Friday, August 14, 2009

Seducing Mr. Darcy by Gwen Cready



I loved this book! Let me just start by saying this: Sexiest game of Scrabble ever. This book was time-travel but not, contemporary and historical, funny and sad.

Flip is a bird researcher and is part of a book club that is planning to review Pride and Prejudice. Magnus is a Jane Austen scholar from England currently working at the local college. Flip and her friends are outside a coffee shop one morning, talking and laughing and making ribald remarks about Mr. Darcy, planning their book club meeting the next week. Magnus is sitting nearby, trying to work and not hear their ridiculous remarks about the book. He is a serious scholar and can't believe they're reducing P&P to comments about Mr. Darcy's pants and hedgerows. As she leaves the coffee shop, Flip accidentally bumps into Magnus. She tries to make small talk but he rebuffs her by repeating some of what he'd overheard of their conversation and leaves. Flip gets angry and follows him, planning to tell him off, but ends up distracted and her neck hurts. She sees a flyer for a quick massage and decides, why not?

The massage has a theme - Imagine Yourself In Your Favorite Book. Of course Flip imagines herself in P&P. She falls asleep and wakes up in the book. Her character, Lady Quellin, ends up having sex with Mr. Darcy in a gazebo! She wakes up back on the table, thrilled with the massage, and heads home. The next morning, she sees a copy of P&P at the library - a first edition- and it's different!! Lizzie Bennett does not marry Mr. Darcy, she has a tryst with Wickham and ends up pregnant and alone!!! Uh-Oh. Flip needs to see more to see how bad it is but the book is encased in glass and guess who has access? Yup, Magnus. She goes to him for help (obviously she can't tell him the truth) and he denies her. She leaves in a huff.

He is intrigued by her request and goes to her home to get more information, and a comedy of situations ensues, including the sexy Scrabble game. Magnus sees the changes in the book and is alarmed and confused. Flip ends up back at the massage therapist to try to correct the changes, but it's dangerous because you're not supposed to go back into the same book twice, AND, you only have 24 hours from when you started to correct the changes. Magnus follows her and ends up in the book as well, and the two of them try to get Lizzie and Darcy back together.

This book was great! From the first page I laughed and cheered. The characters were likeable and I really wanted Flip and Magnus together. Flip's ex-husband, Jed, and his girlfriend Io were hilariously awful. I couldn't put it down, this one definitely goes on my keeper shelf! I want to read it again!!!

9 comments:

  1. OMG Loved SMD LOL when IO & the EX, then topped with the story of P&P it totally rocked.
    I really liked the way Gwen Writes I love romance but with laugh out loud humor & she dose that.
    Great review.

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  2. This book sounds adorable!! How have I missed it!! GREAT review!!!

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  3. Patti! I loved your review, girl!

    I've looked up Gwen Cready before but I don't remember what held me back from purchasing her books.

    Hmmm....This one sounds really good. I'm very interested in this sexy game of scrabble. Yum!

    ;) VFG

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  4. This sounds great! I'm definitely adding it to my TBR list! Did it just come out, is it brand new?

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  5. Thanks Alba- I've not read anything else by Ms. Cready but intend to do so.

    Mandi - I totally recommend this book!

    VFG - Thanks! I'd totally play Scrabble with Magnus!

    Julie - I think it's new, according to her website it was up for a 2009 award of some sort.

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  6. Wonderful review!! OMG, how do I not have this book?! It sounds like one I would absolutely love!

    I'll definitely be looking in to this one.

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  7. Barbara - definitely add it to your list - it was great!

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  8. Patti I loved this book! And that game of Scrabble...oh my...so hot!!!!!! Magnus was such a bookishly sexy hero.

    Thanks for the great review.

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  9. Oh yes,Annie - very hot! His character really grew on me.

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