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Jane Austen Takes The South #1
Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits
This hilarious Southern retelling of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice "tells the story of two hard-headed Civil war historians who find that first impressions can be deceiving.
Shelby Roswell, a Civil War historian and professor, is on the fast track to tenure--that is, until her new book is roasted by the famous historian Ransom Fielding in a national review. With her career stalled by a man she's never met, Shelby struggles to maintain her composure when she discovers that Fielding has taken a visiting professorship at her small Southern college.
Ransom Fielding is still struggling with his role in his wife's accidental death six years ago and is hoping that a year at Shelby's small college near his hometown of Oxford, Mississippi, will be a respite from the pressures of Ivy League academia. He never bargained for falling in love with the one woman whose career--and pride--he injured, and who would do anything to make him leave.
When these two hot-headed southerners find themselves fighting over the centuries-old history of local battles and antebellum mansions, their small college is about to become a battlefield of Civil War proportions.
With familiar and relatable characters and wit to spare, "Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits "shows you that love can conquer all...especially when pride, prejudice, love, and cheese grits are involved!
Shelby Roswell, a Civil War historian and professor, is on the fast track to tenure--that is, until her new book is roasted by the famous historian Ransom Fielding in a national review. With her career stalled by a man she's never met, Shelby struggles to maintain her composure when she discovers that Fielding has taken a visiting professorship at her small Southern college.
Ransom Fielding is still struggling with his role in his wife's accidental death six years ago and is hoping that a year at Shelby's small college near his hometown of Oxford, Mississippi, will be a respite from the pressures of Ivy League academia. He never bargained for falling in love with the one woman whose career--and pride--he injured, and who would do anything to make him leave.
When these two hot-headed southerners find themselves fighting over the centuries-old history of local battles and antebellum mansions, their small college is about to become a battlefield of Civil War proportions.
With familiar and relatable characters and wit to spare, "Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits "shows you that love can conquer all...especially when pride, prejudice, love, and cheese grits are involved!
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
162 people are currently reading
1936 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jane Hathaway
27 books187 followersAbout the Author: Mary Jane Hathaway is the pen name of an award-nominated writer who spends the majority of her literary energy on subjects un-related to Jane Austen. A homeschooling mother of six young children who rarely wear shoes, she’s madly in love with a man who has never read Pride and Prejudice. She holds degrees in Religious Studies and Theoretical Linguistics, and has a Jane Austen quote on the back of her van. She can be reached on facebook at 'Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits' or her regular author page of Virginia Carmichael (which is another pen name, because she’s just that cool).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 332 reviews
June 29, 2013
I actually read these out of order because the Emma book showed up in my Amazon feed first.
I don't know which one I like more!! This one is longer and Ransom is definitely more of a cranky, Alpha male. It was definitely a Pride and Prejudice remake, but not so much that it was boring. You could see all the characters (even her sisters and mom!) but I think she combined the bad guys into one. Unless I missed something?
Anyway, the Civil War details were really interesting and I kept thinking maybe the author was making it up, so I googled a few facts and she was right on. So, there's a lot of research in here, and FUNNY, too!!
Sometimes I laughed out loud and my husband would roll his eyes... Annoyed at me!
anyway, no sex, no swearing. Somebody said there was a swear word but I must have missed it. There was, like, two kisses and a proposal so that was definitely pretty tame for a romance book. I like a little more heat, but this was still a very good book and definitely Christian.
Would make a great movie!!!
I don't know which one I like more!! This one is longer and Ransom is definitely more of a cranky, Alpha male. It was definitely a Pride and Prejudice remake, but not so much that it was boring. You could see all the characters (even her sisters and mom!) but I think she combined the bad guys into one. Unless I missed something?
Anyway, the Civil War details were really interesting and I kept thinking maybe the author was making it up, so I googled a few facts and she was right on. So, there's a lot of research in here, and FUNNY, too!!
Sometimes I laughed out loud and my husband would roll his eyes... Annoyed at me!
anyway, no sex, no swearing. Somebody said there was a swear word but I must have missed it. There was, like, two kisses and a proposal so that was definitely pretty tame for a romance book. I like a little more heat, but this was still a very good book and definitely Christian.
Would make a great movie!!!
May 17, 2021
Southern small town, college life, and Jane Austen came together in this whimsical and inspirational retelling of Jane Austen's most famous classic. The sparks fly when a history professor engages the visiting professor and expert who left her a scathing review. Can they get past that and other mishaps and miscues? With a little homecooking, family loving, and maybe a bit of blessing they just might.
Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits is the first in the Jane Austen Takes the South series of standalone stories retelling or, more accurately, revisiting the spirit of Jane Austen's classics. I had the fun of reading all three releases in reverse order because that was the order I came across the books and I can confirm that they work just fine as standalone.
So, Shelby Roswell has been putting in the sweat and time to earn her place to tenure and maybe someday the head of the history department. What she didn't need is some big time Yankee historian with a handsome face delivering a scathing review on her latest journal article. And, here he is the star of the campus as the darling guest lecturer that she either finds a way to make nice with or find herself on the outskirts and her position in jeopardy. Okay, so perhaps disrupting his class and undermining his authority was not exactly part of the plan, but her temper and wounded pride got the better of her. It doesn't help that he remains cool and calm and, ugh, everyone even her best friends think well of him. She might strive to be a good Christian and Southern lady, but Ransom Fielding puts her completely out of countenance. Too bad she's unaware that the lonely, still grieving widower has an utterly different impression of her and warily wants a friendship and will go to great lengths to support her shaky career.
This book had opposing impressions on me. I enjoyed the story and particularly when some other characters' sneaking plots ratcheted up the tension right when the pair were really starting to connect and find common ground. The backdrop of Southern life, family, friends, and small town with college life was wonderfully vivid and engaging. But, on occasion I just wanted to bip Shelby or muzzle her. She really did leap before she looked so many times and I wasn't impressed that Ransom was the one always coming to her to apologize or make good between them. He had his flaws, but she really didn't give him much incentive to sticking it out and falling for her because he didn't see the side of her that friends and family did much of the time.
But, yes, the writing pulled me in and I loved the story even when I was muttering at the heroine. There are strong inspirational theme elements which I didn't mind, but any new readers should be prepared for. All in all, it did hit the heartwarming meter and I think Austenesque inspirational romance or sweet contemporary romance fans should give it a try.
Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits is the first in the Jane Austen Takes the South series of standalone stories retelling or, more accurately, revisiting the spirit of Jane Austen's classics. I had the fun of reading all three releases in reverse order because that was the order I came across the books and I can confirm that they work just fine as standalone.
So, Shelby Roswell has been putting in the sweat and time to earn her place to tenure and maybe someday the head of the history department. What she didn't need is some big time Yankee historian with a handsome face delivering a scathing review on her latest journal article. And, here he is the star of the campus as the darling guest lecturer that she either finds a way to make nice with or find herself on the outskirts and her position in jeopardy. Okay, so perhaps disrupting his class and undermining his authority was not exactly part of the plan, but her temper and wounded pride got the better of her. It doesn't help that he remains cool and calm and, ugh, everyone even her best friends think well of him. She might strive to be a good Christian and Southern lady, but Ransom Fielding puts her completely out of countenance. Too bad she's unaware that the lonely, still grieving widower has an utterly different impression of her and warily wants a friendship and will go to great lengths to support her shaky career.
This book had opposing impressions on me. I enjoyed the story and particularly when some other characters' sneaking plots ratcheted up the tension right when the pair were really starting to connect and find common ground. The backdrop of Southern life, family, friends, and small town with college life was wonderfully vivid and engaging. But, on occasion I just wanted to bip Shelby or muzzle her. She really did leap before she looked so many times and I wasn't impressed that Ransom was the one always coming to her to apologize or make good between them. He had his flaws, but she really didn't give him much incentive to sticking it out and falling for her because he didn't see the side of her that friends and family did much of the time.
But, yes, the writing pulled me in and I loved the story even when I was muttering at the heroine. There are strong inspirational theme elements which I didn't mind, but any new readers should be prepared for. All in all, it did hit the heartwarming meter and I think Austenesque inspirational romance or sweet contemporary romance fans should give it a try.
June 24, 2013
To start, this book isn't really a retelling of "Pride and Prejudice," which is fine, but if you're expecting a retelling, just be aware it isn't. The book is more inspired by "Pride and Prejudice," meaning it has similarities in characters and scenes.
Let me start with what I liked: I liked the writing (save one exception, see the final note). The book was well written and flowed well. I didn't really feel like the conversations were forced or full of cliches. I didn't notice any major grammar or formatting errors, in the ebook.
Now to the things I didn't like. The characters aren't fully fleshed out, I didn't really understand their motivations or actions. Also, most of the secondary characters were stock characters - meaning they had no characterization and often only appeared for a moment as a convenient plot device and then were gone. (Example: A random cousin showing up with a baby so the heroine could have a conversation with the hero.) Additionally, I wasn't too fond of the plot, it seemed a little too contrived. The hero and heroine didn't really encounter each other in circumstances which would seem normal to me, so that was a bit of a strain on believability.
