Thursday, January 28, 2010

Austenland - Shannon Hale


Please see amazon for blurb bec I can't cut and paste it and am too freaking lazy to type it all out. ;p
Ok the gist of the story is this...the main chick Jane is hung up on Mr. Darcy (obv who isn't) but is wholey ashamed of this fact and her great aunt as a parting gift in her will sends Jane on this exclusive vacation where she gets to play the part of a member of regency England. In doing so she discovers really is and meets her Mr. Darcy.
Now that I have thoroughly bored you with my stellar description skills, let me say this....I got a huge kick out of this book. Because there is an actual twist that is rather interesting that you don't find out in the end. Jane meets Mr. Nobley, an actor who is potraying a likeness to Mr. Darcy and in getting to know the "character" she discovers that she wants more than the fantasy but the real thing.
But my overall favorite part that had me cracking up (which is just sad for me) was the dedication:
"For Colin Firth...You're a really great guy, but I'm married, so I think we should just be friends."
Still gets me. After reading that when I downloaded the book I had already decided to buy it and obv having enjoyed it as much as I have I am glad that I did. Just got it yesterday :D
I definately recommend this one even if I am a shitty purveyor of plot! *wink*

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Because I am sad

I admit that I am pathetic enough that I would do this and probably will for sh**s and giggles. "D

www.ustarnovels.com

My personal choices? Pride and Prejudice and Dracula....

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Vampire Darcy's Desires - Regina Jeffers


Darcy's hunger takes the greatest literary romance of all time and reinvents it around the hottest publishing genre - vampire romance. No story lends itself better to adaption Two lovers trying to overcome that which seperates them: their pride, their prejudice, Darcy's vampirism, and the evil workings of master vampire George Wickham.
Ok so this is the second vampire Darcy book I have purchased and read. I have to admit that as much as I enjoyed the fluff of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange; I enjoyed this one more. This particular story takes place from the moment they meet until they over come Wickham and have their happily ever after.
I am not going to wax poetic about how this is the best book ever, because it's not. It is a good story and a very good take on the subject. Darcy is a half breed - half vamp half human and Lizzy is semi-psychic and they work together to reach their HEA against all odds.
I personally found Darcy to be a bit....martyr-ish.
Dunno really what to say. It was good, glad I bought it and read it...probably will read it again but not going to shout it's praises from the roof tops or even strongly suggest that someone else read it. Beh - not explaining myself well....if you choose to read it, it is an enjoyable read.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Chance Encounters - Linda Wells


In ane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Fitzwilliam Darcy arrives at Netherfield in a state of indignation and delivers an insult that nearly ended his future before it began. What if he did not go to Meryton that autumn and instead met Elizabeth Bennet later in London during the winter? What if their introduction was not an insult, but rather a challenge to smile, and how does the strength of an extraordinary couple help them to survive all that life sends their way?
This is another book that I read a lot of reviews on while I was waiting to decide if and when I would buy it. I was a little worried based on a lot of reviews of this book, but I loved it. I loved the story, I loved Darcy and Lizzy, I loved all the other characters.
I did not like how Jane and Bingley were portrayed, but I did have to admit having Caroline end as she did was good. No serious machinations were put into play by the usual characters so it was refreshing. Mr. Bennet was another best entirely and I have to admit that it was interesting to see him rather than Lady Catherine as the antagonist to the lovers. I enjoyed the additions of new characters as well.
Personally I loved this book. It was advertised as a "mature love story" and it was tastefully done, there were no overtly graphic descriptions, infact details were only mildly discussed, and all in all what was discussed humanized them.
Of anything that I would dislike in the book would be Darcy crying. Not because I deem it as weak, but because I lean towards not crying if I unless I can absolutely help it, I tend to be a little less than sensitive to those who do...so we will leave this opinion to my current state of mind not a general slight on those who cry, even dark brooding heroes from books. :D
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to the purchase of the next offerings by Linda Wells. Definate recommendation for those open minded Austen fans.

Friday, January 8, 2010

My BFF - Ruth Phillip Oakland


When Control Freaks Collide... Brilliant, handsome and born into a world of class and wealth, Fitzwilliam Darcy learned early that giving your heart came with a price even he could not afford to pay. Musical prodigy Elizabeth Bennet used the ghosts of her past to scare away all chances for love in her future. Sparks fly when they meet; but will Darcy and Elizabeth crash and burn, or can they overcome their fears through an unusual relationship and find a way to happily ever after?
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Ok so I read a lot of the reviews on Amazon before I took the plunge and bought this book. I liked the blurb and the idea behind the plot. What I found in the reviews was interesting...some liked it some found the subject of sex too much, one reviewer even went so far as to complain about the mention of Darcy's "groin tightening" and his materbatory scenes....which for me was part of the appeal, because honestly, who wouldn't love the idea of Darcy wanking it! :D So yeah after reading the reviews I was all prepared for an over abundance of sex, masterbation scenes, and more sex. DIDN'T HAPPEN! There was all of ONE and I mean ONE scene where Darcy is going to town on himself....which was just as funny to me as I hoped, and the only other major mention of his habit was when he was a bit drunk and bitching about the size of personal lube tubes being only 3 oz...so all in all everything concerning sex was tasteful and less graphic than watching an R rated movie.
Now as for the plot. Darcy didn't majorly offend Lizzy in this as in other renditions because he didn't debase her looks, he and his cousin Geoff (No worries Col Richard Fitz is in the book too) are commenting on how "foxy" she is and she hears it. Appropriate apologies are quickly made and an overwhelming attraction ignites...but they decide after bits of personal information get out that right or wrong they should be friends instead. So the first half of the story is Darcy and Lizzy becoming "BFF's" (yes utter cheese that!) We also get to know the other characters and any and all supporting characters are named from Austen's other books. Harville, Wentworth, Benwick are all in security. Charles Hayter is Darcy's assistant. The Bertrum's, Brandon, Ferrar's, Dashwood's etc...hell to my every lasting delight Mr. Edward Rochester got a play!
The villians were so for various reasons, obv Wickham because he felt he got shafted from the Darcy fortune. His cousin Rebecca Wickham wanted to eternally mess with Darcy after their affair ended 7 years prior. Lady Catherine was par fore as in almost every book she is a total bitch. Caroline Bingley actually turned out well she was overbearing but not manipulative at all. Mr. Collins or Billy Ray Collins was superb in his villiany bec we don't meet him until the end. Frannie Bennet is a bad guy in this case because after a car accident she suffers from enough brain damage to not know right from wrong...so after meeting her you realize she is essentially nuts....
But it all worked out in the end and lived happily ever after.
I do recommend reading this as I plowed through it in a day....Def cute book!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Reading List - for P&P variations

Ok so here is my reading list for P&P variations as currently waiting for them to arrive via the post or waiting for the next available pay day to purchase....All of which (with the exclusion of Jane Bites Back) are very Dirty Darcy variations...in other words...Naughty variations :D yup I'm a total perv and very proud of it too! ;D


Chance Encourters by Linda Wells - What would happen if Lizzy and Darcy met at the theater instead of an assembly?


Jane Bites Back - Michael Thomas Ford - A story of Jane Austen - Vampire!


My Dearest Mr. Darcy - Sharon Lathan - Book three in the series




My BFF - Ruth Phillip Oakland - What would happen if Lizzy and Darcy were just friends inspite of the incredible attraction they hold for the one another - modern day twist.

Really Angelic - Enid Wilson - Paranormal P&P variation and I CANNOT wait...loved her take with Bargain with the Devil...so getting this one next!

Also included but not listed with cover art - Fate and Consequences by Linda Wells, A Perfect fit by Linda Wells, Lost in Austen by Emma Campbell Webster, Pride/Prejudice: A novel of Mr. Darcy Elizabeth and their other loves by Ann Heredeen...