Synopses & Reviews
"I have written about the joys of love. I have, in my secret heart, long dreamt of an intimate connection with a man; every Jane, I believe, deserves her Rochester."
Though poor, plain, and unconnected, Charlotte Bronte possesses a deeply passionate side which she reveals only in her writings—creating Jane Eyreand other novels that stand among literature's most beloved works. Living a secluded life in the wilds of Yorkshire with her sisters Emily and Anne, their drug-addicted brother, and an eccentric father who is going blind, Charlotte Bronte dreams of a real love story as fiery as the ones she creates.
But it is in the pages of her diary where Charlotte exposes her deepest feelings and desires—and the truth about her life, its triumphs and shattering disappointments, her family, the inspiration behind her work, her scandalous secret passion for the man she can never have . . . and her intense, dramatic relationship with the man she comes to love, the enigmatic Arthur Bell Nicholls. Escape! The Story of The Great Houdini.
Fleischman's books have been made into films, performed as plays, and translated into nineteen languages. The author was awarded the Newbery Medal for The Whipping Boy. His most recent novel is The Dream Stealer.
Review
“Jamess extensive research . . . shows all throughout the book. . . ?The style imitates Charlotte Brontë‘s . . . [Jamess] non-linear structure works surprisingly well, as she places each flashback at the precise relevant moment … READERS WILL BE GLUED TO ITS PAGES FROM START TO FINISH.” Bronte Blog
Review
“Faithful to the writers language, time, and place. This is BOUND TO FASCINATE admirers of the doomed Brontës.” Library Journal
Review
“James takes the biography of Brontë and sketches it into a work of art … The availability of specific, passionate details is what gives the book its main pull … A CANT-MISS NOVEL for Brontë fans and historical fiction buffs alike.” Sacramento Book Review
Review
“AN ENCHANTING LOVE STORY FOR CHARLOTTE BRONTE … 5 stars. An excellent combination of truth and conjecture that is a gratifying and magnetizing read! … I love [Jamess] reverent and precise representation of these beloved authors. Her graceful story telling is seamless and entertaining. I highly recommend this novel.” Austenesque Reviews
Review
“You will never look at the Brontë sisters as mere writers again. The passion, intelligence, mystery, and perfection that these minds shared was astounding. Talk about a gifted family... youll love it.” Once Upon A Romance
Review
5 STARS. A meticulously researched account of Charlotte Brontes life. The author … brought Charlotte to life as an intelligent, feisty, passionate woman. Charlottes romance with Arthur Nicholls was also convincing. I liked how the author showed the source of many scenes and Rochester himself from Jane Eyre.” Library Thing
Review
“Syrie James recreates how the poor, plain, and socially unconnected Ms. Brontë became a literary sensation. Based on extensive research, Brontë‘s deepest passions and desires, triumphs, and disappointments come to life... Anyone who is a fan of her work will welcome and enjoy this remarkable novel.” Bookviews
Review
“AN AMAZING JOURNEY through the life of one of my very favorite authors... James weaves a beautiful story that … breathes life into a much loved and respected family in the literary world. Her language is flawless... The words could be Charlottes own as the story unfolds.” Kaye's Book Reviews
Review
“I WAS TRANSPORTED... The Bronte sisters were so removed from the world and yet so compelling to get to know. If youve ever been a Bronte reader, then Id thoroughly recommend Syrie Jamess book. If youve never dabbled in Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights, whats stopping you?” Sonoma Country Life
Review
“I DID NOT WANT THIS STORY TO END. For fans of biographical tales and romance, Syries story of Charlotte offers it all: longing and yearning, struggle and success, the searing pain of immeasurable loss, and the happiness of a love that came unbidden and unsought.” Jane Austens World
Review
“This reconstruction of Ms. Brontë‘s life is done with such creativity and realism that its hard to imagine this is “not” what happened. . . By the end, the reader feels a real kinship with not only Charlotte, but all of the Brontës... A MUST BUY for Brontë-ites!” Romance Junkies
Review
“I REALLY THOROUGHLY, HEARTILY ENJOYED THIS CELEBRATION OF BRONTES LIFE and developing romance with Arthur Bell Nichols. Anyone whos ever peeked at a Bronte letter, or stole into Charlottes Juvenalia, or re-read those parts in Jane Eyre, will find in this work not a stranger, but a welcoming friend.” A Fair Substitute For Heaven
Review
“WRITTEN VERY MUCH IN THE STYLE OF THE HEROINES NOVELS... The story is well researched and closely follows the events of Charlottes life, subtly interweaving her personalized view of the situations … Captures all the heartache and triumphs of the independent and creative spirit Charlotte Bronte must have been.” Romance Reviews Today
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
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.
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.