The guilt she wore like a heavy shawl sometimes threatened to overwhelm her. With a small sniff, to keep the tears at bay, she shook her head and struggled to stand, waving off Mary’s helping hand. The past was the past. What was done could not be undone and she’d have all her empty life to reflect on it.
(from Catherine)
Sue Barr’s Catherine is the second book 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 forever. Catherine picks up after the first book and follows Kitty Bennet and Lord George Kerr as they struggle to hide their respective secrets following the weddings of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, and Mr. Bingley and Jane Bennet.
Lord George has a reputation as a result of his work for King and Country, but despite being brother to a duke, he has little patience for the ton and is immediately captivated by Catherine Bennet when he meets her at Pemberley. Meanwhile, Catherine is attracted to Lord George but knows that little could happen there. Not only does she know her place in society as a mere gentleman’s daughter, but she also harbors a terrible secret — one known only by her father, and one that will surely jeopardize her future happiness. When Lord George’s suspicions about a possible traitor to the crown causes his path to cross with Catherine’s in very dramatic fashion, the two forge a friendship that could be so much more if their secrets didn’t stand in their way.
I love reading stories about the secondary characters in Pride and Prejudice, so it’s no surprise that Barr’s series has quickly become one of my favorites. I enjoyed getting to know Kitty better as she blossomed into Catherine, and with only Mary left at Longbourn for companionship, I loved the relationship that developed between the sisters — both of whom were underestimated while living in the shadows of Elizabeth, Jane, and Lydia.
Meanwhile, Lord George is totally swoonworthy, and I loved that the book also is told from his point of view. Barr does a great job balancing a budding romance fraught with secrets and misunderstandings with a story of scandal and intrigue that adds a lot of depth to the characters. I’ve been distracted in my reading lately, and Catherine was just the thing to grab my attention. I had a hard time putting it down so I could get some much needed rest, and when I finished, I was tempted to immediately start reading it again. I can’t wait for the next book in the series, which will be about Georgiana Darcy — but I do hope Mary’s story is in the works!
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About Catherine
Some secrets are not meant to be shared
Catherine Bennet, known as Kitty to close friends and family, knows this better than anyone. She also knows that she will never marry and it never bothered her before she met Lord George Kerr at Elizabeth and Darcy’s wedding. He’s determined to breach the walls of defense she’d carefully constructed around her heart, and she’s just as determined to stay the course.
Some secrets cannot be shared
Lord George Kerr knows this better than anyone. For five years, as a spy for His Majesty the King, he played the part of a Rake, concealing his espionage activities beneath a blanket of brothels, drink and loose women. Even though he’s forced to resume his regular life within London’s finest society, he still must keep some things hidden. One thing he does not hide is his attraction to Miss Catherine Bennet of Longbourn. Enraptured by her beauty and warmth of character, he plunges headlong into winning her heart, only to find it carefully guarded and she’s unwilling to give him even a small pinch of hope.
Some things are beyond your control
When circumstances bring Kitty’s secret into the open, she fears the tenuous bonds of friendship she’s forged with Lord George will be lost forever along with whatever love he proclaims to have for her. With the very lives of England’s vast network of spies working undercover in Bonaparte’s France hanging in the balance, she’s forced to face her worst nightmare.
Her secret is laid bare, can he love her enough to overcome what he learns?
Buy Catherine on Amazon
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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
As part of the blog tour, three copies of Catherine will be given away. Two winners will receive ebooks, and one will receive an autographed paperback. This giveaway is open internationally. To enter, you must use this Rafflecopter link. Good luck!
Terms and Conditions:
Readers may enter the drawing by tweeting once each day and by commenting daily on a blog post or review that has a giveaway attached to this tour. Entrants must provide the name of the blog where they commented.
Each winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter and the giveaway is international. Each entrant is eligible to win one eBook or paperback book.
