Hello, dear friends! It is such an exciting day for breaking records here at Austenesque Reviews today! 🤗🤗 It is always such an honor to participate in celebrating a book’s cover reveal. I love studying and admiring the covers with you all and letting my anticipation build up for the upcoming release. 🤩
Today I am sharing a whole slew of fantastic and lovely covers connected with the ‘Tis the Season: Variations on a Jane Austen Christmas holiday anthology by Quills and Quartos. There are 9️⃣ individual holiday novellas in this collection, and for those who want it all together in one tome – it comes in an anthology paperback. 🎄
And that means 🔟 stunning covers are being revealed in all with today’s fantastic post! 📚
~ From the Publishers ~
As always, thank you for having Quills & Quartos at Austenesque Reviews! We are always happy to be here and never more so than to kick off this project—which has been percolating for an entire year now!
We have always been huge fans of the Christmas season (Amy’s tree goes up next week—she makes herself wait until November 1 while Jan holds off until the first week of December), and so it’s been really fun to be immersed in this world of Darcy & Elizabeth and regency-era Christmas for the last months.
We put the call out to 10 of our authors to see who might want to participate in this project—the only parameters were that they had to be novella-length (100-200 pages or 25,000-35,000 words) and be set in regency England. We focused on Christmas because Jane Austen celebrated Christmas, but of course we recognize that many of our JAFF-reading friends from all over the world celebrate different holidays in December. To them we say happy Hanukkah, have a blessed Kwanzaa, enjoy your Boxing Day, all the best in the New Year, and of course happy Festivus for the rest of us!
In the end we found ourselves with nine novellas, plus Jessie Lewis wrote Epiphany, a novel-length tale which will release on January 6. Because of its length, Epiphany is NOT a part of the collection (and it’s not really about the holidays either, but it’s a fantastic love story as we have come to expect from Jessie!).
Although our initial intention was to release these nine as a series of ebook-only novellas, we recognized it might also be nice to have a paperback and audiobook collection, so thus we have the ’Tis the Season paperback. At almost 700 pages (more than 250,000 words!), it should provide some excellent reading through your holiday season! Stevie Zimmerman is hard at work on the audiobook and we expect that should release soon as well, should you wish to have a listen instead.
And of course we have a big giveaway planned starting November 1: The Twelve Days of Austen.
Anyone who subscribes to our Q&Q newsletter is eligible to win and we will be announcing the winners on our Facebook page each day!
We hope everyone enjoys reading these wonderful tales as much as we have enjoyed writing them!
~ Book Descriptions ~
HEART ENOUGH by Amy D’Orazio
WHEN ELIZABETH BENNET REASSURES Lady Catherine de Bourgh that she is not trying to ensnare her nephew, Darcy loses all hope of romance with her, and proposes to his cousin. Two years later, they meet again, both unmarried and both still cherishing tender feelings for one another, but will they have heart enough to love this time?
A YULETIDE DREAM by Julie Cooper
FOLLOWING THE UNTIMELY DEATH of his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Fitzwilliam Darcy decides that his interests in Rosings Park should be inducement enough to marry his cousin Anne. However, his resolution is challenged by a series of Yuletide apparitions who will open his eyes and change his determination to undo his past wrongs with a certain lady in Hertfordshire.
IN THE SPIRIT INTENDED by Jan Ashton
A YEAR AFTER THEY LAST MET, Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are reunited in London for Christmas at the Bingleys’ home. While he has been travelling, she has refused another offer of marriage; now, as they gather with family, including two unexpected visitors, to celebrate the holiday, they may unwrap both old wounds and new feelings.
STRANDED AT PEMBERLEY by Jenetta James
AFTER A DEVASTATING CARRIAGE ACCIDENT IN DERBYSHIRE at Christmas 1810, Elizabeth Bennet and the Gardiners are stranded at Pemberley while Mrs Gardiner recovers. She soon finds that the halls of the great house are filled with secrets and sorrows, but Christmas cheer will prevail, and perhaps romance along with it.
