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frompemberleytomiltonblog's review against another edition
4.0
Review published in From Pemberley to Milton:
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpress.com/
When I started reading Then Comes Winter I didn’t know what to expect. I had never read an anthology and I don’t usually read short stories, so this book was a true surprise for me.
Reading it turned out to be perfect for this time of the year. It felt like unwrapping a present that contained a box full “Papillottes”. I don’t know if you are familiar with Papillottes, but they are chocolates that are only sold during Christmas season in France, and I truly love them!
There is not one single year when I do not find a way to have them in my house. You may wonder what is so special about them. Well, apart from being delicious, these chocolates, sold in one single package, all have different flavours. So when you take one to eat, you never know what you are going to get. It is always a surprise. And I like the anticipation that comes from not knowing what I will find.
That was precisely what happened with Then Comes Winter. Every new story was a surprise. I didn’t know if I was going to find a modernization or a regency story, if it would be funny or serious, if it was about Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility, or any other Jane Austen book. Can you think of anything better for a JAFF reader?
This book is pure perfection for any Jane Austen affectionate and it changed my perspective on anthologies. I now believe they are one of the best presents you can get anyone! This anthology contains 11 short stories based on several works of Jane Austen and it is wonderful because not only it is full of surprises, but also because it is incredibly diversified.
I hope to install your curiosity with the brief resumes of each short story:
Holiday Mix Tape by Beau North and Brooke West
This is a modernisation of Persuasion, my second favourite Austen book. I think the adaption was very interesting touching some social stigmas that I was not expecting. I should know better after reading Longbourn’s Songbird :)
Apart from Wentworth’s skin colour, I think you will find curious to read the name of Sophie’s dog :)
Another interest aspect in this book was the way it was organized, as a mix tape with the song titles giving hints on each chapter. It’s a detail I truly enjoyed :)
Becoming Fanny by Melanie Stanford
I loved the beginning of this story because it started with a truth universally acknowledged: Everyone wants to be Elizabeth Bennet. Well…at least I do.
The book tells us a story about a girl who desperately wants to be just like Elizabeth Bennet: social, witty and adventurous, but turns out to be Fanny Price, who in her opinion is weak and boring. The character evolves into accepting who she is and that everyone has their own qualities, which is a moral I found interesting.
It is a modernization of Mansfield Park, which is not one of my favourite books from Jane Austen, but the story was wonderfully written, and it got my attention from the beginning. It was funny and romantic, and it gave me a lot of pleasure to read it.
A Man Whom I Can Really Love by Natalie Richards
This story was a modernization of Sense and Sensibility, which I love.
Col. Brandon is one of my favourite heroes from Austen, and even though I identify myself with the romantic, emotional and spontaneous Marianne, I always through she was too childish, exaggerated and not worthy of Col. Brandon.
This short story gave someone with my opinion the best scenario possible :) We get to see how Marianne started to love Col. Brandon, and how she realised how foolish and immature she was. We see her grow into a mature person who will be worthy of such a man.
All this happens while she lies in a hospital bed. Learning who Willoughby really is, Marianne rushes out of her house in a storm, ends up having a car accident and is saved by Col. Brandon. She is in a comatose state when she realises that even though she cannot communicate, she is able to hear everything everyone is saying. This is how she starts understanding she was very wrong about Elinor, Willoughby and Col. Brandon. This is how she starts to fall in love with him, and I really liked reading this happen :)
The Unexpected Gift by Erin Lopez
This is a regency story based on Pride and Prejudice. It starts after the Netherfield ball, with Mr. Darcy in London struggling, and failing, to forget Elizabeth Bennet. His subconscious is stronger than him, and he ends up buying, without even realising it, a gift that was meant for Elizabeth. When Georgiana understands this, she works as Darcy’s conscience, asking the questions he dare not ask himself: Is society’s opinion more important than his own happiness?
