Austenland - Shannon Hale

Synopsis for Austenland

Jane Hayes is a seemingly normal young New Yorker, but she has a secret. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, is ruining her love life: no real man can compare. But when a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined.

Decked out in empire-waist gowns, Jane struggles to master Regency etiquette and flirts with gardeners and gentlemen — or maybe even, she suspects, with the actors who are playing them. It's all a game, Jane knows. And yet the longer she stays, the more her insecurities seem to fall away, and the more she wonders: Is she about to kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?

Jenn: I have to say, this book is perfect for the hopeless romantic in all of us. I know that there have definitely been times when I've wished that some guy I was dating was more like the heros of the books I was reading, and the main character in this book is just like that. Her hero of choice? Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, although she's in love with Jane Austen in general. I liked how she goes back and forth from thinking her situation is silly to really getting into it, since I'm a lot like that. The ending definitely surprised me, but in a good way. I loved the "will they, won't they" tug of war between her and the Darcy-esque character. It was a great book, and I loved reading it!

The Dark Swan Series - Richelle Mead

Synopsis of Storm Born (Book 1)

"Just typical. No love life to speak of for months, then all at once, every horny creature in the Otherworld wants to get in your pants.

Eugenie Markham is a powerful shaman who does a brisk trade banishing spirits and fey who cross into the mortal world. Mercenary, yes, but a girl's got to eat. Her most recent case, however, is enough to ruin her appetite. Hired to find a teenager who has been taken to the Otherworld, Eugenie comes face to face with a startling prophecy-one that uncovers dark secrets about her past and claims that Eugenie's first-born will threaten the future of the world as she knows it.

Now Eugenie is a hot target for every ambitious demon and Otherworldy ne'er-do-well, and the ones who don't want to knock her up want her dead. Eugenie handles a Glock as smoothly as she wields a wand, but she needs some formidable allies for a job like this. She finds them in Dorian, a seductive fairy king with a taste for bondage, and Kiyo, a gorgeous shape-shifter who redefines animal attraction. But with enemies growing bolder and time running out, Eugenie realizes that the greatest danger is yet to come, and it lies in the dark powers that are stirring to life within her."

Jenn: I love Richelle Mead, and I wasn't disappointed by this newest series of her's. Like her other series, this one is in first person perspective, which I really do enjoy. I find it easier to relate to the main character because I'm so completely inside her head. Eugenie is a strong willed character, and it's fun to have such a self assured woman be the heroine. She is strong in her personal ethics and for her, life is fairly black and white. But it's interesting to watch everything get very gray for her as she finds out more about her background, and how that effects not only her job, but her personal relationships. I really enjoyed her interactions with Dorian, but I have to admit, Kiyo kind of got on my nerves. But, it's probably just personal preference. Like her Succubus series, this is considered adult fiction, and it contains serious language and sexual content. But I just love her writing - the story, the character development, the hint of mystery to the plot. I can't wait for the next book.

*There is going to be 4 books in this series. The first 2 are available now, with the third slated to come out sometime in 2010.

The Shopaholic Series - Sophie Kinsella

Synopsis of Confessions of a Shopaholic (Book 1)

"Becky has a fabulous flat in London's trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season's must-haves. The only trouble is that she can't actually afford it—not any of it.

Her job writing at Successful Savings not only bores her to tears, it doesn't pay much at all. And lately Becky's been chased by dismal letters from the bank—letters with large red sums she can't bear to read—and they're getting ever harder to ignore.

She tries cutting back. But none of her efforts succeeds. Becky's only consolation is to buy herself something ... just a little something....Finally a story arises that Becky actually cares about, and her front-page article catalyzes a chain of events that will transform her life—and the lives of those around her—forever.

