"Engaging Mr. Darcy" by Rachel John

Jane Austen might be surprised, but more than two centuries after her death, she’s responsible for a large and growing publishing empire.

Not only do her own novels remain popular, they have spawned countless offshoots: contemporary retellings, science fiction Austen, mystery Austen, television Austen, movie Austen, non-fiction studies Austen, and even Zombie Austen. If nothing else, this publishing and popular media outpouring is a tribute to how much her books are still loved and admired.

Engaging Mr. Darcy by Rachel John falls into the “contemporary retelling” category. It’s Pride and Prejudice, updated as a contemporary romance. It includes all the familiar characters and the familiar story line, even if they’re in unfamiliar roles. 

Elsie Bennet lives and works with her sister Jane in a small California town. They’re operating an increasingly successful mail-order T-shirt business out of their home; Elsie also works part-time at a pizza parlor famous for its bad food. They have three other sisters who live with their parents. One sister, Lydia, is a flighty spendthrift who’s convinced she’ll make it big in movies.

Rachel John

Into the pizza parlor one night wanders Will (short for Fitzwilliam) Darcy, who is renting a home in town for a few months with his best friend Charlie Bingley. Will and Elsie clash immediately over a pizza order, and the relationship stays frosty after Charlie begins to date Jane. Charlie’s something of a butterfly – dating girls for a short time and then moving on. Charlie’s sister Caroline is intent on landing Will, but Will remains steadfastly uninterested. He does find himself becoming interested in Elsie, but the two are oil and water. 

Elsie’s mother hopes that Elsie will settle down with that nice Will Collins, who’s just won the lottery and become filthy rich. Will’s finances are being managed by Will’s aunt, Catherine DuBourg, a financial planner. Catapulting into this sea of romantic stories in Jeff Wickham, who seems intent on pursuing Elsie and Lydia simultaneously and aggravating Will Darcy as much as possible. 

John has written several romance novels, including two others derived from Jane Austen books, including Emma the Matchmaker and Persuading the Captain. Other novels are grouped in the “Matched by Mistake” and “A Change in Plans” series. She’s also written several children’s stories.

Engaging Mr. Darcy ends predictably, just like the original story it’s based on. But it is a fun romp through Jane Austen retold as (somewhat) California cool. 

"Better with You" by Rachel John

Shaun Randall, six feet four and with bright red hair, is a young man with no interest in settling down. He keeps relationships with girls superficial, but he can find a way to talk to just about any girl. Just don’t get too close. He’s at dinner by himself, when he sees a couple obviously having a bad date. They guy is watching sports games on television, while the girl is saying nothing and only fiddling with the straw in her drink.

He rides to the rescue, posing as the girl’s cousin, and then waits with her outside while her sister comes to pick her up. The girl is Paige Parker, talked into a bad date by her mother. Paige is one self-sufficient young woman, staging homes for sale, flipping houses herself, and determined to be a success. She’s also lonely, but she keeps shoving her feelings to the back of her emotional closet. She has work to do and worlds to conquer.

Rachel John

While they wait for her ride to show up, they get along so well that Paige impulsively kisses him before dashing to her sister’s car. It looks like this relationship has ended before it began, but Shaun and Paige keep running into each other, and then find themselves competing for the same house. Shaun helps her move furniture from a house she sold. At some point, the lives of Shaun and Paige will converge – but will it be a clash or, perhaps, something else?

Better with You by Rachel John is the second novel in the “A Change of Plans” series by writer Rachel John. It’s also one of 12 romance novels written by the author, along with two quiz books, a children’s book of bedtime stories, and an audio romance book. John lives with her family in Arizona. 

The story keeps the reader guessing, although we know it won’t end badly. But we don’t know how it will end, and whether Shaun will overcome the baggage from his childhood and whether Paige will understand that life isn’t all about work. But there's always hope.