Free Kindle Book!

The first book in my YA fantasy trilogy, THE SEVENTH BLESSING, is now *free* on Amazon.com for a short time! Hurry on over and pick it up. And, you know, read it. Love it. Tell your friends about it. All that good stuff. <3

Link to Amazon.com

Kindle Edition: THE CURSED BLESSING

THE CURSED BLESSING

Book 3 in The Tales of Gymandrol series

Hi friends!

I'm happy to say that all of my YA fantasy books are now available on Kindle, including the 3rd book in the series, THE CURSED BLESSING. Here's a bit about it!

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Can a rebel princess break the curse before it breaks her? 

As the youngest daughter of King Edric and Queen Chrissy of Lagola, Holly’s blessing ceremony is anything but ordinary. Her blessing—or curse—condemned her to keep her word or otherwise face dire consequences. The result forced her to grow up as an honest, forthright girl, making her an anomaly with courtly life. 

Now sixteen, Holly would rather spend her time camping, pulling pranks, and perfecting her archery skills with her brothers instead of dressing up and attending royal balls. In hopes of changing Holly into more of a lady, King Edric takes both Holly and her brother, Rowan, to visit the neighboring country of Shald for Prince Donovan’s birthday celebration. But things go awry when Holly disguises herself and enters the archery tournament Prince Donovan has hosted in order to determine the top ten archers for his dangerous quest to save his kidnapped sister. Holly ranks within the top ten and because of her cursed blessing, she is forced keep her word by joining Prince Donovan, Rowan, and a crew of other worthy gentleman on a treacherous quest to seek the missing princess. 

But upon gathering leads for Prince Donovan’s missing sister, Holly and the crew stumble upon dark happenings that threaten the peace in the north of Shald. Holly must find a way to cope with her growing feelings toward Prince Donovan, unravel the darker mystery of the north, and, perhaps, seek to save not only a princess, but an entire country. 

Full of adventure, romance, and magic, THE CURSED BLESSING is the final installment in Melissa Buell’s Tales of Gymandrol trilogy. 
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And all of The Tales of Gymandrol are available on Kindle for only 99cents!

HWJ: Weddings!

I love, love, love weddings! I've helped out with quite a few wedding for family and friends. Here are some of my favorite things about the most recent wedding that I helped out with. I drew inspiration from the location for my short story "Whine and Wineries" that is in Holidays With Jane: Spring Fever.

Special request wedding cake - Irish Cream Wedding Cake!

Similar to Elinor in my story, I love helping with weddings. Like Marianne, I love taking photographs. Like Meg, I love baking cupcakes. I split up bits of me into my characters. A wee sprinkling of Melissa. ;-)

Enjoy an excerpt from my story...

Elinor gaped at the hive of activity on the green space in front of the winery the next morning. Marianne jogged in place next to her.

            “Let’s go, Ellie,” Marianne urged, stretching her arms out. “I want to get this run in before it gets too hot.”

            “It never gets too hot here,” Elinor replied, her eyes focused on the people streaming in and out of the main building. “Didn’t you hear what Cousin Jack said last night at dinner? That’s what makes it such an excellent place to grow wine grapes.”

            “Hello, girls!” Jack’s mother-in-law, Mrs. Jennings, called from the double doors into the tasting room. “Come on up here!”

            “No, Ellie,” Marianne groaned. “Didn’t we get enough of her last night?”

            Elinor ignored her sister and joined Mrs. Jennings. She took in the sight of the tasting room overflowing with buckets of flowers, yards of tulle, and rows of candleholders.

            “Is this the wedding you mentioned last night?” Elinor asked Mrs. Jennings.

            Mrs. Jennings’ eyes glittered. “Yes, isn’t it going to be amazing?” Her face darkened. “Now if my wedding coordinator, Winnie, would only show up, that would be fantastic.”

