A clever 'update' of Austen's Emma, with shades of Emma Approved and (*sigh*) Pride and Prejudice. Laura Briggs and Sarah Burgess neatly work in the key threads of the original story - false flirtation, pet project, a few home truths for the heroine - while maintaining a believable stand-alone story (albeit a romance) about two warring relationship counsellors who grow from snark to spark. Instead of sticking too closely to the source material - looking at you, Mr McCall Smith - the authors let the characters speak and act convincingly for the twenty-first century, rather than force them to observe the rules of Austen's time. I'm not sure why they felt the need to throw P+P into the mix, though - there was no need to turn 'Emma' into Elizabeth, with four wayward sisters and a hysterical mother, but 'Darcy' worked quite well (leaving good friend and neighbour George Knightley hanging, sadly). A recognisable formula for romance novels, perhaps, but I did miss the traditional Austen resolution! A satisfying and smoothly written reworking of my favourite novel. ( )