This story by one of my favorite authors is long and although ODC are married rather early in the telling there is much more that happens: both in their lives and in the lives of their families.

We begin with Mr. Collins' proposal. However when he cannot keep his hands to himself Elizabeth rushes out of Longbourn in order to seek her father who is not at home. She meets Mr. Darcy who is out riding but trips and in injuring her foot must accept his assistance to get to her aunt's and uncle's home. Ironically, they are seen by Wickham and the most recent victim of his seductions and it takes no encouragement for him to convince her to spread the news of how Elizabeth is meeting with Darcy in secret and that from the condition of their clothing they have been lovers.

Elizabeth, nay -all the Bennets, soon find most of their acquaintances not only believing the gossip but also turning their backs on the family. Darcy does what is right even though Wickham offers to take his place (for a price). Yes, he had been fighting his feelings for Elizabeth but his honor takes precedence now and he is happy with that.

Now the misunderstandings begin. They do marry. (Although Elizabeth had to be convinced that running away to the Gardiners only made her look guilty.) However after the marriage and during his wait to leave for Pemberley with his bride, Darcy overhears Elizabeth complaining to Jane about "him"...not accepting "no" for an answer, etc. He is appalled and the subsequent journey is one in which they rarely speak and have separate accommodations at the inns at which they must stop. Then as soon as they arrive at the estate he disappears for 5 days.

We go back and forth reading the thoughts of Darcy and then Elizabeth. This first misunderstanding is followed by several more, which can be blamed on the fact that they have not learned to communicate in all things. There is even a past event involving a highly placed Lady Rosemary, who has been helping Elizabeth find her place among the ton, which comes up to greatly unsettle their relationship.

We also have the situation of Jane and Bingley which plays out in a different manners while his sisters seek to destroy the Darcy marriage with the "secret" Mrs. Hurst "accidently" relates to Elizabeth. Georgiana is another one who is targeted by those pernicious sisters and she gives Elizabeth a rather cold shoulder when they finally meet. Lydia comes into the picture but it is not as in canon.

I highly recommend this story. There is much romance. The chemistry between Elizabeth and Darcy is passionate and at times she makes the first move. Yes, there are some MA scenes but they were not graphically detailed, IMHO. There is much more to the story than I even hinted at herein...so do read this lovely tale.

This story was a gift with no strings attached. I am voluntarily leaving a review and all opinions are my own.26 s Debbie1,581 53

4.5 rounded up to 5 stars

Twists of Fate employs a trope I usually find fault with: a forced marriage scenario where misunderstandings and lack of honest communication between Darcy and Elizabeth get them off on the wrong foot. Fortunately, Ms. Starnes is a gifted writer, and she makes these self-inflicted problems credible.

The story begins with an immediate swerve from canon. Mr. Collins gets more lecherous and "hands on" when he proposes marriage to Elizabeth the morning after the Netherfield ball, and Mr. Bennet happens to be away from Longbourn. She manages to break away from her unwelcome suitor, running out the door as quickly as possible, heading for Meryton to find her father.

Caught in a cold downpour without a coat, she seeks shelter among some trees, slips in the mud, and injures her ankle while Mr. Darcy is nearby on his horse. He's taking a final ride near Longbourn before his planned departure for London when he finds her. There's a delightful scene between two stubborn souls: the independent Miss Elizabeth wants Darcy to be on his way to avoid the possibility of the two being perceived as having had an assignation, while Darcy, determined to take her to safety, waits her out until she relents. Eventually he prevails, and they ride together on his horse to her aunt Phillips's house, Elizabeth wearing Darcy's jacket and both of them quite muddy. They avoid riding through the middle of Meryton, both aware of the faulty conclusions that could be drawn from their appearance.

Unfortunately, Mr. Wickham DOES spot them and eagerly spreads the scandalous news through town with the desire to embarrass Darcy. It doesn't take long for Elizabeth's reputation to be in tatters, especially when Mr. Collins is observed leaving the area quickly afterward - presumably he decided against marrying a ruined woman.

As it happens, Mr. Darcy is forced to extend his stay at Netherfield due to illness. When he learns about the gossip that's circulating, he immediately sets out for Longbourn. Elizabeth has no choice but to accept his honorable proposal. Although Darcy makes no declaration of love, she's now had glimpses of his true personality and becomes optimistic about their chances for happiness.

All is well until shortly after the wedding, when Darcy overhears part of a conversation between Elizabeth and Jane. His bride never told him about the proposal she received from the horrible Mr. Collins, so he believes they're discussing his own marriage proposal. Devastated, he dons his habitual mask and avoids his new wife as much as possible. This is only the first of several instances where the newlyweds get out of step with each other.

Ms. Starnes presents the story from alternating points of view, switching back and forth between Elizabeth and Darcy. They don't know each other well - no Hunsford marriage proposal, argument, or letter, and no encounter at Pemberley. Darcy is accustomed to hiding his feelings, Elizabeth is prone to impulsive reactions, and both are hesitant to show their vulnerability to the other. Before things get too out of hand, fittingly, it's the more forthright Elizabeth who finally breaks through the barrier between them. It occurs in the marriage bed in a scene that isn't graphic but clearly suggestive.

The angst is comparatively light for a Joana Starnes book, though she manages to milk the characters' various emotions for all they're worth, engaging the reader in all their conflicting feelings. Delightful dialogue helps create the palpable chemistry between Darcy and Elizabeth that we all read JAFF to experience.

Highly recommend!arc i-own-it jaff25 s wosedwew1,254 116

Our destiny hides among our free choices, disguised as the free-est of all. ~ Robert Brault

The original “Twist of Fate” is a creation of the not-so-very-good Reverend Collins and the not-so-very-good George Wickham. Collins physically attacks Elizabeth Bennet when she refuses his proposal. She escapes outdoors without her winter-wear and begins a journey to Meryton to speak to her father. Weather is fated to be against her and she is met on the road by Mr. Darcy. She eventually must accept Darcy’s help to her Aunt Phillips in Meryton where they are seen by Wickham and a maid who is currently his doxy. Rumors spread through the village.

A wedding is quickly accomplished, spoiled by an overheard conversation. The marriage begins on a very bad footing.

I loved a scene at Pemberley when Darcy returns after an absence of several days.

Quote from the book: … the door opened and she made her entrance. And what an entrance it was. Darcy’s jaw dropped – literally – as he stared. She had chosen to give more than a little indication that she knew she was a married woman. Her beautiful hair was now covered with a matron’s cap – the most elaborate concoction that could ever be imagined. A starched, double-tiered structure of muslin and lace adorned with a profusion of ruffles which, he could scarce doubt, evinced her mother’s taste, or rather lack thereof. Moreover, he was absolutely certain that the highly conspicuous item had been deliberately chosen in order to make a point – and the look she cast him, along with her arched brow, only served to add the unnecessary confirmation.

That's life — whichever way you turn, fate sticks out its foot to trip you. ~ Martin Goldsmith & Martin Mooney

Fate Twists for other characters as well: Jane’s and Lydia’s stories end very differently. I loved both outcomes.

My only criticism concerns the odious Collins. I would have d some comeuppance. In the words of the immortal Maud, (yes, I know, my age is showing), “God will get you for that.” I am sure God did eventually get Mr. Collins for his treatment of Elizabeth but perhaps his Bishop could have got to him sooner. Removal from the ranks of clergymen was in order.

Elizabeth is proactive in solving the marital issues. She moves the couple on the way to HEA much more than Darcy, although that man does acknowledge the damage caused by his actions and resolves to improve the relationship.

Joana Starnes’ books never disappoint me. 5 Stars for this one!

Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous. ~ Charlotte Clemensen Taylor2021 book- owned-books20 s Dawn628 26

I absolutely adore Joana Starnes and will read anything and everything she writes!!! She always connects with me and she writes so beautifully. This book was good and I enjoyed it, but probably not my favorite from this author- although when Starnes is the author, “not my favorite from this author” is still infinitely better than many books from many other authors!

We start out with a marriage early on and are led into a false sense of security as it appears that both parties are prepared to make the most of the situation and determined to find happiness together! In the true Joana Starnes fashion that we all know and love, that rug is pulled out from under us within hours of the wedding when Darcy overhears part of a conversation that he completely misunderstands and he allows his disappointment to completely disregard his common sense and turn him into a petulant and cruel husband who is very, I will make up my own word, unDarcy. This false belief causes all kinds of angst and heartache for both Darcy and Elizabeth and goes on for quite some time. I will freely admit that I find a story frustrating where there is no real angst, only imagined angst derived from misunderstandings that could be easily solved with a simple conversation. This heap of misunderstandings all based on on an eavesdropped conversation went on a bit too long for my tastes, but all was finally discussed and worked through transforming the rocky marriage into one of affection and passion. The satisfactory resolution almost makes up for the flimsy basis for all the suffering. I always enjoy seeing D&E learn to really know each other and develop the real heartfelt affection that always keeps us coming back for more. Starnes does a masterful job creating a both sweet and electrifying connection between them that is always delicious.

Since the reconciliation happens just past the halfway point of the book, I didn’t know what, but knew the author had more in store for! The next portion the couple goes to town and Elizabeth Darcy tries to find her footing amongst the bloodthirsty snobs of the ton. There are, of course, the Bingley sisters and many of similar ilk that make it difficult for Elizabeth to feel accepted and find any true friends. Even Georgiana doesn’t warm up to her. She feels fortunate to find a friend in Lady Rosemary Sinclair who is very respected in the highest circles and takes Elizabeth under her wing. Just when we are enjoying the feel of that rug again, once again it is pulled out and there is a whole new kind of fracture that is a little more complex and difficult than a misunderstanding.

Of course, we can hardly have a P&P variation without Wickham wreaking havoc in some way or another and it’s too good to be true that his mischief at the beginning of the book would be the last word from him. He does make another appearance, but I really enjoyed the twist in that part of the story and d how that played out!

What to say about Jane and Bingley?!? I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Bingley, even if his wretchedness was pretty much his own fault. His intentions were never from malice and his lack of confidence and judgement robbed him of who he was. A hard lesson indeed. With that being said, I didn’t want him back with Jane here and I was happy for Jane and loved how things worked out for her. One of my favorite quotes from the book came from Jane Bennet when she reflects on her heartache and how her pain opened her eyes to some truths. The things she learned about herself and about life through the pain that she suffered made her into a stronger and wiser woman.
“ If he had stayed with me— Nay, even if he had left Hertfordshire but kept the lease on Netherfield and returned to me today, I do believe we could have been happy as we grew into adulthood together. A dollhouse sort of happiness perhaps, yet gratifying all the same, because neither one of us would have known any better. But… now I do know better. I am grown up already, and playing house is no longer as appealing as it was. I need more, and I need it to be real. I need to be Frederick’s partner in life, not a placid figure in a dollhouse.”
Well said, Jane!

Overall, I did enjoy this book, but the things that lessened that enjoyment were these:
1- Darcy was very out of character after hearing the eavesdropped conversation. Darcy can be arrogant and proud, but IMO, as a man used to much responsibility and dealing with difficult situations along with his serious nature and his commitment to honor and duty, it doesn’t seem congruent for him to react instead of respond. The Darcy I imagine might very well be angry and hurt and even draw incorrect conclusions, but would also think and ponder and consider all aspects of the situation before acting in such a rash manner. He would have had a conversation sooner rather than later and definitely before abandoning his new wife.
2- Elizabeth was also a bit out of character. I can’t imagine her waiting so long before speaking up for herself. She also forgave almost immediately and I felt Darcy should have had to earn that forgiveness and trust, at least a little. Elizabeth was almost too perfect. I missed her fiery temper coming to the surface and taking him to task when he so deserved it.
3- This was my biggest problem. 1 & 2 are minor and can be easily overlooked, but this one really bothered me. Supposedly intelligent Darcy misplaces every brain cell in his head and is really going to ask his ex-lover to befriend his wife and take her under her wing? And if he really has that much brass, he’s going to keep her in the dark and not prepare her, making her the fool in front of London society? REALLY? I just can’t digest this. My problem is not his past relationship or even his failure to tell her about it, my problem is that he would intentionally bring them together in this manner and think it would be okay, and that he is okay with the humiliation that would come to Elizabeth due to not only the situation itself, but her ignorance of the situation, because there is no other possible outcome than complete humiliation for Elizabeth in this situation. This behavior wouldn’t fly here in the 21st century where things are much more progressive, so it definitely wouldn’t fly in this time period. This really disappointed me and I still have a bad taste in my mouth from this and just can’t accept that Darcy would be so unfeeling and stupid in such in this kind of delicate and sensitive situation. I can’t think of anything that would justify this.

Overall, there was much more that I loved than not and I continue to be a stalwart Joana Starnes fan! As always with this author, this was a very engaging story that I was deeply connected to and while there were some things I struggled with, the story was well thought out and developed and beautifully written and kept my attention!dawn-s-2021-austen18 s James S1,318 Read

Forced marriage

A very good story. Wickham starts gossip in Meryton and causes Darcy to offer for Lizzy. The main thrust of the story is about why in P&P and it’s variations there are always so many mistakes, misunderstandings and incorrect assumptions. A must read for everyone.

X-ray is enabled, which I love. The author uses ‘learnt’ instead of ‘learned’ and I couldn’t find a good explanation about when to use the two words. Not much verbiage about ‘learnt’ when I googled this question.

Once again Wickham is not taken care of after potentially destroying the lives of the Darcys and the Bennets until he slinks back into the story later in the book. It’s hard to respect Darcy for not putting W into jail as a debtor. He could pay the jailers to silence W if he gets talkative.

The Happily Ever After is more realistic than the Cinderella/Sleeping Beauty HEA which is nice. I shall read the book again in a few months so I can take my time and savor the awesomeness of the writing. I do this for all her books.14 s Carole (in Canada)800 63

My Rating: 5+++

"As for mistakes, I hope we do learn from them, but I will not put it past us to keep making new ones." (quote from the book)

Fate's twists and turns in Ms. Starnes latest novel will leave you wondering how she does it. Yes, we will always get our 'happily ever after' and though each journey is unique, in this one, the angst will have you squirming in your seat or talking back at the book and flames erupting when Elizabeth and Darcy are not at odds but ardently in love! It will also have you wanting to run certain 'creatures' through with a sword or wishing that the ground would open up and swallow them! At least those were just some of my reactions.

"How dare they besmirch his name - and hers!" (quote from the book)

The book opens after the Netherfield Ball, and Mr. Collins has made his proposal known. However, he goes one step too far and Elizabeth is horrified and appalled at his base behavior. I shuddered right along with Elizabeth as she flees Longbourn to await her father at her Aunt Phillip's home, but Mother Nature thwarts her efforts until Mr. Darcy comes upon her. Obstinate, headstrong girl! But, Mr. Darcy has his own streak of stubbornness called honor. Fate eventually leads them down the bridle path, unfortunately throwing another couple in to witness their disheveled state...unbeknownst to them. Cruel gossip is soon flying through Meryton. And the die is cast.

"This is what I came to offer: my name, and the protection that is in my power to give. You have my word, sir: no one will injure her again!" (quote from the book)

Ah, famous last words. I do enjoy a forced marriage trope, and if we feel that is not enough to cause tension between Elizabeth and Darcy, Ms. Starnes throws in an overheard conversation immediately after the wedding that causes 'assumptions' (we all know what 'assume' means) and things go from bad to worse and Darcy seeing red.

"Caged together! Lord almighty! They were caged together for life!" (quote from the book)

So, dear reader, there were many 'thumps' of my head and heart as our beloved couple work their way through their misunderstandings. Fate is far from done with them for there is an old secret that will be thrown in Elizabeth's face that will nearly crush her. And I was more than ready to crush the informer.

"The storm was within. Never in her life had she been so angry! Nor had she ever felt so lost. Lost and alone." (quote from the book)

Just know that Elizabeth and Darcy are not the only ones who suffer from wounded hearts. Jane Bennet's tender heart is battered, but what Ms. Starnes does for her had me smiling. There is a wonderful analogy used by Jane that is so apt. I have never heard it explained so well before, and I was completely satisfied with the end result.

"How shall I bear to be compared with a picture of perfection?" (quote from the book)

I highly recommend this incredibly heart-wrenching, passionate and well fought 'happily ever after'!

I was fortunate to be gifted with the novel with no expectation for a review.austenesque favorites pride-prejudice ...more12 s ChristinaAuthor 12 books320

“Twists of Fate” begins when Darcy is at Netherfield Park and Mr Collins makes his proposal to Elizabeth—but then that’s where author Joana Starnes diverts from Austen’s “Pride & Prejudice”. Escaping the clutches of a handsy, unscrupulous,smarmy Collins, she takes herself on a walk toward her aunt Philips in the village. The weather turns and she is caught in a downpour with none other than Mr. Darcy. Afterwards, he escorts her to her aunt’s, only to be observed by a meddling maid who progresses to spread wild tales and innuendo about Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy—Darcy finds he can do nothing but follow his heart, despite the differences in their social standing, and ask for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage.
“There was but one answer she could give to his offer of marriage, and they both knew it. But by now Elizabeth had sufficient cause to hope that, despite the hand they had been dealt, they might make a good life together. Thus, her smile was shy rather than forced when, with one word, she pledged herself to him in a low whisper.”—Chapter 8

Though neither knows much about the other, they come to find that in essentials they are well-matched, maybe even in a love match... Alas, soon after the wedding, Darcy overhears a private conversation between Elizabeth and her sister, and well, let’s just say, their marriage begins on a rocky road to Pemberley. “Breath caught in his chest as Darcy turned his head to stare unseeing out of the window. Heaven help him, he wanted her! No change there, even if everything else had changed. If anything, he wanted her more than ever.” —Chapter 14

A riveting and absorbing read… You’ll savor the unraveling of their fledgling love and the brilliance of the heart-pounding romance when truths are revealed. A thoughtful tale full of familiar, swoon-worthy characters and sizzling scenes! “Twists of Fate” is a real gem that we expect from the incomparable storyteller, Joana Starnes. ( I was lucky to receive an advance reader copy—looking forward to the published copy to add to my shelves!)austenesque fan-fiction favorites ...more12 s Anna Fitzwilliam219 24

I loved everything about this book but the last part.

The Rosemary imbroglio was a drama in the beginning and then they simple forgot about it. Elizabeth only thought about Lady Rosemary in the epilogue, it looked so rushed.

Then the drama with Jane and his suitors. At the time of the book, it was unnecessary. The talk with Bingley was cringe and suddenly she was in love with that other guy.

But the icing on the cake was Lydia eloping with Wickham and then becoming engaged with Denny. I mean... ??? As the envelopment per se wasn't serious enough.

10 s Ree1,160 66

Twists you say?
When Mr. Collins refuses to accept Elizabeth’s refusal of his marriage proposal, he resorts to assaulting her person and she flees the house in search of Mr. Bennet who is at a meeting in Meryton. The weather turns, she seeks shelter under a clump of hollies, becomes injured, and is discovered by Darcy who aids her and helps get her to Meryton. So begins a series of “twists of fate” for them. Unfortunately, they are seen by Mr. Wickham who uses his latest conquest, with whom he is in company, to begin a vicious rumour about Darcy and Elizabeth, twisting the real circumstances of their morning encounter. Darcy offers marriage and Elizabeth is resigned to accept. The very short courtship is pleasant, and they marry with mutual hopes of a good marriage. Just before they are about to leave for Pemberley, Darcy overhears and misunderstands a conversation between Jane and Elizabeth.

What had been planned by Darcy as a slow romantic journey to Pemberley, he now speeds up the ride to get there as soon as possible. All the while Darcy ignores her, barely speaking, and Elizabeth doesn’t know why.

“”We are here, then,” she needlessly observed. “Yes. Welcome to Pemberley,” came his crisp reply, and as she stepped out and drew a lungful of the cold night air, Elizabeth could not help thinking that she wished he had said, ‘Welcome home.’”—quote from book

There is much introspection by both Elizabeth and Darcy in this story. Because Darcy will not communicate, he is living in torment which could easily be resolved if he would only ask her about what he heard her say to Jane. Stubborn man! Observing a Darcy who has become the complete opposite of the one who spoke of a promising future of felicity, Elizabeth is now living in fear of what could become the greatest mistake of her life.

”Were there any options left to her, now that she had placed herself wholly in his power? The chilling thought caught her unawares, and in a flash the chill swelled into alarm. Husbands held all the power. Wives had none. All claims to the contrary were as hollow as the empty promise that formed a part of a man’s marriage vows: ‘With all my earthly goods I thee endow.’ That was false – a mockery. Marriage had given her no say in his affairs, no rights over his property. It had given him full rights over her.” —quote from book

Elizabeth isn’t ready to give up, however, and Darcy does love her, so inevitably, they do finally talk, and it’s Elizabeth who takes a very bold step by taking action to initiate the conversation that finally takes place and leads to their understanding. I was so proud of her for doing this. Brave girl! It takes quite a while to get there, but the journey is well worth it. There will be more twists as the story develops, threatening the harmony our dear couple has finally achieved.

As always with the work of Joana Starnes, the novel is beautifully written. There is angst, and in this story, the author has also written a very passionate and intimate couple. The way she herself describes it in the book’s description can’t be more perfect —

“The novel addresses mature themes. Given the ‘early marriage’ premise, the issue of growing affection and intimacy is central to the story. The relevant scenes are emotive and deeply sensual, but never explicit.”

I was generously gifted with an advance copy of the book with no expectation of a review, but I am pleased to happily provide one based on my honest opinion. I highly recommend this book.2021 arc forced-marriage ...more9 s Sam H.980 43

I had a love/hate with this one.
Love the author and most her works and this was just as well written as all her others.

I felt bad for Darcy that he overheard something and (Gasp) misunderstood it. Which led to a week long binge of him being a royal POS.

Then Elizabeth gets put through the ringer by unknowingly befriending one of Darcy's old, but short lived, flames.
After reading one review here, I was afraid it would be worse than it seemed to me in the end.

However, I did get a disjointed feeling. it was 2 books pasted together not quite so seamlessly.2021 jaff-20218 s LowBrowReader298 11

Starnes is one of my favorite JAFF authors so I tend to read whatever she publishes.

This forced marriage scenario has been of course done many times before. Many worse than this. Quite a few actually better.



It's one of those novels where angst feels kinda redundant because Darcy keeps making the worst possible choices and, quite frankly, some downright asshole moves. E. comes across as much more emotionally mature and has to carry the whole relationship mostly on her shoulders.


Darcy either sulks, overreacts, runs away, lusts or hides things from her. It's poor E. who has to sort everything out and come up with resolutions. I wanted way more grovel from him for some things he did in the beginning of the marriage. I wanted E. to give him hell.


Yes, D. is loving and considerate and indulgent once they get going (thanks to E. taking conrol of the situation ... again) but even then he tends to falter when true transparency is needed. So insted of being honest with E. and giving her all the information she needed, he lets the situation to blow up in her face.


Anyway, it wasn't one of my favorite works from Starnes. That said, she is still a very good writer so however irritated I was with characters at time, the reading was constantly a pleasurable experience.
4 compromise forced-marriage ...more6 s Kim749 1 follower

After malicious gossip compels Darcy to offer for Elizabeth, he overhears a private conversation and misconstrues it’s meaning. Unfortunately that leads to a wretched beginning for their married life at Pemberley. There is a lot of drama in this book and it kept me reading late into the night. Wickham is up to his evil ways (on several occasions) and Georgiana naively falls for the poison spewed by Bingley’s sisters. Darcy is hiding a secret that threatens the marriage as well. So much drama. But ODC comes through it in the end. Jane and Lydia’s stories take an original turn. And unfortunately Colonel Fitzwilliam is only mentioned in passing. I can see that he wasn’t necessary to the story but I quite missed him all the same. He might have knocked some sense into Darcy during the first week of his marriage, but I suppose Darcy had to come up with the solution on his own.austen-related austenesque-tbr-challenge2021 pride-and-prejudice6 s Rita Deodato231 10

Review published at:
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...

Joana Starnes’s previous books have set the quality bar too high so the expectations towards Twists of Fate were obviously in accordance with that, but if there is one thing Starnes never fails to present is a well written and engrossing book.

The premise of Twists of Fate is somewhat common, however, there are a few twists I particularly d reading about, and of course, the manner in which Starnes presents the entire story is compelling, which makes the book unique in its own way.

In this forced marriage scenario Mr. Collins doesn’t take no for an answer and to avoid his more aggressive overtures, Elizabeth runs out of the house in search of her father. While she is in a hurry to get to Meryton, she falls and twists an ankle and it is at this point that she is found by Mr. Darcy, who assists her, and takes her to her Aunt Phillip’s house. This scene is observed by a maid and gossip soon spreads over Meryton.

Starnes is known as the Queen of angst, but readers should expect an almost angst free novel. That is not to say that conflict is completely absent from the story, but there aren’t many angsty moments in it, and the relationship between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth is quite mature with both sharing and talking over the many different situations they must face…well…they start doing that…eventually. What I want to say is that in this novel there is a moment of misunderstanding, but apart from that, we see the couple getting to know one another and slowly falling in love, which means that readers who love to read scenes between these two characters will be delighted! They will even face adversity as a couple completely in love and in syntony with one another.

What I loved the most in this book was the characterization of Darcy. No matter the adversity, or the setting, Joana Starnes is always able to create a Darcy who is exactly as I imagined he would be. He always reacts as I believe he should react, and he is always passionate, honorable and strong. This Darcy is swoon worthy and I absolutely loved every scene that was told from his point of view. His feelings are always raw, exiting and electrifying. His love for Elizabeth is beautiful and because his character, as well as Elizabeth’s were so well developed, their romance was the second aspect I loved the most in the book. They finish off with a solid relationship and I am sure readers will love to read the story as the characters achieve that.

Another aspect I really loved, and something I wasn’t certainly expecting, was to be privy to how the gossip spreads. Usually in this type of books we are told that rumors occur, but in this case, we see how the rumor is spreading and who is taking part in it. We follow the characters as they discuss the events and have a good laugh through it all. These humorous sections are something else that Starnes has started using in her most recent books, and a characteristic I particularly d in the first part of Twists of Fate. She certainly knows how to make me smile
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