BOOK BY: Joanne Bischof DeWitt
I’m a huge Jane Austen fan and enjoy reading stories that give a nod in some way or another to her. The Heart of Bennet Hollow is a Pride & Prejudice retelling, taking place at the turn of the 20th Century in the Appalachians.
The story centres on a coal mine acquisition (by William Drake, aka Mr. Darcy). The Bennet family farm happens to border land with the coal mine which eventually brings ownership into question, causing quite the dilemma for the Bennet family. The descriptions of the coal town and the Bennet farm are wonderful, pulling readers into the setting right from the start.
The premise caught my attention, but the story didn’t. I’m not sure why I didn’t feel invested however; I enjoyed reading the ending much more than the beginning. There’s a nice twist at the end that made reading the entire novel well worth it.
The cast of characters are exactly whom you’d expect in a retelling, though the Bennet cousin is much more tolerable and less self-absorbed in this version.
If you enjoy Pride & Prejudice retellings, try out The Heart of Bennett Hollow.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.