Books and culture fix

I would like to thank Bloodhound Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

From the publisher:

Does true romance really exist?

Sophie Johnson is young, intelligent and attractive. So, when she lands the dream position of Sales Executive at a leading fashion magazine, it appears she has it all. But in reality, she hates her job, is sick of her controlling mother and is a dating disaster.

Then she discovers The Jane Austen Dating Agency, an exclusive club for ladies who want to meet real gentlemen and believes her luck has changed. And when Sophie meets Darcy Drummond, she thinks her dreams have come true. That is until she discovers he is arrogant and hard-headed.

So, when Daniel Becks steps into her life, she thinks she’s found the one. But is he really all he seems?

The Jane Austen Dating Agency is for anyone who has ever dreamed of romance and wondered if it really exists.

Fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk, Jane Green, Meg Cabot and, of course, Jane Austen will love this heart-warming, romantic comedy.

My review:

Rating: 3 stars

Sophie is stuck in a rut and looking for a way out, The Jane Austen Dating Agency seems the perfect idea. I loved the idea of the book, a dating agency based around the romance of Austen. The dates include picnics on Box Hill and a ball at Pemberley aka Chatsworth. There are a host of Jane Austen characters in this lovely novel, main characters and background. I liked that reading romance was defended, especially as it is something I use to escape real life.

Sophie seems to realise that her life is following Jane Austen’s work which is a little off-putting. The story line follows P and P very closely, a little too closely at times. Some of the plot points seem a little old fashioned and uncharacteristic for some of the characters. The writing is a little naive, words like yummy is used more than I would have liked. I would have liked to have more time with Darcy, I don’t feel like we get enough time to know him.

There is very little diversity in the book, nobodies skin colour is described so most will assume all the characters are white. There is one gay character and he is very stereotypical. There are also microaggressions throughout the book that I would not expect from a book published in 2020.

About the author:

Fiona Woodifield

As a young child, Fiona spent hours reading, curling up with a book was one of her favourite past times. Her current volume would accompany her everywhere, to school, on daytrips, holidays and visits. The idea of providing an imaginary world in which others can escape is a wonderful one and this became Fiona’s dream, to become a published author.

From an early age, Fiona’s parents encouraged her writing – commencing when they gave her a simple red lined exercise book. Soon she had a collection of notebooks, small, large, plain, The Snowman, Brambly Hedge, they all became full of her jottings.

Years later, Fiona studied for a Combined Arts Degree at Durham, then a Masters in English – writing her thesis on Jane Austen and Masculinity. In total contrast she went to work for a top fashion magazine in London, then various marketing posts. Four lovely daughters later, during which time she has graduated from laughing at Mrs Bennet to sympathising with her, she continued to scribble away, only the notebooks are somewhat bigger. Fiona has written for national magazines on diverse subjects from Jane Austen to caravanning! One morning the idea came to her for ‘The Jane Austen Dating Agency’ and this was the first book she just had to write.

Fiona obviously loves writing, especially romantic comedy, meeting with friends and family, dancing, walks by the sea and escaping into a book whilst consuming a worrying amount of chocolate.

I am grateful to be a part of the Publication Day Party for The Jane Austen Dating Agency, please go and check out the other bloggers involved.