Tuesday, May 27, 2014

My Share in the Conversation...Mr. Darcy's Pledge

I will no longer be posting stars for my reviews on this blog. I will do so where I must, as on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Goodreads. My preference is to talk about the book, the writing style of the author and the things I like about the story. My personal feelings are that too much emphasis is placed on the rating rather than on the book and its contents. Too many times on public venues for reviews, people use that means to give few stars, make cruel and hurtful statements about the book and/or the author. I have even been made aware of a few times when someone purposely gave few stars to bring down a rating of a book. It is not my purpose nor is it my intention to be overly critical or cause discomfort to any author. I am not an expert in the field but I have read many books. I will simply state what appeals to me as a reader.

Now that I've stated my change in review policy here and on the review page, I share with you, dear readers, my latest review. If you leave a comment here and on the post by Monica Fairview, you will double your chances in the giveaway for this book. Details at the bottom of the review.


Mr. Darcy’s Pledge by Monica Fairview

Volume I begins almost three months after the Hunsford proposal. Darcy is on his way to Pemberley to tell Georgiana of his plans. His decision has been made. It is time for him to find a bride for Pemberley. As he still has no idea who that bride will be, he knows who it will not be―Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

Dear Georgiana was concerned about her brother’s decision but knew she must not push. She could tell there was something wrong with William and she was going to find out what it was. I liked Georgiana. She was shy and reserved (true to character) in the beginning, but started to gain her confidence as the story progressed. It was nice to see her speak up for herself on occasion.

As Fitzwilliam goes about the task of considering women to be the mistress of Pemberley, he first makes a list of qualities he wants in a bride. I was amused at how often he would scratch off a quality after being in the company of a lady. Then sometimes he would add one. Try as he might, he still could not forget Elizabeth Bennet and her qualities set a high standard that was impossible for any other lady to attain.

There are some new characters and one is a potential candidate for the coveted role of Mr. Darcy’s wife, along with Caroline Bingley. I am not sure which of these ladies I dislike most.  Enter Lord and Lady Matlock and they take top honors for being bad. Monica Fairview did a great job of making me really detest them and the two ladies previously mentioned.

A certain incident unexpectedly brings Elizabeth and the Gardiners to Pemberley. This allows for my two favorite characters to share some good quality time although it certainly doesn't aid Darcy in his efforts to move on. So much for his well laid plans to forever forget Elizabeth Bennet AND so much for his ever changing list of requirements!

With Lizzy spending time at Pemberley Darcy feels he has been given a second chance. Some attempts to show her his real character are truly funny. They clearly do not go as he plans and it is a delight for the reader to experience along with our hero and heroine.

A sudden development changes the situation at Pemberley but makes Darcy more resolute than ever not to lose Lizzy again. One thing is certain. He will try to win her love. Volume I ends with Mr. Darcy’s special commitment to himself and to the woman he is determined to make his wife…if only she could have heard him.

I enjoyed the narrative told from Darcy’s point of view. It worked. Ms. Fairview is an excellent writer and pulls the reader into the story with her characters. Mr. Darcy’s Pledge is charming and entertaining. I highly recommend it and I look forward, with much anticipation, to Volume II. 

As stated at the bottom of Monica's previous postshe will be giving away one eBook to a lucky winner, worldwide. Thank you, Monica. By leaving a comment here and at that post, your chances of winning will double. To be entered leave a comment below as I always love reading your 'share in the conversation'!  Good luck to all. Be sure to include your email address in the comment. To prevent unwanted spam, put your email address with (at) instead of @. Winners will be chosen in a random drawing. Giveaway will end at midnight, May 29, 2014. Because I was later than was my intention for posting the review, I have extended the giveaway date by two days.

32 comments:

  1. Great review, Janet, of a book that I am suffering severe angst over. I want to read it so badly but am forcing myself to wait for book two. Sigh. Monica is making my life difficult!

    I deeply appreciate your new review policy. How kind and fair it is to the authors and review readers. Thank you.

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    1. Thanks, Joy, and I hope you get to read it soon.

      Thanks for your comments about my change in review policy. I have trouble over this for some time so decided it was time to do something about it.

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  2. I love your new review policy, Janet, and wish you lots of happy reading and reviewing going forward!

    This was a fun review to read. There is much here that appeals to me - though I am bit like, J Dawn King and I don't know if I can bear the angst whilst waiting for the next volume! When it is due out, Monica?!?!?

    It sounds a fab read though, and I look forward to taking a deep breath and leaping in!

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    1. Thanks so much, Cassandra. Glad you like the new policy. I am sure I will continue to have much happy reading and reviewing in the future...speaking of, when can we expect a new book from you? :)

      This book is very appealing and one I would highly recommend.

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  3. I loved your review, Janet, and a also the comment regarding reviews in general!
    Thanks for the opportunity to take part in the giveaway for this very intriguing book, Monica. Good luck with this release and lots of inspiration for Vol II !

