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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
A good retelling. The story stuck very close to the original; not much in the way of risk.
A gentle modernisation of one of the greatest romantic novels of all time. Can't wait to see what she'll do with Sense & Sensibilty and Mansfield Park!
I found this to be a very enjoyable modern retelling of one of my favorite Jane Austen novels. I have always felt that PERSUASION was one of Austen's most romantic stories. The push and pull of conflict and romance between the two main characters in this retelling is both compelling and still manages to capture the humor and satire Austen was known for in her stories. There were also some heartbreaking and swoonworthy moments mixed in. My only minor complaint is that at times the hero jumps too readily to the wrong conclusion and at times comes across as a jerk because of it. In the end though, he redeems himself just as the hero does in the original tale. All and all I would recommend this to anyone who is a Jane Austen fan.
A fun modernization. I liked what she did with the characters and setting, but the writing and dialogue was clunky at times. Also a decent middle ground between "sweet and clean" and "bodice ripper".
When I was approached by Choc Lit publishers to read Persuade Me by Juliet Archer I was a little apprehensive about taking this book on to review. I felt I was going to be a little out of my comfort zone with this particular book especially after it being described as a Jane Austen Modernisation, I must be one of the only book lovers who is not a fan of Jane Austen. I decided to still give the book a try to see is it was a piece
of me!
Plot
When do you let your heart rule your head?
As far as men are concerned, Anna Elliot is stuck in the past. No one can compare to Rick Wentworth, the man she was persuaded to give up eight years ago.
Meanwhile, Rick’s moved on – and up. He’s got a successful career and a carefully controlled love life where his heart doesn’t get a look in.
The words ‘forgive and forget’ aren’t in Rick’s vocabulary. The word ‘regret’ is definitely in Anna’s. When they meet again, can she persuade him that their lost love is worth a second chance?
Persuade Me is Juliet Archer’s second novel in her ‘Jane Austen in the 21st Century’ series.Her first novel, The Importance of Being Emma, was shortlisted for the 2009 Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance.
My Opinion
Anna Elliot is such a warm and gentle down to earth character unlike some of her family! From the moment we meet Anna we connect to her instantly. It is clear from the start of the book that she has had her heart broken but her story takes a while to unfold as we get to know her character.
Rick who is Anna’s ex is quite a character. When we first meet him I had my guard up a little as I was unsure of his true intentions but as we see more of his character it is hard to get this man out of your head! He is the perfect male character for this book.
There were also many secondary characters in this storyline all who seemed a little quirky and I feel these characters are what manages to keep the Jane Austen connection.
I loved that alongside our Rick and Anna storyline there were also sub plots alongside which I feel worked quiet well and gave us the chance to get to know the back ground of each of the other characters. The use of the sub plots were clever in the way that although you were interested in the other characters reading them just kept you on your toes waiting for the story to return to Rick and Anna to see where their journey was going to go next.
I was surprised how much I was gripped by this book so much so I finished it in under a day! I think that speaks for itself when asking would I recommend this book.
Review also on my blog http://reabookreview.blogspot.com
of me!
Plot
When do you let your heart rule your head?
As far as men are concerned, Anna Elliot is stuck in the past. No one can compare to Rick Wentworth, the man she was persuaded to give up eight years ago.
Meanwhile, Rick’s moved on – and up. He’s got a successful career and a carefully controlled love life where his heart doesn’t get a look in.
The words ‘forgive and forget’ aren’t in Rick’s vocabulary. The word ‘regret’ is definitely in Anna’s. When they meet again, can she persuade him that their lost love is worth a second chance?
Persuade Me is Juliet Archer’s second novel in her ‘Jane Austen in the 21st Century’ series.Her first novel, The Importance of Being Emma, was shortlisted for the 2009 Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance.
My Opinion
Anna Elliot is such a warm and gentle down to earth character unlike some of her family! From the moment we meet Anna we connect to her instantly. It is clear from the start of the book that she has had her heart broken but her story takes a while to unfold as we get to know her character.
Rick who is Anna’s ex is quite a character. When we first meet him I had my guard up a little as I was unsure of his true intentions but as we see more of his character it is hard to get this man out of your head! He is the perfect male character for this book.
There were also many secondary characters in this storyline all who seemed a little quirky and I feel these characters are what manages to keep the Jane Austen connection.
