Synopses & Reviews
The minute I saw the letter, I knew it was hers. There was no mistaking it: the salutation, the tiny, precise handwriting, the date, the content itself, all confirmed its ancient status and authorship… Samantha McDonough cannot believe her eyes--or her luck. Tucked in an uncut page of a two-hundred-year old poetry book is a letter she believes was written by Jane Austen, mentioning with regret a manuscript that "went missing at Greenbriar in Devonshire." Could there really be an undiscovered Jane Austen novel waiting to be found? Could anyone resist the temptation to go looking for it?
Making her way to the beautiful, centuries-old Greenbriar estate, Samantha finds it no easy task to sell its owner, the handsome yet uncompromising Anthony Whitaker, on her wild idea of searching for a lost Austen work--until she mentions its possible million dollar value.
After discovering the unattributed manuscript, Samantha and Anthony are immediately absorbed in the story of Rebecca Stanhope, daughter of a small town rector, who is about to encounter some bittersweet truths about life and love. As they continue to read the newly discovered tale from the past, a new one unfolds in the present--a story that just might change both of their lives forever.
Review
“James…[has] a sensitive ear for the Austenian voice and a clear passion for research...a thoughtful, immensely touching romance that does justice to its subject and will delight anyone who feels...that Austen couldnt have written with such insight without having had a great romance of her own.” Jane Austen's Regency World Magazine
Review
“Rarely have I read a book that I enjoyed as much ... I honestly believe even Jane herself would have loved this book... Its written so well, and stays so true to form for the historical period, that it feels uncannily like a real memoir ... utterly delightful!” Romance Reader At Heart.Com
Review
“Captures all that is best and true about Jane Austen … You will find yourself caught and enchanted ... For die-hard Austenites, this is the book youve been waiting for; for those of you wishing for knowledge of how to be a writer like Austen, you can find that, too.” Romance Vagabonds.com
Review
“A fantastic addition to all things Jane … one of those books that must go into the pile that I will read again and again … James does a beautiful job weaving together elements of fact, fiction, and imagination, which made this reader believe in the truth of her fiction.” Savvy Verse & Wit.com
Review
“Jamess book imagines a Mr. Ashford for Jane, a man with whom she shares a good deal of passion in the two years preceding the publication of Sense and Sensibility ... And if she didnt she should have, as it makes for a compelling read.” News Observer
Review
“There are not enough accolades i could use to recommend this book ... I read it thinking all the while it was a newly discovered memoir of the famous writer. That is how good the writing is... It is a love affair equal to anything Jane Austen wrote.” News Review
Review
“Suspenseful... and filled with surprises... one of the best additions to the current spate of books featuring Jane Austen.” Santa Barbara Independent
Review
“James has taken on an enormous task-channel Austen and bring her back to life-and she has done just that ... Talk about a love story. Whether or not it happened, James has created the possibility in an intelligent, historical romance novel. I do believe that Jane would approve.” Writer's Flow
Review
“The writing style was so effortlessly Austen that I almost felt as if I truly was reading a memoir penned by her own hand. And while these lost memoirs were just a fabrication, Ms. James did a terrific job of melding the historical details from Ms. Austens life. The Writer's Road Less Traveled
Review
“A story that not only leaves you believing ‘it could have happened, but wishing ‘oh… I hope she had this ... I was wholly engaged from beginning to end ... When I closed the cover (the very tactilely pleasing cover) … I felt as though Id made a friend.” Dear Author.Com
Review
“This fascinating novel will make readers swear there was such a man as Mr. Ashford and that there is such a memoir... Tantalizing, tender, and true to the Austen mythos, Jamess book is highly recommended.” Best First Novel of 2008, Library Journal
Review
“Austen and Ashford seem a perfect match in matters of head and heart ... though she hews closely to the historic record, [James] creates...will-they-or-wont-they suspense that culminates with a proposal and an “intensely” kissed Austen. A pleasant addition to the ever-expanding Austen-revisited genre.” Publishers Weekly
Review
“A delicious novel... comic scenes of hilarity together with love scenes of great emotion, witty dialogue, and well-drawn characters. Jane Austen comes alive from the first page to the last. You truly believe that you are reading her long-lost memoirs, not a historical fiction novel.” diavasame.gr, Athens, Greece
Review
“Readers may find themselves forgetting that the book is fiction… James bases her book on facts from Austens life and … clearly depicts Austens witty imagination and keen intelligence… Readers may want to pour themselves a cup of tea before settling in with this novel… Its a delightful read.” Montgomery Advertiser
Review
“James creates a life story for Austen that illuminates how her themes and plots may have developed... the reader blindly pulls for the heroine… hoping against history that Austen might yet enjoy the satisfactions of romance... offers a deeper understanding of what Austens life might have been like.” Los Angeles Times
Review
Praise for THE MISSING MANUSCRIPT OF JANE AUSTEN "A novel within a novel honoring what we love most about Austen: her engaging stories, her rapier wit, and her swoon worth romance...pitch perfect, brilliantly crafted."--Austenprose
"This richly imagined Jane Austen 'road novel' is...a page turner...A standout addition to the crowded archive of Austen homages."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Praise for Syrie James
"Syrie James is a fine storyteller, with a sensitive ear for the Austenian voice."--Jane Austen's Regency World
"Offers a deeper understanding of what Austen's life might have been like."--Los Angeles Times
"A beautiful, fictional what-if."--Austenprose
"Suspense builds, and it's a tribute to the world James creates that the readers will anxiously root for Jane to find true love and wealth, even though we know it never happened."--Kirkus Reviews
Review
Praise for THE MISSING MANUSCRIPT OF JANE AUSTEN
"A novel within a novel honoring what we love most about Austen: her engaging stories, her rapier wit, and her swoon worth romance...pitch perfect, brilliantly crafted."--Austenprose
"This richly imagined Jane Austen 'road novel' is...a page turner...A standout addition to the crowded archive of Austen homages."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A literary feast for Anglophiles...[with] an Austen-worthy ending."--Publishers Weekly
"Syrie James has surpassed herself...It'll be one of your favourite reads in 2013!"--My Jane Austen Book Club
"Ingenious!...An absorbing, reflective, and remarkable work of fiction that masterfully captures the essence and style of a Jane Austen novel."--Austenesque Reviews
"James expertly blends Austen archetypes--bumbling suitors, lady friends both silly and sympathetic, bemused fathers--with her own narrative wit...A sweet, enjoyable read for any Austen fan."--Shelf Awareness
"A delightful novel that you simply won't want to put down...A must read for all Jane Austen enthusiasts."--Confessions of an Avid Reader
"A book a Jane Austen lover cannot miss."--The Bookish Dame
"A magical book that readers will definitely store on their keeper shelf and read more than once."--RT Book Reviews
Praise for Syrie James
"Syrie James is a fine storyteller, with a sensitive ear for the Austenian voice."--Jane Austen's Regency World
"Offers a deeper understanding of what Austen's life might have been like."--Los Angeles Times
"A beautiful, fictional what-if."--Austenprose
"Suspense builds, and it's a tribute to the world James creates that the readers will anxiously root for Jane to find true love and wealth, even though we know it never happened."--Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
Many rumors abound about a mysterious gentleman said to be the love of Jane's life—finally, the truth may have been found. . . .
What if, hidden in an old attic chest, Jane Austen's memoirs were discovered after hundreds of years? What if those pages revealed the untold story of a life-changing love affair? That's the premise behind this spellbinding novel, which delves into the secrets of Jane Austen's life, giving us untold insights into her mind and heart.
Jane Austen has given up her writing when, on a fateful trip to Lyme, she meets the well-read and charming Mr. Ashford, a man who is her equal in intellect and temperament. Inspired by the people and places around her, and encouraged by his faith in her, Jane begins revising Sense and Sensibility, a book she began years earlier, hoping to be published at last.
Deft and witty, written in a style that echoes Austen's own, this unforgettable novel offers a delightfully possible scenario for the inspiration behind this beloved author's romantic tales. It's a remarkable book, irresistible to anyone who loves Jane Austen—and to anyone who loves a great story.
About the Author
Syrie James is the bestselling author of the critically acclaimed
Nocturne;
Dracula, My Love;
The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte (Great Group Read, Women's National Book Association; Audie Romance Award, 2011), and the international bestseller
The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen (Best First Novel 2008,
Library Journal.) Translation rights for Syrie's books have been sold in sixteen languages. An admitted Anglophile, Syrie loves paranormal romance and all things 19th century. She lives in Los Angeles and is a member of the Writer's Guild of America.
Besides being Syrie's firstborn, Ryan M James is a writer, editor & director with a diverse range of creative and technical experience in both film and video games. By day, Ryan works as an editor for the games industry. Under cover of night, he conjures stories for print, screen, and web. With his production company, has co-written two screenplays, directed an independent feature, and created the machinima webseries A Clone Apart.