Rachel Dodge's Blog, page 4

An English Tea Party

With the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla kicking off on Saturday, May 6, those of us who adore England and its rich traditions have much to look forward to! If you’re planning to watch at home, and you want to host your own English Tea Party, here’s everything you need to know!

Watch Live or Later:

Whether you’re planning to set your alarm and watch it live (for those of us who don’t live in England), watch the recorded proceedings later in the day, or attend a watch party or live event, there is something for everyone. For a schedule of events for this 3-day affair, you can read “The Full Schedule of Events for Coronation Weekend” (Town & Country).

Worldwide Celebration:

People from around the world will tune in for this incredible event. In England, this is a 3-day weekend with plenty of celebrations to enjoy, including an extra Bank Holiday on Monday! If you live in England, you probably have a plan in place to either watch live with friends or perhaps you’ve traveled to London to participate in the city-wide celebrations. If so, please take photos and send them to us here at Jane Austen’s World!

If you don’t live in England, there are two major options: Either get up early and watch it live or watch a recording later in the day. If you’re a true, die-hard fan, you’ll be up early, dressed to the nines, with your tea service ready and fresh scones in the oven. If you’re like me, you’ll get up early to watch some of it live, but also plan something later in the day so that your family members can participate as well!

Ways to Celebrate at Home:

To make the weekend special (and to lure my family into watching with me), I’m planning plenty of special food and drink! If you’d like to create your own British tea party at home, you can keep it simple with tea and cookies, cakes, or biscuits or you can create a fancier spread!

To read about the difference between afternoon tea, high tea, and cream tea, check this out: “Afternoon Tea vs. High Tea vs. Cream Tea: A Brief Tutorial” (The Spice & Tea Shoppe).

Delicious Magazine: Coronation RecipesCream Tea:

I’m planning on making cream tea, which is tea and scones with clotted cream and jam. The best cream tea I ever had was in Lyme Regis on a JASNA Pathfinders tour. It was rainy and cold that day, and my friend and I tucked into a tiny hole-in-the-wall bakery for a bite to eat. We ordered a cream tea and I will never forget how good it tasted!

If you’re curious about the English tradition of Cream Tea, you can read more HERE. Cream Tea is “most often associated with the West Country, i.e. Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. It usually consists of scones, clotted cream or butter, strawberry jam, and of course, tea” (The Spice & Tea Shoppe).

To create your own cream tea at home, you’ll need tea, scones, clotted cream (or butter), and jam! I prefer making my own scones, but you can also find scones at many bakeries or a mix at the grocery store.

Culinary Ginger , “Clotted Cream for Afternoon Tea”A Cuppa:

You can drink any type of tea you like, but if you want to truly enjoy a “cuppa” the way the British people drink it, you’ll want to try something traditional. In “How do British tea drinking habits compare with other Europeans?”, you can see some of the top favorites:

Many British people enjoy milk in their tea, but usually without any sweetener. I personally enjoy honey and milk in my tea. I drink a delightful herbal tea that is everyone’s favorite in my house. I buy Bourbon Street Vanilla Rooibos from the English Tea Store.

If you don’t like tea (otherwise known as “hot brown water,” according to Ted Lasso), you might try it with milk and honey. I’ve turned quite a few people into tea-lovers with that special combo!

Scones:

True British scones are more like an American biscuit in shape and texture than the type of scones you find at Starbucks. I’ve never met a scone I didn’t like, but if you’d like to make a more traditional British scone, you won’t be disappointed.

This scone recipe receives high marks from BBCGoodFood.com: Classic scones with jam & clotted cream.

Clotted Cream:

But how does one find clotted cream if one does not live in England? Many specialty food stores and gourmet supermarkets now carry clotted cream. You can usually find it in the dairy section, the deli area, or the artisan cheese section. Pictured here is Devon clotted cream, which I can usually find at Whole Foods:

But you can also make it at home! The trick is finding heavy whipping cream that isn’t ultra-pasteurized (which is sadly much harder to find in the U.S. in the past few years). Here’s a recipe if you’d like to try it by the Curious Cuisiniere: Homemade Clotted Cream.

Jam or Cream-Which comes first?

You can choose whichever jam you like. I love strawberry jam on my scones! But here’s the real debate about jam and clotted cream: Which goes on the scone first? Do you put the cream on first and then the jam? Or is it the other way around?

For most Americans, I think we’d automatically say it’s cream first and then jam, since we usually butter our biscuits and toast first and then add jam second. But in England, there’s a big debate about which one goes first: “While those in Devon typically spread the clotted cream first followed by jam, the Cornish tradition is to spread jam first followed by cream” (The Independent).

The Sun reports that the Queen herself prefers jam first. Thus, if you want to eat your scones like the Queen, you know what to do. You can read all about it HERE.

