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A Royal Bennet
A Pride and Prejudice what if story. Elizabeth Bennet has no notion that she is of royal blood. Her father has kept a secret from her of her birth mother and the love that they shared. Having been trapped in a loveless marriage by Fanny Gardiner, Mr Bennet has struggled for years. After the carriage Elizabeth is traveling in is robbed and she is abducted,the race is on to rescue her. The highwaymen have no notion of her heritage, and they are on their way to Liverpool to sell Elizabeth and her aunt's maid as slaves. Fitzwilliam Darcy and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, are in hot pursuit of the criminals, hoping to rescue the young lady who holds Darcy's heart in the palm of her hand.
- GenresRomance
372 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2014
67 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Schertz
47 books59 followersI am a retired crime lab/crime scene technician, having worked for a local police department for 15 years. Since then, I have become disabled. Forgot to get the extended warranty on the body. In my spare time, I make jewelry, am a photographer, and a full time mom and grandma.
My daughter by birth is Catie, and she is the dearest part of my life. Through her, I have 2 daughters by heart, Heather and Kristina. Through Heather and her awesome man, Stan, I have 4 amazing grandchildren, Purgi, Penne, Myles, and Persephene.
Besides my human family, I have a canine son, who is my service dog, Darcy. I also have 4 feline daughters (Salem, Lizzy, Dagonet, and Freya ). I now have 5 grandpuppies, 2 grandkitties.
Two days after I received my first ever royalty check, I adopted Darcy and Lizzy. Fitting names, I thought. And they resemble the characters. Lizzy is mischievous, yet loving, climbing up high as if she were in a tree. Darcy is extremely protective and loving. He has his shy side, which is clear when around some people, until he comes to know he can trust them.
My daughter by birth is Catie, and she is the dearest part of my life. Through her, I have 2 daughters by heart, Heather and Kristina. Through Heather and her awesome man, Stan, I have 4 amazing grandchildren, Purgi, Penne, Myles, and Persephene.
Besides my human family, I have a canine son, who is my service dog, Darcy. I also have 4 feline daughters (Salem, Lizzy, Dagonet, and Freya ). I now have 5 grandpuppies, 2 grandkitties.
Two days after I received my first ever royalty check, I adopted Darcy and Lizzy. Fitting names, I thought. And they resemble the characters. Lizzy is mischievous, yet loving, climbing up high as if she were in a tree. Darcy is extremely protective and loving. He has his shy side, which is clear when around some people, until he comes to know he can trust them.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 23, 2023
Interesting premise, but horribly executed.
March 24, 2018
In this Pride and Prejudice variation, Elizabeth grows up believing she is the second oldest of Fanny Bennet's children and twin sister to Jane. Technically she was born to the love of Mr. Bennet's life who he was not able to marry. A compromise forced him to stay in Meryton with Fanny.
The plot of the story starts when Elizabeth refuses Mr Collins. Mrs Bennet finds this unacceptable and as a result, Mr Bennet sends Elizabeth to live with her aunt and uncle in London for a while. The situation becomes more threatening so Elizabeth and a maid leave on the planned holiday to Derbyshire early. They are kidnapped on the way and it is high drama from there.
Darcy becomes involved, evil people do evil things, new family members come out of the woodwork, vicious family members show their true colors, and Elizabeth finds a dog who becomes a best friend. Our dear couple does find their happily ever after, but through a lot of drama.
The plot of the story starts when Elizabeth refuses Mr Collins. Mrs Bennet finds this unacceptable and as a result, Mr Bennet sends Elizabeth to live with her aunt and uncle in London for a while. The situation becomes more threatening so Elizabeth and a maid leave on the planned holiday to Derbyshire early. They are kidnapped on the way and it is high drama from there.
Darcy becomes involved, evil people do evil things, new family members come out of the woodwork, vicious family members show their true colors, and Elizabeth finds a dog who becomes a best friend. Our dear couple does find their happily ever after, but through a lot of drama.
July 29, 2019
“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.” –Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack
Rating clean but suggestive with adult themes. This was a Schertz story and I knew ‘going-in’ what to expect:
There would be a body count: someone [possibly several] would die and probably in a horrible manner.
The editing would be atrocious: font issues where enter was used instead of word wrap so there were gaps in a sentence with the remainder on the next line. I can’t list them all but they are the usual errors you find in her work.
The villains ALWAYS get their comeuppance… always, and usually in fantastical ways.
There would be a creative, unique story, variation or even alternate universe within the P&P storyline. Schertz is famous for that. So, if you can overlook the errors, it was an interesting take on our dear couple [ODC].
As advertised, this was a trope where Elizabeth was not the daughter of Mrs. Bennet. Instead, her mother was Mr. Bennet’s first love [and intended] and someone with major connections. Miss Gardiner pulled a most impressive compromise and forced Bennet to marry her. I really disliked this woman. There is no middle of the road in a Schertz story. You will hate the villains and love the heroes. The dog Sadie was a wonderful addition to the story. Schertz’s love for this dog came through the page loud and clear. I loved that dog.
In a Schertz story, the villains are extreme and the heroic moments with Darcy have him large and in charge. Because the story moved at a fast pace, the angst was short-lived and moved as quickly as an adder’s strike. You cannot blink when reading Schertz.
Even with the issues of editing, probability, propriety and social expectations/mores/morality, I still enjoyed the short clips that were so touching. These nuggets were scattered throughout the story and made the reader want to finish. If nothing else, it made me want to know WTH [what-the-heck] happened next.
Rating clean but suggestive with adult themes. This was a Schertz story and I knew ‘going-in’ what to expect:
There would be a body count: someone [possibly several] would die and probably in a horrible manner.
The editing would be atrocious: font issues where enter was used instead of word wrap so there were gaps in a sentence with the remainder on the next line. I can’t list them all but they are the usual errors you find in her work.
The villains ALWAYS get their comeuppance… always, and usually in fantastical ways.
There would be a creative, unique story, variation or even alternate universe within the P&P storyline. Schertz is famous for that. So, if you can overlook the errors, it was an interesting take on our dear couple [ODC].
As advertised, this was a trope where Elizabeth was not the daughter of Mrs. Bennet. Instead, her mother was Mr. Bennet’s first love [and intended] and someone with major connections. Miss Gardiner pulled a most impressive compromise and forced Bennet to marry her. I really disliked this woman. There is no middle of the road in a Schertz story. You will hate the villains and love the heroes. The dog Sadie was a wonderful addition to the story. Schertz’s love for this dog came through the page loud and clear. I loved that dog.
In a Schertz story, the villains are extreme and the heroic moments with Darcy have him large and in charge. Because the story moved at a fast pace, the angst was short-lived and moved as quickly as an adder’s strike. You cannot blink when reading Schertz.
Even with the issues of editing, probability, propriety and social expectations/mores/morality, I still enjoyed the short clips that were so touching. These nuggets were scattered throughout the story and made the reader want to finish. If nothing else, it made me want to know WTH [what-the-heck] happened next.
May 26, 2023
This story zoomed from the start. Extremely villainous villains caused some really serious troubles only to be thwarted by ODC and their friends and family. More villains kept the tempo up but after those were eliminated the story dropped from freeway speed to traffic jam speed so fast that you will be left blinking. But to be fair, that is bound to happen in a story of this type. I did enjoy the story after all.
March 14, 2018
Very pleasant read.
I would rate this a 3.6 stars story and bumped it up to 4 because of the addition of a new character named Sadie. Sadie is a collie and has some major page time. She reminds me of my German Shepherd, Duchess.
I would rate this a 3.6 stars story and bumped it up to 4 because of the addition of a new character named Sadie. Sadie is a collie and has some major page time. She reminds me of my German Shepherd, Duchess.
April 4, 2020
Great book
I loved it a good book, love it when Mrs Bennett and Caroline get their just desserts. I was surprised Mrs Hurst was so left of center. Loved Sadie
I loved it a good book, love it when Mrs Bennett and Caroline get their just desserts. I was surprised Mrs Hurst was so left of center. Loved Sadie
May 5, 2023
Lovely
Entertaining, with some unexpected adventures and interesting twists. Since one of our villains is missing, the others get to make up for it.
Entertaining, with some unexpected adventures and interesting twists. Since one of our villains is missing, the others get to make up for it.
October 5, 2016
I read this one after MBS. Mrs Bennet is a nutter in this book in stark contrast to the previous one but I love this author so I knew what to expect. One of my favorite parts of the story comes by way of a tri-colored Collie and since we have a tri-colored Collie, named Nemorino, we all know that I loved this book. A lower body count than usual something like 7?! Maybe? I lost count.
Edit: I think anyone would love this one. Abduction? Check! Collie? Check! Evil, vulgar Mrs Bennet? Check! Sinkholes? Check!
Edit: I think anyone would love this one. Abduction? Check! Collie? Check! Evil, vulgar Mrs Bennet? Check! Sinkholes? Check!
May 23, 2023
A Royal Bennet
Another wonderful story by Melanie Schertz. It always amazes me when an author can make Mrs. Bennet and Lydia more foolish than they were in Jane Austen’s original work, but she surely accomplished that. Not a brain cell between the two - like mother, like daughter sure fit these two throughout the entire story. While we still had Darcy’s infamous remark made at the Meryton Assembly, thankfully there was no Huntsford proposal made. Unfortunately, Caroline Bingley was even worse than she normally is in most variations of Pride and Prejudice. Thankfully, she got her comeuppance and was never again seen in fashionable society, but relegated to the wilds of northern Scotland. After Darcy and Richard’s race across England to Liverpool to return the abducted Elizabeth and her Aunt Gardiner’s maid to their families, Darcy is wounded and Elizabeth cut with a knife by the abductor during the rescue. All return to Pemberley to completely recover from their ordeal. This is where the intrusion begins. The Bingleys arrive - uninvited, unwelcome, and undesirable, especially Caroline and Mrs. Hurst. A lot of action takes place between their arrival and the departure of the two superior sisters to Scotland. I really enjoyed seeing Bingley develop a back bone and Mr. Hurst take a firm stand against his wife. Enjoyable story with the HEA for ODC.
Another wonderful story by Melanie Schertz. It always amazes me when an author can make Mrs. Bennet and Lydia more foolish than they were in Jane Austen’s original work, but she surely accomplished that. Not a brain cell between the two - like mother, like daughter sure fit these two throughout the entire story. While we still had Darcy’s infamous remark made at the Meryton Assembly, thankfully there was no Huntsford proposal made. Unfortunately, Caroline Bingley was even worse than she normally is in most variations of Pride and Prejudice. Thankfully, she got her comeuppance and was never again seen in fashionable society, but relegated to the wilds of northern Scotland. After Darcy and Richard’s race across England to Liverpool to return the abducted Elizabeth and her Aunt Gardiner’s maid to their families, Darcy is wounded and Elizabeth cut with a knife by the abductor during the rescue. All return to Pemberley to completely recover from their ordeal. This is where the intrusion begins. The Bingleys arrive - uninvited, unwelcome, and undesirable, especially Caroline and Mrs. Hurst. A lot of action takes place between their arrival and the departure of the two superior sisters to Scotland. I really enjoyed seeing Bingley develop a back bone and Mr. Hurst take a firm stand against his wife. Enjoyable story with the HEA for ODC.
June 14, 2025
I enjoy her stories
3 1/2 rounded up because I enjoy her stories. This is one of her older stories that could benefit from a good editor. That aside I can look beyond things that are not accurate to enjoy the story.
In this version we have Mrs Bennet compromising Mr. Bennet when he was about to marry another. He and the other anticipated their vows as he wanted one night with the woman he loved before being forced to marry another. Both ladies had girls and unfortunately Mr Bennet’s love died so he tricked Mrs Bennet to believe that Jane and Elizabeth were twins.
Jump forward to find Mrs. Bennet plotting to try and get Elizabeth married, Mr. Bennet sends her away for her own protection. During this journey, Elizabeth and her maid are kidnapped. Darcy and Col F chase after to the rescue. During this time Elizabeth’s mother’s true identity becomes known. After rescue and physical healing Elizabeth still struggles but a sweet collie dog becomes her companion. Still have several bad people to deal with but Elizabeth is loved not only by Darcy but she is reunited with her true mother’s family who welcome her with open arms.
As with every Melanie Schertz book I have read, yes some editing needs to happen but I can look past that to enjoy her stories.
3 1/2 rounded up because I enjoy her stories. This is one of her older stories that could benefit from a good editor. That aside I can look beyond things that are not accurate to enjoy the story.
In this version we have Mrs Bennet compromising Mr. Bennet when he was about to marry another. He and the other anticipated their vows as he wanted one night with the woman he loved before being forced to marry another. Both ladies had girls and unfortunately Mr Bennet’s love died so he tricked Mrs Bennet to believe that Jane and Elizabeth were twins.
Jump forward to find Mrs. Bennet plotting to try and get Elizabeth married, Mr. Bennet sends her away for her own protection. During this journey, Elizabeth and her maid are kidnapped. Darcy and Col F chase after to the rescue. During this time Elizabeth’s mother’s true identity becomes known. After rescue and physical healing Elizabeth still struggles but a sweet collie dog becomes her companion. Still have several bad people to deal with but Elizabeth is loved not only by Darcy but she is reunited with her true mother’s family who welcome her with open arms.
As with every Melanie Schertz book I have read, yes some editing needs to happen but I can look past that to enjoy her stories.
March 17, 2024
Really bad villains and really good everyone else
The villains are really bad in this. Caroline goes over the top, Mrs. Bennet is horrid, and the kidnappers were not redeemable. Surprisingly no Wickham in this story. There was a lot of drama but no angst between Elizabeth and Darcy. I liked Jane being a little more assertive. The story picks up after Netherfield party leaving/Collins proposing in the original. How they kept Elizabeth's identity a secret for so long is somewhat unbelievable but it played well in the story.
The villains are really bad in this. Caroline goes over the top, Mrs. Bennet is horrid, and the kidnappers were not redeemable. Surprisingly no Wickham in this story. There was a lot of drama but no angst between Elizabeth and Darcy. I liked Jane being a little more assertive. The story picks up after Netherfield party leaving/Collins proposing in the original. How they kept Elizabeth's identity a secret for so long is somewhat unbelievable but it played well in the story.
February 6, 2023
Mixed reaction
An A for entertaining dialogue. A C- for a plot with so many villians and plot points to keep the cast of at least 2 soap operas busy for a year. Yes, a plot must have an obstacle for dramatic tension. But this book is way over the top. And for USA entertainment trivia aficionados, there is even an instance of a devoted female collie alerting rescuers to Elizabeth having fallen into a hole and in need of help; No well, though. And no Timmy, just Lizzie.
An A for entertaining dialogue. A C- for a plot with so many villians and plot points to keep the cast of at least 2 soap operas busy for a year. Yes, a plot must have an obstacle for dramatic tension. But this book is way over the top. And for USA entertainment trivia aficionados, there is even an instance of a devoted female collie alerting rescuers to Elizabeth having fallen into a hole and in need of help; No well, though. And no Timmy, just Lizzie.
February 2, 2020
Boring
I didn’t finish it and I skipped many pages because there is nothing interesting happening, Elizabeth kidnapping or murder attempt isn’t interesting, her royal roots are not important in the story, there is no building up or progress in the love between her and Darcy, Boring
I didn’t finish it and I skipped many pages because there is nothing interesting happening, Elizabeth kidnapping or murder attempt isn’t interesting, her royal roots are not important in the story, there is no building up or progress in the love between her and Darcy, Boring
March 7, 2020
Enraging adventure
Truly enjoyed reading this engaging variation. Darcy encounters Elizabeth in London, but Elizabeth goes away. Darcy follows, but finds Elizabeth meet up with danger. Throughout this book Darcy fights for Elizabeth, Jane stands up for herself, Bingley grows up, and Mr Bennet is different. Highly recommended
Truly enjoyed reading this engaging variation. Darcy encounters Elizabeth in London, but Elizabeth goes away. Darcy follows, but finds Elizabeth meet up with danger. Throughout this book Darcy fights for Elizabeth, Jane stands up for herself, Bingley grows up, and Mr Bennet is different. Highly recommended
February 25, 2023
Boring
Story had so much potential but very became slow after the kidnapping. Even Caroline's antics were rather blase in the big scheme of things. Jane and Bingley are an absolutely horrible couple.
Story had so much potential but very became slow after the kidnapping. Even Caroline's antics were rather blase in the big scheme of things. Jane and Bingley are an absolutely horrible couple.
September 3, 2014
On a technical side, this book needs MAJOR editing. The plot, I'm afraid, cannot be saved. What, you ask, made it so awful? Warning : Spoiler alert. Elizabeth and her maid are abducted. While in Liverpool they escape their captors. A kind Inn keeper allows them to stay in her Inn to hide out from their abductors. At NO point does the inn keeper call in the constable or magistrate to protect these girls and their kidnappers are allowed to roam town looking for the girls with no fear of the law. Also, the fact that Elizabeth is royalty doesn't particularly bother me but if she has a 40,000 pound dowry, why is Mr. Bennet hiding her from Mrs. Bennet to make certain Elizabeth is not forced to marry a man who has killed two former wives from abuse? And the idea that Mrs. Bennet would turn to prostitution rather than being sent to live with a distant cousin was ludicrous. There were MANY other issues with this book but what gave it the final death blow was the fact that there was NO character development. Ugh! This is almost enough to make me give up altogether on P&P variations.
January 13, 2015
I hate to give an author a negative review and I admire anyone who has the courage to put themselves--and their writing--out there, BUT:
The writing in this book is not good, or even passable. It is rudimentary and simplistic--not much better than what you'd expect from a junior high student. The grammar, sentence structure, and overall organization of the storyline was odd, to say the least. At times it was disjointed and nonsensical. Two unrelated clauses connected by a comma does not a sentence make.
The plot was trite and at times silly. The story gave no logical reasoning for the attachment between Elizabeth and Darcy. I don't understand why anyone likes this book. I'm sorry for ripping it apart, but it's not readable. Many fanfiction books have grammatical and writing issues, but often times these issues can be overlooked because the story if creative and interesting. This is not one of those times.
The writing in this book is not good, or even passable. It is rudimentary and simplistic--not much better than what you'd expect from a junior high student. The grammar, sentence structure, and overall organization of the storyline was odd, to say the least. At times it was disjointed and nonsensical. Two unrelated clauses connected by a comma does not a sentence make.
The plot was trite and at times silly. The story gave no logical reasoning for the attachment between Elizabeth and Darcy. I don't understand why anyone likes this book. I'm sorry for ripping it apart, but it's not readable. Many fanfiction books have grammatical and writing issues, but often times these issues can be overlooked because the story if creative and interesting. This is not one of those times.
November 7, 2015
In this Pride and Prejudice variation, there is no Kitty or Mary and in the past Mr. Bennet was forced into marriage. We begin with Elizabeth staying with the Gardiners to get away from Mrs. Bennet and her matching making proposals concerning Elizabeth. Because of this she then has to leave London to travel to Lambton to await the Gardiners but on the way is kidnapped....
October 4, 2015
Ahh the possibilities, Lizzie a blue blood. Certainly explained Mrs. Bennet's dislike. The possibility of Mr. Bennet marrying differently. Seeing another side of the family. I enjoyed this retelling.
January 22, 2025
I enjoyed this book, but it didn't draw me in as much as many of her other books have. But it wasn't awful either.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews