His Good Opinion: A Mr. Darcy Novel by Nancy Kelley
Publisher: Smokey Rose Press
Release Date: 20th November 2011
Rating: 5/5
Source: Received from the author for review. Thank you!
Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US
Goodreads Summary:

Mr. Darcy Speaks from the Heart:
Pride and Prejudice from his Point of View

Though tired of Society’s manipulations, Darcy never thought to be enchanted by a country maiden. Yet on a visit to rural Hertfordshire, Elizabeth Bennet captivates him. Lovely and vivacious, she is everything he is not, and everything he longs to have.

Unfortunately, her connections put her decidedly beneath him, and the improprieties he observes in her family do not win his favor. Putting her firmly out of his mind, Darcy returns to London, but Elizabeth is not so easily forgotten.

When chance throws them together, Darcy can no longer deny his love, but Elizabeth, put off by his manners, refuses him. To change her mind, he must set aside his proud ways and learn how to please a woman worthy of being pleased. It takes a serious incident for his true character to shine, and for Elizabeth to learn just how valuable is…

A classic retold through the eyes of the sometimes pompous and often prideful Darcy Fitzwilliam. His Good Opinion answers the question, what was Darcy’s side of the story? Pride and Prejudice leaves much to the imagination. Was Darcy truly has prejudiced as he seemed and what were his intentions in his first proposal to Elizabeth Bennet? A true and timeless love story now told through the eyes of the undeniably dreamy Darcy.

Truth be told, I’m not a huge fan of classic literature. Sadly, I think my high school years ruined any hope I had of loving these timeless tales. One exception to this would without a doubt be Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen is quite possibly the original “Queen of Chick Lit” and as such perfected the art of romance. Any reader who has read and fallen in love with the journey of Darcy and Elizabeth has at one time or another wondered what exactly was going through his head during that first proposal? Not to mention the countless other occasions they met and perplexing situations arose. To have the opportunity to peek into the mind of our leading man is priceless indeed.

His Good Opinion was surprisingly well written. Had I not known previously I would have assumed this was a hidden gem originally written by Jane Austen herself. Nancy Kelley has perfected the language, setting, time and feeling of this most treasured novel. Of course, as a fan of the original my most anticipated scenes were the first & second proposals as well as the occasion when Darcy leaves to rescue Elizabeth’s sister Lydia. Each of these scenes were beyond perfect and exactly what I was hoping for.

Reading His Good Opinion by Nancy Kelley is similar to having the opportunity to re-read an old favorite classic all over again for the first time. Readers of Pride and Prejudice will fall in love all over again as your venture into the mind of the beloved Darcy. His prejudice, pride and pompous behavior are exactly what one would expect, but it’s his journey falling in love with Elizabeth that makes His Good Opinion a must read. This is a quintessential companion to the original “Chick Lit” novel Pride and Prejudice, and I’m certain long time fans as well as new readers will absolutely adore this new take on a classic love story.