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Bennet Ladies Liberation Series #3
Mary's Daring Demand: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Society dictates that a lady must wait for the gentleman to declare his interest. But what happens if she gets fed up with this waiting game?
Mary Bennet has loved Gabriel Goulding for nearly as long as her sister Elizabeth has loved Mr. Darcy, but while her sister is happily married and expecting her second child, Mary remains alone and longing to be loved by the man who holds her heart. Every time she sees her happily married sisters with their doting husbands, it serves as a painful reminder of what she longs for but cannot attain. She has tried to show her regard in every way she knows how, but still he has said nothing; he has not even asked for a courtship. Why is she not good enough for Gabriel’s love? Dare she risk losing the fragile thread of hope she clings to by confronting the man who possesses her heart?
Gabriel Goulding's affection for Mary Bennet has spanned years, but his limited prospects as a second son have consistently thwarted his plans to ask for her hand. Fresh out of Oxford, he is filled with a mixture of determination and anxiety as he seeks a path to support himself and the woman he longs to spend his life with. He is not afraid of hard work, but it will take him years to amass the kind of fortune he will need to buy, even a simple estate. After all, she deserves the very best. He does not want to wait to claim her, but how could he approach the woman he loves with nothing more than his heart to offer?
When a nearly destroyed Longbourn comes back into the family, Mary and Gabriel are thrown together in the reconstruction effort. If they can withstand the collapsing floors, heated arguments, and blizzard conditions, their love story might just unfold.
Authors If you're looking for a Pride and Prejudice Variation that delves into the concept of found family, thrusts characters into forced proximity, showcases triumph over adversity, and adds a hint of danger, I highly recommend giving this book a try. Mary’s Darring Demand is the third book in the Bennet Ladies Liberation series, but it can also be enjoyed as a standalone read.
Mary Bennet has loved Gabriel Goulding for nearly as long as her sister Elizabeth has loved Mr. Darcy, but while her sister is happily married and expecting her second child, Mary remains alone and longing to be loved by the man who holds her heart. Every time she sees her happily married sisters with their doting husbands, it serves as a painful reminder of what she longs for but cannot attain. She has tried to show her regard in every way she knows how, but still he has said nothing; he has not even asked for a courtship. Why is she not good enough for Gabriel’s love? Dare she risk losing the fragile thread of hope she clings to by confronting the man who possesses her heart?
Gabriel Goulding's affection for Mary Bennet has spanned years, but his limited prospects as a second son have consistently thwarted his plans to ask for her hand. Fresh out of Oxford, he is filled with a mixture of determination and anxiety as he seeks a path to support himself and the woman he longs to spend his life with. He is not afraid of hard work, but it will take him years to amass the kind of fortune he will need to buy, even a simple estate. After all, she deserves the very best. He does not want to wait to claim her, but how could he approach the woman he loves with nothing more than his heart to offer?
When a nearly destroyed Longbourn comes back into the family, Mary and Gabriel are thrown together in the reconstruction effort. If they can withstand the collapsing floors, heated arguments, and blizzard conditions, their love story might just unfold.
Authors If you're looking for a Pride and Prejudice Variation that delves into the concept of found family, thrusts characters into forced proximity, showcases triumph over adversity, and adds a hint of danger, I highly recommend giving this book a try. Mary’s Darring Demand is the third book in the Bennet Ladies Liberation series, but it can also be enjoyed as a standalone read.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 3, 2024
43 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 24, 2025
Avid Reader
This was an enjoyable read. It was nice not to deal with Bennet's laziness or Wickham's crazy schemes. Mrs. Bennet had moved on with her like. I always love it when Mary gets her man. This time she took the bull by the horns with some assistance from her brothers-in-laws by marriage. Mr. Golding stepped up to the plate with encouragement from the Bennet sisters' adopted brother, Kiernan. His sister was miserable, thanks to their mother, but she loved the connections and money associated with the Bennet family if not the Bennet family.
This was an enjoyable read. It was nice not to deal with Bennet's laziness or Wickham's crazy schemes. Mrs. Bennet had moved on with her like. I always love it when Mary gets her man. This time she took the bull by the horns with some assistance from her brothers-in-laws by marriage. Mr. Golding stepped up to the plate with encouragement from the Bennet sisters' adopted brother, Kiernan. His sister was miserable, thanks to their mother, but she loved the connections and money associated with the Bennet family if not the Bennet family.
September 17, 2024
Book 3 of 4 Bennet Sisters Liberation Series
September 5, 2024
This was a perfect Mary Bennet variation.
As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews of this series, I have to repeat that this is an excellent series. And I love it. The author has brought her characters away from their painful childhood experiences as each finds their love and happiness. This was Mary’s of course. I really love good writing supporting characters stories, especially Mary or Kitty. As I already said this was the perfect Mary story.
Mary’s love interest is a second son from a local family, the Gouldings. Very uptight and snobby. The oldest son is a wastrel. A terrible brother to his siblings. Gabriel will get nothing once he reaches the age of twenty five. He has nothing to offer Mary who he has loved for years. Mary loves him too but is getting tired of waiting.
There is a grim and she scene early in the book when Mary accompanies Darcy and Gabriel to an abandoned and neglected Longbourn. The inside of the house was destroyed, by Mr Bennet himself. Broken windows have let the weather in to damage the floors and walls. It was extremely sad. But Mary wants to see it restored.
Gabriel needs an occupation and Darcy knows he has aspirations for architecture and building. He offers Gabriel the job of rebuilding Longbourn.
The way the author brings the couple together is heartwarming. The new characters introduced are fascinating. The way she uses the children in the family is so adorable you just want to hug one for yourself.
Highly recommended to JAFF readers buy make sure to read the books in order.
As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews of this series, I have to repeat that this is an excellent series. And I love it. The author has brought her characters away from their painful childhood experiences as each finds their love and happiness. This was Mary’s of course. I really love good writing supporting characters stories, especially Mary or Kitty. As I already said this was the perfect Mary story.
Mary’s love interest is a second son from a local family, the Gouldings. Very uptight and snobby. The oldest son is a wastrel. A terrible brother to his siblings. Gabriel will get nothing once he reaches the age of twenty five. He has nothing to offer Mary who he has loved for years. Mary loves him too but is getting tired of waiting.
There is a grim and she scene early in the book when Mary accompanies Darcy and Gabriel to an abandoned and neglected Longbourn. The inside of the house was destroyed, by Mr Bennet himself. Broken windows have let the weather in to damage the floors and walls. It was extremely sad. But Mary wants to see it restored.
Gabriel needs an occupation and Darcy knows he has aspirations for architecture and building. He offers Gabriel the job of rebuilding Longbourn.
The way the author brings the couple together is heartwarming. The new characters introduced are fascinating. The way she uses the children in the family is so adorable you just want to hug one for yourself.
Highly recommended to JAFF readers buy make sure to read the books in order.
May 5, 2024
Mary speaks up
I really like the character of Mary as portrayed in her love story. She is not the mouse we too often see, but a stronger person with specific desires and the wherewithal to act on them. I found it amusing that the sister who advised taking matters into her own hands with Gabriel, the hesitant beau, was Jane, not the more outspoken Lydia or Elizabeth. The addition of Gabriel’s much younger sister Evaline was a nice touch as she played her part in getting the would-be couple to speak frankly with each other. This tale is the third in a series, best read sequentially.
I really like the character of Mary as portrayed in her love story. She is not the mouse we too often see, but a stronger person with specific desires and the wherewithal to act on them. I found it amusing that the sister who advised taking matters into her own hands with Gabriel, the hesitant beau, was Jane, not the more outspoken Lydia or Elizabeth. The addition of Gabriel’s much younger sister Evaline was a nice touch as she played her part in getting the would-be couple to speak frankly with each other. This tale is the third in a series, best read sequentially.
May 7, 2024
Amazing!
I just finished all three books in two days and will respond like it was one book,which essentially it is. Every character seems so real, even the secondary ones, like Kiernan. It was also very believable how each story had parental issues. Parents can get under your skin if you let them. I admire the found families in this series. My only regret is that I found this series before Jane's story has come out. I have been so lost in this story that I'm finding it hard to wait!
I just finished all three books in two days and will respond like it was one book,which essentially it is. Every character seems so real, even the secondary ones, like Kiernan. It was also very believable how each story had parental issues. Parents can get under your skin if you let them. I admire the found families in this series. My only regret is that I found this series before Jane's story has come out. I have been so lost in this story that I'm finding it hard to wait!
June 22, 2024
Good
This was a pretty good book. There were some errors in language usage, slang inappropriate for the period and misuse of words. Also, I don't like that Mary didn't get a wealthy husband. But all in all, okay.
This was a pretty good book. There were some errors in language usage, slang inappropriate for the period and misuse of words. Also, I don't like that Mary didn't get a wealthy husband. But all in all, okay.
August 4, 2024
This was fun. Focused on Mary's journey to love with everyone else as supporting cast. Minor editing issues that do not impact readability, and a couple things like will instead of well, that snuck by a spellchecker. Overall, nice, sweet, clean but not preachy.
May 10, 2024
A sweet, low-stakes Pride and Prejudice variation in which Mary actually speaks up for what she wants.
dnf
May 25, 2024In this Pride and Prejudice sequel it seems Mary Bennet is set to be a paired with a Goulding, which is really not of interest, especially as the Colonel has already been paired.
June 14, 2024
lovely
Another lovely and engaging variation inspired by Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Jaime Marie Lang. I enjoyed it.
Another lovely and engaging variation inspired by Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Jaime Marie Lang. I enjoyed it.
June 27, 2024
Mary...
I have to admire Mary. Hard working and loyal...all of the Bennet's ladies.
Great addition to this series!
Very emotional.
I have to admire Mary. Hard working and loyal...all of the Bennet's ladies.
Great addition to this series!
Very emotional.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews