Hanna Elliot had worn the ring faithfully at first. Some part of her still clung to the hope that all was not lost. As the days turned into weeks, she finally took it off and set it atop her dresser. When weeks gave way to months, the ring finally went back into its box, where it gathered dust until it was moved to Hanna’s unmentionables drawer. For the first few years, she had taken it out on the anniversary of the day she’d received it, allowing herself to wallow in what might have been.
Hanna had been all but stamped out of Derick Wentworth’s mind. Sure, he thought about her occasionally, especially on cloudless nights when he lay on the bow of the Laconia looking up at the stars. But as time went on, Derick began to feel grateful that it hadn’t worked out, for one thing was certain: if he ever did settle down, it would be with someone who knew her own mind. Someone who went after the thing she wanted without hesitation. Someone who would never allow herself to be persuaded otherwise.
Title: Persuaded
Author: Misty Dawn Pulsipher
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: July 27, 2014
ISBN: 978-1500570842
Formats: 336 pages, 6×9, softcover; e-book
Genre: Contemporary Romance
This was a wonderful modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion! I have not read the complete original version, but I’m familiar enough with the overall storyline to recognize the major elements. I loved the alternating perspectives from the two main characters. I also liked how the “sea captain” aspect was modernized with this adaptation so the sea and sailing still played a fairly prominent role in the story. There were several “twists” to the original story to keep things interesting.