A Sample of Some Sweet Snacks
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Gift from Author
TYPE OF NOVEL: 4 Modern Day and Other Era Short Stories of Pride and Prejudice
OVERVIEW:
Austenesque fans who love modern day and other era stories are no stranger to the exceptional and compelling works by Cat Gardiner. These romantic adventures are immersive, consuming, poignant, and riveting. Cat Gardiner is flawlessly talented at creating characters that are real and situations that hold readers in thrall. In this collection of short stories she focuses on Darcy and Elizabeth in different settings and eras.
Here is a breakdown:
TEN CENTS A DANCE (24 pages)
- Setting: New York, 1940’s
- The Premise: Will Darcy is begrudgingly brought to a dance hall for his 21st birthday. And while he isn’t of mind to give consequence to any taxi dancers working there, he finds all his pretensions insufficient defense against the charms of a beautiful and enchanting songstress…
- My Thoughts: Utterly captivating. I love how hard Darcy falls. This story is succinctly told in a few short scenes, but the strong emotions of both characters were skillfully developed.
DARCY’S MERMAID (19 pages)
- Setting: Florida, 1961 and 2002
- The Premise: A newly retired Will Darcy reflects back on the summer he met his wife – a Weeki Wachee Springs mermaid.
- My Thoughts: I love this time period and all the fresh conflicts and situations it brings. Darcy and Lizzy are quite adorable together. I love how Lizzy was adept in “predicting” the future. And I’m so happy to learn about Weeki Wachee Springs State Park (I looked it up and it sounds like the mermaid shows still exists!) I only wish our time with this couple in the earlier time period was longer.
MR. NICE GUY (9 pages)
- Setting: England, Present Day
- The Premise: It’s a vignette of Iceman and Lakmé post Conscience Trilogy...and it sounds like they are under siege!
- My Thoughts: The suspense was gripping! I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I loved being reunited with my favorite spy/thriller duo…and I appreciated this telling and unexpected look into their current “adventures.” I only wish this story was a little bit longer.
WRITER’S BLOCK (62 pages)
- Setting: New York, Present Day
- The Premise: In a bit of a dry-spell, William Darcy travels to Manhattan to spend some time with sister in hopes that it will clear his writer’s block. He gets more than he bargained for when he discovers his sister his surrounded by all sorts of suspicious intrigues and guilty neighbors…
- My Thoughts: William Darcy is so cute with his “investigating” and “role playing.” I enjoyed the surprising twists in this one. The antagonist stirred up some mischief and I thought it was a clever reincarnation. With so much talk of attraction and sex, I wish this one would have concluded with a little more passion. 🤭
NOTE: With some uses of strong language and adult references, I’d recommend this collection for Mature Audiences.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
As an ardent fan of Cat Gardiner’s novels and the electrifying and achingly romantic love stories she creates, I think my expectations and desires were set a little high. Or perhaps I was wanting these little story seedlings to grow into something bigger. Nonetheless, this collection is sure to delight and satisfy readers who love romantic contemporary stories and need a short, sweet, and sexy Darcy and Elizabeth fix.
Lovely review, Meredith! I adored this book by Cat and can’t wait for her next book(s) to be released!
Thank you, Carole! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! ♥
I have read The Darcy Files and as good as the stories are, I was left with the feeling that I wanted more from each one. Maybe that’s why I tend not to read short stories–I don’t like the feeling of incompleteness that follows. Same reason I don’t like novellas. Cat is an outstanding writer.
Hi Joy! Thank you for giving TDF a try and your kind compliment. ♥ I really appreciate the feedback and sorry this particular book didn’t quite hit home for you. Down the road, maybe one or two might take a longer journey to novel-length. 🙂 In the interim, I’ll be dishing up other savory meals that I hope fulfill you! ♥ Happy Reading!
I have this book and absolutely loved it! Thanks so much for your review. Cat Gardiner is one of my favorite authors.
Aw! Thank you, Jen!!
Oh yes Meredith, longer stories are always better in my opinion. Saying that I loved these even though it was a shame there wasn’t more 😉
I can’t wait for the Elizabeth stories and meanwhile I’ll enjoy rereading this one 🙂
Hi Glynis! You’re a sweetie. I’m tickled that you loved all four Darcys and are looking forward to the stories in the fall-release Elizabeth Chronicles. They will definitely be a little longer and I only have one more to write over the summer. Thank you so much! ♥
Yes, this one hit the spot for me, too. 🙂
I’m so glad, Sophia!! Thank you!! ♥
Thank you, Meredith for this wonderful review and especially for taking the time to read my little book of Darcy tales! I’m so happy you enjoyed them as a quick fix. I promise– there is a full-course modern p&p novel on the horizon. 🙂 ♥ Happy reading! ♥
So pleased to see your review of Cat’s book. I love everything Cat writes and this was no exception.
Hi Brenda! Thank you for your kind sentiments. Coming from a master storyteller, I am extremely flattered. ♥
Great review, Meredith. I want to read it soonest! I’m a fan of short stories, and a devoted fan of the authors who can create and entire story in a very few pages. It takes a lot of talent to chop a story down to its bare essentials, and still create a memorable scene you’ll remember afterward just as much as you’d recall an entire novel.