Pemberley by the Sea by Abigail Reynolds
Many thanks, as always, to Danielle at Sourcebooks for sending along this copy. It was a wonderful jumpstart to returning to reading after vacation.
Listen, I'm not going to tell you this is a literary masterpiece. I mentioned at bookclub that when I rate books, I rate them for what they are. Meaning it's impossible to compare chick lit with To Kill a Mockingbird. So this book, another in the inspired by Pride & Prejudice genre, is one of the better ones. I liked it because it was a loose, modern interpretation and didn't attempt to take Jane Austen's characters and alter their future (a la, Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife).
Cassie is a marine biologist who spends her summers studying the salt marshes on CapeCod. After her good friend and assistant begins to date Scott (Bingley), Cassie continues to have run ins with Scott's friend Calder (Darcy). After the first third of the book, similarities with P&P fall away and the story comes into its own. So you can settle in, and follow along because you know deep down it will all work out. Although it is pretty racy (making a seasoned reader - me - blush in some places), and there are a couple kinda cheesy parts - I think that comes with the territory.
This was a fun, light read that is a fitting tribute to P&P while making for a fast, compelling read. Staci's got dibs...but if you give me your addy, she'll send it to you next. :)
4 stars
The End.
Got it the other day in the mail!! Thanks so much. Let me know if anyone else wants to read it before I pass it along to my SIL!!
Posted by: Staci Taylor | October 26, 2008 at 03:24 PM