“One Foot in Sea and One on Shore…”

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: Review Copy from Author

TYPE OF NOVEL: Persuasion and Much Ado About Nothing Mash Up

NOTE: This review came from the perspective of someone who has read and enjoyed both Persuasion and Much Ado About Nothing numerous times. However, while knowing both stories may enhance your enjoyment and understanding of this blended story, it isn’t imperative that you know both before reading this tale.

THE PREMISE: Sir Walter Elliot invites some naval officers to Kellynch for a house party, where his daughters reconnect with some previous acquaintances including: Captain Wentworth – a valiant hero who is captivated by Miss Anne Elliot, and Admiral Baldwin – a prideful confirmed bachelor who constantly tries to best Elizabeth Elliot in their sparring matches. Love finds many couples in this merry gathering by way of determination, deception, and disguise…

WHAT I LOVED:

• Double the Genius: Crossing Shakespeare with Jane Austen?! Sounds like a brilliant idea to me! Much Ado About Nothing is my favorite Shakespeare comedy! It has such a fun plot, full of comedic mix-ups, sharp banter, and playful spirit. And while the enemies-to-lover story line could be easily translated to Jane Austen’s most famous couple, I like how Barbara Cornthwaite decided another combative pair should become her Beatrice and Benedick. Stories about Persuasion are always in short supply, and Elizabeth Elliot was born for this role!

• “I Cannot Endure My Lady Tongue”: My favorite storyline was the relationship between Elizabeth and Admiral Baldwin. I loved their powerful emotions, their competitive dynamic, and how their hearts softened towards each other. I enjoyed seeing Elizabeth turn her sharpness to others outside of family for a change, and it made me laugh to see Admiral Baldwin constantly trying to put her in her place. I loved seeing so many of the well-known barbs and pithy rejoinders come out of these characters’ mouths.

• A Plain-Dealing Villain: Don John’s Regency counterpart – Mr. William Elliot – and his motivation in this story was so very cleverly done! Our “plain-dealing” villain has a black heart and a particular reason for wanting to exact some revenge. I thought this storyline fit so perfectly. I enjoyed the other characters Mr. Elliot inveigled into his schemes (even if it did take me a bit to become endeared to them), and the conflicts and changes this all brought about. Mr. Elliot serves as not only a villain, but as a major catalysts.

• Bonus Story: There is an absolutely charming (and unrelated) 20 page short story about Charlotte Collins included in the back of this book. It was so sweet.

WHAT I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT:

• Half Assured, Half Despairing: The relationship between Anne and Wentworth goes in a whole new direction in this tale – their romance is secured and settled quickly. But it doesn’t stay that way for long… While I did enjoy the freshness and uniqueness for this course for Wentworth and Anne, it did feel like we lost some of the essence that is Wentworth and Anne. They definitely resembled their Shakespearean counterparts, Claudio and Hero, a bit more.

WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:

• Some Odd Quirks: With storylines for three couples to flesh out and two major works to blend, constructing this tale and putting it all together must’ve been a tall task! For the most part it all worked really well. But there were maybe some moments where I wished for a little less (earlier chapters) or a little more (the conclusion). I can imagine it being challenging to strike the right balance with everything, and I might have a biased preference for wanting to spend more time with one couple than others.

CONCLUSION: Courtship and comedy are united so cleverly in Much Ado About Persuasion! Barbara Cornthwaite issues forth a most diverting homage to these two great works of literature in her entertaining tale about abandoning pride and earning trust. An excellent choice for readers who adore Jane Austen and Shakespeare or who like the idea of our beloved Persuasion characters getting mixed up in a comedy of errors!

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