Cause to Repine: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

by E.M. Storm-Smith

Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy come from two different worlds. She loves her country estate existence. He was born for London’s high society. If his aunts have anything to say about it, and they always have plenty to say about it, Darcy’s happiness depends on finding a bride with connections to the nobility.

While Elizabeth deems a romantic connection obviously impossible, they develop an easy friendship based on mutual admiration and intelligent discourse. As Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship deepens, exposure to the larger world beyond Meryton provides a painful glimpse at how difficult a union between them might be. Can Darcy and Elizbeth overcome their fears and the constant berating of London’s gossipmongers to follow their hearts?

From the author of Reputation, An Easy Thing to Lose comes a new tale of Elizabeth and Darcy’s journey. If you like reading Austenesque retellings such as Death Comes to Pemberley and Unleashing Mr. Darcy, then Cause to Repine will be your cup of tea.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance

Paperback

Published January 3, 2024

About the author

E.M. Storm-Smith is a mother, wife, attorney, former engineer, and started writing purely for herself. A lifelong love of books drove her passion to create something that was all her own. Several years into the journey of writing stories about characters she loved, E.M. decided to take her passions to the world and see what happened. The result was Storm Haus Publishing.

When she’s not writing, E.M. is spending her time reading others’ books, traveling (2020 notwithstanding), wandering around Disney World with her son, and cooking things with chocolate as a primary ingredient.

Reviews

[J. W. Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Whatever you might choose in a hurry is sure to be regretted at length." quote from the book.

**The Darcy and Bingley fathers are still alive.
**Anne has control of Rosings.
**Mary secured Collins.
**Gossip and Mrs. Bennet's mouth had Mr. Bennet asking his brother Gardiner to take the eldest girls to London.
**29- chapters: 4.5 stars
**Still working on review.

[Ree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing
I’m afraid I had a difficult time staying interested in this book. There are some good moments, but I felt the writing fell short of satisfying. It’s quite wordy and overly detailed in places, and in other places the story seemed to omit relevant information. For example, during Elizabeth’s visit to Pemberley, there is never an introduction to George Darcy. Her first encounter with him is days into her visit. We never learn his opinion of her. This is a shame, because earlier in the story, George Darcy gives his son some good advice and moving words about choosing a bride. In fact, that conversation was my favourite part of the book. I also found some of the dialogue uninteresting, and attempt at humour seemed forced sometimes. Elizabeth repines her “lost love”, but she’s the one who rejects him. I liked this Darcy though. The story ends abruptly before a wedding and there is no epilogue.

The book is not ready for publication in this ARC form, as it contains a great amount of errata. The author’s first book also contained too many errors, but the story was great and I bought that book. I won’t be buying this one. I strongly suggest a good editor/proofreader. I had hopes of a good, error-free read from this author, but I was disappointed and am left with cause to repine.

I picked up an ARC of this book via a link provided by the author.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I LOVE the cover of this book. I can picture this cover printed on canvas bags and coffee cups and I would totally buy them. Now back to the book, which overall I enjoyed. It’s pretty low angst. Most of the confusion and heartache is caused by Elizabeth’s fear and insecurities. Darcy and Elizabeth develop a solid friendship in the beginning. His first proposal is not offensive, but Lizzy turns him down anyway. Darcy’s reaction is to throw himself into the Marriage Mart, though a bit half heartedly. I liked the new twists and turns in this story, especially those involving Mary, Lydia and Anne de Bourgh. Darcy’s father is still living but is not really involved with his children’s lives. He prefers the seclusion of Pemberley. Oddly, when Elizabeth and the Gardiners visit Pemberley at Georgiana’s invitation, Mr Darcy senior is not introduced to his guests. He makes an appearance when the whole Wickham affair unfolds but we never hear if he approves of Darcy’s choice of wife. This seems like a missed opportunity. There’s a new villain in place of Lady Catherine. It’s Lady Matlock who goes to Longbourn to discourage a match between D&E which doesn’t go well for her, and the happy ending is finally in sight.

I received an eARC from the author and voluntarily leave this review. All opinions are my own.

[wosedwew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart. ~ Washington Irving

“Cause to Repine” shows another case of true love never running smoothly.

Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet form a deep friendship early in their acquaintance in Meryton. When Elizabeth and her sister, Jane, visit London and later Hunsford, the friendship continues.

I enjoyed this look at a very strong Anne de Bourgh, who manages her estate and has no intention of marrying. She has convinced her mother of her wishes and Lady Catherine does not push her toward her cousin. The Grand Lady remains grand, however, and Elizabeth is negatively influenced by the pride in the Fitzwilliam family.

In the absence of Lady Catherine’s interference in the hunt for a marital partner for Darcy, Lady Matlock chooses a favorite candidate: her brother’s daughter, Fiona.

How much damage can gossip cause?
How does the gossip columnist know so many details about Darcy and Lady Fiona?

Lydia Bennet still manages to disgrace herself but with a different outcome. Well done!

I don’t regret how much I love, and I avoid those who repent their passion. ~ Rumi

I received a free copy of this book from the author. I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gratia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awful aunts

3.5* rounded up. There were many parts of this sophomore book that I really enjoyed, but others that I felt were uninspired. Although there's an almost immediate connection between ODC, this Darcy has not the inner strength to stand up to his relatives. He relies on his strangely absent father's approval before acting. He prefers being silent and submissive rather than deal openly with incivility from a hostess or a relation. This is attributed to his shyness in the book. As a shy person myself, I would still remove myself from such uncomfortable company and compromising situations.
On the other hand, the actual relationship and interactions between Elizabeth and Darcy are quite lovely. The descriptions of events and locations bring to life the time period quite vividly. Although there are some errors, the book is well-written.

[Sam H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our couple has much to Repine before working through issues

I really enjoyed the first half of this story. There was enough different from canon to make it interesting and fresh. Darcy senior is still alive, as well as Bingley’s father (although they were far from being present in the story, more on that later…). Anne was a strong character who had control of both her life and her estate and Collins while still ridiculous, develops sincere feelings for Mary. And Ramsgate hasn’t happened either.

But the story lost me at the Hunsford proposal. While I could just about (maybe) understand Elizabeth turning down Darcy's - lovely proposal for a change- even though she LOVED him. Darcy literally turns and walks away and goes back to town immediately. No conversation, no denials, no trying to convince her they could work through everything together. Not even ensuring her she would have the full support of his own father!

The second half is about Elizabeth’s unhappiness and Darcy’s Great Bride Search. Meanwhile, Darcy is being manipulated by members of his own family into a betrothal he doesn’t want (not Lady C.). So I ask, where was Darcy senior in defense of his beloved son, against those who would use him for their own greedy needs and in support of the love of his son’s life. We don’t even learn Darcy Srs opinion of her from her Pemberley visit.
Bingley senior was also missing in action, leaving his son to ‘raise’ the out of control daughter.
Lady Matlock’s actions and motivations seemed illogical when they bring her to Longbourn to enact the famous Lady C. scene there.

When our loving couple finally reconnect, all is worked out quite satisfactorily! However, I found it all lacking. It left me scratching my head, wondering if this half shouldn’t have been a little more developed. I also did not appreciate that there were a few scenes fully transplanted from P&P in canon. Using iconic quotes and sentences here and there I get, but more than that and I lose interest.

I received a free copy of this book for my honest opinion.

3.5*

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this story was a bit boring. A book that's less than 300 pages took me four days to read. That's a long time for me. I didn't have any interest in reading it a lot of the time. The most exciting thing that happened was when Wickham ran off with Lydia and abandoned her before they even reached London. That's understandable when he was arrested for desertion on the road. Lydia ends up married very quickly to a naval officer who is a widower and a friend to Colonel Fitzwilliam. Darcy and Lizzy end up becoming friends in Meryton and events unfold from there. They do end up slowly falling in love but people, family members, and familial expectations get in the way. Our dear couple does eventually find their way to each other in the end.

There were some American expressions in there that detract from the story a bit. It's ok if you're looking for a slow-burn romance. I did enjoy the author's first book more than this one.

*I received an advanced copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Debra McMaster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like some things about this book. Mary is sensibly paired off with Mr Collins which always seemed a no brainer. Mt Collins actually has a friend from divinity school to stand up at his wedding. I can’t recall a Mr Collins with friends anywhere else. Anne de Bourgh and Lady Catherine have smoother edges with Anne having a life of her own. Mr Darcy is more human than often portrayed. Lydia’s foolishness is handled with a deft touch, as is Darcy’s aunt’s confrontation with Elizabeth. What really distracted me from an enjoyable read was the insertion of contemporary Americanisms such as “Elizabeth booped Jane on the nose” ch 1, “The Colonel’s showboating seemed…over the top” ch 11, “gag order” ch 26, “ghosted a kiss” ch 27. Elizabeth’s solo stroll to St Paul’s Cathedral was wildly inappropriate and downright dangerous for a lady. Just no!

[Jean Stillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read from this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Ms. Storm-Smith is a delightful storyteller and does an excellent job of creating the world of her characters. Our main characters, Darcy and Elizabeth, meet under slightly different circumstances. Instead of hearing derogatory remarks about herself, Elizabeth hears Mr. Darcy talking with his friend Charles about a gossip columnist who speculates about every young lady whom Darcy dances with. The two form a strong friendship, and after a time, they start to have feelings for one another. But Elizabeth starts to see that their different spheres can be filled with causes to repine.

I loved Anne De Bourg in this book. As she is of age and has control of her inheritance, she is a lively, no-nonsense character. Mary, thankfully, in this re-telling, gets Mr. Collins, instead of Charlotte, making Mrs. Bennet very happy.

The book is well written, in spite of a couple of minor details.

I did receive this book as an advance reader copy, and I am providing my honest review.

[Tzippy Sheffi Elgar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this book, after reading the blurb, but was disappointed. There are some very good ideas in the book, for example, the Hunsford proposal or Anne de Burgh being an independent woman who can handle her mother. There is a lot of potential in the ideas but some of them are not developed enough. For example, both Darcy's and Bingley's fathers are alive but they do not contribute to the plot. The Wickham subplot is lacking. There is not enough explanation about his and Darcy's history. I also thought the end was a bit rushed. There was no epilogue to the plot to a close.

I receieved a copy in exchange for a review

[Julie Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Pride and Prejudice this is a must read. Well written, fun, and loved the society (ton) aspect of it!

[lori huff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, not great

Mr Darcy Sr is alive in this version, and his background and opinions have an effect on both Darcy and Georgiana. Darcy and Elizabeth first encounter each other at the Meryton assembly, but there's no insult, and Elizabeth overhears Darcy telling Bingley why he's so uptight in the crowd of strangers. Elizabeth is sympathetic, and tries to befriend him the next day when they meet accidentally on an early morning walk. They become fast friends with Darcy quickly becoming attracted, while Elizabeth believes their difference in social standing is too vast for anything more than friendship.

The author is a good enough writer. However, I had a few concerns that made this book just so-so for me. One is the author's effort to incorporate text verbatim from the original P&P into situations where it didn't really fit and seemed awkward at best. Another more glaring concern was the need for editing. There were so many errors that may have been the result of the computor's spell check. "Designed" instead of "deigned," "pace" instead of "apace," "Krypton" instead of "Kympton," were just a few of the many wrongly used words. There were enough of these errors that it was notable.

Another concern for me was my dislike of an Elizabeth who does stupid things. I like an Elizabeth who is strong and courageous. In this version Darcy and Elizabeth are close almost from the beginning, and yet she still refuses his first marriage proposal for, in my opinion, a pretty lame reason. This is one example of her moods and emotions being sometimes confusing and contradictory.

I recommend this book with a lot of reservations. It's a pleasant and fairly low angst tale.

[Susan]

Mary and Collins as a couple is unacceptable so no to finishing the story.
Tempted to quote Colonel Fitzwilliam on the subject.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are lots of entertaining changes to canon revealed in the opening chapters of this story. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy become friends (but nothing more than that) in Hertfordshire - though Mrs. Bennet believes otherwise. She's ready to start posting the banns for both Jane and Elizabeth and therefore dissuades Mr. Collins from considering either one to be the partner of his future life. His attention is diverted to Mary, who welcomes his attentions. When Mr. Wickham arrives in Meryton, Elizabeth learns from her friend Mr. Darcy to be wary of the new militia officer.

Things are different at Rosings, too. Anne de Bourgh capably, quietly manages the tenants and estate business. Her mother gives the appearance of being the one in charge but in actuality oversees only the Rosings household. There's no expectation of a marriage between Mr. Darcy and his cousin Anne; Darcy's father, George Darcy, is still alive and has long since convinced Lady Catherine to abandon the idea.

The story finally presents some difficulties, starting with Darcy's agreement with Caroline that Bingley and Jane should be separated. It's a topic he and Elizabeth have never discussed, and he doesn't believe Miss Bennet to have feelings for his friend. Lydia won't obey Elizabeth's cautions about Mr Wickham, taking the officer's word over Darcy's. Also, Darcy's aunt, Lady Matlock, attends the Netherfield ball. She is openly dismissive of Elizabeth and promotes Lady Fiona as the perfect match for her nephew. Caroline, Lady Matlock and, to a lesser extent, Lady Catherine are the primary antagonists.

Elizabeth realizes she loves Darcy but doesn't belong in his sphere. Darcy keeps seeking someone like her but can't find her equal among the ladies of the ton.

The author is a capable writer, and most of the dialogue is well-done. However, I struggled to stay interested though the very draggy middle section, filled with scenes that that don't move the plot forward.

I found the first proposal disappointing, to put it mildly. After pining for Darcy through so many chapters, upon hearing his a perfectly lovely speech wherein he expresses his devotion, Elizabeth inexplicably refuses him.(!?!??) I mean, she explains how it has nothing to do with him or her feelings for him - yet he feels insulted, taking it all quite personally, and storms off without further discussion. That's the big obstacle for them to overcome for the rest of the book. Neither ever seeks counsel about their situation, so it takes quite a while before they're reconciled. Too long. Seems like much ado about nothing.

I was also disappointed that the senior Mr. Darcy doesn't get more of a role. He's mostly off-page and curiously absent, even at Pemberley. Due to his ill health, his son is handling the estate. Why the change in canon if George Darcy has no significant impact on the plot?

I like many of the ideas here, particularly Lady Matlock's agenda and a gossip column's unwelcome coverage of Mr. Darcy's activities. Unfortunately, the main conflict between Darcy and Elizabeth feels overblown rather than a true obstacle.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Edens Book Den · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read Pride & Prejudice, because it’s one of my favorite classics of all time. What I can tell you is that when I saw this cover and discovered that it was a variation of P&P -I knew I had to read it! I was so excited to sit down and cozy up with this story.

Cause to Repine is a cleaver endeavor! I couldn’t imagine taking on the OG that is Pride and Prejudice. The author did some interesting things with this book and I have to admit it was pure sweetness and fun. What I loved was the creative and descriptive way the storytelling kept you feeling as if you were a fly on the wall in each of the scenes. It has a unique balance of show and tell for a novel and it’s a true variation on the classic rather than a retelling.

I wasn’t sure if I’d like the lighter and softer Darcy portrayed in this book. I’m used to the very broody, grumpy, and cynical Darcy. P&P is the epitome of enemies to lovers and the standard I use to measure that trope. This did not have the same level angst and tension, but I still thoroughly enjoyed them and believed their feelings as a couple.

You get some neat surprises and change-ups in this variation too, including a new antagonist and Darcy’s father being alive. In fact, one of the sweetest conversations is a simple one at the end of the book between George, Darcy’s father, and Elizabeth. This book also has Bridgerton level gossip vibes that really play into the life lesson of how influence can affect outcome and persuade. All in all, Cause to Repine is a beautiful compliment to Miss Austen’s work and I will read it again.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️




✨ I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[RTD · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like it.

Overall, I found this book to be a pretty good read.

What I liked:

- The interactions between Darcy and Elizabeth in the early part of the story were enjoyable.

- George Darcy's background story. After reading about his family history, I was surprised that Darcy had any doubts about pursuing Elizabeth in the first place.

- The connection between the Gardiners and the Bennet family was a nice touch.

- Lady Catherine and Anne had a nice twist to their storyline.

- There was a small dose of the usual villains.

- Although I'm not a fan of Lydia Bennet, I appreciated how things were settled in this variation.

What I didn't care for:

- I felt that Darcy lacked backbone when it came to his aunt.

- There were times when the story seemed to borrow the vibe from the original Pride and Prejudice, but it didn't quite fit.

- While I generally liked Elizabeth in this story, nothing gets my eyes rolling like an Elizabeth who rejects a 'good' Darcy. I've read other stories where Elizabeth rejects Darcy because of his higher social status or opposition from family members (I'm sure Elizabeth would never tell Jane to reject Bingley's proposal because of Bingley's sisters). Therefore, I had no sympathy for her heartbreak and skimmed through the 'woe is me' moments that she brought on herself.

- I didn't understand why everyone blamed Darcy for the delayed engagement or why he needed to apologize for being rejected and having his love and commitment questioned.

[Jennifer Conrad · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had such a beautiful cover that I had to try it. I'd really give it 2.5 stars. It wasn't horrible, but it there was a lot of just reusing the original Pride and Prejudice wording but having a different character say it. For example, it's Lady Matlock who comes as Elizabeth at the end, but she just uses Lady Catherine's words. There was never any tension with Elizabeth and Darcy not liking each other--in fact, they liked each other from the beginning. Instead, the story focused on how Elizabeth mucked everything up by worrying about whether Darcy's family would accept her. Everything seemed to have a happy ending: after getting caught with Wickham in London, Lydia and the Bennets avoid social disgrace when Lydia is quickly married off to a kind captain who needs a mother for his daughter. Mary marries Collins and they are both lovely people. Georgiana is never almost seduced by Wickham. It was just really frustrating that the actions that create the most tension in the original were gone, and there was never really a villain. Instead there was just an aunt who wanted to have Darcy marry her niece (I think she was her niece?). As I read, I found I was casually interested in seeing what was changed from the original, but I never felt really invested in the plot.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

This is billed as 𝐴 𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑒 & 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑗𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑉𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, and although I have not read Pride & Prejudice, I have heard of the dashing Mr. Darcy and the romance between him and Miss Bennet.

This was written in Regency-era fashion: proper, a bit verbose, and focused on people’s status in London’s society. I checked in with my daughter, my resident Austen expert, and from what I told her, there are a few changes from the original. We see a different side of Mr. Darcy here, a bit softer, shall we say, and his father is involved in this story, plus a couple is paired from the original, which may surprise some.

All that said, in 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞, the love story between Mr. Darcy and Miss Bennet is unhurried, as they face numerous obstacles: meddling family members, especially the aunts, the gossip, and of course the expectations of society and marrying within your status. But with all the airs of London society and recognizable characters, I think Austen fans and Regency romance lovers will find this an enjoyable read.

Thank you @KateRockBookTours and @stormhauspublishing for a spot on tour and a gifted book.

[dianas_books_cars_coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to be honest. This book started out a little slow, but it quickly picked up, and I ended up enjoying it very much.

Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy come from two different worlds.  She is from the country and he is from London's high society but that doesn't stop them from becoming friends.  Their friendship starts to turn into something more, but Elizabeth fears that it will not turn out well for anyone if it goes any further.  Especially with Darcy's aunts making it known that he needs to marry someone with connections to nobility.  Yet they have a very strong connection.  Can they make it work even though it seems that society is against them?

It's been a very long time since I read Pride and Prejudice, so I honestly can't make any references to it, but I really enjoyed this variation.  As I said earlier, it did start out a little slow, but then I became very invested in Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship.  The drama caused by Darcy's aunts and the gossip mongers was quite entertaining.  I do love stories of love overcoming adversities.  I would recommend this book, especially if you're a fan of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! It was one where I wanted to continue reading because I was engaged the story and at the same time I did not want it to end. The family and society expectations, the harm caused by gossip, and the fear of taking a chance made the story feel timely. What sticks with me is a line from a letter from Darcy's father that advices him to "choose someone without whom your soul cannot live." A beautiful thought to guide a life changing choice.

What if the person you want to spend all your time with and are most comfortable with is not what is expected by your family or by society? How do you make a choice? This is the dilemma faced by Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett when their friendship starts to turn into something more. Darcy's family expect him to make an advantageous match and are trying to arrange it for him but what he has with Elizabeth feels like more than friendship. Can he go against his family and convince Elizabeth to take a chance? Will Elizabeth be able to overcome her fear and trust Darcy? Will the gossip ruin everything?

Thanks to the author and Kate Rock Book Tours for providing a copy for my honest review.

[Stacia Vega · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cause to Repine by E.M. Storm-Smith
.
A Pride and Prejudice variation? Yes please!

P&P is my most favorite-est of Austens tales, so I jumped at the chance to read this. Elizabeth and Darcy are my particular favorites, BUT let me just say that I absolutely ADORED how this variation gave me so much more with some characters that I always wanted to know better!
Georgiana- such a sweet girl! I loved how we got more of her and her brother together. Seeing Darcy as the protective big brother warmed my heart.
Colonel Fitzwilliam- What a funny guy he turned out to be in this story. So much more than a character to just deliver useful information at the appropriate time.
Anne De Bourgh- I just finished the book and am still not sure if I spelled her name right. 😅 However, Anne was a terrific person to give more scenes to! I am obsessed with this variation of her.
.
Of course we all read for Lizzy and Darcy, and the way their relationship went just felt so wholesome and natural. They had some obstacles to overcome (loved the changes with the marriage mart!) and each suffered some hurt feelings at points. But the way they overcame them and adjusted left me smiling at the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed! If you are a fan of Pride and Prejudice and enjoy reading variations then I would highly recommend Cause to Repine along with a lovely cup of tea and a scone.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

I’m was excited to be a part of Kate Rock Book Tours tour of this book which came out on Feb. 8. This historical fiction re-telling of Pride and Prejudice is a delight to read. I’m always a sucker for a Jane Austen re-telling, and this does not disappoint. It has the story we all know and love, with just a enough differences to make the story new. I loved the softer, less grumpy Darcy. The beautiful friendship that he and Elizabeth grow during the majority of the book is wonderful to read. Their cute banter and quiet flirting gave me all the feels. I also loved the way the author resolved the marriage of Mr. Collins.

If you love Jane Austen re-tellings, you’ll want to add this to your list.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Kate Rock Book Tours and the author. All opinions is my own.

[Nagma (Take A Look At My Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started off slow, but soon I became throughly invested!

Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy come from two different worlds, but that didn’t stop them from becoming friends and eventually more.

I enjoyed this variation of Pride and Prejudice. It was entertaining, there was drama, love, and chemistry. I loved how Lizzy and Darcy’s relationship felt natural and realistic. They had to face some obstacles and I enjoyed reading about the way they overcame them.

This was a fun read that left me smiling.

Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Alena (Ally) Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining variation

Interesting storyline with not only Darcy's father still living, but Bingley's also. Additional characters were also added to fill in the background making the story a unique blend of P&P and the author's imagination. Nice job!

[Linda K Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cause to Repine

Cause to Repine is very drawn out. It is a well written story, but wish Darcy Sr (if this were real life) would have spoken up earlier. Of course, this would have then been a shorter story.

[Terri Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good enjoyed the story very much.

[Barbara K · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute!

I th thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was entertaining and a fast read. I highly recommend this author to anyone who wants to read this.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bland.

[Meg Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know that I'd ever read this type of book, that follows the original but expands on it. I was surprised how similar parts of the book were to the original. I loved that we got more of the characters, and new characters that were a great addition to the story. I will say Darcy seems a bit sweeter in this story, but I really enjoyed hearing more from his point of view. Overall I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it, especially to Pride and Prejudice fans!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @stormhauspublishing @KateRockBookTours and the author for my complimentary book. Thank you E. M. Storm-Smith for the beautiful bookmarks and book bling!

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about a variation of 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙟𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙚 but i ended up loving this version!

The basic storyline and main characters are still the same, but in this version, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett do not have an antagonistic relationship! I really enjoyed the friendship that developed between the two. There were some differences in some relationships and couple pairings, but they worked really well in the mix. I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s descriptive writing style and I loved seeing how this version of Elizabeth and Darcy’s story unfolded!

Read this if you enjoy:
*Pride and Prejudice
*Bridgerton
*Regency Romance

RELEASE DATE: 2/8/24
350 pages