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Nine Ladies: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
How can Darcy and Elizabeth overcome 200 years of differences in this era-spanning love story?The Darcy family has grudgingly kept the secret about the power contained within a nearby stone circle called Nine Ladies. Fitzwilliam Darcy is forced to contend with this secret when a young woman from the future appears at Pemberley. Until the opinionated stranger can return to when she belongs, Darcy is responsible not only for her safety, but also for ensuring that nothing she does threatens Pemberley’s well-being.
Elizabeth Bennet has returned to England to take care of her estranged father, and her life was off track long before she walked into that stone circle at sunset. She quickly discovers that, as a poor and single woman, she’ll have to rely on the arrogant Mr. Darcy. She tries her best to survive in the nineteenth-century until she can return home but, as she and Darcy grow closer, the truth she knows about his and Pemberley’s bleak future becomes harder to keep.
Will their love prove timeless as centuries and cultures collide in this time travel Pride and Prejudice variation?
Elizabeth Bennet has returned to England to take care of her estranged father, and her life was off track long before she walked into that stone circle at sunset. She quickly discovers that, as a poor and single woman, she’ll have to rely on the arrogant Mr. Darcy. She tries her best to survive in the nineteenth-century until she can return home but, as she and Darcy grow closer, the truth she knows about his and Pemberley’s bleak future becomes harder to keep.
Will their love prove timeless as centuries and cultures collide in this time travel Pride and Prejudice variation?
521 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 25, 2021
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January 25, 2021
Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind. ~ Seneca
“Nine Ladies” is a travelogue of sorts – a journey in time and not in distance.
The actual “Nine Ladies” is a Bronze-Age Stone Circle located in Stanton Moor, in Derbyshire. Traditionally, the circle is believed to depict nine ladies turned to stone as a penalty for dancing on Sunday. Druid rituals are still celebrated there.
In this story, the Ladies are on Pemberley land.
In 2011, Elizabeth Bennet, an American residing in Britain following the death of her father, visits the Nine Ladies during a vernal equinox. Then she is in 1811.
Half the fun of the travel is the esthetic of lostness. ~ Ray Bradbury
Elizabeth is moved 200 years! Talk about Jet Lag!!!
As a 21st century woman, Elizabeth is aware of the history of Pemberley: a sad destiny that includes the early death of the young master, the unhappy fate of his sister, and the ruination of a grand estate.
In 1811, Pemberley residents are aware of the power of the Nine Ladies and the occasional visitor from the future. Elizabeth is confined in her room until she begins to understand her situation. The circle will not open again for three months when the next solstice occurs. She must adjust to a very different life.
Eventually, in an effort to save the life of Pemberley’s master, Elizabeth travels with Mr. Darcy to 2011 where he may receive a modern treatment. Now it is Darcy’s turn to adjust to a different life. Not surprisingly, his adjustment is more of a shock than Elizabeth’s, since she had the advantage of history. Darcy did not have the advantage of foreknowledge.
The story revolves around two issues:
How can Pemberley’s fate be changed?
How can a couple separated by 200 years be a couple?
I enjoyed the look at a very different Mother Bennet. Abandoned by her husband, Mrs. Bennet encouraged (insisted, cajoled, goaded, egged on, nattered at) her two daughters to acquire the education that would enable them to support themselves without a male. Jane has achieved that goal. Elizabeth — not so much.
I had a good chortle at a reference to Mrs. Danvers.
Usually, I tune out a JAFF time-travel book. This story was recommended to me when it was available online. I put it on the back burner, even though the author is a favorite of mine. When the author offered me an ARC without requiring a review, I bit the bullet and accepted.
I was drawn into the story immediately. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys JAFF.
The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land. ~ G.K. Chesterton
“Nine Ladies” is a travelogue of sorts – a journey in time and not in distance.
The actual “Nine Ladies” is a Bronze-Age Stone Circle located in Stanton Moor, in Derbyshire. Traditionally, the circle is believed to depict nine ladies turned to stone as a penalty for dancing on Sunday. Druid rituals are still celebrated there.
In this story, the Ladies are on Pemberley land.
In 2011, Elizabeth Bennet, an American residing in Britain following the death of her father, visits the Nine Ladies during a vernal equinox. Then she is in 1811.
Half the fun of the travel is the esthetic of lostness. ~ Ray Bradbury
Elizabeth is moved 200 years! Talk about Jet Lag!!!
As a 21st century woman, Elizabeth is aware of the history of Pemberley: a sad destiny that includes the early death of the young master, the unhappy fate of his sister, and the ruination of a grand estate.
In 1811, Pemberley residents are aware of the power of the Nine Ladies and the occasional visitor from the future. Elizabeth is confined in her room until she begins to understand her situation. The circle will not open again for three months when the next solstice occurs. She must adjust to a very different life.
Eventually, in an effort to save the life of Pemberley’s master, Elizabeth travels with Mr. Darcy to 2011 where he may receive a modern treatment. Now it is Darcy’s turn to adjust to a different life. Not surprisingly, his adjustment is more of a shock than Elizabeth’s, since she had the advantage of history. Darcy did not have the advantage of foreknowledge.
The story revolves around two issues:
How can Pemberley’s fate be changed?
How can a couple separated by 200 years be a couple?
I enjoyed the look at a very different Mother Bennet. Abandoned by her husband, Mrs. Bennet encouraged (insisted, cajoled, goaded, egged on, nattered at) her two daughters to acquire the education that would enable them to support themselves without a male. Jane has achieved that goal. Elizabeth — not so much.
I had a good chortle at a reference to Mrs. Danvers.
Usually, I tune out a JAFF time-travel book. This story was recommended to me when it was available online. I put it on the back burner, even though the author is a favorite of mine. When the author offered me an ARC without requiring a review, I bit the bullet and accepted.
I was drawn into the story immediately. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys JAFF.
The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land. ~ G.K. Chesterton
January 25, 2021
I read this as an unpublished story and then received an ARC. I wrote this review for the unpublished story and it is all my own opinions. (There was no link on GRs for the unpublished story when I wrote this review so I had saved it to a file.) I am guessing at the dates I read it more recently.
This story begins on March 21, 1811 with Elizabeth Bennet showing up at a site named Nine Ladies due to the rock formations sitting in a circle. The Pemberley groundskeeper and his grandson travel there (in their time) each Vernal Equinox and this time they find her; although at first they think she is a lad due to her dress and short unbound hair. Others have been found in the past: a baby girl and an old man. Her fate at first is to be kept secreted away in a room where no one can learn of her existence until she can be sent back to her own year. If anyone learns of time-travel or the Darcys knowing of it disaster will surely erupt with ruined reputations as the family will be judged mad.
Elizabeth finally gets to speak to Mr. Darcy and they work out an agreement where she will pretend to be a relative from Canada (her accent, you know) of Mrs. Reynolds and Georgiana will return home with her companion, Mrs. Younge, to keep her company. Elizabeth will be able to travel back to 2011 in 3 months time on June 22, 1811, Summer Solstice. While there Elizabeth becomes a friend to G. but abhors how Mrs. Younge is always criticizing her manner, her piano playing, etc.
Elizabeth does not share what she knows of Darcy’s death and Pemberley’s falling into ruin.
Flashbacks are used often in this story. The first one takes us to 2011 where we learn that Elizabeth had come to England to be with her very ill father, a man who abandoned his family early on and whose only contact was the twice yearly support checks. His stroke is followed by a deadly heart attack and Elizabeth is disappointed never to have learned why he abandoned them or even if he had warm memories of his daughters, Elizabeth and her older sister, Jane. Mrs. Bennet was forced to go to work when he left and drummed it into her daughters’ heads that they must get a good education and a well paying job. Forget men entirely! When E. comes to stay with her father both Jane and Mrs. Bennet are critical. When he dies E. decides to stay and settle her father’s estate. She has made friends with Dr. Charlotte Lucas and so they plan some time together.
One of the things they do is tour historical sites and/or buildings with friends. Pemberley is one of those but it is ruins only. A plaque tells them that the owner died in 1811 without issue. Research by Bill Collins, a childhood friend of Charlotte, informs them that not only did the owner die but his sister who was married also died soon after, both with no heirs. The sister’s husband left Pemberley impoverished and over the years it became ruins. It was neglected and much of its furnishings also sold and then it was torn apart for the building materials.
Elizabeth decides to visit the Nine Ladies site on her own on another day as the others had voted against touring such. Thus she is there at sundown and is swept backward in time.
While in the 1800’s a putrid throat infection is killing off some of the population and Mr. Darcy is one stricken by it. He is near death when Elizabeth thinks that if she can take him with her through time she can give him some antibiotics she has in her rented house, pills which Charlotte prescribed when Elizabeth had a hacking cough. So it is that Darcy travels back with Elizabeth.
The story focuses on facts that Elizabeth has learned and now some of which she shares with Darcy when he becomes well. He finds Pemberley’s ruins while with a friend he has met while searching for “pasta”- a word he is not familiar with in a grocery story. (The story makes much of words, manners, conventions both parties must learn while living in other centuries.) And research by Maria Lucas turns up that it was George Wickham who married Georgiana and ruined Pemberley. Darcy MUST go back to save his sister and to save Pemberley whose tenants and servants depend on it. Elizabeth is adamant that she cannot live in the 1800’s when women are second class citizens and uneducated. Her offer to sleep with Darcy is turned down, although both have admitted to themselves that they have feeling for each other. They have not even shared a kiss.
So Darcy travels back to his own time while Elizabeth settles her father’s estate and returns home to Illinois, USA. She remains friends with Charlotte Lucas who decides to become an unwed mother. Plans are made that Elizabeth will come to England to see the baby after it is born. There is a HEA but we have much to read about as Darcy seeks a way to ensure the future for Georgiana and Pemberley and also a way to be with the woman he has come to love. Elizabeth is miserable in her job and although she dates she now wonders if she should not have gone with Darcy back to the 1800’s.
This story begins on March 21, 1811 with Elizabeth Bennet showing up at a site named Nine Ladies due to the rock formations sitting in a circle. The Pemberley groundskeeper and his grandson travel there (in their time) each Vernal Equinox and this time they find her; although at first they think she is a lad due to her dress and short unbound hair. Others have been found in the past: a baby girl and an old man. Her fate at first is to be kept secreted away in a room where no one can learn of her existence until she can be sent back to her own year. If anyone learns of time-travel or the Darcys knowing of it disaster will surely erupt with ruined reputations as the family will be judged mad.
Elizabeth finally gets to speak to Mr. Darcy and they work out an agreement where she will pretend to be a relative from Canada (her accent, you know) of Mrs. Reynolds and Georgiana will return home with her companion, Mrs. Younge, to keep her company. Elizabeth will be able to travel back to 2011 in 3 months time on June 22, 1811, Summer Solstice. While there Elizabeth becomes a friend to G. but abhors how Mrs. Younge is always criticizing her manner, her piano playing, etc.
Elizabeth does not share what she knows of Darcy’s death and Pemberley’s falling into ruin.
Flashbacks are used often in this story. The first one takes us to 2011 where we learn that Elizabeth had come to England to be with her very ill father, a man who abandoned his family early on and whose only contact was the twice yearly support checks. His stroke is followed by a deadly heart attack and Elizabeth is disappointed never to have learned why he abandoned them or even if he had warm memories of his daughters, Elizabeth and her older sister, Jane. Mrs. Bennet was forced to go to work when he left and drummed it into her daughters’ heads that they must get a good education and a well paying job. Forget men entirely! When E. comes to stay with her father both Jane and Mrs. Bennet are critical. When he dies E. decides to stay and settle her father’s estate. She has made friends with Dr. Charlotte Lucas and so they plan some time together.
One of the things they do is tour historical sites and/or buildings with friends. Pemberley is one of those but it is ruins only. A plaque tells them that the owner died in 1811 without issue. Research by Bill Collins, a childhood friend of Charlotte, informs them that not only did the owner die but his sister who was married also died soon after, both with no heirs. The sister’s husband left Pemberley impoverished and over the years it became ruins. It was neglected and much of its furnishings also sold and then it was torn apart for the building materials.
Elizabeth decides to visit the Nine Ladies site on her own on another day as the others had voted against touring such. Thus she is there at sundown and is swept backward in time.
While in the 1800’s a putrid throat infection is killing off some of the population and Mr. Darcy is one stricken by it. He is near death when Elizabeth thinks that if she can take him with her through time she can give him some antibiotics she has in her rented house, pills which Charlotte prescribed when Elizabeth had a hacking cough. So it is that Darcy travels back with Elizabeth.
The story focuses on facts that Elizabeth has learned and now some of which she shares with Darcy when he becomes well. He finds Pemberley’s ruins while with a friend he has met while searching for “pasta”- a word he is not familiar with in a grocery story. (The story makes much of words, manners, conventions both parties must learn while living in other centuries.) And research by Maria Lucas turns up that it was George Wickham who married Georgiana and ruined Pemberley. Darcy MUST go back to save his sister and to save Pemberley whose tenants and servants depend on it. Elizabeth is adamant that she cannot live in the 1800’s when women are second class citizens and uneducated. Her offer to sleep with Darcy is turned down, although both have admitted to themselves that they have feeling for each other. They have not even shared a kiss.
So Darcy travels back to his own time while Elizabeth settles her father’s estate and returns home to Illinois, USA. She remains friends with Charlotte Lucas who decides to become an unwed mother. Plans are made that Elizabeth will come to England to see the baby after it is born. There is a HEA but we have much to read about as Darcy seeks a way to ensure the future for Georgiana and Pemberley and also a way to be with the woman he has come to love. Elizabeth is miserable in her job and although she dates she now wonders if she should not have gone with Darcy back to the 1800’s.
January 20, 2022
A Time Travel Treat
In this Darcy and Elizabeth time travel trope, they find each other caught up in two different centuries. This ingeniously-developed storyline unfolds as Modern (brash, sassy, and feminist) meets Regency (rude, reticent, and proper). Darcy is Mister Regency from 1811, and Elizabeth, Miss Modern from 2011.
It’s 2011 when Elizabeth unwittingly travels back 200 years by means of the Nine Ladies, a small early Bronze Age stone circle traditionally believed to depict nine ladies turned to stone as a penalty for dancing on Sunday. In reality (and in 2011 in this story), the Nine Ladies circle is part of a complex of prehistoric circles and standing stones on Stanton Moor, in the Derbyshire Peak District. In this book (in 1811) the Ladies are located on Pemberley land.
I truly wish I could give this book more than five stars. From cover to cover, this wonderfully-written and dialogue-driven story grabbed and pulled me in as quickly as the Nine Ladies would have done had I been there. I laughed, I had tears. There is grief, fear, anger, humour, love, as Elizabeth and Darcy are forced to adjust to the new worlds in which they find themselves, while at the same time, know they will be separated.
Elizabeth handles 1811 pretty well, and is fierce and astute while dealing with Caroline and Mrs. Younge. Darcy’s innocence (and sometimes horror) to experiencing the realities of 2011 is endearing and at times comical.
The well-researched background as to women and property rights, inheritances, etc., were adroitly blended into the story using dialogue in a way that made it interesting to this reader. I also liked how the writer included, but quickly dealt with the elopement. It was important to the story and was necessary, but was expressed without it taking over the narrative for pages and pages. That’s great writing and editing.
This is by far my favourite P&P time travel variation. Heather Moll has written a fabulous love story, spanning generations to help ODC reach a happy ending. I started the book as a Kindle Unlimited loan, but purchased it for my permanent Kindle library. Loved, loved, loved it!
Magnifique!! Highly recommend!
This book contains mature content.
January 19, 2022 - Loved it even more the second time around!
In this Darcy and Elizabeth time travel trope, they find each other caught up in two different centuries. This ingeniously-developed storyline unfolds as Modern (brash, sassy, and feminist) meets Regency (rude, reticent, and proper). Darcy is Mister Regency from 1811, and Elizabeth, Miss Modern from 2011.
It’s 2011 when Elizabeth unwittingly travels back 200 years by means of the Nine Ladies, a small early Bronze Age stone circle traditionally believed to depict nine ladies turned to stone as a penalty for dancing on Sunday. In reality (and in 2011 in this story), the Nine Ladies circle is part of a complex of prehistoric circles and standing stones on Stanton Moor, in the Derbyshire Peak District. In this book (in 1811) the Ladies are located on Pemberley land.
I truly wish I could give this book more than five stars. From cover to cover, this wonderfully-written and dialogue-driven story grabbed and pulled me in as quickly as the Nine Ladies would have done had I been there. I laughed, I had tears. There is grief, fear, anger, humour, love, as Elizabeth and Darcy are forced to adjust to the new worlds in which they find themselves, while at the same time, know they will be separated.
Elizabeth handles 1811 pretty well, and is fierce and astute while dealing with Caroline and Mrs. Younge. Darcy’s innocence (and sometimes horror) to experiencing the realities of 2011 is endearing and at times comical.
The well-researched background as to women and property rights, inheritances, etc., were adroitly blended into the story using dialogue in a way that made it interesting to this reader. I also liked how the writer included, but quickly dealt with the elopement. It was important to the story and was necessary, but was expressed without it taking over the narrative for pages and pages. That’s great writing and editing.
This is by far my favourite P&P time travel variation. Heather Moll has written a fabulous love story, spanning generations to help ODC reach a happy ending. I started the book as a Kindle Unlimited loan, but purchased it for my permanent Kindle library. Loved, loved, loved it!
Magnifique!! Highly recommend!
This book contains mature content.
January 19, 2022 - Loved it even more the second time around!
February 16, 2021
I absolutely loved this book that allows people to move two hundred years forward and back, but only on the summer and winter equinox. The characters are well written. The tension, the emotion and fish out of water situations were amazing. The conversations about the evolution of civilization, technology, medicine, etc. as they compare between the two time periods was thought provoking.
While this is not your traditional variation story, I could not put it down!! The resolution and conclusion was genius. I can only imagine if such a thing had been done so intentionally in reality!
While this is not your traditional variation story, I could not put it down!! The resolution and conclusion was genius. I can only imagine if such a thing had been done so intentionally in reality!
August 3, 2021
Love transcends time when a 21st century woman uncertain about her future enters a stone circle and encounters a man of duty and responsibility two hundred years in the past. A modern Elizabeth Bennet and a traditional Fitzwilliam Darcy uphold Austen's classic in an all new way in this time travel romance paired with Pride & Prejudice.
Nine Ladies provides a magical explanation for a stone time travel portal located on the Darcy estate of Pemberley and then invites the reader to journey back in time and what it would feel like to give up tech and conveniences for a pre-industrial time. Two hundred years can make a big difference in social, legal, and scientific thought and this is acutely felt when Elizabeth wakes up in a time when she is a second class citizen, bizarrely dressed to the locals, and the English spoken by her and to her might as well have been a language exchange between foreigners. The scenes in past and present came to vivid life and were described well.
The author did a great job of writing the unsettled even scary feelings of being that far out of one's element. Perhaps too good a job in Elizabeth's case. I didn't care for her for the longest time. I was ready to thwop her on the head after her attitude continued several weeks in. When in Rome...? Not her! I wasn't impressed that someone who professed to love history spouted so much modern slang and got so tetchy about the past especially when she knew there was an expiration date on her stay- three months- and she was spending it in relative comfort with people who were caring for her needs. But, she does finally pull it together and try to settle in for the remainder of the time she is there and even engages with a shy young Georgiana Darcy, the housekeeper who has her own secrets, Mrs. Reynolds, and starts to understand and be friends with the estate owner, Darcy. Her sweet and playful side comes out at times and it was easy to see how the pair would slowly fall for each other and struggle knowing there was a future separation.
Minor spoiler... Darcy got his turn to see what it was like when the tables were turned. And, again, I thought the author really brought out the anguish of being disposed in a completely bewildering situation where he had sometimes no point of reference. There was a scene where Elizabeth forgot to warn Darcy about airplanes so he is in a near panic when a big jet flies over. He is so used to being in command of himself and confident in his world where he has the charge of so many lives that he really had to dig deep to deal with the vulnerability perhaps more so than Elizabeth when she was back in Regency times.
While they both get to narrate the story, I felt this was Elizabeth's tale. She has to address some personal issues like her father's utter abandonment of their family since she was two years old, her mother's abrasive bitter attitude that always sees Elizabeth as less than her beautiful perfect older sister, and her need to decide if she will live her life to suit her mother or herself and what will that look like? All this on top of time traveling to the past and falling in love with a man who has responsibilities that will keep him in the past.
I loved this story and the struggles that felt organic to such a character-driven story. It made me embrace what it would be like to travel through time to a period not my own. One niggle though. It was a longer novel and it felt like it a few times both in the past and in the present. The explanation in the end was detailed out and I didn't need all that to understand the arrangements to make their end plan plausible, but there were wonderful romantic feels so it wasn't exactly a disappointment. Far from it.
All in all, I was charmed to journey to the past with Elizabeth and enjoy the present with Darcy and discover how they would bridge the time gap to be together. This was my first experience with the author's writing, but it won't be my last. Readers don't have to be familiar with the original Austen story to appreciate this one so I will recommend it to all time travel romance fans.
I was gifted an eARC copy to read if I wished with no expectation other than a possible honest review. I chose to read a finished copy through Kindle Unlimited.
Nine Ladies provides a magical explanation for a stone time travel portal located on the Darcy estate of Pemberley and then invites the reader to journey back in time and what it would feel like to give up tech and conveniences for a pre-industrial time. Two hundred years can make a big difference in social, legal, and scientific thought and this is acutely felt when Elizabeth wakes up in a time when she is a second class citizen, bizarrely dressed to the locals, and the English spoken by her and to her might as well have been a language exchange between foreigners. The scenes in past and present came to vivid life and were described well.
The author did a great job of writing the unsettled even scary feelings of being that far out of one's element. Perhaps too good a job in Elizabeth's case. I didn't care for her for the longest time. I was ready to thwop her on the head after her attitude continued several weeks in. When in Rome...? Not her! I wasn't impressed that someone who professed to love history spouted so much modern slang and got so tetchy about the past especially when she knew there was an expiration date on her stay- three months- and she was spending it in relative comfort with people who were caring for her needs. But, she does finally pull it together and try to settle in for the remainder of the time she is there and even engages with a shy young Georgiana Darcy, the housekeeper who has her own secrets, Mrs. Reynolds, and starts to understand and be friends with the estate owner, Darcy. Her sweet and playful side comes out at times and it was easy to see how the pair would slowly fall for each other and struggle knowing there was a future separation.
Minor spoiler... Darcy got his turn to see what it was like when the tables were turned. And, again, I thought the author really brought out the anguish of being disposed in a completely bewildering situation where he had sometimes no point of reference. There was a scene where Elizabeth forgot to warn Darcy about airplanes so he is in a near panic when a big jet flies over. He is so used to being in command of himself and confident in his world where he has the charge of so many lives that he really had to dig deep to deal with the vulnerability perhaps more so than Elizabeth when she was back in Regency times.
While they both get to narrate the story, I felt this was Elizabeth's tale. She has to address some personal issues like her father's utter abandonment of their family since she was two years old, her mother's abrasive bitter attitude that always sees Elizabeth as less than her beautiful perfect older sister, and her need to decide if she will live her life to suit her mother or herself and what will that look like? All this on top of time traveling to the past and falling in love with a man who has responsibilities that will keep him in the past.
I loved this story and the struggles that felt organic to such a character-driven story. It made me embrace what it would be like to travel through time to a period not my own. One niggle though. It was a longer novel and it felt like it a few times both in the past and in the present. The explanation in the end was detailed out and I didn't need all that to understand the arrangements to make their end plan plausible, but there were wonderful romantic feels so it wasn't exactly a disappointment. Far from it.
All in all, I was charmed to journey to the past with Elizabeth and enjoy the present with Darcy and discover how they would bridge the time gap to be together. This was my first experience with the author's writing, but it won't be my last. Readers don't have to be familiar with the original Austen story to appreciate this one so I will recommend it to all time travel romance fans.
I was gifted an eARC copy to read if I wished with no expectation other than a possible honest review. I chose to read a finished copy through Kindle Unlimited.
March 9, 2022
A Powerful Love Versus The Impossibility of Being Together
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Author
TYPE OF NOVEL: Time Travel Pride and Prejudice Adaptation
SETTING: Begins in both March 1811 and March 2011
SYNOPSIS:A Bronze-Age Stone Circle near Pemberley has the inexplicable and secret power to bring people forwards and backwards in time, and an unsuspecting modern-day Elizabeth Bennet finds herself brought back to the year 1811 while touring the site. While waiting for her opportunity to return to the future, Elizabeth tries to pass herself off as a Regency lady under the protection of Mr. Darcy. But her emerging feelings for Pemberley’s master and her knowledge of Pemberley’s future makes traveling back to her time fraught with complications and heartbreaking decisions…
WHAT I LOVED:
- Unique and Unfamiliar: Even though I’ve read my fair share of time-travel and time-slip novels involving these characters, this story places them in such unique and unfamiliar circumstances that it was often refreshingly unpredictable. The usual elements of pride, prejudice, and misunderstandings are not brought into agency in this story. Instead Heather Moll crafts together a most compelling romantic adventure that not only illustrates the poignancy of an impossible love, but also poses the question of what could/would you sacrifice for love?
- Thoughtful Analyzation: It is abundantly evident that Heather Moll spent a lot of time pondering and examining the differences between life in 1811 and 2011. She cleverly highlights the differences between these two times – whether it be the obvious changes in dress, technology, women’s rights, and healthcare practices, or the deeper disparities in certain word uses, verbal and non-verbal communication, and relationship customs. Ms. Moll’s thoughtful analyzation is apparent in each description and explanation as she consistently addresses questions of how would ‘X ‘appear to someone not of this time? How would you describe ‘X’ to someone who didn’t know anything about it?
- Falling Love: The journey to love is delightfully atypical in this story as both characters debate and deliberate about how much they should declare or act on their feelings when they know a future together is impossible. I found so much to love and appreciate in our principal characters – I loved Elizabeth’s playful irreverence, courageous strength, and independent mind, and I loved Mr. Darcy’s dedicated responsibility, forward-thinking, and subtle sense of humor. Whether they were chafing at being yoked together, forming a tentative friendship, or trying to suppress or acknowledge with their growing attachment, the exchanges between these characters were stirring to witness.
- Skillful Construction: I love all the historical and factual tie-ins Ms. Moll implemented in this story. It is fascinating that she found a real ancient stone circle with supposed mystical properties in Derbyshire! It is obvious that Ms. Moll scrupulously researched so many facts, customs, and laws for her writing, and it makes this fictional and fantastical tale glimmer with history and authenticity.
- Mr. Darcy is Adorbs: SPOILER ALERT! I just have to express how much I love seeing Mr. Darcy in the twenty-first century – using the word “fine,” whipping out a phone to avoid social interactions, tolerating the indecency of wearing shorts and t-shirts, and making his own food – everything about this made me so happy.
- Secondary Characters: Heather Moll found creative new ways to develop both Georgiana Darcy and Mrs. Reynolds and flesh out their pasts. I loved her thoughtful choices and was impressed with how beautifully they fit in with what we know of the original characters.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
Ugh! That I’m not Elizabeth Bennet!
NOTE: Because of the occasional use of profanity and some intimate scenes (last few chapters only), I’d recommend this story for Mature Audiences
CONCLUSION:
Ingenious, astute, and intentional – Nine Ladies by Heather Moll is simply a brilliant and beautifully-crafted work of Austenesque fiction! I highly recommend this story to any reader who wants to have their share of a romantic time-travel adventure with Mr. Darcy!
Austenesque Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Author
TYPE OF NOVEL: Time Travel Pride and Prejudice Adaptation
SETTING: Begins in both March 1811 and March 2011
SYNOPSIS:A Bronze-Age Stone Circle near Pemberley has the inexplicable and secret power to bring people forwards and backwards in time, and an unsuspecting modern-day Elizabeth Bennet finds herself brought back to the year 1811 while touring the site. While waiting for her opportunity to return to the future, Elizabeth tries to pass herself off as a Regency lady under the protection of Mr. Darcy. But her emerging feelings for Pemberley’s master and her knowledge of Pemberley’s future makes traveling back to her time fraught with complications and heartbreaking decisions…
WHAT I LOVED:
- Unique and Unfamiliar: Even though I’ve read my fair share of time-travel and time-slip novels involving these characters, this story places them in such unique and unfamiliar circumstances that it was often refreshingly unpredictable. The usual elements of pride, prejudice, and misunderstandings are not brought into agency in this story. Instead Heather Moll crafts together a most compelling romantic adventure that not only illustrates the poignancy of an impossible love, but also poses the question of what could/would you sacrifice for love?
- Thoughtful Analyzation: It is abundantly evident that Heather Moll spent a lot of time pondering and examining the differences between life in 1811 and 2011. She cleverly highlights the differences between these two times – whether it be the obvious changes in dress, technology, women’s rights, and healthcare practices, or the deeper disparities in certain word uses, verbal and non-verbal communication, and relationship customs. Ms. Moll’s thoughtful analyzation is apparent in each description and explanation as she consistently addresses questions of how would ‘X ‘appear to someone not of this time? How would you describe ‘X’ to someone who didn’t know anything about it?
- Falling Love: The journey to love is delightfully atypical in this story as both characters debate and deliberate about how much they should declare or act on their feelings when they know a future together is impossible. I found so much to love and appreciate in our principal characters – I loved Elizabeth’s playful irreverence, courageous strength, and independent mind, and I loved Mr. Darcy’s dedicated responsibility, forward-thinking, and subtle sense of humor. Whether they were chafing at being yoked together, forming a tentative friendship, or trying to suppress or acknowledge with their growing attachment, the exchanges between these characters were stirring to witness.
- Skillful Construction: I love all the historical and factual tie-ins Ms. Moll implemented in this story. It is fascinating that she found a real ancient stone circle with supposed mystical properties in Derbyshire! It is obvious that Ms. Moll scrupulously researched so many facts, customs, and laws for her writing, and it makes this fictional and fantastical tale glimmer with history and authenticity.
