[Book Review] Lies Jane Austen Told Me by Julie Wright

Lies Jane Austen Told Me

by

Julie Wright

Blurb:

"Ever since Emma Pierce read Pride and Prejudice, she's been in love with Mr. Darcy and has regarded Jane Austen as the expert on all things romantic. So when it turns out that what her boyfriend Blake wants is more of a hook-up than a honeymoon, Emma is hurt, betrayed, and furious. She throws herself deeper into her work as CMO of Kinetics, only to find her job threatened when her boss brings in a consultant to help her expand the business to the East Coast. Her frustration turns to shock when that consultant turns out to be Blake's younger brother, Lucas. Emma is determined not to fall for Lucas, but as she gets to know him, she realizes that Lucas is nothing like his brother. He is kind and attentive and spends his time and money caring for the less fortunate. But as perfect as Lucas seems, he clearly has his secrets. After all, there's an angry woman demanding money from him and a little girl who Lucas feels responsible for. Realizing that her love life is as complicated as anything Jane Austen could have dreamed up, Emma must figure out the truth--and soon--if she wants any hope of writing her own 'happily ever after' ending."

My Review:

Well, I'm pretty sure I've read everything Jane Austen has ever written--twice. So, when the publisher contacted me about reviewing this book I had to do it! Jane Austen lying? No, say it can't be true! This is a cute book. It took me a few pages to get into it, but soon I was hooked! Emma is smart, intelligent, capable, and a character that is easy to relate to. She has a voice that is easy to read. She's a bit of a mess, actually, but it made me feel better about myself; although I'm not perfect, I have it more together than she does! For part of the book it kind of has a Bella/Jacob/Edward thing going on, and you just want to scream at Emma because it's so frustrating. Blake and Lucas each have their strengths and weaknesses, and they're both well developed and good supporting characters. I love Silvia, she totally reminds me of a few of my high school friends. We even have the cheesecake thing in common (that scene brought back a lot of memories). I did think that the ending of the book left an unanswered question about Silvia; what was going on with her and why was she clearly so upset? That aspect of the story wasn't ever resolved. Emma's troubles definitely get more attention in the book. I loved how each of the chapters began with a quote from a Jane Austen novel! It made me want to go back and reread all of them. There was one thing that bugged me a bit, but it's pretty nit-picky: the woman on the cover didn't at all match what I thought Emma should look like. It's ok, though, definitely not a deal breaker. This book was a quick, easy read, and quite entertaining. It's the perfect read for any Jane Austen fan or proper romance lover. I enjoyed this book and recommend it if you're looking for a cute, entertaining read. There were also some very good lessons in this book: assuming things without all the details will get you into trouble every time, be honest with yourself and others, and never doubt Jane Austen!

Rating: PG (There's no profanity, no violence, and no "intimacy." There are a couple of discussions about a character using drugs.)

Recommendation: YA and up (I'd be fine with my 12 year-old daughter reading this. She hasn't delved into the wondrous world of Jane Austen yet, so she won't have those connections, but there's nothing in it that she shouldn't read.)

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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