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12 of the Best New Christmas Novels of 2024 Recommended by Top Book Influencers – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Today is the official start of the Christmas Season. While we have been seeing retailers advertising seasonal gifts and decorations since July, I am a traditionalist. When I was a child growing up in the US, the season did not start until the day after Thanksgiving. I am…
An Exclusive Interview with Clara McKenna — Author of Murder at Glenloch Hill – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Do you believe in serendipity — that fun word that means finding luck or good fortune? It was created in 1754 by eighteenth-century author Horace Walpole after he read The Three Princes of Serendip, a Persian fairy tale. Serendipity is exactly what happened to author Clara McKenna in…
The Author’s Guide to Murder — A New Cheeky Mystery from Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, & Karen White – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Do you read genres by season? I do! When the temperature drops and the leaves begin to fall, I can be found inside tucked up in a throw blanket with a cup of tea and a murder mystery in hand. My first up for the season is The…
A Winter’s Romance — A New Regency Anthology Perfect for Seasonal Reading – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: The holiday season is quickly approaching, and I am gearing up for my annual Christmas book recommendation list later this month. Until then, here is a sweet new Regency romance anthology from six authors that might tide you over until then. Each of the stories is set during…
An Interview with Vanessa Kelly — Author of Murder in Highbury – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Have you ever wondered what Emma Woodhouse’s life would have been like after she married Mr. Knightley at the conclusion of Jane Austen’s novel? Would she continue to be the misapplying matchmaker we saw in Emma, or would her husband’s influence send her in a new direction? Since…
Mary Bennet in the Limelight — A New Pride and Prejudice Inspired Period Drama Announced by the BBC – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Big news this week in Austenland! The BBC announced a new ten-part drama series adapted from Janice Hadlow’s bestselling novel, The Other Bennet Sister. The new period drama is inspired by Mary Bennet, one of Jane Austen’s most unassuming and puzzling characters from Pride and Prejudice. Mary is…
Among the Grey Gums – A New Australian Historical Mystery from Paula J. Beavan – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: My summer reading took me down under to Australia with a new-to-me author, Paula J. Beavan. I was encouraged by the glowing reviews of her debut 2021 novel Daughter of the Hunter Valley and wanted to start with her latest book Among the Grey Gums as an…
Does Tough Luck Have True Grit? Thoughts on Sandra Dallas’s New Novel – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Do you enjoy reading novels that are homages to classic stories? They are quite popular. I have read dozens paying tribute to Jane Austen’s novels. And then there are books inspired by Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, and the enormous universe of…
The Best New Historical Novels — Fall 2024 – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Happy autumn equinox dear readers. It’s time for all the fall feels—pumpkin lattes, fall leaves, and cozy-up reading. In celebration, I present the best historical novels of the new season; a curated list of my favorites for fall 2024. As always, I scoured the publisher’s sales catalogues and…
Austen at Sea, by Natalie Jenner — Book Cover Reveal – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Happy news, Janeites! Natalie Jenner, the author of the international bestselling novel, The Jane Austen Society, has just revealed the cover of her new novel, Austen at Sea. It is a stunner, and I am pleased to share it with you here today along with the description of…
Captivating Australian Historical Fiction — The Night on the Darling River: A Novel, by Darry Fraser – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: As summer winds down, it was time for me to embrace my seriously neglected good reading habits. I have many books calling to me on my TBR pile, yet they got pushed back when a favorite Australian author’s forthcoming novel dropped on US NetGalley! With one click and…
Austen’s Persuasion Inspires The Comeback: Houston Pumas Sports Romance (Book 1), by Ranee S. Clark – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Austenesque books are aplenty lately! Releasing this week is The Comeback, a contemporary romance with Persuasion vibes, by Ranee S. Clark. I found it witty and charming. Here are the details and my thoughts: BOOK DESCRIPTION Eight years ago, he asked me to marry him, and I said…
A Jane Austen Year: Celebrating 250 Years of Jane Austen, by Jane Austen House Curators — A Preview – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Next year we celebrate a milestone in Jane Austen’s life — the 250th anniversary of her birth on December 16, 1775, at Steventon Rectory in Hampshire. There will be many events and books throughout the year to commemorate her special year. I am thrilled to present to you…
