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A Wilful Misunderstanding: A Pride and Prejudice Second Chance Romance Variation
The moment he saw her at the assembly in Meryton, he knew he loved her.
WHEN FITZWILLIAM DARCY MEETS ELIZABETH BENNET in the fateful autumn of 1811, their mutual infatuation is immediate and undeniable. Within months, they are married and spend a blissful winter at Pemberley, falling more deeply in love with each other than either might have imagined possible. But spring in London proves more challenging to them. Accident and artifice join to devastating effect for the young couple, destroying their felicity and creating an outcome neither might have imagined.
TWO YEARS LATER, happenstance reunites them. Sorrow and anger have built walls between them but can the love they once shared remains. Will it be enough to conquer the sins of the past? Is the love they still hold within them strong enough to prevail over the anger and mistrust that tore them apart?
WHEN FITZWILLIAM DARCY MEETS ELIZABETH BENNET in the fateful autumn of 1811, their mutual infatuation is immediate and undeniable. Within months, they are married and spend a blissful winter at Pemberley, falling more deeply in love with each other than either might have imagined possible. But spring in London proves more challenging to them. Accident and artifice join to devastating effect for the young couple, destroying their felicity and creating an outcome neither might have imagined.
TWO YEARS LATER, happenstance reunites them. Sorrow and anger have built walls between them but can the love they once shared remains. Will it be enough to conquer the sins of the past? Is the love they still hold within them strong enough to prevail over the anger and mistrust that tore them apart?
412 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2020
216 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
October 7, 2020
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
I received an ARC of this story. Amy is a favorite author of mine.
In this variation Darcy takes a second look at Elizabeth Bennet when Bingley urges him to dance and points Elizabeth out at the Meryton Assembly. He is smitten, as is she, and in short order he is asking Mr. Bennet for her hand. Mr. Bennet is not happy that the couple has only known each other for several days and shares that qualm with Darcy. Darcy is in love and sees nothing but happiness. His friends and relatives, who have viewed the couple together, see a man madly in love.
Fate in the form of both Caroline Bingley and Georgiana Darcy has a hand in disrupting the passionate beginning to ODC's marriage. You will have to read it to gain knowledge of those circumstances.
How Darcy reacts to events is devastating to Elizabeth and death peals ring on their marriage. Disappointingly he never says one word to his wife about what is wrong: he gives her the silent treatment, a cold shoulder, never giving her an answer as she begs to know what is wrong. And so he sends her away...far away, where she is alone and has NO ONE to talk to, and really no one to care much about whether she is even eating or sleeping well.
Elizabeth writes letter after letter to Darcy but receives not one reply. Elizabeth decides that she will not wait in misery but takes off, leaving a good-bye note for him...if he ever cares enough to visit or come looking for her. Fortunately she finds solace but she is starting a new life with no strings to her old life.
As the story goes on Darcy learns about how mistaken he was and finally come looking for her...for months on end. When she is found much attention is given to whether forgiveness can be granted and whether it will be more a state of "forgive but not forget" than a return to the happy state of their first days of marriage. Communication is slowly shared, some in the form of saved letters which were not read.
There is much I am not saying here. Yes, there is a lot of angst and I so wanted to shake Darcy in this story. Elizabeth's hurt is very deep. But for one important person in her life she even contemplates ending it all, as she tells him later.
This story includes romance for the other Bennet sisters as well and Viscount Saye and his younger brother, Richard Fitzwilliam. We even get to see what happens to Caroline Bingley when her siblings turn their backs on her.
There is an epilogue.
I highly recommend this story but, remember, I love angst.
I received an ARC of this story. Amy is a favorite author of mine.
In this variation Darcy takes a second look at Elizabeth Bennet when Bingley urges him to dance and points Elizabeth out at the Meryton Assembly. He is smitten, as is she, and in short order he is asking Mr. Bennet for her hand. Mr. Bennet is not happy that the couple has only known each other for several days and shares that qualm with Darcy. Darcy is in love and sees nothing but happiness. His friends and relatives, who have viewed the couple together, see a man madly in love.
Fate in the form of both Caroline Bingley and Georgiana Darcy has a hand in disrupting the passionate beginning to ODC's marriage. You will have to read it to gain knowledge of those circumstances.
How Darcy reacts to events is devastating to Elizabeth and death peals ring on their marriage. Disappointingly he never says one word to his wife about what is wrong: he gives her the silent treatment, a cold shoulder, never giving her an answer as she begs to know what is wrong. And so he sends her away...far away, where she is alone and has NO ONE to talk to, and really no one to care much about whether she is even eating or sleeping well.
Elizabeth writes letter after letter to Darcy but receives not one reply. Elizabeth decides that she will not wait in misery but takes off, leaving a good-bye note for him...if he ever cares enough to visit or come looking for her. Fortunately she finds solace but she is starting a new life with no strings to her old life.
As the story goes on Darcy learns about how mistaken he was and finally come looking for her...for months on end. When she is found much attention is given to whether forgiveness can be granted and whether it will be more a state of "forgive but not forget" than a return to the happy state of their first days of marriage. Communication is slowly shared, some in the form of saved letters which were not read.
There is much I am not saying here. Yes, there is a lot of angst and I so wanted to shake Darcy in this story. Elizabeth's hurt is very deep. But for one important person in her life she even contemplates ending it all, as she tells him later.
This story includes romance for the other Bennet sisters as well and Viscount Saye and his younger brother, Richard Fitzwilliam. We even get to see what happens to Caroline Bingley when her siblings turn their backs on her.
There is an epilogue.
I highly recommend this story but, remember, I love angst.
October 6, 2020
4.75 rounded up to 5 stars
This is an Elizabeth and a Mr. Darcy who, in the modern era, would most certainly have divorced and probably never reconciled. The phrase "Marry in haste and repent in leisure" is quite apt, as both are given good reasons to believe that they fell in love and married someone who was hiding her/his true nature.
The book begins with Darcy falling head over heels for Elizabeth immediately after meeting her in Hertfordshire. He can't wait to marry her. She's the only woman he knows who seems to understand him completely and sees him as a man rather than a trophy. Life is bliss, and their early married days are filled with love and passion.
Unfortunately, Georgiana is close friends with Caroline Bingley who, as usual, is resentful after losing Darcy to someone she feels is so inferior to her. Caroline confides that Elizabeth and Mr. Wickham are in love but were denied Mr. Bennet's permission to wed, and that Elizabeth doesn't care for Darcy at all. Then, during a visit, Caroline plants some convincing evidence in Elizabeth's bedchamber. Unfortunately, Wickham also is seen around the house by one of the servants, who report this to Darcy.
Between the lie and the circumstantial evidence, Darcy totally buys the bogus story and freaks out. For all his apparent self-confidence, he's very insecure and has trouble believing someone as wonderful as Elizabeth could truly love him. First he distances himself from his wife emotionally, then he sends her away to his most remote estate while he considers what to do about his sham of a marriage.
Elizabeth is completely bewildered. What could she possibly have done to elicit this reaction? What happened to her devoted, besotted, loving husband? Darcy is too distressed to answer any of her questions before she leaves and never reads the letters she sends begging him to let her come home.
Months later, Darcy finally figures out how wrong he was and hastily travels to reunite with his wife, but Elizabeth has disappeared. With no word from him, living in miserable circumstances, she believes she cannot trust the man she married with her future. Sadly, it's a realistic portrayal of marriage in the Regency era: men - especially wealthy, socially powerful gentlemen - had total control over their wives.
The storyline is positively gut-wrenching. Two good people who ARE right for each other both believe they were deceived into falling in love. Ms. D'Orazio is a gifted author who wrings every drop of the reader's emotion out of this poignant story. It's told in alternating points of view between Elizabeth and Darcy, with both guilty of an excess of pride at different points in the book.
I did read the online version years ago and am pleased to note that a lot of irrelevant scenes and redundant details have been edited out. My only critique is due to my personal preference for books to conclude not long after all problems have resolved. (That's part of what I love about Georgette Heyer's works!) There IS a lovely Happily Ever After here, but I felt the final three chapters and epilogue were unnecessary. Having said that, I suspect that, after all the misery the characters have suffered, most readers will probably appreciate the additional pages about the Darcys' happy marriage and the well-deserved comeuppance for the villain of the piece.
The bottom line is that this is a unique, intense, emotionally evocative Pride and Prejudice. Be prepared to weep.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is an Elizabeth and a Mr. Darcy who, in the modern era, would most certainly have divorced and probably never reconciled. The phrase "Marry in haste and repent in leisure" is quite apt, as both are given good reasons to believe that they fell in love and married someone who was hiding her/his true nature.
The book begins with Darcy falling head over heels for Elizabeth immediately after meeting her in Hertfordshire. He can't wait to marry her. She's the only woman he knows who seems to understand him completely and sees him as a man rather than a trophy. Life is bliss, and their early married days are filled with love and passion.
Unfortunately, Georgiana is close friends with Caroline Bingley who, as usual, is resentful after losing Darcy to someone she feels is so inferior to her. Caroline confides that Elizabeth and Mr. Wickham are in love but were denied Mr. Bennet's permission to wed, and that Elizabeth doesn't care for Darcy at all. Then, during a visit, Caroline plants some convincing evidence in Elizabeth's bedchamber. Unfortunately, Wickham also is seen around the house by one of the servants, who report this to Darcy.
Between the lie and the circumstantial evidence, Darcy totally buys the bogus story and freaks out. For all his apparent self-confidence, he's very insecure and has trouble believing someone as wonderful as Elizabeth could truly love him. First he distances himself from his wife emotionally, then he sends her away to his most remote estate while he considers what to do about his sham of a marriage.
