Promises by Wendi Sotis

Wendi Sotis - Promises

I really loved this story, it's so full of energy and misunderstandings.

Darcy and Elizabeth meet as children and the bond between them grows strongly as the years pass.

By the time she is sixteen  Darcy is totally devoted to her and he proposes to her.
Although she is willing, Mr Bennet won't give his consent until she has had a season and turned 17.

Now this is where all the disasters, skullduggery and misunderstandings set in.

Leaving each feeling abandoned by the other and on her 17th birthday Lizzy has to face the fact that Darcy is not coming to claim her hand.

Three years on and Darcy and Elizabeth meet at the Mereton Assembly. Can their love heal the terrible wounds that have been inflicted.

Once the truth is known who will stop the wicked plans of Lady Catherine and Lord Matlock.

Such an engaging tale that had me rooting for Lizzy and Darcy and wanting to slap Catherine around the chops and stamp on her brothers toes.

A really good read full of interesting twists and turns you will it enjoy it I am sure. I am enjoying Wendi Sotis Books very much and am there for on to the next one with anticipation of more delightful entertainment.

Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James

Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James

A Novel

The story is set in 1803. Darcy and Elizabeth and of course Jane and Bingley have both been married happily for six years and their nurseries are filling up and life is moving along smoothly.

The only problems on the horizon is which of Georgina’s suitors will she choose and will Lady Anna’s yearly ball be the high light of the season.

That is until Lydia arrives uninvited screaming at the top of her lungs in a speeding chaise.

She is screaming that Wickham is dead and this is where the fun starts.

Deep interwoven stories have to come to light and a murderer has to be found. Some of the twists and turns take you into the lives of the people in and around the Pemberley Estate.

The emotions are laid open for you to immerse yourself into the story following the police as they try with the very limited resources of the times to solve the crime. No finger printing or DNA for them to work with here and even a murder weapon is nowhere to be found.

I very much enjoyed this book and am happy to recommend it to you especially if you enjoy a good period who dunnit.

Thank you P.D. James for giving us this one.

The Trouble With Mr Darcy By Sharon Latham

The Trouble With Mr Darcy By Sharon Latham

Keep Friends Close, Enemies Closer...

Pride and Prejudice Continues

The story opens with the Darcy Family on tour in post war Europe, visiting family and friends, Miss Georgina Darcy is smitten by cupids bow when she meets a Gentleman who is a talented young musician.

While Elizabeth and Darcy return home she continues her tour with her Aunt and Uncle, Lord and Lady Matlock.

The torrid romance between Darcy and Elizabeth continue they return to England to await a happy event, the birth of their second son.

But their sublime loving relationship is put to the test after the birth, as Elizabeth is plunged deep into a postnatal depression, an unknown problem at that time.

Her, untreated symptoms almost lead to disaster as she withdraws further from those who love her.

Thank goodness for Uncle George Darcy, who steps in to help and get’s the couple back on track.

Soon after her recovery the whole family are back at Netherfield , rented to them for their stay during the happy event of Kittys Marriage.

But, some of the guests are not so welcome and as one might guest at the top of the list is Wickham!

He is at the centre of a very evil plot. Will this be the time he goes too far and his need to destroy Darcy ends in disaster.

You need to read this book, it is very gripping and full of action, so much more so than Sharons earlier books.

So, if you found the first books slow, give this a go, this novel is packed full of excitement and much more adventure.

A great holiday read.

What Would Mr Darcy Do? by Abigail Reynolds

What Would Mr Darcy Do? by Abigail Reynolds

The Truth Will Come Out...

This book is light, bright and entertaining, I even chuckled out loud a few times.

This Pride and Prejudice variation really plays on the fact that Darcy and Elizabeth almost constantly jump to the wrong conclusions over each others reactions, or indeed lack of, almost always getting the wrong idea which causes much heartache and hankie wringing.

The wit and repartee between Mr Bennet, Lizzy and Mr Darcy, sparkles and draws you into the relationship which becomes very tactile, to the point that the temptation is almost impossible for either of them to bear. There is no bodice ripping but lots of sensuality and steaminess.

So, if you haven’t read this one yet grab a copy it’s such a feel good book, and, if you have read it a while ago, well, go and get it off the shelf and indulge yourself again, it will make you smile, I promise.

Thank you to Abigail Reynolds one of the ladies who keeps romance alive and kicking with a good sense of humour added in.

Also by Abigail and reviewed on this site

Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy The Last Man In The World

You can also read our Interview with Abigail Here

In The Arms Of Mr Darcy by Sharon Latham

In The Arms Of Mr Darcy by Sharon Latham

A Honeymoon Can Last A Lifetime 

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Continues...

So book number 4 starts with the Christmas season and a full house.

There is more detail to Darcy’s business as disaster strikes one of his mills in Derby, giving us  some deeper insights into the industry of the time.

This is followed by a christening, and then the beginning of a storyline for Colonel Fitzwilliam, giving Darcy’s cousin a great tale of his own struggles with love. Will he get his hearts desire?

We of course want Col Fitzwilliam to have the same kind of felicity as Darcy & Elizabeth have, but as with them, it isn’t that straight forward.

Georgina comes out and is presented at St James along with Lizzy to His Royal Highness, The Prince Regent. And, Darcy has to face the fact his little baby sister is out and attending balls at Almacks, something that he is coming to terms with.

There is quite a bit going on in this book and it does seem to me that when Sharon Latham lets her Darcy and Elizabeth out of the bed chamber, her stories are much more gripping.

This book had a quicker pace, covered more ground and had by-lines for quite a few of the original cast of Characters as well as some rather good new additions.

I am definitely liking these latter books better, maybe I am just not quite slushy enough (though my Husband would argue otherwise, as he regularly sees me dissolve into tears at sad films or while reading heartbreaking stories).

That’s the last Sharon Latham book for now.

So what will be next?

Darcy and Elizabeth, Nights and Days at Pemberley by Linda Berdoll

Darcy and Elizabeth, Nights and Days at Pemberley by Linda Berdoll

Another weighty tome from Linda Berdoll this one comes complete with numerous plots and subplots.

It’s quite a challenge to keep all the different stories moving along side each other.

In the book the bad guys dominate the plots with Wickham very much to the fore front, causing disasters and leaving heartbreak on his wake. As he gets more desperate he becomes more despicable.

The ever vile Lady Catherine also comes to the fore but her plot line is a little strange and not as fulfilling.

Sex is again a big part of this book although at least it starts of fwith about going without.

One of my main annoyances comes about in one of the many sex scenes as Elizabeth and Darcy are romping in a spring fed weir in Derbyshire (which would be seriously cold) then a snapping turtle appears, there are NO turtles in England they could not survive in the climate even if somebody had brought them all the way from America, a tiny detail but so annoying.

Again lots of historical background covering a lot of issues of the day, the corn laws and work houses, lots of color in the dark side of London, Limehouse and the brothels, unrest and discontent on the streets, giving a sombre background to some of the plots. The addition of light hearted moments helps to lift the plots including a naked Bingley hiding in a barrel after being mugged by a mob.

Plenty of unexpected moments that kept me going through a very, very long book, one of the most unexpected was a Georgina so changed from the shy sweet girl of Pride and Prejudice now quite comfortable to lie and deceive to get her own way and a bizarre widow Charlotte Collins.

As usual I don’t want to give away any of the surprises that would spoil the fun.

Pour a generous glass of wine, settle down for a serious session of reading this is not a light read with a cup of tea.

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.