Joana Starnes

Joana Starnes lives in the south of England with her family. She swapped several hats over the years – physician, lecturer, clinical data analyst – but feels most comfortable in a bonnet. She has been living in Regency England for decades in her imagination, and plans to continue in that vein till she lays hands on a time machine. She loves to look for glimpses of Pemberley and Jane Austen’s world, and to write about Regency England and Mr Darcy falling in love with Elizabeth Bennet over and over and over again. She is the author of twelve Austen-inspired novels: From This Day Forward ~ The Darcys of Pemberley, The Subsequent Proposal, The Second Chance, The Falmouth Connection, The Unthinkable Triangle, Miss Darcy’s Companion, Mr Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter, The Darcy Legacy, The Journey Home To Pemberley, A Timely Elopement, Twists of Fate and Snowbound. Joana is also one of the contributing authors to the Quill Ink anthologies.

Most commented posts

  1. Coming Soon ~ The Journey Home To Pemberley — 189 comments
  2. New Year, New Book — 154 comments
  3. ‘Twists of Fate’ ~ Excerpt and Giveaway — 153 comments
  4. Coming soon, Macaroons! — 152 comments
  5. Cover Reveal, Excerpt & Ongoing Giveaway — 126 comments

Author's posts

P&P The Untold Stories: Mr Darcy Dines with the Gardiners

Mr Gardiner is quite concerned about his guest Sept 1, 1812 Mr Gardiner sunk his spoon into his syllabub as his glance travelled between his charmingly poised wife and their guest. It was quite extraordinary, the alteration in Mr Darcy’s manner. During their lengthy interviews to address what Madeleine had tactfully and restrainedly termed Lydia’s …

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P&P The Untold Stories: Miss Darcy meets Miss Elizabeth Bennet at the inn in Lambton

Their first meeting, from Mr Darcy’s point of view August 5, 1812 The curricle advanced at a steady pace along the tree-lined road, the sleek coats of the bays gleaming in the dappled sunlight. Much as he was tempted to flick the reins and urge the well-matched pair into a canter, Darcy thought better of …

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The Life of a House

Sometimes the life of a house is as full of twists and turns as an angsty novel that follows a beleaguered heroine from riches to rags and back again. Basildon Park in Berkshire is a house with such an adventurous history. An eminently Regency house, it was built in the late 1700s for Sir Francis …

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P&P The Untold Stories: Georgiana Worries About Darcy

Her brother’s efforts to battle through the pain of heartbreak weigh heavily on Georgiana’s mind. Is there anything she could do to help him? June 26, 1812   “Another cup of tea, Brother?” Georgiana’s quiet question was met with a faint start and a swift, “I beg your pardon?” which served to confirm what she …

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Under May’s Changing Skies

Some years ago, I went down the rabbit hole looking for wedding-day superstitions, and came across this: ‘Marry under May’s changing skies – a chequered path before you lies.’ It was a line from a traditional English rhyme, and it tickled me, because it was a great fit for the plot and the timeline of …

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P&P The Untold Stories: After the Proposal

The bitterness of rejection… April 9, 1812 Fury choked him. All-consuming fury – at her, of course, but no less at himself for laying himself open to the abject humiliation. Darcy tugged his gloves on and his countenance twisted into an almighty scowl. Heavens above! How had he failed himself so utterly, so completely? He, …

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P&P The Untold Stories: Darcy Plans His Proposal

Darcy goes for a ride to clear his head and put together a gentlemanlike proposal… April 9, 1812 Darcy tightened the reins, and brought his mount to a halt. To his left, far into the hazy distance, stood the great house, grey and squat, surrounded by manicured parkland. He could not see the parsonage from …

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Behind the Mask

Would you like to step into your carriages, drive down memory lane and attend a masked ball in Cornwall? Mr Darcy is wretched. Mere hours earlier, his offer of marriage had been rejected. Worse still, he is plagued by fears for Elizabeth’s safety. Had she put her trust in a dangerous man? THE FALMOUTH CONNECTION …

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Gretna, Lancaster & Lyme: Landmarks of a Real-Life Elopement

Good morning. Would you like to come on another virtual trip with me? It starts in Liverpool, at a boarding school for young ladies of good fortune, and finishes at Pemberley, which is no surprise. All the stories I’d like to share with you finish at Pemberley. But this time the heroine is not Elizabeth. …

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Down Memory Lane ~ a Vignette & a Giveaway

Today I’m going for a walk down memory lane, and I hope you’d like to come along with me. An old favourite has a new cover, and I thought I’d celebrate with a special offer and a giveaway. So, what do you think of Mr Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter now? Doesn’t she look like she’s thinking, ‘Oh my …

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