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Short and Sassy Series #1
Love and Other Machines: A Pride and Prejudice Regency Novella
Her life was going smoothly until love threw a wrench into it.
Her uncle’s pet and her mother's trial, Elizabeth Bennet has always been… different. Blessed with a quick mind and a knack for all things mechanical, sometimes the simplest things—like love—are harder for her to fix.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is anything but simple. A gentleman by birth but an engineer at heart, he wastes no time in dismantling Elizabeth’s secret. The gentleman, however, has secrets of his own that cause him to linger, to falter, and then to risk everything.
A chance journey with Elizabeth’s uncle to Mr Bingley’s factory in Birmingham had seemed the ideal opportunity to indulge her fascination without risk to her reputation. But a lady of gentle birth and modest means must never tinker with machinery, and most certainly should not have grease on her cheek.
What began as a mechanical challenge becomes a personal test when rioters and old enemies turn the tables. Can Elizabeth and Darcy work together, or will the gears spin out of control?
Her uncle’s pet and her mother's trial, Elizabeth Bennet has always been… different. Blessed with a quick mind and a knack for all things mechanical, sometimes the simplest things—like love—are harder for her to fix.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is anything but simple. A gentleman by birth but an engineer at heart, he wastes no time in dismantling Elizabeth’s secret. The gentleman, however, has secrets of his own that cause him to linger, to falter, and then to risk everything.
A chance journey with Elizabeth’s uncle to Mr Bingley’s factory in Birmingham had seemed the ideal opportunity to indulge her fascination without risk to her reputation. But a lady of gentle birth and modest means must never tinker with machinery, and most certainly should not have grease on her cheek.
What began as a mechanical challenge becomes a personal test when rioters and old enemies turn the tables. Can Elizabeth and Darcy work together, or will the gears spin out of control?
88 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2019
82 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Alix James
60 books129 followersSatisfying romance with a happy ending
Alix James is a best-selling Jane Austen romance author. #janeaustenfan #janeaustenfans #janeaustenfanfiction #mrdarcy #austenadapations #austenvariations
Alix James is a best-selling Jane Austen romance author. #janeaustenfan #janeaustenfans #janeaustenfanfiction #mrdarcy #austenadapations #austenvariations
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 6, 2022
This was an excellent story with a very different side to Elizabeth and Darcy. They were more in tune [pun intended] than they realized. Review pending due to computer problems. I also preordered this and look forward to reading it again.
I have my computer for a bit as parts are ordered. Grrr!
“When a machine does a mistake, it’s not a mistake, something is wrong. When humans do mistakes, it is a mistake, but nothing wrong.” –Zisha Schnitzler, Rong Type: 66 Creative Typography Words by Zisha Schnitzler
Darcy: “That was what drew him to machines. They followed algorithms, not emotion—” –Marie Lu, Batman: Nightwalker
Machines made since to Darcy and he was naturally drawn to how they worked. He was fascinated and intrigued by the mathematical equations, calculations and drawings [schematics] that went with them. When Bingley’s machines started causing trouble, he called on his friend to accompany him to his factory in the north to see what might be causing the problem.
Elizabeth: “Men made machines.” –Lailah Gifty Akita
Enough said... as the quote indicates, men may make machines; however, some women are naturally mechanically inclined and Elizabeth Bennet was one of them. Uncle Gardiner had encouraged her fascination since she was a child. Her mother’s disappointment, that she wasn’t born the expected son, made her the least favorite in her gaggle of girls. She didn’t appreciate her brother or Mr. Bennet encouraging Elizabeth in such an unfeminine pursuit. Thank goodness, our story was away from Longbourn so we didn’t have to deal with her.
Gardiner had sold Bingley his equipment and when problems arose, he needed his niece Elizabeth to go with him to investigate. She had secretly helped him with his endeavors and knew the workings of his machines as well as or better than he. Since Jane and Elizabeth were already in London with the Gardiners, it was natural for both girls to accompany him to the north with Bingley and Darcy.
This was a clean ‘alternate universe’ for Austen’s P&P. Alix James created a believable story for our dear couple to meet and find the perfect mate in each other. For ODC it was like two cogs falling into place. They simply fit [**snicker** pub intended]. It was so natural for Darcy to see into the workings of machines better than the workings of men or women.
This was during the Luddite conflicts where men were smashing frames and Bingley feared for his equipment and factory. The militia had been called into the area and Jane and Elizabeth met one militia officer trying to maintain calm in the area. Oh, yeah, our local SBRB, Lieutenant Wickham. Maybe I shouldn’t call him that. Oh, what the heck. He was bad enough to nearly get ODC and several other people killed. I’d say that was a you-know-what thing to do. The SBRB.
Darcy and Elizabeth were both trying to figure out why the machines weren’t performing according to their function and design. This was so interesting. I don’t know a thing about steam engines, gears, belts and what makes them work, yet, James made me interested. I was fascinated. Hey, maybe I’m mechanically inclined. It could happen. Since this was novella length, we moved fairly quickly and used a limited cast of characters that didn’t clog up the works. OK… I’ll quit.
I will certainly add Alix James to my list of authors to watch. I received an ARC with no expectations of a review positive or otherwise. The views expressed are my own. I highly recommend this delightful story. I also pre-ordered this novella and will read it again. Expected launch date 10-17-19.
I have my computer for a bit as parts are ordered. Grrr!
“When a machine does a mistake, it’s not a mistake, something is wrong. When humans do mistakes, it is a mistake, but nothing wrong.” –Zisha Schnitzler, Rong Type: 66 Creative Typography Words by Zisha Schnitzler
Darcy: “That was what drew him to machines. They followed algorithms, not emotion—” –Marie Lu, Batman: Nightwalker
Machines made since to Darcy and he was naturally drawn to how they worked. He was fascinated and intrigued by the mathematical equations, calculations and drawings [schematics] that went with them. When Bingley’s machines started causing trouble, he called on his friend to accompany him to his factory in the north to see what might be causing the problem.
Elizabeth: “Men made machines.” –Lailah Gifty Akita
Enough said... as the quote indicates, men may make machines; however, some women are naturally mechanically inclined and Elizabeth Bennet was one of them. Uncle Gardiner had encouraged her fascination since she was a child. Her mother’s disappointment, that she wasn’t born the expected son, made her the least favorite in her gaggle of girls. She didn’t appreciate her brother or Mr. Bennet encouraging Elizabeth in such an unfeminine pursuit. Thank goodness, our story was away from Longbourn so we didn’t have to deal with her.
Gardiner had sold Bingley his equipment and when problems arose, he needed his niece Elizabeth to go with him to investigate. She had secretly helped him with his endeavors and knew the workings of his machines as well as or better than he. Since Jane and Elizabeth were already in London with the Gardiners, it was natural for both girls to accompany him to the north with Bingley and Darcy.
This was a clean ‘alternate universe’ for Austen’s P&P. Alix James created a believable story for our dear couple to meet and find the perfect mate in each other. For ODC it was like two cogs falling into place. They simply fit [**snicker** pub intended]. It was so natural for Darcy to see into the workings of machines better than the workings of men or women.
This was during the Luddite conflicts where men were smashing frames and Bingley feared for his equipment and factory. The militia had been called into the area and Jane and Elizabeth met one militia officer trying to maintain calm in the area. Oh, yeah, our local SBRB, Lieutenant Wickham. Maybe I shouldn’t call him that. Oh, what the heck. He was bad enough to nearly get ODC and several other people killed. I’d say that was a you-know-what thing to do. The SBRB.
Darcy and Elizabeth were both trying to figure out why the machines weren’t performing according to their function and design. This was so interesting. I don’t know a thing about steam engines, gears, belts and what makes them work, yet, James made me interested. I was fascinated. Hey, maybe I’m mechanically inclined. It could happen. Since this was novella length, we moved fairly quickly and used a limited cast of characters that didn’t clog up the works. OK… I’ll quit.
I will certainly add Alix James to my list of authors to watch. I received an ARC with no expectations of a review positive or otherwise. The views expressed are my own. I highly recommend this delightful story. I also pre-ordered this novella and will read it again. Expected launch date 10-17-19.
July 19, 2023
Very cute and different. This author seems to like giving main characters quirks ranging from idiosyncrasies to autism - and makes it work!
November 2, 2019
The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings. ~ Eric Hoffer
Mechanically-minded man wants to meet woman with similar ability. Object: nursery filled with miniature mathematicians. Apply in person.
OK, so Darcy doesn’t post a personal ad but his mathematical mind has rejected every young woman he has met until he agrees to travel to Bingley’s factory to help diagnose problems with the new machinery installed there. Also making the journey will be Mr. Gardiner, the developer of the equipment and his two nieces, Jane (who is betrothed to Bingley) and Elizabeth.
Sparks fly between Darcy and Elizabeth – at first angry sparks and then … not so angry sparks.
The challenge of repairing the machinery meets the challenge of dealing with rioting workers who fear the new machines will eliminate their jobs. And, of course, George Wickham will rear his handsome head to gum up the works.
I enjoyed this little love story. The writing and proofreading are well-done. I recommend the story to anyone who enjoys JAFF.
If people do not believe that mathematics is simple, it is only because they do not realize how complicated life is. ~ John Louis von Neumann
Mechanically-minded man wants to meet woman with similar ability. Object: nursery filled with miniature mathematicians. Apply in person.
OK, so Darcy doesn’t post a personal ad but his mathematical mind has rejected every young woman he has met until he agrees to travel to Bingley’s factory to help diagnose problems with the new machinery installed there. Also making the journey will be Mr. Gardiner, the developer of the equipment and his two nieces, Jane (who is betrothed to Bingley) and Elizabeth.
Sparks fly between Darcy and Elizabeth – at first angry sparks and then … not so angry sparks.
The challenge of repairing the machinery meets the challenge of dealing with rioting workers who fear the new machines will eliminate their jobs. And, of course, George Wickham will rear his handsome head to gum up the works.
I enjoyed this little love story. The writing and proofreading are well-done. I recommend the story to anyone who enjoys JAFF.
If people do not believe that mathematics is simple, it is only because they do not realize how complicated life is. ~ John Louis von Neumann
November 18, 2019
This story has a touch, an echo, of North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.
Charles Bingley owns a cotton mill in Birmingham. He is engaged to Jane Bennet and he buys machines from Mr. Gardiner. It is a time of unrest among mill employees and the Luddites are restless.
Elizabeth Bennet has a secret hobby; from her early years she has been interested on tinkering with and learning about mechanical things. This interest was fostered while in the nursery as her father, hoping for a boy, had bought boy-oriented toys. Then seeing how fascinated she was with those her uncle supported and encouraged that interest.
Bingley's factory is having a problem with one machine in that it is jerking and ruining some buttons and shells which are being stamped. The party goes to Birmingham to check into that and also so as to give Jane a tour of her future husband's factory. Darcy, staying at a different inn, joins the party as they tour the factory.
Elizabeth wants to examine the malfunctioning machine closer and decides to dress in a boy's clothing (which she has used in the past) and sneak into the factory just as it closes. However, she meets Darcy who is also puzzling over the problem machine. She hopes he has not recognized her but he did get a close look at her.
This mechanical problem and the Luddite unrest are the focus in this story. Elizabeth is sure Darcy looks with disdain upon a woman with such a "masculine" interest but his looks at and words to her at times are confusing. Wickham does show up and adds to the angst as Elizabeth is, of course, misled by his descriptions of Darcy.
I found this to be an interesting diversion. It was a short read.
Charles Bingley owns a cotton mill in Birmingham. He is engaged to Jane Bennet and he buys machines from Mr. Gardiner. It is a time of unrest among mill employees and the Luddites are restless.
Elizabeth Bennet has a secret hobby; from her early years she has been interested on tinkering with and learning about mechanical things. This interest was fostered while in the nursery as her father, hoping for a boy, had bought boy-oriented toys. Then seeing how fascinated she was with those her uncle supported and encouraged that interest.
Bingley's factory is having a problem with one machine in that it is jerking and ruining some buttons and shells which are being stamped. The party goes to Birmingham to check into that and also so as to give Jane a tour of her future husband's factory. Darcy, staying at a different inn, joins the party as they tour the factory.
Elizabeth wants to examine the malfunctioning machine closer and decides to dress in a boy's clothing (which she has used in the past) and sneak into the factory just as it closes. However, she meets Darcy who is also puzzling over the problem machine. She hopes he has not recognized her but he did get a close look at her.
This mechanical problem and the Luddite unrest are the focus in this story. Elizabeth is sure Darcy looks with disdain upon a woman with such a "masculine" interest but his looks at and words to her at times are confusing. Wickham does show up and adds to the angst as Elizabeth is, of course, misled by his descriptions of Darcy.
I found this to be an interesting diversion. It was a short read.
January 8, 2020
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars
Historically, Pride and Prejudice is set during England's Industrial Revolution. Birmingham, in the central part of the country, was one of the first cities to build factories.
In this variation, Mr. Bingley continues to take an active role in managing the family's button-making business. As it happens, Mr. Gardiner sells factory machines and machine parts. Thus, when Bingley leases the Netherfield estate, falls in love with Jane Bennet, and meets the rest of her family, it naturally leads Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Bingley to a mutually beneficial business relationship. Mr. Bingley makes a large purchase of Mr. Gardiner's machines and opens a new factory in Birmingham.
Elizabeth Bennet is an unusual gentlewoman who, having been assumed to be a boy in her mother's womb, came into the world with a nursery filled with boys' toys, an innate curiosity to learn how things worked, and an instinctive gift to fix them when they didn't. Her uncle, recognizing her talents, has encouraged them; so does Mr. Bennet (mostly to vex Mrs. Bennet). Elizabeth's aptitude with machines would be considered uncouth by fashionable society, and she keeps it a secret from all but her family.
Mr. Darcy is an unusual gentleman, having both the aptitude and the passion to pursue his interests in engineering and mathematics. This makes him an invaluable friend to Mr. Bingley when the Birmingham factory fails to operate according to expectations. The three gentlemen - Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Bingley, and Mr. Darcy - travel to inspect the operation, accompanied by Jane (Charles wants to show off his factory to his betrothed) and Elizabeth (who's itching to look into the factory's problems herself).
Mr. Darcy's behavior with Elizabeth is haughty and dismissive, and she knows her unladylike desire to examine the machinery would demean her even further in his eyes. The charming Mr. Wickham is stationed in Birmingham with the militia assigned to protect factories against the anti-industrial Luddites and rioters.
It's an inspired premise. This is a fairly short book, but it develops the story to a nice climax and resolution. I love the engineering tweak to Elizabeth's and Darcy's characters as well as the obvious social commentary on gender equality.
The novel does need additional exploration regarding one plot point. Mr. Darcy sends and receives urgent messages via express. The subject of this correspondence is implied but never really explained, leaving the reader to guess.
However, it's still a delightfully unique tale, and the writing is quite good. I enjoyed it.
Content is clean.
Historically, Pride and Prejudice is set during England's Industrial Revolution. Birmingham, in the central part of the country, was one of the first cities to build factories.
In this variation, Mr. Bingley continues to take an active role in managing the family's button-making business. As it happens, Mr. Gardiner sells factory machines and machine parts. Thus, when Bingley leases the Netherfield estate, falls in love with Jane Bennet, and meets the rest of her family, it naturally leads Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Bingley to a mutually beneficial business relationship. Mr. Bingley makes a large purchase of Mr. Gardiner's machines and opens a new factory in Birmingham.
Elizabeth Bennet is an unusual gentlewoman who, having been assumed to be a boy in her mother's womb, came into the world with a nursery filled with boys' toys, an innate curiosity to learn how things worked, and an instinctive gift to fix them when they didn't. Her uncle, recognizing her talents, has encouraged them; so does Mr. Bennet (mostly to vex Mrs. Bennet). Elizabeth's aptitude with machines would be considered uncouth by fashionable society, and she keeps it a secret from all but her family.
Mr. Darcy is an unusual gentleman, having both the aptitude and the passion to pursue his interests in engineering and mathematics. This makes him an invaluable friend to Mr. Bingley when the Birmingham factory fails to operate according to expectations. The three gentlemen - Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Bingley, and Mr. Darcy - travel to inspect the operation, accompanied by Jane (Charles wants to show off his factory to his betrothed) and Elizabeth (who's itching to look into the factory's problems herself).
Mr. Darcy's behavior with Elizabeth is haughty and dismissive, and she knows her unladylike desire to examine the machinery would demean her even further in his eyes. The charming Mr. Wickham is stationed in Birmingham with the militia assigned to protect factories against the anti-industrial Luddites and rioters.
It's an inspired premise. This is a fairly short book, but it develops the story to a nice climax and resolution. I love the engineering tweak to Elizabeth's and Darcy's characters as well as the obvious social commentary on gender equality.
The novel does need additional exploration regarding one plot point. Mr. Darcy sends and receives urgent messages via express. The subject of this correspondence is implied but never really explained, leaving the reader to guess.
However, it's still a delightfully unique tale, and the writing is quite good. I enjoyed it.
Content is clean.
January 29, 2020
Sweet quick read
Unique premises where our dear couple unite over a common interest in mechanics.
The entire story unfolds at Mr Bingley's button factory in Birmingham. I liked the initial animosity between ODC but the resolution to their differences and the development of their relationship passed a little too quickly. It felt like a book about mechanics with a little love story as a side dish. That said, it was well written, the author didn't fall into the most common pitfalls of writing in first person and she had a good grip on sarcasm.
Rated: Chaste
Unique premises where our dear couple unite over a common interest in mechanics.
The entire story unfolds at Mr Bingley's button factory in Birmingham. I liked the initial animosity between ODC but the resolution to their differences and the development of their relationship passed a little too quickly. It felt like a book about mechanics with a little love story as a side dish. That said, it was well written, the author didn't fall into the most common pitfalls of writing in first person and she had a good grip on sarcasm.
Rated: Chaste
October 28, 2019
What-if Lizzy was mechanically inclined
New slant on how to find a marriage partner not of the aristocracy.
Well written, a bit breezy. Kind of a lark, nice original idea.
New slant on how to find a marriage partner not of the aristocracy.
Well written, a bit breezy. Kind of a lark, nice original idea.
December 25, 2020
I think I will give this a 3.5 its cute and has its charms of Pride and Prejudice. A very quick read.
May 19, 2020
My Rating: 3.5*
"Odd pieces and parts fell together to make one functioning whole." (quote from the book)
The wheels are turning quickly in this fun, fast-paced novella that takes us on a journey to Birmingham. The equipment Mr. Bingley has bought from Mr. Gardiner for his button making factory is causing problems. Mr. Gardiner suggests a quick trip to investigate the issues bringing along Jane, who is betrothed to Mr. Bingley, and Elizabeth. Mr. Gardiner has an ulterior motive in bringing Jane and Elizabeth. One is for distraction and the other is for her unique capabilities...Lizzy loves machinery and how it works.
This 'what if' deviates from canon. Mr. Darcy did not come to Meryton with Mr. Bingley when he let Netherfield Park. So when he agrees to meet Mr. Bingley in Birmingham to help him, that is when he first meets the Bennet sisters. Mr. Darcy's mathematical and engineering interests are soon put to the test. When Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are required to partner together, a little grease, a bit of tinkering, and a lot of sparks are soon flying!
"Odd pieces and parts fell together to make one functioning whole." (quote from the book)
The wheels are turning quickly in this fun, fast-paced novella that takes us on a journey to Birmingham. The equipment Mr. Bingley has bought from Mr. Gardiner for his button making factory is causing problems. Mr. Gardiner suggests a quick trip to investigate the issues bringing along Jane, who is betrothed to Mr. Bingley, and Elizabeth. Mr. Gardiner has an ulterior motive in bringing Jane and Elizabeth. One is for distraction and the other is for her unique capabilities...Lizzy loves machinery and how it works.
This 'what if' deviates from canon. Mr. Darcy did not come to Meryton with Mr. Bingley when he let Netherfield Park. So when he agrees to meet Mr. Bingley in Birmingham to help him, that is when he first meets the Bennet sisters. Mr. Darcy's mathematical and engineering interests are soon put to the test. When Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are required to partner together, a little grease, a bit of tinkering, and a lot of sparks are soon flying!
November 27, 2019
Avid Reader
Definitely a different version for our dear couple. At least Darcy realized how unique Elizabeth was almost as soon as he met her. His proposal was not as bad as the Hunsford , but Elizabeth refusal was close enough. She is too thin skinned and impulsive believing Wickham over Darcy once again.
Definitely a different version for our dear couple. At least Darcy realized how unique Elizabeth was almost as soon as he met her. His proposal was not as bad as the Hunsford , but Elizabeth refusal was close enough. She is too thin skinned and impulsive believing Wickham over Darcy once again.
June 7, 2020
Darcy & Elizabeth fit like a piston and cylinder, but can they get past the wrench thrown in the way of their love?
The basic premise of any great Pride and Prejudice variation: Darcy falls for Elizabeth because she is unlike any woman he has ever met; she initially thinks he is an arrogant snob, until the day she realizes he is unique among men. The twist in this story: despite their gentry upbringing, both Elizabeth and Darcy have a fondness for mathematics and machinery. Elizabeth, substituting for the son her parents had hoped for, was allowed to play with toys that encouraged her mechanical inclination and later followed her uncle's passion for repairing gears, lathes, and other components of the factory equipment he sold. Darcy, conversely, studied equations and formulae by the hour in the vast libraries at Pemberley, becoming an expert engineer over time.
When Darcy witnesses a grease-stained Elizabeth at work and sees the fire in her eyes, he knows in a flash that he has met his match. But Elizabeth sees nothing but disdain in the piercing stares of the brooding aristocrat. How can Darcy convince her that he finds her quirky hobby and vivacious spirit endearing, especially after he accidentally insults her for her lack of dowry and poor family connections?
I loved the fiery sparks between Elizabeth and Darcy in this variation, and that Elizabeth and Darcy's uncommon intelligence took on new meaning with this characterization of them as mechanics and engineers. A quick read with a satisfying plot and ending. Watch all the gears fall together for Darcy and Elizabeth in Love and Other Machines.
The basic premise of any great Pride and Prejudice variation: Darcy falls for Elizabeth because she is unlike any woman he has ever met; she initially thinks he is an arrogant snob, until the day she realizes he is unique among men. The twist in this story: despite their gentry upbringing, both Elizabeth and Darcy have a fondness for mathematics and machinery. Elizabeth, substituting for the son her parents had hoped for, was allowed to play with toys that encouraged her mechanical inclination and later followed her uncle's passion for repairing gears, lathes, and other components of the factory equipment he sold. Darcy, conversely, studied equations and formulae by the hour in the vast libraries at Pemberley, becoming an expert engineer over time.
When Darcy witnesses a grease-stained Elizabeth at work and sees the fire in her eyes, he knows in a flash that he has met his match. But Elizabeth sees nothing but disdain in the piercing stares of the brooding aristocrat. How can Darcy convince her that he finds her quirky hobby and vivacious spirit endearing, especially after he accidentally insults her for her lack of dowry and poor family connections?
I loved the fiery sparks between Elizabeth and Darcy in this variation, and that Elizabeth and Darcy's uncommon intelligence took on new meaning with this characterization of them as mechanics and engineers. A quick read with a satisfying plot and ending. Watch all the gears fall together for Darcy and Elizabeth in Love and Other Machines.
June 15, 2024
Clean romance.
a quick and fun read. Fan fiction of(Austin’s)Pride and prejudice.
Elizabeth understands facts and sense more than emotions and sensibility. She likes to tinker with things with often disastrous results. When she meets Bingley’s friend Mr Darcy, she feels overly judged by his stares and seeming disapproval. They meet at the factory with her uncle and sister.
Of course all the other factories are having riots and unrest.
a quick and fun read. Fan fiction of(Austin’s)Pride and prejudice.
Elizabeth understands facts and sense more than emotions and sensibility. She likes to tinker with things with often disastrous results. When she meets Bingley’s friend Mr Darcy, she feels overly judged by his stares and seeming disapproval. They meet at the factory with her uncle and sister.
Of course all the other factories are having riots and unrest.
October 27, 2019
Creative but Thin
Nicely written little story. Good characterizations, interesting premise touching many canon plot points in an interesting, plausible AU setting. Could have, should have, been more fulfilling than a clean, quick novella.
Nicely written little story. Good characterizations, interesting premise touching many canon plot points in an interesting, plausible AU setting. Could have, should have, been more fulfilling than a clean, quick novella.
April 11, 2021
An okay little short that left some plot threads a little hanging. I liked the machine imagery and the fact that our ODC wasn't able to fix everything.
I got this as part as the Short and Sassy collection.
I got this as part as the Short and Sassy collection.
February 2, 2020
This novella was fun and romantic. I loved all the details!
June 23, 2025
I loved it!
It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. This is a Pride and Prejudice variation. You will see the most beloved characters in a whole new way. This is Book 1 in the Short and Sassy Series.
Her life was going smoothly until love threw a wrench into it. Her uncle’s pet and her mother's trial, Elizabeth Bennet has always been different. Blessed with a quick mind and a knack for all things mechanical, sometimes the simplest things, like love, are harder for her to fix. Fitzwilliam Darcy is anything but simple, a gentleman by birth, but an engineer at heart, he wastes no time in dismantling Elizabeth’s secret. The gentleman, however, has secrets of his own that cause him to linger, to falter, and then to risk everything.
A chance journey with Elizabeth’s uncle to Mr Bingley’s factory in Birmingham had seemed the ideal opportunity to indulge her fascination without risk to her reputation, but a lady of gentle birth and modest means must never tinker with machinery, and most certainly should not have grease on her cheek. What began as a mechanical challenge becomes a personal test when rioters and old enemies turn the tables. Can Elizabeth and Darcy work together, or will the gears spin out of control? So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. This is a Pride and Prejudice variation. You will see the most beloved characters in a whole new way. This is Book 1 in the Short and Sassy Series.
Her life was going smoothly until love threw a wrench into it. Her uncle’s pet and her mother's trial, Elizabeth Bennet has always been different. Blessed with a quick mind and a knack for all things mechanical, sometimes the simplest things, like love, are harder for her to fix. Fitzwilliam Darcy is anything but simple, a gentleman by birth, but an engineer at heart, he wastes no time in dismantling Elizabeth’s secret. The gentleman, however, has secrets of his own that cause him to linger, to falter, and then to risk everything.
A chance journey with Elizabeth’s uncle to Mr Bingley’s factory in Birmingham had seemed the ideal opportunity to indulge her fascination without risk to her reputation, but a lady of gentle birth and modest means must never tinker with machinery, and most certainly should not have grease on her cheek. What began as a mechanical challenge becomes a personal test when rioters and old enemies turn the tables. Can Elizabeth and Darcy work together, or will the gears spin out of control? So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
November 11, 2022
Status: Read November 10, 2022
via Elizabeth Bennet: Short and Sassy: Four Pride and Prejudice Tales
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
My Library Notes:
[ edition for rating purposes only ]
via Elizabeth Bennet: Short and Sassy: Four Pride and Prejudice Tales
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
My Library Notes:
[ edition for rating purposes only ]
July 30, 2020
A short novella, that doesn't alter Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice a great deal.
Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam are still the couple who fall in love. The only change, acknowledging that factories were becoming more mechanized.
Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam are still the couple who fall in love. The only change, acknowledging that factories were becoming more mechanized.
December 7, 2023
4,5 stars rounded up to 5 :-)
This is fresh take on Pride and Prejudice and who doesn’t love an engineering ;-D
(Ok, I am biased as a chemical engineer myself…)
But seriously who doesn’t love a story with Lizzie being as sharp as a whip and Mr Darcy almost instantly realizing her great worth.
This is fresh take on Pride and Prejudice and who doesn’t love an engineering ;-D
(Ok, I am biased as a chemical engineer myself…)
But seriously who doesn’t love a story with Lizzie being as sharp as a whip and Mr Darcy almost instantly realizing her great worth.
July 4, 2025
Love and Other Machines
A lovely quick read. The plot is different from other p&p variations with the same characters. It has plenty of drama without all the "does he love me? Does he not?"
A lovely quick read. The plot is different from other p&p variations with the same characters. It has plenty of drama without all the "does he love me? Does he not?"
February 22, 2022
DELIGHTFUL
An absolutely delightful and totally sweet variation inspired by author Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Alix James.
An absolutely delightful and totally sweet variation inspired by author Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Alix James.
January 18, 2024
Brisk and adorable
Perfectly balanced novella, delightful pencil sketch of a budding romance with a nod to the tension brought about with new technologies.
Perfectly balanced novella, delightful pencil sketch of a budding romance with a nod to the tension brought about with new technologies.
April 7, 2024
Sweet, succinct, and sassy. What happens when our dear couple turn out to be a couple of mechanical engineering nerds?
May 28, 2024
Not what I expected
I kept waiting for the other shoe to fall or something...... it was not what I expected at all did not like this book
I kept waiting for the other shoe to fall or something...... it was not what I expected at all did not like this book
November 16, 2024
Nice bolts
Nice bolts and wheels and grease smears. Love, honor and deception.
Machines and soldiers and explosions.
Entertaining short story, and a hea.
Nice bolts and wheels and grease smears. Love, honor and deception.
Machines and soldiers and explosions.
Entertaining short story, and a hea.
May 28, 2025
Clean just kisses
August 9, 2024
Lovely short variation. I really enjoyed it
February 25, 2020
This was a clean, sweet short story that would be appropriate for all readers. While still a Darcy and Elizabeth story, it was quite different, especially showing a young girl's interest in the workings of machinery.
March 15, 2020
I love Pride and Prejudice and its variations and this one is short but totally worth it! Set during the industrial revolution, you can see Elizabeth being knee deep in being a skilled mechanic even though she is a girl, hence the need to hide her passion and her skills (that’s Elizabeth after all, she has to be smart) and Darcy being a skilled engineer that needs to hide his passion that is not suitable to a nobleman. And being them you cannot expect nothing less than smart and funny situations that will arise between the two of them!
Definitely recommend it!
Definitely recommend it!
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