The Darcys & the
Bingleys by
Marsha Altman
Book One
begins three days before the double wedding of the two Bennet sisters, Jane and
Lizzy, to the two most eligible bachelors, Bingley and Darcy. Charles Bingley
is concerned about the intimate aspects of marriage and seeks advice from his
best friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy. Darcy’s help for Bingley is a copy of The Kama Sutra, which he orders for him.
Although
The Kama Sutra is mentioned here and other places throughout the book, there is no explicit sex depicted. This is a fun and informative one hundred or so pages about the hectic events and happenings leading up to the wedding. Thrown into the mix is a little history of the friendship between Darcy and Bingley that goes back to their days at University. They develop a brotherly rivalry that is not always so brotherly, or then again, maybe it is.
The Kama Sutra is mentioned here and other places throughout the book, there is no explicit sex depicted. This is a fun and informative one hundred or so pages about the hectic events and happenings leading up to the wedding. Thrown into the mix is a little history of the friendship between Darcy and Bingley that goes back to their days at University. They develop a brotherly rivalry that is not always so brotherly, or then again, maybe it is.
The marriage
of these two couples and the year that follows was sweet, sometimes funny and
made for good reading. With the birth of a child for each couple, the first
book comes to a close.
Although all the main characters are still in Book
Two, it centers more on a tolerable and sometimes likeable, Caroline Bingley
and her new suitor. This is where the intrigue begins. There is much to
discover about this man, his brother and the doctor who is helping Mr. Hurst.
The means of discovery and the adventures that follow kept me turning the
pages.
What I
didn’t like as much about the book was the portrayal of Darcy and Jane. I felt they were not true to character. Darcy
drank too much and couldn’t hold his liquor. His past was not as proper as I
would like to think that Darcy’s was. Jane was too outspoken and not so mild
mannered. That said, when I read Austenesque novels, I expect there to be some
deviation of character and I allow for that. I was just not as comfortable with
these two transformations. Yes, Caroline
Bingley was also different but it was a nice difference for her!
Overall it
was a good book and entertaining. I
liked how the story of Caroline Bingley developed.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.
I was given a copy of this book by the author for an honest review.
The Darcys & the Bingleys completes my first selection for the Pride and Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge.
I enjoyed this series too. You're right about how sometimes Austenesque stories can put a jolting twist to an original character.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new blog!
Thank you, Sophia Rose! I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment. You are my first member!!! :) As it is still a work in progress, I hope to improve it.
DeleteThe marriage of two sisters to brothers in all but blood! I have never laughed so much! I love how Darcy is put together especially the evening before his wedding! And poor Charles how naive he is, but he still gets the better of Darcy which I especially enjoyed! And Jane were different from other versions I have read and Lizzie is just great as always! I loved that Caroline Bingley actually got a somewhat happy ending! And the new characters which gets presented in the book!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by and commenting. Yes, it is neat to see Bingley and Darcy as close as brothers. The new characters were great! I liked Caroline's happy ending too.
DeleteI will be reading the next book in the series soon and will be posting a review for it.
Congratulations on your new blog, Janet! I like your review. It seems fair and honest and Marsha's book sounds interesting. Writing a review isn't easy, but authors appreciate people like you who are willing to spend the time to tell us what you like and don't like.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jan and I'm glad you liked my review. The book was interesting and I will be starting the next one in the series soon.
DeleteI have many reviews to write and hope to start catching up. I will post them here as I get them done. Hope you will come back and check them out.
I love it! Especially the colors in the background, Janet. But, we already knew you have artistic vision. :-)
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your kind words, Angie! Thanks for taking the time to have a look and comment. I realize that time is a premium for you right now! Congratulations on the funding of your app! Can't wait to see and get it!
DeleteSo happy to read your first review on your brand new shiny blog, Janet! Congrats! It looks wonderful! Adding More Agreeably Engaged (wonderful name btw!) to my list!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Meredith. Coming from a blogger as accomplished as you, I take that as quite a compliment. Glad you like the name. I had a hard time coming up with something different. I started thinking of things said in the book and this clicked. I knew that was it! It would work great with what I would be doing here.
ReplyDeleteThanks also for putting me on your list. I feel like I have made it to 'the big time'. :)
Congrats on the new blog, Janet - and I also love the name you selected. So apt! I love to get differing perspectives on books both before and after I read them, so I am sure to return to your blog to catch as many reviews as possible when you get them posted. And I echo Jan Hahn's sentiments regarding how much an author appreciates an honest and balanced review. As an emerging author myself, it only allows me to become better.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Marsha's book as well, though I also found some of the characterizations a little off from my own sketches of them. (One of the reasons I started writing JAFF myself was because nothing I was reading seemed to portray *my* Elizabeth and Darcy, LOL.)
Good fortune with the blog!
I'm so glad that you like the name. It seemed a perfect fit as I will be 'more agreeably engaged' when doing things here. I hope you will return often. As you say you are an emerging author, I wish you the best with your books and I look forward to seeing how you portray 'your' Lizzy and Darcy.
DeleteThanks for stopping by and reading my first review on my new blog!