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frompemberleytomiltonblog's review
5.0
4.5
I was reluctant to read Letters From the Heart because of the premise, but Kay Bea’s talent proved me that regardless of the story, when a book is well written readers will enjoy it nonetheless, which was exactly what happened to me. In this book Mr. Bennet has a seizure and while he is still convalescent, Mrs. Bennet forces Elizabeth to marry Mr. Collins, who becomes an abusive husband killing Elizabeth’s spirit day after day.
The story is told through letters written by Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth to their families, and the truth is that even if in the beginning I wasn’t sure I would like this style and premise, I ended up loving the story, which I recommend to everyone in need of a good book.
The way this book is written along with the manner by which the events are described is very appealing, and we feel compelled to continue reading to see what will happen next. Also, because the reader knows how events are unfolding through letters written by the male and female characters, he feels a close connection to them that increases the need to keep following their lives until they reach their happy ending.
Mr. Darcy’s constancy was a characteristic I loved, but the secondary characters were the ones that made a difference for me in this book. Some of them were very interesting to follow, namely Lady Catherine and Mary Bennet who was a favourite since the beginning of the story. I may shock you by saying this, but Lady Catherine was definitely one of my favourite characters and I am sure other readers will appreciate her and Anne De Bourgh as well.
In Letters From the Heart the Bennet family spends a lot of time with the Darcy family and it was really interesting to see how this familiarity affected all of them. The Bennet sisters’ behaviour was improved with the influence of Georgiana and Darcy, and the master of Pemberley became more humble due to his interaction with the girls. These changes in character were beautifully achieved and not having Elizabeth causing them was singular and fresh.
Letters From the Heart is not a romantic book, so those looking for romance will not find it. It focuses on real life dramas that people need to go through revealing exactly how dependent women were of men in regency times. It has a serious tone I absolutely loved because it made it real and not a fairy tale story. It goes beyond Jane Austen fan fiction and I highly recommend it to readers. The only quibble I had with this book was to see that Darcy’s family did more to help Elizabeth then her own family, but that was also part of the allure in the story, so it did not prevent me from enjoying it immensely.
If this was Kay Bea’s debut novel, I cannot wait to see what’s coming next.
I was reluctant to read Letters From the Heart because of the premise, but Kay Bea’s talent proved me that regardless of the story, when a book is well written readers will enjoy it nonetheless, which was exactly what happened to me. In this book Mr. Bennet has a seizure and while he is still convalescent, Mrs. Bennet forces Elizabeth to marry Mr. Collins, who becomes an abusive husband killing Elizabeth’s spirit day after day.
The story is told through letters written by Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth to their families, and the truth is that even if in the beginning I wasn’t sure I would like this style and premise, I ended up loving the story, which I recommend to everyone in need of a good book.
The way this book is written along with the manner by which the events are described is very appealing, and we feel compelled to continue reading to see what will happen next. Also, because the reader knows how events are unfolding through letters written by the male and female characters, he feels a close connection to them that increases the need to keep following their lives until they reach their happy ending.
Mr. Darcy’s constancy was a characteristic I loved, but the secondary characters were the ones that made a difference for me in this book. Some of them were very interesting to follow, namely Lady Catherine and Mary Bennet who was a favourite since the beginning of the story. I may shock you by saying this, but Lady Catherine was definitely one of my favourite characters and I am sure other readers will appreciate her and Anne De Bourgh as well.
In Letters From the Heart the Bennet family spends a lot of time with the Darcy family and it was really interesting to see how this familiarity affected all of them. The Bennet sisters’ behaviour was improved with the influence of Georgiana and Darcy, and the master of Pemberley became more humble due to his interaction with the girls. These changes in character were beautifully achieved and not having Elizabeth causing them was singular and fresh.
Letters From the Heart is not a romantic book, so those looking for romance will not find it. It focuses on real life dramas that people need to go through revealing exactly how dependent women were of men in regency times. It has a serious tone I absolutely loved because it made it real and not a fairy tale story. It goes beyond Jane Austen fan fiction and I highly recommend it to readers. The only quibble I had with this book was to see that Darcy’s family did more to help Elizabeth then her own family, but that was also part of the allure in the story, so it did not prevent me from enjoying it immensely.
If this was Kay Bea’s debut novel, I cannot wait to see what’s coming next.
samhend101's review
5.0
Listened to this as an audiobook and it was a good thing I worked from home, because the tears would not stop!
Not even sure where to begin to put into words how moving this story is. SO elegantly written, that we get the picture of Elizabeth's circumstances with her forced marriage to Collins by her mother, in a roundabout way via letters. Darcy through his loss when he finds that Elizabeth was wed, goes through a very slow transformation to being a better and kinder gentleman, by putting himself in the way of assisting E's sisters and father. Even Lady C (who thank goodness never seems to be as terrible as normally written) affects a sort of alteration when she sees what is happening in Hunsford and helps in any way she can to be of real physical assistance. Through which she mellows in regards to what might be best for a happy marriage situation and this has the biggest effect for Anne DB.
As this is not a full length novel, the writer does not delve into the emotional scarring and abusive relationship can have on a person. Further there is no mention of E overcoming issues in order to trust D after her previous experience. I found I didn't miss it and it wasn't necessary fr the sake of this story. Perhaps because ODC had years to slowly fall in love despite circumstances forcing them apart. E had every reason to trust D after everything she witnessed him do for her family over the years.
Throughout the story there are extended family matches and marriages- all love matches. This both helps to fill out the story and keep the ebb and flow going so it doesn't overwhelm the reader through all the lows. Not to mention shows the sharp contrast of E's situation in her fear, misery and isolation as everyone else seems to pair off in happiness.
Excellently done!
Not even sure where to begin to put into words how moving this story is. SO elegantly written, that we get the picture of Elizabeth's circumstances with her forced marriage to Collins by her mother, in a roundabout way via letters. Darcy through his loss when he finds that Elizabeth was wed, goes through a very slow transformation to being a better and kinder gentleman, by putting himself in the way of assisting E's sisters and father. Even Lady C (who thank goodness never seems to be as terrible as normally written) affects a sort of alteration when she sees what is happening in Hunsford and helps in any way she can to be of real physical assistance. Through which she mellows in regards to what might be best for a happy marriage situation and this has the biggest effect for Anne DB.
As this is not a full length novel, the writer does not delve into the emotional scarring and abusive relationship can have on a person. Further there is no mention of E overcoming issues in order to trust D after her previous experience. I found I didn't miss it and it wasn't necessary fr the sake of this story. Perhaps because ODC had years to slowly fall in love despite circumstances forcing them apart. E had every reason to trust D after everything she witnessed him do for her family over the years.
Throughout the story there are extended family matches and marriages- all love matches. This both helps to fill out the story and keep the ebb and flow going so it doesn't overwhelm the reader through all the lows. Not to mention shows the sharp contrast of E's situation in her fear, misery and isolation as everyone else seems to pair off in happiness.
Excellently done!
zggd's review
5.0
Lovely, touching, sad, and happy.
Okay... so first... a few things about me... I read an INSANE AMOUNT of P&P variations, I am rarely moved to consider rereading a P&P variation, even more rarely do I consider writing a review, and I NEVER cry when I read one.
And yet... with this book... here I am writing a review, while drying my eyes from the tears I’ve shed, and considering when I will reread it.
(I will apologize here for any partial spoilers that make their way into this review, but I cannot write one in this instance without alluding to the story a little.)
I hesitated to read this book. I typically don’t like the stories where Elizabeth marries elsewhere and it was clear to me based on the the description online that this was exactly what happened. I agree with the direction that Elizabeth’s marriage took. From the first time I read the original P&P, it was something that I could see in Collins character... whether he would act on it or not was another story. (If it weren’t for the fact that my plans for the day were changed, and that I had a 2-3 hour window of time to read, it was the only downloaded book in my reader that I had not read, and that my Internet access is dodgy today ... I may never have read this. )
I loved the structure of the story as seen through the various letters. I cried several times reading this book. I NEVER CRY reading a book. Seriously. But I cried with this. Very touching, some of it was quite sad, and the story was well crafted. I cried at what happened to Elizabeth and how she was dealing with it... I felt Darcy’s heart ache. There were also moments of great relief, a few laugh out loud moments, and at least one “Thank goodness”
Some readers may not like how much is left to interpretation / imagination because of the story being shaped by letters, but truly the power of this story is exactly that... it’s understanding what is shaped by those letters, but not said outright.
I loved Lady Catherine, I loathed Mrs Bennet. I was grateful that Caroline Bingley and Wickham were mostly absent, I came to like Lydia.... also pleased with the “resolution” to Caroline (as small as that part was), would have liked Mrs Bennet to suffer more, but I understand that was probably an accurate resolution based on the time period. Loved that Darcy came to appreciate the good parts of the Bennet family. (And don’t worry ODC has a HEA)
I read this in one sitting/maybe 2 hours. It’s not a very long book (and I read fast, even through the tears), but it was a very enjoyable, beautiful story and I would both re read this and recommend it.
Okay... so first... a few things about me... I read an INSANE AMOUNT of P&P variations, I am rarely moved to consider rereading a P&P variation, even more rarely do I consider writing a review, and I NEVER cry when I read one.
And yet... with this book... here I am writing a review, while drying my eyes from the tears I’ve shed, and considering when I will reread it.
(I will apologize here for any partial spoilers that make their way into this review, but I cannot write one in this instance without alluding to the story a little.)
I hesitated to read this book. I typically don’t like the stories where Elizabeth marries elsewhere and it was clear to me based on the the description online that this was exactly what happened. I agree with the direction that Elizabeth’s marriage took. From the first time I read the original P&P, it was something that I could see in Collins character... whether he would act on it or not was another story. (If it weren’t for the fact that my plans for the day were changed, and that I had a 2-3 hour window of time to read, it was the only downloaded book in my reader that I had not read, and that my Internet access is dodgy today ... I may never have read this. )
I loved the structure of the story as seen through the various letters. I cried several times reading this book. I NEVER CRY reading a book. Seriously. But I cried with this. Very touching, some of it was quite sad, and the story was well crafted. I cried at what happened to Elizabeth and how she was dealing with it... I felt Darcy’s heart ache. There were also moments of great relief, a few laugh out loud moments, and at least one “Thank goodness”
Some readers may not like how much is left to interpretation / imagination because of the story being shaped by letters, but truly the power of this story is exactly that... it’s understanding what is shaped by those letters, but not said outright.
I loved Lady Catherine, I loathed Mrs Bennet. I was grateful that Caroline Bingley and Wickham were mostly absent, I came to like Lydia.... also pleased with the “resolution” to Caroline (as small as that part was), would have liked Mrs Bennet to suffer more, but I understand that was probably an accurate resolution based on the time period. Loved that Darcy came to appreciate the good parts of the Bennet family. (And don’t worry ODC has a HEA)
I read this in one sitting/maybe 2 hours. It’s not a very long book (and I read fast, even through the tears), but it was a very enjoyable, beautiful story and I would both re read this and recommend it.
readingella's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse
vesper1931's review
4.0
In this P&P variation several days have passed since the Netherfield ball and the party left for town. But then Mr Bennet is taken ill and against his previous wishes Mrs Bennet arranges the betrothal of Elizabeth and Mr Collins. Soon the couple are off to Hunsford. In various letters we watch the unhappy Mrs Elizabeth Collins and Darcy. But there are changes for the better with the remaining Bennet daughters and their friendship with Georgina Darcy. Will happiness come to everyone.
A very enjoyable and well-written variation.
A very enjoyable and well-written variation.
khart's review
3.0
This was the worst timeline and yet Lady Catherine comes in and this is probably the first time I find her likable. Different enough to be worth the read with the understanding the DV will be addressed.
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