Caroline is the first book in a series of Pride and Prejudice sequels by Sue Barr, opening when Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley go back to Hertfordshire to propose to Elizabeth and Jane Bennet. Caroline Bingley is angry and distraught when she learns of Mr. Darcy’s engagement to the “country miss” Elizabeth Bennet, as she’d spent the last few years trying to grab his attention in her quest to marry into high society. Meanwhile, Lord Nathan Kerr, Mr. Darcy’s new vicar, is instantly captivated by Caroline but understands that, in her current frame of mind, she is not a suitable match for him.
Unaware of Lord Nathan’s humble lifestyle in Kympton, Caroline is infuriated by his judgmental comments. She knows that Mr. Darcy is lost to her forever and that she must forge a new path for herself, but Lord Nathan can’t help lashing out at her for her marital aspirations. Yet neither can deny the growing passion between them, nor can they deny that they both need to do some serious soul searching before they can find inner peace.
I really enjoyed Barr’s take on Caroline, from her temper tantrums to her memories of her grandmamma — and the advice she soon realizes she must take to heart. I also loved Lord Nathan, the reformed rake who still struggles with his memories of the war and the behavior he put behind him when he took orders. I thought he was pretty harsh to Caroline, but getting to see things through his point of view made me understand him better. It was entertaining to see their evolution over the course of this short novel. I was so wrapped up in their troubles that I didn’t mind the quick character development or that Mr. Darcy/Elizabeth and Mr. Bingley/Jane take a backseat as their wedding preparations are underway.
Barr does a good job handling the Christian elements of the novel, from the Scripture passages Caroline remembers from her grandmamma to Lord Nathan’s prayers and counseling. It made sense given Lord Nathan’s occupation, and it wasn’t too heavy-handed. The only minor quibble I had with the book is that the ending seemed too convenient given the character development throughout the novel.
Overall, Caroline is a strong start to the series, and readers will be happy that there isn’t a cliffhanger ending. I was thrilled to see a description for Book Two at the end of Book One, and I cannot wait to read the next volume!
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About Caroline
Whatever happened to Caroline Bingley after her brother and unrequited love interest married a Bennet sister? Join me in this story of redemptive love and the healing of broken dreams.
Caroline Bingley, beyond frustrated with her brother, Charles and Mr. Darcy both proposing to the Bennet sisters, dreads their upcoming nuptials. For three years, her sole focus has been on attaining a marriage proposal from one Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, only to be foiled by a country miss with ‘fine eyes’. Adrift and not sure of her place in life, she meets the mysterious and devastatingly handsome Lord Nathan, who equally vexes and intrigues her.
Lord Nathan Kerr, third in line to a Dukedom, had a well-earned reputation as a Rake. He cast all that and his noble title aside to become Mr. Darcy’s vicar in Kympton, finding contentment in leading his small flock and doing the Lord’s work. His plan for a quiet, country life is thrown into upheaval when he meets the fiery Miss Bingley. Can he reconcile his rising desire for the spoiled miss with how a vicar’s wife ‘should’ behave?
Check out Caroline on Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
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About the Author
Sue Barr resides in beautiful Southwestern Ontario with her retired Air Force hubby, two sons and their families. She’s also an indentured servant to three cats and has been known to rescue a kitten or two, or three…in an attempt to keep her ‘cat-lady-in-training’ status current. Although, she has deviated from appointed path and rescued a few dogs as well.
Sue is a member of Romance Writers of America and their affiliate chapter, Love, Hope and Faith as well as American Christian Fiction Writers.
For more information about her other books, visit her website.
Connect with Sue via Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Blog
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Giveaway
Sue Barr is generously offering paperback copies of Caroline and a Jane Austen Journal to three winners, and ebook copies of Caroline to three separate winners. Click here to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. This giveaway is open internationally. Good luck!
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March 12/My Jane Austen Book Club/Launch Post & Giveaway
March 13/From Pemberley to Milton/Book Review & Excerpt & Giveaway
March 14/More Agreeably Engaged/Author Spotlight & Giveaway
March 16/Just Jane 1813/Guest Post & Giveaway
March 17/Babblings of a Bookworm/Vignette Post & Giveaway
March 18/My Love for Jane Austen/Excerpt Post & Giveaway
March 19/Margie’s Must ReadsExcerpt Post & Giveaway
March 20/Austenesque Reviews/Guest Post & Giveaway
March 21/My Vices and Weaknesses/Book Review & Giveaway
March 22/Savvy Verse & Wit/Guest Post & Giveaway
March 23/Diary of an Eccentric/Book Review & Giveaway
March 24/So Little Time…/Excerpt Post & Giveaway
March 25/Obsessed with Mr. Darcy/Book Review & Giveaway
March 26/Of Pens & Pages/Book Review & Giveaway
Disclosure: I received Caroline from the author for review.
Now, that’s pretty telling about how good the story of Caroline and Lord Nathan is that you were more caught up in them than the wedding parties. 🙂
Can’t wait. Great review, Anna!
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Thanks, Sophia! D&E made enough of an appearance that I was satisfied on that front.
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This sounds very intriguing and I must admit that I’m looking forward to reading it and finding out what happens to Caroline!
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Her transformation was very entertaining.
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Shape up Caroline! 🙂
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Haha! 🙂
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Another great review, Anna. I rather like it that D&E and J&B are taking a back seat for a change. It always makes for interesting reading when an author makes one of Austen’s more unsympathetic characters the main focus of a story.
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Thanks, Anji! I love reading about the secondary characters, and sometimes the ones about the characters we love to hate are especially enjoyable.
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Wonderful review, Anna. I’m looking forward to reading this book. 🙂 By the way, I love the cover.
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Thanks, KateB! I love the cover, too. She really looks like Caroline to me.
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I love to see Caroline change her ways and find her HEA. I look forward to reading!
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I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
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What an enjoyable book this is.
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Indeed!
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I don’t think I remember seeing a P&P variation form Caroline’s point of view. This book has a great cover.
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I believe I’ve only read a holiday short story with her in the main role. It’s nice to see variations take on the more difficult secondary characters.
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Glad to know that the book concentrates on Caroline and Lord Nathan. Enjoyed the review.
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Thanks, Vesper! I really enjoyed reading about them.
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No need to enter me here. I really liked this one…and our thoughts are pretty much the same.
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Glad to hear you enjoyed it, too!
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Lovely review Anna and makes me want to read the story even more! I love secondary character stories and love that there are 2 more to come! Thank you!
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Thanks, Carole! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
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I read this and posted a review…5 stars from me. Author did a great job with the transition of mean Caroline to one who thinks about what she is doing and saying.
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I’m glad to see you really enjoyed it, Sheila! I agree that the transition was very well done and believable.
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Lovely review, Anna. I certainly had my doubts when I saw this story, but I am so glad I gave it a try as well. Thank you for your participation in this tour!
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My pleasure, Claudine! I figured that if I’ve read variations that made me like Lydia, there was hope for Caroline. 😉
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Thanks for hosting this generous giveaway. The book sounds very enjoyable. Excellent review, Anna!
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Thanks, Suko!
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[…] in her Pride and Prejudice Continued series. I really enjoyed the first installment, Caroline (my review), which focuses on Caroline Bingley after she learns that she has lost her chance with Mr. Darcy […]
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[…] her blog tour for Georgiana, book three in a series I absolutely adore! (Check out my reviews of Caroline and Catherine). Sue is here to talk about why she chose to write about the secondary characters […]
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