Just an Ordinary Girl

Austensibly Ordinary by Alyssa Goodnight (Kensington trade paperback, 29 January 2013).

Cate Kendall, a high school English teacher, lives a pretty humdrum life.  How humdrum?
The highlight of her week is usually the Scrabble game she plays with her colleague, Ethan Chavez.


Determined to get herself out of the rut, she accepts an invitation to her friend Syd's Hitchcock-themed Hallowe'en party.  She finds a femme-fatale dress at her mother's resale boutique, and decides to create a sexy alter-ego.

When an antique journal with the message

"I dedicate to You the folowing Miscellanious Morsels, convinced that if you seriously attend to them, You will derive from them very important Instructions, with regard to your Conduct in Life"

literally falls into her lap,  she decides to use it to chronicle her adventure.

Yes, this is the same journal that Nicola James stumbled upon in Goodnight's Austentatious (2012).  The journal is as cheeky and irreverent as ever, and helps Cate to proactively change her life, although she does hit a few snags along the way.

Whether or not you're a Janeite (and if you're not, you may become one) this humorous paranormal romance will lift you out of your winter blahs.  It's a wonderful way to pass a chilly afternoon.


FTC Full Disclosure: Many thanks to the publisher, who sent me an advance copy of the book for review purposes. 

Austen in Austin

Austentatious by Alyssa Goodnight (Kensington trade paperback, 31 January 2012).

Small spoiler ahead!

Nicola James is an engineer living in Austin, Texas, and has had her life mapped out since she was barely a teen.  Uncharacteristically, she sometimes wishes she had a Keep Austin Weird  t-shirt, and is a diehard Janeite.  One day she picks up an vintage blank book in an antique shop, intending to give it to her niece as a gift, but accidentally spilled a chai latte on it.

Since it's no longer useful as a  gift, she writes in it herself.  Imagine her surprise when she opens it and finds the words in place of her original entry.  Astounded and disbelieving, Nicola first tries to ignore it, but eventually finds herself in a sort of conversation with someone/thing who sounds very much like Jane.  Yes, that Jane. 

Miss Nicola James will be sensible and indulge in a little romance

And before she knows it, she's ignoring The Plan and going out with a guy she met at a wedding.  A musician, no, a rock star who's with a band showcasing at South by Southwest, and turns out to be a charmer from Scotland.

This was such an enjoyable book to read!   Planners like Nicola will cheer on The Journal just as much those who are Spontaneous.  You'll laugh, you'll sigh, and you'll probably stay up all night reading.

FTC Full Disclosure: Many thanks to the publisher, who sent me a galley of the book for review purposes.