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Darcy & Elizabeth #1
Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife: Pride and Prejudice Continues
Every woman wants to be Elizabeth Bennet Darcy-beautiful, gracious, universally admired, strong, daring and outspoken-a thoroughly modern woman in crinolines.
And every woman will fall madly in love with Mr. Darcy-tall, dark and handsome, a nobleman and a heartthrob whose virility is matched only by his utter devotion to his wife.
Their passion is consuming and idyllic-essentially, they can't keep their hands off each other-through a sweeping tale of adventure and misadventure, human folly and numerous mysteries of parentage.
Hold on to your bonnets! This sexy, epic, hilarious, poignant and romantic sequel to "Pride and Prejudice" is not for Jane Austen purists. Self-published in 1999 as "The Bar Sinister," this sequel continues the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy through a sweeping tale of adventure.
And every woman will fall madly in love with Mr. Darcy-tall, dark and handsome, a nobleman and a heartthrob whose virility is matched only by his utter devotion to his wife.
Their passion is consuming and idyllic-essentially, they can't keep their hands off each other-through a sweeping tale of adventure and misadventure, human folly and numerous mysteries of parentage.
Hold on to your bonnets! This sexy, epic, hilarious, poignant and romantic sequel to "Pride and Prejudice" is not for Jane Austen purists. Self-published in 1999 as "The Bar Sinister," this sequel continues the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy through a sweeping tale of adventure.
465 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 1999
942 people are currently reading
10.5k people want to read
About the author
Linda Berdoll
10books217followersNUMBER 4 - The Darcys: New Pleasures
With the success of her latest Pride & Prejudice sequel, The Ruling Passion, Linda has just completed a continuation of their story in The Darcys: New Pleasures:
Even twenty years into their future, Mr. Darcy remains every woman’s ideal. Still darkly handsome, he is a gentleman of vast wealth and exceptional leg. His virility, whilst of considerable note, is not what invites adoration. His true allure is his all-encompassing love for his wife. Indeed, Elizabeth and Darcy’s passion for each other remains steadfast.
There is but one test that stands in the way of the Darcys� boundless happiness in this latest telling. It is an ordeal familiar to parents through the ages. Their offspring have come of age and are eager to pursue their own love affairs.
Moreover, Elizabeth Darcy, the Mistress of Pemberley, has been overtaken by a peculiar malaise. Her disorder has the entire family in a state of agitation. Darcy is particularly uneasy. Hence, when he learns that his son engaged in a flirtation with a village wench, he reproves him a tad too vehemently.
His pride injured, Geoff flings himself headlong down Calamity Road–in the company of George Wickham’s son.
~~~~~~
In Ms. Berdoll's wildly successful Pride & Prejudice sequels, Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife, Darcy & Elizabeth, and the Ruling Passion, have over 400,000 copies in print. The Ruling Passion has been given the Independent Publisher's Gold Award 2012 for Historical fiction. Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife (2004) won FOREWORD MAGAZINE BOOK OF THE YEAR Silver Award, and Darcy & Elizabeth, winner of INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER’S BOOK AWARDS - 1st Place HISTORICAL FICTION 2007.
New Pleasures is now available in soft cover on Linda's website , in digital and paperback on Amazon and BN.com. Her books are on the shelves of Barnes & Noble and available to order through bookstores large and small.
Review for The Ruling Passion From Austenprose.com
Best-selling author Linda Berdoll's Mr. Darcy Takes A Wife and Darcy & Elizabeth have been hailed as "sexy, hilarious, poignant" and "wild, bawdy and utterly enjoyable (Booklist.)" The Ruling Passion, her highly anticipated sequel to the sequels, has finally come to fruition... If your sensibilities are offended by explicit, passionate love scenes with Jane Austen's original namesakes, this is presumably NOT the book for you. However, those who delight in reading about the Darcys beyond Pride and Prejudice, including all their complexities, and intimacies, (in and around the bedroom), and most particularly if you are a fan of Berdoll's previous works, The Ruling Passion is not to be missed! Yes, hold on to your bonnets as Linda Berdoll has quite done it again. Christina Boyd 4.5 of 5 stars
In a change of pace from her Jane Austen sequels, Linda released Fandango in 2010. This tale takes place in 19th C. San Francisco. In this entirely original work, our heroine, young Annabella Chase comes to learn that it's one thing to go asking for trouble, quite another to offer it a chair.
While researching her Pride & Prejudice sequels, she collected a vast store of euphemistic grandiloquence and wove it into a small gift book titled Very Nice Ways to Say Very Bad Things.
With the success of her latest Pride & Prejudice sequel, The Ruling Passion, Linda has just completed a continuation of their story in The Darcys: New Pleasures:
Even twenty years into their future, Mr. Darcy remains every woman’s ideal. Still darkly handsome, he is a gentleman of vast wealth and exceptional leg. His virility, whilst of considerable note, is not what invites adoration. His true allure is his all-encompassing love for his wife. Indeed, Elizabeth and Darcy’s passion for each other remains steadfast.
There is but one test that stands in the way of the Darcys� boundless happiness in this latest telling. It is an ordeal familiar to parents through the ages. Their offspring have come of age and are eager to pursue their own love affairs.
Moreover, Elizabeth Darcy, the Mistress of Pemberley, has been overtaken by a peculiar malaise. Her disorder has the entire family in a state of agitation. Darcy is particularly uneasy. Hence, when he learns that his son engaged in a flirtation with a village wench, he reproves him a tad too vehemently.
His pride injured, Geoff flings himself headlong down Calamity Road–in the company of George Wickham’s son.
~~~~~~
In Ms. Berdoll's wildly successful Pride & Prejudice sequels, Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife, Darcy & Elizabeth, and the Ruling Passion, have over 400,000 copies in print. The Ruling Passion has been given the Independent Publisher's Gold Award 2012 for Historical fiction. Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife (2004) won FOREWORD MAGAZINE BOOK OF THE YEAR Silver Award, and Darcy & Elizabeth, winner of INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER’S BOOK AWARDS - 1st Place HISTORICAL FICTION 2007.
New Pleasures is now available in soft cover on Linda's website , in digital and paperback on Amazon and BN.com. Her books are on the shelves of Barnes & Noble and available to order through bookstores large and small.
Review for The Ruling Passion From Austenprose.com
Best-selling author Linda Berdoll's Mr. Darcy Takes A Wife and Darcy & Elizabeth have been hailed as "sexy, hilarious, poignant" and "wild, bawdy and utterly enjoyable (Booklist.)" The Ruling Passion, her highly anticipated sequel to the sequels, has finally come to fruition... If your sensibilities are offended by explicit, passionate love scenes with Jane Austen's original namesakes, this is presumably NOT the book for you. However, those who delight in reading about the Darcys beyond Pride and Prejudice, including all their complexities, and intimacies, (in and around the bedroom), and most particularly if you are a fan of Berdoll's previous works, The Ruling Passion is not to be missed! Yes, hold on to your bonnets as Linda Berdoll has quite done it again. Christina Boyd 4.5 of 5 stars
In a change of pace from her Jane Austen sequels, Linda released Fandango in 2010. This tale takes place in 19th C. San Francisco. In this entirely original work, our heroine, young Annabella Chase comes to learn that it's one thing to go asking for trouble, quite another to offer it a chair.
While researching her Pride & Prejudice sequels, she collected a vast store of euphemistic grandiloquence and wove it into a small gift book titled Very Nice Ways to Say Very Bad Things.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,622 reviews
September 1, 2014
Let's face it, we are all idiots when it comes to our OTP (one true pairing). We want to see them in love. We want to see them live their happily-ever-after. I don't know about you, but I would happily read about Valek and Yelena setting up house and living in domestic bliss. It's not fucking boring, dammit. It's love!
The same goes for Darcy and Elizabeth. I don't give a fuck that they don't do anything. Hell, they're already in love! There's nothing else there but reading about them making googly eyes at each other. I don't care! I love them! I'll read about them taking 1000000 walks together if it means I see the two of them together.
As I said, readers are stupid when it cones to their OTPs. That, my friends, is why I read Pride and Prejudice fan fiction.
And that's why I enjoyed this book. Yeah. You heard me. This book has so many haters and I don't even care. It is terrible. I don't even care. Darcy and Elizabeth do nothing but fuck like bunnies throughout the book. I don't even care. They're my OTPs. That's all I want. To observe them living out their fairy-tale romance.
Allow me to write a poem to this book.
They fuck in the countryside, they fuck in town
They fucked so long and hard that it ruined Elizabeth's gown
They fuck in bed, they fuck outside
But who cares, I, for one, will let it slide
They fuck on their bed, looking into the mirror
Whatever, it just makes them feel even dearer
They fuck in his study, and then in her boudoir
They fuck, and fuck, and then they fuck some more
They fuck with Georgina in the next room
They fuck when the weather is sunny, or full of gloom
They fuck with gusto, with unabashed glee
And really, that's just per-fucking-dandy with me
Nothing happens in this book but Liz and Darcy screwing each other like bunnies.
And I ain't even sorry.
The same goes for Darcy and Elizabeth. I don't give a fuck that they don't do anything. Hell, they're already in love! There's nothing else there but reading about them making googly eyes at each other. I don't care! I love them! I'll read about them taking 1000000 walks together if it means I see the two of them together.
As I said, readers are stupid when it cones to their OTPs. That, my friends, is why I read Pride and Prejudice fan fiction.
And that's why I enjoyed this book. Yeah. You heard me. This book has so many haters and I don't even care. It is terrible. I don't even care. Darcy and Elizabeth do nothing but fuck like bunnies throughout the book. I don't even care. They're my OTPs. That's all I want. To observe them living out their fairy-tale romance.
Allow me to write a poem to this book.
They fuck in the countryside, they fuck in town
They fucked so long and hard that it ruined Elizabeth's gown
They fuck in bed, they fuck outside
But who cares, I, for one, will let it slide
They fuck on their bed, looking into the mirror
Whatever, it just makes them feel even dearer
They fuck in his study, and then in her boudoir
They fuck, and fuck, and then they fuck some more
They fuck with Georgina in the next room
They fuck when the weather is sunny, or full of gloom
They fuck with gusto, with unabashed glee
And really, that's just per-fucking-dandy with me
Nothing happens in this book but Liz and Darcy screwing each other like bunnies.
And I ain't even sorry.
Read
October 17, 2007I was so happy to see that GoodReads allows you to rate something with zero stars! If ever a book merited such treatment, it is this one. This book is so BAD it is unintentionally funny. Very funny. My favorite sentences so far:
"Propitious fortune allowed her to descry whom the crepuscular light yielded."
"The single unseemliness bechanced in her dressing room."
"Whilst still partaking of their meal, Darcy apologised unnecessarily upon the austere winter dressing of his county."
"In the pristine morning light, it was not an inquisition of her configuration he sought (for he had, upon a few occasions long past, perused a womanly portal)."
Believe me, folks, the whole thing reads like this. I am NOT making this up. I was drowning in in a sea of betwixt (82 times) and howbeits (59 times). Many of the sentences are downright be-cramped with broken sentence structure and overwrought language. All things are besoiled, bedewed, begrimed, bechanced. Nothing is ever dewed or grimed or soiled. No one ever sits between two people, it is "indubitably" betwixt.
Even if you can ignore the horrible writing, you will be affronted by the sub-par romantic/erotic plotting and descriptions (womanly portals and nether garments, indeed!).
Thanks to Amazon's "Search Inside" feature. If you want a good laugh, go there for this book and search on the term "nether." The excerpts are exquisite.
"Propitious fortune allowed her to descry whom the crepuscular light yielded."
"The single unseemliness bechanced in her dressing room."
"Whilst still partaking of their meal, Darcy apologised unnecessarily upon the austere winter dressing of his county."
"In the pristine morning light, it was not an inquisition of her configuration he sought (for he had, upon a few occasions long past, perused a womanly portal)."
Believe me, folks, the whole thing reads like this. I am NOT making this up. I was drowning in in a sea of betwixt (82 times) and howbeits (59 times). Many of the sentences are downright be-cramped with broken sentence structure and overwrought language. All things are besoiled, bedewed, begrimed, bechanced. Nothing is ever dewed or grimed or soiled. No one ever sits between two people, it is "indubitably" betwixt.
Even if you can ignore the horrible writing, you will be affronted by the sub-par romantic/erotic plotting and descriptions (womanly portals and nether garments, indeed!).
Thanks to Amazon's "Search Inside" feature. If you want a good laugh, go there for this book and search on the term "nether." The excerpts are exquisite.
February 9, 2008
SO BAD. This is just smutty fanfiction that someone was able to get published. Sex (which was done very stupidly) is on every other page and the characters have been given new, and less flattering backgrounds. Mr. Darcy is a "well endowed" sex god, who has been "spreading his love" around since he was 16. Elizabeth, while still a virgin, was ready to give it up to Darcy before marriage, and would have, if not for an interruption. I just felt like I was growing to dislike these characters who I have always held in such regard. Austen's characters deserve so much better than this.
The author seems to have spent some time trying to understand the vocabulary of Austen's time and then dumped every word she knew into every other sentence. Austen's books flow, this book stumbles in vocab overload.
This book starts with a slam on Austen from Bronte. While it might be true, I can think of better ways to honor such a literary goddess than by "fixing" her flaws. And as a note to the author, if I was pompous enough to try to fix Austen's flaws, I might have tried to write something a little better than flowery smut. It's called a plot, prechance thou shall persuse its meaning.
Don't read this book. I would have given it zero stars, but then someone might have taken that as a "no rating" and been swindled into reading it.
The author seems to have spent some time trying to understand the vocabulary of Austen's time and then dumped every word she knew into every other sentence. Austen's books flow, this book stumbles in vocab overload.
This book starts with a slam on Austen from Bronte. While it might be true, I can think of better ways to honor such a literary goddess than by "fixing" her flaws. And as a note to the author, if I was pompous enough to try to fix Austen's flaws, I might have tried to write something a little better than flowery smut. It's called a plot, prechance thou shall persuse its meaning.
Don't read this book. I would have given it zero stars, but then someone might have taken that as a "no rating" and been swindled into reading it.
Read
June 26, 2015When you want a taste of Tudor England, do you turn to Shakespeare, or do you watch The Tudors? You answer might determine whether or not you would enjoy Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife, a book that tries to hide the fact that it is a romance novel by pretending that it might have been imagined by Jane Austen.
I can’t decide if this is a bad book or not. To me, there is a time and a place for the trashiness of The Tudors, or The Other Bolyn Girl, or the part of the BBC Pride and Prejudice when Colin Firth climbs out of the pond in his clingy shirt. That time, for me anyway, is when I need a break from whatever highbrow pursuits I might usually undertake. When, in other words, I just want to be entertained by pretty people walking through pretty landscapes, wearing pretty period clothes. And, you know � doing it.
Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife begins with a note from the author about what a prude Jane Austen was. It offers this “sequel� as an antidote � and that’s the warning sign right there, on page iv. Actually, perhaps the warning sign comes earlier than you realize that you’ve never heard of this author OR the publisher before. You know what that means: other, nobler artists and editors turned this idea down.
At first, the story doesn’t seem all that bad. The writing is almost kind of quaint: lots of words like “hence,� “solicitous,� and “chastement.� If you’re drunk, maybe you can even convince yourself that it sounds a little like a real Jane Austen book. And it opens with our beloved heroine, Lizzy Bennett Darcy, thinking back on her romantic, lustful wedding night. That’s not so bad, is it? Haven’t you always kind of wondered if they made as good a married couple as they did enemies?
But then, by about page 18, the references to Mr. Darcy’s “easily agitated male instrument� begin. They don’t stop. And some of the descriptions are almost nightmarish: “manhood� (although, fine, I expected that one), “ampleness of his credentials,� “commodious organ,� “explicit bulge in the fork of his unhintables,� and so on. Yes, on that trashy level maybe it’s fun to read about how well-endowed Mr. Darcy is, (and I'm not talking about his money). And yet, I’m not sure I fully appreciate it. Will I be able to read Pride and Prejudice again without thinking of his “unhintables?� I really hope so.
My annoyance at the language culminates with the author’s use of the word “compleat.� It’s on just about every page: compleat, compleatly, compleatness, etc. Come on. You are not Jane Austen, you don’t live in olden times � none of us are so confused to believe any of that, so I’m pretty sure you can use the modern spelling.
Right now, my scales are tipping towards the idea that this book sucks. I just can’t decide whether it sucks so bad that it’s actually awesome.
P.S. I just read this line, which is tipping the scales towards 'sucks': In discussing Kitty Bennett's propensity for swooning in front of potential suitors, the author says Kitty puts her "hand on the back of her forehead." Ok. So, I think we all know what she MEANT was "back of the hand to the forehead" since the back of the forehead is, what? The brain? But "back of the forehead" made it into the final draft, the draft that made its way onto a bookshelf. I didn't want to say so before, but now it appears that this book was edited by some livestock. It's called proofreading and everyone from first grade forward is encouraged to do it.
I can’t decide if this is a bad book or not. To me, there is a time and a place for the trashiness of The Tudors, or The Other Bolyn Girl, or the part of the BBC Pride and Prejudice when Colin Firth climbs out of the pond in his clingy shirt. That time, for me anyway, is when I need a break from whatever highbrow pursuits I might usually undertake. When, in other words, I just want to be entertained by pretty people walking through pretty landscapes, wearing pretty period clothes. And, you know � doing it.
Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife begins with a note from the author about what a prude Jane Austen was. It offers this “sequel� as an antidote � and that’s the warning sign right there, on page iv. Actually, perhaps the warning sign comes earlier than you realize that you’ve never heard of this author OR the publisher before. You know what that means: other, nobler artists and editors turned this idea down.
At first, the story doesn’t seem all that bad. The writing is almost kind of quaint: lots of words like “hence,� “solicitous,� and “chastement.� If you’re drunk, maybe you can even convince yourself that it sounds a little like a real Jane Austen book. And it opens with our beloved heroine, Lizzy Bennett Darcy, thinking back on her romantic, lustful wedding night. That’s not so bad, is it? Haven’t you always kind of wondered if they made as good a married couple as they did enemies?
But then, by about page 18, the references to Mr. Darcy’s “easily agitated male instrument� begin. They don’t stop. And some of the descriptions are almost nightmarish: “manhood� (although, fine, I expected that one), “ampleness of his credentials,� “commodious organ,� “explicit bulge in the fork of his unhintables,� and so on. Yes, on that trashy level maybe it’s fun to read about how well-endowed Mr. Darcy is, (and I'm not talking about his money). And yet, I’m not sure I fully appreciate it. Will I be able to read Pride and Prejudice again without thinking of his “unhintables?� I really hope so.
My annoyance at the language culminates with the author’s use of the word “compleat.� It’s on just about every page: compleat, compleatly, compleatness, etc. Come on. You are not Jane Austen, you don’t live in olden times � none of us are so confused to believe any of that, so I’m pretty sure you can use the modern spelling.
Right now, my scales are tipping towards the idea that this book sucks. I just can’t decide whether it sucks so bad that it’s actually awesome.
P.S. I just read this line, which is tipping the scales towards 'sucks': In discussing Kitty Bennett's propensity for swooning in front of potential suitors, the author says Kitty puts her "hand on the back of her forehead." Ok. So, I think we all know what she MEANT was "back of the hand to the forehead" since the back of the forehead is, what? The brain? But "back of the forehead" made it into the final draft, the draft that made its way onto a bookshelf. I didn't want to say so before, but now it appears that this book was edited by some livestock. It's called proofreading and everyone from first grade forward is encouraged to do it.
Read
March 7, 2008...and sometimes, to torture myself, I read sequels to Pride and Prejudice. Hey, it's published fanfiction! How cool is that?
So, my personal disclaimer is that I don't expect these sequel writers to write just like Jane Austen. I don't even want them to *try.* If they do, they will fail. Period. I would just prefer them to write *well.* It covers a multitude of sins!
On the book at hand- this was originally published under the title The Bar Sinister, and I did wonder why the title had been changed- until I read it. Because this book isn't so much about whether or not Mr. Darcy has an illegitimate son (to quote a far superior Austen adaptation: "As IF!") as it is about the fact that people, Mr. Darcy takes a wife. A lot. All over the place. In various non-sexy and increasingly contrived scenarios.
As if that wasn't non-stimulating enough, the prose is positively *florid* and convoluted and actually unreadable in parts. I'm not going to go after specific examples, because I would never *stop,* but I would like to take this opportunity to introduce Ms. Berdoll to the word "between." Honey, no one is torn betwixt two lovers, they're not betwixt a rock and a hard place, and nobody sits betwixt Bob and Sally at dinner. Okay?
If it wasn't for the direct quote from and the vague allusion to one of Austen's letters, I wouldn't even believe that Ms. Berdoll has read any of Austen's work. I doubt she's read Pride and Prejudice. I think she saw the A&E miniseries 97 times, thought Mr. Darcy was hot, and sat down to write the ultimate self-insertion wish-fulfillment fantasy fanfic.
Which is exactly how this thing reads. Elizabeth gets a thoroughbred horse! Elizabeth gets a huge diamond necklace! Elizabeth gets her portrait painted! And she gets to christen every room of Pemberley with that hot Colin Firth!
Oops, I meant Mr. Darcy.
Then, after all the hot monkey lovin', everyone but E&D start multiplying like rabbits all over the place! Mr. Collins is randomly killed off in some strange Rube Goldberg sequence! Elizabeth fires a pistol at Lady Catherine! Who wets herself! Various characters take off to the Poorly Researched War! And the presumed-dead Wickham rides up over the hill on his valiant steed, like a zombie clawing his way out of the grave in a horror movie!
And speaking of research (No, I'm NOT done yet!), it probably wouldn't have killed Ms. Berdoll to, you know, do some of that. Who the heck is SIR LUCAS? (And on one memorable occasion, LORD Lucas?) You don't have to be an expert on the British peerage to know that a knight is addresed by Sir Firstname, not Sir Lastname. Why, all you'd have to do is consult that pesky source material! Which also would have told the author that Darcy's mother's name was Anne, not Elinor.
Wait a minute, I take that back. Ms. Berdoll *did* do some pretty extensive research. On Regency slang for naughty parts and the sex act. So at least we all learned something.
So, my personal disclaimer is that I don't expect these sequel writers to write just like Jane Austen. I don't even want them to *try.* If they do, they will fail. Period. I would just prefer them to write *well.* It covers a multitude of sins!
On the book at hand- this was originally published under the title The Bar Sinister, and I did wonder why the title had been changed- until I read it. Because this book isn't so much about whether or not Mr. Darcy has an illegitimate son (to quote a far superior Austen adaptation: "As IF!") as it is about the fact that people, Mr. Darcy takes a wife. A lot. All over the place. In various non-sexy and increasingly contrived scenarios.
As if that wasn't non-stimulating enough, the prose is positively *florid* and convoluted and actually unreadable in parts. I'm not going to go after specific examples, because I would never *stop,* but I would like to take this opportunity to introduce Ms. Berdoll to the word "between." Honey, no one is torn betwixt two lovers, they're not betwixt a rock and a hard place, and nobody sits betwixt Bob and Sally at dinner. Okay?
If it wasn't for the direct quote from and the vague allusion to one of Austen's letters, I wouldn't even believe that Ms. Berdoll has read any of Austen's work. I doubt she's read Pride and Prejudice. I think she saw the A&E miniseries 97 times, thought Mr. Darcy was hot, and sat down to write the ultimate self-insertion wish-fulfillment fantasy fanfic.
Which is exactly how this thing reads. Elizabeth gets a thoroughbred horse! Elizabeth gets a huge diamond necklace! Elizabeth gets her portrait painted! And she gets to christen every room of Pemberley with that hot Colin Firth!
Oops, I meant Mr. Darcy.
Then, after all the hot monkey lovin', everyone but E&D start multiplying like rabbits all over the place! Mr. Collins is randomly killed off in some strange Rube Goldberg sequence! Elizabeth fires a pistol at Lady Catherine! Who wets herself! Various characters take off to the Poorly Researched War! And the presumed-dead Wickham rides up over the hill on his valiant steed, like a zombie clawing his way out of the grave in a horror movie!
And speaking of research (No, I'm NOT done yet!), it probably wouldn't have killed Ms. Berdoll to, you know, do some of that. Who the heck is SIR LUCAS? (And on one memorable occasion, LORD Lucas?) You don't have to be an expert on the British peerage to know that a knight is addresed by Sir Firstname, not Sir Lastname. Why, all you'd have to do is consult that pesky source material! Which also would have told the author that Darcy's mother's name was Anne, not Elinor.
Wait a minute, I take that back. Ms. Berdoll *did* do some pretty extensive research. On Regency slang for naughty parts and the sex act. So at least we all learned something.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2008
I'm embarrassed to admit it--this was a totally enjoyable book. Unlike the yawn-inducing this took great liberties with the plot, taking off where the original leaves off.
First, this is not Jane Austen. This will never be Jane Austen, as Jane Austen is dead. Purists shouldn't be reading Austen fan fic to begin with.
That said, the author throws down a gauntlet in the forward with a quote from smack-talking Charlotte Bronte who writes that Austen can't write past the wedding, because she herself knew nothing about the physical pleasure that comes after. If you're rolling your eyes just reading this, don't bother with the book. If you're the sort of person who giggles and says "Aw snap, Charlotte!", then this is a fun ride.
The plot is lusty, to say the least. There's a lot of sex here--in quite a number of settings. The language at times is florid to the point of silly, especially the Regency-era sex slang. But one of my main complaints with Mr. Knightly's Diary is that it was a true-to-the-original retelling from a different point of view and exposed a re-imagined side of Knightly that was really unlikable. This shares none of the plot of the original, but is true to who Austen's characters were in the original. In this book, Elizabeth is Elizabeth, Darcy does what Darcy does, and Lydia behaves as we expect her to, etc. I would rather read more about characters I like than re-read a plot I already know.
I know this book has had TERRIBLE reviews on ŷ, but I thought it was a fun page-turner with a surprising amount of integrity to Austen's original vision. Mock if you want; I can take it.
First, this is not Jane Austen. This will never be Jane Austen, as Jane Austen is dead. Purists shouldn't be reading Austen fan fic to begin with.
That said, the author throws down a gauntlet in the forward with a quote from smack-talking Charlotte Bronte who writes that Austen can't write past the wedding, because she herself knew nothing about the physical pleasure that comes after. If you're rolling your eyes just reading this, don't bother with the book. If you're the sort of person who giggles and says "Aw snap, Charlotte!", then this is a fun ride.
The plot is lusty, to say the least. There's a lot of sex here--in quite a number of settings. The language at times is florid to the point of silly, especially the Regency-era sex slang. But one of my main complaints with Mr. Knightly's Diary is that it was a true-to-the-original retelling from a different point of view and exposed a re-imagined side of Knightly that was really unlikable. This shares none of the plot of the original, but is true to who Austen's characters were in the original. In this book, Elizabeth is Elizabeth, Darcy does what Darcy does, and Lydia behaves as we expect her to, etc. I would rather read more about characters I like than re-read a plot I already know.
I know this book has had TERRIBLE reviews on ŷ, but I thought it was a fun page-turner with a surprising amount of integrity to Austen's original vision. Mock if you want; I can take it.
August 2, 2007
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
February 8, 2016
4 Delightful Stars.
So this book is pretty much a fan faction of what happens with Mr. and Mrs. Darcy after their happy ending in the original book. Since Jane Austen did quite long ago and is not alive to tell herself what happens next, some author decide to create their story themselves. And Kudos for making it sexy!! I’m not telling the story, because c’mon, what living person doesn’t know what this book is all about?
I’ve read Pride & Prejudice for the first time when I was 7 years old. It was my first romance book and it was the first of many (maaaaaaaaaany) more. I’ve re-read it countless times, until the point of being able to quote some parts of it, and still today is my favorite book. People close to me are always surprised how I can read the same thing over and over again, but f they don’t know the beauty of this book, well, that’s on them.
I was a little apprehensive to start this “sequelists�, or whatever the hell they are called, books, afraid of ruining my image of the book forever (that was probably why it took me some years to finally start), but let me tell you: I should have started sooner. I understand that some Jane Austen purists will probably hate this, but for me, a lover of all things after the HEA it checked all my boxes. It had a little bit more drama that I would have liked, but overall it was a nice look into their lives as a married couple. And a lot of Mr. Darcy is never too much Mr. Darcy.
It definitely opened some doors for me, and I will keep reading this type of fan-fictions. After all, if I can have more of my favorite couple, why not?
If only there was some like this about Persuasion�
Rating:
Characters Development: Mr. Darcy is Mr. Darcy, aka the book character that ruined all our expectations for man and Lizzie is her awesome self. There’s really not much to be said. Except for the moment where I almost wanted to beat Mr. Bingley!! And he was one of my favorites!!
Steam: Heated scenes.
Sensible Subjects:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
So this book is pretty much a fan faction of what happens with Mr. and Mrs. Darcy after their happy ending in the original book. Since Jane Austen did quite long ago and is not alive to tell herself what happens next, some author decide to create their story themselves. And Kudos for making it sexy!! I’m not telling the story, because c’mon, what living person doesn’t know what this book is all about?
I’ve read Pride & Prejudice for the first time when I was 7 years old. It was my first romance book and it was the first of many (maaaaaaaaaany) more. I’ve re-read it countless times, until the point of being able to quote some parts of it, and still today is my favorite book. People close to me are always surprised how I can read the same thing over and over again, but f they don’t know the beauty of this book, well, that’s on them.
I was a little apprehensive to start this “sequelists�, or whatever the hell they are called, books, afraid of ruining my image of the book forever (that was probably why it took me some years to finally start), but let me tell you: I should have started sooner. I understand that some Jane Austen purists will probably hate this, but for me, a lover of all things after the HEA it checked all my boxes. It had a little bit more drama that I would have liked, but overall it was a nice look into their lives as a married couple. And a lot of Mr. Darcy is never too much Mr. Darcy.
It definitely opened some doors for me, and I will keep reading this type of fan-fictions. After all, if I can have more of my favorite couple, why not?
If only there was some like this about Persuasion�
Rating:
Characters Development: Mr. Darcy is Mr. Darcy, aka the book character that ruined all our expectations for man and Lizzie is her awesome self. There’s really not much to be said. Except for the moment where I almost wanted to beat Mr. Bingley!! And he was one of my favorites!!
Steam: Heated scenes.
Sensible Subjects:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
January 26, 2008
Trashy fun...totally satisfying! Yes, a trashy book can be satisfying indeed. Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife filled a massive void in my life: what the heck happens to Darcy and Elizabeth after Pride and Prejudice????
I have no idea how many times I've read Pride and Prejudice. It is at least an bi-annual tradition. I also tend to wallow in a self-imposed gloom if I don't get to watch the BBC's most excellent, divinely-inspired 1995 mini-series Pride and Prejudice at least once a year. Berdoll's book has offended many Austen "purists", but I think she did a great service to those of us who are incurably, let's say, imaginative about the future lives of Darcy and Lizzie. The book is long on details, pretty explicit sexually (hence, the offense), and quite melodramatic. Her treatment of minor characters in Pride and Prejudice is wonderful, particularly that of Col. Fitzwilliam and Georgiana Darcy. She clearly loves the story and the characters dearly.
So, once I finished this book, I immediately read it again. Then I re-read the "good" parts. Then I read it again. Yes, the void has been filled. I'm sure I will read this book again, maybe every five years or so. Linda Berdoll is not Jane Austen. She does not replace or try to complete with Miss Austen. But, she has my respect for taking her fantasy to print, for the enjoyment of those of us who are like-minded in our adoration of Darcy and Elizabeth and Jane Austen.
I have no idea how many times I've read Pride and Prejudice. It is at least an bi-annual tradition. I also tend to wallow in a self-imposed gloom if I don't get to watch the BBC's most excellent, divinely-inspired 1995 mini-series Pride and Prejudice at least once a year. Berdoll's book has offended many Austen "purists", but I think she did a great service to those of us who are incurably, let's say, imaginative about the future lives of Darcy and Lizzie. The book is long on details, pretty explicit sexually (hence, the offense), and quite melodramatic. Her treatment of minor characters in Pride and Prejudice is wonderful, particularly that of Col. Fitzwilliam and Georgiana Darcy. She clearly loves the story and the characters dearly.
So, once I finished this book, I immediately read it again. Then I re-read the "good" parts. Then I read it again. Yes, the void has been filled. I'm sure I will read this book again, maybe every five years or so. Linda Berdoll is not Jane Austen. She does not replace or try to complete with Miss Austen. But, she has my respect for taking her fantasy to print, for the enjoyment of those of us who are like-minded in our adoration of Darcy and Elizabeth and Jane Austen.
December 3, 2019
Only read this for some high quality fanfiction smut. If that’s what you’re looking for then you’ll be more than happy!
August 6, 2007
Please, don't read this book, or, if you feel compelled to, please don't tell me you did unless it is with the intent to vent your anger and frustration that such a travesty was ever published. If you do not feel highly protective of Darcy, Lizzie, Jane Austen, and all her writing stands for, you might get some enjoyment out of this book. If you love Jane for her satire and excellent but unforced language, as well as respectable characters, you might be brought to tears or to burning this book.
Just a few of the myriad problems (and I give Dovey credit for identifying some of these):
-Horrible sex scenes that have nothing in common with what we would expect from Lizzie and Darcy after P&P.
-Word choice that is meant to be in the spirit of Jane's language, yet is pretentious and totally misses the spirit of how Jane wrote
-General behavior that is constantly out of character, including extreme weak-spiritedness and self-pity out of Lizzie; a new, crude sex-maniac, alpha dog attitude from Darcy; and gentle Georgiana running off to become a nurse in France during the Napoleonic War for god's sake.
If you are looking for nothing more than a romance novel with fancy language and characters who just happen to share names with some illustrious literary figures, you might be pretty happy with your choice. Outside of that, don't waste your time.
Just a few of the myriad problems (and I give Dovey credit for identifying some of these):
-Horrible sex scenes that have nothing in common with what we would expect from Lizzie and Darcy after P&P.
-Word choice that is meant to be in the spirit of Jane's language, yet is pretentious and totally misses the spirit of how Jane wrote
-General behavior that is constantly out of character, including extreme weak-spiritedness and self-pity out of Lizzie; a new, crude sex-maniac, alpha dog attitude from Darcy; and gentle Georgiana running off to become a nurse in France during the Napoleonic War for god's sake.
If you are looking for nothing more than a romance novel with fancy language and characters who just happen to share names with some illustrious literary figures, you might be pretty happy with your choice. Outside of that, don't waste your time.
July 29, 2015
So not in the same vein as Austen, but boy, oh boy, did it satisfy my smutty side! The carriage ride from the wedding to Pemberly about shocked my P&P virginal ears! The rest of the story was gritty and a little dirty and perfect.
October 15, 2007
Berdoll spins quite an entertaining tale. One of the Brontes once said that Austen wrote about a chaste kiss because she was smart enough to write only what she herself knew about...Berdoll really takes it from there. Darcy and Elizabeth have a very passionate relationship (as we'd all hoped) but even I, who have been around the block a time or two, found myself muttering, "Geez, you two, take a break and have a spot o'tea." Once you get past the fact that this is supposed to be an Austen-like sequel, it really shapes up to be quite a fun story. One thing Berdoll gets dead-on is Mrs. Bennet. She won't allow Jane and Elizabeth to go out strolling with their intended Grooms, not because of the risk of impropriety (oh no,dear reader) she's afraid that the men will catch colds and wind up in their graves before their weddings...we can't have that, now can we?
September 12, 2008
I am a huge Jane Austen fan. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books. Not because I’m a book snob and it’s a classic, but because it’s a good book. Many Austen fans hate Mr. Darcy takes a wife because they think it’s nothing like Pride and Prejudice. I disagree.
Jane Austen’s ability to poke fun at herself and her society is reflected in Berdoll. The forward quotes Charlotte Bronte saying Austen couldn’t write past the wedding because she herself knew nothing about the physical pleasure that comes after. Berdoll seems to take this quote as a challenge. Her plot is filled with sex, a ‘take that� to Bronte that also parodies our own sex centered culture today. The language of the novel, so disturbing to some, is a satire of regency romance novels.
If you are looking for a book like Pride and Prejudice, read Pride and Prejudice. If you are an Austen fan because she tells a good story then read this book. All in all I think it’s a fun book that Jane Austen herself would have enjoyed.
Jane Austen’s ability to poke fun at herself and her society is reflected in Berdoll. The forward quotes Charlotte Bronte saying Austen couldn’t write past the wedding because she herself knew nothing about the physical pleasure that comes after. Berdoll seems to take this quote as a challenge. Her plot is filled with sex, a ‘take that� to Bronte that also parodies our own sex centered culture today. The language of the novel, so disturbing to some, is a satire of regency romance novels.
If you are looking for a book like Pride and Prejudice, read Pride and Prejudice. If you are an Austen fan because she tells a good story then read this book. All in all I think it’s a fun book that Jane Austen herself would have enjoyed.
April 12, 2010
I loved it. It picks up right after Elizabeth and Darcy's wedding and shows us a relationship that Jane Austen could never have written in the early part of the 19th century as the virginal, unmarried woman that she was. This version is too sexy a read!
Make no mistake, Jane Austen purists will hate it. I have to think too that Austen would not have approved of someone messing with her characters, but then, what author does?
The basic elements are the same, Darcy remains the quintessential hero and Elizabeth is as endearingly modern as ever. We already know all the players and this author throws in a few more and adds depth to other secondary characters from the original P & P. And although deep down I know that the Elizabeth and Darcy in this story are not the ones that I have come to know and love, I easily put that aside.
My Darcy Takes a Wife is basically glorified fan fic ... but man is it yummy.
The only drawback I concede is that the author tries to keep with Austen's purple prose- and incorrectly. Euphemisms galore and words I swear the author made up. Still somehow it comes off as slightly erotic and who can argue with that?
Some interesting things happen to Darcy and Elizabeth in this story, but I don't want to give anything away in case you choose to read it ... and you should if you love the original and ever dreamed of where our beloved Darcys ended up.
Make no mistake, Jane Austen purists will hate it. I have to think too that Austen would not have approved of someone messing with her characters, but then, what author does?
The basic elements are the same, Darcy remains the quintessential hero and Elizabeth is as endearingly modern as ever. We already know all the players and this author throws in a few more and adds depth to other secondary characters from the original P & P. And although deep down I know that the Elizabeth and Darcy in this story are not the ones that I have come to know and love, I easily put that aside.
My Darcy Takes a Wife is basically glorified fan fic ... but man is it yummy.
The only drawback I concede is that the author tries to keep with Austen's purple prose- and incorrectly. Euphemisms galore and words I swear the author made up. Still somehow it comes off as slightly erotic and who can argue with that?
Some interesting things happen to Darcy and Elizabeth in this story, but I don't want to give anything away in case you choose to read it ... and you should if you love the original and ever dreamed of where our beloved Darcys ended up.
July 22, 2022
Awesome story
If for no other reason, the scene where Darcy confronts Lizzie’s kidnappers, makes this a must read story.
I’m sorry this was a series of books since I can’t afford all of them. This story is good enough to stand by itself.
I recommend it highly.
If for no other reason, the scene where Darcy confronts Lizzie’s kidnappers, makes this a must read story.
I’m sorry this was a series of books since I can’t afford all of them. This story is good enough to stand by itself.
I recommend it highly.
April 21, 2021
J. H. C. !!!!
What a melodramatic pile of crap.
I have to say that the only fan fiction I've read of Jane Austen's works, and admired, was .
Save your money and good memories of Pride and Prejudice and skip this pile of garbage.
What I liked;
The first half was ponderously and meanderingly slow, but kinda entertaining and pretty true to the original characters.
I liked the inspection into their private lives, and surprisingly, I didn't feel voyeuristic in my enjoyment. It wasn't crass even if the language was silly.
The scene where Darcy serves justice to some villains was delicious!
What I didn't like;
The ridiculously florid prose. Almost every page there was a sentence that took a moment to ponder before I understood what the author was trying to say. I have never had that problem reading JA's original works.
The author starts to take greater and greater liberties with the characters after the first half.
It gets ugly.
...very ugly
Into the meandering story are thrown murder, adultery, stillbirth, and a bastard brother.
Worst of all, it ends with
To be honest, I was getting weary of the story by 65% and the way the plot(?) is going, I just don't care to finish. I did skim ahead before deciding to DNF.
There's more drama than a year on Coronation Street!
Safety is good but not good. Darcy and Lizzy are true, but there's a lot of other shit. SO for those who wish to be spared (especially as the books are $$overpriced) here are BIG spoilers
What a melodramatic pile of crap.
I have to say that the only fan fiction I've read of Jane Austen's works, and admired, was .
Save your money and good memories of Pride and Prejudice and skip this pile of garbage.
What I liked;
The first half was ponderously and meanderingly slow, but kinda entertaining and pretty true to the original characters.
I liked the inspection into their private lives, and surprisingly, I didn't feel voyeuristic in my enjoyment. It wasn't crass even if the language was silly.
The scene where Darcy serves justice to some villains was delicious!
What I didn't like;
The ridiculously florid prose. Almost every page there was a sentence that took a moment to ponder before I understood what the author was trying to say. I have never had that problem reading JA's original works.
The author starts to take greater and greater liberties with the characters after the first half.
It gets ugly.
...very ugly
Into the meandering story are thrown murder, adultery, stillbirth, and a bastard brother.
Worst of all, it ends with
To be honest, I was getting weary of the story by 65% and the way the plot(?) is going, I just don't care to finish. I did skim ahead before deciding to DNF.
There's more drama than a year on Coronation Street!
Safety is good but not good. Darcy and Lizzy are true, but there's a lot of other shit. SO for those who wish to be spared (especially as the books are $$overpriced) here are BIG spoilers
April 17, 2008
I stole this review from someone else, because it perfectly states what I thought:
" SO BAD. This is just smutty fanfiction that someone was able to get published. Sex (which was done very stupidly) is on every other page and the characters have been given new, and less flattering backgrounds. Mr. Darcy is a "well endowed" sex god, who has been "spreading his love" around since he was 16. Elizabeth, while still a virgin, was ready to give it up to Darcy before marriage, and would have, if not for an interruption. I just felt like I was growing to dislike these characters who I have always held in such regard. Austen's characters deserve so much better than this.
The author seems to have spent some time trying to understand the vocabulary of Austen's time and then dumped every word she knew into every other sentence. Austen's books flow, this book stumbles in vocab overload.
This book starts with a slam on Austen from Bronte. While it might be true, I can think of better ways to honor such a literary goddess than by "fixing" her flaws. And as a note to the author, if I was pompous enough to try to fix Austen's flaws, I might have tried to write something a little better than flowery smut. It's called a plot, prechance thou shall persuse its meaning.
Don't read this book. I would have given it zero stars, but then someone might have taken that as a "no rating" and been swindled into reading it...." Cori from Glenview, IL
" SO BAD. This is just smutty fanfiction that someone was able to get published. Sex (which was done very stupidly) is on every other page and the characters have been given new, and less flattering backgrounds. Mr. Darcy is a "well endowed" sex god, who has been "spreading his love" around since he was 16. Elizabeth, while still a virgin, was ready to give it up to Darcy before marriage, and would have, if not for an interruption. I just felt like I was growing to dislike these characters who I have always held in such regard. Austen's characters deserve so much better than this.
The author seems to have spent some time trying to understand the vocabulary of Austen's time and then dumped every word she knew into every other sentence. Austen's books flow, this book stumbles in vocab overload.
This book starts with a slam on Austen from Bronte. While it might be true, I can think of better ways to honor such a literary goddess than by "fixing" her flaws. And as a note to the author, if I was pompous enough to try to fix Austen's flaws, I might have tried to write something a little better than flowery smut. It's called a plot, prechance thou shall persuse its meaning.
Don't read this book. I would have given it zero stars, but then someone might have taken that as a "no rating" and been swindled into reading it...." Cori from Glenview, IL
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 2, 2015I have high tolerance for most P&P fan fiction but this one was TERRIBLE! The idea was to make it a spicy version (sort of what happens after they married) but the "author" used a very convoluted style of writing with weird words all over. For example:
Propitious fortune allowed her to descry whom the crepuscular light yielded.
WTH is that supposed to even mean?
Then she used some words that I even doubted were real, which I later confirmed when I looked for "discaution" in the dictionary and didn't find it. That proved just too much for me.
DNF
Propitious fortune allowed her to descry whom the crepuscular light yielded.
WTH is that supposed to even mean?
Then she used some words that I even doubted were real, which I later confirmed when I looked for "discaution" in the dictionary and didn't find it. That proved just too much for me.
DNF
January 27, 2008
Of course nothing equals Jane Austen's writing, but since I wanted a peek into what happens to Elizabeth and Darcy this is a guilty pleasure (that is best read with your husband)
April 25, 2008
Oh, gosh. I really have no excuse. As such, in my shame, I am going to patch together a review from other people's reviews, as I'm sure what needs to be said has been said. Note: these are all from the first page (of 47) of reviews, as I really can't take reading any more.
I'm embarrassed to admit it--this was a totally enjoyable book (Susan). You cannot take it seriously or try to critique it academically (Ange pronounced Ahhh-nj). This is just smutty fanfiction that someone was able to get published (Cori). If you are looking for nothing more than a romance novel with fancy language and characters who just happen to share names with some illustrious literary figures, you might be pretty happy with your choice (Nicole). Instead of Austen's witty comedy of manners, this is a soap-operatic dramafest, with bastardy, rape, blackmail, stillbirths, adultery (Abbie). This is not Jane Austen. This will never be Jane Austen, as Jane Austen is dead. Purists shouldn't be reading Austen fan fic to begin with (Susan). No one will ever write like her again, so we better just buck up and admit that any book using the same characters and purporting to tell their story certainly will not be anything near a Jane Austen novel (Martha).
As a study tool for the GRE, this might be useful (Alana). The language at times is florid to the point of silly (Susan). Many of the sentences are downright be-cramped with broken sentence structure and overwrought language (Valerie).
People, Mr. Darcy takes a wife. A lot. All over the place. In various non-sexy and increasingly contrived scenarios (Edallia). Darcy and Elizabeth have a very passionate relationship (as we'd all hoped) but even I, who have been around the block a time or two, found myself muttering, "Geez, you two, take a break and have a spot o'tea" (Susan). They call their private bits things like "nonny-nonny" and "larrydoodle," nevermind the inevitable "torch of love" (Erica). A hilarious and satisfying read (Amanda).
If you're the sort of person who giggles and says "Aw snap, Charlotte!", then this is a fun ride (Susan). Trashy fun...totally satisfying (Lara)!
And, finally, (this is me not resisting some snipery): "Horrible sex scenes that have nothing in common with what we would expect from Lizzie and Darcy after P&P" (Nicole)? Really, Nicole? What DID we expect? Please illuminate us. And also, I will bet at least four of my toes that a very tiny number of people grousing about this not being a witty drawing-room comedy of manners or whatev take any interest whatsoever in contemporary drawing-room comedies of manners written by people who are the ACTUAL, if lesser, heirs to Austen. No writer who could legitimately be called an heir to Austen would ever, EVER, write any kind of Austeniana. You dumbasses. No one who picked up -- much less flipped through at the bookstore and spent $12.95 on -- this book in its gilted, nipple-baring cover has any right to complain. It really could not be clearer what you are (and are not) getting.
I'm embarrassed to admit it--this was a totally enjoyable book (Susan). You cannot take it seriously or try to critique it academically (Ange pronounced Ahhh-nj). This is just smutty fanfiction that someone was able to get published (Cori). If you are looking for nothing more than a romance novel with fancy language and characters who just happen to share names with some illustrious literary figures, you might be pretty happy with your choice (Nicole). Instead of Austen's witty comedy of manners, this is a soap-operatic dramafest, with bastardy, rape, blackmail, stillbirths, adultery (Abbie). This is not Jane Austen. This will never be Jane Austen, as Jane Austen is dead. Purists shouldn't be reading Austen fan fic to begin with (Susan). No one will ever write like her again, so we better just buck up and admit that any book using the same characters and purporting to tell their story certainly will not be anything near a Jane Austen novel (Martha).
As a study tool for the GRE, this might be useful (Alana). The language at times is florid to the point of silly (Susan). Many of the sentences are downright be-cramped with broken sentence structure and overwrought language (Valerie).
People, Mr. Darcy takes a wife. A lot. All over the place. In various non-sexy and increasingly contrived scenarios (Edallia). Darcy and Elizabeth have a very passionate relationship (as we'd all hoped) but even I, who have been around the block a time or two, found myself muttering, "Geez, you two, take a break and have a spot o'tea" (Susan). They call their private bits things like "nonny-nonny" and "larrydoodle," nevermind the inevitable "torch of love" (Erica). A hilarious and satisfying read (Amanda).
If you're the sort of person who giggles and says "Aw snap, Charlotte!", then this is a fun ride (Susan). Trashy fun...totally satisfying (Lara)!
And, finally, (this is me not resisting some snipery): "Horrible sex scenes that have nothing in common with what we would expect from Lizzie and Darcy after P&P" (Nicole)? Really, Nicole? What DID we expect? Please illuminate us. And also, I will bet at least four of my toes that a very tiny number of people grousing about this not being a witty drawing-room comedy of manners or whatev take any interest whatsoever in contemporary drawing-room comedies of manners written by people who are the ACTUAL, if lesser, heirs to Austen. No writer who could legitimately be called an heir to Austen would ever, EVER, write any kind of Austeniana. You dumbasses. No one who picked up -- much less flipped through at the bookstore and spent $12.95 on -- this book in its gilted, nipple-baring cover has any right to complain. It really could not be clearer what you are (and are not) getting.
October 22, 2021
I've been trying to get through this for the better part of a week, but I give up. Granted, it's a busy time in my non-reading life so I haven't had a great deal of leisure time to devote to it. However, I should be long past 35% (according to my Kindle), which is where I finally set it aside in frustration.
You'll find a great deal of adult content here, which you ought to expect, given the suggestive title. Mr. Darcy "takes" his wife - in the connubial sense of the phrase - quite frequently throughout the story. That's not the source of my displeasure.
There's just too much going on for me. Some people like sagas that head off on tangents and meander their way through a loosely constructed array of various plots. I'm not one of them. Jane Austen's brilliance is not only in her timeless characters but the beautiful synchronicity of her storylines and the straight-forwardness of her storytelling.
I lost count of how many different plotlines are going on in . I have no idea what the main plot is supposed to be. The only constant is the tremendous libido Mr. and Mrs. Darcy both possess and the various situations that inspire their lovemaking - though that often gets shuffled to the background too as the author explores odd side stories such as the now-deceased artist who painted portraits of the previous generation's Mr. and Mrs. Darcy and famously painted one of a scandalous Derbyshire neighbor, leading to a description of that lady's well-deserved unsavory reputation and the curious on dit that Georgiana Darcy may have been named for her. Then, we're back to Pemberley and the artist commissioned to paint Elizabeth's portrait... (Huh?!?) 🤔
Along with Darcy's carnal obsession with his Lizzy, there's a nasty villain in lust with her. Around the point where I closed the book for the last time, Colonel Fitzwilliam was also dismayed to find himself attracted to his cousin's wife. I'm deducing that Elizabeth emits some awfully powerful pheromones.
Despite the above, I can't help admiring the beauty of the writing itself - which is why I didn't stop reading the second or third day. It's truly masterful Regency prose, and I can't rate it lower than 3 stars. Yes, that includes the spicy bits, which are filled with clever euphemisms describing male and female anatomy.
In addition, Ms. Berdoll clearly has a wonderful imagination. It's the lack of focus that's maddening. There's enough material here for several books plus various unrelated vignettes.
So, if you have plenty of time and don't mind lots of conjugal content or a plot that hops from one disjointed storyline to another, this is an imaginative, beautifully-written saga that you'll enjoy. Not my cuppa.
You'll find a great deal of adult content here, which you ought to expect, given the suggestive title. Mr. Darcy "takes" his wife - in the connubial sense of the phrase - quite frequently throughout the story. That's not the source of my displeasure.
There's just too much going on for me. Some people like sagas that head off on tangents and meander their way through a loosely constructed array of various plots. I'm not one of them. Jane Austen's brilliance is not only in her timeless characters but the beautiful synchronicity of her storylines and the straight-forwardness of her storytelling.
I lost count of how many different plotlines are going on in . I have no idea what the main plot is supposed to be. The only constant is the tremendous libido Mr. and Mrs. Darcy both possess and the various situations that inspire their lovemaking - though that often gets shuffled to the background too as the author explores odd side stories such as the now-deceased artist who painted portraits of the previous generation's Mr. and Mrs. Darcy and famously painted one of a scandalous Derbyshire neighbor, leading to a description of that lady's well-deserved unsavory reputation and the curious on dit that Georgiana Darcy may have been named for her. Then, we're back to Pemberley and the artist commissioned to paint Elizabeth's portrait... (Huh?!?) 🤔
Along with Darcy's carnal obsession with his Lizzy, there's a nasty villain in lust with her. Around the point where I closed the book for the last time, Colonel Fitzwilliam was also dismayed to find himself attracted to his cousin's wife. I'm deducing that Elizabeth emits some awfully powerful pheromones.
Despite the above, I can't help admiring the beauty of the writing itself - which is why I didn't stop reading the second or third day. It's truly masterful Regency prose, and I can't rate it lower than 3 stars. Yes, that includes the spicy bits, which are filled with clever euphemisms describing male and female anatomy.
In addition, Ms. Berdoll clearly has a wonderful imagination. It's the lack of focus that's maddening. There's enough material here for several books plus various unrelated vignettes.
So, if you have plenty of time and don't mind lots of conjugal content or a plot that hops from one disjointed storyline to another, this is an imaginative, beautifully-written saga that you'll enjoy. Not my cuppa.
July 21, 2007
Why, oh why, do I keep reading books that propose to be sequels to "Pride and Prejudice"? I love the original so much that reading all these imitations is the literary equivalent of watching a good friend being beaten up and not doing anything about it.
ANyway. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy get married. And they have sex. Oh, boy, do they have sex. If I were 12 years old and still curious about how that sort of thing worked I'd be delighted, but as it was, I kept wanting to scream "Will you two just stop humping and get back to the PLOT!"
The plot, btw, is nothing to write home about either. Instead of Austen's witty comedy of manners, this is a soap-operatic dramafest, with bastardy, rape, blackmail, stillbirths, adultery, and all sorts of stuff that might have made for an okay romance novel if the author hadn't tried to duplicate "Pride and Prejudice." As it is, it's grim. Very, very grim. And OH MY GOD the attempt to duplicate Napoleonic-wars era British English is really laughably bad.
ANyway. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy get married. And they have sex. Oh, boy, do they have sex. If I were 12 years old and still curious about how that sort of thing worked I'd be delighted, but as it was, I kept wanting to scream "Will you two just stop humping and get back to the PLOT!"
The plot, btw, is nothing to write home about either. Instead of Austen's witty comedy of manners, this is a soap-operatic dramafest, with bastardy, rape, blackmail, stillbirths, adultery, and all sorts of stuff that might have made for an okay romance novel if the author hadn't tried to duplicate "Pride and Prejudice." As it is, it's grim. Very, very grim. And OH MY GOD the attempt to duplicate Napoleonic-wars era British English is really laughably bad.
May 26, 2023
Very Good
Reviewed in Canada on May 24, 2019
I am surprised at all the negative reviews of this book. No doubt Jane Austen purists will turn their noses at it, but in my opinion, if you’re a purist, just reread the original. That cannot be beat. This isn’t P&P. It’s not a retelling. It’s an imaginary sequel. Other than a few too many “albeit’s and “betwixt’s�, it’s well written. I’ve read dozens of variations now and this one is just as good, if not better than many. As to the sex—it wasn’t overdone in the writing. There are much more graphic variations out there not worth reading at all. This is a good story.
Update November 6, 2022
As my tastes in this genre have changed over time and after re-reading this novel via audiobook, I have upgraded my rating from four to five stars. The book contains one of the most memorable Darcy rescues I have read. I don’t remember weeping when I first read this book, but I certainly did while listening to the audiobook. We need more from this author.
November 4-6, 2022 -Audiobook ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This audiobook is really outstanding. Rosalyn Landor is a truly talented narrator and performer. Her voices are well done and unique to one another. Her performance captures all the nuances of grief, pain and humour. Her pace is excellent and remains consistent and constant throughout this 23-hour listen. A credit very well spent. My one minor critique would be that her Colonel Fitzwilliam sounded a bit too old, more like his father Lord Matlock would have sounded.
May 24-26, 2023
Second audiobook listen. I know this book isn’t for everyone, but I unabashedly love it. Sure, some of the things that take place in the book are shocking and not expected of what some readers expect in the character of Darcy; and despite the many shortcomings of both he and Elizabeth, I love their story as written in this book. I think it’s an honest depiction of what may have happened behind closed doors at that time. I also enjoy Berdoll’s sense of humour. A good chortle now and then is always fun.
****Trigger and Spoiler Alert: This book contains scenes of violence, including animal abuse, an assault and attempted rape against Elizabeth, and an act of vengeance by Darcy resulting in the deaths of villains.
Adding more revealing spoilers because someone requested it.
Reviewed in Canada on May 24, 2019
I am surprised at all the negative reviews of this book. No doubt Jane Austen purists will turn their noses at it, but in my opinion, if you’re a purist, just reread the original. That cannot be beat. This isn’t P&P. It’s not a retelling. It’s an imaginary sequel. Other than a few too many “albeit’s and “betwixt’s�, it’s well written. I’ve read dozens of variations now and this one is just as good, if not better than many. As to the sex—it wasn’t overdone in the writing. There are much more graphic variations out there not worth reading at all. This is a good story.
Update November 6, 2022
As my tastes in this genre have changed over time and after re-reading this novel via audiobook, I have upgraded my rating from four to five stars. The book contains one of the most memorable Darcy rescues I have read. I don’t remember weeping when I first read this book, but I certainly did while listening to the audiobook. We need more from this author.
November 4-6, 2022 -Audiobook ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This audiobook is really outstanding. Rosalyn Landor is a truly talented narrator and performer. Her voices are well done and unique to one another. Her performance captures all the nuances of grief, pain and humour. Her pace is excellent and remains consistent and constant throughout this 23-hour listen. A credit very well spent. My one minor critique would be that her Colonel Fitzwilliam sounded a bit too old, more like his father Lord Matlock would have sounded.
May 24-26, 2023
Second audiobook listen. I know this book isn’t for everyone, but I unabashedly love it. Sure, some of the things that take place in the book are shocking and not expected of what some readers expect in the character of Darcy; and despite the many shortcomings of both he and Elizabeth, I love their story as written in this book. I think it’s an honest depiction of what may have happened behind closed doors at that time. I also enjoy Berdoll’s sense of humour. A good chortle now and then is always fun.
****Trigger and Spoiler Alert: This book contains scenes of violence, including animal abuse, an assault and attempted rape against Elizabeth, and an act of vengeance by Darcy resulting in the deaths of villains.
Adding more revealing spoilers because someone requested it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2019
I didn't intend to read this one, just wanted to have a look - but it turned out to be pretty interesting and I ended up skim-reading it. What can I say, it was a light and enjoyable experience.
My expectations were so low as to be practically nonexistent, so Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife turned out to be much better than I thought. Still it wasn't perfect and it didn't induce me to read it full, hence 4 stars.
Fair warning: I do NOT recommend it to people are very particular about their love for the original novel. This is still fanfiction/sequel, there will be no miracles here, it will probably piss you off.
My expectations were so low as to be practically nonexistent, so Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife turned out to be much better than I thought. Still it wasn't perfect and it didn't induce me to read it full, hence 4 stars.
Fair warning: I do NOT recommend it to people are very particular about their love for the original novel. This is still fanfiction/sequel, there will be no miracles here, it will probably piss you off.
July 30, 2011
Okay... first and foremost... To the haters: Um, did the cover give you ANY inclination that this was going to satisfy your purist mind? The fact that you nearly see nipple on the cover didn't warn you at all?! Please, your ignorance borderlines on stupidity and you've practically insult your own intelligence by hoping that this was going to be "Jane Austen's stamp of approval". So therefore, I am going to open my mind and treat this book as an stand alone and not compare to Jane Austen's novel. Why? Because Jane did not write this, nor is she here to give her opinion and since her's is the only one that counts, I'm not sure I care what others think about this book. I will compare characters for the author in some areas did not continue the characters behavior or in some, maintain personality traits. Because the author took a chance at changing them and I respect her nerve for doing so, my opinion is going to (hopefully) be objective.
So, this book starts were Pride and Prejudice stops. Lizzie and Darcy are married and are now about to discover the next chapter in their lives. But they find that there are a lot of problems for them to solve. For instance Jane and Bingley are having sexual "problems". Poor little Jane they spent all that time trying to GET together only to find that when they actually do, they aren't sure what to do with themselves. This is relative to the time because sex was very taboo and no one talked about it. If you had problems, then you pretty much swept it under the rug and not talked about it. Only Jane WANTS to please her husband and poor milk toast Bingley doesn't know how to be a man. It's all quite sad, but everyone has problems in a marriage.
You have a lot of sympathy for Charlotte in this book. "Poor Charlotte" is seen more than once and who can blame her. For the time, she did what she had to in order to survive, but in the original novel, Charlotte has a room much like Mr. Bennet does to escape his wife. This goes into much more detail of Charlotte's discontent of not being a romantic woman and choosing to be practical woman for the time.
The book in the beginning is rather intense with Darcy and Elizabeth on their honeymoon. It gets pretty raunchy (hence I said you crazy purists to stay the heck away from this book!) The beginning is not for those who've watched Babs in Yentl having sex through a hole in the sheet! Do I think that Darcy was a God in Bed? Geez! I hope so! Restraint before marriage is so tenuous that once you finally are able to through the unification of marriage, I dearly hope he was an ANIMAL in bed! But once you get to the middle of the book, everything seems to simmer down to a normal level and the sex scenes are subdued incredibly and that is when I found the author to relax into her story telling a better.
I too am a purist of Jane Austen. The fact that she wrote what she knew tells a great deal of who Jane was. They say you write what you know and Jane obviously died a virgin for she never married and would never bring herself to be promiscuous. That said, Linda Berdoll has written a book that is about the ups and downs of two peoples marriage in 1790. This is a book about a time before it was time and I respect it as it is.
The characters do not seem to possess the same wit of Jane's original work. In some areas I wished for Lizzie to come out with one really good verbal "zinger" to shut some people up, Collins in particular. So I gave this book 4 stars for the character development and the slow beginning.
So, this book starts were Pride and Prejudice stops. Lizzie and Darcy are married and are now about to discover the next chapter in their lives. But they find that there are a lot of problems for them to solve. For instance Jane and Bingley are having sexual "problems". Poor little Jane they spent all that time trying to GET together only to find that when they actually do, they aren't sure what to do with themselves. This is relative to the time because sex was very taboo and no one talked about it. If you had problems, then you pretty much swept it under the rug and not talked about it. Only Jane WANTS to please her husband and poor milk toast Bingley doesn't know how to be a man. It's all quite sad, but everyone has problems in a marriage.
You have a lot of sympathy for Charlotte in this book. "Poor Charlotte" is seen more than once and who can blame her. For the time, she did what she had to in order to survive, but in the original novel, Charlotte has a room much like Mr. Bennet does to escape his wife. This goes into much more detail of Charlotte's discontent of not being a romantic woman and choosing to be practical woman for the time.
The book in the beginning is rather intense with Darcy and Elizabeth on their honeymoon. It gets pretty raunchy (hence I said you crazy purists to stay the heck away from this book!) The beginning is not for those who've watched Babs in Yentl having sex through a hole in the sheet! Do I think that Darcy was a God in Bed? Geez! I hope so! Restraint before marriage is so tenuous that once you finally are able to through the unification of marriage, I dearly hope he was an ANIMAL in bed! But once you get to the middle of the book, everything seems to simmer down to a normal level and the sex scenes are subdued incredibly and that is when I found the author to relax into her story telling a better.
I too am a purist of Jane Austen. The fact that she wrote what she knew tells a great deal of who Jane was. They say you write what you know and Jane obviously died a virgin for she never married and would never bring herself to be promiscuous. That said, Linda Berdoll has written a book that is about the ups and downs of two peoples marriage in 1790. This is a book about a time before it was time and I respect it as it is.
The characters do not seem to possess the same wit of Jane's original work. In some areas I wished for Lizzie to come out with one really good verbal "zinger" to shut some people up, Collins in particular. So I gave this book 4 stars for the character development and the slow beginning.
July 18, 2011
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It exceeded my expectations in the way of a Pride and Prejudice Sequel. It actually took on its own identity. Using the main character’s from Jane Austen’s novel as a guideline but then developing the characters in a way that gave them a life all their own. It actually reminded me of some of the period drama miniseries that I’m so fond of that are shown on PBS or cable TV. It was an epic sprawling novel that kept me engrossed. Upon picking it up each time I was excited wondering what would happen next with the oh so familiar characters. I’ve read reviews of this book and some are against Ms Berdoll’s semi graphics of “relations� shall we say, between Darcy & Elizabeth, however, it was all in extremely good taste, never offensive and actually quite enjoyable. For those still looking for the chaste hand holding and averted eyes of the classic novels, this may not be the right read� but once again, it’s all in good taste and in this readers opinion it was never made dirty, always romantic. Who doesn’t need a little romance and fantasy in their life? But it was more than just that. I appreciated that the author managed to harness not just the romance and chivalry but also humor, suspense and at times sadness. I feel offended reading some of the reviews and the complaint that it isn’t Austen, of course it’s not! If it’s not Austen, it can never be but there are some great sequels, renditions using the Austen cast of characters with the individual author’s creative spin. This, was a great one. Kudos Ms Berdoll.
Read
March 11, 2008I got about 20 pages in before I threw the book in the trash. Although I appreciate an author's ability and desire to continue beloved stories where the original author left off, this particular example was disappointing and disgusting. The author's vain attempt at writing with the understanding and breadth of the early 19th century Jane Austen was irritating and disappointing. According to this author, all early 19th conversations started with the word "Pray", and her authorial narrations included multi-syllabic nonsense (i.e. indubitably). Beyond the author’s apparent lack of linguistic imagination she also takes favorite characters and reduces them to nothing more than smutty, sex deprived, animals with no character development beyond what was previously accomplished. This book was a complete waste of paper and a great disservice to the characters she poached. Part of the allure and passion that comes from a book like Pride and Prejudice is the lack of such blatant carnal gratification. Although never very far away, it is quietly recognized as part of passion, not the whole of it.
November 16, 2019
#noshame
March 31, 2016
What is up with all the vocabs??
I get it, it was meant to 'seem' like regency era language but seriously this is not ANY era language.
Too distracting.
I get it, it was meant to 'seem' like regency era language but seriously this is not ANY era language.
Too distracting.
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