Georgiana will play the cupid in this story that didn’t quite finish. I was sad to reach the end of the story without and ending to the plot, so I am eagerly waiting for another short story to continue this one.
North for the New Year by Sophia Rose
Northanger Abbey is one of my least favourite books from Jane Austen, but Sophia Rose was able to create a modernisation of it that made me want to re-read the original.
Cate is a young, naïve girl from a big family in a small town that travels with her aunt and uncle North for the New Year. She is passionate about Ghost Hunters across America and believes she has found a friend in Bella who also enjoys the show. We all know she learns the hard way not to trust people so easily, but events were transported into the modern era in a creative way. I particularly liked the ending of the story with the big family gathering, it felt a magnificent ending for Chris :)
Winter’s Awakening by Anngela Schroeder
This is a regency story based on Pride and Prejudice that I do hope to see developed into a full length book!
Anngela Shroeder found an interesting way to have Darcy learn Elizabeth’s true opinion of him and also, for Elizabeth to find the truth about Wickham and Darcy. This happened in 2 distinct moments, but I think both of them were cleverly created.
In this story Elizabeth and Jane travel with the Gardiners to Lambton after the Netherfield Ball, and obviously their paths will cross with Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley who are at Pemberley at the time.
I found the writing witty, and love some of the replies Elizabeth gave to Miss Bingley, namely: “It is lucky then, that you are not the mistress of such a grand estate, as I presume she would be prepared at all times for unexpected events”. Isn’t this sentence wonderful?
I thought the Darcy tradition of chopping Christmas trees a curious fact, and of course, could not resist the image of Mr. Darcy cutting the tree himself. As Elizabeth realized at the time “he is magnificent” while doing it. In this book Mr. Darcy was sexy, charming, and irresistible.
I also liked the fact that in this story Mr. Darcy had an older brother who died at a young age. It was very interesting and I never read that before.
This story was full romance and adventure and I do hope to see a full length book coming out of it because I wanted to be with these characters in this story for much too long.
Delivery Boy by Suzan Lauder
This story is a modernization of Pride and Prejudice and places our characters in a scenario I would never have thought about.
Suzan Lauder really surprised me with this story! Elizabeth is a restaurant owner and Darcy appears at her door being mixed up with the “Delivery Boy”.
The story is full of chemistry and misunderstandings keeping us glued to it. The Bennet sisters appeared in a creative and different way, the dialogues with Elvis are incredibly funny and the proposal at the end of the story was just beautiful.
I should also mention that I wouldn’t mind finding a XXI century Mr. Darcy with a beard, I wouldn’t mind at all ;) This was just a detail on the book, but many of these small details made me enjoy it immensely.
This is a story that can be appreciated by everyone: JAFF readers, but also people who never read P&P.
The Food of Love by Maureen Lee
This is a regency short story that portrays Anne, a lonely girl infatuated by Roger Brun, a French refugee who is full of mystery and sophistication. Anne reminds us Maria Bertram when she organizes a play of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night to be interpreted by herself, her relatives and of course Mr. Roger de Brun.
But is Mr. Roger de Brun the one who will truly conquer her heart? She admits to have loved him from the moment she saw him, but is this love at first sight going to last once she knows his true character?
I wasn’t so fond of Anne, and her improprieties, but I really liked James and felt terribly sorry for him. I kept reading just to see him find his happiness, and was overjoyed when it happened :)
Christmas Miracle on Oyster Bay by Denise Stout
This modernisation got me in the first sentence with the word bookstore! One of my long time dreams was to own a bookstore, so I was really happy to read a story where the main character owns one.
This story is similar to the movie “You’ve got mail” with Lissa, the bookstore owner being afraid of being put out of business by her competitors. There is however a chance for her, and Christmas is the perfect timing for grabbing it.
This is was a story that ended too fast for me, I would love to continue reading it and being in the company of Dr. Simon Macgregor. I liked the way their relationship evolved and would like to read more about these characters and their lives.