CHRISTMAS AT BLACKTHORN MANOR by Lucy Marin
ELIZABETH AND MR DARCY FIND THEMSELVES brought together at a house party at Blackthorn Manor following a sixteen-month separation. Will they learn the truth about what has kept them apart before the festive celebrations end, or will they go their separate ways once again?
CALL IT HOPE by Susan Adriani
CHRISTMAS APPROACHES AND DARCY is doomed to spend it under lock and key at Rosings Park. Will his relations and their antics drive him to Bedlam, or will he be rewarded with the one gift he always hoped to receive, but doubted he would ever attain?
WELCOME HOME by Mary Smythe
DARCY IS AMAZED when he discovers Elizabeth Bennet at Pemberley, living contentedly as his wife and mistress of the house. He will be forced to consider what is real and what is not, and what this Christmas miracle means for his life thereafter.
THE PINK DAFFODIL by Elizabeth Rasche
CHRISTMAS MIGHT MEAN FESTIVITY AND FUN for some, but for Mary Bennet it is just another occasion for displaying her piety and promoting her new charity, the Meryton Widows and Orphans Society. Then she finds herself drawn to a new gentleman who has arrived at Netherfield Park, and soon finds his attractions threaten to mar more than just her Christmas charity.
MISGIVINGS & MISTLETOE by KaraLynne Mackrory
FORCED TOGETHER BY SNOW and the good intentions of their friends and family, Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet must hide agonising lost hopes. Even with mistletoe abounding around them, the two must find their way through misgivings and snowstorms to rediscover love.
And without further ado….here are the big reveals!!!
(expected release date: TODAY – October 25th)
~ The Paperback Anthology Cover ~
~ The Nine Individual Ebooks Covers~
Oh wow, I’m feeling the Christmas spirit something fierce right now! 🎄
This collections sounds amazing – I love seasonal reads and look forward to spending the holidays with the Darcys and friends in various ways! 🎁
These covers are sumptuous and full of cheerful warmth – I love all the artistic touches and winter colors! ❄️
There is so much to enjoy and admire! I love all the festive signs of the season – the bonnets, winter outerwear, the holiday greenery. 💚❤️
What do you think, friends? 🤔
~~~
GIVEAWAY TIME!
The lovely people at Quills and Quartos are offering a generous giveaway of a $20 Amazon Gift Card for one lucky reader who comments on today’s post! 📚🤤
To enter this giveaway leave a question, comment, or some love for Quills & Quartos below.
Maybe tell us when you will be putting up your holiday decorations or starting your holiday-themed reading? 🎄📖
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Quills and Quartos!
- This giveaway ends November 1st.
~~~
‘Tis the Season and its 9 individual ebooks are now!
~ Heart Enough ~ A Yuletide Dream ~ In The Spirit Intended ~ Stranded at Pemberley ~
~ Christmas at Blackthorn Manor ~ Call it Hope ~ Welcome Home ~ The Pink Daffodil ~
~~~
My sincere gratitude to the wonderful people at Quills and Quartos for putting this special post together!
10 covers revealed in one post – that record may be hard to beat! 😆
Such absolutely beautiful covers and the books sound amazing! Can’t wait to read them.
I’m obviously biased, but I think they are all wonderful. It certainly puts me in a holiday mood. 🙂 I know that Christmas, Hanukkah, and other holidays were a little glum for a lot of us in 2020 (me included) and working on this project helped me think of happier times–including being able to celebrate (more or less) normally this year.
I’m like Jan, though; I refuse to have the tree and other decorations up until December. Having said that, I’m already thinking about what holiday treats I’m going to make.
Q&Q publishing is my go-to publishing house whenever I am looking for something new to read. All the authors are favorites of mine: one can always count on an interesting, well edited book/novella written by an author who understands story telling. I’m looking forward to reading these stories.
