A Weekend with Mr. Darcy (Austen Addicts #1)

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A Weekend with Mr. Darcy (Austen Addicts #1)

3.46 of 5 stars 3.46 · rating details · 1,810 ratings · 343 reviews

Of course she's obsessed with Jane Austen...
Surrounded by appalling exes and fawning students, the only thing keeping professor Katherine Roberts sane is Jane Austen and her personal secret love for racy Regency romance novels. She thinks the Jane Austen Addicts conference in the English countryside is the perfect opportunity to escape her chaotic life and finally relax.....more

Paperback, 345 pages

Published July 1st 2011 by Sourcebooks Landmark (first published September 16th 2010)

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Feb 02, 2012 Micah rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoy Jane Austen as much as the next girl, but this book just hit you over the head and knocked you out with all the Jane Austen. Yes, I think it'd be pretty fun to go to a weekend conference on Jane Austen, but I never realized how many people form their world views based off of her literature.

The story line of the two couples was quite predictable, but honestly you're looking for the happy ending when you read a book like this. I enjoyed reading about their personal doubts, struggles and h...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Stacey rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As one of the characters in this book says: "a story for me can have the most fascinating plot in the world but if the narrator's voice is dull, then the plot counts for nothing. For me, authorial charm is everything".

For me personally, the plot of A Weekend with Mr Darcy is predictable and rather shallow. But I found that the author, Victoria Connelly, had enough authorial charm for me to overlook the more troublesome or simplistic plot elements and characterisations, and let me just enjoy the...more

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Jan 19, 2012 Belinda Munro rated it 2 of 5 stars

I loved the idea of this book but was disappointed. It's neither awful, or great. It's simply flat! The characters were very uninteresting and boring and there really were no "twists and turns" throughout the story. The author tried to squeeze too many events into a short space of time (a weekend). Couldn't wait to finish!

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Jan 22, 2013 Hannah Fielding rated it 5 of 5 stars

A book title containing the word ‘Darcy’ is certainly going to catch my attention, Pride and Prejudice being one of my favourite classic romance novels. Hence I decided to give this novel a try, and I was pleased I did because it was a fun, diverting, romantic read.

The action of the story centres around a Jane Austen weekend held at Purley Hall, Hampshire, at which Austen experts and fans alike come together to discuss the writer and her works. Love blooms at the event for two women; and without...more A book title containing the word ‘Darcy’ is certainly going to catch my attention, Pride and Prejudice being one of my favourite classic romance novels. Hence I decided to give this novel a try, and I was pleased I did because it was a fun, diverting, romantic read.

The action of the story centres around a Jane Austen weekend held at Purley Hall, Hampshire, at which Austen experts and fans alike come together to discuss the writer and her works. Love blooms at the event for two women; and without wanting to give anything away and spoil the plot for the reader, plenty of twists and turns lead to a satisfying ending.

What stood out for me in this book was its successful narration of not one, but two romantic stories. Usually books have a main plot, following a woman and a man, and then perhaps one or two subplots, with other romances having much less impact on the tale. But in this book the subplot that follows a second couple is all but equal to the main plot. Because the two plots follow different women and the different men with whom they fall in love, there was plenty of interesting material to keep me turning the pages.

The best element of the book, for me, was the Austen-related content. Connelly has researched her subject superbly, and as a result I found the Austen details really interesting. In fact, by the end of the book I was sorely tempted to log on to the internet and search ‘Jane Austen weekend’, so fun did the experience seem!

I also really enjoyed the connection to romance writing in the book, which of course appeals to me given my own writing. There’s an interesting discussion raised in the book about how modern-day romance writing such as my own compares to that of authors like Austen; and why it is that some people scoff at the passionate, evocative books that so many women (and men – read the book!) love.

In short, a great summer read – easy to gobble down in one or two sittings out in the garden in the sunshine. I guarantee it will have you reaching for your Austen novels afterwards and dreaming of Darcy.(less)

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Jan 09, 2013 Myonlycookie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: regency

I stumbled upon this quite accidentally, but was intrigued since I'm an Austen fan. This was my first foray into the sub-genre of Austen-inspired fiction. (And we all know I'm a huge nerd for genres, sub-genres and fanculture.)

Quick summary: The story mainly follows literature professor Katherine Roberts as she ventures to Purley Hall for a Jane Austen conference. There she meets a handsome man (surprise, surprise). Is he really the hero of her dreams, or is fiction better than reality? The boo...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Barbara Elsborg rated it 1 of 5 stars

Well I was bought this as a present so felt I ought to read it even though I hadn't like the other one by this author that I'd bought. I was given hope by the comments from Fiona and Walker - on the back and Lisa Jewell on the front but I actually wonder if they read the book.
If you like safe, slow, sweet little stories then fine - you'll like this but I'm afraid I didn't. The contrivance with the suitcase drove me crazy. I can't believe she'd have acted like that.
I do appreciate that much of...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Paula Phillips rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ever since I can remember , I have always been an Austen fan . I have adored reading variations of Austen fiction and renditions of her books. I think one of the earliest I read was Austenland by Shannon Hale. Once I read that one I was hooked for life , I imagined how much fun it would be to go to a retreat where you are surrounded with strangers who love Austen as much as you do or even more. It would be heaven on earth. It's actually one of my goals one day to travel to the UK and visit Bath...more Ever since I can remember , I have always been an Austen fan . I have adored reading variations of Austen fiction and renditions of her books. I think one of the earliest I read was Austenland by Shannon Hale. Once I read that one I was hooked for life , I imagined how much fun it would be to go to a retreat where you are surrounded with strangers who love Austen as much as you do or even more. It would be heaven on earth. It's actually one of my goals one day to travel to the UK and visit Bath and maybe attend an Austen festival. I even own a tshirt that says I Heart Mr Darcy.
A Weekend with Mr. Darcy is the first book in Victoria Connelly's Austen Addicts series and takes us to a weekend conference in Hampshire to the grounds of Purley Hall. We meet Dr. Katherine Roberts, a single professor who teaches Austen and has written a non-fiction book about Jane Austen who of course secretly on the side reads the historical romance bodice rippers by Lorna Warwick , Katherine has no intentions of finding love but what happens when she meets fellow attendee Warwick Lawton ? Will it be love at first sight , or will he have to make a second or third impression and what happens when she discovers who he really is ? Robyn Love , is trying to rediscover who she is and thinks that a weekend away with Jane Austen is the way to go but what happens when the guy she wants a break away from suddenly wants to spend the weekend with her and worse what will happen when she meets a hunky man who feels like her other half at the Austen weekend ? Will Robyn's heart be torn between Jace - the guy who has been there for her and her longtime friend or Dan - the new guy who loves animals and even read her copy of Pride and Prejudice ?
A Weekend at Mr. Darcy is the type of book that I think only readers of Austen's work and those like myself who dream of being surrounded with fellow Austenites and who dream of a world where people still follow the rules of Jane Austen's books will really enjoy.
Are you searching for your Mr. Darcy , Captain Wentworth or are you more a Willougby or Bingley girl ?
Find out at Purley Hall with "A Weekend with Mr. Darcy" by Victoria Connelly .
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Sep 24, 2012 Big Book Little Book rated it 3 of 5 stars

Helen for Big Book Little Book

I am an Austen fan, I enjoy her books, but with the wealth of material out there to read I don’t re-read them all that often. Books about books I also enjoy and if that comes packaged in the form of a good story so much the better. This novel is a good story, does relate back to Jane, her life and her books, and does use the themes of her writing in its own weaving. On top of all that I thought this sounded like a bit of a giggle and it was that too, in particular t...more Helen for Big Book Little Book

I am an Austen fan, I enjoy her books, but with the wealth of material out there to read I don’t re-read them all that often. Books about books I also enjoy and if that comes packaged in the form of a good story so much the better. This novel is a good story, does relate back to Jane, her life and her books, and does use the themes of her writing in its own weaving. On top of all that I thought this sounded like a bit of a giggle and it was that too, in particular the scene at the conference where Jace rides into the dining room on a horse!! I will leave it to you to find out more…

The blurb above covers the beginning of the story well and to tell you more I would have to include a huge spoiler! I saw it coming a few paragraphs early, but you can’t talk about the story much without giving the game away so I won’t do that.

Victoria has written interesting characters, I liked both Katherine and Robyn. Katherine has been a bit battered by her love life and brings that to the situations she finds herself in. As an Austen lecturer she is very knowledgeable and her thought s are often turning to Austen and Darcy in particular. She gives voice to that feeling that we might all have that it is unfortunate that there is only one Mr Darcy and no-one else quite seems to measure up. Robyn on the other hand has got stuck in a rut in her love life but is much more naïve than Katherine, and although she also is in love with the thought of Darcy she is romantic enough to believe it is possible (although maybe not for her…).

There is more than one love story in this story, which I enjoyed, shifting the focus between the two women also allowed Victoria to use different parts of Austen, falling in love with the wrong people, the help of chaperones, waiting for the right time and the right man, overcoming deceit, dealing with first impressions, following your own heart, not settling for second best and so on. I could see Persuasion, Emma, Pride and Prejudice themes all coming out. These themes are often there in romantic literature but with this being an Austen book you can’t help but feel this is not accidental. More than one love story also provides more good looking men to read about too!

Verdict: So in short, if you enjoy Austen (but are not snobby about it) and enjoy a good romance then you should definitely read this. A great light read.
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Sep 09, 2012 Grace rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, chicklit, classics-adaptation-spinoff, austen-bronte-spinoff

It started out quite promising, as the author was capable of good writing...but unfortunately not great plot-building. The characters' actions feel contrived and forced, as though they were doing what they were told b/c it was in the storyline, not because of how it would otherwise go with them. There was also no need for the instantaneous hatred of Lorna (Darcy) by the professor (Elizabeth) just because he happened to accidentally ram into her with his suitcase. Seriously, is there a worse reas...more It started out quite promising, as the author was capable of good writing...but unfortunately not great plot-building. The characters' actions feel contrived and forced, as though they were doing what they were told b/c it was in the storyline, not because of how it would otherwise go with them. There was also no need for the instantaneous hatred of Lorna (Darcy) by the professor (Elizabeth) just because he happened to accidentally ram into her with his suitcase. Seriously, is there a worse reason for hating someone?? That first interaction was contrived and does not give enough credence to the pride/prejudice first impression problem of Darcy/Elizabeth. Lorna shows up at the conference already head over heels in love with the professor anyway, so nothing she does can put him off.

But that wasn't the bad part of the book. The really incredibly bad part was Robyn, whose story seemed to have been plucked out of nowhere for the purpose of adding to the "multiple main characters" trend (or craze) in British chicklit. Whether I like this trend is another issue, but Robyn was written so stupid that you try to skip over the parts where she appears in the book. She is tied down by a boyfriend who doesn't understand her passion for Jane Austen, which is normal in these sorts of books, but worse than that, the boyfriend is a downright loser. There is absolutely nothing about this guy that makes me sympathize with Robyn AT ALL. Not only does he not "get" Robyn (although there's not much to get, as she's rather airheaded), he's even dumber than she is, being content to just drink his weekends away, but he's also just basically a pushy, annoying, oblivious redneck. It was sort of as though the author brainstormed about all the undesirable traits possible in a man and stuffed it all in him. Which made me really look down on Robyn for not shaking him free, just because they had known each other for a long time. For her to have put up with such a loser for that long of a time, she really had to have been a colossal airhead. Additionally, when she starts to like the stablehand (who actually seems attractive and decent), it doesn't redeem her, but makes her seem even more dumb, because it just seems that she liked the first guy on the scene when her redneck boyfriend wasn't around.

I read a lot of Austen spinoffs. Most are pretty terrible, as though people just wrote a romance book and then changed the characters' names to Austen character names. But some (very, very few) actually make it through as an actual book, since Austen had an actual idea and moral she was trying to evince when she wrote the books, and subsequent authors are only trying to copy her idea. This was initially entertaining, and the author is not a bad writer. But the plot and character building was terrible. It would have been better if she had just stuck with Katherine and Lorna.(less)

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Jun 17, 2012 Cara rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read a ton of Jane Austen related fiction. Not so much the sequels, but modern day women who love Austen and connect with her in their daily lives. Some of it is horrifically bad, but some are good.

This is one of the good ones.

