March 12th, 2010 — 1 Star, Book Review, Counts, Marquis, Viscounts, Great Britain, Heiress, J-L, Marriage of Convenience, Plump/Endowed Heroine, Regency, Virgin Heroine
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I had several issues with this novel. First, there is no chemistry between Ian and Hannah. They are bland. The whole love story is flat. Frankly, I hardly cared whether they liked each other or not let alone loved each other. When they reach the realization and eventual declaration of their love to one another it is unsatisfying and unbelievable.
The book started off slow and never took off. It plods along at a rate that makes snails look daredevil speeding machines. Ian is a Marquis in need money to pay off debts. Hannah wants to please her father by gaining social standing and forget a shallow lover. They agree to marry, an arrangement that suits them both and promise never to bring up the bargain again. Except they do. Every scene. No joke. This creates a pattern that gets old fast.
He’s bitter because he was sold to the highest bidder. It really irks him and yanks on his pride. She’s tired of being seen as a title grabbing, social ladder climbing, merely passable bride. She tries so hard not to give him any reason to be ashamed of her and always sees herself as failing.
The back of the novel promises Hannah to socialize with the ton and another man who wants to win Hannah’s heart. It’s very misleading as neither of these ever really happen. Sure, eventually Hannah meets the members of the ton but it’s not pleasant and they snub her. The man is actually the shallow cad who dumped her for better looking goods at the beginning of the novel. He’s hardly a blip on the radar for how long you have to wait for him to show up and how short he stays.
Rating: 1 Star
Buy: A Bride for His Convenience
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January 7th, 2010 — Big Misunderstanding, Guest Blogger, Jane Austen, P-R, Regency
by Abigail Reynolds, guest blogger and author of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World
Darcy and Elizabeth are wonderful characters for variations because Jane Austen leaves so much unsaid and unexplored about them. Depending on which passages you choose, you can form very different impressions of them. Part of the fun of writing variations is finding new aspects of their characters to explore in each book. Each Darcy and Elizabeth in my books is different.
Does this make the dynamics of their relationship different? My answer would be yes and no. There are certain basics about the Darcy/Elizabeth pairing that can’t be altered without destroying the basic dynamic, the one that makes them so magnetically drawn to each other. For example, Darcy avoids talking about his feelings and assumes Elizabeth knows more about them than she does. Elizabeth is lively and loves to tease, but because she does that with everyone, it is difficult for Darcy to guess what she means by it. And, of course, there is the profound sexual attraction – Darcy is fascinated by Elizabeth’s intelligence and wit, but that doesn’t stop him from meditating on her light and pleasing figure.
But within that dynamic, there are details that can change depending on which features I highlight. In Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World, Darcy’s lack of ability to read social signals, especially from Elizabeth, plays a prominent role. In most of my other books, Darcy is driven to pursue Elizabeth, but in this one, he withdraws. That means Elizabeth has to take more risks.
Elizabeth is complex, drawing on some passages in Pride & Prejudice often overlooked by readers. Jane Austen focuses her attention on Elizabeth’s lively spirits, but she makes it clear that her normally cheerful heroine also passes through periods of low spirits. During her weeks at Hunsford following Darcy’s proposal, Elizabeth ruminates at length on both her own failures and those of her family:
In her own past behaviour, there was a constant source of vexation and regret; and in the unhappy defects of her family a subject of yet heavier chagrin. They were hopeless of remedy….When to these recollections was added the development of Wickham's character, it may be easily believed that the happy spirits which had seldom been depressed before, were now so much affected as to make it almost impossible for her to appear tolerably cheerful.
After she returns to Longbourn after Lydia’s elopement, she mourns the loss of Darcy in a way that again depresses her spirits and keeps her awake at night:
The present unhappy state of the family, rendered any other excuse for the lowness of her spirits unnecessary; nothing, therefore, could be fairly conjectured from that, though Elizabeth, who was by this time tolerably well acquainted with her own feelings, was perfectly aware that, had she known nothing of Darcy, she could have borne the dread of Lydia's infamy somewhat better. It would have spared her, she thought, one sleepless night out of two.
© Both Excerpts: Abigail Reynolds, Sourcebooks Landmark, 2010
So in this book, I wrote Elizabeth with a wider range of emotions than I’ve written in my other variations where I focus more on Elizabeth’s impertinence and her tendency to speak a little too much of her mind, but in this book, I worked from Austen’s original description of her reaction to Bingley and Darcy’s minor argument during her stay at Netherfield. At first Elizabeth participates in the fray, but once she perceives Darcy to be somewhat offended, she checks her laughter out of concern for him, even though she doesn’t like him. She is impertinent, but she also modifies her behavior out of a desire not to cause pain. Thus my Elizabeth, when forced to marry the man she still despises, holds her tongue when possible to avoid conflict with Darcy, who she still perceives as ill-tempered and prone to holding grudges.
Writing a quieter, more careful Elizabeth was a challenge for me, but it paid off when the inevitable confrontation between Darcy and Elizabeth takes place, and even more so as they learn to love and trust each other. I think it gives the ending more power and more joy, but then again, I love all my Darcy/Elizabeth pairs. After all, who couldn’t love them?
Thanks for inviting me!
MR. FITZWILLIAM DARCY: THE LAST MAN IN THE WORLD
IN STORES JANUARY 2010!
In this sexy Jane Austen sequel, Elizabeth Bennet accepts Mr. Darcy's first marriage proposal, answering the "What if...?" question fans everywhere have pondered
" I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry."
Famous last words indeed! Elizabeth Bennet's furious response to Mr. Darcy's marriage proposal has resonated for generations of readers. But what if she had never said it? Would she have learned to recognize Mr. Darcy's admirable qualities on her own? Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy follows Elizabeth and Darcy as they struggle to find their way through the maze of their prejudices after Elizabeth, against her better judgment, agrees to marry Darcy instead of refusing his proposal.
Two of the most beloved characters in English literature explore the meaning of true love in a tumultuous and passionate attempt to make a success of their marriage.
About the Author
Abigail Reynolds is a physician and a lifelong Jane Austen enthusiast. She began writing The Pemberley Variations series in 2001, and encouragement from fellow Austen fans convinced her to continue asking “What if…?” She lives with her husband and two teenage children in Madison, Wisconsin. For more information, please visit http://pemberleyvariations.com/
Giveaway: I have 2 copies of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World up for grabs thanks to Abigail and Sourcebooks generosity. That means 2 winners! Open to US and Canadian readers only. Enter by sharing what you love best about Darcy and Elizabeth. One entry per relevant comment; multiple entries allowed. Ends January 14, 2010.
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September 25th, 2009 — About, Dukes and Earls, Great Britain, Regency
Regency romance is overrun with Dukes, but how can you snag one for yourself? With this guide to help, I'm positive you will come up with the right combination to snare a Duke for yourself.
Before we begin you must ask yourself why you want a Duke.
If you're looking for a quick flirtation or to keep him long term this guide will help you obtain that.
If you're looking to gain a Duke's wallet or advice on the stock exchange I would suggest you look elsewhere for your advice!
- Cross-Dress. Of course he’s terribly confused and upset about his attraction to a boy, but when he discovers your true identity he’ll be most relieved and eager to be with you.
- Be in Distress. Nothing makes a Duke feel more powerful and masculine than helping a lady in distress. He’ll get to show off his strength and protectiveness at the same time and that will help you win his heart.
- Refuse Him. A Duke never hears the word no, so be bold and brave and different and tell him firmly that you’re not interested. He’ll pursue you all the more readily to prove to you and himself that you desire him.
- Challenge His Authority. In addition to refusing him, tell him he’s wrong. Nothing baffles a surefooted Duke than being told he is mistaken. Again he’ll endeavor to prove you wrong thus giving you more time to lure him with your charms.
- Wound His Ego. A Duke’s pride and arrogance will get in the way of your seduction so be sure to prick his masculinity, but don’t destroy it. He won’t forgive you that.
- Call Him Out on His Exaggerations. I would have used a more impolite word here, but a successful seduction relies on well-bred manners and a plucky attitude.
- Sneer at His Wealth. A Duke is used to his wealth opening doors and subservient behavior. Don’t give it to him. That’ll get his interest!
- Dismiss His Rank. If wealth doesn’t attract the bevy of ladies in society to him, his rank will so you must be sure let him know that his being a Duke is completely irrelevant to you and your dealings with him.
- Love Books over Clothes and Gossip. If books aren't your thing, anything unusual will do to set you apart and gain his interest in what makes you tick.
- Undress. The simplest thing you can do of course is disrobe; he is a man after all.
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June 30th, 2009 — 4 Stars, A-C, Book Review, Business, Comedy of Manners, Gentry, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Regency, Virgin Heroine
This novel is Pride and Prejudice
retold from Darcy's POV. He's very wordy--can you imagine? His version is in three parts! Part one of the Mr. Darcy, Gentleman trilogy, An Assembly Such as This, and the only one I’ve read so far, details his time in Hertfordshire. It starts with the Meryton Assembly and ends after departing Netherfield and before Jane Bennet arrives in London.
I liked the book a lot. The language matches the feel of Pride and Prejudice. It’s written in a slightly more updated fashion than Jane Austen’s original. Purists might dislike that, but it made me happy.
It’s written at a good pace. I was halfway through before I realized the novel couldn’t possibly end with them together. (I hadn’t realized it was part of the trilogy when I started.) That’s not to say it was all easy reading—some parts dragged; getting bogged down in the details. Luckily they are few and far in between and you can skimmed them and still understand what’s happening.
Observing Mr. Darcy fall for Elizabeth was a hoot. His thoughts on the subject of Elizabeth are quite a riot. I loved learning that in some situations when others see a stern visage his mind is more favorably inclined. The duality created many “aw—that’s so cute!” moments for me. Darcy comes to the conclusion he’s in love with Elizabeth at the very end and the very idea terrifies him as much as it exhilarates him.
Rating: 4 Stars
Buy: An Assembly Such as This: A Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman
Find and buy more Pamela Aidan novels.
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April 6th, 2009 — 3.5 Stars, Book Review, Great Britain, Highlander, Kidnapping, M-O, Warrior
Cathy Maxwell spins a charming little tale with delightful leads that are fun to read. I was disappointed in the bedroom scenes, however, when the story finally got there. I would have given this novel a four, but the dissatisfaction gleaned out of the lovemaking knocked it down a notch.
In the Highlander’s Bed a clan of Highlanders are in dire need of land, wealth, security, and they’re willing to fight for it. Or they were, but even Gordon’s most persuasive arguments lack the enthralling power to galvanize the people into action. They are becoming lazy, unorganized, and defeated. The pride that once held up their heads is gone and bickering has broken out amongst them.
Gordon needs the Sword of MacKenna to rouse them from their lackadaisical doldrums. However the Sword belongs to an ex-clansman who now enjoys a title from the peerage of England. But there is one thing Gordon is sure of about Tavis, he will protect what is his… even if it’s his sister by marriage. With plans to kidnap Constance Cameron from her remote boarding school, this is where our story starts.
Constance is more than Gordon thought he would get. Feisty and captivating, she fights like the devil and gives pride and purpose back to his people. Constance is more than he imagined and makes him yearn for peace. But the bounty on his head reminds Gordon, that he alone cannot escape the hangman’s noose and what kind of life is that to offer a woman?
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Buy: In the Highlander's Bed
Originally posted 2008-12-07 06:44:13. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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