Persuaded
Table of Contents
Seven: Matchmaker, Matchmaker . . .
Fourteen: The Day the World Stopped Turning
Sixteen: Back to Life, Back to Reality
Twenty-Three: You’ve Got Mail!
Praise for
Northanger Alibi
by Jenni James
“
Northanger Alibi
reminds us in comical, relatable ways that mythical creatures aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be, and that real boys can be even better.” —Eve’sFanGarden.com
“
Northanger Alibi
will have you laughing out loud at Claire’s observations and dramatic responses. In a world where every teen girl is looking for her ‘Edward’ . . . , Claire’s coming-of-age story is both timely and refreshing.” —Amanda Washington, author of
Rescuing Liberty
“
Northanger Alibi
by Jenni James is one of the best new young adult books of the year. Bringing together the lost beauty and drama of Jane Austen’s novels with the hip teen culture of today. Absolutely wonderful and addictive.” —Brynna Curry, author of
Earth Enchanted
“I fell in love with Claire and Tony the same way I fell in love with Edward and Bella in
Twilight.
Northanger Alibi
has all the ingredients of a great love story.” —Greta Gunselman, killerromance.com
“Northanger Alibi
was incredibly adorable and delightfully entertaining. Claire Hart is an exact replica of the standard crazy and young
Twilight
fan—gullible, obsessed and in love with the idea of vampires and werewolves actually being real. . . .
Mixing humor, romance and the ultimate crazy
Twilight
fan antics, this book will have you giggling from start to finish!” —Katie
“I found myself laughing out loud . . . and then crying with Claire through her struggles. Yes, it is for young adults . . . but as an adult I completely enjoyed myself too! . . . I love that it is “clean” and there is nothing that I felt like I wouldn’t want my daughter to read someday. . . .
Trust me, young and old alike won’t be disappointed!” —Kari
“Stephenie Meyer meets Jane Austen in this humorous, romantic tale of a girl on a mission to find her very own Edward Cullen. I didn’t want it to end!” —Mandy Hubbard, author of
Prada & Prejudice
“It is a laugh-out-loud book! You will fall in love with Claire and everything that goes with her. . . . I am glad that someone has taken my beloved
Northanger Abbey
and modernized it. . . .
Northanger Alibi
is fun, exciting, and suspenseful. . . . James has hit the nail on the head with this one!” —Keyth A. Pankau
“I found myself laughing out loud . . . and then crying with Claire through her struggles. Yes, it is for young adults . . . but as an adult I completely enjoyed myself too! . . . I love that it is “clean” and there is nothing that I felt like I wouldn’t want my daughter to read someday. . . . Trust me, young and old alike won’t be disappointed!” —Kari
“[Northanger Alibi]
is a laugh-out-loud kinda book! . . . You won’t be able to stop the pages from turning!” —Tiffany
“This a is fun, smart, funny story. . . . I couldn’t put it down . . . I loved the characters. I loved the story. In short, I just plain loved this book!!” —Candi
“A very funny, very modern remake of Jane Austen’s
Northanger Abbey.
I LOVED it!” —Laura
Praise for
Pride & Popularity
by Jenni James
“This book was unputdownable. I highly recommend it to any fan of Jane Austen, young or old.” —Jenny Ellis, Jane Austen Society of North America
“This was an absolutely captivating read from the very first page. . . .
I bought into every twist and turn and couldn’t wait for Taylor and Chloe to actually get it together enough to become a couple.” —Shanti Krishnamurty, author of
Maid of Sherwood
“One of the best remakes of
Pride and Prejudice
ever!” —Jinx
“This is so flippin’ cute.” —Sweetly Southern
“Pride & Popularity
is freaking A-MAZ-ING!” —im-reading-here
“I just absolutely love this story!! Eeep!! <3 <3 <3” —Rachiee
“This was the best book I’ve ever read on [Wattpad]!!! So freaking good. And what was really cute is that it was sort of innocent and not like a trashy they-sleep-with-each-other-every-other-chapter kinda book.” —Christyfanning
“Pride & Popularity
is the perfect guilty pleasure read.” —Ranee
“If you love Jane Austen’s works, YA books, or if you just love a good book,
Pride & Popularity
is a must read!” —Shermia
“This was a fun book full of whit and charm.” —Lori
“Definitely a story that will remain at the top of your bookshelf forever!” —FleurRebelle9797
“[Jenni James’s] modern spin has you falling in love with a cocky, arrogant Taylor Anderson and a strong willed, outspoken Chloe Hart. This book will make you laugh, cry, scream and smile. If Miss Austen was with us today she would be proud of this book.” —Savetheoutcasts
“
Pride & Popularity
is a delightful romantic comedy that will tug on the heartstrings of ladies—regardless of their age. . . . The fast-paced storyline will draw you in while the characters enchant you. . . . If you’re looking for a refreshing reminder of how young, innocent love can break through even the most prideful of prejudices, you don’t want to miss this one.” ––Amanda Washington, author of
Chronicles of the Broken
“A delightful read! A book any
Pride and Prejudice
lover will be unable to put down!”
––Jakki
“Having read several other Young Adult retellings of
Pride and Prejudice
. . . I must admit that
Pride & Popularity
by Jenni James is my top choice and receives my highest recommendation! In my opinion, it is the most plausible, accessible, and well-crafted YA version of
Pride and Prejudice
I have read!” ––Meredith, Austenesque Reviews
The Jane Austen Diaries
Pride & Popularity
Northanger Alibi
Persuaded
Emmalee (Fall 2012)
Mansfield Ranch (Spring 2013)
Sensible & Sensational (Fall 2013)
This is a work of fiction, and the views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author. Likewise, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are represented fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Inkberry Press, LLC
110 South 800 West
Brigham City, Utah 84302
Text Copyright © 2012 by Jenni James
Cover Design © 2012 by Inkberry Press
Interior Design © 2012 by Inkberry Press
All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form
without permission.
ISBN: 978-0-9838293-4-8
This book is dedicated to Tristi and Andrea, the two greatest writers and friends a girl could have. You persuade me every day to be a better person. Thank you, thank you!
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my Heavenly Father for giving me the insight to create such fun stories, and Mattheu for dealing with my rants and raves as I edit each one into a finished novel. Without either I would be eternally lost.
One: Blast from the Past
I felt a twist and a slight jerk before the glass beads spilled all over the floor.
I’m such an idiot! This isn’t even my necklace!
Gregory should’ve left by now—he’d already said goodbye to his friends. I watched as he hovered in the doorway, obviously debating what to do. I decided I’d make it easier for him. I knelt on the floor and turned my back, completely ignoring him as I started to pick up the mess.
There. Now you can go. I don’t need you.
I sighed at the thought of being such a klutz in front of him. Suddenly, I saw long, lean fingers close to my shorter ones, picking up beads. I glanced at the top of Gregory’s blond head as he avoided looking at me. It had been years since I’d seen that head and those hands so close to my own.
What I expected least was the joy of having him so near. I’d anticipated misery and pain and awkwardness, but never joy. Since his return, I’d fully expected him to break my heart—a punishment I deserved.
Stunned into silence by my thoughts, I began to collect the beads again. This time I looked over and noticed that not only had Gregory placed the beads he’d collected into a pile, he’d also begun to organize them into groups of color and size.
Is he stalling?
My heart began to race.
Is he waiting for me to say something? He can’t be hoping to be next to me longer, since he hates me. Hasn’t he looked straight through me—as if I didn’t exist—during the entire party? We haven’t spoken one word to each other all night. Even when we were introduced, he just nodded and walked back to that girl
. The beautiful brunette was, even now, waiting for him in the hall.