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Elizabeth was in her room reading when Mrs. Hill came upstairs to announce that Mr. Darcy was in the parlor and would like to see her. This news generated little excitement. Mr. Darcy had been in her parlor on many occasions, always with the same request: “May I ask that you join me for a walk in the garden?”
The first dozen times, Lizzy had been truly excited because it was obvious that Mr. Darcy liked her very much. The next few times, she was equally flattered by his requests because she was convinced that all of this attention, paid over the course of the six months since Jane and Charles had married, was leading to a request that they begin a formal courtship. But then some urgent business would call him back to Pemberley, and he would be gone for a week or, as had happened in June, for the entire month. When he returned, he would be back in the Bennet parlor as happy as a puppy to see his mistress. But she had tired of this routine, and today she was going to tell him so.
Lizzy went into the parlor and found Mr. Darcy standing in front of the window. The outside light served to create a silhouette of the master of Pemberley, and it was a very flattering one: tall, with wavy hair, a strong chin, broad chest, narrow waist, muscular thighs, and excellent calves. My goodness, he was a handsome man—and an excited one. He nearly sprinted across the room to greet her. If the room had been as large as the parlor at Pemberley, she thought that he might have leapt over the tea table to get to her. There was never a lack of enthusiasm on his part when he did come calling, making his behavior all the more puzzling.
Mrs. Bennet, Kitty, and Mary remained in the parlor with Lizzy while Mr. Darcy, who was staying with the Bingleys, shared the latest news about Jane and Charles, including their decision to renew the lease on Netherfield Park. Without embarrassment, an unusual circumstance for a man discussing an expectant mother, he also shared that Jane was looking hale and hearty, and not showing any discomfort in carrying “her lone offspring.” This news was well received, earning smiles all around, and after some additional small talk, the superfluous Bennets rose and departed.
As on every other occasion, Mrs. Bennet was convinced that “today was the day” when Mr. Darcy would ask Lizzy to be his wife, and she gave her daughter a knowing smile on her way out. With the door left slightly ajar, Lizzy listened for the retreating footsteps of her mother and sisters. After she was sure that Mama was not eavesdropping, she turned to Mr. Darcy. “You said Jane was experiencing no difficulty in carrying ‘her lone offspring.’ That is a very peculiar way of phrasing it. One child is the rule, not the exception, Mr. Darcy.”
“I imagine that did sound odd,” he said, fidgeting. “Our Newfoundland recently had a litter. I guess that was in the back of my mind when I made that comment.”
Lizzy nodded, but asked no questions about the furry arrivals at Pemberley. Although she usually took the lead in their conversations, she was of no mind to do so today. When the gentleman asked if they might go for a walk in the park, Lizzy stated that she preferred to remain indoors.
“But the weather is absolutely perfect for a brisk walk.”
“Mr. Darcy, we have been fortunate on your many visits to have had good weather. However, I am not inclined to walk today. Maybe on your next visit or the one after that or the one after that, we may go for a walk.”
“Elizabeth, you are out of sorts with me, and I do not blame you. I know my coming and going has been an irritant to you.”
Yes, an irritant and inexplicable. Your excuses for your frequent absences never satisfy.
“But my purpose today is to invite you to Pemberley. My cousin, Anne de Bourgh, is coming with my sister from London, so that we might all go together.” Mr. Darcy came and sat next to Lizzy on the sofa and took her hands in his. “If your parents approve, I would like to set out as soon as possible because there is something I would like to share with you, but I must do it at Pemberley.”
Lizzy’s mood altered immediately, and she was so bold as to kiss him on the cheek. But Mr. Darcy was even bolder, and he put his hand on her neck and brought her toward him. Her kiss was as wonderful as he had imagined it would be, and he could feel the heat rising. Reluctantly, he let her go, but whispered. “Everything will be decided at Pemberley. Will you come?” Lizzy went to the library to get her father’s permission to go to Derbyshire with Mr. Darcy.

