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Jane Austen’s First Love by Syrie James – Holiday Blog Tour & Giveaway (Int’l)

December 10, 2014 by Darlene

Austen cover

Tour Dates: November 17 – December 14, 2014
Genre: Austenesque/Historical Fiction/Romance/Young Adult
Publisher: Berkley (Penguin Group USA)
Trade paperback ISBN: 978-0425271353
eBook ISBN: 978-0698139268

 

Jane Austen’s First Love by Syrie James is a delightfully charming re-imagining of a time in Jane Austen’s life and of what might have been.  Syrie James wrote this novel in such a way as to appear to be a memoir written by Jane Austen herself and it is truly a captivating tale.

The novel centers on one unforgettable summer in Jane Austen’s life when she was fifteen years old and how she remembers it.  Like any young girl Jane longs to fall in love but she’s quite sheltered at home and despairs of ever meeting anyone.  When the opportunity comes to travel to Kent to celebrate her brother’s engagement she is thrilled.

It is there that Jane meets Edward Taylor and finds herself swooning over him.  Not only is he handsome but he acknowledges her intelligence and they have wonderful conversations.  Jane is in love but … there is another girl who seems to be in love with Edward as well.  Yet Edward has shown Jane that he is interested in her.  Could it be?  Could Edward be as in love with Jane as she is in him?

Despite her love interest Jane finds herself needing more to do and can’t help but stick her nose in other people’s business and take up matchmaking.  She feels the need to rearrange the relationships that are forming and feels quite certain she knows who belongs with who.  To further her hopes in making these matches she puts on a play.  What transpires changes her thoughts on love – the love not only between the other couples but she and Edward as well.  Are they truly a good match or is Jane just swept away on the wings of first love?

Highly recommended for Austen fans or those new to Austen.  The extensive research that Syrie James put into this novel shines through on every page and she highlights her inspiration and the fact that this novel is based on true events and real characters in her superb author’s note.  Jane Austen’s First Love is truly an enjoyable novel and I absolutely adored it!

 

Other Jane Austen’s First Love Holiday Blog Tour stops to visit!
Author Links: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads
Buy: Amazon, Amazon Canada, B&N, IndieBound

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS – OPEN INTERNATIONALLY

Grand Giveaway Contest

 

Win One of Five Fabulous Jane Austen-inspired Prize Packages

 

Austen prize
 

To celebrate the holidays and the release of Jane Austen’s First Love, Syrie is giving away five prize packages filled with an amazing selection of Jane Austen-inspired gifts and books!

To enter the giveaway contest, simply leave a comment on any of the blog stops on the Jane Austen’s First Love Holiday Blog Tour.

Increase your chances of winning by visiting multiple stops along the tour! Syrie’s unique guest posts will be featured on a variety of subjects, along with fun interviews, spotlights, excerpts, and reviews of the novel. Contest closes at 11:59pm PT, December 21, 2014. Five lucky winners will be drawn at random from all of the comments on the tour, and announced on Syrie’s website on December 22, 2014. The giveaway contest is open to everyone, including international residents. Good luck to all!

 

Remember leave a comment on any of the Jane Austen’s First Love Holiday Blog Tour stops including mine to be entered!

 

 

austen banner

Source: Digital review copy received from the publisher for an honest review. No compensation was received.
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Filed Under: 2014 - 100+ Books, 2014 ARC's, 2014 Book Reviews, 2014 eBooks

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Deborah says

    December 10, 2014 at 5:16 am

    Changing thoughts on love sounds very interesting as throughout our lives our impression of love changes, I am looking forward to reading and learning what changes are made in those thoughts and how they transpire. scamper25 (at) gmail (dot) com

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 10:46 am

      Deborah, I think you’ll really enjoy the book. I hope you get a chance to read it soon.

  2. Ann says

    December 10, 2014 at 5:32 am

    Jane Austen is timeless. This sounds like a a great new look into what life at that time might have been.
    Ann

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 10:47 am

      Ann, you are so right. Austen is timeless. It’s always interesting to read the different re-imaginings of her life. Syria James does a wonderful job.

    • Syrie James says

      December 17, 2014 at 9:36 pm

      Thank you, Ann. I hope you love Jane Austen’s First Love!

  3. Jo's Daughter says

    December 10, 2014 at 6:00 am

    A matchmaking Jane sounds super fun! I’ve put this title on my xmas wishlist 😀

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 10:48 am

      Jo’s Daughter, this story was fun. I really enjoyed my time spent reading it.

  4. Susan Heim says

    December 10, 2014 at 7:26 am

    I love that the author puts so much research into her books. It makes them rise above standard romances due to their historical and literary accuracy!

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 10:49 am

      Susan, I absolutely agree. The more historically correct it is the more I enjoy it.

    • Syrie James says

      December 17, 2014 at 9:37 pm

      Thank you for the shout out, Susan! I do love doing my research, and it’s exciting to share what I’ve discovered with my readers. I hope you enjoy the story of Jane’s romance with Edward Taylor–the first young man to win her heart. 🙂

  5. lissa says

    December 10, 2014 at 8:34 am

    the plot reminds me a little of ‘mansfield park’ only Jane here sounds slightly more confident than Fanny. I read Syrie James’ books and thought she is a rather good writer so I’ll probably read this book.

    there is countless books on austen’s life, real and fiction but I find the fiction is a much better read, perhaps I too have some fantasy of what Jane Ausetn is really like? perhaps.

    anyway, have a great day.

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 10:51 am

      Lissa, I enjoy the fictional re-telling as well. I think it’s because then our imaginations can take us on a little journey into what Jane’s life might have been.

    • Syrie James says

      December 17, 2014 at 9:38 pm

      Thanks for your comment, Lissa. I’m so happy you’ve read my books before (which ones?) and I hope you love Jane Austen’s First Love!

  6. Beth W says

    December 10, 2014 at 8:56 am

    Thanks for the chance to win such goodies! This story intrigues me, and I can’t wait to read it. 🙂

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 10:52 am

      Beth W, I hope you get a chance to read it soon! It’s really good.

  7. JeanMP says

    December 10, 2014 at 9:26 am

    The more I read about this book, the more excited I get about it.

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 10:52 am

      JeanMP, I hope you get the chance to read it soon!

  8. Colleen Turner says

    December 10, 2014 at 10:07 am

    The book sounds wonderful and perfect for this time of year (or at least to me 🙂 ). What a giveaway! Thanks for the information and chance to win!

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 10:54 am

      Colleen, lol – it is a great read for any time of year but certainly a good one to curl up with in your chair on a cold evening. I’m sure you’ll love it. Good luck in the giveaway!

      • Colleen Turner says

        December 10, 2014 at 11:08 am

        Thanks!!

  9. Caryl Kane says

    December 10, 2014 at 10:20 am

    Thank you for the wonderful review. Jane Austen’s First Love is on my Wish List! 🙂

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 10:55 am

      Caryl, good luck in the giveaway! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did when you get a chance to read it.

  10. Rita Wray says

    December 10, 2014 at 10:20 am

    Sounds like a fabulous read. I have added it to my must read list.

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 11:00 am

      Rita, it is a wonderful read. I hope you get a chance to read it soon.

    • Syrie James says

      December 17, 2014 at 9:40 pm

      Thanks, Rita. I hope you have a chance to read Jane Austen’s First Love, and that you’ll stop by and chat with me on facebook or leave a message at http://www.syriejames.com!

      Happy reading!

  11. Rhonda says

    December 10, 2014 at 10:44 am

    This book sounds perfect for me.happy holidays.

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 11:01 am

      Rhonda, good luck in the giveaway. It’s a wonderful book. Happy Holidays to you as well!

  12. schilds says

    December 10, 2014 at 10:49 am

    It is a must have for anyone who calls themself a Jane Austen fan.

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 11:02 am

      schilds, I agree. It’s a fabulous book for Austen fans!

  13. Nise' says

    December 10, 2014 at 11:21 am

    I’ve loved everyone of Syrie’s books and look forward to this one too.

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 2:23 pm

      Nise, it’s really good. I’m sure you’ll love it!

  14. Syrie James says

    December 10, 2014 at 12:52 pm

    Big thanks, Darlene, for your wonderful review of Jane Austen’s First Love, and for hosting me on your blog. I’m so pleased that you enjoyed the novel, and very happy to be here.

    Thank you all for your great comments. I hope you love the book, and if so, that you’ll tell your friends and relations about it! Wishing you and yours a holiday season that is happy and bright!

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 2:24 pm

      Syrie, thanks so much for stopping by and for your wonderful novel! Wishing you a wonderful holiday season as well!

  15. LaGina Keisha Hagerman Reese says

    December 10, 2014 at 1:20 pm

    Wishing you and yours a holiday season that is happy and bright and brings more inspiration for books to come. nrslalee00@yahoo.com

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 2:25 pm

      LaGina, Happy Holidays to you as well!

  16. Luisa says

    December 10, 2014 at 2:36 pm

    More and more intrigued by that book. Can’t wait to read it!

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 3:59 pm

      Luisa, it’s well worth reading! Good luck on the giveaway!

  17. DK Stevens says

    December 10, 2014 at 3:32 pm

    I have not read Jane Austen but would like too 🙂
    dkstevensne AT outlook DoTCoM

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 3:58 pm

      DK, good luck on the giveaway and I hope you have the chance to read an Austen novel soon!

  18. BermudaOnion(Kathy) says

    December 10, 2014 at 3:52 pm

    I’ve never really gotten into Austen themed books but the fact that this is written like a memoir interests me.

    • admin says

      December 10, 2014 at 3:58 pm

      Kathy, it was a fun read. I enjoy Austen themed books. It’s always fun to imagine how their lives might have been.

  19. Kimberly V says

    December 10, 2014 at 4:15 pm

    I like the idea that it appears to be a memoir.

  20. Laurie Iglesias says

    December 10, 2014 at 4:42 pm

    I recently finished this book and it was excellent!! I recommend it very highly.

  21. Suko says

    December 10, 2014 at 5:01 pm

    The book sounds wonderful and so does the prize package! Thank you for hosting this giveaway, Darlene.

    • Syrie James says

      December 17, 2014 at 9:41 pm

      So glad you stopped and left a comment, Suko. I hope you enjoy Jane Austen’s First Love, which was truly a work of my heart.

  22. bn100 says

    December 10, 2014 at 8:41 pm

    Nice review

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

  23. Mary Preston says

    December 11, 2014 at 3:41 am

    This books sounds fabulous. 15 is such an interesting age.

    • Syrie James says

      December 17, 2014 at 9:43 pm

      It was great fun to write about Jane Austen at age 15, when she was full of excitement about life and still learning important lessons (that she’d later share with us in her novels.) I endeavored to portray this in my novel Jane Austen’s First Love, and hope you enjoy the result, Mary!

  24. Melanie Backus says

    December 11, 2014 at 6:35 am

    Great review…I am intrigued! Thank you for the opportunity.

    melback at cebridge dot net

  25. Susan Heim says

    December 11, 2014 at 9:40 am

    I love that they respected each others’ brains as well as their beauty!

  26. Nancy Luebke says

    December 11, 2014 at 10:25 am

    I read Jane Austin books many years ago.Who knew they would inspire so many more wonderful stories.

  27. Denise Duvall says

    December 11, 2014 at 10:22 pm

    All these posts are inspiring me to re-re-read the originals for the umpteenth time. After all Christmas is the perfect time to do it along with a few favourites by Dickens.A friend once told me she made time each Christmas to re-read all of Jane’s books. A nice tradition.

    • Syrie James says

      December 17, 2014 at 9:45 pm

      That does sound like a lovely tradition, Denise. I re-read Jane’s books whenever the fancy strikes, but not according to a particular time of year. In the meantime, I hope you’ll have a chance to read Jane Austen’s First Love, and that you thoroughly enjoy it. It was a great joy to write.

      • Denise Duvall says

        December 17, 2014 at 10:24 pm

        It does sound like you had a great time researching and writing it. It show in the excerpts and I do intend on reading it.

  28. Trish says

    December 13, 2014 at 7:07 pm

    I am a Jane Austen fan and cannot wait to read this new book by Syrie James!

  29. Dina S says

    December 14, 2014 at 1:01 pm

    love reading about Jane Austen

  30. Jessica Flinders says

    December 15, 2014 at 1:20 pm

    I can’t wait to read this new book about an old favorite author from my absolutely favorite country.

  31. beth says

    December 16, 2014 at 8:48 am

    This book looks great and I would love to win.

  32. Madeleine says

    December 16, 2014 at 9:18 am

    I love the idea of Jane sticking her nose in other people’s business and messing things up! Thanks for the opportunity to win such a fun giveaway!

  33. Valerie Theberge says

    December 16, 2014 at 12:29 pm

    I hope to read this book.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    v_theberge@hotmail.com

    • Syrie James says

      December 17, 2014 at 9:47 pm

      I, too, hope you have a chance to read Jane Austen’s First Love very soon, Valerie, and that you love every minute spent with Jane and her unforgettable Edward Taylor! 🙂

      Happy Jane Austen’s Birthday!

  34. Silvia says

    December 21, 2014 at 7:02 am

    This book sounds wonderful & with so muych research it’s gotta feel like your there WITH Jane!

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