Tea with Biscuits:

If you prefer biscuits with your tea, there are many to choose from. I’m personally obsessed with chocolate Digestives and chocolate Hob Nobs. British people love their biscuits and are quite opinionated about which are the best, particularly for dunking.

Apparently, the most “dunkable” biscuits are Jaffa Cakes, according to a recent study: “The best biscuits for dunking, according to science – so is YOUR favourite on the list?” (The Daily Mail)

But if you’re interested in knowing the most popular biscuits in England, The Sun has all the answers. If you’d like to try some of the top biscuits yourself, you can read more here: “CHOCCY WOCCY DOO DAH Britain’s top 20 favourite biscuits revealed – but do YOU agree?”

Victoria Sponge:

If you really want to take it to another level and pretend you’re under the tent at The Great British Baking Show, you can try Mary Berry’s famous Victoria Sandwich Cake for your Coronation dessert! This is next-level baking, and it’s something I’ve always wanted to try. I like this recipe from The English Kitchen because it lists ingredients in British grams and American measurements: “Mary Berry’s Victoria Sandwich Cake.”

Tea Sandwiches:

If you’re planning to spend the day or weekend watching Coronation events, it’s best to plan on sandwiches as well. Otherwise, tea with scones, biscuits, and/or cake might be a bit too sweet! You can make a tray or a tiered tower of your own favorite sandwiches or prepare several classic tea sandwiches.

According to BBCGoodFood.com, here are the “15 best afternoon tea sandwich ideas.” I personally love anything with cream cheese and cucumbers, but my family likes something with a bit more protein involved!

Make it a Celebration:

If you want to decorate your table, get out your fine china tea cups, dress up, or even invite people over, the sky’s the limit. You can decorate a sun hat with real or faux flowers, cut out paper crowns, or print your own invitations.

Whether you’re planning to make a weekend of it or if you’re just going to watch the highlights, this is an event to remember.

If you’re planning something special, which I’m sure many of you are, please comment below!

Grace and peace,
Rachel xx

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Jane Austen & Rom Coms: Emma + Mr. Knightley

Ever wondered why so many romantic movies have similar plots? Ever noticed how many have themes like the ones Jane Austen used in her novels??

Jane Austen not only used romantic themes ingeniously but she also played an important role in developing several key plot devices that are still used in modern filmmaking today. Here’s how:

Last month, I wrote about the “Enemies-to-Lovers” theme in Pride and Prejudice. This month, I’m delving into Emma and looking at the romantic themes it continues to inspire in modern romantic movies and shows.

Emma 1996Enemies to Lovers in Emma

In “The Rom Com Explained” on TheTake.com, we read this humorous definition of the popular enemies-to-lovers trope that I discussed last month in regard to Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy:

“The two love interests probably start out at odds. They may come from different worlds, have competing goals, or simply get off on the wrong foot. But as the rom-com wisdom goes, there’s a very thin line between love and hate, and the story frames all this friction as kindling for sparks to fly.”

What about Emma and Mr. Knightley? In Emma, some have said that Mr. Knightley and Emma fit the rivals description as well because of their witty banter and playful digs, but their delayed love interest seems to be much more about their age gap, their family history, and their comfort level with one another that comes from being brother- and sister-in-law.

Emma 2009Defining the Relationship

But if they aren’t rivals-to-lovers, what makes the romance between Emma and Mr. Knightley so irresistible? What techniques does Austen use to cleverly draw us into their world? What causes the slow burn that builds between them?

Are they boy/girl next door lovers? Possibly.

Friends-turned-lovers? Probably.

While Emma falls into both of these categories, if we want to narrow it down even further, the romance between Emma and Mr. Knightley best fits the “It Was Right In Front Of You All Along” theme.

In Emma, the relationship between Emma and Mr. Knightley sizzles because it’s so unexpected—at least for the two main characters. We, the readers, watch it slowly build (and hope that it will happen), but the characters themselves don’t recognize their own feelings for quite some time. It takes Emma the longest to realize, which adds to the charm of the story.

Emma 2020The Red Herring

In a red herring love story, there is usually at least one misleading love interest or storyline to keep readers off the trail. Jane Austen obviously sets the bar high for the red herring theme in Emma, but here’s a definition from “The Rom Com Explained” article:

“Rom-com leads often start out with a red herring love interest who seems very appealing but turns out to be all wrong. Meanwhile, as the protagonist spends time with someone they aren’t actively trying to impress, they can be their unfiltered self and get to know the other person in a real way.”

Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and Sensibility all have at least one red herring love interest. In each, there’s a man who seems charming and agreeable at first but turns out to be quite the opposite. In PP and SS, the red herrings turn out to be villains (yes, I’m looking at you Mr. Wickham and Mr. Willoughby), but in Emma, Frank Churchill, an immature and obnoxious man who think it’s funny to play with other people’s emotions, acts as the red herring. These red herring lovers keep audiences busy trying to figure them out so that they don’t notice the real love story brewing beneath the surface.

