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Jane Austen Takes The South #3
Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread
A lively Southern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, featuring Lucy Crawford, who is thrown back into the path of her first love while on a quest to save her beloved family home.
Lucy Crawford is part of a wealthy, well-respected Southern family with a long local history. But since Lucy’s mother passed away, the family home, a gorgeous antebellum mansion, has fallen into disrepair and the depth of her father’s debts is only starting to be understood. Selling the family home may be the only option—until her Aunt Olympia floats the idea of using Crawford house to hold the local free medical clinic, which has just lost its space. As if turning the plantation home into a clinic isn’t bad enough, Lucy is shocked and dismayed to see that the doctor who will be manning the clinic is none other than Jeremiah Chevy—her first love.
Lucy and Jeremiah were high school sweethearts, but Jeremiah was from the wrong side of the tracks. His family was redneck and proud, and Lucy was persuaded to dump him. He eventually left town on a scholarship, and now, ten years later, he’s returned as part of the rural physician program. And suddenly, their paths cross once again. While Lucy’s family still sees Jeremiah as trash, she sees something else in him—as do several of the other eligible ladies in town. Will he be able to forgive the past? Can she be persuaded to give love a chance this time around?
Lucy Crawford is part of a wealthy, well-respected Southern family with a long local history. But since Lucy’s mother passed away, the family home, a gorgeous antebellum mansion, has fallen into disrepair and the depth of her father’s debts is only starting to be understood. Selling the family home may be the only option—until her Aunt Olympia floats the idea of using Crawford house to hold the local free medical clinic, which has just lost its space. As if turning the plantation home into a clinic isn’t bad enough, Lucy is shocked and dismayed to see that the doctor who will be manning the clinic is none other than Jeremiah Chevy—her first love.
Lucy and Jeremiah were high school sweethearts, but Jeremiah was from the wrong side of the tracks. His family was redneck and proud, and Lucy was persuaded to dump him. He eventually left town on a scholarship, and now, ten years later, he’s returned as part of the rural physician program. And suddenly, their paths cross once again. While Lucy’s family still sees Jeremiah as trash, she sees something else in him—as do several of the other eligible ladies in town. Will he be able to forgive the past? Can she be persuaded to give love a chance this time around?
304 pages, Paperback
First published November 10, 2014
50 people are currently reading
1042 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jane Hathaway
27 books188 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 113 reviews
July 17, 2016
Forgive the Past and Persuade Your Heart to Hope!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
TYPE OF AUSTENESQUE NOVEL: Persuasion Modern-day Adaptation
SETTING: Tupelo, Mississippi present-day
SERIES: Jane Austen Takes the South
MAIN CHARACTERS: Lucy Crawford (curator at the Civil War Interpretive Center – Anne), Jeremiah Chevy (new doctor at the Free Clinic of Tupelo – Wentworth), Dr. Stroud and his wife Theresa (the Crofts), Aunt Olympia (Lady Russell)
WHY I WANTED TO READ THIS NOVEL:
- Not a native southerner, but after living here 12 years, I find my soul loves the south!
- I enjoyed the first two books of this series – Book 1 and Book 2
- I can never get enough Persuasion-inspired stories!
WHAT I LOVED:
- Wentworth: I’ll just go ahead and say it – sometimes I don’t like Wentworth characters. *gasp* Typically in the first half of the book, Wentworth is portrayed as bitter, resentful, and a little mean – like when he delivers some zingers or acts flirtatiously on purpose in front of Anne. In this adaptation, Ms. Hathaway focused more on Jeremiah’s hurt and feelings of rejection than his resentment and bitterness. In his thoughts we don’t see spite or hurt pride, we see undiminished and inescapable love although Jeremiah wishes it were otherwise.
- Inspiring Messages: I really liked how this adaptation focused on important themes like forgiveness and insecurity. While both Jeremiah and Lucy have forgiven each other over what happened in the past they seem to have a harder time with forgiving themselves. I really appreciated how Ms. Hathaway portrayed their struggle and feelings of fear, doubt, and insecurity. Both struggle in different ways and need to work more on themselves to become worthy of each other.
- Differences and Intolerance: Not only does wealth and class differences separate Jeremiah and Lucy, race and prejudice play a part in this story as well. Jeremiah grew up in a trailer home with his mother, an unwed high school dropout who worked two part-time jobs. Lucy is the daughter of a proud, wealthy, and prominent African-American family living in a fancy historic home. Lucy’s father and aunt view Jeremiah as an unsuitable match for Lucy because of his family’s inferior and humble past and their prejudice against his skin color. While we can see in many ways how the world has changed in the past two hundred years, Ms. Hathaway aptly reminds us that unfortunately there is still intolerance and prejudice.
- Fashion and Food: As with the other books in this series, one of my favorite aspects was hearing all the descriptions! I adored the mentions of Lucy’s vintage clothing and her vegetarian cooking! (Yay for vegetarians!) My mouth was watering at all the yummy dishes she was preparing! I definitely plan on trying some of the recipes in the back of the book!
- Jane Austen-Inspired Wedding: Yes! I want to go to Jane Austen-Inspired wedding! What great way to bring back some other characters from the previous books! I especially enjoyed hearing how the men dressed up in cravats, boots, and breeches!
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
Not Entirely Complete: While I thought the story arc and journey for Lucy and Jeremiah were wonderfully done, I did feel that other parts of the story felt a little incomplete. Lucy’s relationship issues with her family felt a little unresolved. In addition, I really liked the inclusion of Marcus Gibbs as a rival for Jeremiah, but he seemed to disappear without a trace later on in the book. I was curious to learn if he had ulterior motives for pursuing Lucy like William Elliot did!
CONCLUSION:
I love how Mary Jane Hathaway blends together Jane Austen, Civil War history, southern manners, food, and sweet romance in this series. And I greatly appreciated her beautiful and gentle portrayal of a modern-day Anne and Wentworth forgiving their past mistakes, overcoming their insecurities, and finding their ways back to each other. I’m still hoping there will be more for this series in the future!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
TYPE OF AUSTENESQUE NOVEL: Persuasion Modern-day Adaptation
SETTING: Tupelo, Mississippi present-day
SERIES: Jane Austen Takes the South
MAIN CHARACTERS: Lucy Crawford (curator at the Civil War Interpretive Center – Anne), Jeremiah Chevy (new doctor at the Free Clinic of Tupelo – Wentworth), Dr. Stroud and his wife Theresa (the Crofts), Aunt Olympia (Lady Russell)
WHY I WANTED TO READ THIS NOVEL:
- Not a native southerner, but after living here 12 years, I find my soul loves the south!
- I enjoyed the first two books of this series – Book 1 and Book 2
- I can never get enough Persuasion-inspired stories!
WHAT I LOVED:
- Wentworth: I’ll just go ahead and say it – sometimes I don’t like Wentworth characters. *gasp* Typically in the first half of the book, Wentworth is portrayed as bitter, resentful, and a little mean – like when he delivers some zingers or acts flirtatiously on purpose in front of Anne. In this adaptation, Ms. Hathaway focused more on Jeremiah’s hurt and feelings of rejection than his resentment and bitterness. In his thoughts we don’t see spite or hurt pride, we see undiminished and inescapable love although Jeremiah wishes it were otherwise.
- Inspiring Messages: I really liked how this adaptation focused on important themes like forgiveness and insecurity. While both Jeremiah and Lucy have forgiven each other over what happened in the past they seem to have a harder time with forgiving themselves. I really appreciated how Ms. Hathaway portrayed their struggle and feelings of fear, doubt, and insecurity. Both struggle in different ways and need to work more on themselves to become worthy of each other.
- Differences and Intolerance: Not only does wealth and class differences separate Jeremiah and Lucy, race and prejudice play a part in this story as well. Jeremiah grew up in a trailer home with his mother, an unwed high school dropout who worked two part-time jobs. Lucy is the daughter of a proud, wealthy, and prominent African-American family living in a fancy historic home. Lucy’s father and aunt view Jeremiah as an unsuitable match for Lucy because of his family’s inferior and humble past and their prejudice against his skin color. While we can see in many ways how the world has changed in the past two hundred years, Ms. Hathaway aptly reminds us that unfortunately there is still intolerance and prejudice.
- Fashion and Food: As with the other books in this series, one of my favorite aspects was hearing all the descriptions! I adored the mentions of Lucy’s vintage clothing and her vegetarian cooking! (Yay for vegetarians!) My mouth was watering at all the yummy dishes she was preparing! I definitely plan on trying some of the recipes in the back of the book!
- Jane Austen-Inspired Wedding: Yes! I want to go to Jane Austen-Inspired wedding! What great way to bring back some other characters from the previous books! I especially enjoyed hearing how the men dressed up in cravats, boots, and breeches!
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
Not Entirely Complete: While I thought the story arc and journey for Lucy and Jeremiah were wonderfully done, I did feel that other parts of the story felt a little incomplete. Lucy’s relationship issues with her family felt a little unresolved. In addition, I really liked the inclusion of Marcus Gibbs as a rival for Jeremiah, but he seemed to disappear without a trace later on in the book. I was curious to learn if he had ulterior motives for pursuing Lucy like William Elliot did!
CONCLUSION:
I love how Mary Jane Hathaway blends together Jane Austen, Civil War history, southern manners, food, and sweet romance in this series. And I greatly appreciated her beautiful and gentle portrayal of a modern-day Anne and Wentworth forgiving their past mistakes, overcoming their insecurities, and finding their ways back to each other. I’m still hoping there will be more for this series in the future!
November 9, 2014
I had a lot of reasons I wanted to read this story when I picked it up: modern retelling of my favorite Jane Austen story, new to me author, southern small town setting. I didn't pay close attention to the blurb or pay attention to the book chatter or even read the earlier books in the series so I got some extra surprises as a result. It was an interesting second chance romance with interracial and inspirational themes running through it. These were strong pluses to me. It's a gentle, slower paced story and covered some tough moments, but it was also light and humorous at times too. Definitely a perfect storm of right mood, right time and right story.
First of all, yes this was the third book in a series, but it was a very loose connection so functions just fine as a standalone or out of order. Previous couples made appearances and there was a bit about them in one scene, but the story pretty much stuck to the current couple and their situation.
