A-Z Challenge: (The) Jane Austen Marriage Manual

The Jane Austen Marriage Manual

Katherine Shaw—Kate— is happy with her life. She has supportive friends, a glamorous magazine career, and a love of all things Jane Austen. But when she loses her job, her beloved grandmother falls ill and a financial disaster forces a sale on the family home, Kate finds herself facing a crisis that would test even the most stalwart of Austen heroines.

Friends rally round, connecting her to freelance gigs, and presenting her with a birthday gift— title to land in Scotland—that’s about to come in very handy. Turns out that Kate’s first freelance assignment is to test an Austen-inspired theory: in the toughest economic times is a wealthy man the only must-have accessory? What begins as an article turns into an opportunity as Kate—now Lady Kate—jet-sets to Palm Beach, St Moritz and London where, in keeping company with the elite, she meets prospects who make Mr. Darcy look like an amateur. But will rubbing shoulders with men of good fortune ever actually lead her to love? And will Kate be able to choose between Mr. Rich and Mr. Right?

Okay, so we all know of my love of Jane Austen's books and many of the "fan-fiction" spin-offs. So is it any surprise that at least one shows up here? No. No it's not. I thought it an interesting concept - a woman of the 21st Century attempting the same tactics as a 19th Century woman in making a "good match" in marriage or "marrying well" and above her class. When Kate basically loses everything, her job, her house, her grandmother; she takes her friends up on their freelance gigs. One of which lands her on a plane to and is suddenly known as Lady Kate (again thanks to her friends). Kate sets her sights on one man, 20 years her senior and has a terrible first impression with another guy. This is where it parallels Pride & Prejudice - terrible first impressions and misunderstandings. While Kate gallivants around the world trying to land one man, she seemingly misses other opportunities. It was a fun and entertaining read, and it is another that I will definitely read again.