Plots, Ploys, and the Art of Matchmaking

by Sarah Courtney

When Darcy’s eccentric uncle Lord Matlock arrives in Meryton for a visit with his old friend Mr. Bennet, nobody can escape their mischief. From locked doors to misdirected carriages, Matlock and Bennet wreak havoc on inhabitants of Longbourn and Netherfield alike.

Darcy and Elizabeth fall prey to their relations' schemes more than once, but they firmly resist any matchmaking efforts. Darcy knows his value in the marriage market and has no intention of marrying beneath him. Elizabeth could never marry such a pompous bore. But their pride and prejudice become a lot harder to maintain when they find themselves trapped alone together.

Will Matlock and Bennet succeed in making matches for all of Meryton—except the two stubborn fools they know belong together?

This sweet comedic variation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is 73,000 words of mischief and matchmaking.

Genres: Regency, Romance, Historical, Humor, Clean Romance, Comedy

232 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2020

Reviews

[wosedwew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old friends pitching pennies in the park
Playing croquet till its dark; old friends
Oh old friends swapping lies of life and loves
Pitching popcorn to the doves; old friends—Roger Miller

“Plots, Ploys and Matchmaking” is the story of two old friends.

The Earl of Matlock was a third son. No one expected he would ever hold the family title. He grew up as a joker and became friends with another joker as a schoolboy. His friendship with the Bennet son from Hertfordshire endured and they are now husbands and fathers of grown children.

Old friends looking up to watch the birds
Holdin' arms to climb a curb; old friends—Roger Miller

When the Earl learns his nephew, Darcy, will visit at the Hertfordshire estate near his friend, he accompanies the group to surprise his friend. Bets begin between the old friends: will Darcy ever ask Elizabeth for a dance? Will she accept?

Our favorite cad also knows about the wagers and plots to use those bets against Darcy.

I especially liked the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. Hint: Mr. Bennet actually loves his wife. What a nice change!

I recommend this to anyone who likes JAFF.

Lord when all my work is done
Bless my life and grant me one old friend—Roger Miller

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author's blurb really outlines the premise well. Two older men who have been friends for years and who enjoy playing pranks and even betting on the outcome meet again.

In this story Lord Matlock travels with Darcy and Bingley, etc. to stay at Netherfield. The Bennet girls and Lord Matlock's offspring have met and visited before, in their youth, so they are not strangers.

Matlock and Bennet do decide that Elizabeth and Darcy would be well matched. Thus, at first they each begin to attempt to set them up in compromises but are each working alone and betting against each other's plans. They do catch other young people in compromises but fortunately they are couples who are also well matched. When they finally decide to work together Darcy and Elizabeth finds ways to thwart the plans. And even come up with a plan of their own.

The two men are both in love with their wives and we do have some letters and/or moments between the older gentlemen and their wives.

It was an enjoyable read. Not as much romance but more what's up next in plots and ploys.

[Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of Mischief and Matchmaking Men

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: Review Copy from Author

Type of Novel: Pride and Prejudice Variation

THE PREMISE: Lord Matlock invites himself and his son to travel along with Mr. Darcy to Netherfield to pay a visit to his dear old friend, Mr. Bennet. The two immediately begin to employ their usual wagers and pranks against each other, but then begin to channel their mischief into matchmaking as they believe a certain couple is in need of some assistance….

WHAT I LOVED:

- The Plots and Ploys: What a riot! I love the premise for this variation and I love the relationship it explored. Mr. Bennet is besties with Lord Matlock? Lord Matlock and Mr. Bennet engage in playful shenanigans? The young characters in this story fall victim to misadventures and misguided matchmaking schemes? Sounds wonderfully unique, doesn’t it? Well, that’s because it is!

- Lord Matlock: I know! How odd to say that Lord Matlock is what I loved most about this tale! He is irrepressible, jocular, an instigator, and a romantic. He exasperates his family yet is endearing with his antics. I appreciated the history and depth given to this character. And I especially enjoyed the portrayal of friendship between Lord Matlock and Mr. Bennet – how they would bicker and acknowledge the differences in their natures, yet underneath you could tell there was a firm foundation of attachment and brotherly affection.

