The tale begins the day before Miss Lydia Bennet’s wedding to George Wickham.
Excited, that finally she will be married to her reckless but handsome beau, Lydia cannot contain her joy. On entering his bedchamber to show him the lace bought for her wedding day, an unexpected sight awaits Lydia. Lying on the floor, Lydia crouches by Wickham’s side, believing him to be jesting or consumed by alcohol. Alas, it is neither – Wickham is dead.
Receiving word from Mr Gardiner that his youngest daughter has been arrested for Wickham’s murder, that day changes the lives of the Bennet family. Caught up in the scandal of Lydia’s intended elopement with the military man, shame now bears down on the family as the youngest Bennet sister faces trial for killing Wickham.
Turmoil pursues, and everyone is required to rally around and be strong. Life will never again be the same. In the middle of the chaos stands Elizabeth Bennet. Considered by many as the most capable of the Bennet sisters, now she has to be strong and consider everyone but herself, and she does. Worried about her father and anxious for her mother, too, her sisters each have personal despair.
The light at the end of the tunnel for Elizabeth is Fitzwilliam Darcy. The noble, kind and steadfast landowner; a man she appreciated the goodness of on her visit with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner to Pemberley. Deeply she is in love with him, and Darcy is the only person who gives Elizabeth hope. Hope, in an ever-increasing world of angst and despair.
Will Elizabeth get her happy ever after? Alternatively, was her fate, and that of her family sealed the day Lydia ran from Brighton in the arms of Wickham?
“If only. Those must be the two saddest words in the world.” Mercedes Lackey
If only I hadn’t bought this… if only I hadn’t read this… No that isn’t fair… I’ll be nice.
This was a short, clean read with a prologue and sixteen chapters [no epilogue], that allowed me to read it in one sitting. We opened with an excited Lydia shopping for her wedding that was to take place the next day. Only one problem… when she walked into Wickham’s room, she found him on the floor… dead. We begin chapter one with Mr. Bennet discussing with Lizzy the express he received from Mr. Gardiner announcing Wickham’s death and Lydia’s arrest for his murder.
OK… the bare bones in this story were present; however, the author just wasn’t able to deliver. The rules of writing dictate certain expectations in a story/plot. There is the hook… check… great grab at the beginning. It really pulled the reader into the story. Rising action… wobbly, but managed to keep the reader interested up to a point. Then suddenly, the story fractured into several storylines, stalled and plummeted to a conclusion that was confusing as heck with no epilogue to explain anything.
The title states regret… but whose? Elizabeth’s regret for refusing Darcy? Darcy’s for botching his proposal? Mr. Bennet’s for his behavior [or lack thereof] with his family? Jane’s for not demonstrating her feelings for Mr. Bingley? Lydia… forget it. Mrs. Bennet… nope… another hopeless case. Even Charlotte expressed regret at one point. So… was this a hodgepodge of regret in general with everyone? I don’t get it. Whose story was this anyway?
Elizabeth Bennet: “Speak when you are angry—and you’ll make the best speech you’ll ever regret.” Laurence J. Peter
This was still a pride and prejudice variation, so of course, we had Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy making headway toward their HEA. Nothing was done that he didn’t do himself. Yep, that’s our Darcy. Speaking of… Elizabeth shouldn’t call him Darcy… just a note.
Mr. Bennet: “I’ve got a bad case of the 3:00 am guilts – you know, when you lie in bed awake and replay all those things you didn’t do right? Because, as we all know, nothing solves insomnia like a nice warm glass of regret, depression and self-loathing.” D. D. Barant, Dying Bites
I hate it when Mr. Bennet has ignored so much and then suddenly falls victim to his maudlin regrets that he didn’t listen to Lizzy or didn’t do anything for his family. He waited until it fell completely in the dirt before he suddenly realized… I should have gotten off my duff and done something. It grated on my nerves.
Jane Bennet: “We don’t have to be defined by the things we did or didn’t do in our past. Some people allow themselves to be controlled by regret. Maybe it’s a regret, maybe it’s not. It’s merely something that happened. Get over it.” Pittacus Lore, I Am Number Four
This whole Charles Bingley business seemed unnecessary. What was the point of even mentioning him if he wasn’t going to be in the picture. With no epilogue… what the heck happened? Is it over? What???
