What do you think?
Rate this book
Unknown Family Connections: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
**This is a book of two volumes, but all in one book. It is a one off, standalone story.**
Over 150 years in the past an Evil Duke plotted to separate his first and second sons. He was a man who had two interests: money and status. Lord Sedgewick Rhys-Davies, the 3rd Duke of Bedford sets off a chain of events that ultimately ends up doing the exact opposite of what his original evil intent was in the far future.
Mr. Thomas Bennet lives with his second wife and family on his estate Longbourn in Hertfordshire. As far as he knows, he is an indirect descendant of the last Earl of Meryton whose line died out with him over 150 years ago. The family has owned Longbourn and Netherfield Park for as long as anyone remembers. There is an entail on Longbourn, but not the one we are used to. As in the canon, this Bennet dislikes London, and the Ton and he and his family keep away from London society. His second wife is the daughter of an Earl but just goes as Mrs. Bennet.
The Bennet’s new tenants at Netherfield Park are the Bingleys. One of the major deviations from canon in this tale, Jane Bennet has more than a little backbone while Bingley has little or none. How will Darcy behave, will he make assumptions and act on them? Will Elizabeth allow her prejudices to rule? When Wickham slithers onto the scene will he cause havoc?
The 7th Duke of Bedford is ill, and he will be the end of the line as there are no living relatives to inherit the dukedom and vast Bedford holdings. He removes an old letter from a safe in his study written by the 4th Duke. Witten on the outside of the letter is: ‘Open ONLY if there are no more Rhys-Davies heirs.’
The Duke opens the letter and learns of the 3rd Duke’s evil and there is in fact an heir, although a direct descendant, he is not a Rhys-Davies.
This is the story of different families and what happens when their lives intersect and are changed for ever. There is quite a bit about Lizzy & Darcy, but there are not always the main focus of the story as the title infers.
Over 150 years in the past an Evil Duke plotted to separate his first and second sons. He was a man who had two interests: money and status. Lord Sedgewick Rhys-Davies, the 3rd Duke of Bedford sets off a chain of events that ultimately ends up doing the exact opposite of what his original evil intent was in the far future.
Mr. Thomas Bennet lives with his second wife and family on his estate Longbourn in Hertfordshire. As far as he knows, he is an indirect descendant of the last Earl of Meryton whose line died out with him over 150 years ago. The family has owned Longbourn and Netherfield Park for as long as anyone remembers. There is an entail on Longbourn, but not the one we are used to. As in the canon, this Bennet dislikes London, and the Ton and he and his family keep away from London society. His second wife is the daughter of an Earl but just goes as Mrs. Bennet.
The Bennet’s new tenants at Netherfield Park are the Bingleys. One of the major deviations from canon in this tale, Jane Bennet has more than a little backbone while Bingley has little or none. How will Darcy behave, will he make assumptions and act on them? Will Elizabeth allow her prejudices to rule? When Wickham slithers onto the scene will he cause havoc?
The 7th Duke of Bedford is ill, and he will be the end of the line as there are no living relatives to inherit the dukedom and vast Bedford holdings. He removes an old letter from a safe in his study written by the 4th Duke. Witten on the outside of the letter is: ‘Open ONLY if there are no more Rhys-Davies heirs.’
The Duke opens the letter and learns of the 3rd Duke’s evil and there is in fact an heir, although a direct descendant, he is not a Rhys-Davies.
This is the story of different families and what happens when their lives intersect and are changed for ever. There is quite a bit about Lizzy & Darcy, but there are not always the main focus of the story as the title infers.
- GenresFan Fiction
389 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 16, 2021
99 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Shana Granderson
55 books64 followersI have three children and after a disastrous first marriage I found my soul mate who I thought that was lost to me over 25 years ago. I recently married the love of my life. I live with my soul mate in Australasia and have three pets, two cats, Darcy and Bingley and a golden lab, Honey.
Like many high school students, Pride and Prejudice was assigned to me in an English literature class. It was not my favourite book, but I read it as I had to. I forgot about the book until in my 30’s when I saw and fell in love with the 1995 Pride and Prejudice version made for TV in England, and purchased a copy of the DVD that is now much played.
The tipping point was the 2005 big screen adaption of P&P. Not long after seeing it I found and read the complete works of Jane Austen on Amazon, starting with Pride and Prejudice. The latter book is by far my favourite. After I read it three of four times over, I wistfully said to myself: ‘it is a great pity that Miss Austen never wrote a sequel to her seminal novel.' One day I was searching Kindle books and for the fun of it I entered “Pride and Prejudice Sequel’ into the search not expecting any results.
The rest is history. I discovered the JAFF community and books. I became a veracious reader of JAFF books and once I had devoured all of the sequels and continuations that I could find, I read my first variation. I had been resisting variations wrongly thinking that I would not enjoy them as much as the sequels. Boy, was I ever wrong! Today I am the proud owner of well over 1,000 JAFF novels that I have purchased on Amazon. 'A Change of Fortunes' is my first book that I wrote. There are a number of others on the way.
Like many high school students, Pride and Prejudice was assigned to me in an English literature class. It was not my favourite book, but I read it as I had to. I forgot about the book until in my 30’s when I saw and fell in love with the 1995 Pride and Prejudice version made for TV in England, and purchased a copy of the DVD that is now much played.
The tipping point was the 2005 big screen adaption of P&P. Not long after seeing it I found and read the complete works of Jane Austen on Amazon, starting with Pride and Prejudice. The latter book is by far my favourite. After I read it three of four times over, I wistfully said to myself: ‘it is a great pity that Miss Austen never wrote a sequel to her seminal novel.' One day I was searching Kindle books and for the fun of it I entered “Pride and Prejudice Sequel’ into the search not expecting any results.
The rest is history. I discovered the JAFF community and books. I became a veracious reader of JAFF books and once I had devoured all of the sequels and continuations that I could find, I read my first variation. I had been resisting variations wrongly thinking that I would not enjoy them as much as the sequels. Boy, was I ever wrong! Today I am the proud owner of well over 1,000 JAFF novels that I have purchased on Amazon. 'A Change of Fortunes' is my first book that I wrote. There are a number of others on the way.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 7, 2022
“I sustain myself with the love of family.” –Maya Angelou
Rating: MA: our author took us into the bedroom on the wedding night with graphic descriptions. Angst Level: mild to medium when threats or danger reared its ugly head. Source: purchase. Trope: Titled or exalted connections
SPOILER ALERT: This review may contain *** SPOILERS ***
“Strangers are just family you have yet to come to know.” –Mitch Albom
Whew! This was a long, Long, LONG story. I was doing fine until it became tedious. This author is very creative and loves to tell a story. However, I became bogged down with all the titles, names, histories, genealogies, who was married to whom, who was evil, and who was just crazy. It could have been cut by half and still been a great story.
“It’s very hard to grow up in a perfect family when you’re not perfect.” –E.L. James, Fifty Shades of Grey
The Bennets were perfect. The daughters were beautiful, sweet, and kind. The family was generous… really generous… extremely generous with their friends… more so than I thought possible. Talk about being rich as Croesus. Good grief. I suppose if you are related to a Scrooge who never spent his money, then I guess that would make you rich when it was determined that you were his heir.
Editing was also problematic. I enjoyed the story for a while and was looking forward to the happy-ever-after. However, I soon bogged down with the minutiae of their everyday lives. It got to the point, I no longer cared. That was too bad. I enjoyed it while it lasted. I love stories where the Bennets are more highly connected than they let on. In this story that jumped even higher than they believed. However, when the reveal happened, it didn’t change who they were as a family. They were still just as sweet and kind as at the beginning of the story. Good grief.
Rating: MA: our author took us into the bedroom on the wedding night with graphic descriptions. Angst Level: mild to medium when threats or danger reared its ugly head. Source: purchase. Trope: Titled or exalted connections
SPOILER ALERT: This review may contain *** SPOILERS ***
“Strangers are just family you have yet to come to know.” –Mitch Albom
Whew! This was a long, Long, LONG story. I was doing fine until it became tedious. This author is very creative and loves to tell a story. However, I became bogged down with all the titles, names, histories, genealogies, who was married to whom, who was evil, and who was just crazy. It could have been cut by half and still been a great story.
“It’s very hard to grow up in a perfect family when you’re not perfect.” –E.L. James, Fifty Shades of Grey
The Bennets were perfect. The daughters were beautiful, sweet, and kind. The family was generous… really generous… extremely generous with their friends… more so than I thought possible. Talk about being rich as Croesus. Good grief. I suppose if you are related to a Scrooge who never spent his money, then I guess that would make you rich when it was determined that you were his heir.
Editing was also problematic. I enjoyed the story for a while and was looking forward to the happy-ever-after. However, I soon bogged down with the minutiae of their everyday lives. It got to the point, I no longer cared. That was too bad. I enjoyed it while it lasted. I love stories where the Bennets are more highly connected than they let on. In this story that jumped even higher than they believed. However, when the reveal happened, it didn’t change who they were as a family. They were still just as sweet and kind as at the beginning of the story. Good grief.
September 4, 2023
Let me get what I liked out of the way. The outline of the plot is what made me start this. I always like stories with hidden Bennet wealth and connections which will later be rubbed into the face of Darcy and Bingleys. But it was executed very poorly.
First the repetitions. When something happens it has to be told in detail to as many characters, separately, as possible. If someone has a plan, it has to be described to different individuals or groups in detail. Introductions are made individually stating every name and title and so on. I'm not going to do the same here.
Second the exaggerations. Bennets don't just have 2 estates and 2 townhouses but they are flush with cash that their 3 daughters have a dowry of fifty thousand pounds. They are related to the famous Lady Jersey who every Regency reader is familiar with. I wonder, how they kept all this hidden from every one in Meryton. But the author was not satisfied with this. She made Bennet a duke, his first son a Marquess and his second son an Earl and his first son in law a Viscount. I wonder why she didn't name a country after them and made him a king and be done with it. Maybe, next time.
And then, the story. There was nothing new or different about it. It wasn't even fast or exciting even in places. Every Bennet is intelligent, accomplished, rich, beautiful and flawless. And I honestly hated Charlotte in this. She is the most cold hearted woman. She meets Collins for the first time and she literally proposes to him within 5 mts. And then she meets the Colonel before her marriage and then falls for him. But she doesn't break her engagement because she didn't want her family to be shamed. She marries Colllins and then manages him, mocks him and gets him in trouble with Lady Catherine. And after he dies, she doesn't even want to mourn him properly and within minutes is thinking about how to marry Richard. As I said cold hearted. I actually felt very sorry for Collins. He might be despicable in many ways but at least, he was honest.
I might say more but I didn't read after this because I seriously couldn't take it anymore.
First the repetitions. When something happens it has to be told in detail to as many characters, separately, as possible. If someone has a plan, it has to be described to different individuals or groups in detail. Introductions are made individually stating every name and title and so on. I'm not going to do the same here.
Second the exaggerations. Bennets don't just have 2 estates and 2 townhouses but they are flush with cash that their 3 daughters have a dowry of fifty thousand pounds. They are related to the famous Lady Jersey who every Regency reader is familiar with. I wonder, how they kept all this hidden from every one in Meryton. But the author was not satisfied with this. She made Bennet a duke, his first son a Marquess and his second son an Earl and his first son in law a Viscount. I wonder why she didn't name a country after them and made him a king and be done with it. Maybe, next time.
