Bluebells in the Mourning by KaraLynne Mackrory

 

Is it true that nothing can be lost that love cannot find? Jane Austen's beloved "Pride and Prejudice" is readapted in this Regency tale of love in the face of tragedy. Mr. Darcy is thwarted in his attempt to propose to Elizabeth Bennet at Hunsford when he encounters her minutes after she receives the sad news from Longbourn of her sister's death. His gallantry and compassion as he escorts her back to Hertfordshire begins to unravel the many threads of her discontent with him. While her family heals from their loss, Darcy must search London for answers --- answers that might bring justice but also might just mark the end of his own hopes with Elizabeth.

I now have a new favourite Pride and Prejudice variation (and my favourite before I read this one was her previous variation anyway, Falling for Mr Darcy!)  It was absolutely wonderful.  I am going to try and write this review with some sort of structure but I don’t call my reviews of books ‘reviews’ as such, more a collection of my thoughts about the book.

 

I will begin with the storyline; when I read the blurb I was intrigued.  I thought it was an interesting way to take the story.  In variations which include a death, the death is normally of Mr Bennet so I was interested in having the death of one of her sisters, Lydia. Lydia was out for a walk when she slips and hits her head, which eventually causes a fever and her demise. When we learn that a certain gentleman was also present on the walk (I will give you three guesses!) it sets up the basis for a bit of a mystery, which Darcy vows to Mr Bennet he will get to the bottom of.    I thought it was a really good ‘what if’ variation.

 

One of my favourite things about Mackrory’s first variation were the parallels and similarities which she draws between her variation and the original novel.  This variation was again very clever in this area.  The story opens with Darcy coming upon Lizzy when she has just received the news of Lydia’s death, just like in the original when he happens upon Lizzy, after seeing her at Pemberley, when she has found out about Lydia’s elopement. There are many more examples of this throughout the novel; another of my favourites being when the explanation letter (which Darcy’s gives after the rejected proposal originally) is given and by whom (it is still a Darcy who sends it, but not MR Darcy). 

 

As well as events like I have mentioned being shifted around and placed in different contexts, there is also the clever use of quotes and conversations from the original which appear throughout the novel in different places, spoken by different people and mostly in different contexts.  Some of the best examples of this, I think, were the way in which many of the thoughts and feelings of Darcy and Lizzy were switched; Mr Darcy stating that ‘until this moment I never knew myself’ and Lizzy being asked the question of when she fell in love with Darcy.  I sometimes find that important quotes from the original appearing completely out of context can be annoying, but the way in which it is treated by Mackrory is in no way annoying and is instead rather charming, causing me to smile and even laugh out loud in some cases while I was reading!

 

Another one of my favourite things about her last variation was the little themes which were running through the book. Theme isn’t quite the right word... In the story, as Lizzy is in mourning, there is often the need for a handkerchief to dry her tears, a handkerchief with the letters FD embroidered on it.  Also, as you may guess from the title of the story, bluebells becomes a very important part of the story (and since reading this story I am planning on going for many more walks among the bluebells!)

 

Now for a little about some certain characters in the story, starting with Georgiana.   I always wish to have seen more of Georgiana in the original as there seems to be a lot of untapped potential in Georgiana as we only meet her late in the novel.  She comes in the story a lot earlier and we really see another side to her.  Seeing her relationship with her brother was very sweet as their strong bond, which we see some of in the original, is developed and explored a lot in this variation.  Georgiana really comes into her own and once she realises the particular interest her brother has in a certain Miss Bennet she turns into a little matchmaker, though a lot more subtly (and successfully) than Emma Woodhouse!

 

Moving onto another character that I always like in the variations which I read; Colonel Fitzwilliam. I think the colonel is a character which authors can have a lot of fun with.  We see a little of his teasing nature in his relationship with Darcy in the original, and Mackrory uses this to her advantage.  He is such a teasing and delightful character and is all affability. I love seeing more of Colonel Fitzwilliam and his relationship with Darcy and also his relationship with Georgiana.  I was always laughing when Fitzwilliam was around!

 

I will refrain from saying much about Wickham but be rest assured, Wickham pops up from time to time through the story...

 

I believe my favourite secondary story line was the one between Mr and Mrs Bennet.  Mackrory delves deeper into the past between the couple and the reasons for their indifference to each other for so long. Lydia’s death reignites past feelings between the two and they begin on the road to reconciliation.  It is wonderful to see how their relationship changes throughout the story, ending in a very satisfactory way! (I will say no more...)

 

One thing I loved about her first variation was the inclusion of an epilogue, showing what happens to each of the characters in the future.  And so I was very pleased to once again find an epilogue at the end, allowing us to see what happens to each of the characters in the future.

 

And so I reach the end of my ‘review’.... although I realise I haven’t really touched on the main two characters of the story; this will not do! Well, for anyone who wishes to read more about one of the most important couples in all of literature and to see a different route to bringing the two together, you will not be disappointed.   There were enough problems that arose to keep the story interesting but not too many that it felt as if it was dragging on and on! The scenes towards the beginning of the story were a lot of fun, as Lizzy began to discover the true man behind the facade that is Mr Darcy.  Any scenes between the two of them in the first half of the story brought a smile to my face.  I do not want to give anything away but be assured the scenes between the two of them from the middle onwards are equally as enjoyable and are even more touching! The last thing I shall say is that the ending is perfection itself, capturing the balance between humour and romance perfectly!

 

This is a truly wonderful variation of my favourite novel of all time and I shall be re-reading it in the near future.  It satisfied my highly romantic nature as well as my need for a good laugh, and with the added extra of a bit of mystery it all made for a delightful read. I hope Mackrory has another variation on the way!

Your affectionate friend,

Miss Truelove Beckons by Donna Simpson

WITH HER, HE KNEW PEACE
The joyous celebrations held in honour of his return from the war are wasted on Wycliffe Prescott, Viscount Drake--as are his mother's gentle reminders that he must now set up his nursery. How can he think of marriage when the horrors of Waterloo haunt his sleep each night? Yet when company arrives for the summer, Drake finds himself drawn to one guest in particular--and charmed when he hears her name: Miss Truelove Beckons. An innocent mistake, of course, for her surname is Becket--but Drake can't help feeling that she may be his only hope of healing...

WITH HIM, SHE KNEW LOVE
A vicar's daughter, True has come to Lea Park with her future vexingly undecided. A proposal of marriage from her father's curate might be the sensible course of action, but True can't resist the utterly impractical hours she spends with handsome, brooding Drake--especially when he seems soothed by her understanding words and gentle silences. By rights, a friendship is all she can hope for with a man so far above her station, yet as the warm summer days pass, True knows that she longs for something much sweeter...

This has become one of my favourite books. The story had its fun but there was a much more serious theme running through it. I found this book really hard to put down as I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen!

The hero of the story, Lord Drake, a wounded (in more ways than just physically) ex-solider, was a character I really felt and fell for. As you went through the story you could see how deeply he had been affected by his experiences during the war (with a recurring nightmare to remind him every night of such horrid memories).

Then along comes the heroine, Miss Becket, who is a calm and caring woman who seems to radiate peace. She is a willing listener to the horrid stories Drake has to tell of the war, too horrid that most other people will not hear them. As he talks more and more to Miss Becket about his experiences you can't help but feel sorry for him, but as he does talk more and more to Miss Becket she begins to help the internal wound from the war to heal, as well as fall in love with him (I don't know how she wouldn't, anyone with a heart would! I certainly did!)

There are some extremely annoying love-to-hate secondary characters in the story and a few other side plots, but they all link into the main story meaning it doesn't feel confused. There are quite a few point of view changes but never any in quick succession and never any out of place. (The main points of view we read from are the hero and heroine though.)

Overall, it is well written and flows brilliantly. A wonderful heart-wrenching and romantic tale, not without its humour, showing just how deeply affecting the experiences and memories of a war really go, beyond the physical injuries to the body, deep down to the wounds to the very soul.

I highly recommend this wonderful regency story.
 
Your affectionate friend,

The Houseguest by Elizabeth Adams

The Houseguest by Elizabeth Adams
"When Georgiana Darcy comes to Netherfield to visit her brother, she becomes friends with a neighbour, Elizabeth Bennet. After Miss Darcy has returned to London, she invites her new friend to stay with her at the Darcy home in town ... unbeknownst to Mr. Darcy.
Will this change in circumstances lead to a change in affections? "

This is my second Pride and Prejudice variation (after KaraLynne Mackrory's Falling for Mr Darcy) and this has made me want to read more! I won't call this a review as such, as it is more likely going to be a collection of my thoughts with no structure what's so ever!


What a wonderful story!  It really was a lot of fun and my favourite scenes were between Darcy and Lizzy (surprise surprise!) when she was 'The Houseguest' at their home in London. Seeing how their relationship built up, developed and changed from the first meetings at Meryton (which, lets face it, didn't go well for Darcy!) was very sweet. 

It was clever how certain scenes and conversations seen in the original were included in different contexts and between different characters ('You insolent boy!') and how important revelations were revealed in different ways (for example the truth about Wickham and the real reason Bingley left Netherfield.)

There were still a few issues between Darcy and Lizzy which needed to be resolved, adding to the, well... not suspense, as we all know they would get together in the end, but it adds interest to the route of getting  to their happy ending.  And the issues weren't drawn out too long, nor were there never ending problems (it annoys me when there is just problem after problem after problem...)

I also enjoyed seeing the jealous side of Darcy! In the original, Wickham wasn't really competition, at least not for long. It was nice for Darcy to have some competition, and serious competition at that! Jealous Darcy was funny!

