Midnight in Austenland [Kindle Edition]

Shannon Hale (Author)

Book Description

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?

Editorial Reviews

Review

[A] very fun read...It's likely that Midnight in Austenland will become a guiltily pleasurable, bon-bons-and-rom-coms chick-lit classic. Deseret News A welcome, witty glimpse of a side of Austen rarely explored. Publishers Weekly Hale's light romantic comedy will appeal to chick-lit fans as well as Austenites... looking for a fresh way to explore the author's enduring legacy Library Journal

About the Author

Shannon Hale is the New York Times bestselling author of six young adult novels, including the Newbery Honor book Princess Academy, and two books for adults, Austenland and The Actor and the Housewife. She has also cowritten two graphic novels, Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack, with her husband, Dean Hale. They live with their four small children near Salt Lake City, Utah.

Product Details

• File Size: 456 KB
• Print Length: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA; 1 edition (January 31, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B006WXUK3Q
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,718 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #68 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Single Women

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!! Shannon Hale does it again! January 31, 2012

By Amy Olsen

Format:Hardcover

5 bright shiny, sparkly stars for Midnight in Austenland!! (none of those wimpy stars that are hard to see) I loved this book!!!

I probably ought to start this review out with a confession- I am a huge Shannon Hale fangirl so if you're looking for an unbiased review this is not the review for you.

Because I am a huge fan of Shannon's books I went into Midnight in Austenland with really high expectations. And in true Shannon Hale fashion my expectations were left in the dust.

I loved being back in the world of Austenland. It was so fun to see old friends and meet new characters. I hadn't realized that I wanted to know more about certain characters until I met them again in this book. I really enjoyed getting to know a few of the familiar faces a bit more. As for the new cast of characters, I was a little worried I wouldn't connect with Charlotte as well as I did with Jane in Austenland. I am single and obsessed with Mr. Darcy so it was really easy for me to understand Jane. Charlotte is a successful business woman, a mother of two and divorced. She and I don't have a lot in common. But that is the beauty of Shannon's writing- she creates characters that. even though there is very little common ground, you can understand and love.

Midnight in Austenland is classic Shannon Hale- it has a strong heroine, is laugh out loud funny, poignant, thought provoking, adventurous and has just the right amount of swoon. In addition to all of those wonderful qualities Shannon has thrown a mystery into the mix. I have to admit that this crime show junkie had a huge grin on her face when one of the characters makes a comment about being on CSI Pembrook Park.... Trying to discern between fantasy and reality is already difficult at Pembrook Park, adding a puzzle to be solved made this trip to Austenland even better than the first! Read more ›

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Unique writing style. February 10, 2012

By Lisa F.

Format:Hardcover

I admit to being a Shannon Hale fan. I love her YA books, they are my favorite. While I love the YA books, I can only say that I like her adult books.

Charlotte is divorced and struggling to overcome the emotional roadblocks that have been placed in her path by her cheating ex-husband. She begins to wonder if she is unlovable. A wise friend tells her that she should read Jane Austen's books. She does and is instantly enthralled by the classic works. (I can relate, I love Jane Austen!)

Her ex has the kids for a couple of weeks and she takes a much needed vacation. Where is a wealthy divorcee who loves Austen going to go? Austenland, of course. The place where you can act out your Austen fantasies and dress in regency clothing.

In this book Shannon Hales writes with an edge that I don't remember in her other books. Her voice is fun and sarcastic at the same time. I really enjoyed her writing style. I smiled at several of her quirky word choices.

Hale adds a level of suspense and mystery to this novel. This book has romance more as a sub-plot with the focus being on a murder mystery. In several instances the heroine, Charlotte, chides herself on letting her imagination run away with her, just like the heroine in Northanger Abbey.

Charlotte's growth and self confidence soars. She begins to realize that not all of her marital problems centered on her. She becomes less the victim and more the heroine. She learns to take charge of her life and not let her life been engulfed by her business and keeping her children away from heartache.

While I enjoyed this novel, it fell a little flat for me in a few places. I liked, but not loved, the romance.... I do, however, recommend the book to anyone who wishes they could live out their fantasies as a member of one of Jane Austen's books.

This book does contain mild swearing. I received a copy to review. Read more ›

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing mix of mystery and romance February 1, 2012

By Sharon " I Mainline Fiction"

Format:Hardcover

Charlotte Kinder's marriage has gone kaput and she starts reading Jane Austen as a diversion. Her two children are spending their vacation with their father and his new wife so Charlotte decides to go on her own vacation. She ends up going to England and being part of a reenactment type of trip located at Pembrook Park, a stately home. Reborn as Charlotte Cordial, a widow, she embarks on her adventure. She is one of six guests and is matched with Mr. Mallery, a moody but hunky gentleman.
As part of the entertainment, the three couples are part of a mystery involving a long ago event at a local abbey, and parts of the story are doled out over several nights. Unfortunately for Charlotte, it suddenly becomes all too real for her and she is left wondering what is really happening at Pembrook Park. Who can she rely on for help?
I always have wanted to go on one of these Austen trips so the whole premise of this book intrigued me. Charlotte is an interesting character, not the typical dumpee. She has a successful business and seems to be a pretty intelligent woman who ignored the signs that her marriage was imploding. On her vacation she has the typical reactions one would being in a strange country, acting out another period of time, and finding oneself in the middle of something very unsettling. The mystery factor is ramped up in this book and the romance takes a back seat but still has a satisfying conclusion. Ms. Hale solves an obvious problem with a simple but effective plot twist so all can end well. I enjoyed the first book in the series and this one was just as good.

More About the Author

New York Times best selling author Shannon Hale started writing books at age ten and never stopped, eventually earning an MFA in Creative Writing. After nineteen years of writing and dozens of rejections, she published THE GOOSE GIRL, the first in her award-winning BOOKS OF BAYERN series. Her standalone book for young readers, BOOK OF A THOUSAND DAYS, won a Cybils award. The Newbery Honor winner PRINCESS ACADEMY was followed in 2012 by bestseller PRINCESS ACADEMY: PALACE OF STONE.

Her books for the adult crowd are AUSTENLAND (soon to be a major motion picture starring Keri Russell), MIDNIGHT IN AUSTENLAND, and THE ACTOR AND THE HOUSEWIFE. With her husband Dean, Shannon wrote two graphic novels for young readers: RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE, an Eisner nominee, and its acclaimed sequel, CALAMITY JACK. Shannon spends her days corralling four young children near Salt Lake City, Utah.