I have a confession to make. I've never read Jane Austin. I've seen a few of the movies based on her books, and I love reading Regency romances. I just never actually read the originals. So, I can't compare author Sharon Lathan's Austin-inspired Darcy family stories to the classic Pride and Prejudice.

THE PASSIONS OF DR. DARCY is the latest of Lathan's books inspired by Austin's characters. It follows the most famous Mr. Darcy's uncle, George Darcy, as he travels abroad to work for the East India Company. The book covers decades of his life, including excerpts from his journals as well as third-person narrative of his adventures, so in many ways it's more like a series of vignettes or a travelogue rather than a novel. The characters and situations are interesting, the descriptions of India and of both English and Indian medical practices of the time, fascinating. However, I never found the book what I would call compelling -- a story I couldn't put down in anticipation of what would happen next. Occasionally, I had a little trouble figuring out how much time had passed from scene to scene.

I'm not a prude when it comes to my reading choices, but I must say I found the explicit sex scenes a bit jarring. After all, these are books hearkening after a beloved 19th century author, who I cannot imagine described which bit went where when the characters went to bed.

I would recommend THE PASSIONS OF DR. DARCY to readers who enjoy a novel that's more historical fiction than romance, and who don't mind following the characters behind closed doors.