Review: A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park by Mary Lydon Simonsen

“But, Lizzy, this is the same man who befriended Mr. Bingley, a man whose fortune was made in trade, and he tolerates Mr. Bingley’s unpleasant sisters.  Is this not evidence of a decent man who is open to change?”

“Even if everything is as you say, in all your enthusiasm for this match, you have forgotten one thing.  Mr. Darcy has not met Mama.”

(from A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park, pages 70-71)

Mary Lydon Simonsen’s novella, A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park, is a Pride and Prejudice retelling that imagines that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet do not formally meet until Kent, when Elizabeth is visiting her friend, Charlotte Collins, and Darcy is visiting his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.  Elizabeth remembers the scowling, arrogant Darcy and the rude things he said about her and her neighbors at the Meryton assembly.  But Darcy doesn’t remember her, nor does he know about his friend Charles Bingley’s engagement to Elizabeth’s sister, Jane.

Although it’s plain to see that Darcy and Elizabeth are passionate about one another, Elizabeth can’t understand what Darcy sees in her and doesn’t want to get her feelings hurt.  She isn’t well acquainted with the real Darcy, so he has to work hard to earn her affections.  And even if Elizabeth admits her feelings for Darcy, is it possible he could still love her after meeting her family?

Simonsen has a knack for re-imagining different romantic scenarios for Darcy and Elizabeth, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one.  It was nice to see Charlotte blossom in her marriage to Mr. Collins, and I love when authors give Anne de Bourgh a mischievous streak.  I always end up wishing Simonsen’s novellas were full-length novels, as I get so wrapped up in her versions of Austen’s characters, and this one wraps up their love affair while retelling only one part of the original novel.

Simonsen includes a bonus short story at the end, “Mr. Darcy Steps In,” which is a funny look at what might have happened had Darcy realized that Mr. Collins had his sights set on Elizabeth.  Although he’s confident that Elizabeth would never accept a marriage offer from a ridiculous buffoon like Collins and that she’s not cut out to be a preacher’s wife given her inability to keep her strong opinions to herself, Darcy doesn’t want to think about Elizabeth marrying another man.  Darcy bravely and humorously submits to the attentions of Mr. Collins in order to put his plan into action.

A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park and “Mr. Darcy Steps In” are perfect for Austen fans who want a quick and satisfying couple of hours with their favorite characters.  There aren’t any dramatic plots here, and the pride and the prejudice that cause so much tension between Darcy and Elizabeth in the original novel are absent, but there is plenty of passion and romance, making it a pure feel-good read.

Book 7 for the P&P Bicentenary Challenge

Disclosure: A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park is from my personal library. I am an Amazon associate.

© 2013 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.

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Review: For All the Wrong Reasons by Mary Lydon Simonsen

“Lizzy, let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life,” he said, with his ear tuned to Mrs. Bennet in a nearby room giggling with Lydia.

“I can spare you that, Papa, because I do respect Mr. Darcy.  I may not like him all that much, but he is a man worthy of my respect.”

(from All the Wrong Reasons, page 31)

For All the Wrong Reasons is a novella that imagines what might have happened in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice had Pemberley been entailed away from the female line and Mr. Darcy was forced to marry and produce an heir to protect his sister in the event of his demise.  The next in line to inherit Pemberley is Darcy’s cousin, Peter Grayson, with whom he’s had a falling out.  When Darcy learns that Grayson is engaged to a spiteful Caroline Bingley, he is furious and determined to prevent them from gracing the halls of his beloved home.  Darcy and his friend, Charles Bingley, pour over lists of eligible women to find him a suitable match, but the only woman he can imagine marrying is Elizabeth Bennet, the sister of Charles’ wife, Jane.

Elizabeth has no idea Darcy’s opinion of her has changed so dramatically since his biting comments at the Meryton assembly, and even though her father can’t stand the thought that she would sacrifice herself for the financial security of her family, she is willing to entertain Darcy’s marriage offer.  There seems to be more to him than meets the eye — which she learns after befriending his sister and touring his grand estate — and it’s not like there are men lining up to marry a woman with strong opinions and a meager dowry.

Mary Lydon Simonsen never fails to charm me with her romantic retellings of Pride and Prejudice.  For All the Wrong Reasons is a sweet tale of two people oblivious to the feelings of the other and worried about the prospect of happiness in a marriage built on necessity, rather than love.  It certainly is a different take on Austen’s beloved couple, given that their ability and desire to marry for love has been stripped away, which was the unfortunate reality for many people in Austen’s time.  Even though I know Darcy and Elizabeth are always going to misunderstand and misinterpret the actions of the other, their anguish still touched me.

For All the Wrong Reasons is an enjoyable novella, but because it is so short and only retells a part of the original novel, it may leave some readers wanting more.  I wish Simonsen had actually shown Grayson interact with Darcy, rather than paint his portrait through Darcy’s thoughts and conversations with others, to really give a sense of urgency to Darcy’s need to marry.  I also had a hard time believing that Elizabeth would consent to marry a man she didn’t love for the sake of her family, given that she turns down both Darcy and Mr. Collins in the original novel for that very reason (among others).  Even so, I thought it was an interesting premise, and readers looking to spend a few hours with their favorite Austen characters won’t be disappointed.

Book 6 for the P&P Bicentenary Challenge

Disclosure: For All the Wrong Reasons is from my personal library. I am an Amazon associate.

© 2013 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.

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Review: All Hallow’s Eve by Wendi Sotis

(This review first appeared on Indie Jane)

“How is it that I can manage estates, be master to more than a hundred servants, oversee countless tenants, outwit masters in their fields of expertise, and yet I can barely put together an intelligible sentence whenever I am near her?”

(from All Hallow’s Eve, page 15)

All Hallow’s Eve is probably the most unique retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice that I’ve read so far.  In Wendi Sotis’ version, Elizabeth Bennet is insignificant in the eyes of British society, being the daughter of a country squire, but unbeknownst to the ton, she is the leader of a secret, ancient cult.  As the High Priestess of Sanun, Elizabeth performs a ritual every year on Oct. 31 that allows the dead to make contact with the living for a few short hours before they must return to the Otherworld.  Fitzwilliam Darcy, the master of Pemberley, unwittingly witnesses the strange yet beautiful ritual just before he learns that he is the Soul Mate of the High Priestess.

Centuries ago, an Evil Soul called Cher-nog managed to avoid the Return and has ruined the lives of many people since then, taking over their bodies and making them perform unforgivable acts.  Cher-nog is close to uncovering the identity of the High Priestess and is intent on controlling and destroying her.  By the time Darcy learns of his role in the Tribes, his attitude toward Elizabeth has changed from believing her to be merely tolerable to believing he can’t live without her.  Now he must convince Elizabeth that his feelings for her are sincere…and protect her at all costs.

To be honest, I didn’t expect to like All Hallow’s Eve based on the summary (ancient cult rituals? Soul Mates?), but Sotis truly surprised me.  I found myself immersed in the descriptions of the Tribes and the various roles held by each member of the Bennet family, and I wanted to know more about this world.  Even when the writing was more telling than showing, I was so caught up in the characters — some of whom are very different from their original incarnations — that I could overlook it.

What I liked best about All Hallow’s Eve is that it’s not as dependent on the original novel as some of the other retellings.  Sotis basically takes Austen’s characters and plops them into an entirely different world and situation.  This added some mystery and excitement because I had no idea what would happen to the characters as they moved down the path toward the anticipated happily ever after.

All Hallow’s Eve is more than just a fast-paced novel with the love story of Darcy and Elizabeth at its core.  Despite the very serious battle between good and evil, Sotis manages to lighten the mood with some jabs at the characters we all love to hate.  In fact, I’m not likely to forget a certain scene with Lady Catherine anytime soon.  Sotis does a good job balancing two worlds, that of the Tribes and that of British society, emphasizing how the latter depends on the former without even knowing it exists.  She also provides some very interesting explanations for the behavior of certain characters, and most importantly, she made me believe them and the world in which they inhabited.

Book 5 for the P&P Bicentenary Challenge

Disclosure: I received All Hallow’s Eve from the author for review on Indie Jane. I am an Amazon associate.

© 2013 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.

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Review: Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen by Sally Smith O’Rourke

It was Darcy who made her realize that a man could love a woman who was strong and independent, someone intelligent with thoughts and ideas that went beyond clothes and balls.  In fact, it had given her the confidence to make Elizabeth Bennet of Pride and Prejudice a bit more individualistic and insightful than she had originally been, even if some of her insights turned out to be incorrect.  She was still lively and playful, though, and Elizabeth’s Mr. Darcy was desirous of just such a woman: someone who read extensively to improve her mind.

(from Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen, page 50)

Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen is the sequel to The Man Who Loved Jane Austen, in which Sally Smith O’Rourke imagines that Mr. Darcy of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was inspired by a real person.  This book picks up right where the first left off, with New York artist Eliza Knight and Virginia horse breeder Fitz Darcy falling in love and wondering how to navigate their feelings when they’ve never been in a real relationship before.  Fitz is sure of his feelings about Eliza, but Eliza can’t help but feel threatened by his obsession with long dead British author Jane Austen.

For it was Jane Austen who brought them together, through old letters that Eliza found in an antique vanity table that sent her on a trip to Pemberley Farms and into Fitz’s arms.  Eliza can’t help but believe his bizarre story behind the letter written by Jane and addressed to him.  When the pair rush off to England to take care of a situation with the potential to change the course of history, they realize they could lose one another before their relationship even has a chance to blossom.

O’Rourke weaves in the story of Jane Austen, who by 1813 had published two novels, Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, and just finished a third, Mansfield Park.  Jane remembers the brief moments she spent with her Mr. Darcy three years before, cherishing the memories of a man who treated her as an equal and made her feel beautiful.  At 37, Jane feels as young as ever, but she inwardly questions social rules that govern what colors an unmarried woman of a certain age should wear and how they should style their hair.  Uncertain whether she’ll ever see Mr. Darcy again, Jane sends a package to him through her brother’s stable boy, hoping he’ll somehow receive it and remember her.

Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen can be read as a standalone novel, as O’Rourke works in a brief summary of the previous book in the prologue, but I highly recommend you read The Man Who Loved Jane Austen first to fully appreciate Eliza and Fitz’s story.  I really enjoyed the first book, but I liked this one even more, as O’Rourke focuses less on the old letters and more on developing her characters.  I really felt like I got to know Eliza and Fitz, their fears and hesitations, the qualities that make them click as a couple, and even their insecurities, played out through their arguments.  I especially loved how O’Rourke moved the narrative between the past and the present, and she wrote the scenes involving Jane Austen with much tenderness for a woman who had a good heart, a playful spirit, and no idea how brilliant she truly was.  Although she admits in the foreword that she took some liberties with the historical facts of Austen’s life, her portrayal of Jane was very respectful.

Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen is a sweet love story about new beginnings, magical adventures, and cherishing the moments, however brief they might be, you’ve had with the people who’ve changed your life.  It’s about not losing who you are amidst societal constraints and believing that happily ever after is possible, if you’re willing to take a chance.  I finished this book with tears in my eyes for a woman whose stories and characters have meant so much to me and who died too young.  Like O’Rourke, I’d like to imagine that Austen experienced the kind of love she wrote about.  This is the perfect book for people who’d like to believe the same.

Book 4 for the P&P Bicentenary Challenge

Disclosure: I received Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen from the author for review. I am an Amazon associate.

© 2013 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.

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Review: Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility (Marvel Illustrated) by Nancy Butler and Sonny Liew

The Marvel Illustrated version of Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility collects the five comic book series by Nancy Butler and Sonny Liew (illustrator) in a single volume.  This graphic novel is a retelling of the classic novel, with the basic plot points condensed into dialogue and accompanied by a blend of serious and humorous illustrations to emphasize the different sides of the various characters.

I think this is my favorite of the Austen graphic novel adaptations so far (read my reviews of Emma and Pride & Prejudice).  Butler simplifies the text for the graphic novel format, and at the same time, enables readers to really get to know the characters.  From Elinor’s reserve to Marianne’s overwhelming emotion, from Fanny Dashwood’s arrogance and greed to Mrs. Jennings’ tendency to gossip, from Edward Ferrars’ morals to Colonel Brandon’s quiet suffering to Willoughby’s impropriety, Butler does a great job displaying the essential truths of Austen’s characters, and coupled with Liew’s detailed drawings and charming, almost doll-like portrayals, they are brought to life.

However, there were times that the artwork bothered me.  In some scenes, Elinor’s head is elongated and looks ridiculous, and Liew occasionally incorporates chibi figures, which add some humor but also make the illustrations inconsistent.  Butler also acknowledges in the author’s note at the beginning that she created some of the speeches in her adaptation because there was more narration than dialogue in Austen’s novel.  But neither the artwork or added dialogue detracted from my enjoyment of the book.  I expected Butler to make such changes given the graphic novel format, and there were times that I was so involved in the story that I realized I was paying little attention to the illustrations!

