Sophia Rose Reviews - The Barrister's Wife by Suzan Lauder, An Austen Retelling

Today I once again turn the blog over to my pal Sophia Rose whose reviewing, The Barrister's Wife, a storyline that she loves, an Austen retelling.
Enjoy!

The Barrister’s Bride by Suzan Lauder

Historical Romance

Publisher:  Meryton Press

Published:  5.9.22

ASIN:  B09ZB1MMN4

Pages:  370

Rating: 4 Stars

Flames: 3

Format: eARC

Source:  Meryton Press

Sellers: Amazon

ADD TO: GoodReads

 

GoodReads Blurb:

A pact that will change their lives forever…

Fitzwilliam Darcy is a successful young barrister with a bright future. His late uncle has guided his career, made him his heir, and even selected a bride for him—sight unseen—whom he’ll meet and marry upon her majority. Who could have predicted that making the acquaintance of Miss Elizabeth Bennet in Meryton would throw those careful plans into disarray?

Elizabeth Bennet doesn’t know what to make of “Fitz” Darcy, who intrigues and draws her notice like no other. Despite Fitzwilliam’s warnings, she allows Mr. George Darcy, Fitzwilliam’s older brother and master of Pemberley, to charm her. Little does she know that she, too, has been promised in marriage by her late father—to an unknown barrister, no less. What is she to do when her hopes to marry for love disappear in the blink of an eye?

Is George Darcy’s suit in earnest? Can this mysterious bridegroom of her father’s choosing become the husband of her dreams? With the danger of duels and deceit, what will come of the initial attraction between her and Fitzwilliam? Will she become the barrister’s bride?

Note: contains scenes with adult content.

 

Sophia Rose's Review:

What if Jane Austen’s beloved hero, Mr. Darcy, were the second son and not master of the fine Pemberley Estate?  And, what if he has been betrothed to a secret lady as part of his uncle’s legacy to him?  I do love venturing into ‘what if’ land and Suzan Lauder is the familiar writer of such fascinating twists on Jane Austen’s classic tale.

 

The Barrister’s Bride presents Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy as second son to the elder, George Darcy who is something of a profligate and best friend with George Wickham and even more entrenched ne’er do well.  Not to fear, Fitz is not dependent on his brother for resources beyond what his vocation gives him for his uncle, Judge Darcy, has made him his heir.  Only, the elder judge has a surprise up his sleeve and has contrived with a friend to wed the man’s second daughter to his nephew unbeknownst to them. 

In the meantime, Fitz has met the lovely Elizabeth Bennet and must find a way to do the honorable thing and step aside while this beautiful, lively miss, over the course of the story, must figure out which man is the genuine, honorable character to hold onto her chance at real love.

 

The Barrister’s Bride has a compelling premise and I was very excited to see how it would go.  I loved the idea of Fitzwilliam Darcy as the second son and a barrister who is betrothed to a secret bride.  Just like, I enjoyed seeing him up against his brother’s wealth and status and the brother’s friend’s glib lying tongue to see how he could win fair lady.  Elizabeth has already seen her life altered when her father died and the Bennet estate passed on to Mr. Collins and his wife, Charlotte.  Elizabeth and her eldest sister live in London with their uncle and their family future is very much on the mind.

 

The first half of the book delivered a tight and well-paced plot and all that I was hoping for.  The reader is introduced to the key players and their situations even as the plot grabs the reader from the get-go.  There were unexplained plot points niggling like I was confused at the secrecy of the arrangement and why Fitz didn’t tell Elizabeth why he was blowing hot and cold with her and is reticent about making certain people’s character clear.  The author chose to give her main characters strong social consciences and they are Abolitionists.  Fitz was an amazing hero and I loved their earlier meetings that led to something more even before they are in on the whole truth.  

The middle of the book slowed and an unsurprising twist occurs.  I was fine with the change of pace and even the hot sexy scenes.  However, I lost respect for the heroine when she dithers over a choice that seemed pretty obvious to the reader and later falls for the lies of a known villain.  Though, yes, seeing the hero get a good shot at the guy might have been worth some of that drama.

The very end was an epilogue of epilogues and just what was needed after the drama near the end.  I prefer this so much to abrupt endings.

 

Overall, this was another enjoyable standalone from the author and delivered an entertaining story.  The strong variations on the original story took it far from the plot lines of Pride and Prejudice so anyone who enjoys spicy historical romance and unfamiliar with P&P would do fine with picking it up.  This was an overall satisfying read and I would recommend it.

 

Author’s Bio:

Saucy opinions like "The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has no pleasure in a good novel must be intolerably stupid." won Suzan Lauder, who thought, "I have to read more by this woman who writes with such snarky humour!" And another Jane Austen fanatic was captured in the clever dead author's net. As a lifetime member of JASNA, Austen figures prominently in Lauder's writing, and "Pride and Prejudice" has inspired all her published fiction. Her publisher is Meryton Press.

Lauder's latest book, "The Barrister's Bride," is a Regency romance with a mild forced marriage scenario and many twists and turns, and it's got mature themes. "Schemes of Felicity" is a light novella that led the Meryton Press novella series "Skirmish and Scandal." Her novel "The Mist of Her Memory," a Regency romantic suspense and mystery novel, was rated a top book of 2019 by reviewers. Suzan's Regency romantic comedy "A Most Handsome Gentleman," nicknamed #HOTCollins, was among three reviewers' top-rated Jane Austen Fan Fiction books for 2017. Cover Wars Book of the Week and Amazon #1 bestseller "Letter from Ramsgate" was released in October 2016. It's a Regency romance with nail-biting drama. These last four books are teen-rated, aimed at anyone old enough to have enjoyed Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." They followed Suzan's unique adult-rated Austen-inspired Regency romance with a mystery twist, "Alias Thomas Bennet," which was published in 2013. A chapter from "Alias Thomas Bennet was a finalist in the Sexy Scribbles contest under Historical Fiction in 2019. Her short modern romance "Delivery Boy" was featured in Meryton Press's 2015 Holiday anthology, "Then Comes Winter." The anthology was included on "Best of 2015" lists on three influential book reviewers' blogs, and is suitable for readers of all ages.

Lauder's fascination with the Regency period inspired a creative blog series, the "Thrift Shop Regency Costume Experiment." Her blog series, "Learning from my Mistakes," shares writing tips gathered from experiences as well as her work as a beta editor for a number of self-published books including a popular Austen Variations author and her experience as a prolific Austenesque reader, both of published and unpublished fan fiction.

Lauder and Mr. Suze alternate homes in a Vancouver Island condominium overlooking the Salish sea and a small Spanish colonial house in Mexico purchased for the benefit of a spoiled rescue tabby cat, who supervises her projects.

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/suzanlauder

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SuzanLauder

Sophia’s Bio:

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

Sophia’s Social Media Links:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816

GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose