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Imperative #2

Imperative: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice, Volume 2

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In the second volume of this variation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Fitzwilliam Darcy has survived threats to his mind and body, exposure of his deepest secrets, and endless challenges from his family. He could never have come so far without Elizabeth Bennet by his side. She has accepted and excelled in the position she has taken, and is the reason why he is so clearly the Master of Pemberley. Now he must finish the task he began the day they took their vows. He must safeguard his sister while protecting his estate, his family, and their future. Hope is their byword, love is the key.

This story contains scenes of a mature nature between a happily married couple.

702 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 16, 2012

53 people are currently reading
210 people want to read

About the author

Linda Wells

10 books92 followers
Welcome to my author page; let me tell you a little about myself. I worked for years in the environmental engineering world until I traded my career as a geographer for one as a mom to a challenging and really great son. One day, I saw the 2005 production of Pride and Prejudice, and I was fascinated. I bought a copy of Jane Austen's novel and read it so many times, falling under the spell of her unforgettable characters and story, and I could not help but wonder what happened next for them. That led me in search of Jane Austen Fan Fiction.

I read many stories and then one of my own started nagging at me. So, I found an old notebook and started writing it down. Without it even being finished, I took the plunge and started posting. It was, and continues to be, a fantastic and rewarding experience to watch a story take shape while so many readers follow along. I have many ideas for new stories, and with luck and lots of imagining, they will be written too.


If you would like to email me, I would love to hear from you! Lindawellsbooknut@gmail.com


Books by Linda Wells:

Chance Encounters

Fate and Consequences

Perfect Fit

Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions

Memory: Volume 2, Trials to Bear

Memory: Volume 3, How Far We Have Come

Imperative Volumes 1 and 2

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5 stars
230 (46%)
4 stars
157 (31%)
3 stars
82 (16%)
2 stars
18 (3%)
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Debbie.
1,680 reviews80 followers
April 23, 2018
4/22/18
Just finished rereading this. GOSH, it's long! It was probably a good thing I took a break from it midway to read another book, because when I returned to this I continued to really read. That made me recognize that I'd missed an important plot point on my previous read-thrus when I'd apparently been so eager to finish that I skimmed the last half. There's more closure between Darcy and his uncle than I'd realized.

Linda Wells is such a talented writer, but her books create reader fatigue because they're too long with too much unnecessary detail. Eventually, you just want to get to the end of the story.

I'm spoiled by the number of well-edited books in the JAFF world that have come out since these were written. Aside from the opening chapters of Volume 1 (which remain my favorite of any variation), I don't think I'll be reading these again.

*******
6/6/2016
This is not a stand-alone book. It is the sequel/second part of the story begun in Imperative: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice, Volume 1. Darcy and Elizabeth have already married and overcome a number of obstacles, but the primary reason for their hurried wedding remains unresolved as this begins. It is difficult to describe the major plot points without exposing spoilers, so suffice it to say that they continue to deal with serious obstacles here.

The strength of both books is the realistically described close relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth. Their connection, their chemistry, and their intimacy just jumps off the pages. They ARE newlyweds, and I'm not too old to remember those sex-driven days. I think the dialogue between the two is at the top tier of the JAFF world. The plot in Volume 2 is as riveting as Volume 1, and you can see how many of the characters here gradually change. I especially enjoy watching Georgiana slowly maturing as well as the progressive emergence of Elizabeth as a dominant influence throughout the Darcy and Fitzwilliam families.

Volume 2 has many of the same weaknesses that I mentioned in my review for Volume 1: It's too long, and there's a good deal of repetition and unnecessary sexual content that could easily be edited out. Darcy and Elizabeth are too perfect, which sometimes gets annoying.

In this volume, the villain is known to the reader and to one of the major characters, but there's a lot of "will he or won't he" back and forth regarding how hard Darcy is going to push to learn the full truth. It gets more annoying than suspenseful.

Despite my reservations, I can see how cohesive most of the plot points are. Darcy starts the first book in a difficult situation and sees marrying Elizabeth as the first step in solving it. Her presence in his life has unexpected cascading effects on all the relatives- Darcys, Bennets, Fitzwilliams, and deBourghs. By the end of the second book, there are several family marriages and relationships influenced by theirs.

It's quite a yarn.
Profile Image for Les.
2,911 reviews1 follower
March 27, 2013
Having gotten through the almost 800 pages of Vol.1 I began vol.2. And again I warn it is definitely NC-17 but you get at least 70 pages in before you are exposed to any explicit content.

This volume is more tedious than the previous, the mysteries have been solved, the questions resolved and everyone is mostly healthy.

There are plot inconsistencies that I found annoying; after spending months protecting Georgiana Darcy and Lizzy decide to leave Scotland almost immediately following the birth because they "need time alone"

Which pretty negates all of their actions in the previous 1000 pages to keep Georgiana protected.

Again there is good character development but it is surrounded by Lizzy and Darcy lusting, loving, cooing, billing and who knows what else. I am surprised Darcy isn't faint from being constantly engorged around his wife.

Which is what makes it cross from fun to ridiculous. Darcy is a man of good regulation not a horny adolescent. If they aren't having sex, talking about having sex, or touching each other in public they are thinking about having sex. If all the sex and double entendres were removed the book would be a lot shorter.

Profile Image for Anne.
799 reviews10 followers
May 12, 2023
Never again. I lost count of how many times Darcy and Elizabeth had sex yet they kept complaining about never being alone.

And so much pinching! I find that annoying not cute or romantic.
Profile Image for James S.
1,434 reviews
January 9, 2024
Part 2, the Darcys fight their way through to a better future

Just as good as the first book in this series. The picture of perfect love of Darcy and Elizabeth’s love is quite inspirational.

When one thinks back to the beginning the story it amazing how much has changed for all the characters.

The series can be described as an epic story that will long be remembered by its readers.

I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Ree.
1,336 reviews80 followers
January 2, 2024
Good, but Long
Reviewed in Canada on April 22, 2019
Volume two... I liked it, but I felt it dragged on unnecessarily. I do love the author’s talent for good dialogue, which I have enjoyed in all her books. Her version of ODC is very passionate. I wish the epilogue would have included a better glimpse into the future for Georgiana and Samuel.
Profile Image for Sam H..
1,225 reviews59 followers
January 8, 2022
3.5* Much more story to this volume, which means less pages and pages of sex.

I wish I had liked the story a little better. We got to see Colonel F. meet a woman, resign and be designated earl apparent. Jane got kinda beeyotchee with Lizzy. Caroline was (sigh) Caroline
And the Secret never came out, despite a few close calls!

They all lived happily ever after when ODC finally got their heir.
Profile Image for Elin Eriksen.
Author 24 books159 followers
January 26, 2018
Lovely, sweet, romantic, passionate and with a lovely level of tension.

Linda Wells has become one of my favourite JAFF authors and this novel doesn't disappoint. Usually ODC find an understanding early and it becomes them against the world. With lots of interaction between ODC , which I love and it's a really long read with many hours of pleasurable reading.

This novel is about pulling the family together after Georgianas ordeal. Several relationships has suffered and it pulls together nicely at the end with a ball at Pemberley.

Heartily recommend this book.
Profile Image for Elizabeth West.
Author 39 books142 followers
Read
February 10, 2015
The plot premise of the Imperative series was very well thought out, unique, and I loved the idea of Mr. Darcy NEEDING to marry in an attempt to save his sister's reputation.

There is also a great deal of interesting exchanges with Fitzwilliam's family, but over all, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are completely obsessed with one thing: sex. First, they can't have it, then they can, and they never want to stop! Now, I'm no shrinking violet, but I can't stand multiple references to Mr. Darcy's appendage in every chapter, from the euphemism to just blatant anatomical title. Here there are just too many scenes about it or featuring it. If they aren't having sex, then it's all about the bulge barely restrained in his breeches!

Towards the end, I grew fatigued by the lack of tightening/slow pacing. It quickly grew into a documentary of every second of Pemberley before a ball. Finally, the ending is super rushed. If there is a Volume 3 coming out, I'd be interested in it because the plot is exceptional in this series, and I want to know more about how Georgiana really makes it later on in life. But over all, the story is very long and drags too much for the plot to overcome the faults in other areas of the gratuitous sex scenes and minute-by-minute pacing. The out-of-canon characters, especially the Fitzwilliams and Darcys are very well fleshed out and feel like they could easily have been from Austen's original. I liked it, but I didn't love it.
899 reviews70 followers
August 24, 2016
This is Volume 2 of the tale and for the most part I liked it. I enjoyed the continuation and further development of certain plot lines. However, I did skim through most of the bedroom scenes as it just didn't enhance the tale for me. It was very redundant and rather boring. Yes, Darcy and Elizabeth are devoted to each and go through so much but seriously do we have to beat it with a stick over and over again! I did enjoy the double entrendre that Darcy and Elizabeth employed in their conversations. The book flowed and the tension was high.

Profile Image for Sheila Majczan.
2,691 reviews202 followers
August 7, 2021
This is one of those stories I read before I retired and began reviewing every book I read. I do want to reread all those stories which I did not review but as time has slipped by and I haven't done so, I just want to mark all those stories as "read" so I have a record of the true number of books in the JAFF sub-genre I have read. I am using the average rating at this time as I do not remember how I rated this story back when I read it. If I ever get around to rereading it I will look at my rating to make sure it is true to my opinion. It was published in 2012 so that is most likely when I read it.
Profile Image for Sophia.
Author 5 books399 followers
March 28, 2012
This book is part two and starts almost immediately from when the first one leaves off so it must be read in order.

The story begins with the new Darcy family of Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth and Georgiana headed off to the Scotland estate for Georgiana to have her baby in secrecy. In Scotland, they hope to have a quiet time to themselves, but soon discover that having the landowner's family in the neighborhood draws them to everyone's attention. They are approached by one of the local leading Scottish families, the Kellys, and become acquainted. Georgiana is kept out of sight and known as Miss Caughill, but there is always that tension that she will be exposed even possibly by one of their own servants. Much happens while the Darcys are in Scotland including a shadowing Wickham who they just cannot seem to shake. The Fitzwilliam family sees Albert renounce his drugs and marry Anne de Bourgh who saves their financial issues, but can he stay clean and be a good husband and Anne a good wife. The story also sees Richard leaving the army because Albert is unlikely to sire an heir and he is now the hope of their family to run the estates and produce the heir. Lady Catherine is done pursuing Darcy, but she is still a force to be reckoned with.
Mr. Bennet dies and Mr. Collins and Mary return as the heirs of Longbourn much to Mrs. Bennet's ire. Poor Collins and Mary must make a success of the estate with no knowledge and under Mrs. Bennet's withering eye. Jane is troubled by Lizzy's absence and allows it to embitter her and this attitude might cost her her own marriage if she is not careful.
Things progress along with the Darcys trying to move along with the very real fear of discovery of Georgiana's secret and worry about her health in giving birth. Georgiana is still dealing with the fallout from her mistakes and must come to terms with letting her child go for the baby's sake and for her own. I could keep going with a blurb, but I do not want to offer up any spoilers.

The plot had so many storylines in it that it switched perspective frequently. This was not confusing because this was accomplished by breaks in the pages. Darcy and Lizzy do get the most limelight, but others like Colonel Fitzwilliam and the Bingleys get quite a bit too. I was very excited by the confrontations with Wickham by the Colonel and Darcy, I was intrigued whenever Darcy got close to discovering the Judge's secrets, and I loved the various romances going on. The times when all the ladies of the family got together apart from the men were just filled with great tension and witty dialogue.
I have to confess that I found Darcy and Lizzy's romance was a hit or miss thing with me. Sometimes, I thought it absolutely beautiful and I loved seeing them face tough situations together, but at other times I felt that it was not making forward progress particularly after they left Scotland for home. I suppose it could be said that they still had a lot to learn in marriage, but as a reader and knowing that they had already gone through trial by fire I just could not see the couple who had come together under the circumstances they did hiding things and getting miffed over the lesser things ('you have a crease in your brow so you are keeping big secrets from me that I must know or it will eat me alive and destroy our relationship'). Mostly it was Elizabeth who did this. Elizabeth just came across as willful and petulant for me. She seemed to blow hot and cold. And then, I was just not impressed with Sophie and her Kelly family either. Her tempers at the Colonel seemed nonsensical to me. She claims to be more comfortable with men, but then gets freakish when he is just being a man and I really hated how it seemed that her family could attack the man and threaten him and she was cool with it until he tries to defend himself. And her attitude when the man told her that he was going home to fulfill duty and responsibility, but he would come back made her accuse him of not caring (the accusation came when he came back like he promised).
I also found the last half of the book very slow going as it brought all the story threads to their conclusions in a real laid-back pace. I think there were a lot of things that could have been clipped to help keep it moving. Hate me now, but one of them were the numerous Darcy and Lizzy love scenes-beautiful little vignettes in and of themselves-that just bogged down the plot and pacing. As much as I love a passionate Darcy and Lizzy, I felt like the book spent a long time with them getting hot and heavy in various places under varying circumstances that seemed almost every few pages. Because of the sheer quantity of these encounters, it made me bored with them after a time and I felt guilty being bored with Darcy and Lizzy.
These things did not make me dislike the book as a whole; they were just minor irritants and may not bother another reader at all.

There were several characters introduced in Scotland both in the Sommerwald household and in the neighboring Kelly household and in the form of Darcy's friends. I think my favorite and most intriguing characters were Darcy's cousins Samuel Darcy and Albert Fitzwilliam both are the author's original creations. She has a gift for making up good characters I think.

There were some exciting moments, some romantic moments, and some quiet sweet moments that made much of it a good read that I would recommend to any lovers of P&P retellings and what if type stories.

Profile Image for Elesha.
27 reviews
September 9, 2012
I read the first one, got about 25% through, got bored and skipped to the epilogue to find out what happened, everything in between was irrelevant. read it you must, it couldn't hold my attention
Profile Image for Talia.
970 reviews4 followers
April 19, 2017
Can we get another volume, please?

Reread again: Don't you just love the way the E is supported by Lady C in this book? I loved it again.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Bennet.
742 reviews8 followers
March 29, 2018
I really enjoy spending time with these characters told in a loving way. I could tell the author loves the never ending love between Darcy and Elizabeth. Be aware if this is your first by this author that the author writes some naughty scenes with our couple. She also changes all you think you knew about them and pushes you to look at them differently.

It would be helpful to read book one as in this book it continues Georgiana's situation to fruition and shows her becoming a mature young woman of 16. However, at books end while there is an epilogue I believe there will be a third book. There were far too many situations left unanswered and I for one hope there is a third book to answer how these characters stories played out.

Georgiana, Samuel who I wanted to get together and there was Anna regaining strength and sharing in an affectionate marriage. Did Caroline get her man or Cathy for that matter. Fitzwilliam and Sophia and Charles and Jane both in loving marriages but just learning to grow in love and learn to adjust. Aunt Catherine softens and I loved how she was with Lizzy. It's sad that I am leaving not knowing if another will come out but so many more books to explore. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Charlene.
474 reviews
March 21, 2012
Amazing! This book picked off right after Georgiana has her baby and life is expected to go on back to normal. The lessons that "G" learns is well discovered and we really get to see "G" grow and learn and finally get back into the fold of her family. She finally sees Wickham for what he really is and learns to appreciate Elizabeth and her family. With all this seemingly behind her the story doesn't end. There are still obsticles that "G" and the Darcy's have to over come. The secret still has to be kept and what are they to do about Wickham. Will he ruin everything or will he stay quiet? There is also the underlying story of Judge Darcy and what if anything happens. Elizabeth and Darcy are wonderfully romantic but they still have trials and still have to be accepted by society. And of course who can forget the Bennets and Bingleys. Linda does a wonderful job giving us a well rounded story with lot's of twitz and turns to keep us interested and I will just say I love what she has done to Lady Catherine. I might just have to become a fan of hers!!! Well done Linda, Just loved this story!! Definitely recommend.
Profile Image for Cat Andrews.
Author 7 books50 followers
May 23, 2020
This has always been my "go to" Regency Pride & Prejudice variation. It's like an old friend to me, and when I want something familiar to read, a JAFF that will give me the warm fuzzies, I always turn to this story. I love this Darcy - his passion, his strength, his manliness - but also the way he is so in love with Elizabeth, and is completely undone by her. And Elizabeth is bold and strong - the obstinate, headstrong girl we all love - who is fiercely protective of Darcy. They have a passionate, steamy relationship, but they also tease and play and argue and apologize, like any newlywed couple. I love that they come together rather quickly at the start of the story, and the angst (there is plenty) is not between them, but rather, against them. This is a must read for any Regency JAFF fan.
39 reviews
August 28, 2025
Part 2 - the romance continues

Let me start of by saying I LOVE the romance in this story. I think more stories should embrace the steamy side.
I am late to the Linda Wells fan club but I am now a happy member. This is the third story I’ve read. Close Encounters and Fate and Consequences were amazing. This one was too…. But also so very long. I admit I had to get Alexa to read it to me at times so that I could actually get some work done.
I did take a little break between part 1 and part 2 but I still enjoyed it and will read it again. I do wish the epilogue gave us a little more…. Like what happened to Lydia, Kitty, and Charlotte, does Lady Cathy get her man? I’m also a little nosy with characters I’ve become invested in.
136 reviews2 followers
December 19, 2024
Great read

I love linda wells books are they show you the daily life of the Darcy's and also incorporate a lot of extended family interesteractions. She to create perfect a Darcy and a perfect Elizabeth that every male character desire. Lol

This book could have been shorter though. But overall a solid story, that's centered around the Georgiana/Wickham theme.

I also wanted more of an epilog as there were so many other couples that I wanted updates on.
Profile Image for Rachel Collins.
133 reviews
November 17, 2019
This book is just so RICH! There are so many great story lines for all the characters and its so lovely to see D&E get together so early in this story and watch them struggle together (instead of struggle against each other). It's a long read, but It could have gone on and on and on and I wouldn't have minded one bit.
42 reviews
March 10, 2017
Imperative a different tale of pride & prejudice

This 2 volume sorry may be a bit Tracey for some readers. However the plot is truly different. There are also added characters. The journey through this variation is enjoyable.
Profile Image for Denise.
29 reviews1 follower
January 18, 2021
Love this volume as much as the first one. This scenario is my favorite, whereby Darcy and Elizabeth are together against the world. It is their love that makes it possible to go through all the hurdles in their path.
36 reviews
May 12, 2021
Hmmmmm

I read both books and I must say I really enjoyed them. After awhile however, it began to seem as though the story was merely a way to connect the various sex scenes. Too much of a good thing becomes tiresome and the sex definitely became tiresome.
58 reviews1 follower
September 16, 2021
W wI am a reader not a writer.

Wow it took me two weeks to read this book.I love 💘it.I couldn't put it down,it was great reading,I loved the plot. Am a p.&p fan,I read 3 or books a week yours.,was the best I have read in a long.Thank you d Cooper.
Profile Image for Terri Conley.
1,027 reviews7 followers
January 30, 2020
Wow only recently found volume 2. I vote for volume 3 there things left undone with this saga.
Love these books
More please
Profile Image for Duane Dean.
17 reviews2 followers
April 7, 2020
You can't go wrong reading what this author has to offer.
Profile Image for Alena (Ally) Scott .
491 reviews4 followers
April 9, 2024
Enjoyable

Well written continuation of Book 1; some minor inconveniences, but overall nice storyline. I did find the pinching as odd behavior for both Darcy and Elizabeth.
Profile Image for Kelly.
227 reviews12 followers
September 21, 2025
End at 52%... Just too much sniping between characters. I put up with it in first book because I wanted to see how the initial problem resolved. But the second book has worn me down.
Profile Image for katrina Morrison.
12 reviews
January 6, 2017
A lovely variation of a most beloved Austen book

I gave this book a 4 star rating because as much as I enjoy reading Linda Wells books, and I do thoroughly enjoy reading her books, this one (Vol.II) had a few subplots that slowed down the story for me. Mind you, I am not anyone of any expertise in literary criticisms. I just love to read and enjoy a well written story in all its possible variations.
With that said, I did enjoy reading the continued saga of Mrs. Elizabeth Bennett Darcy in Ms Wells' "Imperative."
More importantly, there were subplots that contained surprisingly and very enjoyable twists to the story. Without trying to give too much away, there is an relative who has a drug problem that employs the villainous Wickham; and, in another subplot, that I liked very much, there is a new character, Mr. Ferguson (one of Darcy's stewards) that I hope to learn more about in Volume III.
I can always tell if a book is worth my time and effort: if I read passages or the book over and over. This is one of those books for me. So, I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone who loves Austen's Pride and Prejudice variations or to anyone who just enjoys a well written love story.
23 reviews2 followers
June 6, 2014
Imperative in two volumes consisting of 1,500 pages is a long read. It starts off with one of the best proposals by Mr Darcy of any Pride & Prejudice variation. Or fan fiction, because published or not, that's what all of these variations are. I can't say it all goes downhill from there, because it doesn't, but the proposal is so startling and giddy, that it should have a little six star badge of its own.

For all its pages, it moves fairly quickly. If I have one complaint, and it is not one I usually make, is that there's too much sex. I love Darcy & Lizzy showing their affection, but after 1,500 hundred pages, it gets a little repetitious. In real life it probably is, but you don't want to read about it in the same words again & again.

I have read it three times and because of the boost from the 6 star proposal, despite the extra time we spend watching Lizzy & Darcy look for some privacy, it's still an amazing book.

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