Midnight in Austenland

Finished April 4
Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale
Loved this followup to Austenland. A fun read with a strong female main character, and a bit of romance.
Charlotte is recently divorced and struggling with how to move her life forward. After an argument with her 13-year-old daughter, she digs out a list she made when she was that age about life goals. One of the easy ones still unachieved on the list is to read Jane Austen, so she does and she loves the world created within Austen's books. Wanting a holiday for herself when her ex has the two kids, she finds out about Austenland and decides that is is perfect.
Once there, Charlotte tries to immerse herself in the world, to escape her issues in real life. But her propensity for problem-solving comes to the fore and she finds herself involved is solving a crime and discovering the perpetrators.
Charlotte is a successful woman, with a growing business, two loving children, and an ex-husband who most definitely did not deserve her. She has no problem with confidence in her work life, but finds herself second-guessing her personal life all the time. It takes this situation, and a few helpful friends, to help her gain the confidence she should have personally as well.
Thoroughly enjoyable.

An amusing audiobook

Finished October 16

Austenland by Shannon Hale, read by Katherine Kellgren

Jane Hayes is a graphic artist, still unmarried in her early thirties. She has had several (13) boyfriends over the years, but has never had the romance she secretly desires. She has always been enamored of the novel Pride and Prejudice, particularly of Mr. Darcy and the BBC production with Colin Firth playing Darcy only consolidates this romantic notion. When an elderly relative dies and leaves her a vacation at a "special" estate in London where she acts in a Regency era household for 3 weeks she's not sure whether to be bored, frustrated, or amused. This is very comical and light and good fun.