Georgiana Darcy has gone missing. Lizzy Bennet knows just what to do to find her. ‘Tis no secret that Lizzy Bennet has dreams. The uniquely talented daughter of a woman with a dubious reputation, Lizzy knows she must make her own way in a world that shuns her. Fitzwilliam Darcy carries the stains of his family’s dishonour upon his soul and only by holding himself to the strictest standards has … standards has he reclaimed his place in society. If his fifteen-year-old sister cannot be found quickly, her scandal could destroy years of perfect behaviour. Lizzy is willing to join the pursuit to get what she wants but will Darcy be willing to trust her with his secrets? And what will they do when the search for Georgiana reveals what neither expected to find?
This Pride and Prejudice variation is two stories in one book. Volume 1 starts in Ramsgate with the disappearance of Miss Darcy and follows the adventures of Elizabeth Bennet as she seeks to find her. In Volume 2, our favourite couple has recognised their feelings for one another but more surprises and challenges still await them at Pemberley.
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A satisfying and all encompassing read.
How can one not love an Elizabeth Bennet who completely upends Darcy’s rigid world. Taking his soul and molding his mind into releasing all the anger, passion and hidden insecurities to give us the ‘perfect gentleman’.
“But those eyes! They had weighed and measured his character and found him wanting.” (quote from the book)
I was simply blown away by the complexities within this imaginative novel. We have scandal, heaps of it, and we have adventure. We have intrigue, compassion, laughter and tears. And, we have a Mr. Darcy that is rocked to his very core.
“You are trouble, Miss Bennet.” (quote from the book)
This is an ‘outside the box’ Pride and Prejudice variation with lots of drama and over-the-top actions…a bit of ‘suspend belief’ in parts. But overall, it worked. I was gripped in its thrall as each character dealt with their past, their imperfections, and their fears. Would they or could they forgive those who harmed them the most.
“She had only to look at his mother, who in making the decision to fiercely protect her heart, found it broken instead by the walls she erected around it.” (quote from the book)
This is a beautifully written debut novel that leaves me wanting more, for there are still some threads left dangling.
“A mother has far greater influence on her children than anyone else, and she must realize that every word she speaks, every act, every response, her attitude, even her appearance and manner of dress affect the lives of her children and the whole family. It is while the child is in the home that he gains from his mother the attitudes, hopes, and beliefs that will determine the kind of life he will live and the contribution he will make to society.”
― N. Eldon Tanner
Rating: MA: ->PG13 as mature/adult themes were discussed of a sexual nature. Note this review may contain spoilers.
A story in two parts: Volume 1 & Volume 2: Volume 1 established that this was an alternate universe for our P&P story. Thank goodness, we had a reduced number of characters and I am so glad the author did that. The stage did not need to be cluttered with all the P&P characters just because someone felt like they had to present EVERY person from the story. Whew! It was funny how our author was able to convey so much of those character traits and dialogue with the small cast as it was. The juxtaposition was pretty amazing.
This was a deep story and I didn’t expect that. I’m not sure I can fully convey what I felt as I read this. The story rides along on the surface and yet, in the depths, there bubbles an understanding of human nature and the common thread between people whether gentry or aristocracy. Although they may be separated by wealth, connections, interest, and social status… people, especially women, are basically the same.
This was a story about restoration, forgiveness, redemption, reparation, and coming to terms with one’s past. In the depths, the author dealt with the break-up of two families and the fallout and consequences that followed. We had the example of two fathers and two mothers and how each handled life’s hard realities and the resulting influence on their families, the children especially. We were presented with their sins or past behaviors, and the coming to terms with the guilt, shame, and consequences of those behaviors. We also had characters seeking forgiveness for past hurts and slights. The desire to restore that which was lost was especially strong and whether reparation could be accomplished was not always presented as a certainty. Two families, torn apart by past behavior of a similar nature. Both women painted with the same brush, branded with the same label, and similarly rejected by family and society. Then we have their children growing up without a parent and dealing with the aftermath of the scandal and social rejection.
The page-time between ODC was amazing. I can’t quite decide if Elizabeth was too modern or acted appropriately for a woman suffragette of the times. We watched as she struggled and strained against society and its expectations and restraints/restrictions on women. She did not take her choices lightly. She could marry Darcy, learn to run Pemberley as it should be, have a house full of children or she could fulfill her desire for a career, and hone her artistic endeavors. Could she have it all… in other words?
I loved the way the story evolved but it could have been trimmed a few times when it went too far in a direction that wasn’t important. For example, deciding what Georgiana would or would not do in a situation. I didn’t care. Then we had a very modern Darcy vs Lizzy argument. He doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about and wants her to: quit playing with her art, assume her place as mistress of Pemberley, establish her social standing with the neighborhood [visits and social calls], and start a family. She wants to: pursue her art by studying under a master, put off having a family until later, and delegate the duties of Pemberley while she created in her studio. There were several scenes that made me think of the 2005 P&P movie where Lizzy was touring the statue gallery at Pemberley. I liked that.
What I didn’t like: there were several places where it dragged a bit… OK, quite a bit. In some respects, this felt like three or four novellas linked together to make one book. Vol 1 was one novella and then Vol 2 could have been divided again at least twice more. The tone kept changing with each section and there were several story threads running concurrently. At times I wanted to shake Darcy and then he’d do something that made me love him. Then, I wanted to shake Lizzy and she would do something that made me love her. My emotions were all over the place. And, lastly, it ended abruptly. I mean full stop and I have no idea what happened next. It just ran out of steam leaving several threads dangling and several unanswered questions. I don’t know if that was intentional [is there a sequel?] or that was just the end. There was no epilogue or even a follow-up.
*** SPOILER *** Was Wickham’s ring recovered? What happened with the papers Wickham carried? Was Matlock behind any of that intrigue/espionage? *** End Spoiler ***
This was so interesting. I volunteered to read an ARC from Quills & Quartos Publishing without any expectations of a review. The opinions and views expressed are my own. I purchased a copy for my personal library. I highly recommend this story for anyone who likes something completely different.
I loved all the detail in this story! This alone might let you know whether or not this book will suit you. : ) I truly do like knowing what everyone thinks and how they feel about whatever is going on. Many books gloss over those things, but this one let you know, so the characters were very real. I will admit that I cried through a bit of it.
It also had some excellent marriage advice through Elizabeth and Darcy’s thoughts!
This unusual Pride and Prejudice variation is a fun read for adventurous Janeites, but may be a stretch for some dedicated canon purists. I do enjoy a thought-provoking what-if scenario though, and my favorite part of the story was the extended interaction between our dear characters as a result of different paths taken by others. This allowed for deliciously bold yet vulnerable dialogue. It is quite an epic tale, told in two volumes, with plenty of drama and mystery and excitement. Best of all, there are several satisfyingly scathing confrontations, as well.