As I noted before, this is a retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion. I've read many retellings, but this is my first in regard to this story. I've always been a huge fan of the second chance romance storyline and the classic Persuasion tale was the first story I read and loved to give me that. Anyone who has read the story or seen the movies will recognize the characters and plot though there are some nice original pieces, the names are all new and the setting leaves Regency England for America's Deep South. But, all that being said, this story is written in such a way that any contemporary romance reader, Austen fan or not, can enjoy and appreciate it.
The story is told in alternate perspectives of both the heroine and the hero. Lucy Crawford comes from an old, distinguished wealthy southern black family that can trace its ancestry back to the Civil War. The prestige and wealth ended the day her mother died because there was no one around to curb her daddy's poor financial decisions or her younger sister's spending habits. Lucy tried to economize, but its too little and none of the rest pay attention to her anyway. It has come down to either losing the fine old home and all they have or turn over part of the home to the charity clinic who wishes to rent space in the rear half of the house. If that hit to their pride weren't enough, Lucy discovers that the new doctor joining the staff was once the boy whose heart she broke when she put family pride and opinion over love. Is this her chance to rectify the past even if the end result is just friendship?
Jeremiah had come a long way from the poor, trailer trash white boy with the single-unwed mother working two dead-end jobs just so they could have a few basic needs met. He had been so in love with a girl who saw past all that and shared poetry and friendship until the day she watched her family snub him and then told him they should see other people. The irony of their now reversed situations is not lost on him as he steps through the door of her family home as a doctor with lots of future prospect while her family is barely holding on. Jeremiah is angry and bitter when he sees Lucy, but he is also susceptible to the woman who still outshines all others to him. Ten years were apparently not long enough to bury the past, but they were long enough for him to see it from a different perspective. Dare he hope for a second chance? Or should he just let it all go and get out of his old home town the first chance he gets?
The plot on this one is very much character-driven. And this is significant because the main characters are not the usual types you get these days. These are not type-A, alpha personalities here. Both Lucy and Jeremiah are your rarer beta hero and heroine particularly Lucy. They don't put themselves forward, they aren't the most sparkling character or talker in the scene and they definitely waffle a lot over what they really want and spend a bit of time regretting.
I didn't say all that to push people away from the story. Personally, I was okay with it for a bit of change-up. I mention it to give fair-warning I guess. There was a part of me that just wanted to grab them both by their ears and push them into the broom closet and lock them in until they got it all sorted, but I also recognized that the author was trying to not just introduce the readers to her characters, but re-introduce the characters to each other. Ten years is a long time and they aren't the same people in many ways, but they have to deal with the past before they can even go there.
In the meantime, there was a lot of other entertaining bits that kept me occupied while the main couple worked their way through it all.
The backdrop was captivating for me. First of all its a Southern, small town community. I wanted a bit more of the small town element with the quirky characters, but I was well aware that it probably would have really bogged down the story.
Then there was the Civil War re-enactment stuff and Lucy's friend's Jane Austen wedding being planned. I get a bit obsessed with things too so I could laughingly relate to the characters and scenes with these elements in them.
I'm going to say something next and its coming from total respect, but I'm aware that I could be speaking out of ignorance or limited knowledge so I ask your forgiveness if it does. I found the ethnic reversal a fascinating choice that I enjoyed. Rich black girl from an impeccable family and poor white boy who doesn't even know who his dad is. It was neat to see the cliches tossed aside. I loved it that Lucy's mother was from the Cane River area as I've read so much of that history and that her ancestor fought in a Confederate Color Brigade. Lucy is a brilliant scholar and excels at poetry appreciation and local Civil War history as the museum curator. She cares about her family origins and is loyal to her family even when they don't deserve it. She misses her mother and wants to honor her mother's memory. This is seen most clearly when she cooks (and recipes are included behind the story- so cool!). The author did a lot of work on that and it showed.
I also loved the humorous stuff. Lucy's stuck-up aunt and the clinic's down to earth secretary squaring off, the fun camaraderie of Jeremiah and his friend, and then Lucy's interactions with her own family at times. Lucy was this lovely, genteel Southern lady and her younger sisters and friends acted like 'they didn't get any raisin' as her mother would have called it. Lucy's sisters and their friends were bratty and stuck on themselves and quite clueless much of the time.
The romance is very understated because of all that these two have to work through plus there are several interfering others. Lucy always saw the potential in Jeremiah, but as a younger woman she wasn't mature or strong enough to take a chance on potential. I've always thought that for some romances to succeed its timing and this story is definitely an example of that being true. Grown up Lucy is definitely more in a position to be the right partner for the man Jeremiah is now. And the reverse is true as well. Jeremiah is the only one who truly sees and appreciates the older Lucy's quality and I could have fallen in love with him for that alone.
The inspirational elements ran to mentions of faith, little prayers, and the strong underlying theme of forgiveness. Jeremiah is so bitter and angry at the beginning and Lucy is just weighted down with regret and guilt. Both of them hang back and even misinterpret things because they are so caught up in their own troubles. I tried to be patient while they worked through things.
The grand gesture at the end was really cool. The story ended soon after that. The only niggle I had for the whole book was the abrupt ending. I wanted to be with Lucy and Jeremiah a bit when they weren't on edge around each other and I had a few questions left about the future that went unanswered.
All in all, this was a lovely cozy quiet afternoon read that will appeal to those who like sweet Contemporary Romance and definitely to Austeneque fans. I am definitely going back for the other two stories and will be looking for more from the author.
My thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
First of all, yes this was the third book in a series, but it was a very loose connection so functions just fine as a standalone or out of order. Previous couples made appearances and there was a bit about them in one scene, but the story pretty much stuck to the current couple and their situation.
As I noted before, this is a retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion. I've read many retellings, but this is my first in regard to this story. I've always been a huge fan of the second chance romance storyline and the classic Persuasion tale was the first story I read and loved to give me that. Anyone who has read the story or seen the movies will recognize the characters and plot though there are some nice original pieces, the names are all new and the setting leaves Regency England for America's Deep South. But, all that being said, this story is written in such a way that any contemporary romance reader, Austen fan or not, can enjoy and appreciate it.
The story is told in alternate perspectives of both the heroine and the hero. Lucy Crawford comes from an old, distinguished wealthy southern black family that can trace its ancestry back to the Civil War. The prestige and wealth ended the day her mother died because there was no one around to curb her daddy's poor financial decisions or her younger sister's spending habits. Lucy tried to economize, but its too little and none of the rest pay attention to her anyway. It has come down to either losing the fine old home and all they have or turn over part of the home to the charity clinic who wishes to rent space in the rear half of the house. If that hit to their pride weren't enough, Lucy discovers that the new doctor joining the staff was once the boy whose heart she broke when she put family pride and opinion over love. Is this her chance to rectify the past even if the end result is just friendship?
Jeremiah had come a long way from the poor, trailer trash white boy with the single-unwed mother working two dead-end jobs just so they could have a few basic needs met. He had been so in love with a girl who saw past all that and shared poetry and friendship until the day she watched her family snub him and then told him they should see other people. The irony of their now reversed situations is not lost on him as he steps through the door of her family home as a doctor with lots of future prospect while her family is barely holding on. Jeremiah is angry and bitter when he sees Lucy, but he is also susceptible to the woman who still outshines all others to him. Ten years were apparently not long enough to bury the past, but they were long enough for him to see it from a different perspective. Dare he hope for a second chance? Or should he just let it all go and get out of his old home town the first chance he gets?
The plot on this one is very much character-driven. And this is significant because the main characters are not the usual types you get these days. These are not type-A, alpha personalities here. Both Lucy and Jeremiah are your rarer beta hero and heroine particularly Lucy. They don't put themselves forward, they aren't the most sparkling character or talker in the scene and they definitely waffle a lot over what they really want and spend a bit of time regretting.
I didn't say all that to push people away from the story. Personally, I was okay with it for a bit of change-up. I mention it to give fair-warning I guess. There was a part of me that just wanted to grab them both by their ears and push them into the broom closet and lock them in until they got it all sorted, but I also recognized that the author was trying to not just introduce the readers to her characters, but re-introduce the characters to each other. Ten years is a long time and they aren't the same people in many ways, but they have to deal with the past before they can even go there.
In the meantime, there was a lot of other entertaining bits that kept me occupied while the main couple worked their way through it all.
The backdrop was captivating for me. First of all its a Southern, small town community. I wanted a bit more of the small town element with the quirky characters, but I was well aware that it probably would have really bogged down the story.
Then there was the Civil War re-enactment stuff and Lucy's friend's Jane Austen wedding being planned. I get a bit obsessed with things too so I could laughingly relate to the characters and scenes with these elements in them.
I'm going to say something next and its coming from total respect, but I'm aware that I could be speaking out of ignorance or limited knowledge so I ask your forgiveness if it does. I found the ethnic reversal a fascinating choice that I enjoyed. Rich black girl from an impeccable family and poor white boy who doesn't even know who his dad is. It was neat to see the cliches tossed aside. I loved it that Lucy's mother was from the Cane River area as I've read so much of that history and that her ancestor fought in a Confederate Color Brigade. Lucy is a brilliant scholar and excels at poetry appreciation and local Civil War history as the museum curator. She cares about her family origins and is loyal to her family even when they don't deserve it. She misses her mother and wants to honor her mother's memory. This is seen most clearly when she cooks (and recipes are included behind the story- so cool!). The author did a lot of work on that and it showed.
I also loved the humorous stuff. Lucy's stuck-up aunt and the clinic's down to earth secretary squaring off, the fun camaraderie of Jeremiah and his friend, and then Lucy's interactions with her own family at times. Lucy was this lovely, genteel Southern lady and her younger sisters and friends acted like 'they didn't get any raisin' as her mother would have called it. Lucy's sisters and their friends were bratty and stuck on themselves and quite clueless much of the time.
The romance is very understated because of all that these two have to work through plus there are several interfering others. Lucy always saw the potential in Jeremiah, but as a younger woman she wasn't mature or strong enough to take a chance on potential. I've always thought that for some romances to succeed its timing and this story is definitely an example of that being true. Grown up Lucy is definitely more in a position to be the right partner for the man Jeremiah is now. And the reverse is true as well. Jeremiah is the only one who truly sees and appreciates the older Lucy's quality and I could have fallen in love with him for that alone.
The inspirational elements ran to mentions of faith, little prayers, and the strong underlying theme of forgiveness. Jeremiah is so bitter and angry at the beginning and Lucy is just weighted down with regret and guilt. Both of them hang back and even misinterpret things because they are so caught up in their own troubles. I tried to be patient while they worked through things.
The grand gesture at the end was really cool. The story ended soon after that. The only niggle I had for the whole book was the abrupt ending. I wanted to be with Lucy and Jeremiah a bit when they weren't on edge around each other and I had a few questions left about the future that went unanswered.
All in all, this was a lovely cozy quiet afternoon read that will appeal to those who like sweet Contemporary Romance and definitely to Austeneque fans. I am definitely going back for the other two stories and will be looking for more from the author.
My thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 11, 2020
SOMETHING ABOUT JANE AUSTEN AND THE SOUTH JUST... WORKS!
I have read quite a few modern retellings of Jane Austen's works and this is definitely one of the better ones! It follows the original story closely while introducing a few new quirks and scenarios. For some reason the South and Jane Austen just really work together and I will definitely be reading more in this series!
👍 What I Liked 👍
Diversity: The original story of Persuasion features Anne, who is persuaded by her family, so give up her love because of his perceived lower status. That story line is what forms the basis of this book too - but with an added twist! Lucy - the Anne character here - is black and her love, Jeremiah, is white. This, added to their differences in station serve to put a spotlight on the intolerance and racism that still exists today. I felt that it was a nice, extra twist that added a whole new layer to the original story.
Jeremiah: Oh, Jeremiah was so cute! He was sweet and considerate. He wasn't bitter at all, even when coming face to face yet again with the woman who broke his heart.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Family relations: Lucy had a tempestuous relationship with her family all throughout the book, being sadly used by them all. I really felt like that part of the story needed more closure, that either she had to rebuff them and tell them off or she had to make peace and get away. But neither thing happened and it felt like a sort of... left off endning.
I have read quite a few modern retellings of Jane Austen's works and this is definitely one of the better ones! It follows the original story closely while introducing a few new quirks and scenarios. For some reason the South and Jane Austen just really work together and I will definitely be reading more in this series!
👍 What I Liked 👍
Diversity: The original story of Persuasion features Anne, who is persuaded by her family, so give up her love because of his perceived lower status. That story line is what forms the basis of this book too - but with an added twist! Lucy - the Anne character here - is black and her love, Jeremiah, is white. This, added to their differences in station serve to put a spotlight on the intolerance and racism that still exists today. I felt that it was a nice, extra twist that added a whole new layer to the original story.
Jeremiah: Oh, Jeremiah was so cute! He was sweet and considerate. He wasn't bitter at all, even when coming face to face yet again with the woman who broke his heart.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Family relations: Lucy had a tempestuous relationship with her family all throughout the book, being sadly used by them all. I really felt like that part of the story needed more closure, that either she had to rebuff them and tell them off or she had to make peace and get away. But neither thing happened and it felt like a sort of... left off endning.
May 18, 2017
I just can't seem to find a Jane Austen retelling that works well.
As stand alone chick lit, it was okay (maybe 2.5 stars) but as an Austen retelling, it just didn't work.
Part of the angst of Persuasion is that the reader knows how Anne Elliott feels, but knows nothing about how Captain Wentworth feels. In this book, the chapters alternate between Lucy and Jem so it is obvious to the reader how he feels. Then it just becomes a matter of waiting for them to get together. Half the fun of an Austen novel is the impossibility of the main characters getting together. This book didn't have that at all.
Also - I wasn't wild about how many times a character would reference how similar Lucy's life was to the plot of Persuasion. Does it even count as a retelling if you have to mention the original work every five seconds?
As stand alone chick lit, it was okay (maybe 2.5 stars) but as an Austen retelling, it just didn't work.
Part of the angst of Persuasion is that the reader knows how Anne Elliott feels, but knows nothing about how Captain Wentworth feels. In this book, the chapters alternate between Lucy and Jem so it is obvious to the reader how he feels. Then it just becomes a matter of waiting for them to get together. Half the fun of an Austen novel is the impossibility of the main characters getting together. This book didn't have that at all.
Also - I wasn't wild about how many times a character would reference how similar Lucy's life was to the plot of Persuasion. Does it even count as a retelling if you have to mention the original work every five seconds?
June 10, 2020
I received a copy of book via the publisher in exchange for a fair review.
I certainly would have given the book high marks alone for having the backstories of hero and heroine contain references to Boston and Cambridge(separately). Add to that the heroine is a fan of the Miss. State U. Bulldogs, as I have been the past couple seasons(big game Saturday in the Egg Bowl!). The story takes place in and around Tupelo, Miss. As a Civil War buff, I love that the heroine works as a curator at Brice's Crossroads interpretive center, a Civil War battle I hadn't heard of until the author mentioned it in an email exchange regarding a prior book in the series. There are other important Civil War passages in the book. I always love when characters from prior books in a series appear. It was such a delight to read about them again. Not just the lead characters reappear from Jane Austen Takes the South #1 and#2. As Marianne Dashwood(Team Marianne!) says in S&S 08..."I like that, it is how it should be". Unlike the 1st book in the Modern Jane Austen by Harper Collins(the very formulistic retelling of S&S), Mary Jane Hathaway changes some elements of the Persuasion storyline and perhaps takes an unexpected chance with certain elements of the story. For me, all the things work! This is the 2nd Persuasion modern retelling I have read. The Family Fortune(set in Boston!!) by Laurie Horowitz was the first. I really really loved it too. Harper Collins you have a very very high mountain to climb to get anywhere near "Persuasion, Captain...." and the "The Family Fortune".
Finally, if I didn't love the story....this appears in the Acknowledgments..."To the vibrant Facebook communities who keep the rest of us entertained with all things Jane, including Austen in Boston, My Jane Austen Book Club and All Things Jane Austen."
I certainly would have given the book high marks alone for having the backstories of hero and heroine contain references to Boston and Cambridge(separately). Add to that the heroine is a fan of the Miss. State U. Bulldogs, as I have been the past couple seasons(big game Saturday in the Egg Bowl!). The story takes place in and around Tupelo, Miss. As a Civil War buff, I love that the heroine works as a curator at Brice's Crossroads interpretive center, a Civil War battle I hadn't heard of until the author mentioned it in an email exchange regarding a prior book in the series. There are other important Civil War passages in the book. I always love when characters from prior books in a series appear. It was such a delight to read about them again. Not just the lead characters reappear from Jane Austen Takes the South #1 and#2. As Marianne Dashwood(Team Marianne!) says in S&S 08..."I like that, it is how it should be". Unlike the 1st book in the Modern Jane Austen by Harper Collins(the very formulistic retelling of S&S), Mary Jane Hathaway changes some elements of the Persuasion storyline and perhaps takes an unexpected chance with certain elements of the story. For me, all the things work! This is the 2nd Persuasion modern retelling I have read. The Family Fortune(set in Boston!!) by Laurie Horowitz was the first. I really really loved it too. Harper Collins you have a very very high mountain to climb to get anywhere near "Persuasion, Captain...." and the "The Family Fortune".
Finally, if I didn't love the story....this appears in the Acknowledgments..."To the vibrant Facebook communities who keep the rest of us entertained with all things Jane, including Austen in Boston, My Jane Austen Book Club and All Things Jane Austen."
June 13, 2015
SUMMARY: A lively Southern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, featuring Lucy Crawford, who is thrown back into the path of her first love while on a quest to save her beloved family home.
Lucy Crawford is part of a wealthy, well-respected Southern family with a long local history. But since Lucy’s mother passed away, the family home, a gorgeous antebellum mansion, has fallen into disrepair and the depth of her father’s debts is only starting to be understood. Selling the family home may be the only option—until her Aunt Olympia floats the idea of using Crawford house to hold the local free medical clinic, which has just lost its space. As if turning the plantation home into a clinic isn’t bad enough, Lucy is shocked and dismayed to see that the doctor who will be manning the clinic is none other than Jeremiah Chevy—her first love.
Lucy and Jeremiah were high school sweethearts, but Jeremiah was from the wrong side of the tracks. His family was redneck and proud, and Lucy was persuaded to dump him. He eventually left town on a scholarship, and now, ten years later, he’s returned as part of the rural physician program. And suddenly, their paths cross once again. While Lucy’s family still sees Jeremiah as trash, she sees something else in him—as do several of the other eligible ladies in town. Will he be able to forgive the past? Can she be persuaded to give love a chance this time around?
REVIEW: Persuasion is one Jane Austen book I have not read. I think perhaps if I had read it, I might have enjoyed this book more. I did find it a nice easy to read romance; and after having lived in the south for many years, definitely appreciated some of the southern "bites" that it included. Seemed to follow a typical storyline for girl falls in love with poor boy from wrong side of tracks. Many years later, they reconnect but the roles have somewhat reversed but the love connection is still there. Would recommend for a quick enjoyable romance read.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "A good mama is better than a sack of gold."
"In Persuasion, an admiral's wife says that no woman expects to be in smooth waters all her life. What she meant was that women are tough and we know that hard times will come."
"Beyond color, beyond history, beyond hurts and meddling relatives and poverty and anger and bitterness...beyond all those things was a grace so powerful it could turn an enemy into an ally, and two lonely people into a family. It was a grace so miraculous it could mend broken promises and hand out second chances."
Lucy Crawford is part of a wealthy, well-respected Southern family with a long local history. But since Lucy’s mother passed away, the family home, a gorgeous antebellum mansion, has fallen into disrepair and the depth of her father’s debts is only starting to be understood. Selling the family home may be the only option—until her Aunt Olympia floats the idea of using Crawford house to hold the local free medical clinic, which has just lost its space. As if turning the plantation home into a clinic isn’t bad enough, Lucy is shocked and dismayed to see that the doctor who will be manning the clinic is none other than Jeremiah Chevy—her first love.