Jenn: I love this series. I even saw the movie and it was fabulously done - blending together the first 2 books. It's got some language and a little bit of sexual content; and it's written by a British author, so you kind of have to go with the lingo a bit. But it's not confusing, just different. And I have to say, Rebecca Bloomwood is one of my all-time favorite characters. She's just so...exactly like me and every one of my friends. It's like reading a story about one of my best friends. It's written in first person perspective, which I love, so you really get into Becky's head and feel all of her rambling emotions. There are several laugh out loud moments when she gets herself into trouble and you're always rooting for her while she gets creative to get herself out of trouble. You would think the story would get repetitive, but it doesn't. Each book is a different scenario, and while most of the trouble stems from her crazy spending habits, there's more to the series than just that. It explores her romantic relationships, family relationships, and friendships. By the time you finish the series, you just gotta love Becky for her optimism and creativity. All the books are great reads.

*There are 5 books in this series, and as far as I'm aware, there are no plans for more.

Darcy's Story - Janet Aylmer

Synopsis for Darcy's Story:

"When Elizabeth Bennet first met Mr. Darcy, she found him proud, distant, and rude—despite the other ladies' admiration of his estate in Derbyshire and ten thousand pounds a year. But what was Mr. Darcy thinking?

Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice has long stood among the most beloved novels of all time. The story of Elizabeth Bennet's blossoming romance with "haughty, reserved, and fastidious" Fitzwilliam Darcy has enchanted readers for nearly two centuries. Yet, Mr. Darcy has always remained an intriguing enigma—his thoughts, feelings, and motivations hidden behind a cold, impenetrable exterior . . . until now.

With the utmost respect for Austen's original masterwork, author Janet Aylmer loving retells Pride and Prejudice from a bold new perspective: seeing events as they transpire through the eyes of Darcy himself. One of world's great love stories takes on breathtaking new life, and one of fiction's greatest romantic heroes becomes even more sympathetic, compelling, attractive, and accessible, all through the imagination and artistry of a truly gifted storyteller."

Jenn: Ok, I'll be honest. I've never read Pride and Prejudice. I love Jane Austen. I've seen practically every movie that's been made of her books. But I just can't READ her books. I get way too lost in the language. It overwhelms me and I just can't get into it. Say what you like about me, but that's just the way it is. However, I do love the story of Pride and Prejudice. I've seen several different versions of it and I love many of them. This particular book, however, is written in Darcy's perspective and it's actually fairly interesting. I did get lost a little bit here and there, but it's written in a more modern style so it's easier to follow. I'm always fascinated by romance stories told from the man's point of view. Don't ask me why. I just am. And this story gave a depth to Darcy's character that made me love him that much more. It fits in very well with the original Pride and Prejudice, going over what "may have happened" in Darcy's life while he was falling in love with Elizabeth Bennett. It's not too out there, it actually sounds pretty plausible. I really enjoyed it. I don't know if it would bother die-hard Austen fans, but I thought it was a good book.

Update - Mortal Instruments Series

Jenn: I have some exciting news for those of us who love The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare. She has decided to add a fourth book to the series!! Exciting! According to her blog, it will be called City of Fallen Angels and is aiming for a spring 2011 release date. This is the synopsis she gives on her website www.cassandraclare.livejournal.com

"Love, blood, betrayal and revenge — the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels. Simon Lewis is having some trouble adjusting to his new life as a vampire, especially now that he hardly sees his best friend Clary, who is caught up in training to be a Shadowhunter—and spending time with her new boyfriend Jace. Not to mention that Simon doesn't quite know how to handle the pressure of not-quite-dating two girls at once. What's a daylight-loving vampire to do? Simon decides he needs a break and heads out of the city—only to discover that sinister events are following him. Realizing that the war they thought they'd won might not yet be over, Simon has to call on his Shadowhunter friends to save the day — if they can put their own splintering relationships on hold long enough to rise to the challenge."

Sounds good, huh? I sure think so. She also announced that the film options for the series has been signed with a production studio. I don't speak Hollywood very well, but it sounds like it's not a for sure thing that they will end up being made into movies, but it's definitely a possibility. Fun!