Emma 2020 Emma 2009Reading Emma like a Detective

Unlike most modern romantic comedies, Jane Austen’s plot in Emma is anything but obvious. She outdoes herself with several misleading storylines. She keeps us so busy figuring out what’s happening between Emma and Frank Churchill, Emma or Harriet and Mr. Elton, Harriet and Frank Churchill, and even Harriet and Mr. Knightley that the majority of first-time readers never even notice the Frank and Jane Fairfax storyline until later in the novel.

In fact, Emma is so cleverly written that many scholars believe it reads more like a detective story than a romance. If you’d like to delve into this fascinating topic, click to read David H. Bell’s brilliant article, “Fun with Frank and Jane: Austen on Detective Fiction” in JASNA’s Persuasions.

Emma 1997 (Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill)Hidden in Plain Sight

The other side of the coin with a red herring love story is that the false-love interest helps hide the true love interest—the one the heroine’s known for a long time and has never thought about “in that way.”

In the red herring plot line, this “real” love interest hides in plain sight. Sometimes, like in the situation with Mr. Darcy, he’s cloaked in some kind of mystery, misunderstanding, or perceived arrogance. Other times, as with Mr. Knightley, the hidden male lead is considered “off limits” because he’s a cousin, a step brother, a friend, or a co-worker. Most of the time, we (the audience) know he’s the real love interest rather quickly, but it takes most of the movie for the heroine to figure it out.

This is where Mr. Knightley really shines. He’s “the one,” hiding in plain sight. From the start, Austen casts him as the “big brother-type.” As a neighbor and friend, and the brother of Emma’s sister’s husband, Mr. Knightley is the perfect “off limits” hidden love interest. Emma has never looked at him in “that way.” It has never crossed her mind that he could see her as anything other than an annoying little sister.

The Aha Moment

“This long-developing chemistry leads to a moment of epiphany, where the character suddenly realizes the feelings that have been crystal-clear to the viewer all along” (“The Rom Com Explained”).

In this type of plot, usually one lead character realizes his/her feelings first, while the other takes longer to wake up to what’s going on between them. In Emma, Mr. Knightley sees Emma as much more than a neighbor and friend early on, but Emma is busy chasing other love stories and doesn’t see her own true love story blossoming right in front of her nose.

It’s only later in the film that Emma finally realizes that she loves Mr. Knightley. It’s always been him. This realization comes when she finds out that Harriet has feelings for Mr. Knightley (and that her feelings might possibly be returned). Startled by the powerful feelings of jealousy that come over her, she finally awakens to the deep love she’s felt for Mr. Knightley for quite some time.

Emma 1996Modern rom-coms patterned after Emma:

Ever since Emma, there have been countless stories of friends-turned-lovers and lovers-hidden-in-plain-sight.

Modern films that fit this category are 13 Going on 30, Always Be My Maybe, Love and Basketball, Just Friends, Made of Honor, When Harry Met Sally, and Yesterday. In television, there are several couples in The Big Bang Theory, Monica and Chandler on Friends, and Jim and Pam from The Office. While these romances also fall into the friends-turned-lovers category, they fit the themes in Emma because most include a love interest that is hiding in plain sight but also “off limits” for one reason or another.

The most obvious modern film to follow in Emma’s footsteps is Clueless. It’s worth discussing because it is considered by many as one of the best modern remakes of a Jane Austen novel. Though some say it’s just a silly teen romance, it’s also incredibly clever in its own right. I truly believe it belongs in the “It was Right in Front of You All Along” category.

Clueless 1995 Clueless 1995

Finally, while Bridget Jones’s Diary is most often connected with Pride and Prejudice, there are also plenty of similarities between it and Emma. Mark Darcy has many attributes that closely align with Mr. Knightley. He’s an older, wiser family friend who seems (and probably is) far too good for Bridget but actually finds her quite adorable and captivating. It takes Bridget a long time to realize that Daniel Cleaver is a jerk and Mark is the better, more mature man.

If you love Emma and Mr. Knightley as much as I do, what do you think makes their romance so charming? At what point do you think Mr. Knightley realized his romantic feelings for Emma?

RACHEL DODGE teaches college English classes, gives talks at libraries, teas, and book clubs, and writes for Jane Austen’s World blog. She is the bestselling author of The Little Women Devotional, The Anne of Green Gables

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Don’t Skip This Part

Have you ever visited Prince Edward Island in the springtime?

I was there once, long ago, during the summer. It was one of the loveliest places I’ve ever seen. I can’t imagine the joy of seeing it bloom in the spring!

Has spring come to your neck of the woods?

Spring seemed to pop just in time for Easter where I live. It was so pretty out!

I’ve been thinking about “what happens AFTER Easter” today. I can’t help but think about how Jesus told the disciples to go and wait for the Holy Spirit.

It’s so tempting (and easy) to run ahead of the Lord, but waiting is key.

