Review: First Impressions by Charlie Lovett

I'm SO excited to share that today I'm over at Austenprose sharing a review of First Impressions by Charlie Lovett! I was thoroughly charmed by this novel -- a delicious, dual-time narrative examining the inspiration for Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and the contemporary world of rare books! You can check out my review of the novel HERE. Enjoy!

Review: Mr. Darcy's Christmas by Elizabeth Aston

Mr. Darcy's Christmas
By: Elizabeth Aston
Publisher: The Story Vault
ASIN: B00A6XDNHI

Review:

Earlier this month, in seeking to keep with the Christmas season I combed through my Kindle collections for Christmas-themed tales. In doing so I rediscovered this Pride and Prejudice-inspired story by prolific Austenite Elizabeth Aston. Aston's novels and stories expanding on the world and characters first introduced in Austen's classic have been on my radar for years, but till now I've never taken the opportunity to explore her fiction. I love the that instead of opting to retell Elizabeth and Darcy's story from one or both points-of-view, Aston instead fleshes out their post-marriage lives and world.

Mr. Darcy's Christmas occurs several years after Elizabeth and Darcy's wedding. England is again at war with France, and Darcy (unsurprisingly for a man of his influence and temperament!) finds himself increasingly called away from Pemberly to serve his country at the highest levels of government. But nothing will keep him away from home this Christmas, particularly with the pending announcement of his beloved sister Georgina's engagement.

One of the most eligible heiresses of the ton, Georgina met and captivated the handsome, wealthy Mr. Moresby right out from under Caroline Bingley's nose (much to the latter's chagrin). Moresby is highly respectable, a pillar of dependability and moral virtue -- all traits the once vivacious Georgina has found highly desirable since her near-disastrous youthful indiscretion with Wickham. When Colonel Hawkins, one of her brother's oldest friends, arrives for the festivities, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the handsome and oh-so-considerate old family friend -- and questioning her choice of husband. As Caroline makes a bitter play to drive a wedge between Moresby and Georgina, the young Miss Darcy is faced with a choice -- let fear of the past shackle her to a loveless marriage, or lay her past to rest once and for all, and seize the chance to write a love story to rival her beloved brother's.

Within the pages of this slim novella Aston delivers a thoroughly entertaining glimpse into her expanded Austenesque universe. Laced with period flavor and Christmas charm, what makes this story shine is its simple, plausible insight into Georgina's character. Her desire to forswear any many reminiscent of Wickham, and thereby remind her of her greatest shame -- to avoid and no longer trust her feelings and judgment is a refreshingly solid basis for this charming character sketch. As supporting players Darcy and Elizabeth are now more mature but no less in love -- and the glimpses Aston provides of their marital relationship feels very true to canon. This novella is a delightfully Christmas-flavored treat, replete with Yule logs and all the trimmings of a Regency-era celebration. Mix with the threat of scandal, the promise of romance, and gentlemen in cravats and the result is a frothy confection of a story, a worthy way in which to while away a few winter hours.

About the book:

A joyful Christmas at Pemberley with Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth - until Caroline Bingley threatens Georgiana Darcy’s future happiness.

Set in the wonderful world of Jane Austen, this sparkling and witty romantic comedy takes us to Pemberley for an enchanted Christmas, where Mr. Darcy and his family enjoy the delights of the season, culminating in a ball to celebrate his sister’s engagement. But a serpent lurks amid the greenery and Yule candles, as spiteful Caroline Bingley sets out to ruin her dear friend, Georgiana.

Haunted by her near-elopement with Mr. Wickham, Georgiana, Mr. Darcy’s sister, plays safe when she accepts Francis Horsley’s proposal of marriage. As the Darcy family gather at Pemberley to celebrate Christmas, Caroline Bingley, in a fit of envy, spreads dark rumours about her friend. With the help of aloof and amused Sir Giles Hawkins, Georgiana finally finds her true Darcy spirit and fights to regain her reputation – and in doing so, finds true love.

Death Comes to Pemberly

I guess I'm finally going to have to read the book? The production looks worthwhile for the cast alone:

Review: Pride and Prejudice -- The Graphic Novel

Pride and Prejudice, adapted from the novel by Jane Austen
By: Nancy Butler and Hugo Petrus
Publisher: Marvel
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3916-4

About the book:

Tailored from the adored Jane Austen classic, Marvel Comics is proud to present an adaptation of the whimsical tale of Lizzy Bennet and her loveable-if-eccentric family, as they navigate through tricky British social circles. Will Lizzy's father manage to marry off his five daughters, despite his wife's incessant nagging? And will Lizzy's beautiful sister Jane marry the handsome, wealthy Mr. Bingley? Or will his brooding friend Mr. Darcy stand between their happiness?

One of the most acclaimed novels in English literature has endured since its release in 1813 and is adapted as a graphic novel for the first time, collecting all five installments from two-time RITA award-winner Nancy Butler and fan-favorite Hugo Petrus.

Review:

So this is what happens when you're sick and off work for a week -- you pull out that graphic novel edition of Pride and Prejudice that you've been meaning to read for ages and finally dive in. Pride and Prejudice was the first Austen novel adapted for the Marvel Illustrated line -- comic-book versions of timeless literary classics. As with any adaptation of Austen's work, it is bound to face criticism for plot condension and the losss of pages upon pages of Austen's signature witty, insightful prose. But for a 120-page or so graphic novel, this volume does a creditable job of translating the essence of Lizzy and Darcy's story to the page.

Adapted by author Nancy Butler, the text does a surprisingly decent job of remaining faithful to its 19th-century origins. She keeps the action moving at a brisk pace, and while events are often shortened or tweaked to fit the graphic novel format, all of the plot's most famous scenes get their due. From Darcy's famous put-down at the Meryton assembly to his subsequent first (refused) proposal to Lizzy's first view of Pemberly, all key moments are brought to life with relative faithfulness to the original text.

I have mixed feelings abut illustrator Hugo Petrus's interpretation of Austen's classic tale. There are to be sure some gorgeously-rendered panels within these pages, and he has a nice eye for period detail. But the color palette is a bit darker than I'd prefer for Austen's brand of frothy social commentary. And many of the characters are blessed with such similar looks that it is difficult to tell them apart, particulary the bee-stung lipped younger Bennet sisters. However I enjoyed his realizations of Darcy, Mr. Bennet, Lady Catherine, and Lizzy in particular, though the latter suffers occasionally from some incredibly awkward facial expressions that detract from the emotin of key moments.

A pleasant way in which to while away an afternoon, this edition of Pride and Prejudice mostly hits all the right notes and could serve a a fresh way to introduce Austen to new readers.

Sample panel:

Review: Searching for Pemberley by Mary Lydon Simonsen

Searching for Pemberley

By: Mary Lydon Simonsen

Publisher: Sourcebooks

ISBN: 1402224397

About the book:

Maggie went in search of a love story, but she never expected to find her own…

Desperate to escape her life in a small Pennsylvania mining town, Maggie Joyce accepts a job in post-World War II London, hoping to find adventure. While touring Derbyshire, she stumbles upon the stately Montclair, rumored by locals to be the inspiration for Pemberley, the centerpiece of Jane Austen’s beloved Pride and Prejudice.

Determined to discover the truth behind the rumors, Maggie embarks on a journey through the letters and journals of Montclair’s former owners, the Lacey family, searching for signs of Darcy and Elizabeth.

