No Such Thing As Luck: A Sweet Victorian Romance from North and South

by Nicole Clarkston, Alix James

Librarian's note: Alternate cover edition of ASIN: B011SQDMW2
There are Alternate Cover Editions for this edition of this book here and here.

John Thornton is facing the collapse of everything he has worked for all of his life. Through his banker, he hears about a potential business opportunity that could save the mill. He decides to investigate, even if it means traveling from home when he can least afford it.

Margaret Hale, now living in London, learns that her godfather Mr Bell is visiting her brother Frederick in Cadiz. Bell is dying, and asking to see her before it is too late. She is determined to sail, regardless of the risk.

An accident on the docks leaves Margaret injured, and throws both together on the same ship. Thornton, resolved to protect Margaret's honour despite their painful history, claims to be her brother to keep her safe. Unfortunately, pretending to be Margaret's brother proves more difficult- and more dangerous- than he might have expected.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Audiobook, Fan Fiction

432 pages, ebook

First published July 21, 2015

About the author

Nicole Clarkston is a book lover and a happily married mom of three. Originally from Idaho, she now lives in Oregon with her own romantic hero, three kids who are taller than she is, and one very fat dog.

Nicole can be reached through Facebook at http://fb.me/NicoleClarkstonAuthor, Twitter @N_Clarkston, her blog at Goodreads.com, or her personal blog and website, NicoleClarkson.com.

Reviews

[Rita Deodato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review initially posted on:
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...

No Such Thing as Luck was the first book I ever saw of Nicole Clarkston and it was because of it that I discovered she also wrote JAFF. I’ve read and loved her other two JAFF books (Rumours & Recklessness and The Courtship of Edward Gardiner) but this one will always have a special place in my heart because it is one of the best North and South fan fiction books I’ve ever read.

This variation takes place after Mr. Hales’s death and Margaret’s departure from Milton. Some months after these events Margaret receives a letter from Frederick telling her that Mr. Bell, who was visiting him in Cadiz, is terminally ill and would like to see her one last time. She decides to embark on a ship as soon as possible and as she is about to embark the Esperanza, she bumps into Mr. Thornton, who is also embarking on the ship to meet a business associate who may help him save the mill after the disastrous strike.

It is due to these circumstances that we will see the action of the book occurring on board of a ship, and as you may imagine, it is not difficult for people to bump into each other frequently when confined in a small space, so the duration of this trip provided us with plenty of scenes between Margaret and John 🙂

In fact, I believe it serves as a closure to the original story. Mrs. Gaskell’s rushed ending was a bit bittersweet for me as I would have liked to read a more slow-paced ending with our characters exploring and demonstrating more their love for each other. This book, being also a slow-paced story, despite the adventures in the end, gave me the satisfaction of seeing these characters profess their love for one another by words and behaviours during an enjoyable amount of time.

I believe nothing could be more perfect for these characters than the scenes Nicole Clarkston created on the ship. These were the most intense and romantic scenes I’ve seen of John and Margaret so far, and I wasn’t even done with this book and already wished the author would never stop writing tales of John and Margaret.

Nothing compares to the eager anticipation that Nicole Clarkston creates in the first chapters, followed by the overpowering joy of seeing John learning the truth at last.

Ever since his conversation with Higgins I could only hope to see him in Spain. I could only imagine what his reaction at seeing Frederick would be, and Nicole Clarkston gave me that satisfaction with this unique variation of North and South.

This John Thornton is one of the best, if not the best, John Thornton I have ever seen on a North and South fan fiction book. Nicole Clarkston made me fall in love with him all over again, he is gallant, protective, tender and strong. He is a combination of everything perfect and imperfect I would love to see associated to this character.

Margaret is true to herself, but in this book she already knows that turning down such a man was a big mistake considering she is aware her heart has been touched by him. As I love to read books when Margaret is already in love with John, this book was a delight to read.

Mrs. Thornton is also seen through a different perspective and even if she remains the same in essentials, we see a new side of her that allows us to get to know and understand the character better. Also, her reaction at seeing Margaret introduce herself when entering the court is priceless!!! (when you read it, you’ll understand, but I imagine many people would love to read this book just to have the pleasure of witnessing this moment).

No Such Thing as Luck is a riveting book full of romance between John and Margaret and I highly recommend it to anyone in need of a good romance. The first chapters captivate the readers hearts and souls and it will be hard stop reading after that.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear reader,

If you are a fan of Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South,if you are in the mood for a sweet, romantic, utterly compelling and simply adorable story,then this is the book for you!


I was enchanted by this tale and could not put it down. I read it with a big smile on my face and felt so happy to be enveloped in such a warm and beautifully written story.
I forgot about the outside world,so lost was I to the actions,thoughts and desires of John and Margaret.


I loved so many facets of this story-the way ODC became reacquainted,how they realised their mutual love for the other,the long,meaningful stares,the friendly,easy and charming camaraderie they shared,not to mind how quintessentially happy they both were just to be together.


This story contains a little angst,but thankfully it was of very short duration and was happily resolved to everyone's mutual satisfaction.It is well paced and the twist, towards the end,was something that I didn't foretell.


I highly recommend it to all seeking a feel good,romantic tale, centred around a tall, dark,handsome,lonely and vulnerable cotton mill owner and one very beautiful,vivacious, independent and lonely lady.


The love story that unfolds when said individuals lower their respective barriers and see the other with fresh eyes begs to be read,savoured and enjoyed! I trust you will do all three!

This was Ms Clarkston's first novel.....wow!! What a fantastic debut!

[J. W. Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Luck? I don’t know anything about luck. I’ve never banked on it and I’m afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else: Hard work – and realizing what is opportunity and what isn’t.” Lucille Ball

Until last December, I had never read North & South, Elizabeth Gaskell’s story of the struggles between the industrialized north and the urban south of England. Nicole Clarkston has taken Gaskell’s unique premise and continued the love story between John Thornton and Margaret Hale. He, the northern master of a struggling mill and she the southern daughter of a dissatisfied vicar in the Church of England.

It would be best to have some knowledge of the N&S story before attempting this variation, whether through reading Gaskell’s book or from watching the DVD. My first exposure to N&S was through my Goodreads friends and reading a short excerpt on a fan-fiction website. It was a scene depicting the first meeting between Miss Hale and Mr. Thornton. I was so moved by the excerpt that I decided that I really needed to read N&S after all. Although this was a variation; I think it could be a stand-a-lone. Clarkston did a most excellent job of seamlessly dovetailing the two stories together. It was as though I had never left Gaskell’s story-line. Clarkston is my first foray into the N&S fan-fiction genre.

I’m not going to detail the plot; other reviews have already done that. I was amazed at Clarkston’s writing, how she gently reminded the reader by bringing important elements from canon back to mind. It was delightful to be reintroduced to characters I had forgotten about. Clarkston wove a new tapestry with our beloved characters and created a delightful story of love, redemption, forgiveness, understanding and clarity of mind where, in canon, things were clouded and threads left dangling.

Linchpin Character: In many stories, there is one character that is considered a linchpin character. The story actually revolves around them. If they change, the entire story changes. If they move to the left, the story shifts as well. If they move to the right, the… well, you get what I mean. Margaret Hale was a linchpin character in this variation. Every move she made throughout the story… had a profound effect on the story and those she encountered. She moved the narrative. She affected characters to become the best they could be as she charmed, calmed, encouraged, empowered, and enhanced their characteristics. With her, people wanted to be their best. Unless, of course, they were a slug-eating, bottom-feeding, rat… well, you get my drift.

I loved the evolution of the characters that were so ‘hard and unyielding’ in canon. Clarkston gave them an opportunity to change and to become what they were always meant to be. The biggest change was the elder Mrs. Thornton [although she probably wasn’t that old]. I loved watching the layer of frost, that had built up around her over years of hardship and disappointment, begin to thaw and crack. Under Clarkston’s microscope, we watched as Mrs. Thornton experienced a new paradigm. We felt her astonishment as emotions and feelings begin to surface and emerge. Emotions, that she was not necessarily unfamiliar with, but had not experienced in many years. Delightful! I really liked her.

“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.” Frederick Douglass

There was a big proponent for social change happening within the social structure of industrialized England. We were given many examples of the downtrodden and shown how their lives could/would change when simply given the opportunity. In N&S, we watched Higgins change throughout that story. In Clarkston’s variation, we watched him come into his own… powerful. His act of kindness to the children of his enemy was paid forward with little Johnny. Oh, I so love that little guy.

“The role model approach to social change is no substitute for challenging unjust employment practices, educational policies and housing”. Patricia Hill Collins

Through the kindness and encouragement of ‘Miss Marget,’ children were given opportunities to have an education and to better themselves. She also encouraged social changes at the mill that had a profound effect on the workers, the supervisors, the master and the community. I liked their innovations and plans for the future. Thornton was well known as a fair master and many wanted to work for him. That was not always popular with the other mills in the area.

“The question is always ‘What is the role of a labor movement?’ How much is about collective bargaining, how much is about social change for all workers?” Andy Stern

The consequence from the mill strike, that occurred in N&S, was still being felt in this variation. Therefore, the above quote really applied to both N&S and Clarkston’s work, because the strike laid the foundation on which Clarkston could build her story. The changes put forth in the first book, helped establish the second. I loved this story. It was delightful. There were times I wanted to shudder, bite my nails, cringe, cry, cheer, and laugh out loud. I didn’t want to put it down, but had to… so I could eat and get some sleep.

Rating: PG-13, steamy, not graphic; however, the mirror/windows steamed up pretty good.

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this author’s other book, Rumours & Recklessness, in December of 2015 and found it enjoyable. I had noted at the time to myself that she had written a variation to North & South. As that book is one of my favorites I intended to read her variation (this book) at some time in the future. The blog, More Agreeably Engaged, then listed this book as the favorite variation of North and South and I decided that I would take the plunge and read it. You must see that it kept me enthralled as I finished it in one day and it is a novel of 432 pages.

This novel is a part variation, part sequel in my opinion as it begins just before the ending Elizabeth Gaskell wrote for her classic novel. Margaret is in London with her aunt and cousin after the death of her father. John is in Milton after the strike is over but also after his sister’s wedding and John’s failure to profit by investing in his new brother’s-in-law then successful venture. He has little money and no ready source of cotton for his looms. World economics have played havoc with the economies and in world trade with more then one country. John hears of a source in Cadiz, Spain but cannot linger at home…he must travel, investigate the reliability of the product and negotiate a contract. He puts Higgins in a supervisory position while he travels. This leads to some interesting events for his mother. (I loved this new aspect of Mrs. Thornton: she proves to have a heart and a warm spot for a young boy.)

So John is off to catch a ship, the Esperanza.

Meanwhile, Margaret receives word via the network they have set up to protect her brother who continues to have the charge of mutiny hanging over his head, that their godfather, Mr. Bell, has arrived for a visit but is on his deathbed and asking for her to come. Frederick knows it is nigh impossible as she must arrange for an escort, etc. But Margaret was not at her father’s bedside when he died; this godfather was, so she is going to return the favor. She secretly has two of the servants seek information about ships, help her pack, etc. and then sneaks out of the house early in the morning to be on the Esperanza.

But don’t you know it (read the book description or the sample)…She is knocked over in the crowd and dislocates her shoulder AND is rescued by John Thornton. What to do? She had planned to approach the captain to ask that he provide her protection on the voyage, but John knows nothing of this. She is in pain, the doctor has given her laudanum and he has turned to John thinking that they are married and given him instructions on how to care for her the next several weeks. John’s quick thinking (???) has him claiming to be Margaret’s brother. Thus he can book her the last first class cabin while he takes a berth in steerage but also watch over her. Oh, this is one of those…"What a web we weave when first we practice to deceive” situations.

Soon not only Captain Carter’s daughter but also a fellow passenger, a French businessman, are saying to themselves that there is no way he is her brother. “Miss Thornton” can’t be left alone as her injuries cripple her in her everyday activities so her “brother” and Miss Carter step up but…oh, my, is it bordering on “compromise” for a “brother” to be in her cabin??? And can he even trust himself when the one who has tempted him from across a room now needs him to help her sit up, to help her adjust her sling, to give her a drink of water, etc.?

I pride myself on seeing possible outcomes early in many stories and in this one I saw immediately where this was leading. But it was fun to watch the entanglements play out. Frederick is expecting Mr. Thornton who is expecting to meet a Mr. Marshall. Frederick is not expecting his sister. And then Mr. Bell has some surprises up his sleeve. Drama and not of the romantic type comes into play in the last 20% of the story. Then there is a rush to sort out…well, you will have to read this to see just what mess this couple has gotten themselves into.

This was a very interesting story. It was part mystery and intrigue, part misunderstandings and then there was the reading of John’s thoughts about his Margaret.

The author crammed a lot of happenings into a short span of time but she does give us an epilogue.

[Carole (in Canada) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Ms. Clarkston debut novel (2015) based on the characters created by Elizabeth Gaskell in 1855 depicting the social conditions between the mill owners and their workers in the town of Milton. The two main characters, John Thornton and Margaret Hale have become iconic figures.
Ms. Clarkston has taken this couple on a journey to their happily-ever-after that is much more satisfying than the original.

It was so good to be back in their lives and to journey with them to Cadiz. Margaret had returned to London after the death of her father. John was dealing with the possibility of losing everything. Little did Margaret know she would be thrown together with John as she rushes to the side of her beloved godfather, Mr. Bell. Little did John know that he would be with the one woman he would ever love.

"He recognized in her a similar soul, with the same deep needs and aching loneliness he himself faced."(quote from the book)

This a worthy tale of love lost, the anguish of heartache as each battle their feelings, and the obstacles that hinder their way. This is a very satisfying read and highly enjoyable. I look forward to reading her second North and South variation 'Northern Rain'.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book starts some months after Mr. Hale has died and Margaret is living in London with Edith, her family and Mrs. Shaw. Mr. Bell is visiting Frederick in Spain and is still quite crafty and shrewd in his endeavors to ‘help’ certain situations. Marlborough Mills is in trouble but John has a new idea for saving it. Higgins is working for John and they have already established an easy rapport. (I adore Nicholas Higgins!) The tale that follows from this point is awesome and not to be missed!

Nicole Clarkston’s John Thornton is romantic, strong and wonderful, as well as the brilliant mill owner admired by all. I fell in love with him again. He feels the loss of the only woman he ever loved and believes there is no chance of having her for his own. Margaret has already realized the type of man that she refused and is feeling the emptiness left by that refusal. Fate intervenes and a chance encounter may change everything for the deserving couple! The story that follows is riveting and tender.

I enjoyed getting to know the real Hannah Thornton and seeing her soft side surface. I appreciated that the author chose to make her human, with a heart that could be touched while also delving under the layers of her nature and exposing the personality long hidden and why it had been so. Little Johnny Boucher is adorable and lends a nice touch to the plot. Henry Lennox is portrayed with feeling and honor, much as in the original. Of course, no North and South variation would be complete without Dixon! This is no exception.

Ms. Clarkston kept the characters true to Elizabeth Gaskell’s and added a few new ones that enhanced an already fantastic plot. A portion of this story is set in Cadiz, Spain, where we have the pleasure of getting to know Frederick Hale and his bride, Dolores. Mr. Bell is there and is up to his shenanigans even though his health is failing fast. I liked Frederick Hale’s father-in-law and the minor part he played. A ship captain along with his wife and daughter were some of the new characters that added a pleasing touch to the drama that unfolded aboard ship and after.

