What do you think?
Rate this book
True Love Comes to Delaford: A Sense and Sensibility Whimsy
Elinor Dashwood’s father dies, leaving the fate of his family in the hands of two self-serving vultures. With diminished chances of making a respectable match and several uneventful Seasons behind her, the fiercely independent, bibliophile focuses on helping her family adjust to their new life. However, as her friendship with an honorable gentleman grows, the twenty-year-old begins experiencing feelings she never thought possible. When Colonel Brandon resigned from the army to become the master of his family’s estate, he thought his best days were behind him. For years, the bachelor of five-and-thirty has successfully avoided every attempt of his well-meaning friends to find him a suitable wife. Although, he soon finds himself questioning his long-held beliefs regarding his single status, when Miss Dashwood strolls into his life. In this refreshing whimsy, Virginia Kohl explores the possibility of Elinor Dashwood and Colonel Brandon’s devoted friendship turning into more.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 11, 2017
15 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Kohl
2 books11 followersOriginally from Germany, Virginia Kohl shares her Texas home with her illustrator mother and faithful rescue dog. When not passing her love of learning on to her students, this college math professor enjoys reading, writing, cooking, and being an active member of her local writer’s guild.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 11, 2018
It is not often you see variations on Jane Austen's 'Sense and Sensibility'. So I was delighted to win this one in a giveaway. There was no expectation for a review either.
This is Virginia Kohl's debut novel. She has honored Alan Rickman in the beginning of the novel and for me, he will always be my favourite version of Colonel Brandon with David Morrissey second. I actually loved both of the adaptations for different reasons. So in starting the book, I had the vision of Alan Rickman in my head, as well as several other characters from the 1995 adaptation.
The book partially follows the movie more than canon but this is a variation after all. I liked Ms. Kohl's portrayal of Colonel Brandon. His quiet confidence and strength of character is wonderful to see. Elinor, is more of a bluestocking in this story with the spectacles reinforcing that. The Colonel and Elinor build a strong friendship once they have met, which was lovely to see developed. Margaret, the youngest, is wise beyond her years, especially when it comes to her opinions. One of the minor characters, Mr. Palmer, gives the Colonel a piece of advice:
"Learn from my mistake and follow your heart. Do not allow yourself to be swayed by the opinion of society, who only care for appearance and wealth." (quote from the book)
However, what didn't sit well with me, is the portrayal of Marianne Dashwood and Edward Ferrars. I found the direction of their characters was too extreme. There is an element of religion in this story, but not, in my opinion, heavy-handed.
Overall, I liked the story. I also want to give a shout-out to the illustrator for the cover and the sketches at the beginning of the book!
August 20, 2018
I'm always a little excited to come across a variation, retelling or sequel on Austen's Sense & Sensibility because its not as common. In the case of True Love Comes to Delaford, I was particularly curious because the author explored a pretty big 'what if' variation. In point of fact, she posed the question of what if Elinor and Colonel Brandon had been the romance pair and how would that alter the story.
This review is probably going to seem like a list of warnings in a way, but I can't get around the fact that True Love Comes to Delaford took some big chances even beyond altering the path of Jane Austen's original romance pairings. Not only was this a big change because it is Elinor who gains the Colonel's eye and vice versa, but the other main pair (Marianne, Elinor's sister, and Edward Ferrars, Elinor's original love interest) went under a strong character change that leaves them unrecognizable from the classic. The youngest daughter Margaret gains a stronger role and a few original characters were added which were definite perks.
So, as it might be imagined, the story is altered. And yet, there are several scenes and settings that are very familiar to those who've read the original classic. Sir John and Mrs. Jennings were always favorites for me so I was thrilled that they were present to welcome the widowed Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters to Barton. Along came Willoughby and I giggled at the silly idiot who referred to himself in the 3rd person. Oh and Brandon's old German nanny turned housekeeper was my favorite original character. Loved her and the German elements infused into the story. Colonel Brandon was indeed a swoony hero and I was all anticipation when he stepped onto the scene.
I enjoyed seeing the courtship between Colonel Brandon and Elinor as they moved from friendship to love surrounded by their friends and family. It's a tender, rather low-angst piece. The drama comes from without and was brought on by others and tended to happen to those others. I am one who prefers the external-style conflicts so I was satisfied for the most part.
