A Darcy Christmas: A Holiday Tribute to Jane Austen

by Sharon Lathan, Amanda Grange, Carolyn Eberhart

"Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Wish You a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"

Share in the magic of the season in these three warm and wonderful holiday novellas from bestselling authors.

Christmas Present
by Amanda Grange

A Darcy Christmas
by Sharon Lathan

Mr. Darcy's Christmas Carol
by Carolyn Eberhart

From two bestselling and a debut author comes heartwarming Christmas tales sure to delight Jane Austen fans.

From Amanda Grange, the bestselling author of Mr. Darcy's Diary and Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, Christmas finds the Darcy's celebrating the holiday with preparations for a ball, but the festivities are interrupted by the arrival of a very special gift... Ever sensual and romantic, Sharon Lathan highlights everything that's best and most precious in the celebrations of the holiday season. After a quarter of a century together, Darcy and Elizabeth reminisce... Jane Austen meets Charles Dickens! Carol Eberhart's Mr. Darcy's Christmas Carol finds Darcy encountering ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, who show him his life if pride keeps him from his one true love.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Holiday, Historical Romance

290 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2010

About the author

Sharon Lathan is the best-selling author of The Darcy Saga, a 10-volume sequel series to Jane Austen’s "Pride & Prejudice."


Sharon began writing in 2006 and her first novel, Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One was published in 2009.

Sharon is a native Californian relocated in 2013 to the green hills of Kentucky, where she resides with her husband of over thirty years. Retired from a thirty-year profession as a registered nurse in Neonatal Intensive Care, Sharon is pursuing her dream as a full-time writer.


Sharon is the co-creator of AUSTEN AUTHORS, a group blog for authors of Austenesque literary fiction.
Visit at: www.AustenAuthors.net

For more information about Sharon, the Regency Era, and her novels, visit her website/blog at: www.SharonLathanAuthor.com.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SharonLathanNovelist
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SharonLathan
Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorsharonlathan
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/sharonlathan62/_saved/

Reviews

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book several years ago but thanks to aging I had zero recollection

The book consists of three stories by three different authors
Mr. Darcy's Christmas Carol by Carolyn Eberhart is the first and I confess my absolute favorite. The author does a fantastic job of a P&P/ Christmas Carol mashup. Here we have George Darcy dying at Christmas, then 5 year later Darcy not returning to Hertfordshire after Lady Catherine's visit and him sulking about his town home when he is visited by four spirits, his father, The Ghost of Christmas Past (Lady Anne Darcy), the Ghost of Christmas Present (Georgiana Darcy) and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (Lady Catherine). He of course mends his ways. The author adds an epilogue that introduces Scrooge himself to the story which I felt was unnecessary; but you know me and epilogues.


Christmas Present by Amanda Grange this is a cute P&P sequel that is set in the second year of the Darcy's marriage. When Jane gives birth before Christmas at her new home in Nottingham Lizzy, despite being heavily pregnant herself insists upon visiting. There they are cursed by the presence of Mrs. Bennet, Lady Catherine and Caroline Bingley, among others. And there the first new Darcy will be born.


A Darcy Christmas by Sharon Lathan
This is set in the universe of Sharon Lathan's series. Which means lots of Darcy's Uncle; and has an older Darcy and Lizzy remembering the Christmases of their past together both happy and sad.

Note: Last night while I was searching this title I read the reviews of other people and there were tons of 2 star reviews, and scathing reviews accompanying it. All I can say is these people should read some of the terrible JAFF I have read and they would have a new appreciation for this book.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've eyed this book as it sat up on the shelf each year with plans to read it during the Christmas holiday season and finally took it down this year. I was already delightfully familiar with Sharon Lathan's The Darcy Saga series and also the writing of Amanda Grange. Adding a new to me author in Carolyn Eberhart to the mix was just more to anticipate.

A Darcy Christmas is made up of three novellas by the above group of authors. I enjoy what each brought as their variation or sequel to the P&P story.

I was tickled by Carolyn's mash-up of Dicken's A Christmas Carol with Austen's Pride & Prejudice. It was actually balanced to the Dickens side and it was fun to see Darcy as Scrooge.

Amanda's and Sharon's entries were sweet and heartwarming whether it was the focus of a thoughtful loving gift or tender yet passionate romances for the favorite couple. I did mention that Sharon's story is part of her Darcy Saga sequel series. It's more a set of Christmas vignettes featuring family Christmases over the years and doesn't need to be read in order of the series though fans would see it as a great set of side stories.

All in all, this was sweet, heartwarming and gently-paced for someone in the mood for a warm, cozy Austenesque romance during the holidays.

[J. W. Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally featured in the three-novella anthology ‘A Darcy Christmas: A Holiday Tribute to Jane Austen’ with authors Amanda Grange and Carolyn Eberhart. Sourcebooks Landmark (October 1, 2010)

Our story consists of snippets of the Christmas Season that spans several years. We also have appearances from characters that appeared in Sharon Lathan’s Darcy Saga series.

1) Christmas Loneliness
This first section has Darcy facing a Holiday Season of dark and dreary snow filled nights. Darcy’s loneliness is profound as he deals with his feelings regarding Elizabeth Bennet. He has left Hertfordshire in his attempt to remove himself from her presence. He laments the loss of her company and knows that he will never see her again. His daytime musings of her carry over into his dreams at night where his self-control is lessened and his passion for her is allowed to run free. We, as the reader and familiar with the P&P story, know that at Easter he will see her again at Kent. He is still working his way through his disdain for her lower position in society and her relations in trade. He has no idea what is about to hit him at the Hunsford parsonage.

2) Christmas Honeymoon
One year later and married a little less than a month, we have ODC [our dear couple] and their joyfully establishing Christmas traditions within the master’s chambers at Pemberley. Darcy ruminates on how very different this Christmas is than the previous Holiday season.

3) Christmas Toys
In this snippet, Elizabeth has a terrible cold and Darcy is worried for her health. Uncle Dr. George Darcy is nearby and taking care of her with foul tasting medicine. Thirteen-month old Alexander Darcy, heir to Pemberley, is having a ball with his Christmas gifts and being with his father and mother. I always liked Dr. George Darcy from the Darcy Saga series.

4) Christmas Addition
The title says it all. It is Christmas Eve with a very pregnant Elizabeth and they are about to get their Christmas present early.

5) Christmas Morning
We are now at their eighth Christmas morning as a married couple and we find Elizabeth in the early stages of pregnancy. Their Christmas ritual has evolved into a family affair with their children about them in the huge bed in the master’s chambers. It is a time of telling Christmas stories and enjoying being together. Alexander, Michael [6-years old], and Noella [3-years old] are anxious to open their gifts. The author has given us a beautiful time of family and devotion. It was so cute as we were able to see the personalities of the Darcy children.

6) Christmas Story Telling
Alexander, Michael, Noella, 4-year old Audrey Faine Bethann Darcy along with 4-month old baby Nathaniel Marcus Charles Darcy are all once again congregated on their parents’ bed for Christmas stories and tales. There is a miraculous story about the birth of their precious child Audrey. We are also given the explanation of her name. How beautiful and how special this child is to the lives of all her siblings. They love and adore her and she is so precious.

7) Christmas Merrymaking
The whole family is preparing to travel to Matlock [except young Thomas who is not yet 2-years old]. Elizabeth is concerned about leaving him, but Darcy convinces her that Uncle Dr. George would be with him along with her father and that he would be fine. The older children, Alexander [15], Michael [13], Noella [11 about to turn 12], are excited as they jam into one carriage. Five children and their parents travel to Matlock to enjoy a festive time with relatives. We learn that young Noella has proclaimed that she will marry one of the young men at the party. He is nineteen. Darcy decides he will need to keep an eye on the situation.

On their journey home the carriage breaks down and nearly tumbles them over. But for the careful coachman, they would have been seriously hurt. They walk to the nearby village and what a celebration is going on there. What fun. I really enjoyed this interaction with their neighbors.

8) Christmas Grief
This 19th Christmas was a hard section to read. We have the death of a beloved P&P character and life has to go on without them. It is hard to grieve when you have a house full of people. We learn many things about the extended family as they gather for this Holiday Season. The most shocking was Lydia. I nearly swallowed my tongue when I read the part about her. Man, moss didn’t grow on her as that was one busy lady… or that might be just a bit too kind. I had to look up one of the words the author used to describe her life or situation… I did. Have I ever said I don’t like her? Well, I don’t. She was insensitive, self-absorbed and… and simply awful. Some people handle grief differently than others and so it was in this section. It was hard to read but oh, how I love Mr. Darcy in this section. Oh, my goodness.

9) Christmas Present
The opening scene was such a shock… I was totally caught off guard. OMG!! What a surprise. I had to laugh out loud. Sneaky, Lathan, very sneaky.

After 23 years of marriage, Darcy [51], Noella [18], and Nathaniel [10] are celebrate Christmas in an even bigger way this year. There are a lot of changes within the family. Noella has a big surprise waiting for her at the Twelfth-Night Masque, Audrey has an admirer, we have a surprise from Alexander and even Lady Catherine shows up for the festivities. How old is that lady now anyway?

This was a delightful read. It was the chronicles of their live through the Christmas season. It was really cute.

[Els · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected more.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A Darcy Christmas” es una pequeña colección con tres relatos navideños que toman “Orgullo y Prejuicio” de Jane Austen como inspiración para rendirle homenaje a la autora.

Aunque a decir verdad, el primer relato, si bien tiene lugar una navidad, poco antes del final de la obra original, en realidad es un retelling de “Canción de navidad” de Charles Dickens salvo por que no es a Mr. Scrooge a quien visitan los tres fantasmas sino al señor Darcy, para que recapacite y tome la decisión que cambiará su vida para siempre. “Mr Darcy’s Christmas Carol”, de Carolyn Eberhart es una historia preciosa que hace justicia al personaje de Fitzwilliam Darcy y trata la obra de Austen con el mayor de los respetos, aun a pesar de su influencia claramente victoriana. Encajaría muy bien en el argumento original y se lee en un suspiro.

“Christmas Present, de Amanda Grange, tiene lugar un año después del final de “Orgullo y Prejucio”. En la línea costumbrista de Jane Austen, la historia comienza con el matrimonio Darcy debatiendo los pros y los contras de acercarse a la nueva casa de los Bingley, que está muy cerca de Pemberley, a conocer a su primer sobrino. Con Elisabeth a punto de dar a luz a su primer hijo, Darcy rememora viejos miedos de un pasado lejano. Una bonita historia sobre el amor conyugal y la familia.

El tercer y último relato es el que da título a esta colección y está firmado por Sharon Latham. Nos muestra diferentes nochebuenas y navidades del señor Darcy comenzando por la última que pasa solo con Georgiana en Pemberley, pasando por su primera navidad con Elizabeth, los nacimientos de sus hijos, la familia de los Bennet creciendo, algunos llegan, otros se van, pero en definitiva Darcy puede considerar que él y su Elizabeth son felices y están satisfechos con la familia que han logrado construir a su alrededor. Es el más profundo de los relatos y también el más divertido y nos muestra a un Darcy más íntimo y más familiar que ve cumplidos los sueños que tuvo en su última navidad sin Elizabeth.

En definitiva este libro es una pequeña joya que no pretende en absoluto igualar a la maestría de Jane Austen pero que es un regalo para cualquier austenita. Precioso.

[Teresita · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely marriage...

...depicted through Christmases spent together, as a couple and as a family.

Get to know all of their children and share their growth through the years.

A very enjoyable book!

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Jane Austen, but I had my doubts that I would enjoy this sort of fan-fiction. Sadly, it was even worse than I anticipated.

The pastiche of A Christmas Carol wobbled terribly between wholesale copying of Dickens, wholesale copying of Austen, and bits of connective material that felt neither eighteenth- nor nineteenth-century but much too twenty-first. The attempts at humor consistently made me cringe.

The middle story was tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.

The last story had a nasty habit of inserting suggestively erotic situations (always for married couples, but still...) as often as possible.

Lesson to writers: Leave wonderful stories alone. Sequels that spell out all the details of characters and their progeny will only disappoint.

Lesson to self: Since fan-fiction will continue to be written, please don't be tempted to read it ever again, even if it is a free e-book download.

[Carmen8094 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Darcy Christmas è una raccolta di tre racconti a tema natalizio aventi per protagonisti i personaggi di Orgoglio e Pregiudizio.

La prima storia contenuta è Mr Darcy's Christmas Carol, di Carolyn Eberhart. Come è chiaro dal titolo, si tratta di una rivisitazione del classico Canto di Natale di Charles Dickens.
Il protagonista è, però, Mr Darcy, che, dopo il matrimonio di Bingley con Jane, non ha più avuto il coraggio di proporsi ad Elizabeth, e sta passando un Natale di solitudine e rabbia. Riceve così la visita di tre spiriti, che cambieranno la sua vita per sempre.
Il primo, il fantasma dei natali passati, ha le sembianze della madre scomparsa molti anni prima; il secondo, il fantasma dei natali presenti, quelle di Georgiana; mentre il fantasma dei natali futuri è una scheletrica e spaventosa Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Anne e il capitano Wentworth di Persuasione fanno una piccola comparsa, cosa che mi fa sempre piacere (anche se l'autrice sbaglia inspiegabilmente il numero di anni durante i quali i due sono stati separati).
Alcune scene sono carine, come quella in cui Darcy cerca di nascondere Elizabeth dalla vista di un pretendente, anche se invano, visto che si trova in loro compagnia sotto forma di spirito, o quella in cui il fantasma dei natali presenti ammonisce l'uomo di stare attento all'orgoglio, ma soprattutto alla paura, che potrebbe finire per prendere possesso di tutta la sua vita, e farlo vivere nella sua ombra.
La storia si conclude con un Epilogo che ci mostra i protagonisti svariati anni dopo l'esperienza di Darcy, proprio durante quel Natale in cui sarà il signor Scrooge a ricevere la visita dei tre spiriti.
L'idea è carina, ma il racconto è troppo lungo e finisce con il diventare molto noioso.

