Please This is a box set of three previously published MJ Stratton stories.
Love UnfeignedWhen Elizabeth flees to London, a surprising letter from Mr. Darcy sets off a heartfelt correspondence neither expected. Misunderstandings give way to growing affection, but secrets threaten their fragile connection. A sweet, early HEA story where love blossoms through letters and trust is the key to everything.
The Lake House at RamsgateElizabeth and Darcy begin a correspondence across time, each claiming to inhabit the same seaside house—two years apart. As letters turn to affection, they must unravel a mystery that threatens to keep them forever apart. A romantic, time-twisting variation inspired by The Lake House, full of charm and discovery.
Body and SoulWhen Elizabeth Bennet wakes to find herself in her mother’s body—and Mr. Darcy in her father’s—they must work together to return to their rightful selves. As misunderstandings unravel and affections grow, each must confront the past to restore the future. A whimsical and heartfelt twist on Pride and Prejudice, where two couples find love in the most unexpected of circumstances.
Three Standalone Variation Tales from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice world
Love Unfeigned Valentine Holiday Romance variation, novella
A light frolicking P&P variation romp with Valentine vibes throughout. What if Darcy's little sister tries her hand at playing cupid with a pen? MJ Stratton gives dear Georgie Darcy the limelight in this playful epistolary-style novella.
Love Unfeigned begins at the time in the original when the Bingley party and Darcy leave Netherfield and return to London, Jane is ensconced in London with a broken heart at Bingley's desertion, and Elizabeth has just refused Mr. Collins and needs an escape to London from her mother's haranguing on the subject.
Georgie observes her brother and he is quite miserable. She's convinced her horrible mistake at Ramsgate the past summer has caused it, but he won't speak about it so she goes fishing through his letters to see if there is an explanation for his behavior. She comes across a letter never meant to be sent, but its to a lady. It is the most insulting, but lovely letter she has seen. And, now she knows the truth. Her brother is in love with this Elizabeth Bennet and he only sees the barriers instead all that is right about this lady. And, he's made a hash of Bingley's love life while he was at it.
Georgie forges her brother's writing and a much better version of his letter and sends it along to Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth is shocked to receive it, but moreso by the contents. She detested the man and thought he felt the same about her... until the letter. Letters secretly go back and forth and Elizabeth slowly learns to like and then love this man of the letters. Meanwhile, Georgie is priming her brother to see what is truly important- love over duty. And, she most certainly can't have Elizabeth angry about Darcy ruining her sister Jane's love life so she sets in to repair that one, too. Eventually, the lovers must meet. Has she done enough to make it a success?
Love Unfeigned was an entertaining frolic. I loved this one as improbable as it was. I couldn't wait to get to that moment when Darcy and Elizabeth learned the truth. A lovely, swoony and perfect for Valentine's Day holiday read.
The Lakehouse at Ramsgate a Timeslip variation, Summer Holiday Romance
As a fan of the movie, The Lake House, and of MJ Stratton's P&P variations, I was definitely the target audience for a story that blended some time slip romance and Austen's most famous couple.
The Lake House at Ramsgate is a dual narration story about a magical house that allows two people in different times, while staying in the house, to exchange letters and discover that romance is timeless. In 1812, Elizabeth Bennet accompanies her sister and her brother-in-law to their leased home in Ramsgate, Lake House. Jane is having difficulty with her first pregnancy and Elizabeth is there to handle the household needs and be there for her sister. A letter to the leasing agent about house details gets an odd letter that sets up her bristles. In 1810, Fitzwilliam Darcy and his younger sister are staying the summer in their family's Ramsgate cottage, The Lake House and he gets a letter from some unknown female who he assumes is using the weirdest ploy yet to scrub up an acquaintance with him. He fires off a missive to her that ought to set her straight about that. Only, he gets a scorching letter in return that sets him back on his heels.
The pair soon realize that as impossible as it seems, they really do exist in different times and somehow are able to exchange correspondence. From there on, they both try to live their everyday lives while more and more, this partner of letters becomes the most important person to them. They want to meet, but how? And, will the obvious difference in their status and circumstances will expectation or duty to family trump love?
