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Seasons of Serendipity #2

A Spring Sentiment

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After losing her father in autumn and falling in love with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet quickly feels the frustrations of settling her newly widowed mother and making her debut in London society. Tackling adventures in three counties, the Bennet sisters find new paths opening up before them. A mistake by one sister places the whole family at risk and it takes the full Bennet family strength and friends they can rely on to help Darcy and Elizabeth march down that wedding aisle!

163 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2014

27 people are currently reading
65 people want to read

About the author

Elizabeth Ann West

39 books142 followers
A Jane-of-all-trades, mistress to none! Elizabeth Ann West is the author of 7 novels and 9 novellas, 15 of which are story variations of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. Her books have won reader conference awards and hit the Historical Bestseller lists on Amazon, Kobo, and the iBooks stores multiple times. A lover of all things geeky, Elizabeth codes websites, dabbles in graphic design, and is always looking for new technology to learn and master. A Navy wife and mother of two, her family has lived all over the United States, currently residing in upstate New York. Originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, you can keep up with Elizabeth on Twitter @Eawwrites and on her website, http://elizabethannwest.com where she posts new fiction as she writes it!

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5 stars
74 (32%)
4 stars
86 (37%)
3 stars
56 (24%)
2 stars
11 (4%)
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3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for J. W. Garrett.
1,736 reviews133 followers
March 22, 2021
Shocking, fast read, one disaster after another, hard fought HEA

If you love suspense, danger, intrigue, you will love book two of the Seasons of Serendipity Series: A Spring Sentiment. At times I held my breath and wondered if Elizabeth and Darcy were going to make it to the HEA. One thing after another hit Darcy and Elizabeth as their backgrounds clashed.

Things that come naturally to Elizabeth made Darcy shudder. Things that Darcy expects and desires from his intended or future wife fills Elizabeth with fear and trepidation. And then Mrs. Bennet and Lydia seemed on a crash course to see who could be the most troublesome and make the most demands. Those two should be sent to the farthest regions of the British realm, they deserve each other. I was so upset with them.

I cringed at the dastardly deeds of Wickham and Mrs. Younge as it is hinted that the accident that involved Uncle Gardiner might not have been an accident after all. We are made aware that the Gardiner house was being watched and Wickham was trying to find ways in order to get funds from Darcy….the usual MO, he will never change.

Charles and Caroline Bingley…I cannot figure what is going on with Charles…he is not acting like himself, avoiding Jane and she is starting to pull away from him and question their courtship.

Caroline is simply delicious in her abuse and not so subtle attacks on the Bennet sisters, their low origins, and youngest sister’s reputation. Darcy, on more than one occasion warned Charles regarding Caroline’s behavior. Charles has seemingly done nothing to curb her behavior or actions. Darcy’s is reconsidering their inclusion in his circle if things do not change.

Lord and Lady Matlock are most excellent people who love Darcy and Georgiana and want the best for them. There could easily be a book on them alone. I loved them. Lady Matlock is wonderful as she pulls the Bennet girls into her circle. As tragedy hits, she wages war against the slanderous gossip created by Caroling Bingley [had her physically ejected from her ball]. She intends to counter by taking Jane and Mary into society and draw the focus of the gossips away from Lydia. She plans to launch Georgiana and Kitty the next year in their first Season into Society. I like how Mary has blossomed in this version.

Minimal edit problems, also usage problems: Bravo for a lone male performer, and Brava for a lone female performer would be known to Lady Matlock [chapter 3] when she applauds Mary’s playing. Americans have bastardized the word Bravo for everything…but she would have known the correct usage. In chapter 6, Mr. Gardiner commented about entering the lion’s den…to which Darcy replied they should all guard their loins…should that be gird their loins as in going to battle or as in protection? I was confused.

I look forward to the next novella.
Profile Image for Les.
2,911 reviews1 follower
August 2, 2017
This is the second book in a series that requires you to read the first in order to keep up because it goes so far off canon. None of these are bad things just facts.

With Lizzy engaged to Mr. Darcy her visit to Meryton to get Mrs. Bennet relocated to her own home is complicated by a jilted sister and Mrs. Bennet's silliness.

The path to true love never runs smooth and there are constant pitfalls and problems to be overcome. Lydia has stubbed her toe and her finance has vanished.



I know there is a part 3 and the cliff hanger has me on the edge of my seat.
Profile Image for Victoria.
519 reviews7 followers
October 22, 2016
I really, really, really, wanted to rate this higher. I couldn't in good conscience because there were many points in the story where I was going "Wait, what?!" and then flipping back to see where I missed such crucial information.

There were a few OOC moments, such as Darcy and Georgiana helping with the Gardiner's inventory, even if it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, but the spirit of the story is still very enjoyable.

I'm curious to see what will happen with Jane!
Profile Image for Patricia Gulley.
Author 4 books53 followers
October 18, 2014
This was a very quick read, that seemed like a 'middle of the story' read. The retelling of P&P when Mr. Bennet dies and the Bennet women have to leave their home. I was not too happy with Lizzy in this episode of the story, she wasn't the strong willed woman I believe her to be. However, Mary and Jane have stepped up.
Profile Image for Jeanah.
297 reviews6 followers
September 25, 2016
Even though you could predict some of what would occur..... It was still so riveting and had me on the edge of seat. It's just too darn short. Which is why I gave it 3 stars and not 4. There were still so many scenarios that I did not anticipate. Im loving the strength of Jane's character in this and it is rare that Bingley is so unlikable but both adjustments are a refreshing change.
Profile Image for Gail Frisby.
471 reviews13 followers
October 26, 2022
Loved it

I can't wait to read the next book. I love me West books. I hope that Jane is gonna find love but not with Bingley. I hope Wickham is killed or deported.
Profile Image for Jacquelin.
117 reviews
September 10, 2024
I have read all 8 of the Seasons of Serendipity books by Elizabeth Ann West (yes, there are 8, though the last two are technically Seasons of Serendipity Bride books) and have rated all of them 3 stars. I honestly didn’t want to read all of them after I finished the first two, they were not impressive. But since all the books are very short I decided to continue. Instead of writing a review recapping each individual book I decided to write one review for all of them as the problems I had span all the books. There are spoilers so be warned. One last note; I strive to right very honest reviews, keeping in mind that I am critiquing the work of a fellow human being. I try not to be mean or nasty or unnecessarily unkind. I do not believe that just because no one knows who I am, it gives me the freedom or the right, to be awful and venomous. With that in mind, here we go:

The stories are good but not great. I refer to the overall stories, not the way they’re written. One of the things that I didn’t understand was how the author scatters the Bennet sisters all over the place, some are in London, another at Pemberly, another at Matlock, another at Meryton, another in Scotland. They’re supposed to be in mourning and they are truly devastated by their father’s death. But they’re so quick to split up at the drop of a hat. So in the end, with the exception of the first part of the first book, the sisters are not all together in one place until years later at the end of the last book. I like the P&P variations that have a cozy, home and hearth feeling. If you’re like me you won’t like these books, they’re just constantly traveling at an alarming rate. No sooner do two sisters reach their destination then one of them is feeling uncomfortable and hopping back in a carriage with all their belongings to visit someone or just to get away. It’s crazy. Then there are things like Mary and Jane have a huge fight and they’re giving each other evil stares and Jane keeps giving Mary the cold shoulder; not characteristic of these two characters at all. And very childish. Here’s another one, Elizabeth wants to make sure all the servants in her employ know how to read. Now, that’s not at all alarming and it’s not even unheard of for the period. There were many peers of the realm who uncharacteristically went against the norm and were very kind to their servants. But she takes over Mrs. Reynold’s personal office, much to the housekeeper’s chagrin, in order to set up a school for all the servants. Where they will learn reading, writing and math. In several shifts, of course, since they can’t neglect their duties. With further plans to teach the children of the village and then sends Jane, who’s living in the Darcy estate in Scotland, a letter asking her to do the same in that estate. Lydia is not only her usual self-absorbed self, she goes far beyond what any normal person would put up with. I wonder if Elizabeth West possibly meant for this character to have some sort of mental disability. Or possibly a syndrome like Asperger. The character is so beyond the self-absorption Lydia from the original that it boggles the mind. She shows up at the Darcy townhome in London pregnant and unmarried with her mother in tow. She walks in without a care in the world talking about her dear Wickham and asking to go to the theatre and wanting to know when the next ball is. Her mother acts the same way despite everyone else in the family looking on them astonished. At no point do either Lydia or her mother ever get called to the mat. At no point do either of them show any shame or realization of what a dangerous situation Lydia is in. It’s not just odd, it’s alarming.

