Anne and Wentworth: A Persuasion Prequel and Variation Novelette by Samantha Lord

Anne and Wentworth: A Persuasion Prequel and Variation Novelette by Samantha Lord shows us how Anne Elliot met Captain Wentworth and fell in love with him when she was still a young woman. However, in this novelette the events that take place between these characters are not exactly the same, and they do not have to wait eight years to find happiness.

The story starts with a very interesting premise, what if Elizabeth Elliot, used to being admired and having everything her way, decides to charm young Frederick Wentworth who is in the neighborhood visiting his brother? What if there wasn’t much to do around Kellynch and this was her idea of fun? And what if this young man is not charmed by Elizabeth’s airs, but by her shy sister Anne?

I personally loved the beginning of this story because it was a very different, credible, and fun change, I found the idea of having Elizabeth trying, and failing, to enchant Captain Wentworth very innovative and amusing.

I always love to read Persuasion prequels, because Austen never told us much about Anne and Wentworth’s relationship when they were younger, so the possibilities are endless, however, despite the very exciting beginning, their first encounter was somewhat anticlimactic for me because I didn’t feel any particular sparkle occurring between them. The same is valid for the following encounters they had, unfortunately I never felt captivated by them and at times I was a little frustrated to be told about a romance I was not seeing in the pages.  I found the scenes between Anne and Wentworth scarce and tame, and because of that I never felt any intensity in their love story.

I enjoyed the different interference Lady Russel had in this book, but I wasn’t convinced that this interference would be enough to cause Anne’s decision. If the idea had been further developed, I see this happening, but as it was, it felt somewhat rushed and unsubstantiated.

I also enjoyed the changes the author created towards the end of the book to make sure these characters found their HEA but I would also have liked to see this developed a little bit more and to have at least one more scene between Anne and Wentworth, as it was, it felt like a very abrupt ending.

The version of the book I have also has several typos and errors which are at times distracting, however, there might be a revised version, so this is something that may have been fixed already.

Anne and Wentworth: A Persuasion Prequel and Variation Novelette is, as the name indicates, a very short story and therefore the author didn’t have much page time to develop a very interesting premise. I enjoyed all the different changes the author decided to bring to the story, such as Elizabeth’s goal, Lady Russel’s interference, Anne’s change of heart and the reason that escalated it, but I felt this book, which was full of great ideas, needed more page time to develop them. This is a story with a lot of potential, and I am only sorry that being a novelette, the interesting ideas the author had weren’t fully assembled, making the book feel somewhat lacking and draft like. I would love to read a more extended version of this story where the author had page time to develop all the great ideas she came up with. Nevertheless, it is a story that can be read very quickly and with interesting and creative new approaches to Anne and Wentworth’s romance, so I believe Persuasion fans may still enjoy it.

 

You can find Anne and Wentworth at:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

 

Giveaway Winners Announcement

Good afternoon everyone,

It’s time to announce the names of some giveaways that were hosted here at From Pemberley to Milton! The winner of Camp Jane promoted by Susan Andrews had already bought the book, so a new winner needed to picked, and there are 5 other giveaway winners that I needed to announce. Michelle D’arcy visited this month and decided to offer one ebook of her recently released An Unpleasant Sort of Man, and another ebook copy of Undoubtedly by Design which will be released this fall. The winner of this book will have the chance to receive an early copy of this book as soon as it is released 🙂

Laura Moretti also visited, and she brought with her 3 ebook copies of Who is Elizabeth Bennet’s Soulmate, isn’t that generous? The winners will also be announced today 🙂

Thank you for all your offers ladies!!! And congratulations to all who won hours of pleasure reading a book 😉

Now, without further ado, the winners are:

Camp Jane

*** Darcybennett***

An Unpleasant Sort of Man

*** Glynis***

Undoubtedly By Design

*** Sheilamajczan***

Who is Elizabeth Bennet’s Soulmate

*** Shelby6666***

*** Noagnes***

*** Evaedmonds***

I would like to ask the winners to please send your email contacts and the amazon store you use to ritaluzdeodato at gmail dot com so that the prizes may be sent to you.

Happy Reading everyone!

Kiss Me Good Night, Major Darcy by Georgina Young-Ellis

Kiss Me Good Night, Major Darcy is an Austenesque romance that takes place during WWII, and as would be expected, the lives of all characters in this book revolve around the war efforts. All the Bennet sisters are actively assisting their country either by helping in hospitals or in the Women’s Land Army, while most man are fighting in the continent. In this scenario Elizabeth and Jane Bennet meet Captain Bingley and Major Darcy, two soldiers who are the bearers of bad news, but despite the sad circumstances that brought them together, they will form a relationship that will strengthen regardless of the occasional separation brought by the war, and the difficult conditions they all live in.

The events in this book occur mainly in England and I found that very interesting because it allowed me to learn a little more about how life was for people living in a country at war but away from the combat zone. Through this fiction story I learned how the bombings were felt by London residents, how the troops would organize themselves while away from the frontlines, and how civilians still lived their lives despite the war, and this was all transmitted in a serious but optimistic tone, something I appreciated.

I liked reading the Pride and Prejudice elements the author added in this setting, and the role of some secondary characters like Anne de Bourgh and Mr. Collins. But I particularly liked the fact that Elizabeth Bennet was not so impressionable as I see her portrayed in other books. Even though Wickham tried charming and setting her against Darcy multiple times, she didn’t immediately fall for his schemes.

I also liked Mary’s character in this book, she is one of my favorite secondary characters, and I enjoyed the fact that she had a different but useful way to help people during the war. I also enjoyed her love story and the fact that she got her happiness. On the other hand, Caroline was a character that interested me in the beginning, but who didn’t convince me by the end of the story because her latest appearances made her look a little one dimensional.

The pace of Kiss Me Good Night, Major Darcy was balanced throughout the entire story, and it was one of the aspects of the book I enjoyed the most. There was a trade-off between action packed scenes and descriptions of how the lives of the characters were evolving. This was particularly necessary because the storyline takes place during an 18-month period, and it was essential for the author to move the story easily and quickly to a future date. These smooth transitions were well written and gave the book and introspective tone I appreciated. However, the ending of the book was somehow anticlimactic with many pages being dedicated to a secondary character’s wedding, relegating to the second plan the slow built relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth. I was expecting to see their romance finally flourish towards the end of the book with powerful and breath-taking scenes, but unfortunately that was not the case, and their love felt somewhat tamed for me.

Summing up, Kiss Me Good Night, Major Darcy is a well-balanced different era story that gives the reader the opportunity to see Darcy and Elizabeth showing their most lovable characteristics in a new setting. I would recommend it for Pride and Prejudice fans who like to see these characters in different eras.

 

You can find Kiss Me Good Night, Major Darcy at:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

and Kindle Unlimited

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Colonel Brandon in His Own Words – Guest Post by Shannon Winslow

Good Afternoon everyone,

I’m very pleased to welcome Shannon Winslow at From Pemberley to Milton once more. After the success of Fitzwilliam Darcy in His Own Words, she has decided to give Colonel Brandon his own voice and has released Colonel Brandon in His Own Words. I was super happy to see this happening because Brandon comes third on my Austen’s heros list, and I’m kind of hoping she will also release Captain Wentworth in His Own Words one of these days. But until then, I’ll have Colonel Brandon to fill my mind and heart. Ms. Winslow brought with her a guest post where she explains why she decided to write this book and where she also shared a small excerpt of it. I hope you like reading it!

Is Colonel Brandon a favourite of yours? Let us know in the comments 🙂

Thank you so much for visiting once more Ms. Winslow! It is a pleasure to have you here! I wish you all the happiness with this book 🙂

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Thanks so much, Rita, for the chance to tell your readers about my brand new book baby: Colonel Brandon in His Own Words! Today, I want to share a little of what inspired me to write this novel and to write it now. I suppose you could say it was partly a matter of the head and partly a matter of the heart.

As for my head, I’ve long planned to write at least one novel related to each of Jane Austen’s six. That’s my goal. And with only Emma and Sense and Sensibility left to go, the tie-breaker was that S&S will be the theme at the JASNA convention in Victoria this year (which I will be attending, btw, yay!). So I thought the timing would be perfect to do this one first. Then my heart told me to make it a book about Colonel Brandon.

I’ve always had a deep fondness and special sympathy for Colonel Brandon (helped along, I suspect, by Alan Rickman’s poignant portrayal of him in S&S ’95). The colonel is my kind of hero. He’s a quiet man of genuine kindness and deep integrity, but he’s also a man of action when the situation calls for it. He’s just a really good guy, who tries to do the right thing, but has had some rough breaks in life. And since I always root for a worthy underdog, I have to root for Brandon to finally find all the happiness he deserves, which Jane Austen tells us, much too briefly, that he does:

Colonel Brandon was now as happy as all those who best loved him believed he deserved to be. In Marianne he was consoled for every past affliction. Her regard and her society restored his mind to animation and his spirits to cheerfulness; and that Marianne found her own happiness in forming his, was equally the persuasion and delight of each observing friend. Marianne could never love by halves; and her whole heart became, in time, as much devoted to her husband as it had once been to Willoughby. (Sense and Sensibility, chapter 50)

Because Austen’s book focuses on Elinor and Marianne, there’s no space to thoroughly tell Colonel Brandon’s story too. That was never her intent. But as wonderful as the paragraph above is, it doesn’t really feel like enough, does it? Luckily, as a writer, I knew I could do something about that! I didn’t have to be satisfied with a few lines telling me Colonel Brandon is happy, restored, and loved; I could take the time and space to show it’s true and how it came about. The same for his relationship with Eliza, the events of his youth, and his military years – things that must have shaped his character and experience of the world.

I got pretty excited about filling in all the very large and intriguing gaps in Brandon’s record. When I thought of the possibilities, my head told me there was plenty of scope for a whole new novel here. Not simply a rehash of S&S from a different point of view. No, I wanted a fresh approach. I wanted to bring in tons of new but compatible material to really flesh out Brandon’s character, to expand his story both in depth and across time.

Then, to give the book extra heart, I decided that the story must be told by Colonel Brandon himself, not by an impersonal narrator. It must be told in his own way – following along as his mind moves naturally from one event to another by association, rather than forcing things into strict chronological order. And it must all be viewed through the prism of his crisis with Marianne, which is where the book begins:

 

It is happening again, and I suddenly feel very old. Although I survived it once before – just – I have the gravest doubts that I can do so again. Some days, I do not even wish to.

The circumstances are quite different this time, it is true. But the pain is the same – the sudden wrenching in my gut each time I think of it, which I do nearly every minute of every day; the repeated jolt of panic in my brain, which tells me that I must do something to stop it; the hollow ache in my heart and the certain knowledge of my own pathetic powerlessness. It is all too familiar, for once again the hand of the woman I love more than life itself is being given irrevocably to another, and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.

It is no doubt weak and self-indulgent, as I have repeatedly told myself, but my mind will persist in entertaining questions of morbid curiosity. I cannot seem to help asking if, overall, it is better or worse this time. Is my disappointment more or less profound, the circumstances more or less regrettable? Will the resulting pain last as long as before and leave scars as deep?  

Perhaps it is only the proximity, but the current event appears worse – at least for myself personally – for I shall not only have the pain that she is lost to me forever, but the additional mortification of knowing she does not care for me. In truth, she thinks nothing of me at all. So, God willing, I shall be the only one to suffer, which was not the case before.

Poor Eliza.

I would not wish her fate on Marianne Dashwood, not for the world. In fact, that must be my chief consolation: knowing that Marianne is happy, even if it must be in the arms of another man. I would willingly sacrifice my own happiness and more if it would secure a lasting one for her. And yet who can say that her present bliss will endure, dependent as it is upon a man of whom I have every reason to think ill? And so my mind can by no means be easy.

I have been to her sister in Berkeley Street to have my worst fears confirmed, and now I know I should put Marianne from my mind and retire to Delaford to lick my wounds. And so I have made ready to do more than once. Still, as long as she is in London, I feel compelled to stand by – for what purpose, I cannot even conceive – at least until she is well and truly married. After that, it will be nobody’s right except her husband’s to be concerned for her welfare.

Until then, however, I will wait. Perhaps there may yet be some small service I can render. If I am needed, I swear I will not fail her. Whatever the cost, I must do better by Marianne than I did by Eliza… or by Rashmi.

Meanwhile, I have nothing to do but think of the past. Although there have been enough joys and compensations over the years, the regrets and failures continue to haunt me. I am in a dangerous state of mind.

 

Every time I read this, my heart breaks for him all over again!

A first-person account allows you to feel closer to the hero/heroine because you’re basically living inside that character’s head throughout the entire story. That’s true for the reader, of course, but probably even more so of the writer. I spent nine months of quality time with Colonel Brandon, and I grew to love and respect him all the more because of it! So in this book, you will see what Brandon sees and hear what he hears. You are privy to all his thoughts, internal debates, and emotions.

If you think about it, every one of us experiences life in “first person” – viewing the world from inside our own heads. We have no choice. So isn’t that the most realistic way to present a story? Besides, I really enjoy writing in this style. In fact, six of my eleven novels are done, like this book, in first person from a single character’s point of view. That includes my previous publication: Fitzwilliam Darcy in His Own Words.

So, now with two first-person books from the hero’s point of view, is this a series in the making? Will there soon be half a dozen “in His Own Words” books lined up neatly on the shelf? I haven’t decided yet. I do still need an Emma book to finish off my goal, though. How about Mr. Knightley in His Own Words? I think it has potential! In the meantime, I hope you will read and enjoy Colonel Brandon’s story – with your head as well as your whole heart!

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Colonel Brandon is the consummate gentleman: honorable, kind almost to a fault, ever loyal and chivalrous. He’s also silent and grave, though. So, what events in his troubled past left him downcast, and how does he finally find the path to a brighter future? In Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen gives us glimpses, but not the complete picture.

Now Colonel Brandon tells us his full story in His Own Words. He relates the truth about his early family life and his dear Eliza – his devotion to her and the devastating way she was lost to him forever. He shares with us a poignant tale from his military days in India – about a woman named Rashmi and how she likewise left a permanent mark on his soul. And of course Marianne. What did Brandon think and feel when he first saw her? How did his hopes for her subsequently rise, plummet, and then eventually climb upwards again? After Willoughby’s desertion, what finally caused Marianne to see Colonel Brandon in a different light?

This is not a variation but a supplement to the original story, chronicled in Brandon’s point of view. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the things Jane Austen didn’t tell us about a true hero – the very best of men.

 

 

 

You can find Colonel Brandon… in his own words at: 

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

 

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Who is Elizabeth Bennet’s Soulmate by Laura Moretti – Excerpt & Giveaway

Good Afternoon everyone,

I’m very pleased to welcome Laura Moretti at From Pemberley to Milton once more. Ms. Moretti was the only writer I know of who had the courage to write a dystopian austenesque book, and as dystopic novels are my favourite genre along with JAFF, I absolutely loved it!! I’ve been asking her ever since reading Pemberley to write a new one, but she was more incline to work on a regency variation and today she is here to share with all of you an excerpt of her recently released, and very innovative Who is Elizabeth Bennet’s Soulmate?. I know most of you will prefer this sub genre then the dystopian one, so I hope you like the except 🙂

Thank you so much for visiting once more Ms. Moretti! It is a pleasure to have you here! I wish you all the happiness with this book 🙂

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This happens in Act II of “Who is Elizabeth Bennet’s Soulmate?”

 

“In vain I have struggled. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how passionately I admire and love you.”

Darcy and Elizabeth were alone in the sitting room of the Hunsford parsonage. Mr Darcy was pacing the parlour, offering her marriage. In the moments it took Elizabeth to overcome her surprise, the gentleman had already explained, in no uncertain terms, how difficult the decision to propose to her had been—how degrading was an alliance with Elizabeth, how great her inferiority in the eyes of society. He then proceeded to insult Elizabeth’s family, her upbringing, and her connections. 

When Elizabeth was free to utter a word, she declined Darcy’s offer as politely as she was able to. 

Mr Darcy paused and raised his eyes to her.

“You cannot refuse, Miss Bennet. We are soulmates.”

A laugh. Dry. Incredulous. “No, sir. Of course we’re not.”

“Yes, we are, Miss Bennet. How…how on earth can you deny the truth?” 

Elizabeth did not believe him—not yet—but unpleasant sensations began shifting in her soul. Was it cold in the room? It felt cold.

“Mr Darcy, indeed, you are mistaken. I—”

Saying that the gentleman interrupted her would not be fair; truth was, he had not even heard her objection. 

“I had—it was very difficult for me to admit the truth at first,” he said grimly. “It seemed so preposterous, ridiculous, even.” Elizabeth was getting even colder. “I thought there must be some other young lady in the area who I had not yet met, and that would explain the strength of the melody. And you, Miss Elizabeth, you would dance around the matter, you would refuse to give proof. When I left Hertfordshire, I was certain I had been mistaken, that it could not be you. I was—glad of it… Rather, I thought, at first, I was glad of it, but then…” 

His voice faltered, but the sinking horror in Elizabeth’s heart prevented her from noticing the gentleman’s emotion. No. It could not be. Of course, he was mistaken. Soulmates? It was preposterous—she shivered. 

“I do not know, Miss Bennet, if your reserved attitude was an attempt to increase my desire, or if you were, on the contrary, thinking the difference of rank and position prevented us from forming a respectable alliance…”

Anger replaced horror. “Mr Darcy, let me put an end to these insulting suppositions. We are not soulmates, sir, and even if we were, I would not dream, in any circumstances, of linking my destiny to yours. I do not admire you, sir. Your arrogance, your conceit… Your attitude towards my family, towards my sister—your constant rudeness, even to me—”

“This is absurd,” Darcy interrupted. “I was not… I always behaved in a perfectly—” He paused, pale with anger, then, after a short silence, he waved her objections away. “We have no choice anyway, Miss Bennet. The music…”

“No—no!” Elizabeth repeated. 

She stood up, her heart beating wildly, feeling almost faint. If it were true, if Darcy was her soulmate, then all her hopes were dashed, reduced to ashes. All her possible futures—dreams, phantasms, would be crushed by dire reality. She would not, could not marry Mr Darcy, and then? There would be no one else; the Fates just offered you one soulmate. 

It would all have been the cruellest joke.

“You are wildly mistaken, Mr Darcy. I do not know what strange fancy has risen in your mind, but—I do not hear your music. I hear someone…someone close, mayhap, but—”

“You are my soulmate, Miss Bennet. I know. When I saw you at the assembly I just—”

“No.”

“I tried to deny it. All those weeks at Netherfield, I tried to fight it. Then, when you came out of the church on the day of your sister’s wedding, I— The music swelled, and… Still—still I foolishly hoped it could be a mistake. Then you came here, to Rosings Park, two weeks ago. When I saw you again, after months of separation, in this very parlour…”

“No.”

“The music goes like this.” Darcy tried to hum, but at first he could not find the right key, so he played with his fingers on the table, searching for the tempo. This was all very similar to Jane’s actions, during these happy days at Longbourn, when Elizabeth’s sister wanted to share her soul music, except—except this was not a happy moment, this was—Elizabeth’s world was crumbling. 

Darcy found what he was looking for, he hummed again, his fingers playing on an imaginary pianoforte.

“Can you take dictation?” he asked in a harsh tone. 

Elizabeth had the strength to be appalled still. “No, sir, I was raised by wolves.” The gentleman watched her without understanding. “That was sarcasm, Mr Darcy, I believe you are acquainted with the concept.”

He did not answer; Elizabeth took possession of whatever paper was on Charlotte’s writing desk and drew hasty staves. She wrote under Darcy’s impatient dictation, and thank God, it did not sound like… 

Of course. Of course, he was mistaken. “Mr Darcy, this is a very different music— This is not what I hear at all…”

“Will you let me finish? I do not… I have not yet found the exact…” He hummed again, before correcting his interpretation. Then he dictated a new series of measures. “This is just the first voice, the second goes like this…”

Elizabeth jotted down the notes. And…

She… He…

The music…

“This is the third voice,” Darcy said, starting anew, his voice still simmering with rage, and—

Elizabeth had stopped writing.

Oh God. Oh no.

Darcy paused and looked at her. She was livid. So still.

It was like he saw her, really saw her, for the first time.

“No,” Elizabeth whispered. “Please, no.”

Darcy tried to speak. He could not.

“Please, no.”

Now Elizabeth was crying. A few tears, she wiped them off as soon as she could.

“No. No, please no. Please, please no. Please.”

Silence.

“Please,” she repeated.

Darcy watched her for a few moments—his face ashen. Then he turned away and left.

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What if you could hear, in your soul, the inner music of your soulmate, the person you are destined to marry?
England, 1811. Elizabeth Bennet has just begun to ‘hear’. The inner melody of her soulmate resonates in her soul. She is destined for someone…but who? Who is this mysterious gentleman who will one day ride into her life and change her existence forever? Is he living close by, or is she hearing his music from afar? Is he rich? Is he poor? Has she already met him?
Elizabeth flirts, she converses, she sketches the character of any gentleman she meets to determine whether their personality fits with the deep, beautiful, sometimes sombre notes she perceives. With the help of her sister Jane, who is happily married to her soulmate Charles Bingley, Elizabeth makes a list of all the possible soulmates in the area.
The haughty, disagreeable Fitzwilliam Darcy certainly does not appear on this list.
A shame. Because Darcy, who has no doubt that Elizabeth’s music is the one that haunts him, is falling more desperately in love with her each day.
But does Elizabeth really want to fall in love? In truth, does she really want to have a soulmate?

 

 

You can find Who is Elizabeth Bennet’s Soulmate? at: 

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

 

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Laura Moretti would like to offer 3 ebook copies of Who is Elizabeth Bennet’s Soulmate? to 3 lucky readers who stop by at From Pemberley to Milton to read the excerpt of her book. You know the drill, to apply to this giveaway all you need to do is leave a comment with either your opinion or a question. I’m sure Laura will be happy to answer to all of you 🙂 The giveaway is international and is open until the 23rd of July.

Good Luck Everyone!

Netflix’s Persuasion: Why it is a flop

If you’re looking for a dull and dumbed down modernization of Persuasion where 21rst century characters dress up and pretend they are living in regency, the new Netflix movie is for you.

If on the other hand, you are looking for an intelligent historical adaptation of Persuasion, then you should skip it and watch something else.

When Netflix launched the trailer for their new Persuasion adaptation, it soon became the hot topic on social media and many people highly criticized it. I was one of those who hated the trailer, but I was convinced that only by watching it I could form an opinion, so I was quite eager for the 15^th of July to arrive so I could watch it. 30 min after the movie started, I felt it was even worse than the trailer, and I wasn’t sure how I would be able to finish it. I made an effort to continue, and the truth is that with time, the movie does improve, but it is still too bad to give it more than 1 star.

 

What I liked about it

 

• Wentworth and his speech at the beach

When I saw the pictures of Cosmo Jarvis portraying Wentworth, I didn’t like the way he looked, and I thought I would not like this Captain Wentworth, but in fact, he was the only actor capable of transmitting any emotion during the entire movie, and even though I still prefer Ciaran Hinds interpretation, I believe Wentworth was the only aspect I liked in this movie.

Although it is not in the book, Captain Wentworth’s speech at the beach, where he demonstrated how much he admires and loves Anne, was the only powerful moment of the entire movie!

 

• Breaking the 4^th wall

I am unsure if I can consider this to be one of the aspects of the movie I liked because it was a little too much, and at a certain point a little irritating. Plus, it was one of the reasons why Anne felt so out of character by mocking and ridiculing her entire family, but I did like the idea of making the audience Anne’s confidant, I think this could have worked out really well if it weren’t for the horrible lines in the movie and the constant winking. As an introvert character, Anne’s thoughts and feelings are hard to read, using this strategy made it easier for the audience to know and understand her. Unfortunately, I didn’t like what I was shown of her personality, and takes me to my main quibble with this movie: Anne’s character.

 

What I disliked about it

 

• Anne Elliot portrayed as Bridget Jones…or completely out of character

Anne Elliot is completely out of character in this movie. If the people who made this film read Persuasion, they have a very different interpretation of Anne’s personality then I do.

Especially during the first 40 minutes of the movie Anne is seen constantly drinking and making a fool of herself. I felt ashamed just watching all these scenes and couldn’t stop comparing these attitudes and behaviors to the ones of Bridget Jones. I love Bridget Jones’s Diary, but that type of character works on that movie because it is a modernization, not and adaptation, plus, it actually is funny. Having a gentlewoman behaving as a trainwreck drunk teenager in a regency adaptation simply doesn’t work. Especially if that character is meant to be Anne Elliot!

In this movie Anne Elliot drinks wine straight from the bottle, puts jam on her face, says the wrong things loudly in polite society, and looks like the party’s fool.

When I read the book, I saw Anne as a clever, rational, considerate, and caring woman. As someone who puts others above her own happiness because she is truly a good person. In this movie we do see Anne putting others before her, but because of the constant communication she has with the audience, we get the feeling she is doing it out of obligation, because she has no alternative. It appears that she hates everyone around her and feels way too superior to any of them.

This Anne is sassy, playful and flirtatious. That is not the Anne I saw portrayed in Persuasion. And you may say, yes, but she doesn’t have to be exactly as Austen imagined her, we can give her personality some twists. We can, but why do we have to make all heroines the same? What is so wrong with having a heroine who is more introvert? Changing that about Anne is saying we all must be playful and spirited, and we don’t. The beauty of diversity is that. There is room for all types of heroines.

Also, I am not British, so I may be completely wrong about this one, but it seemed that at times Dakota Johnson forgot to give her character a British accent, and the difference between her accent and the one of other actors was also distracting for me. Maybe it is just me, and this is a wrong impression, so don’t take my word for this particular point, it was just what I, as a foreigner, thought.

 

• Modernisation dressed up as Regency

Where should I begin with this one… This adaptation is everything but historically accurate. I’ll try to break it down to a few points:

• • Behaviors

All the characters behave as if they have lived in the 21rst century the entire time. That is visible in their behaviors, such as Anne drinking nonstop, shouting over windows and on her pillows, Mr. Elliot and Mrs. Clay kissing each other in public as if it was no big thing, Anne and Wentworth going completely alone and unchaperoned during an entire carriage ride, Anne saying Wentworth has not written to her, as if he could, etc.

• • Writing

Everyone saw the “we’re worse than exes now, we’re friends” sentence in the trailer, but it is not the only situation where the lines are way too modern for a regency story.

There’s the “the thing about me is I am an empath”; the “he listens with his whole body, it’s electrifying” or “anyone that attractive must have an angle”, apart from the whole rating people’s looks where Anne is considered a 6 and Mr. Elliot a 10.

It almost feels the director believes the modern audience is too dumb to appreciate a story that doesn’t use modern expressions.

• • Inaccuracies

Anne Elliot mentioned cappuccinos and Lady Russel mentions macarons, as far as I know both were created way after the 1810’s. This is just a small detail, but when put together with all the other aspects that are historically inaccurate, it becomes quite annoying.

• • Casting

I know this may be a sensitive topic for many people, and again, there are different opinions about having a diverse casting in historical adaptations. I know some people believe it is positive to have a diverse cast in regency roles because it allows everyone to feel represented in these stories, but I personally believe it is somewhat disrespectful towards, for example, people of color to pretend they were not enslaved at the time. People of color have been abused for centuries and had to (and still have to) fight hard to have the same rights and treatment as white people, so pretending they didn’t have to go through all that hardship, lessen their struggle and pretend they lived as gentleman and ladies of wealth, is in my opinion, disrespectful and even dangerous, because it’s like building a narrative saying these people didn’t suffer to get where they are nowadays.

 

• Bad Taste

Some may have no issues with it, and maybe this is some people’s idea of humor, but having Anne overhear Wentworth’s conversation with Louisa Musgrove while trying to pee behind a tree or having her describe how she dreams about being an octopus sucking her own face (her actual words) to a room full of people is, in my opinion, just bad taste.  

• Lack of humor

The movie is supposed to be funny and lighthearted, but I didn’t laugh one single time and I was bored to death by the middle of it. I do laugh with Austen’s witticisms, but believe me, there is no wit in this movie, just as there is no humor. Also, it feels a little inconsistent, assuming a very “light” and “pathetic” tone in the begging and getting a little more serious towards the end. I am not complaining about that, because I believe the movie starts very badly and improves a little with time, but if the goal was to make it a funny rom com, it failed miserably. I love rom coms, and this is not it. I didn’t even understand where they were going with the movie, because the tone from the beginning is very different from the one in the end.

 

Austen adaptations are always welcome, and people may like or dislike them. I personally disliked this one because I like to watch regency adaptations to travel to a different era. I like to witness the behaviors, way of talking and values of that era, that’s the whole appeal of these stories for me. I don’t watch historical adaptations to see 21rst century characters playing dress up, in fact, I don’t even see the appeal in that, although I am sure some people like it.

I am of the opinion that if you want to make a modern take of something you should do a “modern” take, and probably your modern story will be quite good, I’ve seen some modern adaptations of Pride and Prejudice that I liked, but they were actually moderns. Playing dress up is not one thing or the other and is bound to fail.

Summing up, Netflix’s Persuasion adaptation is a flop. It fails as a regency movie because it is everything but regency, it fails as an Austen adaptation because it completely distorted the main character’s personality, it fails as a rom com because it is not able to engage the audience in the love story, and it fails as a humorous adaptation because it is not funny at all. But hey…that’s just my opinion 😊

 

 

An Unpleasant Sort of Man by Michelle D’arcy – Excerpt, Giveaway & Special Cover Reveal

 Good Afternoon everyone,

I’m very pleased to welcome Michelle D’arcy at From Pemberley to Milton once more. Today is the 1 month anniversary of the release of her second novel, An Unpleasant Sort of Man, and she is visiting not only to celebrate the huge success it is having, but also to share an excerpt of it with you. I hope you all like this excerpt, I know I did 🙂

She also brought a surprise with her… The cover of her thrid book which will be released around September this year. I love book covers and I was super excited when she shared this one with me! We would like to show it to you and ask for your opinion 🙂

Thank you so much for visiting once more Michelle! It is a pleasure to have you here! I wish you all the happiness with this book and I’m looking forward to reading it 🙂

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Darcy stood by the window, feeling Mr Bennet’s scrutinising eyes on him. He refused the offer of a drink; he felt light-headed and unsteady on his feet already.

Agitation and disquiet soon threatened his usual composure, and he unconsciously played with his ring. He had nothing else to do but wait.

When he heard the door finally open, he turned to look at it, holding his breath.

Elizabeth entered, moving hesitantly. Mr Bennet invited her in, and for a moment she locked eyes with him before lowering hers. “Miss Bennet…” he bowed deeply in greeting to her.

“Mr Darcy…” she whispered, returning a curtsey.

She sat while he remained standing, the tension and mutual mortification too strong for words.

“Lizzy, I have already spoken to both you and Mr Darcy, and I have nothing else to say on this matter. I feel my presence will only make the situation more awkward. Would you mind if I withdrew from the room for a short while?” Mr Bennet asked.

She seemed surprised, glanced at Darcy again, then looked back at her father.

“I would not mind, Papa. I believe you are correct, it would be better.”

“Very well then. I shall return in half an hour.”

With a serious look to Darcy, Mr Bennet exited, leaving his daughter and the gentleman alone, both caught in a storm of emotions that neither of them had felt before.

“Miss Bennet, allow me—”

“Mr Darcy, I—”

“Please continue, sir.”

“I can imagine how surprised you are by my approach… I understand your father already explained to you…I found it appropriate to discuss it with him first because it was not a usual marriage proposal, and I would not dare address you privately without his consent. I apologise if you felt offended that I took such a liberty without…” his voice trailed off unsteadily and he stopped talking altogether.

“You did not offend me, sir. Quite the opposite. I believe it was a wise choice, Mr Darcy. The best, considering the circumstances and the particulars of our acquaintance, as it allowed me time to understand and to reflect on your extraordinary proposal.”

She held her hands in her lap, clasped tightly together to stop the trembling of her fingers. 

Since he was still standing, she had to look up at him. Mindful of her comfort, he took a chair and sat a short distance away from her.

“Would you like to ask me anything in particular, Miss Bennet? I feel I have so many things to tell you, and yet I do not know how or where to start.”

“I have many questions, Mr Darcy. And many concerns. And I shall start by thanking you for your consideration and care in regard to my wellbeing. I am grateful and touched.”

“There is no need for thanks. I have done nothing but what I felt to be right.”

“This is even more to your credit, sir. You take too much blame upon yourself. You claim responsibility for unhappy and fortuitous events nobody could foresee! And you reject my gratitude, but you expect me to accept yours, although I have also done nothing but what I felt to be right.”

He attempted a smile but said nothing, waiting for her to continue.

“Mr Darcy, please help me understand — why would you be willing to enter into a marriage with me just to silence some ridiculous gossip that will soon vanish?”

“What if it does not vanish? It is as offensive as it is unfair and could become more harmful. What if it grows instead and injures your character, your reputation, and your good name?”

“Forgive me, sir, but why is any of this your concern? And to such a degree as to drastically alter your life?”

“Because I have caused this damage. It was because of me. You confessed for my benefit, to save my reputation, risking your own! The remedy should also be mine.”

Elizabeth breathed deeply, her spirits slowing rising.

“I am sorry to say but that is an arrogant presumption, Mr Darcy. I have stated many times that I did everything of my own volition. If my actions happened to help you, that was a fortunate addition. But you are not responsible for me, and you owe me nothing. Let us agree on this before we continue our conversation.”

“Very well…” he reluctantly admitted.

“Good. Now we are agreed upon this matter, you should realise there is no real reason for this marriage proposal. Mr Darcy, if indeed I have saved you from an unfair accusation of murder, how could I sentence you to a desolate life, trapped in a marriage neither of us wants? To save my reputation. With the price of both your and my unhappiness.”

Her voice was suffused with emotion, her eyes glistening while filling with tears, and he could not help admiring her even more, falling in love with her even more, while the painful icy claw tore deeply within his chest.

“I understand my proposal means desolation and unhappiness for you, but please do not assume it is the same for me, Miss Bennet,” he replied, struggling to breathe. 

“Is it not, Mr Darcy? Pray tell me, if you had not received the letter from your aunt, if you had not discovered those ridiculous rumours, would you be making this sudden marriage proposal?”

He averted his eyes. He wanted to refute this, to deny it, but he knew he could not dismiss the truth. Without Wickham’s demise, despite his growing feelings and no matter that he knew them to be much more than infatuation, he would have left for London. “No…” he admitted honestly. “Not now,” he whispered, barely audibly.

Their eyes met again and this time locked and held.

“As little as we know each other, Mr Darcy, I hope you know I could not accept a marriage proposal which was not meant to be.”

“I feared this might be your answer, Miss Bennet.”

“Feared, sir? You should be relieved! You have acted more honourably than most men in your position would have, but there is no need for further anguish. I am happy to restore your peace of mind and your tranquillity one more time.”

She tried to smile, hoping to hear a light hearted response from him and perhaps a smile too. But his expression betrayed even more dejection.

“I accept your answer, and I shall not insist any further, Miss Bennet. I admire you even more for your strength to follow your heart. Please rest assured I shall not trouble you further, and this conversation will remain a secret between the three of us.”

“Thank you. I am glad we have reached a proper understanding so soon.”

“However, in order for our understanding to be complete, I must be allowed to state once again that, although my proposal was induced by peculiar circumstances, it was no less made from the heart, with the best intentions and genuine hopes of being accepted. I never felt trapped or condemned to unhappiness — indeed, I imagined the opposite, and I was willing to put every effort into improving your poor opinion of me and proving to you that living by my side would not be as detestable as it sounds to you at present.”

Elizabeth’s astonishment was now complete. His last statement left her bewildered. Speechless once more, she looked at him as though she was seeing him for the first time.

Her silence troubled him even more, so he concluded, “Please do not take my confession as an attempt to force your hand and change your answer. I accept and respect your decision, but I do not wish my proposal to appear less than it was. You declared it was not meant to be, but that does not make it any less significant — at least for me. Now, please excuse me. I shall not bother you with my presence any longer.”

His voice was gruff again with emotions, and it only increased Elizabeth’s internal agitation. She could not trust her judgment in that moment to comprehend the true meaning of his words, so she chose not to dwell on them. However, she could not separate from him without proper answers, and, more than that, with an erroneous idea of her opinion of him. As he attempted to stand up, she stretched out her hand and lightly touched his arm.

“Mr Darcy, please, if you will allow me a moment longer. It appears we are further from an understanding than I earlier assumed.”

He reluctantly resumed his place and she continued.

“You keep mentioning my ill opinion of you, but that has long gone and I hoped we had already established that. I hoped we had become friends and that we can trust each other — and this is why I spoke freely. I did not mean that marriage to you would mean desolation and unhappiness for me — and I apologise if my poorly chosen words led you to think that was my meaning! What I meant was that a marriage forced by malicious gossip, induced by guilt and gratitude between two people who barely know each other, could become a cage of unhappiness and might easily lead to a miserable life. I would not want for you to resent me later or for me to resent you. Clearly, you cannot disagree with that.”

“Indeed, I cannot.”

“I am pleased that you understand me. Please do not assume that your proposal was meaningless to me. However, I admit that not for a moment have I considered accepting it. I have never seen any evidence to suggest such interest on your part. And I have barely begun to know you. From what I know, I find nothing wanting in you as a gentleman. It might be enough to consider you a valuable acquaintance, a friend, but too little for true feelings. And I cannot think of marriage — to anyone — without being certain there is affection, respect, and admiration.”

He watched her closely as she spoke warmly, willing him to understand while he was fighting the temptation to reveal more of his feelings and of his agony. But more would have been too much, too soon. Her genuine justification indicated that insisting would be an intrusion.

“You are an extraordinary woman, Miss Bennet — and I am a complete fool,” he said.

“I am not certain I understand your meaning, sir, but I disagree with both your statements. I hope we shall eventually reach an agreement on something…” she made another attempt to lighten the tension. “Although it is very unlikely, considering you will leave soon.” 

“Yes, I shall leave soon…” he repeated, thoughtful.

“Miss Bennet, I believe there is something we could agree on and might end any misunderstanding between us.”

“Is there? If so, I would like to hear it.”

“Since you declared this proposal was not meant to be, could we agree on pretending it never was?”

His question baffled her, and his intense stare made her flustered. She felt her cheeks burning, while he added, “No marriage proposal, no answer to it, only a discussion between friends. Would you agree with this proposal, Miss Bennet?”

Their eyes locked again, tentative smiles reaching them, sharing a glimpse of mirth, shadows dissipated by relief. He had found the proper path to take their friendship further.

“Very much so, Mr Darcy!” she replied heartily. “Now, please excuse me, I shall go and fetch my father. And…”

“Yes, Miss Bennet?”

“Perhaps further opportunities for future agreements will arise.”

“I hope they will, Miss Bennet, if you wish them to,” he replied with a brighter expression on his face.

“Very much so, Mr Darcy,” she repeated her earlier statement, giving it even deeper meaning. It was another understanding they had reached — implied more than explicit but equally powerful. 

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A secret encounter at Oakham Mount, an unexpected and unknown witness, a fight that unearths dark revelations — all are instrumental in changing Elizabeth Bennet’s beliefs, born from pride and tainted by prejudice, one cold November morning.

At Longbourn, the upcoming Netherfield ball is considered to be proof of Mr Bingley’s admiration for Jane and is anticipated with much enthusiasm. Only the irritating presence of Mr Collins and his irksome attention ruin Elizabeth’s disposition and induce her to take a walk that will change her life — as well as the lives of others.

At Netherfield, Fitzwilliam Darcy, haunted by his ardent admiration for a certain lady, plans to return to London immediately after the ball, together with Bingley’s family, leaving their troubles and distress behind.  

On the evening of the ball, Elizabeth’s spirit is heavy with remorse, while doubts leave her undecided as to how she should proceed. As Darcy considers asking Elizabeth to stand up with him for a set — the first and last he believes he will ever dance with her — the ball is interrupted by news of a most disturbing incident which will affect the entire neighbourhood.

From that very moment, everyone’s plans will be altered. Suspicions and rumours will shake the calm and complacency of the quiet and peaceful town of Meryton as well as a lot of first impressions. Events will quickly unfold, more secrets will be revealed, previous relationships will change while improbable friendships and most unanticipated alliances will form and grow.

Fitzwilliam Darcy and Samuel Bennet are as different as two gentlemen can be, in age, consequence, fortune, opinions on responsibilities and familial duty, even the notion of proper behaviour. However, they slowly discover some common interests in their love of books, good brandy, peaceful time spent in the library, meaningful conversation, and their strong — though undisclosed for one party — affection for a particular lady of their acquaintance. Will this unlikely companionship survive the events?

Forced by circumstances and guided by honour, loyalty, and courage, Elizabeth and Darcy will have to act together, thus discovering themselves and each other. Will their journey ruin or strengthen their alliance? Will their partnership end in just friendship or blossom into something else entirely?

‘An Unpleasant Sort of Man’ is a full length novel (around 380 pages in print!) assembling all the elements of a classic JAFF story: romance, moderate angst, tension, a bit of mystery, witty dialogues, a lot of interaction between our dear characters, slow relationship growth, and character development, all focused around the beloved story of Elizabeth and Darcy! 

 

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You can find An Unpleasant Sort of Man at: 

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

and on Kindle Unlimited

 

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Drawing on her background in the drug industry, Michelle knows that the best tonic for the mind is a good book and a healthy imagination. 

Michelle discovered Jane Austen through the Hollywood adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, starring Lawrence Olivier, when she was 14. She has never looked for her own Mr Darcy because she thinks she shares too many similarities of character with him . And perhaps more than she would like to admit with Lady Catherine too!

A greedy reader and a meagre sleeper, Michelle fell into the JAFF universe in early 2000 and happily witnessed some great stories coming to life! A steadfast cheerleader, prolific commenter and opinion-giver, sometimes headstrong and obstinate — especially when defending Darcy, who in her eyes can do no wrong — she has made a lot of friends among JAFF authors and keeps in contact with many of them. 

Encouragement from a dear friend, help from another with a magical red pen, and a sudden increase in courage, persuaded her to finally put on paper some ideas that had been dancing in her mind for some time.

Michelle is the author of a very well received first book: Happy by Accident… or Not?

An Unpleasant Sort of Man is Michelle’s second book.

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So, what did you think about the excerpt of An Unpleasant Sort of Man? You can tell from it that this will be a low angst story with Elizabeht and Darcy connecting quite early in the book, can’t you? I wonder what happen to precipitate this proposal, and what they will have to face together!

But if this excerpt left me curious…the cover for Michelle D’arcy’s next release, Undoubtedly by Design, left me even more curious, especially as I am one of those who judge a book by its cover!!!

Michelle D’arcy is not yet ready to share the blurb of this future release with you yet, but if we share the cover with you, can you try to guess? Let’s check it out, shall we?

 

Isn’t this cover gorgeous?! I love absolutely everything about it! I love the beautiful picture of Pemberley, especially with the blue skies. This is one of my favorite perspectives of it because you can still see it reflected in the pond, but you also have some trees obscuring the building and revealing the nature surrounding it. And if you look closely, you can even see a little bit of the orangery! I also like the fact that we can still see the sidewalk because it gives the cover a beautiful mix of colors.

AnoI like in it is the font used in the cover, and the lines on the corners of the book. They give it a beautiful balanced look. And… there is no need to talk about the silhouettes, is it? I mean, they always make book covers look so much better! I absolutely love silhouettes 😊

As you can see, the book is a summer story, so what do you think may happen? And what is your opinion of this cover? Did you like it as much as I did?

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Michelle D’arcy would like to offer  a double giveaway to readers who stop by and comment on this post. She would like to offer 1 ebook copy of An Unpleasant Sort of Man to one of the winners, and another ebook copy of Undoubtedly By Design to another winner as soon as the book is released, so make sure to let us know in the comments which book you’d prefer to win. Please remember, the winner of An Unpleasant Sort of Man will receive the book immediately as the book is already live on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, but the winner of Undoubtedly By Design will only receive the book once it is released, or closer to release date as an ARC copy.

The giveaway is international and is open until the 22nd of July.

Good Luck Everyone!

Camp Jane – Winner Announcement

Good afternoon everyone,

Last week I interviewed author Susan Andrews concerning her second volume of the Camp Jane series and she was very kind to bring with her an ebook to offer to one of my readers. I would like to thank her for the patience to reply to all my questions and also to announce the name to the winner, so without further ado, the giveaway winner was:

Camp Jane

*** TC ***

TC can you please confirm me your email contact and the amazon store you use through an email sent to ritaluzdeodato at gmail dot com so that the prize may be sent to you.

Happy Reading everyone!

Mistaken Identity by J. Dawn King

Mistaken Identity starts out with an attempt of murder that will trigger the first of several mistaken identities occurring between the main characters of Pride & Prejudice, and it is one of the best Austenesque mystery books I’ve ever read.

The story takes place in Meryton where Mr. Darcy, who is staying with the Bingley’s, eventually teams up with Elizabeth Bennet to solve the many suspicious events that are occurring.

Even though there is some romance in this book, and Elizabeth and Darcy spend many moments together, the story is mainly a mystery, and the first one I have ever read from J. Dawn King.

I must say I was impressed with how well thought of this book was. Every detail was relevant to the story, and the author kept me interested and guessing what would happen until the very end. Every scene was a delightful surprise that was introduced exactly in the right place. Mistaken Identity is not the usual “who’s done it” kind of story where the reader tries to figure out who committed a crime because the villains are clearly identified, but that didn’t make it more predictable, on the contrary! Even though we know what the villains are plotting, there are many small details which are extremely important to the development of the story that are only disclosed as the narrative progresses, and there is always something new and surprising occurring. I found the characters motivations and background stories particularly interesting because they kept adding something to the main plot, keeping me glued to the book until the final moment.

The villains in Mistaken identity were a unique and bold choice from the author, and one which may be controversial, but I must say I absolutely loved it!!! One villain in particular made this story fresh and original, which is something that people who read many books of this genre need.

I’ve mentioned I loved all the small details and backgrounds from many different characters, but I also loved the characters themselves. Apart from the main characters, my favourite were Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Bennet. Charlotte Lucas love interest, along with her literary connections made her a very interesting secondary character with something to add to the plot. And Mr. Bennet’s more active personality, along with the bromance he established with Mr. Darcy when Elizabeth’s life was at stake, made him more likable to the eyes of the reader. I personally loved his intervention in the entire mystery and the approach the author had towards him.

Mistaken Identity is an addictive austenesque mystery that is very well written and thought of. We can tell the author took the time to consider all the details necessary for this story bringing them together very effortlessly in a prose that is entertaining and engaging. I highly recommend this book to people who like mystery romances, it is truly one of the best I’ve ever read.

You can find Mistaken Identity at:

 Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Kindle Unlimited and on Audible

Alone with Mr. Darcy by Abigail Reynolds

Alone with Mr. Darcy picks up one of my all-time favourite tropes. In this story, Elizabeth finds Mr. Darcy injured in the snow and helps him take shelter in a cottage nearby, but because the weather gets worse, they end up stranded for a couple of days, hence the title. During this time, and because there isn’t anything else they can do, they speak a lot to each other and develop strong feelings for one another. Usually, I don’t believe it when Elizabeth falls in love with Mr. Darcy in a short period of time, but the intensity of the time they spent together is such that they created a beautiful and strong bond. Abigail Reynolds mastered the scenes where Darcy and Elizabeth were stranded at the cabin, and she was able to make the reader feel the love between these characters grow. Their scenes and dialogues are very intense, and I am sure readers will not be able to put this book down.

Once the weather improves Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth go their own way and during the rest of the book, they’ll find some obstacles brought on by Elizabeth’s family, but Mr. Darcy never gives up on Elizabeth and that was one of the aspects I loved the most about Alone with Mr. Darcy. In this book, Mr. Darcy is an honourable and righteous man who never gives up on the love he feels for Elizabeth. Nothing is more important to Darcy in this book then Elizabeth, and he keeps fighting for them to find their happiness together, that’s a characteristic that not only captivated me but will also win over Mr. Bennet.

I also liked the fact that there are several other subplots in this book, namely the changes in Darcy’s family, Lady Catherine’s fate and Anne’s mysterious hidden life. All these subplots made this book not only an entertaining read, but also an engaging one.

Summing up, Alone with Mr. Darcy is not only a romance where Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are stranded in a small space together, it goes beyond that, it brings us several other scenes, dialogues and subplots that keep the reader engaged. There is never a dull moment in this book, being it because of the romantic scenes shared between Elizabeth and Darcy, or the discovery of some new situation involving Darcy’s family. I highly recommend this book to readers who love romances between Darcy and Elizabeth 😊

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Elizabeth Bennet’s Level

Elizabeth Klett is currently one of my favorite narrators, if not my favorite, because she is flawless in every character interpretation. It is very agreeable to listen to her, but it is also very easy to differentiate all the characters. She is eloquent and expressive, and I highly recommend the audiobook.

You can find Alone With Mr. Darcy at:

 Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

and on Audible