It’s in the waiting that our souls quiet.
It’s in the waiting that He tunes our ears.
It’s in the waiting that we hear Him.
It’s in the waiting that we find Him.
It’s in the waiting that He finds us ready.

If you’re in a waiting time, remember that you’re waiting for God’s own Spirit to move. He’s never late. He’s always on time. Don’t give up and don’t skip this part. The waiting is part of His plan.

Pray while you wait…and keep your spiritual eyes and ears open.

When it’s time for Spring to burst forth and for things to move, you’ll know. He’ll make it abundantly clear.

And it will be beautiful.

Much love to you all, Kindred Spirits!

Rachel xx

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A Legacy of Truth and Comfort with Sue Donaldson

What is the legacy you’re creating? What will you be remembered for? I hope I’m known for my love for Jesus, my love for my family, my love for people, and my love for helping people grow closer to Jesus through writing!

I’m thrilled to share the following interview regarding truth, comfort, legacy, and classic literature with you all! Sue Donaldson graciously invited me onto her podcast to discuss some of the topics closest to my heart. I know that many of these topics are of interest to you as well, Kindred Spirits!

You can click on the following image to listen to my Podcast interview:

Sue Donaldson

Sue is a wonderful person to know! She’s a Bible teacher, a podcaster, and speaker. Her heart for Jesus, for women, and for hospitality is so joyful. I love following her on Instagram. Her Welcome Heart web site is full of great information and resources as well!!

If you’d like an intro to Sue, here she is! I think you’ll love her!

Book Giveaway!

Sue is currently hosting a giveaway of The Secret Garden and a signed copy of my Secret Garden Devotional. You can enter the giveaway on her site or on her socials. Click on the image below for more!

Please join us as Sue and I draw up our chairs to sit together and talk on her podcast about “A Legacy of Truth and Comfort Through the Classics!”

Grace and peace,
Rachel xx

RACHEL DODGE teaches college English classes, gives talks at libraries, teas, and book clubs, and writes for Jane Austen’s World blog. She is the bestselling author of The Anne of Green Gables Devotional, The Little Women Devotional, and Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen. Now Available: The Secret Garden Devotional!

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Jane Austen & Rom Com Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers in Pride and Prejudice

In the world of romantic comedies, there are certain tropes (common or overused themes) that come up again and again. In this series, starting with Pride and Prejudice, I’ll analyze Jane Austen’s novels and identify the best romantic tropes used in each one – with the goal of proving that Jane Austen not only used romantic themes ingeniously but also played an important role in developing several key plot devices that are regularly used in modern filmmaking today.

Romantic Tropes in Pride and Prejudice

When you look down the list of common themes used in modern romantic movies, there are many to choose from. There’s “Best Friends Turned Lovers,” “The Girl/Boy Next Door,” “Stuck on an Island/In a Car/On a Plane,” “The Makeover,” and of course the “Love Triangle.”

When it comes to Pride and Prejudice, we can all agree it definitely does not utilize a “Cute Meet-Cute” to kick off the romance between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. It does seem to fit the “Opposites Attract” theme rather well. However, the theme that Pride and Prejudice models most perfectly is the “Enemies-to-Lovers” trope.

The “Enemies-to-Lovers” plot is one of the most popular themes used in romantic books and movies today. Austen modeled it so well that many romantic movies have borrowed (whether knowingly or unknowingly) from Pride and Prejudice. Though Austen didn’t invent the idea of rivals falling in love, the chemistry she created between Elizabeth and Darcy is unmatched. Modern era movie-makers continue to utilize the heat-factor Austen tapped into with her “Fitz-Lizzy” combo.

Enemies at First Sight

We see this theme play out in many popular romantic comedy movies. A huge majority of Hallmark (and Hallmark-like) movies start with a misunderstanding, a bad first impression, or enemies / rivals who fall in love.

However, it’s not just the made-for-tv rom coms that utilize this popular theme. Some of the highest grossing “date movies” have used some variation or other of the enemies-to-lovers plot. One IMDB list, “Enemies-to-lovers Movies,” includes over 80 titles!

Here are a few popular movies that caught my eye from that list:

When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, New in Town, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Runaway Bride, What Women Want, The Breakfast Club, The Cutting Edge, Sweet Home Alabama, A Walk to Remember, Someone Like You, Silver Linings Playbook, Leap Year, Life as We Know It, Letters to Juliet, 27 Dresses, As Good as It Gets, Picture Perfect, French Kiss, and Bridget Jones’s Diary.

I’m sure there are many other movies (and books) you might add to the list! BuzzFeed nailed it with this funny graphic about Parks and Recreation:

Recipe for Love

The enemies-to-lovers recipe is pretty potent stuff; in order to understand it better, we need to analyze the ingredients that make it possible to change a rivalry into a romance.

