A Vintage Valentine by Cat Gardiner
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Source: Vanity & Pride Press E-story, 26 pgs. I am an Amazon Affiliate
A Vintage Valentine by Cat Gardiner is a reimagined story of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet in which a portal sucks Lizzy into the 1940s when WWII is underway. Modern-day Lizzy, who is a dance instructor, bemoans the social media life that many of us lead and longs for a romance with a gentleman, but she has lost hope. Until her sister Jane convinces her to visit an antique shop in the older part of town, Lizzy has given up on love. Once in the antique shop she is drawn to a special broach.
Gardiner's story is unique and marries a her two favorite things -- Austen and 1940s America. Her take on Lizzy and Darcy in the past is charming and will win over readers quickly because Lizzy has a chance to remedy a situation that could separate these 1940s versions apart forever. That first impression Darcy makes by calling her not tolerable enough to tempt him in the original is similar here, but modern-day Lizzy is more forgiving -- setting these two lovers on a path of romance and lasting affection before WWII takes him overseas.
Returning to the modern world, Lizzy has a semi-renewed sense of love and hope, and this propels her to think more openly about opportunities that could come her way in 2017. A Vintage Valentine by Cat Gardiner is too short, but it still has that satisfying happy ending all Austen readers enjoy. Gardiner's grasp of the 1940s never disappoints, transporting her characters and readers into a believable world, even if they have to suspend disbelief about time portals and wormholes.
RATING: Quatrain
About the Author:
Cat Gardiner loves romance and happy endings, history, comedy and Jane Austen. A member of the esteemed National League of American Pen Women, Romance Writers of America and her local chapter Tampa Area Romance Authors (TARA,) she enjoys writing across the modern spectrum of "Pride and Prejudice" inspired novels.
Voted Austenesque Reviews' Favorite Modern Adaptation for 2014, the comedic, Chick-Lit "Lucky 13" was released in October 2014. The romantic adventure "Denial of Conscience," named Favorite "Pride and Prejudice" Modern for 2015 by Margie Must Reads and More Agreeably Engaged has set the sub-genre on fire since June of this year. In December 2015, another romantic comedy titled "Villa Fortuna" was voted Just Jane 1813's Favorite Modern JAFF for 2015.
Her greatest love, however, is writing 20th Century Historical Fiction, WWII Romance. Her debut novel in that genre, "A Moment Forever" was released on May 30, 2016.
Married 23 years to her best friend, they are the proud parents of the smartest honor student in the world - their orange tabby, Ollie. Although they live in Florida, they will always be proud native New Yorkers.
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