Sense and Sensibility was the first Jane Austen novel I read (back when I was in high school), and Butler’s adaptation reminds me that it’s time for a re-read.  I really enjoyed it, but it made me long for Austen’s writing, particularly her rich observations of human behavior and social interaction.  Overall, I think these graphic novels are a fun and fresh way for readers (especially young ones) to acquaint themselves with Jane Austen and learn that the classics can be very entertaining.

Disclosure: I borrowed Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility (Marvel Illustrated) from my local library. I am an Amazon associate.

© 2013 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.

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Review: The Man Who Loved Jane Austen by Sally Smith O’Rourke

But she was never quick enough to say the things that were in her heart at the most important moments.  Instead she waited until minutes or even days later, when the moment was past and there was no longer anyone there to hear them.

“Then, when it is far too late,” she confided to her reflection in the mirror, “but loathe to waste my sage replies and witty repartee, I transfer them to the mouths of my always-brilliant Miss Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters.”

(from The Man Who Loved Jane Austen, page 251)

The Man Who Loved Jane Austen is a very different Pride and Prejudice retelling, one that centers on 200-year-old letters between Jane Austen and Fitzwilliam Darcy, which are found in an antique vanity table purchased by New York artist Eliza Knight.  Eliza’s quest to determine whether the Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice was based on someone Austen knew in real life leads her to Fitzwilliam Darcy of Virginia, a horse breeder who owns the grand Pemberley Farms.

Eliza makes the trip to discuss the letters, in which Fitz is extremely interested.  She arrives just before the annual Rose Ball, and he convinces her to stay so he can explain why he wants to buy the letters.  If only Faith Harrington, the temperamental socialite intent on marrying Fitz (think Caroline Bingley, only worse) would leave them alone long enough for Fitz to explain his obsession with Jane Austen…but would Eliza believe him anyway?

Sally Smith O’Rourke has created a delightful tale of a woman who has never taken a chance on love and a man who nearly lost everything for just a taste of it, who are brought together by a writer whose romantic tales have been cherished by readers for 200 years but who may never have had a love story of her own.  In The Man Who Loved Jane Austen, O’Rourke transports readers to Chawton Cottage in 1810 when Austen was editing First Impressions, the novel that would become Pride and Prejudice.  O’Rourke imagines Jane as an intelligent, observant, witty, and curious young woman who is very much attached to her family but is a hopeless romantic.  She is willing to risk a great deal for a kiss in the moonlight, a chance to know how it feels to love and be loved, even if it breaks her heart.

I decided to re-read The Man Who Loved Jane Austen (first read in my pre-blogging days) to refresh my memory before reading the newly published sequel, Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen, and I’m glad I did because I think I liked it even more the second time around.  I didn’t completely buy Eliza as a sort of modern day Elizabeth Bennet, mainly because she was willing to settle for a boring relationship with a boring investment manager (and we know from Elizabeth turning down two marriage proposals that she doesn’t settle!) and she lacked Elizabeth’s wit.  However, Fitz reminded me of Austen’s Darcy, quiet and arrogant until you chip away at his hard shell and uncover the good man hiding beneath.  While I don’t know all that much about Jane Austen’s life (and O’Rourke admits to taking liberties when it comes to the biographical details), I liked how she was portrayed as being very similar to Elizabeth Bennet in personality.  It’s easy to think of Austen merely as a spinster who died young and somehow managed to write some great love stories, but she was so much more than that.  And who doesn’t want to believe that Jane had a love story?

The Man Who Loved Jane Austen is unique in simultaneously juggling past and present retellings of Pride and Prejudice and imagining the inspiration for Austen’s beloved novel.  There’s a bit of a mystery amidst all the romance, and it’s even a bit predictable, but that was easy for me to overlook because I just got swept up in the magic of the story.  It’s a lighthearted novel that, at its core, is about the power of love to change people.

Book 3 for the P&P Bicentenary Challenge

Disclosure: I borrowed The Man Who Loved Jane Austen from my local library. I am an Amazon associate.

© 2013 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.

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Review: Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice (Marvel Illustrated) by Nancy Butler and Hugo Petrus

The Marvel Illustrated version of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice collects the five comic book series by Nancy Butler and Hugo Petrus (illustrator) in a single hardcover volume.  This graphic novel is a retelling of the classic novel, with the basic plot points condensed into dialogue and accompanied by sassy illustrations in warm colors to bring the characters to life.

Butler’s adaptations of Austen’s novels (read my review of the graphic novel version of Emma) make the classics accessible to younger readers.  Of course, the richness of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is sacrificed for brevity and the brilliance of Austen’s characterizations is missing, so readers who are new to Austen and enjoy this version will definitely want to seek out the original right away.  It also seems to be based on the movie version with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, which I think I only noticed because I watched it the day before reading this book.

For the most part, I enjoyed Petrus’ illustrations.  He does a wonderful job showcasing Elizabeth Bennet’s personality through her facial expressions and capturing Mr. Darcy’s arrogance and, later on, the softening of his personality.  However, the Bennet sisters often resemble comic book vixens, which I must admit was humorous even if it wasn’t what I’d expected.

For someone who has read Pride and Prejudice numerous times, I thought this graphic novel was a fresh and exciting way to enjoy one of my favorite books all over again.  It could never replace the original, but it’s obviously not trying to.  It would especially be perfect for younger readers who think classic novels aren’t interesting or fun, and it certainly is a creative way to bring Austen to the masses.

Book 2 for the P&P Bicentenary Challenge

Disclosure: I borrowed Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice (Marvel Illustrated) from my local library. I am an Amazon associate.

© 2013 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.

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Review: Jane Austen’s Emma (Marvel Illustrated) by Nancy Butler and Janet Lee

The Marvel Illustrated version of Jane Austen’s Emma collects the five comic book series by Nancy Butler and Janet Lee (illustrator) in a single hardcover volume.  The graphic novel retells the classic novel in bright colors, which is what I would expect when depicting the lively Emma Woodhouse, from the start of her matchmaking exploits until the moment when she understands her own heart and realizes she’s made a mess of things.

Butler does a decent job condensing the novel into dialogue.  She covers the main plot points, but the depth of the original novel is missing.  Of course, that’s to be expected given the graphic novel format.  However, I thought it was a unique and enjoyable retelling.  I love the humor and the ridiculousness in Emma, so I found Lee’s caricatures amusing and thought the facial expressions were spot on.  I especially loved the emotions she showed on Mr. Knightley’s face, the disapproving and the anguished looks, letting readers infer what’s on his mind.

This graphic novel would make a great addition to an Austenesque fan’s collection, especially if they love Emma as much as I do.  It was fun to dip into my favorite novel for a couple of hours, giving me just enough of a taste to keep me satisfied until I re-read the original.  It would also make a great introduction to the classic novel for younger readers.

Disclosure: Jane Austen’s Emma (Marvel Illustrated) is from my personal library. I am an Amazon associate.

© 2013 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.

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Emma: The Funny Younger Sister — Guest Post by Alyssa Goodnight, author of Austensibly Ordinary

I adored Alyssa Goodnight’s novels, Austentatious and her new release Austensibly Ordinary.  They center on a magical journal through which Jane Austen provides romantic advice, making them pure fun for fans of the Austenesque.

Austensibly Ordinary follows high school English teacher Cate Kendall as she juggles her sexy alter ego, her attempts at matchmaking à la Emma Woodhouse, and her feelings for her mysterious Scrabble partner, Ethan.

I’m thrilled to have Alyssa as a guest on Diary of an Eccentric today.  She’s here to talk about her favorite Austen novel, Emma, (mine, too!) which is referenced throughout Austensibly Ordinary.  Like me, she loves Mr. Knightley.  Yay!  So please give a warm welcome to Alyssa Goodnight.

How thrilling to be celebrating the 200th anniversary of Pride and Prejudice this week! P&P is certainly an impressive accomplishment all on its own, but the idea—the reality—that it’s inspired such an enduring and ever-expanding legacy is truly mindboggling. Jane Austen has proven herself a literary titan.

Deep breath…and release.

Now, I have a confession: Pride and Prejudice is not my favorite Austen novel. Emma wins that accolade quite easily (although Northanger Abbey just might be edging it out.) I know I am in the minority, and while I understand why my favorite isn’t as revered and beloved as the incontrovertible classic, Emma certainly has its merits.

For instance, in a Darcy versus Knightley debate, I would come out staunchly on Team Knightley. The man is sensible, steadfast, and selfless, willing to sacrifice his own happiness for his true love’s. He is witty and sexy and best friend material: everything a man should be. Unless you like brooding. If you like brooding, then Darcy is definitely your man.

On the topic of conflict, some would argue that while Pride and Prejudice has it in spades: Elizabeth and Darcy, Darcy and Wickham, Mrs. Bennet and anyone who dares to have a contrary opinion, not to mention vindictiveness (Caroline Bingley, Lady Catherine de Bourgh…), Emma is positively full of likeable characters who have little trouble getting along (at least until Mrs. Elton shows up or Harriet Smith decides she’s in love with Mr. Knightley). While financial circumstances and society strictures—not to mention the namesake pride and prejudice—kept Darcy and Elizabeth apart, Knightley is waiting, right next door, for Emma to notice him, to realize that marriage to him would be quite wonderful.

To me, Pride and Prejudice feels like a classic romance novel and Emma like a humorous romp. The novel was adapted into the movie Clueless, after all (which I love). That should really say it all. It’s a witty, light-hearted story about finding oneself, with a dash of romance thrown in along the way. Romance between best friends. I love the carriage scene with Mr. Elton, when he’s pouring out his love for Emma and she’s horrified! I love the bits where Harriet Smith acts like a goofy-in-love buffoon, and the tension-filled moments that are spent between Emma and Knightley (unchaperoned!). Ms. Austen kept tragedy and harsh reality from this novel, and as a result, Emma is an enjoyable, escapist read (and still a classic!). I wanted to capture a little of that feeling with Austensibly Ordinary, and I hope I succeeded on some level.

If you haven’t read Emma…maybe you’ve never strayed from the allure of Mr. Darcy…I encourage you to give this slightly lesser-known Austen novel a chance. Maybe on a rainy Saturday afternoon, when you need a little smile, or perhaps even a reason to giggle. And then, most definitely, you must watch the adaptation of the novel starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeremy Northam, and Alan Cumming. You must!

I couldn’t help but nod my head in agreement while reading this guest post!  Thanks, Alyssa, and I sure do hope this will be an entire series of books!

Disclosure: I am an Amazon associate.

© 2013 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.

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Review: Austensibly Ordinary by Alyssa Goodnight

I didn’t particularly care for surprises, unless they involved gifts…or cake.  The discovery of a journal channeling the spirit of Jane Austen had been an exception, but I’d been reconsidering my position for days.  Cake never gave me any trouble.  Gypsy Jane, however, liked dishing it out on a regular basis.

(from Austensibly Ordinary, page 182)

Alyssa Goodnight’s latest novel, Austensibly Ordinary, is a sort of sequel to Austentatious, but it can be read on its own since it follows a different set of characters.  As in Austentatious, the novel centers on a magical journal through which Jane Austen dispenses advice, rearranging the words poured out by the journal’s current owner into vague one-liners.

This time, the heroine is Cate Kendall, a high school English teacher who invents a sexy siren alter ego, Cat Kennedy, to add some excitement to her life.  Much of her life revolves around teaching Jane Austen novels and playing Scrabble every Sunday night with her best friend and fellow teacher, Ethan.  After finding the old journal in a picnic table, Cate’s life is suddenly chaotic as she tries to navigate two personas and have some fun with Jake, whom she met at a Halloween party while acting like Cat and thinks might be her Mr. Darcy.

Meanwhile, all the classroom talk about Jane Austen’s Emma has Cate believing that the Gypsy Jane of the journal is encouraging her to play matchmaker, a sort of modern-day Emma Woodhouse.  She starts thinking of potential matches for all the single people in her life…but what about Ethan?  He knows all of her secrets, but he won’t tell her any of his.  When Gypsy Jane’s advice starts hitting too close to home, Cate’s more confused than ever.  How does a girl choose between a Darcy and a Knightley?

Austensibly Ordinary is sexy and fun and a wonderful way to spend an afternoon immersed in a contemporary romance with Austen’s fingerprints all over it.  I really hope Goodnight revisits the journal in another novel because I can’t get enough of Fairy Jane, Gypsy Jane, whatever kind of Jane!  Her heroines are believable, best-friend material, and her heroes are just as charming and irresistible as Austen’s.  I really enjoyed the first book, but I loved the characters in this one even more — and the Emma references made it hard to put down.

Goodnight’s books are perfect for Austen fans, especially those willing to believe that a wise yet playful matchmaker Jane Austen is out there somewhere working her magic.  And today being the 200th anniversary of the publication of Pride and Prejudice makes it the perfect day to celebrate a beloved author who continues to delight readers with her insight into human relationships.  Austensibly Ordinary proves that Austen’s stories are timeless, with relevance even in a society much changed from Austen’s time.

Disclosure: I received Austensibly Ordinary from the author for review. I am an Amazon associate.

© 2013 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.

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