What If An Elopement Chase Led to A Forced Marriage?
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Author
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation
THE PREMISE: While enjoying some sea-bathing and respite in Ramsgate, the Bennet family becomes friendly with Georgiana Darcy and her serious and disapproving brother. But then an elopement attempt sends Elizabeth and her friend’s brother on a high-speed chase with unexpected consequences. Was their impulsive flight to save a sister worth the freedom they lost? Or is possibly the most fortuitous a natural consequence…?
WHAT I LOVED:
- Ramsgate Diverted: I like that this story opens with a different Ramsgate situation. Different characters are involved (I love the Bennets being friends with Georgiana) and everything that follows proceeds in a completely new direction. Which makes everything feel fresh and unique.
- A Forced Marriage: The consequence of having an impetuous, romantic, and obstinate sister… Mr. Darcy is honorable and knows that there is no way for Elizabeth Bennet to not have a unsalvageable reputation. And while their relationship does not have the intense animosity and misjudgments it usually does in their early days, this isn’t the loving and happy marriage either of them were hoping for. It is interesting to see how both adapt to their new situation..
- Lovestruck and Loyal: It is so lovely to witness the feelings grow between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. There is admiration and respect, but esteem and attraction follow along soon enough. I enjoyed seeing how much Mr. Darcy regards and admires Elizabeth – his beautiful gift to her is so lovely and moving. And how wonderful to see his affection reciprocated! Elizabeth is so in love with Mr. Darcy that she wants to make everything right in his world…even if that means doing something he wouldn’t approve of and keeping it secret…
- The Unexpected: In the Austenesque universe there have been a lot of elopement attempts and elopement rescues. And in this story I feel like the path chosen is very singular and unexpected. It isn’t the outcome that we usually see and it kind of makes everything off-kilter.
WHAT COULD’VE BEEN BETTER:
- Pacing and Dwelling: It felt like it took a little bit to get the story going…to get to the part where you are hooked in. And then again in the middle, it felt like the pace was maybe just a touch slow. It might be because there was some tension and conflict that we knew would come to an inevitable head. The writing was on the wall. And I think knowing that negative fallout would happen soon made the anticipation of it feel drawn out.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
📖 A story full of obstinate and impulsive sisters! Although the consequences for some are way better than others!
💍 A forced marriage grows into a fortuitous love match!
😯 To quote the film adaptation of Mansfield Park for some characters: “It could have turned out differently, I suppose. But it didn’t…”