- Mr. Darcy is Adorbs: SPOILER ALERT! I just have to express how much I love seeing Mr. Darcy in the twenty-first century – using the word “fine,” whipping out a phone to avoid social interactions, tolerating the indecency of wearing shorts and t-shirts, and making his own food – everything about this made me so happy.
- Secondary Characters: Heather Moll found creative new ways to develop both Georgiana Darcy and Mrs. Reynolds and flesh out their pasts. I loved her thoughtful choices and was impressed with how beautifully they fit in with what we know of the original characters.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
Ugh! That I’m not Elizabeth Bennet!
NOTE: Because of the occasional use of profanity and some intimate scenes (last few chapters only), I’d recommend this story for Mature Audiences
CONCLUSION:
Ingenious, astute, and intentional – Nine Ladies by Heather Moll is simply a brilliant and beautifully-crafted work of Austenesque fiction! I highly recommend this story to any reader who wants to have their share of a romantic time-travel adventure with Mr. Darcy!
Austenesque Reviews
May 21, 2021
Pemberley Plus Outlander - Wonderful!
This story was so well done. I defy any romance reader familiar with our Mr. Darcy not to love this book. There are wonderful depictions of the characters that face the mysterious, and often humorous, resulting events of a two hundred year juxtaposition in time. The plot is full, encompassing the major important trials of P&P but elevates the back stories of many supporting characters, adding a few originals and turning one on her head. And with deference to the Scottish tale, this book takes on, most admirably, the alternate fantasy. Bravo, DA and thank you.
This story was so well done. I defy any romance reader familiar with our Mr. Darcy not to love this book. There are wonderful depictions of the characters that face the mysterious, and often humorous, resulting events of a two hundred year juxtaposition in time. The plot is full, encompassing the major important trials of P&P but elevates the back stories of many supporting characters, adding a few originals and turning one on her head. And with deference to the Scottish tale, this book takes on, most admirably, the alternate fantasy. Bravo, DA and thank you.
December 3, 2024
I would give this more stars if I could. When I read a book and get so excited that I have to shut it to run out and tell my husband what is happening, it is a winner. I will read this happily many times. A new fave!
Reread: Wow, I need someone else to show up in the circle. Maybe Col Fitzwilliam? Bingley?
Reread: needs a sequel
Reread: Wow, I need someone else to show up in the circle. Maybe Col Fitzwilliam? Bingley?
Reread: needs a sequel
January 13, 2022
When I like a book a lot, yet found reading it a chore from one end to another, I have to think hard on the star count. Such is the case with Nine Ladies.
I won't be leaving a summary of the book or any similar spoiler-like reviews because the other reviewers have done that by now. Instead, my review is technical: it looks at the detail other reviewers leave out that niggles the back of readers' minds and causes them to drop stars.
The plot was brilliant and execution was even more amazing--there were many balls in the air that had to be dealt with, and a major decision point that had to be sold to readers. The author did so with a deft hand. I can't speak highly enough on this.
Pacing was slow and even dull. Such a book deserves more than a mere content editor, because this book was about 50% too long due to redundancies and unnecessary detail. That makes it a fat book that was tedious to read from the start to the end, even though the writing was superior otherwise. I find that curious, because the content editor is known for enjoying a cut. But a content editor is no substantial editor. I consider that there were three sections to the book, and each section had the same problem. The author ought to read a few shorter novels to see how to pass over information without spelling out every conversation in detail.
It was difficult to evaluate this novel for language, since the first part of the book was in a modern point of view in the Regency era, and some characters sneaked in as possible modern characters. I did, however, find British or Regency speakers using inappropriate words: "I will" or "we will" for "I shall" or "we shall," toward for towards, and "taken aback." This is low for a JAFF novel. The author did change from Regency to modern a lot--but it was sometimes confusing.
Due to the lack of dialogue tags, I found the dialogue hard to follow in many places. It's a tricky balancing act and I know we try to minimize those attention suckers, but this was too much. I had to read back way too often.
Filter words were in use, and I found the point of view to never be that deep in any case. There's nothing particularly wrong with this, it's just that the reader would get a better experience with a "show, don't tell" and deep point of view goal by the author. I also detected what appeared to be head-hopping as well in several locations within the book, particularly describing one's self.
I found that Darcy spoke in contractions and modern language too easily in the latter sections of the novel. This would have been an author choice as a huge dividing point was the use of contractions. I didn't check the usage dates on any of the contractions to see if they were all in use the Regency. I hope the author or editor did so.
Scene-setting was phenomenal. The best part of this book was the author's ability to show the reader, using all the senses, the places and feelings of the characters. She is truly gifted in this regard.
The cover is one of the best I've seen. I chose this book as my Austenesque Jolabokaflod choice because of the cover and the positive vibes I was getting from others on the book. There are so many subtleties that make this artwork fantastic: the balance, the clothing, the expressions on the faces, the lighting, the layout, the font choices. This is a book that will say "Buy me!" with that "Wow!" factor when readers are searching among others. It's no ordinary cover, and it tells the reader this is no ordinary book. Which it's not.
If you don't mind wading through extra prose, too many detailed descriptions, a dearth of dialogue tags, and a few redundancies, this is a pretty darn good story. No, scratch that, it's a brilliant story. Reviewers who are more patient than me are naming it to their best of the year lists. The author should be proud. I'm proud of her!
Disclaimer: I'm a JAFF author, and because of that, some might say this review is a conflict of interest. However, I was a reader first, and my reviews are honest and impartial. I write them for both readers and authors. I consider Heather Moll as a friend.
I won't be leaving a summary of the book or any similar spoiler-like reviews because the other reviewers have done that by now. Instead, my review is technical: it looks at the detail other reviewers leave out that niggles the back of readers' minds and causes them to drop stars.
The plot was brilliant and execution was even more amazing--there were many balls in the air that had to be dealt with, and a major decision point that had to be sold to readers. The author did so with a deft hand. I can't speak highly enough on this.
Pacing was slow and even dull. Such a book deserves more than a mere content editor, because this book was about 50% too long due to redundancies and unnecessary detail. That makes it a fat book that was tedious to read from the start to the end, even though the writing was superior otherwise. I find that curious, because the content editor is known for enjoying a cut. But a content editor is no substantial editor. I consider that there were three sections to the book, and each section had the same problem. The author ought to read a few shorter novels to see how to pass over information without spelling out every conversation in detail.
It was difficult to evaluate this novel for language, since the first part of the book was in a modern point of view in the Regency era, and some characters sneaked in as possible modern characters. I did, however, find British or Regency speakers using inappropriate words: "I will" or "we will" for "I shall" or "we shall," toward for towards, and "taken aback." This is low for a JAFF novel. The author did change from Regency to modern a lot--but it was sometimes confusing.
Due to the lack of dialogue tags, I found the dialogue hard to follow in many places. It's a tricky balancing act and I know we try to minimize those attention suckers, but this was too much. I had to read back way too often.
Filter words were in use, and I found the point of view to never be that deep in any case. There's nothing particularly wrong with this, it's just that the reader would get a better experience with a "show, don't tell" and deep point of view goal by the author. I also detected what appeared to be head-hopping as well in several locations within the book, particularly describing one's self.
I found that Darcy spoke in contractions and modern language too easily in the latter sections of the novel. This would have been an author choice as a huge dividing point was the use of contractions. I didn't check the usage dates on any of the contractions to see if they were all in use the Regency. I hope the author or editor did so.
Scene-setting was phenomenal. The best part of this book was the author's ability to show the reader, using all the senses, the places and feelings of the characters. She is truly gifted in this regard.
The cover is one of the best I've seen. I chose this book as my Austenesque Jolabokaflod choice because of the cover and the positive vibes I was getting from others on the book. There are so many subtleties that make this artwork fantastic: the balance, the clothing, the expressions on the faces, the lighting, the layout, the font choices. This is a book that will say "Buy me!" with that "Wow!" factor when readers are searching among others. It's no ordinary cover, and it tells the reader this is no ordinary book. Which it's not.
If you don't mind wading through extra prose, too many detailed descriptions, a dearth of dialogue tags, and a few redundancies, this is a pretty darn good story. No, scratch that, it's a brilliant story. Reviewers who are more patient than me are naming it to their best of the year lists. The author should be proud. I'm proud of her!
Disclaimer: I'm a JAFF author, and because of that, some might say this review is a conflict of interest. However, I was a reader first, and my reviews are honest and impartial. I write them for both readers and authors. I consider Heather Moll as a friend.
December 13, 2024
Why do I decided to write a review? Because I so loved this book.
Firstly you must know that I'm an Outlander fan. So, kinda Outlander meets Pride and Prejudice without violence. Totally something for me.
Let's starts with a quick summary. Elizabeth Bennet finds herself in the center of the Nine Ladies on equinox and traveled back in time, to be precise 200 years. From 2011 to 1811. Pemberley's Gamekeeper finds her and they are bringing her to Pemberley. Mr. Darcy is very reluctant to even speak to the time traveler (Or ever) and lets Mrs. Reynolds handling everything but our heroine gets her way and eventually talks to Darcy. Let me tell you, I love how impertinent and stubborn she was. Not in a 19th Century way, but really a 21 Century way. What I also liked, Ms Moll found in my opinion a good way to include both centuries, though being trapped in the 19th century.
Darcy, his Staff and everyone else (won't spoil it) spoke in a Regency manner, Elizabeth spoke/behaved in 21 century when around Darcy and Mrs. Reynolds and who else who knew about her. The other times, our heroine tried her best to fit in. Good Job.
The first half of the book went by quickly, I must say the second half dragged itself a bit. But even if it dragged a bit, there was so much to find out.
What else can I say about the characters?
Mrs. Reynolds - She has like a love/hate relationship with Elizabeth. But very very fond of the Darcy's, especially Mr. Darcy I think.
Darcy - The proud man at the beginning and insults her even. (Like in canon) He pretty quickly changes around HER but sometimes falls into his role of being the prideful Master of Pemberley.
Elizabeth - Impertinent, stubborn, a feminist, but tries to fit in wherever she is. Judges too quickly. Yeah I Think we know some of those traits from a very popular book?
Mrs. Bennet - Never liked her in canon and didn't liked her behavior towards Elizabeth in this. She's kinda like in canon but doesn't want her Daughters to have serious relationships or marriage.
Jane - In the first half I didn't liked her but then it got better, but still not at the point where I said OMG I love her.
Charlotte - I loved her! Nothing more to say. And still practical in a way I think.
You want to know about other characters? Read this fantastic book.
It is low or middle angst and also only a little steam, not much really.
I'm sorry for this short summary, I really don't want to give away too much. :-)
Firstly you must know that I'm an Outlander fan. So, kinda Outlander meets Pride and Prejudice without violence. Totally something for me.
Let's starts with a quick summary. Elizabeth Bennet finds herself in the center of the Nine Ladies on equinox and traveled back in time, to be precise 200 years. From 2011 to 1811. Pemberley's Gamekeeper finds her and they are bringing her to Pemberley. Mr. Darcy is very reluctant to even speak to the time traveler (Or ever) and lets Mrs. Reynolds handling everything but our heroine gets her way and eventually talks to Darcy. Let me tell you, I love how impertinent and stubborn she was. Not in a 19th Century way, but really a 21 Century way. What I also liked, Ms Moll found in my opinion a good way to include both centuries, though being trapped in the 19th century.
Darcy, his Staff and everyone else (won't spoil it) spoke in a Regency manner, Elizabeth spoke/behaved in 21 century when around Darcy and Mrs. Reynolds and who else who knew about her. The other times, our heroine tried her best to fit in. Good Job.
The first half of the book went by quickly, I must say the second half dragged itself a bit. But even if it dragged a bit, there was so much to find out.
What else can I say about the characters?
Mrs. Reynolds - She has like a love/hate relationship with Elizabeth. But very very fond of the Darcy's, especially Mr. Darcy I think.
Darcy - The proud man at the beginning and insults her even. (Like in canon) He pretty quickly changes around HER but sometimes falls into his role of being the prideful Master of Pemberley.
Elizabeth - Impertinent, stubborn, a feminist, but tries to fit in wherever she is. Judges too quickly. Yeah I Think we know some of those traits from a very popular book?
Mrs. Bennet - Never liked her in canon and didn't liked her behavior towards Elizabeth in this. She's kinda like in canon but doesn't want her Daughters to have serious relationships or marriage.
Jane - In the first half I didn't liked her but then it got better, but still not at the point where I said OMG I love her.
Charlotte - I loved her! Nothing more to say. And still practical in a way I think.
You want to know about other characters? Read this fantastic book.
It is low or middle angst and also only a little steam, not much really.
I'm sorry for this short summary, I really don't want to give away too much. :-)
May 28, 2023
Such an enjoyable book, funny but with all the feels.
January 25, 2021
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you - a woman (or man) in the 21st century, just as you are, were to meet Mr. Darcy from the 19th century just as he was? It is one of my favourite fantasies: imagining the reactions of people back then to our lives now.
This book was the ideal answer to all my wondering. I will not reiterate the plot - the blurb on amazon would give you an idea if not other reviews on goodreads - but suffice to say that Elizabeth, a modern day woman, and Darcy, a Regency-era gentleman, must reconcile their love for each other with the antipathy they feel for each other’s time. It is one of the most unique plots I have seen in JAFF - an almost impossibly perfect blend of regency and modern, and one of the best romantic scenarios for Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.
The plot is flawless. Every good love story needs an obstacle, something for the hero and heroine to overcome, something for them to learn. If it is really good, there will be something in it for the reader to learn too. And this story is really good. We have seen time travel stories that romanticize the past, like Lost in Austen, or Outlander. That make you wish you could just take a trip to 1812 Pemberley and find your own HEA. But the past is very very flawed and there are some very good reasons why women have rebelled against it throughout history. And in this book we get to watch what it was really like through the eyes of someone with our sensibilities and our perspective. Not the swooning, oh-shucks-isn’t-Mr. Darcy-chivalrous kind of perspective, but the one that takes into account the everyday rights and liberties we have come to expect. That we should not want to compromise on. For any man. Even Mr. Darcy.
This book is one of my two all time favourite Pride and Prejudice variations because of how organic the development of the plot and with it the romance between our favourite couple is. The obstacle that they have to overcome is actually insurmountable and not just the product of the self-doubt of a mind in love. Not something that could be easily solved but for the author bending the characters out of shape to make their plot work (something I have found very rare in Pride and Prejudice variations).
I like that the angst in the story, the thrill, the nagging worries and questions in the minds of the characters are not the ridiculous kind of uncertainty one sees so often in regency romance where one character refuses to believe the other loves them simply because the words have not been spoken. Their love transcends both time and words. The characters feel real and intelligent, not blind to their surroundings, to the emotional cues given them by others’ actions. They understand each other past language and cultural barriers and seeing that all play out with the potent power of Heather Moll’s writing and witty dialogue is a pleasure you shouldn’t miss out on. I would have loved this story even if the characters were not called Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy (though that always gives an extra charm to regency stories for me).
Everything in this book is well-researched and well-thought-out, from the norms and vocabulary of 1812 to the geography of Derbyshire, written with such confidence that the reader cant help but believe in it to the point of forgetting that time-travel itself isn’t real. And the little tidbits of trivia I picked up while reading Nine Ladies made it as much a joy to read as watching Mr. Darcy react to an aeroplane or the washing machine. (spoiler: he does get car sick.)
This book was the ideal answer to all my wondering. I will not reiterate the plot - the blurb on amazon would give you an idea if not other reviews on goodreads - but suffice to say that Elizabeth, a modern day woman, and Darcy, a Regency-era gentleman, must reconcile their love for each other with the antipathy they feel for each other’s time. It is one of the most unique plots I have seen in JAFF - an almost impossibly perfect blend of regency and modern, and one of the best romantic scenarios for Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.
The plot is flawless. Every good love story needs an obstacle, something for the hero and heroine to overcome, something for them to learn. If it is really good, there will be something in it for the reader to learn too. And this story is really good. We have seen time travel stories that romanticize the past, like Lost in Austen, or Outlander. That make you wish you could just take a trip to 1812 Pemberley and find your own HEA. But the past is very very flawed and there are some very good reasons why women have rebelled against it throughout history. And in this book we get to watch what it was really like through the eyes of someone with our sensibilities and our perspective. Not the swooning, oh-shucks-isn’t-Mr. Darcy-chivalrous kind of perspective, but the one that takes into account the everyday rights and liberties we have come to expect. That we should not want to compromise on. For any man. Even Mr. Darcy.
This book is one of my two all time favourite Pride and Prejudice variations because of how organic the development of the plot and with it the romance between our favourite couple is. The obstacle that they have to overcome is actually insurmountable and not just the product of the self-doubt of a mind in love. Not something that could be easily solved but for the author bending the characters out of shape to make their plot work (something I have found very rare in Pride and Prejudice variations).
I like that the angst in the story, the thrill, the nagging worries and questions in the minds of the characters are not the ridiculous kind of uncertainty one sees so often in regency romance where one character refuses to believe the other loves them simply because the words have not been spoken. Their love transcends both time and words. The characters feel real and intelligent, not blind to their surroundings, to the emotional cues given them by others’ actions. They understand each other past language and cultural barriers and seeing that all play out with the potent power of Heather Moll’s writing and witty dialogue is a pleasure you shouldn’t miss out on. I would have loved this story even if the characters were not called Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy (though that always gives an extra charm to regency stories for me).
Everything in this book is well-researched and well-thought-out, from the norms and vocabulary of 1812 to the geography of Derbyshire, written with such confidence that the reader cant help but believe in it to the point of forgetting that time-travel itself isn’t real. And the little tidbits of trivia I picked up while reading Nine Ladies made it as much a joy to read as watching Mr. Darcy react to an aeroplane or the washing machine. (spoiler: he does get car sick.)
February 6, 2023
I love stories that take place in two different time periods. They are rarely written but very interesting. I also love time travel stories and this is both. Yay! This is a very well written story which stays true to the original characters according to the time periods even when they cross over. And not only all the loose ends are neatly tied up at present but also in the past. Very satisfying read.
February 16, 2021
Wonderful
A lovely premise, and very original. The author did a fine job of handling the concept of time travel. Elizabeth, an American visiting England to settle her recently deceased father's affairs, accidentally enters a stone circle that holds the power of time travel on each of the solstices at sunset. She travels 200 years to the past, to the year 1811. Since the stone circle is on Pemberly's land, she is reluctantly taken in by Darcy, and then the story is a pretty typical fish-out-of-water tale.
The author concocted many interesting twists to the stone circle/time travel dilemma. One is the ability to go back to your previous time on the opposite solstice, so you just know that more time travel is in the cards for this story. Without giving away too much of the plot, it becomes necessary for Darcy to travel back with Elizabeth to the year 2011, and so we find out how both Elizabeth and Darcy cope with life in a strange era, Elizabeth in the Regency era and Darcy in modern day.
There are several other twists that I won't get into, but they deepen the plot and spice up the storyline. I deducted a couple of starts for a few reasons. First is Elizabeth's entrance into the Regency era, and her extremely rude and aggressive behavior when she finds herself at Pemberly, and being isolated so that she doesn't make a spectacle. Granted she's confused to find herself in a strange place with strange people, but she's downright unpleasant. I didn't like her at all. Then, after she's a little more settled, she continues to spout modern day idioms and phrases, seemingly on purpose, instead of trying to make others more comfortable around her. For a character who supposedly is interested in history and is well read, I would have thought she would be able to accommodate their more formal mode of expression. It's still English, after all.
I don't want to give anything away, but I wasn't happy with the ultimate resolution, the question of how to reach a HEA for two people from different places in time. It's a difficult puzzle, but I felt the solution was too complicated and contrived. I just couldn't accept that Darcy would do it.
There were a few sex scenes thrown in at the end. I have no problem with tasteful sexual content, but by the point in the book when they occur, it kinda felt like we could have done without them, and that the book should have wrapped up sooner.
However, the book is well written and well edited. I recommend it.
A lovely premise, and very original. The author did a fine job of handling the concept of time travel. Elizabeth, an American visiting England to settle her recently deceased father's affairs, accidentally enters a stone circle that holds the power of time travel on each of the solstices at sunset. She travels 200 years to the past, to the year 1811. Since the stone circle is on Pemberly's land, she is reluctantly taken in by Darcy, and then the story is a pretty typical fish-out-of-water tale.
The author concocted many interesting twists to the stone circle/time travel dilemma. One is the ability to go back to your previous time on the opposite solstice, so you just know that more time travel is in the cards for this story. Without giving away too much of the plot, it becomes necessary for Darcy to travel back with Elizabeth to the year 2011, and so we find out how both Elizabeth and Darcy cope with life in a strange era, Elizabeth in the Regency era and Darcy in modern day.
There are several other twists that I won't get into, but they deepen the plot and spice up the storyline. I deducted a couple of starts for a few reasons. First is Elizabeth's entrance into the Regency era, and her extremely rude and aggressive behavior when she finds herself at Pemberly, and being isolated so that she doesn't make a spectacle. Granted she's confused to find herself in a strange place with strange people, but she's downright unpleasant. I didn't like her at all. Then, after she's a little more settled, she continues to spout modern day idioms and phrases, seemingly on purpose, instead of trying to make others more comfortable around her. For a character who supposedly is interested in history and is well read, I would have thought she would be able to accommodate their more formal mode of expression. It's still English, after all.
I don't want to give anything away, but I wasn't happy with the ultimate resolution, the question of how to reach a HEA for two people from different places in time. It's a difficult puzzle, but I felt the solution was too complicated and contrived. I just couldn't accept that Darcy would do it.
There were a few sex scenes thrown in at the end. I have no problem with tasteful sexual content, but by the point in the book when they occur, it kinda felt like we could have done without them, and that the book should have wrapped up sooner.
However, the book is well written and well edited. I recommend it.
June 1, 2021
3.5 stars
I'm gonna be brief with this because I need to plow this out and attend to other more pressing matters.
*The Good:*
This was really well structured. To the point where I’m impressed. There was nothing irrelevant added in terms of plot, every plot point was purposeful and exact in its execution.
*The Bad:*
My word does the length on this one pack a punch. It’s the perfect length in terms of pacing but it’s weighty and you can feel it. It arguably could’ve been shortened a bit, but it isn’t over encumbered by it’s length by any means.
*The (Potentially) Ugly:*
If you are looking for a sci-fi kinda time travel novel, then this is not gonna be for you. There's no nitty gritty behind how the time-travelling actually works because it doesn’t matter to the overarching plot. Like, at all. It's just not relevant. I will also note that time is most-definitely fucked with in this story. Future events are directly impacted by Darcy and Elizabeth, intentionally. However, as long as you’re willing to suspend your disbelief and trust that it’s a somewhat magically-infused Druid time-travel portal that just exists in all of its splendour, everything'll be grand.
All in all, though the HEA is dragged out a bit, in the sense that we get to see them settle into their relationship, it is definitely a well-written time-travel reimagination of P&P. Think the Sleepy Hollow TV show (without any of the paranormal aspects) meets Pride and Prejudice with two-way portal between 1811 and 2011. And if that's all you need in a novel right now, you shall likely be entertained.
I'm gonna be brief with this because I need to plow this out and attend to other more pressing matters.
*The Good:*
This was really well structured. To the point where I’m impressed. There was nothing irrelevant added in terms of plot, every plot point was purposeful and exact in its execution.
*The Bad:*
My word does the length on this one pack a punch. It’s the perfect length in terms of pacing but it’s weighty and you can feel it. It arguably could’ve been shortened a bit, but it isn’t over encumbered by it’s length by any means.
*The (Potentially) Ugly:*
If you are looking for a sci-fi kinda time travel novel, then this is not gonna be for you. There's no nitty gritty behind how the time-travelling actually works because it doesn’t matter to the overarching plot. Like, at all. It's just not relevant. I will also note that time is most-definitely fucked with in this story. Future events are directly impacted by Darcy and Elizabeth, intentionally. However, as long as you’re willing to suspend your disbelief and trust that it’s a somewhat magically-infused Druid time-travel portal that just exists in all of its splendour, everything'll be grand.
All in all, though the HEA is dragged out a bit, in the sense that we get to see them settle into their relationship, it is definitely a well-written time-travel reimagination of P&P. Think the Sleepy Hollow TV show (without any of the paranormal aspects) meets Pride and Prejudice with two-way portal between 1811 and 2011. And if that's all you need in a novel right now, you shall likely be entertained.
December 27, 2024
This book took me longer than expected to complete. I can't quite find the reason why.
The writing was done well. A well thought out plot, especially when time travel is present. The major plot points and phrases from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice could be detected throughout the text. Even Elizabeth and Darcy remain true to their original text characterization, which I value in a P&P retelling.
For some reason, I would read a chapter and be okay with putting the book down and not even picking it up the next day. Things were happening in the story and there were some high stakes, but overall it was a plodding story.
The writing was done well. A well thought out plot, especially when time travel is present. The major plot points and phrases from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice could be detected throughout the text. Even Elizabeth and Darcy remain true to their original text characterization, which I value in a P&P retelling.
For some reason, I would read a chapter and be okay with putting the book down and not even picking it up the next day. Things were happening in the story and there were some high stakes, but overall it was a plodding story.
April 17, 2022
late to the party
4.5 stars
I avoided this for a long time because I don’t particularly like time-traveling Regency works, but I kept hearing so many good things about this, so I caved.
I’ve not put this book down since I started it. What a treat! The book addressed everything except the significance of the first time traveller.
Elizabeth’s family was two-dimensional and her lack of any friends in America too convenient for the plot.
Buying for permanent collection.
4.5 stars
I avoided this for a long time because I don’t particularly like time-traveling Regency works, but I kept hearing so many good things about this, so I caved.
I’ve not put this book down since I started it. What a treat! The book addressed everything except the significance of the first time traveller.
Elizabeth’s family was two-dimensional and her lack of any friends in America too convenient for the plot.
Buying for permanent collection.
May 21, 2023
5++++***** What a STORY
This was the second time I’d read this book and had forgotten so much about it, but in the reread I discovered again why I thought this was such an amazing story.
The time travel aspect of the story. Well, the author nailed it. It truly felt like a realistic possibility. And the complications it presented for the characters was written in a way I’ve not been privileged to read before as it was written in such a practical way. By practical I mean the author put a lot of thought into what would really happen to the characters in both time periods.
The efforts the characters had to make to change their destinies were brilliantly executed. I did not expect the solution to the HEA at all. I loved it
I’m not going to replay the plot in this review as it has already been done much better than I could. And if I attempted it you’d be bored by my gushing over so many parts of it.
Highly HIGHLY recommended.
This was the second time I’d read this book and had forgotten so much about it, but in the reread I discovered again why I thought this was such an amazing story.
The time travel aspect of the story. Well, the author nailed it. It truly felt like a realistic possibility. And the complications it presented for the characters was written in a way I’ve not been privileged to read before as it was written in such a practical way. By practical I mean the author put a lot of thought into what would really happen to the characters in both time periods.
The efforts the characters had to make to change their destinies were brilliantly executed. I did not expect the solution to the HEA at all. I loved it
I’m not going to replay the plot in this review as it has already been done much better than I could. And if I attempted it you’d be bored by my gushing over so many parts of it.
Highly HIGHLY recommended.
August 8, 2025
A love beyond time.
I’m a little bit ashamed of myself. I got this book when it first came out and dnf. I love Heather Moll’s stories but I had a hard time getting past modern day Elizabeth and her friends and bailed before she went back in time to the Regency era. Today I started reading this book and finished it just before bedtime. All I can say is wow! It’s that good and I almost deprived myself of an exceptional read.
Some standing stones near Pemberley are closely watched by the Darcy estate at each solstice. For some unknown reason strange people from a future of 200 years occasionally appear. The Darcy family have been very careful at hiding the existence of such persons and sending them safely back at the next solstice. That is until the appearance of one Miss Elizabeth Bennet from the year 2011. She is one fierce modern woman who refuses to be hidden away and she comes with information about the future of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Pemberley.
Darcy is appalled by this creature wearing immodest clothing and wants nothing to do with her or any information she brings about the future. But will his unwillingness to hear her out bring about the end of everything he knows and loves? And when it’s time for Elizabeth to return to the future will he, or she, be ready to let the person they love disappear from their lives forever? And what secrets about other travelers are being kept by the Darcy estate?
It’s a beautiful, poignant love story and I won’t say anything else to spoil it for other readers. It does contain mature content and should be enjoyed by mature readers only.
I’m a little bit ashamed of myself. I got this book when it first came out and dnf. I love Heather Moll’s stories but I had a hard time getting past modern day Elizabeth and her friends and bailed before she went back in time to the Regency era. Today I started reading this book and finished it just before bedtime. All I can say is wow! It’s that good and I almost deprived myself of an exceptional read.
Some standing stones near Pemberley are closely watched by the Darcy estate at each solstice. For some unknown reason strange people from a future of 200 years occasionally appear. The Darcy family have been very careful at hiding the existence of such persons and sending them safely back at the next solstice. That is until the appearance of one Miss Elizabeth Bennet from the year 2011. She is one fierce modern woman who refuses to be hidden away and she comes with information about the future of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Pemberley.
Darcy is appalled by this creature wearing immodest clothing and wants nothing to do with her or any information she brings about the future. But will his unwillingness to hear her out bring about the end of everything he knows and loves? And when it’s time for Elizabeth to return to the future will he, or she, be ready to let the person they love disappear from their lives forever? And what secrets about other travelers are being kept by the Darcy estate?
It’s a beautiful, poignant love story and I won’t say anything else to spoil it for other readers. It does contain mature content and should be enjoyed by mature readers only.
March 29, 2021
Time travel
The idea for time travel is interesting and joining it with my two favorite characters made me want to read this book.
The location is key to the time travel. The Darcy’s are care takers of this location and anyone who finds themselves in the wrong time.
