The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen by Ada Bright and Cass Grafton
Source: Purchased ebook, 366 pgs. I am an Amazon Affiliate
The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen by Ada Bright and Cass Grafton is part romance and part time travel, but it is also a novel about friendship and finding the gumption to go after what you want. Our heroine Rose Wallace is eager to meet her online friend Morgan after spending so much time with her online in Jane Austen forums.
"'Is this one of those moments when I don't understand you because you're British?'"
But she's also eager for the annual Jane Austen festival that takes over Bath, and added bonus, she'll get to help archaeologist Dr. Aiden Trevellyan settle in before his talk on his most recent research and dig in Chawton. But soon, she becomes intrigued with an upstairs visitor, Jenny Ashton, who has a peculiar way about her and simply seems to live the older customs now.
"'Pray, how is this a convenience store? One can barely turn about, 'tis so narrow, and there is no logic to the produce on display. I find naught of convenience about it.'"
Through a portal, Rose and Jenny are thrust into a time where Rose's life is less independent from her not-so-great mother, and (GASP!) the works of Jane Austen have never been written. Rose and Jenny must either find a way back to their old lives or resign themselves to the new ones -- ones in which Rose may flounder at her job at the library but one that could provide her a romantic partner. How do you choose between the life you've known and loved with one full of unknown possibilities?
The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen by Ada Bright and Cass Grafton shines in the building and rebuilding of friendships across time and space. No TARDIS needed here, but Rose must learn to meet the challenges before her without losing sight of who she wants to be.I just loved all of these characters and their misunderstandings and awkwardness. It's wonderfully funny too.
I just had to get the next book in this series... stay tuned for that review.
RATING: Quatrain