Marine biologist Cassie Boulton likes her coffee with cream and her literature with happy endings. Her favorite book is Pride and Prejudice, but Cassie has no patience when a modern-day Mr. Darcy appe...

In Pemberley by the Sea, author Abigail Reynolds presents a contemporary romance loosely inspired by Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice. The story begins on the summer seaside resort of Woods Hole, a research Mecca for marine biologist Dr. Cassie Boulton. As she overhears a conversation between Calder Stephen Westling, III, a rich Republican politician’s son and his friend Scott, Democratic humble inner-city Chicago Cassie casts Calder as pompous and insulting. Sound familiar? As a relationship grows between Cassie’s friend Erin and Scott (paralleling Jane and Bingley), Calder and Cassie are thrown together on various excursions; and like Darcy, Calder finds himself drawn to Cassie. There is a particularly passionate, albeit spontaneous love scene at the beach, and although Calder believes this is only the beginning to their relationship, Cassie dissembles to concentrate on her research. By summer’s end, Calder leaves under a cloud of misunderstanding and heartache, and Cassie returns to her tenure track at a Philadelphia college. Later, she discovers the true identity of one of her favorite romance novelist Stephen R. West is none other than her very own Calder Westing. Like Darcy’s letter to Elizabeth, Calder’s novel (which he has dedicated to her) confesses through his own Pride and Prejudice adaptation, all he was unable to verbalize.

Reynolds does a great job with her characterizations with the exception of Rob Elliott, who is utterly contrived and unconvincing as Cassie’s previous love interest. He is supposed to lend depth to Cassie’s lack of confidence in men; unfortunately, his character seems almost a thin afterthought. Unlike Darcy and Elizabeth, when Calder and Cassie do finally get together, there is quite a bit of coddling and reassuring for each other’s insecurities. But given their personal histories, can you really blame them?

I own all of Abigail Reynolds’ published works, and as much as I dearly enjoy all her Regency era Pride & Prejudice “what ifs”, this modern romance is by far her finest yet. The first time I read this romance (when Reynold’s had self-published it in 2007) I read it from cover to cover in one night and I simply could not put it down. This Sourcebook edition has undergone major professional edits - deleting the entire gang connection - which serve to make it only stronger and more cohesive. Pemberley by the Sea is the type of novel you will want to keep at the top of your ‘to be re-read’ book stack as there is just enough delicious romantic tension to keep you turning the pages. Is it Austen? Well, most assuredly not. But this modern romance can easily stand on it own. I hope that Reynold’s will be inspired to write a sequel. More Calder Westin? Yes please. For mature eyes only.
Christina

4 out 5 Regency Stars

Another offering from Reynolds, this time an imaginative, 21st-century retelling of P&P set on Cape Cod. Despite her love for Austen-style happy endings, marine biologist Cassie Boulton wants nothing to do with the modern-day Darcy who shows up in her lab. But the taciturn and aloof Calder Westing will do anything to convince her they belong together, even if this means writing his own version of P& P. As enjoyable and sensual as any of Reynolds’s novels.

Abigail Reynolds’ Pemberley by the Sea is a retelling of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, but in modern times and with modern sensibilities. Who would have Elizabeth Bennet been in today’s world, and who would have been Fitzwilliam Darcy?

In Reynolds’ modern day romance, which is set on Cape Cod and in Pennsylvania, Dr. Cassie Boulton is a marine biologist who loves a good book so long as the ending is a happy one—because there are just too much unpleasantness in real life. In many ways Cassie and Elizabeth are both strong women with a sharp wit, but Cassie also is an accomplished career woman with serious ambitions and a dangerous past. One of my favorite scenes is when she and Calder are in a charming bookstore and he has merely followed her around and not said much (from pg. 29).

She paid for her purchase, and said good-bye to Ed, and then turned back to Calder. He held a book in his hand now but was still looking at her with disturbing intensity. She smiled with apparent sweetness at him and said cheekily, "Lovely chatting with you, Calder. We’ll have to do this again some time." She made a quick exit, leaving the bells on the door jingling behind her.

The tension here is palatable, and it remains so throughout the novel, and Reynolds does a great job showing and creating sexual tension, charisma, and release between these characters.

Calder Westing III is the son of a rich, Republican, and southern political family. Like Mr. Darcy, Calder Westing is the consummate blue blood with his chiseled features, highbrow manners, and cool temperament, but passion runs deep beneath the veneer as does his loyalty and vulnerability.

Their summer romance hits them hard and fast, but it quickly fades into the background as each deals with the unpleasantness of their every day lives and the qualms they have about fitting into one another’s world. Calder fights for his love through an adaptation of Cassie’s favorite novel, while Cassie has to fight her basic instinct to flee when harsh times approach. She manages to overcome her innate, biological responses and confides in Calder, trusting that they can work through anything together.

Not only are we thrust into their romance, but the reader is introduced to Erin (i.e. Jane Bennet) and Scott (i.e. Mr. Bingley), whose romance falls off track and only rights itself on its own, not as cleanly as it happens in Austen’s novel. Caro, Calder’s mother, is another fascinating character, along with the Jim, Cassie’s mentor, and Dave Crowley, attorney and long-time friend of Calder’s family and Cassie. Joe, Calder’s father, is a force to be reckoned with, and the tension in the novel becomes almost stifling when he enters a scene. There is a wide range of supporting characters in this novel, and each has a significant role to play, which makes this more than just an Austen do-over.

Not only has Reynolds eloquently captured the tension between the characters and developed their relationships believably throughout the 400+ page novel, she has taken the time to put the reader in Woods Hole with her descriptions. It was like taking a vacation and getting lost on the seaside or in the marsh. Check out this description from pg. 422.

Cassie stood on the beach in front of the house, her arms wrapped around herself. Finally some peace and quiet. A cool breeze blew in over Buzzard’s Bay, whipping up whitecaps that broke on the shore, coming closer and closer to her feet as the tide came in. Around her lay the flotsam of the last high tide, strands of seaweed, broken shells, and here and there an empty shark egg case. Mermaids’ purses—that was what children called the egg cases when they discovered them on the beach. A used-up dead shell that once protected a baby dogfish or skate, and now it would be a child’s treasure.

Not only do the descriptions do justice to the setting and put the reader in the midst of the scene with the characters, they serve to put the reader in the characters’ minds. What is Cassie thinking? How is Cassie reacting? In some cases, the scenes serve to foreshadow upcoming events, feelings, and trials, but in others the scenes symbolize overarching themes in the text.

From the beginning to the end, this is an engrossing novel that takes the reader on a deep ride into the romance and struggles of these two characters. They are memorable, and I was sad to see them go. I hope we hear more from these characters. In terms of Jane Austen spin offs and redos, this is one of the best and could even stand on its own without the references to Pride & Prejudice, which is a clear testament to Reynolds’ talent as a writer.

I want to thank Danielle Jackson at Sourcebooks for sending me this novel to review.

Cassie Boulton was the only one in her Chicago family who went to college. She escaped on a scholarship and worked her way up to a Ph.D. in Marine Biology. She was working toward tenure as a professor at a small college she loved. She spent her summers near Cape Cod in a resort area known as Woods Hole. She had been doing research studies funded by environmentalist organizations for several years. Her research assistant was her constant friend, beautiful Erin.

Calder Westing III was visiting Woods Hole with a friend, Scott, who had a summer home and spent as much time as possible there. Calder was the son of a Republican U.S. Senator from Virginia. His whole family was politically motivated except Calder. He was an author. That did not mean, however, that he was a man of many words. He had almost perfected the one-word answer.

Ms. Abigail Reynolds has written a great book with more substance than is normal. Many of you will be familiar with Pride and Prejudice. It was Cassie’s favorite book. When the relationship stalled, Calder rewrote the book staring the two of them. Reynolds used so much of the characterizations to bring the characters to life. There were a myriad of people in this beautiful story that made the book come alive.

