Seducing Mr. Darcy by Gwyn Cready

Photo taken from Goodread

Book Info

Title:  If I Stay

Author:  Gwyn Cready

Publisher:  Pocket

Language: English

Format:  Kindle Edition

Pages:  384 pages

ASIN:  B001D8QUMU

Source:  Purchased, Amazon

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Summary

From Amazon 

"In the second hilarious and sexy novel from author Gwyn Cready, a divorcée suffering from "carnal deprivation" has a racy one-night stand with one of literature's most irresistible heroes -- and learns that you really can't judge a book by its cover.

Mr. Darcy just isn't Flip Allison's style. She prefers novels with hot sex on the bathroom sink to the mannerly, high-tension longing of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. That is, until she pays a visit to Madame K, who promises a therapeutic massage with an opportunity to "Imagine Yourself in Your Favorite Book." Somehow, on the way to a sizzling sink-top session with a Venetian Adonis, Flip lands right in the middle of Regency England -- and dangerously close to handsome Mr. Darcy. So close, in fact, that she discovers a side of him even Jane Austen couldn't have imagined.

Waking from her massage, Flip is on top of the world and ready for her upcoming book club -- that is, until she notices a new scene in which Darcy and spunky heroine Lizzy Bennet are arguing over...Flip Allison? Her rapturous liaison with Darcy has had disastrous consequences for Austen's characters -- not to mention millions of Pride and Prejudice fans! Flip has twenty-four hours to put the story back on course, and Magnus Knightley, a sexy but imperious scholar whose brooding good looks and infuriating arrogance are decidedly Darcy-like, is the only one who can help. The only problem is, Flip can't keep her hands off him, either..."

 

Review

Reading this reminded me of the books I borrowed from my mother.  She's very fond of romance novels and when I began to get interested in reading longer books, I grabbed a book from her shelf.  I was quite young then, so imagine a 10-year-old girl reading the romantic misadventures of a Highland heroine - my mother never stopped me from reading, although she would at times get me age-appropriate books, but I like her books better because it's got better vocabulary, but of course the explicit seduction parts I mostly skipped.  My mother strictly made me do it.

I got interested by Seducing Mr. Darcy because of the title.  Who has never fallen in love with Mr. Darcy at some point while reading Pride and Prejudice?  I know I did.  And like every female, I wanted to get to know Mr. Darcy's ardent, passionate side.  Reading this book, like any romance novel worth its salt, this book enticed you and sucked you into its story.  Were it not for the fact that this was a digital copy, I would have finished this in one sitting.  As it was, life happens and it's easier to put down your Kindle than putting down an actual print book (take that, ARGH!).  But resuming reading, I was even more excited than when I first read it and found myself actually getting into the middle parts in less than an hour.  

The story was very fast-paced.  Because this happens within one day, you definitely sense the urgency but the details of each scene, the minor specifics were not merely sketched, they were well-drawn and vividly described.  The author ensures you never miss a thing, even in the most exciting parts.  

Which is what probably brings me to the first issue I had with this book:  Because it was full of details, how could this book explain the existence of the masseuse herself?  I know that she's essential into making this story work, but no background on her at all?  How did she come across such power?  No back story on that one?  Oh well, you can't have everything, I guess.  I don't want to risk running spoilers so I won't cite further examples.

The characters were very romance-novel credible.  They are strong, but they need love.  I like the fact that each character's voice was very distinct and evokes a specific image in the reader's mind.  

I don't think I would agree much that this book is another of those Pride and Prejudice remakes.  Sure, this story revolves around that novel, but it's only a setting for an elaborate and outrageous but interesting plot, but if anything, pride was only present, mostly in Magnus Knightley's character.  There was no prejudice, nothing of that sort in Flip or any of her friends.  Well Magnus was also a bit prejudiced about American women, but my point is that there is no pride in one character and prejudice in another that when combined together could compare with Austen's narration.  

One lesson I learned through reading most of my mother's romance novels:  Always expect some impossible twists - in this case, the dabbling into the paranormal was of course a bit impractical but it's what held the story up, what made it special and thrilling.  

On the whole, I enjoyed this book a lot.  I like the simple love story between Flip and Magnus - which is grounded more on sex, but what romance novel wasn't? - and liked the human portrayal of our beloved characters from Austen's book.  A lot of sexual references and sex scenes but once you get past that, the story is actually very simple and light.  An easy read after reflecting heavily on Pride and Prejudice - and of course, if Mr. Darcy left you hankering for more. :-D 

Rating

If you have any questions on this particular rating, please refer to my ratings system here.   

Notice

All opinions expressed in this book review are my own and not influenced by any party in any way.

 

Angelica's Daughters: A Dugtungan Novel by Cecilia Brainard, Erma Cuizon, Susan Evangelista, Veronica Montes and Nadine Sarreal

 

(Photo taken from Anvil Publishing)

Title: Angelica's Daughters:  A Dugtungan Novel
Author:  Cecilia Brainard, Erma Cuizon, Susan Evangelista, Veronica Montes and Nadine Sarreal
Publisher: Anvil Publishing
Language: English
ISBN - 97127-24282

Get this book here

Rating:

For the first time, I am going to do a review for a Filipino-published book.  Love your own!

I would like to discuss what a "Dugtungan Novel" is.  It's a collaborative writing procedure, where one author begins the story, an then passes it to another author to continue it.  Something like what David Levithan and Rachel Cohn did in Dash and Lily's Book of Dares only in their case, they only write for their assigned characters.  In a dugtungan (literally means "continue" in Filipino) novel, one author is responsible for continuing the whole story, and he/she may do with it whatever he/she wants, as long as it's still in context. 

And now for the story.  It's a historical novel that tells the romance of two women from different times - past and present - which involves their families and their own romantic lives.  I love the seamless transition of the story despite five different authors writing it.  The deft handling of the narration, the characters, and the setting makes for an exciting and insightful tale of two women across time and the men and women in their lives. 

The characters are very vivid and consistent, in spite of being passed from author to author, and the development of their stories are gripping and endearing at the same time.  The plot itself is solid, although a bit dramatic at times, but what Filipino fiction is not dramatic?  That's the signature of Filipino literature, I guess - drama.  Another thing to love in this book was that it had some recipes included!  Obviously, from the enthusiasm I exhibited for the recipes inside Flavor of the Week by Tucker Shaw, you'd know I would be thrilled with this part in the book.

Don't let the cover of the book fool you into thinking this is a serious book:  It's chick lit with intelligent dialogue and a touch of historical wisdom and romance.  The story also teaches us to stop sticking our heads in the sand:  Refusing to believe that there can be another person destined for us, or that we could not find happiness in ourselves alone.  It's easy to read but you learn something as you go along.  It's refreshing to read something like this coming from Filipino authors.  It used to be that I rarely read Filipino fiction written in the year 2000 onwards because I felt they were too "trying hard" or melodramatic for my taste.  Or perhaps they are too light and the resolution for conflicts are too hurried and was given too little thought - like it was written just for the sake of ending it.  I always stuck with the works of Nick Joaquin and F. Sionil Jose - the Filipino classics in my opinion.  But this book made me get off my literary high horse and appreciate the story for what it is:  light, endearing, insightful, and gripping.  

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson

(Photo Taken from Goodreads)

Title: Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas
Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Language: English
ISBN - 10: 0316969443
ISBN - 13: 978-0316969444
Rating:







Wow. Imagine James Patterson abandoning Alex Cross for a while to lend the most sensitive voice possible to a woman! In this book, Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, Patterson crosses over to romance with natural ease, as if he is merely writing another adventure for Alex Cross. At least now, I know that this cuddly grandpa is not just into writing gruesome murders, he can also be as sappy as the next person too.

Katie was a beautiful, successful woman living in New York. She met Matt Harrison through her job, when her company became interested in Matt's collection of poetry. Soon, their relationship blossomed into love. However, on a night when Katie was to give Matt a party and a big surprise, Matt suddenly breaks up with her, and leaves her broken and confused. Soon after, he sends her a diary - apparently of his wife to their baby boy.

To avid romance readers, this may sound typical and very predictable, but still very good at the same time. To read a romance novel from an author who's known for his psychological thrillers, this is a pleasant trip to the romantic genre, showing the author's sensitive and emotional side. Reading this novel with no knowledge who the author is, I would think this was written by a woman, as this book captured the accurate nuances, emotions, and reactions of a woman.

This book alternates between a first-person and third-person point of view, and the transition from each other is seamless and smooth. Each character was given a unique personality, and a unique voice to boot. As with his other novels, the author maintains a snappy, economic narration and pace, with crisp dialogue and vivid scenes. There are no loopholes in the story-telling, every conflict and issue addressed and resolved at the ending.

Reading through Suzanne's diary entries is as heartbreaking as it was an exciting experience, and at the risk of including spoilers, readers definitely would not be able to stop from crying towards the ending, as a heart-wrenching climax will open the floodgates. On the other hand, one could not help but feel sorry and root for Katie, who appears very likable, despite acting depressed for at least 75 percent of the time in the story.

With regard to Matt, he sounds like your Jack-of-all-trades-all-American-hero ready to sweep you off your feet, but with the author's talent for spinning a yarn, Matt suddenly looks pathetic and creepy towards the first part, then boom! Surprise, surprise towards the end. I was not really surprised about the ending, because as far as romance novels go, there is only one type of ending, but the way it all came full circle was so touching it still blew me away.

Definitely, this book would not be favored by Patterson's male fans, but if some do, I won't blame them - this is good stuff. Something to feed your James Patterson craving while waiting for his next thriller.

Mr. Darcy's Diary by Maya Slater

(Photo taken from Fantastic Fiction)

Title: Mr. Darcy's Diary

Author: Maya Slater
Publisher: Phoenix
Language: English
ISBN - 10: 0753822660
ISBN - 13: 978-0753822661
Rating:







Have you ever wondered what goes on in another person's mind while doing things? What do you think a butcher thinks while chopping off a large pound of meat? What a schoolteacher thinks while writing lectures on the board apart from the lesson at hand? What a man thinks while he is being lectured upon by his wife? In Mr. Darcy's Diary, a classic retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice through Mr. Darcy's eyes explores this gentleman's mind frame through the entries in his diary. And I must say, the story is presented as seamlessly and as accurately as I could have imagined it. Fitzwilliam Darcy is my favorite character (don't we all?) as he often appears aloof, proud, and silent, and his personality alludes to mystery, which I always love. Which is why, as soon as I saw this book, I grabbed it from the shelf.

Mr. Darcy's Diary attempted to shed light on some mysteries in the original novel, giving the readers an understanding of Wickham's treachery, shedding light on Miss Caroline's true motives and feelings, and also showing a sympathetic, sensitive, and passionate man beneath the strong, reserved, and proud facade that is Mr. Darcy himself. I have always speculated about how the men feels in Pride and Prejudice, as the original novel seems to be more focused on the Bennet family. In this book, it served to make me love my favorite characters in the original novel more. Elizabeth definitely deserves a man as passionate and as in love with her as Mr. Darcy was. This diary is realistically written, with brief recollections of day-to-day events in Mr. Darcy's life, yet never seeming to lose any detail.

The author has also brought humor to the book through the relationship between Mr. Darcy and Peebles, his valet. The latter's obsession with his master's grooming and fashion provides some comedic banters and lightens an otherwise brooding and serious story.

Before reading this book, I actually reread Pride and Prejudice again, just so I won't be easily fooled by this book, but to my pleasant surprise, the story in this book blended seamlessly into the original novel, it was like reading an actual sequel. Hands down to Maya Slater - this was a risky endeavor for her - Pride and Prejudice is one of the most well-loved of the classics, and a careless handling of its story may prove fatal for the story, if not for the one who wrote it. But reading through this book, I would have not wanted it any other way.

A lesson in pride: this book showed how Mr. Darcy has shed his pride in the face of true love. As you read through the passages of his diary, you'll be shocked at how this proud man crumbled in the face of rejection and loneliness, and how it helped him become the man that finally deserved Elizabeth's love.

A lesson in empathy: this book teaches the reader that other people have minds and feelings too, despite their outward reactions and affectations, inside they have their own thoughts, not all of which may be agreeable or nice, or, in Mr. Darcy's case, not very "Mr. Darcy."