𝑀𝑦 𝐽𝐴𝐹𝐹 𝑂𝑏𝑠𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛

This Pride and Prejudice variation is set in alternate dimension Regency England, which has a definite Scottish flavour (bagpipes). The cover picture is what drew me to this, a beautiful woman against a blue and gold background. This is a novella and a short one. It is from the POV of Lord Darcy and features vignettes of his encounters with Elizabeth Bennet. First, mysterious and fascinating. Next, dismissed as the daughter of a nobody. Then, object of infatuation, desire and an unexpected proposal. After which he drinks excessively. Of course, there is always a happy ever after. I feel that the brevity lead to the story feeling rather superficial. Disappointing. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Amazon review Goodreads review

In this Pride and Prejudice variation, Fitzwilliam Darcy's dreadful Hunsford proposal is interrupted.  Elizabeth Bennet had no idea that Darcy felt anything but distain for her. The sudden proposal and the offensive comments it contains have shocked and distressed her. As he details the deficiencies in her status and family, she fights back tears and fury.  It crosses her mind that accepting him and thereby exposing him to her family, would be a fitting punishment. She is just beginning to politely decline him, when Mrs Collins returns to the parsonage. Unfortunately, Darcy leaves with the impression that she accepted him.  While Charlotte Collins is comforting her, Elizabeth mentions his fitting punishment, but Charlotte believes she may be serious. When Darcy announces his engagement, the residents of Rosings Park are dismayed.  When his sickly quiet cousin Anne realises that Darcy won't marry her, the reaction is startling and violent. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwillia...

A very unusual series of Jane Austen variations.  Jane Austen appears as a close friend to Felicity Blackburn, our protagonist.  The first book Amusing Miss Austen, mirrors events from Pride and prejudice. Felicity encounters Max Fitzroy, rich, handsome and grumpy.  She is threatened with marriage to her unpleasant, clergyman cousin Mr Humbleton.  While events unfold, Jane is using it as inspiration for her book, First Impressions! The story continues in Visiting Miss Austen. Felicity, now Mrs Fitzroy joins Jane and her relatives in Bath. Felicity has been coerced into taking her niece Lucy along. Amongst their adventures they meet Dorian Hart who persuaded Felicity, Jane and Lucy to join him at his castle.  What follows is a gothic tale which owes much to Northanger Abbey. Featuring hidden passageways, mysterious unseen residents and a wicked plan to take advantage of Lucy. Felicity must extract the three of them from a rather disturbing situation. In the last ...

Following his disastrous proposal to Elizabeth Bennet, Fitzwilliam Darcy bends the rules of propriety by writing a letter to defend himself from her accusations. Elizabeth finds her opinion of him much improved. She replies to his letter, encouraging him to seek her out in Hertfordshire.  The letter never reaches him. News of a family tragedy forces her immediate return home. The Bennet sisters find themselves cast to the four winds, with no support or resources. Five years later, Elizabeth is working in service to the aristocratic Pollard family. Sadly, their treatment of their staff is distinctly less noble. Elizabeth is already exhibiting a bruise on her face, when she ventures onto the street to assist a child.  She comes face to face with a wealthy gentleman who also seeks to aid the child.  It is none other than Fitzwilliam Darcy. Embarrassed at her lowly status, she retreats down the steps, only to trip on a bucket of muddy water and land on her face. Darcy has nev...

I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for an angst filled pride and prejudice variation. And this is a doozy! Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy are forced to marry, following a compromise at the Meryton Assembly.  Mr Bennet disowns Elizabeth and sends her younger sisters to a harsh boarding school. It makes Lowood school in Jane Eyre look cushy. Darcy is convinced that Elizabeth and her family are gold diggers. His distain and bitterness know no bounds. At Pemberley, Elizabeth finds some allies and some antagonists. Thank the good Lord that Georgiana loves her. It takes a long time for Darcy to be reconciled to the marriage but when threatened with losing Elizabeth, his behaviour changes. This Darcy becomes the sweetest husband and we receive a delightful happy ever after, as expected. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. Amazon review Goodreads review

This pride and prejudice variation begins at the Meryton Assembly and ends with the Netherfield Park Ball. Fitzwilliam Darcy, slowly recovering from a duelling wound, reluctantly attends the Assembly with his friend, Charles Bingley.  When he utters the famous insult, Elizabeth Bennet has already noticed that he is grumpy because he is in pain. She puts Darcy at ease, reassuring him that she is already betrothed, so not interested in compromising him. A friendship develops between them. This Darcy is sweet and funny (although he has a vicious tongue when he thinks he has been betrayed). Both Darcy and Elizabeth are falling in love. He struggles with the knowledge that she belongs to another, while she desperately wishes that she never mentioned her peculiar betrothal. I really enjoyed this. I liked the introduction of Captain Frederick Wentworth as Elizabeth's childhood best friend. A good read. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. Amazon review ...

The Galehart family have many children and not much money. So when a well heeled distant relative suggests a match to a London solicitor, Mr Galehart jumps at the opportunity. Unfortunately, twin daughters Ruth and Ruby are less impressed. Ruth is quiet and biddable, so is chosen as bride. However, Ruth has a sweetheart and is heartbroken. Her biddable nature also makes her unwilling to challenge her parents.  Ruby is desperate to spare her beloved twin, so concocts a plan to take her place at the altar. She hadn't considered the possible fallout from this fraud. Nor had she anticipated the consequences of the truth being revealed, just when she was coming to love her "husband" This is a sweet novella and well worth reading. I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own. Amazon review Goodreads review