The Clock Doesn’t Lie by Linda Gonschior
This modernisation of Pride and Prejudice has a premise that I always like in a book. There is a snow storm that strands Danielle (Elizabeth) and Chris (Mr. Darcy) in a restaurant. There is an attraction between them and we start to wonder where their relationship is going, but there isn’t a true closure to the story, and I believe we will read more about these characters in a future story. Until then we will take comfort in the words “I’ll be here. Waiting for you”.
A Perfect Choice by Lory Lilian
This story is a regency variation of Pride and Prejudice that reminded me of the 1995 BBC adaptation.
Elizabeth finds Mr. Darcy’s dog, Blackie, in the garden at Netherfield while she is there taking care of Jane. She plays with him and Mr. Darcy runs into them. This small detail will change everything. With the opportunity to talk to Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth will see a new side of him and establish a relationship with his dog that will alter the entire story.
In fact, it is the dog’s age that will make her more suspicious of Mr. Wickham’s story, and that will make her want to know Mr. Darcy’s side of the story. It is also because of Blackie that he will confide with her what happened to Georgiana, and as you may imagine, this will change everything in the story :)
This story was the perfect choice to close this book as it was a true romance we just want to continue reading over and over again.
I loved both Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s characters as well as the relationship they developed.
This was really the cherry on top of the cake and I have to praise the editor Christina Boyd, who did a wonderful job in the choice of stories.
I would recommend Then Comes Winter to any romance reader who wants to enjoy good stories. I believe this book was wonderfully written and edited to allow readers to take pleasure in it, to read it throughout the winter season. Not in an afternoon, or in one single day, but to slowly enjoy one story each day.
lifeand100books's review against another edition
4.0
This review originally appeared on Austenprose: http://austenprose.com/2015/12/29/then-comes-winter-edited-by-christina-boyd-a-review/
When I was first asked to review Then Comes Winter edited by Christina Boyd, I felt that the fact that it was a short story compilation was perfect. In the midst of holiday planning, gift buying, and cookie baking, I had less than my normal appointed time for reading. So, having the ability to read these shorter, Austen-inspired stories let me fit them right in with my schedule and enjoy them that much more. Couple that with the fact that I now had a bunch of new authors to check out, and I was certainly excited to get started. Even more exciting, however, is the fact that my fellow Austenprose contributor Christina Boyd is the editor!
As I did with my last compilation review, Sun-kissed, I’m posting the Goodreads summary below as there are multiple stories and I cannot summarize them all here.
If you long for a toasty snuggle on a cold winter’s night, this compilation of original short stories inspired by the magic of the holiday season-and more than a nod to Jane Austen-is fancied as a sublime wintertime treat. On the heels of the summer anthology, Sun-kissed: Effusions of Summer, and in concert with some of Meryton Press’s most popular authors, this romantic anthology introduces several promising writers. With a robust mix of contemporary and Regency musings, Then Comes Winter rekindles passionate fires with equal wonder, wit, and admiration. Stories by: Lory Lilian, Linda Gonschior, Suzan Lauder, Beau North & Brooke West, Sophia Rose, Natalie Richards, Anngela Schroeder, Melanie Stanford, Denise Stout, Erin Lopez, and Maureen Lee.
This anthology has a great selection of stories that will be sure to please all Austen fans. In the first four stories alone, Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Mansfield Park are all represented. One of the early standouts was definitely “A Man Whom I Can Really Love,“ by Natalie Richards. I cheesed (when you smile so large that your face hurts) through the whole thing! The story is a contemporized version of Sense and Sensibility in which Marianne is in a coma after a serious car accident. Col. Brandon visits her daily, talking and reading to her, not knowing that she can hear him and understand his words. Marianne begins to have feelings for Col. Brandon, and the ensuing story is definitely the most adorable of the collection. (I dare you not to cheese while reading it.)
On the other hand, “The Unexpected Gift”, by Erin Lopez, really roped me in but didn’t have that great of an ending. I’m not sure if a full length novel is planned as a sequel to this short story, but it left me feeling bereft. Don’t get me wrong, the writing was fabulous and I really became invested in the story, but overall it read like a scene from a larger work rather than a short story. I really hope that Lopez can expand this story in the future, as I think it has serious potential to being a unique reimagining of Pride and Prejudice. (Any P&P story that includes more Georgiana is a win in my book.)
“A Perfect Choice”, by Lory Lilian, deserves a shout out as well. A Pride and Prejudice variation that has Darcy’s Great Dane, Blackie, as the catalyst to Lizzy and Darcy falling in love, it is a gem that you shouldn’t pass up under any circumstances. I liked the little elements of humor that were added into the story. Mr. Bennet too, played an interesting role not often found in Pride and Prejudice variations. His normal aloof behavior is traded in for a gentleman interested in taking an active role in his daughter’s happiness. It was a nice change to read for sure.
Overall, I think this was a fantastic collection of Austen inspired short stories. As in any short story compilation there are sure to be stories that appeal to you more than others. In this work, the strength is that having such a variety of short stories enables the work to appeal to a large audience and introduce a whole new group of viewers to Austen themed fan fiction. There are themes in the stories that are representative of multiple Austen novels, and there is a little something for everyone. I found myself quickly drawn in to the stories, and although I liked some more than others, I highly recommend this to those of you that need something to get you through the holiday hustle and bustle. Romantic, endearing, and filled with stories to keep you warm this winter, Then Comes Winter is a sure bet.
When I was first asked to review Then Comes Winter edited by Christina Boyd, I felt that the fact that it was a short story compilation was perfect. In the midst of holiday planning, gift buying, and cookie baking, I had less than my normal appointed time for reading. So, having the ability to read these shorter, Austen-inspired stories let me fit them right in with my schedule and enjoy them that much more. Couple that with the fact that I now had a bunch of new authors to check out, and I was certainly excited to get started. Even more exciting, however, is the fact that my fellow Austenprose contributor Christina Boyd is the editor!
As I did with my last compilation review, Sun-kissed, I’m posting the Goodreads summary below as there are multiple stories and I cannot summarize them all here.
If you long for a toasty snuggle on a cold winter’s night, this compilation of original short stories inspired by the magic of the holiday season-and more than a nod to Jane Austen-is fancied as a sublime wintertime treat. On the heels of the summer anthology, Sun-kissed: Effusions of Summer, and in concert with some of Meryton Press’s most popular authors, this romantic anthology introduces several promising writers. With a robust mix of contemporary and Regency musings, Then Comes Winter rekindles passionate fires with equal wonder, wit, and admiration. Stories by: Lory Lilian, Linda Gonschior, Suzan Lauder, Beau North & Brooke West, Sophia Rose, Natalie Richards, Anngela Schroeder, Melanie Stanford, Denise Stout, Erin Lopez, and Maureen Lee.
This anthology has a great selection of stories that will be sure to please all Austen fans. In the first four stories alone, Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Mansfield Park are all represented. One of the early standouts was definitely “A Man Whom I Can Really Love,“ by Natalie Richards. I cheesed (when you smile so large that your face hurts) through the whole thing! The story is a contemporized version of Sense and Sensibility in which Marianne is in a coma after a serious car accident. Col. Brandon visits her daily, talking and reading to her, not knowing that she can hear him and understand his words. Marianne begins to have feelings for Col. Brandon, and the ensuing story is definitely the most adorable of the collection. (I dare you not to cheese while reading it.)
On the other hand, “The Unexpected Gift”, by Erin Lopez, really roped me in but didn’t have that great of an ending. I’m not sure if a full length novel is planned as a sequel to this short story, but it left me feeling bereft. Don’t get me wrong, the writing was fabulous and I really became invested in the story, but overall it read like a scene from a larger work rather than a short story. I really hope that Lopez can expand this story in the future, as I think it has serious potential to being a unique reimagining of Pride and Prejudice. (Any P&P story that includes more Georgiana is a win in my book.)
“A Perfect Choice”, by Lory Lilian, deserves a shout out as well. A Pride and Prejudice variation that has Darcy’s Great Dane, Blackie, as the catalyst to Lizzy and Darcy falling in love, it is a gem that you shouldn’t pass up under any circumstances. I liked the little elements of humor that were added into the story. Mr. Bennet too, played an interesting role not often found in Pride and Prejudice variations. His normal aloof behavior is traded in for a gentleman interested in taking an active role in his daughter’s happiness. It was a nice change to read for sure.
Overall, I think this was a fantastic collection of Austen inspired short stories. As in any short story compilation there are sure to be stories that appeal to you more than others. In this work, the strength is that having such a variety of short stories enables the work to appeal to a large audience and introduce a whole new group of viewers to Austen themed fan fiction. There are themes in the stories that are representative of multiple Austen novels, and there is a little something for everyone. I found myself quickly drawn in to the stories, and although I liked some more than others, I highly recommend this to those of you that need something to get you through the holiday hustle and bustle. Romantic, endearing, and filled with stories to keep you warm this winter, Then Comes Winter is a sure bet.
vesper1931's review against another edition
3.0
Some Pride and Prejudice variations consisting of modern and Regency set short stories. I admit to preferring the Regency stories like Winter’s Awakening, The food of love and A perfect choice.
ravenmoon's review
5.0
Like I did with Sun-kissed: Effusions of Summer I will be looking at each story in this anthology separately.
Holiday Mix Tape by Beau North and Brooke West - This story is a modern version of Persuasion. It was very cute story but I wished we had gotten a clear resolution of the situation with Will Ellis. What a slime ball.
Becoming Fanny by Melanie Stanford - This story is basically about a girl discovering just how much like Fanny Price she actually is. I love how in the very beginning she vehemently denies how much like Fanny she is and at the end realizes how she is like Fanny. I did get a nostalgia feel when she's asked if she wants to build a snowman and that song from Frozen just popped into my head. Yes, I like Frozen. Don't judge me.
A Man Whom I Can Really Love by Natalie Richards - This story is sort of a modern Sense and Sensibility. The majority of this story takes place with Marianne in a coma after running away from a party and getting into a car accident. I love how even though she was in a coma she heard everything that went on around her and how she starts falling in love with Brandon. It was so sweet.
The Unexpected Gift by Erin Lopez - This one is a regency Pride and Prejudice story where Georgiana interferes with her brother's love life. The only thing that bothered me about this story is that they didn't end up together in the end. No it just drops off after she gets the package from Georgiana. This story needs to be finished! I need my Lizzy and Darcy fix.
North for the New Year by Sophia Rose - This story is a modern Northanger Abbey. This is a returning author from the Sunkissed anthology. I really enjoyed this one. It's one of the longer stories in the anthology so far and it doesn't disappoint.
Winter's Awakening by Anngela Schroeder - This a delightful regency Pride and Prejudice story where Jane and Lizzy accompany their Aunt and Uncle Gardiner to Lambton around Christmas right after the Netherfield Ball. The two couples clear up misunderstandings and end up getting rid of Caroline and Mr. Wickham in the process. It's definitely one of my favorite stories in this anthology.
Delivery Boy by Suzan Lauder - This is a modern variation of Pride and Prejudice. This story is basically Darcy winning a spot as a chef in Lizzy's restaurant for a week but is thought to be the new delivery boy. This story was very nice and I would have loved for it to be expanded upon. I did find it hilarious that Ms. Lauder mentions David Gandy in this story. I assume it is a shout out to certain members of the JAFF community who are obsessed with him. lol
The Food of Love by Maureen Lee - Oh man this story was very good. The main heroine was captivated by her cousins cousin but eventually realizes that she loves her friend Mr. Turnbull. I would have loved for this story to be a tiny bit longer.
Christmas Miracle on Oyster Bay by Denise Stout - I will admit that at first I really didn't like this story but then it just got so sweet. It is just the right length to read during a lunch break.
The Clock Doesn't Lie by Linda Gonschior - Why did this story end? It needs to be longer! I want to know if they end up together. Ugh!
A Perfect Choice by Lory Lilian - There is a reason why Lory Lilian is one of my favorite JAFF authors and this story just makes me love her even more. You got to love it when Mr Darcy's dog, Blackie and Mr Bennet are the means of bringing these two together. Wickham plays a part in this story but he almost immediately gets transferred to another regiment in the north. I loved this story.
This anthology is the perfect start to the holiday season. I guarantee once you start reading this book you you won't want to put it done until it's done.
Holiday Mix Tape by Beau North and Brooke West - This story is a modern version of Persuasion. It was very cute story but I wished we had gotten a clear resolution of the situation with Will Ellis. What a slime ball.
Becoming Fanny by Melanie Stanford - This story is basically about a girl discovering just how much like Fanny Price she actually is. I love how in the very beginning she vehemently denies how much like Fanny she is and at the end realizes how she is like Fanny. I did get a nostalgia feel when she's asked if she wants to build a snowman and that song from Frozen just popped into my head. Yes, I like Frozen. Don't judge me.
A Man Whom I Can Really Love by Natalie Richards - This story is sort of a modern Sense and Sensibility. The majority of this story takes place with Marianne in a coma after running away from a party and getting into a car accident. I love how even though she was in a coma she heard everything that went on around her and how she starts falling in love with Brandon. It was so sweet.
The Unexpected Gift by Erin Lopez - This one is a regency Pride and Prejudice story where Georgiana interferes with her brother's love life. The only thing that bothered me about this story is that they didn't end up together in the end. No it just drops off after she gets the package from Georgiana. This story needs to be finished! I need my Lizzy and Darcy fix.
North for the New Year by Sophia Rose - This story is a modern Northanger Abbey. This is a returning author from the Sunkissed anthology. I really enjoyed this one. It's one of the longer stories in the anthology so far and it doesn't disappoint.
Winter's Awakening by Anngela Schroeder - This a delightful regency Pride and Prejudice story where Jane and Lizzy accompany their Aunt and Uncle Gardiner to Lambton around Christmas right after the Netherfield Ball. The two couples clear up misunderstandings and end up getting rid of Caroline and Mr. Wickham in the process. It's definitely one of my favorite stories in this anthology.
Delivery Boy by Suzan Lauder - This is a modern variation of Pride and Prejudice. This story is basically Darcy winning a spot as a chef in Lizzy's restaurant for a week but is thought to be the new delivery boy. This story was very nice and I would have loved for it to be expanded upon. I did find it hilarious that Ms. Lauder mentions David Gandy in this story. I assume it is a shout out to certain members of the JAFF community who are obsessed with him. lol
The Food of Love by Maureen Lee - Oh man this story was very good. The main heroine was captivated by her cousins cousin but eventually realizes that she loves her friend Mr. Turnbull. I would have loved for this story to be a tiny bit longer.
Christmas Miracle on Oyster Bay by Denise Stout - I will admit that at first I really didn't like this story but then it just got so sweet. It is just the right length to read during a lunch break.
The Clock Doesn't Lie by Linda Gonschior - Why did this story end? It needs to be longer! I want to know if they end up together. Ugh!
A Perfect Choice by Lory Lilian - There is a reason why Lory Lilian is one of my favorite JAFF authors and this story just makes me love her even more. You got to love it when Mr Darcy's dog, Blackie and Mr Bennet are the means of bringing these two together. Wickham plays a part in this story but he almost immediately gets transferred to another regiment in the north. I loved this story.
This anthology is the perfect start to the holiday season. I guarantee once you start reading this book you you won't want to put it done until it's done.
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