A richly imagined novel inspired by the true story of Anne Sharp, a governess who became very close with Jane Austen and her family by the #1International bestselling-author of Miss Austen.
On January 21, 1804, Anne Sharpe arrives at Godmersham Park in Kent to take up the position of governess. At thirty-one years old, she has no previous experience of either teaching or fine country houses. Her mother has died, and she has nowhere else to go.
Anne is left with no choice. For her new charge—twelve-year-old Fanny Austen—Anne’s arrival is all novelty and excitement. The governess role is a uniquely awkward one. Anne is neither one of the servants, nor one of the family, and to balance a position between the “upstairs” an “downstairs” members of the household is a diplomatic chess game. One wrong move may result in instant dismissal. Anne knows that she must never let down her guard.
When Mr. Edward Austen’s family comes to stay, Anne forms an immediate attachment to Jane. They write plays together and enjoy long discussions. However, in the process, Anne reveals herself as not merely pretty, charming, and competent; she is clever too. Even her sleepy, complacent, mistress can hardly fail to notice.
Meanwhile Jane’s brother, Henry, begins to take an unusually strong interest in the lovely young governess. And from now on, Anne’s days at Godmersham Park are numbered.
Advanced Praise:
“This is a deeply imagined and deeply moving novel. Reading it made me happy and weepy in equally copious amounts…I read it straight through without looking up.”— Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Bookclub
Hornby’s skillful mix of fact and fiction captures the complexities of the Austens and their era, and her crisp, nimble prose sparkles throughout. Best of all, Hornby genuinely channels the sentiment of 19th-century English literature. Janeites aren’t the only readers who will relish this smart, tender tale.”— Publishers Weekly, starred review
“…a well-written and delightfully observant novel…an excellent read.”— The Historical Novel Society
REVIEW
Thank you @Pegasus_Books @AustenProse #AustenProsePR for my gorgeous print copy of #GodmershamPark upon my request. All opinions are my own.
Godmersham Park: A Novel of the Austen Familyby Gill Hornby
Through Gill Hornby literary imagination we are granted a gracious storyline centered on Miss Anne Sharp. In January of 1804, in the county side of Kent, a lesser known character Miss Sharp spent two years at Godmersham park as a governess to young Fanny.
Fanny Austen, was the daughter of Edward Austen who is brother to Jane Austen. Gill Hornby writes vividly, creating a somewhat melancholy story from Fanny’s Austen’s diaries.
Numb from the loss of her mother, thirty-one year old Anne Sharpe is unable to comprehend what was her father’s motive for casting her out of her home with only enough money to survive. Anne’s predicament meant that she would either be forced to marry her family’s man of business or gain some sort employment.
Anne finds it hard to adjust to her life, her position is neither part of the servants or that of the family. Anne finds her young charge charming and delightful, they have an instant connection.
When Henry Austen and his sister Jane, arrive at Godmersham Park Anne feels the rippling effect. Hornby does a fabulous job displaying the Irony and clever wit, that is the equation for Austen styled literature.
Watercolor of Fanny Austen Knight, by Cassandra Austen
Author
Gill Hornby is the author of the novels Miss Austen, The Hive, and All Together Now, as well as The Story of Jane Austen, a biography of Austen for young readers. She lives in Kintbury, England, with her husband and their four children.
Today I’m happy to bring to you by stop on the blog tour for the Witch Hunt by Sasha Peyton Smith from Turn the Page Tours.
The Witch Hunt is the highly anticipated sequel to the Witch Haven. It releases October 11th from Simon Teen!
Want to win one of five finished copies of the book? Check out the giveaway here!
Read below for a summary of the book, and my review!
SYNOPSIS:
The lush and pulse-pounding sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Witch Haven follows Frances and her fellow witches to the streets of Paris where family secrets, lost loves, and dangerous magic await.
Months after the devastating battle between the Sons of St. Druon and the witches of Haxahaven, Frances has built a quiet, safe life for herself, teaching young witches and tending the garden within the walls of Haxahaven Academy. But one thing nags; her magic has begun to act strangely. When an opportunity to visit Paris arises, Frances jumps at the chance to go, longing for adventure and seeking answers about her own power.
Once she and her classmates Maxine and Lena reach the vibrant streets of France, Frances learns that the spell she used to speak to her dead brother has had terrible consequences—the veil between the living and the dead has been torn by her recklessness, and a group of magicians are using the rift for their own gain at a horrifying cost.
To right this wrong, and save lives and her own magical powers, Frances must hunt down answers in the parlors of Parisian secret societies, the halls of the Louvre, and the tunnels of the catacombs. Her only choice is to team up with the person she swore she’d never trust again, risking further betrayal and her own life in the process.
Sasha Peyton Smith is the New York Times best-selling author of The Witch Haven and The Witch Hunt. She’s passionate about well-curated road trip playlists, soup recipes, and stories about complicated girls. Originally from the mountains of Utah, she now lives in Washington D.C. with her partner and collection of porcelain hands. You can find Sasha online at sashapsmith.com.
**Thank you to Turn the Page Tours and Simon Teen for gifted copies of both the Witch Haven and the Witch Hunt received for this tour
REVIEW
“The Witch Hunt” is the highly anticipated sequel from the author Sasha Peyton Smith.
After the events of the first book and the brutal battle between the witches of Haxahaven and the Sons of St. Druon. This witchy read picks up a little over a year after the events of the first book the, Witch Haven. We follow Frances as she is heading to Paris for chance to unravel the reasons her magic is not what should be. Traveling with Lena and Maxine she harbors a secret, and once in Paris she realizes that the veil between the living and the dead has been open. Now she must do the unthinkable and join forces with you know who…. Finn
**Thank you to Turn the Page Tours and Simon Teen for gifted copies of both the Witch Haven and the Witch Hunt received for this tour
Welcome to my stop on The Belle of Belgrave Square
By Mimi Matthews
The Belle of Belgrave Square By Mimi Matthews
Series: Belles of London (Book 2)
• Genre: Historical Romance, Historical Fiction
• Publisher: Berkley Romance (October 11, 2022)
• Length: (432) pages
• Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook
• ISBN: 978-0593337158
• Tour Dates: October 3 – 23, 2022
BOOK DESCRIPTION
A BookBub Best Romance of 2022
A London heiress rides out to the wilds of the English countryside to honor a marriage of convenience with a mysterious and reclusive stranger.
Tall, dark, and dour, the notorious Captain Jasper Blunt was once hailed a military hero, but tales abound of his bastard children and his haunted estate in Yorkshire. What he requires now is a rich wife to ornament his isolated ruin, and he has his sights set on the enchanting Julia Wychwood.
For Julia, an incurable romantic cursed with a crippling social anxiety, navigating a London ballroom is absolute torture. The only time Julia feels any degree of confidence is when she’s on her horse. Unfortunately, a young lady can’t spend the whole of her life in the saddle, so Julia makes an impetuous decision to take her future by the reins—she proposes to Captain Blunt.
In exchange for her dowry and her hand, Jasper must promise to grant her freedom to do as she pleases. To ride—and to read—as much as she likes without masculine interference. He readily agrees to her conditions, with one provision of his own: Julia is forbidden from going into the tower rooms of his estate and snooping around his affairs. But the more she learns of the beastly former hero, the more intrigued she becomes…
ADVANCE PRAISE
• “A grand cross-class romance, a twisty mystery, and emotional internal struggles combine to excellent effect…fans and new readers alike will root for this well-earned love story.”— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
• “[C]ombines deception, risk, and a resourceful heroine to create an intoxicating, suspenseful romance. Highly recommended.”— Library Journal (starred review)
• “If you’re a fan of Beauty and the Beast, this regency romance will rapidly become a new favorite of yours. Wallflower meets an infamous war hero in this fascinating and intriguing love story.”— BuzzFeed
• “Mimi Matthews never disappoints, with richly drawn characters and couples whose individual shortcomings become strengths, when paired together. In this Beauty and the Beast retelling, we get to root for two underdogs who get to rewrite their own stories.”— Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here
• “The Belle of Belgrave Square is such tremendous, good fun: a heroine with a big horse, an even bigger novel-reading habit, and a hidden anxiety; a hero with a crumbling estate, a trio of wary children, and a literary secret—what’s not to love? Mimi Matthews paints Victorian England with vivid humor, and her Belles of London is set to go on for at least a few more much-anticipated installments. Julian Fellowes fans will rejoice!”— Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers.
