Pemberley Celebrations - The First Year

by Kara Louise

Join Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy in this compilation of short stories as they celebrate the holidays and special events in the first year of their marriage. Beginning with Christmas, the decorations are being put up, but it has not been a joyous holiday at Pemberley for many years. Can Elizabeth bring back the Christmas Spirit? There are three other Christmas stories, as well as stories about a New Years Eve Ball, a Valentine's Day Mystery, an Easter Visit, and several others that will entertain you throughout the year.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Historical, Regency

210 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 2011

About the author

Kara Louise has been writing "Pride and Prejudice" novels since 2001. She lives in the St. Louis area with her husband, sharing their 5 acres with an ever changing menagerie of animals. They live close to their son, his wife, and their 3 daughters, who are growing up way too fast!

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had expected that this would be either a single story that takes place over the course a year or a series of short stories during that time frame. However, most of the time, it's neither one.

Throughout more than half of the book, I'd say it's just episodic vignettes during significant holidays and "celebrations" where Darcy repeatedly proves how much he loves Elizabeth and visa versa. Sort of an extended epilogue of Pride and Prejudice, or maybe a journal. These vignettes are pleasant enough, but I found it hard to stay interested without conflicts or obstacles for the characters to overcome. I also thought the writing itself was less engaging than I'm accustomed to from Ms. Louise. Lots more repetitive introspection than usual.

At roughly 60% into this on my kindle, it seemed like a different book. The writing was crisper, and the chapters had more "short story" structure. This starts around the summer when Lady Catherine unexpectedly arrives at a most inopportune time. Finally a true conflict Darcy and Elizabeth must deal with! Similarly, the following segments have identifiable plots with building action, turning points and resolutions.

I had seriously considered not finishing this, but I'm glad I persevered to finish it or I would not have gotten to what I considered the best part of the book.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was absolutely adorable. It was tender, fun, poignant, and gently passionate as it tells what happens after the Happily Ever After for Darcy, Elizabeth and their families of Pride & Prejudice fame. I loved these snap shot stories that were centered around the holidays throughout a one year time frame.

Each story uses Darcy and Elizabeth as the focal point, but also manages to bring out family both of the past like in the Christmas story and Valentine's story when there is more of Darcy's deceased parents and of the present as the Bennets, Gardiners, Bingleys, Collinses, deBoughs, Wickhams and even Col. Fitz are encountered during the holidays as one is likely to do with family and friends. Besides family reunions, there are details of the couples' life and private events that I'll save as a surprise. There are mentions of adjustments and issues that are present in every relationship, but the positive is built up and the negative diminished so there is a delightful rose-tinted hue to things.

My favorite story was the engaging New Year's Eve tale because of the originality of the story by giving Darcy and Lizzy a new setting and plot that isn't associated with previous storyline from P&P. And then I have to give a shout out for the Michaelmas story because it includes my favorite, Col. Fitz, and a poignant vignette of Georgiana's secret crush.

Are the characters perfectly true to the originals? No. Is this the book to pick up if you're looking for action and angst or strong passion? Again, no. This is one for when you're in the mood to curl up with something light and sweet that will gently engage the senses.

All in all, this was a delightful Austenesque sequel that I can recommend to those who just can't get enough of Darcy and Lizzy and the rest of the Pride & Prejudice gang.

[J. W. Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, clean, and lovely

This is the life and times of Elizabeth and Darcy during their first year of marriage. Our story focuses only on the major holidays and how our couple celebrated together. There were highs and lows, sprinkled with a bit of anxiety as the two adjusted to getting to know each other. We have their giving and taking of gifts. It could be construed as too sweet, but hey, this was just their first year. Give them time and then the fireworks will happen.

Darcy is simply wonderful. His greatest pleasure seems to be having Elizabeth with him. He waited so long for her and she is now his wife and his life is complete. That was felt so strongly. Some may not like a light-hearted story like that, but I think it helps offset some of those high angst stories.
Wickham and Lydia have a small piece in this story. It is rather a shame, but we know their presence is always in the background ready to spring forth. Lydia… has that girl no shame?

Look closely at the cover. The four seasons are depicted in each panel of the window. The silhouettes are important in the story and it is so cute how they came about. I love the cover.

1) Decorating Pemberley for Christmas: ends at 8%
Newlyweds experiencing their first Christmas together. This was a delightful short where Elizabeth is becoming accustomed to being Mistress of Pemberley. Mrs. Reynolds helps her adjust to the rituals and traditions at Pemberley for the Festive Season. Elizabeth reinstates the long-lost traditions of the former Mistress and the joy it brings to Georgiana and her husband. It is heartwarming to see how important traditions are to a family. It was so sweet.