Next is how choppy and disconnected the writing is. Scenes and descriptions of rooms and goings-on are not fleshed out; they’re disjointed and confusing. I had to go back and read full paragraphs only to find that I didn’t read them correctly, it wasn’t my misreading something, it was the writing.

The elder matrons are always portrayed as meddlesome and troublemakers. In the case of the Dowager Lady Hamilton and Mrs. Bennet the portrayal makes sense though it’s very over the top (the Dowager actually reads Mary Bennet’s letters while Mary is sick and then makes no excuses about it! Instead of having to apologize the author portrays her as a dowdy, impulsive elder woman who we’re supposed to find just adorable and incorrigible). But in Lady Matlock’s case Darcy and Elizabeth are just downright rude to her. All the girls are split up, Darcy and Elizabeth are off to Pemberly to live in wedded bliss and Mary, Georgiana and Kitty are left to their own devices in London! So Lady Matlock takes them under her wing, takes them shopping, buys them new wardrobes and starts giving them daily classes on dancing and etiquette and a whole bunch of other lessons in anticipation of their first season the following year. Well Elizabeth and Darcy arrive in town and are completely incensed that Lady Matlock has taken it on herself to educate the girls and even more, Elizabeth can’t believe that all Lady Matlock has educated them in is etiquette and dancing! She states that she expects them to learn more than just place settings, that they should know about the world. Not even realizing that it was her and Darcy’s neglect that caused Lady Matlock to step in. Oh, and previously Jane was assaulted at a house party that Lady Matlock had taken her to by a horrible man. So Elizabeth and Darcy lay that at Lady Matlock’s feet as well. They are so rude to her and in the end it’s Lady Matlock who has to apologize to Elizabeth. There are bizarre story choices like that throughout all the books.

Finally there are the many, many spelling and grammatical errors. Captain Tompkins is first introduced as Captain Toompkins. I wasn’t sure if it was a mistake until a few paragraphs after where his name is spelled correctly. And the grammatical errors are worse. “His” used when it should be “her”, “off” used instead of “of”, and the like. Then, at one point Mary is speaking with the Dowager Duchess Hamilton and TWICE, instead of saying “Your Grace” to the Dowager, she says “My Grace” Twice in two paragraphs! One type of grammatical error that I try to excuse is when authors write “He was the person she wanted to speak to”, which is incorrect but so many do it that it’s become the norm. The more grammatically correct way is to write, “He was the person to whom she wanted to speak”. Ending the sentence with the word “to” is poor writing, especially in a period book. But in one of the books I actually read, “He was the person to whom she wanted to speak to”. Another error that, surprisingly, many authors make and few editors or proof readers notice, is when they make the grammatical error of saying, for example, “She was the one that…” when it should be “She was the one who…” I understand writing fast when you’re on a roll and missing it. But several people read books before they’re ever published. Even many self-published books are read and re-read (though not all) before they publish. There were too many of these types of mistakes in Elizabeth West’s books to excuse. Particularly since they’re supposed to be so popular and everyone supposedly loves her books. I find it hard to believe that books that are this popular have not been properly proof read or edited.

