BWW Reviews: UNDRESSING MR. DARCY by Karen Doornebos

The world is made of two types of people: those who are Jane Austen fans and those who are not. Until a few years ago, I was one of the latter. And though I don't count myself among those who are super fans, I found myself enchanted by Karen Doornebos Undressing Mr. Darcy.

Our heroine, Vanessa Roberts, is a social media-savvy publicist who has promised her aunt to handle the publicity for a Chicago Jane Austen convention and its special guest, Julian Chancellor, author of My Year as Darcy. As expected, Chancellor is mysterious and pretty much irresistible, even to a woman like Vanessa who starts off not being an Austen fan.

Doornebos' decision to set a Jane Austen convention in the same hotel as a Comic Con-like superhero convention is pitch perfect: rabid fans in costumes, who possess a staggering knowledge of trivia related to their obsession. This needs to happen in real life.

There are well-developed characters in Doornebos' romp: a super fan who's more than a stereotype, a girlfriend you hate as much as you love, and Chase, a goofy but dependable guy often seen in a pirate costume.

Beginning and ending in Chicago, with a memorable trip to Bath, England for a Jane Austen contest, Undressing Mr. Darcy is a light-hearted, sexy romance with just enough angst to keep you wondering which man the heroine will choose.

And though there is enough sex and silliness to keep you entertained, there is also a dark side to her story: the heroine's aunt is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It seems whenever her life takes a crazy turn, the reality of her aunt's situation puts everything in perspective. That's not a fantasy, but a reality many people live with every day. Her portrayal of the challenges provides a richness of storytelling that makes Undressing Mr. Darcy more than a light romance.

Not a Jane Austen fan? That's no reason to skip Undressing Mr. Darcy. I guarantee, like Vanessa Roberts, you will find yourself quickly succumbing to the charms of Austen's storytelling, and Doornebos' as well.

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