“Always surround yourself with people who lift you up, rather than hold you down.” –Donald L. Hicks, Look into the stillness
>>SPOILER ALERT: This review may contain *** SPOILERS ***
>>Rating: teen: discussions and descriptions not suitable for a young reader. Oh, Mr. Hurst, that was a scream. Well done. That put a new twist on flirting with officers.
>>Angst Level: not too bad, just slight as situations played out
>>Source: I borrowed this from KU and volunteered to leave a review of my thoughts and opinions, which I wrote myself, errors and all. I refuse to use AI technology to express myself. I first read this as it was posted on FF. Congratulations to the author on the launch. I enjoyed it then and now as a finished product.
The family history of the Bennet family was interesting and their connections to the peerage was startling. As the second son, Thomas Bennet was enjoying his time at Oxford when tragedy struck. A devastating fever swept across England as it ravaged the land. No one was exempt as tragedy struck high and low. The Earl lost both of his children, his son and heir along with his daughter who was Bennet’s beloved wife. Bennet then received a black-edged message from his mother stating that both his father and brother had also been lost. Bennet was now heir to Longbourn while his young son was heir to an earldom.
When Bennet arrived at Longbourn, a belligerent man was beating on the front door demanding entrance to his estate. Yep, it was the elder Mr. Collins, a nasty piece of work. When Bennet announced that he was, in fact, the heir apparent and was in front of Collins in the entail, Collins pulled a knife. The Earl had sent a few extra footmen with Bennet and they soon took care of Mr. Collins.
Bennet then learned that his brother, who hated him, had married a pregnant Fanny Gardiner in hopes she carried the heir. Oh-My-Goodness! She was a different piece of work than Collins. This author took a different twist with Fanny Bennet née Gardiner that I’ve never seen before. It was so creative and I was glad to see it. They would need to wait until she delivered in order to learn if Bennet was the heir or simply next in line until the heir reached his majority. Some months later, less than nine, of course, Fanny delivered fraternal twins, Kitty and Lydia who looked nothing like Bennet’s elder brother. That relegated the younger Mrs. Bennet to a cottage stipulated in her late husband’s will. She had a stipend and a small cast of servants. Not bad for a young widow.
Due to threats from Collins, Bennet and his mother decided to not mention the presence of his son in order to protect him. His two daughters soon joined him at Longbourn while his son would be raised by his grandparents, the Earl and Countess of Ashcroft. The earl could better protect him and the boy would need to grow up on his future holdings and learn of his responsibilities. Meanwhile, his twin sister, Elizabeth, would grow up on Longbourn which would go to her when they broke the entail upon reaching their majority. Not to be left behind, grandfather, the Earl secured Netherfield for Mary. That meant that Miss Mary Bennet was landlady to the Bingleys when they leased the property. Oh, how I wanted to tell Caroline… be careful what you say to those ladies. But you know she won’t. Oh, that was so much fun.
With no Jane in this story, Bingley had to choose another angel. What a puppy and he soon learned that lesson. Darcy was just as bad and had a lesson of his own to learn. Mr. Hurst was a surprise and I really liked him and Louisa. He was actually funny.
Lady Catherine: “Over the years most of my peers had come to hate me—I never understood shy. I guess I was just different and, like dogs, they could smell it. So, I never had many friends.” –Sol Luckman, Beginner’s Luke
What can I say? When Mr. Collins returned to Rosings with the news from Hertfordshire, Lady Catherine was not pleased. She immediately called for her largest traveling coach and six and headed for Longbourn in a fury. She would set the situation straight or know why. Anne had other plans and sent a fast express to her uncle, Lord Matlock. Thus began the overthrow of the reign of a tyrant and a new beginning for Anne de Bourgh, the true mistress of Rosings Park.
What I didn’t like: Yeah, there be errors. In the genealogy or family tree diagram, the Earl was Ashworth, and in the text Ashcroft. I can’t mention all the errors but that one stood out. In spite of the errors, I enjoy this author’s work.