For You Alone (Frederick Wentworth, Captain Book 2) by Susan Kaye

****
The follow on novel from my previous review...

So, this picks up from the disastrous events at Lyme, with Wentworth finally realising that he still loves Anne, but has put himself in a compromising position through his behaviour towards Louisa.  Does he follow his heart or behave with honour towards Louisa?
There's obviously no surprises coming up and this book continues in the same vein as before, maintaining a strong interest by the reader through the eyes of Captain Wentworth.  After finding that Louisa is on the mend, he decides to take himself off to visit his brother who is newly married in the hope that it will disprove that absence makes the heart grow fonder.
I felt the book drifted a little here, when rather than just getting off to see Edward, Wentworth stays in Portsmouth and has a strange, rather pointless unpleasantness with an old friend and his wife.  Likewise he picks up the likable George Tuppins who is then conveniently abandoned a little later in the book.  Maybe this is to reflect his unease and lack of direction without Anne, but it was a little irritating.

Marriage has brought a change to Edward and the two brothers manage to rekindle some of their previous closeness.  I enjoyed the change of perspective in this part and it gave some light relief amongst the intense soul searching, but found Edward's shame of his previous employment a bit "tacked on" rather than being necessary for moving the story on or deepening characterisation.
However, it all started to race along again when the protagonists are in Bath.  Lady Russell finally shows some sense rather than snobbery and happily Baronet Elliot doesn't!  Mr Elliot seemed very thinly drawn and was a bit of a textbook baddy (boo, hiss!) and his evil plan is very quickly sketched over. However, the letter (swoon!) is handled beautifully and that made me very happy!
So we get our happy ending and the book continues on a little further than the original and it's here that we're on uncharted land, and sadly this is where I was a bit disappointed.
**Spoiler...so highlight text below to read**
Wentworth receives orders to return to London in ten days, the marriage is arranged to be in seven.  Anne convinces him to go to Gretna Green to have a few more days as man and wife before returning to the Navy.  Now, I couldn't see the point in this, with the 3-4 days it'd take to travel there, they'd only be married, at best, three days earlier and I felt it was not fitting with my image of Anne's personality.  I've always seen Anne as practical and sensible and surely if they've managed to wait for eight and half years they can manage a few extra days, no matter how Kaye tries to crank up the sexual tension. 
The tatty inn they stay in on their wedding night just seemed too sordid for the fastidious and proud Wentworth and the gentile Anne.  Maybe it was to contrast with Anne's family and set the scene for married life to a Naval captain, but it seemed to lack the romance that develops during their time in Bath and the tone and sentiments of the letter.
Happily, despite the ending, I still love Wentworth and Anne comes across as quietly determined rather than simply passive.  I've rated it slightly less than the previous novel, due to my disappointment in how it all draws to a close and for the newly added characters that didn't seem to go anywhere or serve any real purpose. (Unless there is another book planned, but I can't find it on Amazon!)

None but You (Frederick Wentworth, Captain Book 1) by Susan Kaye

****1/2
Based on Persuasion by Jane Austen. I did warn you I'm on a Regency fad!
Starting around the same time as the original book where the war has ended and with Captain Wentworth waiting for further orders from the Navy. He goes to visit his sister, Sophia and her husband Admiral Croft in Somerset, where they have recently retired to Kellynch Hall, the former residence of the haughty Baronet Elliot and his ex-fiancee Anne.  From arriving at Kellynch, the story follows Persuasion, (so I won't repeat that here) up until the end of the party's visit to Lyme.  It's told from Wentworth's point of view, which allows the insertion of additional scenes which is interesting, particularly as Austen never writes scenes where the ladies were never present and this gives the book a slightly more edgy and less "cosy" feel.
The relatively slow opening allows the reader to understand something of how the romance between Wentworth and Anne developed.  He comes across as an ambitious, but considerate man, rightly proud of what he has achieved through his own efforts, but still occasionally "chippy" about the prevailing attitudes of class that some of the gentry have.  The relationship with his friends Harville and Benwick, and his sensitivity towards their reduced circumstances shows a strength of character and loyalty that could be missed in the original.  There are times when his thoughts are quite cutting, but despite the passage of time he is still angry and hurt about Anne's refusal to marry him and although claiming to his sister that he'll marry any pretty girl with a good word for the Navy, he is far too fastidious and has too high an opinion of his virtues to do that.  Thankfully, Kaye hasn't messed with my personal image of Frederick Wentworth, and despite his charm and manners he has a certain toughness and resilience which makes him more interesting.
I loved his sister Sophia, who is a sturdy, wise old-bird with a school-marmy manner which reduces him to a small boy with her probing and persistent questions. It's even funnier that he acknowledges that and does all he can to avoid it!
Some characters seem to have had their faults exaggerated, and I thought this worked well.  I kept reminding myself that they were different due to being described by Wentworth, who is very aware of people's foibles, less tolerant of weakness and unable to excuse or support poor behaviour or lack of decorum. Although he at first likes Louisa Musgrove, she is soon seen as a scheming, manipulative minx rather than a hopeful flirt.  I liked this as I always found her an irritating and self-seeking character in the first place. Likewise, Mary Musgrove, although selfish and disagreeable in the original is completely horrendous! 
I found it to be a really interesting and engaging read and am already onto the second book to continue the story.  It's well written, the language used is appropriate and despite there being a bit too much Naval information for my taste in the early section, Kaye has obviously researched thoroughly and it does illustrate how Wentworth has increased in consequence and manner over the eight years. As I said with the Amanda Grange book, I can only see Janeites going for these books.  If you aren't familiar with Persuasion, some of the reflections by Wentworth will seem pointless.
Overall, I've given it 4.5 as I loved it, but found the early parts a bit heavy going before the story truly kicked in.