He was checking on tenants. She was visiting family. Both were about to receive a second chance.When Fitzwilliam Darcy bought Willow Hall, he thought he was helping a friend escape an untenable situation. Little did he know he was purchasing a second chance for his own happiness. However, when he returns to Derbyshire to prepare for his friend’s visit, that is exactly what he finds when he meets … prepare for his friend’s visit, that is exactly what he finds when he meets his tenant’s guest.
Elizabeth Bennet has long regretted her harsh refusal of Mr. Darcy’s proposal and, though she expects never to see him again, she also longs to be able to make things right. When she is sent ahead of her aunt and uncle to visit the Abbots at Willow Hall, she finds herself suddenly thrust back into Darcy’s circle and given the chance she desires.
Just when Darcy and Elizabeth are set to embark on a second chance at happiness, an unexpected visitor arrives at Willow Hall, causing quite a stir and presenting a problem which could hinder our dear couple’s happy future.
The Tenant’s Guest, which is set in the summer after Darcy’s dreadful first proposal, is Leenie Brown’s second installment in her Willow Hall Romance Series. If you like Austen-inspired sweet romance about discovering love in unexpected places, then you’ll love this Pride and Prejudice variation about claiming a second chance and holding onto it with both hands, come what may.
So, put the kettle on, grab your copy of The Tenant’s Guest, and join Darcy and Elizabeth at Willow Hall as they rediscover their love for each other while surrounded by family and friends.
Readers might like to know:
Some events at the end of The Tenant’s Guest are left unresolved as they will be the basis for the plot in Willow Hall Romance book 3.
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A sweet P&P variation that I couldn’t stop reading. This time even with a clever Lydia.
Book 2 in Willow Hall serie.
This is Darcy and Elizabeth’s story with another fabulous proposal with elements of surprise. This serie might be left in my memory as the serie of the inventive proposals, will have to read the last two books before I can rule the final judgment though.
Enter at the “Pemberley reunion” of ODC and the earlier events from canon has happened but the story deviate immediately from canon. The Wickham/Lydia debacle ensue but with a fiery twist (would expect nothing less of Lydia…)
Heartily recommend this book!
Book two in the Willow Hall Romance Series
This novella or short-story follows Book one “And Then Love” which was 5-stars for me. At the end of book two, we have an WIP [work in progress] excerpt from book three ‘So Very Unexpected’ [Lydia’s story]. So, know going in that book two is a cliff hanger. But, the excerpt was most excellent and you were left with the feeling that it was going to be really good.
We begin off canon and it never got back on track again. So, purists, give it up. Just enjoy the story for what it is… a JAFF variation about our beloved characters. We have carry over characters from book one and the author tried to keep us on track as to who they were with hints of their back story. I suppose the purpose of book two was the bringing together of ODC [our dear couple], establishing who, what, when, and where of getting us ready for book three.
While Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner were visiting the Abbots in Derbyshire, they run into Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth and Darcy have not seen each other since Hunsford. She still carried his letter in her pocket and read it often. He still carried her in his heart and was despondent thinking she would never be his. After an awkward meeting, he introduced her to Georgiana and the ladies became fast friends.
When an opportunity was given for ODC to speak in private, they each apologized, made amends, and started fresh with her welcoming his assurances. Joy… and, for about five minutes, they basked in the glory of being in love. This time she accepted his proposal and he headed for Longbourn to speak to her father. Mr. Gardiner and Jane soon joined his wife and Elizabeth and everyone was having a wonderful time. There were several single men running around and you know single men must be in want of a wife. The married ladies were busy forming matchmaking plans.
Then word arrived that Wickham and Lydia had left Brighton. Suddenly all seemed lost, but not for the reasons we are accustomed to. Lydia insisted she only wanted an escort to Derbyshire to be with her sisters [Jane and Elizabeth] as Brighton was boring. And, she was having nothing to do with Wickham. Why, he was only a lieutenant, he drank, gambled his pay, and that would never do. What a brouhaha this caused as they traveled across country together over several days and nights [along with a maid as a chaperone, of course]. Lydia wasn’t stupid enough to travel with Wickham alone as she felt he couldn’t be trusted. This Lydia was nobody’s fool; she was not about to give it up to Wickham. She was brash, brazen, bold and smart. She always got what she wanted and she knew just how to get it. She was so creative as they traveled, it was hilarious how she manipulated him and their circumstances.
I began to sense a pattern of what book three would be like. I envisioned comedic scenes similar to Bénédict and Béatrice [‘Much Ado About Nothing’ by Shakespeare] after scenes from ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ [also Shakespeare]. Yeah, the next book should be a blow out. I am really looking forward to it.
In fact, book two now seemed like a prelude to book three. We established a new understanding and relationship between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennet. Mr. Bennet had just given his consent for Darcy to marry his Lizzy when the express came from Colonel Forster regarding Lydia.
When Darcy and Bennet arrived in London, Darcy sent men into the section of London he knew Wickham frequented. While they waited, Darcy also sent for Bingley and apologized for his interference. Bingley declared he would travel with them to renew his relationship with Jane. Mr. Bennet assured him that if Jane forgave him, that he would also. Darcy’s men returned saying the couple had left for Derbyshire and had shocking news for Mr. Bennet. Before they left, Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived with orders from Colonel Forster to find Wickham. He decided to travel with them as they continued their hunt for the couple. We learned more about Wickham’s dealings in Derbyshire and why he was hesitant to travel there and for good reason. The stage was now set for book three. All these threads were left hanging.
As our story drew to a close, Lydia had disappeared and no one knew when she left or where she had gone. Our story ended with a very lost Lydia taking refuge in an abandoned cottage for the night. OMG!!! Lydia, what have you done?