I did have a few niggles with this one. I could get past altering the romance pair and might have appreciated exploring a character's personality drastically altered if I felt that there had been some balance to it. Austen wrote her characters with flaws particularly the Dashwood sisters who had to learn to appreciate each other's strengths. I felt that Elinor was too good and Marianne had no good at all in this one so they felt more two-dimensional at times. I also got a sense that much of the conflict for the romance pair was essentially over not long after the half-way point so the plot started lagging for me. Not that I didn't love seeing what came after the happily ever after nor that I wasn't curious about the end result for several of the surrounding characters. The trouble makers got some good comeuppance and there were a few nice surprises for others.
On a side note, the story was strongly laced with an inspirational element. I didn't mind this, but felt I should toss that out there for those who would mind.
All in all, it was a creative twist to a classic plot and an interesting exploration in an alternative path. I adore the author's swoony Colonel Brandon and sweet Elinor and was glad to have gotten the chance to read the story. This will be for those Austen lovers who don't mind drastic variations to the original story and a sweet inspirational romance element.
COYER Summer Birthday Bash Scavenger Hunt #20 Couple on the Cover
This review is probably going to seem like a list of warnings in a way, but I can't get around the fact that True Love Comes to Delaford took some big chances even beyond altering the path of Jane Austen's original romance pairings. Not only was this a big change because it is Elinor who gains the Colonel's eye and vice versa, but the other main pair (Marianne, Elinor's sister, and Edward Ferrars, Elinor's original love interest) went under a strong character change that leaves them unrecognizable from the classic. The youngest daughter Margaret gains a stronger role and a few original characters were added which were definite perks.
So, as it might be imagined, the story is altered. And yet, there are several scenes and settings that are very familiar to those who've read the original classic. Sir John and Mrs. Jennings were always favorites for me so I was thrilled that they were present to welcome the widowed Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters to Barton. Along came Willoughby and I giggled at the silly idiot who referred to himself in the 3rd person. Oh and Brandon's old German nanny turned housekeeper was my favorite original character. Loved her and the German elements infused into the story. Colonel Brandon was indeed a swoony hero and I was all anticipation when he stepped onto the scene.
I enjoyed seeing the courtship between Colonel Brandon and Elinor as they moved from friendship to love surrounded by their friends and family. It's a tender, rather low-angst piece. The drama comes from without and was brought on by others and tended to happen to those others. I am one who prefers the external-style conflicts so I was satisfied for the most part.
I did have a few niggles with this one. I could get past altering the romance pair and might have appreciated exploring a character's personality drastically altered if I felt that there had been some balance to it. Austen wrote her characters with flaws particularly the Dashwood sisters who had to learn to appreciate each other's strengths. I felt that Elinor was too good and Marianne had no good at all in this one so they felt more two-dimensional at times. I also got a sense that much of the conflict for the romance pair was essentially over not long after the half-way point so the plot started lagging for me. Not that I didn't love seeing what came after the happily ever after nor that I wasn't curious about the end result for several of the surrounding characters. The trouble makers got some good comeuppance and there were a few nice surprises for others.
On a side note, the story was strongly laced with an inspirational element. I didn't mind this, but felt I should toss that out there for those who would mind.
All in all, it was a creative twist to a classic plot and an interesting exploration in an alternative path. I adore the author's swoony Colonel Brandon and sweet Elinor and was glad to have gotten the chance to read the story. This will be for those Austen lovers who don't mind drastic variations to the original story and a sweet inspirational romance element.
COYER Summer Birthday Bash Scavenger Hunt #20 Couple on the Cover
Read
February 6, 2023rtc
September 13, 2020
“Choose well. Your choice is brief, and yet endless.” –Goethe
Rating: clean with a bit of steam: there was a religious element that came across a bit stronger than was necessary [IMHO]. It is rare to read a Catholic reference during the Regency Era. I wondered about the struggles those of the faith would have to endure. When I did a Google search, I found this link…
https://englishhistoryauthors.blogspo...