The research professionals, the college community, the politicians, the family members and also the society from these areas were all intermingled within this well-told story. The people were so well developed it was almost as if I was watching a screen. The depth of feelings shown either endeared them to us or gave us reason to dislike them.

I actually got emotionally involved with Cassie and her ups and downs and the loving way Calder handled her. It’s a story to be enjoyed by anyone. The sexual scenes were loving but not explicit. There was much sensuality, but nothing that would be distasteful to anyone.

I highly recommend this book. You will be glad to have read it. I guarantee it.

Cassie Boulton, marine biologist, spends her summers doing research in Woods Hole. One summer, the wealthy Calder Westing appears in her life, and to say that things don’t start well would be an understatement - he comes across as being extremely haughty, doesn’t enjoy folk dances and doesn’t inspire conversation. And yet there is no denying that there is some sort attraction between the two, though Cassie believes Calder’s only interested in a summer fling until he rewrites Pride and Prejudice with the two of them as the main characters.

The back of the book claims that this book is “Pride and Prejudice with sun, sand seafood, and surf,” but I think this is a little bit misleading. It’s not your typical retelling of a Jane Austen story. Most of the ones that I have read that claim to be a modern story in the style of Austen’s books follow her stories fairly closely, whereas with this one the characters are very similar to Darcy and Elizabeth and their situations are similar, but the plot itself differs quite a bit more than usual. In fact, if this book were following the storyline of P&P more, then the last third of this book wouldn’t be included in the book at all.

The last third all takes place after Cassie and Calder get together and is, imo, the best part of the book. What I really liked about this book was that as soon as they confessed their feelings for each other the book didn’t end - it went on to show how even after they get together there are still many problems regarding the relationship. It isn’t happy ever after and across as being a bit more realistic. Though, the problems weren’t surrounding Cassie and Calder, per se, but more surrounding people’s reactions and responses to the relationship. Still, it explores how there are still problems that any happy couple have to work through.

The narration was cheesy at times - but I always find love scenes a little cheesy, so maybe I’m not the best judge in that respect. Not cheesy to the point of distraction; it actually added to the fun I had while reading this book and gave me something to giggle about. But there was definitely a bit of cheese.

Overall, the book was fun. Smart characters, misunderstood male leads (one of my favourite sorts of fictional men), settings that I could vividly see in my head while reading, and talk of Jane Austen! Let’s face it - any book that even remotely praises Jane Austen is good in my books.

I’m definitely adding this book to my Jane-Austen-adaptations-that-I-thoroughly-enjoy section on my bookshelf.

Pemberley By The Sea is a re-telling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, in a modern day setting. All of the major players are accounted for, with Cassie and Calder in the starring roles. Cassie is a scientist and professor who has worked hard for what she’s accomplished and maintains a strong, independent personality. Calder, from an influential and powerful family is being encouraged to seek out a life in politics, and he has the ideal public persona to be a success.

These two quite different characters meet by chance, through friends, one summer on Cape Cod. Although Cassie and Calder find themselves clashing quite often, they can’t avoid the spark that ignites between them. Before they know it, they have fallen into a deeply romantic relationship. But soon enough the summer ends and they now must come to an agreement on whether to continue their relationship or go their separate ways.

Against his powerful families wishes, Calder wants nothing more than to make a life with Cassie. She, however, has other ideas. Pushing him away, and maintaining a distance are how she chooses to protect herself from revealing the secrets of her not so nice background. In an attempt to prove his love to Cassie, Calder uses her most loved novel, to win her over. Re-writing a classic with themselves as the main characters.

Overall, I found Pemberley By The Sea to be a fun read, although it is a longer book it was a very quick read. Cassie and Calder were an enjoyable portrayal of a modern day Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy and the secondary characters were also good. The writing was really the highlight of this novel, the words have a wonderful flow, and the mixture of narrative and dialogue work perfectly. Also the addition of Calder’s novel excerpts and a few emails are a very unique touch.

