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 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 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.
