Live, Love, Longbourn

by Jennifer Becton

Elizabeth Bennet’s dream of refurbishing Longbourn Farm and opening it as a quaint mountain inn is on the cusp of coming true. But when the nearby city of Rosings threatens the future of her small farming town, Elizabeth must swallow her pride and ask for the help of Liam Darcy, the man who offended her and then disappeared years ago.

Successful sports marketing exec Liam Darcy returns to Meryton in the hopes of claiming his inheritance and escaping town quickly. But his plans change the moment he encounters Elizabeth Bennet, the only woman who might have tempted him to stay. When he discovers that his own aunt Catherine de Bourgh and her henchman Arthur Collins are threatening the future of Meryton, he decides he must not allow it.

Together, Elizabeth and Liam must fight the overreaching grasp of the city of Rosings before it destroys not only the town of Meryton but the future of Elizabeth and all the Bennet sisters.

Live, Love, Longbourn is the first book in the Bennet Sisters Series, a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in three parts. These lighthearted novels focus on Elizabeth, Jane, and Lydia and their lives in the quaint mountain town of Meryton, Georgia. If you love Jane Austen and Hallmark movies, you’ll love The Bennet Sisters.

Genres: Romance, Jane Austen

225 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 12, 2020

Reviews

[Meredith (Austenesque Reviews)]

Small Town Romance + Jane Austen = 💗🙌🏼

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: Review Copy from Author

TYPE OF NOVEL: Modern Pride and Prejudice Romance

THE PREMISE: The small farm-town of Meryton is at risk of being incorporated into the kitschy touristy-trap that is Rosings. And Elizabeth is determined to do all she can to protect her recently purchased (and currently being refurbished) Longbourn Farms, preserve the way of life in this beloved farm-town, and fight against the heinous and hideous plans of Rosings Chairwoman, Catherine de Bourgh. Even if it means asking for help from the frustrating and gorgeous enigma that is Liam Darcy…

MY THOUGHTS:

A contemporary Pride and Prejudice romance with small-town vibes? Sign me up! 🙋🏻‍♀️I love that the small farm-town of Meryton is featured so prominently in this story. And I enjoyed the charming and familiar vibe Jennifer Becton created in this small-town with its town meetings, well-loved shops in the town square, and frequently visited local hotspots. Jennifer Becton did a wonderful job of inventing a small town that feels authentic and inviting. And she got very clever with her fictional creation. I’m already falling in love with Meryton, Georgia, and looking forward to my next visit to Appalachia Apothecary, Pleasing Pages, Modiste, and especially Netherfield Outdoor Adventures!

As you might imagine given its premise, this story follows its own course and does not adhere closely to the plot points and sequence of events of Pride and Prejudice. Which I often find is very refreshing! I enjoyed several of the new twists Jennifer Becton explored in this story, with my favorites being the more supportive and harmonious relationship between the Bennet sisters (not just between Jane and Elizabeth) and Elizabeth’s prior history and feelings towards Liam Darcy. I loved how both Elizabeth and Liam were aware of their strong attraction to each other, how they both tried to suppress or deny that there is anything between them, and how they continued to misjudge each other. In addition, I loved Liam’s fervent desire to prove himself and become something on his own – outside of his family’s prestige and connections.

I heartily approve of the choice to make Rosings Chairwoman Catherine de Bourgh the scheming villainess in this tale and I quite enjoyed her odious and dense lackey and what happens to him! But I did occasionally think that sometimes Catherine’s speeches and opinions felt a little forced and out of place – like they followed her Regency speeches too closely and didn’t fit well with all the updated twists the author created. In addition, part of me wished for a little more time spent on the romantic developments between Liam and Elizabeth. But I know my personal preference is for a lot of romance, and the author may have purposely kept the romance light in order to devote more time to the town’s conflict.

With its small-town charm, heartwarming sense of community, and clever nods to Pride and Prejudice, Live, Love, Longbourn is a delightful and very promising beginning to Jennifer Becton’s The Bennet Sisters series! I cannot wait to return to Meryton and see what happens with the Bennet sisters next!

Austenesque Reviews

[Sheila Majczan]

This is a modern day story set in Meryton, Georgia. Elizabeth has invested all her savings in the neglected family farm, Longbourn, hoping to make it into an event center and wedding/reception location.

However, she soon learns that Lady Catherine de Bourgh has plans to incorporate the next community, Rosings, into a city and then annex all the surrounding country side which will then allow her through the city's legislature to tax and prohibit certain operations (such as farming or animals) which will allow the farms to fall to her greedy hands as they can no longer sustain a living.

Elizabeth lives next door to Pemberley Place which is owned by her good friend, Mrs. Reynolds, also known as Nan, as she basically was the Nanny for Liam Darcy and his sister who were neglected by their own father while growing up in Atlanta with him. Nan took them to her home in the country as often as possible. So it was that Elizabeth and Liam were friends growing up until one day he kissed and then walked away.

Now he's back which she discovers when she visits Nan to ask for advice and help to save Meryton from Catherine de Bourgh. Liam just happens to be sitting in her kitchen and has just been gifted with Pemberley Place as Nan has moved into a retirement community nearby.

So this story is about the legal steps taken by those trying to save the rural character of Meryton vs the power and money Catherine has at her power as she pushes for Rosings' incorporation. Furthermore it is also about the relationship between Elizabeth and Liam. Is his family the most important influence in his life or did that kiss so long ago have any meaning and why did he walk away?

There are five sisters and Charlotte is part of this story. We also have Arthur Collins who has a small part. There are some Wickham brothers but they stay in the background.

I enjoyed this story, which kept my interest and was not a long read, at all.

[Debbie]

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

Cute modern story, but I don't find it very Pride and Prejudice-like despite the obvious reference in the title which, in this case, is the old farmhouse Elizabeth Bennet purchased and is renovating to turn into a B&B. There are five Bennet sisters, whose parents are dead. Elizabeth and Liam Darcy have a history that goes back to high school. One kiss, and he immediately disappeared and hasn't returned to the area in years. Now he's back (a little Persuasion-ish), staying at nearby Pemberley Place, owned by Nan Reynolds - but Nan has a major surprise in store for him during his visit.

Catherine de Bourgh is the villain, and she's making evil plans to expand the tacky tourist town of Rosings to swallow up Elizabeth's rural farming community and destroy it. The names of P&P characters pop up in various roles, some with a closer parallel to Jane Austen's counterpart than others.

It's not a bad romance, but I would've felt more comfortable with it as an original story rather than borrowing Pride and Prejudice names and references throughout.

[Ree]

Very Enjoyable
Reviewed in Canada on April 15, 2020
Very enjoyable modern variation of Pride and Prejudice. I loved the setting and storyline, and especially the character portrayal of Lydia (for a good change). Well written and I recommend.

[Faustine]

Nice style of writing.
However I thought there wasn’t enough pride and prejudice action.

[Vonne]

**Actually 3.5-rating**

Oooo, I had such hopes for this one. It feels more like a Women's Lit. Everything that was connected to Pride & Prejudice happened years ago when this Elizabeth & Liam Darcy knew each other in high school. A lot of P&P isn't truly mirrored in this fic...I mean, for one, the Bennett sisters lost their parents and now live with their Uncle & Aunt Gardnier. These sisters are intact and aged-out, so everyone is above the age of 18. It's going to be weird to read the other books in this series because Jane doesn't have a Jane & Bingley story. At least, Charles doesn't have "Netherfield" and they don't have a romance flourishing. They pretty much ignore one another and Charles inherits a track of land, maybe this means he'll name it Netherfield. We still have a Meryton...a Rosings...a Charlotte Lucas with a Mr. [Arthur] Collins and a meddling Aunt De Burgh.

The weirdest change was Elizabeth and Liam Darcy, who, as I said, knew each other in college and that whole awkward moment was actually turned into a kiss on a porch that Caroline Bingley witnessed and then shamed them for doing it. Elizabeth always felt Liam Darcy disliked her even though he showed some interest. I mean, he KISSED her, so that made her feel admired and important, but there is still a class difference - Darcy is rich and Elizabeth is not just middle class but since graduating college she is now independently earning her own money. She had money enough to buy Longbourn Estates which she wants to turn into a Bed & Breakfast but also a place where special events can be had, like weddings and celebrations. The thing is that her property borders between Meryton & Rosings...and if the Pemberley Place Liam Darcy inherits is bought/sold, whoever takes over the property can change her status. She emphatically wants to stay in Meryton so she can help flourish its economy and help the town grow in population and create jobs.

