“All I Want for Christmas is… Mr. Darcy!”

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Source: Gift from Publisher

TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Holiday Novella Anthology

‘Tis the Sesaon is a stunning collection of nine festive themed novellas inspired Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice written by nine exquisitely talented Quills and Quartos authors. The stories range from fifty-eight and ninety pages in length and feature new scenarios where beloved characters from Pride and Prejudice find their happily ever afters during the Christmas season. These novellas are available under their own individual titles (in ebook format) and as anthology (in paperback and audiobook format).

I hope you find this breakdown of each story helpful:

HEART ENOUGH – Amy D’Orazio

• The Premise: What if Elizabeth Bennet acted with civility and indifference when Lady Catherine came to Longbourn?

• What I Loved: The angst-filled encounters that lance your heart and pierce your soul (Ms. D’Orazio has a special talent for them!) But also the supremely joyful moments of understanding and clarity. In addition, I appreciated the lessons Elizabeth learned about bravery and being true to herself.

A YULETIDE DREAM – Julie Cooper

• The Premise: Mr. Darcy receives some nightly visits from ghostly visions upon the death of Lady Catherine.

• What I Loved: The subtle nods to A Christmas Carol and later on It’s A Wonderful Life. I especially enjoyed the analyzation of Mr. Darcy’s relationship with his parents and how his youthful experiences shaped him into the man he has become.

IN THE SPIRIT INTENDED – Jan Ashton

• The Premise: A year later, Mr. Darcy is invited to spend Christmas in London with the Bingleys when he cannot travel north.

• What I Loved: The gentle friendship that blossomed between Darcy and Elizabeth and how they treated each other with comfort and camaraderie. I also loved Mr. Bingey’s light-heartedness, his aunts’ bold teasing, and Lydia’s merrymaking schemes.

STRANDED AT PEMBERLEY – Jenetta James

• The Premise: What if Lizzy and the Gardiners experienced a terrible carriage accident just before Christmas and seek help from the inhabitants of Pemberley?

• What I Loved: Seeing Darcy and Elizabeth first encounter each other under a new circumstance. Elizabeth’s excellent qualities on full display – her bravery, her nursing skills, her playfulness, and her ability to put others at ease. In addition, I also loved the contrast of the darker tone and more morose mood at Pemberley with Lizzy’s and the Gardiners’ cheerful conviviality.

CHRISTMAS AT BLACKTHORNE MANOR – Lucy Marin

• The Premise: Lizzy, Jane, Bingley, and the Darcys encounter each other at a Christmas house party after not seeing each other for over sixteen months.

• What I Loved: The turmoil! I appreciated seeing all the challenges Darcy and Elizabeth faced – individually and together – their feelings of regret and awkwardness, their misapprehensions about each other, their competing possible love interests, and their combined efforts to prevent a scandal between Mr. Bingley and Jane (who is a married woman!) I also enjoyed the new original characters in this tale and the interesting dynamics their personalities and relationships brought to the story.

CALL IT HOPE – Susan Adriani

• The Premise: Due to inclement weather, Elizabeth becomes a guest at Rosings at Christmastime and the Darcys and Fitzwilliams are also there.

• What I Loved: The Fitzwilliam family! Colonel Fitzwilliam is the hero of this tale and I loved how he took charge to help both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. I also loved the antics and ribbing between all the Fitzwilliam brothers – they are a hoot and Lady Carlisle’s kind interest and assistance in Darcy’s affairs. I also appreciated all the realistic feelings of doubt and mistaken assumptions both Darcy and Elizabeth felt during their unexpected encounters.

WELCOME HOME – Mary Smythe

• The Premise: While battling with his impossible affection for Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy injures his head in a carriage accident and enjoys a dream sequence where he is happily married to her.

• What I Loved: Darcy’s disbelief and extreme delight in his dream! It tugged at my heart strings to see how much he yearned for the solicitous love and care that Elizabeth could give him. I loved Darcy’s thoughtful and determined actions to make his dream come true and spotting some diverting allusions to Christmas sayings peppered throughout the tale.

THE PINK DAFFODIL – Eizabeth Rasche

• The Premise: Mary Bennet is determined to fund a new charity this holiday season but is distracted by one of Mr. Bingley’s friendly and enigmatic guests.

• What I Loved: Arthur! I love his interest in Mary, how he pushes her buttons a little, and that he sees her flaws and loves her for them. I admired Mary’s discoveries in this story – how she assessed her prideful martyrdom, her uncharitable superiority, and her lack of real unaffected enjoyment in her life. I also loved how the romances with the other Bennet sisters and their beaus was shown in the periphery in this tale.

MISGIVINGS AND MISTLETOE – KaraLynne Mackrory

• The Premise: What if Mr. Darcy purposefully tried to stay away from Elizabeth Bennet but ended up spending the holiday season with her?

• What I Loved: Everything! How Darcy thinks and plans for Elizabeth’s comfort, yet also realizes his own selfish actions, how Mr. Bingley lends a sympathetic ear to his distraught friend and spurs him into action, how Georgiana and the Gardiners quietly nurture their own hopes, how Elizabeth is enchanting and irrevocably in love. But most of all, I love the writing in this tale – it is impassioned, earnest, and deeply emotive.

CONCLUSION:

Written with heart, hope, and holiday spirit, these nine exceptionally crafted and ardent tales are amongst the best types of presents to unwrap this holiday season. It is impossible for me to choose which stories in this collection stand out as my favorites, each one brought so much warmth, charm, creativity, and joy.  The ‘Tis the Season Collection by Quills and Quartos is a spectacular gift for every Austenesque admirer. I highly recommend!

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