And then, the story. There was nothing new or different about it. It wasn't even fast or exciting even in places. Every Bennet is intelligent, accomplished, rich, beautiful and flawless. And I honestly hated Charlotte in this. She is the most cold hearted woman. She meets Collins for the first time and she literally proposes to him within 5 mts. And then she meets the Colonel before her marriage and then falls for him. But she doesn't break her engagement because she didn't want her family to be shamed. She marries Colllins and then manages him, mocks him and gets him in trouble with Lady Catherine. And after he dies, she doesn't even want to mourn him properly and within minutes is thinking about how to marry Richard. As I said cold hearted. I actually felt very sorry for Collins. He might be despicable in many ways but at least, he was honest.
I might say more but I didn't read after this because I seriously couldn't take it anymore.
November 12, 2024
Mr. Bennet is a duke
3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars. I almost rounded it down.
First half of the story is about the Bennets finding out they are next in line when a duke dies. Not much angst. Everyone in the family is pretty level headed except for Lizzy who is a bit of a hothead. Darcy is snobbish and arrogant. The list angst watching how Darcy is the anti-hero.
The second half of the book is nearly angst free while lots of singles turn into couples. The new duke throws around his great wealth in a way which seemed unwise because of how much he was passing out but the story wears written as if this couldn’t possibly be a problem. The second half was really a yawner.
I thought the effort to finish wasn’t worth the time. Meh 😑
3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars. I almost rounded it down.
First half of the story is about the Bennets finding out they are next in line when a duke dies. Not much angst. Everyone in the family is pretty level headed except for Lizzy who is a bit of a hothead. Darcy is snobbish and arrogant. The list angst watching how Darcy is the anti-hero.
The second half of the book is nearly angst free while lots of singles turn into couples. The new duke throws around his great wealth in a way which seemed unwise because of how much he was passing out but the story wears written as if this couldn’t possibly be a problem. The second half was really a yawner.
I thought the effort to finish wasn’t worth the time. Meh 😑
September 15, 2021
This book is a low to no angst story were everyone is fabulously wealthy and kind or evil and must be thwarted. Sizes of houses, fortunes and excellent relations are described ad nauseum. If you have read a book by this author in the past you will visit the same variation and characters but with a slight twist regarding the surprise/unknown family connection.
That being said it was an easy read with oodles of happily ever after.
That being said it was an easy read with oodles of happily ever after.
January 18, 2022
Excellent tale
Totally out of canon but engaging story with a good plot and well written that entertains and keeps you turning pages.
Totally out of canon but engaging story with a good plot and well written that entertains and keeps you turning pages.
January 3, 2024
A scant 2*
A low angst, very off canon variation with wealth titles and SO MANY people. This author feels the need to name all of her characters even though Austen names very few.
This author does seem to have worked on the quality of her language and grammar which is a plus but editing is so much more than that. At least half of the characters need to be removed and the plot tightened. There are rather too many loopholes which could be picked up with a better editing process.
The behaviours and sensibilities of the characters are not really sufficiently Regency compliant. My single biggest niggle remains the names; so, so many names with so many abbreviations. Gigi is really not a viable abbreviation for Georgiana.
Not one to return to I am afraid.
A low angst, very off canon variation with wealth titles and SO MANY people. This author feels the need to name all of her characters even though Austen names very few.
This author does seem to have worked on the quality of her language and grammar which is a plus but editing is so much more than that. At least half of the characters need to be removed and the plot tightened. There are rather too many loopholes which could be picked up with a better editing process.
The behaviours and sensibilities of the characters are not really sufficiently Regency compliant. My single biggest niggle remains the names; so, so many names with so many abbreviations. Gigi is really not a viable abbreviation for Georgiana.
Not one to return to I am afraid.
December 15, 2022
So satisfying
I've become a reluctant fan of Shana Granderson, reluctant because there's never enough romantic development for me in her stories, but the characters that you love to hate get the most spectacular set downs and comeuppances. Mr Bennett's first wife gives him Jane, but his wife dies immediately after. He loved her, but after his period of mourning, he meets and marries Priscilla DeMelville, the daughter of an earl. It's another love match, and she gives him Tom, Elizabeth, Esther, and Mark. In this version the Bennett parents are loving, responsible, and wealthy. They live quietly at Longbourn, and don't reveal to anyone except a chosen few, that they're connected to nobility.
The Bingleys and Darcy come to Netherfield, which is secretly owned by the Bennetts. Darcy makes his usual terrible first impression on everyone, including the infamous insult at the Meryton assembly. Darcy openly and verbally disdains the Bennetts, believing them to be poor and unconnected, even though he quickly starts to admire Elizabeth. Bingley immediately falls for Jane, but Jane is only annoyed by him. He's portrayed as a spineless pushover.
The Bennetts eventually receive word that they've inherited a dukedom, making them obscenely wealthy, but requiring some huge life changes. This story is not about Elizabeth and Darcy, although their relationship is a part of the larger story. There are many romances going on in the background, but they're handled in an almost clinical manner. The story is about the importance of family and true friends, and about how the Bennetts preserve their basic integrity, in spite of all that befalls them.
The usual villains appear, but they're dealt with handily. This author uses a lot of the same characters throughout her works, so some of the names and characters become almost familiar, like old friends. This isn't great literature, but the writing is good, and it's fun to read these stories that buck the Regency traditions of people not speaking their minds. This author likes strong women with backbones, who know what they want. I recommend it highly.
I've become a reluctant fan of Shana Granderson, reluctant because there's never enough romantic development for me in her stories, but the characters that you love to hate get the most spectacular set downs and comeuppances. Mr Bennett's first wife gives him Jane, but his wife dies immediately after. He loved her, but after his period of mourning, he meets and marries Priscilla DeMelville, the daughter of an earl. It's another love match, and she gives him Tom, Elizabeth, Esther, and Mark. In this version the Bennett parents are loving, responsible, and wealthy. They live quietly at Longbourn, and don't reveal to anyone except a chosen few, that they're connected to nobility.
The Bingleys and Darcy come to Netherfield, which is secretly owned by the Bennetts. Darcy makes his usual terrible first impression on everyone, including the infamous insult at the Meryton assembly. Darcy openly and verbally disdains the Bennetts, believing them to be poor and unconnected, even though he quickly starts to admire Elizabeth. Bingley immediately falls for Jane, but Jane is only annoyed by him. He's portrayed as a spineless pushover.
The Bennetts eventually receive word that they've inherited a dukedom, making them obscenely wealthy, but requiring some huge life changes. This story is not about Elizabeth and Darcy, although their relationship is a part of the larger story. There are many romances going on in the background, but they're handled in an almost clinical manner. The story is about the importance of family and true friends, and about how the Bennetts preserve their basic integrity, in spite of all that befalls them.
The usual villains appear, but they're dealt with handily. This author uses a lot of the same characters throughout her works, so some of the names and characters become almost familiar, like old friends. This isn't great literature, but the writing is good, and it's fun to read these stories that buck the Regency traditions of people not speaking their minds. This author likes strong women with backbones, who know what they want. I recommend it highly.
December 5, 2021
I’m sorry I even started reading this
Fabulous inheritance is one of my favourite P&P vagaries so I was excited to read this. Regrettably I started without reading the reviews. I ended up skimming large swathes of repetitious text and eventually gave up completely at about 79%.
I have no problem with dramatic changes to characters, plot and subtext. I don’t even mind that Elizabeth is bland and Darcy is rather repulsive. What I do mind is endless repetition of plot points as if the reader is as ignorant of events as the characters. What I absolutely hate is the complete and utter ignorance of era etiquette and language as well the deplorable habit of everyone calling everyone buy the given names. It’s not even like the writer had to do much research, it’s all laid out in Austen’s original work.
Here’s a clue: Mrs Gardiner is Lizzy’s favourite Aunt but she is never referred to as Aunt (first name). She’s always Aunt Gardiner and if you’re setting your story amongst Regency Gentry, she can never be anything else. You want to change it? Set your story in another time or world. Anything else and you’re just embarrassing yourself.
I guess I shouldn’t be so harsh though. Obviously the standards of some readers are closer to that of this writer than Austen’s.
Fabulous inheritance is one of my favourite P&P vagaries so I was excited to read this. Regrettably I started without reading the reviews. I ended up skimming large swathes of repetitious text and eventually gave up completely at about 79%.
I have no problem with dramatic changes to characters, plot and subtext. I don’t even mind that Elizabeth is bland and Darcy is rather repulsive. What I do mind is endless repetition of plot points as if the reader is as ignorant of events as the characters. What I absolutely hate is the complete and utter ignorance of era etiquette and language as well the deplorable habit of everyone calling everyone buy the given names. It’s not even like the writer had to do much research, it’s all laid out in Austen’s original work.
Here’s a clue: Mrs Gardiner is Lizzy’s favourite Aunt but she is never referred to as Aunt (first name). She’s always Aunt Gardiner and if you’re setting your story amongst Regency Gentry, she can never be anything else. You want to change it? Set your story in another time or world. Anything else and you’re just embarrassing yourself.
I guess I shouldn’t be so harsh though. Obviously the standards of some readers are closer to that of this writer than Austen’s.
November 4, 2024
I loved it!
**This is a book of two volumes, but all in one book. It is a one off, standalone story.**
It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. You will see the most beloved characters in a whole new way. This is a Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice variation. Over 150 years in the past an Evil Duke plotted to separate his first and second sons. He was a man who had two interests: money and status. Lord Sedgewick Rhys-Davies, the 3rd Duke of Bedford sets off a chain of events that ultimately ends up doing the exact opposite of what his original evil intent was in the far future. Mr. Thomas Bennet lives with his second wife and family on his estate Longbourn in Hertfordshire. As far as he knows, he is an indirect descendant of the last Earl of Meryton whose line died out with him over 150 years ago. The family has owned Longbourn and Netherfield Park for as long as anyone remembers. There is an entail on Longbourn, but not the one we are used to. As in the canon, this Bennet dislikes London, and the Ton and he and his family keep away from London society. His second wife is the daughter of an Earl but just goes as Mrs. Bennet. The Bennet’s new tenants at Netherfield Park are the Bingleys. One of the major deviations from canon in this tale, Jane Bennet has more than a little backbone while Bingley has little or none. How will Darcy behave, will he make assumptions and act on them? Will Elizabeth allow her prejudices to rule? When Wickham slithers onto the scene will he cause havoc? The 7th Duke of Bedford is ill, and he will be the end of the line as there are no living relatives to inherit the dukedom and vast Bedford holdings. He removes an old letter from a safe in his study written by the 4th Duke. Witten on the outside of the letter is: ‘Open ONLY if there are no more Rhys-Davies heirs.’ The Duke opens the letter and learns of the 3rd Duke’s evil and there is in fact an heir, although a direct descendant, he is not a Rhys-Davies. This is the story of different families and what happens when their lives intersect and are changed for ever. There is quite a bit about Lizzy & Darcy, but there are not always the main focus of the story as the title infers. So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
**This is a book of two volumes, but all in one book. It is a one off, standalone story.**
It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. You will see the most beloved characters in a whole new way. This is a Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice variation. Over 150 years in the past an Evil Duke plotted to separate his first and second sons. He was a man who had two interests: money and status. Lord Sedgewick Rhys-Davies, the 3rd Duke of Bedford sets off a chain of events that ultimately ends up doing the exact opposite of what his original evil intent was in the far future. Mr. Thomas Bennet lives with his second wife and family on his estate Longbourn in Hertfordshire. As far as he knows, he is an indirect descendant of the last Earl of Meryton whose line died out with him over 150 years ago. The family has owned Longbourn and Netherfield Park for as long as anyone remembers. There is an entail on Longbourn, but not the one we are used to. As in the canon, this Bennet dislikes London, and the Ton and he and his family keep away from London society. His second wife is the daughter of an Earl but just goes as Mrs. Bennet. The Bennet’s new tenants at Netherfield Park are the Bingleys. One of the major deviations from canon in this tale, Jane Bennet has more than a little backbone while Bingley has little or none. How will Darcy behave, will he make assumptions and act on them? Will Elizabeth allow her prejudices to rule? When Wickham slithers onto the scene will he cause havoc? The 7th Duke of Bedford is ill, and he will be the end of the line as there are no living relatives to inherit the dukedom and vast Bedford holdings. He removes an old letter from a safe in his study written by the 4th Duke. Witten on the outside of the letter is: ‘Open ONLY if there are no more Rhys-Davies heirs.’ The Duke opens the letter and learns of the 3rd Duke’s evil and there is in fact an heir, although a direct descendant, he is not a Rhys-Davies. This is the story of different families and what happens when their lives intersect and are changed for ever. There is quite a bit about Lizzy & Darcy, but there are not always the main focus of the story as the title infers. So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
December 11, 2021
Fabulously entertaining story
I love the " wealthy Bennet " stories and this is a great one. It follows the classic Austen story but is altered by wealth, long forgotten relatives, and different actions by the principles. Fanny Gardiner Bennet dies shortly after Jane is born and he remarried to tthe very wealthy, well connected daughter of Lord and Lady Jersey ( yes, of the Almack fame). The wealth and connections are kept quiet so you can imagine what a mess that renters of Netherfield made of things! It's an enjoyable experience and I wouldn't change a single word!
I love the " wealthy Bennet " stories and this is a great one. It follows the classic Austen story but is altered by wealth, long forgotten relatives, and different actions by the principles. Fanny Gardiner Bennet dies shortly after Jane is born and he remarried to tthe very wealthy, well connected daughter of Lord and Lady Jersey ( yes, of the Almack fame). The wealth and connections are kept quiet so you can imagine what a mess that renters of Netherfield made of things! It's an enjoyable experience and I wouldn't change a single word!
October 6, 2022
A wonderful variation!!
Shana Granderson never disappoints with her P&P variations! I love the fact that Thomas Bennet truly cared enough for his family whether he was a Duke or just a father…that he saved and saved to have quite a bit of money for the times. In inheriting a Dukedom…all their lives were changed. This is a must read…especially to see how most of the villains in the original characters have totally different endings!
Shana Granderson never disappoints with her P&P variations! I love the fact that Thomas Bennet truly cared enough for his family whether he was a Duke or just a father…that he saved and saved to have quite a bit of money for the times. In inheriting a Dukedom…all their lives were changed. This is a must read…especially to see how most of the villains in the original characters have totally different endings!
August 6, 2024
A good read
A good book well worth giving a read, thoroughly enjoyed tge family dynammics and the drama from the different plot points , the only thing over tge top was the money amounts which made it slightly less believable but since this isnt a hard line historical novel it didnt ruin the book ,recomend for tgose who are looking for an angst free swee p&p novel
A good book well worth giving a read, thoroughly enjoyed tge family dynammics and the drama from the different plot points , the only thing over tge top was the money amounts which made it slightly less believable but since this isnt a hard line historical novel it didnt ruin the book ,recomend for tgose who are looking for an angst free swee p&p novel
December 18, 2021
Brilliant Book Could not put it down
Read it through till three in the morning it was so engrossing.😀 The Bennets find out that they are in line to inherit a Dukdume and so once this happens they also help friends out too
Read it through till three in the morning it was so engrossing.😀 The Bennets find out that they are in line to inherit a Dukdume and so once this happens they also help friends out too
August 24, 2022
I did like it, but it wasn’t that inspired or different than others I read. It was a little repetitive & the secondary characters were very often confusing as at different points in the book they are addressed or talked about with varying names.
Read
August 27, 2021This book reminds me closely of the of the Dwiggie stories Connections Redux and All that This Entails.
August 28, 2021
I loved it well written
November 20, 2021
No podía parar de leer. Me encantó!
January 18, 2022
Another lovely variation inspired Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Shane Granderson. I enjoyed it.
