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The Austen Continuations #1
The Connections of Miss Catherine Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Sequel
The least distinct Bennet sister. The most dangerous marquess in the kingdom. Their electric chemistry. And the wager that threatens to bring them apart.
When Miss Catherine Bennet is invited by her sister Elizabeth to stay at Darcy House for the London social season, she knows this is her one chance to make the match of her dreams. But when the most eligible bachelor in Town approaches her, and not only asks to dance, but asks for a second dance? And when he asks if he may call on Darcy House to see her again? Well, Catherine is obviously delighted. Even if she's a little scared. Even if she has no idea why any of this is happening to her. All she knows is that he's beautiful and that he keeps calling. Becoming the story of the season is not all it's cracked up to be.
Lord Maximilian Tenbray, the Marquess of the Isle of Wight, notorious and feared rake, has just turned thirty. The perfect age to start settling down. And why not make things interesting? Why not place a wager? Full of drink, arrogance, and strange longings he cannot name, Lord Maximilian decides to do just that. All he needs to do is find a poor, pliable, grateful country gentleman's daughter with a wide set of childbearing hips. He will install her in his castle, where she will be busy with the children, and he can go on with his life. Easy.
And when he finds Miss Catherine Bennet at the very first ball of the season, he is rather stunned. After all, she completely matches his aforementioned criteria, all wrapped up in a figure meant to drive him mad with desire. Never mind the fact that Miss Bennet makes him feel things no other young Miss has ever made him feel. Never mind the fact that she makes him feel less alone. Max is only pursuing Miss Bennet for rational reasons. He is not becoming obsessed with her, or her lack of artifice, or her boundless empathy, or her dark eyes. He is not in awe of how calmly she accepts his jagged edges, or undone by how she can effortlessly soothe his nerves. Max simply has a wager to win, even if he is starting to feel quite guilty about the whole thing. Never mind that.
Can love survive betrayal? Can life bloom in the ruins? The past does not die. But what shall we do with the present? With the future?
When Miss Catherine Bennet is invited by her sister Elizabeth to stay at Darcy House for the London social season, she knows this is her one chance to make the match of her dreams. But when the most eligible bachelor in Town approaches her, and not only asks to dance, but asks for a second dance? And when he asks if he may call on Darcy House to see her again? Well, Catherine is obviously delighted. Even if she's a little scared. Even if she has no idea why any of this is happening to her. All she knows is that he's beautiful and that he keeps calling. Becoming the story of the season is not all it's cracked up to be.
Lord Maximilian Tenbray, the Marquess of the Isle of Wight, notorious and feared rake, has just turned thirty. The perfect age to start settling down. And why not make things interesting? Why not place a wager? Full of drink, arrogance, and strange longings he cannot name, Lord Maximilian decides to do just that. All he needs to do is find a poor, pliable, grateful country gentleman's daughter with a wide set of childbearing hips. He will install her in his castle, where she will be busy with the children, and he can go on with his life. Easy.
And when he finds Miss Catherine Bennet at the very first ball of the season, he is rather stunned. After all, she completely matches his aforementioned criteria, all wrapped up in a figure meant to drive him mad with desire. Never mind the fact that Miss Bennet makes him feel things no other young Miss has ever made him feel. Never mind the fact that she makes him feel less alone. Max is only pursuing Miss Bennet for rational reasons. He is not becoming obsessed with her, or her lack of artifice, or her boundless empathy, or her dark eyes. He is not in awe of how calmly she accepts his jagged edges, or undone by how she can effortlessly soothe his nerves. Max simply has a wager to win, even if he is starting to feel quite guilty about the whole thing. Never mind that.
Can love survive betrayal? Can life bloom in the ruins? The past does not die. But what shall we do with the present? With the future?
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2025
18 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 27, 2025
Catherine Bennet is not one of the silliest girls in England!
I am a sucker for secondary character stories, especially on Catherine Bennet, from Pride & Prejudice. As this is an author who is new to me, I was hesitant, but took the plunge as the book description intrigued me. I was not disappointed however, there were some etiquette/propriety rules I felt were not adhered to, but to some extent the story would have been affected if they were. There are some editing issues but none that took away from my enjoyment of the story.
“Like I already mentioned, my husband is more than amenable, it was his idea, so you must not refuse, or he will be grumpier, which is untenable.” (quote from the book)
When her sister, Elizabeth Darcy, invites Catherine to London for a Season with Georgiana, she jumps at the chance. She has grown in the past year after acting as the sole mistress of Longbourn…”gradually understanding herself to be capable of more than she ever could have guessed, shedding some old conceptions of what was important and what was not.”
“But I am thirty now. The great beyond stares at me, youth fading. I must establish a legacy, set down roots like a real man.” (quote from the book)
Her first ball and Catherine has caught the attention of one of the most powerful men of the ‘Ton’, Lord Maximilian Tenbray, the Marquess of the Isle of Wight. The chemistry was sizzling between them. Since he has now reached the age of thirty, he makes a wager that he will be betrothed before Twelfth Night. Little did know this wager would be his undoing. The cruelty on the part of one member of the ‘Ton’ was the tipping point. But Max is not powerful for nothing.
“Your shield? Lord Maximilian, if they are indeed scavenger birds, your corpse is not the one on which they shall be feasting.” (quote from the book)
There is much more to this story than just the wager. I became emotionally invested with the main characters as they struggle through their relationship. Catherine is betrayed and turns her grief to anger. Max blames himself and works to earn her forgiveness. What happens when the Wickham’s arrive? What part does Caroline Bingley play in this story? Are you intrigued yet?
I found this author has a unique perspective on the Bennet sisters. Some play bigger parts than others in this story. Her style of writing was abrupt at times and lyrical at others. Overall, I enjoyed it. I quite liked what she has done with our Kitty Bennet!
Now that Ms. Mercier is on my radar, I look forward to reading any future stories she may write.
I do recommend this novel to those who like to see secondary characters be developed and given a voice of their own.
I received a free copy of this and am voluntarily leaving my review.
I am a sucker for secondary character stories, especially on Catherine Bennet, from Pride & Prejudice. As this is an author who is new to me, I was hesitant, but took the plunge as the book description intrigued me. I was not disappointed however, there were some etiquette/propriety rules I felt were not adhered to, but to some extent the story would have been affected if they were. There are some editing issues but none that took away from my enjoyment of the story.
“Like I already mentioned, my husband is more than amenable, it was his idea, so you must not refuse, or he will be grumpier, which is untenable.” (quote from the book)
When her sister, Elizabeth Darcy, invites Catherine to London for a Season with Georgiana, she jumps at the chance. She has grown in the past year after acting as the sole mistress of Longbourn…”gradually understanding herself to be capable of more than she ever could have guessed, shedding some old conceptions of what was important and what was not.”
“But I am thirty now. The great beyond stares at me, youth fading. I must establish a legacy, set down roots like a real man.” (quote from the book)
Her first ball and Catherine has caught the attention of one of the most powerful men of the ‘Ton’, Lord Maximilian Tenbray, the Marquess of the Isle of Wight. The chemistry was sizzling between them. Since he has now reached the age of thirty, he makes a wager that he will be betrothed before Twelfth Night. Little did know this wager would be his undoing. The cruelty on the part of one member of the ‘Ton’ was the tipping point. But Max is not powerful for nothing.
“Your shield? Lord Maximilian, if they are indeed scavenger birds, your corpse is not the one on which they shall be feasting.” (quote from the book)
There is much more to this story than just the wager. I became emotionally invested with the main characters as they struggle through their relationship. Catherine is betrayed and turns her grief to anger. Max blames himself and works to earn her forgiveness. What happens when the Wickham’s arrive? What part does Caroline Bingley play in this story? Are you intrigued yet?
I found this author has a unique perspective on the Bennet sisters. Some play bigger parts than others in this story. Her style of writing was abrupt at times and lyrical at others. Overall, I enjoyed it. I quite liked what she has done with our Kitty Bennet!
Now that Ms. Mercier is on my radar, I look forward to reading any future stories she may write.
I do recommend this novel to those who like to see secondary characters be developed and given a voice of their own.
I received a free copy of this and am voluntarily leaving my review.
July 7, 2025
I loved it!
Warning: This story includes references to pregnancy loss for a side character and a brief depiction of domestic violence with a side character (a slap). Please proceed at your comfort.
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. This Book One in The Austen Continuations series. This story is about the electric chemistry between the least distinct Bennet sister and the most dangerous marquess in the kingdom, and the wager that threatens to bring them apart.
When Miss Catherine Bennet is invited by her sister Elizabeth to stay at Darcy House for the London social season, she knows this is her one chance to make the match of her dreams, but when the most eligible bachelor in Town approaches her, not only asks to dance, but asks for a second dance, and when he asks if he may call on Darcy House to see her again? Well, Catherine is obviously delighted, even if she's a little scared, and even if she has no idea why any of this is happening to her. All she knows is that he's beautiful and that he keeps calling. Becoming the story of the season is not all it's cracked up to be.
Lord Maximilian Tenbray, the Marquess of the Isle of Wight, notorious and feared rake, has just turned thirty. The perfect age to start settling down, and why not make things interesting? Why not place a wager? Full of drink, arrogance, and strange longings he cannot name, Lord Maximilian decides to do just that. All he needs to do is find a poor, pliable, grateful country gentleman's daughter with a wide set of childbearing hips. He will install her in his castle, where she will be busy with the children, and he can go on with his life, easy. When he finds Miss Catherine Bennet at the very first ball of the season, he is rather stunned, after all, she completely matches his aforementioned criteria, all wrapped up in a figure meant to drive him mad with desire.
Never mind the facts that Miss Bennet makes him feel things no other young Miss has ever made him feel, and that she makes him feel less alone. Max is only pursuing Miss Bennet for rational reasons, he is not becoming obsessed with her, or her lack of artifice, or her boundless empathy, or her dark eyes. He is not in awe of how calmly she accepts his jagged edges, or undone by how she can effortlessly soothe his nerves, max simply has a wager to win, even if he is starting to feel quite guilty about the whole thing. Never mind that, can love survive betrayal? Can life bloom in the ruins? The past does not die, but what shall we do with the present and the future? 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.
Warning: This story includes references to pregnancy loss for a side character and a brief depiction of domestic violence with a side character (a slap). Please proceed at your comfort.
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. This Book One in The Austen Continuations series. This story is about the electric chemistry between the least distinct Bennet sister and the most dangerous marquess in the kingdom, and the wager that threatens to bring them apart.
When Miss Catherine Bennet is invited by her sister Elizabeth to stay at Darcy House for the London social season, she knows this is her one chance to make the match of her dreams, but when the most eligible bachelor in Town approaches her, not only asks to dance, but asks for a second dance, and when he asks if he may call on Darcy House to see her again? Well, Catherine is obviously delighted, even if she's a little scared, and even if she has no idea why any of this is happening to her. All she knows is that he's beautiful and that he keeps calling. Becoming the story of the season is not all it's cracked up to be.
Lord Maximilian Tenbray, the Marquess of the Isle of Wight, notorious and feared rake, has just turned thirty. The perfect age to start settling down, and why not make things interesting? Why not place a wager? Full of drink, arrogance, and strange longings he cannot name, Lord Maximilian decides to do just that. All he needs to do is find a poor, pliable, grateful country gentleman's daughter with a wide set of childbearing hips. He will install her in his castle, where she will be busy with the children, and he can go on with his life, easy. When he finds Miss Catherine Bennet at the very first ball of the season, he is rather stunned, after all, she completely matches his aforementioned criteria, all wrapped up in a figure meant to drive him mad with desire.
Never mind the facts that Miss Bennet makes him feel things no other young Miss has ever made him feel, and that she makes him feel less alone. Max is only pursuing Miss Bennet for rational reasons, he is not becoming obsessed with her, or her lack of artifice, or her boundless empathy, or her dark eyes. He is not in awe of how calmly she accepts his jagged edges, or undone by how she can effortlessly soothe his nerves, max simply has a wager to win, even if he is starting to feel quite guilty about the whole thing. Never mind that, can love survive betrayal? Can life bloom in the ruins? The past does not die, but what shall we do with the present and the future? 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.
May 29, 2025
While this story has its angst, it is ultimately a joyful tale.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews