Holidays with Jane: Spring Fever

Holidays With Jane #2

by Jessica Grey, Cecilia Gray, Melissa Buell

Winter's almost over and Jane Austen's got a case of spring fever! The authors who brought you Holidays With Jane: Christmas Cheer return to bring you six modern adaptations of Austen's classics. So put up your parasols and prepare for sunshine, smiles, and, of course, happily ever afters. "Extra Innings" - A "Persuasion" story by Jessica Grey Annie Elliot still regrets breaking off her engagement to minor league baseball player Rick Wentworth ten years ago. Now he's back in town coaching the team she works for and stirring up feelings she'd rather forget. Will Rick and Annie get a chance to hit a walk-off home run or will they strike out in Extra Innings? "Miracle at the Abbey" - A "Northanger Abbey" story by Cecilia Gray Kathia, paranormal investigator extraordinaire, is out to prove her hometown Abbey is a bona fide miracle site-even if its sexy owner-slash-handyman Henry is dead set against it. Kathia and Henry square off and settle the score that's been brewing since high school in this contemporary Easter retelling that ends with a Miracle at the Abbey. "Whine and Wineries" - A "Sense and Sensibility" story By Melissa Buell After their father dies, the Dashwood girls must make room for their half-brother John and his wife Franny in their Hollywood Hills home. When Franny's brother Edward shows up unexpectedly, Elinor finds a new friend.But any dreams of something more are crushed when the girls have to move far away to Barton Winery. There Elinor begins her new life as a wedding coordinator. Her first challenge? Bridezilla Anne Steele's spring wedding. When Anne's sister Lucy reveals a secret that changes everything, Elinor must sort through the lies to find the truth of her feelings and hope for her future. "Emma's Inbox" - An "Emma" story By Rebecca M. Fleming Emma Woodhouse keeps her finger on the pulse of Hartfield, Georgia through a series of texts and emails full of hometown gossip and romantic intrigue. In Hartfield, nothing ever changes: people fall in love (sometimes with a little help from her), get married, and life goes on in the same comfortable way. But when hometown favorite Frank Churchill returns unexpectedly, the whole town develops a case of spring fever. Though a master at maneuvering the love lives of those around her, Emma finds she needs some advice of her own-and her family and friends are happy to fill her inbox with all the help she needs. "No Vacancy at Mansfield Motel" - A "Mansfield Park" story by Kimberly Truesdale Fanny Price runs Mansfield Motel, the family business in sunny South Florida, mostly on her own. But she dreams of following in her Uncle Thomas's footsteps and becoming a marine biologist. She plans to talk to her cousin Eddie about her dreams when he comes home for Spring Break. But when he brings along Henry and Mary Crawford, trouble starts to brew. Fanny watches her precious future begin to slip away. With everything on the line, will Fanny finally speak up for herself? Or will she be stuck running Mansfield Motel for the rest of her life? "Lydia Reimagined" - A "Pride and Prejudice" story by Jennifer Becton When reformed party girl Lydia Bennet receives an invitation to her ex George Wickham's destination wedding, she accepts with the intention of showing him exactly what he gave up when he dumped her. But no amount determination can change Wickham's view of Lydia, especially not when circumstances conspire to make her look even more like a party girl than ever. And then there's her sudden attraction to old college friend Kyle "Denny" Dennison.... Now that Lydia has reimagined her whole life, will she be able to forget the past and open her heart to the future?

Genres: Contemporary, Short Stories, Romance, Anthologies, Fiction, Classics

454 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 2015

About the author

Jessica Grey is an author, fairy tale believer, baseball lover, and recovering Star Wars fangirl. A life-long Californian, she now lives with her two children near Colorado Springs, where she spends her time writing, complaining about snow in April, and drinking way too much caffeine.

Jessica writes witty, modern Jane Austen adaptations and Young Adult fairy tales featuring strong girls and magic.

You can find out more about Jessica's novels and short story collections at www.authorjessicagrey.com.

Reviews

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A world of touching, tender, sometimes whimsical, easy-read short stories featuring Jane Austen's beloved characters all in one holiday-themed anthology is the best reader treat ever. I was glad to come back for my next visit to the Holidays with Jane world with stories set in the Spring.

First up is "Extra Innings" by Jessica Grey retelling Persuasion
Annie is the assistant to the GM for a minor league ball club and Rick is the new assistant coach who once played for the team and briefly had a ring on Annie's finger until she let her fear ride her and gave him up. New season and maybe new chances.

Poor Annie who narrates the story is a hot mess with a great sense of humor and a friendly nature. Loved how the Persuasion story elements and characters were incorporated into the story. The baseball setting was a blast and the humorous dialogue between Annie and her boss was an extra bonus. And, yes, gang, we have a modern version of the Wentworth letter to make hearts flutter once again.

Miracle at the Abbey by Cecilia Gray tribute to Northanger Abbey
Kathia is the host of a paranormal investigation show and for the show's 100th episode, the producer, Jamie, insists that Kathia be the central figure in the show. So, back to the haunted Abbey where she lived her last year of high school, where she met Henry Trang and crushed on him, and where she thought after losing her mom in an accident that she would be the one to receive the haunted Abbey's annual Easter miracle. Instead, she ended up running away from the Abbey and Henry. Now she must face both once again.

Loved the paranormal show as the story backdrop and the setting at an old Abbey B&B and thought Kathia's background of being a foster kid in her last year of high school a touching, heartwrenching element. I liked seeing Kathia working through the past she never dealt with before, but I do wish there would have been a few extra pages because I wanted to see more of the romance after they resolved the misunderstanding.

Whine and Wineries by Melissa Buell tackles a Sense & Sensibility tale.
Henry Dashwood dies and leaves his wife and daughters in a precarious situation depending on a hen-pecked brother and his greedy snobbish wife. Elinor tries to make the best of things especially when Franny's brother shows up and they have an instant spark, but the Dashwood women move to their cousin John's orchard ends that phase of their lives. They are caught up in the new wedding business run by Cousin John's mother in law. One wedding for Anne Steele brings Elinor only misery as Anne is bridezilla and her sister is secretly engaged to Franny's brother. But, a disastrous confrontation just may lead to something good.

An engaging set up for the modern retelling aspect with a focus on Elinor who was an engaging heroine. Fun wedding party antics and a very romantic though swift denouement.

Emma's Inbox by Rebecca Fleming, an Emma retelling
Through emails, texts, and newsletters, Emma attempts to matchmake Pastor Elton and his assistant Harriet, help Mayor Noah Knightley and PR gal Jane Fairfax with a big town project involving country music star Frank Churchill, and figure out her own love life.

Frolicking fun retelling of the original that deviates in a good way to fit the shorter length and the epistolary writing style. The humor and romcom aspects along with sparkling characters made this story shine.

