Enjoyable reading, entertaining, light and witty ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed this book even more than I had expected. In the past I have read “sequels” to Pride and Prejudice but found them lacking in either not staying true to the original characters or just not having a very interesting story. I thought Marsha Altman did a wonderful job in this book in not only keeping to how I pictured Darcy, Elizabeth and the other characters but also adding a good does of humor. I always enjoy a book that makes me smile or laugh out loud while being clever.

The story begins not long before the wedding and then moves along quickly as we see both Elizabeth and Jane settling in with their respective spouses. The reader will also get glimpses into what happens with other characters such as Caroline, Mr. Bingley’s sister, Colonel Fitzwilliam as well as a few other characters. My favorite parts involve the on-going joke between Darcy and Bingley over a certain “educational” book that Darcy gives Bingley as a wedding gift. If you are a fan of Pride and Prejudice I think you will find this to be a satisfying sequel and Marsha Altman will soon be having a second book coming out next month in the series. ( )

This book is a bit like a family block of chocolate- very yummy and intriguing at first bite, but the last bite leaves you wondering how you got this far.

Unfortunately Ms Altman is not Jane Austen. The language at the start of the book is promising and she has some witty dialogue, but not the description of Pride and Prejudice.

**SPOILER ALERT**

We all know the characters, Darcy, Bingley and the Bennet sisters. Of course we knew that they would live happily and have children, but a murder at Pemberley? Miss Bingley marrying a -gasp- doctor? Darcy a cheap drunk? I enjoy alternate storylines, but there are some things in this book that read more like The Bourne Identity meets The Bold and the Beautiful.

The first book, although modern in its subject, I felt was more true to what *I* believe happens after the end of P & P. This was enjoyable.

The second book- well, I couldn't really care too much about Caroline Bingley and I'm sorry, but I didn't feel sympathetic towards her (mainly because she seems to have created the sensationalist storylines). I took off a star for this book.

This book is okay is you want escapist fare, but it's not Jane Austen. If you enjoy P & P fan fic that's well written, please get this book. ( )

Very humerous and very well written continuation of Pride and Prejudice. There were several absurd tangents to the story which was very much in the Jane austen style. ( )

From the back cover:

Three days before their double wedding, Charles Bingley is desperate to have a word with his dear friend Fitzwilliam Darcy, seeking advice of a most delicate nature. Bingley is shocked when Darcy gives him a copy of The Kama Sutra-but it does tell him everything he needs to know. Eventually, of course, Jane finds this remarkale volume and in utmost secrecy shows it to her dear sister Elizabeth, who goes searching for a copy in the Pemberley library...

What a fun book this was to read! Just that little excerpt gives you an idea about what the book is about but it also about so much more. The reader is drawn into the upcoming marriages and then the married life of both couples. I was enchanted with this book as I got to see how the relationships between Charles and Jane and Darcy and Elizabeth grow and mature. One thing that I liked about this book was their was so humor thrown into the story and I couldn't help but laugh at a few parts. Elizabeth had a dry sense of humor that I could relate to and I really liked her as a character. The book also encompassed Charles' sister Caroline and her possible marriage prospects. I honestly wasn't sure if I would like this book and was pleasantly suprised when it turned out to be a great read.
Now that I've written the basic review and my thoughts I have something to share: I've never read Pride and Prejudice. Aack! When I requested to review this book...well...I wasn't so sure about it for this reason, and now that I think about I'm not sure what I was thinking. But I had read a really good review on another book blog and it made me want to give it a try. Boy, I'm so glad I did. It has inspired me to read the original Pride and Prejudice just to see how this whole story started. I've been wanting to read Jane Austen (yes, I haven't read anything by her) for some time and this may be the key to me picking up this book. Who would of thought? Anyways, I really ended up enjoying the book and am glad that I gave it a chance! ( )