I loved this book. It filled in the gaps left by the original having to be rushed to a finish.
There are several twists and some unexpected happenings that make for a thrilling read with depth and romance. The novel was well-written and the conclusion was gratifying, even if I did not want it to end. No Such Thing as Luck is a story that I will be reading again. There is absolutely nothing that I disliked about this book and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves North & South. Very well done, Nicole Clarkston. I hope you will be writing more about John Thornton and Margaret Hale.
Posted at More Agreeably Engaged

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book and this story is a must read or listen to. John Thornton, who is travelling to Spain to save his mill, runs into Miss Hale who is also travelling to the same location. She is injured and travelling alone, so Mr. Thornton travels as her brother. We get to know John's mother , Hannah more thoroughly as well as Frederick (Margaret's brother) and his wife. I fell in love with the honorable, honest, strong John Thornton more than ever during this story. It was so well put together. I recommend this to anyone who loves Darcy, yes Darcy, as he is a Darcy in a later age. The narrator Ana Clements did a phenomenal job bringing the characters to life and brought out the nuances of the story with such skill. I highly recommend the audiobook and highly recommend this story to lovers of JAFF and Darcy.

[Joana Starnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every word of this riveting tale that brings Margaret and Mr Thornton together in very unexpected circumstances. A trip across the seas leads to a lot more than Margaret bargained for, and she finds herself travelling with an intriguing companion who comes to her rescue often, and in many different ways. The crossing will make you smile (and sometimes swoon) and you’ll wish Cadiz was somewhere in the New World, so that our beloved characters might have sufficient time to realise how essential they are to each other’s happiness. Unexpected troubles lead to untold joy, and many different bonds are formed on the other side of the Channel. Trouble awaits too, and the bonds are yet to be tested, but foes are vanquished (as they surely must be) and friendly faces hurry to the rescue to preserve John and Margaret’s happiness, and rejoice in it alongside them. It’s wonderful to see this lovely book released with a new cover, Janet Taylor’s art complements Nicole Clarkson’s beautiful story to perfection. I hope you’ll snuggle up with it and enjoy!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tried hard because so many of my GoodReads friends love it, but I must admit I didn't really care for North and South when I finally read it last year. I liked the characters and appreciated the social commentary, but I found it lacking in romance, and the historical detail really bored me. I honestly struggled to finish it. Afterwards, I watched the BBC production and found I preferred that presentation of the story.

Considering my lack of enthusiasm for the book, I've never pursued any fan fiction based on it until now. But Nicole Clarkston is one of my favorite authors of Jane Austen-based variations and I thought maybe she’d come up with an approach I’d enjoy. Thankfully, I was right. I found this far more readable than Ms. Gaskell's much-lauded original.

At this story's start, you must assume all the events of canon have occurred, though there are some key changes toward the end which include leaving Margaret Hale and John Thornton separated. That makes No Such Thing As Luck a sequel as much as it is a variation.

Mr. Thornton begins the book in Milton dealing with potential financial collapse as well as his heartbreak over losing Margaret. She is back living with her well-meaning London relations and nurses her own heartbreak over Mr. Thornton. Her unhappiness is exacerbated by her discontent with superficial London society after all she's experienced in Milton.

Pursuit of a potential business partner to save his company leads Thornton to book passage on a ship heading for Spain. As luck would have it, an unchaperoned Margaret Hale is boarding the same ship after being notified that Mr. Bell, who is with her brother, is seriously ill and asking for her. An accident on the dock while boarding brings Margaret and Thornton together. In order to protect her reputation and be able to watch over her during the journey as she recovers from her injury, Thornton says she is his sister.

There are various new characters introduced on board the ship. Captain Carter, and especially his wife and his daughter Melanie become friends with Margaret, who is increasingly uncomfortable with the falsehood that she and Thornton are siblings. One of the passengers, Monsieur Philippe Girard, is representative for a linen mill in France, and he has conversations with Thornton and Margaret that shows the lack of compassion for factory workers by many of those who employed them. These conversations also serve to solidify the relationship between Margaret and Thornton. She surprises him with the views she expresses and visa versa. It's obvious that the two have altered their stances somewhat on subjects that they disagreed so vehemently about in Milton.