The following steps are used in many enemies-to-lovers plot lines. I’ve included modern movie examples for each, plus the clever building blocks Austen used in Pride and Prejudice to create the sizzling chemistry between Elizabeth and Darcy.

It’s the friction between the two characters that provides the spark for romance!

Step 1: A Bad First Impression

In the enemies-to-lovers trope, rather than a meet-cute, there’s a bad first impression (or a “Bad Meet-Cute”) that starts the action. This is where the soon-to-be-lovers first meet and get off on the wrong foot. The fall-out from this first meeting sets the stage for the rest of the story.

You can find the heroine’s “enemy” in a modern rom-com because he’s the one who makes the main character bristle at first sight. He’s the guy that made fun of her growing up, the one who took her spot on the debate team, the business man who stole her cab, or the flower shop owner across the street who’s putting her out of business. (Side note: The “enemy” is usually infuriatingly good looking.)

Bottom line: There is always an initial misunderstanding that causes the two leads to get off on the wrong foot.

Modern Example:
In Runaway Bride, Ike writes an erroneous newspaper article about Maggie, so Maggie gets him fired. From that moment forward, she sees him as the jerk journalist from the big city who made her a laughing stock. Meanwhile, he sees her as the “man eater” who cost him his job. As with most rom coms, their anger-to-attraction ratio sets off some serious fireworks.

P&P Example:
There’s a reason Jane Austen’s first draft was titled “First Impressions.” In Pride and Prejudice, the bad first impression occurs when Mr. Darcy snubs Elizabeth at the ball when they first meet. She overhears Darcy when Bingley says he should dance: “You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room.”

Worse yet, she hears his response when Mr. Bingley suggests he dance with her: “She is tolerable: but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.”

The end result: “Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings towards him.” She makes light of it it later, but it affects her more than she lets on. In the history of bad first impressions, Mr. Darcy’s is one of the worst!

Step 2: Confirmation

After the initial meeting or bad impression, there is a series of events in which the main character continues to see the other only through the lens of their first impression.

In this scenario, every next move the characters make only continues to confirm their bad first impressions. When one character tries to make amends or tries for a “do-over,” it usually doesn’t go well. As the characters continually bump into each other, they rub each other wrong. Often, there are further infractions and snubs that add to the initial impression.

Modern Example:
In When Harry Met Sally, Sally’s first impression of Harry, when they drive together on a long road trip, is that he’s arrogant and insensitive. Sally’s bad first impression of Harry is confirmed when they meet several years later. At first, he doesn’t recognize her. Later, he remembers who she is and offends Sally by asking if they slept together in college. Because of their initial interactions, Sally sees Harry as purely guy-friend material until much later in the movie.

P&P Example:

While Darcy finds himself more attracted to Elizabeth at each of their subsequent meetings, Elizabeth’s view of Darcy is unchanged: “to her he was only the man who made himself agreeable nowhere, and who had not thought her handsome enough to dance with.”

Austen builds on this negative first impression by adding further complications. From that first meeting, everything Darcy says or does is interpreted by Elizabeth through the lens of his bad first impression: When Mr. Darcy interferes with Jane and Mr. Bingley, it can only be because he’s arrogant and looks down on the Bennet family. When Mr. Wickham tells his tale about Darcy, Elizabeth quickly believes Wickham must be telling the truth (because Wickham is handsome and charming and Darcy is proud and rude). It takes several meetings, a lot of lively banter, a (bad) first marriage proposal, a lengthy explanatory letter, a visit to Pemberley, and a grand gesture to change Elizabeth’s mind.

Step 3: Attraction

During this step in a rom com, at least one character begins to see something unexpected in the other that makes them reconsider their first opinion. Beneath the initial animosity, anger, or annoyance, attraction begins to build and the characters find themselves (inexplicably) drawn to one another.

Arguments heat up (in more than one way) and turn into exasperated banter that one or the other finds enjoyable instead of infuriating. The characters begin to soften toward one another. Either one or both find that they can’t stop thinking about the other person.

Modern Example: In How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Andie and Ben are in a fierce competition–but neither of them knows what the other is doing. While Andie does everything she can to prove she can lose Ben in 10 days, Ben tries to prove that he can make a girl fall in love with him in 10 days. As they face off, instead of pushing each other away, they both find the competition exhilarating.

P&P Example:

In Pride and Prejudice, while it takes longer for Elizabeth to realize her attraction to Mr. Darcy, this stage happens almost immediately for Darcy:

“…he began to find [her face] was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes . . . he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing; he was caught by their easy playfulness.”

When Elizabeth refuses to dance with Darcy, he isn’t offended: “Her resistance had not injured her with the gentleman.” In fact, he stands in pleasant reverie, thinking about her: “I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.”

While it takes longer for Elizabeth to realize her attraction to Darcy, there’s no arguing the fact that she dearly loves to tease him, verbally spar with him, and toy with him right from the start. She flirts and makes fun of him because she thinks he’s always brooding and judging and looking down on her; meanwhile, he finds her absolutely bewitching.

