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Kiss Me Good Night, Major Darcy
1943 . World War II has torn the continent since 1939 and tested families, the Bennets included. Elizabeth and Jane nurse wounded soldiers and civilians in a London hospital. The other sisters volunteer as best suits their inclinations. Mr. Bennet rattles about Longbourn. Wickham sniffs about the edges of the estate—and the Bennet daughters. Even the ever-present threat of death from the skies cannot prepare Jane and Lizzy for the most devastating news. The words one never wishes to hear are delivered by two officers, each scarred by years on the front lines. In the dark days that follow, devotion is tested, and affection blooms. Kiss Me Good Night, Major Darcy drops Jane Austen’s timeless characters into the midst of the most horrific conflict in human history. Their trail twists and encounters those who would turn sacrifice to their profit. Follow the women of Longbourn as they navigate the rocks and shoals of wartime Great Britain to endure misunderstandings and discover lasting love.
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212 pages, Paperback
Published June 28, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 28, 2022
I enjoyed this story. Partly because there is some angst to it. I took off a 1/2 point for the abrupt ending but then added 1/2 point back in due to the author giving us 7 links to YouTube music which fits in with the story.
As the story description tells us this story is set in WWII in England (and a little bit in France). Mrs. Bennet is dead, and Mr. Bennet lives at Longbourn. Jane, Elizabeth, Kitty and Lydia, serve in the Volunteer Aid Detachment at St. Andrews as the story begins. They rarely get any time off and work long hours. Mary, living at Longbourn, works on a neighboring farm (in the Land Army) due to the farm workers having gone off to war.
Much of the story gives us history lessons as we hear of what is happening on the war front, the Battle of the Bulge, D-Day, the atomic bombing of the 2 Japanese cities, etc. The Blitz of London is part of what our characters live through. We also read of the interaction between the soldiers and the local women in the hospital setting and at a rare dance.
Major Darcy and Captain Bingley are both back in England due to some wounds and the need to heal. Darcy has an eye patch while Bingley has a broken arm. They arrive on the scene as messengers of bad news. (I won't spoil the story here but know that the news has a drastic affect on one sister is particular but also on the others as they love and support her.)
Of course, there is the romantic element. With the two men still being on active duty they are not always nearby and so there is some angst as to what action they face and if they are safe. Wickham is part of the story but he soon is shown for the coward he is. But he, as in canon, provides some tension and lies about Darcy.
I recommend highly this story.
As the story description tells us this story is set in WWII in England (and a little bit in France). Mrs. Bennet is dead, and Mr. Bennet lives at Longbourn. Jane, Elizabeth, Kitty and Lydia, serve in the Volunteer Aid Detachment at St. Andrews as the story begins. They rarely get any time off and work long hours. Mary, living at Longbourn, works on a neighboring farm (in the Land Army) due to the farm workers having gone off to war.
Much of the story gives us history lessons as we hear of what is happening on the war front, the Battle of the Bulge, D-Day, the atomic bombing of the 2 Japanese cities, etc. The Blitz of London is part of what our characters live through. We also read of the interaction between the soldiers and the local women in the hospital setting and at a rare dance.
Major Darcy and Captain Bingley are both back in England due to some wounds and the need to heal. Darcy has an eye patch while Bingley has a broken arm. They arrive on the scene as messengers of bad news. (I won't spoil the story here but know that the news has a drastic affect on one sister is particular but also on the others as they love and support her.)
Of course, there is the romantic element. With the two men still being on active duty they are not always nearby and so there is some angst as to what action they face and if they are safe. Wickham is part of the story but he soon is shown for the coward he is. But he, as in canon, provides some tension and lies about Darcy.
I recommend highly this story.
June 1, 2023
WW-II Romance
All the elements for a good Pride and Prejudice variation are here in this WWII romance. Jane and Elizabeth are nurses, Mary works the farms with the Women’s Land Army, and Kitty and Lydia are hospital volunteers. Major Darcy and Captain Bingley are in the army. Mr. Bennet is a widower. Wickham is a scoundrel and a coward, as per usual, and the other minor characters are all included.
As the story begins, Jane is engaged to someone other than Charles Bingley. Her fiancé’s letters will make you weep. This early part of the book really drew me in emotionally. The rest of the book takes place over an 18-month period as they all make their way through wartime struggles.
I enjoyed the book very much, but for me the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy lacked passion. I don’t mean sexually (although I never mind that), but I would have liked to see more bonding between them. I thought the book ended too quickly with just their engagement. I needed more time with them as a happy couple.
It’s a very good book—well written and edited, and very clean and sweet. Recommend
May 31, 2023 - Audiobook
The narration by Jannie Meisberger is also very good, and I like this narrator. Her various character voices are good, but in this book, I felt like her cadence or intonation at the end of sentences fell and sounded flat very often. Otherwise very good. I received a free promotional code for this audiobook.
All the elements for a good Pride and Prejudice variation are here in this WWII romance. Jane and Elizabeth are nurses, Mary works the farms with the Women’s Land Army, and Kitty and Lydia are hospital volunteers. Major Darcy and Captain Bingley are in the army. Mr. Bennet is a widower. Wickham is a scoundrel and a coward, as per usual, and the other minor characters are all included.
As the story begins, Jane is engaged to someone other than Charles Bingley. Her fiancé’s letters will make you weep. This early part of the book really drew me in emotionally. The rest of the book takes place over an 18-month period as they all make their way through wartime struggles.
I enjoyed the book very much, but for me the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy lacked passion. I don’t mean sexually (although I never mind that), but I would have liked to see more bonding between them. I thought the book ended too quickly with just their engagement. I needed more time with them as a happy couple.
It’s a very good book—well written and edited, and very clean and sweet. Recommend
May 31, 2023 - Audiobook
The narration by Jannie Meisberger is also very good, and I like this narrator. Her various character voices are good, but in this book, I felt like her cadence or intonation at the end of sentences fell and sounded flat very often. Otherwise very good. I received a free promotional code for this audiobook.
July 7, 2022
3&1/2 stars rounded to 4
This is a tricky one because you can sense what the author is doing with ODC but we never quite get a slow burn romance. It’s more of a series of bad timing, miscommunication, interruptions.
The whole Wickham situation needs to be reconsidered or rewritten. He befriends the Bennet family LONG before Darcy enters the picture. Elizabeth has had maybe 3 brief interactions with him before Wickham tells his tale of woe. What's Wickham's motivation for telling her his troubles with Darcy? There's no "meet cute in Meryton" where D& W lock eyes/E witnesses this. D&E haven't spent days together at Netherfield, or been together at Lucas Lodge. They straight up do no know each other. But yet at the end Wicky & Caro have supposedly been in cahoots to pull them apart since the beginning (before ODC even met?) Wickham never gets his comeuppance for obviously stealing from the supplies or for faking his injury. All he get is yelled at by Lydia & Elizabeth.
This is a tricky one because you can sense what the author is doing with ODC but we never quite get a slow burn romance. It’s more of a series of bad timing, miscommunication, interruptions.
The whole Wickham situation needs to be reconsidered or rewritten. He befriends the Bennet family LONG before Darcy enters the picture. Elizabeth has had maybe 3 brief interactions with him before Wickham tells his tale of woe. What's Wickham's motivation for telling her his troubles with Darcy? There's no "meet cute in Meryton" where D& W lock eyes/E witnesses this. D&E haven't spent days together at Netherfield, or been together at Lucas Lodge. They straight up do no know each other. But yet at the end Wicky & Caro have supposedly been in cahoots to pull them apart since the beginning (before ODC even met?) Wickham never gets his comeuppance for obviously stealing from the supplies or for faking his injury. All he get is yelled at by Lydia & Elizabeth.
August 11, 2022
"We can do this...We are a family, and when all else fails, we Bennets pull together." (quote from the book)
Every now and then I like to step outside the Regency period when reading Pride & Prejudice variations. When I was offered this promotional copy of 'Kiss Me Goodnight, Major Darcy', I jumped at it. I was not disappointed.
War is raging on the Continent and the Germans are dropping bombs on London. Elizabeth and Jane Bennet are nurses working at St. Andrews Hospital with Kitty and Lydia doing their part volunteering there as well. Mary Bennet is a Land Girl working on a nearby farm. Jane is engaged to a soldier fighting in Italy. It is here where Captain Charles Bingley and Major Fitzwilliam Darcy meet them. They have come to deliver a letter.
"I don't know, Lizzy; I just don't know how I can bear any more loss." (quote from the book)
Times were difficult in England. The loss of life was horrendous and the civilians did all they could by pulling together. Rationing of food, gas, and other essentials was a part of life. All these tidbits of historical information were nicely woven in to the story. And one of my favourite desserts was also highlighted...Pavlova!
I enjoyed how each of our beloved characters were portrayed and were true to character, though a few were given a little more depth which I thoroughly appreciated. Our not so beloved characters were their usual selves but for me, were flies that just needed to be swatted!
As for Elizabeth and Darcy, their relationship was a slow build-up for the war did keep them apart. When they were together there was a wariness on Elizabeth's part due to misinformation, his quiet ways, and her need to find fulfillment. I must say I was very satisfied with the final culmination of their relationship.
I think the only quibble I had was the honeymoon location for Jane and Charles Bingley. Due to the ravages of war and the rationing still going on after it, I just felt it wasn't realistic.
I am thankful to have received a promotional copy of this book and do recommend it to all Austenesque and World War II aficionados.
November 9, 2022
Jane Austen’s classic goes to war in this WWII variation of Pride & Prejudice. I love variations and retellings of Austen’s original stories, but particularly when they are dropped into a different time period and the author takes the time to create an authentic backdrop for beloved, familiar characters.
Kiss Me Goodnight, Major Darcy begins during WWII when four of the Bennet sisters are doing their wartime duty working in a London hospital. Jane and Lizzy are nurses and Kitty and Lydia are volunteer aids. Mary is back home with their widowed father as a Land Girl and Mr. Bennet has opened their home to his sister in law and the kids sent there to avoid the bombings.
Jane and Elizabeth meet two handsome, dedicated army officers when they bring the bad news of Jane’s fiancé passing at Monte Cassino and they were in London on medical leave from their regiment. Major Darcy is taciturn and reserved which rubs Lizzy wrong from the start. She judges that he isn’t grieving for his friend like the open Captain Bingley. Then she meets charming Private Wickham who gives her the scoop on Darcy and she figures she pegged him right.
Until things get tough and there Major Darcy is getting her out of the soup, demonstrating active care, and confusing her completely after her first impressions. She starts to soften on him only to decide that a guy like him could never support a woman who plans to go to university and pursue a position a woman has never held as a university professor. The war carries on and takes a further toll and making Elizabeth figure out what is truly important to her.
Kiss Me Goodnight, Major Darcy isn’t a perfectly aligned with the original retelling of P&P and this is how I prefer it when authors move the story into a newer different era. I like seeing how the changing of the times affects the story and that the author alters characters to surprising results. I do love this version of Mary who is eccentric rather than prim and prosy and Charlotte who is a Jamaican immigrant struggling with racial acceptance in rural England. Oh, sure, there are some fun and familiar touchstones- Lizzy still forms a bad first impression, Darcy has to come down off his high horse, Wickham lies, Lydia flirts, Lady Catherine must have her say, Caroline simpers, and Jane and Charles are the charming pair. However, there is the war and its effect- bombings, wounded people, loss, rations, jitterbug dancing, wartime songs (like the title), and a colorful background that shows the author did her homework.
The story was emotionally engaging and the romance fit the war-time setting. Lizzy is aggravated by (aka secretly attracted to) Darcy and wants to believe the worst, but she’s fair to him when she sees proof his quiet, non-boastful actions prove different from her impressions and what she learns of Darcy from Wickham. The romance is believably slow and takes a backseat at times to the work they are both doing and the conflict includes the push-pull of Elizabeth feeling she must be respected as a thinking, individual who doesn’t want to settle for a woman’s usual life since times are changing. She is convinced that a man from a wealthy aristocratic family can’t understand or won’t those things in a wife so they must work this out. The pacing was good and the tone was right for characters and situations of the time. Lizzy did all the narrating, but this don’t hinder the reader from getting the bigger picture of other characters and connections. Darcy was somewhat elusive, but he reveals himself eventually.
All in all, it was a solid, engaging WWII romance that left me jiving to Big Band, glad to not be on rationing, and well satisfied with a story from a new to me author that I can recommend highly.
I rec'd an eARC from Meryton Press to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Nov 2nd.
Kiss Me Goodnight, Major Darcy begins during WWII when four of the Bennet sisters are doing their wartime duty working in a London hospital. Jane and Lizzy are nurses and Kitty and Lydia are volunteer aids. Mary is back home with their widowed father as a Land Girl and Mr. Bennet has opened their home to his sister in law and the kids sent there to avoid the bombings.
Jane and Elizabeth meet two handsome, dedicated army officers when they bring the bad news of Jane’s fiancé passing at Monte Cassino and they were in London on medical leave from their regiment. Major Darcy is taciturn and reserved which rubs Lizzy wrong from the start. She judges that he isn’t grieving for his friend like the open Captain Bingley. Then she meets charming Private Wickham who gives her the scoop on Darcy and she figures she pegged him right.
Until things get tough and there Major Darcy is getting her out of the soup, demonstrating active care, and confusing her completely after her first impressions. She starts to soften on him only to decide that a guy like him could never support a woman who plans to go to university and pursue a position a woman has never held as a university professor. The war carries on and takes a further toll and making Elizabeth figure out what is truly important to her.
Kiss Me Goodnight, Major Darcy isn’t a perfectly aligned with the original retelling of P&P and this is how I prefer it when authors move the story into a newer different era. I like seeing how the changing of the times affects the story and that the author alters characters to surprising results. I do love this version of Mary who is eccentric rather than prim and prosy and Charlotte who is a Jamaican immigrant struggling with racial acceptance in rural England. Oh, sure, there are some fun and familiar touchstones- Lizzy still forms a bad first impression, Darcy has to come down off his high horse, Wickham lies, Lydia flirts, Lady Catherine must have her say, Caroline simpers, and Jane and Charles are the charming pair. However, there is the war and its effect- bombings, wounded people, loss, rations, jitterbug dancing, wartime songs (like the title), and a colorful background that shows the author did her homework.
The story was emotionally engaging and the romance fit the war-time setting. Lizzy is aggravated by (aka secretly attracted to) Darcy and wants to believe the worst, but she’s fair to him when she sees proof his quiet, non-boastful actions prove different from her impressions and what she learns of Darcy from Wickham. The romance is believably slow and takes a backseat at times to the work they are both doing and the conflict includes the push-pull of Elizabeth feeling she must be respected as a thinking, individual who doesn’t want to settle for a woman’s usual life since times are changing. She is convinced that a man from a wealthy aristocratic family can’t understand or won’t those things in a wife so they must work this out. The pacing was good and the tone was right for characters and situations of the time. Lizzy did all the narrating, but this don’t hinder the reader from getting the bigger picture of other characters and connections. Darcy was somewhat elusive, but he reveals himself eventually.
All in all, it was a solid, engaging WWII romance that left me jiving to Big Band, glad to not be on rationing, and well satisfied with a story from a new to me author that I can recommend highly.
I rec'd an eARC from Meryton Press to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Nov 2nd.
July 28, 2022
Review Published at:
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...
Kiss Me Good Night, Major Darcy is an Austenesque romance that takes place during WWII, and as would be expected, the lives of all characters in this book revolve around the war efforts. All the Bennet sisters are actively assisting their country either by helping in hospitals or in the Women’s Land Army, while most man are fighting in the continent. In this scenario Elizabeth and Jane Bennet meet Captain Bingley and Major Darcy, two soldiers who are the bearers of bad news, but despite the sad circumstances that brought them together, they will form a relationship that will strengthen regardless of the occasional separation brought by the war, and the difficult conditions they all live in.
The events in this book occur mainly in England and I found that very interesting because it allowed me to learn a little more about how life was for people living in a country at war but away from the combat zone. Through this fiction story I learned how the bombings were felt by London residents, how the troops would organize themselves while away from the frontlines, and how civilians still lived their lives despite the war, and this was all transmitted in a serious but optimistic tone, something I appreciated.
I liked reading the Pride and Prejudice elements the author added in this setting, and the role of some secondary characters like Anne de Bourgh and Mr. Collins. But I particularly liked the fact that Elizabeth Bennet was not so impressionable as I see her portrayed in other books. Even though Wickham tried charming and setting her against Darcy multiple times, she didn’t immediately fall for his schemes.
I also liked Mary’s character in this book, she is one of my favorite secondary characters, and I enjoyed the fact that she had a different but useful way to help people during the war. I also enjoyed her love story and the fact that she got her happiness. On the other hand, Caroline was a character that interested me in the beginning, but who didn’t convince me by the end of the story because her latest appearances made her look a little one dimensional.
The pace of Kiss Me Good Night, Major Darcy was balanced throughout the entire story, and it was one of the aspects of the book I enjoyed the most. There was a trade-off between action packed scenes and descriptions of how the lives of the characters were evolving. This was particularly necessary because the storyline takes place during an 18-month period, and it was essential for the author to move the story easily and quickly to a future date. These smooth transitions were well written and gave the book and introspective tone I appreciated. However, the ending of the book was somehow anticlimactic with many pages being dedicated to a secondary character’s wedding, relegating to the second plan the slow built relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth. I was expecting to see their romance finally flourish towards the end of the book with powerful and breath-taking scenes, but unfortunately that was not the case, and their love felt somewhat tamed for me.
Summing up, Kiss Me Good Night, Major Darcy is a well-balanced different era story that gives the reader the opportunity to see Darcy and Elizabeth showing their most lovable characteristics in a new setting. I would recommend it for Pride and Prejudice fans who like to see these characters in different eras.
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...
Kiss Me Good Night, Major Darcy is an Austenesque romance that takes place during WWII, and as would be expected, the lives of all characters in this book revolve around the war efforts. All the Bennet sisters are actively assisting their country either by helping in hospitals or in the Women’s Land Army, while most man are fighting in the continent. In this scenario Elizabeth and Jane Bennet meet Captain Bingley and Major Darcy, two soldiers who are the bearers of bad news, but despite the sad circumstances that brought them together, they will form a relationship that will strengthen regardless of the occasional separation brought by the war, and the difficult conditions they all live in.
The events in this book occur mainly in England and I found that very interesting because it allowed me to learn a little more about how life was for people living in a country at war but away from the combat zone. Through this fiction story I learned how the bombings were felt by London residents, how the troops would organize themselves while away from the frontlines, and how civilians still lived their lives despite the war, and this was all transmitted in a serious but optimistic tone, something I appreciated.
I liked reading the Pride and Prejudice elements the author added in this setting, and the role of some secondary characters like Anne de Bourgh and Mr. Collins. But I particularly liked the fact that Elizabeth Bennet was not so impressionable as I see her portrayed in other books. Even though Wickham tried charming and setting her against Darcy multiple times, she didn’t immediately fall for his schemes.
I also liked Mary’s character in this book, she is one of my favorite secondary characters, and I enjoyed the fact that she had a different but useful way to help people during the war. I also enjoyed her love story and the fact that she got her happiness. On the other hand, Caroline was a character that interested me in the beginning, but who didn’t convince me by the end of the story because her latest appearances made her look a little one dimensional.
The pace of Kiss Me Good Night, Major Darcy was balanced throughout the entire story, and it was one of the aspects of the book I enjoyed the most. There was a trade-off between action packed scenes and descriptions of how the lives of the characters were evolving. This was particularly necessary because the storyline takes place during an 18-month period, and it was essential for the author to move the story easily and quickly to a future date. These smooth transitions were well written and gave the book and introspective tone I appreciated. However, the ending of the book was somehow anticlimactic with many pages being dedicated to a secondary character’s wedding, relegating to the second plan the slow built relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth. I was expecting to see their romance finally flourish towards the end of the book with powerful and breath-taking scenes, but unfortunately that was not the case, and their love felt somewhat tamed for me.
Summing up, Kiss Me Good Night, Major Darcy is a well-balanced different era story that gives the reader the opportunity to see Darcy and Elizabeth showing their most lovable characteristics in a new setting. I would recommend it for Pride and Prejudice fans who like to see these characters in different eras.
September 7, 2023
Devastations and Developments
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Source: Gift from Publisher
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Retelling Set During World War II
THE PREMISE: Life is different for our P&P friends: Mr. Bennet is a widow, Elizabeth and Jane work as nurses in a London hospital, Kitty and Lydia volunteer at the same hospital, Mary works for the Women’s Land Army, and Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Wickham all serve in the war. Tragic news brings Captain Bingley and Major Darcy into Jane’s and Elizabeth’s lives. And while they initially stay in contact for support and because of shared grief, their connections and regards for each other continue to grow despite the ravaging war and the unpredictable times they are living in.
WHAT I LOVED:
- A New War Featured: With the majority of Jane Austen novels I read, we feel the effects and impact of the Napoleonic Wars in indirectly and subtly. But here is an Austenesque novel where the war is center stage – it is present on every page and touches nearly every aspect of life. And it isn’t just any war – it is the biggest and most devastating war in history. Suffice to say, I am always eager and intrigued to see an Austenesque story set in this time.
- Unfamiliar and Challenging: While readers may recognize similar personality traits and plot points, this novel definitely was following its own path outside of canon, AND the story told was one that displayed how our beloved characters cope with the hardships they face. Their conflicts didn’t pertain to entailments, limited marriage prospects, or compromises. Instead we witness these characters face the deaths of loved ones, the destruction of their country and way of life, and fears about what the future holds. I greatly appreciated how the author maintained some familiar elements with this story and yet thoroughly explored new and different territory.
- Wartime Backdrop: I really admired how Georgina Young-Ellis created such a vivid wartime backdrop with her story. All the little references made and ways she illustrated the displacement of normal life routine – the clothing characters wore, the food they ate, the long hours they worked, their meagre lack of personal time. It really brought a clear picture of how war can touch and change every aspect of life, and gave readers a deeper understanding of what people who lived during World War II experienced. I especially appreciated how Ms. Young-Ellis was informative and descriptive with her historical backdrop yet tactfully avoided giving the reader a history lesson or lecture.
- A Unique Mindset: With what is spoken and unspoken, with how direct and candid some conversations are, with how feelings develop and are disclosed the reader gets the sense of the “we don’t know what tomorrow may bring” mindset people had living during this time. This was especially evident with romantic relationships and how the uncertainty of life and future caused characters to view love and marriage differently. It was a time to be open and direct, and not repress feelings and flirt.
- Strong Women: I admire how we see several women in this story think for themselves and not only, evaluate what they want with their lives, but also take the necessary and sometimes unprecedented steps to achieve it. I love all the new ways these characters were growing and developing. Especially Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Mary.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
- Minor Quibbles: I wouldn’t have minded a bigger moment for Darcy and Eizabeth, or maybe another chapter or epilogue. After the hardships they went through and all the separation they endured, it would have been great to see more about their lives together. Also, I know he is a snake and with that comes dishonest and reprehensible behavior, but I did feel like Wickham was just a little inconsistent. Or at least towards the end he was when he confesses his motives. It just didn’t ring true for the whole story.
CONCLUSION:
Congratulations so Georgina Young-Ellis on this remarkable and praiseworthy Pride and Prejudice retelling. This tale delivers a beautifully blends together the devastation and sacrifices of war with hard-won romances, heartwarming relationships, and unexpected possibilities. I highly recommend.
Austenesque Reviews
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Source: Gift from Publisher
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Retelling Set During World War II
THE PREMISE: Life is different for our P&P friends: Mr. Bennet is a widow, Elizabeth and Jane work as nurses in a London hospital, Kitty and Lydia volunteer at the same hospital, Mary works for the Women’s Land Army, and Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Wickham all serve in the war. Tragic news brings Captain Bingley and Major Darcy into Jane’s and Elizabeth’s lives. And while they initially stay in contact for support and because of shared grief, their connections and regards for each other continue to grow despite the ravaging war and the unpredictable times they are living in.
WHAT I LOVED:
- A New War Featured: With the majority of Jane Austen novels I read, we feel the effects and impact of the Napoleonic Wars in indirectly and subtly. But here is an Austenesque novel where the war is center stage – it is present on every page and touches nearly every aspect of life. And it isn’t just any war – it is the biggest and most devastating war in history. Suffice to say, I am always eager and intrigued to see an Austenesque story set in this time.
- Unfamiliar and Challenging: While readers may recognize similar personality traits and plot points, this novel definitely was following its own path outside of canon, AND the story told was one that displayed how our beloved characters cope with the hardships they face. Their conflicts didn’t pertain to entailments, limited marriage prospects, or compromises. Instead we witness these characters face the deaths of loved ones, the destruction of their country and way of life, and fears about what the future holds. I greatly appreciated how the author maintained some familiar elements with this story and yet thoroughly explored new and different territory.
- Wartime Backdrop: I really admired how Georgina Young-Ellis created such a vivid wartime backdrop with her story. All the little references made and ways she illustrated the displacement of normal life routine – the clothing characters wore, the food they ate, the long hours they worked, their meagre lack of personal time. It really brought a clear picture of how war can touch and change every aspect of life, and gave readers a deeper understanding of what people who lived during World War II experienced. I especially appreciated how Ms. Young-Ellis was informative and descriptive with her historical backdrop yet tactfully avoided giving the reader a history lesson or lecture.
- A Unique Mindset: With what is spoken and unspoken, with how direct and candid some conversations are, with how feelings develop and are disclosed the reader gets the sense of the “we don’t know what tomorrow may bring” mindset people had living during this time. This was especially evident with romantic relationships and how the uncertainty of life and future caused characters to view love and marriage differently. It was a time to be open and direct, and not repress feelings and flirt.
- Strong Women: I admire how we see several women in this story think for themselves and not only, evaluate what they want with their lives, but also take the necessary and sometimes unprecedented steps to achieve it. I love all the new ways these characters were growing and developing. Especially Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Mary.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
- Minor Quibbles: I wouldn’t have minded a bigger moment for Darcy and Eizabeth, or maybe another chapter or epilogue. After the hardships they went through and all the separation they endured, it would have been great to see more about their lives together. Also, I know he is a snake and with that comes dishonest and reprehensible behavior, but I did feel like Wickham was just a little inconsistent. Or at least towards the end he was when he confesses his motives. It just didn’t ring true for the whole story.
CONCLUSION:
Congratulations so Georgina Young-Ellis on this remarkable and praiseworthy Pride and Prejudice retelling. This tale delivers a beautifully blends together the devastation and sacrifices of war with hard-won romances, heartwarming relationships, and unexpected possibilities. I highly recommend.
Austenesque Reviews
August 18, 2022
Elizabeth and Darcy set in WWII allows for all the angst and misunderstanding in a new timeframe where everyone is contributing to the war effort.
November 7, 2022
interesting take on history
This book is based during the war. Jane and Elizabeth are nurses while Kitty and Lydia are helpers. This story covers the history of the war while giving us insights into the Bennet’s, Darcy, and Bingley families. Elizabeth’s journey was not always pleasant but with Darcys presence she was able to overcome her trials.
I will say this is a good story. When taking Darcy and Elizabeth into another setting some authors loose the connection but that was not the case. I would have liked some more alone time and meaningful conversations but overall I enjoyed the book.
This book is based during the war. Jane and Elizabeth are nurses while Kitty and Lydia are helpers. This story covers the history of the war while giving us insights into the Bennet’s, Darcy, and Bingley families. Elizabeth’s journey was not always pleasant but with Darcys presence she was able to overcome her trials.
I will say this is a good story. When taking Darcy and Elizabeth into another setting some authors loose the connection but that was not the case. I would have liked some more alone time and meaningful conversations but overall I enjoyed the book.
December 6, 2022
This was a good world war II story. The historical details as well as the mood of the period had been captured perfectly. But tye character interactions felt a bit stilted especially between Darcy and Elizabeth. Their romance didn't feel natural and a bit abrupt and hurried. I understood Elizabeth's objections to Darcy's proposal about getting to know each other but I didn't see much change in that when she did accept. With so much details about Jane's wedding, the author could've written an epilogue for ODC.
August 14, 2022
1944 Jane and Elizabeth are nurses, Catherine and Lydia volunteers in the same hospital while Mary works as a land girl. Enjoyable first half until it came to another disappointing pairing for Mary but it could have been worse.. Which is when I lost interest but did quickly read to the end. And no Colonel Fitzwilliam.
Overall an enjoyable story
Overall an enjoyable story
July 4, 2022
Loved it it was liking WATCHING AWW2 MOVIE
Absolutly lovey story from the begining to end ....Bravo the time and history didn't suffer throw a live story in ...totally reccomend it well done 👏 ✔️ 👍
Absolutly lovey story from the begining to end ....Bravo the time and history didn't suffer throw a live story in ...totally reccomend it well done 👏 ✔️ 👍
July 2, 2024
WWII Pride and Prejudice
With the characters shifted into a more modern era, I found this an enlightening story about Britain in a time of war. The story immersed the reader in the culture and concerns of the time through the rationing, news reports, and music.
With the characters shifted into a more modern era, I found this an enlightening story about Britain in a time of war. The story immersed the reader in the culture and concerns of the time through the rationing, news reports, and music.