When the travelers arrive in Spain, we see cultural differences in the way Frederick's wife and her family interact compared to the far more restrained British. Exposure to their warm interactions has a freeing effect on John and Margaret. The setting occasionally returns to London, where Henry Lennox and Margaret's relations fret over her unexpected departure. Edith particularly misses Margaret's ability to manage her young son and struggles to control him without her. Lennox is desperate to do something to locate Margaret and determine that she's safe. Other scenes go to Milton, where Mrs. Thornton, in typical stoic fashion, worries about her son and the future of the business he has worked so hard to establish. She develops an unexpected affinity for young Johnny Boucher, who has qualities that remind her of her own son as a child. This small chink in her previously heavy armor leads to additional chips, and her reputation gradually softens among the factory workers. This is especially true of Mr. Higgins, who has been thriving at Mr. Thornton’s mill and given additional responsibilities.

The love between Margaret and John, the shipboard secrets and consequences, the pursuit of Frederick Hale by the British Navy for mutiny, Henry Lennox’s legal attempts on his behalf and his search for Margaret, Mrs. Thornton’s improved relations with Mr. Higgins, the influence of the emotionally demonstrative Spaniards on Margaret-- all of these plot points converge masterfully at the book’s climax. The writing is engaging, sweeping the reader into the emotion of each page.

I may start reading other North and South variations, but I don’t expect to find many that will surpass this wonderful novel. Thank you, Ms. Clarkston!

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this North & South variation. I only wish that N&S variations were as prolifically written as Pride and Prejudice ones! Gems like this book are few and far between unfortunately. Thank you Nicole Clarkston :)

[Sheryl Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Story-Horrible cover

I adored this book. After reading so many books, canon novels and fanfiction, it was wonderful to read a romance where the couple talks through their misunderstandings and reaches their "understanding" without false angst. And, this is a great story as well. The pace was constant which built to riveting. Strong Five Stars. But Ms. Clarkson, the cover? And I think I would have called it 'John Thornton: Not a Gentleman' though truly, he is everything a gentleman should be.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story that is more of a sequel to N&S. Loved the romance. It was a tad long and I would have enjoyed a bit faster pacing in part, but beautifully writen. For those of us wanting more John and Margaret time, this is your book!! I also enjoyed the sub-plots involving the business and other aspects.

If you love n&S you should read this book!

1st read: 7/2016
2nd listen: 8/2019

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Margaret Hale and John Thornton due to various circumstances arrive at the London docks ready to depart for Spain. Due to an accident on the docks Margaret is injured and Thornton decides to offer her his protection as her 'brother'. Leading to various problems on the ship and later when they arrive in Spain.
I enjoyed listening to the audiobook, and expect to read the book in the future.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love North and South. And I also love the Pride and Prejudice variations by Nicole Clarkston.... I there fore thought this book must be a winning combination and I was not disappointed! I loved this book from start to finish!

The story picks up after Margaret has left Milton. Mr Bell has travelled to Spain without telling her about the inheritance she will receive on his death. He is taken ill in Spain where he is with Frederick. Maybe by coincidence, or maybe by design, John and Margaret end up on the same ship bound for Spain and our story begins from there.

The writing is just beautiful. I just love this version of John Thornton. He's so strong, yet vulnerable at the same time and, given Margaret's bereavements, there are more similarities between them in terms of their sadness and loneliness. As their relationship develops, it's lovely to see their uncertainties and vulnerabilities. Margaret is fabulous, so strong and opinionated yet a real gentle woman too with insecurities of her own.

The second part of the story is a real adventure and sees all our favourite characters coming together. Higgins has a good role, as does Dixon.

I will definitely read the other North and South variations by this author and would highly recommend this one!

[Abi Demina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good adaptation of North and South, which remains generally true to the original characters until the last third of the book, when some liberties are taken with Mrs Thornton in particular, to the point where she actually cries and is emotionally demonstrative.

As with another of Ms. Clarkston's N&S vagaries, I felt this was a little long and drawn out, and while I was engaged with the story for the first quarter of the book, once John and Margaret are in love and married, it felt that the story was over, yet continued on for far too long.

