By Syrie James
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: August 5, 2014
In this story, Jane is only fifteen years old, so the
youngest she’s been; however, she feels very authentically Jane, while still
very authentically fifteen. While visiting her brother in Kent, Jane meets the
ever-so-dashing Edward Taylor. Despite that a match between them is very
unlikely (he’s wealthy and she’s penniless), the two enjoy spending time with
each other and his interest in her seems genuine. She can’t help falling head
over heels in love with him.
While Jane is trying to discern if his interest in her will
lead to something more, or can lead to something more, she distracts herself
with a little harmless matchmaking, which opens the door to the Reader seeing
the author Jane Austen using her own experiences and observations to create a
much-beloved character, Emma, with much the same disastrous results. And I do
mean disastrous—because by the time all is revealed, one wonders how Humpty
Dumpty is going to be put back together again and all is restored to right. But
much like her heroines, Jane makes the necessary sacrifices and like her
stories, the right happy endings happen for everyone. Well, except Jane, since
we all know how the love story of Jane Austen ends.
Still, even though Jane is only able to have true love for
herself through her stories, it is fun to read these stories that offer
possibilities of where some of the ideas, scenes, and characters came from. In
this story alone, I had glimpses of Pride & Prejudice, Emma, and
Persuasion, and all felt natural and delightful. An extremely satisfying read.
Syrie never disappoints!
~Hellie
Hellie Sinclair (a.k.a. Fran) was one of the founding members of the Romance Writer's Revenge, where she frequently got to satisfy her love of good books and her need to expound by writing reviews. Hellie loves to craft on projects she rarely finishes, watch British dramas as a sort of Olympic marathon event, and do most anything that fits the description "indolent and pleasurable." Fortunately reading falls into that category. Connect with Hellie on Facebook.
~Hellie
Hellie Sinclair (a.k.a. Fran) was one of the founding members of the Romance Writer's Revenge, where she frequently got to satisfy her love of good books and her need to expound by writing reviews. Hellie loves to craft on projects she rarely finishes, watch British dramas as a sort of Olympic marathon event, and do most anything that fits the description "indolent and pleasurable." Fortunately reading falls into that category. Connect with Hellie on Facebook.
