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krisrid's review against another edition
5.0
This book was unexpectedly delightful and I loved every page of it!
Normally, I don't care for short story collections. I usually feel like everything is too short and too rushed and if I like a story I'm just getting into it when it finishes and I am left wanting more. But this book did not leave me at all unsatisfied. In fact, I really enjoyed all four stories, which is also unusual for me - normally, I might like some in a short story collection, but don't care for others. Not so with this one.
This collection did have a secret weapon that made it more likely to be a hit with me - all the stories were Jane Austen books that had been re-imagined or given a paranormal twist. Not only is Pride and Prejudice my favourite book, but I love all things paranormal, so this book really had a good chance of me liking it.
All four of the authors - non of whom I was familiar with, interestingly, since I read a lot of paranormal and a lot of Regency romances - created wonderful, entertaining, creative and fun stories. They went a step further, and very cleverly wove the original Austen story they were recreating in with a paranormal slant. But each story, while using variations of Austen's stories and characters, did a tremendous job of really making these stories their own. These were creative, unique and highly entertaining stories that kept me turning pages quickly once I'd started this book!
My favourite of the four, unsurprisingly, was the P&P adaptation - Blood and Prejudice - but I really enjoyed the other three stories as well. I am looking forward to exploring what other books all four of these authors have written, because if their short storied in this book are any indication of what they have to offer, I may be adding titles to my "to be read" list.
If you like Jane Austen's books, and you enjoy paranormal stories, I highly recommend this book as a great way to experience both in several brief [each story is around 100 pages] but very enjoyable vignettes. Fast, fun easy-reading stories that are highly entertaining. Loved this!!
Normally, I don't care for short story collections. I usually feel like everything is too short and too rushed and if I like a story I'm just getting into it when it finishes and I am left wanting more. But this book did not leave me at all unsatisfied. In fact, I really enjoyed all four stories, which is also unusual for me - normally, I might like some in a short story collection, but don't care for others. Not so with this one.
This collection did have a secret weapon that made it more likely to be a hit with me - all the stories were Jane Austen books that had been re-imagined or given a paranormal twist. Not only is Pride and Prejudice my favourite book, but I love all things paranormal, so this book really had a good chance of me liking it.
All four of the authors - non of whom I was familiar with, interestingly, since I read a lot of paranormal and a lot of Regency romances - created wonderful, entertaining, creative and fun stories. They went a step further, and very cleverly wove the original Austen story they were recreating in with a paranormal slant. But each story, while using variations of Austen's stories and characters, did a tremendous job of really making these stories their own. These were creative, unique and highly entertaining stories that kept me turning pages quickly once I'd started this book!
My favourite of the four, unsurprisingly, was the P&P adaptation - Blood and Prejudice - but I really enjoyed the other three stories as well. I am looking forward to exploring what other books all four of these authors have written, because if their short storied in this book are any indication of what they have to offer, I may be adding titles to my "to be read" list.
If you like Jane Austen's books, and you enjoy paranormal stories, I highly recommend this book as a great way to experience both in several brief [each story is around 100 pages] but very enjoyable vignettes. Fast, fun easy-reading stories that are highly entertaining. Loved this!!
noveladdiction's review against another edition
4.0
I read this for the Pride and Prejudice story (of course) which I absolutely loved. This one is going on my wishlist for sure.
middlekmissie's review against another edition
3.0
I liked three of the stories, with my favorite being "Northanger Castle"; it had the right tone of silliness which is necessary with making a classic author into a paranormal. By the same token, the "headline" story, "Almost Persuaded" was entirely too serious, and not paranormal, really. Maybe I just thought it was dumb because I don't believe in reincarnation, and the author was so serious about it. I also found the gratuitous name-changes in each of those two stories stupid and distracting: everyone knows you're copying Austen's plots--that's the point of the book--so why are you changing names when you aren't making significant character changes?
kaylana's review against another edition
3.0
I saw this at the library last week and just had to pick it up! The book contains four novellas based on.[b:Persuasion|2156|Persuasion|Jane Austen|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51I%2B8kXYtLL._SL75_.jpg|2534720], [b:Northanger Abbey|50398|Northanger Abbey|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170368862s/50398.jpg|4039699], [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1279118438s/1885.jpg|3060926], and [b:Emma|6969|Emma|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266449335s/6969.jpg|3360164]. But all of the authors added a bit of the paranormal into the story lines.
The first one involves reincarnation and soulmates. Northanger Castles started off really fantastic, but the ending was too rushed and I just didn't see the chemistry there between the two leads. Blood and Prejudice takes place in present-time and it really worked for me. It got the main bits from the original and threw in some fun twists. The last one was my favorite. It made me want to see a whole novel based on this world of witches, werewolves, elves, and vampires all roaming around D.C. This is definitely the most spicy of the romances!!!
Overall, they were all fun and entertaining reads and I'd recommend one reading.
The first one involves reincarnation and soulmates. Northanger Castles started off really fantastic, but the ending was too rushed and I just didn't see the chemistry there between the two leads. Blood and Prejudice takes place in present-time and it really worked for me. It got the main bits from the original and threw in some fun twists. The last one was my favorite. It made me want to see a whole novel based on this world of witches, werewolves, elves, and vampires all roaming around D.C. This is definitely the most spicy of the romances!!!
Overall, they were all fun and entertaining reads and I'd recommend one reading.
ckanderson's review against another edition
3.0
Totally ridiculous, but fun. Especially Blood and Prejudice.
cakt1991's review against another edition
4.0
Full review here: https://courtneyreadsromancesite.wordpress.com/2018/06/02/review-of-bespelling-jane-austen-by-mary-balogh-colleen-gleason-susan-krinard-and-janet-mullany/
larisa2021's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars for almost Persuaded and Blood & Prejudice.
sandyd's review against another edition
3.0
As a whole, this anthology (a mash-up of paranormal romance with re-tellings of some Austen classics) was disappointing, despite some well-known romance authors. Janet Mullany's funny novella keeps the volume from being a complete waste of time with its humor and creativity.