Passions of Dr Darcy by Sharon Latham

Passions of Dr Darcy 

Sharon Latham

It is a considerably long time since I reviewed an Austen prequel or sequel. I was in need of a new battery for my pacemaker and thought I would take the opportunity of forced rest to read something that I had fancied tucking into  for quite some time.

I say tucking into as these books are not small or light! I embarked on George RR Martins Game of Thrones books, spurned on by the sumptuous television series.

I did take quite a while to finish all five books in the series and now I am left wanting more.

But thankfully I had Sharon Lathams latest book to kickstart my Jane Austen obsession.

Passions of Dr Darcy brought me happily back into that world again.

I have enjoyed the character of the irrepressible Dr Darcy in Sharon's series of tales of Darcy and Elizabeths adventures and I was delighted that she had chosen to give him a book of his own. Telling his vivid back story and taking us all along with him through his loves and heart breaks in the exciting Indian sub-continent. 

Enlisted as a Doctor for the East India Company and very eager to learn every bit of medical knowledge and practice the new found techniques his already glowing reputation growing quickly.

He is sort after professionally, but his love life is not as smooth as his professional life. In fact the poor fellow really has a terrible time with the ladies.

I really enjoyed this rich colourful book almost smelling the spices and seeing the Dr Darcy's colourful outfits. I can totally relate to his choice as I live in Malaysia and have chosen to wear traditional Indian clothes for comfort.

If you have not read this book yet, well, move it up your list. It's worth it.

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.

Murder at Rosings by Joann Louise

Murder at Rosings by Joann Louise

If you can get past some very iffy grammar and my personal pet hate words like critters instead of creatures, also there are no Vultures in England, not now and not 200 years ago. It would be far better to have had the aptly named "murder of crows" sharing the where abouts of the victim.

OK rant over. 

There is plenty to entertain:

Lady Catherine by her mismanagement and overbearing personality has set the scene for the disasters that befell Rosings Park. 

Unfortunately Elizabeth Bennet gets mixed up in the murder plots and comes face to face with the murderer.

Once he knows she has seen his face her life is in mortal danger.

Thank goodness then that Mr Darcy will move Heaven and Earth to protect his Elizabeth.

And, that's not going to be an easy job as the body count rises.

Whilst dealing with the terrible situation at Rosings Park he is not let off  the hook from sorting out Lydia and Wykham. The poor man is harried from all sides but being Fitzwilliam Darcy was never going to be easy and he is the hero of the day when the tale brings him between the killers knife and Elizabeth.

This is the first Murder mystery set at Rosings That I have read, it makes a change from Pemberley.

Love Will Grow by P.O. Dixon

Love Will Grow by P.O. Dixon

A Pride and Prejudice Story

We open this story in Kent shortly before Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam arrive for there anual visit to Rosings Park.

The first shift in the tale comes with Elizabeth being befriended by Anne DeBurgh.

Anne having watched Elizabeth's effects on Darcy and her vivacious banter with him and the Colonel, decides that Lizzy is just the person she needs to help her win the heart of her cousin Darcy ,who she tells Elizabeth that she has always loved deeply.

Lizzy questions Anne as to his suitability as a husband as she still has her prejudices firmly in place and Mr Wykham lies still are believed.

Anne shows Lizzy her letters from Georgiana  and puts her straight but this is not enough to change the outcome when Darcy proposes to her in a different venue but with the same result.

As far as Elizabeth is concerned she does not want to be part of a love triangle between Darcy, Anne and Herself caring for her new friend.

How is he going to get out of this one and win the woman he loves.

Pick up Love Will Grow and find out how this charming tale unfolds.

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.