She swore would never marry!Georgiana Darcy is a lady with a secret! The last thing she wants is to return to London, but what else can she do when her brother and his wife make plans to spend the Christmas season in town. When Lizzy¿s youngest sister, Lydia, joins them, Georgiana gains a confidante, but will Lydia¿s outgoing nature cause problems when Lord Sele, son of a family friend … reappears in Georgiana¿s life?As an insufferable boy, Lord Sele vowed he would marry Georgiana, but was his return from Ireland a coincidence or was his sole purpose to pursue her? He admits to desiring friendship, but Lydia is determined his desire is Georgiana and she will stop at nothing to see her best friend happily settled.What is Georgiana to do when faced with the society she has managed to avoid for her entire adult life as well as the one man determined to change her mind about marriage? Will she be able to overcome her fears despite the spectre from the past that seems to be haunting her? Will she be forced to tell her secret and choose happiness or will someone from her past ruin everything?
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“Things get better – hurt less – over time. If you let them.” –Rainbow Rowell, Attachments
This book follows book 1: Particular Intentions: It is recommended that the reader check out book 1 because… there is a lot of information that is different from canon. Several pairings went into another direction and that will throw the reader off while they are in book 2. It had been a while since I read book 1 and I was constantly going… wait… how was that situation again? This Lydia is a completely different person and I just adored her. Wait, did I just say that?
Rating: clean but with a caveat: there was mild descriptions of and reference to a violent act. Not graphic and not explained in detail.
Georgiana gets to tell her story. She is now all grown up and no longer the little girl, simpering and quaking in her boots and hiding behind the adults. She is twenty years old and about to have a come out whether she wants one or not. She also has a suitor, whether she wants him or not. He was a brat-child that gave her grief when they were kids. He hid her doll and she kicked him in the chins. They are perfect for each other.
Lord Sele… I loved this guy. I’m sorry, he was perfect for Georgiana. Our girl had closed off her heart and was letting Ramsgate dictate her future. Lord Sele was having none of that and had determined that he was going to marry Georgiana. He said so when he was twelve and as far as he was concerned, nothing had changed. He had loved her ever since.
Just when you think it is safe… Mrs. Younge rises out of the slums of London to cause trouble. We learn a bit more about her involvement in Ramsgate… that conniving, blackmailing, b-witch of a scheming… well, you get the picture. I loved how they handled the situation. Don’t mess with a Darcy… they have many influential friends that are willing to stand with them and make someone’s life a living hell.
I loved this story and highly recommend both books.
Reviewed: October 3, 2017
It has been one year since I had last read Book 1, ‘Particular Intentions’ which mainly focused on Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Before reading ‘Particular Attachments’, I decided to re-read it again to keep all the details fresh in my mind and to allow the story flow. I do feel it is necessary to read ‘Particular Intentions’ first to understand all the dynamics.
This is Georgiana’s story and how far she has come toward healing due to the assault by Mr. Wickham at Ramsgate. I felt Ms. Diamond has sensitively handled this issue.
Georgiana has sworn never to marry. However, with their return to London for the Christmas season, Georgiana’s fears re-surface…her fears of being the topic of gossip and causing scandal to fall on herself and her beloved brother, Darcy, and his wife, Elizabeth. Then when she dreams of her childhood tormentor, who vowed she would marry him, she becomes completely tongue-tied when she finally meets him again. Oh my, Lord Sele is swoon-worthy and determined in his pursuit of Georgiana. However, her secret lies between them. How he breaks through her defenses will have you admiring him as much as Darcy! I so loved the journal entries that Georgiana wrote…her fears, her feelings and her hopes. His mother, the Countess of Sele is a very intelligent and insightful character.
But there more to this story than just Georgiana. Lydia is joining them in London. A Lydia who will force Georgiana out of her comfort zone. I loved Lydia in this story…yes I did say ‘love’. Her growth since ‘Particular Intentions’ has been delightful, but have no fear, the young Lydia still simmers under the surface. Believe it or not, she has hidden talents…which I would have liked to have seen explored!
“If you continue to shun the world, you allow him influence over your future – he is still a part of your life. He deserves no such attention.”
Let’s not forget Darcy and Elizabeth, Colonel Fitzwilliam and his mother, the Countess of Matlock. Each play a role in helping Georgiana through her insecurities. There is a wonderful new twist for Colonel Fitzwilliam too! The Darcy heir certainly keeps everyone on their toes as well!
My only quibble, not enough to take stars away, was the wedding at the beginning of the story. I would have loved seeing certain family members attending and learning more about them through that route. But like I said, it is only a quibble…but a new surprise near the end was so much fun!
So, dear readers, to find out more, I highly recommend you read this variation based on Georgiana Darcy journey to love!