World War II is a time in history that has always interested me. It was a time when so many people banded together to fight for a cause. People were willing to do their part for the war efforts; food and gas rationing, scrap drives, and blackouts, are a few sacrifices everybody had to endure. I’m sure Hollywood romanticized it for me, but it always seemed like a fascinating time to me. Now drop Darcy and Elizabeth into that period and... BAM! ...you have a story that I absolutely love!
It is now the fourth year into WWII and the Bennet girls are all doing their share to support the war effort. Elizabeth’s job is driving a lorry, she hauls around everything from food to manure, she even picks up the local girls and drives them to dances. Lizzy has also seen some horrific sights during her travels, making her wary of falling in love until the war is over.
Darcy is a pilot, he needs to keep his mind clear for the dangerous missions he has to fly. The last thing he needs is to become distracted by a woman, but the first time he sees Elizabeth he knows they are meant to be together.
I loved that not only did I get to read about my favorite couple, but I also learned a few things about the war that I didn’t know. I was on the computer looking up information about Hurricats. It’s amazing, they actually ditched those planes into the ocean and the pilots had to wait in the water to be rescued.
I could feel the burden of war, such as eating cabbage and potato soup, putting off heating the house until it was necessary to save coal, worrying about loved ones. During the invasion the family was listening to the radio and Mr. Bennet was placing pins in his map to follow the troops progression through out Europe.
It didn’t matter if you were from the upper class, everybody had to make sacrifices. The Darcy Townhouse was being used as an officers club, and even Pemberley was being used by His Majesty's Government. Georgiana was volunteering in Italy as a Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD).
I also really liked how Mary handled the Wickham and Lydia situation. She was able to adapt it to the era quite well.
I loved this story! Mary did it again! I would highly recommend reading this one!
I also really liked how Mary handled the Wickham and Lydia situation. She was able to adapt it to the era quite well.
I loved this story! Mary did it again! I would highly recommend reading this one!
5 out of 5 stars.
I was provided a copy of Darcy Goes to War for review.
Buy a copy from: Amazon.
(Disclaimer: Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provide, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!)
(Disclaimer: Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provide, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!)
Connect with Mary:
Twitter: @MarySimonsen
**Stop by on Monday the 17th for an interview with Author Mary Lydon Simonsen! Comment on that post for an extra entry in the Rafflecopter!**
~ ~ ~ GIVEAWAY ~ ~ ~
Mary is generously giving away one Kindle or Nook e-book copy of Darcy Goes to War to one lucky reader! All you have to do to enter is fill out the Rafflecopter form below! This giveaway is open Internationally. This giveaway ends September 20, 2012.
Thank you and good luck!
Thank you and good luck!
Make sure to enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to win! :-D
For more chances to win head over to Leatherbound Reviews and Darcyholic Diversions!
Great review, Candy! This story sounds wonderful! I was so happy to hear that Mary had a new book coming out. I'm so excited to read this! YAY!!=))
ReplyDeleteI guess I should have read the question before I commented! I love the idea of having a Darcy and Elizabeth story set in WWII. I too, find this time in history fascinating and I am so excited to see how Mary weaves this story together!!
DeleteHi Kelli! No problem! Just leaving a comment is great! I was really excited to read this one, too! :D
DeleteHi Kelli. Always good to see you.
DeleteI absolutely love this idea! I'm quite a fan of books set during this time period.
ReplyDeleteHi Margaret! I'm sure you will love it then! :)
DeleteI've wanted to write a WWII book forever, and I finally did. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteOh goodness, I think this can totally work! Darcy & Elizabeth's social differences would get blurred somewhat in war, but there's still all kinds of crazy barriers ... Oh yeah, TOTALLY want to read this :oD
ReplyDeleteHI Rebecca! It's really a great read! I think you'll love it!
DeleteThanks, Rebecca. It's a time period that has always fascinated me.
DeleteHi Candy. Thank you for the terrific review. So glad you enjoyed my story. Looking forward to reading everyone's comments.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary! You're welcome! It was a pleasure to read! :) Thanks for writing another wonderful story!
DeleteGlad to see you loved this one. P&P and WWII in one book makes me very excited.
ReplyDeleteHi Anna! I hope you get to read it soon!
DeleteI know of your interest in WWII, so this book should be right up your alley.
DeleteNice review, Candy! It was an enjoyable book! :) like you, I loved the bits of history too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jakki!
DeleteI really like reading P&P in another era, novel reading is a great way to learn history if you ask me. WWII is a period that was quite real to me growing up although I was born decades after the war finished as it had shaped so many people's lives, things like rationing carried on for years after the war and people had such memories of war times, babies born in air raid shelters, evacuated children etc, and I grew up hearing these stories.
ReplyDeleteHi Ceri, I agree, reading is a great way to learn history! It must have been fascinating hearing those stories growing up. Sounds like they impacted your life too!
DeleteHi Ceri. A lot of people don't realize that rationing went on for years after the war in Britain. Because of the Marshall Plan, Germany actually recovered quicker than Britain did.
DeleteGreat review, thanks. I'm a fan of WWII era historical fiction, so my favorite book + favorite genre= happy reading for me!
ReplyDeleteHi Heather! Thank you! I like your equation!
DeleteThanks, Heather. I hope you enjoy the novel.
DeleteWhat an interesting twist on a story we all love. Wartime + romance nearly guarantees epic love stories
ReplyDeleteHi Katie. I'm so glad you're open to moving D&E about. Some people aren't.
DeleteWhat a rich and interesting time period to serve as backdrop for this timeless story! I can;t wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy. I hope you enjoy it.
DeleteI love Mary's writing and have several of her books. She is a wonderful storyteller. A WWII backdrop sounds quite intriguing. I'm looking forward to reading this book. I wish Mary all the best with this new work.
ReplyDeleteHello and thank you!
DeleteHello, Everyone. Thank you for stopping by and reading Candy's wonderful review of Darcy Goes to War. I see a lot of old friends here, including Anonymous. :)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds very interesting and especially to think of them during World War II. I have not read a modern adaptation and made it my mission to do so before the end of this year. I believe this one might be a good place to start.
ReplyDeleteGreat review and thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Oh, this would definitely be a good book to start with. :) Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteGreat Review! I'm being drawn to books on WW2...not entirely certain why...lol I can imagine Mr Darcy as a ace pilot..and Lizzie as a capable, take charge volunteer!
ReplyDeleteI just know that if D&E had lived during WWII that they would have been assets to their country. I really do.
DeleteI'm pretty open to many times and settings for Darcy and Elizabeth (medieval anyone?), but I'm intrigued by this particular place and time in history for them because it is much more intense than the England of the Napoleonic Wars when the little island country was fighting for its life. I think its interesting that the war broke down the rigid class structure to a certain extent.
ReplyDeleteLook forward to reading this one. Enjoyed your review, Candy!
Because of the war, Darcy has to go where he is sent. I'm sure that would have been a novel experience for him.
DeleteGreat review, Candy. :) Darcy as a brave, broody, heroic, sexy fighter pilot - yes, please! Lol Can't wait to read this. It's such an interesting period in history. Candy and Mary, have you ever seen the Ken Burns documentary The War? I remember it mostly being about Americans during WW2 but I loved it and thought it was well done (though I'm no expert). I think I went thru a whole box of Kleenex watching it.
ReplyDeleteHi Monica! I haven't seen that documentary. I'll have to see if I can find it. Thanks for the warning, I'll have to remember the Kleenex!
DeleteI've pretty much seen every documentary on WWII. Band of Brothers is an excellent depiction of the war in Europe.
DeleteI'm looking forward to reading this!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nicole
DeleteLike the author, I too have always been interested in this era of history - there are so many aspects of this time that are so different from now (technology and communications, public attitudes towards service and the role of women, I could go on and on). I very much look forward to seeing your treatment of our beloved characters in this setting. Thanks for working so hard at your craft and giving so many enjoyment through sharing your writing.
ReplyDeleteColleen - who would log in if she could figure out how to!
Hi Colleen! I'm so glad you didn't give up just because you couldn't log in. :)
DeleteHi Colleen. It is a fascinating time. Everyone was involved whether they were in uniform or not. Little kids saved aluminum gum wrappers and rolled them into balls. It was all hands on deck.
Deletecannot wait to read Darcy Goes to War!!! looking forward to Lizzie's dialogue during this time period!!!
ReplyDeletethank you for the giveaway!!!
Thanks for stopping by. Always good to see you.
DeleteBecause of Mary's depiction of WWI and WWII scenes in Searching for Pemberley, I learn about the stories during the two darkest period in history. I would love to read a new environment and setting in which the lovely couple from P&P is put into so this a terrific idea.
ReplyDeleteQuestion, I don't own a Kindle nor a Nook as both are not shipped to my country. It means the software so reading on PC also could not be downloaded. If I do win, is it possible to get it in other formats like pdf? If not, you don't have to enter my name.
Hi Luthien. I've sent you an e-mail.
Delete