            “I can help you until she gets here,” Elinor found herself saying. She felt Marianne pinch her arm and she winced. “And Marianne will be happy to help me.”

            “You girls are lifesavers!” Mrs. Jennings exclaimed, clasping them to her ample bosom. “Winnie was in charge of the flower arrangements and the decorations. Her husband is the photographer so we were able to book it as a package for the bride and groom. Oh, I see the catering truck has just arrived. I have to go meet them and tell them to use the elevator at the basement level by the Cave.”

            She bustled away as Marianne scowled at her sister. “Why, Ellie? You don’t have to save everyone, you know. We were all set for a run and then getting settled in the house.”

            “Just think of the bride, Marianne,” Elinor insisted. “That poor girl will show up here soon and see all of this. How would you feel?”

            “We’ve never done a wedding before,” Marianne protested.

            “We have helped Mom with enough Junior League luncheons, Ladies’ Teas, and Christmas parties to know what to do. And don’t forget all the wedding shows Rosa would watch while she was cooking. We can do this. We owe this to Cousin Jack for his hospitality to us. And it would make Mom happy,” Elinor added.

            “Fine,” Marianne grumbled as she lifted a handful of tulle from the tasting counter. “But you owe me.”

*~*

Buy the Kindle version of HWJ: Spring Fever now!

For more Holidays With Jane fun, check out IndieJane.org and "like" our Facebook page!

Sense and Sensibility Film Adaptations

Holidays With Jane: Spring Fever!

Anticipated release date: 3/18

From Indie Jane Press

The story that I adapted into a modern tale was Jane Austen's SENSE AND SENSIBILITY.
I've read this book five or six times. (Maybe more?) It's one of my favorites and for good reason. STRONG characters! I love the stark contrast between Elinor's sense (reason) and Marianne's sensibility (feeling). There are many film adaptations of S&S. My favorite for years was the Emma Thompson version (it won her an Oscar for best adapted screenplay). Several reasons this version is fantastic can be explained in gifs.

Alan Rickman, Hugh Laurie, Hugh Grant. All in one movie. Awesomeness.

---

I just watched the new S&S produced by BBC as a TV mini-series in 2008.

I *loved* the casting in this series, for the most part. Namely, Edward Ferrars. Willoughby looks very devious in this adaptation and it's not very believable that Marianne would fall for him. She would want a romantic guy, not a bad boy. Now Edward, on the other hand, is the perfect romantic hero.

What version is your favorite? Or do you like a completely different adaptation of SENSE AND SENSIBILITY?

Hop on over to my fellow authors' sites all week to see what Austenesque films they love!

Holidays With Jane: Spring Fever

Winter’s almost over and Jane Austen’s got a case of spring fever! The authors who brought you Holidays With Jane: Christmas Cheer return to bring you six modern retellings of Austen’s classics. So put up your parasols and prepare for sunshine, smiles, and, of course, happily ever afters.

HOLIDAYS WITH JANE: SPRING FEVER

Anticipated release date: 3/17

“Extra Innings” – A Persuasion Story
by Jessica Grey
Annie Elliot still regrets breaking off her engagement to minor league baseball player Rick Wentworth ten years ago. Now he’s back in town coaching the team she works for and stirring up feelings she’d rather forget. Will Rick and Annie get a chance to hit a walk-off home run or will they strike out in Extra Innings?

“Miracle at the Abbey” – A Northanger Abbey Story
by Cecilia Gray
Kathia, paranormal investigator extraordinaire, is out to prove her hometown Abbey is a bona fide miracle site—even if its sexy owner-slash-handyman Henry is dead set against it. Kathia and Henry square off and settle the score that’s been brewing since high school in this contemporary Easter retelling that ends with a Miracle at the Abbey.

“Whine and Wineries” – A Sense and Sensibility Story
By Melissa Buell
After their father dies, the Dashwood girls must make room for their half-brother John and his wife Franny in their Hollywood Hills home. When Franny’s brother Edward shows up unexpectedly, Elinor finds a new friend.But any dreams of something more are crushed when the girls have to move far away to Barton Winery. There Elinor begins her new life as a wedding coordinator. Her first challenge? Bridezilla Anne Steele’s spring wedding. When Anne’s sister Lucy reveals a secret that changes everything, Elinor must sort through the lies to find the truth of her feelings and hope for her future.

“Emma’s Inbox” – An Emma Story
By Rebecca M. Fleming
Emma Woodhouse keeps her finger on the pulse of Hartfield, Georgia through a series of texts and emails full of hometown gossip and romantic intrigue. In Hartfield, nothing ever changes: people fall in love (sometimeswith a little help from her), get married, and life goes on in the same comfortable way. But when hometown favorite Frank Churchill returns unexpectedly, the whole town develops a case of spring fever. Though a master at maneuvering the love lives of those around her, Emma finds she needs some advice of her own—and her family and friends are happy to fill her inbox with all the help she needs.

“No Vacancy at Mansfield Motel” – A Mansfield Park Story
by Kimberly Truesdale
Fanny Price runs Mansfield Motel, the family business in sunny South Florida, mostly on her own. But she dreams of following in her Uncle Thomas’s footsteps and becoming a marine biologist. She plans to talk to her cousin Eddie about her dreams when he comes home for Spring Break. But when he brings along Henry and Mary Crawford, trouble starts to brew. Fanny watches her precious future begin to slip away. With everything on the line, will Fanny finally speak up for herself? Or will she be stuck running Mansfield Motel for the rest of her life?

“Lydia Reimagined” – A Pride and Prejudice Story
by Jennifer Becton
When reformed party girl Lydia Bennet receives an invitation to her ex George Wickham’s destination wedding, she accepts with the intention of showing him exactly what he gave up when he dumped her. But no amount determination can change Wickham’s view of Lydia, especially not when circumstances conspire to make her look even more like a party girl than ever. And then there’s her sudden attraction to old college friend Kyle “Denny” Dennison…. Now that Lydia has reimagined her whole life, will she be able to forget the past and open her heart to the future?

All of the authors are SO excited to share these stories with you! If you are a reader / reviewer and would like a digital copy to review, please follow the link below to a Google form.

Book Review Request

12 Days of Christmas Cheer Winners!

12 Days of Christmas Cheer giveaway winners!

There was an overwhelming amount of people who simply wanted books or the Jane Austen bling that Jennifer Becton created. Thank you for all of the entries! Here are the list of winners. If you have been contacted, please respond back so we can send you the prize. (If you won an ebook, it will be sent to your email address that you entered the giveaway with.)

“Jane Austen Bling” - Nicole

“Pride and Prejudice” DVD  - Anita Y

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE hardcover book - Justine

Starbucks card - Alisha H, Linda R 

Various ebooks  - Luthien84 , tgruy, Mary P

Delicious chocolates - Maureen C 

Fabulous books - Marie R,  Beulah,  Donna R, bn100, Anne

Remember that HOLIDAYS WITH JANE: CHRISTMAS CHEER is available on both Kindle and in paperback!

And books make awesome gifts! Here are a few from my fellow authors:

CHARLOTTE COLLINS by Jennifer Becton

MY DEAR SOPHY by Kimberly Truesdale

ATTEMPTING ELIZABETH by Jessica Grey

Holiday Movie Fest! Hosted by "Holidays With Jane" authors

Ugly Sweater and Christmas Movie Party!

My fellow authors and I all *love* the plethora of cheesy, adorable, super-sacchrine Christmas movies on ABC Family, Hallmark Channel, Netflix, etc. They are somewhat predictable but we really do love them!

And...there are some of us who believe that "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie, so it will be included on the list. We have a plan to have a movie fest between all of us (even though we are separated by many miles!)

Join our online Christmas Party!

Saturday, November 22

We'll wear tacky Christmas sweaters, eat yummy treats, make cute ornaments, and watch sappy movies. Instagram or tweet a pic of yourself wearing your fanciest/tackiest Christmas sweater and you'll be entering into our "12 Days of Christmas Cheer" giveaway! (See Rafflecopter entry form below.) I'll be heading to my local thrift store to find a sweater, preferably with puffy snowmen on it. Or Rudolph with a blinking nose. Whatever I find/make, it will be epically adorable/horrible.

Join us as we live tweet the movies we are watching on the 22nd. (We'll give a countdown on our Facebook page as to when we'll each start a movie. Use #holidayswithjane on your tweets/Instagram so we can see what you're saying.)

Watch your DVDs, TV, DVR, Netflix, Amazon Prime...whatever!

OR!!! You can borrow movies from your local library! Be sure to reserve your copy early.

On Netflix:
"The Mistle-tones"
"Christmas Crush"
"A Christmas Kiss"
"Desperately Seeking Santa"
"Christmas Bounty"
"Christmas Cupid"
"12 Dates of Christmas"
"All I Want For Christmas"
"A Princess For Christmas"

Hallmark Channel:
"One Starry Christmas"
"The Nine Lives of Christmas"
"A Cookie Cutter Christmas"
"Northpole"

Amazon Prime Instant Video
"Christmas Crush"
"Elf"

Other movies on our list

"Die Hard"
"If You Believe"
"White Christmas"
"Meet Me In St. Louis" - Judy Garland sings "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"

And, of course, you can purchase a copy of HOLIDAYS WITH JANE: Christmas Cheer and snuggle up with a cup of hot cider (or cocoa or coffee) and visions of Mr. Darcy/Wentworth/Henry Tilney/your fav Austen hero will dance in your head. ;-)

We will be picking winners for the Rafflecopter giveaway below. There will be 12 winners (though possibly more if we have more prizes!). We tried to go with the 12 Days of Christmas song for our theme and threw in some Austenesque fun. If you have a preferred prize, include that in your blog post comment. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mischief and Mistletoe: Modern Austen Short Story

Mischief and Mistletoe: Modern Austen Short Story

First of all, yay! The book is released! We are so excited to share the book with you.
Published by Indie Jane Press

Here's the gorgeous cover, made by the talented Victoria Austen-Young.

Buy now on Amazon!

My short story is based on NORTHANGER ABBEY. Jane Austen wrote NA as a tongue-in-cheek response to the Gothic romance/horror novels of the day. The heroine, Catherine Morland, is obsessed with reading these novels and they scare her and fill her head with nonsense. She has the opportunity to travel to Northanger Abbey and she imagines it to be a setting from one of her Gothic novels. In the Austen novel, Catherine is from Fullerton, a small village in England. I live in Fullerton, a city in California. I knew that I had to write this book because of that connection. :-) I've read NA three times and I like it the more I read it. (The first time I read it, I didn't really understand it to be a type of satire, poking fun at the popular gothic novels of the time. I read it again in college and my professor is an expert at Victorian literature. She was able to make the book understandable and therefore, awesome.)

In "Mischief and Mistletoe", Cate is still a pastor's daughter who has had a sheltered life. I gave her an occupation - she "thrifts" clothes from yard sales and thrift stores and makes them over into awesome clothes and sells them on a website. She gets to travel to Santa Barbara (instead of Bath) and meets Henry Tilney. He was a fun character to write. In the original, he is attentive to Catherine but not super flirty. I wanted to keep him the same in my short story.

All of the "gothic novel" references in my book, including "The Mystery of the Mirror", are from my own imagination. (Those were fun to make up.) I wanted Cate to be likeable, a bit naive, but not annoyingly so. I love Christmastime and I threw in a few of my own personal Christmas memories into the story. (My mom makes the best chocolate pixie cookies! I'll post the recipe later.)

And if you're wondering, yes, I have thrifted clothes in costumes. One of my favorite projects was making over a dress for a Jane Austen costume party. Here's my blog post on it.

GIVEAWAY

We have a giveaway to celebrate the release of the book.
We'll also be celebrating with a "12 Days of Christmas Cheer" as we get closer to Christmas. Lots of fun, presents, and Austenesque shenanigans coming your way!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG HOP

You can hop on over to the other authors' blogs for the week.

Monday, October 27 – Indie Jane

Tuesday, October 28 – Jennifer Becton

Wednesday, October 29 – Melissa Buell

Thursday, October 30 – Rebecca M. Fleming

Friday, October 31 – Cecilia Gray

Saturday, November 1 – Jessica Grey

Sunday, November 2 – Kimberly Truesdale

Monday, November 3 – Indie Jane post to announce giveaway winners

And if you're wondering which Austen heroine you're most like, you can take this quiz!
For more Austenuesque quizzes, here you go!
Test Your Knowledge

Indie Jane News!

Indie Jane is back from summer hiatus with exciting news!

Link to "Holidays With Jane: Christmas Cheer" post

Holidays With Jane: Christmas Cheer - Cover Reveal!

Scheduled release date: October 28

Check out updates on the Facebook page - Holidays With Jane

Six talented authors make your Christmas lights twinkle with these modern-day adaptations of Jane Austen's novels. Curl up with some peppermint tea and enjoy something special in your stocking this holiday season.

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The Work of an Instant

by Jennifer Becton

When Frederick Wentworth's ship docks at the Navy base in Charleston just in time for Christmas, Anne Elliot feels torn between desire to see her former fiancé and fear of rejection. Will taking a risk end in humiliation or give Anne a second chance with her first love? To find out, all she has to do is turn around and face him.

Mischief and Mistletoe

by Melissa Buell

Thrifty designer and secret Gothic novel enthusiast Cate Morland gets the opportunity of a lifetime to plan the costumes for the upcoming Dickens' Christmas Festival. There she meets Henry Tilney who shows an interest in more than Cate's costume designs. Mistaken by Henry's father as a rich heiress, Cate is invited to stay with the Tilney family at their estate. Will Henry feel the same for Cate once he discovers she is a seamstress paying her own way through design school?

A Tale of Three Christmases

by Rebecca M. Fleming

When their father dies, leaving their brother everything, life changes radically for the Dashwood girls. Librarian Ellie and musician Marianne have their work of course, but what about teenage Maggie? Maggie only has her writing—a surprising saving grace that helps her chronicle the ups and downs of life, love and family in this tale of three Christmases.

With Love, from Emma

by Cecilia Gray

A visit to Emma Gold's flower shop can save a relationship but a date at Lance Knightley's bar can take that relationship to the next level, so who should be considered Heartfield, Oregon's resident romance expert? Emma and Lance square off at their best friends' wedding to settle the score. Sparks fly as bets are made and favors are won in this contemporary Christmas retelling, recounted With Love, from Emma.

It's a Wonderful Latte

by Jessica Grey

Evie St. Laurent can always count on three things: being single during Christmas in Los Angeles, her job as manager at Mansfield Perk, and Frank Nakatomi, her best friend and coworker, cheering her up when she's down. But when the glamorous Piper siblings come to town and sweep everyone off their feet, what Evie thought was sure in her life starts slipping away. It will take some Christmas magic and the help of a very special angel named Jane to help Evie see that the love she's been waiting for has been there all the time.

Pride & Presents

by Kimberly Truesdale

Liz Bennet wants to make this Christmas the best that Longbourn Community Center has ever had. When basketball superstar Charles Bingley shows up to volunteer, it looks like that just might happen—even in spite of his unhelpful friend Will Darcy. But when everything starts to go wrong and Longbourn itself is in danger, Liz must set aside her pride and ask for help. Then she'll discover that the best presents are the ones you never expect.(less)