There were many delightful additions to the story, character wise, and I loved to get to know Georgiana and Col. Fitzwilliam more. Col. Fitzwilliam was a very funny man! He brought humour to any scene he was in!

I especially loved the relationship between Georgiana and Lizzy which became very sisterly.  The whole story is based on them meeting earlier in the story and it was nice for them to meet quicker, as really, in the original they don't meet for quite a while, but once they do they get on marvellously, as they did in the variation.  It didn't take long for them to get to become very close friends and the influence of Lizzy that was rubbing off on Georgiana was great, as it was giving her the much needed confidence after the blip with Wickham.  Georgiana was very sweet and innocent, but as I said, she grew throughout the novel and as she and Lizzy became almost like sisters, you could see the enjoyment Georgiana had in having a sister! It was so sweet!

The ending was very sweet between Darcy and Lizzy (which is always good!) and the very, very end was a great way to finish it as it was so nice seeing what happened to all of the characters in the story, especially the new characters. 

I highly recommend this to anybody who just wants to see more of Darcy and Lizzy, with a great take on the original story!

As I said, this was not a structured review, just a few thoughts :)
Your affectionate friend,

Pride and Prejudice Variations

After reading Falling for Mr Darcy by KaraLynne Mackrory I began to research some other variations.  Falling for Mr Darcy Review  I never thought I would enjoy variations of my favourite novel, but I really enjoyed it and so I decided to look for some others.

I am currently reading one called The Houseguest by Elizabeth Adams and I will post my thoughts when I am done. So far, it is really good.

"When Georgiana Darcy comes to Netherfield to visit her brother, she becomes friends with a neighbour, Elizabeth Bennet. After Miss Darcy has returned to London, she invites her new friend to stay with her at the Darcy home in town ... unbeknownst to Mr. Darcy.
Will this change in circumstances lead to a change in affections?"


After a lot of research (there are a lot of variations out there, a lot of them not clean...) I have found 4 which I have bought and are now waiting on my shelf to be read. The 4 I selected are...


Darcy's Voyage by Kara Louise

"A Tale of Uncharted Love on the Open Seas
In this enchanting and highly original retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet sets out for the new world aboard the grand ship Pemberley's Promise. She's prepared for an uneventful voyage until a chance encounter with the handsome, taciturn Mr. Darcy turns her world upside down.
When Elizabeth falls ill, Darcy throws convention overboard in a plan that will bind them to each other more deeply than he ever could have imagined. But the perils of their ocean voyage pale in comparison to the harsh reality of society's rules that threaten their chance at happiness. When they return to the lavish halls of England, will their love survive?"



Only Mr Darcy Will Do by Kara Louise


 "Her worst fears come true...
After her father's death, Elizabeth Bennet goes to work as a governess. Little does she know the Willstones are social acquaintances of the Bingleys and the Darcys, and Elizabeth finds herself once again drawn into Mr. Darcy's orbit. To make matters worse, Mrs. Willstone's sister sets her sights on Mr. Darcy. With Elizabeth's social status even lower than it was before, she knows she must abandon all hope of Darcy renewing his proposals, even as she begins to see him in a completely different light..."






The Journey by Jan Hahn

"Danger Shortly after the Netherfield ball, Elizabeth Bennet begins a journey to visit her relations in London with her travelling companions, Mr. Bingley's sisters and the proud, arrogant Mr. Darcy. Suddenly, their carriage is abruptly stopped, and Elizabeth hears the menacing cry, "Stand and deliver!" Abduction The leader of a band of highwaymen, Nate Morgan, a handsome, masked rogue, plans to seize Elizabeth for his amusement, but Darcy steps forward and offers himself as a hostage in her place. When his proposal fails to secure Elizabeth's release, Darcy makes a shocking declaration-Elizabeth is his wife! Romance At a time when a woman's future could be ruined by the slightest hint of scandal, Elizabeth's reputation will depend not only upon the actions of a hero but a villain as well. Filled with danger, excitement, daring and passion, The Journey follows Jane Austen's beloved characters from Pride and Prejudice as they embark on a fateful journey that changes their lives forever."

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An Arranged Marriage by Jan Hahn

"Can a marriage of convenience ever lead to true love? Immediately after Elizabeth Bennet refuses Mr. Darcy's proposal at Hunsford, her father dies, leaving Longbourn entailed away and little fortune to sustain his widow and daughters. Six months later, the Bennet family receives a visitor with a most unusual offer that promises to save the family from financial and social ruin. Elizabeth's sense of duty forces her to enter into an arranged marriage with a man she does not even like. Told from Elizabeth's point of view, An Arranged Marriage is a compelling twist on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Can Elizabeth overcome her feelings of anger, resentment, and suspicion toward her new husband and - the most bewildering sensation of all - a growing attraction for the last man in the world she ever wished to marry?"

