A surprise meetingA baby alone in the woodsAnd a second chance at love.Fitzwilliam Darcy returns to his beloved Pemberley with one thing on his mind—to forget Elizabeth Bennet. Riding ahead of his party and racing a storm, he happens upon the very woman he wants to avoid. To his astonishment, she is holding a baby whose name and parentage are unknown.Elizabeth Bennet never dreamed she had … never dreamed she had wandered into Pemberley’s woods on her afternoon walk. But when she finds an infant alone in the storm, she turns to the last man in the world she wants to see—and the only one who can help them both.
As the mystery of the baby’s identity intensifies, Elizabeth finds Mr. Darcy to be quite different from what she expected. But when the child’s family is discovered, will the truth bring them together or tear them apart?
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This was a very well written Pride and Prejudice Variation and I enjoyed seeing how things changed with this plot twist. The author did a good job of showing all the inner thoughts of Elizabeth and Darcy and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
Reviewed: October 23, 2019
My Rating: 3.5* rounded up to 4*
“She was not his, and she would never be.” (quote from the book)
As we all know, Mr. Darcy takes Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s reproofs to heart after the Hunsford proposal. In this short sweet variation, it is lovingly conveyed by the care and concern he takes when finding Miss Elizabeth and a young baby in Pemberley’s woods during a thunderstorm. It is then, he realizes, months after her refusal, that he still loves her.
“There was so much more when Elizabeth was near — more light, more feeling, more…happiness. Life held more meaning when she was with him.” (quote from the book)
I so enjoyed their slow but steady progress to forgiving each other and becoming friends. For me, there was little angst, and the mystery behind who Daisy’s parents are was, for the most part, quickly resolved…maybe too quickly. I was also surprised about who would care for the child. I never expected that result. But does the child’s possible parentage come between Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth? That I will leave for you to find out. I just want to know if there is more to come with the threat from Wickham hanging over their heads? I felt that thread was left hanging.
So if you need a low angst, gentle read, I certainly can recommend this debut novel from Ms. Huey. I also must say the cover of this book is just lovely.
I was fortunate to win an e-book of this story with no expectation of a review.
“In case you never get a second chance: don’t be afraid!”
“And what if you do get a second chance?”
“You take it!”
–C. JoyBell C.
Rating: clean: 14-chapters, quick read: This review may contain spoilers. [4.5 stars round to 5]
“Like a house that has a home and a river that flows, so does love become when you open your heart, even when the lights go out or the flow encounters rocks.” –Goitsemang Mvula
Well, Elizabeth, once again, finds herself in a situation that is scandalous at best and could ruin her reputation. Our girl is traveling in Derbyshire with her aunt and uncle and during their stay at Lambton, goes off on one of her solitary walks. As a storm approaches, she takes shelter in a beautiful wooded area and makes a startling discovery.
“Maybe, if you can’t get someone out of your head they were never meant to leave. Perhaps, they were meant to help change you into the person you have been waiting to become.” –Shannon L. Alder
Darcy, needing to meet with his steward, rode ahead of Georgiana and the Bingley party. When an approaching storm forces him to take a shortcut through Pemberley woods, what he discovers is shocking and yet an answer to his wildest dream. At that moment, Darcy’s life takes a different path. Things would never be the same for him.
What I liked: first that amazing cover by Janet Taylor. I figure it was an homage to the peacock on the Austen cover we so often see. Next, I loved watching D&E come together for their HEA and joining forces toward the welfare of an innocent child. Such a lovely baby.
What I didn’t like: certain aspects of the background story of young Daisy were a bit disconcerting. It just didn’t feel right. It was hinted at but not really made clear. Since they didn’t have DNA paternity tests back then… we would not be hearing… ‘You ARE the father’ or, and I was really hopeful, ‘You are NOT the father.’ I felt bad after reading that. I do have questions regarding the care of the baby… in all of Derbyshire… was there no wet nurse available? I mean, this was a baby, four weeks old… right? I was thinking it was a bit early for their version of baby formula. No wonder she was colicky, poor dear. Didn’t anyone have any goat’s milk or something?
And why was the baby abandoned in the woods in the first place… just left there? How did the messenger know Darcy would even come that way… or when he would go through those woods? The body of that messenger should have been found somewhere in the woods where he had crawled off to die. Something… what happened to him? Did he just drop the baby off and ride away? I suppose it doesn’t matter. I just think he should pay somehow. I’m feeling rather malevolent toward that man. That plot thread was sort of left dangling. I suppose we can’t trust the one who claimed to be her father. His lies are as good as anyone’s and better than most.
I borrowed this from Kindle Unlimited [8-30-20]. The views and opinions expressed are my own.
Update [12-20-20]: I have since purchased a copy for my personal library.