NOT Looking for Love: Single woman (23) seeks best friend to chat on the phone, shop the clearance racks, watch chick flicks, try out messy cooking projects, and eat Dove dark chocolates.
Emma isn’t so good at the whole life-coaching thing. Her first client ended up with a broken heart and is threatening to relapse into bad habits. Now Emma has problems of her own to deal with, and they all start with one name: Justin.
Justin is her best friend, so it’s hard for Emma not to feel betrayed when she suspects he’s falling for her childhood rival. And she knows she’s losing him despite her best efforts. How is she supposed to help other people when she’s drowning in her own failures?
Fans of Jane Austen’s Emma will love this modern retelling of the classic romance novel. Fall in love with Emma’s latter-day tale of redemption, forgiveness, and the quest for true love.
Emma: A Latter-Day Tale by Rebecca H. Jamison
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Netgalley
Genre: LDS Modern Retelling
My thoughts: This book is true to the spirit and story of Jane Austen's Emma. This book is set near Washington DC, rather than England. It is also set in the modern day. The characters are also members of the LDS faith.
Emma takes great joy in helping others achieve success in romance. She has just helped her relative and best friend find romance and marriage. Buoyed by this achievement she sets her sights on Harriet, or Harri, the new nanny in town. She finds the perfect young man for her, but as in the original, her best laid plans do not always bring about the predicted results. In fact, sometimes they bring misery!
I love Jane Austen's work. It is fun to read modern day retellings. They help to bring to life Janes work in a setting and situation that we are a little more familiar with. This is a book to read just because you want to enjoy a story.
This book is clean and appropriate for all ages. If you have a hard time with the language of Jane Austen's writing, but want to have a taste for one of her stories, you may want to read this book!
Read an Excerpt!
********************
It was amazing how much
more snow Phil could pick up with his shovel than I could with mine. He cleared
three feet of the driveway before I was done with one.
“When we’re done, if you
have time, you should come in and meet Harri. I think you two will get along.”
Phil stopped and looked at
his watch. “I’m planning to do a couple more driveways before it gets dark.”
“I’ll go get Harri now if
you’re in a hurry. She wants to meet you.”
Phil leaned on his shovel.
“Harry is a she?”
“Her real name is Harriet. She moved here a
couple months ago and she’s hardly met anybody. I think you’ll like her.”
Phil threw his head back,
laughed, and started shoveling again. “I thought you were trying to introduce
me to your new boyfriend.”
“You think I would be out
here shoveling snow while my new boyfriend stays inside?” I grabbed a handful
of snow and threw it at him. I didn’t mean to hit him in the face, but that’s
where it landed.
Phil wiped the snow off his
face and grinned. “I wondered why you were dating such a loser.” I expected him
to throw a snowball at me, but he just stood there. “So you don’t have a
boyfriend?”
I giggled a little at his
awkwardness. “Nope. Harri doesn’t either.”
Phil threw another
shovelful of snow away from the driveway. “So you . . . I mean, you and your
friend are . . . available?” Phil didn’t open his mouth enough when he talked.
That was the one thing about him that always distracted me. I couldn’t help
staring at his mouth.
I had to force myself to
look into his eyes. “Why is that a shock, Phil? Every woman in that house right
now is available. You can take your pick—Harri, me, or Barbara. You’re
surrounded by single women.” It was safe to assume Phil wouldn’t pick me. I was
at least three inches taller than he was, and it was a rare man who dated a
taller woman.
********************
Purchase Links:
Amazon
* Book Depository * Barnes and Noble
Books & Things * Deseret Book
Purchase Links:
Amazon
* Book Depository * Barnes and NobleBooks & Things * Deseret Book
About Rebecca H. Jamison : Looking
for love? Rebecca H. Jamison would love to set you up with that special
someone, but you’re better off reading her books. She has a terrible track
record as a matchmaker.
Rebecca
grew up in Virginia. She attended Brigham Young University, where she earned a
BA and MA in English with an emphasis in creative writing. In between college
and graduate school, she served a mission to Portugal and Cape Verde.
Rebecca enjoys
running, dancing, reading, and watching detective shows. She and her husband
have six children. You can learn more about her at www.rebeccahjamison.com
Giveaway: Enter to win an eBook of Emma: A Latter-Day Retelling. Use the rafflecopter form to enter. Contest ends on 8/20. The eBook will be coming from Cedar Fort! See giveaway terms and conditions to the right and the bottom of the form.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I like Jane Austen retellings because I want to read books in the mode of Jane Austen and I hope to discover a new author that can write stories that are worthwhile reading
ReplyDeletemeikleblog at gmail dot com
I like Jane Austen retellings because there can never be too much Jane Austen!! Also, since everyone sees something different in a book, retellings can bring out different situations and characters and they show us that life situations are similar for lots of people, no matter where and when they live.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review, Lisa.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read this. I haven't read any yet but look forward to a new author I don't know. Thanks for a chance to win it.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
joeym11@frontier.com
Adore austin retellings and spin offs! Mostly in P&P world, as that my favorite. I've read like every one I come across! :) Emma is great too! cannot wait!
ReplyDeleteI love Austen's literary themes, and as long as the retelling is kept clean and isn't too weird (no sea monsters, please), I'm usually quite interested. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteLaura Hartness
I enjoy retellings of Jane Austen stories because I they're more understandable. I also think it allows her stories to reach the masses. Thanks for having the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteharnessrose(at)yahoo(dot)com
This looks like a fun book, and I always appreciate finding a clean romance. Thanks for the recommendation and for linking it at Booknificent Thursday! Hope to see you there again next week!
ReplyDeleteTina from mommynificent.com
I love Jane Austen retellings because Jane Austen's stories are timeless and have the basic themes that have intrigued people for ages, so it's easy to transition from Austen to another time and place with the same general structure. I also love how authors use their creativity to make the retelling something truly great!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any Jane Austen re-tellings, but in general re-tellings give you a glimpse of what could have happened in another time or space.
ReplyDeleteI like the old fashioned way. With a modern twist
ReplyDeleteHow can you go wrong with Emma?
ReplyDeleteI want to read this book!
I love any kind of retelling, the same way I love covers of songs... it's just so much fun to get a new angle on a beloved classic!
ReplyDeleteI've never read one before, but I enjoy other forms of retellings, so I expect to like this one. :)
ReplyDeleteI love all retellings, (especially ones with happy endings, which Jane Austen was good at, so of course the retellings must have) and so...YES :)
ReplyDeleteI think they can be funny and seriously hot!
ReplyDelete