La seconda storia è Christmas Present di Amanda Grange, assolutamente la migliore tra le tre.
L'autrice ci racconta un Natale passato insieme da tutti o quasi i personaggi di Orgoglio e Pregiudizio, riuniti in casa di Jane e Bingley. I protagonisti sono tutti molto ben caratterizzati, come Mary Bennet, i coniugi Darcy o Caroline.
I Bingley si sono da poco trasferiti in una nuova dimora nel Nottinghamshire ed hanno avuto il loro primo bambino, il piccolo Charles. Elizabeth e Fitzwilliam, dal canto loro, sono in attesa di un nuovo Darcy. Alle due neocoppie si uniscono gli Hurst, la già citata Caroline in stato di grazia perché temporaneamente padrona di casa; tutta la famiglia Bennet, con Mrs Bennet alla sempiterna ricerca di un marito per le figlie ancora non sposate, ed anche Lady Catherine e Mr Collins, della cui compagnia la moglie Charlotte ha saggiamente deciso di fare a meno, restando a godersi il Natale nell'Hertfordshire con i Lucas e la sua bambina.
L'atmosfera è molto serena e piacevole e a tratti divertente. La storia è l'unica della raccolta che non mi abbia annoiato e mi abbia ricordato più da vicino un romanzo austeniano.

Terzo ed ultimo racconto, A Darcy Christmas di Sharon Lathan, sembrava non dovesse avere mai fine!
Assolutamente troppo lungo e tedioso!
L'autrice ci narra alcuni tra i natali più significativi di Darcy ed Elizabeth durante circa venti anni di matrimonio. Benché l'intento della scrittrice fosse quello di dimostrare che anche quelle festività più tristi e difficili siano sempre speciali per una coppia che si ama, ho trovato un po' esagerato e forse anche di cattivo gusto inserire malattie, lutti e parti pericolosi nella storia.Nota positiva, i vari figli dei due che vediamo crescere anno dopo anno e a cui non si può fare a meno di affezionarsi.

http://iltesorodicarta.blogspot.it/20...

[Linda Banche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those who can't get enough of Pride and Prejudice will love A Darcy Christmas, a trio of Christmas novellas centering on Darcy and Elizabeth.

First is Carolyn Eberhart's Mr. Darcy's Christmas Carol, a retelling of Charles Dickens's classic story. While deliberating whether he should marry the unsuitable Elizabeth, Darcy receives Christmas Eve visitations from three ghosts. Their dire revelations predict the terrifying depths to which his life will plunge if he turns his back on her love. And not just his life, but the lives of all those around him as well. Especially frightening is the Ghost of Christmas Future's prophecy. A powerful and chilling cautionary tale for the Christmas season.

Amanda Grange's Christmas Present follows Darcy and a very pregnant Elizabeth as they visit Jane, Bingley and the couple's infant son in their new house for Christmas. In a microcosm of Pride and Prejudice, most of that novel's players, whether by design or accident, show up. What starts out as a quiet celebration rapidly devolves into a free-for-all as the old family dynamics come into play. Not to be missed are the arrival of Lady Catherine de Bourgh and her pet clergyman, Mr. Collins. And Mr. Collins has a brother? And a handsome one at that? What is the world coming to? Amid the strained relations, Darcy and Elizabeth receive the best gift of all on Christmas Day. A very effective presentation of the Pride and Prejudice pantheon in a Christmas setting.

The books' title story, Sharon Lathan's A Darcy Christmas, consists of a series of short vignettes that chronicle Darcy's and Elizabeth's long and happy marriage through succeeding Christmases. This tour de force, lush with detailed descriptions and dripping with love of all kinds, provides a fascinating preview of her saga. I liked the first story the best. On the Christmas Eve before he marries her, a desperately lonely and confused Darcy dreams of the unacceptable Elizabeth as his wife and the mother of their children. Is he in love with her? He can't be. Can he?

Merry Christmas to all Pride and Prejudice fans everywhere.

ARC provided by Sourcebooks

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Darcy’s Christmas Carol by Carolyn Eberhart - 3 stars. A Mr. Darcy spin on the Dickens classic. Cute story, but written a bit awkwardly. The epilogue that takes place in 1843 (where a Mr. Gardiner meets a Mr. Scrooge) is a perfect ending.

Christmas Present by Amanda Grange - 3 stars. The shortest novella in the book. I have enjoyed several of Ms. Grange’s other books, but I found this one a little lacking. There was no real plot or conflict. Elizabeth is pregnant and she and Darcy travel to Jane’s household to celebrate Christmas (and the recent birth of Jane’s baby boy) with the rest of the family: Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, Kitty, Mary, Mr. Collins, Caroline, the Hursts, and Lady Catherine. Kitty meets and is instantly attracted to Captain Collins, but there is no resolution to it, unfortunately. The title of this short story gets its name when Elizabeth gives birth to her first child while at the Bingleys- just in time for Christmas.

A Darcy Christmas by Sharon Lathan - 3 ½ stars. Part of Ms. Lathan’s Darcy series (but just containing Christmas stories). Each chapter is a different year of the Darcys at Christmas. Reading this story makes me want to read her Darcy series. As I have no idea who is married to who! However, I do know who has kids, etc. but I don’t think that will take away any enjoyment of reading the series.

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was brought to tears as Lizzy broke down on Christmas day holding a hairpin her recently deceased father had given her.

This novella of various Christmas Eve and Christmas Day scenes from "Christmas Loneliness" set just after Darcy has met Elizabeth to "Christmas Present" when we learn of their oldest son's marriage and their Christmas child's, Noella's soon-to-be engagement. Bookend chapters tell of a family portrait Darcy is hanging in his study. Traditions are related and new ones added.

Sharon introduces us to the five children born to ODC, their traits and their inherited physical properties. I was enchanted by Audrey who inherits Uncle George Darcy's interest in the medical arts. And we read of the marriages of the extended family and their children. Imagine Georgiana chasing a rambunctious set of twins down the halls of Pemberley. Then there is Alexander who inherits all of Darcy's reserve and sense of responsibility.

This was an easy read and I am sure I will return to reading it again next Christmas season.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant holiday-themed anthology of Jane Austen fan fiction. The first piece by Carolyn Eberhart is a retelling of Dickens' "The Christmas Carol," but with Mr. Darcy as the Scrooge character who eventually chooses to overcome his proud and haughty ways.

The second piece, "Christmas Present," is by Amanda Grange, who has a wonderful series of books retelling the Austen novels from the male character's point of view ("Mr. Darcy's Diary," "Mr. Knightley's Diary," etc.). Considering how good her novels are, I'm not surprised this piece was my favorite.

The third piece, "A Darcy Christmas" by Sharon Lathan, I found to be so tedious that it dropped the rating of this book down to three stars.

Fans of "Pride and Prejudice" will probably enjoy these romantic Christmas stories involving Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, even if you have to skim that last one.

[Donna Parker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why do I keep reading these ripoffs of Ms. Austen? Perhaps I want to believe I will actually run across the spark of the real thing. Nope, foiled again.

