Jane of Austin: A Novel of Sweet Tea and Sensibility
by Hillary Manton Lodge
Publisher: Waterbrook Press
Release Date: June 13, 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 312
Buy at: Amazon, Book Depository
Add on: Goodreads
Find the author at: website, Facebook, Twitter
Extras: First Chapter Sneak Peek
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 out of 5 stars)
Just a few years after their father’s business scandal shatters their lives, Jane and Celia Woodward find themselves forced out of their San Francisco tea shop. The last thing Jane wants is to leave their beloved shop on Valencia Street, but when Celia insists on a move to Austin, Texas, the sisters pack up their kid sister Margot and Jane’s tea plants, determined to start over yet again. But life in Austin isn’t all sweet tea and breakfast tacos. Their unusual living situation is challenging and unspoken words begin to fester between Jane and Celia. When Jane meets and falls for up-and-coming musician Sean Willis, the chasm grows deeper. While Sean seems to charm everyone in his path, one person is immune – retired Marine Captain Callum Beckett. Callum never meant to leave the military, but the twin losses of his father and his left leg have returned him to the place he least expected—Texas.
In this modern spin on the Austen classic, Sense and Sensibility, the Woodward sisters must contend with new ingredients in unfamiliar kitchens, a dash of heartbreak, and the fragile hope that maybe home isn’t so far away.
This book was utterly fantastic. I’m going to take a few breaths and collect my thoughts before I dive into this review, because I want to do it right. So first I’ll tell you a little on what the story is about.
Three sisters have to deal with the repercussions of their businessman father’s major scandal, but they manage to make the best of the situation by creating a business of their own–a cute tea shop in San Francisco. Years later their landlord passes away and his nephew forces them out of their beloved shop. Needing a fresh start, Jane, Celia and Margot find themselves staying with a distant cousin from their late mother’s side and starting over…in Austin, Texas. Thus begins an adventure of a lifetime for the three girls, one that involves both heartbreak, hope, and beautiful love.
A story steeped in romance, sisterly love, and a passion for tea–Jane of Austin had me in tears, sometimes in laughter and other times from all the feels. I want more! There are a million things to love about this book, one of them being the charming and witty characters. Even the side characters were a delight! Jane was quirky and cute and her affinity for baking made her downright lovable. Her relationship with her sisters was incredibly sweet and the communication issues that arose between her and Celia was relatable and raw. Each sister’s separate approaches to moving and life in general was incredibly well done and realistic, which leads me to the writing. This author has quickly become a favorite of mine. Everything from the beautiful writing style to the chapter-ending recipes made me love this story all the more. It was like all of my favorite things in one book! Warning–you will be hungry during and after reading this. Be prepared and make some scones beforehand. 😉 Let’s not forget the delicious romance either. Two words–Callum. Beckett. If there is a more swoon-worthy hero in a contemporary romance novel, I’d like to know, because Callum was downright perfect. The slow relationship that develops between him and Jane had that intangible thing that just tugged at my heartstrings. Can one say the words perfect and love too many times in a book review?! Because I feel like I’m approaching that line.
Jane of Austin is a must-read for both Austen and contemporary romance lovers alike. I hope I did this book justice with my review, because it is one of those reads that’ll stick with me. I’ll say it again, I loved this book. Go read it! It’s perfect for summer, reading along with friends, or bringing on vacation. The ending is similar to sipping your favorite cup of tea, in the way that’ll it leave you with a sigh of perfect content. Ahhh.
*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
Will you be reading/have you read Jane of Austin? Thanks for visiting Will Bake for Books! ♥
Great review. I’m really looking forward to reading this one.
Thanks, Jill! Ooo, I hope you enjoy when you do! It’s definitely one of my new favorites. 🙂
I just started it tonight! I just loved the Two Blue Doors series!
Yay! I hope you love it. Oh that’s good to hear! I started reading the Two Blue Doors series but I had to set it down at the time to read a review copy. I will most definitely get back to them ASAP, especially after reading and LOVING this book! I just love the fact that this author includes recipes in her books! It’s just perfect. 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog, Emilee!
Eeep! I’ll have to look out for this one! :DD
Definitely, Sarah! It was SO good. I gave my copy to my sister yesterday because I want everyone to read it! Lol.
Thanks so much for coming by to visit, friend! 🙂
Like you, I adore this novel, Bekah. It’s one of those books that I simply “couldn’t” review right away because I had to think about it and *try* to pen the proper words. So good – and I’m already SO anxious to see what Hillary has next planned. Whatever it is, I’m betting it’ll be amazing.
Also, this line… “The slow relationship that develops between him and Jane had that intangible thing that just tugged at my heartstrings.” TRUTH!
YES! It was oh so good! I still haven’t put in on my shelves because the first thing I did was give it to my sister to read. By the way, I don’t know if I commented on your review or not since I read it on my phone, but your review was PERFECTION. I had so much fun following along you guys’ tweets for this one too!! Like you, I’m really looking forward to whatever comes next. 🙂
Just today stumbled across your reviews; they are wonderful and as thanks I wanted to offer one of my favorites. Author, Katherine Reay, is a gem who also writes with classics in mind (often Austen). After rereading several of her books, just finished Dear Mr. Knightly, AGAIN, I am inspired to reread the classics as well as today’s growing and improving Christian suspense fiction… there are SO many good ones!