I am delighted to be reviewing
Then Comes Winter, edited by Christina Boyd and at such a poignant time of the year!
As some of you know, at one time, my desperate need to read JAFF, wherever and whenever possible, led me to the beauty of THE SHORT STORY, who knew a HEA could be gained so quickly.
With a mixture of new and established authors, this anthology had me excited. With limited time during the holiday season, well written short stories are great when the commitment to read a full length novel can be a struggle. I even thought it would be fun to read each story while out and about taking snap shots of the countryside at winter, however the milder weather and lack of lay-bys in which to pull over and take pictures, put paid to that plan.
However once I began, each story created such a unique picture of winter or the holiday season that my disappointment was soon forgotten.
Review
The first story began with a modern take on Persuasion, with
each chapter being a song on a mixtape. It was the end that had me stunned into
grinning silence, all I will say is tattoo, without giving anything away.
However what I will say, is that the twist is, rather than Wentworth delivering
the awe inspiring speech, Anne does, well not a speech per se, but considering
she’s had 200 years to say something just as awe worthy, I can say it was worth
the wait.
Much to my delight but maybe not to the delight of our main
heroine at first, a modern twist on Mansfield Park was up next. I thoroughly
enjoyed the humour and was laughing out loud so much in the beginning that I even
made myself jump, oh the joy of laughter.
Okay so I was really smiling now, a modern take on Sense and
Sensibility, another Austen theme! I enjoyed this little tale, it focuses on how Marianne falls for
Brandon and it really is a ‘it came on so gradually’ scenario, however our
heroine has time to process how it has happened and why, which was nice to
witness. The idea for this is really clever and the wit had me chuckling
throughout.
I nearly lost all good sense when I turned the page to
discover Darcy was up next and in the Regency era, could this get any better? Captivated
instantly with the opening scene, I knew I was in for a treat and indeed I was,
to witness Mr Darcy browsing in a milliners shop is always a delight to
visualise. It would seem he also has excellent taste (although I never doubted
it) and thanks to Georgiana I believe someone else will agree with my assessment.
This story was a great beginning for a JAFF novel, so I was a little
disappointed that it did not continue.
As a fan of JAFF I could not but be pleased that the next
story was a modern Northanger Abbey, it is not a story that often gets chosen
for a reinterpretation. This story was sweet and reminded me of the fun and
innocence of young love. It had a
wonderful feel of Northanger Abby against the back drop of 'Dirty Dancing' meets Christmas, a modern tale that I think would also appeal to younger readers.
Back to the Regency era, I was excited to meet with
Elizabeth and Jane in Lambton, in a coffee house, just before Christmas,
dragging Mr Darcy’s character through the mud (well Lizzy was anyway). All the
while, the man in question is but a couple of tables away. Oh dear, he just
heard Elizabeth declare him the last man in the world, oh the story just gets
better.
Yes! Another Pride and Prejudice and a modern this time. Although I
was pleased to see my favourite couple again they were not similar in character
to canon. However this did not detract from the fiery love match. I really
enjoyed this romantic story, if you like pizza and some witty banter then you’re
in for a treat as Billy aka Darcy becomes pizza delivery boy for the evening.
The next story was more regency than it was Austen however I
will not complain to see Fanny again and another play, the ‘Twelfth Night’. Although
Fanny is not the love interest but Anne, Fanny’s cousin. Will she find love
with a past crush or can people characters be seriously misjudged? I believe so (please refer to Elizabeth Bennet lol).
If you’re a fan of ‘You’ve got Mail’ you will hopefully
enjoy this story, book store owner meets Professor who saves the day. Although the
conclusion was brought together quite quickly I had to remind myself it was a
short story, and a quick HEA was what I wanted.
Stranded on Christmas Eve, oh no! Stranded with a great guy,
oh yes! This was a nice little story however definitely one that left you
feeling there should have been more. Both characters seemed to be sketched
with Darcy and Elizabeth in mind, therefore anything related to Pride and
Prejudice meets with my approval.
The saying goes save the best till last, however that is a
little unfair therefore I will re-word it and say my favourite featured last
and the wait was worth it. Regency era, 1995 Pride and Prejudice characters and
Lory’s great story telling skills, do I need to expand further? I think not but
I will, we meet again at Netherfield, do you remember the dog Elizabeth played
with in 1995 well it turns out it’s Darcy’s dog according to Miss Lilian, what
a wonderful idea for a short story. Luckily Darcy is not in the bath this time
but outside with his dog. Another lovely tale of love that had me feeling all warm
and cosy inside.
I guarantee you will be satisfied with this lovely
collection of short stories, cleverly edited to keep the author’s voice and
ideas prominent. It was lovely to see bloggers, fans and authors coming
together to bring a little Winter Happiness to book lovers and Janeites alike.
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| I did manage to find one spot to pull over, as you can see the English countryside is determined not to look wintery! |
Book Blurb
“Then comes Winter, with bluster and snow,
that brings to our cheeks the ruddy glow…” - Gertrude Tooley Buckingham, The Four Seasons
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—was 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 more promising writers. With a robust mix of contemporary and Regency musings, Next Comes Winter, rekindles passionate fires with equal wit, wonder, and romance.
Stories by: Beau North & Brooke West ● Melanie Stanford ● Natalie Richards ● Erin lopez
Sophia Rose ● Anngela Schroeder ● Suzan Lauder ● Maureen Lee
Denise Stout ● Linda Gonschior ● Lory Lilian
Then Comes Winter Blog Tour Schedule:
11/30: Guest Post & Giveaway at FLY HIGH
I was given an ARC copy for my honest review
