Today I bring to you another Jane Austen
retelling! "First Impressions: A
Contemporary Retelling of Pride and Prejudice" by Debra White Smith is a
retelling I read many years ago when it first released. It is a part of the “Jane Austen” series. I still have some of the old editions of
this series, but I don’t have this specific book anymore, so I was excited for
the chance to read it again! I love the
new covers they are using to re-release the series with.
My first (and second) impression of “First
Impressions” is that it’s a very well done retelling and I love it! Ms. Smith is a great writer and immediately
draws the reader into the story. You
don’t have to have read “Pride and Prejudice” or be a Jane Austen fan to love
this fun, contemporary romance.
The characters are well written and still pretty
true to Austen’s characters. Ms. Smith
does a great job of staying true to the overall theme and story of “Pride and
Prejudice,” while still adding her own flair.
Yes, some things are different and it’s not the “exact” story. But, in my opinion, that’s what keeps it
interesting and original. I found it fun
picking out the tidbits and nods to Austen as I read this retelling. Ms. Smith does a great
job of showing the chemistry between Eddi and Dave (our Elizabeth and Darcy
characters). I love the verbal bantering
and how they try to fight their attraction to each other.
“First Impressions” will leave a lasting impression
on the reader. That’s why I picked it up
more than ten years later!
Content: This is a clean read with a PG-13 rating for
some content. Some examples of the
content are: a mention of a drunk woman; alcohol is smelled on a woman’s
breath; a reference to the devil; someone wonders if a man is involved in
gambling or drug smuggling; a joke about a woman being a virgin on her wedding
night; a woman abuses prescription drugs and uses birth control even though she
is not married; it’s implied that an unmarried woman is sleeping around;
implications that two people are sleeping together; a man suggests a woman
tries “weed” and marijuana.
Rating: I give this book 5 stars!
Genre: Christian
fiction; Contemporary; Romance; Jane Austen Retelling
I want to thank Debra White Smith and Bethany House Publishers 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.
About the Author:
Debra White Smith is a seasoned author, speaker, and media personality who has 54 published books to her credit, both fiction and non-fiction. Her best-selling titles include: The Divine Romance: Experiencing Intimacy with God; Romancing Your Husband; The Tie that Binds: A Marriage Revolution of Love; The Jane Austen Fiction Series; and the Lone Star Intrigue Series. Debra is also the author of the newspaper column, “Ask Debra,” that ran from 2011-2013 and offered biblical wisdom for everyday life. Debra’s passion is to apply the whole Bible to ordinary life and inspire people to encounter God’s revolutionary power in every aspect of their lives. Whether she ministers through the written or spoken word, through hilarity or tears, her goal is to encourage people to cling to God and implement practical, vibrant biblical truths that will empower them and change their lives.
Debra has been blessed with over 1 million books in print. Her work has appeared on various bestseller lists, and she has been repeatedly voted a reader favorite. Debra has earned a B.A. and M.A. in English and an Ed.S. in Leadership and Organizational Management. She is also a Ph.D. candidate at Northwest Nazarene University, where she is earning a doctorate in Educational Leadership. After finishing the rigorous requirements for ordination in the Church of the Nazarene, Debra was ordained an Elder in 2014. Debra and her husband, Daniel, also an ordained Elder, currently co-pastor a Nazarene church in East Texas. For years, Debra’s award-winning writing, entertaining humor, and biblical knowledge made her a much-sought-after conference speaker.
Debra has been a popular guest on radio and TV across the nation, including The 700 Club, At Home Life, Harvest, Getting Together, His Place, Moody Broadcasting, ABC Radio, Midday Connection, Fox TV, USA Radio Network News, as well as a vast array of regional media spots. She has also been the featured relationship specialist on the Fox News radio show, Plain Jane Wisdom. Her favorite hobbies include fishing, shopping, and attending movies and theater productions with her family. Debra also vows she would walk 50 miles for a scoop of German Chocolate ice cream.
To visit the author's website click here
To purchase the book click here
Read this one YEARS ago (when it was first published) and LOVED it. Now I just need to re-read this pretty re-issue and discover the story anew. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Rissi! Yes, I read it when it was first published too!! I hope you enjoy it as much as you did the first time. I sure did. Thanks for stopping by : )
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