Challenge time!

Hosted by: Blodeuedd @ Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell

                                                                            Carole @ Carole Rae's Random Ramblings

Carole and I decided to have some fun this year and create our own reading challenge! Since we love HRs why not challenge ourselves? Everyone is more than welcome to sign up and join in the fun. 

(Edit: It all started cos of that dang Duke ;)

We are doing a bingo sheet to mark our reading progress! The rules are below. 

Rules:

- It has to be Historical Romance (no modern romance novels)

- One bingo box per book (if your book meets a couple of these you have to pick just one)

- You can try and read all of them or just do one BINGO line. 

- The heart is a free space

Victorian:  The trouble with true love - Laura Lee Guhrke

Governess: Governess gone rogue

Widow: Lady Derring takes a lover

LGBTQ: Band SInister by KJ Charles

Highlander: This Scot of Mine by Sophie Jordan

Duke title: Anything but a Duke by Christy Carlyle

Anything: The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

Inlinkz Link Party

Hosted by: Blodeuedd @ Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell

                                                                            Carole @ Carole Rae's Random Ramblings

Carole and I decided to have some fun this year and create our own reading challenge! Since we love Contemporary Romances why not challenge ourselves? Everyone is more than welcome to sign up and join in the fun. 

We are doing a bingo sheet to mark our reading progress! The rules are below. 

Rules:

- It has to be Historical Romance (no historical romances)

- One bingo box per book (if your book meets a couple of these you have to pick just one)

- You can try and read all of them or just do one BINGO line. 

- The heart is a free space

Military: Out of time by Monica McCarty

XMAs: All I want for Christmas is a cowboy - Jessica Clare

Fiends to lovers: 99 percent mine - Sally Thorne

LGBT: Once ghosted, twice shy - Alyssa Cole

Pet on cover: Playing for keeps - Jill Shalvis

Fireman: Flare up- Shannon Stacey

PNR: In a badger way by Shelley Laurenston

Enemies to lovers: In her sight - Katie Ruggle

Set in UK. The austen playbook by Lucy Parker

Horse: Cowboy stole my heart by Soraya Lane

Fake GF/BF Prince on paper by Alyssa Cole

Suspense: Hidden by Rebecca Zanetti

Heart: Playing for keeps by Jill Shalvis

YA. Cake pop crush by Suzanne Nelson

HS: The secret of a heart note by Stacey Lee

Prince Princess: Pride Prejudice and Other flavors by Sonali Dev

Inlinkz Link Party

Carole and Blodeuedd's Best of 2018

Welcome to the BC Awards!!! Carole and I will be sharing some of our favorites of the year! We decided to shake it up a bit with some extra categories! 

(edit: Yes I wanted to mention a few books so I had to create some categories for them ;) These are my 10 best of the year + a special mention. Heartstrikers count as one cos I just can not choose which was best..perhaps book 3?)

First, I will give my bests of the year!

YA fiction Print: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han 

YA Audio: When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

YA fantasy: Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn

Horror: The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich

Historical: Kin by Snorri Kristjansson 

Contemporary romance: Runaway Groom by Lauren Layne 

UF pnr mix: A wolf apart by Maria Vale

Romantic suspense: Through the Fire by Katie Ruggle

Shout out to Paranormal romance: Hot and Badgered by Shelly Laurenston (I never thought that would work for me again and it did!)

And Last The Best Book of the year Award! I could not choose so I am doing a best Audio and best Print

Best Audio of the year  Heartstrikers series 2-5

    

Best Print of the year and Fantasy: Priest of Bones by Peter McLean

Now, Carole!

Best YA Fiction: When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

 

Best Fantasy: Dragon Mage by Karlie Lucas

Horror: Dagon by HP Lovecraft

Historical: The Romanov Empress by CW Gortner

Contemporary romance: Cowboy Bold by Carolyn Brown

UF PNR: Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews

Historical Romance : The Suffragette Scandal by Courtney Milan  

(This was a tough one...there were SOOOO many good ones this year. But the cover made this a touch better hehe)

Mystery: The English Wife by Lauren Willig

Best cover: Mistress Firebrand by Donna Thorland

(This cover was just so pretty. I had to give a BC award to this one)

Best Movie: Bohemian Rhapsody  (2018)

(Soooo good. No movie was even close to as good as this year)

Best Audio of the year: The Tercentennial Baron by Will Damron

Best Print/ebook of the year: The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

And that is the end of the BC Awards. I am excited to see what 2019 has in store for us!!

And now to some stats:

127 Audiobooks

2 graphic novels

2 novella/short stories (I find this hard to believe, and when I checked I had at missed checking at least the last novella I read on GR, so there might have been more)

213 books read in total

Interesting facts

39 YA books! Ever since I started more audio those numbers have gone up

4 books with Duke in the title ;) I honestly thought there would be more

29 Historical romance

34 Contemporary romance 

19 romance

2 Sci-fi romance

5 fantasy romance

6 romantic suspense

5 romantic fiction

So of all books read at least 100 had a lot of romance in them worth mentioning, and then of course there can always be more but I have forgotten to file them under that category ;)

30 fantasy books :)

12 sci-fi books

And that is enough checking cos now they are starting to meld into each other.

Audio Challenge 2018 Final Update

My list:

127: The way you make me feel by Maurene Goo
126: 29 Dates by Melissa de la Cruz
125: More or less a Temptress by Anna Bradley
124: Year of the Griffin by Diana Wynne Jones
123: Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Ryan
122: The Disasters by MK England
121: How the Dukes Stole Christmas: A Holiday Romance Anthology Dare, Tessa *

120: The Lady Travelers Guide to Deception with an Unlikely Earl (The Lady Travelers Society, #3)           Alexander, Victoria

