Jane Austen State of Mind

After seeing the book cover reveal on one of my favorite JAFF blogs and reading the summary blurb, I was excited to get my hands on author Noelle Chesney's debut novel, "All That This Entails." In support of the relatively recent launch of the Jane Austen State of Mind blog and Facebook page, our friends and Quills & Quartos publishing provided me with an advanced review copy of this lovely book in exchange for an honest review. Its release date is Monday, December 14 and available through  Amazon . I need to provide a little context.  I almost exclusively read JAFF via Kindle. On a whim, I chose a hard copy book in lieu of an eBook just to change things up a bit. I'm so glad I did! This change of pace only added to my reading experience. The pic on the right is evidence of just that--the view of the book as I lazily read in bed, book light shining, snug as a bug in a rug under my blue fleece blanket.  The pace and flow of this book was such that I did not feel co...

After sharing a couple of non-JAFF/Austenesque posts, I'm back with another fun author interview and book preview. I've not yet read the entire book but am looking forward to sinking my teeth into it...pun intended. This book is quite a departure from my preferred JAFF--namely, super emotional, angsty Pride and Prejudice variations (preferably with Mr. Darcy on his knees begging or otherwise in heartsick agony). A change of pace is long overdue, and I've needed to branch out a bit. Sadly, I've also been struck with a bit of ennui from some of the recent new releases I've read.  I recently re-listened to my Northanger Abbey audiobook to get into the spirit. It's chock full of humor but just so different from Jane Austen's other novels. That's where Austenesque author Jayne Bamber's newest novel,  NorthFanger changes it up. Described as, "a campy, vampy fusion of Pride & Prejudice with Northanger Abbey," NorthFanger is a book that doesn...

 Three winners were chosen from those who commented on my posts about Lory Lilian's newest book, "The Mistress of All." Lory was gracious enough to offer two eBooks, and I am offering an additional piece of my handmade Jane Austen-inspired jewelry. Winners will be able to choose which prize they'd like in the order that they respond to this announcement. Without further ado... 1) Gail M. Frisby 2) Sarah P 3) elizabeth To claim your prize, respond to the comment left for you on the blog post or send a private message through the Jane Austen State of Mind Facebook page. 

My Jane Austen blog is different from many others in that I write about much more than just JAFF/Austenesque fiction. As such, posts titled, "Chronicles of an Incurable Collector" will be a regular feature. Last time, I wrote about my $25 Facebook Marketplace 18th century oil painting . I'd now like to share another recently acquired treasure. In April, I purchased a set of antique vanity pieces consisting of an ornate ormolu hand mirror and box. I acquired the set for only $60. I consider that a steal considering the box alone had an antique store price tag of $600.  This picture shows how I found this set when I attended the preview prior to the actual auction. Upon inspection, I determined the set was not in perfect condition due to a mildly chipped mirror inside the box, verdigris on the mirror's handle, and some distortion in the miniature portraits. Unlike some I found online, however, the glass inserts covering the robins egg blue guilloche enamel panels are in...

  Less than a week ago, I wrote a post about one of my favorite JAFF authors, Lory Lilian, and her newest book, "The Mistress of All." If you haven't already, please consider reading my first blog post about her and the book. That first post (Part 1)  provided information about Lory's background, previous books, a summary of the book, and an excerpt from The Mistress of All (MOA). Since that last post, rave reviews on Amazon for MOA have continued to pour in, far exceeding the number for many well-regarded books in the Austenesque genre (including some of my favorites) that have been out for years. Moreover, the 164 reviews MOA has received so far average 4.5 out of 5 stars! One of the many 5-star ratings was my own.  A few reasons for my 5-start review are as follows: 1) This quote from the book is about the evolution of Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship is EVERYTHING!! I bookmarked it, screenshotted it, and exclaimed out loud as I read it (silly, I know, but th...

As you may know, the Jane Austen State of Mind blog and  Facebook page are relatively new. As such, this is my first formal post about a book. I was so excited and honored when one of my favorite authors in the Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF)/Austeneque fiction genre agreed to provide information for my very first book preview and review! Unlike some reviews, I did not receive an advanced copy of the book and have no incentive to provide a positive review. Instead, I'm a long time fan of the author, and I pre-ordered the book, as I have with many of hers. It is my pleasure to share an excerpt and Q&A from one of the best JAFF authors, Lory Lilian! Her most recent book, The Mistress of All , has been out for just over two weeks and, as of the date of this post, has already had 134 reviews averaging 4.5/5 stars. That number of reviews in such a short time is almost unheard of!! I see this as an indicator of just how overwhelmingly positive this book's reception has been. I w...

I am an incurable collector, and I just have an eye for antiques. It's not unusual for me to come across amazing rare and valuable items for pennies on the dollar at local flea markets, yard sales, auctions (online and in-person), and even on Facebook Marketplace. I cannot count how many times I have purchased an item for a dollar or two that end up being worth much, much more.  From the time I was very young, my parents took me to local in-person auctions. My paternal grandfather even dabbled in the auction business. I love holding a bid card and fighting for items that call out, "buy me!" Just know that I will frequently write about treasures I come across. Presently, I want to share an oil painting I picked up on the Facebook Marketplace this summer for only $25.  I'll admit that this little diamond in the rough shows it age. The plaster frame has many chips, and the painting itself has a large gash near the chandelier and tiny flecks of paint missing throughout. A...