Lucy and Jeremiah were high school sweethearts, but Jeremiah was from the wrong side of the tracks. His family was redneck and proud, and Lucy was persuaded to dump him. He eventually left town on a scholarship, and now, ten years later, he’s returned as part of the rural physician program. And suddenly, their paths cross once again. While Lucy’s family still sees Jeremiah as trash, she sees something else in him—as do several of the other eligible ladies in town. Will he be able to forgive the past? Can she be persuaded to give love a chance this time around?
REVIEW: Persuasion is one Jane Austen book I have not read. I think perhaps if I had read it, I might have enjoyed this book more. I did find it a nice easy to read romance; and after having lived in the south for many years, definitely appreciated some of the southern "bites" that it included. Seemed to follow a typical storyline for girl falls in love with poor boy from wrong side of tracks. Many years later, they reconnect but the roles have somewhat reversed but the love connection is still there. Would recommend for a quick enjoyable romance read.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "A good mama is better than a sack of gold."
"In Persuasion, an admiral's wife says that no woman expects to be in smooth waters all her life. What she meant was that women are tough and we know that hard times will come."
"Beyond color, beyond history, beyond hurts and meddling relatives and poverty and anger and bitterness...beyond all those things was a grace so powerful it could turn an enemy into an ally, and two lonely people into a family. It was a grace so miraculous it could mend broken promises and hand out second chances."
August 25, 2014
This lighthearted romance is probably intended for the “New Adult” group, but I found it a lot of fun and I could recommend it for Young Adults who would prefer a romance novel with all the humor and struggle and without the explicit sex. Ms. Hathaway leans a little too heavily perhaps on a love of Jane Austen as a plot device, but her homage to Austen’s Persuasion provides the reader with the requisite hero and heroine for whom to cheer and the villain to hiss, although he is perhaps not as villainous as Mr. William Elliot. Lucy and Jem dated in high school and were deeply in love. Lucy’s family were wealthy and influential and Lucy’s aunt convinced her to break it off before they went to college. (Sound familiar?) After ten years apart, they are brought back together. Jem is now a successful doctor and Lucy’s father has spent the Crawford family into the poorhouse. Though neither knows it, both are still carrying the torch. It is great fun to watch them suffer their way through figuring out that each still loves the other. This time, Lucy vows that she will not let her family tear them apart, etc. You get the idea. A light, fun, fast read for someone who enjoys a clean romance. I have to hand it to Ms. Hathaway for managing to inject tension into the story without resorting to sex scenes.
June 27, 2019
I love Austen, I love reading Austen inspired books, and this one sounded so unique that I was tempted into getting it. However, this was such an infuriating read. I had to finish it because I wanted to make sure the author was not setting up such an annoying situation to make it change in the end. But no, it's 250 pages of guilt trip and women blaming. So delightful.
I really like "Persuasion", and I've read fun retellings, but this one just seemed to transpose the social codes and feelings of the time into the 21st South and lets us to deal with it. On the one hand it's smart to have set it in such a way, because most of the drama of Austen's is based on social situations and order, but on the other, if I find it interesting in a 200 years book, it is unbearable in a modern novel.
Hathaway does do some really interesting stuff, she talks about consent, and how to deal with family members, but she does so many wrong things in return. To make her Anne/Lucy shine she felt compelled to introduce the most inordinate amount of simpering, mean-spirited, frankly stupid women. And then goes on to blame the way they dress (gosh those floozy, wearing light summer dresses in Summer), the way they talk, move, think, pass their time. Good goddess Hathaway, do you feel we're not attacked enough by sexists and society in general, you have to do it too?
She calls out those double standards up to a point, but whenever women are criticised, men are never on the same plane. Most of all her heroine Lucy is as sanctimonious as Fanny in "Mansfield Park", slut shaming her sisters, always repeating what a "good southern girl" must do. Apparently she mustn't be open-minded or respond when she's being sandbagged or gaslighted.
There was also this delightful opening scene where Lucy has to examine herself and find her appearance lacking in all areas, even up to to her dry cuticles?! Now, we understand she's been undermined her whole life and is trying to get out of it, but this isn't nearly enough called into question.
But above all, Lucy is blaming herself for everything throughout the novel. Because she didn't "stand up by her man" at 17 she has to suffer for 10 years? Please, give me a shovel now.
What makes part of the tension in the original "Persuasion" is that we don't know what the Captain feels, here we have access to Jem/Wentworth every thought (they don't make much sense by the by). On the one hand we're able see how he comes to understand Lucy's side of the story, but on the other it removes any tension. We know they love each other from the start and that the other is interpreting everything in the wrong way at every turn.
I didn't mind much the "Christian fiction" feel to it, it felt suited to the characters, but the dig at Catholics was so uncalled for and petty.
I could say more about some of the good bits of the story (and some more bad ones), but they don't erase the rest for me, and frankly I'm tired thinking about this book. To conclude I had to share some sentences that I couldn't believe were in this 2014 book:
"Lucy grimaced. Entertain better not mean having men sleep over. She wasn't a prude, but the Crawford women were better than that."
"She was willing to give it (Austen's novels) a try to discover why millions of women were swooning over love stories written two hundred years ago." So Austen wrote romances and only swooning prone women read them? How perceptive of you.
My favourites:"Women can be vicious" and "A spoiled woman is a dangerous thing."
"She was so beautiful that surely she had encountered unwanted attention before." Because if she'd been "ugly" she wouldn't have? Right.
"He smiled outright. 'I'm not so worried about the sundresses. It's all the girls in them. The chatter, the giggles, the inanity."
"With no makeup, the rough outfit and the hobnail boots, Lucy certainly felt less like a woman." What a gem you are. Really you should do conferences on shaming women, because apparently you're an expert.
I really like "Persuasion", and I've read fun retellings, but this one just seemed to transpose the social codes and feelings of the time into the 21st South and lets us to deal with it. On the one hand it's smart to have set it in such a way, because most of the drama of Austen's is based on social situations and order, but on the other, if I find it interesting in a 200 years book, it is unbearable in a modern novel.
Hathaway does do some really interesting stuff, she talks about consent, and how to deal with family members, but she does so many wrong things in return. To make her Anne/Lucy shine she felt compelled to introduce the most inordinate amount of simpering, mean-spirited, frankly stupid women. And then goes on to blame the way they dress (gosh those floozy, wearing light summer dresses in Summer), the way they talk, move, think, pass their time. Good goddess Hathaway, do you feel we're not attacked enough by sexists and society in general, you have to do it too?
She calls out those double standards up to a point, but whenever women are criticised, men are never on the same plane. Most of all her heroine Lucy is as sanctimonious as Fanny in "Mansfield Park", slut shaming her sisters, always repeating what a "good southern girl" must do. Apparently she mustn't be open-minded or respond when she's being sandbagged or gaslighted.
There was also this delightful opening scene where Lucy has to examine herself and find her appearance lacking in all areas, even up to to her dry cuticles?! Now, we understand she's been undermined her whole life and is trying to get out of it, but this isn't nearly enough called into question.
But above all, Lucy is blaming herself for everything throughout the novel. Because she didn't "stand up by her man" at 17 she has to suffer for 10 years? Please, give me a shovel now.
What makes part of the tension in the original "Persuasion" is that we don't know what the Captain feels, here we have access to Jem/Wentworth every thought (they don't make much sense by the by). On the one hand we're able see how he comes to understand Lucy's side of the story, but on the other it removes any tension. We know they love each other from the start and that the other is interpreting everything in the wrong way at every turn.
I didn't mind much the "Christian fiction" feel to it, it felt suited to the characters, but the dig at Catholics was so uncalled for and petty.
I could say more about some of the good bits of the story (and some more bad ones), but they don't erase the rest for me, and frankly I'm tired thinking about this book. To conclude I had to share some sentences that I couldn't believe were in this 2014 book:
"Lucy grimaced. Entertain better not mean having men sleep over. She wasn't a prude, but the Crawford women were better than that."
"She was willing to give it (Austen's novels) a try to discover why millions of women were swooning over love stories written two hundred years ago." So Austen wrote romances and only swooning prone women read them? How perceptive of you.
My favourites:"Women can be vicious" and "A spoiled woman is a dangerous thing."
"She was so beautiful that surely she had encountered unwanted attention before." Because if she'd been "ugly" she wouldn't have? Right.
"He smiled outright. 'I'm not so worried about the sundresses. It's all the girls in them. The chatter, the giggles, the inanity."
"With no makeup, the rough outfit and the hobnail boots, Lucy certainly felt less like a woman." What a gem you are. Really you should do conferences on shaming women, because apparently you're an expert.
November 13, 2014
Once again Ms. Hathaway has managed to take an Austen classic and weave it into a wonderful, modern day, sweet, southern romance as refreshing as an Arnold Palmer on a hot summer's day.
My favorite thing about Ms. Hathaway's books is that they are clean, yet they are still highly romantic.
Her characters are always full of depth and dimension. Ms Hathaway has the ability to bring her characters to life and make them people... Not just characters in a story. (Lucy and I need to hang out so she can teach me the secret of this Cracklin' Cornbread.) ;)
Well done, Ms. Hathaway.
Can't wait for the next book!
My favorite thing about Ms. Hathaway's books is that they are clean, yet they are still highly romantic.
Her characters are always full of depth and dimension. Ms Hathaway has the ability to bring her characters to life and make them people... Not just characters in a story. (Lucy and I need to hang out so she can teach me the secret of this Cracklin' Cornbread.) ;)
Well done, Ms. Hathaway.
Can't wait for the next book!
March 13, 2019
This is a very charming retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion.
Set in present day Tupelo, Mississippi, the story has some interesting twists but Hathaway manages to maintain the spirit of the original in her characters and storyline.
(And of course, there are recipes at the end. I really don't understand why.)
"A good Southern girl didn't walk away from a crisis, especially one involving food and guests."
"Life is easier to understand when you think of it in terms of 'Pride and Prejudice'. And all the rest."
Mary Jane Hathaway, Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread
Set in present day Tupelo, Mississippi, the story has some interesting twists but Hathaway manages to maintain the spirit of the original in her characters and storyline.
(And of course, there are recipes at the end. I really don't understand why.)
"A good Southern girl didn't walk away from a crisis, especially one involving food and guests."
"Life is easier to understand when you think of it in terms of 'Pride and Prejudice'. And all the rest."
Mary Jane Hathaway, Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread
November 18, 2014
This book was SO GOOD!!! I loved the entire series! They're a must read!! I did find myself a little frustrated with Lucy's family and that she never stood up to them and let them push her around and was a little frustrating that Jeremiah didn't SAY something to Regan to the point she felt cheated on?! What?! So in that aspect they both were wimpy but well matched? Lol. Besides that I adored the story! In my mind however, the evil sisters and aunt got theirs ;)
March 20, 2023
3.5⭐️
I love a good Austen retelling and there aren't as many Persuasion retellings compared to her other novels, so I was happy to find this at a used book store recently. I had read the previous two books in the series, and in particular enjoyed the Emma one, so I figured I'd give this one a try.
📚This is a very loose contemporary version of the story, and it's not the author's intention or design to stick closely to the plot or even all the same characters. The main characters are recognizable and the primary components of the plot are there, but mostly as inspiration.
📚This version gives us a lot more insight into Jem, who is this story's "Captain Wentworth". Austen only briefly delves into Wentworth's thoughts and feelings until about 75% or more of the way through the book when he and Anne finally begin to talk. I liked having more perspective on the hero's side of the story, and I like how Hathaway portrayed him, except I felt he waffled a little too much to do justice to his character.
📚Hathaway gives Lucy, who is "Anne", some real friends in this story, which I like. Anne always seemed so lonely in a crowd of people who didn't value her.
📚Some parts of the story took too long to develop and other parts were underdeveloped. It's as if the author took so long crafting the first part of the story, she ran out of room to finish all the threads of the story and tie them into neat knots. To me, the end felt rushed and incomplete.
📚all in all, this was a great take on Persuasion and I enjoyed it.
I love a good Austen retelling and there aren't as many Persuasion retellings compared to her other novels, so I was happy to find this at a used book store recently. I had read the previous two books in the series, and in particular enjoyed the Emma one, so I figured I'd give this one a try.
📚This is a very loose contemporary version of the story, and it's not the author's intention or design to stick closely to the plot or even all the same characters. The main characters are recognizable and the primary components of the plot are there, but mostly as inspiration.
📚This version gives us a lot more insight into Jem, who is this story's "Captain Wentworth". Austen only briefly delves into Wentworth's thoughts and feelings until about 75% or more of the way through the book when he and Anne finally begin to talk. I liked having more perspective on the hero's side of the story, and I like how Hathaway portrayed him, except I felt he waffled a little too much to do justice to his character.
📚Hathaway gives Lucy, who is "Anne", some real friends in this story, which I like. Anne always seemed so lonely in a crowd of people who didn't value her.
📚Some parts of the story took too long to develop and other parts were underdeveloped. It's as if the author took so long crafting the first part of the story, she ran out of room to finish all the threads of the story and tie them into neat knots. To me, the end felt rushed and incomplete.
📚all in all, this was a great take on Persuasion and I enjoyed it.
February 19, 2016
This review originally appeared on Austenprose: http://austenprose.com/2014/12/22/per...
Mary Jane Hathaway’s Jane Austen Takes the South series has a new addition. Persuasion, Captain Wentworth, and Cracklin’ Cornbread was just released last month and follows Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits, and Emma, Mr. Knightley and Chili-Slaw Dogs. Readers should not worry if they haven’t read the other two novels in the series. Each book can be read as a stand-alone. The title was enough to pique my interest. I’m always a fan of Persuasion retellings (in my opinion, there aren’t enough of them.) So, it seemed like a forgone conclusion that I would quickly turn the pages of this read, and discover a new (to me) author.
Every community has some well-renowned and connected families that are integrated into the local history and fabric of the area. One of these families is the Crawfords, a wealthy, respected family from Brice’s Crossroads, Mississippi. One of the Crawford daughters, Lucy, has recently felt the respect of her family wane slightly as her mother’s death throws the family estate into disrepair and her father’s debts become public knowledge. Terrified that she may be forced to sell the family mansion in all its former beauty, Lucy is intrigued to learn from her Aunt Olympia that there may be a way to save the property. A local medical clinic has been looking for a larger space for their practice, and the Crawford mansion would be a perfect new home for the organization. The only problem, however, is that one of the clinic doctors is Lucy’s high school sweetheart and first love, Jeremiah Chevy. Jeremiah and Lucy had a tumultuous history due to Jeremiah’s family and upbringing, which led to their break-up despite her strong feelings for him. Ten years later, Jeremiah is again in Lucy’s life, now a charming doctor who is the envy of all the other ladies in town. Will she be able to get him to forgive her past actions and see if their old flame can be re-ignited?
Fellow Austen fans: you MUST read this book. It’s SO good. Mary Jane Hathaway takes our beloved Persuasion, brings it to the south, and infuses it with real social and economic issues. We all know that Jane Austen’s novels were a biting commentary on the expectations and norms of society during her lifetime. It’s so refreshing to find a contemporary author set on the same goal. Unfortunately racial divides still exist in the US (you need only turn on the news to believe me.) Writing Lucy as an African-American and Jeremiah as a Caucasian was a stroke of genius. Interracial relationships seem to be a bigger issue nowadays than relationships of differing economic backgrounds. Even though race didn’t matter to Lucy and Jeremiah, it was interesting to see the stress that outside opinions could cause them.
I really enjoyed the story being told from both Lucy and Jeremiah’s viewpoints. When I first read Persuasion I couldn’t imagine Anne meeting Wentworth 2.0 and wanting to win him back. He was such a jerk and unnecessarily (in my eyes) rude that I didn’t warm up to him at first. (Fret not friends, he’s now my second favorite hero in all of literature.) Getting Jeremiah’s point of view as well as Lucy’s helped me understand the heartache they were both still trying to recover from. The rude actions and words really belied a healing broken heart.
Fans of the original will be happy to know that Lady Russell, Sir Walter Elliot, Elizabeth Croft, and Captain Harville are all represented in this work with some fascinating southern flair. Deep, moving, and sure to fill your heart with romantic warmth, Persuasion, Captain Wentworth, and Cracklin’ Cornbread is a must read for any Persuasion lovers out there.
Mary Jane Hathaway’s Jane Austen Takes the South series has a new addition. Persuasion, Captain Wentworth, and Cracklin’ Cornbread was just released last month and follows Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits, and Emma, Mr. Knightley and Chili-Slaw Dogs. Readers should not worry if they haven’t read the other two novels in the series. Each book can be read as a stand-alone. The title was enough to pique my interest. I’m always a fan of Persuasion retellings (in my opinion, there aren’t enough of them.) So, it seemed like a forgone conclusion that I would quickly turn the pages of this read, and discover a new (to me) author.
Every community has some well-renowned and connected families that are integrated into the local history and fabric of the area. One of these families is the Crawfords, a wealthy, respected family from Brice’s Crossroads, Mississippi. One of the Crawford daughters, Lucy, has recently felt the respect of her family wane slightly as her mother’s death throws the family estate into disrepair and her father’s debts become public knowledge. Terrified that she may be forced to sell the family mansion in all its former beauty, Lucy is intrigued to learn from her Aunt Olympia that there may be a way to save the property. A local medical clinic has been looking for a larger space for their practice, and the Crawford mansion would be a perfect new home for the organization. The only problem, however, is that one of the clinic doctors is Lucy’s high school sweetheart and first love, Jeremiah Chevy. Jeremiah and Lucy had a tumultuous history due to Jeremiah’s family and upbringing, which led to their break-up despite her strong feelings for him. Ten years later, Jeremiah is again in Lucy’s life, now a charming doctor who is the envy of all the other ladies in town. Will she be able to get him to forgive her past actions and see if their old flame can be re-ignited?
Fellow Austen fans: you MUST read this book. It’s SO good. Mary Jane Hathaway takes our beloved Persuasion, brings it to the south, and infuses it with real social and economic issues. We all know that Jane Austen’s novels were a biting commentary on the expectations and norms of society during her lifetime. It’s so refreshing to find a contemporary author set on the same goal. Unfortunately racial divides still exist in the US (you need only turn on the news to believe me.) Writing Lucy as an African-American and Jeremiah as a Caucasian was a stroke of genius. Interracial relationships seem to be a bigger issue nowadays than relationships of differing economic backgrounds. Even though race didn’t matter to Lucy and Jeremiah, it was interesting to see the stress that outside opinions could cause them.
I really enjoyed the story being told from both Lucy and Jeremiah’s viewpoints. When I first read Persuasion I couldn’t imagine Anne meeting Wentworth 2.0 and wanting to win him back. He was such a jerk and unnecessarily (in my eyes) rude that I didn’t warm up to him at first. (Fret not friends, he’s now my second favorite hero in all of literature.) Getting Jeremiah’s point of view as well as Lucy’s helped me understand the heartache they were both still trying to recover from. The rude actions and words really belied a healing broken heart.
Fans of the original will be happy to know that Lady Russell, Sir Walter Elliot, Elizabeth Croft, and Captain Harville are all represented in this work with some fascinating southern flair. Deep, moving, and sure to fill your heart with romantic warmth, Persuasion, Captain Wentworth, and Cracklin’ Cornbread is a must read for any Persuasion lovers out there.
November 23, 2014
Once again Mary Jane Hathaway brings her readers a lighthearted romance full of all the humor and struggle that we tend to be drawn to with this particular genre. This is the third book in her Jane Austen Takes The South series, and she has skillfully retold Jane Austen’s Persuasion and made it completely her own. Lucy Crawford, our heroine in this tale, is living with her widower father in her childhood home and she feels as if her life is slipping through her grip. She is constantly worrying about their impending debt, that her father seems to pay no attention to, and she realizes that her beautiful childhood home is falling to shambles. Not long after the opening scenes, readers learn about a past relationship that Lucy endeared and ended because of the dislike her family showed towards her young suitor. Lucy and Jeremiah are reuniting under what Lucy wishes were better circumstances, but their love story is enough to have you laughing, gasping, and praying they make the right choices all at once!