But when the search introduces her to both a dashing American pilot and a handsome descendant of the "Darcy" line, Maggie must decide how her own love story will end…

Review:

Following the end of World War II, twenty-two year old Maggie Joyce, desperate not to return to a dead-end future in her mining hometown in Pennsylvania, accepts a job in post-war Europe with the Army that sees her transferred to London. While touring Montclair, a grand country estate, Maggie is astonished to recognize striking similarities between the story of estate's ancestral owners, William and Elizabeth Lacey, and Pride and Prejudice, her favorite of Jane Austen's novels. The idea that Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy were based on real people is too tantalizing to resist, and Maggie embarks on a journey to sift fact from fiction, hoping to learn the truth behind one of literature's most enduring love stories. Maggie's "guide" into the real Elizabeth and Darcy's past are Beth and Jack Crowell, whose relation to the subject of Austen's novel is closer than Maggie could've dreamed, and provide a fascinating glimpse into the war-torn history of one of Britain's premiere families. Along the way the once lovelorn Maggie finds herself torn between two men, and faced with the chance to determine her own postwar future, Maggie must decide if taking a chance on her own real-life Darcy is worth the risk of leaving behind the life she was raised to know.

The basic premise of this novel is fascinating -- I love the idea that one of my favorite fictional couples could've been real individuals, and the idea promises rich fodder for a devotee of Pride and Prejudice. While I have no doubt that Elizabeth and Darcy were wholly products of Austen's considerable talents and imaginative genius, the idea of a real-life Pride and Prejudice "treasure hunt" is an appealing fiction, and as such I found myself relating to Maggie's enthusiasm in her quest to discover the real Elizabeth and Darcy -- a literary archaelogical expedition of the highest order. The problems come in the execution of this premise -- the storytelling format consists mainly of large "information dumps," with pages of dialogue where a character shares research with Maggie, or pages of prose where she details her latest discoveries. The result is a lengthy tome that reads more like research thesis notes than a novel. There is very little character development, Simonsen opting instead to showcase research and history -- and the only reason this works to some degree for me is because I appreciate the basic premise of her story.

I didn't expect this novel to provide a not uneffective analysis of the cost of war on those who survive combat to return to civilian life. Through Jack and Beth's reminscences and the stories of Maggie's love interests, Simonsen explores the terrible toll both world wars took on society as a whole, particularly those who survived to return home to "normal" life. At first blush the juxtaposition of a late 18th-century love story and life in postwar Britain seems most unlikely, but in some weird way it works -- Maggie's research into the Laceys' past helps her find her footing in a postwar society, torn between the wounds of war and hope of peacetime. The "upstairs/downstairs" dynamic of Beth and Jack's love story is particularly timely, given the resurgence of interest in the pre-World War I time period thanks to shows like Downton Abbey.

Simonsen clearly has a passion for history and her love of research, both Georgian and World War II era, shines in this reimagining of Austen's inspiration for Pride and Prejudice. This novel is ALL telling and little to no showing, but despite the novel's often awkward and stilted narrative style, there was a spark within that kept me turning pages -- perhaps it was recognizing in Simonsen a fellow Austen aficionada. With more attention to character development and action instead of packing in every single bit of research in pages-long information dumps, Searching for Pemberley reveals the potential of an author whose passion for history and the classics can't help but be appreciated.

Review: These Three Remain by Pamela Aidan

These Three Remain (Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman #3)
By: Pamela Aidan
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 978-0-7432-9137-8

About the book:

One of the most beloved romantic heroes in all of literature, Fitzwilliam Darcy remains an enigma even to Jane Austen's most devoted fans. No longer. With this concluding volume in the Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman trilogy, novelist and Austen aficionada Pamela Aidan at last gives readers the man in full.

These Three Remain follows a humbled Ddarcy on the journey of self-discovery, after Elizabeth Bennet's rejection of his marriage proposal, in which he endeavors to grow into the kind of gentleman he desires to become. Happily, a chance meeting with Elizabeth during a tour of his estate in Derbyshire offers Darcy a new opportunity to press his suit, but his newfound strengths are put to the test by an old nemesis, George Wickham.

Vividly capturing the colorful historical and political milieu of the Regency era, Aidan writes in a style evocative of her literary progenitor, but with a wit and humor very much her own. While staying faithful to the people and events in Austen's original, she adds her own fascinating cast of characters, weaving a rich tapestry out of Darcy's past and present that will beguile his admirers anew.

Review:

In These Three Remain, Pamela Aidan concludes her exploration of the enigmatic Fitzwilliam Darcy's character by returning to the familiar action of the last third of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Alternately entranced and infuriated by his inexplicable attraction to Elizabeth Bennet, Darcy journeys to his aunt's home, the formidable Lady Catherine, intent on immersing himself in his work as her business advisor. However, his intentions to honor his social position and family rather than "succumb" to the dictates of his heart prove fruitless when he discovers that Elizabeth is staying in the house next door. When he confronts Elizabeth with his suit and admits his corresponding doubts and fears concerning their alliance, he is soundly rejected. His shock and pain at being so readily rebuffed by a woman whose situation in life would have only been elevated by their marriage forces him to reevaluate his every thought, action, and motivation -- his very character. Because of the astounding realization that the one person whose esteem he covets holds him in little regard, he makes it his aim to truly become a gentleman worthy of Elizabeth's affections. Darcy turns a corner here -- instead of holding his own comfort and interests as his primary concern, Darcy learns to look outside himself to see how he can best use his talents and resources to assist others. This inner transformation is put to the test when Darcy is called upon to confront his old nemesis, George Wickham, in order to save Elizabeth's family name from disgrace.

Pamela Aidan has done a worthy job of taking the world Austen created in Pride and Prejudice and expanding on it, adding depth, conflict, and character development. Indeed I didn't think it was possible for me to so thoroughly enjoy novels that dared to explore and interpret Austen's classic and dearly loved battle of the sexes. Aidan's two best additions to Austen's universe are Darcy's Shakespeare-quoting valet Fletcher, and his best friend, Lord Dyfed Brougham. Dy interests me the most, and quite frankly deserves his own book (thankfully, Aidan leaves enough loose ends to give one hope of the possibility) -- he puts me in mind of another famous and beloved literary hero, Percy Blakeney. Dy is the primary means through which Aidan incorporates the political climate of the Regency period, introducing a touch of political intrigue to the world of Pride and Prejudice. Aidan's trilogy is "fan fiction" of the highest order, a story Austen and Regency fans can savor. She succeeds in refreshing Austen's classic, infusing the familiar with new life and perspective that is both a faithful tribute and an inventive character study. Highly recommended.

******

Originally posted in 2007, this finishes my review of Aidan's fabulous Darcy trilogy.

Review: Duty and Desire by Pamela Aidan

Duty and Desire (Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman #2)
By: Pamela Aidan
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 978-0-7432-9136-1

About the book:

Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice is beloved by millions, but littel is revealed in the book about the mysterious and handsome hero, Mr. Darcy. And so the question has long remained: Who is Fitzwilliam Darcy?

Pamela Aidan's trilogy finally answers that long-standing question, creating a rich parallel story that follows Darcy as he meets and falls in love with Elizabeth Bennet. Duty and Desire, the second book in the trilogy, covers the "silent time" of Austen's novel, revealing Darcy's private struggle to overcome his attraction to Elizabeth while fulfilling his roles as landlord, master, brother, and friend.

When Darcy pays a visit to an old classmate in Oxford in an attempt to shake Elizabeth from his mind, he is set up on by husband-hunting society ladies and ne'er-do-well friends from his university days, all with designs on him -- some for good and some for ill. He and his sartorial genius of a valet, Fletcher, must match wits with them all, but especially with the curious Lady Sylvanie.

Irresistibly authentic and entertaining, Duty and Desire remains true to the spirit and events of Pride and Prejudice while incorporating fascinating new characters, and is sure to dazzle Austen fans and newcomers alike.

Review:

In Duty and Desire, Pamela Aidan explores the "silent" time that Darcy absent from the narrative of Pride and Prejudice. Darcy is in his element now, among his peers of the English upper class. In an attempt to kill what he views as a totally inappropriate fascination with Elizabeth Bennet on his part, Darcy throws himself into the task of finding a "suitable" wife. He soon finds himself embroiled in a mystery with a gothic flair that is more Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights than traditional Austenian. However, though the change in tone takes a bit of getting used to, Aidan succeeds splendidly in constructing a cracking good read that further delves into Darcy's character.

