A Short Period of Exquisite Felicity
by Amy D’Orazio
Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Classical Re-write, Adult
Release Date: July 7, 2019
Pages: 436
Purchase from: Amazon
My Rating: ★★★☆☆
Is not the very meaning of love that it surpasses every objection against it?
Jilted. Never did Mr. Darcy imagine it could happen to him.
But it has, and by Elizabeth Bennet, the woman who first hated and rejected him but then came to love him—he believed—and agree to be his wife. Alas, it is a short-lived, ill-fated romance that ends nearly as soon as it has begun. No reason is given.
More than a year since he last saw her—a year of anger, confusion, and despair—he receives an invitation from the Bingleys to a house party at Netherfield. Darcy is first tempted to refuse, but with the understanding that Elizabeth will not attend, he decides to accept.
When a letter arrives, confirming Elizabeth’s intention to join them, Darcy resolves to meet her with indifference. He is determined that he will not demand answers to the questions that plague him. Elizabeth is also resolved to remain silent and hold fast to the secret behind her refusal. Once they are together, however, it proves difficult to deny the intense passion that still exists. Fury, grief, and profound love prove to be a combustible mixture. But will the secrets between them be their undoing?
Review
Despite my enjoyment of A Lady’s Reputation, I was disappointed in A Short Period of Exquisite Felicity (ASPoEF). The story is incredibly slow-paced. I seriously considered not finishing it, but I desperately wanted to know why Elizabeth jilted Mr. Darcy. The reason wasn’t given until the second half of the book, and honestly, it wasn’t a satisfying reason.
The ultimate villain was hinted at a few times, so by the time he was “revealed” it was hardly a surprise, although the full account of his actions was.
ASPoEF had a fairly happy resolution, but the epilogue threw in a twist, seemingly for good measure, that was unnecessary so late in the story.
I can’t say I truly disliked ASPoEF, but neither did I really like it. It’s another “meh” for me.
About the Author
Amy D’Orazio is a long time devotee of Jane Austen and fiction related to her characters. She began writing her own little stories to amuse herself during hours spent at sports practices and the like and soon discovered a passion for it. By far, however, the thing she loves most is the connections she has made with readers and other writers of Austenesque fiction. A
Amy currently lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and daughters, as well as three Jack Russell terriers who often make appearances (in a human form) in her book..
Author links: Website | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page
Disclaimer: This review is based on an eBook I borrowed from Amazon on January 20, 2020 as part of the Kindle Unlimited program.
