Title: Definitely Not Mr. Darcy

Author: Karen Doornebos

Publisher: Berkley Trade 2011

Genre: Romance

Pages: 384

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Romance; Support Your Local Library

How I Got It: Library loan

Chloe Parker was born two centuries too late. A thirty-nine-year- old divorced mother, she runs her own antique letterpress business, is a lifelong member of the Jane Austen Society, and gushes over everything Regency. But her business is failing, threatening her daughter's future. What's a lady to do?Why, audition for a Jane Austen-inspired TV show set in England, of course.
What Chloe thinks is a documentary turns out to be a reality dating show set in 1812. Eight women are competing to snare Mr. Wrightman, the heir to a gorgeous estate, along with a $100,000 prize. So Chloe tosses her bonnet into the ring, hoping to transform from stressed-out Midwest mom to genteel American heiress and win the money. With no cell phones, indoor plumbing, or deodorant to be found, she must tighten her corset and flash some ankle to beat out women younger, more cutthroat, and less clumsy than herself. But the witty and dashing Mr. Wrightman proves to be a prize worth winning, even if it means the gloves are off...

This was a fun, albeit fairly predictable read. A retelling of Pride and Prejudice, of sorts. Chloe was thoroughly likeable. A few times her density got the better of me, but I was still rooting for her throughout. Grace was a standard villain. Of course, I loved Henry and couldn't wait for Chloe to wake up and see him. The writing was clear and engaging. I swept through this novel fairly quickly. A good few days in reality tv Regency Era.