A Mansfield Park retelling, Kimberly Truesdale's No Vacancy at Mansfield Motel
Fanny is adopted by her uncle and aunt living on a Florida island. Her uncle is an ocean researcher and away much of the time. Fanny shares his interest, but is stuck keeping up the family motel instead. She dreams of going to school at some point and enjoys her cousin Eddie's friendship, but when Eddie brings friends home for spring break the Crawfords cause some big waves at Mansfield Motel.

Probably one of the hardest of Austen's novels to bring forward, this was a clever retelling. I loved the choice to focus on the underwater reef, Fanny's love for and exploration under the sea, and the way the conflict rose and was resolved. Non-romance that was an engaging character-driven story.

Lydia Reimagined by Jennifer Becton based on Pride & Prejudice
After a spectacular romance fail at university, Lydia left and reinvented herself. She's now a woman with a career and she's proud of her changes. Now to show suave Wickham what he missed out on- though she doesn't want him back, thank you- when she goes to his wedding. Instead of being at her best, she finds herself in crazy situation after situation and with a man who she suddenly sees clearly just as she sees Wickham's smarny fake nature clearly. Kyle sees this wedding as his chance to get the girl. He loved the wild and fun-loving Lydia all along and can't see her working so hard at showing her best efforts for his old useless roommate. It might take something desperate to put them on the right path at last.

An older, wiser Lydia who hasn't lost her sassy ways is the most dazzling of characters and I enjoyed quiet Kyle who loves her just the way she is. It was fun, but heartwarming to see the story play out. Loved this P&P sequel tale.

All in all, this collection of Austen stories set during the spring holidays was a sparkling variety pack. The writers were creative and their love for Jane Austen's novels was evident. Cozy and light, these were delightful and quick sweet romances that I can easily recommend to Austen fans and those contemporary romance lovers who want a pack of sweet and quickly read stories.

[Anna]

Holidays with Jane: Spring Fever is a collection of short stories set during Easter and the spring season. Each of the six stories in the book is a modern take on one of Jane Austen’s novels. I had hoped to finish the book before summer arrived, but I’ve been so busy these days that I’m just glad to have finished it! Besides, these holiday story collections can be enjoyed any time of year.

Here’s a short rundown of the stories in this collection:

“Extra Innings” by Jessica Grey (based on Persuasion)
Annie Elliot is the administrative assistant to the GM of the Chawton Choppers. Rick Wentworth is a former major league baseball player who returns to coach the team. The pair must come to terms with the end of their relationship so many years ago and figure out whether there’s a chance to move forward.

“Miracle at the Abbey” by Cecilia Gray (based on Northanger Abbey)
Kathia returns to The Abbey, the home where she lived as a teenager after her mother’s death, for her paranormal reality show. She is reunited with the owners’ son, Henry Trang, and is forced to come to terms with the past and the events that prompted her to flee The Abbey…and Henry.

“Whine and Wineries” by Melissa Buell (based on Sense and Sensibility)
The Dashwoods are forced to leave their family home upon the death of their patriarch. The move to a cottage at the Barton Winery separates Elinor from Edward just as their friendship seems to deepen, but her family’s involvement in a wedding planning business results in their crossing paths again.

“Emma’s Inbox: An Emma Story” by Rebecca M. Fleming (based on Emma)
Emma is a writer for the Hartfield Herald, and Noah Knightley is the town’s mayor. This story of matchmaking gone awry is told through emails and text messages among the various characters.

“No Vacancy at Mansfield Motel” by Kimberly Truesdale (based on Mansfield Park)
This story is set on the ocean, with Fanny Price stuck taking care of the Mansfield Seaside Motel while the rest of Bertram family does whatever they please. She had hoped to spend time with her favorite cousin Eddie while he is on break from school, but instead he is preoccupied with the friends he brings along, Mary and Henry Crawford, and fails to notice Fanny and all the dreams she’s pushed to the wayside to care for the family.

“Lydia Reimagined” by Jennifer Becton (based on Pride and Prejudice)
Lydia Bennet is determined to prove that she has learned from her failed relationship with George Wickham by attending his wedding. When she bumps into an old friend, Kyle Dennison, she is forced to consider her motives for being there and the larger questions of who she has become and what she wants.

As with the previous Holidays with Jane anthologies I’ve read (Trick or Sweet and Christmas Cheer), I enjoyed each of the stories. They were all unique and clever retellings of Austen’s novels. “Lydia Reimagined” is the story that stood out most to me. I loved seeing Lydia putting herself on the right track, bumbling through awkward situations with her head held high and with good intentions.

While the spring season itself wasn’t always front and center, each story did touch on the themes of renewal and hope. I really enjoy when these authors come together to celebrate various holidays and seasons, and of course, our love of all things Austen. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of these themed collections.

Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read the first 41% of the book twice, as I put this book down to read some ARC's I had received. So I changed the date on which I began reading this book to the second start. There are little connections between these stories. Sometimes it is just that a bottle of wine from John Middleton's winery is to be consumed. Sometimes it is that the TV show Phenomena is being watched.

Extra Innings by Jessica Grey: A modern day version of Persuasion. Anne Elliot works as the GM’s administrative assistant for the Chawton Choppers, a minor league baseball team. When Rick Wentworth steps down from MLB due to injuries to become an assistant coach Anne remembers all those regrets when she broke their engagement and gave him back his ring ten years ago. Her Aunt MaryAnne had convinced her that the low salary, being on the road, etc. would not make for a good marriage. Co-worker, Lisa, immediately announces she wants him. Yes, there is a father, Mayor Elliot, and a sister, Elizabeth and they have minor mentions in this story. We do again have a letter…I just love the original one and this one is close. (Loved the quotes about baseball from sports figures.)

@ 19% Miracle at the Abbey by Cecilia Gray: When Kathia’s mother died in a car accident Kathia went into foster care with the Trang family at their boarding house, The Abbey. The residence has a reputation of being haunted and also of granting one miracle on the eve of Easter. Kathia works on television show as a Paranormal Investigator Extraordinaire and for the 100th show it is decided that Kathia will be the star as the Abbey is featured. While she lived there her senior year in HS she became somewhat enamored with the son, Henry, who has come back to the Abbey do help with some repairs and some renovations. Henry and Kathia had some history together and Kathia hopes for a reset as her own miracle. (Really difficult to make a connection to any of JA’s books. Of course “Abbey” in the title makes one think of Northanger Abbey.)

@36% Whine and Wineries by Melissa Buell: (This follows the outline for Sense and Sensibility very closely except that it is set in modern times.) There is no Willoughby and Marianne is not hesitant to speak out against Franny whose husband has inherited the family estate. Franny’s brother, Edward Ferrars is still at college but shows up unexpected by the Dashwoods when he needs a place to stay. Later, after the Dashwoods have moved into a small cottage offered by cousin, John Middleton, they also begin working as wedding coordinators at his Winery. Thus Lucy Steele shows up as her sister is getting married…claiming to be engaged to Edward.

@ 52% Emma’s Inbox: An Emma Story by Rebecca M. Fleming: This tale uses e-mailing and texting for the majority of the story. Emma writes for the Hartfield Herald/newspaper so we also get several articles relayed in those. Many of the e-mails & texts are between Emma and her sister, Isabella…married, as in canon, to the older Knightley brother and with two children and expecting again. There are also messages with Noah (not George) Knightley, Jane Fairfax, Anne Weston nee: Taylor, etc.

As this story echoes Emma I won’t go into details. We never do see Elton Phillips, the minister, married off but as in canon Emma tries to match him with Harriet while he has his eye on Emma. Frank Churchill is a popular country singer and he has to use some guile in order to visit Heartfield.

@69% No Vacancy at Mansfield Motel by Kimberly Truesdale: In this story Fanny does go to live with her Aunt and Uncle Bertram & her cousins, Eddie, Maria and Julia. They own and run a small resort motel set on the ocean where Uncle Bertram has build his own reef. He makes a study of researching all that goes on around that reef and Fanny wants to follow in his footsteps. However the rest of the family make a point of dumping all that entails managing and cleaning up and various other jobs to do with the motel onto Fanny’s shoulders. Only when Uncle Bertram is around do the others pitch. Eddie helps when he is there but he is away with his own schooling most of the time. This story revolves around his bringing Mary and Henry Crawford to visit. Not only does this create more work for Mary but it also further distracts Maria and Julia as well as Eddie. Things come to a head when a night swim, which Fanny is against, occurs and Fanny must tag along to watch over these amateur divers.

@82% Lydia Reimagined by Jennifer Becton: Lydia walked away from Wickham and college when she found him in bed with Marianna King. Now a year later she has completed college elsewhere and has a successful job. Then she receives an invitation to Wickham’s and Marianna’s wedding. She goes with the intention of showing him what he gave up in the new Lydia. However, Wickham’s former roommate, a man who has been in love with Lydia for all that time, Kyle Dennison, also shows up. She claims she is over W. but in being there to rub his nose in what he threw away…is she? Kyle gets an up-close chance when he is asked to give up his room and bunk with Lydia the night before the wedding.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

After they wrote a delightful and magic anthology, Holidays With Jane: Christmas Cheer, these six amazing authors joined forces again to give fervid readers and proud Janeites another gift. A new collection of short stories inspired by a new, thrilling season that will enchant everybody.

Extra Innings - Jessica Grey

Ten years ago Annie Elliot broke her engagement with baseball star Rick Wentworth because her family thought he was not the right guy for her. Now she must face the most embarrassing situation of her life: Rick is back in town and has become the new coach of the minor league team where Annie works!

“Persuasion” adaptations are always the most romantic ones. Maybe because Anne and Frederick’s story represents exactly what love should be: passion, faithfulness and respect, not only towards the person one loves, but also towards a feeling that deserves care and attention. Ms. Grey depicted a lovely and heartwarming story that made me feel happy and so pleased! Both the protagonists were very similar to the original ones, and their nature amazingly described. And Rick’s words... perfection! One of my faves!

Miracle at the Abbey - Cecilia Gray

After her mother’s death, Kathia moves to The Abbey. The Trang family offers to help and take care of her. But on Easter day something wrong happens and Kathia suddenly leaves. Now, after several years, she must go back there because her show needs a fantastic one hundredth episode. Since the show talks about paranormal activities, what is best than a haunted abbey? Everything would be easier, if Henry Trang were not there!

Amazing. This short story was intriguing, charming and captivating! I loved Kathia and Henry. Their relationship was so sweet and at the same time so heartbreaking! The setting was delightful and the Gothic atmosphere was spot on. I think that this new, refreshing adaptation of Northanger Abbey is one of the best retellings I have ever read. Definitely one of my favourites in this collection. Well done, Ms. Gray!

Whine and Wineries - Melissa Buell

The Dashwood girls need to face great changes after their father’s death. One of this is to share their house with their half-brother and his disagreeable wife, Franny. When Franny’s brother Edward arrives, Elinor starts to think that maybe life can be surprising and lovely despite the difficulties. However, Mrs. Dashwood decides to leave the house because living with Franny is impossible. Will Elinor see Edward again? Will she have her own happy ending?

Such a sweet story! I loved to see Elinor as a busy and accomplished wedding coordinator, and I loved to see the three Dashwood sisters working together to make their dreams come true. Ms. Buell wrote a fantastic modern adaptation of Sense and Sensibility while depicting a very charming and determined Edward. I loved it!

Emma’s Inbox - Rebecca M. Fleming

Emma Woodhouse likes matchmaking. She is convinced that she is good at it. But when her plans do not go the way she had hoped, she realizes that maybe her dear friend Noah Knightley was right. Will she find a solution not to lose her true love?

Cheerful and extremely funny. This retelling of Emma was so amusing and engaging I loved reading it! I liked that the author chose an original format for her story. They are all emails, texts and articles written by Emma to her sister, Knightley, Harriet and all of the Hartfield people. It was beautiful because I had the feeling I was inside the characters’ minds (always a bonus), but sometimes I missed the usual format of the novels. Especially in the end. Knightley’s declaration of love deserved more, at least I wanted it to be more riveting and wanted to see more of it.

No Vacancy at Mansfield Motel - Kimberly Truesdale

Fanny Price’s biggest dream would be becoming a marine biologist like her uncle. She loves the sea, all the different kinds of fish, and would like to actually live into the sea. Given her introvert nature, she only feels relaxed and at ease when she swims. Talking to her dearest cousin Eddie is the other thing that makes her feel confident and happy, but this time Spring Break will bring along a bad surprise. Eddie is not alone and he does not have much time to speak to Fanny. Will she be able to be brave and speak her mind?

I did not know I was a romantic girl till I started reading Regency novels. That is why I like to have at least a little romance in the books I read. With story like Mansfield Park is not always easy, because let us face it, loving a cousin is not romantic at all! And writing a modern adaptation based on it is even more complicated. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading this short story and I thought that Ms. Truesdale wrote a lovely story about a girl who needs to find her way to be happy, and that does not always mean finding a husband.

Lydia Reimagined - Jennifer Becton

Lydia Bennet is no longer a party girl. She is ready to show everybody her new self. What is the best event where she can do that? Her former boyfriend’s wedding! Too bad that everything seems to conspire against her, and that she starts to feel new, exciting feelings for the last person she could think of!

I loved this story! Definitely another favourite! I never liked Lydia but this time I rooted for her. I wanted her to be a great heroine and she was. She was a perfect combination of wildness and sweetness, and her relationship with Danny (a wonderful plot twist!) was what made this story wonderful. Is it possible a new life for Lydia Bennet? Yes, it is. And this original retelling is the answer I was waiting for. Great job, Ms. Becton!

Fun, entertaining and definitely a must-read for every Janeite, “Holidays with Jane: Spring Fever” is waiting for you. I highly recommend it!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I received a copy from Indie Jane Press for my honest review.

[Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 Budding Austenesque Romances Begin to Sprout!

After releasing their first holiday anthology about Christmas magic and festive spirits, this lovely team of six talented and inventive writers has joined forces again to give us readers another holiday anthology brimming with Janeite goodness, fun, and love! (Can I get a woot woot?!?) This time we are celebrating all things spring – baseball, Easter miracles, weddings, and spring break. In this anthology there are six contemporary short stories, and each story is inspired by and pays tribute to a specific Jane Austen novel.

I hope you find this breakdown helpful!

EXTRA INNINGS – Jessica Grey

- The Premise: A new assistant coach joins the Chawton Choppers club and he just happens to be the man Anne Elliot, administrative assistant and social media guru to the Choppers, broke an engagement with ten years ago…

- What I Loved: Jane Austen and Baseball! Yes. Anne was awesome – I felt connected to her right away, she was a wonderful blend of dependability, kindness, and quiet passion. I also loved seeing her stand up for herself – twice! And Rick Wentworth…sigh. I love how he delivered his famous “half agony, half hope” letter – brilliant and adorable! The inspiring baseball epigraphs were a perfect touch. Loved it all! One of my faves!

MIRACLE IN THE ABBEY – Cecilia Gray

- The Premise: Popular TV host of the hit paranormal investigation show, Phenomena, Kathia Ivanova, is forced to revisit a former home she ran away from for the shows 100th episode…

- What I Loved: That Kathia (modern-day Catherine Morland) is a paranormal investigator who believes in ghostly phenomenons! There is a lot of tension between Kathia and Henry, and I greatly enjoyed the flashbacks to what happened between them their senior year. I thought the Easter miracles and tv show interview segments wonderful additions.

WHINE AND WINERIES – Melissa Buell

- The Premise: At their new home in Barton Winery, the Dashwood sisters help Mrs. Jennings and her wedding business as she prepares a wedding for the indecisive and über-extravagant Anne Steele.

- What I Loved: Seeing Anne Steele as a crazy bridezilla! Talk about entertainment! I loved all the fun with wedding themes, designs, and details! I also enjoyed how this story focused only on the Edward-Elinor-Lucy story-line; poor Edward is often overshadowed by Brandon and Willoughby. And lastly, I loved the setting – Barton Winery sounds heavenly – I would totally choose to get married there! (with The Rustic Simplicity Package!)

EMMA’S INBOX – Rebecca M. Fleming

- Premise: While writing articles about important town events in the local paper is her day job, Emma Woodhouse has made it her mission to set up Hartfield’s new reverend, Elton Phillips, with his future wife…

- What I Loved: All the digital communication! What a brilliant way to tell this story! I love that the readers learn about characters and important events solely through emails, text exchanges, and newspaper articles. I loved how Emma teased Mayor Knightley about using emoticons and how she felt a generation gap with Harriet because of her grammar-impaired texting! Very clever and sweet!

NO VACANY AT MANSFIELD MOTEL – Kimberly Truesdale

- Premise: Spring Break with her cousin and closest friend doesn’t go as planned when Eddie shows up with his new friends that he is so eager to please and impress…

- What I Loved: Fanny and the sea! I love that Fanny (a.k.a. Fish) loved the ocean and wanted to pursue a career in marine biology. I loved learning about artificial reefs and lionfish – and imagining Mrs. Norris as a “goliath” grouper! LOL! While this story did not end with a romance, it did have a happy ending and a promising dynamic between two characters that my romantic heart likes to think will lead to a romance!

LYDIA REIMAGINED – Jennifer Becton

- Premise: Even though George broke her heart years ago, Lydia Bennet comes to his wedding to finally show everyone she is no longer the wild party-girl who used to worship him…

- What I Loved: That Lydia is reformed! I loved that she used her pain and awareness to transform her wild ways. I also loved seeing her strike up a romance (unintentionally) with someone else! She was admirable and adorable. The premise worked perfectly and the conclusion was wonderfully satisfying! Loved it! One of my faves!

CONCLUSION:

I truly love these compact, clever, and contemporary renditions of Jane Austen’s novels and characters! I’m always impressed by the creative and unique way each author paid homage to Jane Austen – the subtle winks, inside jokes, and imaginative reincarnations – just brilliant! Such an awesome team, and such a remarkable collection of stories!

[J. W. Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want—oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!” Mark Twain

1) Extra Innings: Jessica Grey: ends at 17%
This was a Persuasion variation with a baseball reference. Rich Wentworth was the new Assistant Coach for the Chawton Choppers. Anne Elliot was the administrative assistant to the General Manager Bill Musgrove. The story line followed closely the gist of lost love and finding that love again. The characters tried to stay true to Austen’s purpose. Many of the names were close to the original.

2) Miracle at the Abbey: Ceilia Gray: ended at 35%
We have a Northanger Abbey reference where Kathia Ivanova was a Paranormal Investigator Extraordinaire and visiting the Abbey hoping for a phenomena siting for her show. Henry Trang and his family own the Abbey and have opened it for tourists. Many of the names are similar. Henry’s sister Eleanor and we also have Isabel Thorne. The paranormal aspect to the story just makes it cute.

3) Whine and Wineries: Melissa Buell: ends at 51%
Oh-my-goodness. We have a horrible Fanny Dashwood. This woman could give the canon Fanny lessons on being obnoxious and overbearing. She was horrid to these poor women who have lost their husband and father and their half-brother John was no help at all against Fanny’s continual abuse. She was insensitive to the point they had to move. Thank goodness, their cousin John Middleton in Santa Ynez had Barton Winery and offered them a home. His mother-in-law, Mrs. Jennings, offered them a job helping with her wedding business. This was really cute. Enter Anne and Lucy Steele. The hired Mrs. Jennings to coordinate Anne’s wedding, while Lucy had her eye on Edward Ferras. The descriptions of this place were just magnificent. It was like a Tuscany country side. Yeah, it was cute.

4) Emma’s Inbox: An Emma Story: Rebecca M. Fleming: ends at 67%
Emma is a staff writer for the local paper and has a column called ‘Love, Hartfield.’ This story centers around emails in her inbox. It is not much different than those JAFF epistle style story full of letters. We have all the usual characters. Emma’s column featured the recent wedding of Anne Taylor and Jack Weston. Many of the emails are between Emma and her sister Isabella Knightly as she keeps her posted on the happenings, comings and goings of neighbors and friends. One particular email consisted of Emma informing her sister that Jane Fairfax was returning to Hartfield and would work at City Hall as the Public Relations Planning Coordinator. Our mayor was none other than Mr. Knightly.

5) No Vacancy at Mansfield Motel: Kimberly Truesdale: ends at 81%
If anyone has ever gone to south Florida on spring break or vacation can relate to this variation on Austen’s Mansfield Park. Fanny lived and worked with her Uncle Thomas Bertram at their seaside motel off the Gulf of Mexico. Uncle Thomas was a marine research scientist and Fanny helped him chart and look after the artificial reef called Mansfield Reef. It was started by her grandfather many years before and they had watched over it and charted its growth over the years. She was also charting the exponential growth of the invasive species, one in particular was the lionfish. Enter Mary and Henry Crawford [perhaps also considered an invasive species] and how their presence upset the natural order of things. The behavior of Maria and Julia, along with their brother Eddie, was thrown off balance with the introduction of these new friends. I loved the correlation.

6) Lydia Reimagined: Jennifer Becton: ends at 99%
Anyone that has had to relive high school or college days’ antics will appreciate this short JAFF variation. We are dealing with Lydia and we know she would have antics to remember and/or regret and forget. A class reunion, complete with feelings of trepidation and anxiety, would be nothing compounded to being invited to the wedding of a former love. Yeah, that social climbing, fortune hunting, sleaze Wickham, and his socialite fiancée Maryanna King, had invited Lydia to their posh wedding. However, this was a different Lydia. She had grown up and realized she wanted to prove she was over Wickham and his betrayal from their college days. This was so cute and I love how it ended.

Each of the authors took our beloved Austen characters and created a whole new environment for them to live, love and play. It was so cute, clean and just fun with an amazing creativity that simply amazes. The last story was PG-13 and a bit steamy, but it was suggestion only and remained clean.

[Ceri]

to follow

[Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baseball, ghosts, coral reefs, southern belles, what's not to love?!
I want more Kim!!!

[Melissa Buell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holidays With Jane is so much fun to write!

[Jess Swann · Rating 3 out of 5]

On reprend les mêmes que pour Noel et on recommence ! Je vais donc, comme la dernière fois, vous donner mon avis sur chaque histoire

* Extra Innings de Jessica Grey: Annie Elliot still regrets breaking off her engagement to minor league baseball player Rick Wentworth ten years ago. Now he’s back in town coaching the team she works for and stirring up feelings she’d rather forget. Will Rick and Annie get a chance to hit a walk-off home run or will they strike out in Extra Innings?

Une réécriture convaincante de Persuasion dans le domaine du base-ball, j'ai beaucoup aimé cette version, certes grandement amputée, du classique de Jane. L'Annie de Jessica est délicieuse et le Rick très charismatique. J'ai passé un bon moment.

Ma note : 7/10


* Miracle at the Abbey de Cecilia Gray : Kathia, paranormal investigator extraordinaire, is out to prove her hometown Abbey is a bona fide miracle site—even if its sexy owner-slash-handyman Henry is dead set against it. Kathia and Henry square off and settle the score that's been brewing since high school in this contemporary Easter retelling that ends with a Miracle at the Abbey.

Au début j'ai été un peu décontenancée par cette version de Northanger Abbey ( qui flirte avec Mansfield Park & Persuasion) et qui prend de grands raccourcis avec l'histoire originale ( Isabella Thorpe avec Henry ? ! ) mais au final, j'ai beaucoup aimé, surtout le côté surnaturel !

Ma note : 7/10


* Whine and Wineries de Melissa Buell : After their father dies, the Dashwood girls must make room for their half-brother John and his wife Franny in their Hollywood Hills home. When Franny's brother Edward shows up unexpectedly, Elinor finds a new friend.But any dreams of something more are crushed when the girls have to move far away to Barton Winery. There Elinor begins her new life as a wedding coordinator. Her first challenge? Bridezilla Anne Steele's spring wedding. When Anne's sister Lucy reveals a secret that changes everything, Elinor must sort through the lies to find the truth of her feelings and hope for her future.

Bon j'ai aimé même si ce n'était pas gagné attendu que la SEULE histoire mise en scène est celle d'Elinor (pas de Brandon et, plus grave, pas Willou !) mais l'humour subtil de l'auteure m'a réconciliée avec l'absence de l'histoire d'amour de Marianne. Bon, OK, j'avoue que l'explication sur les fiançailles secrètes de Lucy et Edward sont plus que bancales... mais Franny est odieuse juste comme j'aime ( même si le frère des filles est limite trop sympathique à la fin). Elinor est plutôt bien rendue et le tout est plaisant si on a de l'humour et si on est pas trop regardant à la conformité de l'histoire...

Ma note : 7/10

* Emma's Inbox de Rebecca M. Fleming : Emma Woodhouse keeps her finger on the pulse of Hartfield, Georgia through a series of texts and emails full of hometown gossip and romantic intrigue. In Hartfield, nothing ever changes: people fall in love (sometimeswith a little help from her), get married, and life goes on in the same comfortable way. But when hometown favorite Frank Churchill returns unexpectedly, the whole town develops a case of spring fever. Though a master at maneuvering the love lives of those around her, Emma finds she needs some advice of her own—and her family and friends are happy to fill her inbox with all the help she needs.

Ah celle ci était géniale, j'ai adoré la forme épistolaire, les petits smileys et ça ne m'a pas tant que ça gênée que l'histoire ne soit pas 100% fidèle (j'ai très bien vécu l'absence du père d'Emma). Noah est très charmant, Emma est pétillante et les autres personnages sont sympas. C'est dynamique, amusant et j'ai souri tout du long. Très très bien, j'ai eu le coup de cœur pour cette vignette.

Ma note : 9/10

* No Vacancy at Mansfield Motel de Kimberly Truesdale : Fanny Price runs Mansfield Motel, the family business in sunny South Florida, mostly on her own. But she dreams of following in her Uncle Thomas's footsteps and becoming a marine biologist. She plans to talk to her cousin Eddie about her dreams when he comes home for Spring Break. But when he brings along Henry and Mary Crawford, trouble starts to brew. Fanny watches her precious future begin to slip away. With everything on the line, will Fanny finally speak up for herself? Or will she be stuck running Mansfield Motel for the rest of her life?

Bon... déjà je n'aime pas spécialement Mansfield Park et cette adaptation n'a rien arrangé. Je reconnais que l'auteure a fait des efforts louables pour rendre l'histoire digeste mais je n'ai pas adhéré à la transposition. Il y a des bons points, comme Henry Crawford et sa relation à Fanny. Maria et Julia sont réussies aussi mais l'histoire évacue complétement l'histoire d'amour (incestueuse, certes) entre Fanny et Edmund. Tout le background hôtel/réserve naturelle m'a gonflée également même si c'était plutôt bien imaginé.

