"It is very often nothing but our own vanity that deceives us. Women fancy admiration means more than it does. And men take care that they should."
Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Emma Pierce is a marketing executive with a dreary past. Despite her admiration for Jane Austen novels, she just can't seem to find her romantic hero. After fleeing an awkward scene with her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend, she meets Lucas Hampton. As fate would have it, Lucas is also the new consultant Emma ends up working with at Kinetics. Lucas is a man of many layers, and as Emma uncovers them, she begins to suspect he might be her Mr. Knightley.

There are several things I loved about this book. First of all, the work scenes were totally realistic. I felt like I was actually in the Kinetics office with Emma. It was a great idea to put the heroine and hero together as coworkers. This made the huge focus on their career tasks tolerable. If Lucas hadn't worked with Emma, I would have certainly complained that too much of the book had been devoted to her job. The author displayed a vast knowledge of the marketing field and health clubs. I have a deep respect for authors who do their homework before publishing a book.

The other thing I loved most about this book was witnessing Emma's journey to understand the truth about herself and Jane Austen. When she finally stopped being angry with Jane Austen for the false expectations she'd held tightly to most of her life, Emma realized Jane Austen's works were written to empower women, not fill their heads with silly romantic notions. Women are smart. Women have choices. We can choose who we love and who we will share our love with. Love and life are about taking risks. Even if things don't work out as we wish them to, we will be okay.

I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Perfect for Jane Austen fans, this book will give a taste of classic romance story she's famous for without directly retelling any of the classic stories. Emma is a bold, inventive marketing professional, and her surrounding cast of characters including her ex, her best friend, and her boss create a lively story together (her best friend is nicknamed "cyclops" and her boss doesn't wear shoes in the office). When Lucas enters the scene, we really get to know Emma as she works to create boundaries in her personal life, advocate for herself as a professional, and decide who she really has feelings for. Emma is likable, and while she strives to appear poised and calm, she lets her personality shine in relatable moments (usually after closing the hotel door has provided her with some privacy). Jane Austen quotes preface each chapter and will endear those who are familiar with her books.

I have to say, I LOVED this book! It was endearing and realistic instead of overly dramatic and slutty. I loved the integrity of Lucas and the maturity of Blake. All the way around, a fabulous read!

I loved this book & so would have Miss Austen. This is the first one of Julie Wright's I have read. Going back to find & devour her other titles.