Austensibly Ordinary

Book excerpt: Steaming, funky, and thoroughly modern, Austin, Texas, isn't much like the gardened country estates of Jane Austen's work. But there might be a few similarities in its inhabitants. . . Cate Kendall is no stranger to daydreams of brooding men and fancy parties--after all, she teaches one of her beloved Jane Austen novels in her English classes every year. But as for romance or adventure in her own life, the highlight of most weeks is Scrabble with her cute coworker, Ethan, and he draws the line at witty banter. But Cate is ready for a change. When she finds a mysterious journal that seems to have a link to the soul of the great Jane Austen herself, she knows it's her chance. And she grabs on with both hands. . . Before she knows it, Cate has invented an alter ego with an attitude, attended some seriously chic soirees, and gotten tangled up with a delicious mystery man. And she's uncovered enough unexpected secrets about Ethan that her Scrabble partner has taken to brooding looks and unfathomable silences. It's a positively Austenite predicament, and Cate is sure she'll land in hot water and heartbreak--but maybe not with Jane herself to guide her. . . "Sexy, saucy, fun! Jane Austen would be proud!" --Sophie Jordan, New York Times bestselling author Praise for Austentatious "Frothy, fun, and full of juicy secrets, Alyssa Goodnight's Austen-inspired romp is no Plain Jane." --Erin Blakemore "Will appeal to all Austen fans while bringing a fresh twist with its magic journal." --Booklist "Kept me turning the pages way past my bedtime." --Cindy Jones, author of My Jane Austen Summer