I loved that alongside our Rick and Anna storyline there were also sub plots alongside which I feel worked quiet well and gave us the chance to get to know the back ground of each of the other characters. The use of the sub plots were clever in the way that although you were interested in the other characters reading them just kept you on your toes waiting for the story to return to Rick and Anna to see where their journey was going to go next.
I was surprised how much I was gripped by this book so much so I finished it in under a day! I think that speaks for itself when asking would I recommend this book.
Review also on my blog http://reabookreview.blogspot.com
Oops! How did I forget to review this?! Well - better late than never.
This is a hard book to rate. For the first half I liked this book much better than the first book in the series, but then I completely plateued with it. It took me a while to force myself to finish it though and in the end I didn't like it much. Went from a 4 star to about a 2.5 star. So I am giving it 3 stars over all.
I enjoyed the characters and it did try to stay true to the overall original story, but the ending veered off course so much I just found it unbelieveable and a bit too ambitious.
Still this series by Juliet Archer is a great addition to the Jane Austen sequels/remakes that are on the market. So if you enjoy these types of stories you will surely enjoy these. I will continue to read her works and am looking forward to her Northanger Abbey rendition.
This is a hard book to rate. For the first half I liked this book much better than the first book in the series, but then I completely plateued with it. It took me a while to force myself to finish it though and in the end I didn't like it much. Went from a 4 star to about a 2.5 star. So I am giving it 3 stars over all.
I enjoyed the characters and it did try to stay true to the overall original story, but the ending veered off course so much I just found it unbelieveable and a bit too ambitious.
Still this series by Juliet Archer is a great addition to the Jane Austen sequels/remakes that are on the market. So if you enjoy these types of stories you will surely enjoy these. I will continue to read her works and am looking forward to her Northanger Abbey rendition.
Here’s the thing. I LOVE Persuasion, and this is so far the best retelling I’ve read.
"Persuasion" is my favorite Austen novel, and this is a very nice adaptation of it. One PG scene but it's very classily handled.
A fun, fun book. It truly was.
I read Persuasion this past winter, and it instantly became a Austen favorite of mine. I do love retellings, when done well, so I was very much intrigued by Persuade Me. There was a chance for disappointment, but disappointed I was not. While I knew how the story would end, I was greatly pleased with the various contemporary factors added that captured my attention and provoked intrigue. While knowing the trajectory of the story, I did not know how Juliet Archer would get us to the end point. She really did a brilliant job capturing the essence and nature of Persuasion while giving Persuade Me it's own personality. I had few minor quibbles - I care little for being told what is going on rather than shown - but I can honestly say that these quibbles did not bother me as they normaly would in other books. For Persuade Me, the telling of the story fit. While Persuade Me is a fun, fun book to read - I would never forgo reading Persuasion itself, as it's richness and depth could never be fully captured in a retelling. Nevertheless, Archer gives Persuasion a go for its money and I certainly recommend the reading of this contemporary retelling to others who have already read Persuasion. For those who have not read Persuasion and like fun contemproray romance would enjoy this story too.
My rating: 8/10
* While part of a "series", Persuade Me is a stand alone book with a very minor connection to Mr. Darcy
I read Persuasion this past winter, and it instantly became a Austen favorite of mine. I do love retellings, when done well, so I was very much intrigued by Persuade Me. There was a chance for disappointment, but disappointed I was not. While I knew how the story would end, I was greatly pleased with the various contemporary factors added that captured my attention and provoked intrigue. While knowing the trajectory of the story, I did not know how Juliet Archer would get us to the end point. She really did a brilliant job capturing the essence and nature of Persuasion while giving Persuade Me it's own personality. I had few minor quibbles - I care little for being told what is going on rather than shown - but I can honestly say that these quibbles did not bother me as they normaly would in other books. For Persuade Me, the telling of the story fit. While Persuade Me is a fun, fun book to read - I would never forgo reading Persuasion itself, as it's richness and depth could never be fully captured in a retelling. Nevertheless, Archer gives Persuasion a go for its money and I certainly recommend the reading of this contemporary retelling to others who have already read Persuasion. For those who have not read Persuasion and like fun contemproray romance would enjoy this story too.
My rating: 8/10
* While part of a "series", Persuade Me is a stand alone book with a very minor connection to Mr. Darcy
I was recently afforded the opportunity of working with Juliet Archer. We were fortunate enough to collaborate on The Austen Games together and have developed a nice little friendship driven by our love for Jane Austen! Juliet is the author of the Darcy and Friends series, which currently consists of two novels and is soon to be followed by more works. The first in the series, The Importance of Being Emma, was well received and was soon followed by Persuade Me. Both books have received several romance novel award nominations/wins, and after reading Persuade Me it’s easy to see why!
In a modern-day retelling of Persuasion, Archer introduces us to Anna Wentworth and Rick Wentworth. Both met in France while Anna was an Au Pair and Rick taught sailing lessons. The two immediately fall in love and have a fairy tale summer together. Unfortunately events beyond their control forced them apart, as Anna left to go to school in England and Rick left to work in Australia. For ten long years they lived apart, linked by the memory of that fateful summer in France. Fate steps in again, when the two meet in England, where Anna lives as a University lecturer and Rick is passing through on a book tour in his career as a famous marine biologist. They have both been harboring conflicting feelings about each other, and coming back together after all these years have brought these feelings back to the surface with a vengeance. The two must decide how to best move forward, whether it be together or as separate people. Which one will it be?
Whenever I read a novel that pays homage to Austen’s Persuasion, there’s one thing that always stands out to me as the make or break point: Wentworth’s letter. It is hands down the best letter written in all of literature in my eyes. Therefore, I’m always nervous that when I read a Persuasion influenced novel that it won’t live up to the expectations that I have. I can tell you, my fellow readers, that Archer’s version of Wentworth’s letter is 100% swoon-worthy. I fell in love with the story, the characters, and the comedic undertones of Archer’s writing all while greatly anticipating the moment I would reach “the letter”. Archer’s novel reads like a fine red wine that has been left out to breathe. It becomes fuller and more complex with time, adding to the reader’s pleasure and enjoyment.
Archer’s creativity and wit are clearly evident in the way in which she modernizes Austen’s story. Frederick (now Rick) is now a marine biologist as opposed to being a naval officer, yet still gets to spend most of his time with his love, the sea. Anne (now Anna), who I’ve always considered the smartest of all of Austen’s heroines, gets to showcase that intelligence with a Ph.D. in Russian literature. The inclusion of discussions on Russian literature and the similarities between the plots of these novels and the plot of Persuasion has made me want to delve more into Russian literature in the future. Overall, the entire novel was a very interesting and engaging read. If you love Austen modernizations like I do and are in the mood for a new and fun spin on our favorite classic, definitely check out Persuade Me. You won’t be disappointed!
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-U9
In a modern-day retelling of Persuasion, Archer introduces us to Anna Wentworth and Rick Wentworth. Both met in France while Anna was an Au Pair and Rick taught sailing lessons. The two immediately fall in love and have a fairy tale summer together. Unfortunately events beyond their control forced them apart, as Anna left to go to school in England and Rick left to work in Australia. For ten long years they lived apart, linked by the memory of that fateful summer in France. Fate steps in again, when the two meet in England, where Anna lives as a University lecturer and Rick is passing through on a book tour in his career as a famous marine biologist. They have both been harboring conflicting feelings about each other, and coming back together after all these years have brought these feelings back to the surface with a vengeance. The two must decide how to best move forward, whether it be together or as separate people. Which one will it be?
Whenever I read a novel that pays homage to Austen’s Persuasion, there’s one thing that always stands out to me as the make or break point: Wentworth’s letter. It is hands down the best letter written in all of literature in my eyes. Therefore, I’m always nervous that when I read a Persuasion influenced novel that it won’t live up to the expectations that I have. I can tell you, my fellow readers, that Archer’s version of Wentworth’s letter is 100% swoon-worthy. I fell in love with the story, the characters, and the comedic undertones of Archer’s writing all while greatly anticipating the moment I would reach “the letter”. Archer’s novel reads like a fine red wine that has been left out to breathe. It becomes fuller and more complex with time, adding to the reader’s pleasure and enjoyment.
Archer’s creativity and wit are clearly evident in the way in which she modernizes Austen’s story. Frederick (now Rick) is now a marine biologist as opposed to being a naval officer, yet still gets to spend most of his time with his love, the sea. Anne (now Anna), who I’ve always considered the smartest of all of Austen’s heroines, gets to showcase that intelligence with a Ph.D. in Russian literature. The inclusion of discussions on Russian literature and the similarities between the plots of these novels and the plot of Persuasion has made me want to delve more into Russian literature in the future. Overall, the entire novel was a very interesting and engaging read. If you love Austen modernizations like I do and are in the mood for a new and fun spin on our favorite classic, definitely check out Persuade Me. You won’t be disappointed!
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-U9