In another ten or fifteen years, Jane wold likely be the sweetheart of the county, and it would be a lucky man who won her hand. Lizzy, however…he shook his head. She would need a husband with an iron will! Whoever the man should be, Gardiner decided, he had best win the girl’s respect early, for Lizzy would not be apt to grant him a second chance.
(from The Courtship of Edward Gardiner)
Nicole Clarkston’s newest novel, The Courtship of Edward Gardiner, is a prequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice that centers on Mrs. Bennet’s brother, Edward Gardiner. Mr. Gardiner has worked hard to build up his business in trade in London and finally has the means to support a family. After being rejected by a Miss Rutherford, a brokenhearted Mr. Gardiner finds himself on the way to Sheffield with his brother-in-law, Thomas Bennet, and his oldest daughters, eight-year-old Jane and seven-year-old Elizabeth. When Jane falls ill, the uncle and his nieces are forced to stay in the village of Lambton while Mr. Bennet journeys toward his ill brother. It is in Lambton that Mr. Gardiner meets Madeline Fairbanks, the daughter of a bookkeeper who has been hired to care for the Bennet sisters during their stay in the village.
Mr. Gardiner is almost immediately captivated by Miss Fairbanks. After all, she is sweet, kind, and clever, and while other young ladies are worried about gowns and ribbons, Madeline helps her ailing father with his business. In short, she is the woman Edward has been waiting for but didn’t believe truly existed. But how are they to build any sort of relationship when he will be heading back to London in a matter of days?
The Courtship of Edward Gardiner is a charming novel that puts Elizabeth’s favorite aunt and uncle in the spotlight and imagines how they might have met. I adored Edward and Madeline, as well as the Madeline’s dear friend, Mrs. Porter, the innkeeper. It was also fascinating to get a glimpse of Elizabeth as a rambunctious, outspoken little girl, and especially to see a 14-year-old Fitzwilliam Darcy as he helps his little sister through their grief after their mother’s passing, struggles to keep his pride in check, and begins to understand all of the responsibilities he will one day have as Master of Pemberley. A young Lizzy and Darcy butting heads during a hailstorm, and Mr. Bennet having his fun at Lady Catherine’s expense were some of my favorite scenes.
I generally enjoy when authors put Austen’s secondary characters at the forefront, and Clarkston’s novel is the first I’ve seen that focuses on the Gardiners. The Courtship of Edward Gardiner is a delightful tale, with plenty of humor and excitement mixed in with the romance. This is the first book I’ve read by Clarkston, but it definitely won’t be the last!
***
About The Courtship of Edward Gardiner
Every great love has a beginning.
In Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, we meet with perhaps the most sensible, caring relatives a lovelorn young woman could hope for: Mr and Mrs Gardiner. What is their story?
Edward Gardiner has just been refused by the lovely young woman he had intended to make his wife. Heartbroken and eager for a diversion, he accepts an invitation from his brother-in-law, Thomas Bennet, to accompany him along with his two eldest daughters to the north on family business. Gardiner’s pleasure tour is interrupted, however, when his eldest niece falls ill and is unable to travel farther.
Stopping over in the scarcely remarkable village of Lambton, the men decide that Bennet must continue on, while Gardiner and the children remain. The only trouble is that Gardiner has not the least idea how he should care for one ailing niece and another who is ready to drive him to distraction… until he meets with Madeline Fairbanks.
Check out The Courtship of Edward Gardiner on Amazon | Goodreads
***
About the Author
Nicole Clarkston is the pen name of a very bashful writer who will not allow any of her family or friends to read what she writes. She grew up in Idaho on horseback, and if she could have figured out how to read a book at the same time, she would have. She initially pursued a degree in foreign languages and education, and then lost patience with it, switched her major, and changed schools. She now resides in Oregon with her husband of 15 years, 3 homeschooled kids, and a very worthless degree in Poultry Science (don’t ask).