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I am looking forward to reading all of these and I have one more I am planning on buying, the second variation from KaraLynne Mackrory coming out sometime this April...

Bluebells in the Mourning (by KaraLynne Mackrory)

"Jane Austen’s beloved Pride and Prejudice is re-adapted in this regency tale of love in the face of tragedy. Mr. Darcy is thwarted in his attempt to propose to Elizabeth Bennet at Hunsford when he encounters her minutes after she receives the sad news from Longbourn of her sister’s death. His gallantry and compassion as he escorts her back to Hertfordshire begins to unravel the many threads of her discontent with him. While her family heals from their loss, Darcy must search London for answers – answers that might bring justice, but might also just mark the end of his own hopes with Elizabeth. Is it true that nothing can be lost that love cannot find?"


Has anyone read any of these? Or does anyone have any other suggestions for good ones? :)


Your affectionate friend,

And They Lived Happily Ever After...

The last few chapters of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ bring, in my opinion, a very satisfying resolution as, most importantly, the right people eventually come together, after all the trials and tribulations through the story! 

 

 


The main events which make the ending so pleasing have to be the engagements between Jane and Bingley, and more importantly, between Lizzy and Darcy.  The reader has been brought up through the novel to want Jane to end up with Bingley and Darcy with Lizzy, so having this eventually happen is very satisfying - it is what you want to happen! 



Firstly Jane and Bingley.  There had been the ongoing question about whether they would ever get married from the very beginning of the story.  It is clear that Jane and Bingley like each other from the very first meeting at the Meryton assembly, and their relationship grew and developed, leading the other characters in the novel and the reader to think that they would be married. 

However, when Bingley goes to London, leaving Jane, it begins to seem more unlikely. Poor Jane is then never really happy again for the rest of the story which is why when Bingley returns to Netherfield it is such a happy event!  It is nice to have that assurance that as Bingley has come back and wants to see Jane again, he must still feel for her as he did before.  Also, Jane’s reaction when Bingley returns shows that she still feels for him (which I think was pretty obvious, however many times she tried to tell Lizzy otherwise!) 

 

The scenes when Bingley begins to once again court Jane and then consequently proposes to her are a very important part of the story. One of the major issues with Lizzy accepting Darcy was because of Darcy's involvement in separating Jane and Bingley in the first place. These scenes are all rather funny, especially Mrs Bennet's scheming, which creates comedy and this lightens the mood of the story after all the tension revolving around Lydia’s elopement with Wickham. The first time Bingley and Jane are in each other’s company again for a reasonable length of time is shortly after Bingley has returned to Meryton.  It is made clear that his feelings are unchanged in regards to Jane as Lizzy noticed “how much the beauty of her sister re-kindled the admiration of her former lover.”  It also says how “when he first came in, he had spoken to her but little; but every five minutes seemed to be giving her more of his attention.” After all this and some embarrassing winking, when they do finally get engaged, so many characters other than Jane and Bingley themselves are pleased, and it also leads on to the other, even more pleasing (for me anyway), engagement...



...between Darcy and Lizzy! It is the climax of the novel and I think it is fair to say, by the end of the story, the most wanted result!   It is the most gratifying event because mainly, they are the hero and heroine!  Also, it properly finishes the story as the problems Lizzy had with accepting Darcy in the first place are what make the bulk of the story.  When Lizzy first meets Darcy he seems very proud and disagreeable which is worsened when she is insulted by him at the Meryton assembly.  Then there is the problem of his past with Wickham and lastly the dilemma of his involvement with the separation of Jane and Bingley.  Because of these issues, you wouldn't want Lizzy to accept Darcy when he first proposes.

 

 

However, by the second time it would be quite a different story.  Lizzy has seen the 'change' in Darcy’s character when she bumped into him at Pemberley and she found out that what Wickham had told her about his relationship with Darcy was all lies!  Finally, Darcy helped in bringing Jane and Bingley together again so all the problems by the end of the novel have been resolved. So now when Darcy and Lizzy do get engaged, it is very satisfying as Darcy would be considered the perfect man for Lizzy, if not perfect in himself (who is? Perfect is boring anyway!)  Just as Jane and Bingley’s characters compliment each others, so do Darcy and Lizzy’s - what Darcy needs to complete and improve his character (to lighten up and become a little less proud) is what Lizzy can give and vice versa.  

