What If Elizabeth and the Gardiners Did Go to the Lake District?
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Author
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation
TIME FRAME: Begins while Elizabeth and the Gardiners are in the midst of their summer travels
SYNOPSIS: In her latest stellar Pride and Prejudice variation, Joana Starnes introduces some slight changes in course. Mr. Gardiner is not prevented by business to travel to the Lake District with Elizabeth and his wife as planned. And while journeying south from their tour, the Gardiners and Elizabeth encounter Mr. Darcy at an inn in a most distressing fashion – Mr. Darcy was injured while attempting to ride through a storm and is unconscious! This unexpected encounter fosters some new understandings and opportunities for our dear couple, but what happens when Elizabeth receives some news that destroys her every hope and dream? How do both Darcy and Elizabeth move on from their heart-wrenching and deceptive (on one side) parting?
WHAT I LOVED:
- Lizzy – Daring and Devoted: Lizzy is a woman in action in this variation. She breaks with propriety and acts to protects those she loves. Much of the story is told from Elizabeth’s point-of-view and while it is always thrilling to see Mr. Darcy so in love, I really appreciated this moving portrayal of Elizabeth’s journey to loving Mr. Darcy wholeheartedly. I loved seeing Elizabeth so irrevocably in love – how she gained new insight into Mr. Darcy’s character, could understand his feelings, and be sensitive to his pain and discomfort. In addition, I greatly admire and appreciate that Lizzy’s love for Darcy was so great that she repeatedly strives to do right by him and unselfishly thinks of him over herself. This Elizabeth Bennet is my hero.
- Emotive, Tangible, Intimate: If you read a Joana Starnes novel before then you are well-acquainted with her talent for writing with exceptional eloquence and poignancy. And that talent is on full-display with her descriptions of Elizabeth’s feelings and introspections in this novel There were moments of powerful feeling where the heartache, sorrow, love, and joy felt so vivid and palpable. Ms. Starnes’s skill at capturing and conveying these emotions leaves readers awash with understanding and empathy.
- Taking Us To the Lakes: As one who loves wild beauty and dramatic landscapes, I’m so glad that Joana Starnes brought these characters to the Lake Country. I want to visit Kirkstone Pass and imagine Darcy and Elizabeth meeting there. In addition, I loved the sojourn to Dorsetshire and its impressive cliffs and sandy beaches. These rugged landscapes full of majestic beauty felt wonderfully matched in tone to this in angsty and ardent tale.
- Original Characters: The trip to the Lakes District isn’t the only new course Joana Starnes takes in this variation. And along the way we meet some new friends – I especially enjoyed all the scenes with Mistress Moll, Meg Monkford, and Mr. Howard (who reminded me a bit of Mr. Carson from Downton Abbey!)
- My New Favorite Room at Pemberley: Forget the lake and the temple, I want to visit Mr. Darcy’s private book room and see more heart-stopping scenes take place there! (Seriously, that room needs to be in a movie)
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
Maybe there was a chapter/scene or two that could be trimmed a little, but that didn’t suspend any pleasure of mine.
CONCLUSION:
Joana Starnes once again delivers a sweeping and enthralling Pride and Prejudice variation that is filled with turbulent emotions, empathetic prose, and swoony encounters. I have adored each and every one of Joana Starnes’s stirring and exceptionally ardent romances, and I will forever be grateful for her sensitive and impassioned tales about Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.
I agree with your review of this book! Joana never fails to entertain. Just another in a long line of winners! Congrats Joana!
So true!! Thanks for reading my review!
That’s exactly how I feel about your books, Brenda! Please keep ’em coming :))
Thanks for your kind words and for reading Meredith’s fabulous review! Huge thanks, Meredith!!! This is absolutely fantastic and I’m over the moon!!! More below 😉 but I’ll cut to the chase: this totally made my day!!! THANK YOU!!
Re-reading this wonderful book right now! Great review for a fantastic book!
A wonderful review of a wonderful story. I have read many of Joana’s books and am enchanted by them all. Her wordcraft places her among the top of the JAFF authors.
Enchanted is the perfect word to describe it. Thank you for your kind words and for checking out my review!
That’s such a wonderful thing to say! Thank you!! I’m so glad you loved my books!
Great choice! I know it will be one I reread too! 🙂
I’m so happy to hear you’re re-reading it, Pam! Thank you so much!!
Oh yes… I still have this one to look forward to and you’ve just heightened my anticipation. 🙂
Good! You will love it, Sophia!
So glad that Meredith’s wonderful review heightened your anticipation, Sophia Rose :))
Thank you!!
Read and loved this book and all her other books. Love her prose. I have several of her stories on Audible and thus have “read” them more then once. Great review.
That’s great to hear, Sheila! Thanks for checking out my review!
Huge thanks again for your wonderful support, Sheila! I’m so glad you enjoyed my books and that you can take some of them on your walks. Stevie Zimmerman is amazing! Every nuance & inflection adds so much more to the story!! All the best and thanks again!
And if you were to write the phone book Joana, as I said in my original comment, I’d listen to Stevie Zimmerman reading it!
Thanks for a great review, Meredith. And thanks to Joana as well for yet another amazing tale. Indeed, I’d read the phone book if it had “by Joana Starnes” on the front cover! I just love the way this lovely lady thinks and writes.
We paid a couple of visits to the Lake District last year (it’s around three hours drive for us from Yorkshire) and though we didn’t drive over Kirkstone Pass, we did drive over some similar roads; Wrynose Pass and Hardknott Pass. Two of the most “interesting” roads I’ve ever driven, so on horseback and in bad weather it’d be “very interesting” indeed! Apparently, even the Romans had an outpost at Hardknott. Must have been very bleak in the winter.
Dorset is also beautiful in a different way, and an awful lot warmer in the winter. We spent a family holiday there when I was a teenager and even fitted in a visit to Lyme Regis. No dashing naval captains to be found at the time, though!
LOL! Yes, I feel the exact same way…such a beautiful way with words.
Oh my goodness, how fun! Hearing about these “interesting” roads kind of make me want to drive on them! But not on horseback or in the rain!!
Dorest sounds lovely too. Thanks for sharing your experiences in both places, Anji!! I love the virtual travel!
Ahh, Anji and Meredith, you’re ever so kind!!! Thank you so much!!
Oh dear, shame about the lack of dashing naval captains 😀 . But I’m so glad you’ve driven over the Hardknott Pass, Anji. My family and I went to the ruins of the Roman fort a few years ago. It must have been during one of the summer hols, but it was SO bleak! Wet, windy, freezing cold. I dread to think what it’s like in the winter. Those poor guys must have drawn one of the shortest straws in the Roman empire!
I do hope you’ll drive over those ‘interesting’ roads one day, Meredith! And the Kirskstone Pass Inn is definitely worth a visit. Some day, fingers crossed :)))
Best to you both and thank you!!
Thanks so much for your review. I LOVE Joana’s books.
Same here! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Thanks, Jennifer! Much, much appreciated and right back at you :))
What a geat review. I agree it was a 5 star read for me as well. I love Joana’s books.
Thank you, Shelley! I am so happy to hear you loved this story!
I’m so glad, Shelley! Thanks ever so much!
Excellent review, Meredith [hello to your travel buddy, Mr. Bingley]. I loved this story. Congratulations to Joana for such an excellent story.
Thank you, Jeanne! I appreciate you reading my review!
Huge thanks, Jeanne, for your kind words about my books and for all your encouragement and support!!!
Guess what, Mrs Muse is beeing sweet and helpful :)). Well, sort of. She’s also opinionated (like a certain gent from Derbyshire 😀 ) and is dragging me where she wants to go. And unlike him, she doesn’t want to go to Longbourn. More later, fingers crossed.
All the best and thanks again!
Fabulous review for an absolutely fabulous book! I loved it despite Elizabeth’s misguided decision (frustrating or what?)
I’m definitely with you Meredith re the private book room!
Thank you, Glynis! I so can relate to Elizabeth and her misguided decision…it seems like something I would do!
Yes! We need to find such a room at Lyme Park, don’t we?
LOL Meredith and Glynis, we need to have a good old look at Pemberley to see if we could find a private book room :))
I’m over the moon that you liked The Journey Home… Thank you both so much, and thanks Glynis for making it happen & for nudging me towards the Victoria sponge approach 😀
Love Joana’s books.
denise
Yes!!
That’s so wonderful to hear, Denise! Thank you!!
I agree with Anji regarding the phone book. Joana never fails to give us something magnificent to read! Can’t wait for her muse to strike again!
Haha! Me too! Yes, I am so glad she has so many creative ideas and executes them so beautifully!
Thank you both so much, you’re ever so kind!!
Can’t wait for your next, Anngela! Have a really good year and lots of inspiration!
This novel won my heart since I knew the setting was the Lake District 😉
I’ll put it in my wish list!
Yes! I would love to see more P&P stories take place there!!
Thanks for reading Meredith’s wonderful review, Teresa. Hope you’ll like this trip to the Lake District and thanks for putting it on your wish list.
This one was in my top 5 for the year, just loved it. Although the first part of the book progressed into such beautiful, happy times together, I knew there was a black cloud hanging over the horizon. The angsty part was so unexpected (at least I didn’t see it coming in that way,) but so like something we’d expect from Lizzy. But wow, the next meeting was so heartbreaking. Even though I knew Joana wouldn’t let us down, and we’d get a happy ending for ODC, it was tough. She’s soooo good at that isn’t she? Definitely 5 stars, definitely top reread. I so want to go to the Lake District more than ever before. Great review, Meredith
I am thrilled to hear it, although not surprised! It was a beautiful progression…and I almost felt like the HEA was arriving a little too early…boy was I wrong! I feel the same way about not expecting the angst. I thought for sure it would be the normal course of events. It might be weird to say it, but it was a pleasant and refreshing surprise…even though it ripped our hearts out!
Yes!! The Lake District Sounds amazing!!
I’m so happy it was in your top 5 for the year, Michelle! Thank you!! LOL yep, that black cloud hanging over the horizon… I just can’t help stirring the angst in, can I?
‘It might be weird to say it, but it was a pleasant and refreshing surprise…even though it ripped our hearts out!’ Love this, Meredith!!
Huge thanks to you both and I hope you’ll see the Lake District soon!
Oh my goodness, Meredith, WHAT A REVIEW!!!! I can’t thank you enough for your wonderful words about ‘The Journey Home to Pemberley.’ I’m thrilled to bits that you liked it so much. I’ll be forever grateful to *you* for your fabulous support over the years. You’re amazing and ever so kind!!!
Huge apologies for not seeing this for 5 whole days!! I was hiding under the bonnet again so that I didn’t spook Mrs Muse :))).
Lots of thanks too for everyone’s beautiful comments. I’m absolutely over the moon! Lovely ladies, you’re awesome! Thanks ever so much for your encouragment and for keeping me writing!!
Have a great day, everyone, and thanks again for this. It totally made my day!!!!
This book is a favorite of mine, and I too would love to see this particular private book room on film! (I have read that scene more times than I would like to admit…) Love all of Joana’s books and hope she plans to write heaps more.
Lovely review, and I agree with every word of it! I read the book through, then went back to Chapter one and read it all again, all within 3 days. *sigh* This is the Elizabeth I admire, as well. And the passionate Darcy of my dreams!