Following the Darcy Descendants to Savannah, Georgia!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Source: Review Copy from Author

If you have not already had the pleasure of encountering these charming novels by Cynthia Ingram Hensley, please allow me to introduce you!

Echoes of Pemberley is a Pride and Prejudice inspired novel
about the descendants of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy. The story takes place in 1986, has some parallels to Jane Austen’s beloved novel, and contains a turbulent young romance between a sheltered heiress with a fiery temper and a “insufferable” Irish lad who was raised on a horse farm…

The Heart Does Whisper is a sequel to Ms. Hensley’s first novel. It takes place four years after the close of Echoes of Pemberley, where we drop in our favorite young couple, Catie Darcy and Sean Kelly, as they begin their next chapter together as newlyweds!

Hmmm…it is hard to decide what I love most about this novel! Is it: the well-drawn and original characters, the realistic portrayal of two newlyweds and their first year of marriage, or the sexy Irishman! Umm…yep…pretty sure it’s the sexy Irishman! 😉 With his adorable Irish talk (saying “me” instead of “my” and “wee” instead of “little”); the romantic endearments he gives his wife (mo cailín – my girl, mo bhean chèile – my wife) and his honest, hardworking, and deeply compassionate nature, Sean Kelly stole me heart! *swoon*

I greatly appreciated and admired how Cynthia Ingram Hensley depicted Sean and Catie’s first year of marriage. Bringing them to Savannah, Georgia she put them on neutral ground, away from their families, and all on their own. Both characters had to adapt to their new lives, roles, and responsibilities, and both characters have some lessons to learn (Catie with her fiery temper, Sean with his Irish pride!) I loved witnessing their growth (as individuals and as a couple), their quarrels and compromises, and the fierce abiding love they always had for each other.

As with Echoes of Pemberley there is a lot of focus on knowing your past, conquering your inner fears, and healing. I enjoyed seeing Catie discover more about her parents’ history and finally find peace with the past. Furthermore, I was happy to see there was a bit of intrigue in this novel just like its predecessor. Throughout the story I was eager to know the secret that caused Sean’s brother Gabe to turn to drink and the real reason poor Toby, a boy at Sean’s school, no longer speaks.

Captivating, poignant, and beautifully complete – The Heart Does Whisper is another winner from Cynthia Ingram Hensley! You won’t find Elizabeth and Darcy in this book, but you will find Sean and Catie, who will effortlessly win you over. Here’s hoping that we will see more of Sean and Catie in the future!

Note: I’d recommend reading Echoes of Pemberley first.

Rating: Due to some use of mild profanity (ar*e and d*mn) and references to romantic intimacy (nothing explicit happens on the page, but they are young newlyweds, so… 😉 ) I’d rate this novel PG-13.

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