No Such Thing As Luck: A North and South Variation in Austen Variations

Jan 18, 2016 Sheila Majczan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I read this author’s other book, Rumours & Recklessness, in December of 2015 and found it enjoyable. I had noted at the time to myself that she had written a variation to North & South. As that book is one of my favorites I intended to read her variation (this book) at some time in the future. The blog, More Agreeably Engaged, then listed this book as the favorite variation of North and South and I decided that I would take the plunge and read it. You must see that it kept me enthralled as I fin I read this author’s other book, Rumours & Recklessness, in December of 2015 and found it enjoyable. I had noted at the time to myself that she had written a variation to North & South. As that book is one of my favorites I intended to read her variation (this book) at some time in the future. The blog, More Agreeably Engaged, then listed this book as the favorite variation of North and South and I decided that I would take the plunge and read it. You must see that it kept me enthralled as I finished it in one day and it is a novel of 432 pages.

This novel is a part variation, part sequel in my opinion as it begins just before the ending Elizabeth Gaskell wrote for her classic novel. Margaret is in London with her aunt and cousin after the death of her father. John is in Milton after the strike is over but also after his sister’s wedding and John’s failure to profit by investing in his new brother’s-in-law then successful venture. He has little money and no ready source of cotton for his looms. World economics have played havoc with the economies and in world trade with more then one country. John hears of a source in Cadiz, Spain but cannot linger at home…he must travel, investigate the reliability of the product and negotiate a contract. He puts Higgins in a supervisory position while he travels. This leads to some interesting events for his mother. (I loved this new aspect of Mrs. Thornton: she proves to have a heart and a warm spot for a young boy.)

So John is off to catch a ship, the Esperanza.

Meanwhile, Margaret receives word via the network they have set up to protect her brother who continues to have the charge of mutiny hanging over his head, that their godfather, Mr. Bell, has arrived for a visit but is on his deathbed and asking for her to come. Frederick knows it is nigh impossible as she must arrange for an escort, etc. But Margaret was not at her father’s bedside when he died; this godfather was, so she is going to return the favor. She secretly has two of the servants seek information about ships, help her pack, etc. and then sneaks out of the house early in the morning to be on the Esperanza.

But don’t you know it (read the book description or the sample)…She is knocked over in the crowd and dislocates her shoulder AND is rescued by John Thornton. What to do? She had planned to approach the captain to ask that he provide her protection on the voyage, but John knows nothing of this. She is in pain, the doctor has given her laudanum and he has turned to John thinking that they are married and given him instructions on how to care for her the next several weeks. John’s quick thinking (???) has him claiming to be Margaret’s brother. Thus he can book her the last first class cabin while he takes a berth in steerage but also watch over her. Oh, this is one of those…"What a web we weave when first we practice to deceive” situations.

Soon not only Captain Carter’s daughter but also a fellow passenger, a French businessman, are saying to themselves that there is no way he is her brother. “Miss Thornton” can’t be left alone as her injuries cripple her in her everyday activities so her “brother” and Miss Carter step up but…oh, my, is it bordering on “compromise” for a “brother” to be in her cabin??? And can he even trust himself when the one who has tempted him from across a room now needs him to help her sit up, to help her adjust her sling, to give her a drink of water, etc.?

I pride myself on seeing possible outcomes early in many stories and in this one I saw immediately where this was leading. But it was fun to watch the entanglements play out. Frederick is expecting Mr. Thornton who is expecting to meet a Mr. Marshall. Frederick is not expecting his sister. And then Mr. Bell has some surprises up his sleeve. Drama and not of the romantic type comes into play in the last 20% of the story. Then there is a rush to sort out…well, you will have to read this to see just what mess this couple has gotten themselves into.

This was a very interesting story. It was part mystery and intrigue, part misunderstandings and then there was the reading of John’s thoughts about his Margaret.

The author crammed a lot of happenings into a short span of time but she does give us an epilogue. ...more

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Oct 01, 2016 Deborah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ja-read, 2016-austenesque-reading-challenge

I listened to the audio book and this story is a must read or listen to. John Thornton, who is travelling to Spain to save his mill, runs into Miss Hale who is also travelling to the same location. She is injured and travelling alone, so Mr. Thornton travels as her brother. We get to know John's mother , Hannah more thoroughly as well as Frederick (Margaret's brother) and his wife. I fell in love with the honorable, honest, strong John Thornton more than ever during this story. It was so well pu ...more

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Mar 12, 2017 Joana Starnes rated it it was amazing

I loved every word of this riveting tale that brings Margaret and Mr Thornton together in very unexpected circumstances. A trip across the seas leads to a lot more than Margaret bargained for, and she finds herself travelling with an intriguing companion who comes to her rescue often, and in many different ways. The crossing will make you smile (and sometimes swoon) and you’ll wish Cadiz was somewhere in the New World, so that our beloved characters might have sufficient time to realise how esse ...more

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Aug 19, 2015 Nicole Barton Sasser rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, north-and-south, kindle-freebie, gift-from-author, physical-library, kindle-doc, author-nicole-clarkston, free-download, cover-hate, bookfunnel

Status: Read August 19-21, 2015

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Library Notes:

No Such Thing As Luck: A North & South Variation
by Nicole Clarkston
Paperback, Second Edition, 326 pages
Published February 2017 by White Soup Press (first published July 21, 2015)
ISBN13: 978-1517057732 / ISBN: 1517057736
[ gift from author (2) ]

Librarian Note: Alternate/new cover edition for ISBN: 1517057736 (ISBN13: 978-1517057732).

A Chance encounter changes everything.

John Thornton is facing the collapse of everything he has worked for ...more

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Sep 23, 2016 Staciel rated it liked it · review of another edition

My second Nicole Clarkston book..

If you are a North & South lover (and I am), this one should be on your 'to-be-read' list.

I have both read the book and seen both versions of the movie, and I have to say, if you had wanted to spend more time in Cadiz, Spain as a result, then this is the book for you. ...more

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