On the whole, the book felt about three stars to me, until a particular scene occurred: The heroine calls out an older, respected lady as a liar, at the lady's own fundraiser, in front of everyone, during her speech! Now, not only is this completely inappropriate in any circumstances - let the lady finish her speech and talk to her privately, have some respect! The heroine based her facts for calling the lady out on an article she remembered reading once in a newspaper! Really? You publicly embarrass and insult someone based on an article that you remember reading? What if your memory is bad? What if the newspaper was wrong? What if you misunderstood? To top this all off, the heroine spent the majority of the book complaining about how someone gave her an insulting and uncalled for review in a national magazine! Yeah, that means she did the same thing to someone else that she had spent the book complaining about. *sigh* To make matters worse, if possible, after causing that scene, it's never really mentioned in the book, again! The heroine insulted a respected lady of the community at her own party, in front of all of these influential people and we never know the aftermath. Was the heroine right? Was it just a mistake? Was the lady really trying to con people out of money? Did the heroine's reputation suffer? Nothing. That pushed the book down to two stars from me.
Oh, final note, the "Christian" heroine utters a swear word in the middle of the book and an important plot device is of an adult nature, so just be aware.
Maybe you will enjoy this book, but it just wasn't for me.
Let me start with what I liked: I liked the writing (save one exception, see the final note). The book was well written and flowed well. I didn't really feel like the conversations were forced or full of cliches. I didn't notice any major grammar or formatting errors, in the ebook.
Now to the things I didn't like. The characters aren't fully fleshed out, I didn't really understand their motivations or actions. Also, most of the secondary characters were stock characters - meaning they had no characterization and often only appeared for a moment as a convenient plot device and then were gone. (Example: A random cousin showing up with a baby so the heroine could have a conversation with the hero.) Additionally, I wasn't too fond of the plot, it seemed a little too contrived. The hero and heroine didn't really encounter each other in circumstances which would seem normal to me, so that was a bit of a strain on believability.
On the whole, the book felt about three stars to me, until a particular scene occurred: The heroine calls out an older, respected lady as a liar, at the lady's own fundraiser, in front of everyone, during her speech! Now, not only is this completely inappropriate in any circumstances - let the lady finish her speech and talk to her privately, have some respect! The heroine based her facts for calling the lady out on an article she remembered reading once in a newspaper! Really? You publicly embarrass and insult someone based on an article that you remember reading? What if your memory is bad? What if the newspaper was wrong? What if you misunderstood? To top this all off, the heroine spent the majority of the book complaining about how someone gave her an insulting and uncalled for review in a national magazine! Yeah, that means she did the same thing to someone else that she had spent the book complaining about. *sigh* To make matters worse, if possible, after causing that scene, it's never really mentioned in the book, again! The heroine insulted a respected lady of the community at her own party, in front of all of these influential people and we never know the aftermath. Was the heroine right? Was it just a mistake? Was the lady really trying to con people out of money? Did the heroine's reputation suffer? Nothing. That pushed the book down to two stars from me.
Oh, final note, the "Christian" heroine utters a swear word in the middle of the book and an important plot device is of an adult nature, so just be aware.
Maybe you will enjoy this book, but it just wasn't for me.
August 14, 2014
TYPE OF AUSTENESQUE NOVEL: Modern Adaptation, Christian (Inspirational) Fiction
SETTING: A small liberal arts university in present-day Mississippi
SERIES: Jane Austen Takes the South
MAIN CHARACTERS: Shelby Roswell (a Civil War professor – Elizabeth), Ransom Fielding (a visiting professor and acclaimed Civil War historian – Darcy), Aunt Junetta (Mrs. Gardiner) David Bishop (Mr. Collins and Mr. Wickham rolled up in one lovely little package!), Tasha (Caroline Bingley), and Rebecca (Shelby’s Jane Austen lovin’ roommate)
WHY I WANTED TO READ THIS:
Jane Austen in the South! I live in and love the south!
I love modern-retellings of Jane Austen’s novels, and I especially love that this book is part of a series!
Civil War re-enactments, antebellum mansions, good ol’ southern cooking – sounds fabulous!
WHAT I LOVED:
A Visit to Academia: Several main characters work at a university in this novel. We see Shelby meet with students during her office hours and witness Shelby and her roommate go through the stressful ordeal of applying for tenure. Having loved my experience at college and still living in the town where I went to college, I was thrilled to be amongst professors, lecture halls, and all those departmental politics and dramas!