Pemberley By The Sea was a very interesting look at how an Austen novel may have turned out had it been set in the present. However, some things that I found a bit off were the steamy but unromantic sex scenes and the references to street gangs. But perhaps had Austen been a woman of the here and now her novels may have been much like this. Pemberley By The Sea is a engaging re-telling of Pride And Prejudice, and makes a nice companion to the original.

Cassie Boulton is a dedicated marine biologist, the ocean her life’s work. Year after year, she returns to Woods Hole to continue her study of the marshlands surrounding the picturesque tourist town. When her best friend Erin invites Cassie to lunch to meet her new boyfriend, Cassie accepts. As always, her unlucky-in-love friend is looking for Cassie’s seal of approval in her choice of men. She’s surprised to discover that boyfriend Rob has brought along a friend, a darkly handsome man Cassie finds very attractive. Surprised by her reaction, Cassie is eager to learn more about Calder, but it’s clear the man finds the entire situation uncomfortable. It’s only later that Cassie learns that Calder is a member of a wealthy and very powerful family.

Calder Westing III has reason to be wary of others. As the son of a powerful and popular state senator, he’s spent his life in the limelight and as constant fodder for the voracious paparazzi. Women with designs on his fortune are forever throwing themselves at him. Cassie Boulton, however, doesn’t fit the stereotype and might actually have been telling the truth when she admitted she had no idea who he was. Even so, Calder vows to stay away from her - eventually her true colours will show. But as the weeks go by, the pair spends more time together - and they eventually fall into an affair. Calder realizes that Cassie Boulton has changed his life. But can their love survive the machinations of his powerful family? Time apart gives each the opportunity to re-evaluate their relationship and priorities in the hope that they can move toward a happy ending.

Jane Austen might well find herself pleased with Abigail Reynolds’ modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Reynolds does a nice job portraying Calder as aloof, introverted and inherently suspicious about strangers’ intentions. Cassie, whose verve for her work and life in general is like a breath of fresh air for the brooding Calder, is his polar opposite. Reynolds has created a wonderfully fresh retelling of a perennial classic, starring two great characters who suffer through a series of misunderstandings, disappointments, secrets and interfering family members. A picturesque Cape Cod setting adds even more to the story, making Pemberley by the Sea a delightful contemporary romance.

Jane Austen fan or not you can not help but love Abigail Reynolds’ Pemberley by the Sea. I devoured this four hundred plus page book within days, it was so good. Based on the plot and characters of Pride and Prejudice, this novel is truly one of the best renditions of the tale. Taken to a modern level, Pemberley by the Sea explores science and art equally.

Let’s start with the heroine: Cassie Boulton is a marine biologist on tenure-track with a small liberal arts college. She spends her summers in Woods Hole working on research and taking in the salt marshes. Life hasn’t been easy for Cassie, there are things in her past she doesn’t want anybody to know for fear they’d think of her differently. Cassie presents herself as the golden girl; she was the top of the class and one of the few lucky ones to land a prestigious job and research grant right out of school.

Cassie’s best friend is Erin, who is looking to join biotechnologies instead of academia. Erin is the conventional pretty one: long limbed, blue eyes, and blonde. Erin has been unfortunate enough to have in her past one particularly nasty boyfriend so when she meets Scott at a local dance, Erin convinces Cassie to come pass judgment on him over lunch the next day. This is where Cassie is formally introduced to Calder, our hero, though of course if you know the story of Pride and Prejudice you know they’ve met before at the dance.

Our hero Calder Westing, hates the publicity and fangirls that follow him due to his last name. His father Joseph Westing is a senator, his brother is in the House of Representatives and Calder he’s the first Westing to eschew politics all together. Instead, he writes under a pseudo name and publishes his books despite his father’s disproval. Calder is intrigued by Cassie from the very beginning but his quiet, withdrawn and taciturn nature gets in his way from expressing himself. This must be a first for a published author. Wink.

Cassie can’t believe Calder is actually interested in her. She thinks he tolerates her presence because he’s watching out for Scott and because he’s bored. She’s surprised to find herself drawn to Calder and unable to resist his kisses. When they make love it overwhelms her but when the passion clears Cassie is horrified to have given in so easily. She doesn’t do casual sex and she just gave herself to a man who is surely going to think of her as another notch on his bed post. Upset she leaves Calder behind and makes excuses to not see him.

My favorite part in the whole novel has to be the bioluminescent water play. My second favorite section is reading Calder’s book Pride and Presumption as he struggles to explain in writing where verbal communication failed him. This part is so sweet it just jerks your heart. With Cassie reading his true feelings and feeling the same in return, I wondered how on earth the novel could continue for a few hundred more pages. But it does and the novel beautifully unfolds as Cassie’s fears, Calder’s fears and his family all try to break apart the lovebirds. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet had it easy in comparison. Even Jane and Bingley had it easier than Scot and Erin if you can imagine!

Contemporary lovers, Jane Austen fans, I recommend wholeheartedly this book to you. Abigail Reynolds will draw you in and keep you there through all the twists and turns. I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that I hope this gets made into a movie and that Matthew MacFadyen plays his contemporary counterpart like Colin Firth did with Bridget Jones’s Diary as Mr. Darcy.

Rating: 5 Stars hands down.

Many thanks, as always, to Danielle at Sourcebooks for sending along this copy. It was a wonderful jumpstart to returning to reading after vacation.

Listen, I’m not going to tell you this is a literary masterpiece. I mentioned at bookclub that when I rate books, I rate them for what they are. Meaning it’s impossible to compare chick lit with To Kill a Mockingbird. So this book, another in the inspired by Pride & Prejudice genre, is one of the better ones. I liked it because it was a loose, modern interpretation and didn’t attempt to take Jane Austen’s characters and alter their future (a la, Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife).

Cassie is a marine biologist who spends her summers studying the salt marshes on CapeCod. After her good friend and assistant begins to date Scott (Bingley), Cassie continues to have run ins with Scott’s friend Calder (Darcy). After the first third of the book, similarities with P&P fall away and the story comes into its own. So you can settle in, and follow along because you know deep down it will all work out. Although it is pretty racy (making a seasoned reader - me - blush in some places), and there are a couple kinda cheesy parts - I think that comes with the territory.

This was a fun, light read that is a fitting tribute to P&P while making for a fast, compelling read. Staci’s got dibs...but if you give me your addy, she’ll send it to you next. :)

4 stars

Pemberley by the Sea Abigail Reynolds. Sourcebooks, $14.95 paper (432p) ISBN 978-1-4022-1356-4

In this engaging love story, Austen enthusiast Reynolds (The Pemberley Variations) brings echoes of Elizabeth and Darcy to present-day New England. Marine biologist Cassie Boulton spends summers at an insular Cape Cod academic community, studying salt marshes. Sparks fly when Calder Westing, the heir of a famous political dynasty, enters her life, but Cassie knows better than to fall for a man who can have any woman he wants. Certain her low-profile career and inner-city Chicago background disqualify her from long-term consideration, she cuts ties with Calder after just one steamy night. Cassie doesn’t know that Calder harbors genuine feelings for her. With some literary maneuvering, Calder finally wins Cassie’s heart, but his powerful, ruthless father is determined to split them up. Beyond a surplus of cliché and throwaway characters, lush descriptions of Cape Cod are appropriately aphrodisiacal, the couple’s wit and chemistry make them worth rooting for, and Cassie’s well-rendered intellectual life not only gives her depth and independence, it gives readers a welcome break from that standard of modern heroine-ism, the plucky fashion and/or media lackey. (Oct.)