119: Unlit (Kingdoms of Earth & Air, #1)Arthur, Keri
118: The Christmas Sisters Morgan, Sarah
117: Seduce Me, Cowboy Yates, Maisey *
116: A Nice Day for a Cowboy Wedding Helm, Nicole *
115: A Duke Changes Everything: The Duke's Den Carlyle, Christy *
114: I Married the Duke (The Prince Catchers, #1) Ashe, Katharine *
113. Tony's Wife Trigiani, Adriana *
112: A Dangerous Duet by Odden, Karen *
111: The Other Miss Bridgerton (Rokesbys, #3) by Quinn, Julia *
110: Still Me (Me Before You #3) by Moyes, Jojo
109: Blanca Roja by McLemore, Anna-Marie *
108: Toxic by Kang, Lydia *
107: The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter by Gaynor, Hazel
106: What Ales the Earl by MacKenzie, Sally *
105: Christmas on the Island (Summer Seaside Kitchen #3) Colgan, Jenny
104: Between a Highlander and a Hard Place by Wine, Mary
103: Someone to Watch Over Me (Bow Street Runners, #1) by Kleypas, Lisa *
102: More or Less a Marchioness (The Somerset Sisters, #1) by Bradley, Anna *
101: Anna and the Apocalypse by Turner, Katharine
100: The Highlander Who Protected Me (Clan Kendrick #1) by Kelly, Vanessa
99: Marilla of Green Gables by McCoy, Sarah
98: Duchess by Design (The Gilded Age Girls Club, #1) by Rodale, Maya *
97: Murder on Millionaires' Row: A Mystery by Lindsey, Erin *
96: Changeling (Magic and Manners, #1) by Harper, Molly
95: Extraordinary Means by Schneider, Robyn
94: Adorkable by O'Gorman, Cookie
93: Keystone (Crossbreed #1) by Dark, Dannika
92: Lake Silence by Bishop, Anne
91: Life on the Leash by Schade, Victoria *
90: Rebel Hard (Hard Play, #2) by Singh, Nalini *
89: Phoenix Unbound (Fallen Empire, #1) by Draven, Grace *
88: Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas (Rocky Mountain Cowboys #1) by Ruggle, Katie *
87: One Perfect Kiss (Hope, #8) by Burton, Jaci
86: Cowboy, Cross My Heart by Grant, Donna
85: Summer Bird Blue by Bowman, Akemi Dawn
84: Cowboy Seal Christmas by Helm, Nicole
83: The Secrets She Carried by Davis, Barbara
82: London's Wicked Affair (Midnight Secrets, #1) by Bryant, Anabelle *
81: Bluestone & Vine by Kauffman, Donna *
80; The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo by Byrne, Kerrigan
79: Dark Lord of Derkholm (Derkholm, #1) by Jones, Diana Wynne
78: Bring Me Their Hearts by Wolf, Sara *
77: Magic Triumphs (Kate Daniels, #10) by Andrews, Ilona *
76: Through the Fire (Rocky Mountain K9 Unit, #4) by Ruggle, Katie
75: The Season by MacLean, Sarah *
74: Bad Reputation (Bad Bachelors, #2) by London, Stefanie *
73: Wild Hunger (Heirs of Chicagoland, #1) by Neill, Chloe *
72: Miranda's Big Mistake by Mansell, Jill
71: A Wolf Apart (The Legend of All Wolves, #2) : Vale, Maria
70: An Affair with a Spare by Galen, Shana
69: Someone I Used to Know by Blount, Patty
68: Women of the Dunes by Maine, Sarah *
67: The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy, #1) by Chakraborty, S.A.
66: Owl and the Tiger Thieves (Adventures of Owl, #4) by Charish, Kristi
65: Dirty Bastard by Clare, Jessica
64: I Think I Love You (Oxford, #5) by Layne, Lauren *
63: Off the Grid (The Lost Platoon, #2) by McCarty, Monica
62: Prayers for the Stolen by Clement, Jennifer *
61: Strong Hold by Castille, Sarah *
60: Sheer Mischief by Mansell, Jill
59: Daggerspell (Deverry, #1) Kerr, Katharine
58: Cowboy Seal redemption  by Nicole Helm
57. Getting Wilde (Immortal Vegas, #1) - Stark, Jenn *
56. The Wrong Stars (Axiom, #1) - Pratt, Tim
55. Love Story - Layne, Lauren *
54. This Could Change Everything - Mansell, Jill
53. Must Love Babies (Must Love Babies #1) - Austin, Lynnette *
52. What Happens in Summer (At the Shore, #2) - Piñeiro, Caridad *
51. Love and First Sight - Sundquist, Josh *
50. Baker's Magic - Zahler, Diane *
49. When Dimple Met Rishi - Menon, Sandhya *
48. Ocean Light (Psy-Changeling Trinity, #2; Psy-Changeling, #17) - Singh, Nalini *
47. The Gate to Women's Country - Tepper, Sheri S.
46. Licks (One Wild Wish, #3) - Siskind, Kelly *
45. You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone - Solomon, Rachel Lynn *
44. Shadows on the Moon - Marriott, Zoë *
43. Born to Love (Night Riders, #3) - Greenwood, Leigh
42. Murder Between the Lines (Kitty Weeks Mystery, #2)  - Vatsal, Radha *
41. Caught Up in a Cowboy - Marts, Jennie *
40. Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen's Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues - Boyd, Christina *
39. August and Everything After - Doktorski, Jennifer Salvato *
38. I Am Justice (Band of Sisters, #1) - Munoz Stewart, Diana *
37. Time Shards (Time Shards #1) - Fredsti, Dana *
36. One Summer Night - Piñeiro, Caridad *
35. Last Dragon Standing (Heartstrikers, #5) - Aaron, Rachel *
34. A Dragon of a Different Color - Aaron, Rachel *
33. The Chaos of Standing Still - Brody, Jessica *
32. Bad Bachelor - London, Stefanie *
31. Marry in Scandal - Gracie, Anne *
30. Fearless in Texas - Dell, Kari Lynn *
29. Survive the Night -Ruggle, Katie *
28. Starry Eyes - Bennett, Jenn *
27. Summers at Castle Auburn - Shinn, Sharon
26. Hot and Badgered (Honey Badger Chronicles, #1) - Laurenston, Shelly
25. Shadowshaper - Older, Daniel José *
24. Of Beast and Beauty - Jay, Stacey *
23. The Darcy Monologues - Boyd, Christina *
22. Just One Night (Sex, Love & Stiletto, #3) - Layne, Lauren *
21. Rocco - Castille, Sarah *
20. A Perfect Gentleman - Camp, Candace *
19. Highland Dragon Master (Dawn of the Highland Dragon, #3) - Cooper, Isabel
18. No Earls Allowed - Galen, Shana *
17. Home with You - McCoy, Shirlee *
16. To Catch a Stolen Soul (Djinn Haven, #1) - Naquin, R.L. *
15. Love the One You're With (Sex, Love & Stiletto, #2) - Layne, Lauren *
14. No Good Dragon Goes Unpunished - Aaron, Rachel *
13. The Most Eligible Highlander in Scotland - Sinclair, Michele
12. Runaway Groom (I Do, I Don't, #2) - Layne, Lauren *
11. The Dead House - Kurtagich, Dawn *
10. One Good Dragon Deserves Another- Aaron, Rachel *
9. Reed - Bennett, Sawyer *
8. The Shadows of Stormclyffe Hall (Dark Seductions, #1)- Smith, Lauren *
7. The Last Wolf (The Legend of All Wolves, #1) - Vale, Maria *
6. Ready to Run (I Do, I Don't, #1) - Layne, Lauren *
5. After the Kiss (Sex, Love & Stiletto, #1) - Layne, Lauren *
4. The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris - Colgan, Jenny
3. Cherish Hard (Hard Play, #1) - Singh, Nalini *
2. Cowboy SEAL Homecoming (Navy SEAL Cowboys, #1) - Helm, Nicole *
1. Busted - Ciocca, Gina *

It has been an AMAZING YEAR!!!! Audio has also fully taken over my reading life. I am down to 1 print book a week now. The rest of the time is devoted to audiobooks :D As I am still home with S I have lots of time, during her naptime walk, when she is going to bed, when I wake up in the middle of night and she falls asleep and I can not. When she has not woken but I have. Hey, anytime is audiotime.

It also helps that I can not stop listening at 1.8. I just can not do slower, it is too slow! I get why people think it is fast, I could never like cook food or clean while listening. My attention has to be fully on my audiobook.

I know next year will not be as great, but I hope to do at least half of this years :)

Audio: More or less a Temptress - Anna Bradley

Audio CD, 10 pages

Narrator: Heather Wilds

Published December 12th 2018 by Tantor Audio (first published November 13th 2018)

Historical romance

Series: The Somerset Sisters #3

Thank you Tantor for this review copy

My Thoughts

I felt bad for Hyacinth. Reading the blur I thought she would be some idiot, but I do get why she did the mistake she did. She had been sheltered and then she saw something that truly shocked her. When she then saw the man again she accused him of being a murderer. Because she was scared! Yes an idiotic thing to do. Where is the body? Maybe have some evidence first. It really was her grandmother's and sisters felt. They had coddled her, thinking she was some wilting flower and she had let herself think of herself in that way too.

Lachlan is running from something with her siblings. It took ages to find out what, which was silly cos he kept thinking of the THING all the time, but we did not learn what it was even though we were in his brain. I actually did find it quite shocking and did not understand why there had been no repercussions. But he really is a good man, he wants to protect his siblings and with a brother that is angry that is not easy.

The story is then that they are going to find their English halfbrother, who is married to Hyacint's sister. Then all hell breaks loose and then they have to try to ease their way back into society's good graces. And the Ton were such asshats to Hyacint! Yes she lost it, but come on, snobbish idiots!

Then there is a story in the background and we hear snippets of it and I was devastating when the book ended and Isla had no HEA! Isla being Lachlan's sister who has her own thing going on. But fear not! I just checked and her story is coming in 2019! Phew!

A wilting flower meets a scowling Scot. What could possibly go wrong? Fun!

Narrator

Aww, yes I liked her Scottish accents. I always like those. It also makes it easier for her to have more voices going on which is nice.

Synopsis

Hyacinth Somerset’s debut is the most anticipated event of the season, as it will be the reclusive young lady’s first public appearance. But within moments of being asked to dance by a dashing stranger, Hyacinth calls him a murderer, then faints dead away! Now all the ton is a aflutter over Hyacinth’s baffling shun of their most intriguing newcomer—the wildly handsome Lachlan Ramsey . . .

Recently arrived from Scotland, Lachlan only wishes to claim his place in society to secure his sister’s future. When that is threatened by the accusations of a hapless slip of a girl, he will do anything protect his family. Yet it appears Hyacinth has only damaged her own hopes, inspiring the label of hysteric—and ultimately inspiring Lachlan to shelter her from harm. Now if only there were a defense for the surge of feeling he has every time Hyacinth turns her gaze his way. If only there were a way to make her his—while keeping the true secret in his past from destroying everything—and everyone—he cares about . . . 

Muse of Nightmares - Laini Taylor

Hardcover, UK Edition, 522 pages

Published October 2nd 2018 by Hodder & Stoughton

Series: Strange the Dreamer #2

YA fantasy

Library

My Thoughts

Wow. Just Wow. This was so freaking boring!

She is a great writer, her words flow and are beautiful, and then it falls apart in one freaking mess with melted lava on top.

The book is 500 pages. Most of the book takes place in the same palace and people talk and whine. Ugh, wtf! The world could have been so great! Gods who took every woman in the city and made them bare children, and some of the men was taken too to impregnate goddesses.  And then everyone was slaughtered in that Godly Palace. Until they realise some did not die. Epic! But she failed to deliver, instead it was a boring book where the story went nowhere and the end sucked and I felt let down.

This was the filler of fillers. And now the series has ended. Waste of time.

Blurb:

Sarai has lived and breathed nightmares since she was six years old.

She believed she knew every horror, and was beyond surprise.

She was wrong.

In the wake of tragedy, neither Lazlo nor Sarai are who they were before. One a god, the other a ghost, they struggle to grasp the new boundaries of their selves as dark-minded Minya holds them hostage, intent on vengeance against Weep.

Lazlo faces an unthinkable choice--save the woman he loves, or everyone else?--while Sarai feels more helpless than ever. But is she? Sometimes, only the direst need can teach us our own depths, and Sarai, the muse of nightmares, has not yet discovered what she's capable of.

As humans and godspawn reel in the aftermath of the citadel's near fall, a new foe shatters their fragile hopes, and the mysteries of the Mesarthim are resurrected: Where did the gods come from, and why? What was done with thousands of children born in the citadel nursery? And most important of all, as forgotten doors are opened and new worlds revealed: Must heroes always slay monsters, or is it possible to save them instead?

Scythe - Neal Shusterman

Paperback, 435 pages

Published November 28th 2017 by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers (first published November 22nd 2016)

YA Dystopia

Arc of a Scythe #1    Library

My Thoughts

I am sure I have forgotten half the things that bugged me, but here we go.

It started off ok, then it got good, but the last part dragged and left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I had just wasted time on a crap book. The end took it from ok to bad.

I get that it is an dystopian Utopia, but it was so bloody stupid.

Some people are 300 years old, have 20 kids and have been married a bunch of times. They might have great great great great grand children and the family tree is huge. Because you can not die, and if you want you can look and be 21 again.

Then there are 6 year olds that are killed, oh wait gleaned. How is that even fair? Why put up with a world like that?

It is a world that has too many people so some have to die. But ok maybe first make a rule that you can not have 20 kids. Or that you can not be 300.

Why do kids even have to go to school when everything is known. Internet is its own entity.

There are Scythes who kill people so that there are not too many. But the ways are barbaric. Since people died of different things then these people kill by different things. Like walking up on the street and cut someones throat, and that is ok. People think Scythes are rockstars. And I can just not believe it. It is so bloody stupid.

No one keeps an eye on the Scythes. Sure they have rules, but if they want to they can offer immunity so that you can not die for a year. And some are damn right serial killers

This world is just so freaking stupid

Blurb

A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery: humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now Scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.

Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.

Scythe is the first novel of a thrilling new series by National Book Award–winning author Neal Shusterman in which Citra and Rowan learn that a perfect world comes only with a heavy price. 

How Darcy saved Christmas - Rosie Fairbanks

Kindle Edition, 118 pages

Published December 4th 2018

Pride and Prejudice variation

Own

My Thoughts

This was a short novella and I honestly can not tell you a lot cos then I will spoil everything.

I wanted something for xmas and what is better than PP!

Ok so in this timeline they meet a few years later at Xmas. Darcy is all brooding and does not like xmas. And Lizzy is all xmas is wonderful! Yay that I get to be in Lambton.

They meet. There is pride and prejudice.

There is Wickham, he was a big surprise.

And then they lived happily ever after.

A nice little xmas tale

Synopsis:

On a much-needed holiday with her favorite relations, Elizabeth Bennet is in search of Christmas cheer. Instead, she meets The Great Curmudgeon, or as the locals call him, Mr. Darcy. 

Darcy hates any display of Christmas happiness. He didn't always feel that way but is certain he will never welcome it again. In defiance of Pemberley tradition for being the life-force behind the holiday in the area, he shuns it after a family tragedy. 

Despite their first perceptions of each other, Darcy and Elizabeth cannot resist the pull of their hearts. Old and new friendships, however, collide to weave an insurmountable obstacle between the fledgling lovers. Will Darcy be able to see past his pain or will he forever miss out on the joy of true love? 

This Christmas season, treat yourself to a story of forgiveness, the search for true joy and lasting peace, and a love that can eclipse bitterness and pain. Buy How Darcy Saved Christmas today!

Carole's Sunday review: A murder by any other name

Author: Suzanne M. Wolfe

Title: A Murder By Any Name

(An Elizabethan Spy Mystery #1)

Genre: Historical Mystery

Pages: ebook

Published: October 9th, 2018

Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

When a brutal murder threatens the sanctity of the Elizabethan court, it’s up to a hot-tempered spy to save the day.

The court of Elizabeth I is no stranger to plotting and intrigue, but the royal retinue is thrown into chaos when the Queen’s youngest and sweetest lady-in-waiting is murdered, her body left on the high altar of the Chapel Royal in Whitehall Palace. Solving the murder will require the cunning and savvy possessed by only one man. Enter Nicholas Holt, younger brother of the Earl of Blackwell—spy, rake, and owner of the infamous Black Sheep tavern in the seedy district of Bankside. Nick quickly learns that working for the Queen is a mixed blessing. Elizabeth—salty-tongued, vain, and fiercely intelligent—can, with a glance, either reward Nick with a purse of gold or have his head forcibly removed.

When a second lady-in-waiting is slain at Whitehall, the court once again reels with shock and dismay. On the trail of a diabolical killer, Nick and his faithful sidekick—an enormous Irish Wolfhound named Hector—are treading on treacherous ground, and only the killer’s head on a platter can keep them in the Queen’s good graces. 

Historical mysteries are always a blast. Plus that cover is so pretty! I could not deny it. 

The story follows Nick who is a spy, rake, and owner of the tavern. He is put on the assignment to find the murderer of two ladies who serve the Queen. The Queen demands he finds this murderer before the Christmas festivities and before the court freaks out. 

I liked Nick even though he is a rake. Hector was cute. I honestly liked how Nick wasn't a super genius like so many of these detectives are. He needed help and even got some assistance from the Queen. He listened to her advice and thoughts to help find the murderer. 

The story was fun and I enjoyed seeing everything come to fruition. I was really unsure who the murderer was. I had my theories but I was completely wrong. Kuddos to the author! I was in awe when the truth came out! So good, so unexpected. The ending was good. I loved the scene with Nick and the Queen at the end. It was done well. 

There were some more modern terms used that bugged me a little bit, but overall, this was well written. I was hooked from page one and got this done within a couple of sittings (darn work getting in the way). 

In the end, I really enjoyed this story. The story was written well even with a few more modern terms and words used. The characters were intriguing and the mystery was done well! I want to read more by this author. I hope there will be more books in this series. I liked Nick and Hector. I'll give this 4 stars. 

'Tis the Season for Xmas Movies

Hello everyone! This month Carole and I are reviewing two Hallmark movies! A little 2-in-1 deal here.  First, we will review Pride, Prejudice, and Mistletoe. Next, we will review Christmas at Pemberley Manor. 

I am  in red and Carole in green.

Title: Pride, Prejudice, & Mistletoe
Genre: Romance
Running Time: 1h 22 min 
Rating: TV - PG
Released: 2018

Darcy is a career woman who hasn't found love, but her life turns upside down when she returns home to help her mother plan a charity event.

Title: Christmas at Pemberley Manor

Genre: Romance

Running Time: 1h 24 min 

Rating: TV - G

Released: 2018

As Christmas approaches, an event planner is sent to a small town to organize a festival but finds a billionaire in the process of selling the estate she hoped to use as a venue. Before long, the unlikely pair begins falling for each other.

DISCUSSION: 

Let us be merry and share some Christmas joy!

Yayy! Xmas Joy! Xmas Spirit! Xmas cheese!

SHall we start with Pride and Prejudice and mistletoe

Sounds like a plan!

Ok, where to start? Did you feel it was any Pride and Prejudice like at all?

Just in names. Like there was a Darcy and Jane. I liked that they did some gender reverse. But I was annoyed the “Elizabeth” was named “Luke”....why not “Edward” or “Elijah”? But other than the name thing and Darcy/Luke dislike….there was nothing else P&P

Yes, I felt there was nothing. Sure she was named Darcy and there was Pemberley, but yes that was it. I had no PP feelings at all. Why even call it that?

Maybe because she was too “prideful” to work for her dad even though it was obvious how bad her co-workers are to her. I could tell from the first second we seen her “partner” that they were going to turn on her the moment she was gone. The “prejudice” was Luke assuming Darcy had it easy and Darcy thought the same about Luke. The mistletoe...well...because of the mistletoe debate they had.

Lol, on the mistletoe. Sure I can see the pride, the prejudice, but not like it was in Pride and Prejudice. It really felt like they just wanted to cash in on Pride and Prejudice and delivered nothing of the sort. I was rather disappointed in this one, it was not even cheesy! Maybe I just do not like the actress. 

Oooo for sure. They wanted the easy cash because they knew people like you and me who adore the original would be wanting to watch it. And yes...it didn’t have that classic Hallmark cheese.

It is based on this book by Melissa de la Cruz and I am reading the blurb right now, it sounds much better than this movie! But it has a terrible rating so I guess it sucks too.

Super bummer. I was thinking on checking in Goodreads, but if it sucks too...well...there is no hope for this.

They call it cringeworthy and tweeny. So, yes no on that one too. But sure for a cheesy Hallmark movie you can enjoy it for a night. But do not think Pride and P.

Yes. It was not HORRIBLE, but disappointing. Do not go in with expectations. The ending was annoying though. Like really Luke?????? Gah. And James was ugly. He was supposed to be the male Jane...but ew. LOL.

Who is James? Srsly, I can not even remember?

Luke’s brother who got with Darcy’s friend (I’m blanking on her name).

Right, they were hugging at this time and was all we are looking for him..ehh, you two are just standing there. Real effort guys, ;)

LOLLL right? “We’ll help look!” AKA let’s make-out and I’ll try calling ONCE. What a fantastic brother. >_<

Haha, do you want to say anything more or should we just move on to the next one?

I’m good! LOL Not much to comment on this one.To the manor!

To Pemberley Manor! Omg this one made me cringe so hard! But, it was better than the other one.

Yess it 100% better. More cheese and more P&P. Perfection. LOLLL

I actually got that he was Darcy here, and cute! And yes she was Lizzy….well more like Jane at times too, like a mix of them too. She was always so cheerful you know, while Lizzy should be like constantly sarcastic ;) And there was even a real Jane and Bingley, so I liked that. But again, Bingley was not really a Bingley

Oh my...Darcy is super duper cute. I would love for him to play the real Darcy. He was fun. Ugh I did not care for Lizzy. She was too Jane. The only time the real Lizzy moment was when she told Darcy off in the car, but she was still missing the real Lizzy bite there. Not the right actress for the role. Too sweet. Caroline was perfect. I wanted to hit her.

Yes finally a Caroline! I mean hello, sure you can have Darcy and Lizzy. But omg they are nothing without everyone else. You at least need a Wickham or a Caroline! The only moment I felt Lizzy was when she was an idiot and told him what cos of his assistant. I was all omg woman! You could get that poor man fired you stupid idiot!

Yess that was the scene I was hinting at. Like dude!!!!! Good thing Darcy took it in stride and just laughed it off. I think the real Darcy would’ve been a bit more grumpy about it. I was hoping for a Wickham too in this one since the mayor was named George. LOL But alas….only a Caroline which she was sassy enough.

Was “Wickham” her ex or had they just been friends? I can not remember. I was expecting some drama and nothing! Just like with the previous movie were I guess her ex was Caroline? And it was like nothing at all. Just an ex. Booooo

Yea the mayor, George, was a college friend who went on ONE date with Lizzy. Maybe the Wickham of the story was her ex that we didn’t see. Who knows. I wish I could be a writer on one of these movies. We needed some more drama. We got a touch when Caroline came to town taking over the event. But alas...even that ended rather quickly and nicely.

Oh right, yes the one date. But I do feel he was Wickham in spirit, but not in the actual story. He was like a Wickham ghost they did nothing with. Cos Xmas is not drama *eyeroll* But Wickham is some one you love to hate!

I wanted that mayor to have a HEA. He was sooooo sweet. Poor guy.

One more thing, why was she so you have to do this! It is his house, back off woman! Or was that just me. It was like he owed the town something. Like there was not anywhere else in that whole town?

I was confused about that too. He doesn’t have to do shit lady. Leave Darcy alone. xD I’m sure there a million places to have it.

He was too nice. Aww I really liked him ;) So yes this one was better, cheesy, a bit of drama and people falling in love too fast.

Darcy was the best in that movie. He was adorable and grumpy. I do think this was the better of the two movies. This really was a Hallmark take on the book for sure. Loads of cringy cheese and I loved it. Especially the singing bit. Hahahaha that was so cheesy I was hoping it would end soon.

If you have to watch one then go for this one instead of that other one :) But hey there are a MILLION other ones out there. OMG so many Cheesy Xmas movies these days

Agreed. I was watching another one last night while I fell asleep. It had an Elizabeth who likes to read. I could tell that they were going for a P&P, but it was boring and I zonked out. LOL Oh well. I can’t even remember the name. But yes, if you watch ONE Hallmark Xmas movie...watch this one.

Merry Xmas then! I hope that you all get lots of books ;)

Merry Xmas to you and everyone! Eat lots of cookies!