Austen, while a very saavy woman, avoided assiduously avoided politics and world events in her writing, focusing instead on the day-to-day lives of her female protagonists. Aidan expands the scope of the world Austen created in Pride and Prejudice by constructing a world that reveals the society and concerns a landed gentleman of Darcy's standing would encounter. Darcy's relationship with Georgiana is further fleshed out, as are the characters of Fletcher, his invaluable valet, and Dy Brougham, his closest friend (hint: think the Scarlet Pimpernel -- love this character, he needs his own book!). The book does suffer from some melodramatic improbabilities, even by the standards set in An Assembly Such as This, the first book of the trilogy. However Aidan has done an admirable job of *daring* to create a flesh-and-blood Darcy with passions, struggles, and a heaping helping of angst.

******

Another review from 2007. :)

Review: An Assembly Such as This by Pamela Aidan

An Assembly Such as This (Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman #1)
By: Pamela Aidan
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 978-0-7432-9134-7

About the book:

"She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me."

So begins the timeless romance of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen's classic novel is beloved by millions, but little is revealed in the book about the mysterious and handsome hero, Mr. Darcy. And so the question has long remained: Who is Fitzwilliam Darcy?

In An Assembly Such as This, Pamela Aidan finally answers that long-standing question. In this first book of her Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman trilogy, she reintroduces us to Darcy during his visit to Hertfordshire with his friend Charles Bingley and reveals Darcy's hidden perspective on the events of Pride and Prejudice. As Darcy spends more time at Netherfield supervising Bingley and fending off Miss Bingley's persistent advances, his unwilling attraction to Elizabeth grows -- as does his concern about her relationship with his nemesis, George Wickham.

Setting the story vividly against the colorful historical and political background of the Regency, Aidan writes in a style comfortably at home with Austen but with a wit and humor very much her own. Aidan adds her own cast of fascinating characters to those in Austen's original, weaving a rich tapestry from Darcy's past and present. Austen fans and newcomers alike will love this new chapter of the most famous romance of all time.

Review:

This novel is absolutely fabulous. Aidan has succeeded in getting inside Darcy's head in a truly believable fashion that is extremely entertaining while remaining faithful to Austen's original text. Although Aidan's prose does tend to be a bit heavy on the melodramatic side of things, quite honestly that adds to the fun of reading the novel. The book starts off right at Darcy and Elizabeth's fateful meeting at the Meryton assembly, where his offhand comment of "[s]he is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me" raises Elizabeth's ire and begins their epic battle of wit and wills.

By focusing on Darcy's perspective, Aidan not only gives her readers insight into his character and motivations, but also gives an enticing glimpse into the characters of his sister Georgiana and the Bingleys by fleshing out their actions and lives outside of the their appearance in the action of Pride and Prejudice. She also introduces several new characters, chief among them Darcy's indefatigable valet. Darcy's interactions with his valet are some of the highlights of the novel as they serve to really "ground" Darcy in everyday life -- without them he seems to remain untouchable and aloof.

An Assembly Such as This takes the reader through the first third of Pride and Prejudice, up to the point that Darcy and Bingley's sisters conspire to remove Charles from the influence of Jane Bennet. It's fascinating to see Aidan tackle the question of Darcy's emotions at this pivotal juncture, where he makes the choices that almost ruins his chances of happiness with Elizabeth. Aidan, though her prose tends to be melodramatic, does an excellent job of capturing the time period -- it's culture and mannerisms -- while infusing her story with subtle touches of humor. I can't recommend this book enough for any fans of Austen's Pride and Prejudice. HIGHLY recommended.

******

I originally reviewed this novel back in 2007. Diving a bit into the as-yet-unpublished "archives" thanks to an extraordinarily busy week! Thanks for bearing with me. :)

Pride and Prejudice meets Doctor Who

This video made my day! Two of my favorite things, immortalized TOGETHER?! Yes, please. :)



My undying gratitude to Laurel Ann for posting this video! (Matthew Macfadyen's voice coming out of David Tennant just cracks me up...)