It was my first pick and low-and-behold… Virginia Khol had written it. I thought that was hilarious. It must have been hard on the British populous as they flipped religions based solely on who was on the throne at the time.
“The most important thing is this: to be able at any moment to be free to choose a life that makes you happy.” –Roy T. Bennett
I’ve always liked Colonel Brandon and was looking forward to reading a different story for him. In this variation, he chooses a different Dashwood sister for his HEA. I liked that choice as this version of Marianne showed her to be a horrid, spoiled, b-witch, trollop, brat-child. OMG! She was awful, selfish, entitled, and self-absorbed. I did not like her one bit. I couldn’t decide if she was more Caroline Bingley or Lydia Bennet, or a combination of both. Shudder!!
The villains were excessively bad and the good was a bit saccharine. The story started off well enough but then the story went off canon and the OOC behavior was not especially in a good way. There was just this note that didn’t ring true. That religious influence was pretty heavy and it smacked you in the face rather than deliver a gentle hint. You can also forget about propriety, and the lack of following Regency etiquette will drive the purists nuts. Just saying… you have been warned.
What I didn’t like: This was a long, Long, really LONG story that could have been cut by half. In fact, when I felt I was approaching the end of the story, I discovered there were at least a dozen more chapters left to the book. WTH [what-the-heck]? What more was to be done? We had reached what I considered a denouement and a conclusion. It only became tedious after that. It was fluff and stuff that didn’t really add to the story and should have been cut. The language between our characters felt strained, contrived, and repetitive. I wanted to just leave it but there is a second book that I needed to read next so I had to finish. There were a few nuggets of gold that make me smile but were soon lost in the tedious. It was only OK but not great.
Rating: clean with a bit of steam: there was a religious element that came across a bit stronger than was necessary [IMHO]. It is rare to read a Catholic reference during the Regency Era. I wondered about the struggles those of the faith would have to endure. When I did a Google search, I found this link…
https://englishhistoryauthors.blogspo...
It was my first pick and low-and-behold… Virginia Khol had written it. I thought that was hilarious. It must have been hard on the British populous as they flipped religions based solely on who was on the throne at the time.
“The most important thing is this: to be able at any moment to be free to choose a life that makes you happy.” –Roy T. Bennett
I’ve always liked Colonel Brandon and was looking forward to reading a different story for him. In this variation, he chooses a different Dashwood sister for his HEA. I liked that choice as this version of Marianne showed her to be a horrid, spoiled, b-witch, trollop, brat-child. OMG! She was awful, selfish, entitled, and self-absorbed. I did not like her one bit. I couldn’t decide if she was more Caroline Bingley or Lydia Bennet, or a combination of both. Shudder!!
The villains were excessively bad and the good was a bit saccharine. The story started off well enough but then the story went off canon and the OOC behavior was not especially in a good way. There was just this note that didn’t ring true. That religious influence was pretty heavy and it smacked you in the face rather than deliver a gentle hint. You can also forget about propriety, and the lack of following Regency etiquette will drive the purists nuts. Just saying… you have been warned.
What I didn’t like: This was a long, Long, really LONG story that could have been cut by half. In fact, when I felt I was approaching the end of the story, I discovered there were at least a dozen more chapters left to the book. WTH [what-the-heck]? What more was to be done? We had reached what I considered a denouement and a conclusion. It only became tedious after that. It was fluff and stuff that didn’t really add to the story and should have been cut. The language between our characters felt strained, contrived, and repetitive. I wanted to just leave it but there is a second book that I needed to read next so I had to finish. There were a few nuggets of gold that make me smile but were soon lost in the tedious. It was only OK but not great.
November 16, 2018
What If Colonel Brandon Fell in Love with the Other Dashwood Sister?
While Pride and Prejudice variations are in plentiful supply with dozens of new releases coming out each month, stories inspired by Jane Austen’s other novels are a bit more rare. Especially stories that are variations (not sequels or modern adaptations). As an ardent reader of variations (I love wondering ‘what if?’), I was most excited to see that Virginia Kohl’s debut release was a variation on Sense and Sensibility (so unique, right?)! And I loved learning that with this variation, quite a significant change takes place. True Love Comes to Delaford story poses the question: What if Colonel Brandon’s and Elinor Dashwood’s easy camaraderie and growing mutual respect and admiration for each other developed into something more?
It may be blasphemous of me to admit it, but sometimes I find myself a little dissatisfied with Elinor Dashwood’s fate at the end of Sense and Sensibility – even though Edward has some good qualities, I do sometimes feel Elinor deserved better. I know there are some who may agree with that sentiment – after all how many readers are naming Edward Ferrars as one of their top favorite Austen heroes? In addition, there are some readers who feel some dissatisfaction with Colonel Brandon’s and Marianne’s happily-ever-after. Whether it be because of the age difference or because we never see Marianne’s developed romantic feelings for Brandon on page. Will readers feel more satisfied with these characters’ fates when they become romantically intertwined with each other…?
First of all, brava to Virginia Kohl for having the courage to pen such a daring alteration! I’m so glad she did this because it was absolutely lovely to see more of Colonel Brandon as an ardent and romantic hero! I loved seeing how, despite his intentions to forever remain a bachelor, he fell in love. His kind actions, sweet surprises, and fervent protection of Elinor warmed my heart and made me fall in love with him as well! I especially enjoyed Colonel Brandon’s relationship with Margaret – and seeing their shared interests and Colonel Brandon’s special name for her. We so need more Colonel Brandon stories in the Austenesque genre! Discerning readers will recognize a lot of Alan Rickman in Ms. Kohl’s portrayal of Colonel Brandon, which, since I’m a fan of both Alan Rickman and the 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, I didn’t mind! 😉
While I adored the chance to see a relationship develop between Elinor and Colonel Brandon, I did find myself a little less fond of some other character portrayals and developments in this variation. The biggest alteration was with Marianne’s character, who is mean-spirited and perhaps even more insolent and thoughtless than Lydia Bennet! Sadly, there was no redeeming qualities in this Marianne and I found her heartlessness disappointing. I missed seeing a sisterly bond between Elinor and Marianne, and seeing how two diverse sisters with opposite natures can still care deeply about each other. I believe Ms. Kohl chose to portray Marianne (and Edward) a little more disagreeable in order to support her premise, but at the same time I think her premise would still be believable even with Marianne and Edward portrayed in a more favorable light. However, I do give the author kudos for coming up with such creative consequences for these duo’s actions!
Other than that main quibble, there were a few other instances that raised my eyebrow, such as Willoughby’s odd manner of talking and Colonel Brandon’s urgent trips to London which are never explained. But overall, I found myself delighted with this inventive Sense and Sensibility variation. I appreciated the new character additions, the sweet moments of devotion shared between Elinor and Colonel Brandon, and the chance to explore this different pairing! I do wonder if Jane Austen ever toyed with the idea herself!
Note: While it isn’t mentioned in the book’s description, there are mentions of faith, prayer, and religion in this variation.
Austenesque Reviews
While Pride and Prejudice variations are in plentiful supply with dozens of new releases coming out each month, stories inspired by Jane Austen’s other novels are a bit more rare. Especially stories that are variations (not sequels or modern adaptations). As an ardent reader of variations (I love wondering ‘what if?’), I was most excited to see that Virginia Kohl’s debut release was a variation on Sense and Sensibility (so unique, right?)! And I loved learning that with this variation, quite a significant change takes place. True Love Comes to Delaford story poses the question: What if Colonel Brandon’s and Elinor Dashwood’s easy camaraderie and growing mutual respect and admiration for each other developed into something more?
It may be blasphemous of me to admit it, but sometimes I find myself a little dissatisfied with Elinor Dashwood’s fate at the end of Sense and Sensibility – even though Edward has some good qualities, I do sometimes feel Elinor deserved better. I know there are some who may agree with that sentiment – after all how many readers are naming Edward Ferrars as one of their top favorite Austen heroes? In addition, there are some readers who feel some dissatisfaction with Colonel Brandon’s and Marianne’s happily-ever-after. Whether it be because of the age difference or because we never see Marianne’s developed romantic feelings for Brandon on page. Will readers feel more satisfied with these characters’ fates when they become romantically intertwined with each other…?
First of all, brava to Virginia Kohl for having the courage to pen such a daring alteration! I’m so glad she did this because it was absolutely lovely to see more of Colonel Brandon as an ardent and romantic hero! I loved seeing how, despite his intentions to forever remain a bachelor, he fell in love. His kind actions, sweet surprises, and fervent protection of Elinor warmed my heart and made me fall in love with him as well! I especially enjoyed Colonel Brandon’s relationship with Margaret – and seeing their shared interests and Colonel Brandon’s special name for her. We so need more Colonel Brandon stories in the Austenesque genre! Discerning readers will recognize a lot of Alan Rickman in Ms. Kohl’s portrayal of Colonel Brandon, which, since I’m a fan of both Alan Rickman and the 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, I didn’t mind! 😉
While I adored the chance to see a relationship develop between Elinor and Colonel Brandon, I did find myself a little less fond of some other character portrayals and developments in this variation. The biggest alteration was with Marianne’s character, who is mean-spirited and perhaps even more insolent and thoughtless than Lydia Bennet! Sadly, there was no redeeming qualities in this Marianne and I found her heartlessness disappointing. I missed seeing a sisterly bond between Elinor and Marianne, and seeing how two diverse sisters with opposite natures can still care deeply about each other. I believe Ms. Kohl chose to portray Marianne (and Edward) a little more disagreeable in order to support her premise, but at the same time I think her premise would still be believable even with Marianne and Edward portrayed in a more favorable light. However, I do give the author kudos for coming up with such creative consequences for these duo’s actions!
Other than that main quibble, there were a few other instances that raised my eyebrow, such as Willoughby’s odd manner of talking and Colonel Brandon’s urgent trips to London which are never explained. But overall, I found myself delighted with this inventive Sense and Sensibility variation. I appreciated the new character additions, the sweet moments of devotion shared between Elinor and Colonel Brandon, and the chance to explore this different pairing! I do wonder if Jane Austen ever toyed with the idea herself!
Note: While it isn’t mentioned in the book’s description, there are mentions of faith, prayer, and religion in this variation.
Austenesque Reviews
December 7, 2018
First I would like to commend the author for writing the pairing of Elinor and Brandon. They along with Fanny/Henry are my favorite non-canon Austen pairings. I have always believed Elinor and Brandon would have made a much better couple rather then the ones Austen decided on. So I was very excited to see another book that takes on the endeavor of pairing these two characters. When it was just the two of them I liked this version of Elinor and Brandon, they made a good couple and their relationship was sweet. It is when other characters entered into the picture that this book falls apart. The author treats Marianne and Edward awfully, they take their worst faults and magnify them by a hundred until they are the most unpleasant people who barely resemble their original characters. The way the author chooses to write them and their ultimate fate took me completely out of the story and I ended up enjoying the main pairing less because of it. As much as I wanted to give this book more stars I couldn't, the author was just too harsh to these two especially with poor Marianne, who may not have been my favorite character but she definitely deserved better. There is not a lot of JAFF books that center on Elinor and Brandon but even with that being the case I would give this story a pass in the end it's not worth it.
September 9, 2019
In this Sense and Sensibility variation the Catholic Dashwoods daughters have just lost their father and soon their home. Thankfully they are offered a home at Barton Cottage, Devonshire, by the widower Sir John Middleton. At their first evening in Devonshire the Dashwood family meet Sir John's closest friend Colonel Brandon.
In this story there is certainly a change in the character of some of the people portrayed to give a different ending to the story then canon.
Overall an enjoyable and well-written story, though for me possible a bit too much mention of religion.
In this story there is certainly a change in the character of some of the people portrayed to give a different ending to the story then canon.
Overall an enjoyable and well-written story, though for me possible a bit too much mention of religion.
March 6, 2018
While this novel had its good points--a believable friends-to-lovers storyline for the principal couple, an amusingly farcical portrayal of several other characters--it was so overwhelmingly religious that I found I couldn't really enjoy it. If it had been categorized as religious/inspirational fiction, which it certainly is, I would not have purchased it and would have been spared the aggravation of an amusing story riddled with annoying sermons.
May 14, 2024
DNF
Any resemblance to the canon characters are in name only. As noted by others, this is about 90% tell and 10% show. At least the part I read. I liked the concept but was disappointed by the execution. I will admit that I didn’t get far into the story before quickly realizing I couldn’t relate to how the characters were written and decided to cut my losses. However, YMMV.
Any resemblance to the canon characters are in name only. As noted by others, this is about 90% tell and 10% show. At least the part I read. I liked the concept but was disappointed by the execution. I will admit that I didn’t get far into the story before quickly realizing I couldn’t relate to how the characters were written and decided to cut my losses. However, YMMV.
June 12, 2018
This is a light, easy read. As a newcomer to Regency fiction, I appreciated the brief explanations of customs inserted into the narrative so I could better understand the significance of the events taking place.
This sweet story emphasizes the importance of friendship as a foundation for marriage, and of selecting a mate based on important traits and the quality of the person’s character, rather than on superficial things like beauty, status, or money. That is a great message in the midst of so many stories that claim that a relationship based on the superficial and the sensual will somehow lead the characters to lasting happiness and a successful relationship. I applaud Kohl for putting an entertaining read out there that says otherwise.
Content to be aware of: 1 use of b****
2 or 3 fade-to-black scenes – PG-rated touching/kissing between a married couple and then it is either mentioned or implied that it leads to sex.
Incidents of violence are not explicit. G to PG-rated.
This sweet story emphasizes the importance of friendship as a foundation for marriage, and of selecting a mate based on important traits and the quality of the person’s character, rather than on superficial things like beauty, status, or money. That is a great message in the midst of so many stories that claim that a relationship based on the superficial and the sensual will somehow lead the characters to lasting happiness and a successful relationship. I applaud Kohl for putting an entertaining read out there that says otherwise.
Content to be aware of: 1 use of b****
2 or 3 fade-to-black scenes – PG-rated touching/kissing between a married couple and then it is either mentioned or implied that it leads to sex.
Incidents of violence are not explicit. G to PG-rated.
March 22, 2021
The match I always thought was better
I love the time and detail put into matching Brandon and Elinor. I especially love that we get to see everything develop from friendship, to courtship through their early time in marriage. The jokes about the duke are adorable and Brandon making fun of Willoughby are hilarious and I loved them.
The only negatives of this book are Marianne's character which is made extremely severe to a point of almost being difficult to believe. The second is all of the loving embraces and kisses exchanged after they are married. The closer they come to the end the more repetitive they get. At one point it seemed like every two or three pages had the same paragraph of their heartfelt exchange and it lost its appeal.
That does not take a away from the book though. Despite Marianne's extremes, it was nice to see Elinor literally 'hand' it back!
I love the time and detail put into matching Brandon and Elinor. I especially love that we get to see everything develop from friendship, to courtship through their early time in marriage. The jokes about the duke are adorable and Brandon making fun of Willoughby are hilarious and I loved them.
The only negatives of this book are Marianne's character which is made extremely severe to a point of almost being difficult to believe. The second is all of the loving embraces and kisses exchanged after they are married. The closer they come to the end the more repetitive they get. At one point it seemed like every two or three pages had the same paragraph of their heartfelt exchange and it lost its appeal.
That does not take a away from the book though. Despite Marianne's extremes, it was nice to see Elinor literally 'hand' it back!
April 5, 2018
Sweet romance intertwined with life's ups and downs
A refreshing story set back in a classic romance time and place. Real life challenges and blessings were unfolded to make the characters come to life and make the reader try to guess their next move based on the personalities and outlook on life they had shown. I especially enjoyed not having the traditional, over used, romance plot in this book! Instead, we have those who make the most of what life brings them becoming our favorites while wanting to hiss out loud at the rude ones that might remind the reader of people we prefer to avoid. Recommend for tweens, teens, and those looking for a refreshing romance.
A refreshing story set back in a classic romance time and place. Real life challenges and blessings were unfolded to make the characters come to life and make the reader try to guess their next move based on the personalities and outlook on life they had shown. I especially enjoyed not having the traditional, over used, romance plot in this book! Instead, we have those who make the most of what life brings them becoming our favorites while wanting to hiss out loud at the rude ones that might remind the reader of people we prefer to avoid. Recommend for tweens, teens, and those looking for a refreshing romance.
May 28, 2021
This book suffers for the complete character annihilation going on, where the authors’ chosen leads can only gain “superiority” on account of the complete blackening of others. For instance, Elinors’ “goodness” is only shown through the gross misdeeds by others, because I guess nobody could possibly have any merit or show superiority of mind unless compared to atrocious behavior. Another thing that annoyed me is that the time period is not really observed, as often there is behavior that completely takes the reader out of the story. All in all, there are better Elinor and Brandon stories, and you should go read those.
April 14, 2018
While I'm not much of a fan of period pieces, I did enjoy the story of True Love Comes to Delaford. The writing style is an excellent homage to Ms. Austen's original work, even though the characters are for the most part different than they are in Sense and Sensibility. All in all, the story is a cheerful romance, with some minor conflicts, and an overall positive atmosphere. If you're a fan of Jane Austen, and like a book that guarantees a happy ending, then this one is for you. All in all, 8/10, would recommend to a friend (assuming they enjoyed the genre).
July 27, 2021
Sweet story
This was a very sweet story. There was a lot about it to like oh, but there were a few things that I really didn't like. Slight spoiler alert the wedding scene was way too over-the-top it didn't fit in at all. Secondly you can tell that the author really has a problem with Marianne. Yes she's a brat and she's spoiled in every version of every book and movie you've ever seen but this makes her exceptionally bad. I didn't mind the religious connotations I thought it was very nice religion was very important in that society that time. Definitely worth reading.
This was a very sweet story. There was a lot about it to like oh, but there were a few things that I really didn't like. Slight spoiler alert the wedding scene was way too over-the-top it didn't fit in at all. Secondly you can tell that the author really has a problem with Marianne. Yes she's a brat and she's spoiled in every version of every book and movie you've ever seen but this makes her exceptionally bad. I didn't mind the religious connotations I thought it was very nice religion was very important in that society that time. Definitely worth reading.
July 14, 2018
Writing is difficult. Writing in the style of another author requires exceptional talent. Virginia Kohl’s “True Love Comes to Delaford” demonstrates that she has the requisite skills. If you are a fan of Jane Austin’s books, but, like Virginia Kohl, you wanted the story to take a different path, then you will be delighted with Kohl’s debut novel. In my opinion, she not only captured Austin’s style of writing, but convincingly immersed the reader in that distant time and place.
April 30, 2022
Charming variation!
Finally, another kindred soul who sees that Elinor and Brandon belonged together. I also like that this author tookthe worst traits of character from Marianne, Caroline Bingley and Maria Bertram to from the character of Marianne in this story. My only (slight) pet peeve is that Mama Dashwood didn’t discipline her middle daughter as she aught.
Well worth the read!
Finally, another kindred soul who sees that Elinor and Brandon belonged together. I also like that this author tookthe worst traits of character from Marianne, Caroline Bingley and Maria Bertram to from the character of Marianne in this story. My only (slight) pet peeve is that Mama Dashwood didn’t discipline her middle daughter as she aught.
Well worth the read!
May 1, 2018
Very well done.
I was delighted in the direction the author chose for this book. To me, Colonel Brandon deserved much better than being Marianne's second choice. She was snooty and got what she deserves.. I didn't care for how Edward Ferrars was written but he definitely wasn't worthy after Elinor. Read this in 3 days and truly enjoyed it.
I was delighted in the direction the author chose for this book. To me, Colonel Brandon deserved much better than being Marianne's second choice. She was snooty and got what she deserves.. I didn't care for how Edward Ferrars was written but he definitely wasn't worthy after Elinor. Read this in 3 days and truly enjoyed it.
May 9, 2025
This was....interesting.
I basically enjoyed it even though it took forever to get through.
There wasn't enough of a conflict to really keep my attention.
And I REALLY didn't like that Marianne was made into a villain (although to be honest, she reminded me a bit of my own sister, who's a horrible person).
I basically enjoyed it even though it took forever to get through.
There wasn't enough of a conflict to really keep my attention.
And I REALLY didn't like that Marianne was made into a villain (although to be honest, she reminded me a bit of my own sister, who's a horrible person).
