Alexa Adams
ISBN #: 9781432753313
Publisher Name: Outskirts Press
Date Released: March 2010
Page Count: 190
Price: $4.95 (Kindle version)
Genre: Historical Romance
Book Format: Print

BACK COVER BLURB:

In Pride and Prejudice Fitzwilliam Darcy begins his relationship with Elizabeth Bennet with the words: "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present togive consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men." What would have happened if Mr. Darcy had never spoken so disdainfully? First Impressions explores how the events of Jane Austen's beloved novel would have transpired if Darcy and Elizabeth had danced together at the Meryton Assembly. Jane and Bingley's relationship blossoms unimpeded, Mary makes a most fortunate match, and Lydia never sets a foot in Brighton. Austen's witty style is authentically invoked in this playful romp from Longbourn to Pemberley


COVER SNARK:
Looks okay to me.

FIRST LINES:

Fitzwilliam Darcy found a quiet corner of the overcrowded assembly hall and breathed an almost silent sigh of relief.

LYNETTE'S TWO CENTS:

Dear Blog Followers: I've been on a Pride and Prejudice adaptation kick lately. So you're just going to have to deal with all these P&P reviews. My bad. You know you love me anyway. LOL!

I first heard about this book while I was doing my blog trolling and came across Blodeuedd's review of this novel. I read her review and left her a comment cursing her out, because after reading her review, I immediately went to Amazon and downloaded a copy for myself.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS is a quick and enjoyable read. Really enjoyable, though I had a major issue with it, I still enjoyed reading the novel and devoured it immediately.

If you don't know FIRST IMPRESSIONS was the original title of Pride and Prejudice. The author, Ms. Adams, did a what if version of Pride of Prejudice. I love what if adaptations of Pride and Prejudice. One of my favorite Pride and Prejudice adaptation authors (Abigail Reynolds) has done them, and I enjoyed Ms. Adams's version as well.

In FIRST IMPRESSIONS instead of Darcy proclaiming that Elizabeth is 'tolerable enough I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me,' at the Meryton Assembly Darcy notices that Elizabeth is observing his conversation with Bingley. Since he knows she overheard him, he figures it would be the height of bad manners to refuse to dance with her. He gets Bingley and Jane to introduce Elizabeth to him and they dance. Of course, their dance (Elizabeth is the only local that he dances with at that ball) attracts the attention of Mrs. Bennet, Miss Bingley, and the whole community. Of course that one incident kicks of a new spiral of events and developments. Ms. Adams makes these events inside FIRST IMPRESSIONS realistic, plausible, and well executed.

I'll say it again, I liked this book very much. It is every Pride and Prejudice fan girl's idealized version of Pride of Prejudice. FIRST IMPRESSIONS is the perfect happily ever after that you dream of. However, it would be remiss of me if I didn't point out what drove me crazy about FIRST IMPRESSIONS. Of course, you know me, I love smexing in my novels and FIRST IMPRESSIONS didn't have any. That actually didn't bother me much. What drove me crazy was the conflict. Why you ask? Well, because there was no conflict to be found inside FIRST IMPRESSIONS. FIRST IMPRESSIONS was a perfect little bubble in time where no bad things happen to good people and everyone gets their hearts desire with miniminal fuss and complications.

One of the drawbacks of having no conflict is that we don't get to see Darcy and Elizabeth as they ought to be known as, two strong-willed charecters who battle, spar, and match wits throughout the novel. This battle of wills has intrigued readers for generations and it is non-existant inside FIRST IMPRESSIONS.

Yet, despite my wishing for any type of conflict, I still read FIRST IMPRESSIONS. I still liked it. I still enjoyed it and I still wanted more. I would read another adaptation by this author.

WHERE PURCHASED:
Bought with my own money despite swearing that I was cutting my spending down.

RATING: