The Homemaking Party: Reading Challenges Update

Over the next two months, I'm participating in two reading challenges and am keeping a running list of what I've read here. Here's the info on the challenges I've joined---in case you're wanting to join too!

Since August 1st, I've finished these books:
French Lessons by Peter Mayle
Persuasion, Captain Wentworth, and Cracklin' Cornbread by Mary Jane Hathaway

Tonight I'll finish Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart.

Here are my plans for Simply Audra Marie's Friday "It Begins with SUMMER" challenge:

S---SPAM: A Biography (will read in September)
U---Undone (will read in September)
M---Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart (reading now)
M---Motel of the Mysteries (will read in September)
E---Emma, Mr. Knightley, and Chili Slaw Dogs (will read in August)
R---Recipes for Easy Living (will read in September)

What are you reading?

Thanks for stopping by the Homemaking Party! Have a blessed night!

A Jane Austen Encounter by Donna Fletcher Crow -- Book Review #AusteninAugustLGR

English professors Elizabeth and Richard are celebrating their 20th anniversary by visiting Jane Austen’s old stomping grounds. From Bath to Hampshire to Steventon and more, this couple has planned the dream vacation. But, when some old papers are donated to the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, Richard ends up helping go through them and begins what will become a multiple-victim mystery, complete with a search for a missing Austen manuscript. 

Before I even began reading this book, I wrote this in my notes: "I haven't even opened the book yet and I'm excited! I just took a Jane Austen-themed tour this past September to all the places mentioned in the back cover description. I am so looking forward to reading this!"

I absolutely adored this book---totally was not disappointed! The author has obviously spent time in the places she's describing. The Jane Austen Centre tea room---oh, I can just see it! She mentioned so many things I just loved about England. The performers in the courtyard and Holy Communion at Bath Abbey, the beautiful assembly rooms, Chawton Cottage---I followed her every step of the way!  One line in the book said, "Jane never wrote about a place she did not know personally." This story completely came alive for me because I do know these places personally!

The writing style is simple and sweet. My favorite line from Elizabeth: "Logic can be such an inconvenient thing." Love it!

I'm definitely looking forward to reading the other two in this series, as well as looking into the archaeological dig at Steventon---the only place mentioned in the story that I didn't visit.

Thanks so much to Donna Fletcher Crow for the complimentary review copy. My daughter is enjoying it now, and then it will go into our personal collection.

#AusteninAugustLGR

Linking with:
Cozy Book Hop @ Reading List
Booknificent Thursday

Make Bake Create Party

Welcome to the Make Bake Create Party! 5 blogs-1 party-lots of fun!