Published by Meryton Press
Released on April 28, 2015
Pages: 170
Format: eARC
Forced to marry a near stranger and not one she has a favorable opinion about. The new Mrs. Darcy makes the most of her situation and starts to settle into her new life with contentment and growing feelings for a husband that remains aloof until his secrets start to spill forth. What was a fragile union now may be shattered for good.
Meanwhile, being mistress of a grand estate, going about in society, empathizing with one sister’s disappointed hopes while another sister brazenly flaunts propriety, all serve to keep the new Mrs. Darcy busy.
This story gave a brief summation of events leading up to the scandal of being caught in a near kiss and then it settled in to drawing the reader close with Elizabeth’s first person perspective narrative. This was a well-written arranged marriage story. I loved only having the singly narrator because it lent some mystery to Fitzwilliam until the author was ready for his thoughts and motives to be revealed.
I loved how the arranged marriage was handled. There is high emotion on Elizabeth’s part, but she is so put together through it all. It was refreshing actually to have a mature heroine who doesn’t engage in undue angst. She doesn’t deny her husband his conjugal rights- in fact, this is the one thing they have that really works from the beginning- and she does her best to make it work even when she disagrees with Fitzwilliam and he disappoints her with his displays of pride and superiority over her family. Fitzwilliam makes plenty of mistakes while at the same time he is caring and solicitous. There is the sense that storm clouds are gather in the distance growing bigger and closer as his flaws become more obvious and she learns some shocking, hurtful things. It all built to a crisis point and then twisted its way a bit before giving a satisfying denouement.
The story is a variation tale of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, but the characters and plotting is the author’s own. There are recognizable moments, but not in the same order and there are many alterations, as well. I loved getting a fresh new story while recognizing and old favorite. I really liked the author’s characters and what she did with that slow developing relationship and character growth.
All in all, this was a splendid story on the sweeter end of the spectrum that I would recommend to historical romance and Austenesque Lovers.
My thanks to Meryton Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Romance Roundabout #201 HR
Historical Romance #46
New to Me #101 author
Austenesque Lovers #27
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oh I love mature heroines!!! You don’t always find them in the arranged marriage setting (which is one of my favorite tropes to read in historical romance). I definitely have to try this one out.
I like the arranged marriage trope, too. I haven’t read it much lately so this was nicely refreshing.
Thank you Sophia Rose for a very sweet review:-)
You betcha, Jenetta!
Loved your story!
thank you – I hope that you enjoy it
Arranged marriage? That sounds interesting and I love the fact that the heroine was so strong even if she may not have liked her circumstances. 🙂
I guess technically I should have said forced marriage so they could avoid scandal. Oops! LOL! But it was nice that she was strong and handled things so well.
I’m not a fan of Jane Austen, but I could see how you’d really like this one:) Sounds like it’d be a good classic!
That’s okay! I still like you. Haha! I had a good time reading this one.
LOL gee thanks xD!!
LOL gee thanks xD!!
Yay for an awesome heroine. I love when they’re like that. And I’m a sucker for those arranged marriages. It’s always interesting seeing how they pan out.
Oh yeah, these two had some sizzle, but it started out more as armed neutrality. He kept secrets and she had some serious opinions about stuff so it was a good one.
I haven’t read Pride and Prejudice and always feel like I would miss something when I pick up a book like that. I am not a fan of books based on other books, even though it often sounds like the author still puts enough of an unique spin on it, so often it isn’t even that clear it’s based on another story.
Elizabeth sounds like a great main character with how she does her best to make it work. The build-up to the crisis sounds like well done. Great review Sophia!
Yes, some of these retellings assume the reader read the original. I try to say that if I’m reviewing one. This one is so loosely based on the story that newbies would be fine. And, yes, retellings aren’t everyone’s thing. 😉
I thought Elizabeth would get really emotional about it all and I don’t like a ton of angst so I was happy that she was so mature about things.
I love Pride and Prejudice! Retelings can be such a treat! I’m glad that the author made the story her own. I think I would enjoy Elizabeth’s character. You’re right–it’s once to have a mature character without all of the angst. I enjoy a sweet and slow developing relationship. Lovely Review Sophia 🙂
Lindy@ A Bookish Escape
Yes, its a retelling, but it is also strongly original to the author, too. Elizabeth was a superb heroine. She really was a pivotal strength of this story.
Yes, its a retelling, but it is also strongly original to the author, too. Elizabeth was a superb heroine. She really was a pivotal strength of this story.
Arranged marriage? That sounds interesting and I love the fact that the heroine was so strong even if she may not have liked her circumstances. 🙂