I have read many Jane Austen retellings in my time as a book blogger, but this is the first retelling I have read of Jane’s Persuasion. This story is written so beautifully and with such attention to detail, that it does not matter if you are fan of Jane Austen, it doesn’t even matter if you have ever read a Jane Austen novel, there is still something in this book that everyone can love and appreciate. These books are clean and would be appropriate for young adults as well. I cannot promise that you will not become frustrated with our main characters, because you most likely well, but it is completely worth watching them work on the kinks in their own lives together. Grab this series if you are looking for something cozy to snuggle up with this Thanksgiving!
***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Howard Books in exchange for my honest review***
I have read many Jane Austen retellings in my time as a book blogger, but this is the first retelling I have read of Jane’s Persuasion. This story is written so beautifully and with such attention to detail, that it does not matter if you are fan of Jane Austen, it doesn’t even matter if you have ever read a Jane Austen novel, there is still something in this book that everyone can love and appreciate. These books are clean and would be appropriate for young adults as well. I cannot promise that you will not become frustrated with our main characters, because you most likely well, but it is completely worth watching them work on the kinks in their own lives together. Grab this series if you are looking for something cozy to snuggle up with this Thanksgiving!
***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Howard Books in exchange for my honest review***
March 27, 2017
This wasn't half bad, I enjoyed it a lot. I'm sure that if I had read Persuasion prior to the story, I would have understood it's significance more. I do enjoy that the author intertwined the Jane Austin's story into this, while making it her own at the same time. What made this story even better was it was light on the romance for me as I hate a romance story that is weighted heavily in romance. Also the fact that there was little to no sex scenes in it made it even better.
This story had it's highs and lows and I often found myself wanting to skip ahead for several reasons, but primarily because I wanted to see what was next. That being said, there were some really uneventful spots that made it cumbersome to read, but I am glad that would end almost as quickly as it came. The characters were relatable, and their story believable. I did feel for Lucy so much and glad she learned from her error's and it was nice to see the characters not only develop prior to the story, but during too.
One thing I always enjoy about reading stories involving food, is the recipes section that the author provides. This always makes the reading experience that more special. I like reading the recipes that were featured in the title or the book because I either want to try it, the Cracklin' Cornbread, or know what it is, like the Chow Chow. Even though I enjoy it, I'm glad it wasn't the major focus of the book, otherwise it feels more contrived and doesn't have much of a story.
I have won a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways and am in no way required to provide a review, though I have provided an honest one.
This story had it's highs and lows and I often found myself wanting to skip ahead for several reasons, but primarily because I wanted to see what was next. That being said, there were some really uneventful spots that made it cumbersome to read, but I am glad that would end almost as quickly as it came. The characters were relatable, and their story believable. I did feel for Lucy so much and glad she learned from her error's and it was nice to see the characters not only develop prior to the story, but during too.
One thing I always enjoy about reading stories involving food, is the recipes section that the author provides. This always makes the reading experience that more special. I like reading the recipes that were featured in the title or the book because I either want to try it, the Cracklin' Cornbread, or know what it is, like the Chow Chow. Even though I enjoy it, I'm glad it wasn't the major focus of the book, otherwise it feels more contrived and doesn't have much of a story.
I have won a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways and am in no way required to provide a review, though I have provided an honest one.
June 7, 2015
Over the past five years, Persuasion had topped Pride and Prejudice as my favorite Jane Austen book. There's just something about two people who found their true love early in life and years later, despite circumstances, family, and time, the love is still there. I've enjoyed Hathaway's Jane Austen Takes the South series and Persuasion, Captain Wentworth, and Cracklin' Cornbread was another fun read.
Lucy Crawford's family is in danger of losing their house. When her aunt suggests they lease out the back portion of their home to the local free clinic, the solutions seems manageable. They'll be able to pay off their home equity loan that much faster and get their feet back under themselves. And then her aunt drops the bombshell. Dr. Jeremiah Chevy will be running the clinic. The man that Lucy once loved, the man whose heart she'd broken, would not only be back in down but just on the other side of her home. But, it had been teen years, they were both adults now. Certainly they could be civil to each other. The problem? Lucy's heart is still set on Jem.
I'm a transplant to the south (been here seventeen years now so I should probably just claim it) and the way of life is definitely different than any other part in the US. Hathaway captures that well. The southern cooking, the love of history and college football, the strange way people have of giving backhanded compliments (often followed by "bless your heart"). It's all there. As are remnants of the beloved story by Austen. If your a fan of Jane Austen. Or just a fan of happy endings. This one is worth the time.
Lucy Crawford's family is in danger of losing their house. When her aunt suggests they lease out the back portion of their home to the local free clinic, the solutions seems manageable. They'll be able to pay off their home equity loan that much faster and get their feet back under themselves. And then her aunt drops the bombshell. Dr. Jeremiah Chevy will be running the clinic. The man that Lucy once loved, the man whose heart she'd broken, would not only be back in down but just on the other side of her home. But, it had been teen years, they were both adults now. Certainly they could be civil to each other. The problem? Lucy's heart is still set on Jem.
I'm a transplant to the south (been here seventeen years now so I should probably just claim it) and the way of life is definitely different than any other part in the US. Hathaway captures that well. The southern cooking, the love of history and college football, the strange way people have of giving backhanded compliments (often followed by "bless your heart"). It's all there. As are remnants of the beloved story by Austen. If your a fan of Jane Austen. Or just a fan of happy endings. This one is worth the time.
February 20, 2025
Austen in the South with Hathaway's unique spin has been reading nirvana for me. And I do believe that Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread is my favourite of the three. I just loved Lucy and Jem's story even though it was angst riddled to the very end...or maybe because it was. Carefully plotted and flawlessly executed, every precious word built up sights and sounds and smells and oh, so many emotions in my mind. A total escape read -- so much so that it was surreal to be jarred out of it when real life got in the way.
If I never get my blood pressure down, I'm blaming Lucy's family. I was foaming at the mouth over some of their antics. Gah! I wanted to shake that girl for capitulating so many times. All that Southern breeding has made her a tad too biddable.
Stalwart Jem, hurt by past rejection but still drawn to the girl who broke his heart. There is something about a sensitive hero who struggles to stay on an even keel. These two have such history -- and it goes way beyond personal. Their past is cluttered with societal expectations, class consciousness and even racial prejudice. The heart of this story is the hero and heroine's willingness to create something enduringly beautiful from the shards of their shattered pasts.
https://kavsbestreads.ca/2025/02/20/p...
If I never get my blood pressure down, I'm blaming Lucy's family. I was foaming at the mouth over some of their antics. Gah! I wanted to shake that girl for capitulating so many times. All that Southern breeding has made her a tad too biddable.
Stalwart Jem, hurt by past rejection but still drawn to the girl who broke his heart. There is something about a sensitive hero who struggles to stay on an even keel. These two have such history -- and it goes way beyond personal. Their past is cluttered with societal expectations, class consciousness and even racial prejudice. The heart of this story is the hero and heroine's willingness to create something enduringly beautiful from the shards of their shattered pasts.
https://kavsbestreads.ca/2025/02/20/p...
January 19, 2018
I love Jane Austen’s Persuasion. I love southern things and food. When I saw this modern version of Persuasion set in the south, I thought, I gotta read that.
To me the reason to read a novel is to get away from the tabloid people and anything else grating if you look at any tv, movie, magazine, etc.
In this book she actually used the words, “wardrobe malfunction.” Instantaneously, I’m transported into an enormous football stadium and one of the tabloid females is ripping her shirt off in front of millions of people with no warning.
Later on, she actually used the words, “baby daddy.” Instantaneously, I’m transported onto the set of the Jerry Springer show and someone is receiving the results of a paternity test.
In a word, Ugh!
I hate talk shows. I hate ‘reality’ tv. I hate knowing anything about the tabloid people, and here they all are IN A BOOK, that I spent money on.
There was so much to skim over in this book that I got through it in less than three hours. I’m a savor-er of books. When I read a part I love, I’ll stop and go back and read it several times before I go on, this was not necessary in this book.
To me the reason to read a novel is to get away from the tabloid people and anything else grating if you look at any tv, movie, magazine, etc.
In this book she actually used the words, “wardrobe malfunction.” Instantaneously, I’m transported into an enormous football stadium and one of the tabloid females is ripping her shirt off in front of millions of people with no warning.
Later on, she actually used the words, “baby daddy.” Instantaneously, I’m transported onto the set of the Jerry Springer show and someone is receiving the results of a paternity test.
In a word, Ugh!
I hate talk shows. I hate ‘reality’ tv. I hate knowing anything about the tabloid people, and here they all are IN A BOOK, that I spent money on.
There was so much to skim over in this book that I got through it in less than three hours. I’m a savor-er of books. When I read a part I love, I’ll stop and go back and read it several times before I go on, this was not necessary in this book.
July 22, 2017
This is a solid read, but it is a straight romance. The books in this series have a lot of Civil War reenactment in them, which is the author's interest. In this book, the heroine is African American, and I thought the character was well-written, but I would have liked to have seen more of the other characters and more of the family history.
There were a few errors which an editor should have caught. In my edition, a character is suspected of bleaching her skin, and the question is asked, "Who would ruin that beautiful melatonin?" Melatonin is a hormone that regulates your circadian rhythm and makes you sleepy when it gets dark. I think she means melanin.
There were a few errors which an editor should have caught. In my edition, a character is suspected of bleaching her skin, and the question is asked, "Who would ruin that beautiful melatonin?" Melatonin is a hormone that regulates your circadian rhythm and makes you sleepy when it gets dark. I think she means melanin.
September 7, 2014
Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin’ Cornbread by Mary Jane Hathaway is a southern retelling of Persuasion by Jane Austen. It’s been many years since I’ve read Jane Austen but I can honestly say that I enjoy this version more. It’s fun to read and the characters are likable and realistic. If you love a good southern romance, read Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin’ Cornbread by Mary Jane Hathaway
November 17, 2014
I loved the author's modern take on Persuasion. Very fresh and original. She took Jane Austen's story and made it her own. I have read and enjoyed the other two in the series and can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
November 17, 2014
Between 4 and 4 1/2. Great retelling. Loved seeing characters from the other books.
