 |
| Available on Amazon |
Today is my stop for the blog tour featuring the new release, Lover's Knot, by Jenetta James. I am having my share in the conversation with a review of this book. I appreciate you reading my thoughts and invite you to share yours. First up is the blurb; then my review. Don't forget the giveaway! :)
Blurb:
A great love. A perplexing murder. Netherfield Park — a house of
secrets.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is in a tangle. Captivated by Miss Elizabeth Bennet,
a girl of no fortune and few connections. Embroiled in an infamous murder in
the home of his friend, Charles Bingley. He is being tested in every way.
Fearing for Elizabeth’s safety, Darcy moves to protect her in the only way he
knows but is thwarted. Thus, he is forced to turn detective. Can he overcome
his pride for the sake of Elizabeth? Can he, with a broken heart, fathom the
villainy that has invaded their lives? Is there even a chance for love born of
such strife?
Lover’s Knot is a romantic
Pride & Prejudice variation, with a bit of mystery thrown in.
A
Book Review: Lover’s Knot by Jenetta James
Jenetta James does it again. I had read and loved her
two previous novels and was eagerly anticipating this one. I was not disappointed.
Her writing style is excellent and the story flows. This novel is written from
Darcy’s point of view and in first person, present tense. I found this
fascinating. It reminded me of a television detective show and a newspaper comic
strip, Dragnet and Dick Tracy, respectively, both of years past. (Yes, I’m telling
my age!) I would think it difficult writing a novel in this fashion, but Ms.
James did it smoothly and effectively. I was quite impressed.
The story begins at Netherfield when Jane is ill. As
in canon Lizzy has come to take care of her. When going up to her room, Elizabeth
discovers a dead footman and screams! Immediately, Darcy and Bingley rush to the
rescue. Mr. Allwood, the magistrate, is summoned. The occupants of the house
must remain for questioning. Thus, the murder mystery begins and the unraveling
of it makes for enticing reading.
When Mr. Allwood seeks the opinions of Mr. Fitzwilliam
Darcy, he readily complies. I liked Darcy turned detective. He was charming,
and he did an impressive job, too! His loyalty to and protection of those he considers
under his care, is without question.
There are some interesting and mysterious new characters,
as well as many who are familiar. The premise was different from other Pride
& Prejudice murder mysteries I’ve read, and the writing of it was well done.
I didn’t want to put the book down. The author did a superb job of keeping the
identity of the murderer hidden from this reader. She had me guessing until the
very end. I had a suspicion of who I thought it might be, but was I ever wrong! I was shocked when the
culprit’s identity was revealed.
The narrative has romance and good romance, at that, yet
I would consider it more a murder mystery with Darcy as the major sleuth. I
truly enjoyed reading this novel and I was delighted being in Darcy's "head", knowing his thoughts and experiencing his emotions. I highly recommend Lover's Knot to all who love
Austenesque books and mysteries. Thank you, Jenetta James, for giving us yet another
book showcasing your many talents as a writer.
Author Bio:
Blog Tour Schedule:
March 29 My Jane Austen Book Club/ Guest Post & Giveaway
March 30 Savvy Verse & Wit / Guest Post & Giveaway
March 31 Liz's Reading Life / Book Review & Giveaway
April 1 My Vices and Weaknesses/ Excerpt Post & Giveaway
April 2 Of Pens and Pages / Book Review & Giveaway
April 3 So Little Time / Guest Post & Giveaway
April 4 Austenesque Reviews /
Author Interview & Giveaway
April 5 From Pemberley to Milton / Excerpt Post & Giveaway
April 6 Babblings of a Bookworm / Book Review & Giveaway
April 7 More Agreeably Engaged / Book Review & Giveaway
April 9 Diary of an Eccentric / Guest Post & Giveaway
April 10 Laughing with Lizzie / Excerpt Post & Giveaway
April 11 Margie’s Must Reads / Book Review & Giveaway
April 12 Just Jane 1813/ Author Interview & Giveaway
Giveaway:
Terms and conditions:
Jenetta has selected a lovely giveaway package where one lucky winner will receive a Pride & Prejudice scarf, a Kindle cover and paperback copies of all five of her JAFF books.
Terms and conditions:
Readers may enter the drawing
by tweeting once each day and by commenting daily on a blog post or review that
has a giveaway attached to this tour. Entrants must provide the name of the
blog where they commented.
Each winner will be
randomly selected by Rafflecopter and the giveaway is international. Each
entrant is eligible to win one eBook.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you, Claudine Pepe, for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Lover's Knot. I looked forward to being a part of it and loved reading the book. Best wishes to you, Jenetta James, on this release. I hope you soon have another book for us to devour. Fantastic Giveaway!
Thank you, Claudine Pepe, for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Lover's Knot. I looked forward to being a part of it and loved reading the book. Best wishes to you, Jenetta James, on this release. I hope you soon have another book for us to devour. Fantastic Giveaway!
Darcy and charming in the same paragraph, very strange
ReplyDeleteNow, isn't that strange, Susan! Imagine! lol
DeleteI'm really looking forward to reading this new book by Jenetta. Thanks so much for featuring her here. Best of luck with your new release. It looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Jen. I'm happy you stopped by and I hope you get to read the book soon.
DeleteI enjoyed your review, Janet, especially when you said you couldn’t figure out whodunnit until it was revealed. That’s always the sign of a well-written mystery. And Jenetta, your title sounds like a mystery itself. I love it! Hope you have great success with this new book.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely is the sign of a good mystery! Glad you enjoyed the review, Jan. Isn't that a great title! It is intriguing! Thanks for popping in and commenting.
DeleteThanks for a helpful review, Janet. Readers will appreciate it. What a daring choice for an author to make, to write in present tense! I've rarely seen that done as it's not that easy, but if it works, what a unique approach. Congratulations on your new release, Jenetta, and may you continue to have great reviews like this one.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Suzan. It is a daring choice but Jenetta James did an admirable job of it. I truly enjoyed present tense, especially as it was Darcy. Thanks for taking the time to read my review and comment.
DeleteSuch a wonderful review! I can not wait to read it myself.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I hope you get to read the book soon.
DeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts on this book. It sounds like a great read and I love the idea of Darcy as a sleuth.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great read. Good luck in the Rafflecopter. Maybe you will get to read it soon.
DeleteOh Janet, what a lovely review. I do like a mystery, I do love Darcy and Elizabeth stories so with Darcy fighting to protect Elizabeth this is a winner. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Glynis. I like a mystery too, and definitely love Darcy protecting Lizzy. I think you will enjoy this one.
Deletelove the idea of Darcy as a sleuth
ReplyDeletedenise
Thanks for stopping by, Denise.
DeleteGreat review Janet. I didn't work out whodunnit either :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear it, Ceri. It was a good mystery, wasn't it. Thanks for dropping by. I enjoyed reading your review.
DeleteSo glad you enjoyed this, Janet! I love Jenetta's writing style and her clever mind. Great review.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christina. As you see, I agree with you on her writing style.
DeleteJanet,
ReplyDeleteYou were certainly very impressed with this story as is evident by your enthusiastic review!
What an interesting premise!! A murder at N.P. and a chance to see Darcy turn detective!!
Not only that but an opportunity to walk beside the great man and gain an insight into his perspective!!
Am looking forward to reading this as I'm a mystery buff forever trying to figure out 'whodunnit'!! Although,from reading your review Janet,this mystery is so carefully and solidly constructed that I may not determine the real culprit,bit I'm certainly looking forward to trying!!
Cheers for sharing your thoughts and for such a well constructed review!
Darcy makes a great detective. I think Mr. Allwood would like to recruit him. It is a good mystery that I feel you will enjoy. I'll be curious to know if you figure it 'whodunnit'. Let me know after you read it. Thanks for taking the time to read my review, Mary.
DeleteLove getting your thoughts on Jenetta's book, Janet. Can't wait for my turn. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sophia. Looking forward to your thoughts.
DeleteI do love a "perplexing murder". Always fun to try and solve. Especially involving beloved characters.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Mary. Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteLovely review Janet! I had to laugh when you mentioned Dragnet! But your comment "His loyalty to and protection of those he considers under his care, is without question." is so Darcy and one we have come to so love!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving the idea of Darcy as a sleuth...almost makes me think of Sherlock! As I do love a good mystery myself, I'm looking forward to reading this and being inside Darcy's head. Thank you!
Hi Carole. I'm glad somebody else has heard of Dragnet! :)
DeleteYes, we do love our protective Darcy, don't we. That endears him all the more. I, too, love a good mystery and this one did not disappoint.
Heh, heh, I can see how first person detective work would make you think of Dragnet and Dick Tracy. I can only hope that Darcy says 'dame' or 'gams' at some point, to fit the bill! :-)
ReplyDeleteActually, that parodic book cover, which says "Lock up your daughters - Darcy's in town" and Darcy has a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, would be perfect for this scenario! I wish I could include it here, somehow.
Oh, Ginna, It's good to see you understand why I would think of Dragnet and Dick Tracy. Wonder what the Regency equivalent of 'Dame' and 'gams' would be be? That would definitely fit the bill. I have seen the book cover you mentioned. That is too funny.
DeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts on the novel, Janet. I don't think that I have come across only Darcy becoming a sleuth to solve a murder. Usually it is Elizabeth who is the detective or Elizabeth and Darcy working together to untangle the web of mysteries. It's interesting to know what part Elizabeth will play albeit a non-detective one.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same, Sylvia. I've only read mysteries that included both Lizzy and Darcy, usually as a married couple. I know of at least two authors that have written several of those. It's always good to have you pop in. Thanks for reading my review.
DeleteThank you for sharing your opinion Janet! It is a different novel, isn't it? The only variation that I read with mistery and a little bit of investigation was The phantom of Pemberley, for this reason I'd like to read James' new book, I think she can surprise me!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Loren. It is a different novel and as you see, I enjoyed it very much. Ooh, I loved The Phantom of Pemberley. It was excellent too. I hope you get to read this one too.
Delete