Scent of Desire: A Pride and Prejudice Expansion by Ayr Bray

Scent of Desire: A Pride and Prejudice Expansion Reviews

• 
  J. W. Garrett

  “Oh no. Don’t smile. You’ll kill me. I stop breathing when you smile.” –Tessa Dare, A Lady of Persuasion
  
  Rating: PG 17: mild cursing, sexually charged discussions, and adult themes. Angst Level: none-to-low due to sexual tensions and suppressed sexual frustrations. Source: Borrowed KU 1-7-22: short 71-pages.
  
  SPOILER ALERT: This review may contain *** SPOILERS ***
  
  “Those who restrain desire do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained.” –William Blake, the Marriage of Heaven and Hell
  
  This was a short window of time that spanned the six weeks engagement period between our dear couple. It consisted of scenes where D&E courted and learned all the things a couple in love should learn about each other. What to say and not to say during their betrothal. How far teasing should go before offense is reached. How touch quickly becomes amorous. How amorous behavior skirts propriety. How skirting propriety causes all manner of angst and frustrations. And how does a lover explain those frustrations to an innocent?
  
  Yeah, you have the hottest couple on the planet and they were chomping at the bit to be married. Mrs. Bennet was not so bad as she made plans for the double wedding and breakfast Meryton would never forget. No surprises, no angst, and just a bit of sexual tension.
  
  “But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
  To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
  To know the pain of too much tenderness.
  To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
  And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
  To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
  To rest at noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
  To return home at eventide with gratitude;
  And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise on your lips.”
  –Kahlil Gibran
  
  
• 
  Kathleen

  Not just "a scent of desire" but the bloody whole perfumery. A supposed sequel to
  Pride and Prejudice, the setting is a match, but the characters are thin copies and the plot is nonexistent. I had hoped for more of the same witty dialogue and heartfelt devotion, expressed Austen-style, with only a look, or a few words. Instead, there's a prevailing focus on sexual intimacy, beginning about 6 weeks before the Bennett-Darcy nuptials, and culminating in a torrid scene on their wedding night. Boring.
• 
  Sheila Majczan

  3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars
  
  This was a short read spent with our dear couple as they enjoy their engagement and tentatively explore the sensations brought on by their growing love and passion for each other. Taste, smell, sound, touch and hearing all are part of their awareness of each other.
  
  But as Elizabeth and Darcy go beyond that first tender kiss and find themselves clinging to each other with more depth of feeling, Darcy draws back. Elizabeth is mortified thinking he finds her wanton. He must explain how she affect him, how he is afraid of losing control. It was delightful reading of how they must continually guard against allowing the flames to erupt.
  
  That is until their wedding...night. How very sweet and thoughtful - Darcy has arranged to use the Longbourn Cottage and refurbished it for that time. Warning: if you do not want to read all the details of their first night together...as they explore and learn to please each other...this is not the book for you.
  
  It is just a short sweet read about our favorite couple and the chemistry between them.
• 
  Dawn

  2.5 rounded up.
• 
  Talia

  This book is well written. If you are looking for a P & P continuation that is sweet, you may like Scent of Desire. There was not enough of a storyline for me. It wasn't bad but it did nof hold my interest.
• 
  Claudine DiMuzio / Just Jane 1813

  Sweet, short read...
  
  The plot isn't substantial but if you're looking to get a glimpse into our favorite couple's wedding night... Then go for it... !!!
• 
  Amanda

  escrita linda mas faltou tempero
• 
  Elizabeth Bennet

  I wish this book had been longer. I love P&P variations and have read a couple of AB's books in the past. I have to say her writing capabilities seems to have grown since then. The other ones were short as well and were erotica even then I felt she did a great job but this book had more depth to it. Darcy and Lizzy are already engaged and have not even shared a kiss at the beginning of the story. It was written in respect to the time period where to kiss before you wed was considered very inappropriate. However my favorite Darcy is the kind that casts propriety aside for his Lizzy as he did eventually do in this tale of love. There is no villain found within just a straight up journey to find love at the alter and beyond.
  
  I was just let down when our couple are on the wedding night and things are steamy and I glance down and seen I was at 87%. I thought, ooh, okay I still have more time to spend time with my couple and then it abruptly just ends. It's not a cliffhanger but just a end. I did know ahead of time it's length but truly wanted more. Even an epilogue or such. It's so hard to find a P&P variation that has all my must haves and be full length instead of a novella it seems guess I'll have to keep looking. I have a ton of them but when the mood strikes you to spend time with Darcy you jump on it. Enjoy!
• 
  Lisa

  A very interesting concept for a short story and I loved it!
  
  We meet up with Elizabeth and her Mr. Darcy after they have become betrothed and follow them to their wedding. Because of the sheltered nature of young women there are misunderstandings and hurt feelings on Elizabeth’s part. It was charming to see Darcy have an impish sense of humor with Elizabeth and her draw him out of his shell. Her desire to ease his feeling of being overwhelmed in social situations was heartwarming. They work together to overcome their issues to find their path to understanding, good communication and the happily ever after.
  
  I enjoyed seeing one of my favorite stories carried on. Ms. Bray was able to take me right back to Pride and Prejudice and finish the story in a fun, lighthearted and delightful way. Ms. Bray is a new author for me and this was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. I look forward to reading more of her books.
  
  I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
• 
  Carol Perrin

  Scent of Desire: A Pride and Prejudice Expansion
  
  Darcy and Elizabeth struggle with their growing passion. Lizzy wants more, and Darcy is afraid he cannot stop. They both help each other keep under control. Darcy knew what he wanted in his marriage and to his surprise he got exactly what he dreamt of: a passionate wife to match his passionate desires. Darcy surprises Lizzy by spending several days at the Longbourn Cottage. With her father's permission, Darcy has refinished the cottage to his specifications. New furniture, drapes, and bedding await the newly wedded couple. It is a good thing Fitzwilliam thought of this, because their desires would never have made it to London. A very short quick read. Sexy.
• 
  Barb

  Lovely story. Realistically portrays the desire of a young couple very much in love. Definitely for mature audiences.