Dreams and Expectations by Wendi Sotis

Wendi Sotis - Dreams and Expectations

Well this version of Pride and Prejudice has everything plus a whole lot more!

As Lady Ann lies dying she gets young Darcy to promise to marry well.

On his mothers death her sister, Lady Catherine De Bourgh makes sure Darcy understands that marrying well is marrying her own daughter, Anne.

So, when he meets and falls head over heels in love with Elizabeth he is unable to tell her how much he loves her as his mothers death wish has too strong a hold on him.

Once again Wendi Sotis relishes making Lady Catherine into the vilest of villans, she is so evil in this story and her evil  henchman is non other than Mr George Wickham.

There is treason and ruination, there are smugglers and Lady Catherine is the mastermind of them all.

There are so many interesting twists and sub plots in this story you are left grieving with Darcy and Lizzy as they both pine for each other.

You follow Jane as a really rotten Caroline Bingley makes sure she is also in the same boat.

Poor Charlotte is tied to an even more repulsive Mr Collins than Jane Austen dared write.

Don't let the simple covers of these books put you off, you don't need an expensive glitzy cover to make an interesting entertaining read.

This story goes right through to a modern day Lizzy and Darcy which I feel would have been better saved for another book.

Thank you Wendi for another entertaining read, I hope there is more on the way.

Compulsively Mr Darcy by Nina Benneton

Nina Benneton's - Compulsively Mr Darcy 

The title of the book is explained by the fact that in this modern Pride and Prejudice, Mr Darcy's controlling demeanor thinly masks his OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). yes, under the Chairman of the boards steely glare, there is a nervous wreck.

Poor old Bingley is on medication to cope with his ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), all that smiling and bounciness is explained in three letters, they are both top CEO's (Chief Executive Officers) in New York.

Now Jane and Elizabeth are in Vietnam, Jane is running the Grace Church Orphanage for her Aunt.

Elizabeth is an infectious diseases specialist working out of the hospital there, but spending most of her wages on medication for the patients.

Now you would think it impossible for these four to get together.

Enter Caroline Bingley with a plot to adopt a 'designer' baby for Louisa and her Husband as they are the latest accessory to have in New York.

The entire Bingly family plus Darcy (there to make them look serious) fly in their private jet to Vietnam to visit the  orphanage and to get a baby to dress up!

And that is where the fun starts, yes, it is fun.

I enjoyed this story very much, no one is missed out but they are all recreated in modern style, even a few people sneak in from other books.

It's fast paced and there are plenty of misunderstandings between Elizabeth and Darcy, some crazy near disasters and the the bad guys are as usual horrid, with Wickham and De Bourgh's doing their best to make this story gripping. 

Throughout this story the humor shines through. It really is a good giggle.

Questions For Authors ~ P.O. Dixon Replies

Questions For Authors ~ P.O. Dixon Replies

Our Thanks To P.O Dixon for Answering our “Questions For Authors” Questions

1) Your own favorite Austen character and why?

My favorite character is Mr Darcy. As a man of his time, he is just what a wealthy gentleman of aristocratic bearing ought to be.

2) Your Favorite Austen book?

Pride and Prejudice is my favorite Jane Austen book. My second favorite is Lady Susan.

3) Which actor would you choose to be YOUR Mr Darcy and why?

When I close my eyes and envision Mr Darcy, it is always Matthew Macfadyen that I see. I have tried to picture other actors but with little success. I owe my discovery of Pride and Prejudice to Matthew’s portrayal of Darcy. I suppose it is fitting that no one can take his place in my mind.

4) Who would be your perfect Elizabeth?

Likewise, Keira Knightly is my choice as the perfect Elizabeth. I can see why she was nominated for an award for her portrayal of the literary heroine. I loved her performance.

5) Your favorite book of all time by any author?

After giving this some thought, and with so many literary greats from which to choose, I must leave this question unanswered.

6) Your favorite Austen film or TV adaption?

My favorite is the 2005 Pride and Prejudice film.

7) You are having a dinner party and can invite four Austen characters which would they be?

The invitees would be Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Emma Woodhouse, Elizabeth Bennet, and Caroline Bingley.

8) Why have you chosen them?

Lady Catherine is set in her ways. She is awfully proud of her own opinions and with good reason. Who else is as proficient as she is in arranging the lives of others? She would be astounded by the clueless wit of Miss Emma Woodhouse, astonished by the audacity of Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and appalled by the pretentiousness of Miss Caroline Bingley.

The evening would be quite diverting. I believe Emma and Elizabeth would emerge from the dinner party unscathed but alas, I pity poor Caroline.

9) Which character would you like to play in a Pride and Prejudice film?

I have no acting ambition but if forced to make a decision it would be Elizabeth. No one else enjoys the enviable position of winning Mr Darcy’s hand.

10) Tell us about your next planned book (whether Austen related or not)?

My current work-in-progress is titled Matter of Trust. Darcy and Elizabeth, our beloved couple, endure a forced marriage scenario of sorts. In a rare departure for me, George Wickham enjoys a particularly prominent role. An intriguing new character is introduced, as well. Readers are welcome to follow my Pinterest board or my blog spot for progress updates. 

I am truly excited about Matter of Trust. Its release date is late Autumn 2012.

Bewitched Body and Soul by P O Dixon

Bewitched Body and Soul by P O Dixon

Miss Elizabeth Bennet

Gosh, it is hard to know where to start on this one.

It’s a Pride and Prejudice what if? With so many if’s.

As the story progresses there are little alterations that change the plot, they don’t change the outcome or the characters, just alter the journey.

In Bewitched Body and Soul they make for quite a bumpy ride with a few new characters.

Caroline Bingley is not alone in her single minded determination to marry Mr Darcy. Lady Gwendolen is pretty determined to have Darcy for her self and on meeting Elizabeth Bennet in London (When she goes to stay with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, instead of with her sister Jane). She, decides that Elizabeth would be perfect for her Brother, lord Latham.

This book is well paced with plenty of new story that fits in well with the original, the characters have been kept fairly true, only Georgina seems a bit bolder in this story.

I did enjoy this book and found the ending very satisfactory and delightfully romantic.

This is a Darcy that would be well worth catching.

I have also reviewed other books by P.O. Dixon ~  He Taught Me To Hope (Darcy and the Young Knights Quest).

There are many more What If’s by P O Dixon  take a look at her website HERE for further Details

The Knights of Derbyshire by Marsha Altman

The Knights of Derbyshire by Marsha Altman

Pride and Prejudice Continues

Two in a row for Marsha Altman, this is number 5 in the series.

We are now 20 years on from the original story of Pride and Prejudice and the next generation of Darcys, Bingleys and Maddoxes (Caroline Bingleys children) and Wickhams are starting to come of age.

Up till now the families stayed firmly together and intertwined in many ways. 

It is hard to believe anything could bring them to blows.

But, extreme stress and fear can cause cracks in even the strongest relationships.

There is political unrest in England and after a long bitter winter it even touches the Darcys estate of Pemberley.

As the heir to Pemberley  awakes with a slight hang over on his eighteenth birthday he can not possibly imagine what the day has in store for him.

All the family rally to try and help when Darcy and Elizabeth most need them.

Bringing their different skills to try and resolve the terrible situation the family find them selves in.

For Dr Maddox the situation at last leads him to admit how bad his eyesight has become and some other family secrets have to be revealed with unhappy results.

Who can save the day? You had better get a copy of this book and read it to find out because you know I won’t tell!

A jolly good read, lots of pent-up emotions and the younger generation are really following  in their parents footsteps.

Marsha Altman’s Blog

Pride and Prescience by Carrie Bebris

Pride and Prescience by Carrie Bebris

(a truth universally acknowledged)

A Mr and Mrs Darcy Mystery

This story starts where Pride and Prejudice finished with the joint marriage of Charles Bingley and Jane Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

Almost immediately Caroline Bingley steals the limelight at the wedding reception by announcing her own engagement to an American. A handsome American, charming, a gentlemen with a fortune and a plantation.

Elizabeth can not help but wonder what he see’s in Miss Bingley, but they do appear very much in Love. As their wedding is set for one week, hence the honeymoon at Pemberley is put on hold to attend what Caroline is determined to make the society wedding of the decade.

From that point on this fast paced book plunges from one disaster to another, with Darcy and Elizabeth being drawn further and further into the awful events and ‘accidents’ that keep happening.

Elizabeth finds herself having to come to Caroline's aid time and time again and deciding who are the villains and who are the good guys is even causing  trouble between her and her new husband.

She can not help but feel there are dark arts and worse involved and he, a man of logic is totally blind to the terrible things happening before his very eyes.

After a murder at Netherfield all of the house guests come under suspicion.

Will Darcy & Elizabeth or Jane and Bingley make it out alive.

Great fun, lots of suspense, I am going to read North by Northanger by Carrie Bebris next.

http://www.carriebebris.com/

Pride and Prejudice Hidden Lusts by Mitzi Szereto

Pride and Prejudice ~ Hidden Lusts by Mitzi Szereto

Mr Bennet shook his head, Lydia was a lively headstrong girl prone to a breathiness of speech amd a most perculiar fondness for raising up the hem of her gown...

