Mr. Darcy's Undoing By Abigail Reynolds

I read Mr. Darcy's Undoing several years ago when Reynolds was self publishing her books. It was then called Without Reserve. She was picked up by Sourcebooks, who then rereleased it as Mr. Darcy's Undoing.

The Story starts after Darcy's disastrous proposal in Kent. When she receives another proposal from a third man she decides to accept it even though she does not love him, at least she likes him and it would secure her family in the unhappy event of her fathers passing. Darcy returns with Bingley and is surprised by Liz's engagement. He goes away and returns for Bingley's wedding to find Elizabeth not married. Darcy begins to pursue her again but this time she won't have him because of her fallen reputation. She is concerned Darcy's reputation will be damaged if he marries her. Darcy cannot except this and is very persistent!

I really felt for Mr. Darcy, even I didn't like to see Elizabeth with another man! But I loved that Darcy doesn't give up. He is so determined, that he goes so far as to enlist the help of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet.

This is a fast moving, don't want to put down read. It focuses mainly on Elizabeth and Darcy. It does contain a few sexual scenes.

Abigail Reynolds is the author of several Pride and Prejudice variations or what-if stories. Among them is my favorite From Lambton to Longbourn, rereleased as What Would Mr. Darcy Do?. When I need a quick Darcy fix I love to read her short story Intermezzo.

ARC of Mr. Darcy's Undoing provided by author. I purchased my own copy of Without Reserve.

Buy a copy of Mr. Darcy's Undoing here.

What is your favorite Abigail Reynolds story?

His Good Opinion By Nancy Kelley

I have read a couple of Pride and Prejudice retellings from Darcy's point of view, and I must say I loved this one!

His Good Opinion starts out just before Ramsgate where Darcy surprises Georgiana with a visit, and ruins Wickman's plan to elope with her.  Nancy Kelley is able to expand on some of the conversations that I always wished Jane Austen would have done.

Can I just say, I love this Darcy! I love being in his head; knowing his thoughts. We see him reflecting on what Elizabeth said when she refused him. He begins to notice how he treats people beneath him. I also like the relationship he has with Georgiana, and that he confides in her more.

Another favorite of mine is Colonel Fitzwilliam. I delighted in the banter between him and Darcy. This is the Colonel Fitzwilliam that I like! He's funny, charming and loves to tease Darcy. There were times he had me laughing out loud.

This is Nancy Kelley's first novel and a beautiful story. A definite must read! She is currently working on another story about Colonel Fitzwilliam that I can't wait to read!

I was given a copy of book for review.

Buy a copy of His Good Opinion here.   

Tell me what you think! I'd love to hear from you!

Guest blogging today! Pride and Prejudice: The Jewess and the Gentile

Today, I'm guest blogging on Indie Jane! You can read my review of Pride and Prejudice: The Jewess and the Gentile by Jane Austen and Lev Raphael. You can find it here. I hope you stop by!

This review was original published on Indie Jane.

In Pride and Prejudice: The Jewess and the Gentile, Elizabeth Bennet and her family are Jewish. While Mr. Darcy is Christian. This does put an interesting spin on things. Wickham is Jewish and he maligns Mr. Darcy's character by saying that he is very prejudice against Jews. Wickham paints a very ugly picture of Mr. Darcy.

It was interesting to learn some of the reasons why Jewish people were looked down upon. Elizabeth certainly didn't like it when any bad behavior by her family or other Jews added to the prejudice of her race.

The biggest problem I have with this book is that it is practically word for word straight Jane Austen, with some Yiddish and a sprinkling of sentences added through out the story.

I read in an interview Lev Raphael gave were he said it would be a subtle difference in this version from the original, and I would say that is very correct. I could feel the prejudice against Jews through out the story especially in the beginning, but I wish he would have expanded on it a little more. To me religious conflict is harder to resolve than class conflict. Maybe that's because I live in this century and not 200 years ago when class prejudices were huge. I also don't know enough about religious prejudices of the 1800s. How big of a deal would it have been? That is a question that might have been answered with, maybe, a conversation between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, or Jane and Elizabeth.

3 out of 5 stars.


Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of the book for my honest review.

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definitely not mr. darcy by karen doornebos

I loved it!! I definitely didn’t want definitely not mr. darcy to end! Those were the first words out of my mouth when I finished the book!

Chloe Parker thinks she is going to London to do a documentary about life in 1812 England. What she discovers after arriving is that is not a documentary at all, it’s a reality TV show! She and several other women are competing to win a proposal of marriage from Mr. Sebastian Wrightman and a $100,000 prize. They have to live like people did 200 years ago. Everything had to be authentic, everything from what they wore, ate, to how they bathed.  There was no cell phones, no internet, no electricity, no plumbing (she had to go in a chamber pot, with the embarrassment of the chambermaid caring it out and disposing of it! Yuck!)  No deodorant, no make up except a little strawberry rouge. It was all very interesting to read about!

I loved how they had to earn accomplishment points by learning how to needle point, make ink, mend a pen, etc. And the women were not always that nice in their endeavors to win the man and the money.

Karen Doornebos did a fantastic job on this story! It was fun to read. It made me realize, I’m glad I wasn’t born 200 years ago. With my luck, I probably would have been a chambermaid! This is a must read!

5 out of 5 stars.

Buy a copy of definitely not mr. darcy here.

Tell me what you think! I'd love to hear from you!

Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy by Barbara Tiller Cole

     Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy is a mash up of Pride and Prejudice and A Christmas Carol.  I loved this! When I first saw this book I thought it was a great idea and it didn’t let me down!

     Darcy is a miserable man. He has lost the woman that he loves. He fears Elizabeth can never forgive him for Lydia’s marriage to Wickham. He feels, if he had just told the truth about Wickham this never could have happened!

     It is nearly Christmas and Darcy sits in his study, drinking himself into oblivion. After falling asleep he is visited by the ghost of his mother, Anne Darcy.  Who has come to tell him he needs to change his ways or suffer the consequences. She tells him that he will be visited by three other ghosts before the night is through.  The ghosts of the past, present and future.  One of the ghosts is Darcy’s father, I really liked how he was able to address some of the issues between them.

     I loved when Darcy witnesses Elizabeth’s reaction to his comment about her not being tolerable. I also like how we learn a little bit about how things are going for Lydia and Wickham.  We find out what life could be like for both Elizabeth and Georgiana.

     Although, this is a short story (on my kindle only 1122 locations) it is a very fun read!

     I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

     Buy a copy of Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy here. 

     Let me know what you think. I'd love to hear from you!