Hello dear friends! I know I usually share with you a little bit of the fun Mr. Bingley and I have had in the last month, but I’m afraid I really don’t have anything interesting to report! 🙁 We’ve had a busy and hectic month with my business and me having to handle difficult parts of my job and put out fires… Nothing bad happened, just a bunch of challenging situations in a very quick succession. As a small-business owner and boss, I was put to the test this month for sure! Hopefully the craziness is behind us!
Also, we’ve been hard at work with preparing for our future this month – getting our taxes in order and getting ready to begin the process of purchasing our first home. Which was something we started to plan for last year, but we are now contemplating building instead of buying…Which makes the process all the more complicated, but since we both work from home and need certain specifications for our work environments, it might be the smarter option.
I hope 2015 has started well for you all! On the Austenesque front, things have been very exciting and wonderful as always! (Thanks to you, dear readers!)
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Want to know what Austenesque fun I’m getting into this month?
…here is what’s on this month’s
Austenesque Agenda:
~ TO REVIEW ~
~ TO READ AND REVIEW ~
~ YOU CHOOSE! ~
Modern Retellings! I think a modern retelling would be just thing to round out my reading schedule this month! The question is, which one! Will you help be decide, dear readers? To vote, leave a comment below!
~ FEATURED AUTHORS VISITING THIS MONTH ~
Julie Klassen – February 23rd
How was 2015 so far? What are your plans for this month?
I have not read either book so I am not sure which to pick. Perhaps, “Unleashing Mr. Darcy.” Things do occasionally get away from us, so that is ok.
Hi Deborah! Unleashing Mr. Darcy looks really cute!
Thanks for voting! Emma – 0 / Darcy – 1
Hi Meredith
Favourite time of the month is agenda time! You and Mr. Bingley have been very busy getting all your affairs in order. Nothing very exciting happening in my household just crocheting, running and reading. Very very cold today with snow forecast. Looking forward to you reviewing the Houseguest. As you know I am not keen on modern retellings so I will let the other lovely readers choose X
You are so sweet, Michelle! I’m glad my little agenda is something you enjoy! I’d love to hear about what your crocheting. I’ve wanted to attempt a new pattern or two in my Austentatious Crochet book, but I can’t figure out what I’m supposed to do exactly on the first step…may have to search around for someone to help! Hope you are staying warm! And that the snow is pretty but not long lasting! 🙂
Hi Meredith! January is never a good month, I hope February is better for you. You have some wonderful reading lined up. I’m looking forward to seeing what you think of ‘The Houseguest’, I don’t know much about it, except that it’s supposed to be good. Re your reader choice, I have both of those books to read, but I’ll go for the Emma one 🙂
Hi Ceri! I always love January as it is the beginning of a new year, such a great time to wipe some slates clean and start new projects an such! I hope you are doing better, my friend, and that February is better for you!!!
Thanks for voting! Emma – 1 / Darcy – 1
I don’t have a vote, but I am really looking forward to The Darcy Brothers! Good luck on the new home front. It can be stressful, but it will work out. You sound like you have a good plan.
I am looking forward to reading The Darcy Brothers, Paige! I love author collaborations! Thanks for the kind words! The road is longer for this process, but hopefully, in the end it will be worth the wait!
I’d be interested in Emma, Mr. Knightley and Chili Slaw Dogs. I like a small Southern town as a modern day Highbury!
Highbury is wonderful to visit – it would definitely make a perfect southern small-town!
Thanks for voting! Emma – 2 / Darcy – 1
You know, I think we all have months where we look up and realize it’s over and we’ve spent the whole thing running in little circles. I wish you the best with your home build. That’s a process for sure!
I also look forward to your review on “Houseguest”. Lots of buzz about on that one. I am not a big fan of modern, but I am a fan of Mr. Knightley and so I would have to go with the Emma-esque book. =D
That is exactly what our January felt like, Stephanie! When we weren’t dealing with issues, we were trying to catch our breath before the next one sprang up!
My review will come out tomorrow! 🙂
Thanks for voting! 🙂 Emma – 3 / Darcy – 1
Hi Meredith! Fingers crossed for your projects! (Both business and life projects :)) I hoped to hear from a library for a position, but alas, I think I should search for another job. Hope February is better! Seems like you have a lovely month ahead of you! I’m planning to read Letters from the Heart, too, and probably The Muse. Right now I’m reading Here to Stay by Melissa Tagg. I don’t know if you have had the chance to get to her books, but her stories are beautiful! Hope you enjoy The Secret of Pembrooke Park… I LOVED it! 😀
I’ll choose the book by Ms. Hathaway since I own it and I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Thank you, Maria! I’m hoping both areas of our lives will settle-down soon! I don’t want all this drama in my life! (only in my tv shows and literature!) I’ll have to look up Melissa Tagg, I’ve not read anything by her yet. I can’t wait to read The Secret of Pembrooke Park! 🙂
Thanks for voting! 🙂 Emma – 4 / Darcy – 1
I agree. No drama in real life, please!!
Melissa Tagg doesn’t write Austenesque books, though. They’re Christian contemporary books, very sweet and not preachy. Good if you enjoy to squeeze in different books every now and then! 😉
I do enjoy mixing it up with different authors! Karen Witemeyer is one I’ve definitely enjoyed some, but I’ll look around for Melissa Tagg! Thanks!
It never fails that when there is one hiccup more arrive, usually in multiples of 3! I do think it’s exciting that you are looking to build your home! There’s alot of planning and preparing involved but it can be fun. I recently read ‘The Houseguest’ so I look forward to your review on it. I am excited to read the ‘Darcy Brothers’ as there are some new scenes! As for my vote, ‘Unleashing Mr. Darcy’. It’s been on my wishlist for some time and I do love dogs!
That is so true, Carole! It has been one after another! It is fun to think of having everything just the way we want it r, right from the very beginning. Just got my review up today for The Houseguest! I’d love to know your thoughts. 🙂 Ooooh new scenes! That sounds wonderful! 😉
Thanks for voting! 🙂 Emma – 4 / Darcy – 2
Since you both work from home, I think building a house would be a better idea since it could be built to suite your needs. I vote for Unleashing Mr. Darcy!
Thank you, Eva! Can’t tell you how good it feels to hear others second our decision. We are very anxious about it sometimes. 😉
Thanks for voting! 🙂 Emma – 4 / Darcy – 3
Putting out fires and taxes, ugh! But getting things in place for a new home can make it worth it.
Nice line up of books. I vote for the Mary Jane Hathaway because I am curious.
Very true, Sophia! Going through some challenges to get what we really want is worth it in the end!
Thanks for voting! 🙂 Emma – 5 / Darcy – 3
Oooo! Austenesque Agenda, my favorite email of the month, no kidding!! Here’s to everyone having a better February than January was. I have been fighting a particularly unruly and resistant sinus infection for a month, and am finally back among the living 😉 I have yet to find one of your monthly agenda emails less than exciting, or impressive (as in how much you can get done in a month 🙂 ) or to make me smile in anticipation. I’m so looking forward to the books you are going to review. I loved The Houseguest, btw. I can’t wait for the author visit! I am slow to embrace modern, but you are turning my opinion around on that in recent months. I’m going to vote for the Mary Jane Hathaway because I honestly rarely read any non P&P JAFF. Need to get out of my comfort zone there.
Lastly, the best luck on the new home project. We will all expect and look forward to updates.
You are so sweet, Michelle! Thank you! I’m glad you like these posts! 😉 I love sharing them with you all! So sorry to hear that the sinus infection lingered so long! Hope it is gone for good now! 😉 Working on my blog, reading, and chatting with you all was definitely the highlight of my January for me! I’m so lucky to be able to do this! You all are so kind and supportive! Thank you! I loved The Houseguest too! 😉 Just posted me review today. Thank you for the kind wishes! Hopefully will be able to have exciting updates soon!
Thanks for voting! 🙂 Emma – 6 / Darcy – 3
I thought you had a house lined up last year but now that I think about it you didn’t mention more.
I think it ate my comment in case you end up with it twice. I wish we were not across country. My son-in-law builds a great house. I think it’s a wise option with all you have to consider. It’s a lot of work but I’m happy for your goals and plans. We’ve all been passing around virus since December. Haven’t started taxes or caught up filing. When we met you reminded me of an energizer bunny. I did reread Kara Louise “only mr darcy will do”. I just love her work. I’ve switched up genre a bit since I needed a change. I read a historical fiction about traveling on the Oregon trail in the 1800s. It was wonderful. I also have read a couple incorrigible rakes with a revenge plot. Back to austenesque soon. Your upcoming reads look great. Please do the “Emma – chili dog” book. I enjoy her work but haven’t read that one. Thrilled you are interviewing julie klassen. As you know I love her work.
Aww, thank you, Suzan! I wish we lived closer for many reasons! 😉 It might be the more challenging option, but to us it makes more sense than to find a house already standing, get a mortgage, and then have to take out an additional loan to restructure the interior to match our needs…hopefully in the end it works out!
Oh! I love Only Mr. Darcy Will Do! Kara Louise creates wonderful stories!!! That sounds like an interesting time to read about! I love learning about history and different time periods through fiction! I’m so excited about Julie Klassen’s visit! Can’t wait!
Thanks for voting! 🙂 Emma – 7 / Darcy – 3
Hi Meredith,
Somtimes months become too busy, I understand you, at least we have the pleasure of reading. I wish you the best with your building project!.
Speaking of the agenda I vote for “Emma and Mr Knightley” retelling. And what a delightful surprise!: Julie Klassen is coming here with a new novella, looking forward to it 🙂
Very true, Teresa! If I didn’t have the time to read or have that as a way to escape real-world problems, that would be so terrible! 🙂 Thank you so much for the kind wishes! Hope you enjoy Julie’s post! I can’t wait to read her latest, I heard there is a bit more mystery in this one!
Thanks for voting! 🙂 Emma – 8 / Darcy – 3
What a tempting reading list! As for the vote, I’m always tempted to vote for Mr Darcy 🙂
It sounds so exciting, building your own home! You’re right, it makes so much sense to aim for something that’s exactly what you need! Best of luck with it and post lots of photos!
Thank you for the kind words, Joana! My dad, who is always frugal and not one to take risks, sometimes comments about how we should just find a house already standing and have everything simple. I usually go to him for advice on this kind of thing, and makes me a little uneasy to that he doesn’t agree with us this time around. 😉 I appreciate everyone saying we “make sense” in our decision!
Thanks for voting! 🙂 Emma – 8 / Darcy – 4
I vote for Unleashing Mr Darcy. It looks fun!
Your February looks to be busy. January is gone and good riddance!
Good luck with your house building. It will be difficult at times, but well worth the effort. You and Mr Bingley will have a house you love!!
Happy Reading!
Yes, good riddance! 😉 Thank you Cat! Hope it all turns out like we hope! Have been talking with a great building company – feeling good vibes about it all! 🙂
Thanks for voting! 🙂 Emma – 8 / Darcy – 5
I’m reading the Julie Klassen book(as part of the upcoming blog tour) and it’s really great so far. Just finished Jane Austen Cover to Cover recently and it was a blast,fun at times to spot books that were in my own JA library!
Oh, and I vote for Emma,Mr. Knightley and Chili-Slaw Dogs; a nice take on the classic novel and I’d love to hear your thoughts about it.
That’s awesome! I’m glad to hear you are enjoying both books! 😉 I can’t wait to start reading them!
Thanks for voting! 🙂 Emma – 9 / Darcy – 5
I will be reading my first Klassen novel next. I’m excited to hear your review of her new book.
As for your next read…I have read them both and enjoyed each one. I may have to put my vote in for Unleashing Mr. Darcy. It’s a really fun read and I’m not even a dog person!!:)
Happy Reading!!
Yay!! I’m sure you will love it, Kelli! Which one are you starting out with? LOL! I’m an animal lover but not owner! 😉
Thanks for voting! 🙂 Emma – 9 / Darcy – 6
Love all the books you have on this month’s agenda! I’ve read Unleashing Mr. Darcy and would love to read your review on the book so that would be my vote!
Hope work life is getting better for you!
Thank you, Dung! This month is so far better! Thank goodness! 😉 I’m glad you like this month’s line-up!
Thanks for voting! 🙂 Emma – 9 / Darcy – 7