A Peculiar Connection by Jan Hahn ~ My Review

A Peculiar Connection by Jan Hahn

Publication Date: March 11th, 2015 
Publisher: Meryton Press 
Pages: 268 
Received: Purchased my own copy 
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

Will a mysterious note from the past doom the love of Jane Austen's most beloved couple? 

A Peculiar Connection begins near the close of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice. Bent on preventing the engagement of her nephew to Elizabeth Bennet, Lady Catherine de Bourgh declares that any union between Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth would be "a sin against Heaven itself!" Her shocking revelation, along with a cryptic message written over twenty years earlier, thrusts the couple into a whirlwind of heartbreak and disbelief. 

Could a deserted mansion in Derbyshire or a small church hidden in the wood hold the key to solving the puzzle? And why is Elizabeth inexplicably drawn to the portrait of three young boys in Pemberley's gallery? 

Determined to confirm or refute Lady Catherine's accusation, Darcy and Elizabeth are forced to embark upon a twisted trail into bygone days and family secrets. All the while, they must endure the exquisite torture of denying the indisputable desire that still hovers between them. 

From the award-winning author of An Arranged Marriage, The Journey, and The Secret Betrothal.

 
My Review:


What if Darcy and Elizabeth were closely related? And what if because of that they couldn't marry each other?! **shutter the thought!** In A Peculiar Connection, a Pride and Prejudice variation, Jan Hahn spins a tale with just those thoughts in mind.

This story begins when Lady Catherine pays a visit to Longbourn to get Elizabeth to promise not to enter into an engagement with Mr. Darcy, but here’s the twist, she produces evidence as to why they should never marry. Declaring, “it would be a sin against Heaven itself!” (p. 10)

It's at this time Elizabeth learns she is not a Bennet. The Bennet's took her in as a baby, never revealing the truth to anyone. If she’s not a Bennet, who’s daughter is she? Could she be a Darcy as Lady Catherine is claiming? Heartbroken at the realization that she can never marry Darcy, and the discovery that the Bennet's are not her parents, sends Elizabeth into a downward spiral; one that she may never come out of. 

Told in the first person, Elizabeth tells us the story of what happened to her during those months after Lady Catherine visit. Months of uncertainty and sadness. As you know, Elizabeth is not one to stay gloomy, her spirit always rises, but here Elizabeth has trouble rising above the gloom and sadness she feels. I wasn’t too fond of that. I like a Lizzy determined to make the best out of life. Also, Elizabeth’s lack of wanting to learn the truth annoyed me a bit. 

Darcy is also heartbroken and angry, but he's also determined to find out the truth. Was Elizabeth truly a Darcy? Was everything he had ever known a lie? I liked Darcy’s drive; he would not stop until he learned everything although at times it seemed he would be driven to madness! He had his dark moments where he was snappy and mean.

I loved the mystery of Elizabeth’s birth and how they come to find the truth! It was a fun adventure! Oh, and the ending was truly lovely! I'm so glad I read it! Jan Hahn is one of my favorite Austenesque author’s, and she hasn’t let me down yet! 

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Connect with Jan Hahn

Facebook • Amazon Author Page • Meryton Press Author Page

Any thoughts? I'd love to hear from you!

Giveaway Winner!

Hey Everyone! It was a pleasure to be part of A Peculiar Connection Blog Tour! Many thanks to Jakki at Leatherbound Reviews, Meryton Press and Jan Hahn for including me in the fun!  

Without further ado, Rafflecopter has picked a winner!

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A Peculiar Connection Blog Tour & Giveaway!

Hey Everyone! I'm excited to be part of the A Peculiar Connection Blog Tour! At this stop in the tour, Jan Hahn has an intriguing excerpt for you to read from her new book, A Peculiar Connection. And Meryton Press is giving away an e-copy of the book to one lucky winner! Woot! You'll find the information for the giveaway at the bottom of this post!

Many thanks to Jakki at Leatherbound Reviews for organizing this blog tour!  

Book Blurb:

Will a mysterious note from the past doom the love of Jane Austen’s most beloved couple?

A Peculiar Connection begins near the close of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Bent on preventing the engagement of her nephew to Elizabeth Bennet, Lady Catherine de Bourgh declares that any union between Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth would be “a sin against Heaven itself!”  Her shocking revelation, along with a cryptic message written over twenty years earlier, thrusts the couple into a whirlwind of heartbreak and disbelief.

Could a deserted mansion in Derbyshire or a small church hidden in the wood hold the key to solving the puzzle?  And why is Elizabeth inexplicably drawn to the portrait of three young boys in Pemberley’s gallery?  

Determined to confirm or refute Lady Catherine’s accusation, Darcy and Elizabeth are forced to embark upon a twisted trail into bygone days and family secrets.  All the while, they must endure the exquisite torture of denying the indisputable desire that still hovers between them. 

Excerpt:

From Chapter Six:  Darcy and Elizabeth attempt to keep the circumstances of her birth secret.  The following scene takes place at Pemberley late at night between Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam with Elizabeth listening.

Descending the stairs, I rounded the corner toward the drawing room when I saw lights issuing from within and heard the sound of men’s voices.  I shrank back into the shadows and blew out my candle.  Sufficient illumination remained in the hall sconces to show the way.  I had tiptoed lightly, my slippers making little sound on the walnut floor.  I turned to retrace my steps, but then I realized the argument between the men would drown out any muffled sounds I might make.

“But you do not care for dancing, Darcy.  Thus, I see no valid reason why I should not have secured Miss Bennet’s hand for the first two dances.”

“She is pretty enough.  Plenty of men will seek her favour.  You need not claim her attentions for the entire first hour.”

“But she knows no one in Derbyshire.  I fail to see why my invitation rouses your temper.”

“Do not concern yourself with my temper; it is within check.  And you are mistaken.  Several neighbours have called since her arrival, and we have returned the visits.  Elizabeth is acquainted with enough local gentlemen to attract an adequate number of partners.”

“Then why in heaven’s name are you in such a humour?  I have not seen you drink this amount since we left Rosings last Easter.  What is wrong with you, man?”

I could not hear an answer and quickly scurried across the hall until I stood right outside the door.  I wished to hear Mr. Darcy’s words more than I feared detection.

“The whole affair is troublesome,” he said, his voice sounding defeated.  “Elizabeth’s connection with my family is obscure, to say the least.  I would not draw undue attention upon her or raise questions that might cause talk.”

“I do not understand your reasoning.”

He sighed deeply.  “I wonder just what my neighbours think of her.  I cannot recall when the Whitbys moved here.  Surely, there are others among my friends whose families lived here when it all happened.”

“When what happened?  Out with it, Darce. Of what do you speak?”

“What?”  Mr. Darcy sounded as though he had been awakened from a private reverie and somehow been caught revealing more than he should.

“You said you wondered how many of your neighbours lived here ‘when it all happened.’  I do not understand to what you refer. Is Miss Bennet’s birth the result of some sort of scandal?”

“Of course not, Fitzwilliam!”  

Silence followed. I could hear my heart beating, and I began to tremble, holding my breath. I heard someone begin to pace back and forth within the room.  

“It is just that her parents were killed in an unfortunate accident right after her birth, and she was left an orphan.  To have been taken in by a family other than her own kindred may give rise to gossip, and I will not have talk about her!” His voice grew insistent.  “Do you hear me?  I will not tolerate it!”

I released my breath, reassured that Mr. Darcy had covered his blunder.

Author Bio:

After leaving a long career in the world of business, Jan Hahn began writing stories based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in 2002.  Her first novel, An Arranged Marriage, was published in 2011 by Meryton Press and won Best Indie Novel from Austen Prose that year.  Her second novel, The Journey, was selected by Austen Prose as one of the Top Five Austen Inspired Historical Novels of 2012, and it won the Favorite Pride and Prejudice Variation/Alternate Path award from Austenesque.    In 2014, Austen Prose listed Ms. Hahn’s third novel, The Secret Betrothal, among the Best Austenesque Historical Novels. She is a member of JASNA and lives in Texas.

Connect with Jan Hahn 

Facebook • Website • Amazon Author Page • Goodreads Page

Buy: Amazon • B&N
Add to Goodreads

FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a book from the link provide I will receive a small commission. Thanks!


Blog Tour Schedule

3/30: Review at Savvy Verse and Wit

3/31: Excerpt at Songs and Stories 

4/1: Guest Post & Giveaway at My Jane Austen Book Club 

4:2: Review at Babblings of a Bookworm

4/3: Author Interview at  The Little Munchkin Reader 

4/4: Review at Margie's Must Reads

4/5: Guest Post & Giveaway at My Love for Jane Austen 

4/6: Review at My Kids Led Me Back to Pride and Prejudice

4/7: Guest Post & Giveaway at More Agreeably Engaged 

4/8: Excerpt at Laughing with Lizzie 

4/9: Excerpt & Giveaway at So Little Time…

4/10: Review at Diary of an Eccentric

4/12: Review at The Delighted Reader 

4/13: Excerpt & Giveaway at Austenesque Reviews 

4/14: Guest Post & Giveaway at Babblings of a Bookworm

4/15: Review at Warmisunqu's Austen

*** Giveaway***

It's giveaway time!! Meryton Press is giving away ONE e-copy of A Peculiar Connection to ONE lucky winner! This giveaway is open Internationally! To enter fill out the Rafflecopter below and leave a comment! 

Thank you, Jan Hahn and Meryton Press! 

• One person will win an e-copy of A Peculiar Connection (Kindle or Nook).
• Open Internationally.
• Last day to enter: April 16, 2015.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Please, leave a comment! We'd love to hear from you! Remember, to enter the giveaway you MUST fill out the Rafflecopter (shown above). If you need help entering, email me by clicking on the email icon at the top of the sidebar. Thanks!

The Secret Betrothal by Jan Hahn

The Secret Betrothal: A Pride and Prejudice Alternate Path by Jan Hahn 

Publication Date: February 14, 2014 
Publisher: Meryton Press 
Pages: 324 
Received: Paperback from the publisher for my honest review. 
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

 
I loved this story! The Secret Betrothal is a wonderful retelling of Pride and Prejudice that takes us down a path different from the original. I love it when an author takes my two favorite characters and puts them in some new situations, just as Jan Hahn has done in this one.

What if, Elizabeth was so angry and hurt by Mr. Darcy’s  “tolerable” remark and haughty behavior that she goes against her better judgement and accepts a man under conditions that she usually wouldn’t do?  She lets her judgement of the man cloud her sensibilities, and she blindly accepts Mr. Wickham’s tales. And what if, knowing Mr. Darcy as well as he does, Mr. Wickham realizes there may be another way to seek his revenge...by taking away something that Mr. Darcy really wants. Elizabeth.  

There is so much I enjoyed about this story! We all know Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth will have their happily ever after, but the fun is getting there! I loved watching Elizabeth learn what an honorable man Mr. Darcy truly is, and what a rogue Mr. Wickham is. In the end, I found myself wondering if Mr. Wickham could actually regret his past behavior, and if Elizabeth really could have made him a better man. 

I found humor in Lady Catherine’s Spring tonic, which, unfortunately, caused everyone at Rosing and the Parsonage to become very sick, but allowed Elizabeth to see a kind and caring Darcy. And I cringed and chuckled, when Elizabeth had no one else to turn to, she turned to her mother for some advice about love! Haha! What was she thinking?! 

I enjoyed how the story passes quickly over parts of the story that are in the original, noting that they happen, but not going into detail. Focusing on scenes that are different. There is much less time repeating what we already know.

The Secret Betrothal is a fun read, and one that kept me up late into the night! I’ve enjoyed Jan Hahn’s other books An Arranged Marriage and The Journey and was happy that the same held true for this! I would recommend this one to anyone who loves Jane Austen Fan Fiction!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.

Buy: Amazon | B&N

Add to goodreads.

Connect with Jan Hahn

facebook • website • Meryton Press

Any thoughts? I'd love to hear from you! 

An Arranged Marriage By Jan Hahn

An Arranged Marriage

By Jan Hahn

I LOVED this story!  Written in the first person from Elizabeth’s point of view.  Mr. Bennet passes away just days after Elizabeth refused Darcy’s proposal at Hunsford. She is so consumed with grief she forgets about Darcy’s letter and there for her opinion of him doesn’t change much.  Six months later Darcy shows up at Longbourn and offers to marry Elizabeth again.  This time it is an arranged marriage. If she accepts, it would help out her family tremendously. Not a good way for a marriage to begin!  They go through many misunderstandings.    Colonel Fitzwilliam and Georgiana are very much in the story and Lady Catherine makes an appearance. We all know how it will turn out and getting there was very good!  This is definitely one I will reread in the future! 

Let me know what you think.  Thanks!