September 20, 2022
First ~75% was going to be 4 stars for me, but lost it in the last quarter. The pace slowed down, going slower the closer we got to the end, I think. The Wickham plot that had been shaping up nicely just kind of fizzles out, almost like the author got bored, followed by a somewhat slapdash sprint to the Darcy/Elizabeth finish line. Well. A slow shuffle anyway. An irregular stop and go traffic jam to the finish line...?
How much romance between Liz and Darcy is there during that final quarter? Not much! For no very good reason (i e. polite conversation has wider boundaries than ca. 1810) they don't have any explicit talks to revisit where their relationship stands after everything. Their first-ish kiss is just very awkwardly framed in the narrative. Are they a couple? Idk but now in the homestretch they're engaged -- but meanwhile Liz's friends and family are just happy to see Darcy put his arm around her shoulder! It's really, really weird and lopsided. He declared love twice and I swear she doesn't confess it back until he's popping the question.
It's even more disappointing because the marriage rejection was neatly done! She rejects him because they barely know each other so he can't possibly be in love in a meaningful way, and have they ever discussed anything meaningful? What are her plans for after the war, eh? A nice, sensible take, I thought, especially for the setting! But the follow-through did not match the set-up.
Oh, and a smidge of performative feminism, never my favorite. She's all gungho challenging Darcy about how maybe she wants a career after marriage, huh, you ever consider that. It's modern times! Women do that! Yeah, but still not very often, especially not after marriage, and the overall tone of possibility radically shifts once the men start demobbing. Like, save the feminist rallying cries for literally everyone else in the world, not the guy who's a bit blandly surprised you want to be part of the (lazy made up statistic:) 1% of female college students! (In a time when college degrees even for men weren't super common still.) (While I'm on it, Jane's wedding feast seemed rather lavish for October 1945 -- rationing was still going and would keep going for like another decade in England. Get outta here with your huge wedding party and 5 tier cake. Seemed uncharacteristically extravagant, honestly.)(And whew doggies, how much more rich must this Darcy be compared to his original counterpart for his family to still be hanging on to their full estate through two world wars? There's this trite moment post-engagement when Elizabeth thinks she's going to have a lifetime of nothing but happiness and let's see that buoyancy when no one wants to hire you as a professor -- or might even refuse to confer a degree you earned -- because you're a woman and Pemberly is drowning in post-war taxes.)
I went off on the Lydia/Wickham subplot in my highlights and notes, so I'll get some of those visible rather than rant anew in this space about it. Again, good set-up but just runs out of steam too early.
Oh, and a bigger stylistic thing that goes along with pacing. We'd get kind of fast-forwarded through time passing in the war with interludes of detail as needed, which is fine and normal and necessary. Except... The Blitz really sucked, and being a nurse (or anything really) seemed super-exhausting in every way, and that doesn't come through. It's not really the point of this book, but then again, why choose a WW2 setting with V1s and V2s and Jane and Liz as nurses if you're not willing or able to dig into any of that pathos? Even when our leads are in the thick of it...they aren't. And the thick thins out within a couple pages with minimal angst. At one point Liz comments on getting 3 meals in a day with a quantity of food equal to what she'd eat over several days in London, and...okay...but where is that when we're with her in London??? Not as some pseudo-historical account but just to really get in her head. She doesn't want to be a nurse after the war: dig into that. Is it too draining? Gross? Just something she could do to help the war effort like being an air raid warden, and when the war ends that duty can be set down? Idk
I've got feels because it could have been so much tighter and stronger and it started out that way! So close!
How much romance between Liz and Darcy is there during that final quarter? Not much! For no very good reason (i e. polite conversation has wider boundaries than ca. 1810) they don't have any explicit talks to revisit where their relationship stands after everything. Their first-ish kiss is just very awkwardly framed in the narrative. Are they a couple? Idk but now in the homestretch they're engaged -- but meanwhile Liz's friends and family are just happy to see Darcy put his arm around her shoulder! It's really, really weird and lopsided. He declared love twice and I swear she doesn't confess it back until he's popping the question.
It's even more disappointing because the marriage rejection was neatly done! She rejects him because they barely know each other so he can't possibly be in love in a meaningful way, and have they ever discussed anything meaningful? What are her plans for after the war, eh? A nice, sensible take, I thought, especially for the setting! But the follow-through did not match the set-up.
Oh, and a smidge of performative feminism, never my favorite. She's all gungho challenging Darcy about how maybe she wants a career after marriage, huh, you ever consider that. It's modern times! Women do that! Yeah, but still not very often, especially not after marriage, and the overall tone of possibility radically shifts once the men start demobbing. Like, save the feminist rallying cries for literally everyone else in the world, not the guy who's a bit blandly surprised you want to be part of the (lazy made up statistic:) 1% of female college students! (In a time when college degrees even for men weren't super common still.) (While I'm on it, Jane's wedding feast seemed rather lavish for October 1945 -- rationing was still going and would keep going for like another decade in England. Get outta here with your huge wedding party and 5 tier cake. Seemed uncharacteristically extravagant, honestly.)(And whew doggies, how much more rich must this Darcy be compared to his original counterpart for his family to still be hanging on to their full estate through two world wars? There's this trite moment post-engagement when Elizabeth thinks she's going to have a lifetime of nothing but happiness and let's see that buoyancy when no one wants to hire you as a professor -- or might even refuse to confer a degree you earned -- because you're a woman and Pemberly is drowning in post-war taxes.)
I went off on the Lydia/Wickham subplot in my highlights and notes, so I'll get some of those visible rather than rant anew in this space about it. Again, good set-up but just runs out of steam too early.
Oh, and a bigger stylistic thing that goes along with pacing. We'd get kind of fast-forwarded through time passing in the war with interludes of detail as needed, which is fine and normal and necessary. Except... The Blitz really sucked, and being a nurse (or anything really) seemed super-exhausting in every way, and that doesn't come through. It's not really the point of this book, but then again, why choose a WW2 setting with V1s and V2s and Jane and Liz as nurses if you're not willing or able to dig into any of that pathos? Even when our leads are in the thick of it...they aren't. And the thick thins out within a couple pages with minimal angst. At one point Liz comments on getting 3 meals in a day with a quantity of food equal to what she'd eat over several days in London, and...okay...but where is that when we're with her in London??? Not as some pseudo-historical account but just to really get in her head. She doesn't want to be a nurse after the war: dig into that. Is it too draining? Gross? Just something she could do to help the war effort like being an air raid warden, and when the war ends that duty can be set down? Idk
I've got feels because it could have been so much tighter and stronger and it started out that way! So close!
February 11, 2023
This is my review of the audio version as posted on Audible - with narration by Ms Jannie Meisberger:
A DISCLAIMER first: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Unusually for me, I'll start with the narration - as always, it's great:) Ms Meisberger is a wonderful narrator who can make an even bad book a nice listen... Her voice adds warmth to every story, makes it flow in your ears and relaxes you allowing you to immerse yourself in the book. And such it was this time as well, so 5 stars for the narration:)
As for the book itself... I really wanted to like it more. I finished it almost two weeks ago, but I needed time to think over what I want and can say about it to give it justice, and I still have my doubts. On the one hand, it's a decent variation of Elizabeth and Darcy's story, with the background of the second world war seemingly allowing for great turns in the plot we know so well. On the other, I think this is where the book has lost me - the possibilities that haven't been put to good use. I know it's the WWII because I am told so and I see the Bennet sisters working in a hospital. I know it's WWII because I am told Darcy and Bingley are officers recovering from their battle wounds. There even is a close-to-home bombing which serves as an excuse for some plot revelations - and yet all that sounds so distant and unemotional somehow...
I don't know if that's the author's fault or if it's me, reading and listening to too many Pride and Prejudice variations, but somehow in this case I just couldn't make myself get involved with Elizabeth and Darcy. I still don't know how and why he fell in love with her and what really made her change her mind about him. I mean, I can guess which scenes in the plot are the poignant ones, but I know it on a logical, not emotional level, if you follow me...:) And in a romance I want emotions, not logic, I want passion and sparks, not cold psychoanalysis on my part...
But, not to be so harsh, the book has a few really nicely written emotional scenes, some of the other characters do catch your eye and have their moments, and overall the book really IS a nice listen, so you should give it a chance. Maybe in my case it was just the wrong book at the wrong time... It happens sometimes, you know...:)
A DISCLAIMER first: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Unusually for me, I'll start with the narration - as always, it's great:) Ms Meisberger is a wonderful narrator who can make an even bad book a nice listen... Her voice adds warmth to every story, makes it flow in your ears and relaxes you allowing you to immerse yourself in the book. And such it was this time as well, so 5 stars for the narration:)
As for the book itself... I really wanted to like it more. I finished it almost two weeks ago, but I needed time to think over what I want and can say about it to give it justice, and I still have my doubts. On the one hand, it's a decent variation of Elizabeth and Darcy's story, with the background of the second world war seemingly allowing for great turns in the plot we know so well. On the other, I think this is where the book has lost me - the possibilities that haven't been put to good use. I know it's the WWII because I am told so and I see the Bennet sisters working in a hospital. I know it's WWII because I am told Darcy and Bingley are officers recovering from their battle wounds. There even is a close-to-home bombing which serves as an excuse for some plot revelations - and yet all that sounds so distant and unemotional somehow...
I don't know if that's the author's fault or if it's me, reading and listening to too many Pride and Prejudice variations, but somehow in this case I just couldn't make myself get involved with Elizabeth and Darcy. I still don't know how and why he fell in love with her and what really made her change her mind about him. I mean, I can guess which scenes in the plot are the poignant ones, but I know it on a logical, not emotional level, if you follow me...:) And in a romance I want emotions, not logic, I want passion and sparks, not cold psychoanalysis on my part...
But, not to be so harsh, the book has a few really nicely written emotional scenes, some of the other characters do catch your eye and have their moments, and overall the book really IS a nice listen, so you should give it a chance. Maybe in my case it was just the wrong book at the wrong time... It happens sometimes, you know...:)
August 2, 2022
Disclosure: I am a friend of the author, and I received a review copy from the publisher at my own request.
Kiss Me Good Night, Major Darcy starts with the intriguing premise that the characters of Pride and Prejudice conduct their affairs mostly during World War II, with the Bennet sisters as nurses in London. Alterations in British social structure by the mid 1940s — a nearly 200-year difference — make for substantial alterations in the narrative, including less social inequality based on class, meaningful opportunities for the women of the story to participate in society by serving their country and its citizens, the absence of the entailment plot, a mixed-race marriage, and the constant threat of deadly peril for the male characters at the front. Georgina is great at historical research and has done an excellent job of creating a “war at home” 1940s atmosphere. The substitution of physical danger from the war and the London Blitz for the economic peril of Austen’s original and the wartime atmosphere of classless joint struggle definitely transform nearly every aspect of the original novel. The result is a breezy read in which you feel proud of nearly all the characters (except the villains). The book doesn’t have the bitter edge or the social leveling themes of Austen’s original; this one is about bravery, service, endurance, and the reward of love after the nightmare has passed.
Do please give this a read.
Kiss Me Good Night, Major Darcy starts with the intriguing premise that the characters of Pride and Prejudice conduct their affairs mostly during World War II, with the Bennet sisters as nurses in London. Alterations in British social structure by the mid 1940s — a nearly 200-year difference — make for substantial alterations in the narrative, including less social inequality based on class, meaningful opportunities for the women of the story to participate in society by serving their country and its citizens, the absence of the entailment plot, a mixed-race marriage, and the constant threat of deadly peril for the male characters at the front. Georgina is great at historical research and has done an excellent job of creating a “war at home” 1940s atmosphere. The substitution of physical danger from the war and the London Blitz for the economic peril of Austen’s original and the wartime atmosphere of classless joint struggle definitely transform nearly every aspect of the original novel. The result is a breezy read in which you feel proud of nearly all the characters (except the villains). The book doesn’t have the bitter edge or the social leveling themes of Austen’s original; this one is about bravery, service, endurance, and the reward of love after the nightmare has passed.
Do please give this a read.
April 27, 2025
3.75* - a really interesting and unusual setting
I liked this very much but I didn't love it as much as I wanted to.
Some of the modernisation was excellent - I thought the Wickham character and situation was handled well and I also appreciated that the author did not try to squeeze everything from canon into a plot where it did not fit. Hot's off to the author for that as it is very tempting to put everything in "just in case".
Unfortunately as a Brit, I found rather more glaring errors that I could ignore. For example,
- reference to dime rather than penny
- the complete lack of understanding of marriage law in the UK. Outdoor weddings were not legal until 2021, and then only for civil ceremonies. Whilst it was nice idea for a wedding to take place at Pemberley it would not have been permitted other than under very narrow parameters which wreak havoc not met in this instance. And I do wish authors would watch a royal wedding or two, bridesmaids follow the bride in the UK (even now after the influence of American TV it still only happens maybe 40% of the time and would not have happened at all in 1945)
- starting University mid-year does not happen
All in all, this was an enjoyable read which I recommend to other fans of the genre.
I liked this very much but I didn't love it as much as I wanted to.
Some of the modernisation was excellent - I thought the Wickham character and situation was handled well and I also appreciated that the author did not try to squeeze everything from canon into a plot where it did not fit. Hot's off to the author for that as it is very tempting to put everything in "just in case".
Unfortunately as a Brit, I found rather more glaring errors that I could ignore. For example,
- reference to dime rather than penny
- the complete lack of understanding of marriage law in the UK. Outdoor weddings were not legal until 2021, and then only for civil ceremonies. Whilst it was nice idea for a wedding to take place at Pemberley it would not have been permitted other than under very narrow parameters which wreak havoc not met in this instance. And I do wish authors would watch a royal wedding or two, bridesmaids follow the bride in the UK (even now after the influence of American TV it still only happens maybe 40% of the time and would not have happened at all in 1945)
- starting University mid-year does not happen
All in all, this was an enjoyable read which I recommend to other fans of the genre.
July 16, 2022
Historically lovely
The cover caught my attention and crew for me in. This is a WWII variation that not only has the P & Play cast but some historical aspects to provide some depth. A sweet and clean story with some angst but not too much. Jane has a bit more backbone. Elizabeth is an independent modern woman but not AS stubborn or one sided in her opinions. Mary also reveals a different side to her character. Kitty is Kitty. Lydia is definitely Lydia. No comeuppance for the antagonists. Well, ok, Collins does receive his. I did appreciate Charlotte in this variation. My minds eye loves the images of Darcy dancing the jitterbug 😊.
The cover caught my attention and crew for me in. This is a WWII variation that not only has the P & Play cast but some historical aspects to provide some depth. A sweet and clean story with some angst but not too much. Jane has a bit more backbone. Elizabeth is an independent modern woman but not AS stubborn or one sided in her opinions. Mary also reveals a different side to her character. Kitty is Kitty. Lydia is definitely Lydia. No comeuppance for the antagonists. Well, ok, Collins does receive his. I did appreciate Charlotte in this variation. My minds eye loves the images of Darcy dancing the jitterbug 😊.
July 10, 2022
well written
I wasn’t sure what I was gonna think of this book. I don’t know much about the history of World War II and especially in England. However it was really well written. It was interesting and engaging. There is a little too much detail about cars and clothes but it made sense for the time I believe. Overall really well written and look forward to more books by this author
I wasn’t sure what I was gonna think of this book. I don’t know much about the history of World War II and especially in England. However it was really well written. It was interesting and engaging. There is a little too much detail about cars and clothes but it made sense for the time I believe. Overall really well written and look forward to more books by this author
July 22, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this WW2 story. it wasn't your typical P&P and I enjoyed reading out of the box. The only thing I didn't care for was the ending. It left me wondering if what Elizabeth wanted to do with her life is what she did. I don't want to say more because it might give away spoilers.
I still would recommend this story.
I still would recommend this story.
August 1, 2022
Except for abrupt end, one of my favorites!!!
Variations that take place in other times tend to be terrible or amazing; this one is AMAZING! Loved how "in character" everyone is. Loved the pace. Great dialogue. Only the abrupt ending and the Wickham plot point are minimally disappointing. 100% worth the read!!
Variations that take place in other times tend to be terrible or amazing; this one is AMAZING! Loved how "in character" everyone is. Loved the pace. Great dialogue. Only the abrupt ending and the Wickham plot point are minimally disappointing. 100% worth the read!!
August 11, 2022
Remarkable Transformation
Ms Young-Ellis has masterfully reimagined Pride and Prejudice in a World War Two British setting. She has maintained all the main character elements despite the setting over a century later, and she has created a sweet and satisfying story.
Ms Young-Ellis has masterfully reimagined Pride and Prejudice in a World War Two British setting. She has maintained all the main character elements despite the setting over a century later, and she has created a sweet and satisfying story.
September 13, 2023
3.5 stars. Excellent historical facts and plausible story history wise. Great storyline with very good secondary characters like Iane. Interesting details well inserted in the story. I would have liked a bit more antagonism between ODC.
July 17, 2022
Great History Lesson
As a history teacher, enjoyed the WW2 references. Was not at all pleased with the snails pace of Darcy and Elizabeth’s HEA and the lack of an epilogue.
As a history teacher, enjoyed the WW2 references. Was not at all pleased with the snails pace of Darcy and Elizabeth’s HEA and the lack of an epilogue.
September 15, 2022
A delightful "modernization" of P&P set against the backdrop of WWII. Has all the characters we love to hate and happy endings for all those we love.
October 9, 2022
adorable
A fun retelling. Very light and enjoy with just enough changes to the classic to keep one guessing just a little bit.
A fun retelling. Very light and enjoy with just enough changes to the classic to keep one guessing just a little bit.
June 14, 2023
A fun twist on Pride and Prejudice! Liked the WWII research on life in Britain!
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