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When Love is True: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
What if Elizabeth had been sent away from Longbourn as a child to live with her aunt and uncle in London?
When a childhood accident forces Elizabeth Bennet to leave Longbourn and grow up under the care of her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, her life takes an unexpected turn. On a trip to Derbyshire, she meets a young Fitzwilliam Darcy, whose father's guidance shapes the man he is becoming. What begins as a tender friendship blossoms into a love both fierce and true, nurtured through years of friendship.
Without Elizabeth’s steadying presence at home, Mr. Bennet grows more indolent, Mrs. Bennet more frivolous, and the Bennet sisters drift toward lives of indulgence—except for Mary, who retains some sense of duty to home and family. But just as Elizabeth and Darcy are on the brink of happiness, preparing for their wedding, a sudden summons calls Elizabeth back to Longbourn.
With her family in chaos and the demands on Elizabeth overwhelming, will she and Darcy be able to stand firm in their love? Can they balance their dreams of a life together with the responsibilities pulling them in different directions? As past and present collide, they must discover what it truly means to love—against all odds.
When a childhood accident forces Elizabeth Bennet to leave Longbourn and grow up under the care of her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, her life takes an unexpected turn. On a trip to Derbyshire, she meets a young Fitzwilliam Darcy, whose father's guidance shapes the man he is becoming. What begins as a tender friendship blossoms into a love both fierce and true, nurtured through years of friendship.
Without Elizabeth’s steadying presence at home, Mr. Bennet grows more indolent, Mrs. Bennet more frivolous, and the Bennet sisters drift toward lives of indulgence—except for Mary, who retains some sense of duty to home and family. But just as Elizabeth and Darcy are on the brink of happiness, preparing for their wedding, a sudden summons calls Elizabeth back to Longbourn.
With her family in chaos and the demands on Elizabeth overwhelming, will she and Darcy be able to stand firm in their love? Can they balance their dreams of a life together with the responsibilities pulling them in different directions? As past and present collide, they must discover what it truly means to love—against all odds.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 9, 2024
127 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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November 13, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. The author points out before the story begins that this is actually a vagary, not a variation. The characters are not the same in their behaviors as in canon. She also has an explanation concerning Mrs. Bennet in this tale.
Mrs. Bennet is mentally unbalanced in this story. She caters to her favorites, Jane and Lydia, and hates Elizabeth from the moment she is born...not a son. When Jane is injured after convincing E. to go the the stables with her, Mrs. B. is determined to kick E. out into the hedgerows. Mr. Bennet asks Gardiner to not only take Elizabeth into his household but to take over parenting her and never bring her back to Longbourn...even signing papers to the effect that he has given custody over to his brother-in-law.
Elizabeth gains not only a loving family but also an education and accomplishments.
A trip to Lambton with the Gardiners has Elizabeth (a young teenager) going on walks which lead her towards Pemberley. And so it is that Elizabeth and Darcy meet when he steps in to end an assault upon E. by George Wickham. This event leads to Darcy's father FINALLY believing what he has been told all along about Wickham's character. It also leads to Wickham no longer being part of the story.
While a friendship develops between Elizabeth, Georgiana and Fitzwilliam, the Gardiners' return home to London leads to many years when the three don't actually see each other. When they do meet again, Darcy is immediately smitten and so their romance grows into plans to marry.
Then E. receives a summons to return to Longbourn immediately. Here ODC makes a decision to prevent the Bennets from disrupting their lives.
I won't relate what happens as I do not want to spoil the story. But we have drama and hysterics galore. The rest of the book has various sisters forming a friendship with Elizabeth and with following their lives as they move or go to school, etc. It seemed more like a long epilogue, although we do have that at the end.
I have to say that Collinses (both the father and the son, William) play major parts, although the son is, again, quite different from the man in canon. Mary takes some actions to protect herself and I was happy to read her part.
Throughout the story we do see ODC having moments of disagreement but working through it as they both honor the love they have for each other.
Mrs. Bennet is mentally unbalanced in this story. She caters to her favorites, Jane and Lydia, and hates Elizabeth from the moment she is born...not a son. When Jane is injured after convincing E. to go the the stables with her, Mrs. B. is determined to kick E. out into the hedgerows. Mr. Bennet asks Gardiner to not only take Elizabeth into his household but to take over parenting her and never bring her back to Longbourn...even signing papers to the effect that he has given custody over to his brother-in-law.
Elizabeth gains not only a loving family but also an education and accomplishments.
A trip to Lambton with the Gardiners has Elizabeth (a young teenager) going on walks which lead her towards Pemberley. And so it is that Elizabeth and Darcy meet when he steps in to end an assault upon E. by George Wickham. This event leads to Darcy's father FINALLY believing what he has been told all along about Wickham's character. It also leads to Wickham no longer being part of the story.
While a friendship develops between Elizabeth, Georgiana and Fitzwilliam, the Gardiners' return home to London leads to many years when the three don't actually see each other. When they do meet again, Darcy is immediately smitten and so their romance grows into plans to marry.
Then E. receives a summons to return to Longbourn immediately. Here ODC makes a decision to prevent the Bennets from disrupting their lives.
I won't relate what happens as I do not want to spoil the story. But we have drama and hysterics galore. The rest of the book has various sisters forming a friendship with Elizabeth and with following their lives as they move or go to school, etc. It seemed more like a long epilogue, although we do have that at the end.
I have to say that Collinses (both the father and the son, William) play major parts, although the son is, again, quite different from the man in canon. Mary takes some actions to protect herself and I was happy to read her part.
Throughout the story we do see ODC having moments of disagreement but working through it as they both honor the love they have for each other.
October 14, 2024
“Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you.” –Loretta Young
SPOILER ALERT: This review may contain *** SPOILERS ***
>>Rating: Mature teen: Trigger warning: an assault attempt that was unsuccessful due to the intervention of our hero. However, the descriptions leading up to that were violent and may be too much for a sensitive reader. The story that followed more than made up for that brief trauma.
>>Angst Level: stressful during the assault attempt, and anxious scenes for those dealing with a hysterical mother.
>>Source: Borrowed from KU 10-9-24: I volunteered to leave a review. I first followed this story as it was posted on the forums under the titles [1] A Summons from Longbourn (March 24) [2] Then as a rewrite: A Summons to Longbourn (June 24)
>>Cover Art: My first response was that they looked like kids. Then I remembered they met as kids so it was appropriate… well done. They were very young when they met and Mr. Darcy liked the feisty young lady. She was just what his son needed. Imagine that?
>>Trope: [1] Not raised as a Bennet [2] NSN Mr. & Mrs. Bennet [3] NSN Jane (for a time) [4] a Bennet dies
The first time Fitzwilliam Darcy met Miss Elizabeth Gardiner she was fighting off an assault attempt by George Wickham. Darcy knocked Wickham out and took her to Pemberley for safety and to notify his father. Mr. Darcy Sr. refused to believe the story against his godson and accused his son of hiring the girl to fabricate a condemning story. Well, that did not go over with the 15-year-old miss. She stood her ground and took him to task for not believing them. Her bruising was a testament to her assault as were her defensive marks. She showed the blood under her nails to prove she had fought the perpetrator and pointed out that young Darcy was unmarked. Darcy Sr. finally accepted the fact his godson was a villain. This first meeting with Darcy Sr. and the visiting Gardiner family established a friendship that lasted until his death. Our story centered around the love that was developing between Miss Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy. It was so cute.
“Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.” –Henry Van Dyke
The reader follows a dual story thread. Lizzy Bennet had been tossed from Longbourn when she was eight years old and took on the name Gardiner. Fanny Bennet hated the child and after an accident that injured her favorite, she demanded the changeling be sent away. She didn’t care where the child went as long as she was out of Longbourn. Bennet capitulated to his wife’s histrionics and asked his brother Gardiner to take the child to London. Gardiner was disgusted and agreed but on condition that Elizabeth would now be his daughter and had Bennet sign over his rights to her. Again, Bennet agreed without question.
“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” –Aristotle
The reader follows the lives of Darcy, Elizabeth, and Georgiana and their many letters to each other when they were apart. The story at Longbourn was just as grievous as one might think with such a mother. In the prologue, the author attempts to diagnose the condition affecting Fanny Bennet. I can’t decide if I agree or not. She was bipolar for sure but then it went beyond that. She was a mean, uncaring, devious, demanding, and selfish woman.
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” –Lao Tzu
London: Ten years later, a summons arrived from Longbourn for Elizabeth. The note from her father was short and concise, Lizzy was to return home. Gardiner would not tell Elizabeth all that was in his note other than Elizabeth was to return home and do her duty. They speculated on what that meant. Darcy was not happy with the summons and they decided to circumvent Bennet’s plans for Elizabeth and set in motion measures that would prevent him from exercising any rights to her. That was so cool.
The story also follows the life and times of Mary Bennet at Longbourn. William Collins was a different creature and although he did marry one of the Bennet daughters, it was not the one you might think. That turned things around at Longbourn and Mrs. Fanny Bennet was not pleased.
SPOILER ALERT: This review may contain *** SPOILERS ***
>>Rating: Mature teen: Trigger warning: an assault attempt that was unsuccessful due to the intervention of our hero. However, the descriptions leading up to that were violent and may be too much for a sensitive reader. The story that followed more than made up for that brief trauma.
>>Angst Level: stressful during the assault attempt, and anxious scenes for those dealing with a hysterical mother.
>>Source: Borrowed from KU 10-9-24: I volunteered to leave a review. I first followed this story as it was posted on the forums under the titles [1] A Summons from Longbourn (March 24) [2] Then as a rewrite: A Summons to Longbourn (June 24)
>>Cover Art: My first response was that they looked like kids. Then I remembered they met as kids so it was appropriate… well done. They were very young when they met and Mr. Darcy liked the feisty young lady. She was just what his son needed. Imagine that?
>>Trope: [1] Not raised as a Bennet [2] NSN Mr. & Mrs. Bennet [3] NSN Jane (for a time) [4] a Bennet dies
The first time Fitzwilliam Darcy met Miss Elizabeth Gardiner she was fighting off an assault attempt by George Wickham. Darcy knocked Wickham out and took her to Pemberley for safety and to notify his father. Mr. Darcy Sr. refused to believe the story against his godson and accused his son of hiring the girl to fabricate a condemning story. Well, that did not go over with the 15-year-old miss. She stood her ground and took him to task for not believing them. Her bruising was a testament to her assault as were her defensive marks. She showed the blood under her nails to prove she had fought the perpetrator and pointed out that young Darcy was unmarked. Darcy Sr. finally accepted the fact his godson was a villain. This first meeting with Darcy Sr. and the visiting Gardiner family established a friendship that lasted until his death. Our story centered around the love that was developing between Miss Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy. It was so cute.
“Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.” –Henry Van Dyke
The reader follows a dual story thread. Lizzy Bennet had been tossed from Longbourn when she was eight years old and took on the name Gardiner. Fanny Bennet hated the child and after an accident that injured her favorite, she demanded the changeling be sent away. She didn’t care where the child went as long as she was out of Longbourn. Bennet capitulated to his wife’s histrionics and asked his brother Gardiner to take the child to London. Gardiner was disgusted and agreed but on condition that Elizabeth would now be his daughter and had Bennet sign over his rights to her. Again, Bennet agreed without question.
“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” –Aristotle
The reader follows the lives of Darcy, Elizabeth, and Georgiana and their many letters to each other when they were apart. The story at Longbourn was just as grievous as one might think with such a mother. In the prologue, the author attempts to diagnose the condition affecting Fanny Bennet. I can’t decide if I agree or not. She was bipolar for sure but then it went beyond that. She was a mean, uncaring, devious, demanding, and selfish woman.
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” –Lao Tzu
London: Ten years later, a summons arrived from Longbourn for Elizabeth. The note from her father was short and concise, Lizzy was to return home. Gardiner would not tell Elizabeth all that was in his note other than Elizabeth was to return home and do her duty. They speculated on what that meant. Darcy was not happy with the summons and they decided to circumvent Bennet’s plans for Elizabeth and set in motion measures that would prevent him from exercising any rights to her. That was so cool.
The story also follows the life and times of Mary Bennet at Longbourn. William Collins was a different creature and although he did marry one of the Bennet daughters, it was not the one you might think. That turned things around at Longbourn and Mrs. Fanny Bennet was not pleased.
October 8, 2024
After an accident in their childhood that leaves her sister Jane injured Elizabeth is sent away to live with her aunt and uncle Gardiner. At the age of fourteen she goes on a trip to Derbyshire with them and encounters the young Fitzwilliam Darcy and his family. They form a deep friendship which, years later, blossoms into a tender love. But shortly before they are to be wed an unexpected summons from Longbourn arrives, demanding Elizabeth's immediate appearance at her former home.
Will Elizabeth obey her parents and rush to Longbourn? How will the events at Longbourn influence her relationship with Darcy? Will Darcy and Elizabeth find a way to balance the demands now tearing at them and will they nevertheless find true happiness together?
The book was very well written by the author Melissa Anne. As always she has created a wonderful book full of much page time for Darcy and Elizabeth.
I really like the thought of Darcy and Elizabeth knowing each other for a long time and being friends before they fall in love. With such a premise they know of their flaws and faults and they know what they are about. Normally there are no great misunderstandings between them when they fall in love while being friends. This story is no exception. All obstacles in this story are put in their path from others, they do not come from Elizabeth or Darcy. And they can deal with these problems together as a couple.
The characters in friends to lovers stories are often faced with the fear that confessing their love with the feelings not returned will endanger the friendship. Fortunately that is not the case here because of the setting of the story. I really enjoyed this easy way that leads to a relationship between ODC.
Being friends before having a loving relationship also means that the family members, especially Darcy's relations, know of Elizabeth and there are hardly any objections against the match. That is somewhat of a rarity therefore I enjoyed it very much.