Ma note : 5/10

* Lydia Reimagined de Jennifer Becton : When reformed party girl Lydia Bennet receives an invitation to her ex George Wickham’s destination wedding, she accepts with the intention of showing him exactly what he gave up when he dumped her. But no amount determination can change Wickham’s view of Lydia, especially not when circumstances conspire to make her look even more like a party girl than ever. And then there’s her sudden attraction to old college friend Kyle “Denny” Dennison…. Now that Lydia has reimagined her whole life, will she be able to forget the past and open her heart to the future?

Un angle d'attaque inédit et intéressant de Lydia même s'il n'a pas grand chose à voir avec l'original. Ici, l'auteure a pris le parti de changer Lydia et de lui donner son happy ending avec Denny. C'est audacieux, bien écrit et plaisant mais mon côté conservateur a renaclé. Du coup j'ai aimé mais je trouve que ça n'a plus grand chose à voir avec P&P. Cependant, l'auteure s'est donnée du mal, notamment avec les citations de Jane pour asseoir son propos.

Ma note : 6,5/10


Ce que j'aime : Encore une fois, les histoires se répondent et des personnages sont transverses. De vrais efforts de réimagination des auteures.

Ce que j'aime moins : Parfois c'était un peu trop réinventé et j'aurais apprécié que certaines histoires aillent plus loin


En bref : Un recueil qui a du peps et qui est amusant. Je l'ai trouvé meilleur que le précédent et j'ai définitivement envie de lire ces auteures sur des choses plus longues

Ma note

7/10

[Nell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute re-imaginings of Jane Austen novels. Most of the stories are quite strong, but I particularly enjoyed the reworking of Sense and Sensibility (Wine and Wineries) and Mansfield Park (No Vacancy at Mansfield Motel).

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

no matter how many times i read this delightful book, holidays with jane: spring fever always brings a smile to my face and makes my heart swoon.

[Ela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reviewing the stories separately and my notes may contain spoilers:

Extra Innings (a "Persuasion" story by Jessica Grey)
5 stars
OMG, this was the best take on Persuasion ever! I knew I recognized Jessica Grey's writing once Star Wars was mentioned, her pop-culture references are pure gold. I liked that Annie's abusive family was featured but they didn't steal the spotlight from the main couple. And let me tell you that Rick Wentworth is so dreamy here! So considerate and protective of Annie and his letter is reinterpreted as a series of messages for her. And then there's this:
“Say something,” I finally gasped out.
“I wanted to make sure you were done.”
“Done.” I nodded tensely.
“Okay.” He grinned, and my stomach performed a slow flip. “After missing so many I don’t want to miss another.”
I stared at him, confused. “Another what?”
He took a step closer. “Word. From your mouth. I don’t want to ever miss a single one from you ever again.”
Since the hero stopping the heroine's talking with a kiss is usually considered somewhat romantic, I loved that here Rick made sure that Annie was done talking before kissing her <3.

Miracle at the Abbey (a "Northanger Abbey" story by Cecilia Gray)
3,5 stars
While I didn't like Cecilia Gray's time skips in her Persuasion retelling, here I didn't mind at all. I thoroughly enjoyed this take on Northanger Abbey with Kathia as a paranormal investigator. I just felt that it ended a bit abruptly. Like, I was reading it and thinking "now I reached the part where more drama will ensue" but instead it was the end.

Whine and Wineries (a "Sense and Sensibility" story by Melissa Buell)
4 stars
Out of all revisions of S&S in Holidays with Jane series, this story was probably closest to the original (even Fanny and John make an appearance). I really liked that it was about the sisters finding their place in the world and helping to coordinate weddings. And the story of Elinor and Edward was super cute here as well.

Emma's Inbox (an "Emma" story by Rebecca M. Fleming)
3 stars
Basically the story of Emma retold via emails, newspaper articles and other social media. While I appreciate the author for trying to do something different and experimenting a little, I just didn't feel as connected to the characters as in other short stories in this book.

No Vacancy at Mansfield Motel (a "Mansfield Park" story by Kimberly Truesdale)
3 stars (the story was well-written but I wouldn't read it again, too depressing)
I don't even know how to rate this one. This story made me uncomfortable exactly in the way the original does. So success in the retelling department, I guess? Fanny is super nice, hard-working and modest but she is being constantly misused by her own family. And Eddie is exactly the unfeeling, inconsiderate dick I remember from Jane Austen's novel. The thing I liked the best was that Fanny and Eddie's relationship is kept purely friendly (at least that's how I understood it) and the author left the door open for possible FannyxHenry ship <3.

Lydia Reimagined (a "Pride and Prejudice" story by Jennifer Becton)
3,5 stars
Lydia Bennet gets her spotlight in this one and finds her own true love on George Wickham’s wedding. Enjoyable take on Lydia's story in which she discovers that she doesn't need to prove herself to her terrible ex and she deserves to be happy. I didn't quite get the P&P vibe from this one (understandably, since it was basically an original story) but I think it was a cute addition to this Holidays with Jane installment.

In conclusion, I admit that I feel that this particular collection of stories from Holidays with Jane is not as strong as some of the other ones. I think that the only stories from Spring Fever I will reread in the future are Jessica Grey's Extra Innings and Melissa Buell's Whine and Wineries. Still a great read for any Jane Austen fan but I would recommend Thankful Hearts collection over this one any time.

[Ceri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was first published on Babblings of a Bookworm: https://babblingsofabookworm.blogspot...

The Holidays with Jane anthologies feature short stories from 6 authors, each taking on a modern short story tied to a different one of Austen’s 6 novels. The common theme for this anthology was the spring.

In Extra Innings by Jessica Grey we meet Annie Elliot, who broke off her engagement to minor league baseball player Rick Wentworth ten years ago. Now he’s returned to coach the team she works for. Annie has two loves – Rick Wentworth and baseball. She went viral a couple of years ago in an impassioned speech about the beauty of baseball, and how every day is another chance to play your best game. It’s understandable that she loves that aspect, because that is just what she would like from life, another chance. She works hard at her job, but has checked out from life, trying her best to blend into the furniture:

“I wasn’t sure that you were still in there,” he commented, studying me.

I gasped. That hurt. I realize he hadn’t meant it to hurt, that he was actually trying to compliment me… I think, but it still felt like a smack across my face.

I liked this story of second chances. Annie was quite a wallflower but she had a spark and some humour to her, which was good. I was in danger of being lost in some of the baseball terminology, as it’s not a sport I know anything about, as it’s not really a spectator sport here, but when I realised the significance of extra innings it all made sense!

Miracle at the Abbey by Cecilia Gray is the Northanger Abbey story of the anthology and I loved the slant taken to mirror Catherine Morland’s belief in the gothic. Here, our heroine Kathia is a TV paranormal investigator. For the show’s 100th episode the programme makers want Kathia to revisit her past.

