Review: The Perfect Bride for Mr Darcy - Mary Lydon Simonsen

Genre: Historical, romance, Pride and prejudice variation
Pages: 384
Published: January 2011 Sourcebooks Landmark

Convinced that the lovely Elizabeth Bennet is her brother's soul mate, Georgiana Darcy enlists her clever and not at all snobbish cousin Anne de Bourgh in ensuring that pride and prejudice aren't able to keep these two hearts apart. All is going according to plan until Lydia Bennet brings scandal on the family by eloping with George Wickham, and Darcy is called away from Elizabeth's side before he has a chance to propose. It will take all Georgiana and Anne's considerable matchmaking talents to ensure that Elizabeth and Darcy are reunited in time to claim their happily ever after.

Plot:

It is Anne who is the matchmaker in this one, after she finds out that Darcy loves Lizzy she puts a plan in motion to get these two together. While Georgiana starts to figure out the clues and later wants to help to see her brother happy.

My thoughts:

I do love my Jane Austen variations, and this one introduces Anne in such a new light. She is quiet, but that is mostly because of her mother. When she is with her cousins she is another woman, but still she is ill and will therefore never marry. I did like this new portrait of Anne. Georgiana was different too, not at all shy but lively and could easily speak with others.

But the rest was just as usual, Lizzy and Darcy were true to the original story, Wickham a scoundrel as usual. One thing happened though and that is that Jane got another suitor. What happened with that you just have to read and find out.

This was a nice variation that kept close to the real story, just that instead of them finding their way to each other we see that someone else is pushing behind the scenes. Kind of made me wish that Anne could find love too, but alas no, she can't. Still she is a strong woman.

Mr Darcy was as lovely as usual, and honestly can anyone be more horrible than Caroline Bingley? That woman drives me crazy.

My final thoughts and recommendation:

Yes for the Austen fans, and for the rest of you too. I liked the fact that this one stayed very true to the course of the story, well fairly close. A 3,5 since it was amusing, sweet, and a good dose of Austen. I enjoyed the tale, and especially Miss Anne de Bourgh.

Reason for reading:

I love JA variations!

Cover:

Not liking it actually

Copy from the publisher