Review: Austenland by Shannon Hale

Austenland
By: Shannon Hale
Publisher: Bloomsbury
ISBN: 9781596912854

About the book:

For the woman with everything except a Mr. Darcy of her own,

An invitation to

AUSTENLAND

Pembrook Park, Kent, England. Enter our doors as a house guest come to stay three weeks, enjoying the country manners and hospitality – a tea visit, a dance or two, a turn in the park, an unexpected meeting with a certain gentleman, all culminating with a ball and perhaps something more…

Here, the Prince Regent still rules a carefree England. No scripts. No written endings. A holiday no one else can offer you.

Review:

Jane Hayes is just your average, thirty-something, single New Yorker except for one little thing...her obsession with Pride and Prejudice, particularly with Mr. Darcy (as portrayed by Colin Firth, of course!), is ruining her life. No living, breathing, real man can compare to Darcy, the epitome of Regency-era male perfection. And so a succession of relationships crashes and burns, and Jane secretly watches her P&P DVDs, and then hides them like contraband from others when they visit her apartment, just in case they should see them and guess at her grand obsession (and correspondingly pathetic lack of a love life).

Then Jane's Aunt Carolyn dies and leaves her an unexpected and intriguing bequest in her will -- a three week stay at a role-playing resort in England called Austenland, a complete immersion into Austen's world for obsessed fanatics such as Jane. Seizing the opportunity to lay her Darcy fantasies to rest forever so she can live for something real, Jane accepts the trip and and heads to Austenland to live as Miss Jane Erstwhile, circa 1816, for three weeks. Jane's resolve to put her Darcy-esque fantasies behind her forever is sorely tested when confronted with the reality of the handsome, cravat-wearing gentlemen who populate Austenland and pay court to female guests. In the ultimate Austen-lover's fantasy world, can Jane find something real?

I so enjoyed this book. Hale's novel is a witty, clever send-up of the rabid Austen / Darcy-mania that just about every woman I know can relate to in some degree. I would have liked to have seen the novel written in first-person from Jane's point-of-view -- the concept just screams "chick lit" and a change from third- to first-person would have enabled Hale to give greater insight and depth to Jane's character and smoothed out the narrative a bit. The supporting cast of characters that people Austenland is fabulous, though slightly underdeveloped. At a mere 194 pages, Austenland is an extremely short, fast read that begs to be about 100 pages longer (at least). I loved the world Hale created, and I loved Jane (I can SO relate to her Darcy-mania!) and a certain someone that she meets at Austenland -- I won't spoil the surprise for those of you reading the review by naming names, even though when you read the novel Jane's real-life "Darcy" is telegraphed VERY early on. However, this lack of suspense doesn't detract from the sheer enjoyability of the read. I just wish there was more of it. Primarily known as a young adult fantasy author (The Goose Girl, Enna Burning) Hale is a promising voice in funny, clever, chick-lit style novels and I look forward to reading more from her. Austenland is a perfect summer read -- what it may lack in substance it more than compensates for in wit and invention.

***

Another review from the archives, this time from 2007. I really ought to re-read this book - it's the perfect escapist read - fun, frothy, and can we say wish-fulfillment?! :) If you haven't read this, now's the perfect time to check it out, since Shannon Hale's next book is a sequel of sorts - Midnight in Austenland is due to release most likely in 2012.

12 Men of Christmas

When watching the movie 12 Men of Christmas for the third time this holiday season (side note: I realize that sounds like I’m in some sort of pathetic made-for-TV-movie-watching-rut, but hear me out), I realized it was absolutely imperative that I blog about this little gem. Because dear blog readers, 12 Men completely rips off something that you all know is near and dear to my heart – Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Yes, you read that correctly – a movie about a woman who’s trying to put together a beefcake calendar evokes images of Elizabeth and my dear Darcy. The mind boggles trying to comprehend Jane’s response to such an association, though she was quite a forward-thinking authoress, so I like to imagine she’d see the humor in the connection.

12 Men stars Kristin Chenoweth as E.J. Baxter (gosh, those initials E.B. seem awfully familiar…), a New York PR executive who finds herself in need of a job after finding her “perfect” fiancé canoodling with her boss at the office Christmas party. Chenoweth is one of my favorite actresses, a true triple threat – she acts, dances, and sings (and boy does this girl have a set of pipes!). Chenoweth has dynamite-levels of sass and spunk packed into her 4’11” frame, a quality that serves her well in playing a character loosely (very loosely, mind you) reminiscent of the one and only Elizabeth Bennet. E.J.’s story begins innocuously enough, seemingly a simple variation on the old “fish out of water” theme as our Gucci-loving New Yorker finds herself black-balled by her ex-boss and exiled – ahem, I mean moved – to Montana, a.k.a. “the hole in the ground,” to work her PR magic for the tiny town of Kalispell.

The sparks really start to fly when she meets Will Albrecht (echoes of FitzWILLiam, anyone?), a drop-dead gorgeous and insufferably proud member of the local volunteer search-and-rescue squad, which just happens to be desperately in need of a new helicopter and sorely lacking in the fund-raising ideas department. Will is played by Josh Hopkins, who is de-lish!! Even before E.J. broaches the idea of a pinup calendar fundraiser (just in case any really conservative film watchers are reading this, everyone is wearing pants during the photo shoot, so calling this thing a naked calendar is, well, a bit funny), when she and Will meet they immediately butt heads over outlooks on life, priorities, you name it and the only thing they probably would agree on is to passionately disagree.

Lest you think I’m stretching the Pride and Prejudice connections, let me fill you in on the other Austenesque characters that people this little movie. When E.J. moves to Kalispell, she appropriates the services of the irrepressible Jan as her assistant, played by Anna Chlumsky. I still can’t look at her without thinking of the movie My Girl, she’s frozen in time as far as I’m concerned! Jan (c’mon, admit it, how many of you want to read Jan as “Jane”?) is, of course, super-sweet, and suffering from a crush on the adorable but socially awkward Eric (Jefferson Brown). Eric just happens to be (wait for it!) Will’s BEST FRIEND!! As you may suspect, hilarity and misunderstandings ensue when Will warns Eric away from Jan because of her friendship with E.J. Will is also highly aggravated when E.J. starts dating his womanizing nemesis Jason (Stephen Huszar), a Wickham-like doppelganger (with AWFUL hair!), who fills E.J.’s head with stories about Will to cement her poor opinion of him.

My favorite Pride and Prejudice rip-off scene - or maybe I should say loving homage? *wink* - mirrors Darcy's first, very reluctant, proposal to Elizabeth. The way Will freaks out on E.J., going on and on about how much he can't stand her or understand his feelings (the word "revolting" is used more than once) is one of the movie's funniest scenes in my opinion. And though at 6'2" Hopkins has a good 15 inches on Chenoweth, the way her fury builds at Will's insulting declaration is hilarious to behold. I have no doubt that were the scene real, E.J. could have taken Will in a fight. *wink* Also, the resolution of the whole Jason mess and Will's true history (i.e., the real reason he's been such a grouch, poor baby!) turns out to be a nice modern-day twist on the Wickham/Darcy relationship.

Sure, 12 Men of Christmas is predictable, but that's how I like my made-for-TV Christmas movies - they're virtual comfort food, after all. :) And I when I find one that quotes from Pride and Prejudice, one of the all time greats, and one of my all time favs? Well that my friends is a modern holiday classic.

Dear Santa,

I wouldn't complain if all I got for Christmas was Josh Hopkins. Just sayin'.

Thanks,

Ruth

Thornton vs. Darcy, that is the question...

Thanks to Charleybrown for posting this video. Richard Armitage as John Thornton in North & South and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice, all to the soundtrack of Nat King Cole singing "L-O-V-E" - seriously, what more could a girl ask for? ;-)



Go ahead and swoon, you have my permission...

Update - I just went to YouTube and discovered Luciana is responsible for this video! LOVE IT!