In Want of a Suspect: A Lizzie & Darcy Mystery (Book 1), by Tirzah Price — A Preview – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: We are heading into the busiest book publishing months of the year in preparation for the holidays. Adding to my growing list of Jane Austen-inspired novels is, In Want of a Suspect, the first book in a new young adult duology releasing on November 12th by bestselling author…
Elizabeth of East Hampton: For the Love of Austen (Book 2), by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding — A Preview – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Summer is waning here in the Pacific Northwest, none-the-less, there is still some time for fun beach reading before the chilly fall air sends us all inside for months. I am currently reading Elizabeth of East Hampton by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding. This modern retelling of Jane…
Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë — The Ultimate Gothic Romance – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: How much do book covers impact your reading emotions? This stunning cover of Jane Eyre popped up in my Amazon shopping. It stopped me in my tracks. Charlotte Brontë's classic gothic romance has had 1,000s of book covers grace its pages since its publication in 1847, but there…
Jane Austen in 100 Objects: No 1 – Portable Writing Desk or Writing Slope – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: I had the pleasure of visiting England in 2013 on a Jane Austen pilgrimage. Our first stop in London was the British Library. While the building’s architecture is very modern, I can assure you it houses a treasure trove of books and related materials representing a nation’s proud…
Stunning New Covers Grace the Puffin in Bloom Jane Austen Collection, Designed by Anna Bond – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: While I own more copies of Jane Austen’s novels than I will publicly admit, there is just something so enchanting about a beautiful book cover. They totally break down my willpower. So, here I am with new editions of Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility to…
Jane Austen’s Wardrobe, by Hilary Davidson — A Review – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: In Jane Austen’s novels we rarely hear about clothing—only an occasional mention of a blue coat or white frock, here and there. However, we do know from her surviving correspondence that she was a fashionista. The frequency of her and her older sister Cassandra discussing fabric, bonnets, and…
An Exclusive Interview with Jane Dunn, Author of A Scandalous Match – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Please help me welcome author Jane Dunn to Austenprose today. Her latest Regency romance, A Scandalous Match, has just been released from Boldwood Books. Set in 1814 London, it features a heroine who is an actress and a hero with a complicated backstory. You can find the full…
In Celebration of Pride and Prejudice Day 2024: 10 Reasons Why I Adore Jane Austen’s Classic Novel – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: *throws confetti* Pride and Prejudice turns 211 today. Many Jane Austen fans are celebrating #PrideandPrejudiceDay online and at Jane Austen’s House Museum (the most treasured Austen site in the world) in Chawton, England. Please join the party with my humble contribution honoring my love of the novel, its…
10 Reason Why Sense and Sensibility (1995) Is the Best Theatrical Adaptation of Jane Austen’s Novel – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: We are coming up on a significant anniversary next year in the Jane Austen film adaptation world. Sense and Sensibility (1995) will be thirty—an age in Austen’s Regency world when unmarried women were considered old maids, unworthy of serious consideration on the marriage market. Not so with this…
Immersive Drama, Longing, & Romance in The Lily of Ludgate Hill, by Mimi Matthews – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: It is always a red-letter day when a book is published by Mimi Matthews. Since her debut novel, The Lost Letter in 2017, I have been beguiled by her writing. In six years she has published 16 novels and novellas, first as a self-published author and now with…
Belgravia Returns for Season Two in “The Next Chapter” on MGM+ – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Great news for fans of the TV period dramas Downton Abbey, The Gilded Age, and Belgravia. Their writer & creator, Julian Fellowes, is now Executive Producer of the second season of Belgravia, with Helen Edmundson as screenwriter. Belgravia: The Next Chapter will premiere on Sunday, January 14 on…
Escape to Sweeping Historical Drama in The Seamstress of Acadie, by Laura Frantz – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Have you ever read a book that was so captivating that your own thoughts vanish, and you totally escape into the lives of the characters? Every historical fiction writer aspires to achieve this pinnacle, but few succeed as well as Laura Frantz. Her new novel, The Seamstress of…
Enjoy a Society Shake-Up in The Ladies Rewrite the Rules, by Suzanne Allain – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Happy New Year, dear readers. I hope that your holidays were joyful with a generous portion of peace and relaxation. Today I am so pleased to introduce you to one of my favorite reads of 2023, The Ladies Rewrite the Rules, written by a favorite author, Suzanne Allain.…
Calling on the Matchmaker, by Jody Hedlund Will Make Your Heart Sing this Holiday Season – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Happy Holidays, dear readers. Less than one week to go until the big day and I am still shopping for gifts and wrapping presents. How about you? Books make great gifts and here is a suggestion for a historical romance reader. Just released this past week is bestselling…
A Magical, Spellbound at Pemberley, Opens the Fitzwilliam Darcy, Mage Trilogy, by Abigail Reynolds – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: The holidays are here. I decorated my Christmas tree last week, baked cookies with my sister on Saturday, and am wrapping gifts. How about you? Today I am pleased to welcome bestselling Austenesque author Abigail Reynolds to Austenprose. She has just released Spellbound at Pemberley, the first book…
Cozy Up with Cyanide and Sensibility, a New Jane Austen-inspired Mystery, by Katie Oliver – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Do you enjoy cozy mysteries? Or, are you in the dark about what they are about? Here’s a quick rundown or refresher for you: Cozy mysteries are fun, engaging, and low impact mystery novels that usually involve a woman (just think of Jessica Fletcher from the TV show,…
Royalty & Romance in A Winter by the Sea, by Julie Klassen – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: So many great books are being released this week, just in time for holiday gift-giving. Rising above the fray is Julie Klassen’s A Winter by the Sea. It is the second novel in the On Devonshire Shores series and continues the story of the Summers sisters who we…
Return to Cornwall with Something Borrowed, by Rebecca Connolly – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Today let’s talk about books set in Cornwall. There are so many of them—and for good reason. The picturesque coastal scenery, the fabled and mysterious history of the land and its people, and the romantic draw of a southern county in England far removed from the industry and…
Compelling Historical Mystery from Down Under—The Milliner of Bendigo, by Darry Fraser – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: G’day dear readers. I am opening with a greeting in the Australian vernacular, even though I am a Yank who should know better than to try to be clever. It’s all due to the book that I want to introduce to you today—The Milliner of Bendigo, by bestselling…
Regency Romance with a Twist — A Brilliant Match, by Jennie Goutet – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Happy Monday after the Thanksgiving holidays to my US readers. I took a few days off and enjoyed myself with lots of turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. I even squeaked in some cyber shopping on Black Friday. How about you? Today I am thrilled to introduce you…
8 New Christmas Books to Enjoy During the 2023 Holiday Season – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: In between shopping, baking, gift wrapping, and holiday parties be sure to make time for reading. There are some fabulous new holiday themed books this year. I have plowed through publishers' catalogues and kept an eye out on indie authors’ newsletters and social media to curate this special…
Visit the Gilded Age in To Spark a Match, by Jen Turano – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Are you enjoying the second season of the TV series The Gilded Age on HBO? I adore it. Creator & writer Julian Fellowes really knows how to spin an engaging tale—and the costumes, sets, locations, and acting is superb. I am tickled that both spinster Aunt Ada and…
Romeo and Juliet Upended, Fair Rosaline: A Novel, by Natasha Solomons – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: I am rather fond of Shakespeare and his iconic heroes and heroines. Romeo and Juliet is one of his famous tragedies—or is it a love story? It’s debatable. It certainly contains one of the most renowned romances in literature whose love ends in a tragedy, so there…
An Exclusive Interview with K. Lyn Smith, Author of Kissing Kate – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Happy mid-week, dear readers. Today the sun is shining on this glorious fall day in the Pacific Northwest, and I have a new book to share with you. I love discovering new authors to cherish and crave. Last month I read Light of a Nile Moon, by K.…
Matchless Regency Era Sleuthing in Jane and the Final Mystery: Being a Jane Austen Mystery (Book 15), by Stephanie Barron – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Lace hankies at the ready, Janeites. Releasing on October 24th is the fifteenth and concluding novel in the critically acclaimed Being a Jane Austen Mystery series, Jane and the Final Mystery. Author Stephanie Barron has written a poignant, compelling, and uplifting story for the last book in a…
Secrets, Scandal, and Gothic Romance in Garden of the Midnights, by Hannah Linder – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: If you are as big of a Gothic romance fan as I am, take heed. Bestselling historical romance author Hannan Linder has just released a new novel brimming with many of the elements that we love from the genre—except with a twist. Instead of a young heroine in…
New Release: Fossils and Family Drama Enchant in The Secrets Beneath, by Kimberley Woodhouse — A Preview – Austenprose
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: When temperatures drop in the Pacific Northwest, I know that fall has officially arrived. Soon I will be decorating with pumpkins, leaves will be turning, and yard clean-up calls. As I finish up gardening projects, my thoughts return to inside activities—like reading, a favorite inside sport. I am…