Mr Darcy’s Dream by Elizabeth Aston

Mr Darcy’s Dream by Elizabeth Aston

I was at a bit of a disadvantage when I read this book as, it is in fact the fifth book in a series and I did not have any of the others. I did not know any of the characters or their back stories but as it turns out it did not stop me from enjoying it.

In fact it just made me more determined to track down Mr Darcy’s Daughters, The Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy, The True Darcy Spirit, The Second Mrs Darcy and The Darcy Connection.

Darcy’s dream is actually his plans for the refurbishment and development of the grounds of Pemberly and erecting of great glass homes for rare specimens and the propagation of things like pineapples.

The young man overseeing this project falls for Jane Bingleys Daughter who is very lovely but has managed to come through three seasons with no engagement.

Her cousin Phoebe who was at the start of her second season has withdrawn to Pemberly after falling for an unsuitable Gentlemen and a whig to boot.

The book follows the two girls as they try to sort out their paths through life.

It was a little difficult to appreciate the wickedness of the bad guy as I had not read his back story and had no idea how much trouble he had caused the Darcys in the past.

I did like Elizabeth Astons lively style and recommend you try to read the books from start to finish instead of finish to start!

Letters From Pemberley by Jane Dawkins

Letters From Pemberley by Jane Dawkins

(The First Year)

I did say at the end of the last book I read (Mr Darcys Great Escape by Marsha Altan) that the next book would seem pretty dull.

Well, may be but Letters from Pemberley is rescued by it’s charm.

It is written in the form of letters from Elizabeth Darcy the new mistress of Pemberley Manor, to her dearly beloved and newly wed Sister, Jane Bingley.

Sisters used to sharing their daily insights and inner feelings with each other I am sure, would keep in touch regularly wi regarding each others gossip of the day.

The author has moved characters from several of the other Jane Austen books and changed their names and moved then to Derbyshire, hence the Knightlys from Emma become the Daleys, it is easy to see which characters have been used even with the changed names and is a nice touch.

Mention is given to Mr Darcys schemes to up date his home and farming methods in keeping with the times, well researched and in character.

This book is calm charming and in no way racy, I feel it could have had a little more of Elizabeths cutting tone to it.

But pleasant none the less the letters from all the sisters to each other especially Lydias would be quite fun to read. May be that could be another book?