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Reflections #2
A Tarnished Image: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Is there anything more perfect than a romantic wedding and a honeymoon in paradise? The happy ending that began in Reflections continues as Elizabeth and Will Darcy settle into married life. Their rambunctious two-year-old son, Elizabeth's new job, a meddling mother-in-law, and Will's daily lessons about fatherhood are among the inescapable challenges that are simultaneously frustrating and amusing. The newly married couple discovers the complexity of family life and their need for one another when past ghosts unexpectedly return, casting a shadow on the happy life they are building.
222 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2013
18 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 12, 2021
This second in a series of three has a lot more angst than the first installment. The first half of the story has more to do with the relationship between Will and Elizabeth and, for him, his relationship with his young son. As he tries to make up for missing William's birth and the first two years of his life, Will finds chaos ensues when he takes his eye off his son for even a minute or when he attempts to give him everything he wants. Elizabeth gives him the routine with which William is familiar but Will ignores it. Elizabeth also finds herself pregnant again. Georgiana finds love.
Throughout the tale we are given glimpses of what is happening with Wickham and Lydia. She spends time in jail and is abandoned by him in Canada. It is when Will learns that Lydia is back at Longbourn and Wickham is in London that near-disaster hits...with a vengeance. I won't say what as that would spoil it for you. However know this. The latter part of the story is more realistic as arguments, threats and time apart test the relationship. (IMHO: Few marriages are without times of testing.)
As there is another story after this I am wondering what could be added to this story. This couple has been through a lot but both declare that their love is forever. Will it be tested further or is the next story about life around them and/or their friends and relatives?
Throughout the tale we are given glimpses of what is happening with Wickham and Lydia. She spends time in jail and is abandoned by him in Canada. It is when Will learns that Lydia is back at Longbourn and Wickham is in London that near-disaster hits...with a vengeance. I won't say what as that would spoil it for you. However know this. The latter part of the story is more realistic as arguments, threats and time apart test the relationship. (IMHO: Few marriages are without times of testing.)
As there is another story after this I am wondering what could be added to this story. This couple has been through a lot but both declare that their love is forever. Will it be tested further or is the next story about life around them and/or their friends and relatives?
June 8, 2021
Book Two - Reflections
Nicely done! So what I kept expecting in Book One finally happened in this book. I enjoyed this well-written modern variation, and recommend both volumes.
Nicely done! So what I kept expecting in Book One finally happened in this book. I enjoyed this well-written modern variation, and recommend both volumes.
June 5, 2018
Although now married it can never run smoothly for Darcy and Elizabeth especially when they don't listen to each other and George Wickham comes back into their lives.
I did finish the book but I admit to being a bit bored with the story.
I did finish the book but I admit to being a bit bored with the story.
March 27, 2015
A Tarnished Image (Reflections)
Continuation of the first book Reflections by Linda Gonschior. This story opens with wicked Wickham being let out of jail in Canada, while looney Lydia remains jailed for six months, because all the illegal schemes and cons Wickham set up Lydia signed the phony documents. In three years they have managed to go through most of the £250.000 that they scammed from Darcy except for some money George had hidden. His plans are to slowly return to England while trying once more to procure more money. Eventually, he arrives in London and stays with Mrs. Younge. Meanwhile, Darcy has taken Lizzy, with their son and Nanny, to Tahiti to elope and spend three weeks on their honeymoon. Georgiana comes to Pemberley that weekend with her boyfriend, Brian. From Mrs. Reynolds, she finds out that they didn't go to London as he told Georgiana. She decides for not being at the wedding, she is going to throw a family reception on the day of their return. She's picking up some of Lizzy's spunky attitudes. Darcy works from home most of time so he decides to play Mr. Dad! Still can't figure out why they didn't keep the Nanny, but then Darcy's time with his son wouldn't be so funny. William is an entertaining and energetic little three-year old, and Darcy has not one idea how to parent the child. Every day when she arrives home from work, another horror story unfolds. She writes out a schedule and tells Darcy to follow it to the letter! How hard he tried is anyone's guess, but after deleted files from poking little hands, and documents having crayon colors he didn't know existed, he decides to be a little tougher on William than he's been. At first, William throws tiny tantrums, because his Daddy has gotten too strict. But after sticking to the schedule, everything turns out better for the family, not to mention all of the house staff. Darcy finally meets Brian without any interference from other family members, and the two gentlemen try to out drink one another. Darcy wants to loosen his tongue so he can integrate him. After finding out more than he really wanted to hear or know, they both need help stumbling to bed where in the morning neither will remember what was said. Lizzy finds out she is pregnant again, and again after picnic in their favorite meadow. Both are ecstatic. Darcy is sure it's a girl, so Lizzy tells him he gets to name her, but just in case, think of a boy's name. Brian and Georgiana become engaged with Darcy's blessings, and Lydia has been deported from Canada. Her mother continues to coddle her daily and the little devious actress she is, looks the part of a repentant daughter. Father knows differently. Finding Wickham in London in one of the bars they hung out at, Lydia tells him everything about the Darcys. He begins to weave his next plot to get money from Darcy. However, Darcy knows that if Lydia is back so is Wickham, and he knows Wickham's in need of money and will do anything to get it. He now has too much to lose, and he bent on finding him, because he's worried Wickham will abduct William and/or Lizzy, and he's not waiting for that to happen. Getting a call from his investigator, he leaves for London. When Lizzy tries to reason with him, he yells some very harsh words that cut her deeply, and he storms out of Pemberley. He meets Wickham in a shady part of London, chases him, and they fight. While they are fighting, six thugs confront them. One is ordered to attack. Wickham tells Darcy to move back he's got this. The two fight, and Wickham kills him. Two others are sent in to take Wickham down which they do. Turning to Darcy, they stab him twice and take his belongings. When the police arrive, they find Darcy's wallet, and the chief Inspector heads to Pemberley. Charles answers the door and hearing only that two people were dead, one being Wickham so she figures the other is Darcy. At eight months pregnant, she runs out of the house with no outer garments and runs to their meadow. Everyone is searching for her when Bingley remembers the meadow. When they find her, she has collapsed in the snow. While Charles is carrying her back to the house, she goes into premature labor. Lizzy is in the hospital at Sheffield while Darcy is in the hospital in London. Arrangements are being made to move Will to Sheffield if he continues to improve. Within days the heavily sedated Will was moved. Lizzy knows not to say anything about what's happened. She just wants to see and hold Will. He knows the storm is coming. Recuperating at Pemberley, Will tries to get close to Lizzy, but realizes the storm is still brewing. Finally, he approaches her, and she let loose with her thoughts, feelings, and confronted him with what he said. He is apologizing, but when he looks, Lizzy has gone. He cannot find her and sees she has taken William. Afraid that she has left, he decides that he is leaving so that with him gone to London, she'll be here at Pemberley. Worried, Mrs. Reynolds calls Georgiana. When Georgiana arrives, she finds Will in the nursery with Anna. When he tells her to leave, Georgiana waits to confront Lizzy. She says things that she'll soon regret. Will hears her and asks her to leave Pemberley. Realizing she over stepped her bounds, she calls Brian. He calms her down and tells her he will call to check on them. He could tell by his response, and Lizzy's in the background, they were fine and he had interrupted them. When Darcy tells him to call Georgiana and tell her they're okay, he realizes the both saw through his flimsy excuse to call. The story ends with the wedding of Brian and Georgiana, their happiness, and seeing the happiness of her brother and Lizzy. Even Lady Catherine agrees to visit Pemberley to see Anna Elizabeth Emily, because she's his daughter and will lower herself to meet Elizabeth's son, not believing that he's Darcy's child. She's nuttier than a fruitcake! Was a great ending with the promise of total happiness at last. Maybe when it's warm, there will be another picnic in the meadow.
Continuation of the first book Reflections by Linda Gonschior. This story opens with wicked Wickham being let out of jail in Canada, while looney Lydia remains jailed for six months, because all the illegal schemes and cons Wickham set up Lydia signed the phony documents. In three years they have managed to go through most of the £250.000 that they scammed from Darcy except for some money George had hidden. His plans are to slowly return to England while trying once more to procure more money. Eventually, he arrives in London and stays with Mrs. Younge. Meanwhile, Darcy has taken Lizzy, with their son and Nanny, to Tahiti to elope and spend three weeks on their honeymoon. Georgiana comes to Pemberley that weekend with her boyfriend, Brian. From Mrs. Reynolds, she finds out that they didn't go to London as he told Georgiana. She decides for not being at the wedding, she is going to throw a family reception on the day of their return. She's picking up some of Lizzy's spunky attitudes. Darcy works from home most of time so he decides to play Mr. Dad! Still can't figure out why they didn't keep the Nanny, but then Darcy's time with his son wouldn't be so funny. William is an entertaining and energetic little three-year old, and Darcy has not one idea how to parent the child. Every day when she arrives home from work, another horror story unfolds. She writes out a schedule and tells Darcy to follow it to the letter! How hard he tried is anyone's guess, but after deleted files from poking little hands, and documents having crayon colors he didn't know existed, he decides to be a little tougher on William than he's been. At first, William throws tiny tantrums, because his Daddy has gotten too strict. But after sticking to the schedule, everything turns out better for the family, not to mention all of the house staff. Darcy finally meets Brian without any interference from other family members, and the two gentlemen try to out drink one another. Darcy wants to loosen his tongue so he can integrate him. After finding out more than he really wanted to hear or know, they both need help stumbling to bed where in the morning neither will remember what was said. Lizzy finds out she is pregnant again, and again after picnic in their favorite meadow. Both are ecstatic. Darcy is sure it's a girl, so Lizzy tells him he gets to name her, but just in case, think of a boy's name. Brian and Georgiana become engaged with Darcy's blessings, and Lydia has been deported from Canada. Her mother continues to coddle her daily and the little devious actress she is, looks the part of a repentant daughter. Father knows differently. Finding Wickham in London in one of the bars they hung out at, Lydia tells him everything about the Darcys. He begins to weave his next plot to get money from Darcy. However, Darcy knows that if Lydia is back so is Wickham, and he knows Wickham's in need of money and will do anything to get it. He now has too much to lose, and he bent on finding him, because he's worried Wickham will abduct William and/or Lizzy, and he's not waiting for that to happen. Getting a call from his investigator, he leaves for London. When Lizzy tries to reason with him, he yells some very harsh words that cut her deeply, and he storms out of Pemberley. He meets Wickham in a shady part of London, chases him, and they fight. While they are fighting, six thugs confront them. One is ordered to attack. Wickham tells Darcy to move back he's got this. The two fight, and Wickham kills him. Two others are sent in to take Wickham down which they do. Turning to Darcy, they stab him twice and take his belongings. When the police arrive, they find Darcy's wallet, and the chief Inspector heads to Pemberley. Charles answers the door and hearing only that two people were dead, one being Wickham so she figures the other is Darcy. At eight months pregnant, she runs out of the house with no outer garments and runs to their meadow. Everyone is searching for her when Bingley remembers the meadow. When they find her, she has collapsed in the snow. While Charles is carrying her back to the house, she goes into premature labor. Lizzy is in the hospital at Sheffield while Darcy is in the hospital in London. Arrangements are being made to move Will to Sheffield if he continues to improve. Within days the heavily sedated Will was moved. Lizzy knows not to say anything about what's happened. She just wants to see and hold Will. He knows the storm is coming. Recuperating at Pemberley, Will tries to get close to Lizzy, but realizes the storm is still brewing. Finally, he approaches her, and she let loose with her thoughts, feelings, and confronted him with what he said. He is apologizing, but when he looks, Lizzy has gone. He cannot find her and sees she has taken William. Afraid that she has left, he decides that he is leaving so that with him gone to London, she'll be here at Pemberley. Worried, Mrs. Reynolds calls Georgiana. When Georgiana arrives, she finds Will in the nursery with Anna. When he tells her to leave, Georgiana waits to confront Lizzy. She says things that she'll soon regret. Will hears her and asks her to leave Pemberley. Realizing she over stepped her bounds, she calls Brian. He calms her down and tells her he will call to check on them. He could tell by his response, and Lizzy's in the background, they were fine and he had interrupted them. When Darcy tells him to call Georgiana and tell her they're okay, he realizes the both saw through his flimsy excuse to call. The story ends with the wedding of Brian and Georgiana, their happiness, and seeing the happiness of her brother and Lizzy. Even Lady Catherine agrees to visit Pemberley to see Anna Elizabeth Emily, because she's his daughter and will lower herself to meet Elizabeth's son, not believing that he's Darcy's child. She's nuttier than a fruitcake! Was a great ending with the promise of total happiness at last. Maybe when it's warm, there will be another picnic in the meadow.
May 18, 2022
Lovely
This continuation to "Reflections" brings the every day lives of the characters and some new adventures too.
Really enjoyable experience.
This continuation to "Reflections" brings the every day lives of the characters and some new adventures too.
Really enjoyable experience.
July 20, 2022
Too much Wickham and we never learn exactly what happened between Darcy and Wickham and Lydia.
Very melodramatic ending. I was furious at Darcy, too.
Very melodramatic ending. I was furious at Darcy, too.
June 7, 2021
Linda Gonschior – P&J Variation Bk 2 – A Tarnished Image – Reviewed 6/6/21 – Read 6/3-4/21
Rejoining Will & Elizabeth, they gave us one of the most romantic weddings and honeymoon, Tahiti!
We find the couple happily rejoined and enjoying the love that they found at the end of the previous book. Their only problem, as everyone knows, is adjusting to married life, and even more complicated with their high-spirited two-year-old son. Will’s sedate and orderly life as he had known it, will never grace the halls of Pemberley again. When out of the blue Elizabeth’s mother receives a postcard from Lydia. As we discovered previously, Lydia and George Wickham had run off together after fleecing Will for a great sum of money.
This sets off a chain of reactions that leads Will to believed that Wickham would be returning to England. He decides that it is time that he takes care of the past that has been over-hanging their wonderful life. Will puts his mind to taking care of this with a vengeance that Elizabeth has never seen before. When Will, receives word that Wickham is in London he decides to go after him by himself!
Join Will and Elizabeth as they battle the ghosts from their past, one that has been casting a shadow on their happiness…
What did I like? As I told you before, I was hooked after I got over the shock of our famous couple being in the 20th century. But I certainly loved the way that the author took her liberties and wove this fascinating storyline. Again, I am bowled over by the intensity of the results. She certainly converted the wickedness of George Wickham and brought him to new levels of deviltry. My heart was broken with the outcome, and the tears fell for hours, but you will have to read this to understand why, as I don’t want to spoil this wonderful version of this famous couple’s life.
What will you like? Nothing has changed, it has only become so much more interesting and exciting. The storyline explodes with the action of the past encroaching on our couple. The outcome will amaze you and prepare you for the next book, ‘Parallels’ that will be releasing tomorrow. Don’t miss this amazing version of Pride and Prejudice that will take you places that will astound you. Linda Gonschior’s ‘A Tarnished Image’ is available now.
• ASIN: B00FLJV0W2
• Publisher: Meryton Press
• Publication Date: 10/2/2013
• File Size: 957 KB
• Print Length: 222 pages
• Genre: Contemporary Romance Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Women's Romance Fiction
Rejoining Will & Elizabeth, they gave us one of the most romantic weddings and honeymoon, Tahiti!
We find the couple happily rejoined and enjoying the love that they found at the end of the previous book. Their only problem, as everyone knows, is adjusting to married life, and even more complicated with their high-spirited two-year-old son. Will’s sedate and orderly life as he had known it, will never grace the halls of Pemberley again. When out of the blue Elizabeth’s mother receives a postcard from Lydia. As we discovered previously, Lydia and George Wickham had run off together after fleecing Will for a great sum of money.
This sets off a chain of reactions that leads Will to believed that Wickham would be returning to England. He decides that it is time that he takes care of the past that has been over-hanging their wonderful life. Will puts his mind to taking care of this with a vengeance that Elizabeth has never seen before. When Will, receives word that Wickham is in London he decides to go after him by himself!
Join Will and Elizabeth as they battle the ghosts from their past, one that has been casting a shadow on their happiness…
What did I like? As I told you before, I was hooked after I got over the shock of our famous couple being in the 20th century. But I certainly loved the way that the author took her liberties and wove this fascinating storyline. Again, I am bowled over by the intensity of the results. She certainly converted the wickedness of George Wickham and brought him to new levels of deviltry. My heart was broken with the outcome, and the tears fell for hours, but you will have to read this to understand why, as I don’t want to spoil this wonderful version of this famous couple’s life.
What will you like? Nothing has changed, it has only become so much more interesting and exciting. The storyline explodes with the action of the past encroaching on our couple. The outcome will amaze you and prepare you for the next book, ‘Parallels’ that will be releasing tomorrow. Don’t miss this amazing version of Pride and Prejudice that will take you places that will astound you. Linda Gonschior’s ‘A Tarnished Image’ is available now.
• ASIN: B00FLJV0W2
• Publisher: Meryton Press
• Publication Date: 10/2/2013
• File Size: 957 KB
• Print Length: 222 pages
• Genre: Contemporary Romance Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Women's Romance Fiction
March 3, 2019
Good book
Great beginning. A little slow and probably better editing would have helped. I have enjoyed the ending and overall I enjoyed the book.
Great beginning. A little slow and probably better editing would have helped. I have enjoyed the ending and overall I enjoyed the book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews