I am part of a group on Facebook called Avid Readers of Christian Fiction. A few weeks ago, I saw a post there by author, Kim Griffin, offering an ARC of her upcoming book release, Not Quite Mr. Darcy, in exchange for posting a review. I will confess that I had to Google what an ARC was; and discovered that it stood for Advanced Reader Copy. Free book? Sign me up! (Side note: I need to figure out how to get more of these ARCs!) I received the email with the book, sent it to my Kindle, and started reading. I quickly discovered that Kim is a gifted author and I stayed up far too late two nights in a row reading.
The story revolves around recently widowed, twenty-nine year old, Kate. Hoping to get a new start, Kate leaves her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, and heads across the ocean to Kingsdown, England, to take a job working with a dementia patient. While she was seeking distance from her past-things she had not told anyone; she discovers faith, love, and family. in England. Not Quite Mr. Darcy tackles forgiving the seemingly unforgivable and the disillusionment many a woman has faced upon realizing that the perfect husband they’ve been raised to look for doesn’t exist. Kate learns to find joy even in the hardest circumstances as she discovers what real faith in Jesus Christ is. And, while this book carries the name Not Quite Mr. Darcy, it is not a replica of the Pride and Prejudice story, but rather contains references to the age old classic; yet keeps true to the same gentle, sweet type of romance as the movie (translation=no trashy romance).
What I really enjoyed about this book was the mesh of real life with the author showing how Jesus wants to make a true difference in the midst of situations where we feel there is no hope. I hope you will take the time to check this book out and enjoy it as much as I did. The best part is it is only $3.99 on Kindle! The book will be released this Wednesday, October 18, 2023.
Thriving in the Fishbowl 