Sophia Rose is here with another Jane Austen inspired tale. This time she has the historical romance, The Dracy Secret by Kelly Miller. Come see her thoughts on this Pride & Prejudice sequel….
by Kelly Miller
Genres: Historical Romance
Source: Author
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Heat Level:
Will a dire family secret lead to Fitzwilliam Darcy’s ruin?
Darcy’s heartfelt conversation with Miss Elizabeth Bennet leads to their engagement. But just when his future could not appear brighter, a dreadful revelation casts a cloud of gloom over him, threatening his hopes and plans.
And when an ominous shadow of suspicion falls upon his beloved sister, Georgiana, Darcy is compelled to determine the truth. Does her angelic countenance conceal a deviant, even dangerous, nature?
In this Pride and Prejudice variation, Darcy and Elizabeth face several grim obstacles, including the sudden death of a family member. Will these challenges drive them apart?
The Darcy Secret contains adult situations with themes of violence and a graphic description of a fox hunt.
Sophia Rose’s Review
Though not precisely a gothic romantic suspense, there are elements of this Pride and Prejudice sequel that have that vibe. A covered up family secret involving homicidal madness and then incidents which occur during the early days of the Darcy’s marriage dredge up suspicion, but the newlyweds are tested by more than that when Darcy’s past and Elizabeth’s wildest sister make an appearance. These dramatic flares make this one engaging read from Kelly Miller whose writing I have come to appreciate.
The Darcy Secret begins when Fitzwilliam Darcy announces to his family that he is engaged to his lovely Elizabeth Bennet. His uncle, as a deathbed promise to Darcy’s father, reveals the big Darcy family secret making Fitzwilliam ready to call it all off. Elizabeth surprises him by standing by their love and wanting the marriage to take place. Darcy’s younger sister Georgiana seems ambivalent toward it all, but quietly accepts she is to have a new sister and no longer will need a companion.
Then the incidents start including news of a disturbing situation that occurred while Georgiana was away at school. There are incidents now and deaths among Georgiana’s acquaintance. After recently learning about the family madness, Darcy and Lizzy (and the reader) are more than wondering about Georgie’s sanity. Much of the book is dedicated to this situation and the pair must cling to each other and their love and get to the truth.
Darcy’s former lady friend makes a showing and its obvious she thinks her prior claim trumps Elizabeth’s marriage state with Darcy. I’m not fond of torchy malice of this nature, but truthfully, I was more into the murder mystery surrounding Georgiana. And, there was balance in the trouble the married pair had to face because on Elizabeth’s side, her wild younger sister arrives at Pemberley to stir the pot even more.
A very unique sequel premise cleverly worked into a romance that told the story after the I love yous were said and now had to see if the romance could go the distance under great pressure. I like the occasions when authors do that with a continuation of a story and also keep up with the careful attention to the historical back drop and culture of the previous story so it’s a well-developed sequel. Definitely recommend this for all those who wish P&P kept going and don’t mind something a wee bit darker than Jane Austen to their tales.
Check out Sophia Rose's #bookreview of The Darcy Secret by Kelly Miller #JaneAusten #historicalromance #PrideAndPrejudice Share on XAbout Kelly Miller
When not writing, Award-winning Regency romance author Kelly Miller spends her free time singing, playing the piano, reading, and amusing her dogs. Like a much loved Jane Austen character, she is an excellent walker. She lives in Silicon Valley with her husband, daughter, and their many pets. "Death Takes a Holiday at Pemberley," winner, Royal Dragonfly Awards and Indies Today Awards, and finalist, International Book Awards. "Mr. Darcy's Perfect Match" recommended by the Historical Novel Society, a Recommended Read, Author Shout Reader Ready Awards. "Accusing Mr. Darcy," winner, Firebird Book Awards and Queer Indie Awards-Ally Division, and finalist, Wishing Shelf Awards, and a Recommended Read, Author Shout Reader Ready Awards. "A Consuming Love" winner, Royal Dragonfly Awards & a Recommended Read, Author Shout Reader Ready Awards. "Captive Hearts," winner, Royal Dragonfly Awards & Top Pick, Author Shout Reader Ready Awards. Her new release, an Amazon #1 Best Seller, is "A Dutiful Son."
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About Sophia Rose
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.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
sherry fundin
The cover jumped out and even though isn’t really my kind of read, your wonderful review made me curious.
sherry @ fundinmental
Sophia Rose
I do love her stunning black covers. Several of her books have this style of cover.
Oh yay, happy to pique your curiosity, Sherry!
Katherine
This sounds interesting! I’ve seen so many retellings of Pride and Prejudice but this one I think appeals to me the most.
Sophia Rose
Glad I could help tempt you, Katherine. 🙂
ailyn koay
that’s the Mr Darcy I like, not sure if Austen would approve but I certainly like it
Sophia Rose
Miss Jane might not, but shhh, I won’t tell her, Ailyn. 🙂
Carole @ Carole's Random Life
This sounds like an interesting retelling. I am so glad that you enjoyed it.
Sophia Rose
Oh yeah, it got pretty intense as it came down to it with the ‘did she or didn’t she kill’. 🙂
Nadene
It seems you found another hit with the Pride and Prejudice re-telling.
Sophia Rose
It was a fabulous read and just my thing, Nadene. I loved the aura of mystery around his sister.
Ethan
It’s always fascinating to explore Pride and Prejudice sequels that delve into the complexities of married life for Darcy and Elizabeth. Your review of “The Darcy Secret” by Kelly Miller highlights the unique premise of uncovering a family secret and the challenges the newlyweds face. The blend of romance and murder mystery seems to have kept you engaged, and the darker elements added depth to the story. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this intriguing sequel!
Sophia Rose
You said it, Ethan! I found it interesting seeing how the early days of their marriage worked out and with the suspicions of madness and murder surrounding them.