Guest review by Kimberly Denny-Ryder of Reflections of a Book Addict
Mary Lydon Simonsen, author of
Searching for Pemberley and
The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, is back with yet another opportunity for us to wander down that “what if” path with our favorite
Pride and Prejudice characters: Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. This time, our variation begs the question: what if, after Mr. Darcy made that terrible “tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me” comment, he goes to apologize to Elizabeth and beg her forgiveness instead of never addressing it? We find out in
A Wife for Mr. Darcy
, Simonsen’s third
P&P fan fiction novel...
Simonsen is a master at getting her readers to feel the emotions that her characters are feeling. For most of the book, I felt the angst that Darcy was feeling when trying to figure out what to do and how to do it. I felt Elizabeth’s depression, as she realized she loved Darcy, and also realized that he could never marry her due to her low social standing and lack of wealth. Simonsen’s descriptive prose flows from page to page, as you become engulfed in the emotions of her storytelling. It’s a fantastic reading experience, one I get from reading every one of book of hers...
I think if Austen were able to read Simonsen’s work, she would definitely approve of the new directions that her beloved characters are taking. While Austen purists might not enjoy the new plot, I think even they would be satisfied with the characterizations of the characters.
You’re definitely going to want to add this emotional rollercoaster of a book to your “to read” pile. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
5 out of 5 Regency Stars
To read all of Kimberly's review, please click here.