Another weird change is Liam Darcy's story. He did grow up on Pemberley Place but he was raised by an "Aunt"/ Nanny/housekeeper who actually owns the place. There is a Georgie and at the telling of this story she is in college. Liam doesn't live in Meryton anymore; he works and lives in Atlanta. There also seems to not be a "George Wickham" although there is an establishment...a bar & grille that isn't too spectacular [almost in a seedy part of town] called Wickham's and it's possibly run by "parents" and not George, himself.

Basically, Elizabeth needs to talk to the owner of Pemberley Place and see if she can make a bargain/deal because she shares land/property with them. It turns out in the span of a few hours of Liam Darcy returning to Meryton he has suddenly inherited Pemberley Place and now everyone is trying to swindle deals with him, especially his own Aunt when she sends her peon Arthur Collins to do her bidding. And Aunt De Burgh is actually some big-wig city council member of the town of Rosings, who can make or break people. She does have her usual confrontation with Elizabeth like she does in the OG-text, but it's a scary situation for modern times where the first meeting is of Aunt De Burgh using a county deputy sheriff to nearly arrest Elizabeth but not bring her to jail but to a business office. It was truly creepy and made it very clear Aunt De Burgh is at a Cruella Deville-level.

Maybe the only other similarities to P&P were some strange happenings of dialogue that the Author made fit into the context of a modern discussion. It was very odd but interesting.

The reason I say this is more Women's Lit is it's more of a personal exploration of individual feelings and people figuring out their emotions apart from whom they love or are falling in love with. There is no heavy sexual content other than some minor hints at Liam Darcy & Elizabeth slipping indoors to finish their kissing - and anything else - once they decide on their HEA. SO all these subtle changes to Elizabeth and Liam Darcy's story makes me wonder how the other sisters' books will be told, if they wil have a "hint" of the OG-text or be flipped on their heads, too.

[Melissa Buell]

I love Jennifer Becton’s use of the original PRIDE AND PREJUDICE to add depth to this modern retelling. Lady Catherine as the power hungry land development overlord? Perfect! Mr. Collins as her lackey? Yup! (So good with the dialogue!!)
I love that Elizabeth Bennet stands up for what she believes in. She has a dream of what life could be and is willing to work hard to achieve it. The wedding venue business is perfect and I wish I could get married in an old barn now...Liam Darcy is perfect as the outwardly unapproachable Darcy who is actually a good guy inside...He just needs a reason to let it show.
I enjoyed that all five sisters had a part in this novel. I cannot wait for the next book! (I hope it’s Jane’s story...)

[Katie]

Short and interesting

This is a modern retelling. Lizzy has sunk her savings into restoring an old Fannie into an inn. Her sisters have various jobs and homes in the local town. However, she needs Darcy's help to save the town from his greedy aunt Catherine. While the plot does focus on saving the town, the main plot is the relationship development between Elizabeth and Darcy. There isn't a rejected proposal, but they have a history which fills in that plot point from the original story. Several characters make their appearance and fit well. I really liked Lydia in this version. The side storyline with Wickham could have been explored to extend the book, but it ended well, if a little quickly.

[Lu]

This was a Meh book for me.
I gave this a try because it was not a long book, and even though I love Pride and Prejudice (And also know I can not compare any adaptation to the original) there where several times I thought I would just DNF-it. I could not connect with the main characters, and the change of POVs was a little confusing. I felt their attraction was mainly phisycal and superficial.
i can not say everything was bad, the cover is cute and I liked that it was not just a modern day retelling, the author took some of the main parts and gave the story enough uniqueness that it was a good story.

[Madenna U]

This modern story uses the characters and relationships from Pride and Prejudice to tell the story of a sister struggling to always save the day. She has had a crush for years on the visiting rich boy who is doing everything he can to succeed in life on this own terms. Together they are working to save their town while working on their feelings about themselves and each other.

The title mentions it is the first in a series. I can’t wait for the next one.

[Stacy K]

1.5 first time read from this author. So I do enjoy a nice retelling of pride and prejudice but this story didn’t do it for me. I just skimmed through this and by the ending it was just ok.