- Darcy and Elizabeth: Such a clever duo! This pair is quite talented at inadvertently and intentionally thwarting any plots or pranks against them. It was so entertaining to witness how they would outsmart the others, yet also sometimes fall into some traps! I also enjoyed the gradual changes of their feelings and opinions for each other. I am so glad the author segmented the story to show not only Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s POV during scenes, but also Lord Matlock’s and Mr. Bennet’s (and that she always labeled the change in POV!)

- Same Scene, New Lens: Ms. Courtney cleverly ties her original story of matchmaking and mischief into actual occurrences that take place in Pride and Prejudice, such as Darcy’s insult at the Meryton Assembly, Jane’s visit to Netherfield, and Elizabeth being left alone with Mr. Darcy for a half hour yet neither of them speaking. It was interesting to see scenes we are familiar with, yet learn the origins of these scenes or situations maybe came from another cause or source.

- House Party!: The overall atmosphere of this story is pure fun. It felt like a spontaneous house party descended on Netherfield and the days were full of pleasure-seeking and pranks. I loved seeing all these characters mixed together and the activities they enjoyed. I will add that the Bingleys are incredibly hospitable to host and entertain all of these guests and their new neighbors.

WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:

- Some Pacing and Balance: There were some instances and relationships where I wish things developed slower or were given more time. I enjoyed seeing some new alterations and relationships develop, but they did so at a bit of brisk pace. In addition, I thought something felt a little off with Mr. Wickham’s storyline – maybe it was a bit hurried as well? Or introduced too late into the tale?

CONCLUSION: Plots, Ploys, and the Art of Matchmaking is full of hijinks and hilarity – an excessively diverting story that is sure to entertain and amuse readers looking for something light, bright, and humorous to enjoy! I enjoy Sarah Courtney’s cleverness and inventiveness, and I look forward to checking out her next release, The Olive Branch!

Austenesque Reviews

[J. W. Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two old school chums, with too much time on their hands, playing at matchmaking.

Review: clean: angst level: slight-to-medium: Source: borrowed from KU 2-13-21: this review may contain spoilers.

This was cute as a bug but began to drag in the middle. Lord Matlock and Mr. Bennet were school chums who never grew up and needed a keeper. They were constantly planning and scheming in their pranks against each other, their friends, and especially their unsuspecting relations. And like Austen’s Emma, these guys made way too many mistakes that got them into trouble. They were awful and the fallout, from their attempts at matching Darcy and Elizabeth, was widespread. No one was immune to their machinations… no matter how innocent. Half the characters wound up being betrothed before the story ended. That was the fun part. It was cute but their antics went on way too long. It was like the author wanted to see how many ways D & E could be compromised? Only they kept evading the net being thrown their way. That was hilarious and then they turned the tide on their respective relations. What fun.

Villains: yes, there was a brief stint with villains when a prank went terribly wrong. The outcome was shocking and the consequences well deserved. I can’t say… other than it involved the SBRB.

“Sometimes a Cupid plays hard to catch
As he always got new couples to match.”

–Ana Claudia Antunes

[Ree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite the Romp!
This very light-hearted romp has long-time friends Lord Matlock and Mr. Bennet playing matchmaker—determined to see Elizabeth and Darcy married. What could go wrong? It’s all in fun with some unintended but not unhappy consequences. There’s even a touch of angst when Wickham appears in London.

A fun, quick read. Well written. Recommend

[Rita Deodato · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 Rounded up to 5

Published at:
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...

It is very common to see books mentioning matchmaking mamas, but I never saw one where the main characters were a pair of matchmaking Papas! Plots, Ploys and the Art of Matchmaking is a very original and funny story that I do not hesitate to recommend to those looking for a good time spent in the realm of Pride and Prejudice.
In this book, Mr. Bennet and Lord Matlock met at school and remained very close friends through out the years. Their families share a special bond and everyone is very used to their pranks and bets, however, when they get together in Hertfordshire, and decide Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth must fall in love and get married, some family members start to realize they need a lesson of their own. These gentleman may like to have some sport at the cost of their families and neighbours, but they will certainly get what they deserve as well.

Plots, Ploys and the Art of Matchmaking is told from the point of view of various characters and combines humour with some romance, as the main characters find themselves more often than not, trapped in a closed space together.

I appreciated the different tone I found in this book and consider it very refreshing. As mentioned above, we still have some romance in this book, especially towards the end of the story, but it is not the usual austenesque romance because of its humoristic approach. I laughed out loud in some parts with Mr. Bennet and Lord Matlock’s pranks towards one another, with their ineffective matchmaking efforts, and was also pleased to see their influence on Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy as they started to orchestrate pranks of their own.

Elizabeth’s dry humour and response to the gentleman’s ploys was one of my favourite aspects of her personality, and also one of the reasons Mr. Darcy found her so confounding. I loved her resignation towards her father’s antics and her practical approach to all of their plots. As to Mr. Darcy, he proved to have a sense of humour Elizabeth was unaware of, and to be the perfect gentleman and hero in every single situation. If you think these plots and ploys take place only in libraries and carriages, as we are led to believe in the beginning of the story, you are very wrong. Our dear couple will face some challenges and dangers during this story and Mr. Darcy raises to the occasion! I bet you will never see his love declaration coming, and never imagined he would do it in such a circumstance.

For a long time, it appeared Mr. Bennet and Lord Matlock’s ploys were ineffective towards Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, but they are very good at the art of matchmaking, and I laughed and loved all the couples that came out of their pranks.

Another aspect I loved about in this book was the difference in Mrs. Bennet’s character and the close connection both families have. Of course Mr. Darcy cannot be as prejudiced towards the Bennet’s when they are close friends to the Earl’s family, but Sarah Courtney found a way to have him antagonise Elizabeth so that the story is appealing to the reader from the beginning to the end.

The entire book has a very light feeling and the perfect length to read during a lazy weekend. If you are looking for a humorous story that will make you laugh along with the characters from Pride and Prejudice, I recommend Plots, Ploys and the Art of Matchmaking. This book was certainly different and I loved it!

[Carole (in Canada) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating: 3.5*

"Begging your pardon, but a bored Lord Matlock is never a good thing." (quote from the book)

Ok, I will admit to being the mother who put a damper on shenanigans for fear of 'it's great fun until someone gets hurt'.

That said, there were some lighthearted matchmaking plots and ploys that the irascible Lord Matlock and his long time friend, Mr. Bennet, concocted that gained them results but not with the two family members they were hoping for. However, there were some plots and ploys that bring me back to my above quote 'it's great fun...'

"She had never seen quite such a resemblance to Lydia in Papa's expression before. If he were anybody else, she would have said that he was giggling to himself. Adult men, however, did not giggle." (quote from the book)

I enjoyed the relationship between between these two old friends and their wives and their respective family members. I do recommend this mischievous variation, especially if you enjoy a good prank!

I was fortunate to have won this book in a giveaway with no expectation for a review.

[Teresita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun!

This is a very amusing story. The relationship between Lord Matlock and Mr. Bennet is wonderful and the situations they create and get into are hilarious. A most enjoyable reading!

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wildly Off canon P&P what if with some OOC behavior but it is humorous and charming.

In this P&P universe Mr. Bennet and the Earl have been boyhood pals since their earliest days at school. Both being a bit clever and bit mischievous when they get together even 30 + years later havoc is sure to follow

When the earl suffers a leg injury he decided to recuperate near the home of his friend Bennet at Netherfield with his son, Colonel Fitzwilliam, his Nephew Fitzwilliam Darcy and the Bingleys.

Almost immediately these two gentlemen begin plotting scheming and pranking. They are worse than any dozen match making mommas trying to force a relationship between Lizzy and Darcy. Their plots often go wildly awry resulting in injury, danger and at least 3 unintended engagements.

The story works and is a clean, quick read. There is some dangerous elements but a lot of humor.

[Suzan Lauder · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I've read a book and made a note that an author had a very good Regency voice, but I did so for this book. Not exactly Austen, but few authors attempt that sound because it's hard for modern readers to read. Sarah Courtney doesn't write using words that are hard to swallow--I think I only had to look one word up--but she puts words together in a way that's poetic and uses a smattering of Regency historical terminology that the average reader would understand to achieve that feeling that you're there.

As usual, I won't do a synopsis because the other reviewers have already filled their reviews with spoilers. Instead, I always do a technical nit-picking.

The plot has as its basis a number of bets and practical jokes as well as a matchmaking scheme by the mischievous Lord Matlock and Mr. Bennet. The author succeeded well in making this flow extremely well, making it believable, tying in a back story that was doled out through the book (though a couple of times too often--trust your readers to remember!), and using humour well without making it a farce.

