Margaret D
Does the Barnes and Noble platform not work in the UK? I don't own a Nook, or a Kindle, but you can download the Barnes and Noble e reader for just about any computer. They're now calling it Nook apps. Anyway, even without a Nook, you can read Nook books on other devices (one reason I think B&N will outlive Amazon's Kindle). I have it on my Mac now, and it's also available for PC, Blackberry, iPad, iPhone, Android phones too.
Anyway, I haven't read Jane Bites Back, but it is available as a B&N ebook, which works on their eReader. But it would also solve your overall dilemma of no Kindle.