Becoming Elizabeth Darcy by Mary Simonsen

Becoming Elizabeth Darcy by Mary Lydon Simonsen

A modern day variation with our herione suffering from swine flu and going into a coma as the story opens.

As she goes into a tunnel of light she is escorted through time awakening as Elizabeth Darcy many years into her marriage.

Totally clueless at first she can't believe they expect her to use a chamber pot! And some of her behavour is putting her at serious risk of being dragged of to an Asylem.

But after the initial shock and the horror at the hygiene and medical treatments of the time, she settles down to make the best she can of the situation. 

She finds Darcy to be charming and humorous but the last few years of their marriage have not been smooth and she feels she has been put there to mend some of the tragedies in Darcy and Elizabeths lives. Hoping that it will earn her a passage home to the family she misses terribly.

She sets about introducing some basic hygiene essentials to Pemberley and even teaches the making of pizza which becomes a giant success with all.

Warm funny and caring, while dealing with some very difficult subjects.

I enjoyed this book immensely.

Maria Grace Answers Our Questions For Authors

Maria Grace Answers Our Questions For Authors

Our Grateful Thanks To Maria Grace For Answering Our Questions For Authors

1) Your own favorite Austen character and why?

I have to confess, Anne Elliot is my favorite character. I have always felt like I can relate to her. Elizabeth is too witty and sociable—I couldn’t be like her. But wise, caring Anne to whom everyone turns to get things done—I can relate to her.

2) Your Favorite Austen book ?

That would be a toss up between Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice.

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

Colin Firth will always be Darcy in my mind. He was the first actor I saw play him and I think that is indelibly etched in my brain.

4) Who would be your perfect Elizabeth?

Jennifer Ehle, for the same reasons as Colin Firth.

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

I’m not sure I can choose only one!

6) Your favorite Austen film or TV adaption?

It’s a tie between P&P 2005 and Amanda Root’s Persuasion

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

Elinor Dashwood, Anne Elliot, Miss Taylor (Emma’s governess), and Mrs. Croft

8. Why have you chosen them?

I think this group of women represents characters I can most relate to and I’d love to see if that was really true after all.
Although, I would also be tempted to invite Lady Susan. She was such a delightful villainess and hearing her perspectives first hand would be fascinating.

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

Anne Elliot or Elinor Dashwood.

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

Are you going to narrow me down to only one? I have nine projects pinned up on my board right now.
I just finished the rough draft of ‘If Only I had Learnt.’ It is the story of the Bennet family as they overcome the challenges presented by a disabling accident suffered by Mr. Bennet and the tragic loss of Mrs. Bennet several years later. Elizabeth meets Darcy as there is instant attraction, but Elizabeth is sure her tragic experiences have left her unfit to be the wife of any gentleman. It is up Darcy to convince her otherwise.

Thanks for the chance to share!

Thank You Maria Grace

The Intrigue At Highbury (or Emmas Match) by Carrie Bebris

The Intrigue At Highbury by Carrie Bebris

(or Emma's Match)

A Mr and Mrs Darcy Mystery

Of course Darcy and Elizabeth are once again caught up in all sorts of trouble and this time they are in Highbury.

They are waylaid on the road and robbed in Mr Knightleys jurisdiction as he is the local magistrate, they go to Domwell Abbey to report the incident and they end up landing themselves in the midst of a murder plot.

Frank Churchills Uncle has just dropped dead in the middle of dinner.

All the characters are beautifully written, you can practically hear the voices Jane Austen would have given them delivering the lines in this book.

And, although Emma is not my favorite character in Jane Austen’s books, I found my self enjoying this Who Dunnit very much.

Emma is still matchmaking and Mrs Elton is still as totally obnoxious as ever.

Emma’s father is in total fear of of over indulgence,  and, a death during dinner only adds weight to his fears.

Poor Elizabeth Darcy finds herself having to eat gruel to appease the poor anxious man.

I am so looking forward to Carrie Bebris’s take on Persuasion.

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?