Three Widowers Taking Care of Some Mischievous Adolescents
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Source: JAFF Reader/Writer Get Together
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Prequel Short Story
NOTE: This is a short story that sets the stage for Mr. Darcy’s Bookshop – a full-length Pride and Prejudice variation. It is a diverting little vignette of Anne de Bourgh at the age of fourteen.
THE PREMISE: Anne de Bourgh is enjoying the company of her visiting cousins when a vengeful prank causes their respective fathers to take them all to task. Worried he may have indulged his athletic and active daughter too much in her unfeminine pursuits, Sir Lewis de Bourgh brings in some assistance to rein in Anne’s wildness and teach her some proper comportment. But how will a willful and obstinate Anne react to such a punishing decree…
MY THOUGHTS: How diverting! I love the deviations in both character and situation. With Sir Lewis, Mr. Darcy, and Lord Matlock all being widowers, Anne loving riding, fencing, fishing, and hunting, and Lady Catherine’s dominance being completely absent from everyones’ lives – there is completely new dynamic to explore! What clever and inventive twists to employ!
I love this glimpse of the younger versions of these characters and witnessing some of their youthful indiscretions! Anne is very spirited and opinionated, her cousin Richard is supportive and naturally good humored, and her cousin Darcy is cautious and already guided by honor and integrity. Anne’s pranks are legendary – she is cunning and fearless, I can only imagine what other sorts of mischief she might get into! Lastly, I appreciated the new twist with Mrs. Jenkinson’s character. She is typically portrayed as dull, weak, or simple-minded. I love the idea of Anne’s companion being a woman of sense and wit that challenges her and becomes a true mentor for her.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
😈 Anne de Bourgh is a Spitfire!
😉 Maybe Fathers Do Know Best…
👁 There’s More to Mrs. Jenkinson Than Meets the Eye
PRE-ORDER MR. DARCY’S BOOKSHOP NOW (release date – tomorrow -January 18th)
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Thank you for such a kind review, Meredith! I’m so happy you enjoyed Anne’s first adventure.
WOW, Meredith, I can’t wait to put my hands on this new variation! It’s so good to see a new side of Anne 😉
And I love the twists Summer Hanford does with the widowers and the relationships between the cousins.
Thanks for the review!
I hadn’t realised this was a prequel to Mr Darcy’s Bookshop. I definitely want to read that to see Darcy’s situation improve (no doubt helped by Elizabeth) so I will get this one as well. Thank you.
I loved this look into the cousins’ early lives, their comradery, their youthful mischievousness, their oops! punishments. Very endearing.
No Lady Catherine?… it’s strange perhaps but I cannot imagine Anne without her ever present mother. They are so “intertwined” and not always (if ever) in a positive way. So this book sounds really interesting!!!!