Willoughby's Return: A tale of almost irresistible temptation [Paperback]

Jane Odiwe (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 1, 2009

A lost love returns, rekindling forgotten passions…

In Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, when Marianne Dashwood marries Colonel Brandon, she puts her heartbreak over dashing scoundrel John Willoughby in the past.

Three years later, Willoughby's return throws Marianne into a tizzy of painful memories and exquisite feelings of uncertainty. Willoughby is as charming, as roguish, and as much in love with her as ever. And the timing couldn't be worse—with Colonel Brandon away and Willoughby determined to win her back, will Marianne find the strength to save her marriage, or will the temptation of a previous love be too powerful to resist?

Praise for Lydia Bennet's Story:

"A breathtaking Regency romp!"
Diana Birchall | Author of Mrs. Darcy's Dilemma

"An absolute delight to read."
Historical Novels Review

"Odiwe emulates Austen's famous wit, and manages to give Lydia a happily-ever-after ending worthy of any Regency romance heroine."
Booklist

"Odiwe pays nice homage to Austen's stylings and endears the reader to the formerly secondary character, spoiled and impulsive Lydia Bennet."
Publisher's Weekly

"Rollicking good fun with a surprise twist."
Austenprose

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Odiwe's sequel to Sense and Sensibility is best at recalling Austen's descriptive abilities, but falls short in its treatment of Austen's beloved characters. Three years after Marianne and Col. William Brandon get married, they're still unable to discuss two critical and intertwined issues: namely, that Marianne feels jealous of William's ward, Eliza, the illegitimate daughter of his first love; and the reappearance of Eliza's father, John Willoughby, who was once Marianne's love. Matters are complicated by the growing affection between Marianne's sister, Margaret, and William's nephew Henry, a developing relationship that serves as a stand-in for the original book's. As their unshared feelings fester, distance grows between Marianne and William; Odiwe nods occasionally to the inequality between marriage partners, which allows the man to carry on much as he did prior to marriage, an issue that Austen herself would likely tackle; unfortunately, it's hard to maintain suspense when the central plot conflict can be cleared up with a five-minute conversation. (Nov.)
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From Booklist

Odiwe follows Lydia Bennet’s Story (2008), her sequel to Pride and Prejudice, with a sequel to Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. Marianne has settled nicely into life as wife and mother, although every so often she indulges in one of her infamous flights of sensibility. She is certain her husband, William, adores her, but has he gotten over his passion for his first love, whose portrait occupies a place of honor in their home? The arrival of William’s nephew Henry grants Marianne the opportunity to play matchmaker between Henry and her sister Margaret, but the return of John Willoughby to Dorsetshire is not welcome news because now Marianne faces the difficult decision of whether to remain true to the quietly dependable man who married her, or give in to temptation with the rogue who broke her heart. Odiwe’s elegantly stylish writing is seasoned with just the right dash of tart humor, and her latest literary endeavor is certain to delight both Austen devotees and Regency romance readers. --John Charles

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (November 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140222267X
• ISBN-13: 978-1402222672
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.9 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #949,966 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jane Odiwe is the author of Searching for Captain Wentworth, Mr Darcy's Secret, Willoughby's Return, and Lydia Bennet's Story. She lives in High Barnet, North London, and Bath, England, with her husband, children, and two cats.
In 2003, her obsession with all things Austen really took off when she wrote and illustrated a little book, 'Effusions of Fancy, consisting of annotated sketches from the life of Jane Austen in a style entirely new,' a light hearted celebration of Jane Austen's early life, seen through her sister's eyes, in letters and paintings. In 2007, Jane was thrilled to be asked if Sony Pictures could use her Jane Austen illustrations in a short film; a biography feature about the author on The Jane Austen Book Club DVD.
It was a short step to writing her first novel, Lydia Bennet's Story, a sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Her lifelong dream of becoming a published author came true when Sourcebooks editor, Deb Werksman, rang her one cold, December evening asking to meet her in London the next day to discuss publication. Sourcebooks published Lydia Bennet's Story in October 2008. Willoughby's Return, a Sequel to Sense and Sensibility, was published in autumn 2009. Mr Darcy's Secret was published in February 2011, and Jane also contributed a short story inspired by Persuasion for Laurel Ann Nattress's anthology, Jane Austen Made Me Do It, published by Random House in 2011.

Searching for Captain Wentworth is Jane's latest novel published in September 2012.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyably delightful sequel to Sense and Sensibility December 20, 2009

By Laurel Ann VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

While the Jane Austen sequel industry abounds with numerous books inspired by Pride and Prejudice, regretfully there are very few sequels to Austen's first published novel Sense and Sensibility. Why? Possibly because some readers have been disappointed with half of Austen's unsatisfactory ending for her two heroines. While the two Dashwood sisters do marry: staid and stoic Elinor to Edward Ferrars and impulsive and free-spirited Marianne to Col. Brandon, the second pairings future happiness seemed doubtful. How could a young lady with Marianne's intense passionate depth be happy with anyone other than her Byronic first love Mr. Willoughby - even after he threw her over for an heiress? Nagging questions arise. Did she settle when she married the Colonel? Would she be tempted into extramarital affairs and runaway with her lover? Possibly, leaving an intriguing premise for continuing the story.

All these concerns are addressed in Willoughby's Return: A Tale of Almost Irresistible Temptation a new sequel to Sense and Sensibility by Jane Odiwe. How, or if they will be resolved to our satisfaction is now a possibility.

Three years after her marriage to Colonel Brandon, Marianne is the mistress of Delaford Park and the mother of a young son James. She has everything that a young married woman could desire: wealth, position, an heir and a loving husband, but her insecurities, jealousy and impetuous nature rob her of complete happiness. Resentful that her husband is frequently called away to attend his ward Eliza Williams and her infant daughter, Marianne "feels" that he cares for his other family more than his own. Their ties to the Brandon's are strong and painful; Eliza being the daughter of Brandon's first love who died tragically, and Eliza's young child Lizzie the illegitimate daughter of John Willoughby the rogue who also threw over Marianne's affections for an heiress five years prior. In addition, there is that imposing portrait of Eliza's mother hanging in the Hall staring down at her. Every time Marianne passes it she sees the similarities of their appearances and doubts more and more if Brandon married her because he loved her, of if she is replacing the woman that he loved and lost years ago. When the charming rogue John Willoughby reappears in her life proclaiming he has never stopped loving her, the pain of their failed romance is renewed gradually replaced by conflicting emotions and the temptation to be with him again.

We are reintroduced to many of the characters from the original novel: Elinor Ferrars and her husband Edward, Mrs. Jennings, the Middleton's, Lucy Ferrars and importantly Elinor and Marianne's younger sister Margaret Dashwood who has her own romance in the course of the novel that may equal Marianne's dilemma in emotion and drama. It could not be a Jane Austen sequel without talk of beaus, gowns and a glamorous Ball, so imagine everything most "profligate and shocking" in the way of young couples dancing and sitting down together! Margaret Dashwood supplies the shocking (to the horror of the neighborhood biddies) in her behavior by dancing more than three times in one night with one partner, Henry Lawrence, the charming and bold nephew of Col Brandon. Like Willoughby, Henry appears to be a good catch: attractive, well connected, an heir to a fortune and too irresistible. He wastes no time in pursuing Margaret's affections. There is a surprise twist to their relationship that I will not reveal, but readers might recognize similarities to another Austen heroine.

Odiwe has captured Marianne's spirit superbly. Romantic, impulsive and let's face it, high maintenance! At times I really wanted to give her a firm dressing down and felt the same of Austen's younger Marianne, so I knew that Odiwe had connected their characteristics seamlessly. Marianne may be five years older, but she's still Marianne the drama queen and that makes for great entertainment! Interestingly, the two men in her life, Brandon and Willoughby, had fewer scenes than expected but caused many reactions to fuel the narrative serving their purpose. This was a nice mirror to women's fate in Regency times. Men have all the power, women all the presence.

This is Odiwe's second Austen sequel, and like Lydia Bennet's Story she has chosen a character in Marianne Brandon that is ruled by impulse and emotion making for surprise and tension - all good elements to an engaging story that she delivers with confidence and aplomb. Developing younger sister Margaret Dashwood brought youth, vivacity and a bit of rebellion against social dictums to the story. Her romance with Henry Lawrence was an excellent choice as she shared the narrative equally with Marianne and balanced the story. Odiwe's research and passion for the Regency era shine, especially in her descriptions of the country fair and fashions. It is rewarding to see her develop her own style evocative of Austen but totally modern in its sensibility. There were a few missteps with cadence and vernacular, but I am splitting hairs, and few will notice. Of course we are never in much doubt that it will all end happily, but unlike Jane Austen's tale, the final transformation of the heroine's troubling want of caution and choice of spouse will not prompt debate two hundred years later.

A light and enjoyable read, Willoughby's Return is a charming tale that sweeps you back into Austen's mannered world of a young girl searching for love and a married woman realizing it.

Laurel Ann, Austenprose

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A Good Sequel December 1, 2009

By Robin J.

Format:Paperback

I have never read a sequel to "Sense and Sensibility," my favorite of Jane Austen's works, or to any Austen work for that matter. I have been a bit leery of the current trend of writing sequels to her her works but I took a chance on this one and its not bad as far as sequels go.

The story focuses on Marianne Brandon and her younger sister, Margaret, and takes place about 3 years after the events in "Sense and Sensibility." In that short amount of time you know some feelings have not healed. Marianne is happy in her marriage but is resentful towards the time Colonel Brandon spends with his ward and her little family; she really doesn't like the fact that he never speaks to her about it (while he of course doesn't say anything because he knows it upsets her). She still thinks about Willoughby occasionally but feels she's put all that behind her. Marianne then decides to set her sister Margaret up with the Colonel's nephew, Henry, and of course, the two young people hit it off at once. At this point, Willoughby returns to their lives because he just happens to be doing business with Henry. His return couldn't have come at a worse time for Marianne; her husband is conveniently away tending to his ward and her ailing daughter and Willoughby makes it clear he's still in love with her and wants to win her back. You then get the usual misunderstandings that threaten everyone's happiness: Henry appears to drop Margaret for a childhood friend, giving in to his mother's wishes; Marianne thinks that the Colonel is happier with his other "family;" family acquaintances fill their heads with wrong information, etc. Of course, everyone ends up happy at the end and with the person they should be with - but we wouldn't want it otherwise, right?

This was a good sequel though you could tell it wasn't written at the same time as the original. There were just too many things that were discussed or mentioned that Austen just would not have included (you just would not see Austen mentioning in her writing that Marianne is eager to get to the bedroom with her husband or writing about some of Marianne's private encounters with Willoughby) because it just was not proper to mention such things in the period she was writing. It had an Austen-ish feel to it but it just did not have the formal, strict feel to the writing that you find in Austen's work. Of course, it is going to be hard to get that when you're not living it. The story lines were a bit predictable, especially Margaret's. Everything that happened to Margaret throughout the course of the story seemed almost like a combination of what happened to her two older sisters in the original. Marianne's story was a little less predictable, though once she makes her decision towards the end of the story the rest plays out as I thought it would. The story is well written, especially in describing Marianne's feelings; there certainly were times when I could almost feel how confused and frustrated she was. The dialogue seems appropriate for the time period (with those few exceptions I mentioned above). Several of the characters from the original show up in this sequel - Mrs. Jennings, Lucy Ferrars, John Middleton - and they all behave as you would expect (though I found Lucy's character extremely irritating here). One point that surprised me was how little we see of Elinor in the story, especially considering how close the sisters were in the original. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of her and Edward, but then this was a story about Marianne's temptations.

Overall this was not bad and was a fast, easy read. I have always wanted to see what might have happened after "Sense and Sensibility" ended and this is not a bad attempt at continuing the story. If you're an Austen fan and you've always wanted to see more of Marianne and Willoughby, take a shot with this one.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rare Reading Delight October 20, 2009

By B. Davis

Format:Paperback

After her marriage to Colonel William Brandon, Marianne (formerly Marianne Dashwood) seems more settled and content, but things are about to change, drastically, for the normally impetuous heroine, when the Colonel is called away. An unexpected, charming, old flame resurfaces, opening up old wounds and new passions.

In this new Sense and Sensibility sequel, Ms. Odiwe has captured Jane Austen's style with ease and eloquence, making this book a rare reading delight.