Book Review: The Pemberley Picnic by Melanie Rachel

Author: Melanie Rachel

Title: The Pemberley Picnic - A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Genre: Historical Romance, What If, Novella

Format: ebook

Pages: 160

Published: July 16, 2026

Where I got It: Kindle Unlimited

Summary: 

Fitzwilliam Darcy never expected Elizabeth Bennet to come to Pemberley—least of all after the proposal she so decisively refused. Yet here she is, seeing him not in a ballroom or a drawing room, but on his own ground, where he might be able to prove to her that he has changed.

But he has only days before she returns home.

So he does something entirely unlike himself: Darcy announces a picnic. There is only one difficulty. He has not planned a picnic.

Still, he is certain everything will go well. It must.

But Darcy soon discovers that even the simplest picnic can go astray—especially when the wind, the weather, and Miss Bingley all seem determined to keep him from the guest he most wishes to please. As old misunderstandings soften and new feelings bloom, Elizabeth and Darcy must decide whether pride, prejudice, and past mistakes can give way to something far sweeter.

Review:

I'm in a JA mood, I guess! 

Here we have a P&P variation. Darcy never expected to see Elizabeth again after she declined his proposal. Well...here she is....in his home.....this is his chance to show her he has changed. He decides that there will be a picnic on the grounds! What could go wrong? Everything. 

I'm going to be chill again and divide and conquer this review. It's been a long week. 

The Good

- LOVE a P&P and Austen variation. It's just so fuuuuun. 

- Awww loved seeing Darcy do something so out of character. 

- Fitzwilliam was a gem. So witty. So funny. 

- This was very sweet and adorable

The Bad and the Ugly

- Some phrases and words didn't seem to vibe with the time period and characters. It just didn't hit the ears (well...I did the ebook...would it be eyes?) right. 

Conclusion

I enjoyed this little gem. It was very sweet, and I liked this cute twist. Imagine if Darcy got an extra day with Lizzie. So very sweeeeet. 

4 stars. 

Book Review: The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner

Author: Natalie Jenner

Title: The Jane Austen Society

Series: Jane Austen Society #1

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

Format: Paperback

Pages: 304

Published: May 26, 2020

Where I got It: My Shelf (Gift)

Summary: 

Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable.

One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England's finest novelists. Now it's home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the last bit of Austen's legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen's home and her legacy. These people—a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star, among others—could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, some from the recent war, others from more distant tragedies, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society.

Review:

I love Jane Austen and a lot of her books, so I've been excited to check this out. 

It is just after WWII, and an unusual but like-minded group of people team up to protect Jane Austen's legacy. Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, but, sadly, it is a diminishing estate that needs work to preserve. 

I am feeling tired, so we'll divide and conquer this review (it's been a min since we used this format!):

The Good

- I liked our array of characters. They were different and interesting. 

- Loved how the author brought this time period and town alive. 

- Some nice banter between some of the characters

- Liked the splash of 'Persuasion'. Literally my fave of JA's works. 

The Bad and the Ugly

- Some areas seemed to drag on and on. I would catch my attention slipping sometimes. 

- It took me eons to finish this guy. I would walk away from it for a couple of days and forget about it. I would have to go back and reread the last page or two just to remember what had just happened. 

- Some spots were….I hate to use this word…..dull. 

Conclusion

Maybe I should try the audio version of this story. Richard Armitage does a rendition and I lovvvveeeeee his voice. So...yeah. Maybe I'll try this again. I wanted to love this, but didn't. It was just alright. Some good banter and interesting characters. But some areas? Dull. 

2 stars from me. 

Book Review: The Spider Silk Scarf by Ana Reyes

Author: Ana Reyes

Title: The Spider Silk Scarf

Genre: Fantasy, Short Story, Thriller, Horror

Format: ebook

Pages: 32

Expected publication September 1, 2026

Where I got It: My Shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

Nora has always gotten a thrill from stealing things—from shoplifting nail polish as a young teenager to now, in her twenties, reaching higher than a receptionist’s salary allows. Her handyman fiancé, Ben, doesn’t ask questions when she shows up with a new necklace or cracks open a bottle of high-end cognac that they clearly can’t afford.

When Ben comes home from a repair job for a notoriously reclusive neighbor, he passes along rumors of an extraordinary object hidden away in her gloomy old house. A scarf, woven from the silk of black widow spiders. It’s priceless, not only because it’s completely unique, but also because, as legend has it, it took twelve weavers seven years to create. Only eleven survived.

As obsession takes hold, Nora finds herself breaking into her neighbor’s home. But what happens next defies explanation. One glimpse into the world of a witch could change Nora’s life forever—if she makes it out.

Review:

Weeeee Amazon first read! A friend and I both picked this to check out. How could you not? That title....that cover....that summary???? So enticing!

In this story, we follow Nora. Nora has always gotten a thrill from stealing. Ben, her future husband, never bats an eye when Nora shows up with things that are way out of their price range. After doing a job for a reclusive neighbor, he passes along a rumor of an extraordinary object in the neighbor's house. It's a priceless scarf, and Nora wants it. It's a scarf that is woven from the silk of black widow spiders. However, there is a legend attached to it....there were twelve weavers, but only eleven survived. After breaking into the neighbor's house to steal the scarf, Nora will come face-to-face with the unexplainable. 

Oh Nora....you have a problem. And if Ben doesn't know...he's dumb. All the signs are there. I guess love is blind? SMH. 

It's hard to feel for our main here, but I still enjoyed the story. There is a lesson mixed in with the story. Maybe multiple lessons, to be fair. 

This would be a lovely short to read during Halloween. Maybe I'll read it again in a couple of years! It has some spooky elements for sure. 

The ending was good. A nice twist. 

Overall, this was a quick read but a nice read. It was just enough. The characters are hard to feel bad for, but not all stories have characters that are likeable!

4 stars. 

Blodeuedd's Monday: Flawless by Elsie Silver

Series: Chestnut Springs (#1)

Format: 378 pages, Paperback

Published: August 29, 2023 by Bloom Books

Contemporary romance/own

Cowboy romance, hey I love it. But it also got me thinking, I have seen people lately complain about 3rd person, and this was 1st person and well I prefer 3rd, it makes me one step away. Which is good when it gets really down and dirty.

Rhett is a bullrider who gets in trouble as he says bad things about his sponsor. So he gets a babysitter named Summer, who is also the daughter of his PR agent. Don't get to close!

But ovbi they get really close. First they dislike each other, but then feelings grow and maybe this could work after all. Insert drama!

I enjoyed it. I will read more

The rules were simple: keep his hands off his agent's daughter and stay out of trouble. But now he's stuck with her. There's only one bed. And well, rules are made to be broken.

Rhett Eaton is the face of professional bull riding. The golden boy. Or at least he was until it all blew up in his face after a public brawl. Now his agent says he has to clean up his image, and sticks Rhett with his ball-busting daughter for the rest of the season as "full-time supervision."

But Rhett doesn't need a goddamn babysitter--especially one with skin-tight jeans, a sexy smirk, and a mouth she can't stop running.

And he quickly learns that Summer Hamilton isn't just another conquest. She sees the man behind the mask, and she doesn't run--she pulls him closer, even when she shouldn't.

She says this means nothing. Rhett says this means everything.

She says there are boundaries they shouldn't cross. That Rhett's reputation can't take any more hits...and neither can her damaged heart.

Rhett says he's going to steal it anyway.