Mr. Darcy's Pledge: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (The Darcy Novels, #1) in Austen Variations

May 04, 2014 Ceri rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: austen-inspired, historical, austen-variation, austenesque-no-sex-scenes

This review was first published at Leatherbound Reviews http://leatherboundreviews.blogspot.c...

I’d only read one book by Monica Fairview before this, Steampunk Darcy, which I really enjoyed, so I was very grateful to Leatherbound Reviews for the opportunity to try something more traditional by this author. Mr Darcy’s Pledge is a Pride and Prejudice variation, from Darcy’s perspective, beginning just after the Hunsford Proposal. Darcy is returning to Georgiana at Pemberley to lick his wounds and ...more

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Mar 23, 2015 Sheila Majczan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I hate to be a copy-cat but actually 4.5 stars was my determination even prior to reading Meredith's review. I also had decided to wait for the publication of the second volume after reading in Austenesque Reviews that there were to be two, as I hate to wait. But when author Joy Dawn lent me the story who am I to complain? There are at least six very good reviews already posted with excellent relatings of the story line, etc.

I really liked reading about Darcy's list of traits he wants in a wife, I hate to be a copy-cat but actually 4.5 stars was my determination even prior to reading Meredith's review. I also had decided to wait for the publication of the second volume after reading in Austenesque Reviews that there were to be two, as I hate to wait. But when author Joy Dawn lent me the story who am I to complain? There are at least six very good reviews already posted with excellent relatings of the story line, etc.

I really liked reading about Darcy's list of traits he wants in a wife, now that he has come to the conclusion that he must use his brain rather than his heart to select a mistress for Pemberley, and, then, all its revisions. That made me laugh. Some of the changes occurred as he was in the presence of a lady possessing exactly the traits he had only recently added to his list. And it was an interesting twist to "watch" him consult or consider consulting with so many others as to what a good wife should be or even who would be a good candidate. That opened up other problems as the story developed, while we read of persons misinterpreting why he was consulting with them and then following that interpretation of his need/decision. Aunt and Uncle Matlock and Caroline each take their own opinion as to what he needs or wants and act upon it.

Georgiana was, indeed, a refreshing change in this book. She does reflect a little on her Ramsgate blunder but she is much more vocal in addressing her brother and even in adding her opinion about his decision. I like how she has definite views on the 2 women who seem to be all that he could want in a lady for his house.

One of my favorite parts is right in the beginning: as he approaches Pemberley in his coach Darcy no longer feels like he is going home...now it is an empty shell filled with servants he pays to fulfill his wishes and orders. He soon corrects this as he sees members of his staff who are dear to him. But again when Elizabeth is residing in his house after an accident, he reflects that having her at Pemberley makes it all that he wants.

Darcy shows much more of his human side in this variation: tears, telling Bingley and Georgiana about Elizabeth - his love for her and his failed proposal and then with the latter, his decision to propose. LOVED the scene described at the river...not just that it was a "wet shirt" scene (although that alone makes one's imagination run wild) but also as Elizabeth and he interact so down to earth and he even pretends to be more disabled by his fall than he is to prolong Elizabeth's helping him out.

Excellent story - just hate the wait! ...more

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May 01, 2014 Anna added it

Shelves: austenesque

Review originally posted on Diary of an Eccentric

Mr. Darcy’s Pledge, Volume 1 of The Darcy Novels, is a variation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice that caught my eye because it focuses on Mr. Darcy’s attempts to forget Elizabeth Bennet by setting out on a quest to find a wife. After she rejects his disastrous proposal at Hunsford, he returns to Pemberley never having presented Elizabeth with the letter that would have told her the truth about him and cleared up all the misunderstandings. Wit Review originally posted on Diary of an Eccentric

Mr. Darcy’s Pledge, Volume 1 of The Darcy Novels, is a variation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice that caught my eye because it focuses on Mr. Darcy’s attempts to forget Elizabeth Bennet by setting out on a quest to find a wife. After she rejects his disastrous proposal at Hunsford, he returns to Pemberley never having presented Elizabeth with the letter that would have told her the truth about him and cleared up all the misunderstandings. With the help of his sister, Georgiana, who knows nothing of his failed attempts to secure Elizabeth’s hand in marriage, he sets about making a list of the qualities he most desires in a wife and mistress of Pemberley.

Darcy is rattled when Georgiana questions him about the most important quality he seeks in a wife, remembering Elizabeth’s laughter, impertinence, and ability to remain poised in the worst of situations. But he can never have her, and his desperate attempts to purge her from his mind give two young women the wrong idea.

Meanwhile, he must contend with Lord and Lady Matlock’s attempts to marry off Georgiana, and he has to patch up his friendship with Mr. Bingley, who has withdrawn from society after learning of the scheme to prevent him from proposing to Elizabeth’s sister, Jane. When an accident brings Elizabeth to Pemberley, Darcy has a chance to change her opinion of him, but with an assortment of house guests preventing him from speaking to her alone, will he lose his only opportunity to marry for love?

In Mr. Darcy’s Pledge, Monica Fairview lets readers see the events following his failed proposal through Darcy’s eyes. From wounded pride to embarrassment over his behavior to unexpected feelings of hope, readers see Darcy stumble — even emerging from the water à la Colin Firth — and evolve into a man worthy of Elizabeth’s love. There were plenty of heated conversations, misunderstandings, and competition among the ladies to have me alternating between anger and laughter, and I wanted to cheer out loud each time Georgiana amassed the courage to put certain disagreeable people in their rightful places.

Fairview keeps readers interested with her expansion of several secondary characters, particularly Georgiana; the introduction of original characters, from the humorous valet Briggs to the obnoxiously transparent Miss Marshall; and Darcy’s sweet attempts to make himself appealing to Elizabeth. My only complaint is that I finished the book disappointed that I couldn’t start the next installment straight away! ...more

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May 07, 2014 Sophie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourites, jane-austen-related, favourite-favourites

I was very pleased when I was asked if I would review Mr Darcy's Pledge (Volume I) for the lovely Monica Fairview. (I was provided with a review copy but this is my honest, unbiased opinion.) And I was not disappointed as I really, really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait for the second volume to be published so I can see how this story is going to resolve! How I hate cliff hangers!

First off, this was another very well written variation. The writing style was excellent; it was easy reading, f ...more

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Feb 28, 2019 M rated it it was ok

It’s relatively well written and much of the interactions & conversations are an interesting view of the time. However, it is too long, Darcy is still not taking Elizabeth’s feelings into account enough, and it’s basically just a prologue for the second book. It’s clearly been drawn out to make it into extra books - always a bad idea and harmful to story.

As the first half of a long book it would maybe be 2.5/3, but as a stand alone it’s 1.5 because it’s all lead up and no resolution.

Both book It’s relatively well written and much of the interactions & conversations are an interesting view of the time. However, it is too long, Darcy is still not taking Elizabeth’s feelings into account enough, and it’s basically just a prologue for the second book. It’s clearly been drawn out to make it into extra books - always a bad idea and harmful to story.

As the first half of a long book it would maybe be 2.5/3, but as a stand alone it’s 1.5 because it’s all lead up and no resolution.

Both book 1&2 are on KU so I decided to read it before I read the second one, but it’s definitely not necessary.

As background all you need to know is...

***SPOILERS***
E rejects D as per original. D decides he can only get over E if he finds a “suitable” wife, unfortunately raising some expectations in London. One of those is Miss Bingley (who actually cares for D & he is friends with).Another is the conniving but socially appropriate Miss Marshall. Having fallen out with Bingley over Jane, D then confesses to him about E, and agrees he will help B marry off Miss B to someone connected and then pursue Jane. They leave for Pemberley, and en route D comes across a carriage accident which turns out to be E & the Gardiners. They all come to P too. At P, E begins to warm to D, but Miss B tells E that Miss B & D have an understanding, then Miss M turns up and won’t let him talk to E. E has warmed to D but now appears annoyed. Lord & Lady Matlock turn up and want Georgiana to marry an old duke but D says no. Lady M insults the Bingleys & Gardiners due to their trade connections. She insults E by asking her to be her companion. G gains a backbone and tells D off for raising expectations and letting the Matlocks be rude, she hates Miss M & wants him to pursue E. D tells Miss B he loves E & Miss B leaves. D tries to put off Miss M but not too much in case E rejects him again. I expect we will see Miss M in book 2. He decides to propose but E leaves because of the elopement but D thinks it’s due to the Matlocks. B & G stop him following her but he is going crazy. After 3 days Lady Catherine & Mr Collins write to him about Wickham and Lydia. D realises he can’t live without E and nothing with stop his love. He goes to Longbourn and finds out Mrs Bennet hates him (she refuses to see him), tells the Bennet sisters he supports them, hints to Jane that B loves her (and sees she loves him too), and decides he will go save Lydia and then propose to E... and now, on to book 2... ...more

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May 23, 2014 Staciel rated it liked it

Shelves: jane-austen-inspired

3.5 stars

Enjoyable P&P variation.

With as 'far' as they got in this one with the storyline, it will be interesting to see what Monica Fairview has in store for #2. ...more

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