When I read the reviews for this novel and discovered it's the first book in a trilogy, I knew I wanted to read all three books. Check out what I thought of this first book in the The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen trilogy.

Book Details:

Book Title: The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen (Volume 1) by Collins Hemingway
Category: Adult Fiction, 200 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction,
Publisher: Createspace
Release date: February 9, 2018
Content Rating: PG-13 (The book includes a sex scene between a married couple, tastefully and poetically described)

Book Description:

The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen is highly praised historical fiction built on the life of Jane Austen. Volume I is a charming courtship novel that hews carefully to her known life while telling the story of a love that might have been during the mysterious gaps in that record.

The full trilogy resolves the mystery of Austen’s life during the “missing years” of her twenties:

• Why the enduring rumors of a lost love or tragic affair?

• Why, afterward, did the vivacious Jane prematurely put on the “garb of middle age” and retire to write her books?

• Why, upon her death, did her beloved sister destroy her letters and journals?

An accurate rendering of her life and tumultuous times, The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen fills in the blanks of Austen’s “lost years” with a riveting love story that also engages the protagonist in the most important and dramatic events of the Regency era. It tells of a marriage to a man equal to her intelligence, character, and passion—a relationship her straight-laced Victorian nieces and nephews were happy to lose in the mists of time.

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When I read the reviews for this novel and discovered it's the first book in a trilogy, I knew I wanted to read all three books. I was delighted to receive a copy and I delved into it anticipating a good read. I was not disappointed.

The story begins with some exciting action as Jane impulsively gets into a hot air balloon with childhood friend Ashton Dennis, which resulted in an adventure and the unexpected beginning of a courtship that Jane was wholly unprepared for. Author Collins Hemingway boldly portrays both Jane and Ashton with all their flaws and insecurities, which made their romance fairly different and more realistic than the typical romance stories out there.

The writing style is similar to that of Jane Austen's own writings and I could see how the author's imagination skilfully used some of the plots from Austen's own books as experiences that this Jane character encounters and would later use in writing her own books. The book is divided into three parts and the second part is written only in letters, which I thought was a clever way of building on the relationship between Jane and Ashton.

This was an excellent beginning to a trilogy I look forward to completing. Seeing that these books are based on Jane Austen's life and we know how it ends, I'm curious as to how the author will portray Jane's married life and more.

There is something so compelling about reading how humanity strives to overcome conditions meant to crush the human spirit.

Book Details:

Book Title: Sovereignty by Anjenique Hughes
​Category: YA fiction, 262 pages
Genre: Dystopian Sci-Fi
Publisher: Morgan James Publishing
Release date: July 19, 2016
Content Rating: PG-13 for crude language and violence

Book Description:

Under the totalitarian reign of the 23rd century's world's government- The Sovereign Regime- control is made possible by the identity chip implanted in every human being, recording everything that is seen, done, and experienced.

No more bank accounts.
No more smart phones.
No more secrets.

When Goro inadvertently overhears an exchange of sensitive information, causing him to confront the truth about his world and prompting him to choose his true loyalties, his dream of revolution kicks into high gear. Goro doesn't know he has covert intel in his possession both the SR and the resistance movement are desperate to acquire.

Determined to attempt the impossible task of bringing down the world government, he and his closest friends gain access to the key to ultimately deciding who has sovereignty.

But who will get to Goro first: The resistance or the Sovereign Regime?

Disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending me this book for review. I was not told how to rate or review this product.
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Kimberley Griffiths Little did it again. She deftly swept me away once more into Jayden's world. Into that unforgiving hot desert, with the discovery of love once again and the enemy in close pursuit.

Banished (Forbidden #2) by Kimberley Griffiths Little
HARPER
Published Feb 2, 2016
Hardcover, 416 pages
Ages 14 +
Content Rating: PG for scenes of violence and temple prostitutes. No bad language or sex scenes

Shelf Life (The Publicist Book 2) by Christina George
Audible
Released Jan 21, 2015
Narrator: Lisa Cordileone
Length: 8 hours 36 minutes
Unabridged

The Publicist by Christina George
Audible
Released Oct 30, 2014
Narrator: Lisa Cordileone
Length: 5 hours 54 minutes
Unabridged

So I've heard a lot about this book, read countless reviews and was curious to read a novel whose main character is a publicist. Now that I work very closely with authors, publicist and publishers, promoting their titles, I was even more curious.