A Clean, Southern Romance: Often, modern-day retellings of Jane Austen’s works come with modern-day language and modern-day sensibilities. I liked how this story was clean in content and language. And speaking of language, I’m real grateful that Ms. Hathaway didn’t give her characters clichéd, over-exaggerated southern dialects and accents!
An Inspired Retelling: Drawing from some of the characters and events from Pride and Prejudice, Mary Jane Hathaway creates her own tale that doesn’t closely shadow Jane Austen’s plot. And integrated with her characters and their obstacles is an inspiring message about forgiveness and letting go of your anger and hurt.
The Beautiful South: Following our heroine, Shelby, through the various places she visits was a real treat. I loved hearing about her parent’s historic old home, taking the country roads to Aunt Junetta’s picturesque house, and joining Ransom and Shelby as they visit a prominent plantation home. The descriptions of these homes and locales were so detailed and complete, that is was easy to see them materialize in my mind’s eye.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
More Ransom!: I would have loved to see Ransom receive more page time, to understand how his feelings for Shelby changed and developed (he was so against her romantically in the beginning!) Also, since he undergoes a transformation in faith, it would have been great to witness that change happen on page as well. Without it, his feelings for Shelby and his grief about his past felt like they underwent an abrupt change.
CONCLUSION:
I went into this series with a high level of excitement and expectations – (it couldn’t be helped, this book was on my wish-list for over a year!) I’m thrilled to say that Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits was an extremely absorbing and entertaining read that definitely exceeded my expectations. It has a perfect balance of southern charm, sweet romance, and clever nods to our dear Jane!
SETTING: A small liberal arts university in present-day Mississippi
SERIES: Jane Austen Takes the South
MAIN CHARACTERS: Shelby Roswell (a Civil War professor – Elizabeth), Ransom Fielding (a visiting professor and acclaimed Civil War historian – Darcy), Aunt Junetta (Mrs. Gardiner) David Bishop (Mr. Collins and Mr. Wickham rolled up in one lovely little package!), Tasha (Caroline Bingley), and Rebecca (Shelby’s Jane Austen lovin’ roommate)
WHY I WANTED TO READ THIS:
Jane Austen in the South! I live in and love the south!
I love modern-retellings of Jane Austen’s novels, and I especially love that this book is part of a series!
Civil War re-enactments, antebellum mansions, good ol’ southern cooking – sounds fabulous!
WHAT I LOVED:
A Visit to Academia: Several main characters work at a university in this novel. We see Shelby meet with students during her office hours and witness Shelby and her roommate go through the stressful ordeal of applying for tenure. Having loved my experience at college and still living in the town where I went to college, I was thrilled to be amongst professors, lecture halls, and all those departmental politics and dramas!
A Clean, Southern Romance: Often, modern-day retellings of Jane Austen’s works come with modern-day language and modern-day sensibilities. I liked how this story was clean in content and language. And speaking of language, I’m real grateful that Ms. Hathaway didn’t give her characters clichéd, over-exaggerated southern dialects and accents!
An Inspired Retelling: Drawing from some of the characters and events from Pride and Prejudice, Mary Jane Hathaway creates her own tale that doesn’t closely shadow Jane Austen’s plot. And integrated with her characters and their obstacles is an inspiring message about forgiveness and letting go of your anger and hurt.
The Beautiful South: Following our heroine, Shelby, through the various places she visits was a real treat. I loved hearing about her parent’s historic old home, taking the country roads to Aunt Junetta’s picturesque house, and joining Ransom and Shelby as they visit a prominent plantation home. The descriptions of these homes and locales were so detailed and complete, that is was easy to see them materialize in my mind’s eye.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
More Ransom!: I would have loved to see Ransom receive more page time, to understand how his feelings for Shelby changed and developed (he was so against her romantically in the beginning!) Also, since he undergoes a transformation in faith, it would have been great to witness that change happen on page as well. Without it, his feelings for Shelby and his grief about his past felt like they underwent an abrupt change.
CONCLUSION:
I went into this series with a high level of excitement and expectations – (it couldn’t be helped, this book was on my wish-list for over a year!) I’m thrilled to say that Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits was an extremely absorbing and entertaining read that definitely exceeded my expectations. It has a perfect balance of southern charm, sweet romance, and clever nods to our dear Jane!
June 19, 2013
I can't believe how much I loved this book. This is hands down the best modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice I've read, and I read a LOT of Austen adaptations (both Regency and modern). This was the first time the heroine was smart enough to be a worthy successor to Elizabeth Bennet. The parallels were not overdrawn or trite, and the story would have been compelling even if it did not remind me of one of my favorite books. I love the way that faith played into the story - not forced at all, and feeling very natural and in sync with the characters. The group of people who love Shelby and Ransom in the book felt genuine and dynamic as well, even though they did not get a lot of page time (typical for the romance genre, of course - not a complaint). I loved Rebecca! She made me think more highly of Jane Bennet. The Wickham type character was suitably evil. Really, the only distracting bit of reading was a multitude of typos, but I would read twice as many happily just to hear the story! I am very much looking forward to the next books in the series. Way to go, Ms. "Hathaway"!
January 27, 2013
While the premise was fun, the story was not written well. The was a was of feminist mumbo jumbo too that totally wasn't needed. The redemption aspect went way to quickly. There were also a lot of grammatical errors.
March 29, 2020
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
As some people say on their reviews, this is not a retelling on "Pride and Prejudice" and it is true, it's a modern variation, that's why things cannot be the same and the characters may behave differently.
I have enjoyed the story, it's true that Shelby, the female protagonist, can be a bit annoying when she is so honest. One thing it to be honest and another thing is to be something rude. However, reading how her feelings change is nice. Ransom, the male character, is pretty good and I like to read about his Plans A, B and C because i thought "sure, that's going to work... You wish!" He hides a bit of a trauma of deep loss and Shelby eventually helps him see how irrational is his guilt.
As some people say on their reviews, this is not a retelling on "Pride and Prejudice" and it is true, it's a modern variation, that's why things cannot be the same and the characters may behave differently.
I have enjoyed the story, it's true that Shelby, the female protagonist, can be a bit annoying when she is so honest. One thing it to be honest and another thing is to be something rude. However, reading how her feelings change is nice. Ransom, the male character, is pretty good and I like to read about his Plans A, B and C because i thought "sure, that's going to work... You wish!" He hides a bit of a trauma of deep loss and Shelby eventually helps him see how irrational is his guilt.
July 1, 2013
A cute and simple modern day take of Pride and Prejudice. I loved the southern touches, with history woven into the storyline. The main character was mature, strong, smart, funny, and I love how she talked to God throughout the book. It made it realistic and relatable. Of course I always loved Lizzie Bennet anyway so I am not surprised I liked this character! Thank heavens the main male character who was supposed to represent Mr. Darcy...was way better than Mr. Darcy! (I am one of those people who really can not see anything desirable in the original character.) But he was rather lovely in this book and much more likable and nice. Overall it didn't mimic Pride and Prejudice too much, which was okay with me. It had the same sort of storyline but a lot of differences which I like in a modern remake. Some people might not though (if you like exact re-telling.)
I did find a few grammar mistakes but it didn't bother me to much...and I'm a grammar nazi. Sometimes kindle versions aren't the best quality, so I understand that.
Clean book. No sex. No cursing. A little bit of crude humor but nothing you wouldn't hear if you have kids or brothers around.
Overall enjoyable, fun, and I give it 4 stars!
I did find a few grammar mistakes but it didn't bother me to much...and I'm a grammar nazi. Sometimes kindle versions aren't the best quality, so I understand that.
Clean book. No sex. No cursing. A little bit of crude humor but nothing you wouldn't hear if you have kids or brothers around.
Overall enjoyable, fun, and I give it 4 stars!
January 31, 2016
Having previously read and enjoyed another book in this series, Persuasion, Captain Wentworth, and Cracklin' Cornbread, I was eager to read this, the one that started it all!
As I expected, I seriously enjoyed it. Hathaway has a way of taking Austen's works and modernizing them without losing any of Austen's themes or deeper meaning. There are still discussions of the social classes, women's roles, and race. I like that Hathaway doesn't allow her characters to shy away from these issues. She makes sure her work has substance and takes a stand. (I highly approve)
I'm extremely eager to complete the rest of this series.
As I expected, I seriously enjoyed it. Hathaway has a way of taking Austen's works and modernizing them without losing any of Austen's themes or deeper meaning. There are still discussions of the social classes, women's roles, and race. I like that Hathaway doesn't allow her characters to shy away from these issues. She makes sure her work has substance and takes a stand. (I highly approve)
I'm extremely eager to complete the rest of this series.
January 16, 2013
I downloaded this book for free on Amazon. I'm totally one to judge a book by its cover, and wasn't impressed. However the story line seemed interesting so I took a risk and hit purchase.
Boy am I glad I did.
Loved the characters, the scenes and The fact that it WASN'T yet another spin on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Sure there were a some Austenesc scenes, but it wasn't so overwhelming that you felt you were reading Pride and Prejudice again.
Boy am I glad I did.
Loved the characters, the scenes and The fact that it WASN'T yet another spin on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Sure there were a some Austenesc scenes, but it wasn't so overwhelming that you felt you were reading Pride and Prejudice again.
March 19, 2013
I love most things Austen but there were two things that bothered me about this book. First, there should have been some kind of indication that this was "christian fiction". Second, the formatting was HORRIBLE. Someone desperately needs to edit this & re-format it because punctuation was missing and paragraphs & sentences were all over the place. I almost stopped reading it but I hate to leave a book unfinished. I don't think that I will be reading any more in this series.
April 5, 2020
Cute but sort of forgettable. I liked it but didn’t love it. Review to come!
March 28, 2021
Modern, Austen-Inspired
An Austen-Pride and Prejudice-inspired book. It’s a clean, modern story based in the South about two Civil War historians, Shelby (Elizabeth) and Ransom (Darcy). His “insult” is a scathing review of her book. Now he has come to work at the college where she is currently working. Like Elizabeth in P&P, Shelby is obstinate and headstrong and unafraid to say what she’s thinking. Ransom is a widower who harbors feelings of guilt and an anger towards God. While it isn’t a religious story, aspects of faith are touched upon.
Of course there are misunderstandings and villains and a HEA. One villain’s character seems a mix of Mr. Collins and Wickham.
An Austen-Pride and Prejudice-inspired book. It’s a clean, modern story based in the South about two Civil War historians, Shelby (Elizabeth) and Ransom (Darcy). His “insult” is a scathing review of her book. Now he has come to work at the college where she is currently working. Like Elizabeth in P&P, Shelby is obstinate and headstrong and unafraid to say what she’s thinking. Ransom is a widower who harbors feelings of guilt and an anger towards God. While it isn’t a religious story, aspects of faith are touched upon.
Of course there are misunderstandings and villains and a HEA. One villain’s character seems a mix of Mr. Collins and Wickham.
December 19, 2017
I was introduced to this author on the Austenesque Reviews blog. Reading the good comments there made me go to Amazon to read the reviews and then the sample. I usually read most, if not all, reviews before making a decision but in noting that there are 376 reviews I only read those of longer lengths. I was provided a free copy of this book by the author with no strings attached.
I opened this book up on a Sunday afternoon and could not put it down (despite missing a USA soccer game) so finished reading at 12:20 AM on a Monday morning. I enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and found myself pausing to think, "OK that quote is from which scene?" As others have said this is very loosely framed after Jane Austen's P&P with characters that are recognizable to her fans. It stands alone but I would hope readers would also read JA's P&P, a classic for all ages.
As a Christian I was pleased to find my faith reflected in these pages but NOT in a preachy style. I also found the romance very enticing without going into the bedroom. Elizabeth and Darcy are my favorite characters from fiction so I look for JAFF which features them.
I will not go over the story line as so many have done a very good job with that in the previous 36 pages of reviews. I did find this to be a page turner and found that it was not predictable, so I did not find myself skimming anything as I do at times in other books. My book was free from errors. With paperbacks I keep a pencil on hand to make corrections and made none therein.
I truly enjoyed the various relationships Shelby had: her aunt, her roommate, friends, co-workers, family, even her younger sisters. I particularly liked the humorous restaurant scene with Tasha....spinach and cranberries, indeed! The You Tube video incident was unique in this story but sadly reflecting many headlines in recent years of corrupt professionals who have young students/persons in their power, i.e., Sandusky scandal for Penn State.
My paperback does include the recipes which I look forward to trying out plus the Reading Discussion Guide is a very nice addition. I am thinking about sending this book to one of my Southern cousins in Georgia but will have to re-read it at least once, maybe twice, first.
I opened this book up on a Sunday afternoon and could not put it down (despite missing a USA soccer game) so finished reading at 12:20 AM on a Monday morning. I enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and found myself pausing to think, "OK that quote is from which scene?" As others have said this is very loosely framed after Jane Austen's P&P with characters that are recognizable to her fans. It stands alone but I would hope readers would also read JA's P&P, a classic for all ages.
As a Christian I was pleased to find my faith reflected in these pages but NOT in a preachy style. I also found the romance very enticing without going into the bedroom. Elizabeth and Darcy are my favorite characters from fiction so I look for JAFF which features them.
I will not go over the story line as so many have done a very good job with that in the previous 36 pages of reviews. I did find this to be a page turner and found that it was not predictable, so I did not find myself skimming anything as I do at times in other books. My book was free from errors. With paperbacks I keep a pencil on hand to make corrections and made none therein.
I truly enjoyed the various relationships Shelby had: her aunt, her roommate, friends, co-workers, family, even her younger sisters. I particularly liked the humorous restaurant scene with Tasha....spinach and cranberries, indeed! The You Tube video incident was unique in this story but sadly reflecting many headlines in recent years of corrupt professionals who have young students/persons in their power, i.e., Sandusky scandal for Penn State.
My paperback does include the recipes which I look forward to trying out plus the Reading Discussion Guide is a very nice addition. I am thinking about sending this book to one of my Southern cousins in Georgia but will have to re-read it at least once, maybe twice, first.
December 15, 2016
I don't think I have words to describe how wonderful this book is. The character's were great, the interaction between the main character's, Shelby and Ransom, was funny, frustrating, and cute. The secondary characters were such a part of the story that they were just as memorable as the main character. The story line was well written along with the scenery, it held alot of Southern Charm. I found myself racing through the pages to know what happens next.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves JANE AUSTEN'S PRIDE AND PREJUDICE or anyone who likes a sweet love story.
I look forward to reading EMMA, MR. KNIGHTLEY, AND CHILI-SLAW DOGS (Austen Takes The South #2)
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves JANE AUSTEN'S PRIDE AND PREJUDICE or anyone who likes a sweet love story.
I look forward to reading EMMA, MR. KNIGHTLEY, AND CHILI-SLAW DOGS (Austen Takes The South #2)
November 7, 2013
This book might deserve more than 2 stars but since I don't have much time to read right now, when I do I want the book to be amazing. This one was not! There were so many editing errors that I was confused a lot and the lack of introductions of new people. There was more than once that I couldn't figure out how the person tied into the story.
June 18, 2013
A fun P&P modern-day twist. There was a few spots where I was confused, but not horribly so. Not a wow book, but a good read and I enjoyed it.
Moral Note: A couple of language, some talk about a "video" that gets leaked, not graphic.
Moral Note: A couple of language, some talk about a "video" that gets leaked, not graphic.
July 4, 2013
This was a fun, quick read. I cared about Shelby, the main character, and was satisfied with the ending. She had a very interesting career as a Civil War historian and it made me want to know more about it.
June 4, 2013
Cute story with take on Pride and Prejudice and references to the original story. Each chapter starts with a quote from the Austen classic.
This is a clean romance.
This is a clean romance.
June 9, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. It is a nice take on the Pride and Prejudice story. It is fresh and entertaining.
June 18, 2013
A bit long and mentions religion a lot. No sex!
The story is still pretty good and I enjoyed it.
The story is still pretty good and I enjoyed it.
June 25, 2013
Fun Read!
March 12, 2013
Shelby Roswell is a 29-year-old history professor. Her main ambition is tenure at the college where she teaches; her mother's main ambition is to marry her off.
Ransom Fielding is the man in her way. He wrote a scathing review of her book that was published in a magazine with a circulation of over 40 million! It seems like his only purpose in life is to ruin her career, and now she has to watch everyone fall all over him because the "esteemed" Ransom Fielding is teaching at her college for a term! She isn't going to be able to avoid him forever...
When Shelby walks into the lecture hall to retrieve her keys while Ransom Fielding is giving a lecture and reprimanding a student for bringing food/drink to his class, her anger overrides her good sense. Feeling the need for revenge on this "grade school bully" and taking no thought for what his first impression would be (and being far too angry to notice that Mr. Finch, the head of the department, and Mrs. Greathouse, head of the Southern Historical Society are both present in his class), she feels justified for intervening with this student!
But afterwards she remembers that she is a peaceful, Christian woman and realizes that she will have to apologize to him!
Ransom Fielding has more of a sense of humor than he lets on! Since his wife, Lili, died in a car accident he has carried a heavy burden. He actually admires Shelby's spunk! But he has made it a habit to avoid any woman who will cause him to feel anything.
Shelby starts seeing another side to Ransom Fielding. She sees him as the Good Samaritan who saves her in the snowstorm coming home from her aunt's house (even though she insists she didn't need saving), and she sees him as an attentive date when he invites her to his aunt's fundraiser (that, of course, ends in a fiasco! -- Why can't anything turn out normal when she is with this man?).
But Shelby mistakenly thinks he is engaged to the beautiful (and very annoying) Tasha. Tasha talks about nothing but weddings -- but not for the reason Shelby assumes. And then there's the slimy David Whitcomb who Shelby's mother is trying to set her up with. He introduces himself as a "real estate investor," but really he uses shady legal deals to trick people out of their homes.
And then when that mysterious and condemning video pops up on YouTube, it seems that anything Shelby has ever hoped for professionally or personally has been ruined...
Clean romance.