As I have stated previously in reviews I have no problem with sex in my books, But, I know some of you do so this might not be for everybody.

So all of those who like me enjoy some rollicking, shirtlifting, britches stretching fun then here it is.

Pride and Prejudice Hidden Lusts is actually a bit of a misleading title as the lusts are far from hidden they jump right up at you, just like the rock hard manhoods of so many of the male characters.

Mitzi Szereto  follows the original story line but endows each of the characters with their own quirks of fancy and sexuality with no shortage of imagination.

Indeed the story opens with Mr Bennet delighting in his newly acquired sketches of a pony girl complete with tack and tail but nothing else.

That’s pretty tame compared with Caroline Bingley and Lady Catherine, if you want to know how naughty they are you will have to wait until the 1st of July (2011) is released, you should definitely pre-order a copy if you like a good giggle and can cope with this no holes barred (or utilized) tale.

My Husband certainly enjoyed the benefits of me reading this book 

There is also a chance to win a copy of this book on Mitzi’ Website 

Mitzi’s weblog is HERE.

You can read an interview with Mitzi HERE:

* This review is based upon a PDF version of the book that I received in advance from Mitzi. I accepted this on the basis that I was free to write a genuine review *

The Darcy Cousins by Monica Fairview

The Darcy Cousins by Monica Fairview

Scandal, Mischef and Mayhem Arrive At Pemberley...

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Continues ...

Having enjoyed ‘The Other Mr Darcy’  I was very much looking forward to reading The Darcy Cousins and I was not disappointed.

It cracked along at a great pace with plenty of emotion and action.

Robert Darcy who has married Caroline Bingley is joined by his younger brother and sister fresh out of Boston on the first boat after the war.

The whole family are at Rosing for the first Easter get together since Lady Catherine’s break with Darcy and Elizabeth.

The story focuses on the three girl cousins, Anne De Bourgh, Georgina Darcy  and Clarissa Darcy.

The Two Darcy girls become firm friends and try to bring Anne out of her shell with disastrous consequences.

Georgina and Clarissa have to face their first London season and their coming out, a mine field of heart break and double dealing.

It is quite good to see Georgina written as a teenager quite capable of tantrums and erratic behavior.

Having myself  15, 19 and 21 year old children I feel I can myself  relate to teenagers quite well and these girls ring true.

The petty rivalries made for a nice comic touch and the first stumbling steps to finding love with many false starts and misunderstandings were very much a homage to Pride and Prejudice with plenty of both getting in the way.

Altogether this book is definitely up there with my favorites and great to get back to something with a smart gripping pace.

Visit Monica Fairview’s Website Here:  

Mr Darcys Decisions by Juliette Shapiro

Mr Darcys Decisions by Juliette Shapiro

A Sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

Well this poor book got a drenching as soon as I started it, my kitten Bingley (I thought he had a lovable warm personality hence the name) has a thing about water and no sooner do I put my water down on my bed side table than he has knocked it over and is paddling in it, he also paddles in the shower and the fish bowls.

So having had my water glass emptied all over my book I had to read it in a very crinkly and soggy state.

This is an interesting book, the author stays true to the style and pretty faithful to characters but manages to come up with some new angles that really work very well with the original story.

The Wickham story is quite clever, she also has the contempt of Lady Catherine and Caroline Bingley bringing them together in their spite and condescension.

Juliette Shapiro manages to fit so much into one year, covering every single sister and all the other characters from Pride and Prejudice.

She is another lady that likes happy endings.

If you have read any of my past reviews you will know that I hate my bad guys and girls turned into saints, I like my baddies to be bad. But, Juliette has managed it in such away that I actually felt alright about a bit of redemption, I must be getting soft.

This book was in small print but was gripping and most enjoyable so well worth putting on the reading glasses.

I sincerely hope her four Grandchildren don’t keep her too busy to write more books as I would like to know where she would take all the Sisters in their new relationships and the independence of Anne De Bourgh.

The Trails of the Honorable F. Darcy by Sara Angelini

The Trails of the Honorable F. Darcy by Sara Angelini

A Modern Pride and Prejudice

In this modern adaption of Pride and Prejudice, The Honorable F. Darcy is a fast tracked high powered judge, the youngest in the country.

He lives in a penthouse in San Francisco but still retains the family home of Pemberly in England.
He is just as proud, impatient and uptight as a Darcy should be.

Elizabeth is a keen young attorney working in the same court house. She is quirky and bright with a family as dysfunctional as ever.

She hates taking cases before the Honorable F. Darcy who is uncompromising and exacting. They spar in the courtroom while his best friend Charley Bingley falls for a Lamborghini Murcielago closely followed Jane Bennet.

