Paranormal: Bespelling Jane Austen, brainchild of Susan Krinard, is an anthology of four paranormal novellas, each of which is based upon one of Jane Austen's novels. Two of the novellas are historicals and two are contemporaries. "Northanger Castle" (a Gardella Vampires novella) is Colleen Gleason's take on Northanger Abbey. In her tongue-in-cheek version of a 19th century Gothic novel, Colleen gives a little glimpse of life with the Gardellas after Victoria where inquisitive readers will find out what happened to George Starcasset...and the gender of Victoria's child. "Blood and Prejudice" by Susan Krinard is a contemporary vampire story with odd similarities to Pride and Prejudice. Elizabeth Bennet, owner of bookstore in New Haven, CT, doesn't think much of the mysterious Mr. Darcy, the handsome stranger who intends to take over her father's research company. But when she learns his darkest secrets, she is prepared to forget her prejudice and risk everything for a chance at love with a man who is far more than he appears to be. "Little to Hex Her" is Janet Mullany's tribute to Emma which is set in a present-day Washington, D.C. full of even more curious creatures than normal. Emma is a witch with a wizard boyfriend and a paranormal dating service to run. "Almost Perusuaded" by Mary Balogh is very loosely based upon Persuasion. What if, long before Austen's story starts, Anne Elliott had resisted being persuaded to decline the marriage offer of Captain Wentworth, the man she loved? What if she had been almost persuaded but not quite? And what if the reason was that she realized before it was too late that both she and Wentworth had been reincarnated again after countless lives of not quite having the courage to fight for their love of each other against all odds?
|
