Book One of the Constant Love Series
As Britain settles into a short-lived peace, the characters of Pride and Prejudice pick up very nearly where the novel left off, in a new series of stories focused on love and family:
Elizabeth Bennet finds the joy of her marriage and honeymoon are followed by the demands of becoming Mrs. Darcy, all while helping her shy new younger sister come out into … come out into society.
Georgiana Darcy must deal with more suitors than she expected, when she fears nothing more than once again being persuaded to think she is in love with the wrong man.
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Love, life and everyday happenings on the River of Life
Know that this is the first in a series of books. Although there are resolutions to parts of the story-line, there are threads left hanging [a cliffhanger of sorts] that are to be addressed in the next book [A Change of Legacies]. This was not a quick read. It was the life and times after the wedding of our dear couple [ODC], Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.
Reviews for this work have been across the spectrum. Those who live for high action and angst will be bored. Readers who crave and thrive on scenes of graphic gratuitous sex will be disappointed. Seekers of high action, battle thrills, slash and burn combat, gore and explicit horrors of war will not find them in this work. Sorry; however, those souls that want a gentle reading experience with our beloved Jane Austen characters will be pleased.
The OOC [out of character] actions that many quibble about was minor. For the most part our characters are as they were in canon. We have to realize that our canon characters are in a new situation and must adapt and adjust to their new environment. So, yes there are some out of character behaviors. Elizabeth is desperately trying to be the perfect Mistress of Darcy’s home. She does not want to embarrass him and bring shame to his family name. I felt for her as she stepped lightly through the egg shells of her new life.
When ODC concluded their honeymoon journey, they sent for Kitty and a friendship flowered between her and Georgiana. Now we have two girls growing into young ladies as the time approached for Georgiana to be presented and her come out in society. This was a whole story in itself as we journeyed with her toward finding a love match and not a marriage of convenience.
This story was like a gentle ride down the river of life. There were ripples, twists and turns, some danger and a little angst, but nothing that would have you pulling your hair out. Young girls in love can be like that. We have suitors that are zeros and heroes. With her fortune, Georgiana was more than cautious regarding suitors, having already learned a valuable lesson [Ramsgate]. We have her dealing with a Collins-like attempt at a proposal. Thrown into high society at the Regent’s Ball, Georgiana realized she had to walk a fine line as she found herself traversing the wolves, rakes, and scoundrels of the Regent’s crowd. I was delighted to see how our little Georgiana had grown up as she managed to elude a seduction attempt [that was hilarious].
After being seen out in society, Georgiana suddenly had multiple suitors pulling at her heart strings. Through it all, she had to cope and deal with new emotions and feelings as she searched her heart for true love. We were with her as she traveled the highs and lows of new love. Ah, to be young and in love again.
Mary soon joined Kitty at the Darcy’s London residence and, with a new view of the world of society, both realized very quickly that life in London was very different than life in Meryton. For Kitty, chasing after redcoats didn’t get her younger sister very far so she vowed to change her course for a different outcome. Mary soon realized that sermonizing was not proper conversation for the sitting room or parlor and formalized a different approach to garnering attention. Both were given access to masters that enhanced their strengths and downplayed their weaknesses. I loved how they responded to these changes.
Extensive Research: our author informed us of many things dealing with the Regency Era.
The Navy: we were given descriptions of: sailing, sails, guns, tack, different types of ships, the practice of taking an enemy ship, maneuvers, and life aboard ship.
The Corn Laws and their effects on: estates, farmers, economic upheaval, rising bread costs, riots in London, production of crops, farming practices and lack thereof, tenant rents and decreasing productions, Pemberley farming practices and Mr. Darcy’s stand on the issue.
And the river of life flowed on. Word reached London that Napoleon had left Elba and the country was again at war. Our Naval Captains were called back to ships being prepared for action and our young ladies were anxious for the men they cared about. Our dear Colonel was sent to the Continent along with the regulars from the north. Elizabeth learned, to her shock and dismay, that Lydia had followed Wickham across the Channel.
Communication was spotty at best and we were informed of action through newspaper accounts and the arrival of letters. Like any war or conflict, there were losses and injuries. Our friends and beloved characters were not exempt from these realities of war.
We closed our story with some plot resolutions, while others were left to be dealt with in the following book.