2) A Special Christmas Dinner: ends at 15 %
This was really cute as our couple prepares a special dinner for the servants.

3) A Christmas Surprise: ends at 20%
Elizabeth is bored, she is unaccustomed to the quiet around Pemberley. Darcy gives her and Georgiana one of their presents…ice skates. Remember, Pemberley has a pond.

4) A Family Christmas: ends at 30%
Darcy has a very special Christmas gift for Elizabeth. She has no clue until she hears horses and carriages approaching. Darcy gives her the gift of family. This was so nice.

5) New Year’s Eve: ends at 40%
Out with the old and in with the new.

6) Valentine’s Day: ends at 46%
The gift of love. Stories of first love.

7) Easter: ends at 53%
A time of forgiveness. Darcy receives a letter from Lady Catherine requesting… rather, insisting they come for Easter. Now that was a trip.

8) May Day: ends at 58%
The May pole and festivities and the promise of new life on a spring day.

9) A Midsummer’s Day: ends 68%
This is not Puck with his fairies, spells, and magic potions; it’s just Lady Catherine arriving to give her advice and counsel. Oh- my- goodness!

10) Michaelmas: ends at 76%
Elizabeth’s 7th month and Richard arrives to find a Georgiana all grown up.

11) All Hallow’s Eve: ends at 81%
Elizabeth’s 8th month. This section was Darcy POV regarding a Masquerade Ball at the Meryton Assembly where he first met Elizabeth… wait… what? That’s not right. How can he walk Elizabeth home from the Assembly? Why is Mr. Bennet crying? Is that a thunder storm? Something isn’t right.

12) A Birthday Blessing: ends at 88%
Mr. Darcy… ‘it’s your birthday, it’s your birthday.” Elizabeth gives Darcy the greatest birthday present EVER.

13) A First Anniversary: ends at 99%
This was so cute, there were surprises all over the place. This was a very happy anniversary.

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had picked this up and read only about 25% when I became distracted by other book recommendations. This is a pleasant read but without angst or much in the way of romance. The reviews of each date below do contain some SPOILERS as it would be difficult to relate what this book is about without telling you such. Each special date is brief and there is little to take away from ODC's happiness throughout.

Decorating Pemberley for Christmas: We learn that Darcy’s mother died on Christmas day and then boxes of ornaments which she and her son made lead to a new tradition.

A Special Christmas Dinner: Elizabeth comes up with ideas to serve the upper servants themselves in addition to traditional meals provided. Darcy and Georgiana help.

A Christmas Surprise: The gift of ice skates several days before Christmas provides opportunities for Elizabeth to fall into Darcy’s arms and for her to watch the two siblings dance together on ice.
A Family Christmas: Darcy surprises Elizabeth by inviting the Gardiners, Jane and Charles and the Bennets to spend Christmas with them.

New Year’s Eve: The Darcys return to London. Edwin and Jocelyn Moffey invite them to a New Year’s Eve Ball. Her Jocelyn’s sister, Joanna Mandrake, bitterly spread gossip about Darcy about 4 years ago after he told her he had no intentions towards her. A Mrs. Stevens, famous gossip, set everyone straight – that Darcy would only marry for love. Later, her son became engaged to Joanna Mandrake. At the New Year Eve party all this came to a end for Elizabeth and Darcy as Joanna apologized and Mrs. Stevens assured E. that she only spreads the truth…so it is news/not gossip.

Valentine’s Day: Elizabeth finds a letter and a man’s portrait hidden in a false bottom of an empty jewelry box as she is going through old things. The letter is to his mother, Anne, and they then talk of first loves thinking A.H. might have been Anne’s. E. thinks Darcy has forgotten the day but when no servants are around and he comes up behind her at breakfast he informs her that he ordered all the servants away so they have the house to themselves…but Mrs. Reynolds will serve them the special dinner E. ordered when they call her. E. gives him a miniature of her while he gives her a necklace with her initial.

Easter: Visiting Rosings again: Although Lady C. first attempts to put them in separate rooms and then in one with a terribly squeaky bed, she later apologizes as to her harangues about their wedding a year ago and how she thinks Elizabeth has been good for Darcy.

May Day: When Elizabeth has an upset stomach, she at first thinks she might be pregnant and so does Darcy but they don’t share their suspicions. When she continues with a fever and dizziness and being tired a doctor is called and says it is the influenza. A day or two later she gets sick again after twirling around the Maypole with Darcy and she admits she is pregnant but also had a stomach upset.

