Using Jane Austen's books as a guide to making a good marriage, Kate freelances an article on whether it would work in the present day. Playing the role of Lady Katherine Billingham Shaw, Kate is swept up into the glamorous lifestyle of the rich. As she researches her article and decides to look for a billionaire to marry, Kate has to choose which path she will walk--money or love.

I enjoyed this book but I had some trouble liking the characters. My favorite character was Fawn, Kate's "mentor. Kate made me crazy--sometimes I liked her, sometimes I didn't. Marianne and Brandon angered me as they criticized her but were the ones who put her into the Lady Kate role and encouraged her to do the research. As I looked at the other characters and situations in the book, I have to wonder that such cynicism exists. I feel bad for those who choose this as a way of life. There was the occasional one-liner that made me laugh but mostly I was shaking my head at the sadness of the lives of those who feel they need to make a marriage because of money. I am glad Kate finally got it right. I liked that we found out what happened to Scott, her former fiancé. What a sad ending for him. ( )

Muotitoimittaja Katherine Shaw - Kate - jää työttömäksi ja joutuu suuriin taloudellisiin vaikeuksiin. Hän ryhtyy freelance toimittajaksi ja saa toimeksiannon, jossa hänen täytyy kirjoittaa siitä, kannattaako tytön vain hankkia varakas aviomies Jane Austenin henkeen. Kate päättää testata asiaa itse etsimällä varakkaista piireistä itselleen miestä.

Kirja henkii vanhan ajan romantiikkaa, vaikka se sijoittuukin nykyaikaan, ja lainaukset Austenin kirjoista tuovat kivan lisäsäväyksen tarinaan. Katen kommellukset ovat hauskaa luettavaa ja nauroin monta kertaa ääneen lukiessani tarinaa. Avioliitto Jane Austenin tapaan on kevyttä ja hauskaa luettavaa arjesta irtaantumiseen. ( )

Lighthearted, kind of funny, good as a break from the fantasy I've been reading. ( )

Review originally published on my blog: AWordsWorth.blogspot.com

"What if a modern woman took Jane Austen's "marriage advice" to the letter, and applied it to her own life?" That's the basic premise of this novel, although with a slightly more cynical/materialistic bent than Jane herself suggested (although Mrs. Bennett would certainly agree with Kate's theories!). It's a fun, quick read. I figured out where it was going reeeeeally fast, but that didn't take away from the reading. The story itself fades into the background for me though, because what I really enjoyed were the characters. Kate's one crazy conflicted woman, and watching her struggle to justify things is both exasperating and entertaining. There's a whole cast of colorful and interesting characters, my favorites being Fawn and Griff. (Also fun: so many of Kate's intimate circle feature Austen character names: Marianne, Brandon, Emma, etc. So fun!) A good summer reading choice. ( )

Happily adding to my Canadian authored Reading Challenges - #Canadian author, Kim Izzo offers a very contemporary JA P&P variation, complete with a delish Mr Darcy and full doses of laugh out loud humour.

About to turn forty, never married, Kate queries her friends, "Do you think I'm too old to marry well?" Thus begins a year long experiment as Kate pursues her answer.. and her story for the fashion magazine editor who contracts the article. Kate's adventures and escapades had me laughing out loud as she employs her best acting skills in pursuit of a rich husband and the worst case scenarios that result!

Getting 'the Jane Austen marriage manual' from reality to written results in relational fiascos of every proportion. Kate's premise being wrong from the get go, goes steadily from bad to worse. Finding rich men and forming unfounded opinions on their suitability as husband potential seems to be Kate's forte. Until...the one desired situation suddenly appears to swing in her favour. But will it bring the hoped for conclusion?

Kate has some unexpected soul searching to do before she says her final 'I do'...

Well written, believable and engaging characters, a story line that captured and kept my interest. [Forewarning on minimal dialogue profanity and inclusion of sex without graphic description] Thought provoking exploration of what really matters when it comes to romance and marriage... ( )