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Beneath the Morrow's Light: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
264 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2026
About the author
Rachel Hayes
3 books1 followerAbout the Author
Rachel Hayes first fell in love with Jane Austen's world at the age of twelve, though it was the beloved 1995 BBC adaptation starring Colin Firth that cemented a lifelong affection for Pride and Prejudice and its enduring characters.
What began as a creative escape during a difficult season of life soon grew into a passion for storytelling. Drawing upon her love of history, family, and emotional journeys, Rachel creates Pride and Prejudice variations that explore second chances, hidden histories, redemption, and the enduring power of love.
She is the author of Until He Gets It Right, Remembering the Future, and Beneath the Morrow's Light. Her stories are known for blending Regency charm with heartfelt character development, family mysteries, and the belief that even the most difficult circumstances can lead to hope.
When she is not writing, Rachel enjoys homeschooling her son, studying history, and imagining new adventures for Jane Austen's beloved characters.
She lives in California and is always working on her next story.
Rachel Hayes first fell in love with Jane Austen's world at the age of twelve, though it was the beloved 1995 BBC adaptation starring Colin Firth that cemented a lifelong affection for Pride and Prejudice and its enduring characters.
What began as a creative escape during a difficult season of life soon grew into a passion for storytelling. Drawing upon her love of history, family, and emotional journeys, Rachel creates Pride and Prejudice variations that explore second chances, hidden histories, redemption, and the enduring power of love.
She is the author of Until He Gets It Right, Remembering the Future, and Beneath the Morrow's Light. Her stories are known for blending Regency charm with heartfelt character development, family mysteries, and the belief that even the most difficult circumstances can lead to hope.
When she is not writing, Rachel enjoys homeschooling her son, studying history, and imagining new adventures for Jane Austen's beloved characters.
She lives in California and is always working on her next story.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 17, 2026
A sweet Darcy and Elizabeth is not a Bennet story. However, found the family connections confusing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2026
This is a story that could have easily gained ONE or TWO extra stars just by a litty bit of serious, quality editing !!
The plot executions needed polishing, because actions and scenes described clashed with the initial premise :
The story is based on the idea that Gardiner is known and has a longstanding relationship of some sort to the Earl of Matlock, there is also a familial relationship to Mrs. Gardiner, but everyone involved keeps forgetting what the relationship is, and who knows who. So characters are continuously surprised about meeting characters they are supposed to be related to, or introducing each other in weird ways (confusing and sloppy).
This Darcy is super into doing buisiness, so he travels to the seaside to discuss a venture with Mr. Gardiner (it could not have been done in London, it seems!). There he meets Elizabeth by chance, is struck by her, and decides to stay at this holiday spot for two months in order to court her (zero unease or internal turmoil for him on this decision).
When Elizabeth returns to Longbourn, Darcy follows, and with absolutely no explanation at all, we have Bingley there having tea with Jane (Bingley was mentioned as an acquaintance by Mr. Gardiner and Darcy, but we have no idea how this Bingley arrived in Meryton, if he leased Netherfield, or how he was introduced to the Bennets).
Something I have noticed before is that sometimes a character´s situation is described in some way at first, and then the author changes its mind and makes it more exaggerated or worse to create Drama or Angst. In this case, Elizabeth is described as a bit emotionally neglected by her family when she is allowed to join the Gardiners every year, but it turns nasty and cruel when she returns to Longbourn and her true parentage is revealed (after much vitriol and cruelty from Mr. & Mrs. Bennet!).
Elizabeth is turned into a full Cinderella style character, controled by her "step parents", almost imprissoned, threatened with forced marriage to Mr. Collins, and denied her relationship with Darcy. This knot is solved by Kitty who has the bolness and cleverness to find some concealed documents (much drama here).
Elizabeth´s Happy Ever After relies on separating herself from the "toxic" Bennets, and leaving everything behind in order to live the wealthy, elevated, and lovibg life she really deserves (YES, I am being sarcastic here).
Regarding writing stucture :
There are scenes added twice (two separate times in which Elizabeth comes back from a walk and finds Mrs. Gardiner doing the exact same thing, sitting in the exact same manner), and typos such as a paragraph in which it says "Lord Matlock" but it should be Lady Matlock (a she/her) doing the actions described.
Most irritating of all is the standard mechanical, pseudo poetic structure of "Doing so & so, like a woman who (insert subsidiary phrase)" in order to sound sophisticated. All this does is puff up the word count, and comes across as fake (some might even say it´s AI).
The plot executions needed polishing, because actions and scenes described clashed with the initial premise :
The story is based on the idea that Gardiner is known and has a longstanding relationship of some sort to the Earl of Matlock, there is also a familial relationship to Mrs. Gardiner, but everyone involved keeps forgetting what the relationship is, and who knows who. So characters are continuously surprised about meeting characters they are supposed to be related to, or introducing each other in weird ways (confusing and sloppy).
This Darcy is super into doing buisiness, so he travels to the seaside to discuss a venture with Mr. Gardiner (it could not have been done in London, it seems!). There he meets Elizabeth by chance, is struck by her, and decides to stay at this holiday spot for two months in order to court her (zero unease or internal turmoil for him on this decision).
When Elizabeth returns to Longbourn, Darcy follows, and with absolutely no explanation at all, we have Bingley there having tea with Jane (Bingley was mentioned as an acquaintance by Mr. Gardiner and Darcy, but we have no idea how this Bingley arrived in Meryton, if he leased Netherfield, or how he was introduced to the Bennets).
Something I have noticed before is that sometimes a character´s situation is described in some way at first, and then the author changes its mind and makes it more exaggerated or worse to create Drama or Angst. In this case, Elizabeth is described as a bit emotionally neglected by her family when she is allowed to join the Gardiners every year, but it turns nasty and cruel when she returns to Longbourn and her true parentage is revealed (after much vitriol and cruelty from Mr. & Mrs. Bennet!).
Elizabeth is turned into a full Cinderella style character, controled by her "step parents", almost imprissoned, threatened with forced marriage to Mr. Collins, and denied her relationship with Darcy. This knot is solved by Kitty who has the bolness and cleverness to find some concealed documents (much drama here).
Elizabeth´s Happy Ever After relies on separating herself from the "toxic" Bennets, and leaving everything behind in order to live the wealthy, elevated, and lovibg life she really deserves (YES, I am being sarcastic here).
Regarding writing stucture :
There are scenes added twice (two separate times in which Elizabeth comes back from a walk and finds Mrs. Gardiner doing the exact same thing, sitting in the exact same manner), and typos such as a paragraph in which it says "Lord Matlock" but it should be Lady Matlock (a she/her) doing the actions described.
Most irritating of all is the standard mechanical, pseudo poetic structure of "Doing so & so, like a woman who (insert subsidiary phrase)" in order to sound sophisticated. All this does is puff up the word count, and comes across as fake (some might even say it´s AI).
June 27, 2026
3 ⭐️
This was a beautifully written story. But Chetana, you haven't rated it a 4 or higher you say. Well, it seemed like a collection of poignant dialogues strung together. And some of it was beautiful. But after a while it just got to be too much for me. I am a simple reader. I admit I am not a literary reader. I am the kind that thinks the author meant the curtains were blue and do not search for a deeper meaning than that if an author describes curtains. So when some feelings are written in prose that is a little over my paygrade I tend to not understand it and it lowers my enjoyment.
There was a redeeming quality to this book though. We actually see Darcy and Lizzy court. And the conflict is external and only lasts for about 4 chapters at the end. So all in all a good read but will not be rereading it again.
This was a beautifully written story. But Chetana, you haven't rated it a 4 or higher you say. Well, it seemed like a collection of poignant dialogues strung together. And some of it was beautiful. But after a while it just got to be too much for me. I am a simple reader. I admit I am not a literary reader. I am the kind that thinks the author meant the curtains were blue and do not search for a deeper meaning than that if an author describes curtains. So when some feelings are written in prose that is a little over my paygrade I tend to not understand it and it lowers my enjoyment.
There was a redeeming quality to this book though. We actually see Darcy and Lizzy court. And the conflict is external and only lasts for about 4 chapters at the end. So all in all a good read but will not be rereading it again.
June 30, 2026
Too excellent! Elizabeth and Darcy meet at Brinsmouth under the aegis of the Gardiners. They fall in love without all the Mrs Bennet, Bingleys, Wickham angst. They return to Longbourn to all the Mr Bennet, Collins, angst. Add to this a mystery Lord and Lady Matlock are trying to unravel. The ending could have been a bit longer in my opinion.
June 20, 2026
A terrific rescue
I loved this story. The pace was perfect from page to page. I was glad the rescue was not drawn out. Nicely done!
I loved this story. The pace was perfect from page to page. I was glad the rescue was not drawn out. Nicely done!
July 9, 2026
Lovely
A lovely and entertaining little variation inspired by Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Rachel Hayes. I liked it.
A lovely and entertaining little variation inspired by Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Rachel Hayes. I liked it.
July 3, 2026
Absolutely delightful
Couldn't put it down, almost missed an appointment! Love this Lizzy. I love a different approach to a happy ever after!
Couldn't put it down, almost missed an appointment! Love this Lizzy. I love a different approach to a happy ever after!
July 1, 2026
A nice idea in need of some polish
I am a sucker for a "not a Bennet" story and so this one interested me as did the beautiful cover and interesting title.
The plot is interesting and with polish could be much better still.
I found the book had a constructed block-built feel to it rather than an organic flow. Sadly also far too many similes made it hard to find the story buried so deeply as they were.
Interesting and I enjoyed reading it but probably not one to return to.
I am a sucker for a "not a Bennet" story and so this one interested me as did the beautiful cover and interesting title.
The plot is interesting and with polish could be much better still.
I found the book had a constructed block-built feel to it rather than an organic flow. Sadly also far too many similes made it hard to find the story buried so deeply as they were.
Interesting and I enjoyed reading it but probably not one to return to.
July 4, 2026
nice, surprised me, needs editing
I enjoyed this mystery Elizabeth origins story. It needs a good edit. That are repeated paragraphs in places and some of the encounters are repetitive. But in general it was a nice read.
I enjoyed this mystery Elizabeth origins story. It needs a good edit. That are repeated paragraphs in places and some of the encounters are repetitive. But in general it was a nice read.
July 2, 2026
Stiff language, overly elaborate descriptions, and contrived, uneven plot progression. It could be better.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews