As the name indicates An Arranged Marriage starts with Elizabeth agreeing to marry Mr. Darcy as part of what she believes to be an arrangement. Shortly after her refusal of Mr. Darcy at Hunsford, her father dies, and Mr. Darcy comes to the rescue by offering his hand in marriage to Elizabeth once more. She accepts his hand to save her family, but is led to believe their marriage will be something very different…
An Arranged Marriage is told from Elizabeth’s point of view with a first-person narration and the scenes are so good that I wish I could also read this story from Darcy’s perspective. This is something I feel quite frequently when the scenes are very intense or interesting and Jan Hahn is a master in creating that type of scenes! The moments between Darcy and Elizabeth are so tantalizing that I would love to know what he was thinking and feeling at each moment.
In the beginning I considered Elizabeth too childish and spoiled but that impression soon went away as she started to fall in love with Mr. Darcy and resemble the Elizabeth we all know. Her character becomes very true to Austen’s creation but Jan Hahn added something else, a little jealousy 🙂 This additional feature made me love this book even more because it brought more intensity of feeling to it.
The romance is exquisite and written with such eloquence that it becomes irresistible. It is slow, intense, believable, and whimsical at the same time and Jan Hahn proves once more to be an expert in this genre, writing everything one would like to see developed in a forced marriage scenario.
After the angsty beginning, which is by itself another ingredient to make me love a book, Jan Hahn took the time to show us how blissfull Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s marriage was. We could read how everything ended up for all characters and we had the time to savour those delicious moments. This is very typical of Jan Hahn and once more she did not disappoint, she creates an angsty story and then gives us a little mush to balance everything and please all types of readers.
Apart from Darcy and Elizabeth’s characters which I loved, the relationship between Georgiana and the Colonel was also endearing and I wanted to keep reading about it every time a new scene between them arose.
I highly recommend this book to all readers! As always, Ms Hahn presents us with a quality book full of romance and intensity between Darcy and Elizabeth, a book we don’t want to let go until we finish it, and that makes us dream about it once we’ve reached the end.
You can find An Arranged Marriage at:
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I would love to offer you a copy of this book, but unfortunately I don’t have an extra one, I do however have an extra paperback of The Journey, one of my favourite books from Jan Hahn, and also one of my all time favourites. I was very lucky to receive a signed copy of it and because I already had a paperback, I am now in a position to offer it to another reader. I must say it has been read so it is mildly used. If you would like to win it anyway, please comment on this post and I will enter you in the giveaway. The giveaway is open until the 16th of August.
Good Luck everyone!
Rita,
What a lovely review! I really enjoy reading your thoughts,especially when they are so enthusiastic and positive!
I read this book many moons ago and loved it.
Please don’t include me in the giveaway as I’ve got a copy of The Journey, which I too have read. 😊
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I have heard great things about The Journey so I would love to have a copy. Thanks for offering up your extra one in this giveaway!
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I have read this twice and loved it.
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Fabulous review!! I have also loved everything written by Jan Hahn!! She has such a talent for writing emotive, character-driven stories.
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Very generous thank you and a great review.
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I have not read the journey yet & don’t mind that its been read before. I’d love to read this book myself, so please count me in. Thanks!!
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I love this book SO much! I love all Jan Hahn’s books, they’re exquisitely written and full of delicious angst. I have them all, so please don’t enter me in the giveaway, I just wanted to pop by to say hi and thanks for the great review that reminded me how wonderful it was to discover Jan’s books and savour them all.
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A thoughtful review – thank you for sharing 🙂 I would love to win a copy of The Journey – thank you for the opportunity.
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Can you believe that I have not read any books from Jan? True, but they sound really promissing. Would love “the journey” to be my first read by this author. Thanks for a chance to win!
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If you read “The Darcy Monologues” you read her extradinary short story! You need to read her books. Stat!
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Extraordinary * gah, typos on phone. Apologies
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Neither have I, though I’m currently reading her short story in ‘The Darcy Monologues’. 🙂
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I also loved this book and all of Jan’s books. I already have the print copy to both books. Thanks!
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When I read this many moons ago, I knew I was going to love it when she let the window shade snap back in the carriage as Darcy suffered a hangover.
So many wonderful scenes in that book. When he returns to Pemberley at the harvest supper. Swoon!
I would read anything she decided to write.
No one writes like Jane Hahn!
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You can’t believe how many people complained about that scene. They thought my Elizabeth was far too mean to “perfect” Darcy in the beginning of the book. Guess they were empathizing with his hangover headache.
Christina, you wrote a fantastic review of this book seven years ago, and I’ve been grateful to you for your support ever since. Hugs!
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I have read and enjoyed all of Jan’s books!
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Oh, Rita, thank you for this wonderful review! What a glorious surprise to wake up to this morning! An Arranged Marriage is the first book I had published. I can’t believe it happened seven years ago. It’s been my bestseller, and I’m amazed every time I see it’s still selling. Thank you, readers. You’re the best!
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It was the first one of your stories I read (in the ancient past when it was posted at DWG) and it’s among my favourites ever since. Oh, the harvest feast scene… and the sleepwalking… Oh dear, I’ll have to reread it!
Rita, please don’t enter me into the giveaway as I have all Jan’s books – I just couldn’t resist commenting and urging anyone who hasn’t read these wonderful books to discover them. Thanks, Jan, for sharing your talent and good luck with your future writing!
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What a lovely review Rita. I too love this book and The Journey. So please don’t enter me in the giveaway. I really enjoy books with an early marriage or relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth so this was a definite favourite.
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Great review Rita. Very thoughtful and insightful. It sounds like an interesting new take on the P&P story. I like the sound of Elizabeth feeling jealous and I’ve never read a story with first person narration from her point of view.
Congrats on your book, Jan. It sounds wonderful. 🙂
Count me in to the giveaway! Is it open internationally?
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I had not heard of this author, but your stunning review makes me eager to discover her. I would be absolutely delighted to win your copy of The Journal, but is this giveaway open to Canadian residents?
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An Arranged Marriage Was the first JAFF Book that I ever read! And it is also one of my favorites so far! I agree with you Rita,the glance of the life of the married life is priceless. Angst at its Best. And very interesting path for Georgiana…
Dear Jan Hahn thanks for openning up a world of opportunities for me with your book
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A very fantastic review as always, Rita. It’s a very promising premise and I believe it is the first of Jan Hahn’s novel to be published if I’m not mistaken. And thank you for hosting a giveaway of The Journey.
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