The story is fairly low to moderate in angst until near the end, where even this angst lover was grasping the sheets (I read in bed). So there's definitely some carefully used dramatic tension in the book to add to the action from the humour. Those are enhanced by excellent descriptions of the scenery. I can still see the details of some scenes that would be spoilers if I mentioned which they were--to do with a fallen tree and a turned over chair. No dead spots exist in this book. Not one boring second.

The "new" characters of Lord Matlock and the enhanced characterizations of some minor characters from P&P are masterful, filled out well and taking their place as needed. Other minor characters are not fleshed out any more than needed for the story. I enjoyed how Courtney chose details of Austen's characterizations of Darcy and Elizabeth to weave into their romance without making them the caricatures that some authors tend to lean towards.

This author has chosen not to use British spellings, so this leaves me in a difficult place, because I'd noted British language issues, but are they really wrong? I think so. For example, she said "wrote us" instead of "wrote to us" and Americanism "roiled." An English person wouldn't say these. However, I strongly believe an author should be allowed to make the choice as to what spellings to use as long as they're consistent, which was the case in this book.

As is usual for a JAFF book, there were a few non-Regency words or words that were used in the Regency but not in the application the author chose to use them in: doffed, chuckling, snort/snorted, guffawed, stout, drat, assess, "head to." This is a pretty short list for a JAFF book, half of which are seen in most books. I most strongly object to "snort," though, since I don't think that Regency ladies or gentlemen would snort under any circumstances. That's probably why the word was reserved for horses only in the Regency. I prefer "huff" or "scoff," which is what the movie subtitles say.

Otherwise, this book was well-edited, but what would you expect with such a crack team as the two Sarahs? Not a comma out of place.

The development of the romance was realistic, meaningful, and satisfying, making for a perfect HEA for ODC, something many books seem to rush these days in the interest of forwarding some aspect of a unique plot and original characters. But Sarah Courtney didn't forget that it's all about D&E, and crafted several excellent conversations that carefully ratcheted up the understanding of the two each time, showing their senses rather well. She's simply a really good writer. How's that for kudos?

I noticed the use of historical information throughout the book. Flavours of ice cream, that Mr. Darcy was essentially half in his underwear when he had removed his coat, the games, the names, travel times and conventions, use of language, and much more I can't think of at the moment but noticed while reading. I adore these little touches, and I'm sure many other readers do, too.

Although the cover caught my eye, I'm not sure I like it. It's a good thing that it caught my eye because that's what an author wants. However, it was mostly because I felt that the chopped off silhouette above the carriage roof was off-putting. I'd have chosen one of the three lower images rather than try to fit them all in together (just the carriage), and maybe use the other two in opposite corners of the back cover. Even though well executed and tied to major themes in the book, a border and silhouette images are not exactly a cover that POPs. I can think of many better concepts related to this novel, and I'm no artist. So that's probably the weakest part of the book.

This book definitely has it all: humour without going over the top, dramatic tension for the angst lover, a well-crafted romance, and excellent historical references. They're tied all together in an action-packed tale that moves the reader through seamlessly. I could barely put this enjoyable novel down and strongly suggest you seek it out for your next read. I know I'll be seeking more books by Sarah Courtney.

Disclaimer: Some might say that because I'm a JAFF author, my review is a conflict of interest. However, I was a reader first, and my reviews are honest and impartial. I write them for the benefit of both the reader and the author.

[Madenna U · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Earl of Matlock and Mr Bennet are old friends who love causing mischief. They also enjoy a bit of matchmaking. A visit to Netherfield with his son Richard and nephew Fitzwilliam Darcy allows the earl and Bennet to put lots of people in interesting situations as they make bets about what they can accomplish. Everything works out to most everyone's satisfaction as well as some revenge against the troublesome duo.

The story is playful and fun. I could almost picture the two older gentleman giggling the corner as they believed they had out smarted the rest. Luckily, it also features a happily ever after for our dear couple Elizabeth and Darcy.

[Maria Escarda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous fun!

Initially, this reader was tempted to deduct a couple of stars due to the fact that focus wasn’t on the romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, an essential element in every Pride and Prejudice variation, in her humble opinion. Be that as it may, this offering depicts such hilarious situations mostly by the making of the Earl of Matlock and Mr. Bennet, who are the best of friends, plot-makers and pranksters in this variation. Their plots result in successful matchmaking of several couples, either intended or otherwise.

The redeeming quality of this variation is its humor and lightness, which makes it a delightful read. The endearing banter and exchanges between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy as they gradually discover their feelings for each other at every turn is another pleasant surprise. One wouldn’t be able to resist reading about when and where they will be thrown together next.

It’s likewise commendable how the author allowed happier endings to a few of the female secondary characters, matched with the most unexpected men in the most funny circumstances.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish. I just couldn’t get into this one. I may try again.

[wendy luther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Histerical

I loved it... It was just so funny I laughed all the way through if needs a great laugh I recommend it MATCHMAKING !EN LO!

[lori huff · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing

Having read two other wonderful books by this author, I was so disappointed with this extremely silly, frivolous tale. Mr Bennett and Lord Matlock are friends from their school days, and apparently when they get together all they want to do is prank people. This would be fanciful and fun if their ideas for pranks were clever and well thought out, but unfortunately this isn't the case. These idiotic men put their loved ones in danger time after time, without conscience or remorse, and just keep on doing it.

The major target for their pranks is, of course, ODC, because they have decided that Darcy and Elizabeth make a nice couple, never mind that they don't really like each other. The collateral damage from their pranks is causing practically everyone else to find romantic attachments, which is supposed to be charming and funny, but is just ludicrous. It all begins when Darcy is going to Netherfield to help Bingley with his estate, and conveniently, Lord Matlock and Colonel Fitzwilliam invite themselves along for a nice long visit. Then Mr Bennett, Jane and Elizabeth seem to also decide to be at Netherfield for a nice long visit, which doesn't make sense.

The nature of the pranks and the resulting damage just made me annoyed and angry after a while, and I had to make an effort to finish this annoying book. After reading Beauty and Mr Darcy, and A Good Name, and loving both of them, it was a real let down to read this waste of time. This author is capable of so much better. I don't recommend it.

[Jae · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars

I enjoyed the light tone of this book. It had such great potential. However, the playfulness of Matlock and Bennet just didn't quite work. The pranks are all a bit dull and uninspired. There is a lot of repetition. The fun got tiresome after yet another locked door.

Many of the characters and relationships are superficial. They felt like mere mentions on a page, no depth, just contrivances to that were supposed to further the plot but instead added to the weariness of this reader. (Numerous statements about how nobody would think anything untoward would happen to explain away the numerous scenarios that would otherwise result in a compromise.)

Also, Wickham's brief plotline isn't really fully formed. It's a bit dark in its conclusion and it conflicts with the tone of the rest of the book.

I did not buy Caroline Bingley's change in personality. Nor did her relationship with Colonel Fitzwilliam feel earned.

Over all, I feel like this is a book that's lacking cohesiveness. There are a lot of things that don't really connect well or are dismissed after a paragraph or two. I frequently checked my progress hoping I was finally moving toward a resolution. I put it down many times. Only read on to finish it but I didn't really care about how it ended.

[Smasher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content:

Language: None

Violence: mild, there is some peril in it, but only some bumps, bruises and shallows cuts.

Sexual: mild. Kissing and hugs are as far as it goes.


Beware locking doors. Or you may find yourself suddenly engaged...

Cue my snorting. It was quite fun to see the antics of two best friends who are practical jokers. The fact that a few of their practical jokes end up in some serious situations though made me irritated that they kept going anyway despite the fact that they weren't harmless after all. I like a good joke probably more than the next person, but I do not however enjoy the types of 'jokes' that involve other people's feelings. So, this book, while at first being enjoyable, quickly got me uncomfortable and then impatient.

The writing and delivery are great, the story is a good romp, and Darcy and Elizabeth were cute as can be. My lower rating is all about my own personal opinion and preference and has little to nothing to do with the actual story and writing.

[PumpkinPi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful! I loved the mischievous Matlock and Bennet duo, and how their meddlesome matchmaking kept having unintended consequences. The way Darcy and Elizabeth's relationship gradually developed felt natural, not rushed; it would have been all too easy to dive into a hasty emotional intimacy after just one of their mishaps, but the author didn't take that route, and the story really benefitted from it.

Courtney yet again redeemed a character that I'd strongly disliked in the past, and did it in a way that I genuinely enjoyed. And I think she pulled off the adjusted Wickham situation very well; I was a bit startled by the last thing we hear of him, but it wasn't an unforeseeable occurrence.

All in all, a lovely, humorous, clean P&P retelling that I look forward to reading again!

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars

This was not as funny as it was made out to be.

Actually, I don't really even think I laughed at all, so it wasn't funny. Period.

I don't think that's why I didn't enjoy it all that much though.

It was very fluffy. It had slice of life vibes. It was quite lighthearted.

I should've expected all this going in, but I also think I'm craving a hefty dose of angst and heavy characterization and turmoil, which this was not.

What I'm trying to say is that I wanted to be emotionally wrecked because my reading muse is moody bitch and I wasn't, which is not this books' fault.

But that also means this wasn't my favourite, and I can't see myself ever re-reading this in the name a more unbiased take on it.

So I'll see myself out.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between a 3-3.5. After reading and loving Mark of Character, I picked this one up. It was well written and fun, but a little long for this kind of plot IMO. Lord Matlock and Mr. Bennet are old school mates and have always been known for their stunts and pranks. The two are reunited when Bingley leases Netherfield and the old pranksters are at it again. The pranks are combined with some matchmaking schemes that produce lots of locked doors and some unexpected results.

I did find many parts of the book amusing, but I also began to tire of the idea of grown men behaving like adolescents. It started to border on silly. I guess I find this kind of humor is better in smaller doses. It was a fun read, but I wouldn't pick it up again.

[Kimbelle Pease · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 5th star is for the fun and originality of this novel! I enjoyed the pranks of older men, and the most enjoyable way that the families took it in stride. I also enjoyed the parings, the situations, and the resolutions. I enjoyed more the conversations were mostly in line with truth in speaking as people rather than long, flowery speeches which are only written in novels from unrealistic heroes. I enjoyed more the small parts for Charlotte and Mary as I did that Lydia and Kitty were so very much in the background as they were not needed for this. And Mrs. Bennet was a woman to admire, as was lady Matlock. What fun for a Friday off was had!

[Maria Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This story is light hearted and fun. I've never read a book before that made Lord Matlock and Mr. Bennet so silly in their practical jokes. While it didn't feel to me like it would ever really happen, it was also fun to just sit back and enjoy the ride. I suspended belief for a while and had a good time doing it. I found Lord Matlock's character particularly enjoyable. I also enjoyed Caroline's characterization. And I liked the way the Matlock's and Bennet's marriages were portrayed as well.
This was a fun read.

Sex: no, a little innuendo
Language: some
Violence: a bit

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining book. I wish it had started out with a little more antipathy between Darcy and EB. The story is good and amusing, but there is no turn of sentiments in as much as everyone sort of likes each other from the get go; that extends to Mr. Bennet’s feelings towards his wife, which felt wrong. Needs a little bit tighter editing, but on the whole it’s an enjoyable, well written no-angst read.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really adored the friendship between Mr Bennet and Lord Matlock.
There were are lot of original characters in the story, so plenty of couples found their match, though not the couple the two friends intended. Some of the complications of the match making gone wrong was a bit dramatic, though this is not a story with much angst.
All in all a funny and enjoyable read of course with a happy ending for our dear couple ;-)

[Rachel Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun story about what happens if Lord Matlock and Mr B. (as old school friends) team up to try and get D&E together. Matlock and Mr B are great in this, and its also a great version of D&E. Also love that Jane gets so fed up with their bickering that she locks them in a boat house!

[Lorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amusing from start to finish

What a great way to spend a few days of Christmas vacation. I laughed out loud several times and was surprised at some of the more harrowing parts. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somehow, I can't get into the Earl of Matlock and Mr. Bennet as matchmaking practical jokers. It spoiled the whole book for me. I did like the way D & E turned the tables on them when they figured out what was going on.

[Marla Mercier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read

Different seeing Mr. Bennett and Lord Matlock as longtime friends but not in a bad way. They are cute together. There’s a little bitty moment of angst but overall this just a fun and light reading story.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable Pride and Prejudice variation

In this book, lord Matlock and John Bennett are old friends. They are also pranksters. They are trying hard to pair Elizabeth and Darcy, but 3 other couples get engaged by their pranks. It seems they will have no success. But......

[Michelle Snow]

DNF after 55%. Didn't feel any chemistry between the characters, and the "pranks" were repetitive, juvenile, and dangerous. When almost killing your daughter by drowning and then locking her in a dark boathouse a couple days later is considered a "prank," I'm done.