Elizabeth Bennet a young accountant travels through time Andy meets Mr. Darcy. From there the typical differences come up and they learn to deal with each other. Mr Darcy come to the future and then returns to his home.
Some parts are funny, some sad, and some just weird.
The end is not what I imagined so that was a surprise.
The idea for time travel is interesting and joining it with my two favorite characters made me want to read this book.
The location is key to the time travel. The Darcy’s are care takers of this location and anyone who finds themselves in the wrong time.
Elizabeth Bennet a young accountant travels through time Andy meets Mr. Darcy. From there the typical differences come up and they learn to deal with each other. Mr Darcy come to the future and then returns to his home.
Some parts are funny, some sad, and some just weird.
The end is not what I imagined so that was a surprise.
December 14, 2023
Charming, inventive, and wonderfully drawn characters. I love when someone goes there with a sci-fi vagary!
August 15, 2023
Amazing
I can't even describe how much I loved this book. I read other reviews and somehow still did not expect it to be as wonderful and engrossing as it is. I kept trying to put it down and then suddenly it was 3 am. I had to force myself to get some sleep before getting up to finish.
I can't even describe how much I loved this book. I read other reviews and somehow still did not expect it to be as wonderful and engrossing as it is. I kept trying to put it down and then suddenly it was 3 am. I had to force myself to get some sleep before getting up to finish.
August 11, 2022
I was skeptical, what with the Outlander-sounding premise (and >500 pages at that), but I was delightfully surprised. I think this is my first 4-star JAFF no less. I thought the twists on the modern characters were logical and interesting takes on their canon personalities; the 'pride and prejudice' of both Elizabeth and Darcy navigating/helping to navigate 1811 and 2011 was well-translated; their relationship seemed reasonably paced even with rocky start; and the author clearly put a lot of thought into pulling off her resolution.
Good Notes:
The modern characters -- a couple notable examples of insightful takes:
- Jane Bennet is still kind and gentle, but she's noted to be such a people-pleaser who doesn't want to rock the boat that Elizabeth is certain that for all the sympathy Jane was showing her in a conversation, she'd turn around and be just as sympathetic to their mother on the other side of the argument.
- Mr. Bennet walked out on his wife and daughters and never really interacted with them again. It was the epitome of the man who disengaged from his family to hole up in his study, but in a time when he could easily divorce the wife he no longer respected/liked and live on his own in a whole house that might as well have been a study. (Though I will say, both Bennet parents were a bit harsh. At least in the original you can be pretty sure they do still love their children. Not so, here.)
- Charlotte Lucas, practical, not romantic, does not get married but does choose .
Little twists and surprises were fairly well foreshadowed. Even when I knew/suspected what would happen, it was well-grounded, and sometimes I even missed some of the clues even as I had caught others. There weren't any random shocks or hints deliberately kept from the reader, which I appreciate (feeling that it's a cheap, lazy cop-out otherwise, quite often).
There was some good snark throughout, and I even chuckled out loud in some places! Lots of fun observations, conversations, comparisons, and so forth.
I even liked the supporting original characters.
The Not-Quite-as-Good:
Elizabeth got on my nerves in a BIG way in the beginning, even allowing for the shock of being dumped back in time 200 years. She does get better, but there's a good chunk where's she's just self-righteous and irrational. For someone who was fond of -- and in college minored in -- history, she was shockingly ignorant of a lot of things, and she was very outspoken in her modern, feminist way in reaction to discovering them. Like, what's the point in getting outraged at an 1811 man saying women didn't need education or the revelation that a woman and her property all subjugated to the husband upon marriage? If you're any kind of student of history, surely you're already aware that that was the prevailing sentiment for much of history in most places. A lot of my early notes and highlights were places where I was scolding the character about not having a clue.
I suspect this was modern!Elizabeth's pride (in the future, the US, and in womanhood) and prejudice (against the constraints of the past; she definitely is still intent to willfully misinterpret Darcy...) at play, but I don't feel like the narrative served her up a moment of "check yourself" like it could have. (Darcy doesn't get as sharp a correction as the original at all, but you do see a change in him.) They do come to understand each other, but it's mostly by Darcy yielding to her -- giving her opportunities to speak freely and be herself instead of playacting 1811 all the time -- than her maybe realizing the past isn't all shit. And she still has at least one more prissy moment mid-book when it seemed like she really should have (a) gotten over that, and (b) had a little more faith in Darcy's character by then.
(I also suspect the author didn't want Elizabeth to seem like a Jane Austen fan wish-fulfillment insert by being cheerful about the past and giddy over getting to wear authentic dresses. *cough*)
I mentioned that the author clearly planned her resolution very carefully, which I appreciate. It's a mild stretch but feels decently thoughtful enough to handwave any nitpicks as artistic license. But sometimes it felt a teensy bit of a drag. I would have accepted a shorter summary of how things were planned out rather than sitting through scenes for each, especially once . Still, it all came together very, very neatly, so I won't begrudge the author doing the work (and showing it) to set up the ending.
Good Notes:
The modern characters -- a couple notable examples of insightful takes:
- Jane Bennet is still kind and gentle, but she's noted to be such a people-pleaser who doesn't want to rock the boat that Elizabeth is certain that for all the sympathy Jane was showing her in a conversation, she'd turn around and be just as sympathetic to their mother on the other side of the argument.
- Mr. Bennet walked out on his wife and daughters and never really interacted with them again. It was the epitome of the man who disengaged from his family to hole up in his study, but in a time when he could easily divorce the wife he no longer respected/liked and live on his own in a whole house that might as well have been a study. (Though I will say, both Bennet parents were a bit harsh. At least in the original you can be pretty sure they do still love their children. Not so, here.)
- Charlotte Lucas, practical, not romantic, does not get married but does choose .
Little twists and surprises were fairly well foreshadowed. Even when I knew/suspected what would happen, it was well-grounded, and sometimes I even missed some of the clues even as I had caught others. There weren't any random shocks or hints deliberately kept from the reader, which I appreciate (feeling that it's a cheap, lazy cop-out otherwise, quite often).
There was some good snark throughout, and I even chuckled out loud in some places! Lots of fun observations, conversations, comparisons, and so forth.
I even liked the supporting original characters.
The Not-Quite-as-Good:
Elizabeth got on my nerves in a BIG way in the beginning, even allowing for the shock of being dumped back in time 200 years. She does get better, but there's a good chunk where's she's just self-righteous and irrational. For someone who was fond of -- and in college minored in -- history, she was shockingly ignorant of a lot of things, and she was very outspoken in her modern, feminist way in reaction to discovering them. Like, what's the point in getting outraged at an 1811 man saying women didn't need education or the revelation that a woman and her property all subjugated to the husband upon marriage? If you're any kind of student of history, surely you're already aware that that was the prevailing sentiment for much of history in most places. A lot of my early notes and highlights were places where I was scolding the character about not having a clue.
I suspect this was modern!Elizabeth's pride (in the future, the US, and in womanhood) and prejudice (against the constraints of the past; she definitely is still intent to willfully misinterpret Darcy...) at play, but I don't feel like the narrative served her up a moment of "check yourself" like it could have. (Darcy doesn't get as sharp a correction as the original at all, but you do see a change in him.) They do come to understand each other, but it's mostly by Darcy yielding to her -- giving her opportunities to speak freely and be herself instead of playacting 1811 all the time -- than her maybe realizing the past isn't all shit. And she still has at least one more prissy moment mid-book when it seemed like she really should have (a) gotten over that, and (b) had a little more faith in Darcy's character by then.
(I also suspect the author didn't want Elizabeth to seem like a Jane Austen fan wish-fulfillment insert by being cheerful about the past and giddy over getting to wear authentic dresses. *cough*)
I mentioned that the author clearly planned her resolution very carefully, which I appreciate. It's a mild stretch but feels decently thoughtful enough to handwave any nitpicks as artistic license. But sometimes it felt a teensy bit of a drag. I would have accepted a shorter summary of how things were planned out rather than sitting through scenes for each, especially once . Still, it all came together very, very neatly, so I won't begrudge the author doing the work (and showing it) to set up the ending.
February 21, 2022
I loved this story so much! The romance between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is well done. They start out wary of each other. Darcy is reluctant to engage with her at all, fearful that her presence will cause the truth about Nine Ladies to get out and wreak havoc on his life, reputation, and estate. But over time, because he is one of only four people who know the truth and only one of two she has the ability to talk to regularly, they get to know each other, and to care for each other.
One of the things I love best about this novel is how the effects of time travel are handled. I haven’t seen or read every time travel book or movie out there, but in the ones I have, the characters so often seem to shrug off the differences in culture, mores, manners, and technology, aside from a brief comment or question when confronted with something new or different that’s usually played for a joke—then they’re off doing their adventure. And I guess that’s okay since those stories are about something else usually. But in this story, those things are given the weight they would likely really have. It’s no joke to have everything you believe and understand about how people should act and treat each other be completely different. Or to have technology that is so vastly different from what you’re used to in ways that affect the decisions you make. As a modern, 21st century woman, Elizabeth is understandably dismayed by how women are expected to behave and the lack of respect they are granted in 1811. She’s even more horrified by what passes as medical care. These become real roadblocks to the emerging relationship between her and Mr. Darcy, and Moll doesn’t shy away from letting those things be the roadblocks that they would realistically be. I like this because it is a real conflict that can’t be easily brushed aside or solved with one conversation. I honestly wasn’t sure how things were going to resolve into a HEA.
And that’s another thing that was great about this book. There were some plot points that I was able to guess at, but the ultimate resolution of the story? I did not see that coming until it was made clear. I had a solution in mind, but I was wrong. And interestingly, Moll has the characters address the solution I had come up with and dismiss it.
But this is, above all, a romance, and it succeeds extremely well at that, too. I really wanted Elizabeth and Darcy to find a way to be together, and not just because they are Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy of Pride and Prejudice, but because of this Elizabeth and Darcy, because of this relationship that they built together and the experiences they shared.
I really think that anyone who loves a good romance story would enjoy this book—you don’t need to be either a time travel fan or a Pride and Prejudice fan.
One of the things I love best about this novel is how the effects of time travel are handled. I haven’t seen or read every time travel book or movie out there, but in the ones I have, the characters so often seem to shrug off the differences in culture, mores, manners, and technology, aside from a brief comment or question when confronted with something new or different that’s usually played for a joke—then they’re off doing their adventure. And I guess that’s okay since those stories are about something else usually. But in this story, those things are given the weight they would likely really have. It’s no joke to have everything you believe and understand about how people should act and treat each other be completely different. Or to have technology that is so vastly different from what you’re used to in ways that affect the decisions you make. As a modern, 21st century woman, Elizabeth is understandably dismayed by how women are expected to behave and the lack of respect they are granted in 1811. She’s even more horrified by what passes as medical care. These become real roadblocks to the emerging relationship between her and Mr. Darcy, and Moll doesn’t shy away from letting those things be the roadblocks that they would realistically be. I like this because it is a real conflict that can’t be easily brushed aside or solved with one conversation. I honestly wasn’t sure how things were going to resolve into a HEA.
And that’s another thing that was great about this book. There were some plot points that I was able to guess at, but the ultimate resolution of the story? I did not see that coming until it was made clear. I had a solution in mind, but I was wrong. And interestingly, Moll has the characters address the solution I had come up with and dismiss it.
But this is, above all, a romance, and it succeeds extremely well at that, too. I really wanted Elizabeth and Darcy to find a way to be together, and not just because they are Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy of Pride and Prejudice, but because of this Elizabeth and Darcy, because of this relationship that they built together and the experiences they shared.
I really think that anyone who loves a good romance story would enjoy this book—you don’t need to be either a time travel fan or a Pride and Prejudice fan.
December 6, 2024
OK, maybe Jane Austen fan fiction is a blighted literary character, but this novel is pretty irresistible. The plot is complicated, but basically, an Elizabeth Bennett from the present is whisked back to Edwardian England, to the estate of Fitzwilliam Darcy, and struggles with the times while falling hard for Mr. Darcy, who is far less prickly here that in Austen’s masterpiece. She does, however, want to go home and the plot allows for that to happen. Darcy, meanwhile, is falling for Elizabeth, but, even though they’ve worked out the time travel thing (and we do get to see Darcy out of his time), they cannot think of a way to be together while also saving Pemberly from the fate that Elizabeth knows lies ahead. Got all that? It doesn’t really matter how the mechanics work, it’s all a fun excuse for two separate fish out of water stories, and a rather lovely love story that pays homage to Pride and Prejudice without being a slave to it. This is not brilliant literature, but it is a vastly entertaining and clever novel that incorporate time travel in a meaningful and insightful way. My only serious criticism is that it goes on too long, and spends way too many words describing how (as in, the legal explanations) Darcy intends to save Pemberly. I mean, who cares, really? The author has maybe 30-50 pages about these machinations and I could’ve done with “hey, I’ve created a series of financial vehicles that allow Pemberly to stay in my family” and let it go at that. There were other plot developments needed to cement that idea, but I felt the book bogged down there and delayed an otherwise satisfying ending. Still, a whole lot of fun for an Austen fan and a pretty enjoyable read for any reader who enjoys a bit of time travel.
Grade: A-
Grade: A-
January 25, 2021
What if Darcy and Elizabeth had not only differences in station and rank to separate them but also 200 years?
Well, that is what you will find in this amazing story! Heather Moll will surprise you with a plot full of emotions, surprises and lots of love between our dear couple. Of course their road to happily ever after won't be easy and their differences now are huge. Through this magical stone circle called Nine Ladies, Elizabeth will be thrown into the 19th century wearing jeans and speaking a very strange English. After a very awkward beginning, Darcy will be there to help her and a beautiful friendship will start. The same will happen to Darcy later on the story, when he is thrown into the 21st century totally unprepared to face so many things like airplanes, cares, cellphones and so much more. But of course, Elizabeth will be there with him and during their journey to discover their love and what is really important, we will learn a lot from these two amazing characters. Elizabeth is so fearless, determined and caring. And this Darcy has the biggest heart ever, the things he is going to do for his love for Elizabeth will leave you with a smile on your face and a wish to reread this story many times. There are also wonderful characters we already know, like Georgiana and Mrs Reynolds (that have a very important role in this story) as well original ones like Gwen, Frank and Mr Willers.
I highly recommend this story. A must read to every Pride and Prejudice fan.
I received a free copy of this book.
Well, that is what you will find in this amazing story! Heather Moll will surprise you with a plot full of emotions, surprises and lots of love between our dear couple. Of course their road to happily ever after won't be easy and their differences now are huge. Through this magical stone circle called Nine Ladies, Elizabeth will be thrown into the 19th century wearing jeans and speaking a very strange English. After a very awkward beginning, Darcy will be there to help her and a beautiful friendship will start. The same will happen to Darcy later on the story, when he is thrown into the 21st century totally unprepared to face so many things like airplanes, cares, cellphones and so much more. But of course, Elizabeth will be there with him and during their journey to discover their love and what is really important, we will learn a lot from these two amazing characters. Elizabeth is so fearless, determined and caring. And this Darcy has the biggest heart ever, the things he is going to do for his love for Elizabeth will leave you with a smile on your face and a wish to reread this story many times. There are also wonderful characters we already know, like Georgiana and Mrs Reynolds (that have a very important role in this story) as well original ones like Gwen, Frank and Mr Willers.
I highly recommend this story. A must read to every Pride and Prejudice fan.
I received a free copy of this book.
April 21, 2021
What an excellent variation. Very different from the original P&P but the characters’ essence is there, Pemberley is square and centre, and the story is engrossing. Heather Moll does a terrific job of updating the characters’ flaws with believable parallels in 2011. Mr. Bennet’s is a great example, as is the comparison of Mrs. Younge with a Kardashian, complete with “bee-stung lips”. It was interesting to look at the entertainment of one century through the lens of the other, for example through Elizabeth’s observation that Lambton was boring, and Darcy’s perplexity at people choosing TV over conversation or using phones to carve out personal time. I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s use of language to bring out the differences between life in 1811 and 2011, and thought Darcy’s commentary on manners in 2011 a very fitting tribute to Jane Austen. How perfect is it that Pemberley in 2011 was to be ? I found the historical research (or what I assume to be the product research) to have enhanced the story and kept my interest, with the centrality of being the best example.
August 19, 2023
If this book had ended about 50 pages sooner, this would have received a five star review. The concept was interesting, time travel just sort of happened, and worlds collided, allowing us modern girls a chance to imagine Mr. Darcy in our world. Fun. I think the best part of the story was how Georgiana's storyline was altered, it was clever and beautiful and deeply satisfying. I didn't see some of the plot twists coming, and my theories about how the book would end were 100% wrong, so it definitely kept me on my toes. I'm not a typical reader of romance novels, so perhaps this one fit the format well, but my biggest critique came at the end. The story simply went on way too long. It felt like the author had written what she wanted to say, wrapped up the storylines, and then her editor turned it back and said "add some sex scenes." The "romance" part of the book felt disjointed, and honestly, the storyline that surrounded it felt superfluous and weak, like it was just an add on to make space for more sex scenes. I could've done without it, not because I'm a prude, it just didn't match the rest of the book in tone, pacing, or purpose. Otherwise, however, it was a fun read, and I enjoyed the way in which the author played with some of the conventions of both time periods.
August 22, 2023
“I have an outspoken Yankee Doodle from the future living in my house for the next three months.”
Just one of many humorous lines that made me laugh out loud in this Pride and Prejudice variation that was both comedic and gripping alternately.
Nine Ladies blends elements of Lost in Austen, Outlander, and Kate & Leopold to create a delightful time-travel romance that will appeal to any Jane Austen fan who ever fancied traveling back in time to live at Pemberley in 1811- or imagined having Mr. Darcy here with them in the present day!
I enjoyed seeing Elizabeth and Darcy's struggles to live in each other's time and culture- often fraught with humorous moments, felt their angst as they each believed that neither could be happy living outside their own time permanently, and rejoiced to see their love overcoming the bounds of space and time to be together.
Heather Moll is a fantastic writer and storyteller. I enjoyed seeing how she combined elements of Jane Austen into a unique variation that is both modern and Regency-era. There are some steamy scenes, but not super explicit.
If you love time travel romances and Jane Austen, then definitely check out Nine Ladies.
Just one of many humorous lines that made me laugh out loud in this Pride and Prejudice variation that was both comedic and gripping alternately.
Nine Ladies blends elements of Lost in Austen, Outlander, and Kate & Leopold to create a delightful time-travel romance that will appeal to any Jane Austen fan who ever fancied traveling back in time to live at Pemberley in 1811- or imagined having Mr. Darcy here with them in the present day!
I enjoyed seeing Elizabeth and Darcy's struggles to live in each other's time and culture- often fraught with humorous moments, felt their angst as they each believed that neither could be happy living outside their own time permanently, and rejoiced to see their love overcoming the bounds of space and time to be together.
Heather Moll is a fantastic writer and storyteller. I enjoyed seeing how she combined elements of Jane Austen into a unique variation that is both modern and Regency-era. There are some steamy scenes, but not super explicit.
If you love time travel romances and Jane Austen, then definitely check out Nine Ladies.
January 26, 2021
I thought this book sounded interesting and I jumped at the chance to join Heather Moll's advanced readers team. I have to say I really enjoyed this book and I love seeing an open-minded Darcy. He didn't have a meltdown like Elizabeth did when she ended up in Regency England. Though she seemed to get over it fast enough. I felt her pain that women really didn't have any rights during that period in time. Darcy sacrificed living his life in Regency England to travel to the future to be with his Elizabeth. I find it surprising that he set up a convoluted system so that he would "inherit" Pemberley once he went back to the future.
This was a good book but I feel like it didn't need to be this long. It's close to 500 pages and it took me a while to get through it. I will be picking up a copy when it's officially released and I recommend that you do too if you like a mix of the past and future in your romance.
This was a good book but I feel like it didn't need to be this long. It's close to 500 pages and it took me a while to get through it. I will be picking up a copy when it's officially released and I recommend that you do too if you like a mix of the past and future in your romance.
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