March 18, 2022
Original premise
The story plot was enjoyable. I still do not know was the editing is not improving. Authors, spell check will no catch all typos, grammar and spelling errors. ,
The story plot was enjoyable. I still do not know was the editing is not improving. Authors, spell check will no catch all typos, grammar and spelling errors. ,
August 8, 2022
Ok
J enjoy the Concept of the story. As a story progresses there is less Character devel developments and growth and more just here's what happened.
J enjoy the Concept of the story. As a story progresses there is less Character devel developments and growth and more just here's what happened.
June 21, 2023
2.5/5
dnf
October 1, 2023A P&P variation where Bennet has married twice, is very rich and soon to be a Duke. Having found out the resulting pairing in book 2 and not caring for then I gave up on this book
December 10, 2023
good version of the original
I enjoyed most of the book. Polluting it with way too descriptive sex scenes was So Unfair to those of who dont want to read trash. Get a Grip!
I enjoyed most of the book. Polluting it with way too descriptive sex scenes was So Unfair to those of who dont want to read trash. Get a Grip!
June 16, 2025
3 stars- very wordy chapters & speed through the story cause of all the characters (too many) but decent variation overall.
August 23, 2025
This variation is two books in one. It starts over a hundred and fifty years in the past with the Duke of Bedford. Being the evil man he is, he forces a wedge between his two sons. As a result of this wedge, the younger son Thomas leaves the family home and decides to use his mother's maiden name, Bennet.
Over one hundred and fifty years later, Thomas Bennet eschews visiting town, even though his second wife has important connections within the Ton. His first wife dies after having their daughter Jane. His second wife provides him with the all important heir and a spare, in addition to their daughter Elizabeth. Thomas Bennet owns Netherfield, but doesn't let their tenants know that he is their landlord. So when the Bingleys arrive, the sisters show their true colors.
In Unknown Family Connections, Mr. Darcy fails to recognize the Bennets' connections and proceeds to put his feet into his mouth (yes, both of them).
Unknown Family Connections is a variation that I had not seen before. This one is well worth the read. This one is on Kindle Unlimited.
Over one hundred and fifty years later, Thomas Bennet eschews visiting town, even though his second wife has important connections within the Ton. His first wife dies after having their daughter Jane. His second wife provides him with the all important heir and a spare, in addition to their daughter Elizabeth. Thomas Bennet owns Netherfield, but doesn't let their tenants know that he is their landlord. So when the Bingleys arrive, the sisters show their true colors.
In Unknown Family Connections, Mr. Darcy fails to recognize the Bennets' connections and proceeds to put his feet into his mouth (yes, both of them).
Unknown Family Connections is a variation that I had not seen before. This one is well worth the read. This one is on Kindle Unlimited.
January 25, 2024
Overall, Unknown Family Connections is a good story with a unique and interesting plot. My only real complaint is that it gets very slow in a few places. It would have done well with an extra editor review, especially where it gets bogged down with unnecessary detail. Although, I will say I would have liked to see more of Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. I missed them, and they definitely didn't get the page time they deserved.
Caroline Bingley and George Wickham are appropriately dealt with for their actions. Charles Bingley's character and story arc are very different. It's up to each individual reader to decide if it's in a good way or not, but I didn't dislike it. I enjoyed, and was very happy for, Charlotte's happy ending, although, really, I liked all of the happy endings.
Ultimately, though, I think it's a story that isn't going to stick with me very much.
Caroline Bingley and George Wickham are appropriately dealt with for their actions. Charles Bingley's character and story arc are very different. It's up to each individual reader to decide if it's in a good way or not, but I didn't dislike it. I enjoyed, and was very happy for, Charlotte's happy ending, although, really, I liked all of the happy endings.
Ultimately, though, I think it's a story that isn't going to stick with me very much.
July 13, 2024
Enjoyable book, especially the redemption of Mrs. Younge, but gives into the "Bingley is irredeemable but Darcy's arrogance is forgiveable" trope, as well as the Bennets being wealthier than King Midas. I could have happily skipped the details of the wedding night and epilogue where everyone had large families of children named after their aunts and uncles.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews