Blog Tour Book Review: Longbourn to London by Linda Beutler

 

Longbourn to London
by Linda Beatler

Genre: Romance / Historical / Pride and Prejudice Sequel

Ages: 18 and up

I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you to Jakki of Leatherbound Reviews for hosting the tour!

Description:

A courtship is a journey of discovery… 

…but what do we know of the official betrothal of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet? We may assume there were awkward social events to navigate, tedious wedding arrangements to negotiate, and Bingley’s toplofty sisters to accommodate. How did Darcy and Elizabeth manage these travails, and each other? 

Longbourn to London is not a Pride and Prejudice “what if,” nor is it a sequel. Rather, it is an expansion of the betrothal of Jane Austen’s favorite couple. We follow Lizzy’s journey from spirited maiden scampering about the fields of Hertfordshire to nervous, blushing bride in Mayfair, where she learns the unexpected joys of marriage to a man as willing to be teased as she is to tease him.

My Thoughts:

This is a sweet and sensual sequel Pride and Prejudice, interspersed with moments of delightful mischief. If you are looking for a relaxing romance to give you the warm-and-fuzzies, this is it.

Speaking of relaxed, it was lovely to see a carefree and playful Darcy. His lady has agreed to marry him, Wickham is safely out of the way and he hasn't a care in the world. Well, at least not until Mrs. Philips and Mrs. Bennet start stirring up trouble. Then he becomes more of a nervous and worried Darcy, which was also oddly adorable.

This book has an interesting take on Elizabeth, some of which I cannot say here due to spoilers. Most of the story centered around her feelings and fears as her wedding day approached. There was an interesting transition as she moved from being her parents' daughter to Darcy's wife.

Mr. Bennet played the largest role of any of the side characters as he was called upon to thwart his wife's trouble-making. It was nice to see him put his foot down when Mrs. Bennet was at her worst. Caroline made a melodramatic appearance and Colonel Fitzwilliam was strangely...creepy. I was a little disappointed when that didn't lead to anything. Mrs. Gardiner was, of course, absolutely magnificent.

I liked this book a lot, but I do wish there was a little more conflict, mostly 'cause I'm an evil reader who likes to see my favorite characters suffer. Everything was a little too peaceful for this to be one of my favorites, but other than that I have no complaints. The writing was lovely, the characters true to themselves yet not wholly traditional, and the story was a great deal of fun. 

Rating System: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme). Ratings may contain spoilers.

Profanity:
I rate it a 2.10 for a couple of mild words.

Sexuality:
I give it a 7.10 for a few descriptive scenes near the end and references and innuendos throughout.

Violence:
There was no violence in this book.

About the Author:

Linda Beutler is an Oregon native who began writing professionally in 1996 (meaning that is when they started paying her...), in the field of garden writing. First published in magazines, Linda graduated to book authorship in 2004 with the publication of Gardening With Clematis (2004, Timber Press). In 2007 Timber Press presented her second title, Garden to Vase, a partnership with garden photographer Allan Mandell. Now in 2013 Linda is working with Meryton Press.

Linda shares a small garden in Southeast Portland with her husband, and pets that function as surrogate children. Her personal collection of clematis numbers something around 230 taxa. These are also surrogate children, and just as badly behaved.


Author Blog   Facebook   Twitter

You can buy Longbourn to London at:

Amazon   Barnes and Noble   Goodreads      

Happy Reading!
              Lieder Madchen

Book Review: The Knights of Derbyshire by Marsha Altman

The Knights of Derbyshire
by Marsha Altman

Genre: Historical Fiction /  Austenesque / Pride and Prejudice Sequel

Ages: 14 and up

This is the fifth novel in the Darcys and the Bingleys series, following The Darcys and the Bingleys, The Plight of the Darcy Brothers, Mr. Darcy's Great Escape and The Ballad of Gregoire Darcy. You can also read my review of the short story collection she edited, The Road to Pemberley.

Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. At least, I assume it was from her because it just showed up on my doorstep signed and made my day much more delightful.