This gently-paced epistolary romance variation set entirely away from their homes in the lovely beach holiday town of Ramsgate and the magic of the time traveling letters made the slow-burn relationship the centerpiece of a beautiful story. I loved the poignant emotions they feel and the tension of the plot as it grows nearer for a meeting and then the great mystery and climax that had me riveted and unable to stop reading for anything.
This was a wonderful tribute to both the movie and the classic and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting a tender timeslip-style sweet Regency romance.
Body and Soul Body swap variation Christmas Holiday Romance
Jane Austen + Freaky Friday equals a heartfelt, charming eyeopener for four people in MJ Stratton's body swap P&P variation tale.
At the Netherfield Ball things come to a head when Elizabeth Bennet sees the atrocious behavior of her youngest sisters, her mother, and even her father and doesn't miss the disgusted looks on the Netherfield party. Her mother is also badgering her to marry her silly cousin Collins. She's had enough and tells her mother so. The sound of thunder cracks, she experiences disorientation, and inexplicably Elizabeth and her mother are in each other's bodies.
Confusion, the frustration, and finally an attempt on both parts to muddle through with none of their family the wiser. Elizabeth grasps the situation and begins making changes. Early on, she realizes what a middle-aged woman's body is compared to a youthful one, she realizes all her mother does to keep the household running, and, sadly, she experiences her father from her mother's perspective. She starts to understand and empathize with her mother.
At the same time, Fanny Bennet is getting to try being a young lady again, but this time, she is getting it from Lizzy's perspective. It's not long before she hears what her own children and family friends think of her 'help' finding husbands and what they think of her manners. She is mortified, but determined to do better by Elizabeth and her other children. She can learn to do better simply by doing and saying what Lizzy would do. Her encounters with Wickham and Mr. Darcy are an eyeopener.
Meanwhile, the rest of the household, particularly Mr. Bennet do not know what to make of the change in Mrs. Bennet and Lizzy. Lydia is especially shocked when for the first time in her life, her behavior is checked and Mr. Bennet is similarly surprised when his household is suddenly so changed his derisive attitude to his wife and mockery stand out as even uglier than before. The look his sees in his favorite daughter's eyes when he is unkind to his wife stays with him and pulls him up short.
Mr. Bingley finds his friend Mr. Darcy and his family have trailed him back to London and try to persuade him away from Miss Bennet. Darcy has some soul-searching to do and finds himself suddenly back in Miss Elizabeth's company and as bewitched as every. He thought her family were a strike against her, but something is vastly different at Longbourn.... Then, another startling switch happens and he's in the body of his lady love's father and vice versa. How will they ever all get back?
Body and Soul has some amusing moments as people are bewildered and fumbling to figure out a body swap situation, but for the most part, it is a deep dive into four primary people and their relationships. It spends the most time on Elizabeth and Fanny's body swap time. They grow and learn and change. I loved seeing this mother and daughter find they could have common ground because they are forced to, at first, and then because they want to. Later, there is a second body swap. It is significant, too, but more for the sake of the older Bennets who need to discover if they can restore what has been broken form many years.
I loved that it is a redemption story of sorts and hopeful that bringing about the right change will restore them to their right bodies. Its a low-angst, but thoughtful, heartwarming bodyswap variation that I could appreciate highly.
As I have read the first of the three stories, Love Unfeigned here is my reviews from that: Amazon lists this story as appropriate for ages 12 to 18 but I was curious and so did not let that stop me. It was a short story for me.
Most of this story is told in the form of letters: at first with Georgiana forging Darcy writing letters to Elizabeth and answering those received from her. This falls apart when mail to Pemberley is delivered early one day and Darcy receives a letter from Elizabeth, which Georgiana would usually intercept.
So Darcy confronts his sister, who has saved the letters received and made copies of the ones she sent in his name.
Thus we read of Darcy and Elizabeth getting to know each other much better and with her learning his good points and him realizing how wrong some of his opinions were and how insulted she was by those. I found it curious that they even spoke of their favorite thing, i.e. food, animals, etc. Darcy also gives Elizabeth some information about his sister, which, in turn brings those two closer.
I have now read the second of the stories The Lake House at Ramsgate and will post my review of that story so as to take up less space here.
And, again, I find I have read the last of the three stories before Body & Soul so look for my review on the separate edition. Although I reread the first two stories in this variation, I did not read this last story a second time.
I have read all of these books individually and then when the box set of the audiobooks were released I quickly bought it and it was so worth it. Below are my individual reviews for each of the books but the audiobook version of each jumped the ratings. I LOVE how Stevie Zimmerman & Harry Frost brought to life each character in the stories and helped you disappear into that world. I have to say that Harry did an amazing job when the characters switched in the last story that you could tell that it was each specific character but coming from a different body - excellent job!!!
Bk 1 Love Unfeigned: Sweet letters reveal hearts This is a very sweet read. I got the audiobook to go with and Stevie Zimmerman's wonderful narration jumps the story up another notch. Here, we find an inquisitive Georgiana snooping to figure out her brother's mood. She then takes a possible scandalous action to bring him happiness. This will be one to re-read/listen for when I need a quick pick me up story.
Bk 2 The Lake House at Ramsgate: A wonderful blend of a favorite movie and P&P This is an entirely enjoyable variation that brings Darcy and Elizabeth together via letters via an intriguing way. Pay attention at the beginning as several things will be keys to understanding what is happening. This is a story that I will gladly read again. The softness and colors of the cover fit the story perfectly.
Bk 3 Body and Soul: Can a Freaky Friday body swap change things for the better? This was such a fun read that when I finished it the first time I went back and read it again. MJ Stratton did a wonderful job sharing this multi-layered love story with us.
Elizabeth and her mother have an argument during the Netherfield Ball. What they don’t know is this is the start of something that will shake up not only their lives but those around them. Elizabeth and Mrs Bennet have to learn to work together to figure out what happened and what needs to happen to change back to their own bodies. This will not be an easy task but will force each of them to find common ground. They start to see things differently but yet realize what needs to change. Elizabeth, now with the authority of the parent, makes the most drastic changes immediately in the household that she has wanted for so long. The relationships between all of the girls and their mother, collectively and individually reach new understandings.
Mr Bennet is cruel in his treatment to his wife and Elizabeth realizes for the first time how damaging these words are to her mother. Mr. Bennet clearly has lessons he needs to desperately learn. Thunder is heard and the next morning he and Mr. Darcy experience a new reality.
I relished seeing these two couples learn to work together as they each have to do the job / life of their respective counterpart. They all need deal with the emotional baggage / damage they have with each other and those around them. I loved this redemption story that saves one marriage and sets up another for success.
If you couldn’t tell I enjoyed this story immensely. I can easily see myself reading it yet again.
My Library Notes: Quills & Quandaries: 3 Pride & Prejudice Variations by M.J. Stratton Kindle Edition, 531 pages Published July 31, 2025 ASIN: B0F9LNTDN4
Love Unfeigned When Elizabeth flees to London, a surprising letter from Mr. Darcy sets off a heartfelt correspondence neither expected. Misunderstandings give way to growing affection, but secrets threaten their fragile connection. A sweet, early HEA story where love blossoms through letters and trust is the key to everything.
The Lake House at Ramsgate Elizabeth and Darcy begin a correspondence across time, each claiming to inhabit the same seaside house—two years apart. As letters turn to affection, they must unravel a mystery that threatens to keep them forever apart. A romantic, time-twisting variation inspired by The Lake House, full of charm and discovery.
Body and Soul When Elizabeth Bennet wakes to find herself in her mother’s body—and Mr. Darcy in her father’s—they must work together to return to their rightful selves. As misunderstandings unravel and affections grow, each must confront the past to restore the future. A whimsical and heartfelt twist on Pride and Prejudice, where two couples find love in the most unexpected of circumstances.
Quills & Quandaries: Three Pride & Prejudice Variations by M.J. Stratton, Harry Frost (Narrator), Stevie Zimmerman (Narrator) Audible Audio, Unabridged, 15 pages Published August 1, 2025 by Stevie Zimmerman, Harry Frost ASIN: B0FDBMDG8J
Even though I had read couple of these books before, it was visiting with old friends you haven't seen for a while. They are familiar, but there is something new to catch up upon . Nice, sweet stories to read before sleep!