What If Lady Catherine Learned About Mr. Darcy’s Failed Proposal?

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: Review Copy from Author

TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation

TIME FRAME: Begins the morning after Mr. Darcy’s Hunsford Proposal

SYNOPSIS: Lady Catherine overhears Mr. Darcy’s intentions to deliver a letter to none other than that obstinate, headstrong girl – Elizabeth Bennet. And so the great lady is determined to find this impertinent miss and have her say! But what follows is most shocking indeed. Mr. Darcy and the Colonel do not depart Rosings as planned and Anne de Bourgh’s life (and personality) take an unexpected turn! Rosings is soon beset with an abundance of new visitors – sisters, cousins, and friends and there is quite a lot of activity and excitement. And through it all, more than one suitor is attempting to claim the heart of their lady love. Will they be successful? Or do obstacles and meddlesome relations continue to impeded their purposes?

WHAT I LOVED:

• Bold and Unique: This is a highly original premise and I enjoyed the new and shocking twists Jayne Bamber introduced into her story. There are some startling character exoduses, some unknown family history, and a bunch of new original characters introduced in this tale. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey! And since the premise was so bold and unique, it often felt very unpredictable.

• Anne in the Spotlight: I quite enjoyed this recreation of Anne de Bourgh, who (SPOILER ALERT!!) does not have a “sickly constitution” or suffer from “indifferent health.” Quite the contrary – Anne is energetic, sociable, and completely fun-loving. And she is eager to make up for lost time. This Anne was so much fun to witness! She definitely shakes everything up a good deal and can be a little too rebellious or boisterous at times, but I so loved seeing her in the spotlight and observing her finding her way. (END of SPOILER)

• Dearest Friends: I must say I loved the sisterhood that developed between Anne, Elizabeth, and Jane. Their affinity and affection for each other was heartwarming to witness! I especially loved all the moments where they showed tender care or made a point to lookout for one another. True and valued friendship – what a wonderful thing!

• Matchmaking and Meddling: With friends and relations and a large group of unwed men and women residing under one roof, you can be sure there is plenty of plotting, interfering, and scheming! I loved seeing all the endeavors others made to either help or hurt a specific couples’ coming together! It was even more entertaining to witness how many people were working at cross purposes! I also want to add that I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated all the romantic pairings of these couples and how wonderfully they all worked and made sense!

• Shakespearean Comedy: With this big and eventful house party full of drama, mix-ups, and schemes this story often felt like a Shakespearean comedy of manners. Especially with the sometimes scandalous behavior and gothic setting – Humphrey Hall is amazing and I would so want to stay there! I loved the overall satirical tone and the suspense and drama infused into this story!

WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:

• Pacing: The most eventful sections of the book are the first few chapters and the last few chapters. I did feel that the middle section was a tad slower/longer than it needed to be. I enjoyed all the eventfulness and plot twists of this story. But since there were so many characters and storylines were taking place concurrently, perhaps it would have been better to have some quicker jumps between each storyline. Maybe just a little trimming and tightening is needed.

CONCLUSION:

Strong Objections to the Lady is a delightfully diverting and dynamic Pride and Prejudice variation that features more than just Darcy and Elizabeth! I loved spending time with this endearing and entertaining group, and my only wish is that they invite me to attend their next gathering together!

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