Abigail Reynolds (1)

A bright and easy read about the characters of Pride and Prejudice. There is intrigue, manners, mystery, and a little suspense also! Reynolds holds true to the characters we know and love. What I liked about this book is that you don't have to read P&P to enjoy it. The characters stand on their own; yet if you did read P&P they take on a new dimension, with some interesting back story. Darcy is as heady and romantic as every, and Elizabeth Bennet stays true to herself as well. Rich in period details, this was a book satisfying in every way. I may check out some more of the P&P variations, but they will have to go some to equal or beat the quality of Reynold's writing.… (altro)

It was very fun to read, and I do recommend it to rabid P&P fans who need more more more of Darcy and Elizabeth. That said, the author is very easy on her characters, almost too easy. Most problems are resolved within a few paragraphs though frank conversation and mutual understanding. In a way, this is refreshing, compared to many of the authors I read who torture me though putting their characters through absolute hell, sometimes with no resolution, or not the resolution I wanted. Still, when things are too easy, my brain seems to think something is missing.
I do like Reynold's idea of Pride and Prejudice "variations" (she calls her series the "Pemberley variations"), What if Lizzie and Darcy and spoken just a little longer in Lambton (From Lambton to Lonbourne), what if Darcy jumped right back in and openly wooed Elizabeth? There are three others so far in this series, and I will read them all. I don't think the characters' behavior is necessarily realistic or typical of the period, although I admit I'm no historical expert, but doggone it, it's fun to speculate, and the steamy scenes between Elizabeth and Darcy are a pleasure to read.Darcy and Lizzie fans, indulge!… (altro)