Monday, June 24, 2013

My Share in the conversation...From This Day Forward

From This Day Forward by Joana Starnes
The Darcys of Pemberley

The story begins nine days after the marriage of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth. Elizabeth has just penned a letter to her parents, much enjoying adding her new signature, Elizabeth Darcy! It brought to memory her mother’s vivid voice, ‘Elizabeth Darcy – oooh, how well that sounds!’ Much to her surprise she felt an odd sense of loss rather than her usual annoyance with her mother. Elizabeth found her new townhome very warm and pleasant but it did not feel like home yet. Thus, we are privy to the thoughts and feelings of the newly married Elizabeth.

As we spend time with the Darcy couple we experience with them the felicity of their love and time together. We see Lizzy as she learns to be the mistress of the London townhome and then Perberley. Darcy and Lizzy are true to character and their marriage is much like what I would have expected it to be – happy – yet with a few bumps along the way. Darcy is a loving husband and very attentive and protective of is wife.

The relationship with Georgiana and Lizzy develops slowly as it takes the shy young girl time to relax and enjoy her new sister as she would so like to do. They eventually develop a strong bond and Georgiana loves and confides in Elizabeth.  Lizzy is a good influence on Georgiana and helps her just like Darcy knew she would.

Colonel Fitzwilliam plays a significant role in the story and is the ever loyal and honorable man we know and love. He is injured in the war but does recover with the help of Darcy and Lizzy. I felt much sadness at times for the dear colonel, but will leave my reasons for the reader to discover.

Later in the marriage Darcy and Lizzy experience a difficult time and the author gives us a good bit of insight into their troubles. I experienced the heart-ache shared by both with them. When the problem is resolved, I almost missed it and wasn’t even sure it had been resolved until a bit later in the story. I would have liked there to have been more time spent on the resolution as it was significant to the story. I felt it would have left a more fulfilling conclusion to their trials.

Georgiana’s coming out and romance is a delightful addition to the novel. I adored watching the shy girl blossom into an enchanting, more confident woman under Lizzy’s tutelage. It was extremely gratifying to witness her courtship and marriage.

Joana Starnes has a wonderful way with details and descriptions. Her first-hand knowledge of the area brings her writing to life. She has written a beautiful love story of the Darcy’s of Pemberley. The new characters that Ms. Starnes has introduced are wonderfully written as an integral part of the story. I would be interested in reading more about many of them. At the end of the book, the lives of all characters are brought to a satisfying conclusion.

If you love a story about Darcy and Elizabeth with little angst, then this book is a must read! It is one that any Janeite purist should enjoy. Thank you, Ms. Starnes, for sharing your excellent book with us.

4 out of 5 stars
PG Rating for no explicit sex

This is my 13th book for the 2013 Pride and Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge.

There is a giveaway of two eBooks of Joana Starnes's From This Day Forward. Please leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway.  Be sure to include your email address in the comment. To prevent unwanted spam, put your email address with an (at) instead of @.  Winner will be chosen in a random drawing. Giveaway ends at midnight, June 29. The give away for the two eBooks associated with the post by Ms. Starnes ends at midnight, June 24! That is a a total of four eBooks being given away! Thank you so much for your generosity, Joana Starnes.

43 comments:

  1. Loved your review. I shall look forward to reading this book.
    Jennifer Redlarczyk
    jenred88atyahoo.com

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    1. Thank you, Jennifer. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

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    2. Thanks, Janet, for hosting me here and for the lovely review and Jennifer, thanks very much for stopping by, I hope you'll enjoy it!

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  2. Sounds lovely -- although I know angst in some degree is needed to move a story, there are times when I just want a lovely read without having to get my own stomach all tied up in knots! LOL This is definitely on my reading list --

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    1. I agree, Tess. Sometimes it is very good to have less angst as opposed to more. This is a lovely story!

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    2. Hi, Tess, thanks for your comment, and for putting it on your reading list! Hope you'll enjoy it!

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  3. Thank you for the review - any book which has more Colonel Fitzwilliam and Georgiana is a must read

    meikleblog at gmail dot com

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    1. I think you will enjoy both their parts in this book! Thanks for stopping by.

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    2. Hi - yes, there's plenty of them both and I do hope it won't disappoint! Thanks for commenting and good luck!

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  4. I love the idea of finding out what happens after the Happily Ever After and that its not all smooth sailing.

    Sounds good! Thanks for sharing your review thoughts.
    sophiarose1816 at gmail dot com

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    1. Thank you, Sophia Rose! I love reading about after the marriage too. It is a good book. Good luck in the giveaway!

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    2. Hi, Sophia Rose, thanks for your thoughts! All the best!

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  5. The story sounds delightful! Thank you for the ebook giveaway.
    emedmondsatmyactv.net

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    1. It is delightful! Hope you have a chance to read it and see for yourself. Good luck.

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    2. Hi, Eva. Thanks for your very kind words. Good luck with the giveaway!

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  6. Just finished reading it and loved it! Beautifully written, an absolute delight (there may not have been too much angst but there was definitely lots of emotion. I've had the tissues out a few times!)

    Janet, really enjoyed your review. No need to include me in the giveaway!

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    1. Yes, there was lots of emotion and beautifully written scenes. I had my tissues out a few times too. Less angst can be very good especially combined with a superbly descriptive love story! I also thought her use of Regency language and consistency of its use was excellent. I failed to mention that in my review.

      Thank you, Cassandra, and thanks for stopping by.

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    2. Sorry I made you both cry! Ever so glad you enjoyed it though :)

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    3. You know that you made us both feel much! Good job!

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  7. I must add this book to my list of must reads for the summer. I love this era in history and enjoy reading about the Darcy's and the new characters. Marti Taylor

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    1. It is a lovely era in history, I agree. I love to read about it too. I hope you will get a chance to read this one. Be sure and comment at the author's post too and that will give more chances to win the eBook!

      Thanks for stopping by, Marti.

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    2. Thanks for adding my book to your must-reads, Marti! Good luck and thanks for visiting.

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  8. Love reading about Darcy and Elizabeth after the wedding! Adding to my pile of books to read.
    Can't wait!
    laghalttle(at)yahoo.com

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    1. Their life in this book is every bit as you would expect it to be and more. Lovely book and thoroughly enjoyed Georgiana's role too. Thanks for stopping by.

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    2. Hi and thanks for visiting and commenting! Hope you'll like it and good luck!

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  9. I love reading about Elizabeth and Darcy. I can't seem to get enough! marcie(dot)turner(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. I can't either, Marcie! I hope you enjoy this one too. Thanks for coming by and commenting. Good luck.

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    2. Hi, Marcie, thanks for stopping by. Yep, I can't seem to get enough of our favourite couple either. Good luck with the giveaway!

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  10. Your awesome review has made me go from I want to read to I absolutely must read this book. Thank you
    louannlajeunesseatgmaildotcom

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    1. Thank you and I am glad that you will be reading it. It is one you won't want to miss. Good luck in the give away.

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    2. Hi, Lou Ann, hope you enjoy it and thanks again, Janet for the lovely review.

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  11. Would love to read about Darcy and Elizabeth's marriage and what happens to Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam.
    filmlover81atntlworld.com

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    1. Hi, Nina and thanks for stopping by! Gook luck with the giveaway and hope you enjoy it!

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  12. A well written review, Janet. I long to learn about the lives of the Darcys and their family after the wedding. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity, Joana.
    evangelineace2020(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  13. Hi! Thanks for your comment and for visiting and many thanks to Janet again for the review! Good luck with the giveaway.

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  14. Thanks for the giveaway. Raquel36m (at) gmail (dot) com.

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  16. This book is already on my "Wish List"! Just can't get enough of these post wedding Elizabeth and Darcy stories. Thanks for an informative and balanced review, Janet.

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    1. Glad it's on your wish list! Thanks for popping by and good luck!

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    2. You are welcome. I am glad you enjoyed it and thanks for reading it!

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  17. Lovely written review...I've added this one to my TBR list.

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    1. Thanks so much, Regina! I appreciate your comments and your reading my review.

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