When Charlotte Kinder treats herself to a two-week vacation at Austenland, she happily leaves behind her ex-husband and his delightful new wife, her ever-grateful children, and all the rest of her real life in America. She dons a bonnet and stays at a country manor house that provides an immersive Austen experience, complete with gentleman actors who cater to the guests’ Austen fantasies.
Everyone at Pembrook Park is playing a role, but increasingly, Charlotte isn’t sure where roles end and reality begins. And as the parlor games turn a little bit menacing, she finds she needs more than a good corset to keep herself safe. Is the brooding Mr. Mallery as sinister as he seems? What is Miss Gardenside’s mysterious ailment? Was that an actual dead body in the secret attic room? And-perhaps of the most lasting importance-could the stirrings in Charlotte’s heart be a sign of real-life love?
The follow-up to reader favorite Austenland provides the same perfectly plotted pleasures, with a feisty new heroine, plenty of fresh and frightening twists, and the possibility of a romance that might just go beyond the proper bounds of Austen’s world. How could it not turn out right in the end?
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Sexual Content - 1/5
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Violence - 1/5
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Summary
After her marriage breaks up, Charlotte begins to read Jane Austen's works. When she decides to have a vacation, just on her own, where else would be better than Austenland? But all is not as it seems, and when midnight comes around, mystery is left in its wake.
I enjoyed this one much more than the first book. Don't get me wrong, Austenland was entertaining but some scenes were a little too hot for my taste. This one strikes the right tone for romance, and has the added bonus of a mystery.
Charlotte's character is relatable and endearing. Her conversations with her Inner Thoughts had me grinning on many occasions. She is kind and nice, but comes into her own as the novel progresses. A true heroine at her best.
The pacing of the novel is just right, leaving hints as to the true villain of the tale well before we know we ought to be watching for a murderer. The supporting cast is a delight with some familiar faces from the first book.
For Austen fans who wish they could go back in time themselves, this is a must read.