In the end I get increasingly tired of excusing lazy writing. Elizabeth Ann West has been called a Jane-of-all-trades, mistress of none. And while the original quote (made by William Shakespeare, supposedly) ends with “…but often times better than a master of one”, I’m afraid to say that this saying, as far as Elizabeth Ann West is concerned, is not a compliment. It’s possible that she needs to spend more time on the trade of writing of her books…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Katherine.
453 reviews38 followers
September 26, 2014
The only thing that disappointed me was the end and the reason was that there was no end! There is another part to follow which frustrated me as I thought this was the end. I can't wait to read the next part - what will Janes future hold? What about Lydia? To be continued in part 3...
1,183 reviews29 followers
April 1, 2019
End of the line for me

I'm sorry to say I won't be reading the remainder of the books in this series. There just isn't any joy in this installment. We are still waiting for Elizabeth and Darcy to get married and their relationship seems strained by the sources of stress around them. Lydia is ruined and pregnant. Jane is falling out of love with Bingley, who suddenly seems like a jerk. Mrs. Bennett is getting weirder. Aunt Gardiner is pregnant, but Uncle Gardiner has a terrible accident. Darcy is still snooty and arrogant about Elizabeth 's family, and has a ways to go to train himself out of it. Elizabeth is stressing about the high society the Matlocks introduce her to, and she's feeling inadequate. Almost everyone has a negative issue going on.

I realize a story should have some suspense or angst to make it interesting, but this book really killed my mood. There's very little romance to uplift the story. The best bit of hope we are given is the suggestion of an interest between Mary and Col. Fitzwilliam, but he's about to leave for the war on the continent. Even Darcy's and Elizabeth 's wedding at the end has a cloud over it because Lydia, of all people, will accompany them to Scotland, they to honeymoon, her to hide out and have her baby. Seems like no one can catch a break.

I slogged through it, and it is blessedly short, but it took away my appetite for any more.
1,391 reviews4 followers
April 13, 2020
Fantastic story

The second book in this series is as incredible as the first. This takes us through the engagement to the wedding of Darcy and Elizabeth. Interesting plot through here as certain people cause more drama. You don't want to miss what happens. Well written, great storyline, plot is fantastic, and I highly recommend you to read.
Profile Image for Deb.
555 reviews32 followers
July 17, 2018
Book Two in the seasons. Liked this installment more than the first. Love the Matlock family (Darcy’s Aunt & uncle along with his two cousins). Cannot wait to see what Book Three of the series will bring for the Bennett girls!
1,190 reviews
January 2, 2019
Those Bennet girls (mostly Lydia) seem to find a lot of trouble. But they work it out. I like this adaptation. I like the development of the traditional characters and the expansion of some of the minor ones.
Profile Image for Michelle David.
2,538 reviews13 followers
May 14, 2019
Lovely

A wonderful variation inspired by author Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice by Elizabeth Anne West. Second in the series can’t wait for the next
1 review
November 19, 2017
A Spring Sentiment

I was under the spell of this romantic story written by Elizabeth Ann West! Such a lovely story of the Bennett sisters, can't wait to read the other novella.
Profile Image for A.J. Colby.
Author 4 books50 followers
February 12, 2015
A Spring Sentiment follows on from the story started in A Winter Wrong, and after finishing the first book in less than a day, I eagerly picked up the second book in the series. The continuing trials and adventures of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy (as well as the rest of the Bennett clan) travel along at a quick pace that kept me engaged, but I found the characterizations a little off from the first book.

Elizabeth is more prone to childish behavior and is often depicted as being whiny and short tempered, while other mild-mannered characters are seen to be boorish and cold. Overall I enjoyed the story, and look forward to reading the two remaining books in the series, but hope that it will not be such a struggle at times to see the headstrong and willful heroine through the temper tantrums.
Profile Image for Susan.
7,213 reviews69 followers
December 11, 2023
Seasons of Serendipity Book 2 - this Pride and Prejudice variation continues.
With the trials of the remaining Bennet family now living with their relations. This leads up to the marriage of Darcy and Elizabeth but what of Lydia and Wickham, and Jane and Charles.
An enjoyable re-read of this continuing story. Again
4 reviews2 followers
April 28, 2015
A Nice Continuation

The story is advancing nicely, and it is always good to see Caroline Bingley physically removed from a room. I hope the next ones follow soon.
Profile Image for LK.
Author 6 books14 followers
July 15, 2015
Sisterly love

The second in the series this one explores the scandal of the youngest Bennett sister and how they can fix her mistakes and still follow their hearts.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews

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