May 6, 2018
Such a clever re-telling. Matches the style of Austen with aplomb. Certainly a fun read.
October 31, 2022
This book was great! I’ve been on a Jane Austen kick here lately and have always loved the idea of Elinor and Colonel Brandon being a couple. This was a great find!
November 3, 2024
Good
It was b a slow build-up but a very good story. I am currently seeking a new story that deals with J. Austin
It was b a slow build-up but a very good story. I am currently seeking a new story that deals with J. Austin
March 7, 2018
As a Jane Austen fan who always thought Colonel Brandon and Elinor Dashwood belonged together, I was intrigued by Miss Kohl's debut novel. The first thing that caught my eye, when I opened the book, was the inclusion of a map and page of character sketches. How fun to see everyone who played integral roles in the hero and heroine's journey and all the places they traveled.
I loved that the author included various letters as well as the character’s reactions as they read them. This added a touch of realism and helped move the story along.
The relationship between the soldier and eldest Dashwood daughter is wonderful. Their playful banter blossoms into a loving and respectful marriage that makes me sigh.
In addition to the main couple, I really liked Margaret Dashwood. A sweet, witty young girl who steals every scene she is in. By the end of the book I wanted her to have her own story. Perhaps a sequel?
Miss Kohl did a good job at capturing the period. She took Austen's classic and added her own clever additions that kept me laughing throughout. True Love Comes to Delaford is an enjoyable read that gives the Colonel and Miss Dashwood a much deserved happy ending. This is definitely on my re-read list and I hope to be able to add more from this talented author in the future.
I loved that the author included various letters as well as the character’s reactions as they read them. This added a touch of realism and helped move the story along.
The relationship between the soldier and eldest Dashwood daughter is wonderful. Their playful banter blossoms into a loving and respectful marriage that makes me sigh.
In addition to the main couple, I really liked Margaret Dashwood. A sweet, witty young girl who steals every scene she is in. By the end of the book I wanted her to have her own story. Perhaps a sequel?
Miss Kohl did a good job at capturing the period. She took Austen's classic and added her own clever additions that kept me laughing throughout. True Love Comes to Delaford is an enjoyable read that gives the Colonel and Miss Dashwood a much deserved happy ending. This is definitely on my re-read list and I hope to be able to add more from this talented author in the future.
September 10, 2019
As a Jane Austen fan who always thought Colonel Brandon and Elinor Dashwood belonged together, I was intrigued by Miss Kohl's debut novel. The first thing that caught my eye, when I opened the book, was the inclusion of a map and page of character sketches. How fun to see everyone who played integral roles in the hero and heroine's journey and all the places they traveled.
I loved that the author included various letters as well as the character’s reactions as they read them. This added a touch of realism and helped move the story along.
The relationship between the soldier and eldest Dashwood daughter is wonderful. Their playful banter blossoms into a loving and respectful marriage that makes me sigh.
In addition to the main couple, I really liked Margaret Dashwood. A sweet, witty young girl who steals every scene she is in. By the end of the book I wanted her to have her own story. Perhaps a sequel?
Miss Kohl did a good job at capturing the period. She took Austen's classic and added her own clever additions that kept me laughing throughout. True Love Comes to Delaford is an enjoyable read that gives the Colonel and Miss Dashwood a much deserved happy ending. This is definitely on my re-read list and I hope to be able to add more from this talented author in the future.
I loved that the author included various letters as well as the character’s reactions as they read them. This added a touch of realism and helped move the story along.
The relationship between the soldier and eldest Dashwood daughter is wonderful. Their playful banter blossoms into a loving and respectful marriage that makes me sigh.
In addition to the main couple, I really liked Margaret Dashwood. A sweet, witty young girl who steals every scene she is in. By the end of the book I wanted her to have her own story. Perhaps a sequel?
Miss Kohl did a good job at capturing the period. She took Austen's classic and added her own clever additions that kept me laughing throughout. True Love Comes to Delaford is an enjoyable read that gives the Colonel and Miss Dashwood a much deserved happy ending. This is definitely on my re-read list and I hope to be able to add more from this talented author in the future.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews