Blog Tour: To Refine Like Silver by Jeanna Ellsworth - with giveaway!

Today I am part of the blog tour for the lovely Jeanna Ellsworth's latest story, To Refine Like Silver. Jeanna has also provided a giveaway - details at the end!

"If Mr. Darcy had met Elizabeth Bennet in his beloved Derbyshire, would he have recognized her as the love of his life instead of dismissing her as someone “not handsome enough to tempt” him? This alteration of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice adds a little spirit, flirtation, and charm to everyone’s favorite characters.  Early in the summer of 1811, Elizabeth Bennet travels to Derbyshire to help her aunt and uncle settle in as new owners of Saphrinbrooke. Elizabeth is soon introduced to the estate’s nearest neighbors: Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and his sister, Georgiana, who is suffering the results of a fateful trip to Ramsgate. Having endured several life tragedies herself, Elizabeth reaches out to the young lady of Pemberley. Under her radiant influence, both Darcy and Georgiana begin to look for help outside of themselves. To Refine Like Silver is a romantic and spiritual journey where more than one of our favorite Regency characters must learn to fully rely on God. Their trials bring depth to the beloved story, and Mr. Darcy ultimately learns that our trials do not define us; rather they refine us."


This book is completely different to any other book I have read before. It is also very unique in the world of Jane Austen fan fiction and a really interesting take on Jane's beloved characters. They are taken on a very different journey than we know, but it was fascinating to see the characters we love given such a different journey and I really enjoyed it. What surprised me the most with this book was how much the story touched me as I read; this is a very spiritual book. It doesn't preach 'at' you, but many of the characters go on a spiritual journey, but it didn't feel like you were reading a sermon or being told what to do, it was very enlightening and sweet to follow the characters on their journeys. But more on this later!

As I said, the story and backgrounds to many characters, particularly the Bennet family, is very, very different. Elizabeth has had may trials to deal with in this story, but as a result she is an amazing character. She is so strong and positive. She has many of the good traits we love in Elizabeth, but they are magnified, as it were, because of her experiences. You can't help but love this Lizzy. She needs this extra strength of character as during the first half of the book she is a real help to both the Darcys, but in very different ways. How she helps them is amazing and a really wonderful journey to read and feel apart of. Of course, I mentioned Lizzy has had some horrible experiences in her past and they do come to haunt her in the second half of this book, but then it is lovely as the tables are turned and we see Darcy helping Lizzy! But I don't want to spoil all the good bits for you and give away the plot so you'll have to read it yourself for the details!

I don't know where to start with Darcy! He is such a charming character in this story.  As Elizabeth meets him in Derbyshire, he is relaxed and at ease and they get off to a much better start, and immediately Darcy is interested in Elizabeth. You will love him! He is more flirty and fun and even quite bold and forward with Elizabeth! It was lovely to see the side of him we begin to see in canon at Pemberley and when they are engaged, right from the start. As well as the fun and flirtatious side, Darcy also goes on a journey through the story and you get to know him and his character really well. Watching him trying to deal with what has happened to Georgiana - which is much worse than in canon! - is heartbreaking and you feel so much compassion towards him. Seeing so many different sides to Darcy and his true nature means you can't help but love him! And as he falls more and more in love with Elizabeth he is just adorable. And for me, Darcy's journey I found the most touching to read and follow.

Individually Darcy and Lizzy are brilliant characters in this tale, but their relationship together is just perfect. As I said, they meet in much better circumstances and get off to a better start and immediately like each other - Lizzy even claims that "He was going to be a good neighbour"!  It is very different to hear Lizzy say as much about Mr Darcy straight away, but it is quite refreshing! They both start falling for each other very quickly and have such a delightful courtship - they are so flirtatious with each other and it is adorable! (For example when Lizzy asks "Are you calling me impertinent?", Darcy responds "Does it rain in England in November?" - I love it!) They quickly become very easy and open with each other as well, which is due to how Lizzy helps Darcy in this story. As I said, the spiritual aspect of this book is just great. Lizzy starts to teach the rather cynical Darcy, due to events in the recent past, about how to forgive and remember the past only as it gives you pleasure! It really was amazing watching how Lizzy helped him, and then how he helps Lizzy later on in the story. You will really love Lizzy and Darcy, I know you will!

The other major character in this story is Georgiana. It is hard to explain what she goes through without giving away the story, but poor Georgiana has suffered and is not coping well. Until Elizabeth comes along. Lizzy really has a task with helping bring Georgiana out of her saddened state. Georgiana really is very altered and not in a good state, and so the journey she experiences is the most dramatic and I found myself very emotional involved in her journey and just willing her to become herself again. The relationship the two of them build up as a result is just wonderful and so... pleasing to read. Also, what was very sweet was how the relationship forming between Darcy and Lizzy helped Georgiana as she wished to see her brother happy. When the three of them were together it made for some of my favourite scenes!

As I said, this is sort of a book in two halves, and in the second half the past comes back to torture poor Lizzy, but luckily Darcy is around to help! Again, I don't want to give away all the juicy details but suffice to say that seeing Darcy help Lizzy in a similar way to how she helped him was really lovely and really seems to strengthen their relationship. Ok, a word of warning, you will not like Mrs Bennet. At all. But just roll with it! Mr Bennet had an interesting alteration, being an ex-clergyman, and he had a really interesting roll throughout the story and I liked this twist to his character.

Where would we be without Mr Wickham! He makes plenty of appearances and... well let's just say there are some surprising and... moving situations and conversions involving him. 

While Bingley never let Netherfield, he meets Lizzy (and his Jane!) in Derbyshire and is as amiable as we expect! We also get to see more of his almost brotherly relationship with Darcy which was nice. However, don't even get me started on Caroline Bingley who still manages to cause problems! She is not at all happy with this Miss Bennet who seems to have caught Darcy's eye and she does all in her power to get her out of the picture and made me very angry in the process! But, she receives her due, eventually, and that is all I shall say on the matter!

I mentioned the spiritual theme to this book and how it touched me and affected me reading it, not only due to the characters' journeys, but also on a personal level. What I was delighted to find when I got to the end of the book was a section entitled 'Darcy's Prayer Book'; in the story Elizabeth gives Darcy a prayer book which she has written of praises to help her which she feels will help him in a similar way to overcome his struggles, and he copies some of her prayer book into one of his own. Many of her little mottos she lives her life by were great and important for everyone to remember, and I had wished I had jotted some of them down as I read, and so when I found the prayer book nicely printed for me at the end I was thrilled! It is a lovely addition and the perfect ending to such a touching and emotional story.

One last thing I must mention is Jeanna's wonderful talent with metaphors which is aways a brilliant running theme through her stories - it is very unique as I have never come across anything similar. In this story, as suggested by the title, the ongoing metaphor is about refining silver, and how the process of refining ourselves is similar. Darcy spends the book listening to Lizzy's clues about it and works to find out the full meaning behind this metaphor and it is just brilliant. I won't give it away as it is so great to see it unfold through the story, and how a variety of different characters are refined through the story! I always love this aspect to Jeanna's novels.

As you can see, this is a very different and unique book. It is emotionally very touching and I was completely drawn into it as I read. It was a book where reaching the 'happy ending' - and not just for Lizzy and Darcy - has never felt more satisfying!

 

**GIVEAWAY - ends Monday 10th November**

In celebration of the release, the lovely Jeanna is offering 1 paperback copy (US only) and 1 ebook copy (international) of her story.

To enter, leave a comment below and the two winners shall be picked randomly.

Please leave your email address and state whether you will be entering for the paperback or the ebook. I will then pass on the winners email addresses to Jeanna who will be in touch.

Good luck, and thank you again to Jeanna for offering this giveaway! And good luck with the book!



Your affectionate friend,