Elizabeth is completely bewildered. What could she possibly have done to elicit this reaction? What happened to her devoted, besotted, loving husband? Darcy is too distressed to answer any of her questions before she leaves and never reads the letters she sends begging him to let her come home.
Months later, Darcy finally figures out how wrong he was and hastily travels to reunite with his wife, but Elizabeth has disappeared. With no word from him, living in miserable circumstances, she believes she cannot trust the man she married with her future. Sadly, it's a realistic portrayal of marriage in the Regency era: men - especially wealthy, socially powerful gentlemen - had total control over their wives.
The storyline is positively gut-wrenching. Two good people who ARE right for each other both believe they were deceived into falling in love. Ms. D'Orazio is a gifted author who wrings every drop of the reader's emotion out of this poignant story. It's told in alternating points of view between Elizabeth and Darcy, with both guilty of an excess of pride at different points in the book.
I did read the online version years ago and am pleased to note that a lot of irrelevant scenes and redundant details have been edited out. My only critique is due to my personal preference for books to conclude not long after all problems have resolved. (That's part of what I love about Georgette Heyer's works!) There IS a lovely Happily Ever After here, but I felt the final three chapters and epilogue were unnecessary. Having said that, I suspect that, after all the misery the characters have suffered, most readers will probably appreciate the additional pages about the Darcys' happy marriage and the well-deserved comeuppance for the villain of the piece.
The bottom line is that this is a unique, intense, emotionally evocative Pride and Prejudice. Be prepared to weep.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 12, 2025
Married in haste, we may repent at leisure. — William Congreve, 1693
The Congreve quote fully describes this book: Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet meet at the Meryton Assembly. There is no insult; there is no refusal to dance. There is only mutual infatuation, leading to friendship, sexual attraction, and a desire to marry immediately.
Mr. Bennet counsels a period of courtship when the couple could become better acquainted. He is over-ruled and he allows the marriage to go forward.
For the first months, both are deliriously happy with every circumstance of their life together. And then … and then …
Quietly, she whispered, “I would not hate you nearly so much if I did not love you so.” — Amy D’Orazio (the voice of Elizabeth Darcy)
We must remember that this is a Darcy who does not have the benefit of the disastrous proposal at Hunsford. This Darcy has not learned to look at his faults. He has never whispered, “I could be wrong.”
We must remember that this is an Elizabeth who does not have the benefit of Darcy’s letter. This Elizabeth has never said, “Till this moment, I never knew myself.”
A jealous shrew (you know which one) plants evidence of infidelity. A jealous husband believes the lies and reacts.
It is difficult to be around someone who holds the power to destroy you. — Amy D’Orazio (the voice of Elizabeth Darcy)
The couple is separated for more than two years.
The period of their estrangement is heartbreaking to read but it is nothing to the heartbreak when they are reunited. Elizabeth agrees to return and has a very good reason to do so. She can no longer trust and attempts to have a civil relationship with her husband because she cannot manage a loving one.
Darcy apologizes repeatedly but the wall remains between them. What can he do to make a change?
It was not the fact that she had said she hated him that bothered him so. Hate was preferable to indifference at least. No, what had bothered him the most was how ardently she had expressed herself. — Amy D’Orazio (the voice of Fitzwilliam Darcy)
Prepare yourself for heartbreak. Then read “A Willful Misunderstanding.”
I received an ARC of this book with no promise of a review.
Please entrust me with your heart as you hold mine. — Amy D’Orazio (the voice of Fitzwilliam Darcy)
The Congreve quote fully describes this book: Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet meet at the Meryton Assembly. There is no insult; there is no refusal to dance. There is only mutual infatuation, leading to friendship, sexual attraction, and a desire to marry immediately.
Mr. Bennet counsels a period of courtship when the couple could become better acquainted. He is over-ruled and he allows the marriage to go forward.
For the first months, both are deliriously happy with every circumstance of their life together. And then … and then …
Quietly, she whispered, “I would not hate you nearly so much if I did not love you so.” — Amy D’Orazio (the voice of Elizabeth Darcy)
We must remember that this is a Darcy who does not have the benefit of the disastrous proposal at Hunsford. This Darcy has not learned to look at his faults. He has never whispered, “I could be wrong.”
We must remember that this is an Elizabeth who does not have the benefit of Darcy’s letter. This Elizabeth has never said, “Till this moment, I never knew myself.”
A jealous shrew (you know which one) plants evidence of infidelity. A jealous husband believes the lies and reacts.
It is difficult to be around someone who holds the power to destroy you. — Amy D’Orazio (the voice of Elizabeth Darcy)
The couple is separated for more than two years.
The period of their estrangement is heartbreaking to read but it is nothing to the heartbreak when they are reunited. Elizabeth agrees to return and has a very good reason to do so. She can no longer trust and attempts to have a civil relationship with her husband because she cannot manage a loving one.
Darcy apologizes repeatedly but the wall remains between them. What can he do to make a change?
It was not the fact that she had said she hated him that bothered him so. Hate was preferable to indifference at least. No, what had bothered him the most was how ardently she had expressed herself. — Amy D’Orazio (the voice of Fitzwilliam Darcy)
Prepare yourself for heartbreak. Then read “A Willful Misunderstanding.”
I received an ARC of this book with no promise of a review.
Please entrust me with your heart as you hold mine. — Amy D’Orazio (the voice of Fitzwilliam Darcy)
October 8, 2020
Rating: MA: adult themes discussed and described: angst meter: set high to near unbearable:
“It’s dreadful what little things lead people to misunderstand each other.” –L. M. Montgomery, Emily’s Quest
The above quote says it all… one little thing added to another little thing. Oh, how quickly the HEA of our dear couple fell in the dirt with a resounding thud. It was devastating, cruel, damning, and I hated everybody involved with the lies, vindictive, outright meanness, and cruelty behind what was done to one who was completely innocent. Oh, this hurts the heart and soul to read it. Our author Amy did not pull any punches when she did a slash and burn on the relationship between ODC. Gird your loins as this is high-octane angst that is not pretty nor is this the Darcy that we all know and love. This guy was a jealous, vindictive, cruel… just read it and form your own list of adjectives. I’ve run out of words that I can print in a public forum. It was that bad. Just saying.
Villains: Oh, we had a few. One was a willing participant although perhaps too young to realize what they were doing. I might dredge up a bit of forgiveness in me for them. They had a chance to redeem themselves further in the story. The main culprit… I wanted a damage report on them. However, our author did something quite amazing. Our Amy gave our heroine more heart and soul than I seemed to possess at the moment I was reading the story. We then witnessed grace and mercy demonstrated when I wanted our villain drawn and quartered. Yeah, I was not feeling the mercy. I’ll have to repent of that. Well done, Amy. That was a beautiful sentiment there with our villain. I don’t know if I would have had that within me but this was done in an amazing way that it really touched me.
“Somewhere between love and hate lies confusion, misunderstanding and desperate hope.” –Shannon L. Alder
Our Darcy, on the other hand… man… that guy. He really put his foot in it this time. This was what it was like for married women during that era. My modern sensibilities simply cannot wrap my thoughts around being owned by my husband with no rights or privileges as stated in the marriage laws of that era. This story presented the perfect example of how a woman does not have a leg to stand on… period.
What I didn’t like: It was too long. Certain places could have been cut or trimmed. We already knew the history and having it constantly repeated became a bit tedious. It wasn’t necessary to rehash it over and over again. Elizabeth eventually got on my nerves with her flipping back and forth with her emotions. Darcy got on my nerves apologizing to her every other sentence. Elizabeth was beating him over the head for his crimes against her for nearly half of the book. I grew tired of it. What they were doing to each other was abusive.
What I liked… Darcy’s Cousin, Viscount Saye. I love this guy. When the rake… em… I mean… when our Saye appears on the page… you know something amazing is going to happen. I just adore him in a story.
Release date 10-5-20: I originally read this as an unpublished story on the forums back in 2017. I loved it then and I was excited to see it become a published work. I immediately grabbed the preorder and was delighted when it downloaded. I love Amy’s writing. I was looking forward to seeing what changes she made in the story.
“There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil, a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome.”
“And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody.”
“And Yours,” he replied with a smile, “is wilfully to misunderstand them.” –Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
“It’s dreadful what little things lead people to misunderstand each other.” –L. M. Montgomery, Emily’s Quest
The above quote says it all… one little thing added to another little thing. Oh, how quickly the HEA of our dear couple fell in the dirt with a resounding thud. It was devastating, cruel, damning, and I hated everybody involved with the lies, vindictive, outright meanness, and cruelty behind what was done to one who was completely innocent. Oh, this hurts the heart and soul to read it. Our author Amy did not pull any punches when she did a slash and burn on the relationship between ODC. Gird your loins as this is high-octane angst that is not pretty nor is this the Darcy that we all know and love. This guy was a jealous, vindictive, cruel… just read it and form your own list of adjectives. I’ve run out of words that I can print in a public forum. It was that bad. Just saying.
Villains: Oh, we had a few. One was a willing participant although perhaps too young to realize what they were doing. I might dredge up a bit of forgiveness in me for them. They had a chance to redeem themselves further in the story. The main culprit… I wanted a damage report on them. However, our author did something quite amazing. Our Amy gave our heroine more heart and soul than I seemed to possess at the moment I was reading the story. We then witnessed grace and mercy demonstrated when I wanted our villain drawn and quartered. Yeah, I was not feeling the mercy. I’ll have to repent of that. Well done, Amy. That was a beautiful sentiment there with our villain. I don’t know if I would have had that within me but this was done in an amazing way that it really touched me.
“Somewhere between love and hate lies confusion, misunderstanding and desperate hope.” –Shannon L. Alder
Our Darcy, on the other hand… man… that guy. He really put his foot in it this time. This was what it was like for married women during that era. My modern sensibilities simply cannot wrap my thoughts around being owned by my husband with no rights or privileges as stated in the marriage laws of that era. This story presented the perfect example of how a woman does not have a leg to stand on… period.
What I didn’t like: It was too long. Certain places could have been cut or trimmed. We already knew the history and having it constantly repeated became a bit tedious. It wasn’t necessary to rehash it over and over again. Elizabeth eventually got on my nerves with her flipping back and forth with her emotions. Darcy got on my nerves apologizing to her every other sentence. Elizabeth was beating him over the head for his crimes against her for nearly half of the book. I grew tired of it. What they were doing to each other was abusive.
What I liked… Darcy’s Cousin, Viscount Saye. I love this guy. When the rake… em… I mean… when our Saye appears on the page… you know something amazing is going to happen. I just adore him in a story.
Release date 10-5-20: I originally read this as an unpublished story on the forums back in 2017. I loved it then and I was excited to see it become a published work. I immediately grabbed the preorder and was delighted when it downloaded. I love Amy’s writing. I was looking forward to seeing what changes she made in the story.
“There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil, a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome.”
“And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody.”
“And Yours,” he replied with a smile, “is wilfully to misunderstand them.” –Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
December 8, 2025
Emotional Roller-coaster
As a young person, I loved roller-coaster rides at theme parks. From the anticipation of climbing aboard as I waited in line; to the angst-filled climb up to the crest of the highest peak; to the exhilarating stomach-clenching drop to the lowest depths; then laughing so hard as the ride wound through the deep curves. Finally, relief and joy at disembarking and wanting to do it all over again.
A Wilful Misunderstanding will take you on such a ride. It is an emotional roller-coaster that will have you feeling happy as Darcy and Elizabeth come together as a married couple very early in the story. Then, with the help of a villainess, a naïve young sister, and Darcy himself, Elizabeth is banished from everything and everyone she loves. Ohhh the angst! Your heart breaks for her, you want to strangle Darcy, and damn that villainess! When truth comes to light, you cannot help but root for Darcy, as he strives to make amends for a horrid mistake.
“My pride and my absurd jealousy stood before me, and I wilfully misunderstood the situation and I am deeply ashamed of it.” —Fitzwilliam Darcy, as written by Amy D’Orazio
The first third or so of the story has you wondering if you will ever be able to unclench your stomach. You are relieved when, at last, you are given some hope. Be sure to have lots of tissues at hand, however, as they work to finally overcome their problems and reach their HEA.
I highly recommend this excellent story—another very well-written Pride and Prejudice variation by a great author. I know I will be taking this ride again.
June 15, 2021 - Audiobook
Outstanding narration by Stevie Zimmerman to go with an excellent book. When Elizabeth finally vents her spleen — so well done.
I still think Saye needs his own story.
As a young person, I loved roller-coaster rides at theme parks. From the anticipation of climbing aboard as I waited in line; to the angst-filled climb up to the crest of the highest peak; to the exhilarating stomach-clenching drop to the lowest depths; then laughing so hard as the ride wound through the deep curves. Finally, relief and joy at disembarking and wanting to do it all over again.
A Wilful Misunderstanding will take you on such a ride. It is an emotional roller-coaster that will have you feeling happy as Darcy and Elizabeth come together as a married couple very early in the story. Then, with the help of a villainess, a naïve young sister, and Darcy himself, Elizabeth is banished from everything and everyone she loves. Ohhh the angst! Your heart breaks for her, you want to strangle Darcy, and damn that villainess! When truth comes to light, you cannot help but root for Darcy, as he strives to make amends for a horrid mistake.
“My pride and my absurd jealousy stood before me, and I wilfully misunderstood the situation and I am deeply ashamed of it.” —Fitzwilliam Darcy, as written by Amy D’Orazio
The first third or so of the story has you wondering if you will ever be able to unclench your stomach. You are relieved when, at last, you are given some hope. Be sure to have lots of tissues at hand, however, as they work to finally overcome their problems and reach their HEA.
I highly recommend this excellent story—another very well-written Pride and Prejudice variation by a great author. I know I will be taking this ride again.
June 15, 2021 - Audiobook
Outstanding narration by Stevie Zimmerman to go with an excellent book. When Elizabeth finally vents her spleen — so well done.
I still think Saye needs his own story.
December 30, 2022
Listened on Audiobook. Narrator did a fantastic job dramatizing!
I waited on this one, was NOT going to read it, cause I knew it was going to bring all the feels, and GAH! I was right.
For a second there I was afraid Elizabeth was not going to get her MOMENT, but praise be she did! Man, I wanted to reach inside and whop Darcy upside the head (so many times)- DUDE! could you be any stupider??? I had pom-poms in my hands cheering her rage on while she was geeving it to heem...
I am not sure how much Lydia and Saye added to the overall story, apart from maybe helping the reader take a breath and while on the down going side of the roller-coaster of emotion.
Glad I waited, but even more glad I read it.
I waited on this one, was NOT going to read it, cause I knew it was going to bring all the feels, and GAH! I was right.
For a second there I was afraid Elizabeth was not going to get her MOMENT, but praise be she did! Man, I wanted to reach inside and whop Darcy upside the head (so many times)- DUDE! could you be any stupider??? I had pom-poms in my hands cheering her rage on while she was geeving it to heem...
I am not sure how much Lydia and Saye added to the overall story, apart from maybe helping the reader take a breath and while on the down going side of the roller-coaster of emotion.
Glad I waited, but even more glad I read it.
August 5, 2021
What If Mr. Darcy Married Elizabeth Before Improving His Temper and Pride?
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Gift from Author
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation
TIME FRAME: Begins with the Meryton Assembly
SYNOPSIS: Mr. Darcy feels an immediate attraction to Elizabeth Bennet at the Meryton Assembly and fully permits himself to fall in love with her and make her his wife. But without being properly humbled and full of selfish and overbearing tendencies, what kind of husband does Mr. Darcy make…?
WHAT I LOVED:
- A Jagged Journey: Amy D’Orazio flips the form a bit in this variation – beginning her tale with marriage, love, and the happiest example of domestic felicity, and then taking some sharp turns into insecurities, broken hearts, despair, and isolation. With such a unique course and order, this premise is one that will hold readers in thrall and prevent them from being able to predict how things will progress.
- Raw and Real Emotions: From her very first release readers have seen Ms. D’Orazio’s exceptional gift for creating the most emotionally-wrought and achingly poignant prose, but I swear she took it to the next level in this story. The. Next. Level. In this story she illustrates the many ways that relationships and love can be complicated – all the tangles and turns of building a life and sharing your complete self with another person. And how two strong emotions, such as love and mistrust or love and pain can coexist at the same time. I am deeply impressed by Ms. D’Orazio’s perceptive and authentic portrayal of all the complex emotions and realities her characters faced.
- Elizabeth: I love and admire Elizabeth for her heart and her resilience in this variation. I love how she gave her whole heart, mind, and soul to Mr. Darcy and how readers witness the strength and endurance of her love. Elizabeth is put through such an intense wringer in this story, and I admired her every decision and her strength to overcome and move forward. At a time when women had such limited options, seeing Elizabeth take care of and advocate for herself is truly a marvel.
- Darcy: I might be in the minority, but I sympathize with Mr. Darcy and his flaws in this story. He makes some horrific mistakes and his actions are in many ways unforgivable. But I also found his insecurities and irrationality completely conceivable. I appreciated this very human and flawed characterization of Mr. Darcy, but what I loved more was how he sets about to correct his wrongs and redeem himself in Elizabeth’s eyes. He is patient, deeply contrite, and understanding. I loved watching Mr. Darcy do all he could to help Elizabeth – the creative methods he explored and his gentle and heart-stopping reactions to her baby steps. In addition, I must also mention how much I loved the service Mr. Darcy provided for Elizabeth’s family – that was a perfect penance indeed, and so very lovely to witness!
- Beautifully Complete: Not only does Amy D’Orazio deliver a fully consuming and intricate story about Elizabeth and Darcy, she also creates interesting and unique storylines for many of the secondary characters in this story as well. I especially loved her inventive developments for Wickham, Caroline, Lydia, and of course, Saye. This was an immensely satisfying tale in so many respects – the attention to detail, the well-drawn characters (big and small), and how it all tightly fit together with nothing irrelevant and nothing wanting.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
I found it perfect as is.
CONCLUSION:
With her latest Pride and Prejudice variation – A Wilful Misunderstanding – Amy D’Orazio pens a most exquisitely stirring tale that will unquestionably pierce your soul and send you into a state of half agony, half hope. This penetrating, authentic, and moving Pride and Prejudice variation that explores broken relationships and human flaws is most deserving of high praise and readership!
Austenesque Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Gift from Author
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation
TIME FRAME: Begins with the Meryton Assembly
SYNOPSIS: Mr. Darcy feels an immediate attraction to Elizabeth Bennet at the Meryton Assembly and fully permits himself to fall in love with her and make her his wife. But without being properly humbled and full of selfish and overbearing tendencies, what kind of husband does Mr. Darcy make…?
WHAT I LOVED:
- A Jagged Journey: Amy D’Orazio flips the form a bit in this variation – beginning her tale with marriage, love, and the happiest example of domestic felicity, and then taking some sharp turns into insecurities, broken hearts, despair, and isolation. With such a unique course and order, this premise is one that will hold readers in thrall and prevent them from being able to predict how things will progress.
- Raw and Real Emotions: From her very first release readers have seen Ms. D’Orazio’s exceptional gift for creating the most emotionally-wrought and achingly poignant prose, but I swear she took it to the next level in this story. The. Next. Level. In this story she illustrates the many ways that relationships and love can be complicated – all the tangles and turns of building a life and sharing your complete self with another person. And how two strong emotions, such as love and mistrust or love and pain can coexist at the same time. I am deeply impressed by Ms. D’Orazio’s perceptive and authentic portrayal of all the complex emotions and realities her characters faced.
- Elizabeth: I love and admire Elizabeth for her heart and her resilience in this variation. I love how she gave her whole heart, mind, and soul to Mr. Darcy and how readers witness the strength and endurance of her love. Elizabeth is put through such an intense wringer in this story, and I admired her every decision and her strength to overcome and move forward. At a time when women had such limited options, seeing Elizabeth take care of and advocate for herself is truly a marvel.
- Darcy: I might be in the minority, but I sympathize with Mr. Darcy and his flaws in this story. He makes some horrific mistakes and his actions are in many ways unforgivable. But I also found his insecurities and irrationality completely conceivable. I appreciated this very human and flawed characterization of Mr. Darcy, but what I loved more was how he sets about to correct his wrongs and redeem himself in Elizabeth’s eyes. He is patient, deeply contrite, and understanding. I loved watching Mr. Darcy do all he could to help Elizabeth – the creative methods he explored and his gentle and heart-stopping reactions to her baby steps. In addition, I must also mention how much I loved the service Mr. Darcy provided for Elizabeth’s family – that was a perfect penance indeed, and so very lovely to witness!
- Beautifully Complete: Not only does Amy D’Orazio deliver a fully consuming and intricate story about Elizabeth and Darcy, she also creates interesting and unique storylines for many of the secondary characters in this story as well. I especially loved her inventive developments for Wickham, Caroline, Lydia, and of course, Saye. This was an immensely satisfying tale in so many respects – the attention to detail, the well-drawn characters (big and small), and how it all tightly fit together with nothing irrelevant and nothing wanting.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
I found it perfect as is.
CONCLUSION:
With her latest Pride and Prejudice variation – A Wilful Misunderstanding – Amy D’Orazio pens a most exquisitely stirring tale that will unquestionably pierce your soul and send you into a state of half agony, half hope. This penetrating, authentic, and moving Pride and Prejudice variation that explores broken relationships and human flaws is most deserving of high praise and readership!
Austenesque Reviews
December 8, 2021
Angst may be too weak of a word
Well, that was something. There were times I hoped Darcy would break his neck in a riding accident so Lizzy could finally find a HEA. A really well written story. I would rather the bad guys would have suffered more at the hand of Lizzy and Darcy . This Lizzy is to kind to punish but certainly Darcy’s out of control temper could have been put to good use. The author has created a civilized world of Darcys and Bennets so my wishes for vengeance might, perhaps, not have happened.
Great story. Large portions of it are hard to get through. There were a few places where I shed a tear or two so the emotion ring strong and clear. Can’t ask much more from a story. Thumbs up.
After thought. Given what an awful person Caroline is, an interesting what-if would be Darcy, knowing how impressionable and unwise Georgiana has been, Darcy tells Bingley , Caroline can have no contact with Georgiana again because she is not a proper person for Georgiana to learn from. Especially since she lied about Bingley courting Georgiana.
15 October, 2021
After rereading the story I must say, this is perhaps an important variation. It is so very more serious. It is about saving a relationship. Darcy has believed the wrong people and sent Lizzy away. Lizzy cannot believe Darcy would do this but he certainly has. She fears for her health, her life, and the life of her child. She was unknowably pregnant. She escapes and goes elsewhere where she can be safe.
When Darcy finds out he was lied to and Lizzy did nothing wrong, he searches 2 years for her. Eventually he stumbles upon her and the rest of the book is about seeing if the relationship can be saved. No matter what Darcy does from this point on, no matter if he acts PERFECT for the rest of his life, the past cannot be erased. How can Lizzy ever trust him again. The rest of the book is just perfect telling the story about if they can refind their HEA, or will they live together civilly without love or will Lizzy have to escape him again. I’d I was Darcy I don’t know how I could ever forgive myself, even if everyone in the world forgave me.
Very emotional story, nearly perfect.
Well, that was something. There were times I hoped Darcy would break his neck in a riding accident so Lizzy could finally find a HEA. A really well written story. I would rather the bad guys would have suffered more at the hand of Lizzy and Darcy . This Lizzy is to kind to punish but certainly Darcy’s out of control temper could have been put to good use. The author has created a civilized world of Darcys and Bennets so my wishes for vengeance might, perhaps, not have happened.
Great story. Large portions of it are hard to get through. There were a few places where I shed a tear or two so the emotion ring strong and clear. Can’t ask much more from a story. Thumbs up.
After thought. Given what an awful person Caroline is, an interesting what-if would be Darcy, knowing how impressionable and unwise Georgiana has been, Darcy tells Bingley , Caroline can have no contact with Georgiana again because she is not a proper person for Georgiana to learn from. Especially since she lied about Bingley courting Georgiana.
15 October, 2021
After rereading the story I must say, this is perhaps an important variation. It is so very more serious. It is about saving a relationship. Darcy has believed the wrong people and sent Lizzy away. Lizzy cannot believe Darcy would do this but he certainly has. She fears for her health, her life, and the life of her child. She was unknowably pregnant. She escapes and goes elsewhere where she can be safe.
When Darcy finds out he was lied to and Lizzy did nothing wrong, he searches 2 years for her. Eventually he stumbles upon her and the rest of the book is about seeing if the relationship can be saved. No matter what Darcy does from this point on, no matter if he acts PERFECT for the rest of his life, the past cannot be erased. How can Lizzy ever trust him again. The rest of the book is just perfect telling the story about if they can refind their HEA, or will they live together civilly without love or will Lizzy have to escape him again. I’d I was Darcy I don’t know how I could ever forgive myself, even if everyone in the world forgave me.
Very emotional story, nearly perfect.
February 11, 2024
I'm surprised I liked loved this as much as I did. It was a Facebook rec (always chancy at the best of times) and a Pride & Prejudice offshoot. More P&P adjacent than sequel as some of the characters have different fates here.
But I loved it. Darcy allows his pride, his stupid, stupid pride, to interfere in his marriage because of the evil machinations of an evil OW wannabe and miscommunication arises. Darcy forces poor Elizabeth to Scotland where she's treated like the Scarlet Woman. This is the one issue that is so very hard to swallow that Darcy could be such a pigheaded idiot as to, one, believe the planted evidence, and, two, not ask Elizabeth about it. It's almost insurmountable but the rest of the book, the characters, and the "grovel" are so well done, it makes up for it. Or it did for me.
Elizabeth ends up running away and only by chance does Darcy find her again. The arrogant ass from the beginning of the book is gone, and a contrite and loving man is left. He's horrified about his own stupidity and cruelty, and unlike most apologetic male characters, real or otherwise, takes it on the chin when she tells him she may not ever forgive him. He does more a redemption than grovel and I was charmed by it. It dragged a little in the middle, but with the redemption arc and the writing I was won.
Most of the characters are still here. Lydia is still awful as is the mother. Jane and Bingley are still sweet and the teensiest bit vacant. And the evil OW is pretty darn bad.
Read for the writing and a besotted hero.
But I loved it. Darcy allows his pride, his stupid, stupid pride, to interfere in his marriage because of the evil machinations of an evil OW wannabe and miscommunication arises. Darcy forces poor Elizabeth to Scotland where she's treated like the Scarlet Woman. This is the one issue that is so very hard to swallow that Darcy could be such a pigheaded idiot as to, one, believe the planted evidence, and, two, not ask Elizabeth about it. It's almost insurmountable but the rest of the book, the characters, and the "grovel" are so well done, it makes up for it. Or it did for me.
Elizabeth ends up running away and only by chance does Darcy find her again. The arrogant ass from the beginning of the book is gone, and a contrite and loving man is left. He's horrified about his own stupidity and cruelty, and unlike most apologetic male characters, real or otherwise, takes it on the chin when she tells him she may not ever forgive him. He does more a redemption than grovel and I was charmed by it. It dragged a little in the middle, but with the redemption arc and the writing I was won.
Most of the characters are still here. Lydia is still awful as is the mother. Jane and Bingley are still sweet and the teensiest bit vacant. And the evil OW is pretty darn bad.
Read for the writing and a besotted hero.
October 29, 2024
A man so scared of love and abandonment that the very thought of you not loving him back disturbs him. Darcy was like that. Just a push and a lie about Elizabeth's love and loyalty for him, he is suffocated by his love not being reciprocated.
A lie from the OW, Darcy sends Elizabeth away, far far away. He was so insecure and so afraid like a little boy that the only solution of his despair was getting away from it. Yes, his decision is stupid and impulsive, but to me, it proved how his love was childlike and pure, and when the truth dawns on him, he suffers with sorrow.
Oh my God. This is pure puppy love. And this proves from the start, how insecure he is, how smitten he is.
After the lie is told, which is about Elizabeth being unfaithful, Darcy had to force himself to be cold, but in secret he was crying in his room.
The whole book was like a cold rainy day, the letters Elizabeth wrote which were ignored, her being all alone and pregnant, everybody treating her like trash, her longing for a home and Darcy... Darcy's regret and nonstop search for her, his words, his grovel, his love for his family, him trying again and again to prove his love.... Oh God. It was gloomy but I looked forward to it.
A lie from the OW, Darcy sends Elizabeth away, far far away. He was so insecure and so afraid like a little boy that the only solution of his despair was getting away from it. Yes, his decision is stupid and impulsive, but to me, it proved how his love was childlike and pure, and when the truth dawns on him, he suffers with sorrow.
Looking at her, a wave of tender emotion assailed him. Astonishing, really. He loved her when he met her, but now, having stood at the altar with her, having pledged her his troth, there was so much more. She was everything to him, and he was at times almost terrified by how much he needed her. He had hoped marriage would alleviate his hunger, at least a little, but instead he found he needed her even more. Did she love him as he did her? Did anyone love someone else the way he loved her? He thought it impossible.
Oh my God. This is pure puppy love. And this proves from the start, how insecure he is, how smitten he is.
After the lie is told, which is about Elizabeth being unfaithful, Darcy had to force himself to be cold, but in secret he was crying in his room.
The whole book was like a cold rainy day, the letters Elizabeth wrote which were ignored, her being all alone and pregnant, everybody treating her like trash, her longing for a home and Darcy... Darcy's regret and nonstop search for her, his words, his grovel, his love for his family, him trying again and again to prove his love.... Oh God. It was gloomy but I looked forward to it.
April 2, 2024
Perfect ❤️
April 29, 2022
Unputdownable!
Hooked from page one, I absolutely loved this nerve-wracking and engaging tale of betrayal.
The story deviated from canon from the beginning. There was no insult at the assembly but love at first sight. A short courtship later our dear couple was married and happy at Pemberley. A trip to London would destroy the relationship through the lies and cunning of a villainous lady. One must keep in mind that Mr Darcy had not had his setdown from the disastrous proposal at Hunsford and doubted Elizabeth's love for him when a devious mind conspired against them.
It ended in a disaster surpassing Hunsford by a tenfold. A long separation ensued although it was not a lengthy separation in page-time...
Together again but at odds, the Darcys relationship was beautifully developed into reconciliation. The reader was afforded plenty of happiness at the end to reset their equilibrium after the previous angst fest.
I heartily recommend this book!
2020JA233
2022-69
Hooked from page one, I absolutely loved this nerve-wracking and engaging tale of betrayal.
The story deviated from canon from the beginning. There was no insult at the assembly but love at first sight. A short courtship later our dear couple was married and happy at Pemberley. A trip to London would destroy the relationship through the lies and cunning of a villainous lady. One must keep in mind that Mr Darcy had not had his setdown from the disastrous proposal at Hunsford and doubted Elizabeth's love for him when a devious mind conspired against them.
It ended in a disaster surpassing Hunsford by a tenfold. A long separation ensued although it was not a lengthy separation in page-time...
Together again but at odds, the Darcys relationship was beautifully developed into reconciliation. The reader was afforded plenty of happiness at the end to reset their equilibrium after the previous angst fest.
I heartily recommend this book!
2020JA233
2022-69
October 6, 2020
A Wilful Understanding.
Wonderful story! I remember reading it at AHA then learned it would be printed! Darcy falls madly in love with Elizabeth Bennet, at the Merton Assembly; quickly, they marry, but just as quickly lies about Lizzies character changes their Happily Ever After, and Lizzies is banished! But does she stay hidden away! Read the story about courage in the face of adversity!!!
Wonderful story! I remember reading it at AHA then learned it would be printed! Darcy falls madly in love with Elizabeth Bennet, at the Merton Assembly; quickly, they marry, but just as quickly lies about Lizzies character changes their Happily Ever After, and Lizzies is banished! But does she stay hidden away! Read the story about courage in the face of adversity!!!
October 17, 2020
Review published at:
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...
A Wilful Misunderstanding is an addictive book that I could not put down until I reached the final page.
In this story Mr. Darcy falls madly in love with Elizabeth when he meets her at Meryton and, despite his pride, he cannot imagine his life without her. He doesn’t make the tolerable remark, and is his most charming and irresistible version, making Elizabeth fall in love with him. Despite Mr. Bennet’s reluctance, he agrees to give his blessing and, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth get married shortly after having met. Their first months of marriage are pure joy and typical of a young and recently married couple, however, Darcy’s pride, insecurities and jealousy are constantly present and will make him commit the biggest mistake of his life.
The reader will accompany these characters inner fears and feelings of loss and abandon for some time which generates a different type of angst. I admit I absolutely loved this twist in the angst because it felt more real and deep then the usual “miscommunication angst”.
Two years after Darcy’s decision, and Elizabeth’s reaction to it, they have become different people. Elizabeth has grown and become a more suspicious person, and Darcy has lost all his pride trying to become a humble husband wishing for forgiveness and a glimpse of the happiness he once had. These characters will need to find a way into happiness and readers will love to see all the efforts Darcy will make to conquer Elizabeth’s heart once more. He will be a devoted husband and father and his efforts cannot go unnoticed.
I had never seen a premise like this one and even if this is a variation, it was a breath of fresh air because I never knew what would happen next. I had no idea what to expect, and this, combined with a compelling writing style, made this book unputdownable.
A Wilful Misunderstanding will show us many different phases in Darcy and Elizabeth’ s relationship, we see the initial attraction phase, the bliss of the first months of marriage, the trouble to come, the angst of the mistrust, the separation, the forced coexistence, the acceptance, the forgiveness and the falling in love. I cannot choose which phase I loved the most because they were all necessary to make the reader involved with the story and the characters. They all had something I cherished, even the ones where our characters were suffering, but I do know that with this diversity of phases in their relationship, there is always something for everyone’s tastes.
Mr. Darcy will surprise most readers in this book because he does indeed go through many different phases, but the humbled Darcy will make you forget his past mistakes. He will become the perfect husband, and I absolutely loved his path to redemption in this book, it was perfect! I particularly loved to see how he welcomed Lydia Bennet into his house and how he helped her when she most needed. I loved the relationship they built together and how that made it possible for her to accept his advice. Lydia Bennet was my favourite secondary character in this book and I never like Lydia, so that says a lot. I loved her own story and how she grew to become such a practical lady. Caroline’s ending was also interesting, and even if I cannot say I loved her character, I did like to see what happened to her in the end.
A Wilful Misunderstanding is a very well written book that tackles issues of trust, abandonment, regret, and love that I recommend to all my readers. It was one of my favourites this year and I could not put it down.
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...
A Wilful Misunderstanding is an addictive book that I could not put down until I reached the final page.
In this story Mr. Darcy falls madly in love with Elizabeth when he meets her at Meryton and, despite his pride, he cannot imagine his life without her. He doesn’t make the tolerable remark, and is his most charming and irresistible version, making Elizabeth fall in love with him. Despite Mr. Bennet’s reluctance, he agrees to give his blessing and, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth get married shortly after having met. Their first months of marriage are pure joy and typical of a young and recently married couple, however, Darcy’s pride, insecurities and jealousy are constantly present and will make him commit the biggest mistake of his life.
The reader will accompany these characters inner fears and feelings of loss and abandon for some time which generates a different type of angst. I admit I absolutely loved this twist in the angst because it felt more real and deep then the usual “miscommunication angst”.
Two years after Darcy’s decision, and Elizabeth’s reaction to it, they have become different people. Elizabeth has grown and become a more suspicious person, and Darcy has lost all his pride trying to become a humble husband wishing for forgiveness and a glimpse of the happiness he once had. These characters will need to find a way into happiness and readers will love to see all the efforts Darcy will make to conquer Elizabeth’s heart once more. He will be a devoted husband and father and his efforts cannot go unnoticed.
I had never seen a premise like this one and even if this is a variation, it was a breath of fresh air because I never knew what would happen next. I had no idea what to expect, and this, combined with a compelling writing style, made this book unputdownable.
A Wilful Misunderstanding will show us many different phases in Darcy and Elizabeth’ s relationship, we see the initial attraction phase, the bliss of the first months of marriage, the trouble to come, the angst of the mistrust, the separation, the forced coexistence, the acceptance, the forgiveness and the falling in love. I cannot choose which phase I loved the most because they were all necessary to make the reader involved with the story and the characters. They all had something I cherished, even the ones where our characters were suffering, but I do know that with this diversity of phases in their relationship, there is always something for everyone’s tastes.
Mr. Darcy will surprise most readers in this book because he does indeed go through many different phases, but the humbled Darcy will make you forget his past mistakes. He will become the perfect husband, and I absolutely loved his path to redemption in this book, it was perfect! I particularly loved to see how he welcomed Lydia Bennet into his house and how he helped her when she most needed. I loved the relationship they built together and how that made it possible for her to accept his advice. Lydia Bennet was my favourite secondary character in this book and I never like Lydia, so that says a lot. I loved her own story and how she grew to become such a practical lady. Caroline’s ending was also interesting, and even if I cannot say I loved her character, I did like to see what happened to her in the end.
A Wilful Misunderstanding is a very well written book that tackles issues of trust, abandonment, regret, and love that I recommend to all my readers. It was one of my favourites this year and I could not put it down.
October 2, 2020
"I would have looked for you until the day I died." (quote from the book)
I devoured this book! That is after I had to put it down, for I was so anxious over what Caroline Bingley was about to do. I knew it couldn't be anything good. I literally got up and walked away. I kept telling myself there will be a happy ending for Elizabeth and Darcy and in order to get to it, I had to pick the book back up again. I felt like Elizabeth in the Prologue.
"As fast as she could, Elizabeth ran." (quote from the book)
Now, don't get me wrong, I love Ms. D'Orazio's novels. They sweep you up, turn you inside out and upside down as she weaves her spell. And in this variation, she squeezes the very last bit of angst out of your heart before releasing you.
"At that instant, it was as though she had turned a key that opened some hitherto unknown vault in his heart, a vault that contained all his deepest thoughts, dreams and emotions." (quote from the book)
Yes, love at first sight for both without any of the pride and prejudice displayed...yet. Oh, but when it does, you are soon wanting to throttle some of the characters!!! It was a perfect storm of events that had me ready to have Caroline drawn and quartered! Darcy was a close second, at first...but how he eventually proves himself worthy was everything heartbreaking and wonderful.
"...he had very much lived in the constant presence of his sorrow and remorse." (quote from the book)
Elizabeth's journey is much more difficult to bear. I just wanted to hug her and help her break through the walls she constructed around her heart. Love and trust go hand-in-hand, but trust needs to come first. Her fears are justified, but her stubbornness and resentment impeded her healing.
"Elizabeth could not prevent unwanted compassion from arising, and for a moment, she reflected on how difficult it was to despise those whom you loved so deeply, no matter what they had done to you." (quote from the book)
But all is not sadness within these pages. Lord Saye had me chuckling and provided the right dose of lightheartedness I needed. I loved where his story was heading!
So be prepared to have all your emotions engaged...Anger, Agony, Angst...Remorse, Reflection, Redemption...but most of all...a Love that will not die!
April 24, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up. This is quite an angst-filled story. After a brief courtship D&E marry and at first are very happy at Pemberley. Then they remove to London where Georgiana lies, Caroline connives and Darcy completely messes up and sends a confused and distraught Elizabeth away. By the time they meet again, two years have passed and to say they have a lot to work through is putting it mildly. Despite the angst level, this book is so well written that I stayed up very late reading and finished it the next morning. I could hardly put it down, it was so good.
October 6, 2020
In this story our dear couple fall in love quickly and within two months are living blissfully at Pemberley. Upon moving to London for the season, Darcy's disbelief that he could possibly deserve her plus some external "pranks" causes him to freak out. As a result he distances himself from Elizabeth emotionally and then physically - without asking her anything.
Elizabeth, not understanding why, attempts to reach him via letter but eventually gives up and finds a way to take care of herself by essentially disappearing. Darcy, who regrets his actions upon learning how very wrong he was, begins searching for her with no success.
A chance meeting puts them face to face and they must decide how to handle the situation. There is so much unsaid, an extreme lack of trust, but circumstances as they are require them to deal with it. The emotional turmoil that they walk though is very powerful. There were many tears shed by this reader. I loved it - I also didn't sleep because I couldn't put it down.
There are plenty of happily ever afters and comeuppances to finish on a happy note.
Elizabeth, not understanding why, attempts to reach him via letter but eventually gives up and finds a way to take care of herself by essentially disappearing. Darcy, who regrets his actions upon learning how very wrong he was, begins searching for her with no success.
A chance meeting puts them face to face and they must decide how to handle the situation. There is so much unsaid, an extreme lack of trust, but circumstances as they are require them to deal with it. The emotional turmoil that they walk though is very powerful. There were many tears shed by this reader. I loved it - I also didn't sleep because I couldn't put it down.
There are plenty of happily ever afters and comeuppances to finish on a happy note.
October 6, 2025
A Pride and Prejudice variation where Darcy and Elizabeth fall in insta-love and are quickly married. Jane and Bingley have no obstacles (and are still sweet) and Caroline is absolutely vile.
I LOVED the first half of the book. The angst and drama are top notch as Elizabeth is falsely accused and punished because Darcy believes the machinations of others. We get ALL the feels! The accusers’ contempt and jealousy… Elizabeth’s confusion, heartache, despair, abandonment, fear, etc… Darcy’s rage, insecurity, shame, guilt, worry. It was delicious. Then the groveling/making amends part starts and for me it started to lose some steam, but I am an impatient reader. (I started struggling around 60%)
P&P was one of young Jac’s favorite romances, so I was afraid I wouldn’t like this, but I was sucked in. Some parts are the same like Darcy’s stubborn pride, but a lot is different with several characters having different storylines. I thought she did a wonderful job balancing the betrayal with making amends. I loved that all guilty parties paid penance and either took responsibility or suffered the consequences. No instant forgiveness here which was refreshing after reading a couple Christian romances before this.
Bottom Line- I liked it, and by having Darcy marry before he has worked through his pride (and anger) issues made for a turbulent marriage with loads of drama. Very angsty, but I wouldn’t call it romantic. At least in the modern sense. This scenario would never fly today because Elizabeth wouldn’t have given him a chance to make amends, but at that time she 1- had no right to refuse to return and 2- had no other option of another partner. So, really her only choice was to make the most of her situation. I do feel like the author showed us he truly loved her which helped go a long way with me accepting the reconciliation.
Most of the gang is still around, Lydia and the mom are awful, Fitzwilliam is his wingman, the other Bennet sisters, Viscount Saye and his younger brother. There’s even an epilogue with updates on all.
I LOVED the first half of the book. The angst and drama are top notch as Elizabeth is falsely accused and punished because Darcy believes the machinations of others. We get ALL the feels! The accusers’ contempt and jealousy… Elizabeth’s confusion, heartache, despair, abandonment, fear, etc… Darcy’s rage, insecurity, shame, guilt, worry. It was delicious. Then the groveling/making amends part starts and for me it started to lose some steam, but I am an impatient reader. (I started struggling around 60%)
P&P was one of young Jac’s favorite romances, so I was afraid I wouldn’t like this, but I was sucked in. Some parts are the same like Darcy’s stubborn pride, but a lot is different with several characters having different storylines. I thought she did a wonderful job balancing the betrayal with making amends. I loved that all guilty parties paid penance and either took responsibility or suffered the consequences. No instant forgiveness here which was refreshing after reading a couple Christian romances before this.
Bottom Line- I liked it, and by having Darcy marry before he has worked through his pride (and anger) issues made for a turbulent marriage with loads of drama. Very angsty, but I wouldn’t call it romantic. At least in the modern sense. This scenario would never fly today because Elizabeth wouldn’t have given him a chance to make amends, but at that time she 1- had no right to refuse to return and 2- had no other option of another partner. So, really her only choice was to make the most of her situation. I do feel like the author showed us he truly loved her which helped go a long way with me accepting the reconciliation.
Most of the gang is still around, Lydia and the mom are awful, Fitzwilliam is his wingman, the other Bennet sisters, Viscount Saye and his younger brother. There’s even an epilogue with updates on all.
September 14, 2020
4.5⭐️ I love this author! I had read the unpublished version a few years ago and loved it. So glad that it is now published so more people can enjoy it.
Caroline Bingley, Georgiana, and Wickham play a role in Darcy and Elizabeth’s misunderstanding. Although in the published version their roles where more downed played but still created the awful misunderstanding/assumptions.
Darcy and Elizabeth’s world wind romance was very short. It was a bit abrupt as it took less than three chapters for them to fall for each other and get married. The first three chapters leaped three months from cannon and I was a bit lost to figure out the time frame (you would need to pay attention to the dates at the beginning of those chapters-I had to go back and check)
I would of loved a little bit more page time even with a world wind romance for them to build their bond and deeper affection for one another to make it more relatable to understand Elizabeth’s deeper feelings for Darcy even when he was unreasonable! There where times I wondered why Elizabeth’s felt so deeply for Darcy when she barley knew him before she married and the way he treated her because of the misunderstanding.
I love Mrs. Macy and Viscount Saye. I do miss the unpublished version with a bit more page time with Mrs. Macy but it didn’t deter from the enjoyment of the book. What can I say about Viscount Saye? He’s Colonel Fitzwilliam’s older brother and he’s a hoot. One of the best original characters out their. I always love when he has page time.
The question did pop up a few times while I was reading “Why didn’t Elizabeth’s family try to find her in addition to Darcy’s efforts?” Again, it didn’t deter from the story but it did make me wonder.
If you love angst you’ll definitely enjoy this story. This story has one of the best “Hunsford Proposal Disasters” scenes. Although there was no proposal the angst factor was up there.
Our dear couple do end up with a Happily Ever After so don’t worry. Although Wickham, Caroline, and Georgiana’s role in the misunderstanding was downed played, they still got off pretty light in my opinion.
There’s an epilogue that wraps up the story nicely. I would highly recommend this story to and Austen fans.
I did receive an ARC of this book.
Caroline Bingley, Georgiana, and Wickham play a role in Darcy and Elizabeth’s misunderstanding. Although in the published version their roles where more downed played but still created the awful misunderstanding/assumptions.
Darcy and Elizabeth’s world wind romance was very short. It was a bit abrupt as it took less than three chapters for them to fall for each other and get married. The first three chapters leaped three months from cannon and I was a bit lost to figure out the time frame (you would need to pay attention to the dates at the beginning of those chapters-I had to go back and check)
I would of loved a little bit more page time even with a world wind romance for them to build their bond and deeper affection for one another to make it more relatable to understand Elizabeth’s deeper feelings for Darcy even when he was unreasonable! There where times I wondered why Elizabeth’s felt so deeply for Darcy when she barley knew him before she married and the way he treated her because of the misunderstanding.
I love Mrs. Macy and Viscount Saye. I do miss the unpublished version with a bit more page time with Mrs. Macy but it didn’t deter from the enjoyment of the book. What can I say about Viscount Saye? He’s Colonel Fitzwilliam’s older brother and he’s a hoot. One of the best original characters out their. I always love when he has page time.
The question did pop up a few times while I was reading “Why didn’t Elizabeth’s family try to find her in addition to Darcy’s efforts?” Again, it didn’t deter from the story but it did make me wonder.
If you love angst you’ll definitely enjoy this story. This story has one of the best “Hunsford Proposal Disasters” scenes. Although there was no proposal the angst factor was up there.
Our dear couple do end up with a Happily Ever After so don’t worry. Although Wickham, Caroline, and Georgiana’s role in the misunderstanding was downed played, they still got off pretty light in my opinion.
There’s an epilogue that wraps up the story nicely. I would highly recommend this story to and Austen fans.
I did receive an ARC of this book.
Want to read
June 15, 2021here's my review of a FF version
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
dnf
March 27, 2024Pausing @ 62%
Great grovel but the story is dragging. It's been a couple of weeks since I closed the book and I'm not in the mood to go back yet. I plan to finish this at a later time.
Summary so far..
It was love at first sight for H and h. They marry soon after and are very happy. Things take a turn when the H starts to suspect she married him for his money and that she's having an affair (due to the machinations of two secondary characters). He mistreats her and sends her away, thinking she might be pregnant with the OM's baby. Of course, he never confronts her about any of this. She's devastated and runs away to hide from him and everyone in her life. She keeps the baby a secret. He discovers she's innocent and he was wrong about everything. He desperately searches for her for like 2 yrs. He finally finds her and the grovel begins.
I've never read or watched Pride and Prejudice but I like the angst in this story. I wonder how similar it is to the original story. I might watch the old series or the movie to compare.
(March 27, 2024)
Great grovel but the story is dragging. It's been a couple of weeks since I closed the book and I'm not in the mood to go back yet. I plan to finish this at a later time.
Summary so far..
It was love at first sight for H and h. They marry soon after and are very happy. Things take a turn when the H starts to suspect she married him for his money and that she's having an affair (due to the machinations of two secondary characters). He mistreats her and sends her away, thinking she might be pregnant with the OM's baby. Of course, he never confronts her about any of this. She's devastated and runs away to hide from him and everyone in her life. She keeps the baby a secret. He discovers she's innocent and he was wrong about everything. He desperately searches for her for like 2 yrs. He finally finds her and the grovel begins.
I've never read or watched Pride and Prejudice but I like the angst in this story. I wonder how similar it is to the original story. I might watch the old series or the movie to compare.
(March 27, 2024)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2024
3 stars
I am a bit torn on this one. It has been many times recommended for the angst on FB and since I have always wanted to try one of the P&P variations of AD'O, I was game to read. I think part of the problem with this one, was a Me thing. My head could not seem to immerse itself in parts of story.
✉ I disliked the beginning chapters showing the whirlwind courtship of Elizabeth and Darcy, and their downfall due to his insecurities within the first months of their marriage. The writing style for those chapters failed to elicit the feelings that should have accompanied the angst. The characters' behaviours seemed dissonant, not the ones from the original source. At least, that's how I felt. That part made me think: Marry in haste, Repent at leisure. Too green to be responsibly married.
✉ The next part read better. Elizabeth's pain and trials were apparent and true. I agonised with her and was much angry with Darcy's utter foolishness. I did believe in his remorse and anxiety, but it still felt like too little, too late.
✉ I disliked the following part, where Elizabeth agreed too easily to follow Darcy back and then pretended she did not want to discuss the past. I got that she had no choice, but I still raged at the conditions of women of then. Darcy's efforts were sincere but I found he got it too easy, keeping apologising and hoping for a return of their first feelings without actual doing significant things. That part was long and mundane, with a choking atmosphere of things left unsaid. It was intended like this I guess to culminate to the next part, but I still hated it with a passion.
✉ I loved the final part: where Elizabeth lashed out, the real grovel took place, and the ending.
I still find however unfair that in all this drama, Elizabeth always had to be the one making the greater effort. She was the one who suffered for years without knowing the sins she was condemned for, she was the one who had to put reason before her feelings to come back home, she was the one who had to live in turmoil, she was the one who had to be the bigger person and let things go to give their marriage a second chance. I do not doubt one second that Darcy regretted bitterly what he stupidly did and all she suffered, nor do I doubt his attempts at penance or that he would ever hurt her again. But compared to Elizabeth, he seemed to have had the better lot, with less efforts. I guess it reeked of realism, but I still found it unfair that Darcy got the better deal, that he was not more the active party to repair them.
Like I said, my not-that-perfect-appreciation was more a Me thing; I am sure this book has been more enjoyable to others. Overall, I am still ok with AD'O offers of P&P variations, and I may try others in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2020
Hated it, then didn’t
I really hated that Darcy was an abusive jerk in this book. He completely emotionally tortures Elizabeth... and he eventually worms his way back.
I’ve recently read other JAFF books that have Darcy as an abusive husband... what’s up with that? Internalized misogyny much? So many interesting things can provide the tension of the Rosings refusal in JAFF... why is domestic abuse such a popular theme?
I really hated that Darcy was an abusive jerk in this book. He completely emotionally tortures Elizabeth... and he eventually worms his way back.
I’ve recently read other JAFF books that have Darcy as an abusive husband... what’s up with that? Internalized misogyny much? So many interesting things can provide the tension of the Rosings refusal in JAFF... why is domestic abuse such a popular theme?
December 10, 2023
This was a heart wrenching read! The angst was dialed way, way up the way I like it.
December 9, 2020
A box of tissues, an HEA, and ***some spoilers***
My throat was clenching during the entire first third of the book. You could see the train wreck coming a mile off and no way to free the people tied to the tracks. Gads, it was dreadful. I've never hated the villains more than in this story, one in particular I wanted to beat the &%#* out of, and I consider myself (coff) a lady. I also wanted to shake ODB before he made his dreadful mistake, but then we wouldn't have this heartrending story. I suffered with Lizzy, and was amazed with the courage and bravery that Amy D'Orazio imbued her character beyond canon. None of us could've saved ourselves the way she did without being the same 'great walker' she was. The equivalent of half a marathon, while pregnant, in the dark. I realize that in those times a husband could do this with impunity, and many women were in fact treated far worse. But this is our Darcy and Elizabeth we're talking about.
After sending his wife off cruelly based on vicious lies, then discovering the awful truth of his mistake, and then searching for Elizabeth for years, his finding her and bringing her home (both the sending away and bringing home was not her choice,) the reality of their situation hits Fitzwilliam Darcy: His 'search' for her has only just begun. This is where that box of tissues comes in. The nitty gritty of a marriage that was once beautiful and is now broken, and the fight it will take to bring it back could be taken from a modern marriage counseling session where a disastrous loss of trust has taken place. It was painful. But I'm also grateful that Amy D'Orazio did not rush over the reconciliation with a schmaltzy kiss-and-make-up ending. Frankly, Darcy deserved every bit of pain she threw at him. But we want to forgive him and Amy writes him as forgivable. And we want Lizzy to forgive him too, and watching her do that seems natural not contrived.
Will definitely re-listen again. Highly recommended. Just one question: Who the heck brought the 'evidence' to Darcy's notice???
My throat was clenching during the entire first third of the book. You could see the train wreck coming a mile off and no way to free the people tied to the tracks. Gads, it was dreadful. I've never hated the villains more than in this story, one in particular I wanted to beat the &%#* out of, and I consider myself (coff) a lady. I also wanted to shake ODB before he made his dreadful mistake, but then we wouldn't have this heartrending story. I suffered with Lizzy, and was amazed with the courage and bravery that Amy D'Orazio imbued her character beyond canon. None of us could've saved ourselves the way she did without being the same 'great walker' she was. The equivalent of half a marathon, while pregnant, in the dark. I realize that in those times a husband could do this with impunity, and many women were in fact treated far worse. But this is our Darcy and Elizabeth we're talking about.
After sending his wife off cruelly based on vicious lies, then discovering the awful truth of his mistake, and then searching for Elizabeth for years, his finding her and bringing her home (both the sending away and bringing home was not her choice,) the reality of their situation hits Fitzwilliam Darcy: His 'search' for her has only just begun. This is where that box of tissues comes in. The nitty gritty of a marriage that was once beautiful and is now broken, and the fight it will take to bring it back could be taken from a modern marriage counseling session where a disastrous loss of trust has taken place. It was painful. But I'm also grateful that Amy D'Orazio did not rush over the reconciliation with a schmaltzy kiss-and-make-up ending. Frankly, Darcy deserved every bit of pain she threw at him. But we want to forgive him and Amy writes him as forgivable. And we want Lizzy to forgive him too, and watching her do that seems natural not contrived.
Will definitely re-listen again. Highly recommended. Just one question: Who the heck brought the 'evidence' to Darcy's notice???
August 9, 2025
Well written but the masochistic "I still love Darcy" writing of Elizabeth is maddening to me. I don't think anyone, regardless how in love they were, could weather what Darcy does to her. It's a cord cutting level of evil: he consigns her to a place with sufficient air pollution to induce a miscarriage, she is forced to flee while pregnant into the unknown after getting no explanation from Darcy whatsoever, nor any chance to talk with him. The story clearly states that if she stayed where he sent her (Yorkshire hunting lodge), both her and her unborn child might have died. He did that. And yet she's still in love with the man whose anger could do such a thing, but just can't trust him? Trust would be completely gone but so would love, especially since a long separation is also involved. Years to stew apart from him would not add resentment to her love; resentment would replace love. He is a cruel man, period; he showed himself to have a capacity for abuse and a complete disregard for the life and safety of his wife. Not only would her love completely dissolve over years of separation with the memory of his behavior, but she would be unable to believe that he ever truly loved her. How is she to know his jealousy and possessiveness won't return? How is she to know what will happen if he feels she or her son have betrayed or failed him? If he can ship off his pregnant wife to a place of abjection and isolation, that must speak to his character itself, not just his reactionary emotions. He is a man with the capacity to do what he did, which says something about him beyond what a simple forgiveness narrative would have us believe. He has the name Darcy so the audience is inclined to forgive him and believe he's good, but take that name away, and his behavior is unforgivable and a future with him a total nightmare of uncertainty, particularly with regard to threats of isolation and abandonment if she does something he perceives to be wrong.
