Mary Green

by Melanie Kerr

Mary Green, obscure orphan and ward of the wealthy Hargreaves family, has always accepted her inferior position with grace, humility, and gratitude. When she discovers that her only friend is to leave the country forever, that her confidence has been betrayed by the unfeeling youngest daughter of the family, and that her very deprivation is the object of the mockery and scorn of everyone she has sought to honour, she determines to cast them off and make her own way in the world. On her twenty-first birthday, free to choose her own destiny, she dreams of peace and tolerance, and perhaps a partner who might be noble enough to love her in all her simplicity. But when an unexpected foray into London society disrupts all her plans, she is faced with an uncharacteristic storm of feelings. Will she grow strong and happy in her independence, or will her character be lost amidst her newfound ambition? Unable to trust the whims of her own heart, Mary is forced to confront the question that has forever plagued her: Who is she and where does she come from?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Book Club, Adult, Regency

316 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2016

About the author

Melanie Kerr studied linguistics, English and theatre at the University of British Columbia and law at the University of Alberta. Melanie is a reckless lover of clotted cream, a staunch defender of the semi-colon and a fierce opponent of unpleasant music. She wooed her current and only husband with false promises of skill at word games and eternally good hair. She lives in Edmonton, where she raises her two sons, sews her own Regency costumes, runs a Jane Austen Fun Club, blogs on all things old and English, endeavours to take over the world and occasionally practices law. Follies Past is her first novel.

Reviews

[Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Original Regency Romance Inspired by Jane Austen

Having read and adored Melanie Kerr’s first release – Follies Past – a Pride and Prejudice prequel, I was super excited to learn that she was soon releasing a new book. This time an original Regency Romance about an unfortunate orphan coming of age. Since what I loved most about Ms. Kerr’s first book was her original character, Clare Langford (Miss Darcy’s companion), and her storyline, I longed to see what Ms. Kerr would do with an entirely new cast of characters all of her own creation.

The heroine of our story is Mary Green, who like Fanny Price and Jane Eyre, is the unfortunate poor relation taken in by relatives. While she is fed, given a room (ahem! the nursery), and clothed (in her cousins’ cast-offs), Mary is never treated with kindness or affection. Her unmarried aunt and the two daughters of her benefactor are always sure to mark a distinction in her relationship to the family. She is the obscure orphan with no prospects who is often treated with neglect and mockery. With little happiness in her life, Mary often dreams of becoming the wife of a humble curate or being hired as a governess for a middle-class family. At nearly the age of twenty-one, she hopes to soon escape these mean-spirited, squabbling sisters, her malicious aunt, and her absent benefactor (sounds similar to Cinderella, doesn’t it?)

Unlike Cinderella, Mary doesn’t need a prince to save her, she is saved unexpectedly by some good fortune that comes her way. With her life changed, Mary is determined to seek happiness and enjoy her freedom. Like Catherine Morland, she is inexperienced and new to society, but quick to be amiable and make friends (and attract suitors!) But after some disappointments, Mary soon realizes that a life of shopping, fashions, and parties is not for her. And with the mystery of her past still unresolved, she decides to focus her energies on learning the truth about herself and improving her character.

Oh brava, Melanie Kerr! Mary Green is such an admirable and likable character! I loved her instantly for her humble and forgiving nature, generous heart, and genuine personality. Her adventures were immensely fun to follow and I loved discovering more about her past. But what I really admired was her strength, bravery, and independent thinking. Like Elizabeth Bennet, she isn’t afraid to speak her mind and do what she ought. I especially enjoyed her interactions with her companion, Mrs. Burrows, and all three of the Ingles brothers.

It was a pleasant surprise to find this story include some nods to stories and situations familiar to me. As mentioned above, there were instances that made me think of Fanny Price, Catherine Morland, and Elizabeth Bennet. In addition, Mary does have some romantic misadventures that sometimes brought to mind scenes with John Thorpe, Mr. Knightley, and Mr. Darcy! I loved these gentle echoes to such beloved characters and scenes and greatly applaud Melanie Kerr’s fantastic taste! (I wouldn’t be surprised if she listed Jane Eyre, Cinderella, and all of Jane Austen’s novels as sources of inspiration for this novel.)

I found Mary Green to be utterly charming and delightfully unexpected! An original Regency Romance with an endearing heroine, lovable friends, loathsome adversaries, mishaps, adventures, self-discoveries, and a spectacularly unexpected twist at the end is definitely the kind of story that captivates me and I’m thrilled to give Ms. Kerr’s new release some well-deserved praise and recognition. If you are a fan of Regency romances, clean romances, and Jane Austen I highly recommend you add Mary Green to your TBR list pronto!

[Ambur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a HUGE fan of Jane Austen, so I'm always on the lookout for books that are similar to hers! As soon as I heard about MARY GREEN, I was intrigued! I loved the idea of a book that was Austen-inspired, but completely unique, too. I was extremely excited to read it and it completely met and then greatly surpassed my expectations!

While MARY GREEN did have elements that reminded me of Austen's works, it was still so strong on its own! Melanie Kerr has written an absolutely wonderful story, and I loved everything about it. Her characters were fantastic, the writing was superb, and it definitely had a tone that I've come to adore from classic titles like Austen's. The story definitely isn't a retelling, but it did have certain elements and twists that reminded me of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and EMMA, and if I'm forced to choose those are my favourite of Austen's books, so I loved that!

I've always been a reader who generally loves character-driven stories over plot-driven ones, and MARY GREEN is definitely all about character! It fits extremely well in the novel genre that Austen herself is so well known for, and when it comes to novels, the main character really does make or break a story. In the case of MARY GREEN, Mary was a wonderful narrator. She definitely wasn't perfect, but she was aware, intelligent, generous, and she was willing to change or listen when she realized her own mistakes. Mary starts the story with a rather mysterious past, and it was extremely interesting to see it all become clear. The story was full of twists and turns, which I loved! I've always been a fan of stories with twists, and I love trying to guess what will happen later in a story. I'm usually pretty good at figuring out what will come, so it's always a pleasure to be surprised and there were a few times where this story went far further than I expected and I loved that!!

Overall, I absolutely LOVED MARY GREEN! I'd definitely recommend this one to other Jane Austen fans because Melanie Kerr has written a wonderful story that will warm the hearts of Austen fans! Don't worry though, even if you've yet to read any of Jane Austen's books, I think you could still love this story! It has a strong, dynamic main character who faces many challenges after her life drastically changes. It's a story of friendship, love, growing up, and self-discovery, so it covers some extremely universal themes!

[Felicity Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Asked to sum up Mary Green, I'd have to say its a sort of Jane Eyre-come-Cinderella- come-Eliza Doolittle hybrid that sees our heroine go from (almost) rags to riches to ... well, lets just say Mary's story is one of self discovery.

A journey of self discovery that felt very familiar for it has to be said that this was a version of a story that I felt I had read many times before. Not that this mattered one iota as in Mary (aka Polly) we have one of those characters you simply can't help but take to heart, feeling sorrow at her every disappointment, rejoicing in her every triumph.

And its not just Mary either. Written with as much care as our heroine, the 'secondary' characters are in fact anything but secondary. All memorable in their own way despite, perhaps because of, their flaws.

Altogether written with such panache. The author does an exemplary job of immersing her readers into Regency life. The attention to detail superb, the social etiquette, the dress, the customs impressively gone into as Mary finds herself thrown into London Society and yet finds herself increasingly wondering just who she is and where she comes from.

Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper.
Disclaimer: Received for review, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.

[Danika Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

RECOMMENDED FOR REGENCY FANS:

With a true-to-Austen voice and a bevy of characters worthy of any Regency drama, Melanie Kerr brings readers into a not so distant world, following the experiences of gentle Polly (Mary Green) on a journey of self discovery. She experiences fortune's ups and downs (reminiscent of the Dashwoods in S&S), and ultimately finds her way in life. If you enjoy Austen-esque novels in the vein My Dearest Mr. Darcy, you won't be disappointed by Mary Green. Especially recommended for Regency fans!

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this quaint and charming book. Fans of Jane Austen, give it a go.

[Britt, Book Habitue · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Good, but felt a bit like "let's take this detail from this Jane Austen... and this one from this one...."
If you combined Mansfield Park with Cinderella.... yeah, that's kind of it.

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this up on my library's "Reader's Choice" table. Who chooses these?! If anyone sees me with another Regency novel, just shoot me.....

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminiscent of Jane Austen. I really liked the character development in Mary Green. Polly (Mary) is a kind-hearted, generous woman. When she goes from being a lonely, poor orphan to a wealthy inheritor, she does get temporarily caught up in balls and gowns and trying to acquire a suitor. However, she has a desire to help those less fortunate and finds ways to do exactly that. I also really loved her companion, Mrs. Burrows. No woman could ask for a truer friend or more trusted confidante that Mrs. Burrows.

[Jennifer Skogen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kept picturing this as a BBC miniseries while reading. Can someone get started on that, please? :)

[Ruth B · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mary Green" is an excellent story about an orphan girl who was always treated as an inferior but never complained about her situation. On her twenty-first birthday, she finds out that she has the power to change her all whole life and decides to fly away as soon as possible. This is a story about friendship, love, growing up and who we are.

Mary is the perfect heroine, honest, pure and with a hunger to have a meaningful life. She has a hard time dealing with her new reality but it's totally understandable. She goes from nothing to rich in a moment and she wants to do the best for her and other. Her generous heart makes her a target for all kinds of people. Her desire to find true love also brings a series of misunderstandings and disappointments.

The secondary characters are anything but small, each one has a defined role and helps Mary to grow up and learn. There are many remarkable moments, some happier than others but always a reason to keep reading.

The plot has all the touches and elements we love in this type of story. Everything has been taken care off, the scenarios are detailed and it's easy to picture all of it. The author did a great job describing the fashion, balls and architecture to create a solid world.

I absolutely adore the writing style, the author has a gift to create a colorful, vivid and real world with complex characters and the same Jane Austen essence. It's clear she loves Austen but she has her own voice, which is fresh, engaging and creates a wonderful book.

*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. ***

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars

Reviewed for www.compassbookratings.com

Overall Review:
Mary Green is a delightful read with all the elements of a good story. The tale can be described as "Cinderella meets Jane Austen" and will delight fans of modern Regency fiction. Mary Green has a solid plot and maintains steady pacing throughout the book. Author Melanie Kerr is an impressive writer and pens several beautiful and quote worthy lines. Kerr fully immerses readers in the era by capturing the customs, social expectations, and manners of the Regency period. Main character Mary is a heroine readers will find themselves rooting for. She is a sweet and humble young woman on a journey of self-discovery. Along the way, Mary uncovers mystery and finds romance, as well as encountering a group of memorable secondary characters. Mary Green is highly recommended for Regency era enthusiasts!

For full content analysis, go to www.compassbookratings.com

[Amaryah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. The author did a good job of keeping the reader guessing, which i think can be hard to do in a regency romance. I loved Mary. She was real, and even though she was in a sort of Cinderella role, she still made her fair share of mistakes and was by no means perfect. (My good opinion of her was probably magnified by the fact that I just read Agnes Grey, whose martyr-like personality was pretty irritating). I also liked how the love interest kept changing, it just made me laugh, but ultimately ended the way I hoped it would. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

[Asiyih · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very excited to read this book as I loved Kerr's first novel, Follies Past. Mary Green evoked the same Austen-esque language and feel that characterized her first novel and I was utterly enchanted by the story! The characters were captivating, the story kept you guessing -especially on the romantic interest side of things ;-)-but most importantly Kerr has yet again has created a work that feels so intrinsically Austen! A wonderful book that I would recommend not only to all Austen lovers but to anyone who enjoys a well written, sweet, historical story.

[Pam Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melanie Kerr has recreated the regency era with aplomb in her novel, Mary Green. Character driven with fine attention to detail and language, this novel explodes with London life and self-indulgences of the rich and lively in high society. Only Mary Green and her Mrs. Burrows stand apart, with some degree of introspection. High stepping like the waltzes on the ballroom floors, this novel dances through a myriad of relationships, discovery of one's identity and questions what is love?

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The experience of reading this book was like literary Calgon. Got completely caught up in the Regency era setting and couldn't put it down. Cinderella meets Pride and Prejudice, with a rags-to-riches main character to love and root for.

Given that I usually prefer contemporary, non-romance, and/or nonfiction, this is all high praise.

[Sorcha]

full review can be found here:

https://nordie.wordpress.com/2016/04/...

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great regency romance! There were a lot of twists to the story that I didn't see coming, had some good lessons on forgiveness and charity, and the romance wasn't cheesy.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little Jane Austen, a little Jane Eyre, a little Cinderella, and a lot of page-turning. Loved it.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fast, fun read, and finished it in a day.

[Nedra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the writing of many British classics, this book's style was formal and cautious, depicting British society in the era of nobility and rigid social structure. The characters were equally formal and their lack of awareness to any actual social justice made their rudeness and fickleness all the more shallow. Mary, however, was the generous character whose naïveté was her saving grace as she accepted her changes of fortune. Everything works out in the end and Gloucestershire is the better for it. The plot, therefore, is somewhat canned and the characters a bit stereotypic, but like all who love this genre of fiction, certainly as lovable as any I've read.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would actually give this book 3 1/2 stars. I felt like I was reading a Jane Austen book. This book is about Mary Green, an orphan of unknown parentage, but who has lived with a family of a woman who was going to adopt her. They treat her a little above a servant.
This was a good book filled with moral lessons. Be grateful and kind. Help others less fortunate. Do not judge. It had some humor.
If you're in the mood for an old fashioned clean Romance story, very much Jane Austen-like. I would give this a G rating.

[Delaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well written and delightful, a modern reader's Austen. The language and story are very true to the Regency, and very like Austen's writing. To continue the comparison, Mary Green is a bit Lizzie Bennet, a bit Fanny Price, and a bit Catherine Morland--in what ways are to be learned from reading the story.
But with that said, Mary is also wholly her own character with her own realizations and adventures. I read it in two days.

[Cordy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story would have been better if the author wasn't trying to blend so many classic story-lines together. You'll find some Jane Eyre as well as a good blend of Jane Austen's works in this particular story.

[Mallee Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an orphan, Mary Green is at the mercy of the Hargreaves family of Oxfordshire. She is treated no better than the servants, but on her twenty-first birthday, everything changes.
An amusing tale along the lines of Sense and Sensibility.

[Carilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! An unplanned and unexpected purchase at a Regency event in Edmonton, Alberta. Delightfully Austen like story of a young woman being raised by her uncle, when the unexpected happens...

[Evenstar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, loved this book

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. Enjoyed it!

[Judy Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical Regency romance with a decent story line. Naive heroine. Nice escapist fun.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite lovely. The ending wasn’t quite what I expected, but I still found myself invested in the main character.

[Lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful book for Jane Austen fans. Charming characters. Very on trend with the recent success of Bridgerton. I love this world. This book was fun.