Darcy's Christmas Song

A Pride and Prejudice Variation

By: Regina Velarde

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

After being rejected by Elizabeth, Darcy impulsively marries Anne de Bourgh whom he later discovers is mentally unstable. In the summer of that year, she burns Pemberley to the ground; and Darcy, who fails in his attempt to save her during the fire, is permanently maimed. He moves to his Scottish estate of Kinross Abbey where he plans to live out the rest of his days alone. And then, one Christmas, Elizabeth Bennet comes into his life again and rekindles his hopes for something better.

This P & P variation (with features of Jane Eyre) has all the elements of a feel-good holiday novel - an isolated highland castle, a flawed and brooding hero, a young woman who wants to redeem him, and love scenes set amid an enchanting, snowy landscape.

Loved the song

This book gets off to a sad start but eventually it gets better. It is a bit sappy in spots but I'm good with that. It has been a rough time since Elizabeth turned Darcy down at Huntsford. He made rash choices and Lizzy feels that she did too. Much of the beginning of their next chance at courtship is done in near silence or through Darcy's song as she goes out at night to listen to him sing, even though she doesn't know who he is. It is all very tender. But these experiences lead to more and Darcy undergoes a change within himself and in his circumstances.
There is also a huge change in Caroline. She is so much more pleasant. I liked the questioning they entertained themselves with. They were ever so blunt but it forced both the reader and the characters to learn more about each other. It was kinda fun.
As usual though, the virtual voice in the audiobook did nothing to enhance the story and would have been so much better with a real narrator.

Together with mistletoe

This was another variation of Elizabeth & Darcy's journey to love. I loved that the settings were at Christmas. Through misunderstandings it has taken the 3 years to finally reunite. I loved the details shared as Darcy rebuilt Pemberley