𝑀𝑦 𝐽𝐴𝐹𝐹 𝑂𝑏𝑠𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛

Elizabeth chooses to celebrate Christmas with her friend Charlotte Collins at Hunsford parsonage, also home to her cousin William Collins (Rector to Lady Catherine De Bourgh). A sudden snowstorm, traps Mr & Mrs Collins with a parishioner, leaving Elizabeth alone. Lady Catherine is hosting the Fitzwilliam family and Mr Darcy at Rosings. Between Lady Catherine, droning on about him marrying his cousin Anne and the drunken antics of his Fitzwilliam cousins, Darcy is having the Christmas from hell! When Colonel Fitzwilliam discovers Elizabeth snowed in on her own, he insists she move to Rosings for her safety. She is once again in the company of Fitzwilliam Darcy. Both still love each other, yet each think their love is unrequited due to misunderstandings. Can Christmas provide the magic they need to understand each other and gift them a happy ending? This is an utterly delightful tale of yearning, angst and crazy relations! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am vol

When confronted with Lady Catherine’s demands to leave Darcy alone, Elizabeth decides it is wiser not to provoke the woman. When Darcy hears of her response, his last hope of her regard flickers out. Feeling he has nothing to lose, her proposes to his cousin Anne De Bourgh. Only a few weeks later, he discovers Elizabeth does love him, but he is now bound to Anne. The pain of this knowledge is unbearable to Elizabeth and she arranges to travel to the continent to mend her heart. After two years she returns, still in love with Darcy. Believing him married with possibly a family, she resolves to offer her friendship. But what is the truth about Darcy’s status? Can friendship or something more flourish? This story is absolutely brilliant. The angst and the pain of misunderstandings and impossible love is palpable When poor Darcy was left without hope, I cried! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own. Amazon revi

Attending a Christmas house party results in some emotional disturbance for the eldest Bennet sisters. After sixteen months regretting his absence, Elizabeth Bennet is stunned to meet Mr Darcy. Both still love each other, yet each think their love is unrequited due to misunderstandings. Jane, now Mrs Ridley, is intrigued to find her former beau, Mr Bingley is joining the party. She finds herself still in love with him and unable or unwilling to stay away, despite her husband’s presence. Elizabeth and Darcy join forces to prevent Bingley and Jane from causing a scandal. Can they come to understand each other before the party ends? This is excellent. Longing and regret, angst and then happiness at last. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own. Amazon review Goodreads review

While travelling in Derbyshire just before Christmas, the Gardiner family and their niece Elizabeth Bennet are involved in a terrible carriage accident. Her small cousins are frightened, her aunt is gravely injured, and her Uncle is in shock. Elizabeth takes charge, then runs for help as fast as her feet will carry her. The nearest house is Pemberley, a massive property belonging to Fitzwilliam Darcy. Quickly recovering from the initial shock at the impropriety of a lady running, Darcy leads a team of his staff to assist. The whole family are brought to stay at Pemberley, which is a beautiful but strangely joyless and rather frightening place Elizabeth works hard to care for her aunt and cousins. She is an attentive nurse to her aunt as they pray for her recovery and tries to entertain her young cousins. When it becomes apparent that they will not be leaving in time for Christmas, she makes plans to inject some festive cheer. During her free hours, she walks the grounds, getting to kno

When they last met at Jane and Bingley’s wedding, misapprehension of each other’s feelings kept Elizabeth and Darcy distant. In the intervening year he has travelled in Greece, hoping distance and distraction might mend his heart. Elizabeth has lived with the Bingleys and rejected yet another proposal, all the while missing Darcy and regretting the loss of his regard. When Darcy returns from Greece, heavy snow stops him travelling to Derbyshire for Christmas. Bingley prevails upon him to join the Bingley Christmas celebrations. The knowledge that Elizabeth will be present, both disturbs and attracts Darcy. The resulting story is a delightful reacquaintance of Darcy and Elizabeth at Christmas. There is yearning and hope, with a tiny touch of angst. Wonderful! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own. Amazon review Goodreads review

Fitzwilliam Darcy’s head has been turned by a beautiful, intelligent, vivacious gentlewoman. However, Elizabeth Bennet is of a lower social status and has an embarrassing family. She has connexions to trade and worst of all her obsequious cousin William Collins, is parson to Darcy’s aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Darcy flees her company before he allows his passion to overcome his sense of duty to his family and status. He also persuades his friend Bingley to join him, to save him from a marriage of unequal affections to Jane Bennet. Just before Christmas, Lady Catherine dies suddenly, leaving Darcy to oversee her estate, Rosings. He ponders whether he ought to marry his unappealing cousin Anne, to protect her and Rosings for the family. In a combination of a Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life, Darcy is visited in his dreams by the ghost of Lady Catherine (dragging, not chains but a Rosings fireplace) continuing her lifetime harangue that he should marry Anne. Then his mother’s

Fitzwilliam Darcy is avoiding Elizabeth Bennet. He refused to attend his best friend Bingleys’ wedding to her sister Jane, he declined an invitation to join them for Christmas at Netherfield and he is fleeing London before she is due to arrive. Darcy loves Elizabeth but holds no hope that she returns his affection. The little glimmer of hope was dashed by the elopement of Lydia Bennet with Wickham. When a snowstorm forces Darcy and his sister to seek shelter at Netherfield, he comforts himself that at least Elizabeth is in London. Elizabeth has been bereft since she lost the good opinion of Fitzwilliam Darcy. Coming to love him late in their acquaintance, she mourns that Lydia’s behaviour and the connexion to Wickham has turned Darcy away from her. Now even her trip to London is denied her as she is prevailed upon to attend the house party at Netherfield. Mrs Bennet will not let her pass up the company of eligible young men! After a difficult start, Elizabeth and Darcy spend time toget

Mary Bennet struggles to find a place of value in her family. Her mother favours her two most beautiful girls. Her father values the brightest. She has sought to distinguish herself as the most pious and charitable sister. Over time she has resigned herself to spinsterhood (as who would marry her?) with piety and Christian charity her life’s work. While trying to forward a new charitable enterprise at Christmas, she meets Mr Arthur, a guest of Mr Bingley. Slowly a friendship and maybe more, develops. He really sees Mary, understands her loneliness and finds value in her. For the first time she is attracted to a man. Mary develops incite into her behaviour and realises her piety and Christian charity contain a large amount of pride, self-righteousness and superiority. Elizabeth Rasche has a rare gift for depicting Mary in a way that makes you see past her carping, to the lovely young woman within. So nice to have a romantic happy ending for Mary. I received a free copy of this book via

Elliott Mayfield 5th Viscount Mayfield has recently come into his title at a mature age. He is saddened to see his nephews and nieces in difficult situations. From a distance he has supported his niece, Hazel Stillman. She was born with a clubfoot, resulting in her rejection by her Society family. Sent away to school from a young age, Elliott has at least been able to pay for excellent schooling. Hazel is an intelligent young woman, now teaching advanced mathematics at a girls’ school. Elliott also supports Duncan Penhale. Not actually a nephew, but taken on by his sister. Duncan is different, (on the autistic spectrum) in a time when difference was not well tolerated. Elliott has arranged a place to live and an accountancy job which suits Duncan’s strengths. Elliott wants all his nephews and nieces to find marital felicity and arranges dowry/ inheritance for each upon marriage to an appropriate partner he approves of. Hazel and Duncan meet at Elliott’s house, when he announces his gif

Society lauded Lady Tessa Colvin as beautiful and accomplished, but she is dismissed as empty headed by her father and her betrothed, the Earl of Lytham. When she challenges Lytham to set a wedding date, she could not have foreseen the tumultuous outcome. Tessa is kidnapped at midnight from her family estate and taken to a very grim area. Fortunately, she is rescued by Lord Peyton Danforth and returned home. There she faces further threats to her family and herself. When they next meet, both are embroiled in separate scandals. Suddenly, Society is very judgemental indeed. Peyton is a second son and resents it. He loves his elder brother, the Duke but can’t bear his disapproving attitude. Peyton likes to provoke the Duke by developing an (unfounded) reputation as a rake and a scoundrel. By marrying Tessa, he will save her from scandal while aggravating his big brother. Unfortunately, the Earl of Lytham won’t leave them alone and is becoming increasingly unhinged. So follows a tale of pe

Daniel Holbrook, the fourth Marquis of Tremayne is handsome and wealthy. He is also hampered by a speech impediment. His stammer led to ridicule and cruelty by his father. The emotional effects of the experience, still present in adulthood. Dorothea (known as Thea) is an impoverished widow in such dire circumstances that the suggestion of becoming a man’s mistress is an acceptable option. The two meet at a party held to facilitate such arrangements. The book details their growing relationship. She struggles with his reticence in person but is delighted by Daniel’s wit and humour in letters. Daniel will not reveal his stammer to her, afraid of being ridiculed. Corresponding is easier, but raises her expectations of further discourse. Their growing attachment and understanding of each other is adorable, but is there a respectable future for a mistress and her Lord? While this is described as a bundle or box set of the series, to be honest, it is one book. It should never have been publis

