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Mercy's Embrace: So Rough a Course (Mercy's Embrace #1)

4.21 of 5 stars 4.21 · rating details · 52 ratings · 16 reviews

Elizabeth Elliot is as beautiful as ever, yet no gentleman of proper stature has requested her hand. Lady Russell claims she is too particular, but Elizabeth begs to differ. She is not about to settle for a gentleman of no distinction like her sister Mary. Nor will she follow her heart and marry a commoner with no title but Captain-that was Anne's mistake. As for romance a...more

Paperback, 220 pages

Published March 21st 2009 by Wytherngate Press

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Aug 30, 2012 Christina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mercy’s Embrace, Book One, So Rough A Course by Laura Hile

In a sea of Darcy, Darcy, Darcy, I regret to admit that I may have over-indulged this winter and now suffer from post-Pride and Prejudice fanfiction fatigue. While perusing a generous stack of novels sent to me from our blogmistress, Laurel Ann, I was delighted to discover a follow-up story to Jane Austen’s masterpiece, Persuasion, entitled Mercy’s Embrace, So Rough A Course, Book 1 by debut author Laura Hile. I was instantly intrigued,...more Mercy’s Embrace, Book One, So Rough A Course by Laura Hile

In a sea of Darcy, Darcy, Darcy, I regret to admit that I may have over-indulged this winter and now suffer from post-Pride and Prejudice fanfiction fatigue. While perusing a generous stack of novels sent to me from our blogmistress, Laurel Ann, I was delighted to discover a follow-up story to Jane Austen’s masterpiece, Persuasion, entitled Mercy’s Embrace, So Rough A Course, Book 1 by debut author Laura Hile. I was instantly intrigued, as I have always wanted to know what happened next to these Austen’s heroes, Captain Frederick Wentworth and his wife, Anne– only to realize that this wasn’t their story at all, but that of Elizabeth Elliot. Elizabeth Elliot?! Anne’s pretentious, vain, selfish, and thoughtless older sister? What? No one likes her, my subconscious whined. Jane Austen gave her no redeeming qualities. She’s awful. So I put it back in the stack and read something else. What-what? (Bear with me… I’m getting to it.) Weeks later, after working my way through the stack, I came upon Hile’s book again, and with reluctance, gave myself up to chance.

And lucky I did, too. Yes we all know Austen’s Elizabeth Elliot to be despicable, unkind and a grasping social snob but Hile’s Elizabeth although still all of that, shows us inside Elizabeth’s mind and why she comports herself as she does. I hate to excuse anyone’s bad behavior but in knowing her better, her disposition is better understood.

The novel opens shortly before Anne is to wed Captain Wentworth, and we learn that Sir Walter Elliot’s finances are as dire as ever. The beautiful yet dissatisfied Miss Elliot must manage her feckless, frivolous father whilst attempting to make a most auspicious match for herself. Even her companion Mrs. Clay has run off to Lord knows where… In no time at all, I found myself cheering for this dauntless woman and even laughing out loud at her own snarky sense of humour. “Mary’s letter must be sent first, before others and by express. If only she could manage to inform her through more reliable means! It would be very like Mary to pretend she hadn’t received a word and come to Bath anyway. Life without a companion might be dull, but a fortnight’s visit from Mary would be intolerable!” p. 45.

Hiding from his creditors under the guise of illness, Sir Walter Elliot forces Elizabeth to shift for herself. She moves in with the newly married Wentworth’s and as she struggles with her less than desirable situation, plots how to distinguish herself again amongst society’s elite. Unfortunately, suitable prospects on the marriage mart are meager at best for a woman of Elizabeth’s standards and wants. “A man needs three qualities in order to be considered a matrimonial prize, Mr. Gill. Good breeding, good looks and a good income. And he should not be too old. My father and I disagree on that last point.”p.137. While entertaining the usual prospects including the newly divorced but obscenely moneyed and well-connected Mr. Rushworth (yes, THAT same Mr. Rushworth from Austen’s Mansfield Park!) Elizabeth meets the virile, rich, eligible, self-satisfied Admiral Patrick McGillvary from a noble Irish family. Although he does not fail to turn her head, it must be noted he comes with the most unseemly reputation. As she has Rushworth dangling on the hook, she cultivates an unlikely friendship with a lowly, humble clerk, one Mr. Gill, who by the way happens to have the same lovely eyes as McGillvary, and has a knack for bringing forth her humility and honor.

I read this first in the series in almost one sitting… well after midnight in fact. I must confess that the amazing, hanging-off-the-cliff-by-my-fingernails-cliffhanger, compelled me to search through THAT stack of books from Laurel Ann again, find and continue on with So Lovely A Chase, Book Two. Fortuitous I had it on hand, indeed!

Laura Hile humanizes Elizabeth’s plight without making her some ridiculous martyr. She maintains Elizabeth’s general haughty appearance and pretensions but delves deeper into the woman, allowing us further insight. Might she be Austen’s female Mr. Darcy in the midst of redemption? Hile is respectful of Austen’s original characters all the while making them and this story all her own. So Rough A Course was enjoyable from beginning to the last page of the third book. This treasure should be read sooner than later. My apologies to the author, in allowing my own prejudice against this Elizabeth to suspend my reading (and enjoyment) of her novel for so long.
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Jun 25, 2012 Jakki rated it 5 of 5 stars

According to Elizabeth Elliot, a man must possess three qualities in order to be considered eligible: good breeding, good looks, and a good income. As her thirtieth birthday draws near, Elizabeth is beginning to wonder if a man can truly possess all three qualities. Surely two out of three isn’t bad…right? As for matters of the heart, one must be a simpleton, indeed, to believe there is a chance of falling in love with a man who bears all of these.

Beautiful as ever, Elizabeth Elliot is determine...more According to Elizabeth Elliot, a man must possess three qualities in order to be considered eligible: good breeding, good looks, and a good income. As her thirtieth birthday draws near, Elizabeth is beginning to wonder if a man can truly possess all three qualities. Surely two out of three isn’t bad…right? As for matters of the heart, one must be a simpleton, indeed, to believe there is a chance of falling in love with a man who bears all of these.

Beautiful as ever, Elizabeth Elliot is determined to end this Season with a secure future. But to whom does she set her cap? Her very rich, yet disreputable cousin, William Elliot, who will make her the next Lady Elliot? The foolish and portly Mr. Rushworth with his large fortune and extensive estate? She can’t possibly consider clerk Patrick Gill a suitable match, even with his captivating conversation, and ability to make Elizabeth smile while also properly humbling her, for he has no title or money. Well! Elizabeth’s options are dreadfully limited as Bath is teeming with more vulgar seaman like Admiral Patrick McGillvary than eligible bachelors. And Elizabeth refuses to make the same mistake her sisters have in marrying a plain gentleman, who will one day become a country squire, or a common sailor with no title besides Captain.

Similar to Admiral McGillvary, I enjoy the chase. For a man whose smile gets him nearly everything he wants, McGillvary accepts the beautiful Miss Elliot’s snub as a challenge. However, being a lowly sailor with a reputation might not get him the reception he desires with the oh-so-proper Miss Elliot. But never one to back down, McGillvary faces this challenge, though not in the way originally planned.

I thoroughly enjoyed Hile’s writing. Using Austen’s Persuasion as a backdrop, as well as bringing in the infamous Caroline Bingley, gave the story a sense of familiarity, yet with her original characters, writing style, and humor, Hile was able to keep me on my toes for what was to come next.

I am curious to see where Hile takes her readers in Book Two, So Lively A Chase. While Sir Walter is still a narcissist, his financial troubles are even more severe, the stress of which is causing him several health problems. With the help of his new doctor friend, Mr. Savoy, Sir Walter appears to be on the mend. Yet, something just isn’t sitting right with Mr. Savoy. What is he really up to? As for Elizabeth’s matrimonial prospects, will she keep her promise to one man, or end up the victim of her heart?

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May 17, 2011 Rivka rated it 4 of 5 stars

A spin-off of Jane Austen's Persuasion. I wasn't sure about these when I picked them up but I had such a fun time reading them! It's the story of Elizabeth Elliot (Anne's oldest sister) picking up from just after Anne's engagement to Captain Wentworth. It's sort of a coming-of-age story (despite her being 29) mixed with a fun romance. The author's attempts to mention other Austen characters (Caroline Bingley, for example) was a bit of a stretch at times, but as she never mentioned them more than...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Candy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: austenesque

So Rough a Course is right! In this continuation of Persuasion, Elizabeth Elliot is about to turn 30, well past spinster age, she realizes she needs to marry and marry soon. She sets off to do that, but her first daring scheme to find a husband fails miserably. While she’s gone, her father, Sir Walter, gives up the lease to the house and moves into The Citadel for his health, leaving Elizabeth to live at her sister Anne’s house. With Sir Walter's financial situation becoming worse, Elizabeth mus...more

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Aug 13, 2010 Marcie rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you have read any of my past reviews you know that I love Jane Austen. I am also a fan of sequels, what if , and variation stories that her fans have written. My favorite book by Jane Austen is Persuasion.
I gush every time I read the letter Captain Wentworth writes to Anne. Mercy's Embrace is a sequel to Persuasion. However this book is not about Anne but her older sister Elizabeth. I have to admit in Persuasion, Elizabeth was not one of my favorite characters. She is vain, rude, obnoxious an...more If you have read any of my past reviews you know that I love Jane Austen. I am also a fan of sequels, what if , and variation stories that her fans have written. My favorite book by Jane Austen is Persuasion.
I gush every time I read the letter Captain Wentworth writes to Anne. Mercy's Embrace is a sequel to Persuasion. However this book is not about Anne but her older sister Elizabeth. I have to admit in Persuasion, Elizabeth was not one of my favorite characters. She is vain, rude, obnoxious and snarky. So why did I read this story you ask? I read it because I remembered the saying "Everyone has a story". I wanted to find out about Elizabeth Elliot's story.
Laura Hile picks up the story right after Captain Wentworth and Anne's engagement. She brings back all the beloved characters and introduces us to some new ones. Laura sticks to the characters original personalities. I think Jane Austen would be proud. The story line is good. Elizabeth is forced to make sacrifices due to her financial situation. She has the Elliot pride and is on the look out for a wealthy husband. Elizabeth finds a suitor but does not like him, much less love him. She forms an unlikely friendship with the charming Mr. Gill who is not at all wealthy or so she believes. Elizabeth starts to learn lessons in humility, prudence, patience and love. In this story you can start to see the evolution of Elizabeth's character. There are also some delightful surprises along the way. Elizabeth is friends with none other than Caroline Bingley. I have to say I was tickled to see the crossover. Laura Hile has done a wonderful job in this sequel to Persuasion. It has made me like and understand Elizabeth Elliot a little more.

Mercy's Embrace is a three part book series: So Rough A Course, So Lively A Chase and The Lady Must Decide. Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks when I review the next two in the series.

*My thanks to Laura Hile, Pamela Mogen and Wytherngate Press for providing me a copy of the Mercy's Embrace Trilogy to review. This in no way influenced my review.
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Jun 02, 2010 Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: jane-austen, persuasion

The beautiful, haughty, and expensive Elizabeth Elliot is determined to be married before her rapidly approaching thirtieth birthday. The family's dire financial situation and the fact that both her younger sisters are no longer single increases Elizabeth's desire to be wed. For Elizabeth, “a man needs three qualities in order to be considered a matrimonial prize...good breeding, good looks, and a good income.” While on the lookout for this “matrimonial prize” Elizabeth encounters a wide variety...more The beautiful, haughty, and expensive Elizabeth Elliot is determined to be married before her rapidly approaching thirtieth birthday. The family's dire financial situation and the fact that both her younger sisters are no longer single increases Elizabeth's desire to be wed. For Elizabeth, “a man needs three qualities in order to be considered a matrimonial prize...good breeding, good looks, and a good income.” While on the lookout for this “matrimonial prize” Elizabeth encounters a wide variety suitors, some more eligible than others.

Unfortunately, in one way or another, all these marriageable prospects are disagreeable choices for Elizabeth. First there is the lecherous Sir Henry Farley, who is old enough to be her grandfather and has a invalid wife still living. Then there is Mr. Rushworth, a wealthy young man, albeit a bit doltish, who will soon be in the market for a new bride as soon as his divorce is final. (sound familiar? I love that a Mansfield Park character is appearing in the pages of a Persuasion sequel!) Although Rushworth seems quite smitten with her, Elizabeth fears she will be unable to marry such a foolish man, no matter how wealthy he is. Lastly, Mr. Elliot has returned to Bath, and seems to be intently pursuing Elizabeth, but she loathes the sight of him.

Elizabeth escapes the attentions of all these men by forming a friendship with a gentlemen who appears to be the least likely to fit her description of a “matrimonial prize;” yet, ironically, he fulfills all three of her requirements. Enter Admiral Patrick McGillvary (a.k.a. Patrick Gill). Admiral McGillvary is daring, strong-willed, quick-witted, and devastatingly sexy. In addition to all this he is wealthier than Mr. Rushworth and from a noble Irish family. However, this is not the man whom Elizabeth befriends, she befriends a humble and common clerk by the name of Patrick Gill. Elizabeth is completely unaware that Admiral McGillvary and Mr. Gill are one in the same. Will Elizabeth break her vow to remain immune to romance and fall in love with an ineligible man? Will Admiral McGillvary ever escape from his tangled web of lies? And will Elizabeth be able to forgive him for deceiving her? (Hopefully these questions will be answered in book two or three of this series!)

Under the pen of the talented Laura Hile, Elizabeth Elliot, one of the least liked of all Austen women, is becoming an appealing and captivating heroine. Remaining true to her nature, Elizabeth is still horribly pretentious and self-absorbed. But the reader will be able to see the stirrings of a sympathetic heart and a humbled disposition, and know that Elizabeth's character is in the midst of an admirable transformation.

I am exceedingly impressed and pleased with Mercy's Embrace: So Rough Course! I am greatly enjoying Ms. Hile's respectful renderings of these beloved Austen characters and I relish her fast-paced and thrilling style. I find Mercy's Embrace to be a simply magnificent series, and I can hardly wait to get my hands on the second installment, Mercy's Embrace: So Lively a Chase!

(Potential readers should be made aware that this is the first book in the Mercy's Embrace series, and that it will be necessary to read all three books to attain the story's conclusion).

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Jul 26, 2011 Ingrid Morris added it · review of another edition

This is a "fan fiction" self published type thing. The story picks up where Jane Austen's Persuasion leaves off. This time the protagonist is Elizabeth Elliot. Action is also told through the view of Charles Musgrove, Capt. Wentworth and a new character, McGill. Usually, these sort of things float my boat, but this trilogy (two books follow) seemed a bit empty, predicatable and flat. It's only a normal regency romance dressed up as an Austen tribute.

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Jun 09, 2011 Captain Jacq rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Persuasion" is my favorite novel by Jane Austen and I very much enjoyed this sequel. Elizabeth Eliot begins to learn that tings aren't as black and white as she saw them and there really is something to be liked about the ineligible. I enjoyed learning more about the character of Elizabeth Eliot and cannot wait to read the next novel.

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Apr 09, 2010 Susan Kaye rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've been reading Mercy's Embrace for years as Laura Hile serialized it online. The series is wonderful and FORCES you to like Elizabeth Elliot. She could easily be a modern heroine with just a new wardrobe and a cell phone. Laura makes all the characters, Austen and none, jump off the page. You'll enjoy it.

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Apr 09, 2010 Laura Hile rated it 5 of 5 stars

Eh, I clicked the "read it" icon ... because there isn't a "wrote it" icon! How odd to be reviewing my own book! As to genre, it's a Regency romantic comedy featuring the so-opinionated Elizabeth Elliot and all your friends from Austen's Persuasion. It was a kick to write. I hope you enjoy it.

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Sep 10, 2009 Jane Greensmith rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of the most enjoyable Austen-inspired books around--Hile makes Elizabeth Eliot real, interesting, and very likeable...that is shows her vulnerability and her heart. A pleasure to read....but be forewarned, this is book one in a series, so you won't get the whole story in this one book.

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Jun 12, 2012 Jill rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, fiction

What an enjoyable read! I will definitely read this book again, and I cannot wait for the next installment. The author did a great job capturing the humor and social complexities of Jane Austen's wonderful characters. Excellent book!

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Dec 26, 2010 Patricia Gulley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow, great book, and a cliffhanger to boot. Never thought I'd find Elizabeth Elliot so interesting. Now, I feel she is like a misused child that turned out the way the misuser meant. But she is made of something else. Will that part win out??? Well, I have two more books to find out.
A real recommendation, as I am a great one for books about DEAR JANE's secondary characters.

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Jan 21, 2012 Robin Helm rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love this series! Any author who can make me love Elizabeth Elliot deserves a medal. I finished this book in a day and hurried to read Book 2.

Robin Helm

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Jan 11, 2011 Carey Bligard rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very much enjoyed this subtle series, but would have put it all in one book

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Jan 13, 2010 Alexa Adams rated it 5 of 5 stars

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Shelves: wishlist, historical_fiction, spin-off, fiction

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