The South is Brimming with History, Hospitality, and High Society!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy form Author
TYPE OF AUSTENESQUE NOVEL: Modern Adaptation, Christian (Inspirational) Fiction
SETTING: A small liberal arts university in present-day Mississippi
SERIES: Jane Austen Takes the South
MAIN CHARACTERS: Shelby Roswell (a Civil War professor – Elizabeth), Ransom Fielding (a visiting professor and acclaimed Civil War historian – Darcy), Aunt Junetta (Mrs. Gardiner) David Bishop (Mr. Collins and Mr. Wickham rolled up in one lovely little package!), Tasha (Caroline Bingley), and Rebecca (Shelby’s Jane Austen lovin’ roommate)
WHY I WANTED TO READ THIS:
- Jane Austen in the South! I live in and love the south!
- I love modern-retellings of Jane Austen’s novels, and I especially love that this book is part of a series!
- Civil War re-enactments, antebellum mansions, good ol’ southern cooking – sounds fabulous!
WHAT I LOVED:
- A Visit to Academia: Several main characters work at a university in this novel. We see Shelby meet with students during her office hours and witness Shelby and her roommate go through the stressful ordeal of applying for tenure. Having loved my experience at college and still living in the town where I went to college, I was thrilled to be amongst professors, lecture halls, and all those departmental politics and dramas!
- A Clean, Southern Romance: Often, modern-day retellings of Jane Austen’s works come with modern-day language and modern-day sensibilities. I liked how this story was clean in content and language. And speaking of language, I’m real grateful that Ms. Hathaway didn’t give her characters clichéd, over-exaggerated southern dialects and accents!
- An Inspired Retelling: Drawing from some of the characters and events from Pride and Prejudice, Mary Jane Hathaway creates her own tale that doesn’t closely shadow Jane Austen’s plot. And integrated with her characters and their obstacles is an inspiring message about forgiveness and letting go of your anger and hurt.
- The Beautiful South: Following our heroine, Shelby, through the various places she visits was a real treat. I loved hearing about her parent’s historic old home, taking the country roads to Aunt Junetta’s picturesque house, and joining Ransom and Shelby as they visit a prominent plantation home. The descriptions of these homes and locales were so detailed and complete, that is was easy to see them materialize in my mind’s eye.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
- More Ransom!: I would have loved to see Ransom receive more page time, to understand how his feelings for Shelby changed and developed (he was so against her romantically in the beginning!) Also, since he undergoes a transformation in faith, it would have been great to witness that change happen on page as well. Without it, his feelings for Shelby and his grief about his past felt like they underwent an abrupt change.
CONCLUSION:
I went into this series with a high level of excitement and expectations – (it couldn’t be helped, this book was on my wish-list for over a year!) I’m thrilled to say that Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits was an extremely absorbing and entertaining read that definitely exceeded my expectations. It has a perfect balance of southern charm, sweet romance, and clever nods to our dear Jane!
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GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Mary Jane has kindly offered some lovely treats for me to give away in conjunction with her visit and my review!! The three prizes include 2 autographed paperback sets of Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits and Emma, Mr. Knightley and Chili-Slaw Dogs and a lovely tote that says “I love Mr. Darcy.”
To enter this giveaway, leave a comment below!
- This giveaway is open worldwide!! Thank you, Mary Jane!
- This giveaway ends July 31st!
For another entry, leave a comment on my interview with Mary Jane Hathaway!!
I liked this P&P version very much and
love the giveaway! Thank you.
Glad to hear, Susan!
Nice review,Meredith and while I do have these books in Nook format, the cover art is so lovely that print editions would be welcome in my home library:) I’m still in the middle of PP&CG and the story telling is nicely done so far. Ransom certainly makes for an excellent Mr. Darcy!
I quite agree! The cover art is lovely! Yes, he was broody and misunderstood.
I read the first novel also and rated it highly but have not yet put my hands on the second one so would love to receive a copy of such. Nice review but then we don’t expect anything less from you, Meredith.
I hope to read the second one in September! Can’t wait to meet Mr. Knightley! Glad to hear your enjoyed this one and thank you for the sweet words!
well I have read various JAFF books – some set in modern times, but not any set in the Deep South, so looking forward to reading these
I’ve read some other ones – Pemberley Ranch and 1932 are in the south but aren’t that modern. 😉
Great review! Makes me want to read the book even more! 🙂 Would love to be entered for the giveaway!
Thank you, Natalie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Everything I kept hearing and seeing about this book made me want to read it too!
Meredith – again, spot on. Same likes! Who would not want more page time with Ransom. I loved everything about him, including his name. I didn’t feel preached at when I read this and was comfortable with the mention of faith. That is not always the case with some books in the genre. Great review for a good book.
Thank you, Joy! That’s awesome to hear your enjoyment level matched mine. 🙂 Excellent point about the level of “preaching.” I thought the balance was perfect.
Thanks for the giveaway, and thanks for making it available for internationals!
So glad you can participate!
hello
My knowledge of the South on my comes fom American History course that I took for 3 years in College. I am thrillied and curious to see how an English regency novel will be displaced to the South and modern time! I am glad tosee that there will be no cliché because clichés aren’t funny nor do they make the story ‘real’. Being myself a believer I love to read novel that I ‘clean’ and with faith because it guides the characters in their time of need.
The fact that teh author mashed-up Collins and Wickham is one charcater this atonishing I wonder how crazy or flirty or unserious Bishop will look like! Randsom is quite an usual name…for me an European
I couldn’t agree with you more, Mariam! Very well said! Yes, Collins and Wickham together = total slimeball! Deceitful, smarmy, and oh-so-oily! 😉
oh! I forgot I’ldliek to particpate tin teh giveway and thank you to the author to you for making it international and sharing it
have a nice day
That’s a great review! I loved “Cheese Grits”. I really would love to read the other novel as well. I can’t believe she’s giving away sets! Wow! I agreed with pretty much all the comments on here. The wording, phraseology, cleanness, setting, descriptive values, not preachy. I really want the one related to Persuasion as well. woohoo
Thank you, Suzan! Isn’t it great that this series will soon have 3 books in it! I cannot wait! 🙂 So much to look forward to
Wow! What a great review, Meredith! I am even more excited to read this book knowing that the characters do not have as many modern-day sensibilities as some other novels can have. It is refreshing. And I prefer my moderns to be loosely based on P&P. I like when the author can give us her own story while at the same time have the readers see the connections to P&P.
Thanks for the giveaway as well! Love me some paperbacks. 😉
Thank you, Jakki! I agree, it makes the story unpredictable!
A well-written review as usual, Meredith. It’s a good think too that this giveaway is open worldwide as Jane Austen fans come from all over the world. Do enter me for the books or tote bag.
Thank you, Sylvia! Yes we love our international friends! 🙂
Lovely, well-written review, as always, Meredith, and thanks for the giveaway Mary Jane, even more so because it’s real books and international.
I’ve already commented (quite a lot) on the interview post, so I won’t say any more, for now at least!
Thank you, Anji! You are always welcome to share your thoughts, my friend! 🙂 Best of luck in the giveaway!
Yeah, I’m so wanting this one 🙂 As a Southern Belle Janeite, who also has a MAJOR soft spot for the world of academia? Perfection, dahlin’ 😉
It sounds perfect indeed!! 🙂 I think you would love it, Rebecca!
Another wonderful review, thank you! I am fascinated how Mary Jane has taken our beloved Jane Austen novels and adapted them to the South. What a title – Pride and Prejudice and Cheese Grits! Thank you for the giveaway.
Thank you, Eva! It was interesting to see people’s reactions when I told them what I was reading. 🙂 Very clever and cute idea I thought!
These sound great–please count me in!
Best of luck!
I have these on my wish list! Thanks for a well- written review and the chance to win!
Thank you so much for your kind words!! Good luck in the giveaway!
I’ve fallen a little behind in participating on your blog, Meredith. I really enjoyed reading P&P and Cheese Grits. It was so fun to read! And Mary Jane has the recipes for food mentioned in the book. Cute!
I look forward to reading “Emma, Mr Knightley, and Chili-Slaw dogs.” It would be great to win it!!
Great review. Makes me want it even more. I haven’t read any of her books so hopefully I can soon! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
I really enjoyed this one, too, but I agree there could have been more Ransom.