He proves himself to be a major league POS and she is forced to go back to him. Then, to survive in this horrible patriarchal nightmare of heirs and submission, she has to accept things and forgive him because of her son and errant feelings for him. It just feels like Stockholm syndrome and every scene of romance to me reads like a woman returning to her abuser. I don't think Darcy suffers enough in this. He looks for her and faces anxiety over it, but that's just the penance for his own idiocy, not for the emotions he puts Lizzy through. I would have liked Lizzy to be more intractable in her disdain or, more believably, numbness for him. The conflict at the start is so strong that I honestly wished they would not reconcile romantically. I find the female forgiveness trope in romance fiction to be very toxic and horrible. Forgiveness is often just as much a burden as resentment if not more so, but stories like this make it seem like forgiveness of an abuser is the path to happiness, if not for both of them, at least for her. It is not. A civil union is the most Darcy should expect but, being a man, he gets a HEA with everything he could ever want even after screwing up so thoroughly. I think this is a "if you love her let her go" type situation. But no, this Darcy not only wants her back, but wants their relationship to be the same as before. He's still all about me, me, me but his comprehensive power over her (emotional, son-related, legal, financial, etc) forces reconciliation.
I think the facts and consequences of his betrayal are too vast to be overcome, even by a fictional couple. I have to hand it to the author though for making an attempt with strong writing. However, the falling in love again with an abuser plotline proved too much for me. It just feels way too unjust and the nature of their past makes every romantic scene appalling to me, like watching someone deliberately maim themselves over and over.
He proves himself to be a major league POS and she is forced to go back to him. Then, to survive in this horrible patriarchal nightmare of heirs and submission, she has to accept things and forgive him because of her son and errant feelings for him. It just feels like Stockholm syndrome and every scene of romance to me reads like a woman returning to her abuser. I don't think Darcy suffers enough in this. He looks for her and faces anxiety over it, but that's just the penance for his own idiocy, not for the emotions he puts Lizzy through. I would have liked Lizzy to be more intractable in her disdain or, more believably, numbness for him. The conflict at the start is so strong that I honestly wished they would not reconcile romantically. I find the female forgiveness trope in romance fiction to be very toxic and horrible. Forgiveness is often just as much a burden as resentment if not more so, but stories like this make it seem like forgiveness of an abuser is the path to happiness, if not for both of them, at least for her. It is not. A civil union is the most Darcy should expect but, being a man, he gets a HEA with everything he could ever want even after screwing up so thoroughly. I think this is a "if you love her let her go" type situation. But no, this Darcy not only wants her back, but wants their relationship to be the same as before. He's still all about me, me, me but his comprehensive power over her (emotional, son-related, legal, financial, etc) forces reconciliation.
I think the facts and consequences of his betrayal are too vast to be overcome, even by a fictional couple. I have to hand it to the author though for making an attempt with strong writing. However, the falling in love again with an abuser plotline proved too much for me. It just feels way too unjust and the nature of their past makes every romantic scene appalling to me, like watching someone deliberately maim themselves over and over.
October 12, 2020
Wow! This author has such a talent for writing stories that engage you and connect with every fiber of your being! She is an absolute favorite of mine and this story was no exception and lived up to my every expectation. This is not an easy read (or listen) and certainly not for the faint of heart because you will feel things, many many things throughout the course of this book and you will feel them deeply. Romance, laughter, fear, disappointment, tears, anger, despair, hope, forgiveness, second chances. These are things I experienced many times over during the course of this story. This is a long journey where after an immediate and deep attraction and attachment, two people who have fallen in love now have to learn that it takes more than romance and love to have true happiness. These lessons are hard learned and come at a high cost. Disastrous mistakes are made and damage is done that cannot be easily repaired. Only time, reflection, and a great deal of courage and forgiveness can finally lead to understanding, healing and new beginnings. I've often heard that anything worth having, you have to work for and this rings true in this story. A solid foundation is finally built, one heavy brick at a time, but in the end, what began as a love at first sight whirlwind romance is finally cultivated into a firm and abiding relationship with not only the love, but the respect, trust and confidence to stand the test of time!
March 4, 2021
Loads of angst
I wonder if I should be concerned about Ms D’Orazio’s childhood given her ability to rip your heart out of your chest and then squeeze it for 300 pages. This starts out as a sweet but intense romance and then a truly terrible misunderstanding occurs. This isn’t one of those easy “hey he doesn’t think I’m pretty” misunderstandings. It’s a devastating tear your family apart misunderstanding. At least half of the book is mutual heartbreak and then the last 1/3 is all about healing.
A couple of things really stood out to me, a woman’s lot in 1800 England was precarious. Her father and then her husband basically owned her. A unmarried woman has little opportunity to earn income that would keep her above poverty. And although I of course was hoping for an HEA for ODC there were times when I looked at Darcy and his promise to reform him self askance. Doesn’t the abusive boyfriend/lover/husband always promise to be better? Of course this isn’t real life(otherwise I wouldn’t be escaping here) it is regency romance so he is not really a cad, just a heart broken and fearful man, so naturally he can and does make real amends.
Well worth the read.
I wonder if I should be concerned about Ms D’Orazio’s childhood given her ability to rip your heart out of your chest and then squeeze it for 300 pages. This starts out as a sweet but intense romance and then a truly terrible misunderstanding occurs. This isn’t one of those easy “hey he doesn’t think I’m pretty” misunderstandings. It’s a devastating tear your family apart misunderstanding. At least half of the book is mutual heartbreak and then the last 1/3 is all about healing.
A couple of things really stood out to me, a woman’s lot in 1800 England was precarious. Her father and then her husband basically owned her. A unmarried woman has little opportunity to earn income that would keep her above poverty. And although I of course was hoping for an HEA for ODC there were times when I looked at Darcy and his promise to reform him self askance. Doesn’t the abusive boyfriend/lover/husband always promise to be better? Of course this isn’t real life(otherwise I wouldn’t be escaping here) it is regency romance so he is not really a cad, just a heart broken and fearful man, so naturally he can and does make real amends.
Well worth the read.
April 15, 2022
This is a well written novel that will have you depressed, crying and wondering will this couple survive for many years of marriage. Darcy and Elizabeth have to learn to trust each other and not believe the things that are said about them plus they have to learn to communicate with each other when a subject concerning them comes up.
However, by not communicating with each other, lies were told that caused deep problems for both of them and much heartache came to both!
This is the first novel that Darcy's cousin, Saye, was shown to be very much involved with Darcy and trying to solve his problem. I rather enjoyed Saye being in the novel.
Letters were written and not sent, letters received and not read. Tears were shed by both parties but in the end after many, many months, our couple learns to communicate, trust and all ends well!
At first I was disappointed in this novel but the more I read, these problems do happen in real life.
I wound up giving it a 5 star review!
However, by not communicating with each other, lies were told that caused deep problems for both of them and much heartache came to both!
This is the first novel that Darcy's cousin, Saye, was shown to be very much involved with Darcy and trying to solve his problem. I rather enjoyed Saye being in the novel.
Letters were written and not sent, letters received and not read. Tears were shed by both parties but in the end after many, many months, our couple learns to communicate, trust and all ends well!
At first I was disappointed in this novel but the more I read, these problems do happen in real life.
I wound up giving it a 5 star review!
August 7, 2021
Read 2 times
December 9, 2020 – Finished Reading (Audiobook Edition)
December 9, 2020 – Shelved as: favorite-audible... (Audiobook Edition)
December 9, 2020 – Shelved as: have-audible-ver... (Audiobook Edition)
December 9, 2020 – Shelved as: 2020-jaff-readin... (Audiobook Edition)
December 9, 2020 – Shelved (Audiobook Edition)
October 8, 2020 – Started Reading (Audiobook Edition)
Finished Reading Add a date (Audiobook Edition)
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Review A box of tissues, an HEA, and ***some spoilers***
My throat was clenching during the entire first third of the book. You could see the train wreck coming a mile off and no way to free the people tied to the tracks. Gads, it was dreadful. I've never hated the villains more than in this story, one in particular I wanted to beat the &%#* out of, and I consider myself (coff) a lady. I also wanted to shake ODB before he made his dreadful mistake, but then we wouldn't have this heartrending story. I suffered with Lizzy, and was amazed with the courage and bravery that Amy D'Orazio imbued her character beyond canon. None of us could've saved ourselves the way she did without being the same 'great walker' she was. The equivalent of half a marathon, while pregnant, in the dark. I realize that in those times a husband could do this with impunity, and many women were in fact treated far worse. But this is our Darcy and Elizabeth we're talking about.
After sending his wife off cruelly based on vicious lies, then discovering the awful truth of his mistake, and then searching for Elizabeth for years, his finding her and bringing her home (both the sending away and bringing home was not her choice,) the reality of their situation hits Fitzwilliam Darcy: His 'search' for her has only just begun. This is where that box of tissues comes in. The nitty gritty of a marriage that was once beautiful and is now broken, and the fight it will take to bring it back could be taken from a modern marriage counseling session where a disastrous loss of trust has taken place. It was painful. But I'm also grateful that Amy D'Orazio did not rush over the reconciliation with a schmaltzy kiss-and-make-up ending. Frankly, Darcy deserved every bit of pain she threw at him. But we want to forgive him and Amy writes him as forgivable. And we want Lizzy to forgive him too, and watching her do that seems natural not contrived.
Will definitely re-listen again. Highly recommended. Just one question: Who the heck brought the 'evidence' to Darcy's notice??? (less)
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