Review: Pemberley Manor by Kathryn Nelson

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If you're looking for an Austen sequel that combines the characters' original flaws of pride and prejudice I would highly recommend reading Pemberley Manor. Nelson spins a web of finely strung perceptions and choices. Darcy is one for angry words in the heat of the moment, swift regret, and fleet-footed in his escape to nurse his wounds. Elizabeth is also one for angry words and quick remorse. Darcy is only just learning how to express himself and gets it all wrong. Elizabeth is ready to find offense, certain he must in some way regret marrying her - after all hadn't he in his first proposal said how inferior she was to the task of being his wife?

Meanwhile an old friend has reappeared stirring up a whole mix of bad childhood memories for Darcy... and good ones, if Darcy were to be honest. He's worried about how his mother's influence on him might wreck the only happiness he's ever known and at the same time can't reconcile himself to his father's actions and behavior. Can the old friend and Elizabeth help Darcy unravel the past? Can Darcy let it go if they can't?

Through it all Caroline Bingley is plotting and spilling poison amongst Darcy's old colleagues. She wants Darcy for herself; he must surely regret by now his decision to marry that country bumpkin. Finding a co-conspirator in her older sister, Mrs. Hurst, Caroline hatches a few petty and mean spirited plans. How will they affect the Darcys?

If Caroline weren't enough the local gentry around Derbyshire are determined to snub Mrs. Darcy because of Darcy's previous bad and snobby behavior. Will Elizabeth's goodness and mirth capture their attentions long enough to change their mind about her or will their determination win out in the end?

Quite an excellent book! Very engrossing. The book is chaste; there is nothing overt in the bedroom.

Rating: 4 Stars

Buy: Pemberley Manor

Originally posted 2009-03-30 05:15:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Categories:

4 Stars, ARC, Comedy of Manners, Gentry, Great Britain, M-O, Regency, Virgin Heroine



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1 comment so far ↓
#1 Kathryn L Nelson on 03.30.09 at 11:09 am

Thanks for the sparkly review, Keira. I’m glad you tagged the “mirth,” because everything about the writing of Pemberley Manor has been great fun, and reviews like yours are the icing on the cake.

By the way, the April Sourcebooks edition has a new cover – a little less stormy – and a few minor corrections. Thanks again, Kathy

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