Monday, September 14, 2009

Loving Mr. Darcy Blog Tour Part Two: Book Review

Loving Mr. Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberley


In her guest post, Sharon Lathan said, "In my saga, which began with Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One and now contining in Loving Mr. Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberley, I have simply done what most of us females are imagining when we close the book: I tell of the married life. So I guess you could say that my primary inspiration is the same that impels every writer of romance. We love to be in love."


Synopsis:

Loving Mr. Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberley continues Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice six months into the marriage of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett. Confident in Darcy's affections, Lizzie adapts to her role as Mistress of Pemberley with grace and skill. Sharon Lathan describes how the Darcys would have spent their days in considerable detail. The careful descriptions of Pemberley, the surrounding estates of Derbyshire, and the London season are livened up with accounts of Darcy's handling of Mrs. Bennett, the truce with Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and interaction with jealous Caroline Bingley. Many passages are devoted to how Lizzie and Darcy revel in their adventures in and out of the bedroom.

Loving Mr. Darcy is full of banter and loving moments between Darcy and Lizzie, but Sharon Lathan also weaves in much historical and cultural detail when describing the Darcys's every day life. Reading how the Darcys researched and prepared for pregnancy and childbirth, I was struck by the way that Lathan was able to include a number of medical discoveries and childcare items into the 1800s. Through the dialogue and musings of Lizzie and Darcy, Lathan also incorporates scenes from Pride and Prejudice and extrapolates how both characters had thought and felt.

Review:

Loving Mr. Darcy was my first exposure to Sharon Lathan and the Darcy Saga. It would be fair to say that it delves into what happily ever. The novel extends the story and describes the many joys and adventures that the Darcys might have encountered in their first year of marriage. I particularly enjoyed the passages where Darcy and Lizzie relived incidents from their romance in Pride and Prejudice. Loving Mr. Darcy gives a deeper picture of Fitzwilliam Darcy in love - which Pride and Prejudice fans are sure to enjoy.

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (September 1, 2009), 448 pages.
Courtesy of the publisher.

Read Sharon Lathan's guest post, "Inspiring Happily Ever After" and enter the contest for Mr. and Mrs. Darcy: Two Shall Become One AND Loving Mr. Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberley on Starting Fresh at
http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/2009/09/loving-mr-darcy-blog-tour-visit-with_04.html

Thanks so much, Danielle and SourceBooks for this opportunity!

4 comments:

  1. I've given you an award!

    Head on over to Just Jennifer Reading to claim it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have an award for you:

    http://bethsbookreviewblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/award-super-scribbler-award.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you, Gaby, for the amazing review! Wow! I am so appreciative, but mostly just thrilled that you had a positive reading experience. Your words of praise incredibly rewarding. Thanks for sharing your delight in my book with your readers.

    Sincerely, Sharon Lathan

    ReplyDelete
  4. These books look so great, thanks for the awesome review!

    ReplyDelete