Monday, April 15, 2013

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,

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Saturday, April 06, 2013

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."



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?"


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,

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