The Falmouth Connection: A Pride and Prejudice Variation in Austen Variations

Feb 24, 2017 Nicole Clarkston rated it it was amazing

No spoilers here, just a dreamy sigh and a half-eaten bar of chocolate to testify to this amazing story. Joana never disappoints! Her romance is so delicious, her angst is so natural, and each word is so carefully chosen to leave the reader with shivers and pounding pulse. Never stop writing, because I need some more of this Darcy!

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Mar 21, 2015 Sheila Majczan rated it it was amazing

July 2017: I won an audible version of this favorite book and listened to it while at times reading along on my borrowed KU copy. I did note that there are revisions which in no way changed my loving everything about this book. The garden scene remains one of my favorite reads out of many books and I have read of many others agreeing with that opinion.

I have to say that this is a wonderful book, I have read the author's other books and while I enjoyed them, do believe that this one is her best. July 2017: I won an audible version of this favorite book and listened to it while at times reading along on my borrowed KU copy. I did note that there are revisions which in no way changed my loving everything about this book. The garden scene remains one of my favorite reads out of many books and I have read of many others agreeing with that opinion.

I have to say that this is a wonderful book, I have read the author's other books and while I enjoyed them, do believe that this one is her best. The prose is true to Jane Austen's time, the descriptions, both of setting and of points of views are so enthralling one wants to take one's time to read every word, to NOT rush nor skim over the pages in an effort to reach the end.

I don't want to type any spoilers but, as the book description states, this is a variation that picks up at Rosings & Hunsford and varies in that Darcy does reveal to Col. Fitzwilliam his intentions towards Elizabeth. As we proceed Darcy, as usual, gets some advice from Col. Fitzwilliam but that self-same person giving out the advice is also the one to apply a hatchet job to Darcy's plans unknowingly!

Providing transportation in his carriage for Elizabeth to meet up with her family on their way to Falmouth where the Bennets are to finally meet a long lost aunt of Mrs. Bennet's, Darcy finds time and again his attempts to propose are stifled by man, by weather, by circumstances and then by his learning of her true feelings during the journey and shortly after he follows them to that locale.

Joana Starnes' language and descriptions of Darcy's tangled and frustrated thought processes are captivating. I found myself with tears in my eyes with the bittersweet events, with the turns of discovery, with the fatal stab in his heart's emotions. And then Elizabeth has some discoveries of her own to make and not from a letter written after a refused proposal. I do not have a Face Book account so didn't get to see the photos of Cornwall posted there, which Dave mentioned, but my imagination did draw some vivid pictures from the words herein.

I highly recommend this book. An interview with the author along with a review posted on Austenesque Reviews made it clear that this is a book not to be missed by JAFF readers. A

I now own a paperback copy of this story. ...more

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Jan 27, 2018 Elin Eriksen rated it it was amazing

The Falmouth Connection was a thrilling read. Very well written and delightfully moving.

Darcy never gets to deliver his proposal at Hunsford as Elizabeth is summoned to join her relations on a trip to Falmouth in Cornwall. Mrs Bennet's hitherto unknown aunt has invited the entire Bennet family. Darcy offers to convey Elizabeth to the inn where the rest of her family is waiting, in hope an opportunity to propose. His plan is twarted by overcrowded inns and circumstances until it is too late. His ...more

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Nov 05, 2015 Beau North rated it it was amazing

Ms. Starnes continues to astonish with her beautifully detailed anguish. "Poison. Poison. Every thought was poison." Ripped me to pieces. A fun spin on an old tale, with gothic overtones and an adventurous spirit. . Plenty of excellent twists and turns, the newer characters did not feel forced or shoehorned in as original characters sometimes do. A most satisfying conclusion (and a surprising one for the character who is ever my favorite). I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
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Aug 29, 2019 Dawn rated it really liked it

Shelves: austenesque-2022

3.5 rounded up! This was a story with mystery, suspense and romance. I really enjoyed it and would recommend to P&P fans. I did feel that after the climax was reached and the mystery part resolved, the book could have wrapped up a little bit sooner. There was also one romantic pairing (no names mentioned) that I couldn't wrap my brain around and didn't quite sit well with me, but that's only my personal preference and opinion. ...more

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Mar 14, 2015 Chiara Lanzi rated it really liked it

It is the first novel I read of this author and I really enjoyed it!!
It was well written; on several occasions I found myself laughing, especially when Darcy talks with Colonel Fitzwilliam and with the arrival of. Mr Bingley. The dialogues and interactions between the two friends are very funny!!
Lydia is different for some points of view: she , as usual, speaks out of turn but at the same time she seems more mature than the original character.
Mrs Bennet is fantastic: this time she dotes on Darcy ...more

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Nov 16, 2018 M rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 11, 2020 Craftyhj rated it it was amazing

Shelves: yes, own-copy, zzpre2020jaff

I do love this author’s work. She really gets inside the characters’ skin. In this story Darcy really has to work to gain redemption and Elizabeth has to fight her prejudices . A great read and highly recommended

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