From the Publisher:
Spring 1944 - Britain is now in its fourth year of war. In order to defeat Adolph Hitler and his Nazis, everyone in the country must do his or her bit. While a young Elizabeth Bennet makes her contribution by driving a lorry, Fitzwilliam Darcy flies Lancaster bombers over Germany. Because of the war, both are wary of falling in love, but when the two meet near an airbase in Hertfordshire, all bets are off.
Set against the background of World War II, in Darcy Goes to War, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy battle something more than class differences. The greatest evil of the 20th Century is trying to bring Britain to its knees. In order to be together, they must survive the war.
With the aftermath of war as a daily reminder of devastation and destruction, Mary Simonsen uses the Bennets to show readers the hardships many families faced during World War II and how people coped.
Spring 1944 - Britain is now in its fourth year of war. In order to defeat Adolph Hitler and his Nazis, everyone in the country must do his or her bit. While a young Elizabeth Bennet makes her contribution by driving a lorry, Fitzwilliam Darcy flies Lancaster bombers over Germany. Because of the war, both are wary of falling in love, but when the two meet near an airbase in Hertfordshire, all bets are off.
Set against the background of World War II, in Darcy Goes to War, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy battle something more than class differences. The greatest evil of the 20th Century is trying to bring Britain to its knees. In order to be together, they must survive the war.
With the aftermath of war as a daily reminder of devastation and destruction, Mary Simonsen uses the Bennets to show readers the hardships many families faced during World War II and how people coped.
In a time when friends, families, and communities pulled
together as a nation to help support each other and the troops, and defeat the
Nazis, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy have a greater challenge before
them than the disparity of their situations in life. As a lorry driver,
Elizabeth has been exposed to the consequences a country at war faces. Having
witnessed devastation firsthand during the first years of the war, Elizabeth
has built up a defense mechanism of keeping men at bay, a task she has been
rather successful at until she encounters Flight Lieutenant Darcy. While their
friendship gets off to a bumpy start, Darcy is quick to make amends for his
cutting remark, showing us a softer side to Darcy. Realizing Elizabeth must be in his life, Darcy turns on the
charm to woo her. Here, Darcy’s one-liner come-on lines and sexually charged,
humorous remarks help to lighten the mood created by the severity of the war. Can
Elizabeth maintain her resolve to not get romantically involved until the war
ends? Will she be able to open her heart and trust Darcy, knowing she is taking
a huge risk?
Simonsen once again exhibits her talent as a writer with her
ability to take a tragic event and not only connect it to Pride and Prejudice, but also deliver a captivating account about
the war while maintaining its sobriety and peppering the text with humor,
aiding in the reality of the situation.
In any circumstance, people face adversity differently. Each
member of the Bennet family deals with the war in a different way. Even though this isn’t the Regency and the issues
faced are more serious than having one’s relations involved in trade, Simonsen
captured key characteristics of Austen’s characters. Having experienced enough
ramifications of the war firsthand, Jane refuses to focus on the negative,
while Lydia and Kitty’s main concerns are Hollywood, who will be holding the
next dance and which officers will be in attendance.
Darcy Goes to War paints
such a real picture of the war, I felt as if I was experiencing the hardships
alongside the characters. If you want to experience what citizens faced during
WWII, this book offers that. I liked that not only was I being entertained by a
wonderful romance story, but I was also learning interesting facts about WWII
and feeling empathy for what people dealt with daily. This is a fantastic read
for any Pride and Prejudice lover,
WWII enthusiast, or historical romance fan.
*Stop back Thursday to watch my vlog for Darcy Goes to War AND for extra opportunities to enter the giveaway!!*
***GIVEAWAY TIME***
Mary Simonsen is kindly donating ONE EBOOK COPY (Kindle or Nook) of Darcy Goes to War to one lucky commenter! OPEN INTERNATIONALLY!! To enter, please leave a comment then fill out the Rafflecopter form. The winner will be chosen on Wednesday, September 26 by the magical Rafflecopter!
Lovely review, Jakki! I must have this book! Everything I have read about it sounds wonderful. I love stories set in WWII and with Darcy and Elizabeth...what could be better!!=))
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway!
Hi Kelli! I too love a good WWII story, and Lizzy & Darcy! This book reminded me of a mixture of Mary's Darcy on the Hudson and Searching for Pemberley. I hope you enjoy it too! :)
DeleteThanks for posting your review. I'm still trying to get my head around Elizabeth and Darcy in 20th century England but from your review, looks like it was successfully done. Would love to win a copy of this book. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susied! One of my favorite genres of Austen re-imaginings is seeing how each author adapts Darcy and Elizabeth to a different time period than the Regency. I am always curious to know their occupations and what characteristics the author chooses to highlight. I hope you enjoy this book! Good luck with the giveaway!
DeleteOoh this sounds good! I agree with you, it's a wonderful way to learn history and be entertained at the same time.
ReplyDeleteIt's like learning and you don't even know it, Ceri! ;)
DeleteHi Jakki. Thanks for your wonderful review. I'm so glad you enjoyed the book. And thanks to Kelli, Susie and Ceri for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteNice review, Jakki! It looks like you enjoyed the story as much as I did!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Candy! I did enjoy it! Though with all the components, how could I not? ;)
DeleteAlthough I have a difficult time getting 'in' to Austenesque books that are not set in Regency times, this one does sound like it would be worth the venture to a different period. Great review, Jakki. Thanks and thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteHi Janet! While I love the Regency, I do find great enjoyment in seeing how authors take our favorite couple and placed them in different times. What spin will they put on the story? What will they choose to parallel and what will they choose to originate? I am always amazed at authors' creativity! I hope you find it believable! :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and good luck with the giveaway! :)
Jakki, I already wanted to get this book. Now after reading your review I know that I must! I love WWII history and Darcy & Elizabeth in the 40's sounds challenging! Can't wait! Can you count one more entry for me since I posted on my page? LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, ma'am! I hope you get a chance to read this! Best of luck with the giveaway! :)
DeleteI love P&P, historical romance, and all things England between and during the wars, so I think I HAVE to read this. Plus, your review has made me very curious about Darcy as a charming flyboy :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Heather! I hope I do not disappoint in my review! I always want to give my honest and unbiased opinions and ones readers can trust! I hope you get a chance to read this and enjoy it! If I was Elizabeth, I may have fallen for Darcy's first pick up line! :)
DeleteGood luck in the giveaway! :)
Hello again. I'm stopping in to thank all you lovely ladies for dropping by. Good luck to everyone!
ReplyDeleteReally looking forward to this story Mary! Amy Z
ReplyDeleteHi Amy! Thanks for stopping by! :)
DeleteGreat review! I can't wait to read this book, especially after you said, "Darcy Goes to War paints such a real picture of the war." Mary is fearless in putting the P&P characters in different time periods, and I love that about her.
ReplyDeleteAnna, I had you in mind the whole time I was reading this! I think this book is right up your ally! Can't wait to read your review and hear your thoughts! :) I agree, Mary is fearless! :)
DeleteI like your point about everyone facing war differently. I'm really intrigued by this relatively modern P&P story.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your review!
Hi Sophia Rose! I did find it interesting how people dealt with the war differently, and each were affected by the war differently. I think that helped the story feel real. Hope you enjoy it! :)
DeleteHiya Jakki! Wonderful review. I'm always impressed by how much you can get across in just a paragraph or two. I'm learning! Well, hopefully. Lol
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read this. I've already decided that if I don't win it, it's on the list of books I'm buying for my Almost-Birthday-Splurge-List next month. I was wondering exactly how charming Darcy would be at first, if he went after her right away, etc. I know Darcy usually deliberates about her but I'm guessing with the war they may not have the luxury of time. And once he makes up his mind it's full steam ahead ;)
I think you are right about not having the luxury of time, Monica. Funny how different circumstances can change that about a person.
DeleteSo you have a birthday coming up? You will be not yet one and twenty, correct? I'll work on getting a Darcy and cake for you!
You are a great writer, Monica! Think of all the people you make laugh with your witty repartee! :) Thanks for the kind words about my review. Sometimes it can be rather challenging to get my thoughts on paper.
A delightful review, Jakki. I like reading your reviews as it capture the essential points of the story and leaving a teaser for readers who want to get the book. As a fellow reviewer, I strive to do just the same but I'm afraid I give too much away. :P
ReplyDeleteHI Luthien! Thanks so much for the kind words. :) I think that is one of the hard parts about writing a review: making it interesting with teasers yet not giving away too much. It's a tough balance. Have a wonderful day! :)
DeleteI just love the idea of Darcy and Elizabeth during WWII. I can't wait to read this!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Margaret! I hope you enjoy the book! Best of luck with the giveaway! :)
DeleteWell, the Bday's not til November but there are so many books I want right now that it's killing me not to just get them. And I really want to get a kindle too. Slowly but surely I'm moving to 21st century technology lol.
ReplyDeleteThat's me, Ms Not-One-and-Twenty Forever! Me and Miss Bingley. ;) Yay, Darcy in a cake! Or on a cake. Or with a cake. It's all good.
Between you and Candy, I've *got* to read this, haha ... Love war stories, also love Darcy ... win-win? :o) I think so ;o)
ReplyDeleteIt is a win-win, Rebecca! Hope you win a copy from somewhere! :) Good Luck!!
DeleteGreat post Jakki! I'm really looking forward to reading this. Mary is such a good writer...I'm stalking her! :)
ReplyDeleteJune, I have stalked many authors. When they do a blog tour and giveaways of new books, it is the best way to learn more about the book and possibly win a copy. Sometimes I wonder if they get tired of me following (stalking) them through the blogosphere! ;)
DeleteHello everyone. So many familiar names. Isn't this fun! BTW, I like being stalked. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's good, Mary! It seems you have quite a following! :)
DeleteI cannot wait to read this!
ReplyDeleteI would love to say thank you to each of you, but my grandkids are on the way! And that's that. Thanks so much for stopping by. Good luck in the drawing.
ReplyDeleteI watched the vlog first this time....now I have to comment here too ;).
ReplyDeleteI, like some here saying already too, have a hard time too sometimes getting into a book with familiar storyline not set in Regency. Maybe it´s not knowing what to expect because the time-period is different, but having a story that you know so well. Confusing! :D
But one of my all time favs is a modern retelling (Juliet Archers Persuade Me.
And historical events and Jane Austen combined is always interesting (see The Three Colonels by Jack Caldwell), so I´ll definitly look into this book as well. :)
Jakki, what would I do without you reviews?? (I´d have a lot less to read :D.) All the books I wouldn´t know!