This book is written with enough originality, whimsy and respect for Jane Austen’s style to make it stand out in the crowded field of Austen genre mash-ups. Simonsen revisits Darcy and Elizabeth’s tempestuous courtship and provides an explanation for Darcy’s erratic behavior: He’s a werewolf. Bitten on a childhood sojourn in Europe, Darcy has guarded his secret: He transforms at the full moon.

Because Simonsen carefully imagines how a werewolf nobleman would adapt to society and how that would play out with Austen’s characters, the story works as earnest rather than camp. After Darcy reveals his nature to Elizabeth, she must decide whether she still loves him. Simonsen’s characterizations are faithful to Austen, but engagingly playful with the possibilities of a werewolf double-life. His werewolf nature connects Darcy to the passions of the natural world, letting Simonsen ratchet up the couple’s romance. The classic love story between Elizabeth and Darcy holds firm, even if things do get a little hairy once a month.

I have loved all of Mary Lydon Simonsen’s books. I was a bit concerned about this one because paranormal adaptations of Jane Austen books either tend to be amazing or complete failures for me. There really is no middle ground.

First of all, Mary Lydon Simonsen captured Lizzy perfectly. Of all the Lizzys I have encountered, this is the best one. She was strong, capable, and kickass. She also had the wit and vivacity that I have come to expect from Lizzy in all adaptations. I have encountered Darcy in many forms but never as a werewolf. To tell you the truth, I could not see Darcy as a convincing werewolf at all but this one convinced me. It turned out that it worked perfectly and, perhaps, even better than Darcy as a vampire. He was also quite adorable at times which made it even better.

I absolutely loved the shapeshifter storyline. I do have to admit that I was surprised at how well it meshed into the Pride and Prejudice world. I also loved that there was real competition for Lizzy. Nell wasn’t flimsy competition at all. There were real reasons for Darcy to pick Nell. I mean, any Pride and Prejudice fan knows that there is nothing better than Lizzy and Darcy but there was some real competition with Nell. I did love the inclusion of Georgiana and Anne. They acted as Lizzy’s guides in the world of shapeshifters and pack life. I did sort of miss Caroline though. Never thought I would say that…

Simonsen’s clever reimagining of Pride and Prejudice presupposes that Fitzwilliam Darcy, at age 14 on a trip to the Continent with his father, was nicked by a werewolf. As followers of the lore know, this turns Mr. Darcy into a werewolf. Now Darcy finds himself in love with the spirited Elizabeth Bennet, but he’s unsure if she will accept him, even with his hundreds per annum and his huge estate. He knows he must tell her about his not totally human state and see if she will accept him as such. When she does, he is thrilled, but the she-wolf in his local pack, where he is alpha, is jealous. Pack business, including an unruly member with royal ties, takes much of Darcy’s time and concentration, something Elizabeth must resign herself to bearing if she is going to marry a pack master. Simonsen plausibly and intricately weaves in Jane Austen’s plot and dialogue to create an entertaining pastiche of the original.

Here’s a good read just in time for Halloween! A Pride and Prejudice werewolf story. But this isn’t your typical werewolf story, it is a romance. Oh, Mr. Darcy is most definitely a werewolf but this is not a gruesome story. In fact, Mary Simonsen made the whole werewolf thing very interesting and surprisingly organized!
After months of Mr. Darcy calling on Elizabeth, he still hasn’t proposed and Elizabeth is getting annoyed by the whole business. Mr. Darcy is trying to figure out how tell Elizabeth that he is a werewolf. He takes her to Pemberley to tell her. While there she learns a lot about the werewolf community. She realizes the danger Darcy is in and how he needs someone next to him who can help him. She also discovers that he is not alone in the woods...there is a female wolf with him.
One of my favorite characters is Lord Fitzwilliam, the Colonel’s older brother. I love that he is a reoccurring character in Mary’s stories! He is such a lovable scoundrel! Another favorite of mine is Lady Marguerite, Darcy’s aunt on his father’s side. She is a straight forward person who tells it like it is. What a hoot! I enjoy characters like that! Mr. Darcy has also surrounded himself with an incredible staff.
I could go on and talk about another scene in the story that I love but I don’t want to spoil it for you! Let’s just say I really liked this story!

