For You Alone

Up until the last forty pages or so, this was a five star book. I loved reading about Wentworth and his interactions with his family. It was lovely meeting his brother, and I've always had a soft spot for Sophie.

This was a great continuation of the first novel, but I wasn't quite content about how things ended. I can't give away any details for fear of ruining the plot for others, but the novel just slid into a big puddle of awkward. It made me say to myself, "they would never do that," and the ending was a relief. All is forgiven considering how great the novel was overall.

I loved it. ( )

Do... I wish Kaye would write a book about Wentworth's siblings?: Yes! I've always been partial to Sophia Croft, especially Fiona Shaw Sophia, and Kaye's articulation of both Sophia and elder brother Edward is just wonderful.

Am... I contemplating writing Kaye a fan letter?: Yes, although I'm not sure what I'll say other than 'Dear Ms Kaye, your books are made of awesome and so are you'.

Did... I about die of joy when I discovered there's going to be a third book?: Ohmygosh, yes. Praise higher powers for that.

Review: I read this book in at least half the time of the first, and I think it's because there's so much original plot in this one. Unlike None But You, which is almost scene-for-scene of Persuasion (right down to the dialogue), Kaye has to fill in the details of Wentworth's activities after the disastrous event in Lyme. While Anne and her family goes to Bath, Wentworth is on his own, and Kaye easily fleshes out Wentworth's family. In None But You, the reader is sort of holding their breath, wondering how Kaye will handle the scenes and characters we readers are so familiar with. I think that's why my reading was so slow. In For You Alone, I had no apprehension that there might be a wrong note -- Kaye already proved her Austen competency, and when it came to her original plotting regarding Wentworth, it was engaging and felt authentic.

There was a different feel to this book than the first in terms of tension, and again I suspect it's due to the change in plot and focus. None But You is fraught with the tension of Anne and Wentworth's reunion and the reader's knowledge of what is to come. In For You Alone, Wentworth (and the reader) freed from the carefully controlled dance of society and I think everyone breathed a bit easier.

The only misstep for me was the very abrupt change of focus that began at Chapter Fourteen. With no notice, the point-of-view changed from solely Wentworth to that of Wentworth and Anne; finding myself in Anne's bedroom as she and her maid prepared for the night felt very sudden and abrupt. I wished Kaye had done something to indicate this shift in direction, perhaps a Part I and Part II, something like that. ( )

Persuasion is my favorite book by Jane Austen, and I really loved reading Frederick's perspective. I wished she hadn't divided the story into two books though, I think it was unnecessary. I would recommend this to others if they like Jane Austen and/or romance. ( )