Mr. Darcy's Christmas Mishap: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Romance

by Rachelle Ayala

What if Bingley and Darcy had stayed at Netherfield that first Christmas?

Elizabeth Bennet’s Christmas plans are help Jane secure Mr. Bingley’s affections and avoid her mother’s matchmaking schemes. She certainly doesn’t plan on Mr. Darcy watching her every move with those intense, unreadable eyes.

Just as she glimpses the man beneath the scowl, charming Edward Hardinge arrives from Liverpool. He brings exotic tales, dazzling geodes, and polished compliments. Darcy brings… brooding silence and occasional sarcasm.

Perfect.

Desperate to spend time with Elizabeth, Darcy arranges a sleigh expedition to gather Christmas greenery. What could go wrong? Everything, thanks to Caroline Bingley’s meddling. The resulting disaster strands half the party in a snowdrift, forces Elizabeth into ill-fitting riding clothes, and reveals exactly who keeps their composure in a crisis.

It’s not Caroline.

Between fiery parlor games, mistletoe mishaps, and midnight library confessions, Elizabeth discovers first impressions can be dangerously misleading. Edward’s charming attention hides surprising motives. And Darcy? Those flushed ears and fumbled words might mean something far different than disapproval.

As the Christmas Eve ball approaches, Darcy must decide if his pride is worth sacrificing for love. Meanwhile, Elizabeth confronts an uncomfortable the man who infuriates her most is the only one who truly sees her heart.

Who knew a merry little mishap could become the greatest blessing of all?

Holiday setting • Jealous Darcy • Rival suitor • Winter mishaps • Parlor games • Family fun • Christmas ball • Witty banter • Period-perfect romance • HEA guaranteed

53,000 words, clean romance

Genres: Christmas

204 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 4, 2025

About the author

Rachelle Ayala is an award-winning USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. She writes emotionally challenging stories but believes in the power of love and hope.

Her book, Knowing Vera, won the 2015 Angie Ovation Award, and A Father for Christmas garnered a 2015 Readers' Favorite Gold Award. Christmas Stray was awarded the 2016 Readers' Favorite Gold Award and A Pet for Christmas had an Honorable Mention. In 2017, her book about a single mother with an autistic son, Playing for the Save, won the 2017 Readers' Favorite Gold Award for Realistic Fiction.

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She is also a writing teacher and founder of the Romance In A Month writing community. She lives in California with her husband and has three children and two birds.

For an updated, printable booklist:
https://www.scribd.com/document/34213...

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Broken Build
Hidden Under Her Heart
Knowing Vera

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Taming Romeo
Claiming Carlos
Whole Latte Love
The Remingtons: Leap, Laugh, Love
The Remingtons: Blush of Love
Bad Boys for Hire: Ryker
Bad Boys for Hire: Ken
Bad Boys for Hire: Nick
Laguna Beach: Lucky in Laguna
Sapphire Falls: Going Haywire
Sapphire Falls: Going Toe to Mistletoe
Sapphire Falls: Going Hearts Over Heels

SPORTS ROMANCE
Played by Love
Playing the Rookie
Playing Without Rules
Roaring Hot!
Intercepted by Love
Playing Catch
Playing for the Save

SWEET ROMANCE
Christmas Stray
A Father for Christmas
A Pet for Christmas
A Wedding for Christmas
Christmas Lovebirds
Valentine Hound Dog
Spring Fling Kitty
Blue Chow Christmas
Valentine Wedding Hound

HOLIDAY ROMANCE
Christmas Flirt
Santa's Pet
Deck the Hearts
Her Christmas Chance
Sapphire Falls: Going Toe to Mistletoe
Bad Boys for Hire: Nick

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Michal's Window

NON-FICTION
Your Daily Bible Verse
Romance In A Month
366 Ways to Know Your Character
Love Stories: Writing a Romance Novella

Reviews

[Maria Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet, low angst, Pride and Prejudice variation with a HEA ending for both Elizabeth and Jane. It was kind of fun to watch Mr. Darcy have to learn quickly how to deal with jealousy since someone else seemed to be seeking E's affections as well. And I didn't mind skipping confrontations with Collins, Lady C and Wickham.
I've had a run of P&P variations that have had a lousy Mr. Bennet so I was relieved to have a wiser Mr. Bennet this time around. He still smirks instead of disciplines his wife and daughters but he showed wisdom when addressing Mr. Darcy about Lizzy.
The audio version I listened to had virtual voice narration which is never the ideal but the female voice was as good as virtual voice gets. The male was not as good. It was quite monotone. But I enjoyed the story well enough to overlook the subpar narration.

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Darcy's Christmas Mishap is an enchanting, Christmas time, Pride and Prejudice variation! With all the charm I have come to expect from Ms. Ayala's variations, comes this delightful, well written tale. With all her snobbery and disdain for the country, Caroline Bingley is forced to entertain the Bennets as she acts as Charles hostess. It is amazing how often Ms. Ayala is able to derail Caroline's plans to secure Darcy's hand. This variation is more lighthearted since it lacks a mystery or Wingham's schemes. However, it still kept my interest as I devoured page after page. Lizzy and Darcy will always hold our hearts and this book demonstrates why!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful heartwarming Mr Darcy story. Elizabeth notices Mr Darcy and who knows if anything will ever happen between them. Easy , light reading that will please everyone.