***I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
Many years have passed since the dramatic events of Pride and Prejudice. In The
Cousins of Pemberley series we follow a new generation of heroines - cousins with lives
as different and interesting as those enjoyed by their mothers.
Mary Bennet - overlooked, laughed at, despised - married a missionary and vanished into a life
of service out in Africa. But now Miriam, her daughter, is coming to England, disliking everything
she has been told about her family.
Her aunts and cousins are expecting someone quiet, dull and bookish, just like her mother, not
the quick-tempered, impulsive girl who arrives.
How can this adventurous girl with her desire for freedom possibly fit into their well
ordered world? And what havoc will she cause as she tries?Many years have passed since the dramatic events of Pride and Prejudice. In The
Cousins of Pemberley series we follow a new generation of heroines - cousins with lives
as different and interesting as those enjoyed by their mothers.
Mary Bennet - overlooked, laughed at, despised - married a missionary and vanished into a life
of service out in Africa. But now Miriam, her daughter, is coming to England, disliking everything
she has been told about her family.
Her aunts and cousins are expecting someone quiet, dull and bookish, just like her mother, not
the quick-tempered, impulsive girl who arrives.
How can this adventurous girl with her desire for freedom possibly fit into their well
ordered world? And what havoc will she cause as she tries?
Miriam by Linda O’Bynre is the third book in the author’s Cousins of Pemberley series but can be read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed visiting the next generation of Pride and Prejudice characters again.
Mary was the middle sister of the Bennets of Pride and Prejudice, and she was the most overlooked. Bookish, dull, and quiet, she was removed from most of the drama of the Bennett household. Mary married a missionary and moved to South Africa. When her husband dies, Mary sends her only daughter, Miriam, back to England to live with her sister Jane, and secure a home for them both.
When Miriam, now eighteen years old, lands in England, there is a mix-up and she ends up staying at Pemberly with her Aunt Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy, and their five children. Miriam learned to detest the Darcys as her mother has complained about them often. Miriam and her mother lived a poor life in South Africa as her father spent most of their money on charity. She resents Darcy’s wealth and lifestyle.
I enjoyed this story about Miriam very much. She’s nothing like her mother and enjoys adventure and action. She yearns for the days in South Africa where she was wild and free and she doesn’t think much of the limitations for women in England. I liked that this was mostly set at Pemberley, the large estate of the Darcy family. I enjoyed the five Darcy children, especially Benetta, who was in an earlier book and is just as fierce and spirited as she was before. It was fun to see Lizzy and Fitzwilliam Darcy as parents of these five spirited children. With three daughters, all coming of age, life is a lot different for Mr. Darcy now than back in his P&P days!
This is a quick read, with wonderful characters and nice descriptions. I enjoyed the settings of South Africa and Pemberly and felt like they were both well described.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
About Linda O'Byrne
Fiction has always been my go-to world, a place of entertainment, excitement and imagination - I am told that I wrote my first story when I was four about a lady who had twenty children! Sadly it has been lost for posterity.
I have been writing all my life in the time I could spare from having a “proper job”, mostly for children under the name of Linda Blake, stories of ballet dancers, pony riding and talking animals! Not all in the same book!
But my love of romance, a great tendency to say “What if..?” and the endearing characters of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice have now resulted in a series of books that will take the reader forward to the next generation of heroines.
I am retired, live in Kent and am a keen member of my local drama group. Directing and acting take up a lot of my time - I have been given the onerous task of writing the Christmas pantomimes - but I still need to cope with a large garden, doing daily battle with the heron who thinks my pond is his own breakfast buffet and keeping in touch with friends and family scattered all over the world.
This sounds like a fun series, especially for an Austen lover! I am embarrassed to admit that I haven’t read Austen yet (I know, I know!), but hopefully this year or 2023 will finally be the year.
i love the cover so much! do you think this book is recommended for those (me) who haven’t read pride and prejudice? i love the sound of a south african setting.
Jenny+McClinton
This does look like a lovely read, it’s great they are bringing books like pride & prejudice in more updated adaptations. Great review 💕
Lovely review Wendy. I hadn’t come across this series before. Retellings or continuation don’t always work for me but this does sound an interesting premise
I didn’t know about this series and I love Austen variations and sequels. Mary’s daughter sounds feisty. Thanks, Wendy!
Thank you, Sophia!
This sounds like a fun series, especially for an Austen lover! I am embarrassed to admit that I haven’t read Austen yet (I know, I know!), but hopefully this year or 2023 will finally be the year.
I’ve only read Pride and Prejudice. I want to read more of her books too.
i love the cover so much! do you think this book is recommended for those (me) who haven’t read pride and prejudice? i love the sound of a south african setting.
This does look like a lovely read, it’s great they are bringing books like pride & prejudice in more updated adaptations. Great review 💕
Thank you, Jenny!
This sounds like a delightful series. Good review, Wendy!
Thank you, Linda!
What an interesting premise. I like that it took P&P to the next generation. That’s very cool. Excellent review, Wendy!
Thank you, Tessa.
This sounds really interesting. I wouldn’t mind see the sisters further along in their lives. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you, Jenni! It’s so much fun.
Lovely review Wendy. I hadn’t come across this series before. Retellings or continuation don’t always work for me but this does sound an interesting premise
I have been enjoying the series. I like imagining the characters later in life.
Lovely review! I’ve never heard of this one but it sounds interesting.
I have been enjoying this series.
Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam and FIVE children! Mary heading to South Africa! Who knew? I’m going to have to add thus book to my TBR stack.
It’s a lot of fun!
Thank you so much for this fab review to close the tour today x
My pleasure Zoé
Great review, Wendy. I have not even read Pride and Prejudice, let alone retellings.
Thank you, Carla. I haven’t read any of Jane Austen’s other books, just P&P.
Wonderful review Wendy 🤗📚💞
Thank you, Susan!