{"id":1237,"date":"2024-01-25T03:14:14","date_gmt":"2024-01-25T03:14:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesilverpetticoatreview.com\/?p=1237"},"modified":"2024-08-23T09:19:19","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T09:19:19","slug":"monthly-literary-spotlight-miss-austen-by-gill-hornby-the-orchard-house-shielded-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesilverpetticoatreview.com\/index.php\/2024\/01\/25\/monthly-literary-spotlight-miss-austen-by-gill-hornby-the-orchard-house-shielded-and-beyond\/","title":{"rendered":"Monthly Literary Spotlight: Miss Austen by Gill Hornby, The Orchard House, Shielded, and Beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thesilverpetticoatreview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Monthly-Literary-Spotlight-Miss-Austen-by-Gill-Ho.jpg\" alt=\"Monthly Literary Spotlight: Miss Austen by Gill Hornby, The Orchard House, Shielded, and Beyond\"\/><\/p>\n<p> Book Reviews for This Month<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ve got a bunch of new book reviews for you, including:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Miss Austen by Gill Hornby<br \/>\n&#8211; The Orchard House by Heidi Chiavaroli<br \/>\n&#8211; Shielded by KayLynn Flanders<br \/>\n&#8211; Ladies of the House: A Modern Retelling of Sense and Sensibility by Lauren Edmondson<br \/>\n&#8211; Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunsmore<br \/>\n&#8211; The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss by Amy Noelle Parks<\/p>\n<p> About Reviews of the Month<\/p>\n<p>On The Silver Petticoat Review, we run a monthly feature called Reviews of the Month. In one post, we\u2019ll share both movie and TV reviews, and in the other, we\u2019ll share book reviews every other month.<\/p>\n<p>This feature serves as a roundup of shorter reviews and links to full standalone reviews. It gives us more time to bring you a variety of recommendations and reviews. Enjoy reading!<\/p>\n<p>To see the detailed reviews, you can scroll down or click on the titles that interest you.<\/p>\n<p> Brief Book Reviews<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Bringing Down the Duke (Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Women\u2019s Fiction, Chick Lit)<br \/>\n&#8211; Ladies of the House: A Modern Retelling of Sense and Sensibility (Women\u2019s Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Retellings)<br \/>\n&#8211; Miss Austen (Historical Fiction)<br \/>\n&#8211; The Orchard House (Christian Fiction, Women\u2019s Fiction, Historical Fiction, Time-Slip)<br \/>\n&#8211; Shielded (YA, Fantasy, Romance, Adventure)<br \/>\n&#8211; The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss (YA, Contemporary Romance, Realistic Fiction)<\/p>\n<p> Full Book Reviews<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The Brass Queen\u2019 Book Review: A delightful debut from Elizabeth Chatsworth featuring Gaslamp Fantasy, Steampunk, Rom-Com, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, and Adventure.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Georgana\u2019s Secret\u2019 Book Review: A sweet Regency romance on the high seas involving Historical Fiction, Regency Romance, Clean Romance, and Adventure.<\/p>\n<p> Book Reviews of the Month<\/p>\n<p>Review One: Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunsmore<\/p>\n<p>Genre: Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Women\u2019s Fiction, Chick Lit<br \/>\nPublication Date: September 3, 2019, by Berkley<\/p>\n<p>Synopsis:<br \/>\nIn 1879, England, Annabelle Archer, the brilliant but impoverished daughter of a country vicar, becomes one of the first female students at the University of Oxford. To keep her scholarship, she has to support the women&#8217;s suffrage movement by recruiting influential men to their cause. Her main target is the Duke of Montgomery, Sebastian Devereux, a cold, calculating politician who aligns with the Queen. Annabelle must balance the powerful attraction she feels for him while staying true to her cause.<\/p>\n<p>Review by Autumn:<br \/>\nSet during the British suffrage movement, this passionate story about a penniless vicar\u2019s daughter who falls for the icy Duke of Montgomery is sure to captivate historical romance fans. While some explicit scenes and Annabelle\u2019s disregard for her reputation may not appeal to everyone, the novel&#8217;s wit, romantic moments, excellent historical detail, and likable characters make it a remarkable read.<\/p>\n<p>Adaptation Recommendation:<br \/>\nThis could be a fantastic TV show like Bridgerton, given its series format and rich romance narratives.  <\/p>\n<p>Content Note:<br \/>\nIncludes some explicit scenes.<\/p>\n<p>Review Two: Ladies of the House: A Modern Retelling of Sense and Sensibility by Lauren Edmondson<\/p>\n<p>Genre: Women\u2019s Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Retellings<br \/>\nPublication Date: February 9, 2021, by Graydon House<\/p>\n<p>Synopsis:<br \/>\nThirty-four-year-old Daisy Richardson\u2019s life spirals into chaos when a scandal involving her late father comes to light. Forced to sell their Georgetown home, Daisy tries to keep her family together while her younger sister Wallis grapples with her own romantic turmoil and her best friend Atlas writes an expos\u00e9 on her father. Amidst social exile and financial instability, Daisy must confront the scandal\u2019s consequences and find her own voice.<\/p>\n<p>Review by Amber:<br \/>\nA contemporary political spin on Austen\u2019s Sense and Sensibility, this debut from Lauren Edmondson offers smart social commentary, likable characters, and an engaging story. Although some language choices and character dynamics were off-putting, the book is well-written and offers a satisfying conclusion and strong female bonds.<\/p>\n<p>Adaptation Recommendation:<br \/>\nThis would make a charming TV movie, perfect for streaming platforms like Netflix or cable networks like Lifetime.<\/p>\n<p>Content Note:<br \/>\nPG-13-like, with some strong language.<\/p>\n<p>Review Three: Miss Austen by Gill Hornby<\/p>\n<p>Genre: Historical Fiction<br \/>\nPublication Dates: January 23, 2020, by Century and April 7, 2020, by Flatiron Books<\/p>\n<p>Synopsis:<br \/>\nIn 1840 England, two decades after Jane Austen\u2019s death, her sister Cassandra returns to the village of Kintbury to retrieve Jane\u2019s letters. These letters contain secrets about both sisters. Cassandra must decide whether to reveal these details or keep them hidden forever.<\/p>\n<p>Review by Amber:<br \/>\nCombining past and present narratives, Gill Hornby\u2019s Miss Austen presents a compelling story of Cassandra Austen\u2019s life and her deep bond with Jane. Enriched with humor, historical detail, and touching sisterly love, this novel is a memorable read for all Austen fans.<\/p>\n<p>Adaptation Recommendation:<br \/>\nThis would make a beautiful period drama, fitting for films like Becoming Jane or streaming platforms.<\/p>\n<p>Content Note:<br \/>\nMild content, nothing shocking.<\/p>\n<p>Review Four: The Orchard House by Heidi Chiavaroli<\/p>\n<p>Genre: Christian Fiction, Women\u2019s Fiction, Historical Fiction, Time-Slip<br \/>\nPublication Date: February 9, 2021, by Tyndale House Publishers<\/p>\n<p>Synopsis:<br \/>\nTwo women from different timelines\u2014Taylor in 2001 and Johanna after the Civil War\u2014face their demons at Orchard House. Taylor, abandoned by her family, tries to fit in with her friend Victoria\u2019s family but faces betrayal. Johanna falls for a man against Louisa May Alcott\u2019s advice and suffers in marriage. In 2019, Taylor, now a successful author, returns to Concord to reconnect with her adoptive mother and finds solace in Johanna\u2019s story.<\/p>\n<p>Review by Amber:<br \/>\nFans of Louisa May Alcott and historical fiction will appreciate this touching story about forgiveness and finding a place to belong. The book skillfully shifts between different timelines, creating an engaging and inspirational read.<\/p>\n<p>Adaptation Recommendation:<br \/>\nComplicated but potentially great, similar to Possession.<\/p>\n<p>Content Note:<br \/>\nContains some abusive situations, not graphic.<\/p>\n<p>Review Five: Shielded by KayLynn Flanders<\/p>\n<p>Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Teen Romance<br \/>\nPublication Date: July 21, 2020, by Delacorte Press<\/p>\n<p>Synopsis:<br \/>\nIn the kingdom of H\u00e1lendi, Princess Jennesara\u2019s battling skills are overlooked due to her brother\u2019s magical abilities. Promised in marriage to a prince from Turia, Jenna\u2019s journey is disrupted by an ambush, revealing a greater threat. Jenna must decide if revealing a dangerous secret is worth the cost.<\/p>\n<p>Review by Autumn:<br \/>\nA mix of fantasy, romance, and adventure, Shielded offers engaging settings and a fast-paced plot post-betrayal. Fans of classic fantasy tales will enjoy this well-developed, satisfying story.<\/p>\n<p>Adaptation Recommendation:<br \/>\nPerfect for a film series.<\/p>\n<p>Content Note:<br \/>\nMild fantasy violence.<\/p>\n<p>Review Six: The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss by Amy Noelle Parks<\/p>\n<p>Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance, Realistic Fiction, Rom-Com<br \/>\nPublication Date: January 5, 2021, by Abrams Books<\/p>\n<p>Synopsis:<br \/>\nEvie Beckham, a math-loving high school senior with anxiety, contemplates romance as she enters a national competition and meets a new boy. Her best friend Caleb, secretly in love with her, tries to win her over using an online persona.<\/p>\n<p>Review by Autumn:<br \/>\nThe Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss is a cute YA rom-com with endearing brainy characters. While it deals with contemporary issues like anxiety, the heartfelt friendship and sweet romance make it a delightful read.<\/p>\n<p>Adaptation Recommendation:<br \/>\nIdeal for Netflix\u2019s YA rom-com library.<\/p>\n<p>Content Note:<br \/>\nSome language and kissing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Book Reviews for This Month We&#8217;ve got a bunch of new book reviews for you, including: &#8211; Miss Austen by Gill Hornby &#8211; The Orchard House by Heidi Chiavaroli &#8211;&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1236,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-romance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesilverpetticoatreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1237","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesilverpetticoatreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesilverpetticoatreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesilverpetticoatreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesilverpetticoatreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1237"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thesilverpetticoatreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1237\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1790,"href":"https:\/\/thesilverpetticoatreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1237\/revisions\/1790"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesilverpetticoatreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesilverpetticoatreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1237"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesilverpetticoatreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1237"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesilverpetticoatreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1237"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}