Jane Austen and Tea? Yes please!--"Jane of Austin: A Novel of Sweet Tea and Sensibility" Review by Hillary Manton Lodge

I was so excited when I first heard about this book!  I am a huge Jane Austen fan.  My husband's go-to gift for me is Jane Austen paraphernalia.  Plus I am a big tea drinker.  To top it off my favorite of Jane Austen's works (at the moment) is "Sense and Sensibility," and "Jane of Austin" is a retelling of that book.  Even though I don't normally read a lot of contemporary novels, I knew I would love this one, which I did!

 "Jane of Austin: A Novel of Sweet Tea and Sensibility" by Hillary Manton Lodge is a modern day retelling of Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility."  I loved seeing the parallels between the two books as I was reading.  Ms. Lodge also includes nods to some of Austen's other works, which any "Janeite" will appreciate.  The main character, Jane, correlates to the character of Marianne from the original “Sense and Sensibility.”  It is really fascinating to see this story told from Jane's perspective, whereas in the original, it is mostly told from her sister’s perspective.  Jane is very witty and sarcastic.  The story sometimes switches to the perspective of Callum, one of our heroes.  A lot of people don't like these characters in the original "Sense and Sensibility."  I think Ms. Lodge gives readers a fresh take on the story by offering things from their points of view and fleshing out their characters a bit more.  I was certainly rooting for these two characters in the story!

 Another element of the story that makes it very interesting and unique is the tea.  The main characters make tea and own a tea shop.  There are recipes throughout the book that correlate with the story and what the characters are making.  I really enjoy hearing about the tea making process, specifically how the main character harvests the leaves and makes the different blends.  Tea making is a real art.  The quotes at the beginning of most of the chapters were also a fun addition.

 Content and Rating: I give this book 4.5 stars.  It is a clean read.  I would specifically recommend this book to fans of Jane Austen, retellings, and women's fiction. 

 Click here for more info and to purchase the book: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/books/538834/jane-of-austin-by-hillary-manton-lodge/

About the Author:

Hillary Manton Lodge is the author of Plain Jayne, a Carol Award Finalist, and Simply Sara, an ECPA bestselling book. A graduate of the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism, Hillary discovered the world of cuisine during her internship at Northwest Palate magazine. A storyteller at heart, in her free time she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, watching foreign films, and exploring new walking trails. She and her husband live in Portland, Oregon.  Click here for more info on the author. 

Author Website: http://www.hillarymantonlodge.com/

 Click here to read the first chapter

I want to thank Hillary Manton Lodge, Waterbrook Press, and Blogging for Books for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.