“A sense of duty is useful in work but offensive in personal relations. People wish to be liked, not to be endured with patient resignation.” Bertrand Russell
Book 1: Miss Darcy’s New Companion: in the Jane Austen Inspired Novellas Collection: 3-stars
This was a cute, clean, short story about a Wetherspoon family with eleven children and turbulent roller coaster finances. At the present time… finances were down, thus, forcing his children into service. Lucy Wetherspoon became a paid companion to Miss Georgiana Darcy.
D&E were preparing to depart for their wedding trip to Italy, when a family emergency forced Mrs. Annesley to leave their service. Miss Wetherspoon was hired as a companion for Georgiana and Darcy asked their neighbor Lord Fane to check in on them periodically. Darcy was hoping for a connection between his sister and Lord Fane, Alexander Farrington, Earl of Fane at Bodworth House]. It would be a good match and connection, even if Lord Fane was twice her age.
Georgiana had progressed quite a bit since her brother’s marriage. She also did well with Miss Wetherspoon, who was a most excellent companion. However, Georgiana didn’t want to be courted for her fortune. Plus, it was not this Mr. Farrington that she was interested in.
“Never mind your happiness; do your duty.” Peter Drucker
However, when Lord Fane came to call, and took one look at the companion, it wasn’t even a contest from that point on. He was in love, but not with the heiress and her thirty thousand pounds, that he desperately needed to restore Bodworth House.
This was a terrible mess until Mr. and Mrs. Collins came to Pemberley and Mr. Collins made a complete muddle of things. Oh, what a wicked thing you did Mr. Collins, poor Charlotte.
Book 2: Miss Darcy’s Secret Love: ends at 68%: 3-stars
“There is never jealousy where there is not strong regard.” Washington Irving
This story picks where Book 1, Miss Darcy’s New Companion [see separate review], left off. Lord Fane had married Georgiana’s companion Lucy, and, because they were on their wedding trip, they were not present to welcome his younger brother Captain Robert Farrington, home from the Peninsula. Robert was seeking permission from the head of the family to wed a Spanish beauty.
“Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness, of hatred, of jealousy, and, most easily of all, the gate of fear.” Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Georgiana was so pleased to see the safe return of her childhood friend. However, she discovered that she was not best pleased to learn of his Spanish beauty.
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green—ey’d monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on.”
William Shakespeare, Othello
Robert was a bit disconcerted to discover that his former friend and playmate ‘George’ was now an accomplished beauty and was being courted by the questionable character Lord Hampton. In his guise of protecting his ‘friend’ from the attentions of a supposed reformed cad and gambler, Robert began to question his own affections for his childhood friend. He was also stunned when he realized that he had not even thought of the Spanish beauty since he first encountered ‘George.’
This was a quick read, clean, and fun to watch as the bud of love blossomed right before our eyes. It was so cute as Georgiana fought against what she felt was duty to her brother and the song of her heart. I look forward to the next book regarding Anne de Bourgh, for you see, Mr. Collins somehow has it in his head that it would be a most advantageous match between Lord Hampton and Anne de Bourgh. Wonder who planted the seed to that thought?
I would have liked an epilogue regarding the Spanish beauty. It was hinted that her father perhaps wanted Robert out of the country so her other worthier admirers could make progress in their courtship of her. Robert was a younger son you see. I would have liked that confirmed. I kept expecting a letter from her father announcing her engagement or even her marriage.
Book 3: The Liberation of Miss de Bourgh: 4-stars
“Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.” Rosa Luxemburg
I was amazed at this story. I wanted to cry, to laugh, to scream at someone, or to hit something. This story absolutely evoked emotions and feelings that lingered long after the story. I really – do – not – like Lady Catherine right now. Her tyranny of her daughter was complete as she arranged her marriage to Charles St. John, Earl of Seaton. Lord Seaton had problems… he needed an heiress. Like many of the aristocracy, his father had incurred debts that put a hardship on the family and it was left to him to remove the debt. Renovations were needed at his family estate, dowries for his younger sisters and Lady Catherine had commanded his presence at Rosings Park with an offer he could not refuse.
Blackmail… that dirty word that raised the hackles on the poor victim. She held something over him that he could not ignore. The price… marry her dying daughter. I have never felt for someone as I did in this story for Anne. It was unlike any other ‘Anne’ story that I have read. I loved this poor girl. Bless her heart. To have such a mother. And… I absolutely loved Charles St. John. This Darcy type was most excellent and I want to tear up just thinking about him… what a guy. It is a delightful story, clean, and a quick read. There was no epilogue to tell us how things went. I can assume from the clues but still, it would have been nice.
I have also posted reviews under the individual titles.
By cherylbolen
“A sense of duty is useful in work but offensive in personal relations. People wish to be liked, not to be endured with patient resignation.” Bertrand Russell
Book 1: Miss Darcy’s New Companion: in the Jane Austen Inspired Novellas Collection: 3-stars
This was a cute, clean, short story about a Wetherspoon family with eleven children and turbulent roller coaster finances. At the present time… finances were down, thus, forcing his children into service. Lucy Wetherspoon became a paid companion to Miss Georgiana Darcy.
D&E were preparing to depart for their wedding trip to Italy, when a family emergency forced Mrs. Annesley to leave their service. Miss Wetherspoon was hired as a companion for Georgiana and Darcy asked their neighbor Lord Fane to check in on them periodically. Darcy was hoping for a connection between his sister and Lord Fane, Alexander Farrington, Earl of Fane at Bodworth House]. It would be a good match and connection, even if Lord Fane was twice her age.
Georgiana had progressed quite a bit since her brother’s marriage. She also did well with Miss Wetherspoon, who was a most excellent companion. However, Georgiana didn’t want to be courted for her fortune. Plus, it was not this Mr. Farrington that she was interested in.
“Never mind your happiness; do your duty.” Peter Drucker
However, when Lord Fane came to call, and took one look at the companion, it wasn’t even a contest from that point on. He was in love, but not with the heiress and her thirty thousand pounds, that he desperately needed to restore Bodworth House.
This was a terrible mess until Mr. and Mrs. Collins came to Pemberley and Mr. Collins made a complete muddle of things. Oh, what a wicked thing you did Mr. Collins, poor Charlotte.
Book 2: Miss Darcy’s Secret Love: ends at 68%: 3-stars
“There is never jealousy where there is not strong regard.” Washington Irving
This story picks where Book 1, Miss Darcy’s New Companion [see separate review], left off. Lord Fane had married Georgiana’s companion Lucy, and, because they were on their wedding trip, they were not present to welcome his younger brother Captain Robert Farrington, home from the Peninsula. Robert was seeking permission from the head of the family to wed a Spanish beauty.
“Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness, of hatred, of jealousy, and, most easily of all, the gate of fear.” Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Georgiana was so pleased to see the safe return of her childhood friend. However, she discovered that she was not best pleased to learn of his Spanish beauty.
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green—ey’d monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on.”
William Shakespeare, Othello
Robert was a bit disconcerted to discover that his former friend and playmate ‘George’ was now an accomplished beauty and was being courted by the questionable character Lord Hampton. In his guise of protecting his ‘friend’ from the attentions of a supposed reformed cad and gambler, Robert began to question his own affections for his childhood friend. He was also stunned when he realized that he had not even thought of the Spanish beauty since he first encountered ‘George.’
This was a quick read, clean, and fun to watch as the bud of love blossomed right before our eyes. It was so cute as Georgiana fought against what she felt was duty to her brother and the song of her heart. I look forward to the next book regarding Anne de Bourgh, for you see, Mr. Collins somehow has it in his head that it would be a most advantageous match between Lord Hampton and Anne de Bourgh. Wonder who planted the seed to that thought?
I would have liked an epilogue regarding the Spanish beauty. It was hinted that her father perhaps wanted Robert out of the country so her other worthier admirers could make progress in their courtship of her. Robert was a younger son you see. I would have liked that confirmed. I kept expecting a letter from her father announcing her engagement or even her marriage.
Book 3: The Liberation of Miss de Bourgh: 4-stars
“Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.” Rosa Luxemburg
I was amazed at this story. I wanted to cry, to laugh, to scream at someone, or to hit something. This story absolutely evoked emotions and feelings that lingered long after the story. I really – do – not – like Lady Catherine right now. Her tyranny of her daughter was complete as she arranged her marriage to Charles St. John, Earl of Seaton. Lord Seaton had problems… he needed an heiress. Like many of the aristocracy, his father had incurred debts that put a hardship on the family and it was left to him to remove the debt. Renovations were needed at his family estate, dowries for his younger sisters and Lady Catherine had commanded his presence at Rosings Park with an offer he could not refuse.
Blackmail… that dirty word that raised the hackles on the poor victim. She held something over him that he could not ignore. The price… marry her dying daughter. I have never felt for someone as I did in this story for Anne. It was unlike any other ‘Anne’ story that I have read. I loved this poor girl. Bless her heart. To have such a mother. And… I absolutely loved Charles St. John. This Darcy type was most excellent and I want to tear up just thinking about him… what a guy. It is a delightful story, clean, and a quick read. There was no epilogue to tell us how things went. I can assume from the clues but still, it would have been nice.
I have also posted reviews under the individual titles.