Miss Darcy's Companion


Title: Miss Darcy's Companion by Joana Starnes
Type: Pride and Prejudice Variation
Perspective: Darcy and Elizabeth
Romance Level: passionate kissing
Recommended: yes, 4 stars
Access: available through Kindle Unlimited

Summary: In this variation, Mr Bennett dies before Darcy and Elizabeth have a chance to meet. Miss Darcy meets a grieving Miss Bennett, working as governess to her young niece and nephew. When Georgiana takes a dislike to the proposed new companion Mrs. Younge, Georgiana proposes Miss Bennett as the solution. At Pemberley, Miss Bennett gets to know her new employer and the best man/brother/master he is and Darcy can see Elizabeth for her true (although more subdued) self.

Things I Liked:
* I like the slow development of the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth. It was novel to have her be the one with feelings first and feel the inequity of their stations in life.
* I loved the sweet relationship between Georgiana and Elizabeth.
* I liked Fitzwilliam in this one. We really didn't get any sense of the family relationships beside Jane, Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam.

Things I Didn't Like:
*  Once feelings had been acknowledged, there was surprisingly little resistance. I expected this Elizabeth to have some misgivings and remove herself to Netherfield at least for a time.
* There was no opportunity to see how his family (and the world) reacted. Although this wouldn't have been fun reading, it felt unrealistic.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Top Ten Austen Retellings

Image
I have had a few friends ask me my favorite Austen retellings and Austen related literature. According to Goodreads these are my highest rated ones! These are in no particular order, all being 4 star ratings. My standards may be getting higher because I haven't given a 4 star review for awhile. * means it is currently reviewed on the blog.  The trilogy by Pamela Aiden (not reviewed yet--I must remedy this soon!) :  An Assembly Such as This , Duty and Desire ; and These Three Remain   This story is told from Darcy's perspective. The first and third books are wonderful because they parallel the story closely; the second goes pretty far off cannon. * The trilogy by Stanley Michael Hurd: Into Hertfordshire , Into Kent and The Way Home   This set is also told from Darcy's perspective and told in three sections like the original P&P. I loved seeing his side of the story. He wasn't always as likable, but we can feel his devastation and resolve to become a better man....
Read more

Elizabeth and Darcy: Ardently Yours

Image
Title and Author: Elizabeth and Darcy: Ardently Yours by Evangeline Wright Type: Pride and Prejudice Variation Perspective: Elizabeth and Darcy Romance Level: Kissing Recommended: yes, 3 stars Availability: This one is only available as a Kindle book, but is free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers. Summary: This Pride and Prejudice variation veers from the original story before the book begins with two key differences. First Georgiana is sick over the previous summer, does not go to Ramsgate and therefore Wickham's character is not fully known, even by Darcy. Second, Elizabeth tours the Lakes and Pemberley the summer before she meets Darcy, so is fully inclined to think the best of him. Misunderstandings still abound for many a different reason, so there is still a struggle for our hero and heroine, but these key differences change the basic story in many ways. Pros: * Darcy and Elizabeth always liked each other in this one, even when they were unsure of the others...
Read more

Darcy's Tale: Into Kent

Image
Title and Author: Darcy's Tale: Into Kent ,   Stanley Michael Hurd Type: P&P Parallel (true to the original plot, told from a different perspective) Perspective: Darcy Romance Level: Austen-esque Recommend: Yes, 3 stars Darcy's Tale is broken into three parts like the original Pride and Prejudice. The second volume, Into Kent, covers the return from Netherfield to London, through the winter in London and the spring visit to Rosings Park with Lady Catherine, then the return journey to London. In addition to the events of the original, Darcy meets a new aquaintance who shows Elizabeth's true worth and visits an old professor to talk over his woes. This is enjoyable, but my least favorite of the trilogy.  I liked: * Colonel Fitzwilliam is a wise, kind friend. * The description of his confusion over his feelings for her. It makes the proposal so much more unders tandable.  * Pender, Darcy's old tutor, helps to show Darcy's thoughts in a very logical di...
Read more