Happy Monday! It has been a stressful and scary month so far, hasn’t it friends? Let’s focus on something exciting, shall we! And I have just the thing – a new Austenesque release from author Jennifer Becton!! 🙌🏼And not only is a new release, it is Book One in a new series! 🙌🏼🤗🙌🏼 Isn’t that fantastic new? Just wait until you hear the details….I know many of you will love it! ❣️
Jane Austen and Hallmark Movies
Confession time. I have a secret love of Hallmark movies. I get an extra thrill when they are based on Jane Austen novels, but I love them all. Anyone else? I’ve seen a ton of them. And I don’t even care that they all have basically the same plot.
And you know what? That’s okay! Because the theme of every Hallmark movie is universal and timeless. A strong female character faces two problems in every movie: finding love and having a satisfying career (a.k.a. earning money). She must find the love of her life and develop a fulfilling work life too.
Guess where else you find those themes? You got it. Jane Austen’s novels. Pride and Prejudice is read and loved today because it resonates with readers more than 200 years after its publication. Why? Because its themes are universal and timeless. It’s about love and money.
Love and Money
Love and money: Isn’t it weird that those two themes are still important today? It is just a little different now than it was in Jane Austen’s day.
In Pride and Prejudice, the Bennet sisters wanted to fall in love and get married—some more than others. Lydia and Kitty seemed ready to give their hearts to any man with a little swagger and some Regimentals, and Mary seemed to have a more scholastic view of marriage. Elizabeth and Jane wanted something more. They wanted real love. They wanted to respect and admire their spouses. But they couldn’t quite get away from their need to find that love in a gentleman who also happened to have money.
Women in Jane Austen’s day had limited options for earning a living, and those jobs (governess, companion, etc.) were not well respected. Unlike the heroines of Hallmark movies, they couldn’t create a career for themselves. Most “genteel ladies” could only obtain money by inheriting it or marrying into it.
That’s why Mrs. Bennet freaked out over Mr. Collins. Upon Mr. Bennet’s death, Mrs. Bennet and her daughters would lose their family home and their income. Mr. Collins would inherit it all. Mrs. Bennet might have a flair for the dramatic, but she was not overstating their predicament. There was a real chance that she and her children could be left homeless and poor. Her daughters had to marry well in order to secure their futures. (And—ahem!—hers.)
Thankfully, these days, women do not have to marry in order to have a secure financial future. But that doesn’t mean it’s any easier for women today. Love and money can both prove to be elusive. And what happens when the freedom to choose a life and career of one’s own is threatened by outside forces?
Live, Love, Longbourn
In Live, Love, Longbourn, Elizabeth Bennet has to deal with the issues of love and career in modern small town USA:
Elizabeth’s dream of refurbishing Longbourn Farm and opening it as a quaint mountain inn is on the cusp of coming true. But when the nearby city of Rosings threatens the future of her small farming town, Elizabeth must swallow her pride and ask for the help of Liam Darcy, the man who offended her and then disappeared years ago.
Successful sports marketing exec Liam Darcy returns to Meryton in the hopes of claiming his inheritance and escaping town quickly. But his plans change the moment he encounters Elizabeth Bennet, the only woman who might have tempted him to stay. When he discovers that his own aunt Catherine de Bourgh and her henchman Arthur Collins are threatening the future of Meryton, he decides he must not allow it.
Together, Elizabeth and Liam must fight the overreaching grasp of the city of Rosings before it destroys not only the town of Meryton but the future of Elizabeth and all the Bennet sisters.
Live, Love, Longbourn is the first book in the Bennet Sisters Series, a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in three parts. Each book focuses on one of the Bennet sisters who played a prominent role in Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth, Jane, and Lydia. Set in the quaint mountain town of Meryton, Georgia, this series is like Jane Austen meets the Hallmark Channel.
So if you love small town romance, modern Jane Austen retellings, and Hallmark movies, check out Live, Love, Longbourn.
What an astute observation about the universal themes in both Jane Austen books and Hallmark movies! I love the small-town vibe of Hallmark movies and I cannot wait to see Lizzy open up a quaint mountain inn! This series sounds sensational!!
~ Connect with Jennifer ~
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~ About Jennifer ~
Jennifer Becton worked for more than twelve years in the traditional publishing industry as a freelance writer, editor, and proofreader. In 2010, she created Whiteley Press, LLC, an independent publishing house. She is a die-hard Jane Austen fan. While she loves Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, she has a not-so-secret fondness for Austen’s minor characters like Charlotte Lucas and Caroline Bingley. She always wondered what happened to those characters next. So she wrote her own version of their stories. She also writes mysteries under the name J. W. Becton.
The Personages of Pride and Prejudice Collection
Charlotte Collins “Maria Lucas”: A Short Story Caroline Bingley Mary Bennet: A Novella
Modern Austen Short Stories
(A compilation of stories originally published in the Holidays with Jane series.)
“Infatuation and Independence”: A Short Story
Modern Austen Novels
The Bennet Sisters Series
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GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Today, Jennifer brings with her TWO ebook copy of her newly released novel, Live, Love, Longbourn, for me to give away to TWO lucky winners!
To enter this giveaway leave a comment, question, or some love for Jennifer!
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Jennifer!
- This giveaway ends March 23rd!
I’ve just added this to my list! I like this idea with Darcy helping Elizabeth against his Aunt. I see it’s a series of three so would wait until all are available before I start to read.
Thank you for sharing this post Meredith and thanks for the chance of winning a copy Jennifer.
Hi Glynis! Thanks for reading my post and commenting! I appreciate it.
Jane Austen wrote such a varied plot in Pride and Prejudice. I enjoyed highlighting Aunt Catherine’s conflict with Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth in my retelling. I hope to have the next two books–Jane’s and Lydia’s stories–out as soon as possible.
Congrats on your new release and new series, Jennifer! I love the idea of a series focusing on Elizabeth, Jane, and Lydia. And as a Georgia native, I’m thrilled that your newest release takes place in a small town in Georgia.
Thank you, Meredith and Jennifer, for the post and the giveaway opportunity! Hope everyone stays safe and healthy.
Hi Lori! I had such fun writing a modern P&P set in the Georgia mountains. I grew up in Georgia, and it has a special place in my heart. Aunt Catherine just screamed Grande Southern Dame to me. 😀
I look forward to reading this modern story. Thanks for a chance to win. I have read some of your short stories in those anthologies.
Hey Sheila! Thanks for reading the Holidays with Jane anthologies! I had such fun writing those. In fact, they inspired me to write the Bennet Sisters series. Best of luck in the giveaway!
The concept sounds very interesting and I look forward to reading this. Congrats on your new series Jennifer.
Thank you, Brenda! I hope you enjoy the series. It’s been such a pleasure to write. I want my books to bring readers joy.
So, how did Darcy offend Elizabeth all those years ago? It will be fun to see how Elizabeth asks for his help. Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins can always remain the same. I am so glad that Darcy can take more decisive action again his Aunt in a modernization. Thank you for then review and giveaway.
I LOVE Jennifer Becton’s writing so if I’m not a winner, I’m heading right out to buy this book. Thanks for featuring here! ♫
Aww….you are so sweet, Jennifer. Thanks and I love your books too!
Had a good giggle over the Hallmark gifs. Yay for this new series by Jennifer Becton. I loved her historicals.
Hey Sophia! I’m glad someone appreciated my Hallmark memes. I do love a good Hallmark movie. Thank you for your kind words.
Congrats on the release. Sounds like an interesting series.
Thanks! I hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as I loved writing it.
Looks awesome! So happy that Jennifer has more to share with us.
Thanks, Ginna. I hope you enjoy the book!
This sounds really fun. Good luck with the new book!
Thanks, Lucy. It was fun to modernize Jane Austen’s characters, especially Lydia. 😀
Meredith, thank you so much for letting me share on your blog. And I absolutely love the addition of the Mrs. Bennet gif! So funny!
This sounds like an interesting premise. I look forward to reading it. Thanks to Meredith for hosting [hello to your Mr. Bingley]. Thanks to Jennifer and her publisher for this giveaway. Good luck to everyone in the drawing. I love that cover. Blessing on the launch and success of this book.
Thank you, J. W. I love the cover too.
Oh my! I’m all in for this. I love Hallmark movies! I just rewatched Marrying Mr. Darcy on Hallmark yesterday. (Though I still can’t forgive them for what they did to Sense and Sensibility & Snowmen) I look forward to reading this series, it sounds brilliant.
Kim, I totally agree. Love Marrying Mr. Darcy, but I was not a fan of Sense and Sensibility and Snowmen either! I wanted to love it and was totally disappointed.
Eager how the story will unfold. (Thank you for starting with ODC;) Thank you for this post. Another book we will all look forward to and thank you for the chance to win
I hope you enjoy the series. I’m having fun with it.
I am always up for a series. Can’t wait to get started!
I prefer to read series too. I hope you enjoy the Bennet Sisters.
Congratulations Jennifer! Have so enjoyed your previous books and look forward to this series. I wonder, if you will have a book for each sister? Thank you for a chance at the giveaway. Stay healthy everyone!
Hi Carole! I definitely plan to write the three main sisters–Elizabeth, Jane, and Lydia. Those books are modernized retellings of portions of P&P. But Mary and Kitty’s stories wouldn’t really be retellings because those characters didn’t participate much in the main plot. But I might write them as continuations if there’s interest. Thanks for asking!
Who designed the cover? I love it!
Thanks, Patricia! I love the way it turned out too. I found the art on Dreamstime.com and designed the rest myself.
This book has been added to my Amazon Wish list. The concept appeals to me–D&E teaming up to resist the moves of Lady Catherine & Collins–the guy we all love to hate along with Wickham (is he in the story too?) Thank you for entering me in the contest.
Thank you so much for adding the book to your wish list! Wickham is mentioned in Live, Love, Longbourn, but he will be a main character in Lydia’s story (book 3).
BTW, book 2 will be about Jane and Bingley.
First I would like to say I am one of Hallmarks Biggest fans. Like you I love small town love stories and JA stories to me are just like that. I would love to have a copy of this story in my collection. Thank you Jennifer Becton for a chance to receive #1 of three.
Hi Maria! Thanks stopping by to comment. I’m glad there are other Hallmark junkies like me out there! Best of luck in the giveaway.
This modern adaptation sounds amazing!! Congratulations, Jennifer!!!
I am hoping to win a copy, so I’m crossing my fingers and wishing HARD!! 😉
Thanks for sharing your new release with us!!
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂
Hi Susanne! Good luck in the giveaway. I hope you enjoy the book.
It’s so great seeing new works from Jennifer. This new series sounds good, lots of opportunities for romance-Hallmark Movies style-or other. I loved Charlotte’s, Maria Lucas’, and Caroline’s stories and their audio versions. I haven’t read Mary’s story yet, somehow I wasn’t aware?!? Whatever….best of luck on this new series launch, Jennifer Becton. And thank you Meredith.
Hi Michelle! Thank you so much for reading my historical P&P books. You made my night. It brings me to joy to know that people enjoy my books. Anne Day-Jones, my audiobook narrator, is awesome. She did such a great job.