A Midsummer’s Day: The Darcys plan to go to Stratford for the Midsummer Festival where he has a friend. Lady Catherine arrives unexpectedly and announces she plans to stay through E.’s lying in period. Eventually E. decides not to go and then her father also arrives unexpectedly and amuses Lady Catherine who returns to her own home. Mr. Bennet has also delivered a letter from Jane.
Michaelmas: Fitzwilliam comes to visit and Georgiana can’t hide her tendre for him so he pretends to have a lady love in Bath.

All Hallows’ Eve: Darcy tells the Gardiner children of a masquerade ball at Netherfield on Oct. 31st in Meryton. He speaks of going out to avoid the crowd and a young lady is seen dancing alone. He joins her dance and then walks her home and gives her his cloak to wear. She takes it inside and when he knocks on the door, Mr. Bennet answers; his reply to the inquiry for the cloak is “My Lizzy died one year ago today– on her birthday!” ...Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner left the children in Darcy's and Elizabeth’s care while they visited friends and family in Lambton. “Uncle” Darcy was making up a ghost story to entertain them. Upon inquiry he now says their "Aunt" Elizabeth is an angel not a ghost.

A Birthday Blessing: The Collinses arrive for a one night stop over on their way north. E. is not expecting her baby for 2 weeks but he was born just after midnight which is Darcy’s birthday - Thomas Fitzwilliam Darcy.

A First Anniversary: Elizabeth plans a special dinner with musicians and the gift of a painting of Pemberley. Darcy takes her to Cresselet Manor, where she learns the Bingleys have taken possession. Darcy also decorates a special music room near their bedrooms with a new pianoforte. Lydia and Wickham have left Newcastle in the dead of the night and once again, Darcy has to clean up after him and find him a new job. Jane has miscarried but is now expecting again. Lydia is also pregnant.

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

reread June 2016

This is just a wonderful book of short stories that are tied together by being about the celebrations held by the Darcys in the first year of their marriage.

The Christmas and Halloween ones are my favorites

[Dung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved reading about their first year as a marriage couple in the different seasons. A little too perfect. Would have loved some angst.

[Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As most married couples will tell you, the first year of marriage is not only a time of love, happiness, and romance, but also a time of adjustment, discovery, and compromise. For some people, the first year of marriage is challenging, for others it is like being on an extended honeymoon. For Darcy and Elizabeth, it is a time of establishing traditions, making memories, and melding their two diverse lives into one.

In Kara Louise's lovely Pride and Prejudice sequel Pemberley Celebrations readers will find thirteen short stories that illustrate how Darcy and Elizabeth celebrate their first year together. We witness familiar celebrations, such as: Christmas, New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, Easter, All Hallows' Eve, and their Anniversary, and some not so familiar, such as May Day, Midsummer's Day, and Michaelmas, (which looked like fun, I think I should initiate a Midsummer's Day celebration in my town!)

To continue reading, go to: http://goo.gl/fb/xwAam

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really rated this book a 31/2 stars. This book is a compilations of the milestone celebrations of Darcy and Elizabeth. There 1st Xmas, Valentines day, Easter and so on. It starts out with there preparation of there 1st Xmas and a little miss communication which easily is resolved. Through out the book you see how they start to jell as a couple through misunderstandings and there love for each other. I did feel that the beginning was a little flat for me but as the story progressed it was more involved and there was the meeting back at Rosings and Lady Catherine. It was wonderful to see this confrontation and how Lizzy and Darcy handled it. Each milestone is met with different circumstances and was diverting to read. Definitely worth reading.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange little book. I found it at the Book Thing and kept it because it talks about my favorite literary character-- Miss. Elizabeth Bennett....wait, sorry, Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy. This is her first year of marriage...and short little stories about each holiday they celebrated. Jane, Georgina, Charlotte (and others) all make an appearance.
I am not sure I agree with the directions that the author took the characters--- and I hated how "delicate" she turned Lizzie (exhausted after planning a party, exhausted after walking outside....really, strong-willed Elizabeth? No)....but it was an entertaining read.

Read if you are a fan of the Bennett family and want some ideas on how they might spend their holidays.

[Samantha McNulty · Rating 3 out of 5]

3*

A delightful collection of stories chronically the first year of marriage between Mr and Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy, beginning their first Christmas and ending around the birth of their first child.

[Nicol Legakis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give it more of a 3 1/2 stars. I loved the stories but short stories are rarely ever enough for me. Especially when it comes to Darcy! I love this author and would have preferred she write a whole novel about the Darcy's first year. Ah....maybe in the future, if I'm lucky!

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet happy moment, enjoied reading it. The writting,the characters and the situations they found themselves were truely very belivable even true to the J.A. original characters.

Would read it again.