Friday, April 5, 2019

A Very Austen Valentine by Robin Helm, et.al.


About the Book



Book: A Very Austen Valentine  
Author: Robin Helm  
Genre: Historical Romance (Regency), Religious and Inspirational  
Release Date: December 29, 2018

Six beloved authors deliver romantic Valentine novellas set in Jane Austen’s Regency world. Robin Helm, Laura Hile, Wendi Sotis, and Barbara Cornthwaite, together with Susan Kaye and Mandy Cook, share variations of Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Sense and Sensibility, featuring your favorite characters in sequels, adaptations, and spinoffs of Austen’s adored novels. Experience uplifting romance, laugh-out-loud humor, and poignant regret as these authors deftly tug on your heartstrings this Valentine’s Day.  

I Dream of You by Robin Helm

Newly-married Elizabeth Darcy has a plan: to charm her too-busy husband into desiring her company as much as he did when he was courting her. A series of romantic dreams gives her just the push she needs to put that plan into action. S

Sir Walter Takes a Wife by Laura Hile

Faced with a lonely future and finding himself strapped for cash, Persuasion’s Sir Walter Elliot manfully decides to marry again. But his careful plans go sadly awry! A lighthearted Valentine mash-up featuring two of Jane Austen’s worst snobs.  

My Forever Valentine by Wendi Sotis

Jane and Charles Bingley have married, even though Miss Elizabeth Bennet remains certain Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy gave his best effort to keep them apart. After Mr. Darcy refused to stand up with Bingley and did not attend the wedding, she despises the gentleman more than ever and finds his company intolerable. How will she endure her visit to Kent if Mr. Darcy turns up everywhere she goes?  

Pretence and Prejudice by Barbara Cornthwaite

A chance encounter with a handsome stranger forces Elizabeth to resort to subterfuge in order to discover his true intentions.  

My Valentine by Mandy H. Cook

Little Charlotte was always determined and independent, traits which served her well as she battled a serious childhood illness and later as she took on Polite Society. Will those traits now deprive her of true love? Or would her lifelong Valentine win her heart?

The Lovers’ Ruse by Susan Kaye

 In this Persuasion alteration, Anne is so altered by Wentworth’s love in the summer of 1806, she refuses to give him up when both her godmother and father try to persuade her. “The Lovers’ Ruse”follows Frederick and Anne through their whirlwind courtship and their secret engagement. When Wentworth returns for his Annie girl, the cat comes out of the bag.



Click HERE to purchase your copy!


My Review

So ... I love Jane Austen, and overall I found this collection to be so fun and so unique! I loved how each author took the classics we all know and love and added to them or twisted them or brought a sub-character to the forefront to tell a new type of story. I feel like each author did this very artfully. In I Dream of You, we get a glimpse of Elizabeth as Mrs. Darcy going through a rough patch in her marriage which brings the iconic couple to a relatable moment. I felt the story was well written for the hardcore clean romance reader, but it was a bit too sensual to me. Sir Walter Takes a Wife had me laughing out loud bringing to the forefront some of Austen's snobs and what a job she did! She stayed so true to the characters, and the little encounter they find themselves in was lighthearted and made me smile. In My Forever Valentine, we get a little bit of a twist looking at Elizabeth and Darcy as totally estranged after the wedding of Jane and Mr. Bingley. Seeing the conflict with this twist brought a newness to the classic tale and was enjoyable to read. Pretence and Prejudice was to me another lighthearted touch of suspense story that put another fun twist on Elizabeth and her wittiness and determination to find out who the handsome stranger she chances to meet is. The author does great at staying true to the character of Elizabeth. My Valentine is so sweet, simple, and heartwarming, and presents such a beautiful budding romance. The Lovers' Ruse twists the story of Anne and Wentworth and gives us a new take on the plot of them finding their way to each other amongst much opposition. Each author tells their Austen tale with great quality of character development, plot, and backdrop. Overall, I feel this collection offers something for every reader no matter your preferred genre, especially if you love Jane Austen. 


I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own. 




About the Author



Robin Helm’s books reflect her love of music, as well as her fascination with the paranormal and science fiction. Previously published works include The Guardian Trilogy: Guardian, SoulFire, and Legacy (a guardian angel protects a supernaturally gifted girl), the Yours by Design series: Accidentally Yours, Sincerely Yours, and Forever Yours (Fitzwilliam Darcy switches places in time with his descendant, Will Darcy), and Understanding Elizabeth (Regency sweet romance). She contributed to A Very Austen Christmas: Austen Anthologies, Book 1, an anthology featuring like-minded authors, in 2017, and A Very Austen Valentine: Austen Anthologies, Book 2 which was released on December 29, 2018. New releases for 2019 include More to Love, a standalone historical sweet romance dealing with body image; Lawfully Innocent, a historical U.S. Marshal romance book in the Lawkeepers series; Maestro, a historical sweet romance featuring a brilliant musician and his student; and A Very Austen Romance: Austen Anthologies, Book 3. She lives in sunny South Carolina where she teaches piano and adores her one husband, two married daughters, and three grandchildren.

More from Robin

Do you love Historical romance, but avoid “those” covers like the plague? Would you enjoy an anthology featuring six Valentine-themed novellas set in the Regency period written by Christian authors? In A Very Austen Valentine, stories range from a young wife searching for a way to bring her marriage back to the way it was, to a laugh-out-loud courtship between Jane Austen’s worst snobs. Misunderstandings, concealed identities, and romance abound. There is even a sequel featuring the children of the Darcys and the Brandons. Every reader will find something to love in this wonderful collection.



Blog Stops

Emily Yager, March 29
Moments, March 31
Mary Hake, March 31
Pause for Tales, April 1
Creating RomanceApril 2
Book by Book, April 2
The Becca Files, April 7







Giveaway

 
To celebrate her tour, Robin is giving away
Grand Prize: a $50 Amazon gift card 1st Place: An autographed paperback of A Very Austen Valentine: Austen Anthologies, Book 1 2nd Place: An autographed paperback of A Very Austen Christmas: Austen Anthologies, Book 2 3rd Place: A set of three ebooks – Reader’s Choice of any three of my books and 4th Place: a $5 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/ddfa/a-very-austen-valentine-celebration-tour-giveaway

14 comments:

  1. I have never read Austen's books, but loved every word of this book. I really liked the one about the Darcy children.

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    1. Thank you so much! Mandy's story is absolutely wonderful. We agree with Katie; there is something for everyone here.

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  2. Sounds wonderful! Thank you for sharing.

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  3. I love diving into a familiar world and seeing my favorite characters again!
    Dianna

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    1. Savings, this is why each of us write Austen fiction. We love to see beloved characters having new adventures. Good luck in the giveaway!

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    2. Yes! Thanks for your comments!

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    1. Thanks, Amelia. The giveaway is pretty great too. It won't be long until a winner is chosen. Good luck!

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  5. Katie, thank you for reviewing our anthology. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I also appreciate the time it takes to read and review. Thank you for your work on our behalf.

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