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beastreader's review
2.0
This time the Jane Austen angle did not work for me. Which, a big part was due to the characters. There was no strong bond with them. However, to be honest, it was mainly Emma that I found that I did not share the strongest connection with. Lucas on the other hand was find. He was the total opposite of his brother, Blake. Who by the way, I was glad that Emma and Blake were no longer together. Lucas was kind and more personable. Yet, as I stated, even he could not help this story improve more for me. Emma needed to have more confidence and stick with it.
Additionally, as I have read other books in this line, which some of the books have a more modern twist on a classic, I was expecting this from this book. It felt not modern enough. Yet, if the characters had been stronger and the storyline more modern than this book would have been a better hit with me. However, I would try another book from this author.
Additionally, as I have read other books in this line, which some of the books have a more modern twist on a classic, I was expecting this from this book. It felt not modern enough. Yet, if the characters had been stronger and the storyline more modern than this book would have been a better hit with me. However, I would try another book from this author.
wallflowerreader_l's review
4.0
First of all, you must know one thing about me. It’s that I absolutely ADORE Jane Austen. I know it sounds cliché but she really is one of my favorite author. So obviously, the blurb of this book appealed to me. But I won’t lie and admit that I’m not fond of love triangles and when I read about Emma‘s love interest being the brother of her actual boyfriend, I was a bit skeptical. Turns out, it worked! And I wasn’t put off by it at all.
At the start I was a little confused about Emma talking about her break-up with Jane Austen but what is certain is that I was hooked anyways and I wanted to know more about her story. Emma is an endearing character. She has a painful memory about her mother which you could feel so strongly it hurts. She’s compassionate, hard-working, loyal and just so though, it’s admirable.
I love the bond she instantly forms with Lucas. You can feel their connection immediately. But most of all, I absolutely love her relationship with Blake, which is really surprising. At the start you won’t get why I just said that but as you keep reading, you’ll understand and please when you do, let’s just talk about it because I thought it was wonderful and I admired both even more for this. All the secondary characters were great, I loved the Hamptons, April, Silvia and Jeremy.
About the story, it was the sweetest contemporary romance. There’s no explicit intimate scenes and I normally don’t mind them but it’s been so long since I’ve read something just sweet and romantic like this story. You can just feel the love.
Also, special mention to Caroline Hampton and her speech about Jane Austen. I totally agree with her and if you’re a fan of this wonderful woman and author, you’ll love this book. All the references are a really nice touch.
My only tiny disappointment is that I felt the end was a bit rushed. I’d have loved it for it to be dragged some more. But, oh well, all good things must come to an end.
*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchanged of an honest review. I still bought the audio book though. For a future re-read (or listening :)).
Other reviews can be found here : http://laylareads.com/
At the start I was a little confused about Emma talking about her break-up with Jane Austen but what is certain is that I was hooked anyways and I wanted to know more about her story. Emma is an endearing character. She has a painful memory about her mother which you could feel so strongly it hurts. She’s compassionate, hard-working, loyal and just so though, it’s admirable.
I love the bond she instantly forms with Lucas. You can feel their connection immediately. But most of all, I absolutely love her relationship with Blake, which is really surprising. At the start you won’t get why I just said that but as you keep reading, you’ll understand and please when you do, let’s just talk about it because I thought it was wonderful and I admired both even more for this. All the secondary characters were great, I loved the Hamptons, April, Silvia and Jeremy.
About the story, it was the sweetest contemporary romance. There’s no explicit intimate scenes and I normally don’t mind them but it’s been so long since I’ve read something just sweet and romantic like this story. You can just feel the love.
Also, special mention to Caroline Hampton and her speech about Jane Austen. I totally agree with her and if you’re a fan of this wonderful woman and author, you’ll love this book. All the references are a really nice touch.
My only tiny disappointment is that I felt the end was a bit rushed. I’d have loved it for it to be dragged some more. But, oh well, all good things must come to an end.
*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchanged of an honest review. I still bought the audio book though. For a future re-read (or listening :)).
Other reviews can be found here : http://laylareads.com/
brandypainter's review
3.0
3.5
This was cute. It was an impulse grab at the library. I'm wary of things that mention Jane Austen but this one kept it enough to a part of Emma's background and motivation as a character without commentating on it that I was able to enjoy the story for what it was. I found the writing and dialogue engaging. There were parts of the conflict that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. (Blake's motivations for pursuing Emma. The existence of Stephanie as a character at all.) However, for the most part it was fun, cute romance, and I was intrigued enough by the writing to pick up the sequel from the library too.
Also, for those who enjoy romance but don't want sex scenes, this book is for you!
This was cute. It was an impulse grab at the library. I'm wary of things that mention Jane Austen but this one kept it enough to a part of Emma's background and motivation as a character without commentating on it that I was able to enjoy the story for what it was. I found the writing and dialogue engaging. There were parts of the conflict that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. (Blake's motivations for pursuing Emma. The existence of Stephanie as a character at all.) However, for the most part it was fun, cute romance, and I was intrigued enough by the writing to pick up the sequel from the library too.
Also, for those who enjoy romance but don't want sex scenes, this book is for you!
annmaries's review
4.0
A frothy, quick, fun read! I thought it ended a bit abruptly, but I really enjoyed the narrating character, Emma. And I mean, who hasn't been in love with the rich, handsome little brother of her rich, handsome (but in a different way) boyfriend?
idgetfay's review
3.0
3 stars for expectations met. I will read any cheesy romance if it alludes to Jane Austen and I will like it. This romance was not without its flaws, but it was clean and predictable and entertaining, and I really liked the cover.
taryn_a's review
2.0
I wanted to like this book. It has a CMO heroine and Jane and romance and some will/they won't they and a sweet little girl. But I wanted to hit Emma (our CMO heroine) upside the head too many times to like it.
I understand that people can be dense when it comes to the feelings of themselves and of others. But whiny "why is he ignoring me and blah blah blah" was too much.
(The following is basically all in the synopsis, so I'm not giving anything away.)
Emma is dating Blake. Blake more or less cheats on her (he has a female over for dinner and doesn't tell his girlfriend. The whole rest of the book it's "just dinner" and she believes him that he didn't mean anything by it and didn't think it was a big deal. Really?), so she heads out. Then ends up working with his brother, Lucas. Lucas adores Blake and just keeps talking about him and trying to get Emma to get back together with him. But in the meantime, something is developing between the two of them.
Fine, I can handle a love triangle. But then she starts entertaining ideas of getting back with Blake and then wonders why Lucas is being all standoffish. Again, I understand not everyone is in touch with their feelings, but wondering why one brother won't kiss you while you're dating another is just dumb. :P And then blaming Jane Austen the whole time was just strange.
So yeah, this book is definitely not my new favorite because I just didn't really care about Emma and her cluelessness (no pun intended...)
I understand that people can be dense when it comes to the feelings of themselves and of others. But whiny "why is he ignoring me and blah blah blah" was too much.
(The following is basically all in the synopsis, so I'm not giving anything away.)
Emma is dating Blake. Blake more or less cheats on her (he has a female over for dinner and doesn't tell his girlfriend. The whole rest of the book it's "just dinner" and she believes him that he didn't mean anything by it and didn't think it was a big deal. Really?), so she heads out. Then ends up working with his brother, Lucas. Lucas adores Blake and just keeps talking about him and trying to get Emma to get back together with him. But in the meantime, something is developing between the two of them.
Fine, I can handle a love triangle. But then she starts entertaining ideas of getting back with Blake and then wonders why Lucas is being all standoffish. Again, I understand not everyone is in touch with their feelings, but wondering why one brother won't kiss you while you're dating another is just dumb. :P And then blaming Jane Austen the whole time was just strange.
So yeah, this book is definitely not my new favorite because I just didn't really care about Emma and her cluelessness (no pun intended...)
hugbandit7's review
4.0
I've not really read many of the Jane Austen books but know just enough abut them in passing to be dangerous! The title is a little misleading if you think that her books were about finding a husband so you could settle down and become a wife and mother. In reality (as we find out in the book), she is teaching women to speak their minds and be independent, but you really have to dig for that.
But overall this is a romance novel and one that I enjoyed. While you can figure out how it is going to end up, there are a few twists that I didn't see coming and you are left hanging wondering about a few characters until much later in the book. I liked Emma being torn between two men and trying to figure out who really was best for her in the long term.
The only thing I didn't like was trying to figure out what CMO meant - Chief Marketing Officer. Usually authors will not shorten to the abbreviation until they have at least spelled it out once and I don't recall seeing it spelled out.
But overall this is a romance novel and one that I enjoyed. While you can figure out how it is going to end up, there are a few twists that I didn't see coming and you are left hanging wondering about a few characters until much later in the book. I liked Emma being torn between two men and trying to figure out who really was best for her in the long term.
The only thing I didn't like was trying to figure out what CMO meant - Chief Marketing Officer. Usually authors will not shorten to the abbreviation until they have at least spelled it out once and I don't recall seeing it spelled out.
melissadegraffbooks's review
3.0
Modern romance with some Jane Austen love thrown in. The main character is named Emma and has some blunders she needs to overcome. I'm not a big contemporary romance fan, but it was a nice read. Sweet and clean.