[Nicky Cartwright Pashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darcy Christmas by Amanda Grange, Sharon Lathan & Carolyn Eberhart

I would point out that I am a big Jane Austen fan (and have been for more than thirty years) and authors that use her work but change the style, characters and general feeling of her stories annoy me. I feel strongly that if someone's books are used by modern authors, the least that they can do is respect the original creator's work by not changing it or deviating from the original intent. This is a personal opinion and I know that many readers have enjoyed "seeing" Darcy as a vampire or other characters as zombies etc but I admit to being a bit of a purist where Austen's work is concerned. This personal opinion will obviously effect my enjoyment of adaptations and the reviews that I give them. This is never more so than when adaptations and variations of my favourite (of 31 years standing) fictional book, Pride and Prejudice, are produced.

SPOILERS CONTAINED.

Mr Darcy's Christmas Carol by Carolyn Eberhart

I'm afraid that I didn't like this story. It felt clichéd and the language used stumbled about, confused in its style. Some descriptions seemed overly verbose without actually creating any kind of substantial imagery.

Pride and Prejudice does not give a lot of detail about Darcy's Father but we do know that he was a good, kind and considerate man, who looked after those less fortunate than himself. In this story he is the first ghost, wearing chains he forged in life ~ supposedly from lack of consideration, pride and conceit! In Pride and Prejudice Mrs Annesley is Georgiana's companion. In this book, Mr Annesley is Darcy's tutor ~ there is no mention of the two being connected but it seemed odd to use people with the same name in such close connection to the family. In this story Darcy's Father says that George Wickham will not be educated with Darcy but will receive an education appropriate to his station in life. However in Pride and Prejudice (in Darcy's letter to Elizabeth) he clearly states that Wickham was educated (funded by Darcy Snr) at Cambridge. There is a strange scene in which Mr Darcy Snr waits in the coach, whilst he sends his daughter in to the school to collect Darcy ~ The schoolmaster then takes the two young people in to his rooms and gives them tea and cake (after sending some wine out to the coach) ..... I find it hard to believe that their Father (considering his position in society) would have sat patiently in a cold coach whilst they sat down for tea and cake! In another scene Darcy's spirit-Mother takes him to a house where his younger self is dining with a female companion. There was then a confusing conversation. I initially thought that his Mother was talking about being replaced but it was actually the companion ~ however this wasn't initially made clear. There is then a brief and unwarranted scene showing Anne and Frederick from another of Austen's books, Persuasion.

The book, I felt, steadily deteriorated from there on. Darcy is transformed into Scrooge, actually uttering the immortal "bah" and "humbug"! Not only did this caricature seem vastly clichéd but it was very harsh, as fans of Pride and Prejudice know, Darcy did have a good heart ~ it was just hidden behind shyness and misplaced familial pride. This story then deviates even further from the original tale by the timing of Mr Darcy's second marriage proposal to Elizabeth. This is irritating, as the book takes big chunks of text from the original story but doesn't stick to the original plot. Then to complete the cliché Darcy and Mr Gardiner apparently meet the real Scrooge!

The author has tried to blend two stories that have no similarities. It feels like a piggy back ride on the recent resurgence of Austen's popularity. Despite the incohesive dates of the two stories and the unsuitability of the characters, the author has taken The Christmas Carol and tried to force beloved Pride and Prejudice characters into its mould. It doesn't work and the inconsistencies, inaccuracies and clichés become rather annoying. The story felt contrived. I thought that it was a shame that I didn't really get a feel for this author's style or ability as it was hidden in the uncomfortable blend of two classic but dissimilar stories. This has not encouraged me to seek further work by this author.

Christmas Present by Amanda Grange

I have been a big fan of Jane Austen's work for more than thirty years. I have intermittently read work based on Austen's stories and up until a friend gifted me a book by Amanda Grange, have always been disappointed. Since then, I have read a lot of her books and have loved every one. This story was not an exception. I enjoyed this one too. Amanda Grange has a way of writing Austen's characters sympathetically, without deviating from either their style or content. Elizabeth is portrayed as her normal feisty self. Darcy is learning to compromise and to tease under his wife's guidance. We witness their love in the comfortable way that they interact with each other. The other characters are transported into this story without losing any of their natural tendencies ~ Caroline is still manipulative and bossy, Bingley and Jane far too nice and easy-going for their own good and Mrs Bennett as domineering and oblivious as ever.

This was another enjoyable story by Amanda Grange, written with her wonderful ability to imitate Austen's style whilst letting her own imagination and talent shine through.

A Darcy Christmas by Sharon Lathan

I would have enjoyed this author's writing style in another book but was not enthused about the format of the story. It covers two decades of Christmases celebrated by Fitzwilliam Darcy and his family. The author's writing style has its own attraction but I did not think that it lent itself to Pride and Prejudice. Due to the nature of the story, a chapter per Christmas, the rhythm and flow was lost. The reader is given tantalising glimpses of characters but they are never allowed to develop any depth, which is a shame as it was Austen's characters that helped make her work so popular.

The thirteen month old Alexander shows a remarkable grasp of language, as I have rarely met a child that age that is able to speak with the fluency that he does. I find it hard to believe that Mrs Bennett would live separately from her husband for long periods of time. She may have been bossy and domineering but she was also very needy and would have been unable to cope without the constant support of either her husband or elder daughters. I also think that her husband and son-in-law would be loathe to leave her unsupervised for any length of time.

There is little doubt that Darcy and Elizabeth would have enjoyed a passionate relationship. However, their position in society would have demanded that they be circumspect whilst in public and it was with incredulity that I read that they were supposed to have made love on a beach!

I would read another book by this author if it were unconnected to Austen but would be hesitant to do so otherwise.

This collection has done little to sway my original opinion that apart from the work of Amanda Grange, I prefer my Austen written by the original and will probably continue to avoid adaptations by modern authors.

[James S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every chapter is a different Christmas memory

Very well written, very delightful Christmas book about the Darcys marriage. Each chapter reads like a well written epilogue to a wonderful book.

Brought me to tears a couple of times, let me smile and laugh at least once per chapter.

I recommend this book highly and will reread it next Christmas, god willing.

[Barbara Peters]

Some parts seemed quite like Austen's style Others did not

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I reread two of the three novellas in A Darcy Christmas. I reread Amanda Grange's Christmas Present and Carolyn Eberhart's Mr. Darcy's Christmas Carol. I chose not to reread Sharon Lathan's A Darcy Christmas. Each novella was around a hundred pages. A perfect length, in my opinion, for both stories.

Mr. Darcy's Christmas Carol is an interesting and often entertaining read starring Austen's characters and borrowing much from Charles Dickens. The premise is simple yet not completely predictable. Mr. Darcy is oh-so-happy that Bingley and Jane have married. But. He's still alone this holiday season. Unlike the original, he did not propose marriage to Elizabeth soon after Bingley and Jane's happy announcement. Georgiana, his sister, wants a new sister, a new particular sister for Christmas. His cousin has made a similar request, a particular new cousin. It isn't that Darcy doesn't still love her, want her, need her. But he's a bit proud and stubborn. So on the Christmas Eve in question, Darcy is visited by the ghost of his father who warns him of his faults and promises the visits of three spirits in the night. He adds that they will come with familiar faces. (Can you guess which "familiar face" is the ghost of Christmas future?)

I have conflicting thoughts on Mr. Darcy's Christmas Carol. On the one hand, there would be scenes and passages where I'm: it works, it really works, I can't believe this is working!!! And then perhaps just a page later, I'm: I take it back, this doesn't work at all, how am I suppose to believe this?! So there were plenty of scenes I liked. I liked how she fit it all together and made it work at least some of the time. It would be hard to fit all the great bits of Pride and Prejudice with all the great bits of A Christmas Carol. So I'm surprised it worked as well as it did actually. I like how one of my favorite scenes of A Christmas Carol is reworked from the beginning to the near-ending. That was something! I don't LOVE this one necessarily. As I mentioned, there are places where it is an almost-but-not-quite. It was a fun idea, perhaps, but not absolutely flawless. I alternated between wanting to shout at the book, and cheering. Still, it's worth reading at least once.

What did I think of Amanda Grange's Christmas Present? I liked it very much!!! I tend to like or love Amanda Grange's Austen adaptations. I think she does a great job with keeping Austen's characters as we know them and love them. She is able to capture the essence of each character. In this novella, readers get a glimpse of their second Christmases. (I believe, the two couples married in November or possibly early December?) Bingley and Jane have a baby. Elizabeth and Darcy are oh-so-close to having a baby as well. But have-her-own-way Elizabeth is insistent that even though she is due to have a baby any day, she is perfectly capable of traveling a few hours by carriage so she can spend the holidays with her family. Darcy gives in, of course. So what does a family Christmas look like? Well, this family Christmas borders on insane! Through half-a-dozen coincidences it seems, that most of the family (minus Georgiana) are brought together to share these few days. Including some you might not be expecting to see: Lady Catherine. Mr. Collins. The novella is comical. It's just a satisfying way to spend an afternoon. Sometimes a good, quick read that is light-hearted fun is just what you need.

[Blodeuedd Finland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot:

There are three stories in this book. Mr Darcy's Christmas Carol by Eberhart is the story where Mr Darcy meets three spirits of Christmas, sounds familiar, well it is. He sees the past, the present, and a future he does not want. He better make amends.


The Christmas Present by Amanda Grange has the couple visiting the Bingley's over Christmas, and Lissy is pregnant and then there is a special gift coming.


A Darcy Christmas by Sharon Lathan portrays the family over many years, always on Christmas.


My thoughts:

Ahh the Christmas feeling is over me now. I will start with the first one because I can so see Mr Darcy as a sort of Scrooge. He is pining for Lizzy and then he sees what he have done. And the future, poor Mr Darcy, he would not want that. It was fun to see the story with Mr Darcy in it. I kind of wish they would make a little Christmas tv show out of it.


The Christmas present was sweet, they truly love each other and it's always heartwarming to see it.


In A Darcy Christmas I meet the characters I know from Lathan's Darcy series, and I especially liked the story where one daughter sets her eyes on the boy she wants when she is 3. No I wonder how many more books there will be in this series of hers, because there are sure a lot to write about with all the kids they get.


This was something sweet before the holidays, Lizzy and Darcy in love and spending Christmas together.


Recommendation and final thoughts:

For those that enjoy the Lathan books then this one should be read too since it's the same Darcy world. But all in all they can all also be read like this. Short stories filled with love, and Mr Darcy. Something fun for the Darcy lover out there. Because that is what they all were, sweet. It gets a 3,25, hard to say more since they all are short, and I felt different about all of them.


Reason for reading: I like Austen sequels.



Cover: Ok

[Warmisunqu Austen · Rating 4 out of 5]

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En esta corta novela, Lathan continúa en su estilo muy descriptivo, retratándonos momentos llenos de calidez y emotivos que contrastan mucho unos con otros. La facilidad para ser tan explícito en todo tipo de detalles de la pareja, permite atrapar toda tu atención. Es exquisito tanto detalle, no solo a nivel sexual sino también verbal, hay mucho intercambio de bromas, sonrisas, sutilezas, miradas, dobles sentidos, anécdotas pasadas...

Lathan es hábil pormenorizando las personalidades de los personajes, más que profundizar en ellas te hace tener un visión clara de sus formas de ser y actuar. Tanto es así que dio vida propia a un personaje que creó en el segundo libro de la saga, el doctor George Darcy, hermano del padre de Fitzwilliam Darcy, que volvió de las Indias después de 30 años de estar fuera, sus vivencias y experiencias eran extensas, una eminencia médica, tanto así que luego de la saga publicó The Passions of Dr. Darcy con muy buenas críticas.

En este sexto libro, un personaje que me ha encantado ha sido la cuarta hija de los Darcys, Audrey Darcy, y te queda la sensación de querer más, de conocerla más, qué va a suceder con ella, ya que el final queda muy abierto.

La estampa de toda la familia Darcy compartiendo y disfrutando de su tiempo juntos puede ser demasiado perfecto, un tanto quimérico, pero no deja de evocarte buenas vibraciones. Incluso al introducir momentos de angustia o tristes, le da ese aire de ensueño o inverosimilitud. Aún así, a pesar de ser todas sus historias demasiado perfectas, están muy bien narradas y ofrecen mucha diversión e información sobre los detalles que existen en esa época.

[Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever wonder how the Darcy's would celebrate Christmas? Are you interested in learning how Christmas was celebrated during the Regency era? Or have ever desired for an Austenesque novel to read around Christmastime? A Darcy Christmas just might be the book for you!


MR. DARCY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL – CAROLYN EBERHART
In her debut appearance, Carolyn Eberhart presents a clever and harmonious union between Pride and Prejudice and Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. In this novella, Darcy's held back by pride and fear, and doesn't renew his addresses to Elizabeth a second time. Therefore, he finds himself alone, morose, and dejected, come Christmas Eve. On this special night three Christmas spirits come to call and open Darcy's eyes to the dreary and desolate future before him...


Darcy as Ebeneezer Scrooge? I love it! I felt this was a very plausible and satisfying integration of these two beloved classics. The three spirits who visited Darcy were ingenious, I especially delighted in the Spirit of Christmas Yet To Come! My one complaint is that some of the visions Darcy saw, while very nicely constructed, didn't really seem to be appropriate or necessary to the story. (4 stars)

To continue reading, go to: http://janeaustenreviews.blogspot.com...

[Ruth Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always loved Jane Austen, and this the first time I have ever read a book inspired by her classic novel. I was looking forward to it, but I did find that it did not meet my expectations.

The first author did almost nothing but quote Charles Dickens. I was surprised to find that Amanda Grange has the most experience of any of the writers. I was bored to pieces, and I would have given this storu one and a half stars at best.

In the second story, I did find the Lizzie and Darcy I knew and loved. Sharon Lathan probably did the best of the three in keeping with Austen's original ideas. I still would not call it the best writing, but I basically enjoyed it.

The final offering by Carolyn Eberhart was the most intriguing of the three. It was difficult for me to imagine Lizzie and Darcy enjoying married life intimacy so much. I was not sure if I liked it. But they were a romantic couple after all. Why would they not? I enjoyed the wit and exuberance with which the author wrote and characterized the characters. I was surprised to find that she was a debut author. I plan to look her up. My only complaint was that I struggled to keep the characters straight.

If you are a Jane Auste fan who fancies a light read, you may enjoy this. For me, this was a take it or leave it sort of book.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this trio of short stories although they certainly don't compare with Jane Austen! The first was a re-telling of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (almost word for word, in some parts) with Mr Darcy taking the character of Scrooge, and the second felt like it involved a lot of repetition of scenes known from Pride and Prejudice in the form of reminiscences - "Elizabeth could not help thinking of another similar occasion some years ago, when he [Mr Darcy] had refused to dance with another partner less young lady, who had just happened to be herself, and she was pleased to see how far his manners had improved." The third story was my favourite - it described about 10 Darcy Christmas times, over a period of about 20 years. A light and fun holiday read!

[Becky R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly, I genuinely enjoy reading Austen-themed remakes and retellings. I've previously read novels by both Grange and Lathan, so I was familiar with their style of storytelling, but quickly fell in love with Everhart's cute retelling of A Christmas Carol. Grange's tale had a lot of language that was common to other Austen novels, so the story and characters felt warm and familiar, and showed just where the Darcys and Bingleys might be in their futures. Lathan's story, like her novels, was romantic and charming as it showed the loving relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth with their growing family.

As an Austen fan, I loved the sweet holiday flair brought to the characters of Pride and Prejudice. The three separate stories were unique and fun to read, each with a style that helped it stand out from the others. Honestly, I had a wonderful time escaping into the possible lives of the Darcys and would definitely recommend this compilation to Austen fans. In short, A Darcy Christmas brings Jane Austen charm to the holidays in a delightful way.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice "short" stories around the Darcy family. Spoofs on Dicken's Christmas Carol and seeing the young couple while Darcy's Christmas after having met Elizabeth and not accepting his love for her. Oh he was tortured... Then wraps up to several short stories of Christmases within the Pemberley and how their family expanded and things happening around that time. Good book!

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mr. Darcy's Christmas Carol was fun, the P&P characters playing the parts of the spirits who visit Darcy was a new twist. Some other parts were clever, and it's always interesting to revisit and re-imagine the characters' lives, but in the end it was just OK.

[Tressa · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are three short stories and the first one was good. The second one was ok, and the third one the writing is terrible and it just goes on and on. There was also too many sexual references which did not fit with the time period of writing. I don't know if I will even finish it.

[Adrienne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't waste your time. If you want to read A Christmas Carol. go do that & skip this nonsense.

[Camden · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars rounded up. Being a huge Jane Austen fan, I'm pretty disappointed with this selection. It truly feels like a compilation from fanfiction writers rather than seasoned authors. (Just looked up Carolyn Eberhart, and it looks like this is her first novella... and it shows.) But the other two are known for series based off Pride and Prejudice. Anyways, my point is that this could have been sooo much better.


Mr. Darcy's Christmas Carol by Carolyn Eberhart

1.5 stars rounded down. It's... um... well, I have a hard time coming up with something good to say. Obviously, I didn't hate it, or it would've received only 1 star, but still. It isn't that great. Eberhart places Darcy into the story of Scrooge, and it just doesn't work. The thought of that is a little preposterous, but I believe it could work. It would have to be just right. I couldn't ever come up with the "right way," but I believe it exists. It just doesn't exist in this novella. There are so many repeated scenes of Pride and Prejudice and A Christmas Carol, especially the latter, and Darcy doesn't always fit in Scrooge's "world."

I scribbled notes while reading, and I'm going to bullet point them here. I'm sorry if they're unorganized, but it's actually been about 2 months now since I read this. Here goes:
• The ghosts. Why do all three ghosts represent someone who is actually a living person in Darcy's life? I don't recall any of Scrooge's ghosts looking like someone he knew. (And I'm not including Scrooge's old partner; I'm talking about the three ghosts that visit during the night.) I could've gotten on board with Darcy's deceased mom or dad being the Ghost of Christmas Past and maybe the Ghost of Christmas Present being someone that's actually alive. Although, makes me wonder who the Ghost of Christmas Future could be. Or, perhaps, the Ghost of Christmas Past could be someone (alive or dead) who represented Darcy's past, then someone in his present would be the second ghost and someone in his future being that ghost. I don't think Lady Catherine fits the bill as someone important in his future, right?
• I will never be able to picture Elizabeth "pining" over anyone. I don't think that's in her verbal or emotional vocabulary. Lydia and Kitty, yeah, but not Elizabeth. "Pining," (to me, at least), means that she's crying and depressed and whining about how much Darcy must hate her and their separation and so on and so forth. Does this sound like the Elizabeth we know and love from Pride and Prejudice? She's the person who stands up to Darcy, basically calls him a hypocrite, and is essentially a strong female character. Really? Well, I can't see it. I think, if it came down to it, she'd overcome her feelings and not be cast down. She's stronger than Jane, who was obviously bothered by Bingley's disappearance and apparent snubbing. I'm not saying Elizabeth wouldn't be saddened or would be so void of feeling that she'd move on the next day, but she has the type of personality that can handle anything. At least, that's my image of her.
• Along the same lines, does anyone ever picture Darcy saying "humbug?" It seems plain ridiculous to me. (I understand it's what Scrooge says, but Darcy doesn't.) You can still place Darcy in a Christmas Carol-like situation without using every single word that belongs to Scrooge.
• People talk so candidly about Elizabeth and Darcy's whatever-you-call-it relationship. The Gardiners talk about wanting Darcy to marry Elizabeth with each other. Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam talk about adding a "particular" sister/cousin to the family. I just can't see people talk so lightly about this stuff. But maybe I'm wrong in this aspect. I haven't lived in that time period or culture, so what do I know.
• Was a cameo by Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth of Persuasion really necessary?
• So, Darcy ends up with Caroline in the Ghost of Christmas Future vision. Isn't that too convenient? He's never shown any interest in her, though she definitely has of him. At least, it could just be for the money and status. In fact, my image of Darcy is that Caroline is the farthest from the marriageable type to him. But that could just be my take. I guess money and status would probably be the reason why Darcy's with Caroline in this fictional future.
• Continuing with the future, Darcy comes to believe that love is foolish. Even through his experiences in this fictional future, could he really cast off love like that? He's the one who didn't follow his heart. Maybe he's the foolish one and not love.
• Okay, Elizabeth's death in the fictional future. She caught fever and didn't have the will to live?! I don't believe she would do that. As mentioned earlier, she's too strong of a character to let a broken heart literally kill her. And her headstone: "She will make the angels laugh." I understand that in a sense, but at the same time, she died being all depressed over a guy. It just doesn't fit.
• The answer to changing Darcy's chains? Marrying Elizabeth. That's all. Easy peasy. Just one simple thing. Unlike Scrooge, who actually had to change his entire personality and way of living.
• I don't think Georgiana would basically tell her uncle of Darcy's plan to ask for Elizabeth's hand. This goes with all the candid talk as previously discussed.
• Darcy would never point between him and Elizabeth through a window so they can meet alone. First off, isn't pointing improper? Secondly, such a gesture seems much too modern. People left calling cards and were introduced into rooms. I don't see such lackadaisical communication being employed in this time period. And thirdly, isn't it also improper for a man and woman to be alone? And Darcy's just inviting Elizabeth to be alone with him.
• Last thing, Darcy's proposal is word for word from Pride and Prejudice. It's good in the sense of keeping faithful to the original. But this version of Darcy has gone through visiting his past, present, and future. Would he not make a proposal curtailed a little bit toward all that? It's odd, because most of the time, I'm complaining about how this Darcy differs from the original, and here I want something that's actually a little different. It would just make a little more sense within this story.



Christmas Present by Amanda Grange

2 stars. Not to be confused with the Ghost of Christmas Present, this is actually about a gift, not a moment in time. Overall, this story was okay. I didn't dislike it, but it wasn't the best. And it was definitely better than the previous one. One decision for an author to make in any sort of fanfiction that overlaps the time period of the original piece is determining how much original dialogue should be used. I did a little bit of complaining about this in the previous story, and here I find that so many of the lines are taken directly from the original. While that can be good from the standpoint of maintaining the original property, the audience has already read that dialogue before. We read fanfic to get something different, something additional. This story could have benefited a bit from that.

I have just a couple of nit-pits on this one:
• Lady Catherine visits the Bingleys. Really. She stays overnight at their place! WHAT?! I have a really hard time seeing this. When do we see Lady Catherine going anywhere in Pride and Prejudice? She visits the Collins' but stays in the carriage. She marches into the Bennets' but stays briefly only to berate Elizabeth. Why would she stay at the Bingleys' when (a) neither Mr. Bingley and Jane are relatives and (b) Jane is the sister to her neice-in-law with whom she has objections?
• Mary clearly states that she's the most accomplished girl in town. While we all know her to want to strive for propriety and morality (and all that "boring stuff"), I just don't think she'd say that out loud. Perhaps, she might think that way about herself, but it wouldn't be proper of her to make that opinion known to others.



A Darcy Christmas by Sharon Lathan

2 stars. Boring. Not needed. Adding nothing to the original. I actually had to take breaks while reading it, because I wasn't that interested in it. However, like the other 2 stars novella, I didn't dislike it, and it was clearly better than the first one. Don't really have much more to say about it than that, except that all the new characters and family members bogs down the story. The audience already has characters that we know and love from the original. A novella-length story does not give us much time to form attachments to many new ones.


So, clearly, this collection is not my favorite. Would I recommend this to anyone? I... highly doubt it. In a way, I'm glad I've read it just to have read it. But there's probably other stories out there that can better capture the spirit (and the characters' personalities) of Pride and Prejudice.

[Shelby Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Darcy Christmas (Mr.Darcy's Christmas Carol) is written by Carolyn Eberhart. At first I was really interested in reading it because I love anything that has to do with Christmas. After I started reading it I realized it was so similar to a Christmas Carol. Everything was the same except the main character was Mr. Darcy, he plays the character of Scrooge and the spirits that come to visit him are ones from Pride and Prejudice. Just like in Pride and Prejudice Mr. Darcy's dad is dead. The main characters are Mr. Darcy, George Darcy, Lady Anne, Georgiana Darcy, and Lady Catherine. Mr. Darcy is visited by the four characters and he learns many valuable lessons from them. Darcy see's things all throughout the book that will happen if he doesn't change his ways.

In the book Darcy isn't very happy because of all the things that have happened in his life. Elizabeth rejected his proposal and he had to deal with Georgiana and Wickham. Darcy was essentially depressed because he believed there was no hope for him and Elizabeth Bennet. Mr. Darcy did do some kind things like give his staff gifts for Christmas and he gave money to various benevolent funds that his dad gave to when he was alive. Darcy decides to go out with some friend's and have a few drinks to relieve his stress and to try and forget about Elizabeth for awhile. When he returns home he thinks he sees his dads face on the door knocker. He knows that he may be drunk because he might've had too many drinks.

As Mr. Darcy begins to settle down for the night bells begin to ring all throughout his home and he knows something is up. His fathers ghost appears and Darcy doesn't believe that it is actually happening. His father becomes angry and demands that Darcy believes him because he truly is there. He is wearing chains on his body. The chains are gold and iron. The gold is represented by the money he earned and the good he has done in his life. The iron is represented by the times he acted without consideration for others. George says this to his son "If you persist along your present course, your chain of iron will grow stronger and heavier, and the gold chain will vanish and your soul will have gone with it, you then will be condemned to wander through the world for eternity. This is not a fate I wish for you to have my son" (15). George tells him that he will be haunted by three spirits who are familiar to Darcy. He also tells him that the spirits will arrive at very specific times. George says this is the only way his sons spirit will return. When his fathers spirit disappears, Darcy decides he will try and go to sleep.

At one in the morning he is awoken by another spirit. This spirit resembles his mother. His mother is named Lady Anne. Lady Anne represents Christmas Past. She is visiting him to protect his welfare and reclamation. Lady Anne brings him to various places but the most significant is when they flashback to Lady Anne, George and Darcy looking at Georgiana. Lady Anne and George ask that no matter what happens Darcy looks out for Georgiana and does whats best for her. The next flashbacks they have is when they celebrate the last Christmas they have when Lady Anne is alive. She is reading him a poem about a knight and all his noble actions. She tells him to live up to those expectations and he promises he will. The spirit interrupts this flashback and tells Darcy that he hasn't fully held up those expectations and he says he is going to make it better. She shows him the pain that Georgiana suffers when Wickham truly doesn't love her and finally she shows him the proposal of Darcy and Elizabeth. He knows all these situations and there outcomes were his fault and he vows to fix them.

The spirit of Christmas Present arrives. This spirit is Georgiana, Mr. Darcy's sister. She tells him that she is going to show him many instances when he didn't do or say the right thing. They view a time when him and Georgiana are talking about giving. Mr. Darcy tells her that he gives a lot. Georgiana says that he needs to give to people outside of his sphere. Georgiana next takes him to the Gardener's home. Mr Gardiner is telling his wife he is thankful for Mr. Darcy . Mrs. Gardiner wants Elizabeth and Darcy to be together. They next view Bingley's home Caroline is saying that Darcy can't love Elizabeth and that he must love her. Elizabeth is with a friend named Topper. Topper and Elizabeth have a romance going on. Darcy sees them kiss under the mistletoe and he get's angry because Elizabeth now is with someone else and he is sure he lost his chance with her. The spirit tells him that she hopes he learned from this and she wants him to change the results that he is seeing from his actions. The spirit goes away and Darcy again tries to go to sleep.

The next spirit takes awhile to arrive and when she does arrive he is confused. The spirit looks like Lady Catherine but isn't dressed like she would normally be dressed. She is draped in a black gown hooped skirt. She has no life in her eyes. She tells Darcy that someone in the future will die. She represents Christmas Future. They are viewing Darcy and Caroline married and they have a child. He isn't happy in his current marriage with Caroline but he loves there son Charles. Their child is ill and isn't getting better. Darcy tells the spirit he doesn't want Charles to suffer so she puts her hands on him and he stops breathing forever. Darcy is heartbroken and demands that Caroline leaves and he says he doesn't care where she goes. The next viewing of the future shows Jane with Bingley and their children all happy surrounding a fire and playing with their toys. The spirit tells him this is what happiness looks like. He wants the spirit to go away and thinks he has seen enough. The last viewing of the future makes him furious. She brings them to a graveyard to visit someone. He is confused and doesn't know what grave he sees himself sitting at. The grave is Elizabeth's she became very ill and died. He blames himself because he didn't try to be with her again. Darcy tells the spirit he will change everything he possibly can to save himself and the people he loves. The spirit laughs and disappears.

Darcy is now home and awake. He realizes that all the spirits were right when they said he needed to change his ways. He tells his housekeepers he wants to travel to Hertfordshire for Christmas to see Elizabeth. He then tells all of his housekeepers and workers to go home to spend Christmas with their families. Darcy wants to tell her how he is sorry and how much he loves her. He admits that he has made mistakes and he vows to fix them and work on them for her. He says this to her "My behavior to you at the time merited the severest reproof. It was unpardonable. I cannot think of it without abhorrence and was doubtful that you'd ever forgive me " (93). Elizabeth tells Mr. Darcy that it wasn't only his fault for the events that occurred during his proposal to her. They both realize that they are indeed head over heels in love with each other. Darcy wants to marry Elizabeth and so he asks her to marry him. What is her answer? I guess you will have to read the book to find out!


I think the book to closely resembled A Christmas Carol. Some of the parts of the book I found really interesting and some were terrible. I wish there was a larger resolution and not so many parts with the spirits and all the places they visit. I felt like each chapter dragged on because there was so many different viewings and sometimes it got confusing. I didn't find this book to be feminist but maybe I feel that way because I think it was written poorly. I didn't find any of the aspects besides the pieces directly from Pride and Prejudice to be feminist. The way the book was written seemed kind of awkward. I loved the ending but I wish we were told more about what happens between Elizabeth and Darcy. I didn't like that Caroline and Darcy were married and that Elizabeth was with a different man. It was sort of random that she was with Topper because it didn't even really introduce his character and it didn't really fit in with the story. I won't say anything more about the ending because I don't want to spoil it. I would recommend this book to someone who likes A Christmas Carol but someone who would also like to read about Pride and Prejudice.

[Sandy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve probably said this before, but since it’s my reasoning and it usually bears out my feelings, I’ll say it again. I don’t read many anthologies, mostly because it takes an exceptionally good author to make a shorter length story work. I usually really enjoy one, only like another of the three or four offerings in any anthology, and the other(s) ends up being ho-hum. That’s exactly what happened in this anthology.

Mr. Darcy’s Christmas Carol by Carolyn Eberhart

This novella uses Dickens’ A Christmas Carol as its theme. Two reasons this story didn’t work really work for me. Dickens’ theme is used in varying ways during every year’s holiday season. Even with different characters and different scenes played out, it’s still the same story and doesn’t do much for me since there’s really nothing that new about it. This next reason will probably have you scoffing at me, but nothin’ I can do about that. I’ve never read Pride and Prejudice. I have no idea what Darcy was like throughout that book and before he met Elizabeth. I’ve read only one other author’s vision of their life after P&P. So when Darcy is portrayed as a selfish and arrogant man who needs the help of spirits to insure a happy future for him without Elizabeth in his life, that doesn’t mesh with the only Darcy I have in my head. Whether that’s fair or not, I don’t know. Maybe that’s the danger in having so many authors write about the same characters, especially characters like these who are written about so darned often.

So due to his comportment to date, Darcy is visited by first his father who delivers the dire news that his future is in jeopardy. He then will be visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, who turns out to be his mother; the Ghost of Christmas Present, his sister; and lastly the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Lady Catherine. They take Darcy through the parts of his life that are now affecting his future, which were lackluster in deed and emotion - that’s both Darcy’s past and the scenes themselves. Then, of course, his future is lonely and horrible without Elizabeth to love him, with a “Bah! Humbug!” thrown in a time or two, ending a little too melodramatically for me. The dialogue also suffers at times, too cumbersome in structure and word usage. There’s a conversation between Darcy and Lizzy, after his ordeal is complete, that I tried to read twice to get the gist, but gave up halfway through the second time.

It feels as though Ms. Eberhart just tried a little too hard in this piece, started with a theme that’s too well known, we know what’s going to happen, along with utilizing such well-loved characters. There are a few moments that work — having Scrooge make a special appearance near the end of the book is a good one — but they’re really too few to bring the grade up any higher. I’d rather have Dickens’ story turned on its ear somehow, thus the author giving readers something not done before. As is, it’s just too predictable and overdone.


Christmas Present by Amanda Grange

This is my first time reading Amanda Grange. Her novella strikes a little better chord with me than the first in the book in that she gives readers these so beloved characters in a light we’re used to seeing them. If not devising a way for something out of the norm, I prefer characters like these to be seen and act as they always would. Ms. Grange has done that very well.

Lizzy receives word her sister Jane has given birth to her first child and Lizzy insists on making the journey to spend Christmas with the new family, an idea Darcy protests because Lizzy herself is pregnant with their first child. Darcy, however, knows when to pick his battles and finally agrees to the trip under certain precautions and his watchful eye.

It’s going to be a festive but trying holiday for everyone. New babies and Christmas decorations are wonderful mood setters, but it’s Mrs. Bennet who puts a damper on everyone’s spirits by overstepping her bounds and inviting unwanted guests and just being her usual blustery self. Not only that, those unwanted guests are as contrary as she is and that makes for trying times for all others.

I did enjoy Darcy’s anxiousness in becoming a new father, his conversations with Bingley that most prospective fathers go through. I also like the twist on the scenes that include a prospective beau for Kitty. All in all a nice holiday read.


A Darcy Christmas by Sharon Lathan

This novella by Ms. Lathan is the best of the bunch. She begins in the prologue with Darcy enjoying a remembrance look at a family portrait, calling forth Christmases of their past. At first I thought I’d be reading a prequel to Ms. Lathan’s Darcy series. In the first chapter, Darcy is lamenting on his loneliness without Elizabeth in his life, especially because he dreams of her as his wife, but he makes excuses as to why they cannot marry. Then the author surprises me by traveling a number of years into the future, picking one of those Darcy Christmas remembrances and sharing it in detail.

Thus, the entire novella is a moment in Christmas time, those that have the most meaning to this hero everyone loves. Each memory is written with either humor, happiness, sadness and grief, and all involve the Darcy family and its traditions as it grows over the years, including sibling bickering, parental love as well as admonishment, and a host of other fun with this delightful family.

A Christmas baby, a special child, a frayed bookmark, a carriage accident, a heartfelt loss, among a few others, are all encompassed as the Darcy children grow older throughout the years, learning about life and love from the example their parents have set during their lives. The emotion, whether happy or sad, rolls off the pages in each chapter. While every chapter has plenty to offer the reader, my favorites are Christmas Grief and Christmas Present. Grief through the holidays is understood by all and the emotion in this chapter is exceptionally well done. More surprises await in the last chapter of Christmas Present, one had me chuckling and the other had me sighing with love anew for these characters.

I believe this is Ms. Lathan’s best work to date. She’s grown tremendously as an author and I know her future works will better than ever.


For me, it’s Ms. Lathan who saves the day in this anthology. Her story alone is worth picking up this book. If you’re a big Dickens’ fan, you’ll probably have more fun with the Eberhart than I did. And Ms. Grange gives a story in keeping with what Darcy fans have come to expect when reading about him and Lizzy. There’s something in this anthology for everyone this holiday season.

See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com