Step 4: Making Amends

In this step of the typical enemies-to-lovers romantic movie plot, one character tries to make amends, smooth over ruffled feelings, explain a misunderstanding, or admit fault.

In this phase, there may be more misunderstandings and more complications, but it’s an important step toward the two main characters seeing each other as they really are and not as they first appeared. Often, the characters *just happen* to bump into each other on many occasions by chance. In this phase, one character tries to win over the other. Both begin to try to put their best foot forward.

Modern Example:
In You’ve Got Mail, Joe tries to show Kathleen that he’s not a heartless business man but is actually the secret pen pal she’s fallen in love with. He meets up with her, takes an interest in her world, tries to give her business advice, and asks her to be his friend. When she’s sick, he brings her daisies—her favorite flower—and take cares of her. Kathleen finds herself wishing Joe was her secret pen pal.

P&P Example:

In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth’s demeaner toward Darcy begins to soften over time as she gets to know him. First, she’s surprised and touched by his fondness for his sister. Later, when she reads Darcy’s letter, the narrative she’s believed about him is shattered. Next, when she visits Pemberley and he’s kind to her and her aunt and uncle Gardiner, her heart melts even further. (And it doesn’t hurt that Pemberley is quite something to behold!)

In each instance, as Darcy tries to put his best foot forward, Elizabeth notices something further about him that she didn’t realize before. She finds out that he’s more reserved than arrogant, that he keeps a close circle of family and friends, and that he isn’t naturally at ease in social situations. She notices that he cares for his sister Georgiana, for her aunt and uncle, and finally for her entire family’s reputation. When she visits Pemberley and realizes that he wants to make a good impression on her and on her relatives – and that he wants her to meet and get along with his sister – she is thrown off balance in the most delightful way.

Step 5: The Grand Gesture

In these types of romantic storylines, there is usually a moment where the “enemy / rival” often does something to save or help the other character. There is a great sacrifice or grand gesture that seals the deal.

Often in this phase, one characters needs help (or convincing) and the other swoops in to save the day in order to prove their love for the other character. This phase may also include apologies, gifts, or messages.

Modern Example:
In New in Town, Lucy gives up her high-profile job in Miami and moves to Minnesota permanently. She negotiates a deal to save the local factory, makes it into an employee-owned company, and saves everyone’s jobs. She proves to Ted that she’s more than just a suit and that the people she loves are more important to her than any job.

P&P Example:

Austen sets the bar pretty high for grand gestures when Mr. Darcy personally hunts down Wickham and Lydia, forces Wickham to marry her, and pays off his enormous debts. He even tries to do it quietly, so that everyone will believe it was Mr. Gardiner who made all the arrangements. When Elizabeth later thanks him, he tells her that he did it for her:

“If you will thank me,” he replied, “let it be for yourself alone. That the wish of giving happiness to you might add force to the other inducements which led me on, I shall not attempt to deny. But your family owe me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe I thought only of you.”

You Be the Judge

Do you think Pride and Prejudice has had a lasting affect on modern storytelling? Why are we drawn to the enemies-to-lovers theme? Are there other books or movies that fit this theme that I didn’t mention?

I’ll continue this series next month by looking at other common themes in modern romantic comedies that share similarities with Jane Austen’s great works. Next time you watch a favorite movie, start tracking how many plot devices hark back to our Jane!

The post Jane Austen & Rom Com Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers in Pride and Prejudice appeared first on Rachel Dodge.

Reepicheep: A Loyal and Valiant Friend

Kindred Spirits, I have a special treat for you today! The following is a guest post from my friend Carrie Brownell of A Fine Quotation. Carrie is a literary friend, a Kindred Spirit, a Reep (which you’ll soon learn about), and an incredible artist. Click HERE to see her beautiful literary artwork! Read on for an encouragement from Carrie that’s sure to nourish the soul! -Rachel

When my friends and I were younger, we wanted to celebrate our friendship (and still do) with old-fashioned words. These friends suit this quote from my favorite little loyal warrior from The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis:

If you are a foe we do not fear you, and if you are a friend your enemies shall be taught the fear of us.

-Reepicheep, a mighty warrior mouse from Narnia

A True Reep

Do you wonder if your friendship with another is secure? If they’ll stick around if hard times come your way? If they’ll be family to you when you need them to be? Are they Reeps?

God has seen fit to gift me with a small handful of them. You really only need one, but I have a few — the sort that will draw swords with me and for me when I am not up for the battle all by myself. These are the sort that slap you in the face and kindly hiss instructions to you when you need it most.

Reep is not a Job’s Comforter. He tells it like it is and every word breathes hope.

When his companions were at their darkest, lowest moments he leaned over the sides of their ships and hollered at unknown enemies that there was a battle waiting if one was wanted. He filled his friends with courage and he never ran away. 

Find a Reep, Be a Reep

Look for the Reeps. If you don’t have a friend like this, keep looking because they do exist. When you find them, keep them and be a Reep yourself. When their battle rages, draw your sword and let them know you aren’t running. They’ll need you, just as you’ll need them. 

Reep is my favorite Narnian and the one I most aspire to be like. He looks almost insignificant at first glance, but his heart beats for adventure. He fears no man and he’s compassionate when others stumble. He is a quoter of poetry and promises. He defends truth and honor at all costs and his greatest joy is doing all of the above in a company of like-minded Narnians. 

I want to be him and I’m glad to have friends that are him.

Who is a Reep to you? Do you have one, or are you still looking? 

By Carrie Brownell, A Fine Quotation

To learn more about Carrie’s work or to check out her literary art shop, you can visit her online at www.afinequotation.com or on Instagram @afinequotation.

I pray this article encourages your hearts today, Kindred Spirits! It certainly was heartening for me. Remember to keep your Reeps close, keep looking for others, and try to be one yourself!

Grace and peace,
Rachel

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Valentine’s Day Cookies

We have a tradition in our family of baking Valentine’s Day sugar cookies that are divine! I just made a batch last night, and some very lucky little kiddos have them in their lunches today. I thought you might like the recipe, too!

My mom always made them every Valentine’s Day and sent them in our lunches to school. She also baked and frosted extras for our friends. Pink, heart-shaped cookies are one of my favorite Valentine’s Day memories!

As all of us “kids” got older, went off to college, and go jobs, she would always tell me, my brother, and our friends that if we wanted our cookies, we needed to come see her and pick them up! It was such a fun way for her to get all the big kids to come visit.

I now make these pretty pink cookies for my kids every Valentine’s Day, and I wanted to share it with you. (Feel free to sub your own ingredients as needed.)

Heart-Shaped Cookies

Pink Frosting

Happy Valentine’s Day, Kindred Spirits!
Rachel xx

RACHEL DODGE teaches college English classes, gives talks at libraries, teas, and book clubs, and writes for Jane Austen’s World blog. She is the bestselling author of The Little Women Devotional, The Anne of Green Gables Devotional and Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen. Her newest release is The Secret Garden Devotional! You can visit Rachel online at www.RachelDodge.com.

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For the Love of Books Giveaway!

It’s Valentine’s Day week, and I’ve teamed up with a group of wonderful Christian authors to celebrate the love of books and their authors by blessing 3 WINNERS with incredible prizes!

As writers, we want to support other authors and let our readers know we are grateful for their faithful support. We are so thankful for YOU and for God, who is the ultimate Author of our stories! ♡

** ENTERING THE GIVEAWAY IS SIMPLE – Sign up with your email for a chance to win one of THREE fantastic prizes:

Meet the Authors

Every one of these amazing partners is a Christian author who is part of my literary agency. I cannot say enough good things about them or their books! This giveaway is brought to you by the following:

GIVEAWAY PRIZES:

Now for the fun part! This giveaway features three prizes so that three lucky winners can enjoy the Love of Books this month and beyond. Which prize do you want to win most?

Prize 1: $400 Amazon Gift Card!

You can purchase all the books and goodies you like!

Prize 2: Bookie Bundle!

Features 17 books for hours of reading! (worth $200+)

Prize 3: Book Lover Accessory Bundle

Features cozy and comfy book lover’s necessities! (worth $200+)

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!

** Want to increase your chances of winning?? Come back daily for more entries and MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW, LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE PARTICIPATING AUTHORS FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES. The more you do, the more your chances go up. And please share with your book-loving friends!

Here’s to the Love of Books and hours of reading fun! The giveaway officially starts tomorrow, but you can go ahead and enter now, Kindred Spirits!

Tell me in the comments which prize you want to win!!

Grace and peace,
Rachel

IMPORTANT! The For the Love of Books Giveaway runs 2/13-2/19. Random winners will be selected via KingSumo on 2/20 and notified within 48 hours. This giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by anyone but the bunch of us. By entering the giveaway you agree to receive emails from the contributing authors as part of their email list, but feel free to unsubscribe at any time. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. US Residents only. Must be 18+ years of age to participate. Thank you for entering!

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Embracing Trust by Joanna Weaver: Book Review + Giveaway

I love to celebrate Galentine’s Day and #BookLove in February, so I’m hosting an Embracing Trust Book Bundle Giveaway this week! This is Joanna Weaver’s newest book – and it’s so very timely for each one of us! If you struggle to trust God with EVERY part of you life, you are not alone.

Trusting God is something every person finds difficult (whether they admit it or not), but it’s an especially big topic for women. We are the ones who watch over our family members more closely than anyone else, aside from God. We know every detail of what our people are eating and drinking (and whether it’s healthy or not). We know the state of their clothing, their shoes, their hair (it needs to be cut), their teeth (they need to be cleaned), their eyes (he’s squinting more, isn’t he?), how much they’ve exercised this week, what they’re reading, how much they’ve been on their screen(s), if they’ve seen any friends, how their friendships and love lives are going…and most important of all, we are usually pretty aware of the state of their spiritual and emotional health.

Fully Embrace Trust

If some of the above rings true for you, then that’s probably why there are times when you worry! But here’s the good news: While women tend to worry more, we also tend to PRAY more!

Let’s move from a worry mindset to a trust mindset and start fresh with a new look at how to truth God fully in every season, circumstance, and change.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Joanna’s new book Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God is so timely for us in 2023. Our lives seem to get more complicated with every passing year, but our God is BIGGER than every problem, every issue, every detail of our lives. He’s bigger than every single thing in this world that can tempt us as women to fear.

Book Description

Trusting God. It’s such a cliché. Yet nothing means more to our heavenly Father than when we surrender our lives completely to him and choose to believe he has our best in mind. David modeled that kind of deliberate dependence: as a shepherd boy, as a man running for his life, as a king who made grave mistakes. In both triumph and failure, David looked to God rather than to himself.

In Embracing Trust, Joanna Weaver, bestselling author of the runaway hit Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, shares personal stories, practical tips, and life-changing principles gleaned from Scripture. If you struggle with disappointment from the past, frustration with the present, or fear of the future, Joanna invites you to trust in the Lord with all your heart. Relinquishing control and putting your hope in a forever-faithful Father–that’s the beautiful secret of unshakeable faith. This book includes a 10-week companion Bible study.

Embracing Trust JournalAbout the Author

Joanna Weaver is the bestselling and award-winning author of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, as well as Having a Mary Spirit and Lazarus Awakening. A pastor’s wife, mother of three, and avid Bible teacher, Joanna loves speaking to women about the powerful freedom that is found in making Jesus Lord and trusting him for things bigger than themselves. She lives with her family in Hamilton, Montana.

Giveaway Instructions & Details

One winner will receive a copy of Embracing Trust (book) and a companion journal.

Rules

US Only
Participants must be 18+, or have parental consent.
Giveaway is open through February 14, 2023. (Prize will be mailed the following week.)

To Enter

Comment below and tell me the title of a book you read in 2022 that you loved.
Share this with 2 friends.
For EXTRA entries, visit my Instagram @kindredspiritbooks and follow me!

Grace and peace,
Rachel xx

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Podcast News: The Great-Great Granddaughter of Frances Hodgson Burnett, author of The Secret Garden

God works in wonderful, mysterious ways, doesn’t He? A few years ago, I met Keri Wilt, the great-great granddaughter of Frances Hodgson Burnett, author of The Secret Garden. We met online, started to chat, and really hit it off. It has been such a pleasure to get to know her, and I can’t even begin to tell you how wonderfully supportive she’s been during the launch of The Secret Garden Devotional!

Keri Wilt’s Endorsement of The Secret Garden Devotional

I am incredibly honored to share Keri’s official endorsement of my newest devotional book, The Secret Garden Devotional. I can’t begin to say how much it means to have the “stamp of approval” from the descendant of the author of The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Truly, it’s a dream come true!

With the skill of a master gardener and the gentle hand of a friend, Rachel guides us through Mary’s path and garden to show us the seeds of wisdom and wonder that have been planted there all along. She then sows these truths deep into our hearts with a special blend of biblical knowledge, purposeful prayer, and real-life application.

Keri Wilt, Motivational Speaker, Writer, and Heart Cultivator at www.TheWell-TendedLife.com and the
Great-Great-Granddaughter of Frances Hodgson Burnett, author of classics like The Secret Garden

The Well-Tended Life Podcast

Keri Wilt is truly one of the most encouraging, fun, and supportive people I know. She also invited me to help kick off her brand-new 2023 season of The Well-Tended Life Podcast!

Here are a few of the topics we covered in this insanely fun and meaningful conversation:

Creating a rhythm for quality time helps us to stay connected.When you say no to something, you are giving someone else the opportunity to say yes to it!Never say “never”…because often that’s exactly what God has for you.Just do the next thing…then you’ll get God’s next set of instructions.Let God choose your companions. He knows who you need more than you do!Sometimes hard is good. We all need room to grow, but we also need to give those around us the same room to grow.Losing your way is a part of finding your way.Walking with God is never walking alone…because He promises to never leave us.Fighting with the wind makes us stronger.Listen to the Podcast HERE:

A Sneak-Peek of Our Conversation:

It was SO fun to record this episode! If you enjoy listening to it, please consider leaving lots of stars and a review. And please share it with your friends!

Grace and peace,
Rachel xx

P.S. If you think of a podcaster who might like to have me on their show, please let me know. Same for any blogs for Christian women! I love to share the message of these devotionals with as many women as possible!

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