Ransom Fielding is the man in her way. He wrote a scathing review of her book that was published in a magazine with a circulation of over 40 million! It seems like his only purpose in life is to ruin her career, and now she has to watch everyone fall all over him because the "esteemed" Ransom Fielding is teaching at her college for a term! She isn't going to be able to avoid him forever...
When Shelby walks into the lecture hall to retrieve her keys while Ransom Fielding is giving a lecture and reprimanding a student for bringing food/drink to his class, her anger overrides her good sense. Feeling the need for revenge on this "grade school bully" and taking no thought for what his first impression would be (and being far too angry to notice that Mr. Finch, the head of the department, and Mrs. Greathouse, head of the Southern Historical Society are both present in his class), she feels justified for intervening with this student!
But afterwards she remembers that she is a peaceful, Christian woman and realizes that she will have to apologize to him!
Ransom Fielding has more of a sense of humor than he lets on! Since his wife, Lili, died in a car accident he has carried a heavy burden. He actually admires Shelby's spunk! But he has made it a habit to avoid any woman who will cause him to feel anything.
Shelby starts seeing another side to Ransom Fielding. She sees him as the Good Samaritan who saves her in the snowstorm coming home from her aunt's house (even though she insists she didn't need saving), and she sees him as an attentive date when he invites her to his aunt's fundraiser (that, of course, ends in a fiasco! -- Why can't anything turn out normal when she is with this man?).
But Shelby mistakenly thinks he is engaged to the beautiful (and very annoying) Tasha. Tasha talks about nothing but weddings -- but not for the reason Shelby assumes. And then there's the slimy David Whitcomb who Shelby's mother is trying to set her up with. He introduces himself as a "real estate investor," but really he uses shady legal deals to trick people out of their homes.
And then when that mysterious and condemning video pops up on YouTube, it seems that anything Shelby has ever hoped for professionally or personally has been ruined...
Clean romance.
May 30, 2013
Shelby is young but determined. She's passionate about the history of her hometown, and hopes that her articles will get people interested in the decaying splendor of the area. But then Ransom, a well known historian, rips her first book to shreds, and her hopes of tenure seem lost. To make matters worse, Ransom is taking his sabbatical at her very own university! Inevitably they run into each other, but to each other's surprise they have more in common than either expected.
I was impressed at the way Hathaway worked in elements of P&P without being slavish about it; the academic setting provides an excellent reason for both their initial antipathy and later rapport. Shelby and Ransom's relationship develops in a tantalizing series of fits and starts. But the easy, natural pace of the novel becomes rapid and ham-handed about 80% in, and the rest of the book was far less satisfying. Currently free on amazon.
I was impressed at the way Hathaway worked in elements of P&P without being slavish about it; the academic setting provides an excellent reason for both their initial antipathy and later rapport. Shelby and Ransom's relationship develops in a tantalizing series of fits and starts. But the easy, natural pace of the novel becomes rapid and ham-handed about 80% in, and the rest of the book was far less satisfying. Currently free on amazon.
January 14, 2013
I got this as a free download from Amazon. With so many of those I only get through the first couple of pages before I delete it from my kindle, but this book was a wonderful surprise. The characters were wonderfully developed and pretty true to the personalities Jane Austen gave to her characters in P&P. I loved that it was faith-based without being preachy like so many religious fiction books are, but the characters struggles were genuine and heartfelt. Its a clean, fun romance with a happy ending. My favorite kind. I'll definitely look for more books from this author in the future.
June 29, 2013
Funny, looks like one of those books you either love or hate. I don't write many reviews, but I loved this book. I loved the history and the characters and I didn't see any formatting issues in mine.
I know people are complaining because it's Christian, but it says that in the little description, and it's marked Christian on Amazon. Why is having a character pray so bad?
Anyway, loved, loved, LOVED this book. The Janeite in me wants to read it again right now!
I know people are complaining because it's Christian, but it says that in the little description, and it's marked Christian on Amazon. Why is having a character pray so bad?
Anyway, loved, loved, LOVED this book. The Janeite in me wants to read it again right now!
June 18, 2013
The title of this book grabbed my attention and I also loved the cover. Set in the South, the book references Pride and Prejudice at the beginning of each chapter and also in some conversation among the characters. The story line also gives a nod to P&P as well. This was a fun read that I would recommend is you loved P&P!
May 4, 2013
I am an Austen fanatic, so I totally enjoyed this. There were quite a few nods throughout to P&P, but the story was fresh and original. The characters were likeable and I found myself rooting for them to get together.
February 5, 2017
Got this as a free kindle downloaded And was pleasantly surprised! This was a nice, clean romance, set in the south. I will be keeping my eyes open for more in the series.
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