Mr Bennet's Dutiful Daughter in Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2016

Nov 06, 2016 Debbie rated it really liked it

Shelves: jaff

As always, Ms. Starnes has written a story that's sure to touch your heart. While at Rosings Park, Elizabeth learns that her beloved father has been struck down by apoplexy. Darcy immediately takes control, coordinating her travel to Longbourn in his coach so she can be at his bedside by the end of the day. He also makes a hurried and apologetic marriage proposal, assuring her that he ardently admires and loves her, realizing that his timing is terrible, but pointing out that if the worst happen As always, Ms. Starnes has written a story that's sure to touch your heart. While at Rosings Park, Elizabeth learns that her beloved father has been struck down by apoplexy. Darcy immediately takes control, coordinating her travel to Longbourn in his coach so she can be at his bedside by the end of the day. He also makes a hurried and apologetic marriage proposal, assuring her that he ardently admires and loves her, realizing that his timing is terrible, but pointing out that if the worst happens, Elizabeth and the Bennets will be at the mercy of Mr. Collins unless she is married to him. Despite her panicked emotional state over her father’s health, Elizabeth grasps how desperate her family's situation is and that marriage to Darcy is necessary to protect them, so she agrees even before they arrive at Longbourn. She never expresses her misgivings to Darcy and, while he is surprised that she never anticipated his address, he believes that she is pleased rather than horrified to be marrying him.

This basic premise has been used before, but Ms. Starnes uses an elegant and deft hand in its execution. The storyline involving Mr. Bennet's serious illness provides the unique twist with an exchange at his sickbed that becomes the turning point in this well-constructed novel. The writing flows beautifully with authentic-sounding Regency prose. All the plot elements weave together beautifully. The anxious watch over Elizabeth’s father shows Darcy at his most solicitous and adoring regarding his beloved Elizabeth. This part of the story gives way to the couple hitting a major bump in their relationship related to the aforementioned sickbed conversation.

My only criticism is the exaggerated amount of angst, not in the plot, but in the writing itself. There are pages upon pages of Elizabeth’s anguish over her father’s perilous medical condition, her confused feelings about her husband and then, once she realizes that she loves him, over the misunderstandings that tear them apart. For my own reading taste, it felt as though the angst was overcooked a bit, with the events themselves providing plenty of heartache without devoting so many paragraphs to the wretchedness of Elizabeth’s feelings.

Despite that, this is an excellent story in all other respects. It keeps the reader’s interest, the characters are believable and easy to relate with, and Ms. Starnes’ splendid writing is among the best you’ll find in all of JAFF.

It also has what I believe is the most satisfying Epilogue I've ever read, penned by dear Mrs. Reynolds. (But is it really true that MRS. Reynolds has never been married? And if so, is that a Regency tradition... to call a housekeeper "Mrs." even if she isn't one?) ...more

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Nov 07, 2016 J. W. Garrett rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jaff-pride-and-prejudice, 2016, era-6-regency-1811-1820, trope-fms-moc-comp, loaned, trope-a-bennet-dies

Sanguine meets Melancholic in an emotion packed story.

“I feel incompetent to perform duties… which have been so unexpectedly thrown upon me.” Andrew Johnson

I have just finished Joana Starnes’ latest book and I am an emotional wreck. I absolutely loved it. Please be warned that this is not a quick and easy read. Nor is it a fluffy ‘falling in love’ and everything is A-OK story. Nope, there is drama that will drive you to tears and angst that will grip your heart. The creative writing will pull em ...more

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Dec 10, 2016 Talia rated it it was amazing

When I put this book down, I had to wait a minute or two holding it between my hands to appreciate the lingering feeling of satisfaction that one experiences when JAFF is done right. It deserved the sigh! By far my favorite book from this author, I highly recommend purchasing this one to read over and over again.

Reread: Oh! The angst! So good. Love this book still!

Reread: This shows that when reading a bunch of JAFF books at the same time that sometimes one can fail to appreciate great books. I ...more

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Nov 07, 2016 Anji rated it it was amazing

Shelves: e-book, z-2016-austenesque-challenge, austenesque-regency, austenesque-pride-and-prejudice, z-2017-austenesque-challenge

Wow....just....wow!!! Some people will know that I've already used that phrase in connection with this book. That hasn't changed in the slightest. I've read all of Joana Starnes' works and have loved them all. My previous favourite was The Falmouth Connection (the garden scene...sigh!) but I think it's now been superceded by this one.

Setting the scene: the variation starts as Elizabeth is walking in the grounds of Rosings Park and meets Colonel Fitzwilliam. He's just about to divulge the fact t Wow....just....wow!!! Some people will know that I've already used that phrase in connection with this book. That hasn't changed in the slightest. I've read all of Joana Starnes' works and have loved them all. My previous favourite was The Falmouth Connection (the garden scene...sigh!) but I think it's now been superceded by this one.

Setting the scene: the variation starts as Elizabeth is walking in the grounds of Rosings Park and meets Colonel Fitzwilliam. He's just about to divulge the fact that Darcy interfered in Bingley's fledgling relationship with Jane, when Darcy comes galloping up on horseback. Back at Longbourn, Mr. Bennet is seriously, possibly fatally ill and she has to return home immediately. As the Colonel disappears to make travel arrangements, Darcy makes the proposal he was planning for later that day. He knows that the Bennet family will be "out in the hedgerows" should Mr. Bennet die and that would also delay any possible wedding. Elizabeth accepts without having to think about it too much. Darcy doesn't make the Hunsford proposal we know so well, so he doesn't get the refusal that drives him to write the letter that starts to improve Elizabeth's opinion of him. She still thinks well of Wickham! So how do these two totally different people, who hardly know each other, get on as a married couple and reach their HEA?

From here on in we're taken on quite the roller coaster ride by Ms. Starnes. Without that crucial happening at Hunsford from canon, both of them still have to grow (a lot) to become the people they need to be. Darcy in particular, although he's deeply in love, can be really quite unpleasant at times, especially regarding Elizabeth's family and connections. Obviously she doesn't take it well. He's also unaware at this time quite how unequal their respective affections are. How he finds out is just one downhill rush of the aforesaid roller coaster. There are interesting confrontations between various parties during the course of this tale. One in particular had me cheering for an unexpected show of backbone by......ah, but that would be telling. Spoilers!

I won't say any more as I really don't want to give away any details of this wonderful variation. There are some intense romantic scenes and we do go into Darcy and Elizabeth's bedroom but it's told with exquisite taste there's nothing terribly explicit. It's a high angst story admittedly but I loved it from start to finish and the epilogue is a total joy. ...more

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Oct 31, 2018 Dung rated it it was amazing

Shelves: austen-inspried, books-owned-kindle-ibook

Joana Starnes does it again! What an angst filled story that just pulls you in. You can feel the emotions coming off the pages from gut wrenching moments to moments that make you sigh.

The other reviews do a great job summarizing the story. I highly recommend it to any JAFF lovers.

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Nov 19, 2016 ana darcy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jaff

Can I give it six stars? Review on the 1st December.

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Nov 06, 2016 Marina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-favourite-p-p

I have read the book in one go, i just could not put it down! I am not going to go over the story plot in a lot of detail but i have to say it is one of the best angsty Pride and Prejudice variations published to date.
The story is wonderfully written and will make you cry, laught and cheer with ODC all way throughout the journey. There was just right level of detail to make you feel connected with Lizzy and Darcy; to understand why they have reacted and behaved just so.
I could easily imagine bot ...more

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Aug 19, 2017 Teresita rated it it was amazing

The path to love...

... Can be full of misunderstandings. Joanna Starnes seems able to get inside the hearts and minds of our favorite couple to give us a glimpse into their struggles.

A highly recommended story!

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Dec 28, 2016 Elizabeth rated it really liked it

An emotion-wrenching read from Ms. Joana Starnes yet I expected nothing less from this author. Elizabeth Bennett agrees to marry Fitzwilliam Darcy under heartbreaking circumstances as her father is knocking on death's door. Therefore, Darcy isn't aware of her true, not-too-lovely, feelings. He believes she feels the same sentiments as he. Through misunderstandings and miscommunication, the Darcys traverse through their stormy marriage. Thankfully, Our Darcling Couple are able to discuss their lo ...more

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