Such lovely covers! I am very excited to see that they are all coming out under one cover! This just maybe the perfect Christmas present to myself!
Beautiful covers! I’m very much looking forward to reading these stories as we draw near to Christmas. A short novella will be the perfect treat during this busy season.
Wow! The covers are beautiful. I would love to win the Amazon gift card so I can purchase the books or paperback. So many of my favorite authors have written novellas – certainly the right length during this festive season. What a wonderful post today of all of these covers.
Like Lucy and Jan, my tree goes up in December, and we keep it up through Twelfth Night. My daughter and I are already planning our holiday baking – favorite recipes and treats from my mom that are especially appreciated at Christmastime.
It’s been such a happy thing to have had a Yuletide project to be a part of this past year, especially during the summer months! I hope everyone will enjoy this lovely collection of heartfelt stories as much as I enjoyed being a part of it. Happy Holidays to everyone, whatever traditions you celebrate!
Such gorgeous covers! I especially love the anthology cover and am only sorry it’s not available as an ebook! 🙁
I have these on my list so will have to decide between buying each ebook or the paperback! Decisions decisions! 🙂
Please don’t enter me in the giveaway as I shop on U.K. so am unable to spend dollars. 🙁
Thank you so much for this reveal Meredith, no I doubt you’ll ever top ten books in one go!
Oh, the teasing you’ve subjecting us to, with the anticipation of all these titles! It’s been especially rough. I’m so glad that the books are now available, and I look forward to enjoying them all.
I have all of these on my Wish List and was just awaiting their release. I will start to read the set when I finish the one I am now reading. Thanks for the chance to win and good luck with the release of all these stories. Stay safe, everyone.
I love anthologies and this one looks so awesome and just in time for the holidays!
Oh, the covers all look so gorgeous here in the reveal, Meredith, and the generous praise from you and others here brightens up a stormy, gloomy Monday for me. As Lucy and Susan said, it was so nice this spring and summer to think about the happiness of the holiday season, and it has been fun to read all the stories (and listen to the audiobook–coming soon!) Thanks for hosting all of us at Q&Q!
All of these covers are beautiful! I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release day, and I can’t wait to start digging into them! Thank you to all of the authors who worked hard to put these together!
Beautiful! Going to be a great holiday reading season.
I won’t have time to put up holiday decorations…I’ll be too busy reading all these fantastic books! 🙂
The covers are lovely! I am looking forward to reading these novellas. Thank you for the giveaway.
What beautiful covers and a fantastic giveaway.
Stunning covers! What a lovely reveal.
Congrats on a perfect 10, Meredith!
Christmas decorations come out the day after Thanksgiving. My daughters and family unbox favorite ornaments and collections that hold especially treasured memories year after year.
These book covers are some of the loveliest I’ve ever seen, which has been consistently true of Q&Q. I’ve been eagerly awaiting each one and I’m starting on the ebooks today. It’s so appreciated they are offered on KU, and the generosity of the authors and Q&Q in giveaway chances is remarkable. Thank you! The paperback edition is #1 on my gift wish list
Beautiful covers and captivating anthology which is a real treasure.
I don’t put my tree up until a few weeks before Christmas- but I have no aversion to starting my jaff reading in October! Cannot wait to read this anthology
I always enjoy the works by all these authors. I can’t wait to dive in!
I ordered all nine books as soon as they became available for preorder. How lovely to have all these wonderful novellas to look forward to!
The downside to me of the simultaneous release of nine temptations is that two weeks ago I’d misplaced the credit card I used for the preorders. Of course right after the card was cancelled, I found it under my bed. Amazon doesn’t charge for preorders until the book is released. So, today, instead of the nine long-awaited books automatically winging their way to my Kindle, I had to reorder each twice – per book – before the new credit card number – already entered two weeks ago and on file – was recognized and I could get my grubby little claws on their contents! So THAT is the downside of nine e-temptations coming out at once, instead of ‘Q&Q offering an e-anthology. Interestingly enough, Amazon did add the books to my Kindle library, although after I pressed “retry” and ‘order’ twice today for each book, Amazon told me there was an internal error – instead of presenting their usual “thank you” message.
I hope all is now resolved & the books will continue to reside in my Kindle library.
I have been so excited about these books. It’s been hard to wait a month for them.
The lineup of authors and stories is awesome! So looking forward to this holiday read. Best Wishes to everyone.
I am so very looking forward to reading all these novellas! Such a wonderfully fun way to start out the Christmas season ❤️
To appease my children, we put our tree up on November 1st but make it a thankfulness tree but writing things we are thankful for on slips of paper and tying them on the tree. We usually decorate it just after Thanksgiving. But Christmas reading can be anytime! I look forward to reading these!
I love the vintage and seasonal feel for all the covers.
It is a wonderful idea Q&Q got together for the holidays. Looking forward to reading them all.
I love all the covers! Plus, I’m a sucker for Christmas romance stories. . Can’t wait to read these.
What a collection! I want them all! I love Christmas time love stories, and I hope I get lucky with these!
Looks fantastic, feeling warm and fuzzy already in anticipation of these heartwarming stories.
SO, SO, SO EXCITED for these stories! I’ve been enjoying the excerpts, and plan on this being my “Jane gift” to myself this holiday season – what better way to celebrate some peaceful holiday time that with this anthology, a good cup (or two) of tea, and some yummy biscuits? Heaven!
The covers are all incredibly beautiful. I cannot resist.
So many gorgeous covers – they’re all my favorites! Thank you Quills and Quartos: everything you publish is worth reading – I’m looking forward to this.
There is going to be much holiday pleasure available with all these offerings available this year. Thanks to all the authors and their elves.
Congratulations, Meredith. You hit the mother load with all these cover reveals. They are lovely and so is this collection. Q&Q Publishing is amazing and I love their work. I’d love to win the paperback collection. What fun to reread them again. Congratulations to Q&Q Publishing and all their authors in this project. Blessings to you all and I wish you much success in this launch.
Sounds like a wonderful collection!
Wow! So many wonderful sounding books. Where to start? Thanks for sharing the lovely covers.
So many of these look like excellent reads! Thanks for sharing the covers with us!
Wow! So many wonderful books. What a great collection! Absolutely love the covers. I cannot wait for sweater weather and reading under a thick blanket. Thank you for a chance in the wonderful giveaway!
Wow – such beautiful book covers and Christmas stories with Stevie Zimmerman narrating. I can’t wait to read!! Congratulations on this new collection of stories!! –Leslie
so many beautifully festive covers!
denise
What fabulous covers & the stories they contain… Amazing I’m sure. All I want for Christmas is this anthology book 😀
The books all sound wonderful! I have added them all to my Amazon wishlist.
So many wonderful and promising books! I wonder when I can fin d time to read them all!
YES!!! I can’t wait to read this. Several of my favorite authors in here.
I’ve been looking forward to these stories. Such great covers!! In these times…always looking forward to the Christmas season. What a good way to start this season with these timely books (filled with hope
I love all these books. It makes me so happy to discover new books and authors! Having the opportunity to enter a contest is the icing on the cake!
First on the list is to read almost the entire Bridget Jones saga (except maybe Mad about the Boy). I also will try to read the full Yuletide compilation for this year and maybe Little Women. Those are very lovely and festive colors, especially those with the gold coloring! Thank you for that amazing reveal.
I am already adding to my Christmas List to enclude this wonderful addition. I hope to go with this
excellent set of stories, just as I would want to take Jane and her friends for a holiday visit with my family.
We usually put up our Christmas decorations Thanksgiving day weekend!
The designer(s) of Q&Q never fail to amaze me with their beautiful covers. I love them all! But I notice there is a tiny word ‘add heading’ in Welcome Home. I hope she or he will correct the error and upload a clean cover.