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.

Young Master Darcy by Pamela Aidan

Young Master Darcy by Pamela Aidan 

A Lesson in Honour 

This is the story of a young Fitzwilliam on his return from his first term away at school.

He has started his transformation from a boy to a young man but it doesn't prepare him for the news on his return home. His beloved Mother is sick and nothing can be done to save her.

The tale of young Darcy coming to terms with the grief of losing his Mother and how it is going to affect him and his family.

To escape for a little while from the stress of a household that is grief stricken.

Darcy gallops off on his horse and finds a bit of adventure of his own to take his mind off the trouble at home for a few hours.

He feels the first stirrings of youthful longing as he spends stolen hours with other youngsters .

Lord and Lady Matlockand their Son's join the Darcy's for Christmas at Pemberley and all valiantly try to keep Lady Anne Darcy's spirits up as she has requested a 'normal family Christmas".

But Darcy runs into disaster as he tries to make both his new friends and his family happy.

Poor Fitzwilliam cannot sit down to eat his Christmas lunch after his Father has finished making his point about family honour.

This is a touching story very nicely written, thank you Pamela. 

Matter of Trust by P.O.Dixon

Matter of Trust by P.O.Dixon

The Shades of Pemberley

Another P.O. Dixon what if, and again an excellent read.

It's full of deviations and twists and turns, these turn the original story of Pride and Prejudice around and send it off in a completely new direction.

This variation has Darcy being told by his Father on his death bed that George Wickham is a Darcy. But, he dies before he can explain how they are related. Darcy thinks the worst, that they are probably half brothers which is why he has kept bailing George out and kept scandal from his door.

We also have the return to Pemberley of Alexandra, younger sister to Darcy's father who has been out of the country for twenty plus years and has some big chips on her shoulders. She moves back into Pemberley and is determined to be the mistress of the house and  rides rough shod over the newly wed Elizabeth Darcy.

Darcy and Elizabeth have married hastily after an incident with Wickham at the Netherfield Ball causes Mr Darcy to guard Elizabeths honor by announcing their engagement.

As you can imagine this changes the plot in so many ways......

I will say no more of the plot as you need to read this book for yourself and find out what happens to poor Lizzy. Now she has Lady Catherine and Lady Alexandra looking down their very aristocratic noses at her.

P O Dixon's Blogspot: Matter of Trust

podixon.blogspot.com/p/matter-of-trust

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

Mr Darcy’s Bite by Mary Lydon Simonsen

Mr Darcy’s Bite by Mary Lydon Simonsen

 A forbidden tale of passion and possession...

If you have read my reviews of Mary’s books, Searching for Pemberley and The Perfect Bride for Mr Darcy, you will know I am quite the fan.

I like her style and this book is no exception, although this is a werewolf book (I’m giving nothing away here as the cover makes that clear).

It is also a sensitive look at how Darcy’s condition affects his life, the Estate of Pemberley and the people who work there. How it changes his hopes of a happy marriage and the pain and torment of falling head over heels in love with Elizabeth Bennet, knowing he will have to tell her about his condition, and, risk all in the hope that she will not reject him.

There are no angry mob scenes, no rabid wolf attacks but this is a moving love story about, love and understanding conquering even the largest obstacles.

Definitely a recommended read.

Mr Darcy’s Secret by Jane Odiwe

Mr Darcy’s Secret by Jane Odiwe

Can Darcy Trust Elizabeth With The Whole Truth?

Pride and Prejudice Continues

Another most enjoyable book!

Mr Darcy is now married and has Elizabeth in place as Mistress of Pemberley. But, his prideful and haughty behavior keeps surfacing. Especially when it comes to his sister Georgiana, he becomes completely stubborn and all Elizabeth’s pleas to Darcy not to push his sister into a loveless marriage go unheard. Worse still he causes an unpleasant rift between the newly weds.

In fact, Elizabeth must be thinking she has married in haste herself. (Yes he is that bad).

What is worse not only does Georgiana not want to marry her brothers choice but she has met someone else, someone her brother would not even consider as a suitable husband.

While all this is going on Elizabeth is being bombarded with comments, hints and anonymous notes all suggesting awful things about her husbands past.

And, although she tries very hard not to believe any of them, the evidence against him may be mounting, and, of course where there is trouble for Darcy, Mr Wickham is never far away with his blackmail schemes and trouble making.

So, what is the secret?

You will have to pick up your own copy of the book to find out.

The story constantly draws you in and it was very hard to put down.

See also My Review of Lydia Bennets Story by Jane Odiwe.

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!

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:  

My Dearest, Mr Darcy by Sharon Latham

My Dearest, Mr Darcy by Sharon Latham

An Amazing Journey Into Love Everlasting 

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Continues...

Book 3 

Starting with snippets of a physicians memoirs, in which we get to know Dr Darcy (Fitzwilliams Uncle), therefore giving us the chance to emphasize with his character, which is useful as he is a mainstay in the Darcy Saga.

Looking after Lizzy through here pregnancy and wanting to be the one to deliver the heir to Pemberley.

Darcy & Elizabeth go for a holiday by the sea in a charming little story line complete, with sea, sand, sex and sunsets. And, a little spice as another woman tries to gain Darcy’s attention.

As this saga develops and not quite every page is filled with LOVE, it actually becomes more entertaining and the pace faster.

As well as more details about George Darcy, We also get more of the running of the Pemberly Estate.

Darcy persuades Lizzy to renew their marriage vows in the church on the Pemberly Estate where all the Darcy’s had previously been Married.

There is still plenty of mushyness and long lingering looks so don’t worry if that’s your style.

You also get to join with Darcy and Elizabeth as their first child is born. This is where Sharon Latham being a neonatal ICU nurse comes into her own.

The birth is well written and very moving and increases the affinity one feels with all concerned.

And so I move onto the 4th Book: In The Arms Of Mr Darcy (A honeymoon can last a life time).

I am sure that as Sharon Latham’s characters grow in strength the books will improve with them.

http://www.sharonlathan.net/

Loving Mr Darcy by Sharon Latham

Loving Mr Darcy by Sharon Latham

Journeys Beyond Pemberley

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Continues...

This is book two and carries straight on from where ‘Mr & Mrs Fitzwiliam Darcy’ left off.

This is another large book at 425 pages and it’s full of romance, cuddling, kissing and Mr & Mrs Darcy taking every opportunity to make love.

They leave Pemberly to visit Herefordshire, where they recall many of the events of their courtship.

Lizzy persuades Jane that sharing a bedroom with her husband is a must, which makes for even greater harmony for the residents of Netherfield.

Elizabeth arrives in London to smoothly slide into society, charming all before her, except, of course Lady Catherine, who blows into town the minute Darcy is away on business and is her usual vile self, causing Elizabeth a fair amount of heart ache.

There are some good social details on the ton of the day, but the gooey bits still totally swamp the story with passages like; ‘together they rose, passion growing to incomprehensible levels. Finally falling over a cliff of mindless, spiritual jubilance, they merged and were transported to a place of replete fulfillment’,

As in the last book the main excitement in the story does not happen until the penultimate chapter, almost an after thought.

Despite so much ‘soppy-ness’, I am growing to like the characters and she has introduced some interesting new players particularly Uncle George and his friend a Spanish Doctor, who have returned from India together.

Georgina and Anne de Bourgh are both developing nicely as the story unfolds with more romance destined for their future.

Sharon Latham seems to be a very sentimental and romantic lady, she must be lovely to know. I am now starting book three of the series; The Darcy Saga: My Dearest Mr Darcy (An Amazing Journey Into Love Everlasting).

http://www.sharonlathan.net/

Mr & Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy by Sharon Latham

Mr & Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy by Sharon Latham

Two Shall Become One

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Continues...

Sharon Latham in her forward says that she had never read Pride and Prejudice when she went to see the 2005 adaption with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen.

She says she came out sporting a heart swelling with romantic sentiment and warm fuzzy feelings running amok.

And that is exactly what this book is. Mr & Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy (two shall become one), it’s a good sized book at 309 pages.

It covers the time from the wedding for six months until May.

It chronicles every caress, every kiss, every lingering look and every steaming interlude of which there are very, very many.

Christmas and mistletoe adding a helping hand.

Unusually in this version  Darcy and Lizzy are both virgins on their wedding  and learn together as the weeks pass.

The only exciting plot line in the story does not happen until page 241.

So if you like loads of Romance and are not worried about lots of action you will enjoy reading this.

The story just focuses on Lizzy and Darcys growing love and affection all the other familiar characters are secondary and most don’t even put in an appearance in this book which is centered at Pemberly as they start their married life together, totally infatuated with each other.

So, now it’s onto the next installment ‘Loving Mr Darcy’ where they head to London for their first season as Man and Wife.

http://www.sharonlathan.net/

Darcy’s Temptation by Regina Jeffers

Darcy’s Temptation by Regina Jeffers

A Sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Following on directly from the story in Darcy’s Passion all is pretty much bliss for the Darcy’s, until……..

Darcy leaves his Elizabeth at Pemberly to go and check out a threat to his beloved sister.

He is set upon and left for dead, a crazy but  engaging plot then ensues when he is rescued by a mad woman. I don’t want to give anything away but she makes Mrs Haversham seem sane by comparison.

Elizabeth is pregnant and holding the fort while Darcy has vanished.

Lady Catherine gets to be as evil and nasty as only she could be threatening and brow beating Elizabeth in Darcy’s absence. She, even purposely hides the knowledge of Darcy’s whereabouts when she finds out from Mr Collins where he is.

Unfortunately he is not the same man on his return.

This story has many highs and lows and at one point I was actually in tears (I am rather soppy). There are plenty of good sub plots with Kitty and Georgina both building their new relationships with the men in their lives.

The scene in this book where Wickham tried to make a move on Pemberly while Darcy is absent s priceless and gave me great pleasure.

So for Regina Jeffers books I say yes, yes and please give us more.

I don’t want to give away any of the story line so you need to get your selves the books and read them.

http://www.rjeffers.com/

Darcy’s Passions by Regina Jeffers

Darcy’s Passions by Regina Jeffers

Fitzwilliam Darcy's Story

Just as good as I hoped it would be, this covers Pride and Prejudice faithfully from Darcy’s perspective then carries on with detailed coverage of the courtship of Darcy and Elizabeth, then the wedding and the honeymoon. Where Darcy and Elizabeth at last get the chance to get to know each other, alone up close and personal.

Very romantic and heart warming the story follows the newly weds from their London home to their first steps together at Pemberley.

Georgiana is a well rounded character in this tale quietly supporting and encouraging her Brother and as smitten with Elizabeth Bennet as a Sister as Darcy is with her as a wife.

There are a few bumpy moments, a dramatic flare of tempers as they both settle into their rolls at Pemberly.

Plenty of love for all in this tale with some suitable young men being introduced into the story.

A real feel good tale as the Darcys spend their first Christmas and New Years together and the New Year is seen in with all the nicest characters from Pride and Prejudice brought together to enjoy themselves and each other.

New relationships and romances blossom.

This book ends on a high note leaving you wanting some more. So it’s a good thing I have the next book Darcy’s Temptation ready to go and I will be starting it straight away.

http://www.rjeffers.com/

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.

Darcy and Anne: by Judith Brocklehurst

Darcy and Anne: by Judith Brocklehurst

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Lady Catherine will never find a husband for Anne… 

I can understand that a lot of people will find the premise for this tale hard to get their heads around as it means that Lady Catherine has to bend enough to take Anne to Pemberley. Impossible one thinks but if you can allow for that it’s a good tale, well constructed with some very pleasing characters, in fact some of the bad ones are too well written.

Anne herself is being allowed to come to life and flourish. In this tale you can allow yourself to like Anne and really wish for a happy ending for her. I hate book reviews that tell you the whole story leaving no surprises, so, I will not say more of the tale except that the final twist will have you laughing or crying with disbelief, but it is fun.

Enjoy this book.