My Share in the Conversation...Love at First Slight

I am excited to be participating in the blog tour for Love at First Slight hosted by Jakki of Leatherbound Reviews. Since I had J Marie Croft as my guest on October 8, 2013, I am sharing my review of her book now. This is my second time to be part of an actual author blog tour and I thank you, Jakki, for inviting me. 

Love at First Slight  by J Marie Croft

When I first heard of this story with all the character genders swapped, I had many questions immediately come to mind. How could certain plots play out when female actions were so limited during Regency times― the proposal, for instance. Never fear, J Marie Croft does a remarkable job of making it work. Not only does she handle all the role reversals with ease and much wit, she follows the original storyline. She gives some quotes to different characters or uses them in a different place and does so seamlessly, never ‘missing a beat’.  As for the first proposal, it was flawlessly done!

Mr. Benjamin Bennet was hilarious as the fretting father hoping to marry off his five sons to wealthy women. Mrs. Bennet (Flora) enjoyed her books (and booze) and was not the least interested in talk of the Mertyon Assembly and gentlemen’s cravats!

One of the things that I loved about this book was the author’s clever word play.

“…unless you capture wealthy women’s heartstrings and control of their purse strings.” (Mr. Bennet)

“As a clergyman, he should be filled with the Spirit, not spirits.’ (Martin about William)

“You are the carrier of the dreaded inflection infection. In fact, everything you say is a country-diction of terms.” (William Bennet to Clarence Lucas)

At the church service when Casper (Caroline) prayed for Elizabeth (Darcy) to notice his shapely calves and Elizabeth prayed that Casper would spontaneously combust!

“…the beau monde is riddled with artifice and avarice.” (Elizabeth)

There are many instances of a description with a string of words all starting with the same letter or having the same suffix.  I got much pleasure from discovering them as I read and seeing how easily they were incorporated into the story without disturbing the flow of it.

Casper Bingley made an excellent Caroline. I loved William Bennet as Elizabeth and Elizabeth Darcy as Fitzwilliam Darcy. The characters were all done very well and the story worked. It had wit, misunderstandings, romance and was a lot of fun to read. Good job!

The only thing I wished for was a little additional information given to the ending. It came a little quicker than I would have liked. I wanted to know about some of the other characters and what happened to them. I also wanted to know of William’s future plans―would he take the living or run an estate? It is only a small quibble but it left me desiring a bit more.

Overall I found this novel delightful. The title is perfect for this ‘topsy-turvy’ tale with genders reversed. It starts the marvelous word play that is to continue. Love at First Slight is lively and entertaining―much fun to read. Thank you, Ms. Croft for this clever re-telling. I highly recommend!

4.5 out of 5 stars

Book Blurb:

In this humorous, topsy-turvy Pride & Prejudice variation, all the gender roles are reversed. It is Mr. Bennet’s greatest wish to see his five sons advantageously married. When the haughty Miss Elizabeth Darcy comes to Netherfield with the Widow Devonport (nee Bingley), speculation—and prejudice—runs rampant. William Bennet, a reluctant and irreverent future reverend, catches Miss Darcy’s eye, even though he is beneath her station. His opinion of her was fixed when she slighted him at the Meryton Assembly. As her ardour grows, so does his disdain; and when she fully expects to receive an offer of marriage, he gives her something else entirely …

BIO:

J. Marie Croft lives in Nova Scotia and divides her time among working at a music lesson centre, geocaching (a high-tech treasure hunt) with her husband, and writing. Her stories are lighthearted; and her tag line is Jane Austen’s quote, “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery.” A member of the Jane Austen Society of North America (Canada), she admits to being excessively attentive to the 1995 BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. Adult twin daughters are the light of her life even though they don’t appreciate Mr. Darcy the way ‘Momzie” does.

Buy Links:

 Amazon

 Barnes and Noble

For two more reviews be sure and visit Warmisunqu's Austen on February 27 (tomorrow)
and Diary of an Eccentric on February 28.