Book Review: Jane

Title - Jane

Author - April Lindner

Genre - YA, Contempoary, Retelling

Published - October 11th 2010

Publisher - Poppy

Format - Paperback

(Goodreads)(Amazon)

Synopsis

Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance. 

But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is soon tested by an agonizing secret from his past. Torn between her feelings for Nico and his fateful secret, Jane must decide: Does being true to herself mean giving up on true love?

An irresistible romance interwoven with a darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers. 

Teaser 

“You’re here!” Maddy shrieked.

I stood in the doorway, hands clasped before me, wondering whether I should stay or go. I was still wearing the grubby clothes I’d hiked in — a pine green T-shirt and a pair of jeans. I’d just about decided to slip back to my room when Maddy’s voice rang out again. “Daddy, guess what? I have a new nanny. Her name’s Miss Jane.”

“Is that right? Is she good to you? Do you like her?”

“I like her better than Miss Bridget,” Maddy told him.

“And where is Miss Jane now?” he asked, peeking around the corner of the chair. Behind him, I heard the jangle of dog tags and saw a long shape stretched out on the rug before the fire.

I took a step forward and froze. It was the man who had swerved to miss me and sideswiped the guardrail. He looked more natural than on his album covers and was younger-looking than I’d expected, but, still, he was unmistakably Nico Rathburn. How had I not recognized his face? In the many photos I’d seen of him, he had always seemed so removed from the world I lived in that now it was hard to believe he was standing a few feet away and looking right back at me.

Review

Jane is a modern day spin on the classic Jane Eyre novel. Jane’s lost everything her parents has passed away leaving her poor without a way to pay for school, she’s never been close to her siblings and now she’s forced to find a job. Take a job as a nanny shouldn’t be hard even if the agency wants her to work for a celebrity she’s not into all that trendy stuff. Her first Client happens to be the famous rock star Nico Rathburn, and the only reason she knows about him is her brother was obsessed with his third album. Before heading to his home she looks him up learning about his time in the spotlight from drinking, to drugs even a whirl wind marriage and a daughter with a European singer.

Jane arrives at Thornfield Park to learn that Nico isn’t even home and no one is sure exactly when he will roll into the estate. Jane instantly befriends Maddy quickly fitting into life around the home, and starting to feel like she really belongs. While on one of her painting walks she’s run off the road by a fast driver who she later learns is the elusive Nico Rathburn. The more Jane gets to know Nico the more enchanted she is with him, quickly falling head over heels in love with him and her life at Thornfield. When he returns home with a beautiful photographer even admitting he’s going to marry her Jane knows she must leave. Before that can happen he confesses his love for her and the pair decide to marry but someone shows up at the wedding changing everything. Will Jane be able to accept the secrets and truth that Nico has been hiding or will she leave forever?

Jane reminds me very much of the Jane in the classic and I think the author did a great job of bringing her into the modern world. I found myself loving Jane she’s such a sweet innocent girl who fell in love with a rock star who changed her life forever and she found the one thing she has spent her whole life looking for. I liked Nico even thought I knew how it was going to play out he’s a good guy just maybe didn’t make the right choices every time.

I love Jane Eyre it’s one of my all-time favorite classic’s however it’s been ages since I’ve read it. Jane isn’t a new concept but I think the author did a great job putting the modern spin on the classic. I loved the characters they are easy to connect new Jane may have just pushed classic Jane out of my favorite classic spot. I enjoyed every moment of reading Jane and Nico’s story it’s a captivating story that I found hard to put down even though I knew how it would play out. I really enjoyed the authors writing style it’s beautifully done she’s woven an intricate emotional story that captured my heart as well as imagination. I purchased this one a long time ago in paperback but never seemed to get around to it now I can’t believe I waited so long. I know Jane will be one of those books I will read over and over in the future. Jane is a mostly clean romance while they do have a little steam it’s tastefully done. I know teens as well as adults will fall in love with Jane like I did. This is my first novel by the author but I'm already anxiously looking forward to reading her other books. I really just loved Jane it was beautiful.