Naturally the story is not without its villains. Elizabeth's parents are not really good parents in this book and send her away after Jane has an accident and Mrs Bennet blames Elizabeth for Jane's injuries. But fortunately Elizabeth can deal with this because she has the support of her aunt and uncle Gardiner and later of Darcy.
Small note about Wickham as we all want to know what about him, our greatest villain: he is very quickly dealt with in the first part of the book in a very satisfying way and therefore no imposition for Darcy and Elizabeth 😉.
I really like that despite Elizabeth's difficult relationship with her parents she is later able to build a relationship with nearly all her sisters. I really like the way these sisters had changed for the better in the end and that they are in good terms with Elizabeth.
If you like to know about Elizabeth life after being cast out by her parents and how she befriends Fitzwilliam Darcy and later falls in love with him you should definitely read this excellent book.
I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of the book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Will Elizabeth obey her parents and rush to Longbourn? How will the events at Longbourn influence her relationship with Darcy? Will Darcy and Elizabeth find a way to balance the demands now tearing at them and will they nevertheless find true happiness together?
The book was very well written by the author Melissa Anne. As always she has created a wonderful book full of much page time for Darcy and Elizabeth.
I really like the thought of Darcy and Elizabeth knowing each other for a long time and being friends before they fall in love. With such a premise they know of their flaws and faults and they know what they are about. Normally there are no great misunderstandings between them when they fall in love while being friends. This story is no exception. All obstacles in this story are put in their path from others, they do not come from Elizabeth or Darcy. And they can deal with these problems together as a couple.
The characters in friends to lovers stories are often faced with the fear that confessing their love with the feelings not returned will endanger the friendship. Fortunately that is not the case here because of the setting of the story. I really enjoyed this easy way that leads to a relationship between ODC.
Being friends before having a loving relationship also means that the family members, especially Darcy's relations, know of Elizabeth and there are hardly any objections against the match. That is somewhat of a rarity therefore I enjoyed it very much.
Naturally the story is not without its villains. Elizabeth's parents are not really good parents in this book and send her away after Jane has an accident and Mrs Bennet blames Elizabeth for Jane's injuries. But fortunately Elizabeth can deal with this because she has the support of her aunt and uncle Gardiner and later of Darcy.
Small note about Wickham as we all want to know what about him, our greatest villain: he is very quickly dealt with in the first part of the book in a very satisfying way and therefore no imposition for Darcy and Elizabeth 😉.
I really like that despite Elizabeth's difficult relationship with her parents she is later able to build a relationship with nearly all her sisters. I really like the way these sisters had changed for the better in the end and that they are in good terms with Elizabeth.
If you like to know about Elizabeth life after being cast out by her parents and how she befriends Fitzwilliam Darcy and later falls in love with him you should definitely read this excellent book.
I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of the book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 14, 2024
I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It is a lovely read.
October 9, 2024
Darcy and Elizabeth meet earlier
This is a story of love, loss, and redemption. We start with a particularly indolent Mr. Bennet and an extra-imperious Mrs. Bennet. As a result, Elizabeth Bennet is brought up under the loving care of her Gardiner relatives from the age of eight. I found myself engrossed with Darcy and Elizabeth's romance from their first meeting. This relationship is the focus in the first half of the book, and I found that those pages flew by. When our dear couple's love affair reaches its happy conclusion, the story shifts to Longbourn. There, the remaining Bennets who succeed in self-discovery triumph over their upbringing and forge true loves of their own. This book will go on my re-read collection. As a trigger warning, there is an attempted assault in Chapter 2 where the villain is stopped quickly.
This is a story of love, loss, and redemption. We start with a particularly indolent Mr. Bennet and an extra-imperious Mrs. Bennet. As a result, Elizabeth Bennet is brought up under the loving care of her Gardiner relatives from the age of eight. I found myself engrossed with Darcy and Elizabeth's romance from their first meeting. This relationship is the focus in the first half of the book, and I found that those pages flew by. When our dear couple's love affair reaches its happy conclusion, the story shifts to Longbourn. There, the remaining Bennets who succeed in self-discovery triumph over their upbringing and forge true loves of their own. This book will go on my re-read collection. As a trigger warning, there is an attempted assault in Chapter 2 where the villain is stopped quickly.
November 11, 2024
Elizabeth Gardiner, who has been given to her uncle by her parents, meets Fitzwilliam Darcy under austere circumstances. From that moment a friendship blossoms and great respect from all who meet her. As their relationship evolves to love and marriage, together they are forced to interact with the Bennet’s. Together they all learned about love and selflessness.
I wasn’t sure where the story was going since Darcy and Elizabeth marry at about the 50% mark. However, dealing with her family is a heavy topic.
I wasn’t sure where the story was going since Darcy and Elizabeth marry at about the 50% mark. However, dealing with her family is a heavy topic.
April 7, 2025
4.25*
I read the original short story (which I just loved) that sparked this novel and was excited to see it expanded. Bad everyone, and I love it!, (except for the Gardiners and most of Darcy's family) in this story that starts off pre-canon and diverges from Elizabeth's 8 year. ODC, as usual in Melissa Anne's stories are just lovely together from the start and this time they do not have too many evil machinations around them, just lots of drama.
I read the original short story (which I just loved) that sparked this novel and was excited to see it expanded. Bad everyone, and I love it!, (except for the Gardiners and most of Darcy's family) in this story that starts off pre-canon and diverges from Elizabeth's 8 year. ODC, as usual in Melissa Anne's stories are just lovely together from the start and this time they do not have too many evil machinations around them, just lots of drama.
October 16, 2024
3.5-stars rounded up.
October 15, 2024
Disappointing
This book wasn't bad, it just was blah. I love Melissa Anne, but this book didn't rise to the level of her others. It just didn't have a lot of heart.,
This book wasn't bad, it just was blah. I love Melissa Anne, but this book didn't rise to the level of her others. It just didn't have a lot of heart.,
February 6, 2025
Just like mr collins
This was the book version of Mr Collins. 5 pages of words when only 1 would do. There is so much filler that the actual story is lost. Also, their ages give me the icks.
This was the book version of Mr Collins. 5 pages of words when only 1 would do. There is so much filler that the actual story is lost. Also, their ages give me the icks.
December 28, 2025
3.5 stars
March 20, 2025
It did not bother me that the characters were so changed from the original source. I wish the author had done more with Jane (although I'm not finished reading yet). If you're going to make Jane despicable then stick to your guns and make her despicable!
Jane was kind of flat. Boring. Meh.
My rating - 3 stars
I really enjoyed the first half of this story...for me the first half ends with Darcy & Elizabeth's marriage. If it ended here, I would have given it 4 stars.
I also enjoyed the confrontation between Elizabeth and her parents after the wedding.
So far everything after this point has failed to keep my attention.
I really don't care about Mrs B, Jane, Mary (although it was nice that she got a little time in the spotlight), Kitty, Lydia, Collins, Mr & Mrs P, etc., etc. I get it - these people are selfish and greedy and grasping and manipulative.
Well, let's see how it ends... Done. The story should have ended with Elizabeth confronting her family. I really didn't care about the redemption arc.
Jane was kind of flat. Boring. Meh.
My rating - 3 stars
I really enjoyed the first half of this story...for me the first half ends with Darcy & Elizabeth's marriage. If it ended here, I would have given it 4 stars.
I also enjoyed the confrontation between Elizabeth and her parents after the wedding.
So far everything after this point has failed to keep my attention.
I really don't care about Mrs B, Jane, Mary (although it was nice that she got a little time in the spotlight), Kitty, Lydia, Collins, Mr & Mrs P, etc., etc. I get it - these people are selfish and greedy and grasping and manipulative.
Well, let's see how it ends... Done. The story should have ended with Elizabeth confronting her family. I really didn't care about the redemption arc.
July 18, 2025
Jumps around
The internal timeline isn’t always chronological.
I have no idea if it’s cut and paste by the author, padding for added word count, or maybe even AI.
Annoying.
The internal timeline isn’t always chronological.
I have no idea if it’s cut and paste by the author, padding for added word count, or maybe even AI.
Annoying.
December 8, 2025
Second half falls short
The first half of this book started out well, but I had to struggle through the second half to finish. I found it to be more of a long-extended epilogue than interesting plot, unfortunately. I found it often repetitive and on the dull side. Sorry.
Benjamin Fife does well enough with what he was given.
The first half of this book started out well, but I had to struggle through the second half to finish. I found it to be more of a long-extended epilogue than interesting plot, unfortunately. I found it often repetitive and on the dull side. Sorry.
Benjamin Fife does well enough with what he was given.
Read
October 12, 2024The author's note at the beginning of this book gives a warning that the characters are going to be worse than expected, so I wasn't quite sure what I was in for. I quickly found out that, while some characters were worse than in canon, quite a few were better.
This version resolved ODC's romance around the 50% mark, and the rest of the story dealt with the fallout in the Bennet household and the ensuing relationships.
This was a relatively low-angst P&P variation (or vagary, as the author prefers). The bad characters are dealt with, and there is nothing standing in the way of Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship.
This version resolved ODC's romance around the 50% mark, and the rest of the story dealt with the fallout in the Bennet household and the ensuing relationships.
This was a relatively low-angst P&P variation (or vagary, as the author prefers). The bad characters are dealt with, and there is nothing standing in the way of Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship.
October 27, 2024
I loved it!
It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. You will see the most beloved characters in a whole new way. This is a Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice vagary, not a variation, meaning that our dear couple (ODC) and other characters differ from their canon counterparts in both age and personality. What if Elizabeth had been sent away from Longbourn as a child to live with her aunt and uncle in London? When a childhood accident forces Elizabeth Bennet to leave Longbourn and grow up under the care of her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, her life takes an unexpected turn. On a trip to Derbyshire, she meets a young Fitzwilliam Darcy, whose father's guidance shapes the man he is becoming. What begins as a tender friendship blossoms into a love both fierce and true, nurtured through years of friendship. Without Elizabeth’s steadying presence at home, Mr. Bennet grows more indolent, Mrs. Bennet more frivolous, and the Bennet sisters drift toward lives of indulgence, except for Mary, who retains some sense of duty to home and family; but just as Elizabeth and Darcy are on the brink of happiness, preparing for their wedding, a sudden summons calls Elizabeth back to Longbourn. With her family in chaos and the demands on Elizabeth overwhelming, will she and Darcy be able to stand firm in their love? Can they balance their dreams of a life together with the responsibilities pulling them in different directions? As past and present collide, they must discover what it truly means to love, against all odds. So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. You will see the most beloved characters in a whole new way. This is a Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice vagary, not a variation, meaning that our dear couple (ODC) and other characters differ from their canon counterparts in both age and personality. What if Elizabeth had been sent away from Longbourn as a child to live with her aunt and uncle in London? When a childhood accident forces Elizabeth Bennet to leave Longbourn and grow up under the care of her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, her life takes an unexpected turn. On a trip to Derbyshire, she meets a young Fitzwilliam Darcy, whose father's guidance shapes the man he is becoming. What begins as a tender friendship blossoms into a love both fierce and true, nurtured through years of friendship. Without Elizabeth’s steadying presence at home, Mr. Bennet grows more indolent, Mrs. Bennet more frivolous, and the Bennet sisters drift toward lives of indulgence, except for Mary, who retains some sense of duty to home and family; but just as Elizabeth and Darcy are on the brink of happiness, preparing for their wedding, a sudden summons calls Elizabeth back to Longbourn. With her family in chaos and the demands on Elizabeth overwhelming, will she and Darcy be able to stand firm in their love? Can they balance their dreams of a life together with the responsibilities pulling them in different directions? As past and present collide, they must discover what it truly means to love, against all odds. So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
October 18, 2024
Lovely story
This is a tale set mainly in Pemberely and London.
Elizabeth at the instigation of Mrs. Bennet who views her as a curse and a threat to her beautiful Jane is banished at the age of eight to live with the Gardiners in London.
She meets Darcy at Pemberely when at aged 14 she is attacked by Whickham who claims to be Fitzwilliam Darcy. Darcy is intrigued by this 14 year old Elizabeth Gardiner who fought bravely to free herself from her attacker. Despite having damaged clothing and bruising confronts Mr Darcy senior and forced him to realise what a rogue his Godson is.
This leads to close ties between the Gardiners and all three of the Darcys.
It develops from there and the Bennett's appear once more to demand the return.if Elizabeth to Longbourn.
It's an interesting story and themes of mental illness,the vulnerability of children and females in Regency times are explored.
This is a tale set mainly in Pemberely and London.
Elizabeth at the instigation of Mrs. Bennet who views her as a curse and a threat to her beautiful Jane is banished at the age of eight to live with the Gardiners in London.
She meets Darcy at Pemberely when at aged 14 she is attacked by Whickham who claims to be Fitzwilliam Darcy. Darcy is intrigued by this 14 year old Elizabeth Gardiner who fought bravely to free herself from her attacker. Despite having damaged clothing and bruising confronts Mr Darcy senior and forced him to realise what a rogue his Godson is.
This leads to close ties between the Gardiners and all three of the Darcys.
It develops from there and the Bennett's appear once more to demand the return.if Elizabeth to Longbourn.
It's an interesting story and themes of mental illness,the vulnerability of children and females in Regency times are explored.
June 16, 2025
3⭐️
This would have been a solid 4⭐️ read if the 2nd half wasn't unnecessarily maudlin. The book could have ended at the 60% mark and the rest of the book could have been condensed to a couple of chapters. While I like details in my books, the way the 2nd half was handled could've been better. After us not having seen hide nor hair of the Bennets in the first half we are suddenly thrust into their lives for the rest of the book to the detriment of us reading about the main characters of the book. Elizabeth and Darcy were relegated to being side characters and I just was not happy with the tone of the book. We should have gotten a happy ending while we got a so-so ending with all the troubles that the Bennet household went through.For all their proclamations that they would do nothing for Mr and Mrs Bennet they still were too involved in their lives. It soured the first part of the book for me a little.
This would have been a solid 4⭐️ read if the 2nd half wasn't unnecessarily maudlin. The book could have ended at the 60% mark and the rest of the book could have been condensed to a couple of chapters. While I like details in my books, the way the 2nd half was handled could've been better. After us not having seen hide nor hair of the Bennets in the first half we are suddenly thrust into their lives for the rest of the book to the detriment of us reading about the main characters of the book. Elizabeth and Darcy were relegated to being side characters and I just was not happy with the tone of the book. We should have gotten a happy ending while we got a so-so ending with all the troubles that the Bennet household went through.For all their proclamations that they would do nothing for Mr and Mrs Bennet they still were too involved in their lives. It soured the first part of the book for me a little.
December 17, 2024
Absolutely wonderful story
The story begins with Mrs Bennet berating Elizabeth for something that Jane did and demanded that Elizabeth be tossed out of Longborn. At the time Elizabeth is only 9 years old. Thus began her living with her Uncle Gardiner in London. They summer in Derbyshire and become great friends with the Darcys'. Fitzwilliam likes Elizabeth but she's too young for him, even his father tells him to wait until she is older and she's going to be a great Mistress of Pemberly.
Through the story. Elizabeth tries to make a relationship with her sisters through letters. Mrs Bennet continued to be nasty to her which causes the Gardiner family to cut off all communication.
I enjoyed this story and the writer even put in Thomas Linley - who was the Earl of Asherton in the Inspector Lynley series.
The story begins with Mrs Bennet berating Elizabeth for something that Jane did and demanded that Elizabeth be tossed out of Longborn. At the time Elizabeth is only 9 years old. Thus began her living with her Uncle Gardiner in London. They summer in Derbyshire and become great friends with the Darcys'. Fitzwilliam likes Elizabeth but she's too young for him, even his father tells him to wait until she is older and she's going to be a great Mistress of Pemberly.
Through the story. Elizabeth tries to make a relationship with her sisters through letters. Mrs Bennet continued to be nasty to her which causes the Gardiner family to cut off all communication.
I enjoyed this story and the writer even put in Thomas Linley - who was the Earl of Asherton in the Inspector Lynley series.
March 16, 2025
I enjoyed this book very much. It was lovely to see the progression of the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy. The Bennet parents, especially Mrs. Bennet, were simply awful, but the Gardeners and Philips families were wonderful, as was the Darcy family and his relatives other than Lady Catherine. I liked seeing Mary and also Catherine (Kitty) grow up into a nice women, and the transformation of Jane was interesting.
The book was perhaps a bit longer than needed, but overall, a lovely story. I like to see more of the felicity of Darcy and Elizabeth after marriage - one of my pet peeves with many authors is how they just quit once the two are engaged.
The book was perhaps a bit longer than needed, but overall, a lovely story. I like to see more of the felicity of Darcy and Elizabeth after marriage - one of my pet peeves with many authors is how they just quit once the two are engaged.
October 21, 2024
Excellent Variation
I could not stop reading this story. It pulled me in with Jane’s disobedience and kept me bound.
I adore how Old Mr Darcy was featured. Georgianna was a main character at the beginning and suddenly seemed to disappear and at the end reappear.
I felt torn in the way Mr & Mrs Bennett were portrayed. While I understood I was so sad.
This variation is rich with Darcy & Elizabeth- I appreciate the focus on them for more than 75% of this variation.
I highly recommend this clean and original variation.
I could not stop reading this story. It pulled me in with Jane’s disobedience and kept me bound.
I adore how Old Mr Darcy was featured. Georgianna was a main character at the beginning and suddenly seemed to disappear and at the end reappear.
I felt torn in the way Mr & Mrs Bennett were portrayed. While I understood I was so sad.
This variation is rich with Darcy & Elizabeth- I appreciate the focus on them for more than 75% of this variation.
I highly recommend this clean and original variation.
October 25, 2025
A good plot but somewhat bumpy execution.
This is a vagary which takes the reader a fair way from the original. Nonetheless the characters are broadly recognisable and the plot is interesting. Plotting is definitely a strength for this author.
One the downside the language is far too modern throughout the book and there are rather too many editing misses. These are a mixture of grammar errors and repetitive phrasing. The word ‘several’ is used a rather startling 120 times. More variety in language and some quality editing are urgently needed.
This is a vagary which takes the reader a fair way from the original. Nonetheless the characters are broadly recognisable and the plot is interesting. Plotting is definitely a strength for this author.
One the downside the language is far too modern throughout the book and there are rather too many editing misses. These are a mixture of grammar errors and repetitive phrasing. The word ‘several’ is used a rather startling 120 times. More variety in language and some quality editing are urgently needed.
October 11, 2024
All my favorite tropes:
Young Elizabeth meets young Darcy
ODC gets together early and deals with stuff together
bad Jane
bad Mr. and Mrs. Bennets
Elizabeth is not poor
good comeuppance scenes
The only thing missing was a Caroline get her just desserts - she just sort of flitted in and out of the story.
For a story with no real climax or angst, and a fairly easygoing plot, it was nice to read.
Young Elizabeth meets young Darcy
ODC gets together early and deals with stuff together
bad Jane
bad Mr. and Mrs. Bennets
Elizabeth is not poor
good comeuppance scenes
The only thing missing was a Caroline get her just desserts - she just sort of flitted in and out of the story.
For a story with no real climax or angst, and a fairly easygoing plot, it was nice to read.
October 15, 2024
Emotional interesting intriguing humorous
I found this an enjoyable reading experience. This storyline kept me wanting to read what happens next. I loved the emotional aspect that family is not just blood related.
I can't say this is truly a "bad" Jane story, but close to it. Caroline B gets ditched basically. Parenting 101 the Bennett missed.
Interesting from.beginning to the end. Well written and an intriguing storyline. Definitely worth the read
I found this an enjoyable reading experience. This storyline kept me wanting to read what happens next. I loved the emotional aspect that family is not just blood related.
I can't say this is truly a "bad" Jane story, but close to it. Caroline B gets ditched basically. Parenting 101 the Bennett missed.
Interesting from.beginning to the end. Well written and an intriguing storyline. Definitely worth the read
November 3, 2024
bang and fizzle
This one I was excited with in the first pages to continue and was loving everything happening all along until about 60% of the way through the books it seems that the author wanted to address issues that the reader might ask and did so In a quick manner and veered away from the deepening of a relationship between ODC instead of focusing on each of the sisters and not even so much the development of the relationship between E and the other Bennetts.
This one I was excited with in the first pages to continue and was loving everything happening all along until about 60% of the way through the books it seems that the author wanted to address issues that the reader might ask and did so In a quick manner and veered away from the deepening of a relationship between ODC instead of focusing on each of the sisters and not even so much the development of the relationship between E and the other Bennetts.
November 16, 2024
I really enjoyed this story. It is definitely a complete reimagining of the original but it is so well done.
After a fairly shocking beginning, there is a greater and gentler focus on family towards the last third of the book.
The most enjoyable parts involved Darcy and Elizabeth coming to know and understand and truly love each other. The strength of their relationship is built over a long time.
Enjoy the read. It is well worth it.
After a fairly shocking beginning, there is a greater and gentler focus on family towards the last third of the book.
The most enjoyable parts involved Darcy and Elizabeth coming to know and understand and truly love each other. The strength of their relationship is built over a long time.
Enjoy the read. It is well worth it.
October 12, 2024
A brilliant story
This a very very fine book I loved it.
I have become a preview reader for this author and have received advanced copies of the book.
I am very happy to provide my feedback and recommend this book to everyone who enjoys romantic variation as this book is surely that.
This a very very fine book I loved it.
I have become a preview reader for this author and have received advanced copies of the book.
I am very happy to provide my feedback and recommend this book to everyone who enjoys romantic variation as this book is surely that.
October 14, 2024
i loved the friendship and eventual love story of the ODC couple. the first half of the book is very nice and i really enjoyed it.
the second half of the book is primarily how the bennet ladies make/break their lives. its good but as ODC already have their HEA it could get boring
But really liked the whole concept
the second half of the book is primarily how the bennet ladies make/break their lives. its good but as ODC already have their HEA it could get boring
But really liked the whole concept
October 15, 2024
Dysfunctional Bennett's
Mental health is hard on love ones. In this story the best thing that happened to Elizabeth was that she was discarded from her home at eight years . The best part is that if you try to mess with grown up Elizabeth you will also have to mess with Mr. Darcy.
Mental health is hard on love ones. In this story the best thing that happened to Elizabeth was that she was discarded from her home at eight years . The best part is that if you try to mess with grown up Elizabeth you will also have to mess with Mr. Darcy.
October 17, 2024
Good story, good writing, not a page turner
The story was good. The writing flowed. There was just something off about the pacing. The first half of the book was a story within itself and it felt the back half of the book became filler. I found myself skipping sections to get to the end. I think the story is worth the read. I would say 3 to 3.5 stars.
The story was good. The writing flowed. There was just something off about the pacing. The first half of the book was a story within itself and it felt the back half of the book became filler. I found myself skipping sections to get to the end. I think the story is worth the read. I would say 3 to 3.5 stars.
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