November 17, 2014
Great book! I couldn't put it down. Lucy Crawford and Jem Chevy were wonderfully full characters. Kuddos to Mary Jane Hathaway for writing such a book.
August 15, 2019
Il s'agit du troisième tome de la série "Jane Austen Takes the South", de Mary Jane Hathaway après Pride and Prejudice and Cheese Grits que j'avais trouvé sympa et Emma, Mr. Knightley and Chili-Slaw Dogs que j'avais vraiment beaucoup aimé ! Cette fois, nous sommes sur une réécriture assez fidèle de Persuasion, ce qui ne pouvait que m'enthousiasmer, et toujours plongés dans les traditions sudistes. Ici, Lucy, l'héroïne vient d'une famille afro-américaine riche et respectée, alors que Jem, aka Captain Wentworth, est un blanc élevé dans une caravane. Tout ce background fonctionne très bien avec l'histoire d'origine.
La famille Crawford est criblée de dettes. Pour essayer de s'en sortir, Lucy, qui est la seule à avoir un peu de bon sens, décide de louer une partie de la maison familiale historique au Docteur Strood. Ce dernier souhaite y installer sa clinique pour les plus démunis et vient justement d'embaucher un nouveau médecin, de retour dans sa région d'origine après dix ans d'absence, qui n'est autre que Jem, l'amour de jeunesse de Lucy.
Comme vous pouvez le voir, nous sommes très proches de l'intrigue d'origine. On s'attache donc très facilement aux personnages, on souffre de nouveau avec Lucy, on mettrait bien quelques claques à ses soeurs, on soupire face à Jem... Le seul petit bémol, c'est qu'une fois encore nous alternons les points de vue et nous savons donc dès les premières pages du livre que Jem craque toujours pour Lucy. Ça manque un tout petit peu de rancoeur et de colère je trouve. En dehors de ça, les sentiments et la psychologie des personnages sont parfaitement bien traités et il y a même une scène entre Lucy et l'une de ses soeurs à la fin qui m'a particulièrement touchée et agréablement surprise.
Ce que j'ai autant aimé que dans les précédents opus, c'est l'ambiance du Sud, les valeurs et les traditions, et toutes les bonnes recettes de cuisine qui me font saliver. J'ai apprécié également l'apparition de différents personnages que nous avions déjà croisés et les clins d'oeil à leurs histoires. Les références à la Guerre Civile ne sont pas inintéressantes non plus, en revanche, l'humour est bien moins présent mais c'est également le cas dans l'original, je suppose donc que ce n'est pas très surprenant.
Quelque chose qui ne m'a pas gêné pendant ma lecture mais que je regrette un peu après coup, c'est que la plupart des personnages sont vraiment très secondaires, comme la soeur mariée de Lucy qui aurait tout aussi bien pu être supprimée. De même, certaines anecdotes reliées à l'original tombent parfois ici légèrement comme un cheveu sur la soupe. Finalement, je crois que j'aime autant quand l'auteur met vraiment les choses à la sauce sudiste.
En bref, c'était quand même vraiment une chouette série. Apparemment, les trois autres romans n'ont pas été adaptés et franchement je le regrette.
http://janeausten.hautetfort.com/arch...
La famille Crawford est criblée de dettes. Pour essayer de s'en sortir, Lucy, qui est la seule à avoir un peu de bon sens, décide de louer une partie de la maison familiale historique au Docteur Strood. Ce dernier souhaite y installer sa clinique pour les plus démunis et vient justement d'embaucher un nouveau médecin, de retour dans sa région d'origine après dix ans d'absence, qui n'est autre que Jem, l'amour de jeunesse de Lucy.
Comme vous pouvez le voir, nous sommes très proches de l'intrigue d'origine. On s'attache donc très facilement aux personnages, on souffre de nouveau avec Lucy, on mettrait bien quelques claques à ses soeurs, on soupire face à Jem... Le seul petit bémol, c'est qu'une fois encore nous alternons les points de vue et nous savons donc dès les premières pages du livre que Jem craque toujours pour Lucy. Ça manque un tout petit peu de rancoeur et de colère je trouve. En dehors de ça, les sentiments et la psychologie des personnages sont parfaitement bien traités et il y a même une scène entre Lucy et l'une de ses soeurs à la fin qui m'a particulièrement touchée et agréablement surprise.
Ce que j'ai autant aimé que dans les précédents opus, c'est l'ambiance du Sud, les valeurs et les traditions, et toutes les bonnes recettes de cuisine qui me font saliver. J'ai apprécié également l'apparition de différents personnages que nous avions déjà croisés et les clins d'oeil à leurs histoires. Les références à la Guerre Civile ne sont pas inintéressantes non plus, en revanche, l'humour est bien moins présent mais c'est également le cas dans l'original, je suppose donc que ce n'est pas très surprenant.
Quelque chose qui ne m'a pas gêné pendant ma lecture mais que je regrette un peu après coup, c'est que la plupart des personnages sont vraiment très secondaires, comme la soeur mariée de Lucy qui aurait tout aussi bien pu être supprimée. De même, certaines anecdotes reliées à l'original tombent parfois ici légèrement comme un cheveu sur la soupe. Finalement, je crois que j'aime autant quand l'auteur met vraiment les choses à la sauce sudiste.
En bref, c'était quand même vraiment une chouette série. Apparemment, les trois autres romans n'ont pas été adaptés et franchement je le regrette.
http://janeausten.hautetfort.com/arch...
November 20, 2020
Ever since Lucy Crawford's Mama died, Lucy's life has become a futile struggle to keep the family home that dates back to the late 1860s. Though her family is old and proud, they have all the privileged and none of the wealth. The debt collectors are calling non-stop and Lucy's father only seems to care about his golf game and her younger sister spends money like it grows on trees. When her Aunt Olympia announces the Tupelo Free Clinic is looking for a new home, the obvious solution is to rent out part of the house to the clinic. Lucy has mixed feelings. If it was just the clinic she would be fine but her old flame Jem Chevy, now Dr. Jeremiah Chevy, has returned to town to work at the clinic. Ten years ago Lucy and Jem bonded over poetry, literature, history and spent a wonderful summer together, then facing family disapproval, Lucy dumped Jem. How can she face him again? How can she ever get over him if he's always around? Jem has returned to his hometown to give back. The child of an unwed teenage dropout, Jem knows how it feels to struggle just to survive. Nothing he went through as a child prepared him for the heartbreak of Lucy's rejection. He's tried to move on but she's always there in his heart. How can he forgive her and move on if he can't forget her?
This is another beautiful entry in the Jane Austen Takes the South series. It's almost a direct parallel of the original but it works. I found it interesting that the race issue was also a factor in the break-up. I applaud the author for opening my eyes to the existence of proud, old-money Black families. It was an unusual twist to the story I didn't expect. A lot of time is spent on Jem's background but not much on Lucy's family except for the present generation. I'd love to know more about her family story and how her ancestors survived Jim Crow and thrived to become prominent citizens. I was also surprised religion played a factor in the story as well. I come from a heavy Catholic area and the thought never occurred to me that there were places that had a very small Catholic minority and that minority were not treated well by the majority. Is any of that even realistic in this day and age? The way Lucy's Aunt Octavia carried on, I kept thinking the story was set in the 60s. The romantic plot felt realistic and I liked knowing why they fell in love, which dear Jane Austen never bothered to share with her readers. The pacing was pretty good but the plot lacked the pivotal action of the original. It could have been there since it was hinted at more than once but it wasn't so the story felt a little flat without it. That's my only major complaint. The Mr. Eliot character got dropped along the way and I felt that was a little unresolved. Another character is also left on the chopping block which also left me a little disappointed in the conclusion. I loved seeing Rebecca again and her super awesome Jane Austen wedding. Rebecca is Lucy's cousin and ties the three stories together as Shelby and Caroline make cameos as bridesmaids. The Christian content is very very minimal and worked into the story unobtrusively. Lucy and Jem are strong in their faiths but don't go preaching to others or relying on God to show them the way. Towards the end Lucy sends up a few quick prayers. Jem recites grace at dinner but it's only summarized.
Lucy is an interesting character. Like Anne, I think she was a bit too self-denying. She didn't think so because her father felt she was being disrespectful for telling him off about not paying the bills. Umm what? What century is this? Lucy also spends a lot of time trying to respect her family's wishes but also trying to do the right thing. As a result she's kind of wearied and old before her time, like Anne. On the other hand she's intelligent, has a lot of common sense and is caring towards her sisters who don't deserve it. I can see some modern readers not liking Lucy but I think she's in a tough spot. She's torn between duty and desire and apparently in the South they still think it's the 1860s and duty wins.
Jem is a perfect hero. He's worked his way up from the trailer park, is now a doctor and giving back to his community. He understands and doesn't pass judgment on any of his patients because he's been there. There's only one scene where I felt he acted out of character where the author tried to stick too close to the original. Jem is not vain, proud or selfish like my beloved Wentworth claims to be. Jem loves poetry, literature and history. Any family should be PROUD to have their daughter marry him. I can see how he feels hurt at Lucy's rejection and how being around her brings back old, unhappy feelings as well as the flame that burns inside him. He handles himself very well considering the circumstances.
My favorite characters were Dr. and Mrs. Stroud. They are the updated versions of Admiral and Mrs. Croft in the original. They have the same kind of loving relationship and unlike the original, Theresa actually befriends Lucy and acts as a mentor. Plus, Theresa is a Janeite and introduces Lucy to Jane Austen through Persuasion. I disagree though, Persuasion does have humor. Mary Musgrove and Sir Walter's humbris, his toadying to Lady Dalrymple are all supposed to be funny. Dr. Stroud gets a little too gory for me but I love his passion for the Civil War and he inspires that passion in others.
The characters who don't work are Paulette and Regan. Is anyone REALLY that stupid? They were complete stereotypes and Regan was rather superfluous. Since there's no real action scene, they're not necessary except to make Lucy look even better but she's fine on her own. Lucy's father annoyed me. I can tolerate Sir Walter because he reminds me of my own dad but Mr. Crawford was just blind and he wasn't even in the plot at all. He just passes through. I couldn't stand Aunt Octavia either because she's deliberately cruel and snobby. She hurt Lucy and can't even see it. The reverse racism idea was an interesting concept but the social snobbery just made me want to yell at her.
This series keeps getting better and better!
This is another beautiful entry in the Jane Austen Takes the South series. It's almost a direct parallel of the original but it works. I found it interesting that the race issue was also a factor in the break-up. I applaud the author for opening my eyes to the existence of proud, old-money Black families. It was an unusual twist to the story I didn't expect. A lot of time is spent on Jem's background but not much on Lucy's family except for the present generation. I'd love to know more about her family story and how her ancestors survived Jim Crow and thrived to become prominent citizens. I was also surprised religion played a factor in the story as well. I come from a heavy Catholic area and the thought never occurred to me that there were places that had a very small Catholic minority and that minority were not treated well by the majority. Is any of that even realistic in this day and age? The way Lucy's Aunt Octavia carried on, I kept thinking the story was set in the 60s. The romantic plot felt realistic and I liked knowing why they fell in love, which dear Jane Austen never bothered to share with her readers. The pacing was pretty good but the plot lacked the pivotal action of the original. It could have been there since it was hinted at more than once but it wasn't so the story felt a little flat without it. That's my only major complaint. The Mr. Eliot character got dropped along the way and I felt that was a little unresolved. Another character is also left on the chopping block which also left me a little disappointed in the conclusion. I loved seeing Rebecca again and her super awesome Jane Austen wedding. Rebecca is Lucy's cousin and ties the three stories together as Shelby and Caroline make cameos as bridesmaids. The Christian content is very very minimal and worked into the story unobtrusively. Lucy and Jem are strong in their faiths but don't go preaching to others or relying on God to show them the way. Towards the end Lucy sends up a few quick prayers. Jem recites grace at dinner but it's only summarized.
Lucy is an interesting character. Like Anne, I think she was a bit too self-denying. She didn't think so because her father felt she was being disrespectful for telling him off about not paying the bills. Umm what? What century is this? Lucy also spends a lot of time trying to respect her family's wishes but also trying to do the right thing. As a result she's kind of wearied and old before her time, like Anne. On the other hand she's intelligent, has a lot of common sense and is caring towards her sisters who don't deserve it. I can see some modern readers not liking Lucy but I think she's in a tough spot. She's torn between duty and desire and apparently in the South they still think it's the 1860s and duty wins.
Jem is a perfect hero. He's worked his way up from the trailer park, is now a doctor and giving back to his community. He understands and doesn't pass judgment on any of his patients because he's been there. There's only one scene where I felt he acted out of character where the author tried to stick too close to the original. Jem is not vain, proud or selfish like my beloved Wentworth claims to be. Jem loves poetry, literature and history. Any family should be PROUD to have their daughter marry him. I can see how he feels hurt at Lucy's rejection and how being around her brings back old, unhappy feelings as well as the flame that burns inside him. He handles himself very well considering the circumstances.
My favorite characters were Dr. and Mrs. Stroud. They are the updated versions of Admiral and Mrs. Croft in the original. They have the same kind of loving relationship and unlike the original, Theresa actually befriends Lucy and acts as a mentor. Plus, Theresa is a Janeite and introduces Lucy to Jane Austen through Persuasion. I disagree though, Persuasion does have humor. Mary Musgrove and Sir Walter's humbris, his toadying to Lady Dalrymple are all supposed to be funny. Dr. Stroud gets a little too gory for me but I love his passion for the Civil War and he inspires that passion in others.
The characters who don't work are Paulette and Regan. Is anyone REALLY that stupid? They were complete stereotypes and Regan was rather superfluous. Since there's no real action scene, they're not necessary except to make Lucy look even better but she's fine on her own. Lucy's father annoyed me. I can tolerate Sir Walter because he reminds me of my own dad but Mr. Crawford was just blind and he wasn't even in the plot at all. He just passes through. I couldn't stand Aunt Octavia either because she's deliberately cruel and snobby. She hurt Lucy and can't even see it. The reverse racism idea was an interesting concept but the social snobbery just made me want to yell at her.
This series keeps getting better and better!
February 18, 2024
Lucy and Jem were high school sweethearts, but differences in their race, social status, spiritual beliefs, and wealth caused Lucy to cut off their relationship to please her dad and her aunt. Now they are thrown together in small town Mississipi 12 years later where both have finished college, and Jem is now a medical doctor. Events throw them together often; but while each still has feelings for the other, neither one is strong enough to admit it. Will Lucy and Jem go their separate ways or will a love of Jane Austen, poetry, and everything southern bring them back together?
This was an enjoyable conclusion to this series, and I was entertained by the connections to Jane Austen's book: Persuasion.
This was an enjoyable conclusion to this series, and I was entertained by the connections to Jane Austen's book: Persuasion.
April 1, 2024
I really liked that this wasn’t simply a re-telling of Austen’s most mature work, but a parallel story, referencing ‘Persuasion’ and Jane in the book. There were bits that weren’t perfect, but the fact I couldn’t put this book down is the reason I gave it the rating I have. It was super easy to read, and if I hadn’t have had to sleep in between, would have only take an afternoon/evening to read. Looking forward to catching Hathaway’s other Austen renditions.
November 13, 2020
fun retelling of Persuasion.
December 8, 2022
I enjoyed the premise of this book--a southern take on Jane Austen's "Persuasion." But this wasn't necessarily a retelling of "Persuasion," although there were a lot of parallels. Lucy and Jem were their own characters with different problems and moments of growth than Anne and Wentworth.
Overall, it was a good read, but I felt there were some random scenes that were cut too short. For example, there was a wedding that was introduced at the beginning of the book, but the overall event only took up one chapter towards the end. It would have been nice to spend a little more time at the wedding and include more of the conflict resolution there as well. My other negative thoughts are the result of being too nitpicky, so I won't mention them here. But this was a good read for whenever you need a little romance.
Overall, it was a good read, but I felt there were some random scenes that were cut too short. For example, there was a wedding that was introduced at the beginning of the book, but the overall event only took up one chapter towards the end. It would have been nice to spend a little more time at the wedding and include more of the conflict resolution there as well. My other negative thoughts are the result of being too nitpicky, so I won't mention them here. But this was a good read for whenever you need a little romance.
January 5, 2015
3.5 out of 5 stars
I just can't resist a Jane Austen retelling, especially one of Persuasion, which is one of my favorite books of hers--and one I don't believe gets enough love. Little did I know, as well, Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread is set in my beloved Mississippi. This is one of those recipes that I'm bound to end up liking, you know? And, luckily for me, PCWCC (can I abbreviate it like that, just for brevity?) didn't disappoint. It's a wholesome and charming, not-to-faithful-to-the-original retelling (a good thing) that left me smiling.
Lucy Crawford is a wonderful homage to Anne Eliot. She's got all of the inner strength and dignity of Anne, but she's also a modern girl who doesn't pull punches. She makes her choices to help her family--at the expense of herself. I've always loved all Anne learns in Persuasion and to see Lucy learn much the same thing, and to realize her family can cope without her making sacrifices for them, is so enjoyable. You can't help but wish happiness for someone who has sacrifices so much, and for someone who has suffered so for a bad decision so long in the past--especially someone who doesn't complain about it and who only works hard, just as Anne/Lucy do(es).
I also really enjoyed an added perspective of Jem, our Captain Wentworth. It's hard to know in Persuasion what Wentworth is thinking, so to see the evolution of Jem's feelings towards Lucy's former actions change through the book is a nice addition. He's bitter at first, thinking she shirks him because she wants to date other people, and he's believed for ten years that she's gone off and sowed her oats. But, when he truly sees who Lucy is and what she makes her decisions for, his anger dissipates. Then, we just have to wait and see how long it takes them to fall back together--the ending I was dying for!
Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread is a light and lovely read. If you're at all familiar with Persuasion, you'll find some familiar moments and mentions, which only heightens the fun. It retains the same ideas Austen gets across while adding a southern--if a little stereotypical--twist.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
You can find this review and many more fun things on my blog: Paper Cuts.
I just can't resist a Jane Austen retelling, especially one of Persuasion, which is one of my favorite books of hers--and one I don't believe gets enough love. Little did I know, as well, Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread is set in my beloved Mississippi. This is one of those recipes that I'm bound to end up liking, you know? And, luckily for me, PCWCC (can I abbreviate it like that, just for brevity?) didn't disappoint. It's a wholesome and charming, not-to-faithful-to-the-original retelling (a good thing) that left me smiling.
Lucy Crawford is a wonderful homage to Anne Eliot. She's got all of the inner strength and dignity of Anne, but she's also a modern girl who doesn't pull punches. She makes her choices to help her family--at the expense of herself. I've always loved all Anne learns in Persuasion and to see Lucy learn much the same thing, and to realize her family can cope without her making sacrifices for them, is so enjoyable. You can't help but wish happiness for someone who has sacrifices so much, and for someone who has suffered so for a bad decision so long in the past--especially someone who doesn't complain about it and who only works hard, just as Anne/Lucy do(es).
I also really enjoyed an added perspective of Jem, our Captain Wentworth. It's hard to know in Persuasion what Wentworth is thinking, so to see the evolution of Jem's feelings towards Lucy's former actions change through the book is a nice addition. He's bitter at first, thinking she shirks him because she wants to date other people, and he's believed for ten years that she's gone off and sowed her oats. But, when he truly sees who Lucy is and what she makes her decisions for, his anger dissipates. Then, we just have to wait and see how long it takes them to fall back together--the ending I was dying for!
Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread is a light and lovely read. If you're at all familiar with Persuasion, you'll find some familiar moments and mentions, which only heightens the fun. It retains the same ideas Austen gets across while adding a southern--if a little stereotypical--twist.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
You can find this review and many more fun things on my blog: Paper Cuts.
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