I listened to this series by audiobook and enjoyed the narration. It was well done. The five books are all very different from each other. They are listed as clean romance but there is a good deal of marital innuendo and even a bit of build up before the black out. And I know this is just a weird thing but in these books Darcy often has whiskey as his drink of choice. I don’t generally think of whiskey for him so it kept sticking out to me. Overall these books were enjoyable to listen to.
Book 1: Tall, Dark and Darcy
I loved Bingley in this one. He had a knack for strategy and that made him very useful. He was not just a cute puppy as often portrayed but a hunting dog that could see his way forward in the so called battle. I also loved Lizzy’s compassion toward the poor whether they helped by choice or unwittingly. She was clever to save herself as well. She was a bit stubborn about her recovery but it kinda fit her. She always likes to be up and walking. Lady Catherine makes a spectacular appearance in this. I loved the scenes with her. It was a fun interpretation of her character but it was unexpected.
Book 2: Like a Moth to the Flame
This story is pretty low angst which I like. I liked that Elizabeth and Darcy got to spend so much time with each other. And I love it when Mary gets a happily ever after. Great couple. It was nice that Darcy’s interference was for good to help the Colonel as opposed to separating couples. I was glad to not spend much time with the usual villains. And I was happy to see men stand up to Caroline’s vitriol. I liked that Darcy was a twin. His brother is quite pleasant. I was happy to see Darcy learn to enjoy the present instead of fighting the future.
Book 3: Fighting Fate
Did not love this one, though others may love it. It just isn’t my cup of tea. For me it was too mystical. Some kind of unexplained reincarnation into a new life was just too much for me. I’m never a fan of books or movies where time doesn’t function in a way that I can explain. So a prior life with the memory of their deaths was just too weird for me. I kept waiting for a big aha moment where we would suddenly understand how this could happen and it never really came. Others may love it, but it just wasn’t for me.
Book 4: Darcy and the Duke’s Daughter
I guess I haven’t read very many books with the Elizabeth isn’t a Bennet trope. I really couldn’t get used to it. But there were things I liked about the story. It was nice that the biggest conflict came from outside sources rather than E&D misunderstanding one another the whole time. The drama was pretty big a couple of times but wasn’t too horribly angsty. I liked that Darcy won the day by being his good self. I loved that Lizzy got to keep her Papa as well as have her father. Father was over protective and sometimes that was annoying but I believe he really did want what was best for her. If that weren’t the case, he would never have agreed to Darcy.
Book 5: Dedication and Devotion
This story had quite a dark tone underlying everything. Jane is kidnapped, presumably raped and is left deeply scarred from her ordeal. The reader doesn’t see any of it but we are aware of her story and in the end are left with a hope that she might be healed eventually but it is going to be years in coming. Thank heavens for the woman that sets out to help her do so.
The title of the book fits Darcy’s determination to find Jane and also fits Elizabeth’s determination to never give up in looking for her.
I was very annoyed with Bingley who was really kind of a louse and I was annoyed with Mr. Bennet. I mean in canon he is willing to go search for Lydia when she behaves stupidly. In this story he doesn’t stir himself to do anything but allows Darcy to take it all on himself. And Jane’s disappearance was not self inflicted as was Lydia’s. Jane deserved more from her father.
I enjoyed Colonel F’s father in this one and I loved Darcy’s determination and patience.
Potential triggers: kidnapping, rape, loss of loved ones