Darcy and Elizabeth Can “See Clearly Now the Rain Has Gone!”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Author
Two days before the Netherfield Ball, both Darcy and Elizabeth, taking advantage of the momentary lapse in rain, escape outdoors for a bit of fresh air (Darcy on horseback, Lizzy on foot). But because it is only a momentary lapse, they end up getting caught in a torrential downpour miles away from their respective dwellings. Fortunately, they are nearby an old fishing cottage and decide to seek shelter there together. Although they are protected from the rain and damp, this decision places both their hearts and reputations at perilous risk….
- Darcy realizes that Elizabeth has not been flirting with him
- Elizabeth realizes that Darcy does have some common courtesy and a sense of humor
- Darcy realizes he must listen to his heart
- Elizabeth realizes that Wickham’s conversation was too personal for so slight an acquaintance
With Darcy and Elizabeth losing some of their pride and prejudices in the first forty pages, one might wonder what other obstacles and conflicts can Ms. Lilian create to keep the reader engaged for three hundred more pages. Do not worry, dear reader, Darcy and Elizabeth still have their misunderstandings (they’re not pictures of perfection you know), and with Caroline Bingley, George Wickham, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh instigating conflicts and voicing their displeasure, Darcy and Elizabeth’s battles are far from over!
I greatly admired Lory Lilian’s imaginative plot twists, plausibly rendered characters, and leisurely paced style in this novel. I enjoy it when readers can witness the day-to-day details of a character’s life and how major events, like the ball at Netherfield, are extended into a couple of chapters. It gives the author time to fully develop the characters and the reader time to establish a more intimate relationship with them.
Speaking of characters…I just ADORE Ms. Lilian’s character creations! In Rainy Days, readers will encounter the precocious and candid Becky Gardiner, who cannot help but make one smile. At the young age of four she is wise beyond her years, proclaiming Mr. Darcy to be “pretty” and Mr. Wickham as having “the eyes of a snake.” Moreover, I loved Ms. Lilian’s accurate and fleshed out portrayals of Jane Austen’s characters, especially Georgiana, Mr. Bennet, and Mr. Darcy. Oh! her Mr. Darcy is just beyond excellent! Tender, considerate, flirtatious (only with Lizzy), impassioned, intuitive, and fervently devoted – yes, he is a little less flawed than Jane Austen’s Mr. Darcy, but I found him to be positively dreamy!
After savoring Lory Lilian’s deeply satisfying and splendid Pride and Prejudice variations, it is my dear hope that I will once again be afforded this same pleasure some time in the near future! Please keep writing, Ms. Lilian, your avid audience awaits!
(Note: due to a few brief intimate and romantic scenes, I’d recommend this novel for Mature Audiences only).
GIVEAWAY!!! Thanks to Lory Lilian and the lovely people at Meryton Press, I have ONE beautiful new copy of Rainy Days to give away to ONE lucky winner!
- All you have to do is leave a comment on this review.
- To save your inbox from unwanted spam, please leave your email address with an [at] instead of @.
- (You could also leave a Twitter handle or Facebook username instead).
- This giveaway is open worldwide! Why? Because I love my international readers!
This contest will end July 3rd! Thank you for entering and best of luck!
Sounds interesting!!! 🙂
araminta18 at gmail dot com
You had me at Mr. Darcy. I don’t care if all he does is stare moodily off into the grounds of Pemberley, so long as he’s around.
Le sigh.
cupcake at nc.rr.com
This is my favorite Pride and Prejudice variation!! Wonderful review! I already have a copy, I just wanted to pop in and say how much I like this story! 😀
I heard so many good things about this book before I read it, it was hard not to have high expectations…but I was in NO way let down! A fantastic read for someone looking for a Pride and Prejudice variation.
Thanks so much, Candy !!!!!
Oh, this sounds like a great read. I can’t wait to read this version. Mr. Darcy sounds yummy!
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
Ooh, I really want to win this! I read this a long time ago and I just loved Becky.
Thanks Meredith and Meryton Press!
*fingers crossed*
@jaffobsession
Meredith:
Is there another variation with something like this? I’m just curious. It sounds so familiar to me but I know I’ve not read this novel. I’m confused. The fleshed out characters sound amazing. I like the sound of Becky as well. Thanks for the mature audience warning. I like to know what I’m getting into. smiles…..Loved your review.
schafsue at gmail dot com
Hello Suzan! I can’t think of any other variation that has a rainstorm bring Darcy and Elizabeth together. A quick google scan showed that Abigail Reynolds has a short story in her A Pemberley Medley titled “A Succession of Rain.” But it doesn’t look like it is a similar story. The matures scenes are only at the end and they are NOT premarital which made this reader happy!
Hi Suzan,
To be honest, I have no idea if there is another story with rainstorm in the beginning (it is not impossible, though, considering there are thousand of them :). I first wrote this story back in 2006 and it was posted as a WIP on 2 JAFF sites, so this is why it might sound familiar to you :).
On the other hand, I am quite fond of storms, rain and snow :). My other story (Remembrance) has another storm in it, too… LOL
i’m currently reading The Perfect Bride for Mr Darcy by Mary Lydon Simonsen and it follows a similar thread but without the rain. So I suggest you should give it a try, suzan.
I enjoyed your review, Meredith and would love to win a copy.
Thank you very much.
evangelineace2020[at]yahoo[dot]com
Meredith, thank you so much for your wonderful review – you just made my day ! 🙂 (It is 7:30 here and I am just having a huge cup of coffee …)
This book has been on Amazon for quite some time as unavailable. I’m so glad it is available now, it’s defintiely on my wishlist! I can’t wait to read it. Lovely review as always, Meredith!
This sounds like it focuses on the love story between them. Sounds good!
Margaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com
So glad you enjoyed this one, Meredith! This is up there on towards the top of my “favorites” list. I have read it twice now and wouldn’t mind reading it again! Yes, Becky Gardiner is so adorable and innocently sweet! A great original character! Great review, Meredith! 🙂
The sounds like an interesting book. I wonder what else will happen since they remove the main obstacles so early on. Poor me I will have to read it to find out. 🙂
drcopeland(at)hotmail(dot)com
Really interesting! Sounds different from everything I have ever read before.
Great review!
miss.margy (at) hotmail (dot) com
Oh hand me a coupy and I will read it before a week is out! Another wonderful creation of Ms. Lillians! I can hardly wait to get my hands on it! Please this sounds almost too good to be true! A completely wonderful and less prideful Darcy and a wonderful and less prejudiced Lizzie oh I wonder what the ‘the wonderful’ lady C can say to Lizzie to make a a volcano erupt! this can only be a treat for a read!
sophiathorsen1(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thank you for the chance of winning this! Sounds like a wonderful and complete and utter pleasure to read!
Sounds vey interesting, and the description of Mr.Darcy from this variation is greatly appealing! I would love to give this book a try and to enjoy Darcy’s flirtations with Lizzy:) Please enter me in this giveaway.
Thank you for review and for the giveaway!
oloore at gmail dot com
Oh, wow, this sounds absolutely amazing! Thank you for the chance to win it!
justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
I am so looking forward to this new book by Lory Lilian! I just finished Remembrance of the Past by Ms Lilian. In fact, I read it twice in order to enjoy again her writing and the additional characters she added to Miss Jane’s Pride and Prejudice.
Catherine Commons
Looks like a great read!!! Thanks for the contest.
ddcknitt(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thank you for the give-away! I have been introduced to some great possibilities here with your reviews–I think I found another!
~Cara
carascarlett [at] yahoo dot com
What an interesting and intriguing book! Thank you for this wonderful giveaway. Since my birthday is nearing, maybe the luck will be kind to me.
I forgot to add my e-mail: zora.brozina at gmail.com
blodeuedd83 on twitter 🙂
Sounds good 😀 I do wonder what they get up to in that cottage
Patkf2007 at hotmail.com
Thank you for this opportunity! it sounds very interesting!
Love the sound of it! Add another to my TBRL!!!
thx4praying at aol dot com
I’ve read Rainy Days, and I can assure everyone that it is excellent! Don’t sit around–go buy it. Now!
Congrats, Lory.
luv, love, LOVE Rainy Days and I’m not the only one. My daughter and daughter-in-law both claim ownership of my copy! So, as I travel back and forth from Ga to Va, Rainy Days goes with me so that they each have a turn to read it again …lol.
So, needless to say, it would be great to win a copy and end this fued!
oops, email is cpnclprashe yahoo – since I sign on with google, wish they would share my address with you behind the scenes ….
Sounds like a really good book! volleyballkate16 at yahoo.com
Ok. I’m game for a wet Mr. Darcy!
Sandisis at Comcast.net