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

The Ballard of Gregoire Darcy by Marsha Altman

The Ballard of Gregoire Darcy by Marsha Altman

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice continues

Once again Marsha Altman takes us on a wonderful journey into her imagination. If you have read her previous books: The Darcys and the Bingleys, The Plight of the Darcy Brothers and The Darcy’s Great Escape, you will know that Marsha packs her stories full of adventure and there is never a dull moment.

So even following an ex-monk on a pilgrimage through deepest darkest Ireland becomes an exciting action packed tale. It’s full of surprises and danger.

Follow Darcy’s half brother as he is thrown into the world.

If you haven’t read her previous books why not? Get on with it you won’t be sorry.

I have become very fond of Marsha Altmans characters and although I don’t think Jane Austen could have come up with plots like this from her quiet  life at the parsonage, I feel sure she would have a good giggle if she could read these tales inspired by Pride and Prejudice.

This story as well as entertaining also touches again on the subject of mental health in a time when there was no help for people with mental illness and the King himself was afflicted.

This deeper and darker layer adds to the depth and intensity of Marsha Altmans writing.

She has just brought out the next story in her series The Knights of Derbyshire and I am already well and truly stuck into it and enjoying it.

( I apologize for the delay in getting this book reviewed, technical problems involving Jorgey (Blue Persian cat) a hot cup of tea (Lady Grey) and my Acer laptop, these three things don’t really mix it seems!)

Marsha Altman’s Blog

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?

Mr Darcys Great Escape by Marsha Altman

Mr Darcys Great Escape by Marsha Altman

Pride and Prejudice continues: A Tale of the Darcys and the Bingleys

Gosh if I used the term outlandish when reviewing The Plight of the Darcy Brothers, it was only because I had not yet read the third book, this is outlandish times ten.

Boy oh boy full of amazing plot lines, some I know will raise eyebrows and even blood pressures and yes parts are totally crazy, but, crazy in a good way.

Maybe this book does stray far from the original but it is great fun even if very far fetched, England is left far behind.

The story goes to Japan across Russia into the dark heights of the Carpatian Mountains.

It goes back in time and then splits into two different story lines completely and the adventures get dark and dastardly with torture thrown in. There is even a chance meeting with Napoleon.

By the time you reach the end after Elizabeth and Caroline have joined forces (yes they are just as rude as you would expect) with Colonel Fitzwilliam to save the day.

There are thought provoking dark moments and some very troubling times for the Darcy family but always with a healthy sprinkling of Austen Style humor.

So, at the end you are not surprised to have a religious miracle thrown in for good measure and why not.

I suspect Marsha Altman has amazing dreams at night, full of excitement, and I hope she writes more, I will certainly read them. Most books will seem pretty dull after this Trilogy of Books.

The Plight of the Darcy Brothers by Marsha Altman

The Plight of the Darcy Brothers by Marsha Altman

Pride and Prejudice Continues: A Tale of Siblings and Surprises

Another rip roaring tale by the author of The Darcys and The Bingleys

It says it is ‘A Tale of Siblings and Surprises’ and it certainly is……

Full to the brim with very colorful characters  and adventure.

It is hard to review this book with out giving away any of the surprises. Elizabeth has deep sadness after a miscarriage and Darcy is still recovering his wound,but now the Bennets need help again.

Mary is in trouble and Elizabeth and Darcy  have to travel through a war torn Europe to sort out the mess.  Along the way momentous events unfold  and we learn much of the Darcy history we did not know, knocking Mr Darcys father firmly off his pedestal.

With help from unexpected quarters they finally manage to sort out the situation and return many months later to England with their new acquaintances.

More mayhem and disaster strikes on home territory, amongst all  the bad things happening we see Caroline happily married and the Darcys and Bingleys growing families taking shape and having characters of their own, even Anne De Burgh has happily settled.

The life long struggle with George Wickham is finally resolved in the most dramatic way,I even shed a tear.

This book is a little more outlandish than the first but still worthwhile, I enjoyed it, fast paced and entertaining.

I shall be starting book three at once and I am sure it will be just as much fun Mr Darcys Great Escape here I come.

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.