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May 28 / My Jane Austen Book Club/ Launch Post & Giveaway
May 29 / From Pemberley to Milton/ Excerpt Post & Giveaway
May 30 / Just Jane 1813/ Guest Post & Giveaway
May 31 / More Agreeably Engaged/ Author Spotlight & Giveaway
June 1 / So Little Time… / Excerpt Post & Giveaway
June 2 / Liz’s Reading Life / Book Review & Giveaway
June 4 / Diary of an Eccentric /Book Review & Giveaway
June 5 / My Vices and Weaknesses / Book Review & Giveaway
June 6 / Savvy Verse & Wit / Guest Post & Giveaway
June 7 / Margie’s Must Reads/Book Review Post & Giveaway
June 8 / Obsessed with Mr. Darcy / Book Review & Giveaway
June 9 / My Love for Jane Austen / Excerpt Post & Giveaway
June 10 / Babblings of a Bookworm / Excerpt Post & Giveaway
June 11 / Austenesque Reviews/ Guest Post & Giveaway
Disclosure: I received Catherine from the author for review.
Great to hear that you enjoy reading Kitty’s story, Anna. There are not many sequels that focus solely on Catherine Bennet as the heroine of her own story and when there is, it is well written. If I ever want to read about her, I’ll be sure to take note.
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I hope you give it a chance. I can’t wait for the next installment!
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Very happy to be learning more about Catherine – Kitty.
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I just love reading about the secondary characters, and this series is especially good!
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Both characters have their secrets which are preventing them from forming a lasting bond,a true partnership and a happy marriage? Definitely sounds intriguing!!! Looking forward to reading about how they surmount their inherent difficulties and banish the power of the secrets imprisoning them.
Loved reading your thoughts on this one.
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Thanks, Mary! I hope you get a chance to read it soon!
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Sounds interesting. Will have to add both books to my to read list.
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I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
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I enjoy the stories when it is not a straight romance but one with some secrets or mystery
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There was a lot going on; it was a very well balanced story!
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what a different twist for our Kitty/Catherine. I now have both books on my wish-list. Thanks for sharing the excerpt. I like stories about Kitty. This one has my interest… I can’t but help but like a character like Lord Kerr. I look forward to reading these. Blessings on the launch and success of this work.
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Looking forward to your thoughts on these. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
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I love reading about secondary characters so I am interested in this one. I am glad to hear that there is one in the works for Georgiana and also hope one might be coming about Mary as she’s probably the sister I relate to the most.
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I really hope there will be a story for Mary, too!
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Catherine so deserves her own happily ever after! Would love to read it all myself 🙂
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I hope you get a chance. You won’t be disappointed!
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Thank you so much for hosting me today, Anna. Such a lovely review. I’m working on Georgiana’s story (I’m a SLOW writer) and Mary has a place in my heart but I’m not sure what direction I want to take her. Things will fall in place. They always do. Much love, Sue B
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You’re very welcome! I love the direction you took with Mary here. I can wait patiently. 🙂
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Another great review! Looking forward to reading this one! It’s already on my wish list…..
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Thanks, Pam! Hope you get a chance to read it soon!
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This novel sounds captivating and fascinating. I would love to learn more about Catherine.
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I hope you get a chance to read it!
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Catherine sounds like a fascinating novel! I will add a giveaway link to my blog’s sidebar. 🙂
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Thanks, Suko!
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Oh, that quote at the very beginning of your post, Anna! “What was done could not be undone and she’d have all her empty life to reflect on it.” That’s so poignant and makes me wonder even more what Catherine’s deep, dark secret is. Thanks for your review, too. Intriguing without giving away any spoilers.
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Thanks, Anji! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
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I just loved your review Anna! I, too, love stories on secondary characters from P&P and Kitty is my favourite. I am so looking forward to reading this book and your review just makes it that much more enticing! Ms. Barr did a wonderful job on ‘Caroline’ and this one is even more intriguing! Thank you for a chance at the giveaway!
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Thanks, Carole! I can’t wait to see what you think of it.
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Great review, Anna. I need to read this book! Best of luck for the rest of the blog tour, Sue!
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Thanks, Suzan!
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Now here is a book I have not read. Thanks for highlighting it. Good luck with your tour.
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My pleasure! Happy reading!
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Fabulous review, Anna! Thanks for joining this tour and for taking the time to review this story. I’m thrilled you enjoyed it so much.
I’m glad you loved Lord Kerr as much as I did. He’s one of my favorite new JAFF characters and I think he’s just perfect for Kitty!!
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Thanks, Claudine! You’re so right about Lord Kerr!
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Great review as always. I’m on the tour for this one.
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Thanks!
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[…] 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 in Pride and […]
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