Although this story was about Lydia, we rarely saw her. Our story moved around a bit among the various characters discussing what they were doing or not doing, taking up time. Lizzy had pertinent information and both her father [once again], as well as her uncle, failed to listen to her and heed her warning. It took Mr. Darcy to listen and come to the rescue… allowing Darcy the hero moment… again… and again.
There wasn’t a climax per say… just a declaration/discovery and then it was over. The falling action and denouement happened within a few paragraphs. What the heck? A lot of the action happened off the page and we were told about it… not shown. Characters were mentioned and then abandoned. What happened with them? Is there another book?
In previous reviews, the errors were mentioned, such as: modern phrases, redundancies, duplicate words within the same paragraph, missing words, inane dialogue, use of mother vs mama, Miss Benne.
“We all do things we desperately wish we could undo. Those regrets just become part of who we are, along with everything else. To spend time trying to change that, well, it’s like chasing clouds.” Libba Bray
I went to Amazon to look at the author’s page… nothing. Not sure what that means… just saying.
I'm not here to discourage writers with good ideas. The writing needs a great deal of editing, but the storyline is one I haven't read ever before (and I read this genre a lot!)
This very much feels like a rough draft but even moreso I can't help but wonder if the writer either has terrible spellcheck or doesn't have English as a first language. I don't mean that to sound mean, I honestly sense a consistent issue with misunderstood or miscorrected phrases. For example:: 'Expecting the worse of someone' is used more than twice, in that exact wording. 'To all intensive purposes' was another that struck me as odd. This is not bad writing, but basic misunderstanding of the language. Perhaps the author is just young, I'm not sure, but many of the issues really could be addressed by a good editor.
Personally, I would love to see this fleshed out, with more in depth character development, especially for Lydia. I felt that while much of the interactions felt real, and I do enjoy that, the conversation is always very stilted. I see so much potential in this book, and I sincerely hope that the author will allow someone to help them make this good as it can be!!
This story is SO good, but the writing is SO poor!
It's bad enough that Lydia disappears with Wickham for two weeks, but after the pair have been discovered and their marriage plans are set she is found in his room (when she's supposed to be at the Gardiners') with him dead on the floor and a bloody knife in her hand. Lydia being Lydia, she is certain that once she explains she didn't kill him, she'll be believed and released. Sorry, Lydia. Instead, she's in the slammer accused of murder.
What a great set-up for a P&P story!
Unfortunately, it's a huge disappointment instead. Sorry, Reader. I don't know for sure, but it reads as if either English is the author's second language or this is a very inept translation. Along with various sentence fragments, misused words, awkward phrasing, and non-Regency terms, the dialogue is wooden.
In addition, the story includes various undeveloped divergences from canon. For example, I'm not sure what the deal is with Charles Bingley.
Even worse, the primary plot resolves abruptly and too easily.
We have seen stories where Darcy is on trial for Wickham's murder. We have seen at least one where Elizabeth was accused of killing Mr. Collins. An number of poor souls have expired at the hands of Wickham, Younge...Even Colonel Forster. This is, however, the first time I have read a tale where Lydia was (to use the author's word) trialled for anything. That is the sole reason this earns more than 1 star. Grammar and vocabulary (another review complained about non-period words and expression...true...but that is not the biggest) were in need of significant work. Also, the conclusion was rushed with no clear resolution in terms of the Lydia question. Is she increasing? Doubtful considering she was in lockup for an indeterminate number of months. If not, why not? Would have offered a superb plot extension. Do not wait for the sequel (Jane?) in which the Bennet daughter faces ????
This could have been really well done but because of the short nature of the story and the modern style of speech in the writing I found it lacking. I was also put off by the fact that Elizabeth visited the jail. With some editing and a bit of fleshing out this could be a great story.
I really cannot recommend this book because I didn't enjoy it. The plot is clever enough but there were just so many weird things that would pop me out of the story.
The premise is that while in London awaiting her wedding Lydia stumbles upon the dead body of JAFF's favorite murder victim - dear Wickham. She is arrested and bound over for trial... oh what will the Bennet's do? Be doubly ruined because their eloping daughter is now a murderer. ...
The book has too many bizarre subplots, illogical actions and idiocracy.
This story has a lot of promise. It is very creative. But the author's language usage, phrasing is consistently awkward. In her efforts to sound appropriate to the time period many grammatical errors are made. The word "simply" is overused to the point of being annoying. And she uses the word "worse" where she should use the word "worst". With some editing this could have been a great story. I suggest a rewrite with an honest and kind editor.
This book started the day before Lydia's wedding to Wickham. However, she finds him dead in his room and she is arrested for his murder.
The timings of this story were a little puzzling with weeks going by before a witness can be found but who was hanging around the inn for days after the murder. I didn't like how this story resolved itself. It was completely unrealistic. I also didn't like Bingley's story. The first half was better than the second.
The language in this book is not in keeping with the times and there are a number of typing errors which are always distracting. It felt to me that there were lots of loose ends, with only story getting a resolution is that between Elizabeth and Darcy.
In this book, Wickham is murdered on the morning of his wedding day and Lydia is blamed for his murder. Lizzie and the rest of the family are involved in trying to get Lydia's innocence proved, at the same time as trying to mitigate the scandal of having their sister accused of murder. And there is Darcy beside Lizzie all the while.
I didn't hate this novella, it was just very meh for me. Lydia, despite being the focus of the plot, isn't really involved in this book, though we do get some nice scenes between Lizzie and Kitty and Jane's views on her family.
There are some scenes with Bingley which seemed a little out of place, considering what it says about the P&P book itself, and everything fades into the background as Lizzie and Darcy start to approach a place where Darcy feels like he has won Lizzy's love and respect.
This had a great premise and I think with a longer book, this would have been pulled off nicely. As it stands, the book skims over several interesting plot points and focuses on the romance, which is a little flat. There were also a lot of typos, so I think it needs another proofread.
I won't be writing a full review of this book because I didn't get past the first three chapters. I could hardly read it. The book was rife with errors: convoluted sentence structure (four clear cases of non-understandable sentences plus many awkward sentences), three sentence fragments, a clear run-on sentence, missing or extra punctuation (14 missing commas), telegraphese in dialogue, four modernisms, an incomplete thought, a wrong word, a missing verb, and other punctuation errors, just in the first three chapters. I'll be reporting this book to Amazon. I think I got it for free so I don't feel too bad. The plot looked interesting, but the writing was awful. I never give less than three stars until now. It's a ripoff to be selling this book. But the cover's pretty.
ETA: It looks like the book's already been pulled from Amazon.
This book is like reading a "Little House on the Prairie" book. Written for 8 to 12 year olds, with no depth of character and no common sense. Jane Austen's characters float along in a golden bubble all sweetness and light regardless of the circumstances. I rather think I wouldn't recommend this book to even 8 to 12 year old children.
Lydia Bennet has run off with Wickham, but thankfully they have been found and tomorrow will be their wedding today. Back from a shopping trip Lydia arrives at their Inn in London and finds Wickham dead. Soon she is arrested. Feel that the book could do with proof reading, and suggestions about the story. For example, why is Lydia still at the Inn and allowed to go shopping on her own.
This story had an interesting premise, and felt a bit like the story was being blown up like a balloon, the the author just let go of it and much like the story, it flew away to little satisfaction for anyone. I'm still not exactly sure what the title stands for, save the Regret of having picked up the book to read.
Things That Worked: - This is one of the few stories that made me really feel for Lydia Bennet. It's one thing for her to live a life where we know she is going to be constantly in debt, but entirely another for the possibility of being sentenced to death for a murder we know she didn't commit.
Things That Didn't Work: - The pacing of this story was off. We were in the middle of solving a murder mystery... then Elizabeth just left and wasn't in the center of it and we weren't either. The mystery also turned out to be not super difficult to figure out, it just took people willing to actually, you know, investigate. - The writing really needed a thorough editing.
Things That Were Mixed: - Intriguing concept, just not something that was able to be actualized in this story.
As per the title there is so much regret and general unhappiness in this Pride and Prejudice variation. Lydia comes across her fiancé, Wickham, dead in his road and is arrested for his murder. Everyone must come to terms with their feelings and consequences of the events. Some find strength they didn't know they had, others feel blame, worry, fear, etc. the only glimmer of light is Darcy doing all that he can because of his love for Elizabeth.
Short novel but I found it too simple. It was wrapped up easily it seemed, simply and the feelings expressed between Darcy and Elizabeth were suddenly declare. Felt that it could have had more depth.. it would have required more pages to creat that..
This variation is so sad! It seems the only good thing that happens is Darcy and Elizabeth's engagement. But that is in the last 5 minutes. Oh yeah, Wickham's death in the first 5 minutes is pretty good too. For a good cry, put yourself in Jane's, Charlotte's, Mr Bennet's, or Lydia's shoes.