Carole´s Monday. The Pemberley Picnic

Author: Melanie Rachel

Title: The Pemberley Picnic - A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Genre: Historical Romance, What If, Novella

Format: ebook

Pages: 160

Published: July 16, 2026

Where I got It: Kindle Unlimited

Summary: 

Fitzwilliam Darcy never expected Elizabeth Bennet to come to Pemberley—least of all after the proposal she so decisively refused. Yet here she is, seeing him not in a ballroom or a drawing room, but on his own ground, where he might be able to prove to her that he has changed.

But he has only days before she returns home.

So he does something entirely unlike himself: Darcy announces a picnic. There is only one difficulty. He has not planned a picnic.

Still, he is certain everything will go well. It must.

But Darcy soon discovers that even the simplest picnic can go astray—especially when the wind, the weather, and Miss Bingley all seem determined to keep him from the guest he most wishes to please. As old misunderstandings soften and new feelings bloom, Elizabeth and Darcy must decide whether pride, prejudice, and past mistakes can give way to something far sweeter.

Review:

I'm in a JA mood, I guess! 

Here we have a P&P variation. Darcy never expected to see Elizabeth again after she declined his proposal. Well...here she is....in his home.....this is his chance to show her he has changed. He decides that there will be a picnic on the grounds! What could go wrong? Everything. 

I'm going to be chill again and divide and conquer this review. It's been a long week. 

The Good

- LOVE a P&P and Austen variation. It's just so fuuuuun. 

- Awww loved seeing Darcy do something so out of character. 

- Fitzwilliam was a gem. So witty. So funny. 

- This was very sweet and adorable

The Bad and the Ugly

- Some phrases and words didn't seem to vibe with the time period and characters. It just didn't hit the ears (well...I did the ebook...would it be eyes?) right. 

Conclusion

I enjoyed this little gem. It was very sweet, and I liked this cute twist. Imagine if Darcy got an extra day with Lizzie. So very sweeeeet. 

4 stars. 

Everyone wants to rule the world except me by Django Wexler

Series: Dark Lord Davi (#2)

Format: 384 pages, Paperback

Published: May 27, 2025 by Orbit

Fantasy/own

Duology! Yes!

Davi has been living for a 1000 years and dying, and dying. Horrible deaths. All cos this old wizard said she was the chosen one. So in the last book she said EFF this and decided to become the dark lord instead. She has won the title, gathered a horde, has a smexy Orc lady to bed and now...wait now what? I mean she does not want to go and kill all humans.

And that is where we are, what now? She has made friends, and enemies. She still does not understand this world, since she is from earth. And how can she get out of this time loop?

I liked Davi, she was snarky, and hey I would have lost my mind long ago. She has tried everything through out the years.

I liked it, and even more I liked that it was a duology

Davi has done this all before. She's tried to be the hero and take down the all-powerful Dark Lord. A hundred times she's rallied humanity and made the final charge. But the time loop always gets her in the end. Sometimes she's killed quickly. Sometimes it takes a while. But she's been defeated every time.

This time? She's done being the hero and done being stuck in this endless time loop. If the Dark Lord always wins, then maybe that's who she needs to be. It's Davi's turn to play on the winning side.

The Missing girl by Jenny Quintana

Format: 336 pages, Paperback

Published: September 20, 2018 by Pan Books

Thriller Mystery/borrowed

I expected it to be more thrilling, or dangerous. But it was pretty lowkey

It takes place in 1982 and then 30 years later. In 1982 Anna´s sister Gabriella goes missing and they can´t find her. What happened?

30 years later Anna comes back to deal with her mother´s death estate and she starts looking for clues again. There were suspects and she learns new things, and yes she will learn what happened. Totally sad, but I did expect some danger. But it is just her looking for clues, finding the truth and having closure. Which is good, but yes you know what to expect then.

I did want to know what happened to Gabriella. I hoped she was fine, and for some reason had not talked to the family she loved for 30 years...

When Anna Flores' adored older sister goes missing as a teenager, Anna copes by disappearing too, just as soon as she can: running as far away from her family as possible, and eventually building a life for herself abroad. Thirty years later, the death of her mother finally forces Anna to return home. Tasked with sorting through her mother's possessions, she begins to confront not just her mother's death, but also the huge hole Gabriella's disappearance left in her life – and finds herself asking a question she's not allowed herself to ask for years: what really happened to her sister? With that question comes the revelation that her biggest fear isn't discovering the worst; it's never knowing the answer. But is it too late for Anna to uncover the truth about Gabriella's disappearance?

A marriage of Lions by Elizabeth Chadwick

Format: 512 pages, Paperback

Published: April 14, 2022 by Sphere

Historical fiction/own

I like Chadwick´s historical books. They always makes me go down rabbit holes. Following entire lines of people and yes Joanna is a direct ancestor of the royal house still today.

Joanna was a granddaughter of William Marshall, but she was not an heiress. Still she got a position as a lady in waiting when she was 8. Also was the Marshall men cursed to not have kids? It is weird. Anyway, suddenly Joanne was an heiress and is married of to Henry IIIs brother William de Valence.

At this time Simon de Montfort is gaining power and is using the message England for the English and not foreigners, oh I guess it is nothing new then. He gets some barons on his side. Joannas husband who is from France is one reason they are angry. Also since she was an heiress and did not even marry someone from England. Also he was a total dick, de Montfort that is.

It is about her upbringing, marriage, kids and just life that is. All while tension is brewing through out the country.

I enjoyed it, and it is always fun with books that makes you want to google

England, 1238

Raised at the court of King Henry III as a chamber lady to the queen, young Joanna of Swanscombe's life changes forever when she comes into an inheritance far above all expectations, including her own.

Now a wealthy heiress, Joanna's arranged marriage to the King's charming, tournament-loving half-brother William de Valence immediately stokes the flames of political unrest as more established courtiers object to the privileges bestowed on newcomers.

As Joanna and William strive to build a life together, England descends into a bitter civil war. In mortal danger, William is forced to run for his life, and Joanna is left with only her wit and courage to outfox their enemies and prevent them from destroying her husband, her family, and their fortunes.