The other marriage towards the end of the story is between Lydia and Wickham.  This is not necessarily a 'happy' marriage as Wickham is well, Wickham!  However, it is pleasing in that it saved the Bennet family from a lot of further grief which would have ensued had Lydia and Wickham not married. It is also happy in the sense that had they not been married, it is likely that Jane and Lizzy may not have married Bingley and Darcy, or at least more problems would have arisen, as the sisters would have been “tainted by association”.  As well, when it is discovered that Darcy is in fact the main person involved in saving Lydia from disgrace, this is another reason which helps Darcy's cause with Lizzy!  But I think what is most pleasing about this marriage for us is that Wickham and Lydia are stuck with each other! Wickham never loved Lydia and he is stuck with her for the rest of his life, and Lydia will soon realise that Wickham's heart is cold... They both get what they deserve!  (Shame, what a awful shame!)  
 

One of the major themes in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is marriage which is why these three marriages are important - it is clear that marriage is important from the very first line of the novel; “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife”, suggesting that a rich man’s main purpose in life is to get married and that young woman would be expected to want to be married to a rich man, which Mrs Bennet would definitely agree with!  Darcy and Lizzy’s marriage is very different in this respect as it goes against what would be expected; Lizzy did not marry for the money, she married for love and Darcy, who should have chosen a wife from among his social class, instead chose Lizzy, whilst expressly going against the wishes of his family and what was viewed as right by society.

 

I think that, from the point of view of Darcy and Lizzy’s engagement, it is very well written.  The conflicts between them are not all completely resolved until very near the end, leaving the question of when it would happen open right till the last moments!  Also, the point at which Lady Catherine de Bough visits Lizzy is very cleverly placed.  This visit takes place shortly after Bingley and Jane’s engagement which was a happy event in the story so it is rather a contrast! It is a very unexpected turn in the plot as after Bingley proposing to Jane, it may have been expected that Darcy would do the same pretty much straight after; what else could go wrong? However this event does create one last obstacle for poor Lizzy and Darcy.  The arguments put forward by Lady Catherine are rather strong and some might think they would have too much weight with Darcy for him to still marry Lizzy. The fact that even after the disapproval from Lady Catherine Darcy still wishes to marry Lizzy makes the ending even more wonderful because it shows how Darcy is going against his family and what would be considered ‘correct’ in society for Lizzy - he really must love her! 

 

I think that the ending could be seen like a ‘Fairytale’ ending as the hero and heroine of the story, along with other major characters, live ‘happily ever after’. However, it is made more realistic by the fact that Lady Catherine, after the marriage of Darcy and Lizzy, will not accept it and is very displeased with them both for quite a long time, and will not immediately forgive Darcy for marrying someone against her will and so below him in society. It is also made to seem more realistic because two of the four marriages that take place throughout ‘Pride and Prejudice’ are really not that happy. 






The marriage between Collins and Charlotte is by no means perfect as Collins is Collins and it is clear that there is no love in this marriage and Charlotte merely married him for safety, exactly what Lizzy would never do!  The other marriage between Lydia and Wickham is not perfect either because it was a marriage which only happened because Darcy made it so and of course there is no love there either, definitely not on Wickham side, as Wickham had no intentions of marrying Lydia to begin with! At least this shows that not everything turns out right in life, making the story more relatable than a fairytale.  I prefer this ending to a traditional fairytale ending, so long as I am the heroine of my own story! ;) 

 

The ending is not perfect in every aspect, but it is perfect in the ways you want it to be and so you can finish the book feeling completely satisfied - I certainly do!

Your affectionate friend,

Interview on Chivalrous Heroes

I recently participated in an interview with a few others about Chivalrous Heroes.  So, I thought I would post the interview on my blog as well.

From the blogger and author, Katharine Grubb,
"I am very interested in chivalrous heroes, mostly because I want my children to grow up in a world where they can expect mutual respect, kindness, and old-fashioned courtesy.  This is really the reason why I wrote my romantic comedy Falling For Your Madness. It’s a quirky modern romance about how things should be done.  In an effort to promote the ideas of chivalry I’ve been hosting a #30DaysChivalry on my blog, (www.10minutewriter.com) on my Facebook page and on Twitter. The campaign ends February 14 (which is also the last day of my Goodreads giveaway.)"

~~~~~~~~~

Recently on Goodreads I asked members of the Clean Romance Group what they thought about chivalrous heroes in the books they read. These four ladies were so generous with their time and thoughtful with their answers. Hope you enjoy it.

First, let’s meet my new friends:

D.D. Chant lives in Devon, England, with her family and an assortment of unconventional pets. She is currently in the middle of writing her 5th novel. You can get to know her better on her blog: www.ddchant.blogspot.co.uk her webpage: www.buymybook.biz or her facebook page: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10000...

Beth Carpenter is the pen name of an avid reader and writer with a book-cluttered home and a packed Kindle. She reads and writes mysteries as well as romances. Her books are available here: Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Beth-Carpenter/...
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/choic...

Soph is a 17-year old student from good old England! She is an avid Janeite, hopeless romantic and not a stereotypical ‘teenager’! You never see her without a book – generally a regency romance – and she is now waiting for her own happy ending! She blogs at http://laughingwithlizzie.blogspot.com

And Zoe, who enjoys pressing the stop button on the bus, she owns a horse named Miss Muffet and she has never been kissed. She’s into Krav Maga (Israeli self defense) and finds Ryan Gosling unattractive. She’s on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/14... and she is always looking for lovely new people with similar book tastes.

Now for the Questions:

Katharine: On the group thread much is said about what we like in our heroes: Consideration, bravery, vulnerability, trustworthiness, etc. What is it about these characteristics that appeals to romance readers?

D.D.
When I read a book I don't want page long descriptions of how the hero or heroine look and I don't want a catalogue of the hero's muscles. I want to hear how he treats his friends, the waitress in the coffee shop, or the guy that has just accidentally hit his shiny new car. I want to find out that he's a nice person. Because falling in love is a scary thing, you have to open yourself up to someone, without reserve and in doing that open yourself up for heartbreak. It's the people who we love most in the world who have the greatest power to hurt us, so when you hear that the hero is kind, trustworthy and caring, you believe that he is worthy of the trust the heroine is putting in him by becoming emotionally involved.

Beth
A hero should be heroic, which doesn’t mean perfect. Perfect is boring, but a man should be worthy of a woman’s love. He needs to have a true heart, a core of goodness. A romance reader wants true love to win out, and for true love to exist, both characters need the moral fiber to commit themselves, to give of themselves.

Soph
Well, I think that all these characteristics and many others, such as gallantry, compassion, kindness and generosity, are what are expected from our literary heroes. I think that at sometime during a story, the hero needs to be put in a situation to show him to be vulnerable. This makes him all the more relatable and human; a perfect man who has a perfect life with no problems whatsoever is not exactly believable, and these characters I find, quite frankly, annoying! I find a book much more enjoyable to read if the characters are… realistic. Then finally, other characteristics such as trustworthiness and generosity are just bonuses. And all these characteristics added together make the hero... a hero, and much preferable to the ‘bad boy’ of the story!

Zoe
Consideration - um, no one wants to be treated like rubbish. We want little gestures to gush over because what with the feminist views out there (in addition to lazy guys) the sweet details in real-life romance sometimes get lost.
Bravery - is probably the biggest strength you can give to a hero. There's nobility in bravery - the whole knight in shining armour thing. Heroes who are brave really hit the spot for me because they are willing to make sacrifices .
Vulnerability - women like to care for people - give the hero a scar or two so we can patch it up! Personally, I like to know that the hero can allow himself to be comforted.
Trustworthiness - this encompasses a whole bunch of issues such as fidelity, loyalty and the ability to sit back and let the hero pamper you a little.


Katharine: Can you give some good examples in literature of the chivalrous hero? Why do you like them?

D.D. 
I love Freddy in Cotillion by Georgette Heyer. What I love about him is that he's not the usual hero: tall, dark, suave, Andonis' better looking brother... you get the picture. Freddy isn't like that, he's averagely tall, averagely handsome... you can see where this is going right? He's nice, cheerful and friendly. Basically he's everyone's friend but nobodies crush.
However Freddy is willing to do anything to see that his girl is happy, he'll take a beating, hand her over to the man of her choice and smile at her wedding if that's what she wants, and when she gets in to trouble he'll move heaven and earth to save her.
Freddy is just plain awesome!





Beth 
Oddly, in one of my favorites, true love doesn’t win. In “Casablanca,” our flawed hero lets her go, knowing that it is the right thing to do, even though it is breaking his heart. In a YA romance called “Smile for Me,” the hero truly likes and respects the heroine, and I love that.




Soph 
Narrowing it down, the two I most admire would have to be Mr Darcy from Pride and Prejudice and Colonel Brandon from Sense and Sensibility. I admire both these characters for similar reasons. They are both incredibly loyal; Mr Darcy’s loyalty to his sister in particular and Colonel Brandon’s to his first love and then to the protection of her daughter. And they are both very gentlemanly; Brandon doesn’t push Marianne’s affections when he believes them engaged elsewhere and Darcy’s actions to save the Bennet’s family from ruin. There are many other reasons but I won’t go into them all! Another hero I admire is Lord Walter Percy from Louisa May Alcot’s The Inheritance. For this character in particular is would be his consideration for the heroine’s feelings; he realises she would find a declaration of love disagreeable due to certain circumstances and so, against his feelings and wishes, he doesn’t declare himself.

Zoe
Chase McCree from, well, Chasing McCree. He's a wonderfully masculine character who carries his responsibilities and his dignity without a hint of goody-two-shoes-ness. I liked him because he is so considerate and protective over his girl Briar while encouraging her to be herself. He helps her become a better person but doesn't stuff his values down her throat. That's one kind of chivalry. But there's also the kind that you see in Josh Bennett from The Sea of Tranquility. I love this guy. I mean, the way he helped his girl Nastya heal, the way he never pushed her for anything, the way he was always so patient, the way he never let his own blazing hurt blind him from hers, he always put her first...GAH! He's the best.
Finally, there's 16 year old Ryan from Skin Deep. He's just regular old chivalry. At his age, it's really admirable. Plus he was willing to go to jail to protect his girlfriend from something getting in trouble with her parents.


Katharine: Why do you think that so many bestsellers have selfish, abusive men as the main character? Do you think that it’s the attraction to the “bad boy”? Do we as women think we can “save” them? Or, do we feel so badly about ourselves that we think we don’t deserve any better? Or is it just human nature to drift toward the low, the base and the vulgar?

D.D.
The hook for readers seems to be in the idea that the worst of men will change in order to stay by the 'saintly' heroines side, it appeals to the vanity in all of us. The 'Oh I'm so wonderful this man will change his very personality so that I allow him to stay by my side', so not just vanity but self delusion as well. And, when you dig deep and get to the root of it, your find it gives the women all of the power in the relationship, making the relationship 'safer'. Which is pretty funny really because these 'Alpha' males are sold to the reader as being all powerful and yet they turn in to the heroine's puppy.

Beth
A story is drama. It’s easy to create drama when the characters are selfish and abusive; it creates instant conflict. An author has to work a lot harder to create a conflict keeping two rational, loving people apart, giving them something to overcome. We all enjoy a story of redemption, but I have trouble identifying with a woman who chooses a man that doesn’t respect her.
The other common fallacy in romance is the “I love you so much that I want to change everything about you,” story. That’s not love.

Soph
I do not understand the attraction to the ‘bad boy’. I like having the villain or ‘bad boy’ as a foil to the hero and as a contrast, highlighting the heroes character more. Some people do just seem to prefer to go for the rebel rather than the heroic good guy. I think some people may find this type of character more interesting and make the story more eventful. (I don’t believe this; a bad guy makes the story more interesting as they cause problems to be overcome but not to be in place of the hero. (If Elizabeth had ended up with Wickham rather than Darcy I would not have been pleased!) Unfortunately, in some cases I do believe people think they don’t deserve any better and also I think it is becoming more common to drift to the bad rather than the good and I think this is due to influences from other aspects of life in today’s society, which is such a shame!

Zoe
I think authors get away with these sorts of heroes because a) the hero is extremely attractive and b) he is, (how shall I put this delicately?) good in bed. In addition, there's more to these heroes than just the negatives – they are often extraordinarily generous, and like to make big romantic gestures, to make up for their inadequacies, I suppose. But it's all so fictitious. The hero has these terrible lows and is forgiven because he counters with incredible, realistically unattainable highs.The bad boy persona is made up of mystery, creativity, unpredictability, mistakes, moodiness and forbidden-ness. Not all of those traits are bad. The problem is the switchside. The “good boy” is often sappy, predictable and mundane. Yes, there is definitely an attraction for the bad boy.
Or is it just human nature to drift toward the low, the base and the vulgar? I think this is true. People want new and exotic topics – they feel they've exhausted simple romance. The massive turn to BDSM demonstrates this.


Katharine: Do you think that the stories we read have an effect on us? Do you think that stories that uplift and encourage can change the world for the better? And in the same way, do stories that glamourise abuse or selfishness harm the reader, even if he/she doesn’t realize it?

D.D. 
I do! I can't help thinking that some of the books girls read are dangerous, it's all very well to say it's 'just' a story, but they do influence you. I think it's sad that, at the moment, the majority of books are telling girls that boyfriends who want to hurt them but don't are hot, hunky and romantic when in reality they need medical attention!

Beth
I believe that mature people can separate fiction from reality, but the tone of the literature in which we immerse ourselves has to affect us. It’s a sad thing when a woman tries to create drama in her real life by choosing someone to love who isn’t worthy. Ladies, bullies aren’t romantic. True redemption stories are the exception, not the rule. You can’t change someone else. As a happy wife of thirty years, I have a little advice. Find a man who loves you and respects you, just as you are, and who you love, just as he is.

Soph
I definitely think that stories that we read have an effect on us – they definitely have had an effect on me! Reading has also helped give me the confidence to keep my resolve to not just ‘settle’ in life, and to wait for the right person to come along, my hero, who fulfils my romantic requirements (which are high after reading all these stories!), however long it may take! Stories that make abusive relationships seem the ‘thing to do’ can also affect the reader, and this is an awful message to be sending out. A current example of this, I think, would be 50 Shades of Grey. A few of my friends have read the trilogy and recommended it to me but I have no wish to read them at all. The message sent out by the relationship between the main characters is not a healthy one, in my opinion, and I think it can and will have a bad affect on some of the readers, especially the younger readers (around my age, 17).

Zoe
Yes to all of them. Garbage in garbage out. I think it's easyto accept a fictitious bad boy that you would never get involved with and subconsciously translate that acceptance into the real world and get into a heap of trouble.


Katharine: Have you ever read a book that you were so put off by the behavior of the “hero” that you gave up? What would you have liked to have said to the author?

D.D. 
So many times!!! I won't give any names because, in the end, I chose to read the books, no one forced me! I don't think I would have said anything to the author: if that's the sort of stories that they want to write, that's fine by me, I just wont read them.

Beth
I almost always finish a story, but there have been books in which I had no idea why the heroine kept trying. I just wanted to shout, “Dump him!" I’ve seen the opposite too, where the hero persists in chasing after a nasty, selfish woman. “Run away. She’ll never make you happy!”

Soph
I have always done very thorough research into the books before reading them so as to avoid the situation of coming across a ‘bad’ hero. I am also one for the clean romance, and make sure of this before reading a romance as a bedroom scene for me is unnecessary and ruins the story and the romance in a book, and it would count for me as behaviour from the hero which puts me off.

Zoe
Yes! Out of control anger, bitterness, murderous intentions, abuse and rape is not cool. My God! You call this jerk a hero?



Your affectionate friend,

Falling For Mr Darcy by KaraLynne Mackrory

I had to stay up last night (until one in the morning!) to finish this book! I absolutely loved it! I have always been nervous about reading a sequel or 'what if' story to my favourite novel Pride and Prejudice, but I am so glad that I did!
"In this Regency adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved Pride and Prejudice, the simple truth is proven that sometimes a gentleman never knows his heart until a lady comes along to introduce it to him. When Mr. Darcy encounters Elizabeth Bennet injured after a fall, his concern for her welfare cracks the shell of his carefully guarded heart and a charming man emerges. Elizabeth sees an appealing side of him she never believed possible from the stoic, proud master of Pemberley. They find the simple gentlemanly act of assisting her home will best both Mr. Darcy's resolve to keep his heart safe and Elizabeth's conviction that this is the last man on earth she might have ever been prevailed upon to marry. Soon, falling for Mr. Darcy becomes a real possibility."

The story was amazing! It was so clever how it all linked in in different ways to the original story! I kept thinking 'Oh this is like what happened to Jane, but it's happening to Lizzy!' This is going to be hard to not give anything away, well, not to give too much away, so I guess I should say possible accidental spoilers alert... ;)

The way the different and classic quotes from the novel, film and series were incorporated was very clever! Seeing the use of 'she is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me' in a completely different sense was great!
A few of my other favourites... the quote 'one of the most handsomest woman of my acquaintance', appeared in a different scene and in the presence of different people (well, person!) 
Another was around the classic proposal 'I love you most ardently' - there was a proposal half way through the book, but who proposes to who may be different ;)  
Another very clever scene, and one of my favourites was when the iconic verbal sword fight between Lady Catherine and Lizzy was instead between Lady Catherine and Darcy! That was fun to read!

One of my favourite little themes throughout links to the front cover. I was intrigued by the cover and wondered why there was a pocket watch with a flower in it... and this gets explained and is one of my favourite little themes (and is the subject of one of my favourite scenes!) All I will say is yes, the flower is Lizzy's and yes, the watch is Darcy's - more than that I won't say!

My favourite relationship which we got to see more of was between Darcy and his Cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. From a few moments in the original we see the playful nature between the two, and this is taken and their almost brotherly relationship is shown even more with their funny banter and conversations! 

Another relationship I enjoyed seeing more of was Mr Bennet and his favourite Lizzy. You really saw the caring side to Mr Bennet and the strong bond that exists between the two. There were also some wonderful scenes between Mr Bennet and Mr Darcy. How their relationship developed throughout the novel was really sweet!

And another sweet relationship was between Darcy and Georgiana. It was nice to see more of their relationship - how Georgiana begins to grow in confidence and begins to tease her brother. Also to see how well Lizzy and Georgiana got on together, and how it pleased Darcy!

There were some interesting roads which different characters went down instead of the original story we know. My favourites of those would be Mary's fate - I always thought Mary's story could have gone another way... and also Wickham - he got what he really deserved, more than just a marriage to the insufferable Lydia (but I will say no more)!

But, my favourite thing of all had to be Darcy! It was great to see the charming, playful and caring side to him so much quicker than you do in the original novel. The conversations between Darcy and Lizzy were great to read - so funny and playful, and quite flirtatious at times! It made me smile every time they were with each other!
The very first scene where Lizzy falls is one of my favourite scenes. (And I do realise how many times I have said 'favourite scene' ;)) Reading the first few playful comments from Darcy is so... different, but good different. And to see how Lizzy's opinion of him begins to change during this scene with all Darcy's very gentlemanly actions!

I really have fallen for Mr Darcy all over again!

Your affectionate friend,