“Well,” Darcy said with a grin, “if it means harassing you, I shall seek her out directly.”
“William…” Richard turned his eyes to his boots, his face pained.
Darcy’s grin widened into a smile. The normally unflappable Colonel Fitzwilliam was as close to blushing as he had ever seen. There might be great sport in this.
(from Courage Requires)
Courage Requires is the continuation of Courage Rises, a sequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in which Melanie Rachel separates the Darcys early in their marriage, with Mr. Darcy on a mission with Colonel Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth back at Pemberley in the midst of an influenza outbreak. Courage Requires finds our beloved couple reunited at Pemberley and preparing for their first child.
Elizabeth is dealing with incapacitating morning sickness, which has her husband worried about whether she will survive the birth. But the prospect of inviting the Hawke sisters, Sophia and Evelyn, to Pemberley for Christmas, along with Colonel Fitzwilliam and his family, brightens her spirits. Elizabeth is immediately charmed by the elder sister, Sophia, who is a bit like Elizabeth in that she is strong and impertinent. But her past as a political pawn of sorts and the shadow on her reputation force her to carefully and uncertainly navigate society. Meanwhile, Evelyn has trouble controlling her tongue, as her sheltered upbringing, her frustration with her sister, and her curiosity about learning and medicine often spur inappropriate outbursts. While Darcy worries about Elizabeth and Colonel Fitzwilliam comes to terms with his feelings for Sophia, Elizabeth must contend with disloyalty among the servants and her influence as Mistress of Pemberley.
I enjoyed Courage Requires as much as, if not more than, Courage Rises. It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for a good Colonel Fitzwilliam story, and Rachel does a great job portraying him as a man scarred by battle but still hopeful of finding happiness. He accepts the reality of his position as a second son, but he’s willing to stand up to the earl regardless of the cost. I loved the teasing banter between Darcy and Richard, and of course, the colonel as a charming suitor. It was nice to see Darcy and Elizabeth happily married, with the best of their traits rubbing off on the other but still passionate in their disagreements. But where the novel shines is in its original characters, namely Sophia Hawke. I couldn’t help but admire her for her strength after all she’d been through, and her connections to the Fitzwilliam family were clever and seemed believable. There was so much going on in this book that I didn’t miss the absence of the rest of the Bennets at all, and I’m very much looking forward to reading more from Rachel.
Don’t forget to check out Melanie Rachel’s guest post, with excerpts from both books and a giveaway, here.
Disclosure: I received Courage Requires from the author for review.
Yes, the Colonel was a delight in this book but he also has his own demons to fight as well. I found this a very moving and emotional story that just struck a chord with me. Your review captures the tale beautifully. I too look forward to Rachel’s next book!
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I’m glad you enjoyed it as much as I did!
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Thanks, Anna! You made my day!
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My pleasure!
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Anna, this book sounds wonderful! Super review!
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Thanks, Suko!
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I like how she chose to pursue a sequel to continue with Colonel Fitzwilliam’s story line. Melanie’s original characters in these sisters sound great.
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It was very well done. I hope you get a chance to read them both!
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I love a good Colonel Fitzwilliam story, and this sounds like a winner!
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I think you’d really enjoy it.
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Thanks, everyone! Good luck in the drawing!
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I have been reading about this book on various blogs and it is on my Wish List. Sounds intriguing. Thanks for the excerpt and for sharing.
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I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Sheila!
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