𝑀𝑦 𝐽𝐴𝐹𝐹 𝑂𝑏𝑠𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛

Set a month after his disasterous Hunsford proposal, Darcy travels to Meryton, hoping to see Elizabeth Bennet. Although he has lost all hope of gaining her heart, he wants to give her a letter, in which he seeks to correct her bad opinion of him and ensure that she sees Mr Wickham as the snake he is.   On the way his carriage is stopped by damsel in distress. Rescuing her sets off a chain of events, which places Elizabeth in danger. Darcy and Elizabeth become embroiled in the machinations of French sympathisers, leading to kidnapping, espionage and murder. A fast paced story with a satisfying denouement. I couldn’t put it down! Amazon Amazon review Goodreads review  

An interesting story featuring some minor characters from Sense and sensibility. Charlotte Jennings has loved Thomas Palmer since she was a child, when he unsuccessfully courted her elder sister At the end of her second and last season, he reappears in Society, seeking a wife. With some manoevring, Charlotte brings herself to his notice and secures a proposal. Although the proposal is in no way romantic, she is sure his taciturn manner hides his true feelings. She is devastated to discover that Thomas has no hidden feelings and barely tolerates her. So we follow a sad, lonely but determined Charlotte, as she carves out a place for herself in her new home, family and marriage. Although sad in places, this is enjoyable and worth a read. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own. Amazon Amazon review Goodreads review  

This was my first experience of Georgette Heyer and this is also her first novel. Set in Georgian England in 1751, when the upper classes wore elaborate and extravagant clothes. The men almost more than the women. Their manners were even more florid and affected.  The hero, Jack (a disgraced Earl) is dashing, amusing and kind despite his current occupation as a highwayman.  The story is about Jack rescuing Diana from Devil Belmanoir and falling in love with her.  The machinations of the Duke of Andover and his Belmanoir family provide the background to the book. This was quite fun, though the characters are rather shallow. Some of the language is quite archaic, so I required a few trips to Wikipedia! The narrator was enjoyable, although his female voices tend towards shrillness. I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own. Amazon review Netgalley review

The mystery of the disappearance of Fitzwilliam Darcy intrigues Society, but causes heartbreak and despair to his family and friends. When Elizabeth Bennet visits Pemberley, she becomes enmeshed in a story of love, betrayal, avarice and Egyptian curses! A very enjoyable book which I am happy to recommend. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own. Amazon Amazon review Goodreads review  

When quiet and pious Mary Bennet travels to London for the Season she hopes to hide in the shadow of her exuberant married sister Lydia. As Lydia’s irrepressible flirting with a Geologist, threatens to explode into scandal, Mary is tasked with distracting the gentleman. Mary travels on a journey of self-discovery. We glimpse her inner thoughts and learn how sad and neglected her childhood was. The story of the still unfinished doll, was so sad. Mary goes through a metamorphosis from thin, frumpy and frightened by the smallest hint of conflict. Physically she looks prettier as she stops denying herself food and is dressed by Lydia in fashionable clothes. More important is the transformation of spirit and self-esteem. Happy to recommend this, especially to those who are fans of Mary Bennet. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own. Amazon   Amazon review Goodreads review

An enjoyable continuation of Pride and Prejudice. Starts with Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy’s first joint foray into entertaining. A much-planned event becomes a mortifying disaster when uninvited members of the extended family crash the party. Moving on the story introduces a distant Darcy cousin who may or may not have good intentions! Well worth a listen, especially with Pearl Hewitt’s excellent narration.   I received a free copy of this audiobook via StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.   Audible

John Eyre is a schoolteacher haunted by loneliness, guilt and a laudanum habit. He takes up a job as tutor to two young boys at the isolated Thornfield Hall. When weird things occur, he is not sure what is real and what is opium related. John’s employer Mrs Rochester is enigmatic, mercurial and hiding some terrifying secrets from her recent travels across Egypt, Greece and Bulgaria. This is a brilliant Jane Eyre gender swap, turned into a true gothic horror. I loved the way the story unfolds. It was fun watching for links to characters in Jane Eyre and the breadcrumbs or hints about Rochester’s true nature. Stunningly good. Couldn't put it down. I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own. Amazon Amazon review Goodreads review Netgalley review

A Pride and prejudice retelling with Elizabeth as a young widow and mother. Following the deaths of her aristocratic husband and then her father-in-law, Elizabeth finds that the new occupant of her home brings unsavoury visitors. Deciding it is not a fit environment to raise her son Bennet, she reluctantly returns to Longbourn. Mr Bennet disapproved of her marriage and has little sympathy for her plight. His only solution is to pressure her into marrying his heir, a Mr Geoffrey Collins. A handsome widower with two daughters, he seems a not too unpleasant option. So they become betrothed. Into the town comes Fitzwilliam Darcy. He and Elizabeth are powerfully   attracted to each other. Darcy meets Ben, a young boy obsessed with Arthurian legend and they develop a close friendship, not realising that Ben is Elizabeth’s son. Ben is a delightful character and steals the show. Elizabeth and Darcy are well constructed characters, with Darcy having a distinctly racy edge!  I re

Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam is heartbroken after his offer of marriage is rejected.  His cousins Fitzwilliam and Georgiana Darcy arrange a trip to a friend’s country house as a distraction. Before they reach Netherfield Park they encounter a roadblock, in the form of Clarice, the irascible mule in a clash with Duchess, a very naughty Maltese puppy. While stepping in to fix the problem, Darcy is left in a hilarious and very undignified state. At such a disadvantage, of course, he first meets the lovely Miss Elizabeth Bennet! This sets the tone for the story. This is a light and fun Pride and prejudice variation, with occasional mild angst. The animals were cute with great characterisation – Clarice the mule and Jemima the duck were my favourites. I enjoyed the interaction between the Colonel and Darcy. At the Meryton Assembly, Richard manages to manipulate Darcy into behaving as an amiable gentleman (instead of his usual aloof and haughty). He dances every dance and is surprised to fi

A tale of secrets, lies, debauchery, scandal, gossip and maybe even murder. After losing her home and loved ones twice in seven years, Elizabeth Bennet has found work as a companion to the disagreeable, Dowager Countess of Matlock. So much has been lost and changed, she barely remembers the events that followed “Netherfield Park being let at last” in 1811. Fitzwilliam Darcy is a faint memory. A family member visiting the countess, turns out to be Mr Darcy. Still wealthy, handsome and recently widowed, Mr Darcy shocks Elizabeth with a proposal. Experience has taught her not to squander opportunities, so she accepts. Although Darcy is grim and solemn at first, Elizabeth is delighted to enjoy a passionate and idyllic wedding tour, as they slowly wend their way to Pemberley. At Pemberley, his first wife’s presence is everywhere, as is her vicious mother, Mrs de Bourgh. And so progresses a tale of secrets, lies, debauchery, scandal, gossip and maybe even murder. This is an excellent homage

Loved it! After the drama and anguish of the Hunsford proposal, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy retreat to London.  He to his Mayfair townhouse to wallow in misery and to acknowledge to himself, that he never deserved her love. Elizabeth joins her sister in Cheapside, with Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. She spends her time reflecting on her misjudgement of Darcy’s character. During one of her regular walks, she meets a gentleman who recognises her, as family! Elizabeth discovers she is not who she thought she was. In great distress at these revelations, she runs from the Gardiner house into the street, directly into the path of a horse. Fortunately, the rider is Darcy, who stops and aids her in her distress. So the couple meet again. This is a great story with love, angst, joy and forgiveness. I love this Darcy. He is so steadfast and kind. I like how he opens up to Elizabeth. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed a