“Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance,” or so Charlotte Lucas claims. Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy put this notion to the test when they find themselves in a passionate and unexpected marriage.
Enjoyed from the first page. Morland has excellent command of plot, her characters, and the English language. Well done.
Author
carole
3 years ago
Review from August 13, 2016
What if Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are caught in a compromising situation and found by Mrs. Bennet during the Netherfield Ball. What would their marriage be like knowing how much Elizabeth dislikes Darcy and he is still coming to grips with the fact that she fascinates him but her connections and family are abhorrent?
The opening chapter of this book is their wedding night and their marital relations is front and center. It is not to shock the reader, but it set the stage for their inner turmoil and how they each wrestle with their feelings.
Being a part of their innermost thoughts gave me empathy for both as they struggle to understand each other and themselves. The doubts each face and the secrets not revealed lends a strong tension to this story that for me was believable. I felt each were true to their character as in canon.
But this is not only a story of Darcy and Elizabeth. Georgiana plays a key role in this tale that has you witnessing not only her pain but to some degree her triumph. Miss Bingley was true to form as were Wickham and Mrs. Younge.
I found this book to be a somewhat realistic view of marriage during the Regency period. Marriage in the ton was a matter of connections and alliances. Colonel Fitzwilliam and family fell into this category. This journey for Darcy and Elizabeth was well written and to some degree a bit more reflective. I was completely ensnared.
Author
gracesellers
3 years ago
Read like a real Jane Austen book (to some degree).
Author
sallygirldm
3 years ago
A very good, clean variation in the telling of Darcy and Elizabeth
Author
jwgarrett
3 years ago
“Don’t find fault, find a remedy.” Henry Ford
I don’t know how to even start this review: I loved it… I hated it… I adored it… I despised it. I am a jumbled mess of contradictions and I lay my befuddled conscience at the feet of our author. Dang!! I loved it.
Rating: MA: mature audience: adult themes, explicit sexual encounters.
First… get those fairy dust ideas out of your head before you start reading this, because this is no fairy dust JAFF [Jane Austen Fan Fiction]. Understand going in that the author designed, constructed and controls the universe in which our characters live and breathe. Strip away all preconceived notions of encountering the brilliant, perfect, everyone loves Lizzy character that so many JAFF authors try to foist on readers in this genre. That character is OK in moderation; however, it is too saccharine for most. If you cannot do the above… then walk away. If; however, you are able to wipe the slate clean, then you will have a better reading experience as you delve into the world created by this author.
“But how can she get married to a stranger? Just because his resume checked on all the materialistic criteria, it cannot demand the commitment of a lifetime.” –Swati Kuma, The Great Indian Dilemma
We have the FMS [Forced Marriage Scenario] trope where Darcy kissed Miss Elizabeth in a secluded area and it was witnessed by her mother. Yep, Mrs. Bennet shrieked like a banshee so everyone within a mile radius knew her daughter had been compromised. She thought her Lizzy was ever so clever in catching such a man… ten-thousand a year… such a mother.
“Okay, okay. I can do this, I can do this just breathe. Mentally I prepared myself but it didn’t help with the feeling of jumping off a cliff deep in my belly.” –A. J. Young, My Mate The Monster
In canon, Lady Catherine predicted that, if Darcy married this country nobody, then they would be slighted and despised. Well, she wasn’t far off in her predictions… the old bat. Elizabeth was suddenly swept-up from her bucolic lifestyle and thrust into the exalted circles of the haute ton. A fish out of water could not be a more appropriate metaphor. We were given the thoughts of both Darcy and Elizabeth as they navigated the shark infested waters of high society that also included Darcy’s own family. I hated this part.
“If a man’s character is to be abused, say what you will, there’s nobody like a relative to do the business.” –William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair
How close was this to reality? It broke my heart reading Darcy’s thoughts as he watched Lizzy struggle. He endured his own inner conflict with what he perceived as her lack of understanding of his social circle and the rules and requirements needed to reflect well on his family and his name. I ached for Lizzy as she endured a surprise visit from his closest family members just days after her marriage. She bravely shrugged off their smirking smiles, less than veiled commends and innuendos regarding her origins and their hasty marriage. She was filleted with a fine-edged knife as they scrutinized her person [lack of classic beauty], her clothing [the best her father could afford], her family’s lack of fortune/interests and connections to trade. Lizzy could see it in their demeanor and knew that she was found wanting. I so adored her as she bravely stood her ground until Darcy arrived to rescue her. Oh, bless his heart.
Venus and Mars could not be more different, and yet, have a commonality as they both revolve around the Sun. So too, our dear couple. Their differences caused so many problems… they spoke a different language, handled situations from different perspectives, had different life experiences and expectations. They could hardly carry on a conversation as they misunderstood each other from every angle. However, they did have a few things in common and that was what brought them together. They loved country life and they loved Georgiana. Somewhere in this mangled mess… love bloomed in spite of the opposition. That was the best part of this story… this enduring love that fought for life.
Poor Georgiana had never fully recovered from Ramsgate. This theme resonated throughout the story. There were secrets that she had never told and she hamstrung her own recovery when she forbid Darcy from telling Elizabeth about her ‘shame.’ This failure to inform caused additional problems that popped up later.
Mr. Bennet still refused to heed Lizzy’s warning and set in motion the near down-fall of the family. When will he ever learn? This allowed Wickham to cause problems as he absconded with Lydia in hopes of making his fortune through the Darcy coffers… the degenerate.
Caroline Bingley: Security!!! We need someone to muzzle that hateful shrew! I loved how ‘Eliza’ had a word with Miss Bingley after her visit to Darcy House. You go Lizzy!! I was impressed with Mrs. Hurst and her attitude; that was nice to see. However, I was disappointed that Charles didn’t step up and even attempt to rein in his sister. What is your problem??? Jane… are you watching this???
Problems: yeah, there be problems… marchpane vs marzipan… marchpane is the archaic spelling of marzipan… it was confusing as the author switched back and forth in the spelling. Grace Church Street vs Gracechurch Street. Many authors use the generic ‘bravo’ after a performance; however, if it is a female solo performance, then ‘brava’ [feminine singular] is the correct form.
Enjoyed from the first page. Morland has excellent command of plot, her characters, and the English language. Well done.
Review from August 13, 2016
What if Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are caught in a compromising situation and found by Mrs. Bennet during the Netherfield Ball. What would their marriage be like knowing how much Elizabeth dislikes Darcy and he is still coming to grips with the fact that she fascinates him but her connections and family are abhorrent?
The opening chapter of this book is their wedding night and their marital relations is front and center. It is not to shock the reader, but it set the stage for their inner turmoil and how they each wrestle with their feelings.
Being a part of their innermost thoughts gave me empathy for both as they struggle to understand each other and themselves. The doubts each face and the secrets not revealed lends a strong tension to this story that for me was believable. I felt each were true to their character as in canon.
But this is not only a story of Darcy and Elizabeth. Georgiana plays a key role in this tale that has you witnessing not only her pain but to some degree her triumph. Miss Bingley was true to form as were Wickham and Mrs. Younge.
I found this book to be a somewhat realistic view of marriage during the Regency period. Marriage in the ton was a matter of connections and alliances. Colonel Fitzwilliam and family fell into this category. This journey for Darcy and Elizabeth was well written and to some degree a bit more reflective. I was completely ensnared.
Read like a real Jane Austen book (to some degree).
A very good, clean variation in the telling of Darcy and Elizabeth
“Don’t find fault, find a remedy.” Henry Ford
I don’t know how to even start this review: I loved it… I hated it… I adored it… I despised it. I am a jumbled mess of contradictions and I lay my befuddled conscience at the feet of our author. Dang!! I loved it.
Rating: MA: mature audience: adult themes, explicit sexual encounters.
First… get those fairy dust ideas out of your head before you start reading this, because this is no fairy dust JAFF [Jane Austen Fan Fiction]. Understand going in that the author designed, constructed and controls the universe in which our characters live and breathe. Strip away all preconceived notions of encountering the brilliant, perfect, everyone loves Lizzy character that so many JAFF authors try to foist on readers in this genre. That character is OK in moderation; however, it is too saccharine for most. If you cannot do the above… then walk away. If; however, you are able to wipe the slate clean, then you will have a better reading experience as you delve into the world created by this author.
“But how can she get married to a stranger? Just because his resume checked on all the materialistic criteria, it cannot demand the commitment of a lifetime.” –Swati Kuma, The Great Indian Dilemma
We have the FMS [Forced Marriage Scenario] trope where Darcy kissed Miss Elizabeth in a secluded area and it was witnessed by her mother. Yep, Mrs. Bennet shrieked like a banshee so everyone within a mile radius knew her daughter had been compromised. She thought her Lizzy was ever so clever in catching such a man… ten-thousand a year… such a mother.
“Okay, okay. I can do this, I can do this just breathe. Mentally I prepared myself but it didn’t help with the feeling of jumping off a cliff deep in my belly.” –A. J. Young, My Mate The Monster
In canon, Lady Catherine predicted that, if Darcy married this country nobody, then they would be slighted and despised. Well, she wasn’t far off in her predictions… the old bat. Elizabeth was suddenly swept-up from her bucolic lifestyle and thrust into the exalted circles of the haute ton. A fish out of water could not be a more appropriate metaphor. We were given the thoughts of both Darcy and Elizabeth as they navigated the shark infested waters of high society that also included Darcy’s own family. I hated this part.
“If a man’s character is to be abused, say what you will, there’s nobody like a relative to do the business.” –William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair
How close was this to reality? It broke my heart reading Darcy’s thoughts as he watched Lizzy struggle. He endured his own inner conflict with what he perceived as her lack of understanding of his social circle and the rules and requirements needed to reflect well on his family and his name. I ached for Lizzy as she endured a surprise visit from his closest family members just days after her marriage. She bravely shrugged off their smirking smiles, less than veiled commends and innuendos regarding her origins and their hasty marriage. She was filleted with a fine-edged knife as they scrutinized her person [lack of classic beauty], her clothing [the best her father could afford], her family’s lack of fortune/interests and connections to trade. Lizzy could see it in their demeanor and knew that she was found wanting. I so adored her as she bravely stood her ground until Darcy arrived to rescue her. Oh, bless his heart.
Venus and Mars could not be more different, and yet, have a commonality as they both revolve around the Sun. So too, our dear couple. Their differences caused so many problems… they spoke a different language, handled situations from different perspectives, had different life experiences and expectations. They could hardly carry on a conversation as they misunderstood each other from every angle. However, they did have a few things in common and that was what brought them together. They loved country life and they loved Georgiana. Somewhere in this mangled mess… love bloomed in spite of the opposition. That was the best part of this story… this enduring love that fought for life.
Poor Georgiana had never fully recovered from Ramsgate. This theme resonated throughout the story. There were secrets that she had never told and she hamstrung her own recovery when she forbid Darcy from telling Elizabeth about her ‘shame.’ This failure to inform caused additional problems that popped up later.
Mr. Bennet still refused to heed Lizzy’s warning and set in motion the near down-fall of the family. When will he ever learn? This allowed Wickham to cause problems as he absconded with Lydia in hopes of making his fortune through the Darcy coffers… the degenerate.
Caroline Bingley: Security!!! We need someone to muzzle that hateful shrew! I loved how ‘Eliza’ had a word with Miss Bingley after her visit to Darcy House. You go Lizzy!! I was impressed with Mrs. Hurst and her attitude; that was nice to see. However, I was disappointed that Charles didn’t step up and even attempt to rein in his sister. What is your problem??? Jane… are you watching this???
Problems: yeah, there be problems… marchpane vs marzipan… marchpane is the archaic spelling of marzipan… it was confusing as the author switched back and forth in the spelling. Grace Church Street vs Gracechurch Street. Many authors use the generic ‘bravo’ after a performance; however, if it is a female solo performance, then ‘brava’ [feminine singular] is the correct form.