What If Elizabeth & Darcy Were Kidnapped Together?
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Author
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation
THE PREMISE: Just as Mr. Darcy was about to deliver his letter, unscrupulous men descend upon Elizabeth and try to abscond with her in a carriage. But Mr. Darcy won’t allow them to take just her alone, and now both are imprisoned together in confined quarters and terrifying danger. How can these two – who just the day before experienced all the emotional upheaval of Mr. Darcy’s offensive marriage proposal and Elizabeth furious rejection – find a way to work amicably together and save their lives…
WHAT I LOVED:
- Exhilarating: So intense, so riveting, so much action and adventure! These are some sinister criminals and Darcy and Elizabeth are in some serious danger! The pacing, for the most part, was balanced and kept the adrenaline high and the pages turning. These criminals and their objectives were a new type of conflict for Darcy and Elizabeth to face and the developments of their time together amidst such unscrupulous and violent people added some gripping intensity to this story.
- Confinement: There is so much tension and challenge around this forced proximity situation. Emotions are raw from the previous night, their prison is filthy and repulsive, there is fear for their safety and lives, and they only help they have is to work together. I thought the author’s portrayal of Darcy and Elizabeth in this situation was incredibly realistic. They didn’t always work together smoothly – they disagreed, they were stubborn, they needed to learn to compromise.
- Admiration, Affinity, Amorous Embraces: And as we expect and hope, with such a long confinement and harrowing situation, there is some evolution and change of heart. I loved how naturally and gradually this progressed. Darcy is working through his pain and regret over being rejected, and Elizabeth is learning to understand his perspective and reasoning. I loved seeing the way Darcy and Elizabeth grew closer and closer together in this story.
- Comfort and Safety: In addition to finding esteem and love with each other, Darcy and Elizabeth find comfort and safety. Their shared experiences, their shared vulnerability and fears bonds them together. And feelings of intrinsic trust emerge and intertwine with all the other layers of their emotions. It added a new dynamic to their relationship, a different type of depth and connection that was quite lovely to witness.
- Kirby: Elizabeth and Darcy encounter a very young man who is forced to aid and do the bidding their captors because he is related to him. And of course they cannot help but feel sympathetic and want to save Kirby from his terrible circumstances. I enjoyed the complexity of this character and his situation, there was mistrust and doubt on both sides – is he an ally or spy? is escape from his relations even possible for him?
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
- Some Quibbles: While there was so much I loved and adored with this story, there were some moments that didn’t feel quite as right, such as Darcy and Elizabeth anticipating not only their vows but a deeclaration/engagement. Now, I’m all for steamy scenes and don’t bat an eye about premarital sex, but the timing of this felt a little unnatural for some reason. Maybe it was the carefreeness of it, or the lack of concern or weight given to the situation? In addition, Elizabeth’s plan towards the end felt a little bit dubious, and I don’t know if I believe Mr. Darcy would have capitulated and been on board with it.
NOTE: This story includes brief scenes of violence, crude language, and two intimate scenes, I’d recommend it for Mature Audiences.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
😮 Rescues, revelations, respect, and regard – Darcy and Elizabeth traverse an entirely unique route in this romantic adventure.
⚠️ Intense adventure, intense danger, and intense romance! Wonderfully exhilarating!
💪🏼 Full of admirable courage, powerful emotions, and deep connection – I highly recommend!
I too loved this book Meredith. I especially loved how their forced togetherness brought about a new understanding between them. I could definitely see that the relief of escape could cause their ‘celebration’ together. I too think Elizabeth’s idea at the end was rash, thank goodness for Kirby. Altogether a great story.
This was a very good book. I liked that ODC could come together as a team, despite their bruised feelings, and work towards their freedom. Kirby was a really good character and the true hero of the story. He was so courageous for one so young and in his precarious position. And that cover…sigh. As you’ve noted the story has some flaws, but overall another winner by Heather Moll!
I loved this book so much! I love forced proximity and I had no qualms whatsoever when Darcy and Elizabeth had intimate relations. It all added to the suspense!
I enjoyed this story and reviewed it also. One of my favorite authors.
Oh this sounds fun (can you call a kidnapping fun?). I like the idea of Darcy and Elizabeth in such forced proximity on the heels of that disaster proposal 🙂
I think Kirby was a brilliant add to the story!
This story grabs the reader by the throat and doesn’t let go. I loved the Kirby character. Well done!