At the age of 17 Kathia went to live at The Abbey. Her mother had been killed in a car accident and with no other family the Trang family fostered her. The Abbey, which is run as a guest house, is a place where miracles happen; every Easter, a guest has one of their dreams come true.

Kathia is a believer, and the Trangs’ son, Henry, is a sceptic. Kathia has been avoiding Henry since his betrayal of her beliefs, many years ago, but now she will have to face her memories:

It’s not the average person who calls the show hotline claiming to have encountered an otherworldly presence. It’s always someone who is haunted, not only by ghosts, by the memories, by the past or by themselves.

This was such a sweet story. I loved how Kathia had Catherine Morland’s wholeheartedness. The gothic aspect can be hard to update, but making it a paranormal tv show brought it believably into the modern world. We look back at Kathia and Henry’s relationship on the road to the big fall out and it was just lovely.

In Whine and Wineries by Melissa Buell we have a Sense & Sensibility update. After the death of their father, the Dashwood sisters’ half-brother John and his wife Franny move in… and start pushing them out. Luckily a relative of Mrs Dashwood has a winery which has a spare cottage, and he offers her the use of it. Sadly, this takes Elinor away from Franny’s brother, who seems very nice:

“You should listen to Marianne occasionally and let yourself fall in love.”
“I’ll think about it,” Elinor said with a hollow laugh. The problem is that I already have.

Barton Winery turns out to have some unexpected business opportunities for the Dashwood ladies, coordinating weddings. Edward comes to visit, which coincides with the wedding of a Miss Steele and brings to light some truths and some lies.

There were some bits of this story that I didn’t quite buy and parts which seemed a little old fashioned in a modern story, I wouldn’t think that a modern young woman would be expecting a proposal straight away. The Steele sisters were something else though!

In Emma's Inbox by Rebecca M. Fleming we get an Emma update told via texts and emails between Emma and various other characters. Emma writes a human interest column in the local paper. When singer Frank Churchill returns unexpectedly to town, the mayor Noah Knightley ropes in Emma and PR specialist Jane Fairfax to put a spin on the story while trying to set up the local reverend with his new Business Manager.

Emma and Knightley are good friends, although he’s always giving her advice which she feels she doesn’t need:

It still makes me laugh, his being mayor. I’m not sure why – it’s the perfect position: he can boss everyone around instead of being stuck only bossing me.

I liked the idea of Emma doing this sort of newspaper column, it seemed right up her street. She and Noah were very sweet together too. My only reservation with this story really was the text speak used, it seems quite dated.

No Vacancy at Mansfield Motel by Kimberly Truesdale is a story inspired by Mansfield Park. Fanny Price runs her uncle’s business, Mansfield Motel pretty much single-handed. She dreams of becoming a marine biologist but it seems that her family has forgotten that she might have dreams of her own, since she is keeping the business running. Fanny hopes to enlist her cousin Eddie’s support in broaching this with her uncle, but when he comes home for spring break he brings some guests the Crawfords, and Fanny begins to think her dreams will never amount to anything more.

The dynamic between Fanny and Eddie is more close friends than anything else, it’s not a romantic relationship as it’s a modern and they are cousins. One of the duties that Fanny has at the motel (and actually enjoys) is maintaining the reef near the motel. This was started by purposely sinking concrete blocks in the ocean, and the wildlife moved in. There are various species there including a very special fish:

As if she was jealous of the attention Fanny was paying to the other fish, Mrs. Norris came swimming lazily out of her hole to say hello.

That gave me a giggle, to see that horrible woman reincarnated as a goliath grouper! This story is quite different to MP, in that Fanny wants to follow a particular vocation rather than having any interest in Eddie so it’s not particularly a romance but more about the aspect of MP that Fanny is entirely overlooked, and her thoughts and dreams are not given any note. I really liked the mirroring of Fanny’s role in caring for the reef / motel. One of the things she needs to do to protect the reef is to get rid of lionfish, fish that move in and disrupt the balance of the reef. They seem remarkably similar to Crawfords!

Lydia Reimagined by Jennifer Becton is the Pride & Prejudice story of this collection. Lydia was a wild girl in college, until she re-evaluated her life after catching her boyfriend, George Wickham, cheating on her with his friend Denny’s girlfriend, Maryanna King.

That was the lowest point in Lydia Bennet’s life.

In that moment, she realised what a foolish girl she was, thoughtless and vain. Wickham had no respect for her. He didn’t love her. He didn’t even care about her.

Lydia reimagined herself after the break up. Now she has a successful career and her partying days are long behind her. She has come to Wickham’s wedding with the view of showing him just what he gave up. However, there is somebody else who has come to the wedding hoping that she hasn’t changed too much. After all:

“Wild and careless is just one step beyond spontaneous and natural.”

As frustrating and thoughtless as she is, I always felt a bit sorry for Lydia in P&P. All of our lives are shaped by our decisions but the course of her life would be set by the decision her teenage self made to elope (and stick with) George Wickham. She was too silly to go back while she still could but it seems likely that at some point she would realise that it was a misstep and by then it would be too late to repair things.

She had so much potential to be better, if only she had been taught to think more seriously by her parents.

Luckily, a Lydia in the modern day would probably have the chance to re-evaluate her views and set off down a better path. But there’s no guarantee that she would see the true worth of herself. This was such a lovely story, my favourite of the collection.

As ever, there were some tiny crossovers between the stories, which helped connect them together, things like Lydia watching the paranormal series that Kathia stars in, and Annie also appearing on the show.

I thought this was another good collection of short stories from the Holidays with Jane authors, and I’d rate it as a 4 star read.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun cute read. It isn't my favorite of any of the various authors work but still good.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read! My fav was Extra Innings and Lydia Reimagined!

[Lexie]

I mostly got the "Holidays with Jane" collections for the NORTHANGER ABBEY inspired stories. Cause guys, I adore that book, Henry Tilney and every single reimagining of it.

"Miracle at the Abbey" by Cecilia Gray
Oh joyous days. Kathia is a paranormal expert with a hit show entering it's 100th episode. Hoping to make it personal, her producer convinces her to go back to her hometown and the Abbey she spent her senior year living at where 'miracles' occur. All is fine except for Kathia the Abbey represents a lot more than a ratings bonaza - it's a place of memories and mistakes with the owners' son Henry Trang.

I enjoyed this a lot! Definitely a 4 star. I appreciated that Isabel wasn't just a viper in the nest here, but I wish it could have been longer so we got a little more about Henry. We get a lot about Kathia and her regrets, she is honest as hell when reliving those memories, but we get only a little wrap up from Henry.

Also, this is selfish of me, but what happens next? Does Henry move to LA so Kathia can continue her show? He's a lawyer, presumably really good too, so that won't be as easy as all that right?

[victoria_tonks · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, I won't repeat what I usually say in my reviews of this series. Just my favourite stories from HWJ #2. I loved Whine and Wineries, a S&S story - maybe because its focus is Elinor Dashwood, my favourite Austen heroine? And the other two I think I will be re-reading are the Emma story - Emma's Inbox, told as a series of e-mails/IMs/newspaper articles (which works quite well), and Extra Innings, the Persuasion one. They are all very well written and adapted.

Minor quibble - I have noticed a few typos, missing words and mistakes like bare/bear, but I guess things like that are bound to happen. Now I am off to read the next part.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun writing experience! I laugh, I swoon, I read. ;o)

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5-4 stars

So I decided to pick up yet another "Holidays with Jane" book because I had a headache for days and needed something chill for my brain. It was surprisingly better than I expected.

Extra Innings (Jessica Grey) 4.5 stars
(In case you were wondering, this story contains some language, Star Wars references, and one instance of "mah gawd")

How is it possible that the Holidays with Jane ladies are doing a better job of adapting Persuasion than most of other authors trying to modernize this beloved classic? Grey knocked it out the park with this one. (No pun intended.) I love the sports x Austen mash-up (probably because I'm a fan of both,) and it just works. Grey pulls out the right things from the original to highlight so the retelling feels like a well-rounded, complete story. The modernization is done so well--Anne indirectly hearing Wentworth's answers while editing clips for their social media account, Wentworth saving Anne from the demands of rookies and of course, Wentworth sliding into Anne's DMs with his famous half-hope, half-agony confession. It's a pretty brilliant interpretation of canon. I could've done without all the baseball quotes and Anne drooling over Rick's muscles, but other than that, this was a solid opening for the collection.

Miracle at the Abbey (Cecilia Gray) 3 stars
(In case you were wondering, this story contains some suggestive content and minor language)

This didn't feel like it fit in with the theme at all. Call me crazy, but major angst and paranormal activity don't exactly scream "spring fever," but it was an interesting story. Ghost stories aside, I'm not quite sure I see the Northanger Abbey connection. Kathia is less of an impressionable, bookish heroine and more of a strong, independent woman in denial. The story switches between the past and present, and Kathia alternates between grief and bitterness while building up to the Big Reveal™ of how Henry Trang was her big mistake. The story itself was fine but nothing special. I'm not a huge NA fan, so I wasn't really bothered by the major departure from canon. Hardcore fans/purists might have an issue with this one though.

Whine and Wineries (Melissa Buell) 3 stars
(In case you were wondering, this story contains pop culture references)

Props to Buell for choosing one Dashwood sister's story and sticking to it. Everyone complains Elinor and Edward don't get enough love, but I feel like that's all I've been reading lately...not that I'm complaining. Unfortunately it isn't done very well here. There's some MAJOR instalove, and Elinor's hidden romantic was a bit on the nauseating side. Also, the confession was literally Edward telling Elinor how much he's been wanting to touch her hair?! Okay Boyle...

I'll be the first to admit that the Lucy Steele plotline is one of the hardest to modernize; Buell makes a valiant effort here--I might've bought the whole single after college pact if it'd been executed better.

I ended up giving this a higher rating than it probably deserves because I'm a sucker for weddings and wedding planning, because the setting is gorgeous, and because USC gets a shout out ✌🏼.

Emma's Inbox (Rebecca M. Fleming) 4.5 stars
(In case you were wondering, this story contains pop culture references, text speak, and emoticons)

I'm not usually a fan of epistolary stories, but Fleming managed to pull this one off. Not only is the storytelling great, but it captures the spirit of the original so well. Harriet's juvenile texting patterns, Emma's insistence she and Knightley are "perennial loners," the whole Woodhouse-Knightley dynamic, really... It's all great. Fleming portrayed Emma's obliviousness beautifully, and she chooses the best moments to highlight so we get proper pacing and a complete story. (I also love the idea of Knightley being a small town mayor for some reason.)

I do have a few complaints: there were a few cheesy moments, and Frank Churchill as a famous country singer felt a bit Hallmark movie-ish. Also, the format means we were robbed of a proper confession scene, but otherwise this was a solid retelling especially compared to all the Emma disappointments I've had recently.

No Vacancy at Mansfield Motel (Kimberly Truesdale) 4 stars
(In case you were wondering, this story contains pop culture references and minor language)

I may be a bit biased because this felt like a little throwback to the days when I was obsessed with marine biology, but I kinda loved this. They're actually cousins in this one--not adopted, not step-cousins--so that's different. But so's the fact that there's (thankfully) no overt romance between them. The fact that it's set in Florida feels more summery to me, but maybe that's because I've never been much of a spring break kind of girl.

Lydia Reimagined (Jennifer Becton) 3 stars
(In case you were wondering, this story contains language, pop culture references, and some suggestive content)

Has Lydia Bennet always sparked such sympathy or is the advent of "fix it fics" for Lydia result of the Lizzie Bennet Diaries? Whatever the case, I don't really feel strongly about a redemption arc for Lydia one way or another. This was cute, I guess. I know I said I don't really care about a HEA for Lydia, but if you're going to Make It Better, really go for it. The story felt a little generic.

[Craftyhj · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a curate’s egg - 3.5* overall

I like the premise of this book, a short modern story based on each of Austen’s completed novels. It is also engaging to have small links running through all of the stories. I enjoyed spotting these. However some do the stories were much better than others, hence the curate’s egg.

“Extra Innings” (Persuasion) was a great start to the book and I really enjoyed the story which flowed nicely. This was followed by “Miracle at the Abbey” (Northanger Abbey) which was also charming and a little poignant. “Whine and Wineries” (S&S) was not good. The idea of a secret engagement as set out was totally unbelievable in the 21st century. “Emma’s Inbox” was an interesting idea, a modern epistolary story, but a bit too cheesy for me. “No Vacancy at Mansfield Motel” was quite good, I liked that there was no attempt to create a romance between Fanny and Eddie. “Lydia Reimagined” (P&P) could have been good, the plot idea was good, but the development was minimal and a bit silly.

All in all an interesting read but with some limitations.

[Jen B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only came for the Persuasion story: Extra Innings by Jessica Gray. 4.5*
Modern MBL AU – 'twas good. I liked Annie, she was funny in a self deprecating way (funny on the page, not good IRL). I liked Wentworth here too - he was not an ass like he is in canon, not even a little bit.

I'll be back for the others.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received a free copy for honest review


6 Short stories written with in the spirit of Jane Austin. I thought that these modern Jane Austin stories were well written and a nice easy read. If you are a fan of Austin you will love these.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

All short story, modern adaptations of Jane Austen's work which were not really for me. They were okay but none really caught my imagination

[Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Emma story was tots adorbs and had me smiling the whole time. My favorite in this anthology.