Dr. Katherine Roberts looks forward to the Jane Austen Conference held every year. She's a presenter, and this year her anticipation is heightened because she believes that her favorite racy romance author, Lorna Warwick, will make an appearance. Katherine loves Warwic...more

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Jun 13, 2012 Choi Tang rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I started this book with a slight prejudice as I'm not a fan of novels that try to bring Darcy to the modern world to see how he would fit in in modern society. My prejudice was completely misplaced as this book had nothing to do with that. Set during a Jane Austen conference weekend, I struggle to see where Darcy even comes in to the story apart from the bits of the conference that refer to "Pride and Prejudice". As a reviewer already mentioned, Connelly definetly crammed too much action into t...more I started this book with a slight prejudice as I'm not a fan of novels that try to bring Darcy to the modern world to see how he would fit in in modern society. My prejudice was completely misplaced as this book had nothing to do with that. Set during a Jane Austen conference weekend, I struggle to see where Darcy even comes in to the story apart from the bits of the conference that refer to "Pride and Prejudice". As a reviewer already mentioned, Connelly definetly crammed too much action into to short a time period. The relationships that developed in a day were ridiculous in my mind and there were over 40 dull chapters to get through before the obvious finale.

No matter how much (one of) our heroine despised her boyfriend, if she had not got the guts to ditch him, she had no right going around kissing the "handsome stable hand" who was too conveniently placed at the stables of where the conference was held. I couldn't feel sorry or happy for her as I mentioned earlier, the relationship developed much too suddenly and I thought her treatment of her boyfriend to be much too harsh-he claims that she doesn't think him smart enough for her anymore at one point (or something along those lines) and she denys this-unfortunately she was clearly being on the defensive because she blatently does feel so! In fact one of the reasons why the stable hand (who is rich by the way) stole her heart was because he was willing to give Austen a go!

I found the references to Austen's books and characters to be limited, as though Connelly had read and studied three certain novels religiously but felt she should throw in comments about the other three books to prove she has read them too.

One major issue I had with this book was the fact Connelly mentions Georgette Heyer (my favourite author) as one of the many authors who (basically) abuse Austen (and the Regency world) by writing badly/smut. If Connelly isn't prepared to discuss the question of how people feel about other Regency historical fiction writers through her characters (who were having a discussion at the time), she really REALLY should not mention Heyer in passing as it made me immediately question whether Connelly had read enough of this genre to really bring the topic up in the first place.(less)

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Jun 02, 2012 Doug rated it 3 of 5 stars

Connelly has come up with a clever new tactic for reaching the surprisingly healthy market for Jane Austen-related fiction: instead of a working with Austen's characters directly, or even in a Regency setting, she's penned a modern day romance about Austen-obsessed characters. Connelly's own love for Austen shines through, and there's enough solid detail to suggest that Connelly got good value from deductible research junkets. She pokes gentle fun at her coterie of Austen devotees. I enjoyed thi...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Jenn Shanks Pray rated it 5 of 5 stars

This deceptively simple tale of a Austen fan's weekend would, I think, do our great writer proud. Set over the course of a long weekend, A Weekend With Mr. Darcy, tells the tales within a tale - a story about a group of Janeites gathering at a conference to celebrate all things Jane on one level and two simultaneous love stories brewing out of it on another level. Katherine and Warwick's relationship runs the gamut from farcical misunderstandings to deeper deceit and becomes the true testament t...more This deceptively simple tale of a Austen fan's weekend would, I think, do our great writer proud. Set over the course of a long weekend, A Weekend With Mr. Darcy, tells the tales within a tale - a story about a group of Janeites gathering at a conference to celebrate all things Jane on one level and two simultaneous love stories brewing out of it on another level. Katherine and Warwick's relationship runs the gamut from farcical misunderstandings to deeper deceit and becomes the true testament to love overcoming pride. Robyn and Dan's relationship stumbles through the surprise of instant attraction and "love at first sight" and explores love overcoming stasis, fear and the small impediment of Jace, Robyn's outgrown boyfriend.

The storyline is a fresh take on several Austenian plot lines - modernized enough to feel every bit the present day in which it's set. The setting is brilliant, hosted by an eccentric famous actress, Dame Pamela, at her Regency era manor home, Purley Hall. With the descriptions of Hampshire and Winchester, where dear Jane once lived, the modern and historical elements blend seamlessly. The primary characters feel very multi-dimensional and are very sympathetic with their angsty issues and impediments to finding love and happiness. The secondary characters are every bit at colorful and wacky as those in any Jane Austen tale. It is hard not to compare Connelly with her muse, as this work is so obviously inspired by the writings of Jane Austen, and yet it does not attempt to replicate or reincarnate her stories. They are delightfully Austeneque without being shameless forgeries. At times a rollicking romp, at other times a solid romance tale, this reader thoroughly enjoyed A Weekend with Mr. Darcy and it certainly fed the guilty indulgence that is loving Darcy!

RATING: Five deliciously Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries, preferably served at high tea, in the Pump Room in Bath, England, with scones and clotted cream and a pot of properly brewed tea! Sigh.......

This review was originally written for Guilty Indulgence Book Club
http://guiltyindulgencebookclub.blogs...
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Jan 29, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: strong-female-character, like-austen

Wow, this was really a great book.
I expected a Jane Austen romantic tie-in but got more than I expected.
At the start and for the first 1/4 of the book I felt like things were progressing predictably but also how I wanted them to progress. It's a weird feeling, guessing what you want to happen and having that happen. but Victoria Connelly did this well and though I say that events were predictable, the reading wassenior able--I liked what was happening. I was a little disappointed that things pr...more Wow, this was really a great book.
I expected a Jane Austen romantic tie-in but got more than I expected.
At the start and for the first 1/4 of the book I felt like things were progressing predictably but also how I wanted them to progress. It's a weird feeling, guessing what you want to happen and having that happen. but Victoria Connelly did this well and though I say that events were predictable, the reading wassenior able--I liked what was happening. I was a little disappointed that things progressed so quickly at the start.
In the first day or reading, I was ready to mark it 4 stars for a well written and enjoyable read. By the second day and through until the end, I began to be really impressed by the author's writing style. It wasn't showy and distracting, but the author consistently illustrated that she knew her subject. The book began to have a bit of a feel of a non-fiction book, in that the author, through her characters, told the reader quite a bit about Jane Austen fan (Austenites) and about the Jane Austen herself.
I want to be clear, the non-fiction feel is wholly a complement. Victoria Connelly combined the best bits of non-fiction history (interesting subject, entertaining telling, focus on details that make the history come alive), the best bits of memoir (Interesting subject, enjoyable and stylish writing and subtlety) with Jane Austen riffs.
Ms Connelly, I have one serious complaint: This book wasn't long enough. I understand that you are writing two more in this series. if you plan to write the next two as well as you wrote this one, I would be grateful if you doubled the length. I simply wanted to spend more time with your characters and I would be happy to spend that time learning more about them or simply hanging out with them.
For everyone else, come to the book expecting a pleasantly romantic story interspersed with skillfully written lifelike detail, a dynamic portrayal of Jane Austen fans and an entertaining and insightful--and light and interesting--discussion of Jane Austen's writing and influence.

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Dec 24, 2011 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. A book that does what it says on the cover. A Weekend with Mr Darcy, by Victoria Connelly, is a gentle, humorous chic lit intricately linked to the works of Jane Austen. It tells the story of two women with disastrous love lives who find love and happiness through a Jane Austen Conference.

There were a few places in the plot where I felt that the story could have been tighter. For example the student at the beginning of the book who never reappears, or the various other characters, at the confer...more

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Aug 13, 2011 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Katherine Roberts is fed up with men. As a lecturer specialising in the works of Jane Austen, she knows that the ideal man only exists within the pages of Pride & Prejudice and that in real life there is no such thing. Determined to go it alone, she finds all the comfort she needs reading her guilty pleasure - regency romances from the pen of Lorna Warwick - with whom she has now struck up an intimate correspondence.��Austen fanatic, Robyn Love, is blessed with a name full of romance, but he...more

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Jun 27, 2011 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, non-erotic

originally posted http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

A book based on people obsessed with Jane Austen was what initially intrigued me about this story, and what ultimately keep me entertained from beginning to end.

One aspect of this story that I really loved was that it followed two developing relationships. You have Katherine and Warwick, and Robyn and Dan. Both relationships were equally as important, and I was happy to see both being played out simultaneously. Katherine and Warwick’s re...more

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Apr 19, 2011 AvonBooks added it · review of another edition

A romance-filled page-turner for any Austen fanatic who’s ever dreamt of spending a weekend with Mr Darcy…
Katherine Roberts is fed up with men. As a lecturer specialising in the works of Jane Austen, she knows that the ideal man only exists within the pages of Pride & Prejudice and that in real life there is no such thing. Determined to go it alone, she finds all the comfort she needs reading her guilty pleasure - regency romances from the pen of Lorna Warwick - with whom she has now struck...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Amy rated it 1 of 5 stars

This was terrible. I didn't want to spend an hour with this book, let alone a whole weekend or more. My own sentiments mirror those of some of the other reviewers, believing this author to be in firm need of an editor among other things. From the overpowering and somewhat overworked language, to the very unlikeable characters and contrived plot, I found myself wanting to give up on this book after page five. The main character is ridiculous and feels oddly like a Mary Sue -- something very par f...more This was terrible. I didn't want to spend an hour with this book, let alone a whole weekend or more. My own sentiments mirror those of some of the other reviewers, believing this author to be in firm need of an editor among other things. From the overpowering and somewhat overworked language, to the very unlikeable characters and contrived plot, I found myself wanting to give up on this book after page five. The main character is ridiculous and feels oddly like a Mary Sue -- something very par for the course when it comes to Austen adaptations and rewrites. The plot twist (which wasn't much of a twist) felt like an M. Night Shyamalan film. By page four I had a very strong inkling of exactly what the twist was, and by page eleven I knew without a doubt and was very very disappointed that the author had gone that route. I put up a good fight and struggled through the next fifty pages or so before skimming over the rest and declaring the book unreadable.

I like a good Austen adaptation as much as the next fan. I've done the fanfiction circuit. I've spent my fair share of time drooling over a sideburn bedecked Colin Firth emerging from a pond, soaking wet and delicious as can be, wishing it were me he was staring at while he called me his dearest and loveliest. But for the few truly good adaptations/rewrites/modern takes -- whatever you want to call them -- it seems there are at least half a dozen absolutely ridiculous ones. This is one such ridiculous one. The one dimensional characters, overwrought writing style, and transparent plot all make for a bad combination. Had it been possible to give this book 0 stars, I would have.
Ms. Connelly may be a great author. And honestly, I have to give her kudos for writing and publishing a book. I have more than a few unpublished, some unfinished, manuscripts lying around my hard drive collecting cyber dust. _A Weekend with Mr. Darcy_ was just not a good example of Ms. Connelly's talent, but I wish her all the best in future endeavors.(less)

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Jan 10, 2013 Sheila rated it 4 of 5 stars

I got this book as a Christmas present and the title immediately appealed, being a Jane Austen lover - I started reading it the very next day! It didn't disappoint. The action takes place around a Jane Austen weekend and consists of two different romance situations. In one, a Dr of Literature and Jane Austen specialist comes face-to-face with her favourite 'chick-lit' style author, Lorna Warwick but she doesn't realise it as Lorna is really a man called Warwick Lawton. The Dr, Katherine,has pour...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Tanisha Peck rated it 2 of 5 stars

I am sort of on the fence about this book. I really liked the many references to Jane Austen, the dual main characters, and the idea behind this book. My main problem was with the characters themselves. I had a hard time connecting with Katherine, and I would even go as far to say I didn't like her. Her fear of being "discovered" and even fired for reading romance novels was ridiculous. Her feeling of being betrayed by Warwick was a bit dramatic. I didn't think that his actions were so terrible...more

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Aug 11, 2011 Danielle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ja-and-sequels

This was a really sweet and funny book. I truly enjoyed it. The writing was wonderful and the story flowed beautifully. I really loved having a few of my favorite lines quoted, specifically the letter from Persuasion. It was hard to put down once you started so don't try to read a little on your lunch hour like I did. =)

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Jun 12, 2011 Megan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway - my first. I never win anything - but this one came within a few days of winning a drawing for a book in the Romantic Historical Fiction Lovers one year anniversary celebration! Go figure.

The novel is about 4 people who attend a Jane Austen Conference held by famous actress in her home/estate in Hampshire near Chawton.

Katherine Roberts is a professor of literature in Oxford and a diehard Janeite. She has had a string of disappointing romances, most...more

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Sep 04, 2010 Sarah Broadhurst rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When i received this book I couldn't wait to start it. As with many women I love anything Jane Austin!!
The main character of the book is Katherine Roberts, an English Professor, who also writes books about Jane Austen. She is asked to speak at an annual Jane Austen Conference and falls for a male attendee of the course, who has a secret to conceal.
The other main character is that on Robyn who also loves Jane Austen and is attending the convention, looking forward to an weekend spent with other p...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Patti Loves FAB Romance rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary

Dr. Katherine Roberts is a Jane Austen lecturer at Oxford, but her guilty pleasure is reading historical romance by her favorite author, Lorna Warwick. She keeps this guilty pleasure hidden, as her colleagues would not be very accepting of anything less than "pure" literature. She's agreed to speak at a Jane Austen weekend, and she's hoping Lorna Warwick will be there - they've been exchanging letters and Katherine is excited that they might finally meet.

Warwick Lawton has a dilemma - he knows K...more Dr. Katherine Roberts is a Jane Austen lecturer at Oxford, but her guilty pleasure is reading historical romance by her favorite author, Lorna Warwick. She keeps this guilty pleasure hidden, as her colleagues would not be very accepting of anything less than "pure" literature. She's agreed to speak at a Jane Austen weekend, and she's hoping Lorna Warwick will be there - they've been exchanging letters and Katherine is excited that they might finally meet.

Warwick Lawton has a dilemma - he knows Katherine Roberts, thinks he might be in love with her, but she doesn't realize she knows him. He plans to sweep her off her feet at the Jane Austen weekend but isn't sure how to go about doing it.

Robyn love is so excited about her upcoming Jane Austen weekend - she's having second and third thoughts about her boyfriend and she's looking forward to getting away and thinking about her future and wallowing in everything Jane Austen. Things don't go quite as planned when her boyfriend, Jace, shows up to spend time with her while she's at the conference. Later she runs into a mysterious stranger on horseback who makes her take a good hard look at her life and her relationship with Jace.

My thoughts:
As the story opens, we get a brief glimpse at Katherine's failed past relationships and Warwick's dilemma - he wants Katherine to know him for who he is, not what he is. Katherine is supposed to be a smart, sympathetic heroine, but I do think it was a bit of a stretch that she didn't figure out Warwick's secret much earlier. Their relationship progressed in spurts and stops - she goes from avoiding him after he runs her foot over with a suitcase, to "true love", to her discovery of his secret and the subsequent feelings of betrayal; this all in the course of one weekend.

When Robyn was introduced, I thought for sure I'd be more interested in Katherine's story, but I was pleasantly surprised by Robyn. She's trapped in a boring job and her boyfriend's a boor; she's pretty much a doormat. But, once she's at the JA weekend, she meets the fellow attendees and tries to view her life as Jane would have viewed it. There were several scenes where I thought, "Robyn, what are you doing - here's your chance to make a change!" But, as in real life, change does not happen overnight. I enjoyed Robyn's path to self-awareness and self-worth, and Jace was a really cringe-worthy anti-hero.

I enjoyed the descriptions of the period costumes, the places where Jane Austen frequented while she was alive, and mentions of her family. There are also several references to other Jane Austen authors and their books, which I thought was a nice "shout out" to this popular genre.

All in all, two sweet romances filled with fabulous Jane Austen references and history. A Weekend With Mr. Darcy made me want to pick up my own copy of Pride and Prejudice for a nice, comforting re-read.(less)

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Jan 24, 2013 Diana Francis rated it 2 of 5 stars

I really wanted to love this book. First, I'm an academic specializing in the same era. Second, I'm a writer. Between the two, I absolutely was delighted by the premise of this book. But it just didn't work for me on a number of fronts. One of the issues was that Warwick came off as so slimey when he started using her letters to make her like him. He actually read her letters in order to find ways to get more connected. It just felt so slimey that it was hard to sympathize with him.

The agent th...more

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Jun 15, 2011 Katherine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, first-reads

*First Reads Winner* (Yay! First time!)

I've always enjoyed the stories of Jane Austen, but have never been able to really get into her style of writing. That being said, it was very refreshing to read a book that had the romance of Jane Austen without the painful struggle to understand what the heck is going on.

All three main characters were likable, although their actions didn't always seem very realistic. It was difficult for me to relate to their impulsiveness, and honestly, I was a bit creep...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Serena rated it 4 of 5 stars

A Weekend With Mr. Darcy by Victoria Connelly is a summer read for Austenites and those who want to have fun. Set in modern day England, Dr. Katherine Roberts works too hard as a professor at St. Bridget’s College in Oxford and sees her role as lecturer at the Jane Austen Conference as a way for her to get away and relax. She befriends regency romance author Lorna Warwick through letters and hopes that the conference will put a face to the name she’s begun to call friend. Meanwhile, Robyn is stu...more

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Jan 30, 2012 Kat rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, jane-austen, read-in-2012

I'm not sure how many books it'll take before Mr. Darcy's name is squeezed dry, but it doesn't seem like the trend will be dying anytime soon. I admittedly am drawn to a book if it has "Darcy" in the title. However, in some cases — as with A Weekend With Mr. Darcy — Jane Austen's most popular hero has nothing to do with the plot of these novels.

Katherine Roberts, a university lecturer, has had it with men. After her previous boyfriend David ended up being married, she has sworn to avoid love at...more I'm not sure how many books it'll take before Mr. Darcy's name is squeezed dry, but it doesn't seem like the trend will be dying anytime soon. I admittedly am drawn to a book if it has "Darcy" in the title. However, in some cases — as with A Weekend With Mr. Darcy — Jane Austen's most popular hero has nothing to do with the plot of these novels.

Katherine Roberts, a university lecturer, has had it with men. After her previous boyfriend David ended up being married, she has sworn to avoid love at all costs. Instead, she immerses herself in Jane Austen's novels, as well as the racy Regency romances of Lorna Warwick. Katherine develops a deep friendship with Lorna through the exchange of letters with the author. When Katherine goes to a Jane Austen conference in the Purley countryside, Lorna Warwick attends as well, in the hope of meeting Katherine face to face. But Lorna has a secret — she's really a man named Warwick Lawton. The two meet and hit it off very well, but Katherine has no idea Warwick is her favorite romance author. Their friendship very rapidly turns into an intense romance, and it becomes more difficult for Warwick to hide his true identity from Katherine.

Robyn Love, the other protagonist, is young and in a dead-end relationship with her long-term boyfriend Jace. They've known each other since they were kids, and she stays with him out of obligation, not out of love. When she goes to the Jane Austen conference, he insists on going with her, much to her chagrin. But while wandering outdoors, Robyn meets the strappingly handsome Dan Harcourt, who's physically perfect in every day. He even agrees to read Pride and Prejudice, something Jace would never consider doing. Robyn falls hard for Dan, but feels trapped because it's challenging for her to end her relationship with Jace.

I found it so implausible that these two women, over the course of a few days, would meet and fall passionately in love with men who are "perfect" for them. This doesn't even happen in Austen's novels, where the characters gradually come to know each other over months. Katherine and Robyn are stereotypical female protagonists in a chick-lit novel. And, like in most chick-lit novels, they end up meeting the men of their dreams.

The story was totally predictable, but still enjoyable. And I liked the details about Chawton cottage and the many references to Austen's novels and characters. Once in a while I like to read a bit of light romance, and A Weekend with Mr. Darcy provides just that.
(less)

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Mar 11, 2012 Alma E Marquez rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a delightful & fun read. Robyn truly is obsessed with Jane Austen. I can't say I blame her but some of her parts were a little much even for the most avid Austen fan. But it is witty, funny & vastly entertaining.

Many parts had me literslly laughing out loud (& scaring my bulldog to death in the middle of the night). I've never been to an Austen convention or anything & after reading this book I really want to go to one. The author made it sound like so much fun & so...more

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About Victoria Connelly

Victoria Connelly grew up in Norfolk before attending Worcester College where she studied English Literature. After graduating, she worked her way through a number of jobs before becoming a teacher in North Yorkshire.

In 2000, she got married in a medieval castle in the Yorkshire Dales and moved to London. Five weeks after their wedding, her husband, a television news cameraman, was sent to Israel....more

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Books by Victoria Connelly

Dreaming of Mr. Darcy (Austen Addicts #2)

Christmas with Mr Darcy (an Austen Addicts story)

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