The addition of a mistaken identity plot at the end of the book felt a bit far-fetched to me. That John Thornton, a magistrate himself, would fail to prove his identity within moments of speaking to anyone other than hired goons, seemed ridiculous to me. Especially when he enforces the law himself and must have more than one solitary police officer over the course of such dealings, who could have identified him.

I did enjoy this book more than Northern Rain, and I always enjoy Ms Clarkston's writing of John Thornton, who sounds true to the character we know and love. The romance side was very good, and really I just felt the story needed tightening up to prevent it dragging.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Such Thing as Luck: A North and South Variation
: Nicole Clarkston


I need to say from the begining, I have not read the original book by Elizabeth Gaskell. As others have stated this is a fan fiction. I must say that it took a bit to get into this book, but once it took off it was quite enjoyable. The listener gets to experience suspense, drama, romance, travel, and much more in this historical fiction. The characters were easy to like or dislike as in the case of a few. I need to go back and read the original work.


The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Ana Clements voice and accents were enjoyable.



I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

An alternative tale to North & South - Margaret is summoned to Madera by her brother to see Mr Bell on her deathbed. Determined to go without a chaperon she literally runs into Mr Thorton who is boarding the same ship to meet a potential partner who owns a cotton farm and can save the mill from bankruptcy. Her run her happens at the expense of a dislocated shoulder and as John Thorton cares for her injuries, he vows to protect her onboard the ship. He becomes her "brother" to secure her reputation but loves her still. When Margaret decides to tell him the truth about her brother, John feels he finally has a chance with Margaret. A beautiful story about a couple who will find love and the struggles they face in Madera and back in England to be together.
My only reason for not giving this a full 5 star rating was because I had to skip over the details of their intimacy - the wantonness ruined the goodness.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts off with John Thornton barely holding on to his mill. He has enough money and product to last through the next several months and then he will have to close his doors. He hears of a business opportunity in Spain and decides to check it out. Margaret at the same time hears about Mr Bell dying in Spain and rushes to his side without a chaperone to see her through the journey. Thornton and Margaret meet by luck at the dock and when she becomes injured they decide to journey together as brother and sister. However they are fiercely attracted to each other and do a poor job hiding it. Do they end up together or do outside forces keep them apart?

I couldn't put this book down and it is one of the better North and South variations out there. I say if you're a fan of North and South give this a read.

Rating: 4½ stars out of 5

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5--Decent N/S alternate-(to the UK TV show)-ending story. Quite a bit of implausibility, a good dollop of cheesy PDA and not-so-PDA, but the characters read fairly true. (Okay, I ended up listening to the end of the book at 1.4x speed because I wanted it over, but not enough to just quit, so I'm giving it a 2.5 because a true 3 (like it) would not have had that (is this almost over) feeling. Still, I was in the mood for N/S fanfic and this satisfied.

[Cjboyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this North and South variation!!! Well written and believable - this book is definitely on my re-read list!!! And it is definitely one that I would get a hard copy of (I only buy hard copies now if I really enjoy the book). Hope to see more of this author!

[PigiSi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book didn't do it for me. The book could have ended even before half of it was done. The last half just tried to keep up the story interesting for a bit longer but not successfully...

[Julie Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alix James never disappoints!! Great book!

[Terese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book.
I thought it was well written, that the scenario was imaginative but not implausible, and that the characters felt true to their originals. Basically, I had a great time and read this very quickly and was eager to read it again.

It was a really fun variation to North and South and again, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and how it expanded on not only John and Margaret but other characters as well.

My complaint is the cover. I almost didn't buy this book because of the cover.
Why is Temu 2005 Caroline Bingley on the cover? Why does she have the body of a 12 year old? Why is the dress cutting into her arm? Why is she a redhead if this is suggestive of Margaret? And if it is supposed to be Victorian - why is she essentially in a dress that looks like it should be underwear? Why is she in a lobby?

Nothing on the cover even hints at the actual story. It looks like a cheap, silly and generic romance, when it is actually a N&S variation. I saw the previous cover (published under a different name) and thought it much better as it actually hinted at the story.

So A++ for the writing and the story
D- for the terrible AI looking cover because if I had gone with my instincts, I wouldn't have bought it and would have missed out on a story a really loved.

[Appalaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a voyage, an accident, an exotic location, a villain, a fist-fight, a wedding, a death, a fugitive, the threat of execution, and plenty of steamy make-out sessions, NSTAL makes a fine plot for a blockbuster film. I loved that Margaret and John rediscover each other in locations foreign to them. It's adventurous with a dash of danger. The flamboyant villain Jiro’s machinations only prove John to be the the brave and selfless knight in shining armour we know he can be, and who doesn’t swoon at that? We’re also introduced to some new characters on the voyage, and we meet Frederick and his family in Spain. Plus, there's plenty of John and Margaret make out sessions.

There can be too much of a good thing though. For me there was a bit too much kissing too early in the story. Part of the fun is the angst, so I would have preferred a slower burn. There’s also a bit too much plot. A lot of action can actually be a great thing for most readers, but I’m old-school so I prefer to explore a character's inner world a bit more.

Definitely buy if you'd like to read some sophisticated exploration of John and Margaret's sexy time. :)

[Nancy (essayist) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first full-length "North & South" fan fic I think I've ever read and it isn't bad, overall. Clarkston does a good job of imitating Gaskell's staid tone, especially in the early going here. While Clarkston starts very much in Gaskell's familiar world, she quickly has events take our heroine and Tall Dark Handsome Cotton Mill Owner far outside the confines of Milton. While she relies on some of Gaskell's own plot devices--let's just say dying Mr. Bell and his fortune still play a hand--she puts John and Margaret in some new kinds of peril, but both characters quickly rise to the occasion, exhibiting the strength we've come to expect from these two. All in all, this is a satisfying, if sometimes rather far-fetched, continuation to their love story.

[RTD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Foolish me

I put off reading this book for over a year. I imagined an abundance of eye rolling if I was to read about- Thornton accidentally meeting Margaret on a ship and then dealing with mistaken identity.
I finally decided to give this book try because I needed a North & South fix ( Pride and Prejudice variations normally keep me busy.) As I said, 'foolish me.' This book was a great to read. John and Margaret relationship was sweet and affectionate. Clarkston added a little bit of drama without going over doing it. Considering I read Clarkston's other two North and South books and purchased it after reading it I don't know why I doubted. I also purchased this one as well.
I hope to see more North & South variations from Clarkston in the future. We need more!

[Lynnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to enjoy this book as I love Northern Rain by the same author, plus I was in the mood for reading J0hn and Margaret fan fic. It started off very well but then the story dragged and I found the Henry Lennox and Mrs Thornton stories very tedious. I even started to get fed up with John and Margaret, John was too loving (if that's possible!) and Margaret too formidable! I found the climax (!!) with the mistaken identity very predictable.
But it was comforting bedtime reading, stress free and relaxing. I just loved Northern Rain better.

[Patrick Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable retelling of the story, with much of it set on board ship and in Spain. I liked this version of John and Margaret, plus we have the added enjoyment of getting more detail on other characters, such as Fredrick and his Spanish family, Mrs Thorton and Mr Higgins. In my opinion the let down was the "adventure" story in the last few chapters, lets be honest "what evidence did they have?" It was a bit ridiculous.

[Silvana Feijóo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never tired of having news about Margaret and John. I loved them since the first time I met them, and I am still looking for more stories about them. This is a new whirl. When they had already lost their hopes of being happy together, a ship with a name full of promises, "Esperanza", gives them a new chance of a "happily ever after", through everything.

[Cristina Huelsz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first variation of North and South and oh boy oh boy how I enjoyed it!
I adore the TV series with Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe, so somehow while reading this I could only imagine them while traveling to Spain.
Alix James/Nicole Clarkston some how writes differently than her Pride and Prejudice variations, and I think that's something interesting.