Nicole discovered Jane Austen rather by guilt in her early thirties- how does any book worm really live that long without a little P&P? She has never looked back. A year or so later, during a major house renovation project (undertaken when her husband unsuspectingly left town for a few days) she discovered Elizabeth Gaskell and fell completely in love. Nicole’s books are her pitiful homage to two authors who have so deeply inspired her.
Connect with Nicole Clarkston via Website | Facebook | Goodreads Author Page | Goodreads Blog | Amazon Author Page
***
Giveaway
Nicole is generously offering a copy of The Courtship of Edward Gardiner in a reader’s choice (ebook or paperback) giveaway, open internationally! To enter, please leave a comment with your email address. This giveaway will close on Wednesday, December 7, 2016. The winner will be chosen randomly and announced in the comments section of this post. Good luck!
***
Follow the Blog Tour
10/21: Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway at More Agreeably Engaged
10/22: Review & Giveaway at Just Jane 1813
10/27: Review & Giveaway Savvy Verse & Wit
11/01: Excerpt & Giveaway at Half Agony, Half Hope
11/08: Guest Post & Giveaway at So little time…
11/10: Review & Giveaway at My Kids Led Me Back to Pride and Prejudice
11/11: Guest Post & Giveaway at Babblings of a Bookworm
11/15: Review & Giveaway at My Vices and Weaknesses
11/17: Guest Post & Giveaway at A Covent Garden Gilflurt’s Guide to Life
11/26: Excerpt & Giveaway at Margie’s Must Reads
11/30: Review & Giveaway at Diary of an Eccentric
12/01: Guest Post & Giveaway at From Pemberley to Milton
Disclosure: I received The Courtship of Edward Gardiner from the author for review.
What are delightful review, Anna! I am so glad you enjoyed the story about the Gardiners. They are such sweet people, they deserve more page time. 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway everyone!
LikeLike
My pleasure! I really enjoyed spending time with them! 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Jeanne, and it is wonderful to see you following the tour!
LikeLike
I just finished reading this book yesterday, and it was delightful!
LikeLike
Glad you enjoyed it, too, June!
LikeLike
That makes me happy 🙂
LikeLike
Hello Anna, thank you for featuring Nicole Clarkston’s wonderful book ‘The Courtship of Edward Gardiner.’ I absolutely LOVED this variation. We rarely see this side of the P&P story. It is an important key to the character of our future Jane and Elizabeth. The influence of their aunt and uncle is what set Jane and Elizabeth apart from the rest of the Bennet brood. I loved this early look at the girls, their father [oh my], and a young Darcy and Georgiana. I cannot say enough about this book. Don’t include me in the give-a-way…I already have a copy from Nicole. Wonderful post Anna. And…congratulations to Nicole on her successful launch of her book.
LikeLike
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, too! Yes, the Gardiners are so very important to Jane and Elizabeth, so it’s only fitting that they have a book dedicated to their meeting. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for enabling this for international readers. Much appreciated.
LikeLike
Hope you get a chance to read it!
LikeLike
JAFF would not be the same without all of the lovely international readers! What a wonderful little alternate universe we have here. 🙂
LikeLike
I really loved this one!
LikeLike
It was very well done!
LikeLike
Thank you! It was a pleasure to write.
LikeLike
Would love to read this one! Thanks for a chance to win a copy!
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by, Pam!
LikeLike
Good luck in the giveaway!
LikeLike
Thanks for this lovely feature and giveaway.
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by, Ellie!
LikeLike
You are most welcome! Good luck 🍀
LikeLike
I love this premise as I’ve never read anything like it before. Thanks for the review and giveaway.
LikeLike
It was the first time I’d read about the Gardiners, so that alone was fascinating! Thanks for stopping by, darcybennett!
LikeLike
I think a lot of people shy away from this lovely couple because they don’t do drama very well. That’s precisely one of the things I love about them 🙂
LikeLike
Hello, This is my favorite genre of
books, that I enjoy reading!
Many thanks, Cindi
LikeLike
Well, you’re in great company here! Thanks for stopping by, Cindi!
LikeLike
You have definitely found the right crowd here. Good luck in the giveaway!
LikeLike
I can’t wait to read this! I love the Gardiners, and am looking forward to reading their early story! Would love to win!
LikeLike
If you love the Gardiners, I bet you’ll enjoy this book as much as I did. Thanks for stopping by, Laura!
LikeLike
Yeah, just think where Lizzy and Darcy would be without them ❤️
LikeLike
Oh,what a great review!
Must admit to loving this wonderful story and reading it with a broad smile on my face! Yes,it’s that kind of book-sweet,emotional,heartwarming and utterly compelling!
Loved the early interactions between the future Master of Pemberley and our adorable,utterly mischievous Lizzy!
Yes,Mr B was his ever indolent and ‘hands off’ father,leaving our beloved Edward to pick up the slack,ably and happily assisted by none other than Madeline!
Yes,a fantastic story,perfect to while away the dark,cold Winter nights!
Please don’t include me in the giveaway!
Best of luck with this one,Nicole!
LikeLike
So glad you enjoyed this one as much as I did, Mary! Yes, Mr. Bennet definitely is a hands off father, but I did enjoy his humor in this story.
LikeLike
What a treat to see you here, Mary! Thank you for supporting the tour. 💕
LikeLike
Lovely review Anna. I think this is a fabulous premise as I do so love Mr. & Mrs. Gardiner. Thank you for the giveaway!
LikeLike
Thanks for saying hi Carol!
LikeLike
I’ve been following the tour and with each stop found something new to appreciate about the story. Love that you pointed out that this brings the minor characters to the forefront, but also shows the shaping of Lizzy and Darcy as children.
Nice review, Anna!
sophiarose1816 at gmail dot com
LikeLike
Thanks, Sophia! I loved seeing them as kids; Lizzy was such a handful!
LikeLike
How fun to give him a book 😀
blodeuedd1 at gmail dot com
LikeLike
What a nice thing to say, Sophia. Thank you!
LikeLike
Good luck in the giveaway blodeuedd!
LikeLike
I loved her take on the Gardiners; such a cute story!
LikeLike
What a lovely concept. I have often thought about how the Gardiners have met and I can not even believe someone else has thought about this and put it in to a story. I would love to read this one as my Christmas present.
rakowski_julie@yahoo.com Julie R
LikeLike
I am so glad to hear I am not the only one! It would be fun to hear other ideas on this wonderful couple.
LikeLike
I was glad to see them take center stage. They certainly deserved their own story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Gardiners have always been favorites of mine. Going to love this.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
LikeLike
I hope you do, Mary! Good luck 🙂
LikeLike
I bet you will love it, Mary!
LikeLike
How wonderful to see the focus on the Gardners. Look forward to reading this book!
LikeLike
Aren’t they just the cutest? Good luck!
LikeLike
I hope you get a chance to read it! Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
I can’t wait to read about the Gardiners’ courtship and catch glimpses of Elizabeth and Darcy in the background! Thanks for a lovely story and a great review, ladies 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Joana! I really liked getting glimpses of younger versions of all the characters. What a treat!
LikeLike
Thank you, Joana, for all of your support!
LikeLike
One of the first things that attracted me to this book, apart from it being about two of my favourite minor characters, was the cover picture. I was lucky enough to win a copy earlier in the tour, on Candy’s blog, and it arrived in the post this week whilst I was away for a few days. What a joy to tear open the package (yes, I WAS that impatient!) and see it in all of it’s glorious colour. It looks even better in the flesh, so to speak. Can’t wait to dive into it!
LikeLike
I agree, Anji; the cover is gorgeous!!
LikeLike
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to read my review and enter the giveaway. The winner is darcy400 (check your email 🙂 ). Congrats and happy reading!
LikeLike
I’ve always liked the Gardiners in Pride and Prejudice. This book sounds lovely!
LikeLike
It is! They are lovely. 🙂
LikeLike
Just dropping in to say I read and loved this book. The Gardiners continue to be a favorite couple for me. Also loved meeting ODC when they were quite young and acted as such!
LikeLike
I’m so glad you were able to read it and that you loved it!
LikeLike