My Dear Friend by Heather Moll (Book Tour and Giveaway)

 

Have you ever been on a blind date or used an app to find a match?  My Dear Friend explores matchmaking, Regency style.

Elizabeth Bennet is in London visiting her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, while consoling her sister Jane after her heartbreak.  The town is a twitter with news of a new matchmaking service.  People are put into anonymous tiers based on their social status, wealth, looks, etc.  You then can pick an anonymous person from your tier and write them letters.  You only meet if both people agree.  Elizabeth Bennet decides to subscribe to raise her sister’s spirit.  Unbeknownst to her, Mr. Darcy has also subscribed to try to stop his feelings for her.  As the two correspond, they get to know each other better.  Will their mutual admiration continue once they know the identity of their mysterious friend?

My thoughts on this novel:             

·       This is a sweet novel that I read quickly.  

·       I enjoyed the fun and witty letters that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth wrote back and forth to each other.  I thought it was a unique way for the two to develop their relationships.

·       The side characters, Jane, Mr. Bingley, Miss Bingley, and the Gardiners were also wonderfully drawn.

·       This story reminded me of a movie I’ve always enjoyed, The Little Shop Around the Corner starring James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan.  Or of the newer version, You’ve Got Mail with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.

·       I also enjoyed that Elizabeth discussed the plight of women during that time and how the matchmaking service might give them agency to help find a good partner to support them.

·       This novel is a clean read.

·       Author’s note was very interesting and described real matchmaking services that did exist during the Regency time.

·       I also enjoyed the “Coming Soon” section about the new book Without Undue Pride that is coming in April 2025.  It sound like a fascinating variation.

Favorite Quote, “For herself, she saw the value in both.  She wanted to engage with the world and could mix with strangers, but she needed moments alone for introspection and to regain her spirits to be sociable once again.  For all her friendliness there were few people she truly loved, and F appeared to the be the same.”

Overall, My Dear Friend by Heather Moll is a captivating Pride and Prejudice Variation with a unique spin that puts one in mind of You’ve Got Mail or The Little Shop Around the Corner.

Book Source:  Review copy from author Heather Moll as part of the Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

About the Author

Heather Moll writes romantic variations of Jane Austen's classic novels. She is an avid reader of mysteries and biographies with a masters in information science. She found Jane Austen later than she should have and made up for lost time by devouring her letters and unpublished works, joining JASNA, and spending too much time researching the Regency era. She is the author of Rising Courage, An Affectionate Heart, Nine Ladies, and My Dear Friend. She lives with her husband and son, and struggles to balance all the important things, like whether to clean the house or sit down and write.

About the Book

My Dear Friend

THEY NEVER GET ALONG WHENEVER THEY UNFORTUNATELY CROSS PATHS. BUT WHEN A MATCHMAKING SERVICE ANONYMOUSLY LINKS THEM UP, WILL THEY PEN A ROMANCE?

Elizabeth Bennet is an excellent judge of character. Eager to prove to her brokenhearted sister that worthy men do exist, the spirited and witty young woman subscribes to the new matchmaking service taking London by storm. And she’s pleasantly surprised when the female-empowering agency anonymously connects her with a fascinating correspondent. 

Fitzwilliam Darcy is determined to move on from unwanted feelings for the alluring but inappropriate Bennet girl. He hopes his captivating prose partner from the matchmaking service might be the distraction he needs. But when he inadvertently reveals his inner thoughts, he can’t keep the letter-exchanging relationship from becoming something more.

As Elizabeth starts to fall for the mysterious man, her dislike for Mr. Darcy only grows whenever they meet in person. While the man in question still admires Elizabeth, he realizes in alarm that he may have also given his heart to his anonymous correspondent…

Have their letters opened an unexpected path to happily ever after?

RAFFLECOPTER SWAG GIVEAWAY

Swag Grand Prize Giveaway

1 entrant will win:

• Signed paperback copy of My Dear Friend
• Art of the Love Letter mini kit
• Black feather quill pen

The giveaway is open from 09/06/2024 12:00am EST through 09/20/2024 12:00am EST. Giveaway is open worldwide.

One winner will be chosen at random and notified via email on September 21, 2024. Winner will have 24 hours to reply and claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.

Entrants must leave a comment on the blog or subscribe to Heather Moll's newsletter to enter. Entrants can leave a comment at every blog.

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