Review: Impulse and Initiative by Abigail Reynolds

by Keira on August 10, 2009 · 0 comments

in 3 Stars, Book Review, Gentry, Great Britain, Jane Austen, P-R, Regency, Virgin Heroine, Working with Land

bookreview1

I love the title of this book. It rolls off the tongue because of the alliteration and reminds me of Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen.

This Austen variation however is not about the lovely Misses Dashwoods, it is about Mr. Darcy and Miss Bennet from Pride and Prejudice.

As is the tradition of Reynold’s Pemberley Variations, Impulse & Initiative is seeded from one major difference between Austen’s original and this new telling. For Impulse and Initiative this difference is Mr. Darcy and his decision not to take Elizabeth’s rejection lying down.

He reveals early to Charles Bingley his mistakes regarding Jane Bennet and together they head off to Hertfordshire to win back the affections of their respective Misses Bennets. As is expected, Charles lands immediately back into the good graces of the Bennet family.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth battles her feelings throughout Darcy’s renewed and more obvious courtship. She constantly wavers between falling in love with him and worrying that she’s allowing his attentions for all the wrong reasons: gratitude, pleasure in being desired, and the vanity of winning such a man do not make for a good relationship (to which I agree with completely).

I confess her constant waffling during the first half of the novel grated on my nerves. Abigail Reynolds carefully brings the two together ensuring believability, though I and my grinding teeth would have preferred one or two different tactics throughout the course of the telling.

Truly I must be a glutton for agony because frankly I missed the pain of their separation and surety that both were lost to the other. It was something that I&I lacked in my opinion. Of course they argued and had mini ‘Big Misunderstandings’ and fretted about and over each but it wasn’t the same.

I end with saying that I closed the book fairly satisfied. I&I filled my Jane Austen craving.

Rating: 3 Stars

Buy: Impulse & Initiative

Re-Issued as: To Conquer Mr. Darcy


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– who has written 1034 posts on Love Romance Passion.

Keira's favorite type of heroes are blind, scarred, and tortured... yes, she understands those should be separate, but all 3 at once is also nice! She enjoys historical romances best and adores audio books because great narrators turn books into auditory/mental movies (and she loves her romantic dramas like Pride and Prejudice/North and South!) Learn more about Keira in My Instant Turn Ons, Offs, and Ifs.

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