What If a Tragic Fire Removed the Bennets from Longbourn?

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Source: Gift from Publisher

TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation

TIME FRAME: Begins right after Jane and Elizabeth return from Netherfield

SYNOPSIS: Mr. Darcy comes to the Bennets’ rescue as an intense inferno wrecks havoc on their home, and Mr. Bingley magnanimously offers refuge at Netherfield to the entire Bennet family in their time of need. After once again residing under the same roof (and in light of recent events) Elizabeth begins to see Mr. Darcy differently…

WHAT I LOVED:

• Off-Course Yet Parallel: First of all, I love premises like this one that features a disaster-like twist – whether it be fire, flood, snow, or a severe storm. And a fire at Longbourn is a premise I don’t think I’ve read before. I thoroughly enjoyed how this twist steered Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s relationship off-course, yet at the same time, the story travels in a somewhat familiar direction. Ms. Caress implemented many clever parallels that recreated scenes we know and love in unique and delightfully surprising ways.

• Full of Warmth: Tying beautifully into a fire motif, this story is full of warmth. I loved all the heartwarming friendships developing in this story – especially between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, and Georgiana and Elizabeth. In addition, loved seeing the warm compassion and care shown to the Bennets by their neighbors, family, and servants. And I loved that there were so many touching and tender moments between characters that cannot help but make the reader feel some warm-fuzzies.

• Full of Sparks: Also fitting brilliantly into a fire motif, there is abundance of delicious sparks between Darcy and Elizabeth in this tale. And let me just say, Gailie Ruth Caress is quite the master at composing conversations between Darcy and Elizabeth that are full provoking challenges and playful battles of wit. I could not get enough of their quick-witted and merry exchanges! And what was even more delightful was witnessing how both Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth were taking such pleasure in their stimulating and spark-inducing debates together.

• The Best of Men: *Swoon* Mr. Darcy is all hero in this story. All his incredibly selfless actions, his thoughtfulness and care, his gentle compassion and patience, his adorable playfulness and sense of humor, will completely capture your heart and win you over. We see practically none of his arrogance and jerk-like behaviors in this tale. He is the best version of himself already. And while I always say I am I not a fan of “pictures of perfection,” I delighted in seeing Mr. Darcy portrayed this way. He still has to work for his happiness and has obstacles to overcome, but his selfish disdain and insufferable pride weren’t some of them.

WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:

• Pacing: While most of the story progressed along at a smoothly paced gait, some of the London bits felt a little extraneous and dragged on a bit long. That, combined with a very swift resolution, made me wish that the pacing remained a little more evenly distributed throughout the tale. In addition, an epilogue maybe would have helped tie-up some threads left hanging and give this story a more satisfying closure.

CONCLUSION:

With her debut release, Fearful Symmetry, Gailie Ruth Caress blazes onto the Austenesque scene with a most stirring and tender Pride and Prejudice variation that will be sure to ignite your interest and melt your heart. Full of heartwarming scenes of friendship, exciting flickers of attraction, and a tantalizingly slow-burn romance, Fearful Symmetry delivers a consuming and gratifying journey to love for Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet!*

*Once I started with the fire motifs and analogies, I couldn’t stop! #sorrynotsorry 😁🔥

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