If you desire a little heat, a summer flirtation, or an escape to bask in your own private sun, this whimsical collection of original short stories is inspired by all things summer. In collaboration with some of Meryton Press’s most popular and award-winning authors, this anthology debuts other promising and emerging talent.• In KaraLynne Mackrory’s Shades of Pemberley, Mr. Darcy, with some … some fantastic assistance, discovers Elizabeth Bennet in a most unlikely place.
• Karen M. Cox’s Northanger Revisited 2015 modernizes Northanger Abbey at a fictionalized seaside in Georgia.
• Linda Beutler takes us to Paris as a young gentleman is schooled in the ways of amour in The Incomplete Education of Fitzwilliam Darcy.
• In Spyglasses and Sunburns, J. Marie Croft takes the Miss Bennets to the seaside where they chance upon handsome acquaintances.
• In Abigail Bok’s A Summer in Sanditon, a little sea bathing seems just the thing to cure what ails Anne de Bourgh.
• In Natalie Richards’ Midsummer Madness, an honest confession and a promise between strangers at a masque ball mend a misunderstanding.
• Sophia Rose re-imagines a modern-day Persuasion in Second Chance at Sunset Beach.
• In Morgan K Wyatt’s Dream Spinner, a near-death car accident and an unlikely trucker bring new perspective to a young co-ed’s life and love.
Contemporary and Regency alike, each romance was dreamt as a perfect summer refreshment to bring a smile to your own sun-kissed face.
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A collection of summer themed short stories based on Jane Austen’s novels.
I am not going to review all the stories, and I will admit that I have a biased opinion. I will say some of them I liked, some I didn’t, and I found a couple a little far fetched, or a stretch. Overall it was charming, and easy read. It would be perfect for a relaxing summer day.
“One benefit of Summer was that each day we had more light to read by.” Jeannette Walls, The Glass Castle: A Memoir
1) Spyglasses & Sunburns: J. Marie Croft: ends at 18%
OMG! This was simply adorable. Clean, but suggestive language as our couples heat up in the summer sun. Parts of it were an absolute scream, as I laughed out loud and Darcy’s declaration at the old ruin is one to be read over and over again. Whew! Uncle Gardiner had his hands full trying to chaperone his nieces.
2) Second Chance on Sunset Beach: Sophia Rose: ends at 35%
Our very own Sophia Rose created a clever modern spin on Persuasion with different names and such a twist unlike any I’ve seen before. OMG! Separated for 8-years, our couple was thrown together and had to deal with their feelings and emotions. I was stunned when reality hit me as to what our dear author had done. Man… I didn’t see that coming. I liked the hint to the 1957 movie ‘An Affair to Remember’ with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr.
3) The Incomplete Education of Fitzwilliam Darcy: Linda Beulter: ends at 44%
Well, this certainly had a MA rating: PG-17: this was absolutely, completely, graphic and explicit as Darcy and his Fitzwilliam cousins were on their grand tour. Their fathers had given instructions that, while in Paris, they were to be educated in the fine art of love making. We are given explicit, step-by-step instructions. Read it only if you are up to it. Otherwise you can skip to another story.
4) Midsummer Madness: Natalie Richards: ends at 49%
It has been one year, two months, and three days since the DHP [Disastrous Hunsford Proposal] and Darcy is escorting Georgiana through her season. They are at a Midsummer Masquerade where he meets a woman in a butterfly masque. Due to his dark colors, she calls him the Dark Shadow. This was so cute. How easy it is to talk when hiding behind a masque. Delightful!!
5) Shades of Pemberley: KaraLynne Mackrory: ends at 58%
When Lady Catherine mentioned the shades of Pemberley… she was referencing the ghosts or spirits of those gone on before. This story had a hint of the paranormal with the strange happenings at Pemberley when Elizabeth visited with her Uncle and Aunt Gardiner. LOVED IT!!! OMG! It had such a twist that I simply did not see coming. What a delight… so cute and so very creative. We were given a hint when Lizzy was in the portrait gallery. Such a creative, and clean story.
6) A Summer in Sanditon: Abigail Bok: ends at 71%
Those who have read Austen’s unfinished work or even those variations that have attempted to finish it… will immediately recognize the locale, the characters and will be aware of the intrigues and scandals of the seaside watering hole. If you have not read it, after reading this you probably will be tempted to do just that.
Bok did an excellent job of meshing P&P with Sanditon by having Lacy Catherine [upon the suggestion of her doctor] take Anne de Bourgh to the seaside for her health. Escorting his kinswomen was none other than our dear Colonel Fitzwilliam. He was such a delight. There were many intrigues as Lady Catherine canvased the local gentry for a suitable situation for Anne. Best laid plans… Lady C… never work out. What a surprise! It was so cute watching the different characters. You don’t have to have read Sanditon to enjoy this delightful season at the seaside.
7) Dream Spinner: Morgan K. Wyatt: ends at 79%
It was a stormy night… wait, wrong intro… it was during a flash storm, on a busy highway [known as a death trap], in northern KY. A wreck, a trucker and a sales rep meet and wonder about those memorable moments. It is modern, cute and short. It was delightful, although rushed.
8) Northanger Revisited: Karen M. Cox: ends at 99%
This variation on Northanger Abbey translated so well to a modern seaside location. We are at the beach with all our Northanger characters and it was a delightful variation. It was so creative and I loved it… until it abruptly ended. I mean… BAM! I was just getting into the story. Dang.
This was a cute compilation of short stories that centered around the theme of summer. I think some of these were longer in scope and were trimmed to meet size requirements of this work. I say that due to the rushed feeling in some stories… like pieces were missing or in one story… it just ended… like the rest of the story was chopped off. It stopped at a point where our knowledge of the rest of the story would help. If, for instance, someone had no knowledge of the story… they would be left hanging. However, this was delightful and a nice book to have whether on vacation or a staycation. You and read a story, stop and smell the roses, and then go back to it.