Mr. Darcy’s Christmas: A Darcy Novella, by Elizabeth Aston – A Review

The holiday season is greatly anticipated in my home. I love decorating my tree with my collection of glass ornaments and baking my favorite treats such as my golden fruit cake.

To add to the festivities there are always new Christmas themed books available for those who love to escape into another holiday wonderland. If, that happens to be a Jane Austen-inspired Christmas, then so much the better.

In the past, we have been treated to a holiday escape at Pemberley with Mr. & Mrs. Darcy with: A Darcy Christmas; A Christmas at Pemberley; and recently Christmas with Mr. Darcy. Imagine my delight when I learned last week that the renowned Austenesque author Elizabeth Aston had released her own Pride and Prejudice-inspired novella, Mr. Darcy’s Christmas! It only took me 15 seconds to purchase and download it to my NOOK and I was reading it. And—what a treat it is…

As the newly engaged Georgiana Darcy travels home with her brother by carriage from London to Pemberley to celebrate the holiday with his family, she reflects upon her safe choice of a fiancé, Mr. Moresby, and the man that she passed by, the dashing but dangerous Captain Daunton. Safe is a place that she craves to be after her near-fatal elopement five years ago with George Wickham, the son of her deceased father’s steward. Wickham had later proved that he was indeed a scheming cad when he had eloped with Mr. Darcy’s wife Elizabeth’s younger sister Lydia. Mr. Moresby’s prudential views might be stifling, but he was a man of rank and high regard, enough of a catch to attract the attention of Caroline Bingley, who is bitter over his choice of bride. When she learns from her maid of Georgiana’s almost elopement from Ramsgate at age fifteen, she uses this scandalous information to drive a wedge between Mr. Moresby and his new fiancé.

Her struggle with her conscience had been brief, and any concerns about the bonds of friendship quickly dismissed. She owed it to Mr. Moresby to tell him the truth about his betrothed, he deserved to know that she was not what she seemed, that the oh-so-perfect Georgiana Darcy was a young woman with a past. (81)

Happily, among the guest attending the holiday festivities is Colonel Giles Hawkins, an old friend of Mr. Darcy who befriends the distressed Miss Darcy and offers a surprising conclusion to the story.

Aston has brought together all the key players from Austen’s classic tale: Mr. & Mrs. Darcy. Mr. & Mrs. Bingley, Georgiana Darcy, Caroline Bingley, and others and introduced new characters in this delightful, heartwarming continuation. She sets the season with all the trimmings and traditions during the Regency-era: yule logs, garland, mulled wine and fruitcake, adding in an engaging story with a whiff of scandal, heartbreak, and joyful family celebration. This irresistible Christmas confection should be the star on your holiday book tree. I recommend it highly.

4 out of 5 Stars

Mr. Darcy’s Christmas: A Darcy Novella, by Elizabeth Aston
Belsyre Books Re-issue (2013)
ebook (69) pages
ASIN: B00HG1GDX4

AMAZON | GOODREADS

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Cover image courtesy of Belsyre Books © 2013; text Laurel Ann Nattress © 2012, Austenprose.com