Shannon Hale

I hope you don't mind one more Austen-inspired novel, but I just finished this one yesterday so I had to tell you about it. A young thirtyish woman inherits a trip to a living history resort based on Austen's Regency England and fictional heroes and heroines. In this resort, you're supposed to remain in character and be "romanced" by Darcy-,Wentworth-,Knightley-like gentlemen.

It's a quite bittersweet novel, 'cos one moment I was almost laughing out loud, the next I had tears welling up in my eyes. Granted, I'm a big softy and can cry at commercials, but I thought Ms. Hale did a wonderful job of showing how women deal with the fantasy and the reality of romance and love.