First Impressions Is a fantastic retelling or shall I say modernizing of Pride and Prejudice( One of my favorite books by the way) You have young love but is it the right love? You have some stupid love or shall I say tolerated not love - sad - piety - some little twist which are fun - I enjoy a good twist or two in a book. There is protective love - love that kind - who wouldn't? Familial love which is extremely special. Most importantly there is the love of GOD. Great correlation between the two books it is fantastic.

My Thoughts: It was interesting to see how the story could have played out in the 21st century. And I really enjoyed the angle Smith brings to the story by having them act out the Pride and Prejudice play. There were some elements of the original story that I felt like were very creatively translated into the new story. But I also felt like there were some elements that were either forced or flat out uncomfortable. For me, one of the more disappointing areas were the characters’ view of marriage. I know in the original, Mr. Bennet has a great deal of disdain for his silly wife. But for me, to have Mr. Boswick have such open and unrepented disdain for his wife while claiming that the only reason he isn’t divorced is because he’s a Christian had me feeling like a Christian’s responsibility in marriage was misrepresented.
First Impressions was a solid retelling of Pride and Prejudice. It was a light, entertaining read whether you’ve read Austen’s famous novel or not.
Rating and Recommendation: I’m giving First Impressions 4 stars and recommend it to Contemporary Fiction fans or those who enjoy Austen retellings.

~ I received a copy from Net Galley. I was not compensated for this review. All thoughts are my own.

A modern retelling of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice takes us to Eastern Texas where the sparks fly when a feisty lawyer overhears a handsome rancher stick his boot in his mouth.

It was fun to see Austen's novel and characters transplanted to small town Texas and seeing them enact the familiar scenes twice since everyone is brought together for a community play. Some characters are absent, thankfully not the Lady Catherine, Collins, or Caroline Bingley characters who never cease to make me smile at their antics. Some things were wisely set aside and others were inserted into the P&P play they are doing to better bring things into a modern setting.

Speaking of the play, one of my biggest niggles of this story was pacing. I did feel it was slower and I think the play is the reason. I felt like I was getting the story twice since the story actions, dialogue and characters were reflected in the play, too. I liked both, but I think maybe just glimpses now and then of the play would have made it better.

I should also say that one of the big element changes the author makes this an inspirational fiction story. Christian values, activities, and other elements are strong- attending church, ministry work, prayer, and motives for change and actions are prevalent.

I was rooting for Dave and Eddi and wanted them together just like I wanted Eddi's sisters and her friend to have their romances, but I also felt disengaged somewhat from the romance because Eddi stayed angry and ignorant of Dave's character and motives for so long. This wasn't different from the original story, but this is a modern so expectation is different, I guess. I was impatient for her to get a clue sooner since she's a quick, intelligent lawyer type in this story.

All in all, it was sweet and heartwarming, a bit slow, but definitely one I can recommend to those who enjoy Inspirational Fiction and modern retellings of Austen's novels.

I rec'd this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

As I began reading this book, I thought that it seemed familiar and not just because of the “Pride and Predjudice” theme. This is a reissue of a book that I’d read and enjoyed many years ago. I’m glad it’s been released again for a new group of readers to appreciate Deborah White Smith’s retelling of Jane Austen’s book. This time it’s set in modern-day London, Texas, and the English accents have been exchanged for southern ones. This storyline is about the characters participating in a dinner theater play of “Pride and Predjudice”. As they rehearse for the play, they find themselves in similar situations in their own lives. True to the storyline, they go through trials until they find their own happily-ever-after.

This is a sweet, clean, Christian romance that’s a fun story for when you’d like some light reading. I’m hoping that the rest of this series will be reissued, too.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review. This is my honest opinion about the book.

This is a re-release of a book that was previously published. I was very excited to read it, because I enjoy both Austenesque stories and modern Austen retellings.

Some things about this book were fun: the mirroring storylines, the similar-but-not-quite-the-same names, the theater links, and the characters. I enjoyed Eddi, although at times she annoyed me and I can't quite put my finger on why.

Some things, however, felt a bit repetitive (the mirroring storylines, in some places, for example). I also felt that the character of the aunt needed a bit more consistency, because the confrontation scene felt inconsistent to me.

All in all, it's a sweet story and I enjoyed it. I recommend it for fans of Christian fiction and Austen retellings.

I was granted a NetGalley review copy of this book for my Kindle for review. All opinions are my own.

Now, First Impressions isn’t my favorite Debra White Smith book. That honor belongs to a couple of her Seven Sisters titles. But it is a good read. As you might imagine, there’s an Elizabeth Bennett (Eddi Boswick), a Mr. Darcy (Dave Davidson), a Jane (Jenny Boswick), and so on. What’s interesting about this re-do of P&P is that all the modern characters are performing a community theater version of Pride & Prejudice in London, Texas. Some of the characters even play the roles of their corresponding Austen characters! You do get whacked over the head with the P&P of it all, I must admit. I do appreciate the bow to Austen’s classic works, though.

This is a modern take on the Pride and Prejudice story. What makes it so interesting is that the characters who are based on characters in the story are then cast as those characters in a Pride and Prejudice production. Though their circumstances and relationships fit closely with the play they are performing, they don’t seem to make the connection very quickly.
I am a Jane Austen fan and it was fun seeing what changed in this version to make it fit modern times. I felt the author did a good job of coming up with similar, fitting, modern options. There were plenty of my favorite P&P quotes included. Mr. Collins’ character was one of the biggest changes from the book. It didn’t totally satisfy me but there were signs of the pesky Collins I’m used to. The relationship between Eddi (Elizabeth) and Dave (Darcy) was just as stormy and entertaining as I’d hoped.
I would recommend this book. I think Austen fans will enjoy it and others may be drawn to at least check out the Pride & Prejudice movie if not the book after reading it. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

First impressions di Debra White Smith è, come ci indica il titolo, un retelling - in chiave moderna - di Orgoglio e Pregiudizio di Jane Austen.

La protagonista, Eddi/Edwarda (Elizabeth), è un'avvocatessa che sceglie di trasferirsi nella piccola cittadina di London, Texas, desiderosa di vivere una vita più semplice - nonché di allontanarsi dalla propria famiglia.
Dave (Darcy) è invece l'uomo più ricco del posto, e per questo lo scapolo più ambito, ma nasconde dei segreti riguardo se stesso e il suo passato...

Le prime interazioni tra i due non fanno ben sperare: come nella storia originale, Eddi ascolta Dave fare dei commenti negativi su di lei all'amico Calvin (Bingley), ed è inoltre irritata dall'orgoglio dell'uomo, che giudica rozzo e sgarbato.
Dave, dal canto suo, è stanco di essere inseguito da donne interessate solo al suo patrimonio, e col tempo si forma una pessima opinione delle sorelle di Eddi, Jenny (Jane) e Linda (Lydia).

L'attrazione che i due provano l'uno per l'altra è però innegabile, ed entrambi si ritroveranno poi a soffrire per scelte sbagliate e per essersi lasciati accecare dall'orgoglio e dal pregiudizio...

Il romanzo purtroppo non mi è piaciuto, e più di una volta ho avuto la tentazione di mollarlo. Solo verso la fine sono riuscita a trovarlo interessante (ma forse perché volevo semplicemente il mio lieto fine).
Innanzitutto non ho apprezzato lo stile, che a tratti mi è parso grossolano.
Il problema maggiore, però, è stato lo stesso cuore della storia: quasi tutti i personaggi, infatti, sono impegnati nel mettere in scena una riduzione teatrale di... Orgoglio e pregiudizio.
Ora, provo sempre fastidio e perplessità quando i personaggi di un retelling austeniano leggono il romanzo di Jane Austen da cui è tratta la loro stessa storia, o ne guardano un adattamento in tv, o, come in questo caso, ne imparano a memoria le battute.
Non faccio che chiedermi: " Non si accorgono di vivere gli stessi identici eventi?"; " Nessuno si chiede come mai i nomi di tutti, nonché le loro personalità siano uguali, o quanto meno poco dissimili, a quelli dei personaggi a cui si stanno appassionando?".
Personalmente lo trovo un fastidioso glitch, una sorta di bug.

Altro elemento che non ho apprezzato è stata la violenza. Non parlo di violenza fisica: nessuno (o quasi) viene malmenato. Tuttavia Eddi viene di continuo strattonata, trascinata da una parte all'altra e sembra tutto normale, nemmeno una donna forte e in carriera come lei si ribella a questo comportamento. Mi hanno infastidito, sempre riguardo a questo punto, anche alcune interazioni tra i coniugi Boswick (Bennet), nonché i modi di fare di Dave, che avrebbe dovuto essere l'epitome del fascino, ma non mi ha per nulla incantato.

Mi è piaciuto il cambiamento di cui è stata oggetto Lady Catherine (qui Mrs DeBloom), tuttavia, all'occorrenza, all'improvviso la dolce zia si è trasformata nel suo corrispettivo cartaceo, altezzosa e classista...

Vi sono stati però anche degli elementi che ho apprezzato molto: Calvin, ad esempio, e la sua reazione nel vedere Jenny per la prima volta, o il modo di presentare il disagio di Linda, di sicuro influenzata dalla predilezione del padre per Eddi, o dalla decantata bellezza di Jenny; la gelosia di Dave nel vedere Conner (Collins) essere in confidenza con Eddi.
Anche il rapporto tra i coniugi Boswick è stato indagato a fondo, tuttavia credo che un padre non dovrebbe parlare in modo così aperto alla propria figlia della relazione con la madre.

Nella storia non ci sono contenuti maturi (e di questo ne sono stata ben lieta) e abbastanza intrusivo è il ruolo della religione.

While Jane Austen is my absolute favorite author and Pride & Prejudice my favorite novel, I was class than impressed with this "retelling". It certainly adhered to the original plotline, but felt forced and a bit ridiculous at times. The character list at the beginning gives away the entirety fr anyone familiar with the story. My biggest hang up was the whole idea of all the characters in a play adaptation of Pride and Prejudice; it felt out of character for most of the players. I'd also add that there were several moments of just a bit too much adult detail for my liking in a "clean" Christian romance (mainly with Linda and Rick, and particularly in Hawaii). I understand the situation called for some tough situations, but allusion would've gotten the point across just fine.

This book (whether you read the new edition or the old one) is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I read this book before but when I was looking at books that Bethany House Publishers was publishing this year, I saw this one. I had to read it, again. It was just as good as I remembered. I did read the new version. Smith only made a few of her own changes to the story but they were done very well and fit the times.

Eddie and Dave played there role as Elizabeth and Darcy very well. Actually every character in the story was well written. The setting of the book, instead of taking place in England, took place in London, Texas. I thought that was creative on the part of the author. So, to sum everything up, I liked this book very much, the story was well thought out and the characters well written.

If you have not read this book, I highly recommend it.