What If Captain Wentworth Learned to Think of Anne’s Perspective

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: Gift from Publisher

TYPE OF NOVEL: Persuasion Variation

THE PREMISE: While externally enjoying the adulation and attention from his sister and her new neighbors, Captain Frederick Wentworth is preoccupied with the one person who seems to be avoidant and distant with him. The same one person who dealt him the most painful blow he has ever experienced. As much as he tries to fight it, he can’t seem to get Anne Elliot out of his mind or his heart…but is the same true for Anne…?

WHAT I LOVED:

• Wentworth POV: Yes! I loved seeing all these early scenes during Anne’s and Wentworth’s first encounters solely from Wentworth’s point-of-view. While spending time in Wentworth’s head, readers see all the little things he notices about Anne – how he spends time ruminating and interpreting her actions and thoughts, and how he is not at all as aloof or careless as he appears to be. I loved the conceit of Captain Wentworth being frustrated with Anne’s avoidance and lack of reaction and how that propels him to bask more in the attention of the Musgrove sisters and make some more resentful or pointed comments. It was interesting to witness all his internal challenges and feelings.

• Familiar Faces: I don’t want to spoil the surprise – because it was a delightful surprise for me. But the hospitable Musgroves welcome a visiting couple, and it was wonderful to see this couple interact with and become known to the Musgroves, the Crofts, Captain Wentworth, and Anne. I especially enjoyed witnessing the camaraderie that developed between Charles Musgrove, Captain Wentworth, and this gentleman and the support and affinity that grew between Mrs. Croft, Anne, and his lady. In addition, I enjoyed witnessing these two characters serve as a catalyst for some changes.

• Analyzing and Understanding Anne: With Captain Wentworth’s introspection and covert study of Anne, there comes some new revelations. Captain Wentworth realizes the errors in judgment and expectations he made in 1806, and new understanding dawns. Anne was not wrongfully persuaded to give him up. She was not weak. He was not yet worthy.

• The Crofts, Mrs. Smith, and Sir Walter: Persuasion is full of terrific secondary characters, and I really loved seeing what Kelly Miller did with some of them. The Crofts were as wonderful and supportive as always, Mrs. Smith’s future takes a few interesting turns, and Sir Walter has his own revelation of his past mistakes. All such inventive and gratifying new developments for these characters.

• Surprising Twists: I’ve already alluded to so many of the clever twists Ms. Miller implemented in this tale, but there are still more – including one involving the most famous scene in Persuasion! This change was a very exciting and startling new development. And I almost wished it had a bigger/longer impact. Such a change could have brought on some new conflicts or challenges. But instead things developed very smoothly and sweetly.

WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:

• The Middle: With our dear couple coming to an understanding after 120 pages and the next obstacle they face together being introduced around page 270, there was a lengthy middle to this story that didn’t seem to have a lot of action or purpose. The beginning and conclusion of this tale were full of such creativity, originality, and excitement. But I would characterize the middle 150 pages as an uneventful chapters where characters paid visits, news was shared, and daily “busy nothings” took place. I think with this story reaching a heightened climax so early in the overall arc, this lengthy middle felt a little out of proportion.

CONCLUSION: It is not every day that a talented Austenesque author looks to Jane Austen’s other novels and pens a variation that is equal parts perceptive and playful! Well done, Kelly Miller! Captive Hearts is a compelling and well-crafted tale that is sure to captivate many Austenesque/JAFF readers and admirers.

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