A Match for Mary Bennet: Can a Serious Young Lady Ever Find Her Way to Love?

I'm not one for writing reviews but this book was so enjoyable that I feel obliged to do so. This is coming from a 20-something, career-driven reader, which is not to offend any other kind of Austen fan (I thank all of those who came before me and had the good sense to recommend her), but to show what subtype may enjoy Eucharista Ward. Read this book if: *You appreciate the manners and protocol of courtship in the Regency period. *You're tired of sequels that sound nothing (e.g. raunchy) like Jane Austen's tone. *You yourself are a serious young lady without the time and energy to pursue a relationship (but, you know, a date or two once in a while wouldn't hurt). *You don't mind references to Christianity, which occur here and there in the book at appropriate moments, and provoke me to do a google search on the figures. This adds to Mary being a stickler for what is sacred and good, and I think demonstrates the author's familiarity with and natural comfort in the religion. I doubt the story would have succeeded as well without these allusions and is entirely suitable for a continuing story based on Mary Bennet. *You want to see a Bennet girl achieve something more than finding a husband and bearing children. The book cover is absolutely correct in describing it as "an inspirational P & P sequel." For this reader, it provides hope for and assurance of a fulfilling and meaningful life, regardless of her marital status. Somehow, among providing for Mary's independence and painting the lovely, domestic life of her older sisters, Ward remembers that a happy ending isn't simply a wedding. She ties up all of the loose ends you may imagine after P & P and develops a very likeable and admirable Mary Bennet. I would definitely read more of Ward's work.

Eucharista Ward O.S.F.'s A Match for Mary Bennet: Can a serious young lady ever find her way to love?is delightful and reminiscent of the regency craftswoman Jane Austen herself. The novel's pace is dead on, unfurling Mary Bennet's character slowly, allowing readers to sit with her, getting to know her mind, her choices and motivations, and her true heart's desire. With her older sisters, Jane and Elizabeth married to Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, and her youngest sister, Lydia, married off to Mr. Wickham, Mary and Catherine Bennet are left at home with their meddling mother, eager to marry them off. Mary continues her ways of sitting alone with her books and her music, content to expand her mind rather than chase after men in society. Despite her shyness and unconscious judgment of others, Mary comes to learn there is more to life than just books and music, though they certainly enhance her journey and even direct her ultimate place in society. Readers will revisit with Mr. & Mrs. Darcy and Mr. & Mrs. Bingley following their marriages and how Mary perceives their married lives. Lydia, Mr. Wickham, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, her daugher, and Kitty Bennet return as well. But there are new characters to love and dislike from the new pastor Mr. Oliver to the odd Mr. Grantley and the musical Mr. Stilton. Ward lives in Austen's world, manipulates language easily to emulate regency England, and expands the characterizations sketched out in Pride and Prejudice: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) without losing Austen's vision. However, Ward's Mary Bennet is more than the thinly sketched, judgmental, religious, bookworm on the sidelines. She is observant, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to her family and her faith. Overall, readers will find A Match for Mary Bennet: Can a serious young lady ever find her way to love? fills out the other Bennet sisters deftly and makes a perfect addition to any Austen lovers' collection.

This novel is a historical romance set in the world of Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice. It's a "sequel" focusing on Mary Bennet and, to a lesser extent, her sisters. It's a thoroughly enjoyable book. The story was written in much the same tone and style as Pride and Prejudice, and the author stays true to the characters and events of that book. The pacing was a bit slower than most modern novels, but it's consistent with the pacing of Jane Austen novels. The world-building was excellent with many historical details woven in (especially about child-birth). Even the Christian elements were set in their historical context--life as it was lived back then. My only nit-picks are that she occasionally had Darcy act a little more casually than I think he would. She also had the Bennet sisters occasionally act with more modern sensibilities than I think they would have (like having both Lizzy and a wet nurse nursing her baby--to which my mother commented, "I don't think she knows much about breast-feeding a baby."). However, even in these cases, the author gave plausible and good reasons for the characters to act that way. There was no sex or cussing. Overall, it's "good, clean fun," and I'd unhesitatingly recommend this novel to any fan of Jane Austen. Reviewed by Debbie from Genre Reviews (genrereviews. blogspot. com)

Mary Bennet is quite satisfied. Now that Lizzy and Jane have married wealthy men, Mary can ignore her mother's schemes to find Mary a husband. She can withdraw into her music and books. She no longer has to worry about her fate when Longbourn is invaded by the Collins' family. She need never marry. Well, at least that is what Mary hopes... Two very different men become part of Mary's life. Stephen Oliver, gentle and intuitive, glories in his vocation as a minister. He asks Mary to help him, but she is not sure that she even likes him. Kitty likes him, but would she make a proper clergyman's wife? Dashing and wealthy, James Stilton begs Mary to be his wife. What is his motive? Is it love or something else? Advertised as an "inspirational Pride and Prejudice sequel," A Match for Mary Bennet, centers on the third Bennet sister. Eucharista Ward lovingly develops Mary's character from the reflective pedant encountered in P & P to a wiser, independent woman. Lizzy, Jane and their husbands are now minor characters, but we follow their growing families and tragedies as these events touch Mary's life. Ward introduces a neighborhood kleptomaniac and fortune hunters who add humor and tension to the plot. A Match for Mary Bennet is written in a narrative style similar to P & P, although the author sometimes uses a stream of consciousness technique. To my delight, the author alludes to P & P incidents and dialogue at very apt times. She mentions titles of music and books popular during the Regency period. My only criticisms are that the book is a slow read at times, and Lizzy is not the same. Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Collins, Lydia and many others , however, remain true to character and amuse and irritate us in turn. Overall, I enjoyed this novel very much. What makes this sequel "inspirational"? Marriage and integrity are honored. Sex is alluded to as a pleasurable, even fun, benefit of marriage. Church attendance is expected. These are values consistent with Jane Austen's novels. Perhaps, the most inspirational part is the author herself. A Sylvania Franciscan nun, , Eucharista Ward retired from teaching high school English and now works as a nurse's aide for an assisted living program. She wrote this book while working night shift, caring for other retired sisters. Now, that is truly inspiring! Additional note: Don't miss the mention of Uncle Phillip's law clerk at the end of the book- not quite what James Edward Austen-Leigh's book prophesied!