A lord does not squeeze a poor gentlewoman’s hand for any good purpose. He does not kiss her for any good purpose. What a fool I have been!
CHRISTMAS MAY MEAN FESTIVITY and fun for some, but for Mary Bennet it is an opportunity to collect donations for her Meryton Widows and Orphans Society. Mary is eager to display her piety and charity to everyone around her in the small town of Meryton, but finds herself distracted by the arrival of Mr Arthur at Netherfield Park. A friend of Mr Bingley, he is an awkward gentleman in shabby attire who cheerfully disregards etiquette to an alarming degree—and yet Mary finds him endearing nevertheless.
WITH THE YULETIDE FROLICS come the opportunity for both diversion and discovery—discovery that Mr Arthur is not what or who he seems to be, and the understanding for Mary that sometimes pious is not the only thing she wants to be.
Elizabeth Rasche loves Jane Austen, Maria Edgeworth, and the Regency era. Her dream is to visit England and Ireland and see the places she's read about with her own eyes. Her background is in philosophy, and she lives in the United States with her husband and cat.
Debating theological niceties is fine, and even useful, but if it distracts us from the Greatest Commandments, then we're doing something wrong. ~ David C. Hill
“The Pink Daffodil” — what an odd description of Mary Bennet!
We know from canon Pride & Prejudice that Miss Mary Bennet is proud. She takes pride in her learning and the superiority she feels with her charitable works. Now we are given an insight into Mary’s journey to see herself in a different light. We begin with her visit to her friend, the parson of Meryton’s church.
Quote from the book: Of course, Mr Weathering had not forgotten. He had not forgotten anything that was important to her, not since she was nine years old and had run crying into the church. She had had a terrible day, as children count them — her sisters had plagued her, her mother had forgotten her, and her father had laughed at her as if she were a dancing bear. Dashing into the church had simply been a means of annoying them, proving her value by hiding until they noticed she had gone. Except that they never had noticed, and Mary had discovered a source of solace that satisfied her more than if they had. Mr Weathering had listened to her tale, wiped her tears, and encouraged her to face it all with Christian fortitude. She had felt understood and important for the first time in her life.
Mary seeks to expand her charity and asks Mr. Weathering for assistance in establishing “The Meryton Widows and Orphans Society” in spite of the fact that Meryton has only three widows (two very comfortably situated, one who indulges in gin) and the only orphans have found refuge in the home of their relations.
Her conversation is overheard by an unknown young man, whose “ears stuck out from the sides of his face in awkward projections, just as red hair sprouted in untidy directions above them.” His clothes are a mishmash, carrying various stains.
Quote from the book: He looked down at the stain doubtfully … The perplexed look suddenly shifted into a grin. “I used to have a valet, once, but I gave him the horrors, and he gave them to me as well. We horrified one another.”
There is no odor so bad as that which arises from goodness tainted. It is human, it is divine, carrion. If I knew for a certainty that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life... ~ Henry David Thoreau
Mary’s journey must involve her views on Christianity as well as her own self-image.
Quote from the book: It was a strange admission, one that made Mary uncomfortable. It was not that she had no enjoyment in life; it was that all her pleasures were those of pride. She brought charity baskets to people in Meryton; that was enjoyable, but mostly for the feeling of superiority that her generosity created in her heart. She played the pianoforte, but that was more for the pleasure of hearing herself praised, not because she liked the music. She helped Mr Weathering with the church and did so out of a feeling of love for the old man, but she could not deny her sensation of pious self-righteousness threading through it.
What will happen when Mary meets with the widow who relies on gin? Will Mary be able to see the Widow Cranby as a flawed human being who is still in need of Christian love?
Will Mary befriend the odd-looking young man?
“The Pink Daffodil” is part of the “Tis the Season” collection from Quills and Quartos. Happy Endings abound — there is even one for Mary!
Too much fear, too little love ... too little faith in the instincts of the soul which turns to God as flowers to the sun. ~ Louisa May Alcott
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I borrowed this story from KU. As with the other stories in this series this tale is set at Christmas time in the community surrounding Longbourn.
This story revolves around Mary and we read of her struggles to keep to the high moral code that we read of in canon. However, when a visitor named only Arthur shows attention to her, Mary is torn as to what it can mean. Yes, she enjoys his friendship. However a kiss and a press of her hand send the wrong message to Mary. She doubts his attentions are respectful...especially when she (and the community) learn the reason he has been going by the name of Arthur.
Mary seeks advice from her friend, the Vicar. He has always listened to her and has shown appreciation for her serious side, the side that pays attention to what is said in the Bible. Now he has advice which reinforces what another has advised...learn to let out the side which shows what she enjoys.
So we have a Mary who finds reasons to seek balance in her life, with her charity work but also to form more than just friendship with the new acquaintance.
“Being kind to someone, only to look kind to others, defeats the purpose of being kind.” –Shannon L. Alder
Rating: Clean. Angst Level: Low. Source: ARC from the publisher with no expectations of a review. Religious Element: You can’t have a story about Mary without a religious element included. It was preachy only in Mary’s mind until she had an epiphany and her thoughts changed. Trope: Season Christmas. From the Quills & Quartos Publishing Christmas anthology project ‘Tis the Season Collection. 11-chapters + epilogue + author pages with blurbs from her other works.
“It all seemed a hollow sham now – that strict code, that conscientious virtue that condemned her to the sterile joys of pious women! No, no, she’d had enough of that; she wanted to live!” –Émile Zola, Une Page d’amour
I have to admit that I wasn’t looking forward to a story about Miss Mary. Sometimes she gets on my nerves but the way the author wrote Mary’s inner dialogue struck me as humorous. Poor Mary was so full of herself in her own piety and self-righteousness that I really felt for her. She could not see the forest for the trees. In birth order, she was caught between Jane and Elizabeth [beauty and wit] and Kitty and Lydia [lively and vivacious]. But who was Miss Mary? What was her personality? It took a gentleman visiting Netherfield to help her see her way to finding herself. I enjoyed this exploration of Mary coming into her own and finding her own Happy-Ever-After. There were lots of surprises this Christmas season in Meryton. I recommend this for a different view of Miss Mary Bennet.
“Piety /pi∙e∙ty/ (Modern definition) 1. When you use Christ’s teachings to put someone in their place out of anger and self-righteousness. It is the number two reason people leave the faith. The first is pride.” –Shannon L. Alder
A sweet story for Mary Miss Mary is a pious, self-righteous girl and full of pride. Are her charitable works sincere or, just the only way she knows to call attention to herself living among four other sisters, and the least noticed among them. When she meets the curious Mr. Arthur, she begins to question herself about many things, especially her view about the possibility of finding love. Will a secret Mr. Arthur keeps spoil a possibility?
This is a sweet Mary story, and while it includes her sisters, the plot focuses on her happily ever after. The Pink Daffodil is part of the ‘Tis the Season Collection from Quills & Quartos Publishing. It’s the one book in the series that doesn’t focus on entirely on Elizabeth and Darcy. I highly recommend all the books in this series. Every one is worth reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Mary and a strange little man meet at the church. She will find love but until she questions herself and her imperfections.
Mary questions her piety and charity for they be flawed. This brought a tear to mine eyes. Is she proud about her charity, perhaps. But she is out there doing good. Not perfectly but as well as she can. I cheer for Miss Mary who tries to do right every day, in her own imperfect way.
In this Pride and Prejudice variation the Bingley party due to a broken carriage are still at Netherfield. As Christmas approaches it gives Mary Bennet the chance, in her pride and arrogance, to show off her Christian charity. But she becomes distracted by a Mr Arthur, friend of Darcy and Bingley. But can she soften her character enough, not to betray her real self, but still be able to improve and show some of her hidden character. A delightful and entertaining well-written variation. Another re-read.
(Though I do wish authors would get it right - Mary Bennet does not wear glasses in P&P so why portray her doing so in a story.)
I loved this book! The evolution of Mary in this quick read is heartwarming. This feels like the Mary of the book. The glimpses you get of her sisters’ romances are true to their characters.
A lovely gentle Mary-centric story filled with self-realisation on Mary’s part and a joyful introduction of lightness to her character. I particularly enjoyed the characterisation of the Bennet family - a little riotous but not over the top.
My Library Notes: The Pink Daffodil: A Pride & Prejudice Variation ('Tis the Season Collection) by Elizabeth Rasche Kindle Edition, 100 pages Published October 25th, 2021 by Quills & Quartos Publishing ASIN: B09H3MZBNM [ kindle doc ~ giveaway winner ]
A lord does not squeeze a poor gentlewoman’s hand for any good purpose. He does not kiss her for any good purpose. What a fool I have been!
CHRISTMAS MAY MEAN FESTIVITY and fun for some, but for Mary Bennet it is an opportunity to collect donations for her Meryton Widows and Orphans Society. Mary is eager to display her piety and charity to everyone around her in the small town of Meryton, but finds herself distracted by the arrival of Mr Arthur at Netherfield Park. A friend of Mr Bingley, he is an awkward gentleman in shabby attire who cheerfully disregards etiquette to an alarming degree—and yet Mary finds him endearing nevertheless.
WITH THE YULETIDE FROLICS come the opportunity for both diversion and discovery—discovery that Mr Arthur is not what or who he seems to be, and the understanding for Mary that sometimes pious is not the only thing she wants to be.
THE PINK DAFFODIL is a sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and will be enjoyed by fans of Miss Mary Bennet.
Mary Bennet struggles to find a place of value in her family. Her mother favours her two most beautiful girls. Her father values the brightest. She has sought to distinguish herself as the most pious and charitable sister.
Over time she has resigned herself to spinsterhood (as who would marry her?) with piety and Christian charity her life’s work.
While trying to forward a new charitable enterprise at Christmas, she meets Mr Arthur, a guest of Mr Bingley. Slowly a friendship and maybe more, develops. He really sees Mary, understands her loneliness and finds value in her. For the first time she is attracted to a man.
Mary develops incite into her behaviour and realises her piety and Christian charity contain a large amount of pride, self-righteousness and superiority.
Elizabeth Rasche has a rare gift for depicting Mary in a way that makes you see past her carping, to the lovely young woman within. So nice to have a romantic happy ending for Mary.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Let me start by saying that I have pink daffodils in my garden and they are quite lovely. I love P&P fanfiction that makes Mary the central character of the story. I haven't run into many of them so I consider them unique. I love watching her move from being overly pious and a rather annoying character to blossoming and lovely. The real change seemed a long time coming in this story but eventually got there. However, I could not figure out how Arthur felt any attraction to her initially . She was not very likable in the beginning. He sensed something in her that I could not. I loved it. 5 stars
Miss Mary is a pious, self-righteous girl and full of pride. Are her charitable works sincere or, just the only way she knows to call attention to herself living among four other sisters, and the least noticed among them. When she meets the curious Mr. Arthur, she begins to question herself about many things, especially her view about the possibility of finding love. Will a secret Mr. Arthur keeps, spoil a possibility? This is a sweet Mary story, and while it includes her sisters, the plot focuses on her happily ever after. This book is part of the ‘Tis the Season Collection from Quills & Quartos Publishing. I highly recommend! Well done!
Ms. Rasche does an excellent job of pulling Mary out of her shell, which pleases no one, including Mary. This novella is just as good as that novel. Once Mary takes a good look at herself and stood being such a prig, she begins to see that she really hasn't accomplished so much. When she listens to Mrs. Cranby, she realizes that Mrs. Cranby doesn't need her pity. She has done something that Mary hasn't done, lived and loved.Lord MacArthur is ready to help Mary live and love!
Another great story in the 'Tis the Season Collection series a variations on a Jane Austen Christmas. This gives us Elizabeth and Darcy, Jane and Bingley, but this story deals mainly with Mary and Lord MacArthur. I enjoyed seeing this story come together. I did not realize that there where Pink Daffodils until I went looking to see if there where, what a pretty flower! I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Story centered around Mary but there were a few scenes with Darcy and Lizzy , esp when they were exchaning words. And a new character was introduce by the name of Arthur.
Enticing short, easy to read love story (ies) with a message of what the season is all about. I recommend to P & P fans.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I found I struggled for the story to catch my attention. Glad it was short. It is a cute joke attached to the title. But I thought the title meant it was in a different series, having to do with a secret society started by Lady Catherine, haha. Not disappointed by that, just confused.
A sweet and amusing story inspired by author Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Elizabeth Rasche. This merry novella centers on Mary and is a sweet treat of a tale.
An endearing transformation of Mary Bennet, determined to learn how to experience compassion, love, joy without guilt, and charity without pride. The forbearing "Mr. Arthur" is very appealing. I really enjoyed this little Christmas tale and would read it again.
A sweet and merry look at Miss Mary Bennet. An enjoyable Christmas Story will read again closer to Christmas. Appreciated reading about Christmas tradition of the 1800's.
Mary Bennet gets her happily ever after in this Christmas tale. She overcomes her awkwardness and accepts her shortcomings to become the lovely young woman that is Elizabeth and Jane’s beloved sister.
What a sweet and heartwarming story! The plot is well-developed and the character progression is in keeping with their true selves. Well worth the read!
Mary as I would love to see always. A lovely story of understanding oneself and others, of falling in love and growing up. Highly recommend this story for all.