When Charlotte Lucas’s twin brother returns to Meryton after four years in the navy, he rivals even Mrs. Bennet as a meddling matchmaker. Captain Oliver Lucas introduces his two dearest friends, Elizabeth Bennet and Captain Fitzwilliam Darcy, and their discreet courtship begins on the very same night that Elizabeth discovers her childhood friend harbors a secret which will later alter the course of their lives.
As Elizabeth’s romance blooms, Jane faces an ultimatum from her mother, and takes drastic measures to secure her engagement to Mr. Bingley. Jane’s collusion with Caroline Bingley estranges her from her sisters when she causes a calamitous chain reaction that jeopardizes the happiness of more than one of her sisters, and has even more disastrous results for the Darcy family.
In the two years that Elizabeth and Captain Darcy are separated, their lives are consumed by tragedy and despair, though neither can let go of their memories of the love they once shared. Meanwhile, the Bingley marriage flounders when both Jane and Charles Bingley are haunted by the mistakes of their past, led afoul by a cruel and conniving Caroline.
When Elizabeth & Captain Darcy are finally reunited, they must confront their painful history before they can begin anew together, and in doing so give hope to those they love. The long-suffering Bingleys attempt their own reconciliation with help from an older and wiser Lydia Bennet, as well as the charming and mischievous Colonel Fitzwilliam. A house party full of familiar faces and new characters alike sets the scene for romance, and amidst the revelry and reminiscing, more than one couple finds their happily ever after, proving that time does heal all wounds.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars. The author's blurb is excellent in giving us an outline.
This very long story has a lot of surprises plus some issues I have not read in other stories of this era. I don't want to spoil the story so am not going to even try to hint at some. Caroline is the worst of bitches in this variation. Her manipulations seem to affect just about all our main characters and none in a good way. Added to that there are several unexpected deaths.
There is no Hunsford proposal. ODC fall in love quickly. However, some tragic events separate them which is then lengthened by Lady Catherine's efforts. Both, at this point can only believe the other has fallen "out of love" with them.
I especially liked the character of Captain Oliver Lucas, Charlotte's twin brother, and best friends with Captain Fitzwilliam Darcy. Yes, Darcy, as a second son has chosen the Navy over becoming a vicar; even though the family has the offer of the Kympton living for him.
Charles' and Jane's story is very different. Then we have a Lydia who interacts with the Colonel in amusing ways.
A fully packed Pride and Prejudice variation. Stepping away from her usual mashup/crossover Austen variation, Jayne Bamber’s Just Between Us is a full-on and fully packed Pride and Prejudice variation—one that will have you raising a brow more than once.
The story begins with Captains Oliver Lucas and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a second son, both returning to their respective families after years of serving in the navy. Captain Darcy’s older brother, Marcus, more like Bingley in personality, is heir to Pemberley. Both their parents are living, although Mr. Darcy is in ill health after suffering a stroke.
Charles Bingley is close friends with both Darcy brothers and Colonel Fitzwilliam too. Marcus agrees to help Bingley learn how to manage an estate, which is how everyone initially comes together. This time, the Netherfield party will include Lady Anne and Colonel Fitzwilliam, and in this story, Caroline and Louisa are Bingley’s step-sisters.
Upon his return to Meryton and the arrival of the Netherfield party, Oliver wastes no time introducing his two closest friends, Elizabeth Bennet and Captain Darcy. Their connection is instant, as he knew it would be, but family drama and some serious betrayers throw them off course. There’s plenty of tension, especially with Jane, whose choices cause a major rift between her and her sisters, leading to real fallout for both the Bennet and Darcy families, as well as for her own future marriage to Bingley.
One of the things I enjoyed most was seeing Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship take its time, with Elizabeth drawing out the playful side of the reserved second son. While their early courtship is sweet, the two-year separation that follows because of multiple tragedies and some devious scheming is heart-breaking. Also endearing was the close friendship and bond between Elizabeth and her life-long friend, Oliver, who bears a secret and faces heartbreak of his own.
Caroline Bingley is at her manipulative worst, and her actions—along with Lady Catherine’s interference—keep Elizabeth and Darcy apart. Wickham is part of the story, but his actions are off page. Kitty will provide surprises, and you’ll come to love Mr. Collins. A more mature Lydia, in league with Colonel Fitzwilliam, is also a refreshing portrayal of her without removing her liveliness.
Just Between Us is a lengthy tome at over 500 pages but one I couldn’t stop reading, and I only put it down at 4:00 a.m. because I simply had to sleep. The plot embraces a diverse range of personal relationships, offering a more inclusive view of love and connection than was typically accepted in the Regency-era. This was a two-tissue read for me—but despite everything, there’s hope and redemption by the end, not just for ODC but for several characters.
I always enjoy this author’s in-depth variations, which often include elements of matchmaking and angst, as well as the romances and happy endings. This one is no exception.
Contains mature, but not graphic, themes.
Possible trigger warning: There is a scene involving sexual manipulation while a secondary male character is intoxicated.
I received an advance copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review. I have purchased the published version to add to my Kindle library and Jayne Bamber collection.
June 23-24, 2025 - Audiobook Very good narration by Benjamin Fife.
Caroline is a genius in getting her way and she she uses her skill constantly. The angst here has been turned up to high. So much so I didn’t enjoy the story as much as thought I would.
I laughed out loud on occasion, had happy revelations and felt tearful at times. It is a well-written long story of the adventures of the Bennett family, the Lucas family, the Darcy family, the Fitzwilliams and the Bingleys. Throw in some intrigue and surprises and you have yourself an extremely diverting variation!! A MUST READ!
With a few characters making morally deviant choices, the effect these actions have on others are at times, devastating and long term.
In some ways I think this is her darkest story yet. I can't count how many times I gasped with each new reveal.
There is no way to describe the story without giving something away, so I won't. I will say I liked it, and was utterly entertained, but probably won't reread it. For 3 reasons : To dark for me.
The third part goes into a whole section revolving around Lydia and Col F. Which really slowed down the pace. Like, really slowed it down. Whether that is just me, because I didn't buy it, or I never care for Lydia. Who knows. But after aaalll the drama, the story lurched to a halt.
I don't mind a little addition of PC in my stories, but the really of there being 4 such individuals, in Regency and are willing to reveal their secret to so many, when death is on the line is unrealistic. In my personal opinion...
I wanted to give it 5 stars, I wanted to give it 4, depending on where I was in the story. Settling for 4.5 stars.
I must own, that I don't like too much angst, and this book had it in abundance. In my opinion this book was way too long. Even though ODC fall in love very early in the story, it takes them years to finally be together. I found, that Darcy's resolve was too weak, he let his family dictate his life. Of course he needs to be there for his mother and his sister, but he could have sought Elizabeth out instead of just letting the time pass. I almost didn't finish the book, I started it several times, then had to leave it.
I listened to the audio version and I always enjoy listenening to Benjamin Fife
Beautiful! Epic! Suspenseful! Sad! Idealistic! There are villains and villainous actions, but no truly hateful speeches. It is an epic multi relationship romance that highlights how many ways there are to love and accept the ones that you love. It is also a strong advocate for the healing power of forgiveness where it is needed and deserved.
- I had liked the story enough; although I was never truly immersed, there were some interesting storylines.
What I liked:
- Surprisingly, I liked Lydia's energy.
- There was good chemistry between Lydia and the colonel, as well as Elizabeth and Olly.
- I wouldn't consider it dark, but there are many twists and turns.
What kept me from being engaged?
- I found both Darcy and Elizabeth dull. The chemistry wasn't there for me.
- Things began to drag around the 70% mark—page after page on parlor games and other entertainments that didn't move the story along.
At this point, I'm envisioning a 3-star rating, but the ending! My mind was blown. I wouldn't agree with that scheme in 2024, never mind in regency times. The fact that Elizabeth and especially Darcy were okay with this type of marriage was shocking. Yet, everyone is happy to live with this lie that can destroy so many lives if it is ever discovered. But in the end, this charade was thought to be a brilliant idea, and no one seemed to mind flaunting this scheme in a place where it was most likely to backfire.
Halfway through this book I couldn't help but think of a variation of an annoying song of my childhood... "This is the book that never ends. It just goes on and on, my friend. Some people started reading not knowing how long it was, and they'll continue reading it forever just because..." And while it might sound like a dig the truth is I continued reading it because it was so good, just felt like it took me forever to get through it all, and I'm usually a pretty fast reader. Poor ODC were definitely put through the ringer like Odysseus, but at the end I can't think of any part that wasn't worth the long read... At least long for me.
A fine story, well written and I loved the interactions between Elizabeth and Darcy.
I have ups and downs a out this book, though. Why didn't Olly contact Darcy early on when he saw Elizabeth looking ragged over No contact with Darcy. If Olly and Darcy were such good friends, their communications would of been so simple. Elizabeth would of avoided most of her heart break if she went to the North in the first place with the Gardner's... her courage should of rose higher and her curiosity to see how all the Darcy's were should of helped her instead of the avoidance. I really didn't like the ending. There is no way Darcy would of been okay with his marriage being null. That was a big blow to me and pretty much made me write this comment. ONE thing I loved about their (E&D) relationship was that they were open and honest with each other form the start.
A P&P re-imagining wherein the Darcy parents have twin boys, Marcus the elder and Fitzwilliam younger by an hour. As a second son, Will joins the Royal Navy where he rises to captain. While at sea, his best friend is Oliver Lucas, who is a twin with Charlotte, and therefore also a best friend to Elizabeth while growing up. Olly Lucas tells so many tales to his shipmates of his impertinent and lively friend Lizzy that Darcy is predisposed to esteem her when they finally meet at the Meryton assembly.
The author has completely shuffled the deck, and changed many of the family dynamics, changes that have profound effects throughout the story. I love the character of Olly Lucas, and his close friendship with Elizabeth. He's a wonderful new addition, someone you can't help loving, and his story is central to the plot. The story starts out swimmingly, with great humor and fun relationships, and then gives you whiplash with the complete changeup to more serious situations.
Be prepared with your tissues for both heartbreaking and heartwarming circumstances. Also be prepared for some shockingly bad villains. This is a "Murphy's law" kind of storyline, where if something can go wrong, it certainly will. The book came this/close to crossing a line into being depressing. Fortunately, the author includes enough redeeming features and hopeful situations. The romance is superb. The dialogue is witty and intelligent. The action moves along at a good pace.
This is a keeper, and one book I already look forward to reading again. It's well written and well edited. I recommend it highly for an epic and emotional tale.
Great character development with many twists and turns! Some of them are very dark indeed. I enjoyed it but found it way too long. I like long novels; however, this was too much for me!
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 variation. When Charlotte Lucas’s twin brother returns to Meryton after four years in the navy, he rivals even Mrs. Bennet as a meddling matchmaker. Captain Oliver Lucas introduces his two dearest friends, Elizabeth Bennet and Captain Fitzwilliam Darcy, and their discreet courtship begins on the very same night that Elizabeth discovers her childhood friend harbors a secret which will later alter the course of their lives. As Elizabeth’s romance blooms, Jane faces an ultimatum from her mother, and takes drastic measures to secure her engagement to Mr. Bingley. Jane’s collusion with Caroline Bingley estranges her from her sisters when she causes a calamitous chain reaction that jeopardizes the happiness of more than one of her sisters, and has even more disastrous results for the Darcy family. In the two years that Elizabeth and Captain Darcy are separated, their lives are consumed by tragedy and despair, though neither can let go of their memories of the love they once shared. Meanwhile, the Bingley marriage flounders when both Jane and Charles Bingley are haunted by the mistakes of their past, led afoul by a cruel and conniving Caroline. When Elizabeth & Captain Darcy are finally reunited, they must confront their painful history before they can begin anew together, and in doing so give hope to those they love. The long-suffering Bingleys attempt their own reconciliation with help from an older and wiser Lydia Bennet, as well as the charming and mischievous Colonel Fitzwilliam. A house party full of familiar faces and new characters alike sets the scene for romance, and amidst the revelry and reminiscing, more than one couple finds their happily ever after, proving that time does heal all wounds. 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.
This is a long, involved variation with Caroline Bingley as the main villain and very unpleasant. The number of times Darcy is thwarted in his attempt to romance with Elizabeth was frustrating, along with Elizabeth not the strongest of personalities. I think too much time was spent on the description and playing of a stupid-sounding game which seemed unrealistic for the Regency period. It could have been skipped with some more creative writing. Thar aside, it was a very nice variation which I enjoyed.
Oh I just Loved this story! It took me several days to read it, I didn't want to rush! Wickham and Caroline got what their black souls deserved and it was great. I wanted to burn Caroline at the stake all by myself! Several twists and turns !made it a really enjoyable read!
Because this is the only book by Jane Bamber .:I found offensive!read the part that I had heard on audible. dealing with a relationship of sodomy. I reported to Audible: that this book should be under the LGBT: category. Otherwise this book could have been enjoyable. That sodomy relationship of those naval men ruined it
And this one is particularly inventive and entertaining. Even shocking at times! I am thoroughly diverted once again. I have read so many P&P variations, it is hard to present me with new plots, but this one kept me rapt with interest.
Wow! This was a crazy ride of ups and downs for Darcy and Elizabeth, with twists and turns galore. Would they ever have their happily ever after, or would fate keep pushing them apart? Read it!
A delightful P&P AU. The perfect balance of romance and angsty longing, drama and humour. Come for the Swift-inspired premise, stay for the family saga full of vivid and lovable secondary characters.
A long story with a great deal of angst. There are many twists and drama in the story. I hope Jane has her own son. The idea that Caroline's child is Charles's heir doesn't suit me.