This Book Is Pure Perfection !
The Belle of Belgrave Square By Mimi Matthews, is second installment in the Belles of London. A wonderful emotional proper romance, that is by far my all time favorite book by this very talented author.
Captain Jasper Blunt is a scared war hero, his time spent in the Crimean War has earned him a reputation as a ruthless cold hearted man. Along with his well none personal drama. In need of a wealthy heiress, he is in town as a guest, staying at the home of Viscount Ridgeway. If all goes well this season he will acquire a wife that comes with a substantial dowery that will help with renovating his dilapidated Goldfinch estate in Yorkshire.
Julia Wychwood, would much rather be far away from glittering ballrooms a social soirées. Comfortable amongst her books and upon her beloved horse Cossack.
She has a very small circle of friends that are a form of protection from the madding crowds that make up extensive rounds of the ton’s parties. Her social anxieties drive her to escape away from the attentions of wound be suitors. She is the most happiest deep within her precious books. Longing for a quite life of her very own, she suffers at the callused hands of her parents, who live their lives in a perpetual state of ill health. Keeping Julia at hand in London, to make sure she does her duty to them by caring for them. Sacrificing their own daughters own happiness to benefit theirs.
Drawn to each other more than just an extensive dowery, Jasper’s and Julia’s slow burn budding romance is what fairytales are made of, heartfelt and swoon worthy. A marriage of convenience that gives readers everything that they would want and more. There is a little mystery with hidden identities and a locked room in a tower.Jasper’s family antics are a delight to read.
Mimi Matthews, dual narration pulls readers into a delightful and absolutely gorgeous book. A novel of ordinary people struggling through life, who find each other and the bonds of love, family and friendship can be forged with an adoring newfound family.
Rich in details and prose, Matthews excels with her newest book. The Belle of Belgrave Square, exceeded all my expectations. It’s a gorgeous love story, with the right amount of romance and mystery to keep you perfectly entertained from start to finish.
There are so rewarding nods to Hades and Persephone, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, and the tale of Bluebeard’s wife.
Along with more nods to -The Law and the Lady, -Lady Audley’s Secret and -The Blue Castle
Quotes
“That wasn’t a rescue. That was not a minor service”. Jasper’s eyes held hers, his voice dark with promise. “When I rescue, Miss Wynchwood you’ll know it.”
Miss Wynchwood was a wallflower. A self-proclaimed oddity with two failed season behind her.
VICTORIAN READING ROOM
Join Mimi at her Victorian Reading Room Facebook Group for exclusive access as she shares her love of writing, historical romance, Victorian fashion, brooding heroes, independent heroines, and of course, her beloved pets!
READ AN EXCLSUIVE INTERVIEW WITH MIMI MATTHEWS
Discover intriguing insights into The Belle of Belgrave Square and Mimi’s writing life in this exclusive interview at austenprose.com.
GIVEAWAY
Mimi has generously offered a fabulous giveaway that book tour participants can add to their post and on social media. Here are the details:
Giveaway period: October 3 – October 30
Terms & Conditions:
Giveaway hosted by Mimi Matthews. No Purchase Necessary. Entrants must be 18 years or older. Open to US residents only. All information will remain confidential and will not be sold or otherwise used, except to notify the winner and to facilitate postage of the book to the winner. Void where prohibited.
Giveaway Details:
1 winner (selected at random by Rafflecopter) receives a paperback copy of The Belle of Belgrave Square, signed and annotated by the author with personal comments, underlining of her favorite lines, and other highlights by Mimi Matthews.
Giveaway is open from 12:01 am Pacific time 10/03/22 until 11:59pm Pacific time on 10/30/22.
The winner will be announced on Mimi’s blog on 10/31/22.
USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning proper Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.
Based on the True Story of the Free-Spirited Daughter of Queen Victoria.
Princess Louise’s life is upended after her father’s untimely death. Captive to the queen’s overwhelming mourning, Louise is forbidden to leave her mother’s tight circle of control and is eventually relegated to the position of personal secretary to her mother―the same position each of her sisters held until they were married.
Already an accomplished painter, Louise risks the queen’s wrath by exploring the art of sculpting, an activity viewed as unbefitting a woman. When Louise involves herself in the day’s political matters, including championing the career of a female doctor and communicating with suffragettes, the queen lays down the law to stop her and devotes her full energy to finding an acceptable match for her defiant daughter.
Louise is considered the most beautiful and talented daughter of Queen Victoria butfinding a match for the princess is no easy feat. Protocols are broken, and Louise exerts her own will as she tries to find an open-minded husband who will support her free spirit.
In the Shadow of a Queen is the story of a battle of wills between two women: a daughter determined to forge her own life beyond the shadow of her mother, and a queen resolved to keep the Crown’s reputation unsullied no matter the cost.
ADVANCE PRAISE
• “Peek into the House of Hanover and view the strength of two women: Queen Victoria and her daughter Princess Louise. This story weaves compassion and conflict into breathtaking and gripping historical detail.”— Julie Wright, author ofA Captain for Caroline Gray
• “Moore crafts an intriguing portrait of the independently minded Princess Louise and her tensions with the English royal family. Moore sets the stage with meticulous research, and she expertly combines fact with fiction, with psychological insights on Victoria’s mercurial moods and the impact of her controlling nature. It adds up to a worthy portrait of a woman divided by duty and self-determination.”— Publishers Weekly
• 5 STARS – “I always enjoy Heather Moore’s historical novels. This one did not disappoint! She is impeccable with her research and always does an excellent job of bringing people from the past to life.”— Julia Daines, bestselling author of Haven Cross, and Whitney Award Finalist
REVIEW
From The Desk Of Gwendalyn ♥︎
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers.
In Shadow Of The Queen
By Heather B. Moore
@ShadowMountn @AustenProse #AustenProsePR
#InTheShadowOfAQueen
In the Shadow of a Queen by Heather B. Moore is an excellent historical fiction. Moores’s newest book centers on the headstrong Princess Louise, one of Queen Victoria’s daughters.
An intimate look into the British Royal Family from the years of 1861 when Princess Louise is twelve years old, and the book comes to a close in the year 1871, when she is twenty-three. Moore shines in this meticulously researched historical fiction. The readers is placed front row and center into the day to day lives of Queen Victoria’s nine children.
Overnight the royal family lives come to a shattering halt as the Queen and her children submerge into a deep and lengthy period of morning upon the death of Prince Albert. At a young age Louise, shows so much artistic promise, but she is destined to follow the course her mother has set out for her. Being a royal princess comes with a certain amount responsibilities, your life is not your own. She struggles with the strict rules and traditions placed on her. Clever in her strategic maneuvering, Louisa forges her on way, and her journey is told through the authors seamless narration.
A lovely book, full of rich details along with journal exerts that began every chapter.
AUTHOR
AUTHOR BIO
Heather B. Moore is a USA Today best-selling and award-winning author of more than seventy publications, including The Paper Daughters of Chinatown. She has lived on both the East and West Coasts of the United States, as well as Hawaii, and attended school abroad at the Cairo American Collage in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. She loves to learn about history and is passionate about historical research.
Gwendalyn’s Books 