Book Review- Five Gentlemen at Netherfield by Laraba Kendig
Reviewed by Amanda Kai
Just as its title suggests, Meryton is abuzz when five single gentlemen descend on Netherfield Park. Besides his siblings, Mr. Bingley has brought with him not only Mr. Darcy, but Darcy's cousins, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lord Stanton, and another friend, Sir Quentin Maston.
Several of these men quickly become enamored with the beautiful Bennet sisters, whose situation is less dire, thanks to an inheritance received from their mother’s second sister, Aunt Amelia. Wickham is dealt with swiftly and exits stage left before he can do any harm, and Kitty and Lydia are brought under supervision by the hiring of a new governess.
Meanwhile, Caroline Bingley is determined to get her claws into one of these handsome suitors, especially the two of nobility, but her efforts only produce the opposite effect. Mr. Collins makes a greedy attempt to gain a fortune as the cherry on top of his future inheritance, but walks away empty-handed.
Life take a sharp turn for the Bennet sisters when Mr. Bennet suddenly suffers from a stroke. With his fate unknown, their days are consumed with caring for him and the estate, as well as pacifying their distraught mother. Meanwhile, their suitors struggle to discern the best way to court the lady of their choosing in the midst of such circumstances.
I think this book takes the cake for the most proposals in one book that I have seen so far. Every gentleman (excepting the already married ones) has at least one proposal, and only one suitor (I won’t say who!) manages to win his fair lady’s heart without having been rejected by her or someone else first.
The couples that succeed each prevail thanks to a longer courtship period that allows them to get to know one another better and fall in love more gradually.
This book does contain a few bittersweet moments, but overall gives each deserving party a happy ending.
Thanks to the author’s generosity, I listened to a copy of this story as read by the amazing Harry Frost, whose voice I never tire of. Hearing his post-stroke Mr. Bennet was not on my bingo card, but touched me unexpectedly with his tender performance in that role.
If you love long, low-angst, wealthier Bennet sister stories with very little Mr. Wickham conflict and longer courtships, then you will definitely enjoy Laraba Kendig's Five Gentlemen at Netherfield.
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