Pemberley's Promise [Paperback]

Kara Louise (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 11, 2010

Pemberley's Promise ~ the name of the ship holds promise for those in its confines. When Elizabeth Bennet encounters Mr. Darcy on a voyage to America, their story, known by all in the Jane Austen novel, "Pride and Prejudice," is significantly altered. When Elizabeth becomes ill down in steerage and her condition worsens, Mr. Darcy makes a very unexpected offer to help her out.If you are familiar with the Jane Austen novel, you will recognize the beloved characters and certain events that transpire, but you do not have to have read her novel to enjoy this one. To read other stories by Kara Louise, visit her website, Jane Austen's Land of Ahhhs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: lulu.com (March 11, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1430319992
• ISBN-13: 978-1430319993
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #924,697 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kara Louise is the author of several books based on Jane Austen's novel, Pride and Prejudice including "Darcy's Voyage," which was released in Sept. 2010, and "Only Mr. Darcy Will Do" which was released in March, 2011, both published by Sourcebooks. She currently has 4 other self-published novels.

Kara Louise grew up in the San Fernando Valley, just north of Los Angeles. She is the middle of three sisters, all of whom lean to the creative arts - singing, art, and writing (each has her own expertise!). She is married and has one grown, married son. She and her family moved to Kansas from Los Angeles in 1991. When she arrived, she felt like she was on a nice, long, relaxing vacation. It was a far cry from the fast paced life-style in LA -- and she loved it. She and her husband currently live out in the country on 10 acres and are entertained by a dog, 6 cats, 3 horses, and 2 goats. She works in publications at her church where her husband is one of the pastors. She began writing in 2000, first, with an inspired story from her geneology that she was researching. But that took a back seat when she discovered the writings of Jane Austen, in particular, her novel "Pride and Prejudice." She began writing stories to answer the "what happened next" and the "what ifs" in Elizabeth's and Darcy's story. She has written 6 novels based on "Pride and Prejudice," but one of these days she is determined to finish that novel based on her geneology, which started it all.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pride and Prejudice on a Ship, February 20, 2008

By 

Meredith "Austenesque Reviews" (Wilmington , NC USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Pemberley's Promise (Paperback)

This story is not a sequel but a retelling of Pride and Prejudice with the some of the action takes place on a boat. It really is a great way to interpret Jane Austen's beloved novel "Pride and Prejudice." What if the events of both Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet took them down different paths. Would they still end up together? Would they still fall in love? We wonder about our own lives and how if we took a different path and life would we end up at the same spot?

So you see the author is not attempting to rewrite Pride and Prejudice or give it a sequel. Even if you are critical when it comes to fiction about Jane Austen or Pride and Prejudice, I think you will enjoy this book emensely. I will issue a warning that some of the language and the style are not like that of Jane Austen. I enjoyed how even though the two main characters met on a ship, certain events or converstations took place that also took place in Pride and Prejudice. For example, the discussion of an "accomplished lady," or Charles Bingley's letting of Netherfield Park.

If you are unfamiliar with Pride and Prejudice and don't understand what is written above here is the scenario:

Elizabeth Bennet is sailing to America to see her aunt and uncle who are in New York on business. This is not in modern times, so a unmarried woman travelling on a ship for a month unattended is a little dangerous. Another person travelling to America is Fitzwilliam Darcy, he owns the ship they are travelling on and does not want anyone to know it. In fact he wants little to do with anyone on the ship. He just wants to go to America to retrieve his sister rather than have her come back unattended. Mr. Darcy is of course ver wealthy and the target of many matching making mother aboard the ship. Elizabeth is in the steerage which is the lowest and poorest part of the ship. These two characters keep bumping into each other, Darcy is concerened when Elizabeth is ill and will not get any better because of the poor living conditions she is in on the ship. Mr. Darcy makes her an extraordinary offer. . .

I will not tell you any more, hopefully this haas whetted your appetite. I highly recommend the book to anyone with an open-mind, a love for anything to do with Pride and Prejudice, or someone who enjoys period romances.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Treat, July 10, 2007

By 

M. Stevenson (Manassas, Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pemberley's Promise (Paperback)

I thought the book was a tad pricey for a paperback, but I had a coupon so I bought it. I was so very pleased with the book and would have gladly spent the full price to have had the opportunity to read this story. Kara Louise is really clever - twisting and tying the original characters, lines from the book (and/or mini-series), and plot lines into her own plots with seamless results. I finished the book yesterday and am feeling a little lost today without the opportunity to open it and find out what happens next. I hope the author considers writing more!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely "what if" romance of a beloved classic!, August 23, 2007

By 

Jane Spade "Austen fan" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pemberley's Promise (Paperback)

I loved this "what if" romance between Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. Ms. Louise does a wonderful job inserting dialogue from the original "P&P" into her story without overdoing it. This story begins two years prior to the ill-fated Meryton ball. Elizabeth and Darcy meet in a carriage ride transporting each of them back to their respective homes from London. You can imagine what ensues therein: he all pride, she all prejudice. Two years later they meet again while on a voyage to America on, unbeknowst to Elizabeth, Darcy's ship named "Pemberly's Promise." She is on her way to visit with the Gardiners who have built a business in New York, he is on his way to retrieve Georgiana post-Wyckham scandal. They meet and vaguely remember each other. But, as the trip continues, they recollect that they had met during the carriage ride but do not admit it to each other until much later. Darcy makes an offer to an ill-stricken Elizabeth which she, in her literal feversh state, cannot refuse! The story continues to delight thereafter: Elizabeth's visit to Pemberly, Elizabeth's vigil over Jane at Netherfield, Lydia's "elopement" with Wyckham, just to name a few, are cleverly woven into this story. Darcy is less "prideful" in this rendition and very charming: he actually teases Elizabeth mercilessly and has a sense of humor! But just like the original Darcy he is passionately in love with Elizabeth and vows to prove it to her. For fans of "Pride & Prejudice", "Pemberly's Promise" delivers on its promise... to delight!