I love adaptations of Pride & Prejudice, although when it comes to paranormal versions of the novel I am a bit hesitant. The storyline needs to be believable, one misstep in the believability and the novel goes down the drain and I am happy to report that Mr. Darcy’s Bite was believable. What I am about to say may sound a bit odd, but I can truly see Mr. Darcy as a werewolf. That would explain his character traits, so I believe that this type of paranormal fits better than the others that I have read.

I had previously read and enjoyed A Wife for Mr. Darcy so when I started reading Mr. Darcy’s Bite, I was happy to see that the characters of Darcy and Elizabeth remained the same, other than the whole I’m-a-werewolf-can-you-still-love-me aspect of it.

I do have one complaint about this book-it could have been longer, although I may just be saying that because I never wanted this novel to end.

Overall, Mr. Darcy’s Bite was an adorable paranormal take on the love story that is Darcy and Elizabeth. If you want an amazing addition to your P&P collection, then you definitely need to give this book a go.

A fresh, original paranormal Jane Austen sequel by bestselling author Mary Simonsen explores Mr. Darcy as the leader of a secret world of werewolves threatened with extinction.

Just when you thought you’d understood all of Mr. Darcy’s eccentricities and complexities, Mary Lydon Simonsen shines a new light on our favorite timeless hero. After months of courting the clever and witty Miss Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy seems to show no interest in her at all, rather beginning to act quite strange with each passing of the full moon. Little does Elizabeth know, her lover is part of a pack that is in midst of a crisis, which he must help solve. Elizabeth will need to give much more of her faith and courage to join Darcy in this new and supernatural world. Mary Lydon Simonsen turns Jane Austen’s classical tale into a maze of twists and thrills, perfect in time for Halloween.

Synopsis:
This fresh, original paranormal Jane Austen sequel by bestselling author Mary Lydon Simonson explores Mr. Darcy as the leader of a secret world of werewolves threatened with extinction. Elizabeth comes to realize that she loves him in both his incarnations, and all his servants protect his secret. But then Elizabeth must confront a shocking danger to her beloved with every full moon, when Darcy is alone and exposed to those who hate wolves...

First thoughts when I finished the last sentence: "That was a fun, different twist on P&P with a werewolf thrown in for good measure!"

It goes without saying that I’m a sucker for Mr. Darcy...well, I found out that I also like him when he’s a werewolf too!!! This story was just fun and I’m glad that the author didn’t take the "werewolf" thing too far, otherwise it would’ve felt very cliche. I thought it was just right and added that little twist to the story that made it enjoyable.

"You are shivering. I am sorry it is not warmer in here."
Lizzy stood up and put her arms around her husband’s neck and pulled his face to hers. "Why don’t you warm me up the same way you did last night?"
(from Mr. Darcy’s Bite page 267 in the ARC; finished version may be different)


Recommend? Sure...especially to those that adore Darcy and Lizzy’s story as much as I do. It’s always fun to shake up Austen’s world and to read about this couple in different settings and situations!!


Mary Lydon Simonsen effortlessly blends the iconic characters of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice with the ever popular supernatural beings of the paranormal world, in her latest release, Mr. Darcy’s Bite. Simonsen is no stranger to Austen’s Regency world, but this book is a departure from her normal Austen inspired writing. Taking on the world of vampires and werewolves is often not easy, since these kinds of characters tend to overwhelm most stories, but Simonsen is able to balance the romantic world of Darcy and Elizabeth against this magical realm with confidence and ease.


Darcy is considered by many to be the ultimate hero in romantic fiction. Once confronted with his weaknesses Darcy transforms himself into a man whose loyalty and protective nature are legendary. In Simonsen’s latest offering Mr. Darcy has a problem, he is drawn to Elizabeth Bennet despite his inner misgivings about his condition. His transformation in this book is both literal and figurative. But Darcy is still Darcy. Even in his werewolf form he is a leader, with a commanding presence. He looks after those in this care with the same diligence and love we expect from him. Instead of making Darcy into a monster, Simonsen stays true Austen’s original portrayal of him, which I thought was what really allowed the paranormal element to work.


The overall premise of the book is that Elizabeth and Darcy are facing a huge obstacle in their lives, but true love is able to win out. I think Simonsen did a fantastic job of using the paranormal part of the story to enhance the romance instead of take it over. Darcy’s werewolf is just as passionate as his human self and there is an added element of sensuality that isn’t present in Austen’s work, but has become synonymous with Simonsen’s writing. I think too many romance writers today spell out too much. Simonsen leaves enough to the imagination to give the reader something to think about. She also uses a fair amount of humor in the playful dialogue between Darcy and Elizabeth and I believe readers will pick up on it and enjoy the exchanges between them.


Simonsen has created a paranormal version of Pride and Prejudice that remains true to the love between between the two characters while adding a new dimension to the story. I recommend this one to both Austen inspired fiction fans and romance lovers. Simonsen adds just enough of both elements to balance both worlds and still provide a riveting and emotional book. I think readers will still find much of the Darcy they love, while finding new parts of his personality to like as well. Elizabeth is still the intelligent and impertinent woman readers know and love, but she is more willing to accept that life is not always as it seems. A great blend of romance with a paranormal twist!

Mr. Darcy’s Bite is Mary Lydon Simonsen’s latest take on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and I must admit that it’s one of the best Austenesque novels I’ve read so far (and regular readers of my blog know that I read a lot of them). Most of these variations put an obstacle in Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet’s road to happiness, and Simonsen’s is no different, but what makes Mr. Darcy’s Bite unique is the severity of the challenge the two must overcome.

Simonsen’s novel opens after Bingley and Jane are married and settled at Netherfield, and Darcy and Elizabeth have already acknowledged their attraction to one another. However, their courtship is not normal, and Elizabeth is a little distressed about the fact that Darcy comes and goes for periods of time without asking for her hand. Less than 20 pages into the book, Darcy confides in Elizabeth that he has a secret that she can tell no one: he is a werewolf, scratched by a she wolf as a young boy and forced to endure the transformation from man to wolf and back again for two nights a month beginning with the full moon.

Elizabeth must think long and hard about whether she wants to marry a werewolf, as everything in their lives must be planned around the lunar calendar and Darcy’s secret cannot be shared with her family, not even her closest sister, Jane. Keeping the secret is necessary to protect Darcy, his family, and his pack — which includes Nell, a she wolf with a careless tongue and designs on Darcy.

Simonsen includes little tidbits about werewolves and the Council that oversees them, as Elizabeth learns what it would be like to be Mrs. Darcy. But at its core, Mr. Darcy’s Bite is a love story, with tenderness, playful banter, and even a little spice. Simonsen does a wonderful job creating delightful secondary characters, from the flirty Lord Fitzwilliam who enjoys making Mrs. Gardiner blush to Darcy’s feisty Aunt Marguerite who gives Elizabeth some sneaky advice for handling werewolves. She also has fun with Austen’s supporting cast, with Georgiana fitting in with Elizabeth’s family and Anne de Bourgh standing up to her formidable mother, Lady Catherine.

Mr. Darcy’s Bite stays true to Austen’s characters, with the humor and wit I loved in Pride and Prejudice. Simonsen uses werewolves not to create a haunting atmosphere but to further the love story, showing how nothing can stand in the way of true love…and it helps that one particular wolf has Darcy’s striking eyes and sleek form. My only problem with this book was that it was too short, as I loved the world in which Simonsen placed Austen’s characters and I wasn’t ready to let them go.

Mr. Darcy a werewolf? Really?

Yes, really, in Mary Lydon Simonsen’s wonderful Regency take on the paranormal, Mr. Darcy’s Bite.

For months, Darcy has visited Elizabeth. To all appearances, he wants to court her, but he has yet to make a declaration. At last, Elizabeth has had enough. With the love of his life about to dismiss him forever, Darcy has no choice but to reveal he is a werewolf.

Of all the reasons Darcy would hesitate to marry her, Elizabeth never imagined this. She loves him, but does she want to wed a man who grows fangs and fur every month?

In general, I don’t care for paranormal in historicals. The paranormal can easily overwhelm the history, and combining the genres in the correct proportions to satisfy the historical reader is a delicate operation. In Mr. Darcy’s Bite, Mary Lydon Simonsen has succeeded in crafting a story true to Regency sensibilities within the framework of an almost done-to-death paranormal motif.

Ms. Simonsen uses Darcy’s unusual condition to heighten both the conflict and the emotion. Both Elizabeth and Darcy agonize over whether marriage would help or hurt the other, without realizing their doubts manifest their true love. Her scrupulous attention to the Regency world allows us to believe Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s love and a little humor will allow them to adapt to a marriage in which Darcy runs on four feet once a month. I like that Ms. Simonsen has presented Darcy’s lycanthropy as more curse than blessing. Darcy is already a hero for the ages, and using his werewolfism to turn him into a Regency superman would dilute his appeal. And I like the ending, where two truly become one.

The blurb did have me thinking that someone was after werewolves and that there would be danger and so on. But there was not anything like that in this book. No, this book is about Darcy and Lizzie being in love, but Darcy never proposes. Something is wrong and Lizzie is growing restless. He obviously likes her so what is the matter?!

This is where the drama comes in, he is a werewolf and of course she is shocked to learn the truth. Who would not be? She is not really prepared for anything like this so there is a shaky times when she tries to come term with it, and then there is another lady who wants Darcy too. Which brings some extra tension to the book. But we all know they will end up together, that is always promised.

Honestly, yes I can see Darcy as a werewolf. That explains somethings in a way and it just fits him. Especially when we get to see him as a wolf, there is just a playful side to him that does not always come out when he is human. He is just a great alpha.

It was another sweet book. They got to know each other, there were a few misunderstandings, and everyone lived happily ever after.

Conclusion:
If you want something extra in your JA variation then go for this one, you will love Mr. Darcy as a werewolf.

Mr. Darcy’s Bite was a highly anticipated novel for me. Three loves came together making this book fantastic. Combine my love of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, paranormal literature, and a favorite author Mary Lydon Simonsen, and you get a great re-imagining that I simply couldn’t put down.

In this variation of Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy continues calling on Elizabeth despite the fact that he is a werewolf. He tries, but the impediments of being a werewolf can’t stop him from abandoning hope of being together with Elizabeth. Elizabeth travels with Darcy to Pemberley hoping for a proposal only to have Darcy reveal his secret to her. Initially she is unable to get over the shock, but slowly Georgiana Darcy and Ann DeBourgh work on her until she is able to accept him. The story is complete with a rival for Elizabeth and the well developed secondary characters that Simonsen is so good at including.

I found this novel to be more romantic and salacious than her other novels. It was by no means raunchy or obscene, but it was a bit more sultry than her other pieces I have read. Often times with P&P variations, they are so packed with lusty passages between Darcy and Elizabeth the tale of their angst and misunderstanding each other is forgotten and pushed aside to make more room for secret rendezvous. What I enjoy about Simonsen’s re-tellings are the plot is always so thick and well developed, being the forefront of the story. Her secondary characters propel the story forward and her descriptions cause the pages to turn themselves. The ending is amazing! How I never saw it coming... I do not know, but it will cause tears in any true Austen fan!

What is this now, number seven I have read by Simonsen? Each one is better than the last... I promise!

Mr. Darcy has seemingly been courting Elizabeth Bennett for months, but hasn’t popped the question. Elizabeth wonders what Mr. Darcy’s purpose could be, after all Jane and Bingley have been married for over six months. Darcy invites Elizabeth to Pemberley along with his sister and cousin, Anne, and promises to reveal a secret, which will affect Elizabeth’s decision about him as a husband.

