The Dashwood Sisters Tell All

GIVEAWAY!

PATTILLO, BETH
THE DASHWOOD SISTERS TELL ALL

Two sisters set out on a walking tour of Jane Austen's England and uncover her long-lost diary -- and the truth of how her relationship with her sister Cassandra inspired Sense and Sensibility.

Ellen and Mimi Dodge have never been close, but their mother's dying wish sends them on a walking tour of Hampshire, England, that follows in the footsteps of Jane Austen.  Their mother also left them something: a mysterious diary that belonged to Jane's sister Cassandra. These private pages shed light on the secrets that nearly tore the Austen sisters apart and inspired one of the greatest love stories of all time.

As the Dodge sisters visit sites that were important to the Austen sisters, from Steventon Rectory to Chawton Great House to Winchester Cathedral, they are drawn together in ways they never expected. They also discover that Cassandra's diary holds clues that will ultimately lead them to the holy grail of Austen lore: Jane's own diary. But someone doesn't want the Dodge sisters to discover Jane's secrets and will stop at nothing to keep Ellen and Mimi from finding the truth.

As the sisters stumble along their own paths toward love, they discover how Jane and Cassandra inspired the characters Marianne and Elinor Dashwood, and Ellen and Mimi come to realize that despite their very different sensibilities, they are a vital part of each other's happy endings.

My Review:

Opening up this book was like greeting an old friend. The Formidables are back! And Mrs. Parrot!!! I squealed when she made her appearance! You needn't have read either of the first in the series, Jane Austen Ruined My Life and Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart, but you might just appreciate this one a little bit more if you have.

Told from both sisters' point of view, the chapters flip from one first person POV to the other. It was easy to follow and interesting to see their different takes on certain situations. And of course there's romance...and a wee bit of intrigue amidst the English countryside! Perfect combination for a cozy summer read.

And dare I mention the book binding and quality of the paper? (LOL -- it's the librarian in me, I can't help it.) Does anyone else feel books? You know how some of the covers feel richer, smoother..okay, maybe you don't, but trust me this one is high quality. And the pages are thicker and the binding...a librarian's dream. This book won't fall apart after multiple readings. Sorry...I just had to get that out of my system.

Ahem.

Giveaway: If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Dashwood Sisters Tell All by Beth Pattillo, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. The draw will be held on Sunday June 19. Good luck!