This review is reposted from Diary of an Eccentric

Why I wanted to read it: I’ve been wanting to read more of Odom’s work, since I loved his last novel, Consequences, so much.

What I liked: Odom is a great storyteller, and I loved how he made the wars with France and America take on a greater role in this variation.  It gave more depth to a novel that remains, at its core, a love story.  And in that vein, I enjoyed how Odom heated things up between Elizabeth and Darcy without being too descriptive or stepping too far outside the bounds of propriety.  But most of all, I loved how Odom made Mr. Collins more likeable; took several characters down different paths, including Jane Bennet, Mr. Wickham, and Caroline Bingley; introduced another Darcy cousin, Captain Fitzwilliam; and even let Elizabeth and Darcy play matchmaker for Colonel Fitzwilliam.

What I disliked: The only think I disliked was that the story had to end, but a detailed epilogue provided a very satisfying conclusion.

Final thoughts: Pride, Prejudice & Secrets is the perfect Austen variation for readers who want a happily ever after for Darcy and Elizabeth but want something different when it comes to the secondary characters.  Odom is not afraid to take risks and shake things up in his Austen variations.  (His last one even made me cry!)  I’ve read a lot of sweet and enjoyable Pride and Prejudice variations, but this was the first one in a long time that really wowed me and made me stay up late to find out what would happen next.

Thanks to Leatherbound Reviews for having me on the tour for Pride, Prejudice & Secrets.  To learn more about the book and follow the tour, click the banner below.