“There could have never been two hearts so open… Now they were as strangers” —Persuasion, Jane AustenMountain Laurel Elliot is like her name—she blooms best in the cool comfort of shade, hidden in the Kentucky foothills of Appalachia. Alone on her mountain, she lives a private existence with only her pottery—and her regrets—for company.James Marshall had a secret dream and Laurel was part of it, … and Laurel was part of it, but dreams sometimes lead to unexpected places. James’s heart broke when Laurel cut him loose, but he moved on—and became successful beyond his wildest dreams. For one glorious summer, James and Laurel had each other, but life has kept them far apart.
Until now.
“a magnificent modernization of Jane Austen’s Persuasion.” -Austenesque Reviews
From Pemberley to Milton’s Favorite Reads 2020
Winner of the Independent Book Publisher’s Award 2012: Gold Medal in Romance and Next Generation Indie Finalist in Romance 2013
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Love finds you when your are ready for it. Laurel and James are soulmates but they are too young are life has other plans for them. But after eight years apart their souls draws them together. Will they be able to find their way to each other heart again?
Home. What is that? Where is that? Who… is that? James Marshall is on a long emotional journey to find this out. Just as Mountain Laurel Elliot has always known the answers to these questions, but as a fledgling adult is unsure and scared when life and choices start coming fast and hard leading her to retreat up her mountain and from the only person who ever made her happy.
Find Wonder in All things is a story of young love, first love, lost love… and second chances in the Appalachian hills of Kentucky that feed Artistic Laurel and musical James’ souls. It’s a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion that anyone whether they’ve ever read or seen an Austen adaption can appreciate.
James Marshall comes as a boy with his best friend Stu and Stu’s wealthy family to the lake one summer and is introduced to the Elliots who run the lake-side marina and restaurant. The father is a hippy naturalist and conservationist of sorts, the mother is a recluse, older sister Virginia has drive and looks that attract Stu while quiet compassionate art-loving Laurel catches James’ eye after she grows up. One glorious summer during his college years, he returns to work in the Elliot’s restaurant and spends his free hours with Laurel exploring around the lake and mountains and going to the Loft after hours all the while falling in love. But, that summer doesn’t begin the good life for either of them because that winter his parents broke up, he dropped out of college to move to Nashville pursuing his music career while trying to coax eighteen year old Laurel to leaver her school and family responsibilities to join him because they are in love. The love he counted on shattered sending him far from the hills of Kentucky turning his back on his past and forging a new future that didn’t include Mountain Laurel Elliot.
Some books have an artistic quality to their prose. This is a simple second chance love story at its heart, but I found myself falling in love with more than just the characters, their friends, and their romance. The Appalachians and the lake region of the story wove around me and was the main character in my mind’s eye. When Laurel sent James away, he also these mountains, too.
James and Laurel shared the narration and I found this type of story really needed both perspectives to lend balance and understanding especially later. I loved that the story began with them meeting as kids and spent long periods on the idyllic summer just before Laurel went off to college and James went back to school and then that frenzied Christmas break. It was a good foundation and showed who they were at their core, but they still had some growing to do as individuals before they could ever be a couple. They were a typical pair of new adults feeling attraction and they made use of picnic blankets under the stars and nights by the fire to get up to some sensual good times. I found it all believable and appreciated how the story wasn’t told in isolation, but the surrounding cast of family and friends- and rivals- advanced the romance and the character’s growth.
For those very familiar with Persuasion, there will be obvious parallels, but this is not a tit for tat retelling and every character and event doesn’t match the original. I enjoyed the originality and flavor of the author’s own righting paying homage rather than just merely copying a classic. Those who came of age in the 80’s will feel nostalgic throughout this one even though it feels rather timeless at the lake with its marina, little store, and The Loft where everyone gathered, dancing and open mic nights were the thing.
All in all, I loved being immersed in the story and cheering this romance pair while feeling the connection to one of my favorite classic stories. Those who enjoy slightly spicy summery second chance romances should definitely give this one a go.
Needed a Heads-Up
I am a massive fan of Jane Austen fanfiction, though my preference is typically for Pride and Prejudice stories. I’ll admit that I’m not nearly as familiar with the original Persuasion nor have I read much fanfiction based on it. I thought it was an interesting choice for the author to show the young romance of what are essentially Anne and Captain Wentworth. I actually love it when second-chance romances share the earlier story. And with the classic story of Persuasion, don’t we wonder about the details of what truly passed between Anne and the Captain? I do wish, however, that it was more explicitly stated in the description that this book was split into such separate parts. The first part even has a memory flashback to when they were just children. Because I didn’t know that this book was in two parts like it is, I kept thinking, “When will it get to the part that I read about in the description?” I know, it’s silly to read like that, but a book description does build up expectations. Even though I have read a lot of Jane Austen fan fiction—and have for over 5 years—I had not actually heard of this author before, and now I find myself curious about her “revisited” versions of Pride and Prejudice and Emma.
A promising love interrupted Good modern rendition of a favorite romance classic
4-4.5stars
Having heard this was a modern version of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, the beginning of this story threw me a bit. The family dynamics and socio-economic situation are different and, other than the heroine’s family name Elliot and the hero’s sister marrying a naval man, I only saw a vague resemblance to the earlier romance. But, as the story continued, more familiar scenarios cropped up and I also set myself to enjoying this novel on its own merits instead of looking for Austen. I am glad I did, because I really did enjoy Laurel and James’ ill-fated youthful romance and the follow-on encounters after their lives took separate paths.
The modern setting gives Laurel more choices than Anne Elliot for carrying on after her teen romance falls apart. It’s no longer just a man’s world with women waiting at home! And the heroine’s mother, totally absent from Persuasion due to an early death, gives the story an opportunity to spotlight mental health issues and how they impact the sufferer’s whole family.
The story’s well-told in a clear, concise, easy-to-read style and includes something Austen never could — a few intimate scenes, though they are heated rather than steamy or too explicit. A worthwhile read for Austen fans and any romance reader: Cox has created a really relatable modern love story from the bones of a beloved Regency era classic.
I read a complimentary copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review and opinions expressed are completely my own.
Apparently, I’m on a ‘second chance’ kick at the moment, but that’s not really all that surprising since this is my favorite theme of all time in fiction. There is a lot of angst in this story. And while that makes for some very compelling reading, it’s created in this book in one of my less favorite ways: the main couple don’t talk to one another and make a bunch of assumptions. It’s interesting to note that even though this usually turns me into a raving harpy, the way it’s handled here didn’t send me flying off the deep end. In many ways, it just made me more desperate to see Laurel and James finally get their happily ever after. I’m totally in awe of Laurel’s equanimity, but I’m also equally frustrated by how she let so many other people determine her path. James left me scratching my head a lot of the time. He’s sweet and charming and he positively dotes on the people who are important to him. However, he also came across as being a bit judgemental and prone to jumping to conclusions. I really liked the way we get to witness this pair grow and mature into the right relationship together. This was a very lovely story showing how sometimes when we think the Universe’s answer is “no”, what it’s really saying is “not now”.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Hidden Gems Books.
Jane Austen’s most serious and compelling work, “Persuasion”, is all about retribution, forgiveness and second chances. Her masterpiece begins seven years after the broken engagement between the young heiress, Anne Elliot, and a junior naval officer, Frederick Wentworth–when he is thrown back into her sphere and both must face the pain from their past. Karen M. Cox’s award winning novel, “Find Wonder In All Things” is a modern day homage to this Austen classic. The tale begins with a lakeside friendship in the Appalachian foothills of Kentucky between Laurel Elliott and James Marshall. As the two grow, childhood friendship turns to summer romance and halfway through Laurel’s first semester at the local college, James decides to move to Nashville to pursue his music dream. He assumes she will drop everything to join him. But at just eighteen and with a generous art scholarship, weighted by family expectations as well, who would fault her for refusing him and staying on the college track?
Eight years later, James, now rich and famous, returns to the lake to visit his sister, while Laurel has turned into a reclusive, starving artist. Ok, not quite starving but by no means a financial success story. And most definitely alone. “Unbidden, he came to mind: handsome, dashing and determined. The eight years of separation had softened any flaws she ever saw in him, and now he was almost larger than life to her. He had been right to believe in himself and in his ability to make his mark on the world. He had made it, too – perhaps not in the way he intended but still successful beyond his wildest dreams.” p.115. Captain Wentworth, I mean, James is determined to play it cool and aloof towards Anne. I mean Laurel! And Laurel’s regrets are freshly re-visited as she is keenly aware of her depraved status and jealously towards the younger woman James now bestows his attentions. But Laurel’s generous, self-assured spirit unearths old feelings he thought long buried and a companionable friendship blossoms. When a water skiing accident throws the two together, emotions come to the surface. “And he had whispered her name and called her beautiful and sweet. She could hear the words, and then `want, want’ It had made her roar to life inside her lower belly. Yes, she thought, I want too.’ But then he left.” p 177. Maybe too much time and hurt had passed between them…
If you are looking for the cookie cutter formula of a “Persuasion” adaptation, this may not be it. For example, you might be surprised that Austen’s pretentious, preening Sir Walter Elliot has been transformed into a struggling but kind hearted marina owner. And Anne Elliot’s selfish, self-absorbed elder sister Elizabeth has morphed into an affectionate, married, and doting mother named Virginia. Although many of Austen’s key characters have also been re-named and undergone a modern makeover, they remain comfortably familiar to the Austen fan. I admit, some of my appreciation was in recognizing the subtle parallels. (Please note that although the novel opens with Laurel and James as children, their tender love scenes later in years most assuredly rates this an adult read.) However, one need not have read “Persuasion” beforehand to enjoy this novel. “Find Wonder In All Things” stands on its own and no wonder at all, why it was awarded the GOLD MEDAL in the Romance category at the 2012 Independent Publisher Book Awards. Congratulations, Karen M Cox on another lovely read! 5 stars as per my original review at Austenprose in 2012.
*The 2020 re-release has been polished and tightened, though the story remains the same. I also liked the addition of Discussion Questions. This is a story not to miss.
A very enjoyable fresh novel. This is my first book by this author and I enjoyed it immensely! Wonderful characters and a lovely storyline and setting. It really kept me guessing.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Find Wonder In All Things is a heartwarming retake on Jane Austen’s Persuasion. It is a modern day love story and second chances. Laurel still loves James after a breakup even so many years later and James can’t get Laurel off his mind. Watching the two of them work through their feelings was captivating. The author really did her homework in her description of the characters involved; they were very likable and real. As a huge Jane Austen fan, this story captivated me. It is one of those books that grabs a reader from page one and you can’t put down until you’ve finished the book. In my opinion, the author is to be commended on her exceptional job in writing this modern day spin on a classic and I rated it a five.
I really enjoyed this book, It was my first Karen Cox book, but won’t be my last. Beautiful real life love story. Believable storyline. I recommend it.
Find Wonder in All Things by Karen M. Cox
This is the story of Laurel and James. Are you always ready for what life throws at you? Do you sometimes look back and wish you had done things differently? This story reminds us that each event, big or small, in our lives play a part. Opportunities to be happy are all around us; we must listen and reach for them always. Fate can be kind even when we don’t think we deserve it. Find wonder in all things even those that seem trivial because those are often become the fondest memories. Let Laurel and James take you on this journey of love and understanding.