Northern Rain: A North & South Variation in Austen Variations

Jul 09, 2016 Sheila Majczan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 stars

I am a huge reader of P&P variations but have read several sequels for North and South; it being another favorite story for me. When someone recommended Northern Rain to me and compared it to P&P and it then was available on kindle Unlimited I decided to vary my reading pattern for this book. I am very glad I took that step.

The title is immediately brought into play as John Thornton makes his annual visit of homage to his father's grave site. And despite his intuition that it was going 4.5 stars

I am a huge reader of P&P variations but have read several sequels for North and South; it being another favorite story for me. When someone recommended Northern Rain to me and compared it to P&P and it then was available on kindle Unlimited I decided to vary my reading pattern for this book. I am very glad I took that step.

The title is immediately brought into play as John Thornton makes his annual visit of homage to his father's grave site. And despite his intuition that it was going to rain makes a decision not to bring an umbrella. After all, rain hides any tears which might escape and trickle down one's face. Margaret Hale has also sought an out-of-the way place to read the letter containing results into the investigation as to hopes that her brother has a chance of exoneration and, thus, a chance to once again return to his homeland and the arms of his family. She is sorely disappointed.

Then as she is leaving her spot of contemplation she realizes that she will pass near a man standing in a grave yard and she realizes it is HIM. She ponders an attempt to pass unnoticed but he turns and their eyes meet. After some awkward silence she offers her umbrella to the man and with small back and forth niceties she accepts his offer to walk her home. Thus the ice is broken.

Yes, you do have to know the story, This is not a stand alone novel. There is that prior proposal during which many hateful and harmful words were spoken and misunderstandings directing those words exchanged. But in this story John is urged to take up again his "lessons" with Mr. Hale and seeing that this will give him a chance to perhaps be in her presence, even exchange a word or two, he takes up that weekly appointment again. And he also becomes friendlier with Nicholas and in visits to that man's humble abode "runs" into Margaret.

So John is not without hope and as Margaret smiles and allows him to walk with her on occasion and talk with her sees some warm regard from her smiles and shy glances...he thinks.

This story proceeds slowly in the first half of the book. It is reflective of the original story...BUT hold on....what might seem to be developing into a romance has been noticed and other people from various walks of life in Milton are not going to allow that to happen without their own plans to foil and redirect attentions in romance, in business and in the goals for their own satisfaction.

Things become very twisted as John's sister, Fanny and several new acquaintances Genevieve and Rupert Hamilton, Randall and Emmeline Draper seem to vie for their own purposes…be it a romance or even works of charity. Then there remain our old friends: Mr. Bell and Mr. Watson and not to mention Margaret’s London family and friends. The plot seems hell bent to take away any chance for ODC and even to send them back to roles as indifferent strangers but don’t despair.

The author has us now turning pages quickly and encountering much angst but we do get what we want…a happy ending, an Oh, so sweet ending. I did enjoy this story but there were times when I had to question Margaret’s part in the scheme of things, “Is she to be a martyr here or is she really so good, so altruistic…a saint?” Self denial is not a pretty picture. ...more

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Mar 12, 2017 Joana Starnes rated it it was amazing

If you don’t know it already, this wonderfully written story will show you that Nicole Clarkston’s Mr Thornton is every bit as swoon-worthy as her Mr Darcy (if not even more so!). Resilient, loyal to a fault, dedicated to his work and the people he loves, he commands our esteem and affection with everything he does, says and is. This delightful variation shows him establishing a fragile truce with the woman who broke his heart and severely disappointed him, and whom he still loves despite himsel ...more

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Nov 16, 2017 Don Jacobson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is a home run. Period. No more to say. Oh well, maybe one bit more: GRAND SLAM!

Ms Clarkston has mined (or perhaps 'milled' is a better word) the Gaskell North and South realm to create a wonderful love/suspense story. This is a continuation of her speculation which began with "No Such Thing as Luck."

The plotlines continue the earlier book, squeezing the angst-ridden encounter between Margaret Hale and John Thornton for every ounce of pathos and misunderstanding. Her deft handling of the ch ...more

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Jun 17, 2016 Nicole Barton Sasser rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-unlimited, north-and-south, kindle-doc, author-nicole-clarkston, free-download, bookfunnel

Status: Read July 27-30, 2016

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Edition Read:

Northern Rain: A North & South Variation
by Nicole Clarkston
Kindle Edition, First Edition, 434 pages
Published June 20, 2016 by Winsome Wit Publishing
ASIN: B01H6ELU7Y
[ kindle unlimited ]

My Library Notes:

Northern Rain
by Alix James
Kindle Edition, Second Edition, 392 pages
Published April 24, 2023 by Winsome Wit Publishing
ASIN: B01H6ELU7Y
[ kindle doc - bookfunnel ]

Previously published as Northern Rain by Nicole Clarkston

A vulnerable moment break ...more

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