Brides of Pemberley
By Nancy Kelly
Kindle Edition Available
Product Description
Mr. Darcy Speaks from the Heart:
Pride and Prejudice from his Point of View
Though tired of Society's manipulations, Darcy never thought to be enchanted by a country maiden. Yet on a visit to rural Hertfordshire, Elizabeth Bennet captivates him. Lovely and vivacious, she is everything he is not, and everything he longs to have.
Unfortunately, her connections put her decidedly beneath him, and the improprieties he observes in her family do not win his favor. Putting her firmly out of his mind, Darcy returns to London, but Elizabeth is not so easily forgotten.
When chance throws them together, Darcy can no longer deny his love, but Elizabeth, put off by his manners, refuses him. To change her mind, he must set aside his proud ways and learn how to please a woman worthy of being pleased. It takes a serious incident for his true character to shine, and for Elizabeth to learn just how valuable is…
His Good Opinion
Includes an excerpt of Caroline Bingley by Jennifer Becton
About the Author
Nancy Kelley is a Janeite, an Austenesque author, and a blogger. During the writing of His Good Opinion, a version of Mr. Darcy took up residence in her brain; she fondly refers to him as the Darcy in My Head, or DIMH. If Nancy could possess any fictional device, it would be a Time-Turner. Then perhaps she could juggle a full-time library job, writing, and blogging; and still find time for sleep and a life. Until then, she lives on high doses of tea, of which DIMH approves. You can find Nancy on Twitter @Nancy_Kelley, on her blog, and on Indiejane.org.
O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Rachel
This is a rewrite of Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, written from Mr. Darcy’s point of view. I had thought I had read Pride and Prejudice, but after reading this book, I realized that I had never finished the book, although I had watched a movie. Even so, I have read several other Jane Austin books, and this book seems to have the language down rather well.
After reading several reviews by devoted Austin fans, it appears as if the lengthy sections of conversations that have such a wonderful Austin feel to them, are in fact, Austin’s exact or nearly exact words. I cannot vouch one way or the other.
Overall, I was not overly impressed with the book. Some parts felt too much as if it was merely borrowing wholesale from the original book, and other parts felt forced and shallow. Some may argue that Mr. Darcy was in fact, a rich and very shallow man to begin with, and that may well be true. One thing the book did well, was show how Mr. Darcy came to face his faults and inconsistencies, and then went about to change how he thought about others and then rectified the mistakes he had made with others lives because of his pride and prejudice.
Nancy did an admirable job of rewriting the original book from a new point of view. But in doing so, she doesn’t step out enough to get a good feel for her own writing ability. Those who enjoy Jane Austin books, may very well enjoy this peek into Mr. Darcy’s thoughts and motives. I never felt compelled to put the book away and move to another while reading it, on the other hand, I did not stay up until late into the night finishing the book either. I think Jane Austin would have approved.
Note: Jane Austin is sometimes difficult to follow, so this is not recommended for a younger reader. It may be suitable as a read aloud for a parent to explain as it goes along.
Genre/Theme: Romance, Classic Rewrite, Historical Fiction
Reading Level: TEEN - upper elementary to middle school
Profanity: LOW - few mildly offensive words – almost none
Sexuality: SUBTLE - hinted, but not explicit - marriages, arranged marriages, and the sister’s indiscretion running away with a soldier.
Other: No violence really, some may object to the roles of men and women as the book stayed true to this era