When I read the blurb for this book, I was intrigued. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book and werewolf/shapeshifter romances are my favorite genre. A combination of the two seemed like a dream come true, and Mr. Darcy’s Bite doesn’t disappoint. The only small quibble, that I had with the book was that the author’s voice seemed a little to modern at times. However, this didn’t detract much from the enjoyment of the book as a whole. Darcy and Elizabeth are the same great couple, that I expected, and I was happy to see Anne get a bigger role in this book.

All in all, Mr. Darcy’s Bite is a great read, which I highly recommend.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Be not alarmed, dear readers, on reading this novel, by the apprehension of its containing anything gory, monstrous, or violent, which might be repugnant to many an Austenesque reader. It is just a tale about a wealthy and illustrious gentleman, who, because of an unfortunate encounter with a werewolf several years ago, spends two days and nights each lunar cycle as a werewolf roaming the forests and howling at the moon near his ancestral home. Oh...and the gentleman just happens to Fitzwilliam Darcy!

Elizabeth got over her prejudice and her pride, now she must find a way to get over the fact that the man she is in love with is a werewolf. Before proposing, Darcy invites Elizabeth to Pemberley, and discloses his secret just before the full moon, giving her a chance to see him as a werewolf and determine whether or not she wants to remain by his side. Helping Elizabeth understand Darcy’s transformation and assuage her concerns are Georgiana Darcy and Anne de Bourgh, who earnestly hope that Elizabeth will consent to being Fitzwilliam’s wife!

As one of Mary Simonsen’s many admirers, I follow her wherever she goes! This time, instead of combining World War II and Jane Austen or creating a light-hearted spoof with Persuasion, she is dipping into the paranormal genre with a pack of werewolves. Similar to the novels by Amanda Grange, Regina Jeffers, and Ola Wegner, this tale is much more of a love story than a terrifying adventure that induces nightmares. My favorite aspect about this novel was seeing Elizabeth deal with Ms. Simonsen’s creation, Lady Helen – a beautiful and wealthy heiress/she-wolf who just happens to have her eye on Mr. Darcy! She was definitely a Caroline Binlgey sort of character and the added drama and rivalry between her and Elizabeth was fun to witness!

If you have read one of Ms. Simonsen’s other novels (The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, A Wife for Mr. Darcy), you might have realized she loves to write about Georgiana, Anne, and Colonel Fitzwilliam’s older brother, Lord Fitzwilliam. In these novels, Georgiana and Anne are usually very instrumental to bringing Darcy and Elizabeth together, and Lord Fitzwilliam is usually causing trouble! I loved once again encountering these “regulars,” especially Lord Fitzwilliam, who is as eccentric as a Heyer character! In addition, I loved meeting a new Darcy family relative, Aunt Maguerite, a feisty old battleaxe, who isn’t afraid of speaking her mind. (Don’t worry, she is much more lovable than Lady Catherine!)

Mr. Darcy’s Bite is the perfect novel for those Austenesque readers who are wanting to branch out try a paranormal novel/Austen mash-up but not wanting something graphic or violent. An entertaining, light read – perfect for October!

What do you get when you cross Pride and Prejudice with werewolves? You get a dark and adventurous tale that follows Lizzy and Darcy as they grapple with a definite twist that has arisen in their relationship. This time, Mary Lydon Simonsen takes us on a journey where we follow our beloved couple as they encounter something that Jane could never have imagined when she originally put pen to paper.

Elizabeth Bennet is distraught. Fitzwilliam Darcy has been courting her for months and there is still no marriage proposal. Her mother, father, and even sister Jane keep pressuring her about what’s taking so long. Ready to give up on ever receiving a proposal, Darcy shows up begging Elizabeth to travel to Pemberley with him so that he can reveal a secret to her. If she doesn’t run away from him upon hearing this secret, then he’ll have a question for her. Nervous about what his secret is, Elizabeth agrees to the trip and makes the trek to Pemberley with him. Her first night at Pemberley, Darcy reveals that years earlier he was bitten by a werewolf and that for two days every month he turns into one himself. Elizabeth is shocked and cannot fathom all that she’s being told, yet promises to wait for him to return from his transformation before making a decision about their relationship. What will Elizabeth do when she sees Darcy in his wolf form? Will she stand by his side and marry him, or will she cut ties and end their relationship?

Having read Mr. Darcy Vampyre, by Amanda Grange and come away with a less than stellar opinion, I was super nervous at reading another Pride and Prejudice fan fiction novel that infused some type of supernatural beings within the plot. Fortunately, Simonsen has made this idea work with Mr. Darcy’s Bite, which seriously impressed me. Unlike another popular vampire work, Twilight, where werewolves appear because of vampires, Simonsen provides an actual realistic explanation for it. The novel is written with fabulous Gothic undertones, creating a dark and spooky reading atmosphere that grips you from cover to cover. The ending was my favorite part! So much so, that I immediately emailed Mary and asked her to write a sequel!

I really enjoyed the changes that Simonsen made to Darcy’s character. Shortly after his transformation we get to see a more playful Darcy that speaks his mind and teases Elizabeth about the things he can “sense” as a werewolf. In turn we see a different Elizabeth that isn’t so proud, and is willing to listen to the advice of those around her. Specifically, the advice of Darcy’s cousin Anne de Bourgh and his little sister Georgiana who are given larger parts, allowing the reader a new opportunity to get to know them!

For those of you who are nervous about dipping your toes into the paranormal fan fiction world, may I highly suggest that you start your journey with Mr. Darcy’s Bite? Not only does it top my JAFF list, but it’s pretty high up on my paranormal reading list as well. You won’t be disappointed!

5 out of 5 Regency Stars

With Halloween and all of the blog-related events — RIP, All Hallow’s Eve, Frightful Fall Read-a-Thon, and Halloween Hootenanny — I’ve selected a few fun horror/spooky reads for October.

I have not officially joined any of the challenges or read-a-thons just because I never know how much reading I can do these days, but I am hosting Stephen King’s IT read-a-long with Anna in which we discuss the 1,000+ page book once per month through the end of the year.

First spooky read for October is Mary Lydon Simonsen’s Mr. Darcy’s Bite, which I shamelessly admit attracted me with its ominous cover.

Simonsen’s latest Pride & Prejudice incarnation, Mr. Darcy’s Bite, begins after the reunion between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy at Pemberley. However, not all is pleasant in paradise because Darcy’s behavior has become peculiar, and he visits her at Longbourn for several months, though with long gaps between visits. Lizzy’s mother keeps pressuring her about when she’s going to get engaged, and Lizzy is becoming concerned that Darcy’s affections for her are not as strong as she had thought. She has plenty of time to stew on her speculations about his behavior, but just as she is about to call him out on his absences, he invites her back to Pemberley. This is where everything changes for them and the challenges begin.

“‘You are very bossy. You order people around with your harsh tone of voice or by pushing them about with your muzzle. You may be the master of Pemberley, but you will not be the master of me. I must be free to speak my mind.’

‘When have you not spoken your mind?’ Darcy stepped away from her, and with his hands behind his back, he recited word for word a part of Elizabeth’s refusal of his offer of marriage.” (page 69 of ARC)

A dark secret is revealed, and Lizzy must determine whether in addition to their class and social differences, this secret changes her feelings for Darcy. Can she overcome the secrecy, live with keeping secrets from her family and friends as a member of the Darcy family, and the monthly absences of her husband? Simonsen captures Lizzy and Darcy’s characters so well from their moments of pride to their moments of misunderstanding. Like her other novels, obstacles are thrown in the path of our love birds, and new characters are introduced, including the conceited Lady Helen Granyard who could rival Austen’s Lady Catherine in pride and social engineering.

Lizzy’s jealousy of Helen’s beauty pales compared to her worries that Helen’s intimate knowledge of the Darcy secret could supplant Darcy’s love for her. What’s also a nice surprise here is that Georgiana gains strength in social encounters, enabling her to confront Lady Catherine at one point when she normally would have demurred. Simonsen evolves the characters of not only Darcy and Elizabeth in this paranormal tale, but that of her secondary characters Georgiana and Anne de Bourgh.

If you’re an Austen purist who can let their hair down a bit, Mr. Darcy’s Bite could fit your need for the paranormal this Halloween season without scaring you senseless. Simonsen’s work is always a delight to read, and Mr. Darcy’s Bite is no exception.

o combine the Regency with parallel paranormal worlds has become a steady and successful reality it seems. Mashup they are called in the fan fiction market and they appeal to both readers who even happen to ignore who Jane Austen was and what her world was like as well as Janeites fond of gothic tales. Will the mashup trend also win new fans over and bring them to read Austen novels? I really hope so.
Mary Lydon Simonsen, after publishing more traditional sequels to Pride and Prejudice like Searching for Pemberley and The Perfect Bride for Mr Darcy, decided to have a try at writing an original paranormal novel following the trend of "Mr. Darcy, Vampyre" by Amanda Grange (35,000 copies sold!). The result is this fresh diverting story in which the characters of Pride and Prejudice quite naturally interact with the mysterious and fascinating world of werewolves.

"As soon as he saw the fire and candles, he froze, and Lizzy froze as well. His eyes darted back and forth, scanning the room, and her heart went into her throat. She barely managed to croak out, "Mr Darcy, it is Elizabeth". But rather than her voice reassuring him, and he told her to come into the light. "What are you doing here?" he asked in an emotionless voice that contrasted sharply with the fire in his eyes. "I’m very sorry, sir. I have made a mistake." She started t walk backwards, but before she could reach the door, he grabbed her roughly by her arm. Now she was truly frightened. "(p. 58)

Mr Darcy with a lean and hungry look ? You can bet on that.
However, before I go further on, you must know that I’m not a fan of paranormal, gothic, horror, mystery, ghost stories. I avoid reading them as much as I can. Moreover, I have never read a mash-up of this kind, combining Austen characters with paranormal events and characters. Hence, you’re not going to read the opinions of an expert or of a fan.

That said, if someone picks up this novel expecting Darcy to be a steamy, beasty werewolf, they will be disappointed with the very sober scenes in which they will learn that Darcy is definitely able to resist his strong instincts. He is an "almost" perfect gentleman, as he "almost" always was. Darcy is here strong tempered, sexy and romantic at the same time. He must disappear every month for a couple of days for there is no denying that the full moon seems to be affecting his behaviour and Elizabeth’s love is going to be tested in ways she never dreamed ...

This time Darcy has more than family pride to protect: he is also the leader of a pack and is responsible for others of his kind.
Elizabeth has got a charming gorgeous rival in Lady Helen and this makes everything spicier: Lady Helen seems determined to get Darcy all for herself. After the initial shocking discovery about Darcy’s past and present hidden nature, Lizzy is puzzled and frightened but she will react and fight back because she doesn’t want to lose the man she loves either. She will fight back with her smart wit and her ingenuity.

I especially liked Mary Lydon Simonsen’s humorous style. She is good with words and there are very amusing pages in this novel, for instance those describing Elizabeth and Darcy engaged in their inevitable skirmishes. It is a delightful paranormal romance that will appeal to mashup fans and to those loving Austen sequels with a new take on familiar events.

In this continuation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy has a supernatural side, as he is a werewolf. He tries to keep himself from falling in love with Elizabeth because of this, but it does not work. He eventually reveals his secret to Elizabeth and asks her to marry him, if she can handle his wolf side. She says she can and the two marry. This book is matter of fact about Darcy being a werewolf and it really does not get in the way of the telling of Darcy and Lizzy’s love story. The writing of this book was very good and kept with Austen’s style. This book fleshed out Austen’s characters in a different way and did it well. I enjoyed the book a lot.