Matched in Merriweather
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
From best-selling author, Michelle Cox, comes a delightful new series set in 1930s Wisconsin, perfect for fans of Jane Austen and lovers of small-town historical fiction.
"A lovely retelling of Austen's EMMA, written with gorgeous prose and a compelling narrative that Janeites and historical fiction lovers will adore."—Amazon Reviewer
"This was the perfect escape read for me; loved every delightful and laugh-out-loud moment. Simply charming!"—Amazon reviewer
"This nod to Austen's Emma is simply fun, cozy, and oozing with delight. I just adore Melody Merriweather's character - she is the best friend I had always wished for!"—Amazon Reviewer
When vivacious college student Melody Merriweather is summoned home to run her family's general store after her father suffers a heart attack, she's convinced her life is over. The sleepy mining town of Merriweather, Wisconsin is a far cry from her exciting life in Chicago.
With the country deep in the Depression and her family's finances in shambles, Melody finds herself facing the impossible task of saving the Merriweather Mercantile while trying to manage her eccentric inherited staff:
•Harriet Mueller, the sweet but timid shop girl whom Melody is determined to match with someone "better" than farmer John Schneider
•Mrs. Haufbrau, the crabby older clerk who seems determined to dislike Melody for some unknown reason
•Cal Fraiser, the infuriatingly handsome butcher who critiques her every move
Desperate to transform the struggling Merc, Melody orders luxury scarves and hats that the locals can't afford, brews cider to sell under the counter, and attempts to play matchmaker to her unsuspecting protégée. But when a fire threatens to destroy everything she's working for and mysterious lodgers arrive in town with their own agenda, Melody must confront her own misguided assumptions about love, loyalty, and what truly matters.
In this charming tale inspired by Jane Austen's "Emma," Michelle Cox weaves a story of small-town life, unexpected romance, and personal growth that reminds us that sometimes finding your place in the world means discovering what was right in front of you all along.
Perfect for fans of:
•Natalie Jenner's The Jane Austen Society
•Curtis Sittenfeld's Eligible
•Jo Baker's Longbourn
•Elizabeth Aston's Mr. Darcy's Daughters
"Matched in Merriweather" is the first book in the Merriweather series, featuring beloved characters from Cox's award-winning Henrietta and Inspector Howard novels.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Cox (A Christmas at Highbury) serves up a charming retelling of Jane Austen's Emma set during the Great Depression. Melody Merriweather resents having to leave college to run the Merc, her family's general store in Merriweather, Wis. But with her father recovering from a heart attack, she doesn't have much choice. At first, Melody tries to modernize the store by offering luxury items, but no one in town can afford them. After learning that her father lost the family's fortune in bad investments, she hatches a plan to save the store and their home by brewing and selling cider. For help, she turns to the store's handsome but aloof butcher, Cal Fraiser, innocent shopgirl Harriet Mueller, and her father's partner, the huffy old Mrs. Haufbrau. Neither the cider nor Melody's attempts at matchmaking on Harriet's behalf go as planned, and she soon discovers that her family's situation is even worse than she'd thought. While Cox glosses over the darker aspects of the Great Depression—the townsfolk pinch pennies, but no one is in dire straits—she's crafted a believable Midwest town filled with colorful characters. Silly and spoiled at first, Melody matures over the course of the novel and learns the importance of putting herself in others' shoes. Readers are in for a treat. (Self-published)
