SHORT AND SWEET REVIEW: UNLEASHING MR DARCY BY TERI WILSON

UNLEASHING MR DARCY

Authors: Teri Wilson
Murdoch Books RRP $19.99
Review: Monique Mulligan

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman teetering on the verge of thirty must be in want of a husband. 

Not true for Manhattanite Elizabeth Scott. Instead of planning a walk down the aisle, she’s crossing the pond with the only companion she needs—her darling dog, Bliss. Caring for a pack of show dogs in England seems the perfect distraction from the scandal that ruined her teaching career, and her reputation, in New York. What she doesn’t count on is an unstoppable attraction to billionaire dog breeder Donovan Darcy. The London tycoon’s a little bit arrogant, a whole lot sexy… and the chemistry between them is disarming. When passion is finally unleashed, might Elizabeth hope to take home more than a blue ribbon?

Fan fiction meets Pride & Prejudice in this light-hearted romantic comedy about a nearly thirty-year-old who, according to her mother, obviously wants a husband by now. Elizabeth has enough on her plate, so finding a husband is low on her priorities, but meeting Donovan Darcy has her all in a fluster. There are plenty of parallels to the classic, which Pride & Prejudice lovers will spot a mile off, but a few other cute references that may go unnoticed. One of the characters names her dogs Violet, Daisy, Rose and Hyacinth, which fans of British TV series Keeping Up Appearances will giggle at. And of course, there’s plenty of pride and prejudice happening from both leads. I had a few giggles, smiled as I made the connections between this book and its inspiration; it’s well written, but a bit light and fluffy for me … and besides, I’m not really a fan of Mr Darcy spin-offs. I prefer the real thing … and the good thing is that I’m now keen to get my copy off the shelf. Or I could just watch this:

Available from good bookstores and Harlequin Australia (their price is $14.99). My copy was courtesy of Harlequin Australia.