I love a good Austen retelling/ continuation, but I don't think that this is one of them. I struggled to get through even a few pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of Darcy & Desire by Cady West.

As an avid reader/watcher of Pride and Prejudice movies, books, and what I consider published fanfiction I was excited once more to dive back into West's short tale of exciting married life between the Darcy's. I always find trying to read about a married Elizabeth Bennet as something that seems to pose a bit of a disconnect but West did well on portraying Elizabeth as herself even after her marriage to Darcy.

I really liked the tale of this story. The fact that most of the story takes place as letters being sent between Lizzy and Darcy adds an interesting detail and overall the introduction of new characters was welcome. I did feel as if the real plot points jumped a bit out of nowhere upon first read. Thinking back I can find some of the clues of what was coming but it all seemed innocuous while I read it and seemed to be a bit rushed at the end.

As to the actual "Desire" part of Darcy & Desire I found West's use (or in my opinion overuse) of parentheses to add more euphemisms during the racy parts of the letters took away my desire to read these parts. In fact I more skimmed those parts and really dug into the life parts of the letters instead.

Overall this was a quick enjoyable read but one that could have held more plot or less parentheses.

I would like to thank netgalley and Stillpoint Digital Press for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

I love the idea of this series and the characterisation of the mc's.

Was looking forward to reading this one! The author succeeded in keeping my interest throughout the story. All in all, a fun read for those looking for a steamy Lizzy-Darcy romance. I am looking forward to the next one!

This book is perfect for any Pride and Prejudice fans who want to continue Darcy and Lizzy's story where Jane Austen left off! I loved that we got to see the couple dealing with their first separation after getting married, and showing us through their letters was a lovely touch. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more from Cady West!

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

This is full of steam!

Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy are blissfully married. They're in that sex-on-the-mind-all-the-time newlywed phase, having been wed only a month ago. Unfortunately, Darcy has urgent business in London and must leave his wife behind for two weeks. The reason she can't go with him is never explained directly, but the reader assumes it's because Georgiana and Kitty can't be left at Pemberley by themselves.

Most of the story is told in letters that pass between husband and wife. They share what happens during their days and express how much they miss each other. The contents are filled with their sexual longing, which they describe using both humorous euphemisms and what some would consider crudely direct phrasing. (The F-bomb occurs frequently.)

It's not easy to explain, but I found their giddiness over the way they enjoy and miss the marital bed to be more charming than off-putting, at least at first. Elizabeth is certainly more skilled at playful banter than her new husband, who gamely tries to match her wit with results that are unsatisfactory to him but delightful to her.

Occurrences at Pemberley in Darcy's absence are the heart of the plot that develops. Elizabeth is less than pleased to be forced (by manners) to interact more frequently than she would like with residents and guests of a neighboring estate, particularly its mistress, Lady Malkin. The others are the real-life poet Percy Bysse Shelley (who is still married to his first wife), Lady Malkin's two offspring, Lord Thomas and Augustina Giniver, their tutor Mr Lackey, and a friend of Augustina's named Mary (whose significant surname is not immediately revealed). Lady Malkin is pushy and clearly has some personal agenda. Elizabeth cannot fathom what it is, but the truth slowly gets revealed.

The book is extremely well-written. However, while I've no doubt that a real-life Elizabeth and Darcy would exchange such titillating correspondence, I became impatient for the underlying plot to develop. The tension built too slowly, then erupted all at once, and then was over just as I was absorbing what just happened. Darcy came racing to Elizabeth's side after all the drama had passed, leaving me feeling a bit unsatisfied.

This variation is a series of a correspondence between Mrs Elizabeth Darcy, Mr Darcy primarily (a few with Mrs Gardiner and Jane). Mr Darcy had to be away to London and thus the couple is sharing their day to day activities and of course their feelings for each other (some are "intimate " feelings).

I haven't encountered much of this type of story-telling. It is unusual (and the correspondences were quite long). I had to wait for the letter to finish before I can get the other's response. However, this kept me slightly at the edge especially I was eager to know about the secret/revelation.

Overall it kept my interest. I think P & P variation fans will find this unique and engaging. (there were intimate statements so this will be best for mature readers.

I have received an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving a review

I had high hopes for this but sadly couldn’t get into it. I’m sure it was the language used. It just didn’t seem fitting for the characters and I found it a bit off putting. If you want an alternative to pride and prejudice and are a hardcore fan, you might well be able to read this, but this one just wasn’t for me

While I was very excited to see another Pride and Prejudice spin off, this one left a lot to be desired. I was looking forward to reading the letters between Lizzie and Darcy and kept trying to overcome my first knee jerk reaction to Lizzie using the word "fuck." While I am no stranger to the word and have used it many times myself as a modern woman living in the 21st century, I can't imagine that Lizzie would be comfortable using the word in the historical time period she is from. But, I kept reading, and Lizzie kept saying the F word. The banter between Lizzie and Darcy in their letter writing was good, but all of the raunchy language they kept using did not enhance the banter, it detracted from it. But I kept reading. Lizzie and Darcy kept writing and apparently their letter writing was so steamy, they would have to read their letters in private so they could engage in independent sessions of self love. But I kept reading. Until...Darcy got carried away: one letter he wrote to Elizabeth ended up stained with evidence of his passion. And that is when I stopped reading. I can't imagine a world where Fitzwilliam Darcy would actually send a letter to Elizabeth Bennet that was stained with his semen. Thank goodness that Jane Austen is no longer around to see what her beloved characters, who didn't even kiss in her novel, have been getting up to. The beauty of Lizzie and Darcy is that they could express their love in such a way that they were able to build the romantic tension and keep the reader wanting more. Cady West gives the reader too much of a window into the very private love life of Lizzie and Darcy. I found myself wanting to hear more of the plot and less of Lizzie and Darcy's sex life. TMI, Lizzie, TMI, Darcy.

I've always been a fan of Pride & Prejudice, and I've read my share of Jane Austen Fan Fiction, so when I signed up for NetGalley, I was immediately drawn to this book. And it paid off in spades! A series of letters between Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy during their first separation, less than a month after their wedding, it starts off very much like a very literate, very funny sexting session between two witty, passionate lovers. As the book went on, I loved the developing plot, with scheming neighbors and silly sisters — all building to a surprising, satisfying crescendo. I hope there's going to be a book 2. I'd love to read more. I received the ARC through NetGalley for free.

This was a very interesting concept for a sequel to Pride and Prejudice and a quick read. I really liked reading all the letters and getting a private look into Lizzy and Darcy’s relationship. I also loved how Lizzy could make Darcy blush over a 100 miles away. It made me giggle.

My Dearest Darcy... Is Happily Ever After just the beginning? Lizzy and Darcy are married. They’re ecstatically happy newlyweds. But a journey to London separates them. Whatever will they do? Write letters, of course!

Unsurprisingly, love letters exchanged soon after the honeymoon are likely to be full of longing and lust. At the beginning they are the Regency equivalent of sexting! The use of euphemisms and the vernacular for naming body parts (lists of them) starts off as amusing and gets rather tedious. The addition of bodily secretions to the letters seemed somewhat gross. I enjoy mature descriptions of sex, but these were really not.

As a background Elizabeth meets some of her neighbours, including the odd Lady Malkin, her family and celebrity guests. The interactions and machinations of these acquaintances are quite intriguing.
The letters got better when Elizabeth had more to tell Darcy, than what she missed about his body
Having said that, their reunion makes for a satisfying ending.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.

I just couldn't get into this book. I found the language to be gratuitous, I mean, how many "naughty" words can you put in one paragraph? Fine if you're into that sort of writing, but it's not my cup of tea.

I originally read most of this on a fanfic site and was happy to read the end here. Some of the language and conventions are a bit off for the period (odd Mary would never be introduced without a surname, for example), and purists will definitely be clutching their pearls at D&E's frank conversations about sex, but the epistolary nature of the private letters lets Darcy and Elizabeth be open and vulnerable with each other, both physically and emotionally, and shows how harmonious their young marriage is/will be. There's also some interesting discussion about the mores and philosophy of the time, so it's not solely erotic romance; there's real historical work being done here. I enjoyed the story and am glad to see more sexytimes in JAFF!

Thank you to Stillpoint and NetGalley for the ARC

This was a fun story told in letters of ODC surviving their first separation after their wedding. Lizzy’s first letter was enough to make Darcy blush, I am sure, but he gave as good he got. The way he claims the Bennet name in his closing was so sweet. I love it when he is written in such a steadfast , besotted yet not childish, way and when he has a past he must own up in his usual honest and forthright manner.

This is the sequel to Jane Austen's masterpiece. The newlyweds keep the fame alight the old-fashioned way through letters... They survive separation, sisters, and surprise guests.

I love that the book is mostly a series of letters. Love Lizzie of course and her letters are just as lovely as her. It's also nice to read Darcy's letters to Lizzie and see how passionate he can be. An interesting approach to a Pride and Prejudice sequel.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC to me.