Description:

Twenty years have passed since Mr. Darcy married Elizabeth Bennet, and their family has grown. All of the Bennet sisters are married, and their children are on the threshold of adulthood and ready for entrance to proper society. War in Europe is over, and it seems that England, and our beloved families, are at peace.

But trouble lurks on the horizon. A popular revolt is brewing in Derbyshire, lead by a deluded radical. The very safety of Pemberley and Chatton House are threatened when a family member goes missing, and Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley, with the help of relatives and friends, must attempt a dangerous rescue while the wolves close in around them.

In Altman's fifth installment of "The Darcys and The Bingleys," she continues Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice not just through romance and foibles but political intrigue, action, and the occasional brutality required of life in Georgian England.

My Thoughts:

Honestly, how much time can a girl spend gushing over one series? Apparently never enough, because I have nothing but good things to say about the fifth installment in the Darcys and the Bingleys series by Marsha Altman.

This one starts off a little slower than some, with hints and foreshadowing before bursting into action. And what action! Dastardly deeds, heroic rescues and a mysterious wolf roaming Derbyshire are just a few of the things that threaten to give Mr. Darcy more gray hairs.

This story is focused for the most part on the young George Wickham, Geoffrey Darcy and Georgiana Bingley. They're practically adults now, and each have grown into distinctly different and fascinating individuals. George is as serious as his parents were wild, Geoffrey is almost scarily like his father, except perhaps a little more wisdom when it comes to understanding people. Then again, he still has that Darcy problem when it comes to talking to girls...but he also write a great letter. Georgiana Bingley is...Georgie. There really isn't much else you can say about her, save that she is truly magnificent. I will leave it to you to discover how.

I fall in love every time I open one of these books, whether it is for the first time, or, with the early books in the series, for the tenth time. I can't recommend the Darcys and the Bingleys series highly enough.

Rating System: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence 
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).

Profanity:
I rate it a 5.10 for some mid-level insults and a couple uses of an alternative spelling of the f-word.

Sexuality:
I give it a 2.10 for some mild hints.

Violence:
I rate it a 6.10 for fighting and death, as well as multiple bloody injuries.

                             Lieder Madchen

Book Review: Miss Darcy Falls in Love by Sharon Lathan

Miss Darcy Falls in Love
by Sharon Lathan

Genre: Romance / Austenesque / Pride and Prejudice Sequel / Historical

Ages: 16 and up

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. This review is unfortunately very late, but I hope Ms. Lathan will forgive me. To read an interview with the hero of this tale, Sebastian Butler, go here.

This novel is part of the Darcy Saga, taking place partially during the events of volume 5, The Trouble With Mr. Darcy. I think. However, it stands alone quite nicely.

Description:

Hugely successful bestselling author (over 150,000 copies sold through) of sensual, romantic Pride and Prejudice continuations explores unusual aspects of the Regency world, this time following Mr. Darcy's younger sister into the world of classical music.

Noble young ladies were expected to play an instrument, but Georgiana Darcy is an accomplished musician who hungers to pursue her talents. She embarks upon a tour of Europe, ending in Paris where two very different men will ignite her heart in entirely different ways and begin a bitter rivalry to win her. But only one holds the key to her happiness.

Set in post-Napoleonic Empire France, Miss Darcy Falls in Love is a riveting love story that enters a world of passion where gentlemen know exactly how to please and a young woman learns to direct her destiny and understand her heart.

My Thoughts:

This story was so sweet. Georgiana Darcy truly makes a marvelous heroine. Out of her brother's watchful shadow, she is just beginning to stretch her wings, and where better to accomplish that than in the City of Lights? She makes many delightful new friends, including the musical, handsome Sebastian Butler. And that is all it is at first: a warm, treasured friendship. Watching it develop into more was a pleasure.

As in all of the best romances, there are things standing in their way. In the case of Miss Darcy Falls in Love, their main obstacles are themselves. They both make mistakes and there are foolish misunderstandings that make me shake my head at their mutual silliness. It was lovely. Poor Lord Caxton really didn't stand a chance.

I really liked the depth of Sebastian Butler as a character. You can really get to know him, to understand and respect him. He's a little older, a little more experienced than Georgiana, reminding me of Mr. Knightley. Georgiana is sweetly naive, but that hardly slows her down. She's the sort of character who might get momentarily confused on her path, but when she makes up her mind she is a force to be reckoned with. 

This is a must for anyone who has read Sharon Lathan's Darcy Saga, but even if you haven't read any of her other books you should give this one a try.

Rating System: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).

Profanity:
I rate it a 2.10 for some mild swearing.

Sexuality:
I rate it a 7.10 for one fairly descriptive scene, a couple of fade-aways and some innuendo.

Violence:
There was no violence in this novel.

                        Lieder Madchen

 

Book Review: The Deception at Lyme by Carrie Bebris

The Deception at Lyme
or, The Perils of Persuasion
by Carrie Bebris

Genre: Mystery / Historical Fiction / Austenesque Sequel

Ages: 15 and up

Sequel to Pride and Prescience, Suspense and Sensibility, North by Northanger, The Matters at Mansfield and The Intrigue at Highbury.

I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you Cassie at Tor / Forge!

Description:

In Jane Austen’s Persuasion, the Cobb—Lyme’s famous seawall—proved dangerous to a careless young woman. Now it proves deadly.

Following their recent intrigue at Highbury, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy visit the seaside village of Lyme on holiday. Family business also draws them there, to receive the personal effects of Mr. Darcy’s late cousin, a naval lieutenant who died in action.

Their retreat turns tragic when they come upon a body lying at the base of the Cobb. The victim is Mrs. Clay, a woman with a scandalous past that left her with child—a child whose existence threatened the inheritance of one of her paramours and the reputation of another. Did she lose her balance and fall from the slippery breakwater, or was she pushed?

Mrs. Clay’s death is not the only one that commands the Darcys’ attention. When Mr. Darcy discovers, among his cousin’s possessions, evidence that the young lieutenant’s death might have been murder, he allies with Captain Frederick Wentworth (hero of Jane Austen's Persuasion) to probe details of a battle that took place across the sea . . . but was influenced by a conspiracy much closer to home.

The Deception at Lyme (Or, The Peril of Persuasion) is the delightful sixth installment in the critically acclaimed and award-winning Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mystery series by Carrie Bebris.

My Thoughts:

I was so excited when Ms. Bebris announced that she was finally writing her Persuasion novel (having written mysteries to tie in with Miss Austen's five other published works already). Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, accidental detectives, were finally going to meet the Wentworths. At Lyme (I love Lyme).

The Deception at Lyme had all the things I loved about the previous books in the series - fun characters, complicated mystery, a bit of danger, a bit of humor and, especially in this case, romance. One thing it didn't have was any hint of the supernatural, but the very human mystery more than made up for the lack of magical influence.

I love how well the author incorporated the characters from Persuasion into the mystery. Mrs.Clay, Mr. Elliot and Sir Walter Elliot are all perfectly portrayed in all their less-than-likable glory, tangled in ambition and deceit. Captain Wentworth and Mr. Darcy get along famously, as I have always suspected that they would. My two favorite Austenesque heroes working together at last (sigh). The new characters were wonderful as well, especially the two gentlemen who take an interest in Georgiana (much to Darcy's chagrin). The charming Sir Lawrence and the enigmatic and possibly villainous Lieutenant St. Clair. Watching Darcy's discomfort was highly entertaining.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes cozy mysteries that you can curl up with on a rainy afternoon, and, of course, to anyone who loves Jane Austen's marvelous characters.

Rating System: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).

Profanity:
I rate it a 2.10 for brief mild swearing.

Sexuality:
I give it a 2.10 for references and infidelity.

Violence:
I rate it a 6.10 for multiple murders and the description of a battle at sea.

                                        Lieder Madchen