Mr. Darcy, senior, has his heir — and a spare. No need to waste a gentleman’s education on the third son. Packed off to sea at the age of twelve, young Fitzwilliam Darcy discovers three things.The youngest Darcy boy discovers a love for life at sea. His talent for anticipating what’s going to happen leads to rapid promotion. He also discovers that sailors and naval officers see women only rarely.… officers see women only rarely.
Rescued from a sudden storm, soaked to the skin, and her gown clinging to the contours of her body, Elizabeth Bennet unwittingly causes a storm of emotion in a man starved of female company.
Darcy must get her off his ship. He must discover if his feelings for the extraordinary Miss Bennet are here to stay. Then, when disaster strikes the Darcy family, he must prevent it causing the loss of all he’s dreamed of.
Can each discover their love? And will the shocking circumstances of their lives help, or hinder, the passage to a truly happy ending?
’The Diverse Lives of Fitzwilliam Darcy’ is a series of quick-read novellas exploring what might happen if Elizabeth and Darcy had different backgrounds to that of the original book. Will their love shine as brightly as ever?
Darcy, the Admiral is a sweet and clean Regency novella of over 44,000 words. It is book 2 in the series.
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“Shiver me timbers” our Darcy is an Admiral!
Rating: medium: trigger warnings with death, treachery, murder, and subsequent stressors: Angst Level: medium: shipwreck during a major storm, grief over the death of minor characters, grief and stress over lost love. Source: [KU] 5-11-21: This review contains *** Spoilers *** This book is a stand-alone and the series can be read in any order.
Book 1 in The Diverse Lives of Fitzwilliam Darcy series. As the third son, Fitzwilliam had been sent to sea at an early age. His two elder brothers were the heir and the spare. What need did they have for him? Through hard work and determination, Darcy quickly rose in the ranks and started making a name for himself within the Admiralty. It didn’t take long for him to reach the rank of Admiral with a fleet of ships under his command patrolling the waters during the French blockade. His instincts never failed and prize ships quickly became his. He was generous with his crew earning their respect and trust.
This was where we found our Darcy at the beginning of this story. He, his captain, and crew were gauging the approaching storm, trying to determine its strength, and whether they would be needed for rescue. Merchant ships were constantly returning travelers from the continent. Their smaller size could put them at risk during heavy seas. The approaching storm looked like it would be just such a problem. The crew had spotted one such ship barely visible on the horizon. Darcy trusted his crew and changed tack so they would be closer to the smaller ship. He wondered if they would arrive in time or simply find the wreckage.
Darcy’s look of love: “This is going to sound crazy, but… from the moment I first set eyes on you I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.” –Leigh Fallon, Carrier of the Mark
When the water-soddened woman, with her dress clinging to her curves, climbed over the side rail of his rescue ship, Admiral Fitzwilliam Darcy knew she was something special. From that moment on, his life would take a whole new trajectory. Just when Darcy thought she could be the one, family drama intervened causing his path to take a different tack.
Elizabeth: “Every cell in my body was telling me that he was my happily ever after.” –C. J. English, Affairytale
Back on shore, Elizabeth suddenly realized her life would never be the same. Surviving a shipwreck, watching death first hand, and suffering survivors’ guilt, Elizabeth knew that Admiral Darcy was the only man for her. When his family drama changed his perspectives, she knew he could never offer for her. However, she should never underestimate a determined man. A sailor never loses focus.
I really enjoyed this quick read. It moved quickly and may have glossed over a few things, like propriety and such like that. However, the ship portion of the story was amazing and I had goosebumps reading of Admiral Darcy and his crew. I loved those guys. The storm and shipwreck were scary and true-to-life in many respects. That was the life they lived. I wanted to cry during several scenes. It was touching. I recommend this for something different. I am headed for book 2 in the series.
The Diverse Lives of Fitzwilliam Darcy Series:
Book 1: Darcy, the Admiral
Book 2: Darcy, the Investigator
Book 3: Darcy, the Duke