Darcy is more deeply in love with his wife than ever

As the golden summer draws to a close and the Darcys look ahead to the end of their first year of marriage, Mr. Darcy

...

Excerpt from Chapter One

June 23, 1817

Darcy House, London

Imagine my surprise to realize it has been over a month since last jotting my musings in this fine book. Of course, writing while at sea is inconceivable. Egad, I abhor being at sea! Luckily the remedies for seasickness liberally doused down my gullet by the ever faithful Dr. Raul Penaflor staved off the worst of the hideous symptoms. I even managed to walk about a bit on deck. Bracing sea air, my derriere! Nonetheless, I was abed for the bulk of the trip, wallowing too far in my personal hellish misery to complain about the narrow confines of our cabin and odiferous mattress. East India trading ships cater to the needs of cargo far above passengers. We disembarked at Ramsgate. I was quite happy to embrace the rigors of overland travel rather than proceeding up the Thames, but several days of subsequent immobility were required to restore my equilibrium ere we moved beyond that lovely seacoast town. Raul, bless his Spanish heart, rather delighted in my incapacitation as it allotted him the opportunity to ramble through the streets and relish the sights. Poor man has never seen England. How does one live? I ask arrogantly.

Eventually we set off. I did manage to post a letter warning William of my arrival. I hoped it would arrive well enough in advance, although that did not prove to be true. Apparently the mail service of my great country has not improved. Not all can be perfect. Oh well, that is the way of family! I flattered myself that his astounding joy would be profound enough to overwhelm any irritation at my besieging of the newlyweds. This did prove to be true as well as fortuitous, as William had hurt himself, again, and I am sure it was only my timely arrival that saved him from a life of handicap! Ha! However, I am getting ahead of myself, as you know, dear Jharna, I am wont to do.

This trip home has been so anticipated, sea travel notwithstanding. Naturally I was thrilled that Raul wished to accompany me, but even without his companionship I would have had to come. How many hours did I bore you with memories of my homeland, Jharna? Always wishing and praying that you would agree to travel with me. Perhaps I should have prayed to your gods rather than my own. Ah well, here I now am, and never has the green English countryside and crowded London streets filled me with such joy. It is almost impossible to recollect how anxious I was to leave all those decades ago. Perhaps I am getting old, as you would tease. Darcy House stood shining in the afternoon sun, undiminished in her grandeur and loveliness. Moderate chaos reigned, much to my delight, when I crossed the threshold. It was a scene evocative of my youth when all us rowdy children would be tearing about the foyer: Alex sliding down the banister to Mother’s dismay, Estella hiding in order to frighten delicate Mary, and James doubled over in mirth while I performed some feat of acrobatic skill. Yes, I must be aging if the frequent jaunts down the ancient paths of my memories are any indication. If the obvious affection between William and his bride are evidentiary of their marital relations, then Darcy House will yet again display such a scene. In fact, they are already on the way as Mrs. Darcy is with child. How can I describe Elizabeth Darcy? Clinically, emotionally, or both?

Physically she is a tiny slip of a girl, although actually of moderate height. Strangely, considering the stature of William, she on the one hand is dwarfed by his bulk while simultaneously looming larger than life. Sheer force of personality and presence overcomes her physicality. With chestnut hair, enormous brown eyes, dainty features, and delicate bone structure, she is a picturesque counterpart for my nephew. They complement each other well on numerous levels. However, it is the aforementioned presence that I know has captured William, as I imagine it does all who know her. She is witty, intelligent, sparkling, kind, courageous, and loving. I can readily find no faults, and you know, Jharna, what a penchant I have for divining deficiencies!

I will confess that I assumed William, like the vast majority of men in his class, had acquired a wife from the leeches of proper British society. Someone poised, of excellent family, and acceptable, but likely dull, vapid, and shallow. My years away from my favored nephew, his character largely gleaned through James’s letters and later his own, fostered the theory that he would take the safe and acceptable road. I cannot claim to have an overly intimate relationship with him, but could have stated with absolute certainty that taking such a path would have rendered him miserable within a year. James always told me that his son’s intelligence and restrained intensity mildly intimidated him, William possessing a nature far too zealous and exacting to comfortably fit within the confines of stifling English society. Yet, he would lament, William seemed determined to do so even to the point of suppressing his inclinations.

As I recall musing in previous journal entries while visiting home, my impressions concurred with James’s. William as an adult and Master of Pemberley appeared to be fulfilling the best of James’s predictions and the worst of his fears. That he was brilliant as the estate manager and guardian to Georgie was evident, but there was a sadness and stoic quality to him that even I could not crack significantly. A mere smile or laugh was a rare event, and I think he was frankly relieved when I returned to India.

Estella’s letter after the wedding filled me with some hope, her impression of the new Mrs. Darcy and William’s emotions all favorable. She also related that Elizabeth was neither of society nor even the best family. Lady Catherine flatly refused to acknowledge the union, shockingly, I write with towering sarcasm! Anyway, I am repeating myself. I guess it is just the surprise of the development that still staggers me. James, of course, had married for love, but I know how rare that is. Would even my dear brother have done so if Lady Anne Fitzwilliam were not of the highest caliber and breeding? I do not know. Regardless, William has found his match in every way in Elizabeth. Theirs appears to be the deepest of loves. I cannot be happier for them.

Ah, Jharna, how amazing it is to be in the bosom of my family! For too many years I have been adrift with only you to really turn to. Now you are gone and I have longed for the reestablishment of roots. Who would have thought it? And I know you are laughing from wherever you now reside! Be that as it may, I must attempt to smother my sentimental tendencies and write of my days here clinically, or I will fill the remaining pages with nonsense.

My dearest Georgiana has evolved into a woman in my absence. She is more beautiful and graceful then I would have imagined her awkward and skinny little-girl shape to grow into. So like Anne in every way. William’s personality was always more of a melding of James and Anne, his humor and playfulness there, but reserved. More like my sister Mary or brother Phillip. Actually, as I think on it, he receives that trait from my mother! Interesting. Or, with further staring into space recollections, very like the old Lord Matlock, Anne’s father. There was an intimidating man! I doubt he ever cracked a smile, as the world is yet in one piece.

If you enjoy novels that extrapolate on the love story of Lizzie Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy and Sharon Lathan’s books, My Dearest Mr. Darcy will surely entertain.

I enjoyed this the most because in My Dearest Mr. Darcy, Lathan tells the story partly from Dr. George Darcy’s point of view. Dr. George Darcy is Fitzwilliam’s uncle who lived and worked in India for years and as he writes to Jharna, his love, about his impressions of England and his family during this first visit in decades, Dr. Darcy brings a lively and interesting perspective. I enjoyed reading Dr. Darcy’s observations of how Fitzwilliam Darcy had changed and his view on the relationship between Lizzie and Darcy.

I don’t want to give anything away, but the other passages that I enjoyed involved (1) a snob who is finally put in her place and is made speechless and (2) the comeuppance of a lady who oversteps.

If you want a quiet escape into the period and people of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, you may want to give My Dearest Mr. Darcy a try.

Sharon Lathan has written a sweet, romantic and delightful diversion in My Dearest Mr. Darcy. Through letters, confidences and tender, intimate family moments Ms. Lathan has continued her interpretation of Darcy and Elizabeth’s lives together and let’s us imagine what life at Pemberly might have been like. In My Dearest Mr. Darcy readers get to celebrate birthdays, a renewal of vows, their first anniversary and the birth of their first child. Their growing love, and adventures through Ms. Lathan’s eyes will entertain anyone that craves more from these characters that have become like old beloved friends that you long to keep in touch with.

Rating: 4 stars



Darcy and Elizabeth have not yet been married a year and are awaiting the arrival of their first child. Before the baby arrives, Darcy decides to take a vacation by the sea with Elizabeth, and they grow even closer. Unfortunately, there is a scheming woman with an eye for the handsome Darcy, who tries to cause problems.

My Dearest Mr. Darcy is a snapshot of a brief period in time experienced by two of the most beloved characters in literature. Ms. Lathan incorporates wonderful period details and many of the characters seen in Pride and Prejudice make a reappearance, as well as, several interesting new characters. This reader, particularly, liked Darcy’s eccentric uncle George, who is a Doctor who practiced in India and wears Indian garb. This story is first and foremost about the developing relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth, and Ms. Lathan does a great job of telling that story in a believable manner. I defy anyone not to fall further in love with Darcy after reading this book, and Elizabeth acts in ways that are truthful to her established character from Pride and Prejudice.

Lovers of Pride and Prejudice should enjoy My Dearest Mr. Darcy, because it is essentially a feel-good read. However, if the reader dislikes spicy sex scenes, she might give this sequel a miss.


I’ve been a big fan of Ms. Lathan’s since the first book in her Darcy Saga came out. First of all, it’s based, not only on my favorite book, but one of my all-time favorite movies. My Dearest Mr. Darcy takes off where Loving Mr. Darcy ends.

The Darcy’s lives are going in directions I don’t think of them expected. A baby on the way, a marriage that’s still so very new and a love that’s more powerful than just about anything.

Whereas the first book was about the very beginning of their marriage and them getting to know eachother and the second book was about them travelling, MDMD is more about them getting ready for their new baby and how they go about doing it.

Ms. Lathan works with babies in her real life and you can see that in how she writes about the Darcy’s preparation for their new arrival. Where most books only hint at the baby and then boom it’s there, she really goes into detail about not only Lizzie’s physical changes, but also the emotional ones that both she and Darcy are going through.

Ms. Lathan also makes the Darcy’s pretty forward-thinking and progressive when it comes to how they want to handle the birth.

I’m thankful that this book doesn’t have anything bad happening to Lizzie like the first 2 books did.

There are two things I really enjoy about Ms. Lathan’s books. One-the true expression of feeling between Lizzie and Fitzwilliam. Their love is something you really believe in. You want them to be happy and to live a long, fulfilling life together. Two-the secondary characters. There are quite a few of them and usually I’d find myself confused, but she’s able to pull it off. My favorite secondary character is Fitzwilliam’s Uncle.

His uncle is a doctor who spent many years in India and whose past is rather tragic. He’s going to be there for the delivery of the baby and the way he interacts with both Lizzie and Darcy brings some much-needed humor to the story.

The end will bring a tear to your eyes, especially if you’ve invested your time into this world that Ms. Lathan has created. To see how powerful and meaningful the end is and what it does to bring the two of them even closer together...*sigh*

All in all, I have to give two big thumbs up to Sharon. She did an excellent job...again and I can’t wait to see where she takes this family that I’ve come to love.

Overall Rating: B+/A-


Sometimes I wonder just how many stories can be written about the Darcy’s...
but obviosly they are limitless and I never seem to tire of them!




My Dearest Mr. Darcy picks up where Loving Mr. Darcy ends.

Elizabeth and Darcy become more and more in love with each other

as each day passes. This is one of the things that I really like
about Lathan’s writings. Love conquers all.

For all their wealth and prestige, Elizabeth and her dashing husband
take delight in the simplest of things and thrill in each others joy.

Fitzwilliam sees so many familiar things anew, through his adoring wifes’s eyes:
Lizzie’s first bare footed walk in the sand along the oceans shore...
her surprising enjoyment of horse racing (and the betting too)...
the ever growing relationship of Elizabeth and Georgina.

Lizzie never stops being astounded by her husbands dashing looks,
his widespread knowledge of everything imaginable,
his tenderness, and adoration of those he loves.

Add in their travels, extended families and...

the addition to their household,
makes My Dearest Mr. Darcy
another fantastic addition to any
Austen Lovers Library!

Thanks so much to Danielle and Sourcbooks,
for making it possible for me to read and review
My Dearest Mr. Darcy.

Have you ever read a book or watched a movie and you just felt like you want a little more? Well, if you are a Pride and Prejudice fan then you can get it. Just read Sharon Lathan’s Pride and Prejudice sequels and you’ll get all you could possibly want and so much more.

In this third book in the series the Darcy’s return to Pemberley after their eventful time in London, take a seaside holiday and then celebrate the birth of their first child the day before their first wedding anniversary. It is full of the beautiful, sensual romance that you know to expect from this wonderful series.

My favourite chapter in this book is without a doubt Chapter 17 which is the birth of the baby. It was so engaging and emotional that I cried several times whilst reading it. It was interesting and full of all the birth details, for those of us who love that sort of thing. I also enjoyed the announcement of Mary Bennet’s engagement as well as news of the Bingley’s expecting their first baby. The novel ends just prior to Christmas so I imagine the next book while open with the Christmas celebrations with family, friends and the new baby.

Now I have to say I found the third book a little harder to get into than I did the previous two and I think that is because it began with many letters from a minor character. It also seemed that there were a lot more letters in this book than others or maybe I’ve just forgotten, some where interesting and some I found not so interesting.

I will end my review with a quote that really sums up the tone of all the novels.

"I love you, my Elizabeth. You are my soul, my blood and bone, my very life."


What a fantastic ending** to this trilogy. Ms. Lathan captured Mr. Darcy perfectly. The Mr. Darcy, as performed by Matthew Macfadyen. Every single time Mr. Darcy speaks to Lizzy in this book, I get the shivers. This particular Mr. Darcy (Macfadyen) has the sexiest voice, IMHO. If you don’t quite believe me, listen to this and this.

This book opens with a journal from Mr. Darcy’s Uncle, Dr. Darcy. He’s a very engaging old man. He’s quite entertaining and lovable. So, on this prologue, you get snippets of Dr. Darcy’s life, Anne and Mary’s love story. I think it’s inspired. I laughed my head off imagining Lady Catherine’s face when Dr. Penaflor started with his genealogy details. Poor Lady C!

Darcy and Lizzie travels to the sea, and you can see that Elizabeth is as spirited as ever. I love that scene in the dining room with a particular lady. It just melts my heart how Darcy is as romantic as ever. There was this riddle game he concocted to celebrate their 1 year anniversary. It’s truly awesome. This book is quite scorching! I wish the series would continue. This is one of the most enjoyable adaptations I have read.

Watch out for Sharon’s Lathan’s guest post, and giveaway coming up next.