I can see why this book is so popular with book bloggers. The Publicist gives you an inside look at the book publishing and marketing industry. And, man is it ever interesting! Especially since the author has said in a past interview that a lot of what is in this book has actually happened. And as unbelievable as some of it may seem I can certainly see it happening, and even more so today as the industry of book publishing is getting more and more competitive and publicists have to be both counselors and strategists to get the work done.

Kate is a great publicist. She loves her job and she goes out of her way to get her authors the best publicity. She's got good gut instincts when it comes to her work and is kind and compassionate, even with the authors "whose—oh, I love this saying!—"ego has landed!" Yeah, I've spoken to a few of those writers who simply can't believe no one wants to publish their masterpiece or read their book.

Mac, the sexy editor, works with Kate and respects her and her work. Then about halfway through the novel, we meet Nicolas, the sunny blond Californian who is the nephew of Alan Lavigne. I liked Alan a lot. He was a brilliant one-time best-selling author who now lived alone, was depressed and was supposed to be writing his second novel. Kate checked up on him and they had a beautiful friendship. He was her confidant when it came to the world of publishing. Grace was the perfect best friend, giving Kate wise advise even though Kate didn't always take it.

For me the best part about this book was that the story revolved around Kate's colorful job. The Publicist is a revelatory look at book publishing. I'm not a huge fan of contemporary romance, I prefer historical romance, but I do read it from time to time. So what about the romance in this novel? Okay, I'll be honest. It drove me nuts! The main reason is that it happened too fast. I love my romance full of tension, full of angst, till I'm bursting to find out if they'll get together. Kate fell into bed with Mac very easily, too easily, she was an easy conquest. And the best part about romance is the conquest.

I also don't like reading books about extramarital affairs. Mac is married and he has an affair with Kate, but to be fair, his marriage has been one in name only for twenty years. Yeah, you heard right. He hasn't slept with his wife in twenty years because she shunned him after a traumatic experience of which he also suffered and was not at fault. So they stayed together for appearance sake. His boys are in college now and he still won't leave his wife whom he barely sees because she doesn't live in NYC where he does. So for me, Mac's wife broke the sanctity of her marriage way before Mac did when he eventually started having discreet affairs. Still, I questioned why Mac would not leave her.

I also questioned why Kate who now is in love with Mac, goes and does something totally disloyal! And she seems to breeze through this, again with little emotional angst, making the whole romance thing...a bit unrealistic. Grrr...this was frustrating! Kate was more intelligent than this, and it was a big faux pas in my eyes. I wanted to shake her. But we love flawed characters don't we? We want them to do the right thing, make the right decisions that will make them happy, and they take us in on a roller coaster ride when they don't.

The book ends with several loose plot threads. It's a short novel with a narration that lasted about 6 hours. It left me with many questions, and it leaves the reader wanting to read the second book. The narrator Lisa Cordileone did a very good job. I loved how she made Kate and Mac sound. Sometimes the male character voices were grating and a bit off, but this was minor. I'm glad she will be continuing the narration for the two next books because now I have Kate's voice in my head.

So if you love the world of books and want an insider view on publishing, you will get it in this book. Be prepared for explicit sex scenes, religious profanities and lots of f-bombs, way more than was necessary. It marred my listening experience. But if that doesn't bother you, there is also humor, some witty comebacks and plenty of the New York way of life.

Note: This book is rated S = explicit sex scenes and P = Profanity, mainly f-bombs and religious expletives.

Reviewed by Laura


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Disclosure: Thanks to Author Marketing Experts for providing this audiobook for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

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Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi
Harper
ISBN: 978-0062072092
Published January 28, 2014
Hardcover, 400 pages

Into the Still Blue is the last book in the Under the Never Sky trilogy. I wanted to finally read the ending to one of my favorite trilogies and I'm glad I did. This is not a stand-alone book, however, and you would need to read the first two books to know what is going on. If you like YA dystopian novels, don't hesitate to read this trilogy. You can read my review of Under the Never Sky and Through the Ever Night.

Brava Valentine by Adriana Trigiani
Harper Audio
Released: February 9, 2010
Narrator: Cassandra Campbell
Length: 11 hrs 24 mins
Unabridged

After reading Very Valentine a few years ago (read my review), I knew I wanted to read Brava Valentine, the second book in the trilogy. However, I never got around to it. But then Trigiani herself sends me the third book and I knew I just HAD to read the second before I dug into The Supreme Macaroni Company. So I borrowed the audiobook at the library. I loved this second book!