Melodie Edwards (Jane & Edward) presents a wonderfully modern interpretation of Jane Austen's Persuasion in Once Persuaded, Twice Shy. Anne Elliot is the executive director of the Elysian Theatre in the tourist town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, one of Canada's favorite spots to enjoy historical reenactments and water sports. Ever since the death of her mother, Anne has helped provide for her self-indulgent father and clueless sister, while running the theater and trying to forget Ben Wentworth, her love from her youth.
But when Ben's aunt and uncle buy Kellynch, the winery Anne's family used to own before her father spent all their money, Anne's past comes back to haunt her. It's been eight years, but as soon as Ben reappears in Niagara-on-the-Lake, she remembers exactly why she fell for him the first time: "His brow slightly furrowed, that adorable furrow between his brows she used to like to smooth away." As her father's drinking problem worsens and the autumn theater festival gets complicated by fighting actors and a surprisingly violent goose who keeps invading rehearsals, Anne finds herself turning to handsome, helpful Ben multiple times, much to her chagrin.
Edwards beautifully captures the angst and nostalgia of reacquainting with a lost love, making this sweet, second-chance romance both an excellent nod to Austen's original and a fresh spin on a classic. With a delightful main character, an interesting Canadian setting, and a cast of zany theater types, Once Persuaded, Twice Shy is sure to appeal to romance readers and Austen lovers alike. It's funny and sweet--and romantic fiction at its best. --Jessica Howard, freelance book reviewer