Denial of Conscience (Conscience #1) in Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2016

Jun 12, 2015 Sheila Majczan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

As I said earlier today this story is sexy, lush and riveting!

I was sent a 34 page sample of this book by the author several weeks ago and upon reading that coined this book as "James Bond meets Jane Austen". It lives up to both genres! Excitement, thrills, espionage, flying across the Atlantic, riding bullet trains thru Europe, handsome men seducing the ladies and ladies with deadly skills, this book does not let down from hypnotizing action.

The book description ends with a note from the autho As I said earlier today this story is sexy, lush and riveting!

I was sent a 34 page sample of this book by the author several weeks ago and upon reading that coined this book as "James Bond meets Jane Austen". It lives up to both genres! Excitement, thrills, espionage, flying across the Atlantic, riding bullet trains thru Europe, handsome men seducing the ladies and ladies with deadly skills, this book does not let down from hypnotizing action.

The book description ends with a note from the author that telling us she borrowed the names and some of the characteristics of Jane Austen’s characters for her story. And I was smiling at not only where the author assigned names but also the extremely clever way she put Jane Austen’s words and/or phrases into the mouths of our players. Yes, it has been done before but here it is just done with so much more stealth and humor! I.e., Elizabeth taking a dance lesson and when Jane mentions that a dark, striking hottie is staring at her says, “He’s alright, not handsome enough to tempt me.”

Both Elizabeth and Darcy are suffering from the “sins of the mother”. As a result of the trauma with that event in her life, Lizzy steps into the “woman of the house” role, sacrificing any freedom to experience life in order stay at Longbourn and take care of her father. And Mr. Bennet relies on her role as a martyr. But as Longbourn is falling apart, literally, he additionally pushes her to make a further contribution to his goals…to marry for money to save the estate. In steps Bill Collins. But he is not at all what she thinks he is and, even with Jane’s and others’ warnings about her fiancé, Lizzy goes ahead with wedding plans. Part of the plans is for dance lessons at the Bingley Dance Studio in preparation for the wedding reception

Darcy has run from the tragedy in his past, a tragedy which involved both of his parents, his sister and his childhood friend, George Wickham. No, it is not as in P&P at all. This is a ghastly shocker. Aunt Catherine is there and Darcy joins the Navy SEALS and then trains as an assassin working for Obsidian. He becomes known as “Iceman” and with several experiences plus his family history has sworn off all women. During an assignment in which he lays in wait to execute his next assignment he spies Lizzy in her dilapidated jeep flying along listening to an opera on her cassette player and names her Lakmé from the aria. But when he spies her through his scope, plans for the code plan “Virginia Reel” abruptly change.

They are next in company when he goes to a planned meeting of the Obsidian team at the Bingley Dance Studio. He is taken by surprise when Lizzy walks in to partake in a group lesson for a tango for her wedding. He overhears her remark, but when she is the odd woman out for the next part of the group lesson he steps in to partner her. They dance in silence but “neither could deny how they made each other feel in their arms. In a word: inferno.” At the end, “Thank you for the dance, Liz.” He walks away and mounts his motorcycle and leaves. She is left to wonder how he knew her name.

The action is fast and furious. The CIA is involved and an international gunrunner with ties to the team’s past has deadly plans for Mr. Bennet and others. It is race to intercede before state secrets fall into terrorists’ and enemy’s hands.

Both Darcy and Elizabeth fight their attraction to each other. Neither trusts members of the opposite gender. It was delicious to read of all the sexual chemistry simmering in the air around these two. Both Bennet sisters heat up the environment in this book. I loved the language the author used to describe intimate scenes between ODC. It is well done. Yes, this is a MA story.

There are many references to snakes in this book. Darcy hates them and assigns the names of such to the whole class of women as this is how he views them. Orchids also come into play. Darcy’s mother raised them and we now learn of Lizzy doing the same.

Caroline Bingley has some surprises in store for the readers, which don’t come into play until towards the end. She kicks ass! And she has not lost her lusting after Darcy. Bingley is a different man – I liked his new professional side! But then he also has some “international” tastes in his love life.

I could not put this book down and completed it in less than a day. I will read it again. I highly recommend it this book.
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Aug 02, 2015 Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: pride-and-prejudice, jane-austen

Double O Darcy!

TYPE OF AUSTENESQUE NOVEL: Modern Adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, Mature Audiences

SETTING: Modern-day – Virginia, Monte Carlo, and Morocco

SYNOPSIS: Fitzwilliam Darcy, an ex-SEAL working as an assassin for a secret organization contracted by the CIA, is on his next mission to take out a man in Virginia who is creating a very harmful technology that, once sold to our enemies could cripple the U.S. and send us back to the Dark Ages. The target Darcy is sent to eliminate is an unas ...more

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Sep 05, 2015 Sophia rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-requests, romantic-suspense, jane-austen-austenesque

James Bond Meets Pride & Prejudice in this exciting, sultry, and exotic mash up. I couldn't wait to read it. Darcy is an assassin, Lizzy's Dad is his target, and a terrorist has them in his crosshairs. Yep, that made for an intriguing romance and adventure.

The story opens with Fitzwilliam Darcy having just completed a job only to get called in for his next ops. His cousin recruited him and the two Bingley sibs to be the four members of Obsidian a contract company used by the government when they ...more

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Jul 06, 2015 Claudine DiMuzio / Just Jane 1813 rated it it was amazing

I am thrilled I finally read this book by Cat Gardiner, who I believe writes some of the best modern JAFF stories.

The chemistry between Darcy and Elizabeth is palpable, the storyline is engrossing and the way she folds Austen's characters from her other stories into this book adds to the wit and cheekiness of her book.

The beginning is a little slow and then the book takes off and becomes a real page-turner. I am thrilled a sequel is due out soon, which I also can't wait to read and review!

Tha ...more

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Sep 26, 2015 Candy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: austenesque, romance, contemporary

Wow! What a ride! I loved reading Denial of Conscience! I was so caught up in the action of this exciting story, that I had a hard time putting it down!

Darcy is an assassin; a hired killer working unofficially for the CIA. He works alongside his cousin, Richard Fitzwilliam, and good friend, Charles Bingley. Their main headquarters and front is a dance studio run by Charles and his sister Caroline Bingley. Together, this crew is a badass team!

In this story, there are only two Bennet sisters, an Wow! What a ride! I loved reading Denial of Conscience! I was so caught up in the action of this exciting story, that I had a hard time putting it down!

Darcy is an assassin; a hired killer working unofficially for the CIA. He works alongside his cousin, Richard Fitzwilliam, and good friend, Charles Bingley. Their main headquarters and front is a dance studio run by Charles and his sister Caroline Bingley. Together, this crew is a badass team!

In this story, there are only two Bennet sisters, and their roles have been switch around a bit. Jane, is still the oldest, but is more daring and enjoys life to the fullest. Lizzy is more self-sacrificing and is still living at home taking care of her dad. Mrs. Bennet abandoned the family years earlier. Their ancestral family home, Longbourn, a 200-year-old plantation in Virginia, is in desperate need of restoration. Mr. Bennet’s neglect of the place has become very evident, and too much for the Bennet’s to afford. But Mr. Bennet is unwilling to give it up or sell any portion of its many acres. The question is, at what lengths is he willing to go to to keep Longbourn?

One solution is for Lizzy to marry Mr. Colin, and it’s one she considers doing. **cringe!** But soon that changes when Liz and Darcy meet, and she is swept up into an adventure she will never forget!

I thought Cat Gardiner did a fantastic job bringing Darcy and Elizabeth into the present day. This is not canon Pride and Prejudice, but it still has some elements of the original story. Pemberley, Georgiana, and Wickham are here. Along with the tragic story of the death of Darcy’s parents and what drove Darcy to become a Navy Seal.

I also love how you can find names of characters from other Austen books used in this story. For example, George Knightley is an old military buddy of Darcy’s. He owes Darcy a favor and is call upon to help out during a mission.

Denial of Conscience is a fantastic read! It’s full of adventure, espionage, and danger!

**For mature audiences.

FTC Disclaimer: I received a paperback of the book from the author. The review is of my own doing and is my honest opinion. ...more

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Jun 25, 2015 Paige rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015, austenesque-challenge-2015

Denial of Conscience is an original and exciting Pride and Prejudice riff. As the title indicates, it is a modern adventure involving Elizabeth, Darcy, and other Austen characters. Other reviews have perfectly described this book as being James Bond meets Jane Austen. At one point, Elizabeth thinks to herself that Darcy is like James Bond.

There is so much to like about this book! Imagine Fitzwilliam as a former Navy SEAL, roaring around on his motorcycle. Imagine Caroline as a viporous ninja as ...more

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Oct 22, 2015 Mary rated it it was amazing

If you're looking for a hot,fast paced,modern adventure that centres on the love story that is Elizabeth and Darcy then this is the book for you!

It's witty, spicy, adorable, addictive and beautifully written. I loved this Darcy and Elizabeth.... the chemistry between them....
their words of love........

This book is Pride and Prejudice meets Bond...it's a melting pot that runneth over........it's one of the best I've read and I highly recommend it!!

Ms Gardiner-take a well deserved bow!

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May 30, 2015 Erika rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: jane-austen

Excellent modern P&P variation

I have to say that Cat Gardiner has done it again!!! She pulled out all the stops: romance, adventure, espionage, hot Harley riding Darcy, the sizzling tango, selfish Mr Bennet, exotic locales.....and so much more!!!

Elizabeth is out of character in here, to begin with she is demure and capitulates to her father, the good girl who didn't move away, who always takes care of her father. She continually states that she is not romantic.

Darcy, what can I say but that he ...more

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Jun 15, 2015 Cat Gardiner rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Shelves: p-p, my-novels, modern-austen-inspired

Well, I didn't add it to my shelf because that's my Lady Catherine or Mr. Collins nature! LOL! I had to rate it to add it to my shelf in order to recommend it to all my friends. :) And, you know, I did have five stars of fun writing it! I hope you'll have five stars of fun reading it. Hugs, Cat ...more

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Nov 08, 2015 Nicole Barton Sasser rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, modern-jaff, jaff, p-and-p, 2015-austenesque-lovers-challenge

3.5 Stars

Authors Note: Jane Austen wrote such wonderful characters, I borrowed their names and some of their characteristics to tell my own tale of hard-won, contemporary love.

BE ADVISED: This story contains explicit sexual scenes.

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Jul 06, 2015 Tina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book has a plot that Mr. Bennet is a traitor to his country and Darcy is contracted to take him out of commission. Of course he ends up seeing Lizzy and then realizes he can't go through with it. But then a member of the CIA is contracted to kill daddy Bennet and well Darcy just happens to be in the right place at the right time. This starts an adventure to save Bennet from some middle eastern terrorists. Along the way the two end up falling in love.

I will say that this book to me just seem ...more

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May 30, 2015 Teresita rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

An incredible adventure!

They found the most incredible love in the most thrilling adventure. Rescued each other from loneliness and darkness. A story worth reading more than once.

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