictions of her time.  After Samuel abandons her, leaving her completely destitute, disinherited from her family and without an income, Frances is still unable to divorce her husband, as that will make her a social pariah and she will lose her daughters, because they belong to the husband, regardless of his behavior. She is also unable to make a proper living, and is dependent on the charity of her friends. Nor can she become a mistress, as that will also make her a social outcast.  And in the tightly knit society of the time, connections are everything.
When she meets Edgar Allen Poe at the salon of Miss Lynch, they have an instant and intense connection.  She soon realizes that he is also trapped - by his celebrity, by his strange marriage to his much younger cousin, and by his own dark literary visions.  The poem The Raven has just been published and the public can't get enough of these "shivery" tales. 
The conversations throughout the novel, riddled with double entendres, witty verbal traps and innuendo, spark life into the personalities.  The name-dropping is incredibly extensive, and includes everyone from writers, publishers, philosophical leaders, businessmen and notables of the day.  The constant parade of historical persons throughout the book really created a sense of time and place for me, while it also highlighted the kind of world Frances and Edgar moved in.

As Frances and Edgar carry on their love affair, Frances begins to realize something is a bit "off" about Mrs. Poe.  By turns childlike, manipulative, devoted and  attention-starved, Mrs. Poe has also been deserted by her husband, albeit emotionally, and Frances feels a guilt-induced kindred with the younger woman.  When suspicious accidents start to occur around Mrs. Poe, Frances begins to realize something more sinister is at work and tries to break off with Edgar Poe.

Compelling and fascinating, this novel achieves its own "shivery" status as the love affair and mystery of Mrs. Poe unfolds. Highly recommended.


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About the Author:
Lynn Cullen grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the fifth girl in a family of seven children. She learned to love history combined with traveling while visiting historic sites across the U.S. on annual family camping trips. She attended Indiana University in Bloomington and Fort Wayne, and took writing classes with Tom McHaney at Georgia State. She wrote children’s books as her three daughters were growing up, while working in a pediatric office and later, at Emory University on the editorial staff of a psychoanalytic journal. While her camping expeditions across the States have become fact-finding missions across Europe, she still loves digging into the past. She does not miss, however, sleeping in musty sleeping bags. Or eating canned fruit cocktail. She now lives in Atlanta with her husband, their dog, and two unscrupulous cats.
Lynn Cullen is the author of The Creation of Eve, named among the best fiction books of 2010 by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and as an April 2010 Indie Next selection. She is also the author of numerous award-winning books for children, including the young adult novel I Am Rembrandt’s Daughter, which was a 2007 Barnes & Noble “Discover Great New Writers” selection, and an ALA Best Book of 2008. Her novel, Reign of Madness, about Juana the Mad, daughter of the Spanish Monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand, was chosen as a 2011 Best of the South selection by the Atlanta Journal Constitution and was a 2012 Townsend Prize finalist. Her newest novel, MRS. POE, examines the fall of Edgar Allan Poe through the eyes of poet Francis Osgood.