Dr Charles Bingley is the pediatric surgeon at Meryton Hospital, Jane is doing her residency there also and is determined that Charles will notice her.

Several other characters are in the story of Elizabeth and Darcy’s battle from hate to passion and there are plenty of sparks and sexual tension and loads of graphic steamy sex, (even in an elevator between floors).

Caroline Bingley’s constant attentions to Darcy also doesn't help the on off relationship to get on the right track (don’t cheat and look it up first but on page 310 of this book were the most romantic lines I have read in a very, very long time they certainly put a lump in my throat).

This is a love story a steamy and passionate and stirring love story, read it and revel in the intensity.

Well done to Sara Angelini, we would all give our right arms for a Mr Darcy of our own to love us this passionately.

The Darcys and The Bingleys by Marsha Altman

The Darcys and The Bingleys by Marsha Altman

A Tale of Two Gentlemen’s Marriages to Two Most Devoted Sisters

I was charmed by Marsha Altmans tale of the Darcys and the Bingleys, her tale begins just before the joint wedding of the two eldest Bennet sisters and then follows both families on through their first few years of marriage.

There is lots of humour starting with Bingley awkwardly asking Darcy for tips on how to please his wife in the bedroom and Darcy rushing off to London to procure a copy of an Indian love manual on the lines of the Karma Sutra. This book becomes the pivotal point for many light hearted moments throughout the story.

Both wives fall pregnant pretty quickly so it obviously worked.

Caroline Bingly becomes the centre of a very dramatic plot where she falls fowl of a fortune hunter. Darcy is drawn in by Bingley to uncover his bad character, but it’s Elizabeth who with Mr Bennet’s helps uncovers the full story. 

It has a nasty outcome for Darcy, but Caroline finds a true love to marry.

Loads and loads of action, mirth and love in this story and I am very much looking forward to reading the next one by Marsha Altman which is the ‘The Plight of the Darcy Brothers’ If it is anything like the first book I know I will throughly enjoy it.

The Other Mr Darcy by Monica Fairview

The Other Mr Darcy by Monica Fairview

Unpredictable Courtships Run In The Darcy Family

This is the story of Robert Darcy Esq of Boston and Caroline Bingley.

This is a Caroline still haughty but not as waspish and cruel as Jane Austen’s original version, although she is hard to like Monica Fairview’s, Caroline, manages to engage some sympathy for a lady constrained by her upbringing and the social structures of her time.

When Fitzwilliam Darcy the man she had longed to be Married to, does a very fine impression of Lady Catherine deBurgh and dresses Caroline down totally and severely, I actually felt for her.

It makes a change to have Caroline as a central character and the other leading Pride and Prejudice characters circulate around the story quite well.

Lydia Bennett arrives in the tale as thoughtless and unpleasant as ever. A sickly Elizabeth is confined to her couch for most of the tale and that is a shame as some of the sparks you would expect to fly are lost. That said there is plenty to entertain.

The first chapter of this book is so amusing that you have to read on, I won’t give anything away but laughed heartily and enjoyed a book that on first impressions I was not at all sure about.

Pick up a copy of The Other Mr Darcy, find a comfy spot and settle down for a good read.

Pemberley Manor by Kathryn L. Nelson

Pemberley Manor by Kathryn L. Nelson

Darcy and Elizabeth For Better Or For Worse by Kathryn L. Nelson

This book starts at the Wedding of Mr Bingley to Jane Bennet and Mr Darcy to Elizabeth Bennet and as you would expect Caroline Bingley is hating every minute and Mrs Bennet’s nerves are in shreds.

The couples head out to start their married lives and the story follows Darcy and Elizabeth, we are led to understand that Darcy has had a troubled child hood with dark undercurrents that he does not understand and this leads to his massive swings in temperament, one minute blissfully happy and the next thundering tempers of the blackest kind and in another tears of weeping remorse.

I have to say in this day and age he would probably be pronounced bipolar and put on prozac or at the very least valium.

This does not stop it from being a ripping yarn, but, you can’t help feeling that Lizzy really has bitten off more than she can chew. Jane definitely having got the better deal.

My other problem is with Caroline Bingley who is quite as ruthless and horrid as she could be, but at the end of the story (and even though I hate to give story lines away) she goes through an epiphany and turns into a Jane Bennet.

Why? Jane Austen was happy to have rotters in her books, why do so many feel the need to turn the bad good ?

We allow Elizabeth to change Darcy for the better that’s what all women cherish (of getting a leopard to change his spots) but Caroline is a Bitch with a capital B, she is not going to change the habits of a life time whatever she has done.

Please leave the bad guys bad, I like them that way as I am sure do many others.