Miss Darcy’s Companion Review & Giveaway

Joana Starnes is one of those authors whose new releases I’m always impatient to read, so it is no surprise that I could not resist to read Miss Darcy’s Companion nonstop shortly after its release date, and guess what? I loved it! But of course, that is also no surprise as Mrs. Starnes has become one of those authors whose books I always love to read.

In this variation Mr. Bennet dies and Mr. Collins loses no time in sending his cousins to the hedgerows. Or that is where they would have been were it not for their uncles assistance and Elizabeth’s resilient character. Being thrown out of her house, Elizabeth seeks employment as a governess and her employer is none other than Col. Fitzwilliam’s sister in law, Lady Stretton.

This is the point where the book starts and we soon realize that Lady Stretton is a snobbish, insupportable person who treats others as inferior beings. So, it comes as no surprise that when Georgiana Darcy requests her guardians to hire Miss Bennet as her companion instead of Mrs. Younge, and they acquiesce, Elizabeth finds herself in the position of Miss Darcy’s Companion.

Joana Starnes starts this book by teasing us! She places Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy in the same house, in close proximity, and we spend the entire first chapter eagerly waiting for them to meet, but that pleasure is delayed, and we only see them together when the position as Miss Darcy’s Companion is proposed to her.

From there, the book continues with a structure that I personally like very much. The first chapters will focus on the day to day activities at Pemberley and the interactions between all characters. The authors knowledge of all things regency is transmitted in these first chapters, and it is also during this first part of the book that we, as readers, get to know the characters and that they get to know each other. We are given the pleasure to see Elizabeth falling in love with Mr. Darcy by getting to know his true character, we see her pining for him (yes, yes, yes), and we see Mr. Darcy unknowingly falling in love with Elizabeth.

After this pleasurable peaceful time, the twists and angst appear. And even though this is a lighter book compared to others Mrs. Starnes has written before, we do have action, suspense, fear and angst, or this would not be a Joana Starnes book.

I could point out numerous scenes I loved in the book, but what I loved the most about it was Mr. Darcy. The character remained true to the original, and Joana Starnes created what I call the perfect imperfect Darcy! He was still proud, stern and firm, yet charming all the same.

He was portrayed in this book exactly as I imagine Mr. Darcy to be, and that is something that doesn’t occur that frequently. I loved Mr. Darcy’s reactions towards unpleasant situations and his attitudes. The entire scene after he sees Elizabeth leaving the inn was just heart breaking. The carriage ride that follows was one of those scenes that pulled me into the book and made me read fervently! There was so much emotion present in that scene, his jealousy and anger so adoringly painful, that I knew I was reading a Joana Starnes book. Scenes like this are the reason I still love reading JAFF and they are a boost to my addiction and love for Mr. Darcy.

Another detail that I enjoyed in this book were the letters from Mr. Wickham and Miss Bingley. They were clearly an added value, and it was interesting to see how Mr. Wickham applied to the Kympton Parsonage after having accepted the money instead of it. This is something we rarely see in JAFF novels, and Mrs. Starnes did a beautiful job in including it through a letter.

There wasn’t anything I disliked in this book, and I would only add a few more self-conscious scenes between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth to make it absolutely perfect.

As always, Mrs. Starnes has wrote a book that cannot be missed by any JAFF reader! If you haven’t read this book yet, I highly recommend it.

 

Miss Darcy’s Companion is availabe at:

Amazon.com – Miss Darcy’s Companion

Amazon.co.uk –Miss Darcy’s Companion: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

 

 

Find out more about Miss Darcy’s Companion on the other stops of the blog tour:

Austenesque Reviews: 8 – 14 May 2016 – Cover Reveal and Giveaway

Austen Authors: 11 – 18 May 2016 – Excerpt and Giveaway

Just Jane 1813 – 15 – 22 May 2016 – Review and Giveaway

Historical and Regency Romance UK – 17 May 2016 – ‘Playing Quoits with Miss Darcy’s Companion’

My Jane Austen Book Club – 25 May 2016 – ‘Music, Magic and Miss Darcy’s Companion’ – Guest post and Giveaway

Diary of an Eccentric – 27 May 2016 – Guest post and Giveaway

From Pemberley to Milton – 30 May 2016 – Review and Giveaway

Laughing With Lizzie – 2-3 June 2016 – Guest post and Giveaway

Babblings of a Bookworm – 10 June 2016 – Excerpt and Giveaway

A Covent Garden Gilflurt’s Guide to Life – 25 June 2016 – Excerpt and Giveaway

More Agreeably Engaged – 28 June 2016 – Guest post and Giveaway

Austenesque Reviews – 13 July 2016 – Guest post and Giveaway

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***It’s Giveaway time***

As a sign of appreciation for her readers, Mrs. Starnes would like to offer a copy of Miss Darcy’s Companion to one of lucky winner.

The giveaway is international and is open until the 9^th of June, all you have to do is comment this post and share your opinion with all of us.

Good luck everyone!