Aware that some people consider her an unworthy wife, Lizzy Darcy is determined to prove her detractors wrong by throwing a magnificent house party at Pemberley. The smallest details have been worried over for weeks; nothing can possibly go wrong, can it? Lizzy starts to wonder about that when a distraught Lydia descends upon Pemberley on the eve of the party. Wickham has quit the army and gone … gone to London to resurrect his career in the law.Miss Bingley is determined to rescue Darcy from his reckless marriage, convinced he must now regret it. She finds an unlikely ally in George Wickham, both of whom wish to avenge themselves on Lizzy, albeit for very different reasons. If Darcy were to find his `fine-eyed’ wife in a compromising position with Wickham of all people, he would never forgive her.Lizzy finds herself in a desperate fight to save her marriage, but can only do so by exposing Miss Bingley’s evil machinations. What damage will that do to Jane’s happiness with her Mr. Bingley? And what of Lydia? Even if Lizzy can prove to Darcy that she has been manipulated, how can she protect her sister in the face of Wickham’s desperate and despicable actions.
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Fabulous read.
“Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice. Injuries are revenged; crimes are avenged.” Samuel Johnson
This is Book 1/5 in the Mrs. Darcy Entertains series.
[Book 2/5 Colonel Fitzwilliam’s Dilemma], [Book 3/5 Miss Darcy’s Passion], [Book 4/5 Kitty Bennet’s Despair], [Book 5/5 Lydia Wickham’s Journal]
This story concentrated on Elizabeth Darcy’s first big attempt at entertaining at Pemberley as the new Mistress. ODC [our dear couple] have been married six-months and are still living in the idyllic after-glow of newlyweds. They are in love; they are at Pemberley; they have Georgiana with them; they are excited about entertaining friends and family as a couple, and everything was just wonderful. [Insert/cue signature music from ‘JAWS’ for spooky effect]. Yeah, just when everything seems to be going well, you can always expect the villains to emerge and stir it up. And boy, do they ever.
This book could easily be a stand-a-lone. For those that hate cliffhangers, this book ends nicely, but the author was cleaver in making us want to know more. We know there are additional stories. That 1/5 indicator, along with the additional titles, was a big clue. I don’t like series… usually. However, after being introduced to several new characters in this JAFF variation, I really grew to like them and I do want to know what happens. So, I look forward to reading the next book with pleasure, rather than dread.
Rating: PG-17: There are scenes of a married couple. They are not graphic; however, they are sensual and steamy, with descriptive undertones and hints of… sexual possibilities. I don’t know how else to describe it. Let’s just say, they can’t keep their hands off each other… in private at least. Now, on the other hand, the scenes with Wickham are just crude.
Darcy: OMG!! In public, Darcy was everything he was at the Meryton Assembly, which sets Caroline’s heart to pitter-patter. She loves that stoic social demeanor of high society. It also sets Elizabeth’s heart on slow simmer, as she now knows, oh so well, what’s really underneath that look that he gives her. He was large, in charge and the Master of Pemberley. That sets my heart to pitter-patter.
Elizabeth: Our author gave us the internal POV of ODC. The exchange of looks between a husband and his new wife and the intimate understanding of its meaning. With just six-months under their belt, they had become very astute as to what the other was thinking, with just a glance, or the way the body was held. Our author was very clever in her use of tactile language. I loved that.
Caroline: She was still so caught up in her quest for Darcy, that she had convinced herself he regretted his marriage. She thought he was waiting for a chance to escape and turn his attentions back to her, [what-the-crap?]. And, she was determined to help him, bless his heart. She just knew he had come to regret her. So, now, it was up to her to help him. Yes, that was what she would do. She even made a pact with another villain in order to pull off her maniacal plan.
This b-witch couldn’t see straight if she wore glasses. She was operating in her own little world and was becoming dangerous. Her plans and machinations were cunning and creative. I had just read another angst filled story with a similar train of thought and I was a wreck as I saw this story heading in the same direction. OMG!!! I knew what she was planning and I could only hope that Darcy didn’t fall for it.
Lydia: She arrived at Pemberley unannounced, unexpected, unabashed, unrestrained and uncontrolled. Yeah, she was all that. But… this was not Longbourn, where her mother would encourage her ‘lively’ behavior. It soon became clear that Darcy and Elizabeth were certainly not going to allow any such antics in their home. One look from Darcy alone was enough to freeze Lydia’s antics in her tracks. Plus, add in the calming effects of the other married women [Jane and Mrs. Gardiner] and Lydia soon saw this was not going to be the ‘lively party’ scene she had been expecting. Note: at the end of our story, there was a surprise for Lydia. I really liked the change and now look forward to her story in book 5. I wouldn’t have gone there if her story had ended differently here. I now want to know what happens.
Wickham, OMG! This variation was a tad off canon’s version of the relationship between Old Mr. Darcy and Wickham. The inheritance story was different and I didn’t understand why the author chose to deviate from that storyline. Instead, I felt it turned the story toward a darker tone than canon and pushed a wedge between the relationship of Old Mr. Darcy and his son. I struggled with that. However, it also explained the expectations Wickham felt were due him. His thinking process was just… off, as he felt he should usurp the heir. This Wickham was a slime ball. Yeah, he was all that and more. He and another character hooked up and really worked hard at separating our dear couple. He was awful.
The angst builds up to a point that you actually are just waiting for the ax to fall. At one point, I literally held my breath, and then the author sprung her surprise and I blew it out in grateful relief. Dang! It was awesome. I was gasping for breath, grateful the author pulled it off. What a surprise.
Georgiana and Kitty: I loved these girls, on the cusp of womanhood, with their youthful expectations for the future. Our author masterfully wove their story throughout this variation with a promise of their own story in future books. Remember those I listed at the beginning?
Kitty had learned a lot about proper behavior while staying with Jane and Bingley. When Lydia arrived, she welcomed her; however, she distanced herself from her sister as she soon realized that she no longer wanted to act silly. She had learned that Lydia had not done well in her marriage choice and she wanted her life to be different.
Georgiana, just wanted a happy life, and had learned a hard lesson after Ramsgate. She was now cautious and suspicious around men. She desperately desired someone that wanted her for herself, not her fortune. But how would she know the difference? With the love of her brother, and now Elizabeth, she would go forward with their guidance in finding that love match.
I look forward to the next story in the series as it deals with Our Dear Colonel. I always loved Colonel Fitzwilliam. Darcy had laughed when Elizabeth told him the advice she had given to his cousin. I am anxious to see if he did as she suggested. If so… all you-know-what is about to hit the fan and I so want to see that.