The morning after the dreadful Hunsford proposal, Darcy seeks out Elizabeth, with a letter defending himself and explaining the truth about George Wickham. As he approaches, Elizabeth meets Colonel Fitzwilliam, on his way home from a very successful night gambling. So successful, that he has won an estate and funds to support a family. He proposes on the spot and is accepted. Darcy retreats unseen. So begins a twenty-year marriage, to a man who becomes steadily less amiable, the more he drinks. He has fits of jealousy, convinced Elizabeth and Darcy care for each other. Although he was an excellent soldier, he is a poor estate manager. So, Elizabeth must raise her children, run her household and take over running the estate. When Fitzwilliam dies, Darcy and Elizabeth are drawn together, but Elizabeth is determined never to marry again, unwilling to lose her independence. What will the outcome be? I really enjoyed this. It shows the gritty reality of life and marriage. It was good to s

Darcy is tracking down George Wickham and Lydia Bennet through the stews of London. Just as he is successful in coercing Wickham to marry Lydia, he is struck on the head and knows no more. When he wakes, he finds himself on a pirate ship, victim of a case of mistaken identity. Unfortunately, the pirates are not about to send him home with an apology! So begins a breath-taking tale of piracy, kidnappings, betrayal, love and the solving of a 20+ year old mystery. One of my favourite moments is Elizabeth Bennet learning smooth self-defence techniques, which she puts into action on George Wickham. Darcy and Elizabeth are awesome and the new lead characters are engaging. A rollicking adventure! I heartily recommend that you read this. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own. Amazon review Goodreads review

This is such a good book!   Watching Elizabeth's wit and irrepressible personality through the lens of devastating illness was compelling. Darcy's love and devotion are a joy to see. I thoroughly recommend that you read this 🙂 Amazon review Goodreads review  

Excellent novella, set against the backdrop of London, during the sudden, shocking Gordon Riots in June 1790. The female characters are strong throughout, facing imminent childbirth, while mobs roam the streets looting and burning.   Assistance in the shape of Nathaniel Woods appears repeatedly, seemingly just when he is needed! This is a fast-paced combination of history, action, terror and romance. I was delighted with this book. I received a free copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own. Amazon review   Goodreads review

A very enjoyable gothic Pride and Prejudice variation, in which Elizabeth Bennet’s father and uncle are a team of vampire hunters, who staked Mr Darcy Senior. In the first part of the book, Fitzwilliam Darcy is haughty and distant, partly because be hates the name Bennet and partly to disguise his attraction to Elizabeth and the call of her blood. When Mr Wickham (also a vampire) turns up; terror and death follow in his wake. I liked the connection between Darcy and Elizabeth in the second part of the book. The ability to feel each other’s emotions, removes those pesky misunderstandings! A nice mixture of blood, sex, violence and love. Well 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 review Goodreads Review

When Caroline Bingley’s desperation for the money and status of Mr Darcy, leads her to attempt a compromise, he is equally desperate to avoid marrying her. So desperate, that he lies to his friend, Charles Bingley, claiming he is betrothed to Elizabeth Bennet, who happens to be visiting the house. She has never liked Mr Darcy and refuses his officious proposal – “I find it necessary that we should marry!” However, on returning to her home, she discovers that both of her parents are determined that she marry her cousin, Mr Collins. He is the heir to her family’s estate, stupid and physically repellent. Elizabeth's only escape is to tell her father that she has accepted Mr Darcy. From this beginning of an engagement to the least, worst option, Elizabeth and Darcy must try to carve out a happy future. This is wonderful book with angst, passion, misunderstandings, love and acceptance. I heartily recommend you read it. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntaril

A delightful collection of romantic stories with a festive flavour. Feisty, determined heroines and handsome, aristocratic heroes. Enjoyable. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own. Amazon review   Goodreads review

Cecilia is pushed into a marriage arranged by her mother, to a Duke who was injured while saving his men in battle. He is so disfigured, he sends a proxy to his wedding, to speak his vows. When Cecilia travels to his estate, he still won’t show himself to her. Poor Cecilia must acquaint herself with her new role as mistress of his estate, without ever meeting him. All the while, he has been spying on her with increasing desire. When she becomes depressed with the isolation, the Duke asks his (male) best friend to visit and cheer Cecilia up. When Cecilia enjoys his company, the Duke throws a jealous tantrum and finally reveals himself. This was an interesting premise and I liked Cecilia’s fortitude. While the Duke has suffered, the man is an ****. His first ever interaction with his wife of several months is to spank her! Really? I’ve read BDSM slanted, Regency novels which included spanking that managed the segue from chastisement to foreplay in a more convincing and erotic manner. The