A Confined Carriage Adventure for Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: Review Copy from Author

TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation

THE PREMISE: Someone wants to end Mr. Darcy, so he quickly decides to abscond with an empty carriage he sees parked at an inn. Little did he know that the carriage had a sleeping passenger and he now has an unexpected and unwilling companion joining him on his flight. How long until Mr. Darcy and his companion can reach safety? What will become of their relationship on the journey?

WHAT I LOVED:

• Adventure: Danger, action, fast pace, suspense – I am here for it all!  And I think Riana Everly did very well with this style story. There was a great balance of action, dialogue, and developing moments. This entertaining premise was exciting and kept the reader engaged.

• Wales: While on their flight Darcy and Elizabeth venture to a region we don’t often see much of in Austenesque literature – the countryside of Wales. The wilds, the rustic, the Welsh culture and language. I loved witnessing it all. I know the author even made her own pilgrimage to Wales, and I think she has a special affinity for it.

• Trapped Together: I love premises like this where Darcy and Elizabeth are forced together – especially when it is a circumstance where they are isolated and existing in their own little situation. All that time together, whether they are doing the mundane things like finding food or places to sleep or dramatic things like protecting each other from danger and outsmarting the enemy. I really love seeing Darcy and Elizabeth in this type of dynamic and how it their actions and how they handle situations say so much about their characters. So much so that there is a lot less misunderstandings between Darcy and Elizabeth.

• Unspoken Feelings: Actually…piggy-backing on what I just said…there is a misunderstanding of sorts between Darcy and Elizabeth – and that is how they actually feel about each other. They know their escape and time together alone will come at a price and a life-changing expectation if they are to preserve Elizabeth’s reputation… But what they don’t know is that the other person’s heart is engaged. I loved seeing both Darcy and Elizabeth fall in love and keep their true feelings hidden. They both believed that it was very one-sided.

• The Second Carriage: There is a second carriage ambling along the countryside to Wales and in it there is some comical situations and romantic stirrings. I enjoyed seeing what developed with the interesting assortment of characters in this carriage. But at times I definitely felt for Jane! 🤭

WHAT COULD’VE BEEN BETTER:

• Credibility: While I absolutely loved the adventure and was quick to join Mr. Darcy on his wild carriage adventure, I did have some quibbles about the realistic-ness of this situation. The villain has an understandable cause to wish Mr. Darcy harm, but I wonder at his resources and perseverance – both of which seem limitless. Also, Mr. Darcy is a very powerful and resourceful man, I feel like he maybe had some other options he could explore to find safety – or at least communicate with others. If Elizabeth was able to send a note out to her relations, I think he would be able to as well.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

😍  Who doesn’t love seeing Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth work together to survive a perilous situation?

📖 A villain pursues harm, Mr. Darcy pursues survival, and Elizabeth pursues a return to her family.

📚 Mysteries, moderns, historical connections, and action-packed adventures – Riana Everly is such a diverse Austenesque author! I love her inventive deviations!

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