The Subsequent Proposal: A Tale of Pride, Prejudice & Persuasion

I love P&P, but must admit the rest of Austen's books leave me cold. Persuasion is one of the books I especially disliked, with characters recycled from P&P that were among my least favorites: Mr. Collins became Sir Walter; Caroline Bingley assumed the familiar role of Miss Elizabeth Elliot; Anne was a combination of Jane Bennet and Charlotte Lucas; Lady Russell a toned-down version of Lady Catherine.However, I thought this blend of the two novels was entertaining and very well-crafted. It was a surprising end for Wickham, also. We don't get a lot of face time between Darcy and Elizabeth, however, so some may be disappointed in this. Recommended, with some slight reservations.

Delightful plot, moving and beautiful narration, intelligent dialogues, and very realistic characters living in a very Regency England. All of this and much more you will found in this extremely well written novel!I’ve bought this book straight away after read Joana Starnes’s ‘From this day forward’. I was so delighted with the first book and I wasn’t disappointed with the second which was even better! It was very close to the perfection!!!When writers pairs Darcy with any other lady than Elizabeth it usually brings disapproval. But then it is Miss Anne Elliot, another Austen’s great heroine. And you cannot stop thinking that at some point she would be a very good match for Darcy if there was no Elizabeth Bennet. But of course, there is Elizabeth, who is Darcy’s great and only true love and even if she doesn’t appears as often as Darcy in this book, she is constantly present in Darcy’s thoughts and you cannot help but become deeply touched by the love he feels for her. I must say I loved this Darcy very much; he was as I could expect him to be, very human, heroic and desperately in love. He was tongue-tied with troubles expressing himself which was so charming and touching. I extremely enjoy the scene of proposal and Elizabeth’s subtle encouragement when she notice very nervous Darcy, it was so lovely and I found myself smiling like crazy.As it was written in Darcy’s point of view we ceaselessly attend with his inner struggles in choosing between duty, honor and love of his life. All descriptions of his feelings and emotions concerning Elizabeth were very well done and you just could feel it! And when they two met there were sensations which have leave you speechless.After reading two books I can honestly say that Joana Starnes is my another favorite P&P variation author. I extremely enjoy her beautiful, marvelous, intelligent writing and good understanding of JA. She feels respect for Austen work and can create very interesting plot without murders, abductions, madness and compromises. Her characters have bone and great development which progress very naturally without any unrealistic and weird behavior. Jane Austen created so interesting and rich characters and if only you have enough talent and intuition you can use them in a very interesting plot true to those times. Joana Starnes do just that! When you read her book you can imagine it was written 200 years ago. As she would live there, in Regency England.She is very spirited regency writer and no matter what next she will write I will buy it and I am sure I will love it.

In reading all the other reviews and/or the sample, one gets the gist of this story. *Spoiler* What seems to have been neglected in mentioning significant parts of the story is that Sir Walter Eliot becomes a savior for these four characters, Darcy, Anne Eliot, Capt. Wentworth and Elizabeth, in that when Darcy goes to ask for permission to marry Anne (even though she is of age), Sir Walter Eliot can only think of how this will look to the "ton" to have his second youngest daughter married before his beloved Elizabeth. So he argues that Darcy and Anne should have a year's long secret engagement to allow Elizabeth (and how Darcy hates that she has Lizzy's name) time to attract a suitor while in Bath (to which they only recently moved). Darcy bargains for 6 months. Thus the engagement is not to be announced and only known to Lady Russell, Georgiana, and Col. Fitzwilliam. SO THIS ALLOWS TIME for many misunderstandings and lots of additional angst. (Especially, during a walk when Elizabeth B. trips into Darcy's arms and they almost kiss...Why didn't he kiss me? She ponders - I saw in his eyes he wanted to...not knowing he is engaged makes her feel even more rejected.) This time lapse allows our HEA ending without a scandal of a broken engagement as it is not official YET.I love how this author gives us so much of Darcy's POV: his arguments with himself, his thoughts upon the smallest glimpse of Elizabeth being like water in the desert, his realization of and pondering about how quiet she is in his presence, his assessment of the Eliots and their personalities, his desire to finally give all to the only woman who can be his other half. Joana Starnes does a magnificent job with showing us Darcy as our true romantic hero. Are there any men in real life who go through this struggle...and who can finally come to the realization of their mistakes and work so hard to solve them in a fashion taking into consideration the consequences for all? Lastly, deciding it is how they want to live their life and not as society or family wants them to live their life that matters.I read this book in one day and highly recommend it.

This story starts with Mr. Darcy proposing to Anne Elliott! The angst starts from almost the first sentence! Both agree to a marriage of convenience as neither believe they can marry the one they truly love. Mr Darcy makes his assumption as he does not meet with Elizabeth again following his proposal at Huntsford.I really enjoyed so many aspects of this book but found myself frustrated that Darcy proposes to Anne without any effort to talk to Elizabeth after giving her his letter. He is sad and lonely, acting for duty and he pines. It's all very sad. Then I experienced a real conflict like I've never experienced before.... I thought Anne would actually be a good match for him. I really liked her!I loved Darcy's interaction with Captain Wentworth, they squabble like children!I think this is a 4.5 for me.... not my favourite book by this author, although to be honest, I'm not really sure why as I did enjoy it and liked all the characters and the lovely humour. The interaction with Darcy and Elizabeth was generally very serious and Mr Darcy was responsible for his own misery so I had less patience with him!

“Mind-blowing” is the word that I used after just reading the prologue of The Subsequent Proposal by Joana Starnes.Where Pride and Prejudice meets Persuasion and where all my favourite characters of Jane Austen live together or fight together.It is so difficult to review this book because I do not want to do any spoilers. I will do my best. However, I am starting with the first shock for me: Mr. Darcy after believing that Elizabeth is lost for him, he proposes to Anne Elliot!! They talk and they know that their hearts belong to someone else but they are also practical. Darcy wants to take Anne from her horrible relatives and Anne can give Darcy the heir that he needs for Pemberley.If you have read Persuasion, you will know that Anne’s father, Sir Walter Elliot is a vane and selfish man who only cares about his appearance and also about titles and wealth. I simply do not like him but Joana Starnes has showed me the only time that I cannot resent him for something done against Anne in favour of his elder sister: he imposes a six month period before announcing the engagement in order to give Elizabeth Elliot time to find a husband. Although Darcy does not agree with him, he cannot do otherwise.Darcy is content with the arrangement and he decides that it is time to write Charles Bingley about his involvement on separating him from Jane Bennet and how she may love him in return.Some weeks past and Bingley appears at his town house, he has just read the letter and asks him to accompany him to Netherfield. Eventually Darcy accepts and takes Georgiana with them.The word awkward is an understatement to describe the first meeting of Darcy with Elizabeth but at the same time they way Joana writes Darcy’s feeling is adorable. However, Elizabeth is not herself, Georgiana describes her as “shy” (can you believe it?).Every contact that Elizabeth and Darcy have is very “romantic” from the desperate point of view of Darcy who loves Elizabeth beyond boundaries but at the same time he is an honourable man who is engaged to another.In case you have forgotten, characters from Persuasion are included and who else if not Captain Frederick Wentworth is here and he is very interested in Elizabeth Bennet!! Yes, as you read it, “what is going on here?”. (Read it and enjoy!)To make things more complicated, the annoying Mr. Wickham has to be the baddie, again. Lydia, again, is the black sheep of the family and she needs protection. She is not going to be left alone as Mr. Darcy starts his journey to save her and another gentleman as well, Captain Wentworth. I will just mention that there is a duel with guns and it does not end very well :S The danger is great and people get hurt in duels.Remember one thing while reading the duel: there are no rules in hate and rancour. Wickham is not a gentleman even if he wants to believe he is.I am not going to tell you anything else about the story, only remember that in this story we still have around Lady Russell, Mrs. Bennet, Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam among others.

My favourite of this author's works. Darcy is a complete mess but it absolutely works. Disappointed by Elizabeth's refusal he proposes a marriage of friendship to Georgiana's new friend Anne only to find that Elizabeth is no longer so disposed against him! Would have liked a little more on Anne/Captain Wentworth but since it's all from Darcy's perspective, we only see the little he does.I loved the interactions between Darcy and Wentworth. It's a very entertaining rivalry without being disrespectful to the women involved.

I was very much looking forward to reading this story as the idea of combing the characters from Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion intrigued me. And to have Mr. Darcy and Captain Wentworth in one book... well I’m not complaining!I was not disappointed. I enjoyed this story very much. I really enjoyed seeing the characters from Pride and Prejudice and from Persuasion interacting with each, and I think it worked very well. The idea of Darcy and Anne as a couple, although strange to the imagination (Darcy is meant for Elizabeth and Anne for Wentworth or course!), actually felt like quite a reasonable match. I could understand how each might be happy to settle for the other; both are nursing a broken heart and think that the ones they love are forever beyond their reach, and so settling for a marriage of companionship with at least mutual respect is perhaps a wise and sensible decision given the circumstances. (But it is strange, I warn you, to see Darcy with Anne and then Wentworth courting Elizabeth!)This story is told completely (well, pretty much) from Darcy’s point of view. I really enjoyed this and I feel it added to the story in that it made his journey through the novel and its subsequent happy ending so much more pleasing for me as the reader, as we have experienced all his anguish and pain which he has had from the beginning with him, and we have been following Darcy’s emotional journey very closely, knowing all his inner thoughts and feelings.I felt very sorry for Darcy at many times through this book. The author portrays his inner struggles and his torment very vividly and powerfully and you can’t help but pity him! You really see in this variation just how badly Darcy is affected by losing Elizabeth - it really shows how strong an attachment and love he felt for her! (Well, we already knew he was very affected by her refusal, but seeing his inner thoughts explained in such a way as in this book just really reinforces it!)This story is certainly a sad and agonizing one for Darcy, and so also for the reader at times, but do not fret as there is also plenty of humour. For me, the most humorous aspect was seeing Darcy and Wentworth fighting over Elizabeth! I suppose really it should not amuse me as much as it did, as Wentworth being able to court Elizabeth right in front of Darcy when Darcy is no longer able to himself, should be a very sad prospect! But the rivalry between the two is rather funny; watching them each trying to comfort her or scowling at each other when Elizabeth isn’t looking! They are clearly fighting over the right to her attention – it is rather funny when they end up in a duel together, Darcy being Wentworth’s second, when it is clear that Wentworth would quite like to challenge Darcy himself!As well as the anguish and the humour, this story also has its share of romance (while staying completely clean)! There are many stolen looks and tender moments between Darcy and Elizabeth as it becomes clear that feelings between the two are perhaps starting to become mutual! There are many very sweet scenes (especially towards the end!) that will please any romantic, like me.As well as the main characters, the secondary characters are well developed and play some interesting roles in the story. One of my favourites was Colonel Fitzwilliam. I do so love his character in the original and so I always like to see more of him. In this variation, his interactions with Darcy show a real caring side to his nature as he is trying to help Darcy through his struggles. He is also very useful, let’s just say, in a few situations throughout the story!We also see more of Bingley in this variation, and to begin with a very, understandably, upset Bingley. His interactions with Darcy through the story put a very interesting light onto their friendship and I like to see how it survives the ordeal surrounding Darcy’s interference with Bingley and Jane.Of course Lady Russell comes into the story and causes trouble just as she does in Persuasion, but I enjoyed seeing her interacting with Darcy. Miss Bingley comes along as well and remains blind to Darcy’s complete disinterest in her (will she ever learn?)! And we also have some adventure and danger thrown into the mix, thanks to good old Mr. Wickham – nothing new there then.The language and style of this authors writing is brilliant. She captures the characters very well and it flows very smoothly as you read, and it feels very much in the style of Jane Austen. I was very captivated and drawn in by her writing.There is a very sweet epilogue to this tale which is not set too far into the future (which I like) and there are some very interesting surprises in this epilogue, as well as a very happy ending.Overall I really enjoyed this story. It has a good balance of pain and sorrow, but also plenty of romance and some humour! I loved going along the journey through Darcy’s eyes and it was very clever how the author intertwined the characters from Persuasion and I loved the whole idea of the switching of partners from two of Jane Austen’s wonderful novels.

This is most clever, sensitively realised and romantic JA variation I've ever read! When I first read the synopsis I thought that combining the two couples and mixing up their fortunes might be a little 'gimicky' so I started the book with trepidation.However the story pulled me in almost immediately and before I knew it I was half through, utterly hooked and racing too quickly toward the end (Thank god the author has two more books for me to enjoy)My only objection was having Darcy ever be engaged to anyone but Elizabeth but that hardly matters there is enough substance in the tale to nullify that and the drama builds to the happy conclusion we variations lovers crave.This is a brilliant tale well worth purchasing.