Lies Jane Austen Told Me by Julie Wright (Review)

Ever since Emma read Pride and Prejudice, she’s been in love with Mr. Darcy and has regarded Jane Austen as the expert on all things romantic. So naturally when Emma falls for Blake Hampton and he invites her home to meet his parents, she is positive an engagement is in her future. After all, Blake is a single man in possession of a good fortune, and thus must be in want of a wife.

But when it turns out that what Blake actually wants is more of a hook-up than a honeymoon, Emma is hurt, betrayed, and furious. She throws herself deeper into her work as CMO of Kinetics, the fastest growing gym franchise in the nation. She loves her work, and she’s good at it, which is why she bristles when her boss brings in a consultant to help her spearhead the new facilities on the East Coast. Her frustration turns to shock when that consultant turns out to be Blake’s younger brother, Lucas.

Emma is determined not to fall for Lucas, but as she gets to know him, she realizes that Lucas is nothing like his brother. He is kind and attentive and spends his time and money caring for the less fortunate.

What she can’t understand is why Lucas continues to try to push her back into Blake’s arms when he so clearly has fallen as hard for her as she has fallen for him.

Realizing that her love life is as complicated as anything Jane Austen could have dreamed up, Emma must find a way to let Blake know that it’s time for him to let her go and to let Lucas know.

Amazon // Goodreads

Emma Pierce isn’t perfect. She’s great at her job and a good friend, but when it comes to other relationships, she finds herself lacking. Then there’s the issue of her mother. One she hasn’t fully come to terms with even as an adult. Add in her small issue using her thoughts-to-verbalization filter, and Emma finds herself in some uncomfortable predicaments.

Julie Wright takes readers through Emma’s struggle with liking her ex’s brother—a matter only more complicated by the fact she now works and spends a lot of time with said brother. This woman also has a competitive streak that sometimes gets the better of her.

In the end, everyone involved gets a satisfying conclusion. Well, everyone except for Emma’s BFF Silvia, but I’m hoping that just means she gets her own story.

I’m thrilled that the Proper Romance line (Shadow Mountain Publishing) is branching out into contemporary books. Lies Jane Austen Told Me is a fantastic read to launch that line.

***I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.