Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Belle Lisette by Jan Hahn Published by Meryton Press on November 29, 2024
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 372
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Amazon
Almost thirty years after Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy encountered Nate Morgan in Jan Hahn’s The Journey, their paths cross once again in New Orleans, where Morgan lives in an elegant plantation he named Belle Lisette.
Set in the Antebellum Era of the American South, this novel sends the Darcys and the Bingleys abroad to help their sons seek their fortunes in the land in which Henry Darcy fell in love during a previous visit. It is there that they discover Morgan who, free from his indenture, has established himself as a prosperous land and business owner.
Hoping never to see the rogue again, Darcy finds that his enemy not only still harbours tender feelings for Elizabeth, but he has two sons, both of whom are attracted to the Darcys’ only daughter, the free-spirited Beth.
About a dozen years ago, a harrowing adventure befell Darcy and Elizabeth in Jan Hahn’s Pride and Prejudice variation, The Journey. Now, a dozen years later, the author chose to write for her last book, Belle Lisette, a follow-up novel when Darcy and Elizabeth with their grown children have taken a journey to the New World and the sultry, mysterious locale of Antebellum New Orleans.
Belle Lisette can be read standalone, but some readers will prefer to get the earlier adventure shared by Darcy, Elizabeth and the former highwayman Nate Morgan then get into this story taking place about twenty years later when due to their sons, both the Darcy and Bingley families take up temporary abode in New Orleans where their adult children, bent on adventure and romance, come into contact with Nate Morgan’s children and they are all about to learn the secrets of the plantation, Belle Lisette.
Jan Hahn has always been a talented writer whose P&P variations have engaged me in the past, but I felt she really showed her writing chops with this sequel novel set in the sultry, atmospheric world of New Orleans, bayous, plantations, and the pre-civil war American South. Creole culture, Cajun culture, Slave and Free society, and the unstated main character New Orleans with its confluence of African, French, Spanish, and American influences were drawn so well. In fact, I was so taken with the historic backdrop I felt it was of equal or more interest at times than the human storylines.
As to those, there is a dramatic reunion accompanied by some figurative fireworks when Darcy and Elizabeth encounter Nate Morgan. Elizabeth made the decision to keep secrets from her husband regarding their son Henry’s earlier encounter and catching feelings for young Elizabeth Morgan, Nate’s daughter. Now, this secret is out and Darcy must also figure out what to do with their spirited impulsive daughter’s catching the interest of Morgan’s sons.
As to Beth, she had a first encounter with Tristan Morgan that set up her hackles and she resists any attraction in that direction. She is curious about his younger brother and his influence on her brother and cousins when they want to experience the dark side of American society on a youthful whim. Not being privy to the tumultuous history that passed between their parents, the younger Darcys, Morgans, and Bingleys become entangled.
Belle Lisette is dramatic and has some darker undertones that hark to the brooding Brontes more than Austen, but it was also an affirmation of the depth of Darcy and Elizabeth’s love and the future of their family. I’m sad this is Jan Hahn’s last book, but she went out on a high note with Belle Lisette.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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What an interesting and unique continuation of the Pride & Prejudice story! I think I’d enjoy it!
Yes, it was interesting to pursue the characters into their middle age and with adult kids, but set in America. 🙂
Another PP for you! It’s nice that the author did a “happy ever after” for Darcy and Elizabeth!
Yes! I was on this one so quick. 🙂
What a fun concept!!!
Yes!
I’m glad this was a good read for you.
Thanks, Mary! I wasn’t even expecting a sequel to her first book, but this was just as good. 🙂
Sounds like another unique retelling of P&P. Great review!
Well, this one is a sequel so it tells their story years after P&P, but yes, so good and unique. 🙂