The Pink Daffodil: Variations on a Jane Austen Christmas by Elizabeth Rasche ★★★★★

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 Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.
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