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    1. Thanks, Joana. Glad you enjoyed the review. I hope you get a chance to read the book soon.

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  4. Now I really want to read the book! And thanks for the giveaway.

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  5. Good idea about the review policy, Janet. I've even noticed on Amazon that there are times when people have given a book one star because they had problems with Amazon not the book. How unfair is that?

    For people like Joy and Cassandra, yes we do have to wait a few months for part 2 (Monica has told me September) but part 1 is worth reading now. I was lucky enough to win one in another giveaway and it's everything Janet says above. Without adding too many spoilers, I have to say that, for those of us who can't get Colin Firth's Darcy out of our heads, there is also a wet shirt scene!

    Obviously, don't enter me for the giveaway.

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    1. There is nothing fair about that, Anji, I agree. I'm happy you like the idea of the policy change.

      Oh, September does sound so very far away! I will be eagerly awaiting this next volume. Yes, oh yes, the wet shirt scene was awesome!

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  6. Oh, Anji! Wet shirt? So not fair! I am like a diabetic in a chocolate store with no sugar-free. As determined as I am to hold out, you made it doubly hard.

    And Cassandra, you have made me wait for weeks to get this far in Lizzy's diary and I have weeks to go before I get to read the rest of the story. Sigh! Self-control and patience is tough!

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  7. Thank you, Janet, for this lovely review. I loved reading about your impressions.
    Thanks everyone for the support. For those of you waiting for volume two with baited breath like Cassandra, Joy and Joana, I assure you volume two is even more fun. Not long before it's finished now!
    Beth -- thank you for stopping by!
    Thank you, Anji.

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    1. You are welcome, Monica. I enjoyed reading your book very much and look forward to the next volume. Now that you have said it is even more fun...how will we wait???

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  8. I enjoyed Janet's review of the book. I sldo enjoyed reading the book, which I finished this psst weekend. I sm impatiently waiting for volume 2 to be finished and relessed as are Cassandra, Joy, & Joana. As I already have the eBook, please do not enter me in the contest.

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    1. Thank you for saying so, Deborah! Nice to see you here.

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    2. So glad you enjoyed the review. Thanks for stopping by and telling us your thoughts on the book.

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  9. I'll have to come back and read your review soon, Janet. I will be reviewing this book too so I try not to catch reviews until I've finished my own review.

    I like your new rating or non-rating policy. Makes sense to me. I'm a review reader when it comes to book shopping b/c I want to know what a person likes/dislikes about a book not just a quick rating that tells me nothing so I'm all for it.

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    1. Looking forward to reading your thoughts, Sophia

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    2. It nice to know your thoughts on reviews too, Sophia Rose. I too, am a review reader as the ratings themselves can stand for anything. I want to know what the person liked or disliked. Then I can judge for myself if their review sounds bias, false or fair.

      I will look forward to your review. Let me know when it posts.

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  10. Well, I'm trying my chance one more time. Who knows maybe three is the lucky charm. I always been entertained by Monica Fairview's writings, so I anticipate an enjoyable reading of Mr. Darcy's Pledge book.

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  11. Interesting change of policy and I quite agree although I have just done the opposite and recently introduced a rating system. Yet I would never give a book lower than a 3 otherwise I would not review it, however my ratings are based on characters and a 3 is the colonel and I love the colonel so it's not a bad thing! I would love to read this book but I am someone who has to have the complete series otherwise I go insane with wanting to know what happens, if I win though I will make an exception. Thanks for the giveaway.

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    1. Glad to hear you're willing to give it a go, Tamara!

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    2. Your review system sounds delightful. I will have to look at it! Thanks for sharing.

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  12. Your review policy sounds very fair to me, Janet -- I'm not a reviewer but personally I've always preferred to read reviews about the content and to make up my own mind based on what the reviewer says.

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  13. I agree with you Janet that people focus too much on the star rating and obviously it's very personal which is why I usually read the reviews. Some people are a bit stingy with their star rating and others will give 5 stars to everything they read!

    I really enjoyed this book too (so please don't enter me into the giveaway), and I am so pleased to think it may be as soon as September that we can read part 2, partly because I am very keen to find out what happens next and partly because my memory isn't what it used to be!

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    1. Thank you for your lovely words, Ceri!

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    2. You are so right with your comments, Ceri. Thanks for sharing them.

      So glad to hear you enjoyed the book too.

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  14. Monica, I can't take it any longer. Just ordered the print copy of your book. If I'm ever in England would you autograph it for me please?

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    1. I'd love to. We could exchange autographs!!

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    2. Alrighty then. If you are ever in Ecuador bring a book and we will trade. Best deal I've made all day. Amazon has delayed shipping for a week so can't start reading it yet. May give in and get it on Kindle too. Frustrating! Excited to start.

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