REVIEW: TWISTS OF FATE by Joana Starnes

Twists of Fate by Joana Starnes

About the book:

What if Mr Collins shocked Elizabeth with his base conduct at the time of his proposal, thus sending her dashing out of her house, and into the arms of Mr Darcy? What if that accidental encounter was witnessed, and impropriety was assumed? What if Mr Darcy was glad of the excuse to marry his heart’s desire – only to have his best hopes blasted within hours of his wedding? What if he found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time more than once?

Evil rumours, an early marriage, a dreadful misunderstanding, an old secret and good intentions gone awry. What if ‘I do’ is not the end, but the beginning of the adventure?

(The novel addresses mature themes. Given the ‘early marriage’ premise, the issue of growing affection and intimacy is central to the story. The relevant scenes are emotive and deeply sensual, but never explicit.)

Review by Christina Boyd:

Twists of Fate begins when Darcy is at Netherfield Park and Mr Collins makes his proposal to Elizabeth—but then that’s where author Joana Starnes diverts from Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. Escaping the clutches of a handsy, unscrupulous,smarmy Collins, she takes herself on a walk toward her aunt Philips in the village. The weather turns and she is caught in a downpour with none other than Mr. Darcy. Afterwards, he escorts her to her aunt’s, only to be observed by a meddling maid who progresses to spread wild tales and innuendo about Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy—Darcy finds he can do nothing but follow his heart, despite the differences in their social standing, and ask for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage.

“There was but one answer she could give to his offer of marriage, and they both knew it. But by now Elizabeth had sufficient cause to hope that, despite the hand they had been dealt, they might make a good life together. Thus, her smile was shy rather than forced when, with one word, she pledged herself to him in a low whisper.”—Chapter 8

Though neither knows much about the other, they come to find that in essentials they are well-matched, maybe even in a love match... Alas, soon after the wedding, Darcy overhears a private conversation between Elizabeth and her sister, and well, let’s just say, their marriage begins on a rocky road to Pemberley.

“Breath caught in his chest as Darcy turned his head to stare unseeing out of the window. Heaven help him, he wanted her! No change there, even if everything else had changed. If anything, he wanted her more than ever.” —Chapter 14

A riveting and absorbing read… You’ll savor the unraveling of their fledgling love and the brilliance of the heart-pounding romance when truths are revealed. A thoughtful tale full of familiar, swoon-worthy characters and sizzling scenes! Twists of Fate is a real gem that we expect from the incomparable storyteller, Joana Starnes.

About the author: Joana Starnes lives in the south of England with her family. She swapped several hats over the years – physician, lecturer, clinical data analyst – but feels most comfortable in a bonnet. She has been living in Regency England for decades in her imagination, and plans to continue in that vein till she lays hands on a time machine.

She loves to look for glimpses of Pemberley and Jane Austen’s world, and to write about Regency England and Mr Darcy falling in love with Elizabeth Bennet over and over and over again.

She is the author of eleven Austen-inspired novels: From This Day Forward ~ The Darcys of Pemberley, The Subsequent Proposal, The Second Chance, The Falmouth Connection, The Unthinkable Triangle, Miss Darcy’s Companion, Mr Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter, The Darcy Legacy, The Journey Home To Pemberley, A Timely Elopement and Twists of Fate.

Joana is also one of the contributing authors to the Quill Ink anthologies.