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Compromise & Consequence
One misstep is all it takes to forever change the lives of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy.
During the ball at Netherfield Park, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are irretrievably compromised and forced to marry. Angered beyond reason, Mr. Darcy prepares the vilest marriage settlement known to man, forcing Mr. Bennet to accept his terms or suffer the consequences of ruined reputations and unwed daughters.
The repercussions that follow show a determined young lady with keen intelligence and a prideful man who comes to realize that the consequences of their compromise are the best things that ever happened in his life.
During the ball at Netherfield Park, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are irretrievably compromised and forced to marry. Angered beyond reason, Mr. Darcy prepares the vilest marriage settlement known to man, forcing Mr. Bennet to accept his terms or suffer the consequences of ruined reputations and unwed daughters.
The repercussions that follow show a determined young lady with keen intelligence and a prideful man who comes to realize that the consequences of their compromise are the best things that ever happened in his life.
336 pages, Paperback
Published September 14, 2021
97 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Sue Barr
19 books89 followers“If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.” ~ Jane Austen
I love all things Regency and sometimes a wee Highlander story. I also have a weakness for Alpha males and feisty heroines, who keep them on their toes.
I love all things Regency and sometimes a wee Highlander story. I also have a weakness for Alpha males and feisty heroines, who keep them on their toes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
September 15, 2021
“If you spend your time hoping someone will suffer the consequences for what they did to your heart, then you’re allowing them to hurt you a second time in your mind.” –Shannon L. Alder
Rating: MA: contains mature content not suitable for young readers. Sexually explicit [we go into the bedroom] and some language. Violence discussed, implied, described, a fight scene that was rather graphic, and may be hard for someone to read. Angst level: tense through most of the book but tempered with humor. Later, it increased when the villain attempted an all-out attack on a character. We then jumped into the medium angst level until things calmed back down. Source: BETA, ARC, and borrowed from KU. Trope: FMS [Forced Marriage Scenario] and titled relatives. Prologue + 26-chapters + Epilogue I + Epilogue II
SPOILER ALERT: This review may contain *** spoilers ***
“If you build the guts to do something, anything, then you better save enough to face the consequences.” –Criss Jami, Killosophy
Well, Darcy did it up big time in this story. Oh-My-Gosh did he ever. He assumed… and you know what happens when we assume… and had to play it from there. During the Netherfield Ball, Elizabeth thought she saw her youngest sister slip out the balcony doors, which led to the gardens. She went after her to prevent a scandal. Darcy saw Elizabeth leave the ballroom and went after her reasoning that it was cold and she might get a chill. Well, while he was talking to her, he saw red… literally and figuratively. He saw a flash of red as someone slipped into the shrubbery and assumed it was Wickham. As Elizabeth attempted to return to the ballroom, she tripped. Darcy caught her before she could fall but the lace on her gown caught on the button of his waistcoat. As they attempted to rectify the problem, it ripped.
Caroline soon exited the ballroom and in a loud voice drew everyone’s attention to that very fact. Had she been quiet… but then we are talking about Caroline. Darcy was furious thinking Elizabeth was in cahoots with his worst enemy. He could not believe she had arranged a compromise in an attempt to force him to marry her. He was determined to make them regret their actions. Wickham would not get a penny from him. Oh, dear. From this point on we have a plethora of open-mouth-insert-foot scenes from our dear boy.
I have read dozens of stories with the forced-marriage trope. It’s a difficult storyline and sometimes we have a weak and weepy Lizzy with a demon Darcy. Or an angry Lizzy with a grudge she holds onto like it was a second skin. That was not the case here. I thought Barr nailed it with just the right balance between ODC [our dear couple]. Elizabeth was strong, held her head high, and shocked and amazed Darcy at every turn. No matter what he threw at her or said to her, she conducted herself with dignity and grace. It was so much fun watching her outwit him at every turn. Colonel Richard was impressed when he met the new Mrs. Darcy. He was even more impressed when he learned she read The Art of War and was using the strategies against his cousin. He was so much fun and received his HEA that I always love.
There were so many parts to this story that I enjoyed and characters that I adored: Jane was too cool and I approved of her HEA. Lydia was put in her place after someone pointed a spotlight on her actions and she received her just consequence. That was hilarious. I even enjoyed Mr. Bennet. Wow! I didn’t expect that. The Gardiner relations were pretty smart. Georgiana was adorable and Lady Matlock was superb. In fact, I enjoyed all the Fitzwilliam family… well, all but one.
Villains: Caroline was horrid… simply horrid. Lady Catherine was beyond redemption. Wickham, well, you’ll just have to see. Charles was… simply, Charles. Bless his heart. I know some don’t enjoy reading an epilogue but you have to hang on to see what happened to a few of our villains. Epilogue 1 was fun, but Epilogue 2 was hilarious and the best part… they were short. I highly recommend this different story.
Rating: MA: contains mature content not suitable for young readers. Sexually explicit [we go into the bedroom] and some language. Violence discussed, implied, described, a fight scene that was rather graphic, and may be hard for someone to read. Angst level: tense through most of the book but tempered with humor. Later, it increased when the villain attempted an all-out attack on a character. We then jumped into the medium angst level until things calmed back down. Source: BETA, ARC, and borrowed from KU. Trope: FMS [Forced Marriage Scenario] and titled relatives. Prologue + 26-chapters + Epilogue I + Epilogue II
SPOILER ALERT: This review may contain *** spoilers ***
“If you build the guts to do something, anything, then you better save enough to face the consequences.” –Criss Jami, Killosophy
Well, Darcy did it up big time in this story. Oh-My-Gosh did he ever. He assumed… and you know what happens when we assume… and had to play it from there. During the Netherfield Ball, Elizabeth thought she saw her youngest sister slip out the balcony doors, which led to the gardens. She went after her to prevent a scandal. Darcy saw Elizabeth leave the ballroom and went after her reasoning that it was cold and she might get a chill. Well, while he was talking to her, he saw red… literally and figuratively. He saw a flash of red as someone slipped into the shrubbery and assumed it was Wickham. As Elizabeth attempted to return to the ballroom, she tripped. Darcy caught her before she could fall but the lace on her gown caught on the button of his waistcoat. As they attempted to rectify the problem, it ripped.
Caroline soon exited the ballroom and in a loud voice drew everyone’s attention to that very fact. Had she been quiet… but then we are talking about Caroline. Darcy was furious thinking Elizabeth was in cahoots with his worst enemy. He could not believe she had arranged a compromise in an attempt to force him to marry her. He was determined to make them regret their actions. Wickham would not get a penny from him. Oh, dear. From this point on we have a plethora of open-mouth-insert-foot scenes from our dear boy.
I have read dozens of stories with the forced-marriage trope. It’s a difficult storyline and sometimes we have a weak and weepy Lizzy with a demon Darcy. Or an angry Lizzy with a grudge she holds onto like it was a second skin. That was not the case here. I thought Barr nailed it with just the right balance between ODC [our dear couple]. Elizabeth was strong, held her head high, and shocked and amazed Darcy at every turn. No matter what he threw at her or said to her, she conducted herself with dignity and grace. It was so much fun watching her outwit him at every turn. Colonel Richard was impressed when he met the new Mrs. Darcy. He was even more impressed when he learned she read The Art of War and was using the strategies against his cousin. He was so much fun and received his HEA that I always love.
There were so many parts to this story that I enjoyed and characters that I adored: Jane was too cool and I approved of her HEA. Lydia was put in her place after someone pointed a spotlight on her actions and she received her just consequence. That was hilarious. I even enjoyed Mr. Bennet. Wow! I didn’t expect that. The Gardiner relations were pretty smart. Georgiana was adorable and Lady Matlock was superb. In fact, I enjoyed all the Fitzwilliam family… well, all but one.
Villains: Caroline was horrid… simply horrid. Lady Catherine was beyond redemption. Wickham, well, you’ll just have to see. Charles was… simply, Charles. Bless his heart. I know some don’t enjoy reading an epilogue but you have to hang on to see what happened to a few of our villains. Epilogue 1 was fun, but Epilogue 2 was hilarious and the best part… they were short. I highly recommend this different story.
May 12, 2022
Ah! The Art of War!
Darcy sets severe restrictions on his forced marriage.
Elizabeth counters with tips from her father's favorite book.
This is by far my favorite from this author!
Well done!
Darcy sets severe restrictions on his forced marriage.
Elizabeth counters with tips from her father's favorite book.
This is by far my favorite from this author!
Well done!
March 3, 2025
I debated over reading this or not as I am not a huge fan of this writer. But the premise sounded good and the excerpts I read sounded even better, so I decided to give it a try.
I am glad I did. The story was very enjoyable.
There were some very strong female characters!! Women who were nnot demeaned or controlled, sexually or otherwise, which I found in some of her other books, tends to happen.
The language is also the norm for this author, ie quite modern. No regency terminologies here. A few bawdy remarks, double entendres and near the end of the book we read a full scene on Darcy's erection. Oh yay.
However, aside from that there was actual story, romance, intrigue and minor angst. (I thought for sure E would actually get kidnapped) but I guess that couldn't happen since we were given quite the description on what was planned for her... Seriously? OTT and not necessary IMHO.
Darcy has stepped in the doodie and must make amends, Pronto!
Everyone schools him, loves Elizabeth (is she possibly too perfect?) and is cheering on their future felicity. If he can fix things.
Jane barely mourns Bingley's abandonment when a new suitor shows up. Col F. schools Lydia and Wickham is dealt with early on.
Bingley is flakier than usual, Caroline is herself on speed and Lady C is herself on PCP.
Mr. Collins wasn't too bad...
Overall, lots going on and a fast paced story.
I am glad I did. The story was very enjoyable.
There were some very strong female characters!! Women who were nnot demeaned or controlled, sexually or otherwise, which I found in some of her other books, tends to happen.
The language is also the norm for this author, ie quite modern. No regency terminologies here. A few bawdy remarks, double entendres and near the end of the book we read a full scene on Darcy's erection. Oh yay.
However, aside from that there was actual story, romance, intrigue and minor angst. (I thought for sure E would actually get kidnapped) but I guess that couldn't happen since we were given quite the description on what was planned for her... Seriously? OTT and not necessary IMHO.
Darcy has stepped in the doodie and must make amends, Pronto!
Everyone schools him, loves Elizabeth (is she possibly too perfect?) and is cheering on their future felicity. If he can fix things.
Jane barely mourns Bingley's abandonment when a new suitor shows up. Col F. schools Lydia and Wickham is dealt with early on.
Bingley is flakier than usual, Caroline is herself on speed and Lady C is herself on PCP.
Mr. Collins wasn't too bad...
Overall, lots going on and a fast paced story.
September 19, 2021
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars. I do love FMS stories. There is also some angst with some main persons acting out-of-character. Charles and Caroline Bingley have different paths as does our Colonel Fitzwilliam.
The Darcy in this story is a man you may hate loathe at the beginning. At the Netherfield Ball he follows Elizabeth out on the patio concerned that she might take a chill only to spy a man with a red coat dodging into the bushes just as Elizabeth trips and falls and is caught by him. Unfortunately her lace catches on one of his buttons and her bodice tears further as she attempts to untangle it. Of course, this compromise does not go unnoticed. Darcy's mind immediately has Elizabeth acting under Wickham's direction, maybe already seduced by him, pregnant by him (?) and with plans to send money from Darcy's coffers to W. after they marry him.
This Elizabeth is niece to the Mr. Bennet we know...the man with four daughters. Her connections are unknown to many as her father, a Captain in the Navy places her (at age 4) to live with his brother as his wife has died in childbirth. (He also dies a few years later.) Elizabeth's mother has royal Spanish relations.
Darcy, hateful man, draws up a marriage settlement which is a disgrace, a slap in the face, giving her barely any pin money and limiting what she can bring with her after they marry...one trunk only! And as Mr. Bennet, her uncle, objects Darcy says "Take it or leave it". Bennet, wisely, only asks that a paragraph be added which allows her to keep all the wealth and property she brings to the marriage for herself. Not knowing of her wealth or property, Darcy agrees to this.
After the wedding they travel to London and Darcy makes sure he is rarely in Elizabeth's presence. He also makes sure she has no say in running the household or even setting the menus. It is the Colonel who counsels Darcy to verify whether his suspicions are true or not. So Darcy comes to realize he has much to atone for. Elizabeth, meanwhile makes friends with Darcy's aunt and with Georgiana.
This story has some similarities to canon but there are twists. For instance, Elizabeth steers Collins to court Charlotte. Wickham's lies are not entirely accepted by Elizabeth and his fate is very different. Jane's opinion about Bingley's having left her without even a goodbye has her path leading elsewhere than as in canon also. Lady Catherine goes off the deep end and defenses have to be set in place as she refuses to accept Darcy's marriage to Elizabeth.
This story is 335 pages so there is much I am not even hinting at here. Yes, there are some MA scenes. Plus we have two epilogues. I enjoyed this story and highly recommend it.
The Darcy in this story is a man you may hate loathe at the beginning. At the Netherfield Ball he follows Elizabeth out on the patio concerned that she might take a chill only to spy a man with a red coat dodging into the bushes just as Elizabeth trips and falls and is caught by him. Unfortunately her lace catches on one of his buttons and her bodice tears further as she attempts to untangle it. Of course, this compromise does not go unnoticed. Darcy's mind immediately has Elizabeth acting under Wickham's direction, maybe already seduced by him, pregnant by him (?) and with plans to send money from Darcy's coffers to W. after they marry him.
This Elizabeth is niece to the Mr. Bennet we know...the man with four daughters. Her connections are unknown to many as her father, a Captain in the Navy places her (at age 4) to live with his brother as his wife has died in childbirth. (He also dies a few years later.) Elizabeth's mother has royal Spanish relations.
Darcy, hateful man, draws up a marriage settlement which is a disgrace, a slap in the face, giving her barely any pin money and limiting what she can bring with her after they marry...one trunk only! And as Mr. Bennet, her uncle, objects Darcy says "Take it or leave it". Bennet, wisely, only asks that a paragraph be added which allows her to keep all the wealth and property she brings to the marriage for herself. Not knowing of her wealth or property, Darcy agrees to this.
After the wedding they travel to London and Darcy makes sure he is rarely in Elizabeth's presence. He also makes sure she has no say in running the household or even setting the menus. It is the Colonel who counsels Darcy to verify whether his suspicions are true or not. So Darcy comes to realize he has much to atone for. Elizabeth, meanwhile makes friends with Darcy's aunt and with Georgiana.
This story has some similarities to canon but there are twists. For instance, Elizabeth steers Collins to court Charlotte. Wickham's lies are not entirely accepted by Elizabeth and his fate is very different. Jane's opinion about Bingley's having left her without even a goodbye has her path leading elsewhere than as in canon also. Lady Catherine goes off the deep end and defenses have to be set in place as she refuses to accept Darcy's marriage to Elizabeth.
This story is 335 pages so there is much I am not even hinting at here. Yes, there are some MA scenes. Plus we have two epilogues. I enjoyed this story and highly recommend it.
April 1, 2022
I am torn about my opinion of this P&P what if. I loved that it took a different approach to making Lizzy fancy without having her be a kidnapped Fitzwilliam and her not being a true daughter of Longbourn without making her Cinderella but for the second 1/2 of the book she is such a Mary Sue it made me exhausted.
This book starts at the Netherfield ball where Lizzy stumbles into Mr Darcy and a button and Lace and Miss Bingley's big mouth have them leg shackled.
You will not like this Darcy - he is a doofus Darcy so blinded by his own ego and understanding that he sees conspiracies behind every bush. He agrees to marry Lizzy but keeps her in penury and rags. She outsmarts him at every turn but that doesn't make him less unlikable.
And Caro is at her absolutely worst doubling down on stupid often and in Public...
And Wickham is also a foot
Its definitely readable.
This book starts at the Netherfield ball where Lizzy stumbles into Mr Darcy and a button and Lace and Miss Bingley's big mouth have them leg shackled.
You will not like this Darcy - he is a doofus Darcy so blinded by his own ego and understanding that he sees conspiracies behind every bush. He agrees to marry Lizzy but keeps her in penury and rags. She outsmarts him at every turn but that doesn't make him less unlikable.
And Caro is at her absolutely worst doubling down on stupid often and in Public...
And Wickham is also a foot
Its definitely readable.
February 2, 2025
Good
As the description outlines, Elizabeth and Darcy are compromised. Darcy believes it is due to Elizabeth conspiring with Wickham, and determines she (and Wickham) will not profit in any way from the forced marriage. Unbeknownst to Darcy, Elizabeth is a wealthy woman in her own right and is a descendant of Spanish royalty. She is actually the niece of Thomas Bennet and the Bennet girls her cousins.
Following the compromise, and upon her marriage, Elizabeth is restricted to a meager settlement and a set of strict rules given by Darcy. She also happens to be familiar with the book, The Art of War, and cleverly uses strategy from it when it advantageously suits her to gain say those strictures. Smart girl.
Darcy was pretty spiteful in the beginning of this story. I loved Elizabeth throughout, as well as Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mr. Bennet and Jane. The Matlocks were well portrayed also.
I was enjoying this book very much until it started to get a bit over the top about 70% in. Lady Catherine’s plans inevitably go awry thank goodness. A reward to a Longbourn servant by Darcy and Matlock was just too unbelievable for me.
There is some bawdy innuendo and a somewhat steamy scene involving Elizabeth peeking under the sheets at Darcy’s “desire” while he’s pretending to be asleep. I thought it rather comical, and was reminded of Nicole Kidman peeking under the bowl in Far and Away.
I will acknowledge and appreciate the improvement by the author in proofreading/editing for this book. It got a bit sloppy towards the end. The other thing that doesn’t work for me is the Americanisms for a Regency story, as well as the modern idiom, “out like a light”. Those don’t fit into a Regency story at all. These are noted in my highlights.
I thought the book was very good overall and I enjoyed it. I think it’s Sue Barr’s best effort to date.
January 31-February 1, 2025 - Audiobook - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The narrator, Bridget Thomas, is good but her voice portrayals for the Pride and Prejudice characters felt off to me, and for the most part, a bit too soft-spoken and whispery for my taste. Even when a character was supposed to be shouting displeasure, for example, she simply voiced a loud raspy whisper. For the female voices, it was sometimes difficult to distinguish between the characters with respect to who was speaking at a given time. I felt Elizabeth’s voice was too soft for this particular portrayal of her by the author—which I loved. This Elizabeth is so clever. Mrs. Bennet’s voice was also way too soft and didn’t display her nerves or flightiness at all. She seemed completely out of character to me.
I still like this story and recommend it as one of my favourites by Sue Barr. My full book review from 2021 is on Goodreads.
As the description outlines, Elizabeth and Darcy are compromised. Darcy believes it is due to Elizabeth conspiring with Wickham, and determines she (and Wickham) will not profit in any way from the forced marriage. Unbeknownst to Darcy, Elizabeth is a wealthy woman in her own right and is a descendant of Spanish royalty. She is actually the niece of Thomas Bennet and the Bennet girls her cousins.
Following the compromise, and upon her marriage, Elizabeth is restricted to a meager settlement and a set of strict rules given by Darcy. She also happens to be familiar with the book, The Art of War, and cleverly uses strategy from it when it advantageously suits her to gain say those strictures. Smart girl.
Darcy was pretty spiteful in the beginning of this story. I loved Elizabeth throughout, as well as Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mr. Bennet and Jane. The Matlocks were well portrayed also.
I was enjoying this book very much until it started to get a bit over the top about 70% in. Lady Catherine’s plans inevitably go awry thank goodness. A reward to a Longbourn servant by Darcy and Matlock was just too unbelievable for me.
There is some bawdy innuendo and a somewhat steamy scene involving Elizabeth peeking under the sheets at Darcy’s “desire” while he’s pretending to be asleep. I thought it rather comical, and was reminded of Nicole Kidman peeking under the bowl in Far and Away.
I will acknowledge and appreciate the improvement by the author in proofreading/editing for this book. It got a bit sloppy towards the end. The other thing that doesn’t work for me is the Americanisms for a Regency story, as well as the modern idiom, “out like a light”. Those don’t fit into a Regency story at all. These are noted in my highlights.
I thought the book was very good overall and I enjoyed it. I think it’s Sue Barr’s best effort to date.
January 31-February 1, 2025 - Audiobook - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The narrator, Bridget Thomas, is good but her voice portrayals for the Pride and Prejudice characters felt off to me, and for the most part, a bit too soft-spoken and whispery for my taste. Even when a character was supposed to be shouting displeasure, for example, she simply voiced a loud raspy whisper. For the female voices, it was sometimes difficult to distinguish between the characters with respect to who was speaking at a given time. I felt Elizabeth’s voice was too soft for this particular portrayal of her by the author—which I loved. This Elizabeth is so clever. Mrs. Bennet’s voice was also way too soft and didn’t display her nerves or flightiness at all. She seemed completely out of character to me.
I still like this story and recommend it as one of my favourites by Sue Barr. My full book review from 2021 is on Goodreads.
September 14, 2021
Interesting forced marriage story
Darcy is compromised by Lizzy accidentally but he thinks he sees a redcoat near by and jumps to the conclusion that Wickham and Lizzy are working together to shake him down for money. This is the first wrong conclusion, in the story, out of enumerable wrong conclusions he will jump to.
To get back at Wickham and Lizzy, Darcy decides to make Lizzy miserable in their marriage. Since he has had mistress(es) before he feels it is no problem to get others so he is not worried about sex in his marriage.
The first part of the book reads as humorous since most of his conclusions and ideas are ludicrous. Richard, the Colonel, is obviously used to him being a fool and it’s a lot of fun when he talks logically to him to set him straight. The humor turns toward drama when the true Darcy is shown to us over the course of the first half of the story.
As in most variations the last half of the story, the change of Darcy to someone who makes a good match for Lizzy and then the HEA is obtained…except this last half has Lizzy forgiving too much and worse, Darcy still makes mistakes, just not as many.
I enjoyed the story a great deal. There is no law that says Darcy has to become perfect like Lizzy is, we just are used to the JA Darcy.
To make the story even better Lizzy is not a Bennet daughter, she is a cousin. She is Spanish royalty and has more connections than Darcy could ever hope tonhave and a great deal of wealth. Quite frankly by the end of the story I was surprised someone in Spain didn’t send an assassin to take care of Elizabeth’s compromise “problem”. Now that would have been entertainment.
By far the most interesting character in the story is Richard. He is always full of common sense. The scene where he laughs at Lydia and shows the Bennets what she really is is worth the cost of the book.
Almost rated 5 stars but the depth of Darcy’s flaws was off putting sometimes.
Darcy is compromised by Lizzy accidentally but he thinks he sees a redcoat near by and jumps to the conclusion that Wickham and Lizzy are working together to shake him down for money. This is the first wrong conclusion, in the story, out of enumerable wrong conclusions he will jump to.
To get back at Wickham and Lizzy, Darcy decides to make Lizzy miserable in their marriage. Since he has had mistress(es) before he feels it is no problem to get others so he is not worried about sex in his marriage.
The first part of the book reads as humorous since most of his conclusions and ideas are ludicrous. Richard, the Colonel, is obviously used to him being a fool and it’s a lot of fun when he talks logically to him to set him straight. The humor turns toward drama when the true Darcy is shown to us over the course of the first half of the story.
As in most variations the last half of the story, the change of Darcy to someone who makes a good match for Lizzy and then the HEA is obtained…except this last half has Lizzy forgiving too much and worse, Darcy still makes mistakes, just not as many.
I enjoyed the story a great deal. There is no law that says Darcy has to become perfect like Lizzy is, we just are used to the JA Darcy.
To make the story even better Lizzy is not a Bennet daughter, she is a cousin. She is Spanish royalty and has more connections than Darcy could ever hope tonhave and a great deal of wealth. Quite frankly by the end of the story I was surprised someone in Spain didn’t send an assassin to take care of Elizabeth’s compromise “problem”. Now that would have been entertainment.
By far the most interesting character in the story is Richard. He is always full of common sense. The scene where he laughs at Lydia and shows the Bennets what she really is is worth the cost of the book.
Almost rated 5 stars but the depth of Darcy’s flaws was off putting sometimes.
May 7, 2022
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars
July 1, 2024
3 & 1/2 rounded up to 4.
This the 2nd book that I've read by this author (Fitzwilliam Darcy Undone was the 1st) and I have to say that I was at 5 stars up until about the 50%/60% point of the book. I love the banter and how the conversations/dialogue are written between all of the characters. I LOVE Elizabeth's smugness as she evades Darcy's rules and regulations.
Where it went off the rails for me was the 2nd half of the book where everything evolved too quickly. Suddenly Darcy is in lurrrve. The plots against Elizabeth are fabulous -over the top? YES! Almost in a soap opera way but then they get resolved too quickly and the villains are dispatched with little detail. If you are going to be OTP _be_ OTP. Miss Caro needed a little bit more humiliation.
This the 2nd book that I've read by this author (Fitzwilliam Darcy Undone was the 1st) and I have to say that I was at 5 stars up until about the 50%/60% point of the book. I love the banter and how the conversations/dialogue are written between all of the characters. I LOVE Elizabeth's smugness as she evades Darcy's rules and regulations.
Where it went off the rails for me was the 2nd half of the book where everything evolved too quickly. Suddenly Darcy is in lurrrve. The plots against Elizabeth are fabulous -over the top? YES! Almost in a soap opera way but then they get resolved too quickly and the villains are dispatched with little detail. If you are going to be OTP _be_ OTP. Miss Caro needed a little bit more humiliation.
September 13, 2021
Lovely
Another wonderfully lively and interesting variation inspired by Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Sue Barr. I enjoyed it.
Another wonderfully lively and interesting variation inspired by Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Sue Barr. I enjoyed it.
April 10, 2023
Took off two stars because of numerous errors and a gratuitous epilogue saying that Caroline Bingley gets spanked by her husband, like spousal abuse is funny. WTAF?
She can’t get plural names correct, frequently saying Bingley’s when she means Bingleys, etc.
Lady Catherine was an over the top villain. I’m glad this was KU.
I did enjoy the forced marriage plot but the Elizabeth is not a true Bennet daughter was melodramatic.
Merged review:
Never again. Once should have been enough but apparently not.
She can’t get plural names correct, frequently saying Bingley’s when she means Bingleys, etc.
Lady Catherine was an over the top villain. I’m glad this was KU.
I did enjoy the forced marriage plot but the Elizabeth is not a true Bennet daughter was melodramatic.
Merged review:
Never again. Once should have been enough but apparently not.
August 13, 2023
Angry people do and say unwise things! Fitzwilliam Darcy finds himself married due to compromise to Elizabeth Bennet not really knowing her. He quickly learns that she is so much more than he expected and must learn to ask for forgiveness many many many times while trying to earn a happily every after.
I loved the humor, the characters, the descriptions, and the strategies at play.
I loved the humor, the characters, the descriptions, and the strategies at play.
March 26, 2022
Updated review:
I did end up enjoying this. I had some issues with the way Darcy introduced his servants to Mrs Darcy in such a demeaning way. I think it was a little OOC to air his dirty laundry rather than act at politeness to his wife to save face. Oh my gosh, I was appalled by Darcy’s behavior in the carriage when they left Longbourn! He places her in the rear facing seat, then acts like a spoiled arsehole when Lizzy is jolted forward & hits her face on his knee. She was bruised! Of course, his rudeness is a perfect foil for the dignity and grace Elizabeth displays. I absolutely LOVED that she was using tactics from Sun-tzu’s The Art of War! I also enjoyed her determination to make the best of her marriage instead of wallowing in despair. Very refreshing!
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Mr Darcy thinks Elizabeth conspired with Wickham to trap him in a compromise that leads to a forced marriage. He is a total douchebag to Elizabeth and her father. I thought Darcy insulting Elizabeth in front of his servants was too much of a break from character. I don’t see Darcy airing dirty laundry; he’s a keeping up pretenses kind of guy. Could’ve done without the epilogue, especially the second one! This was light and entertaining.
I did end up enjoying this. I had some issues with the way Darcy introduced his servants to Mrs Darcy in such a demeaning way. I think it was a little OOC to air his dirty laundry rather than act at politeness to his wife to save face. Oh my gosh, I was appalled by Darcy’s behavior in the carriage when they left Longbourn! He places her in the rear facing seat, then acts like a spoiled arsehole when Lizzy is jolted forward & hits her face on his knee. She was bruised! Of course, his rudeness is a perfect foil for the dignity and grace Elizabeth displays. I absolutely LOVED that she was using tactics from Sun-tzu’s The Art of War! I also enjoyed her determination to make the best of her marriage instead of wallowing in despair. Very refreshing!
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Mr Darcy thinks Elizabeth conspired with Wickham to trap him in a compromise that leads to a forced marriage. He is a total douchebag to Elizabeth and her father. I thought Darcy insulting Elizabeth in front of his servants was too much of a break from character. I don’t see Darcy airing dirty laundry; he’s a keeping up pretenses kind of guy. Could’ve done without the epilogue, especially the second one! This was light and entertaining.
July 17, 2024
Impressed with some of the research.
September 24, 2021
Unlikable Darcy;unbelievable Elizabeth
Darcy was beyond belief horrid to E. E was brilliant beyond belief also. Too many story lines, not enough romance.
Darcy was beyond belief horrid to E. E was brilliant beyond belief also. Too many story lines, not enough romance.
October 3, 2021
All my favorite subplots
I rated this novel a 5 for Darcy’s response when Lady CdeB said she was not in the habit of brooking disappointment, he replied “today is a chance for you to learn something new”. Perfect! As well, all my favorite resolutions and subplot alternatives were realized. Jane marries Col Fitzwilliam not that imbecilic, infantile Bingley. Bingley and his sister are embarrassed right out of the country. Exposure to Mrs Bennet and Lydia is minuscule. And, perhaps my favorite, Elizabeth is niece/cousin to the Longbourne Bennets. It just seems fitting that another, more sensible woman gave birth to her. What I didn’t like was how petty Darcy was early on in the novel. It did force his to eat humble pie - appropriate.
I rated this novel a 5 for Darcy’s response when Lady CdeB said she was not in the habit of brooking disappointment, he replied “today is a chance for you to learn something new”. Perfect! As well, all my favorite resolutions and subplot alternatives were realized. Jane marries Col Fitzwilliam not that imbecilic, infantile Bingley. Bingley and his sister are embarrassed right out of the country. Exposure to Mrs Bennet and Lydia is minuscule. And, perhaps my favorite, Elizabeth is niece/cousin to the Longbourne Bennets. It just seems fitting that another, more sensible woman gave birth to her. What I didn’t like was how petty Darcy was early on in the novel. It did force his to eat humble pie - appropriate.
September 15, 2023
This is the second book I read by this author (the first being unwitting compromise). She writes a really horrible Darcy but at least in this he redeems himself early. I liked Caroline's comeuppance and the slow resolution between ODC.
March 22, 2022
Forced marriage story
Darcy and Elizabeth get accidentally compromised and Darcy gets super vindictive because he thinks Wickham was somehow behind it all. For a chunk of this story, he is not a good, lovable gentleman, instead he is cruel and petty. But have no fear, Elizabeth can out-petty him easily, and he regrets his behavior soon enough when he realizes that.
I gave this five stars because I loved the dialogue here and there are some wonderfully snarky scenes. The colonel is a great character and I finished this in one sitting, royally entertained.
I had some issues with the book though:
1. If Darcy has had other dalliances I don't want to know.
2. Related to royals? Um, okay.
3. I think Darcy needed to grovel and spoil her a little more. Because he started out an uncommonly unmitigated jerk.
4. Seriously? They just keep inviting the Bingleys, and keep inviting the Bingleys, and keep inviting the Bingleys? I mean, the various set-down scenes are funny as heck but after Miss Bingley sent such a dishonest letter cutting dear Jane and caused such a terrible scene at the tea shop, sullying both Darcy and Elizabeth's reputation she should never have been allowed to darken their door ever again, not if Darcy had any love for Elizabeth, or even any self-respect.
Darcy and Elizabeth get accidentally compromised and Darcy gets super vindictive because he thinks Wickham was somehow behind it all. For a chunk of this story, he is not a good, lovable gentleman, instead he is cruel and petty. But have no fear, Elizabeth can out-petty him easily, and he regrets his behavior soon enough when he realizes that.
I gave this five stars because I loved the dialogue here and there are some wonderfully snarky scenes. The colonel is a great character and I finished this in one sitting, royally entertained.
I had some issues with the book though:
1. If Darcy has had other dalliances I don't want to know.
2. Related to royals? Um, okay.
3. I think Darcy needed to grovel and spoil her a little more. Because he started out an uncommonly unmitigated jerk.
4. Seriously? They just keep inviting the Bingleys, and keep inviting the Bingleys, and keep inviting the Bingleys? I mean, the various set-down scenes are funny as heck but after Miss Bingley sent such a dishonest letter cutting dear Jane and caused such a terrible scene at the tea shop, sullying both Darcy and Elizabeth's reputation she should never have been allowed to darken their door ever again, not if Darcy had any love for Elizabeth, or even any self-respect.
April 6, 2025
This book has a good and well developed plot as relates to the circumstances under which Darcy and Elizabeth come together and is definitely worth reading for that but it does have some problems which I have reflected in the review.
For me the biggest problem, and the reason for the lower review, is the way the plot moves in the last third of the book. The beginning of the book explores the consequences of a compromise and is very well handled. Darcy had not got the simple country miss he thought he had. However, and it is a big however for me, the final third of the book descends into the farce of the overdramatic.
Additionally, the sentence construction is not great and there are too many errors in the use of words (e.g. opportune instead of importune).
There is also a very bizarre understanding of the value of money in 1811. £50 per annum pin money is considered shockingly low and is relevant to the story but Mrs Bennet and her unmarried daughters would have only had £200 per annum to live on after Mr Bennet died. This would have had to pay for food/accommodation/heating/staff as well as fripperies. There was another instance when a cab driver was tipped a guinea which is ludicrously high given a scullery maid would have earned perhaps 5 times that in a whole year.
Having said all of that I reiterate it is a good plot for the first 2/3rds and well worth reading. I might suggest skimming the rest.
For me the biggest problem, and the reason for the lower review, is the way the plot moves in the last third of the book. The beginning of the book explores the consequences of a compromise and is very well handled. Darcy had not got the simple country miss he thought he had. However, and it is a big however for me, the final third of the book descends into the farce of the overdramatic.
Additionally, the sentence construction is not great and there are too many errors in the use of words (e.g. opportune instead of importune).
There is also a very bizarre understanding of the value of money in 1811. £50 per annum pin money is considered shockingly low and is relevant to the story but Mrs Bennet and her unmarried daughters would have only had £200 per annum to live on after Mr Bennet died. This would have had to pay for food/accommodation/heating/staff as well as fripperies. There was another instance when a cab driver was tipped a guinea which is ludicrously high given a scullery maid would have earned perhaps 5 times that in a whole year.
Having said all of that I reiterate it is a good plot for the first 2/3rds and well worth reading. I might suggest skimming the rest.
September 29, 2024
Entertaining Epilogues
The epilogues! Hilarious and worth the read.
The story itself is another I've previously read and thoroughly enjoyed. I enjoy a well-done FMS, and I especially love an FMS where Darcy is curmudgeonly and Lizzy is all that is grace... publicly, at least. And I love how both of their caustic attitudes toward the other turn to softer, gentler, more tender tides. And devastatingly passionate love. As for our darling, demure, divine Jane Bennet, I rather enjoy when she sees Charles Bingley's weak will and turns from him. Ms Barr definitely manages that in various ways throughout her novels, which is just one more reason for them to be a hit with me. Try this one out, and you won't be disappointed.
The epilogues! Hilarious and worth the read.
The story itself is another I've previously read and thoroughly enjoyed. I enjoy a well-done FMS, and I especially love an FMS where Darcy is curmudgeonly and Lizzy is all that is grace... publicly, at least. And I love how both of their caustic attitudes toward the other turn to softer, gentler, more tender tides. And devastatingly passionate love. As for our darling, demure, divine Jane Bennet, I rather enjoy when she sees Charles Bingley's weak will and turns from him. Ms Barr definitely manages that in various ways throughout her novels, which is just one more reason for them to be a hit with me. Try this one out, and you won't be disappointed.
March 1, 2023
I can't like this book. D is horrible but he even contemplates exerting his rights as a husband and whether he should get a mistress. He eventually says he loves her and then gets livid because E wants to resume her role as mistress of D House.
The best parts of the book for me are Col F, horrible Miss Bingo, and relationships E has with all the supporting players. I would give it a higher rating but this is a love story about E and D. The reader wants to love D and yet I could not. In any JAFF book, it is a necessity to bring the reader to the point of loving D.
The best parts of the book for me are Col F, horrible Miss Bingo, and relationships E has with all the supporting players. I would give it a higher rating but this is a love story about E and D. The reader wants to love D and yet I could not. In any JAFF book, it is a necessity to bring the reader to the point of loving D.
January 5, 2023
I really wanted something with the forced marriage trope and I really wanted to find something in this book but it's not for me. The cleverness of Elizabeth and Mr Bennet seemed forced, the unpleasantness of Darcy and miss Bingley seemed forced and unreasonable beyond my tolerance, half of communication between characters confrontational just for the sake of confrontation, the development of the relationship complete lost behind the words.
August 3, 2022
If Lizzy is wealthy, not a Bennet sister and Spanish royalty is it even P&P? Everyone is rich and has prospering estate. I don't enjoy the JAFF trope of having Bingley and Jane not end up together.
I would have enjoyed this plot more if it were just a regency romance novel that didn't have P&P named characters.
I would have enjoyed this plot more if it were just a regency romance novel that didn't have P&P named characters.
September 26, 2025
this is the type of work that is embarrassing to have on my bookshelf but I need to overcome the feelings cuz I want to commemorate my thoughts so I avoid similar books in the future.
Bingley was done dirty. I agree that in the original there's a fault for not being his own man and listening to Darcy's advice instead of trusting his own observations, However here a gentleman who reeks of trade with sisters who all want to climb up to gentility more firmly is accused of NOT wanting to marry a sister to a Fallen Woman. That's a solid excuse!
He doesn't have his facts straight, when he abandoned Jane, he thought Bennet sisters were going down. He had reputation of his own sisters to think about! That's a good brother behaviour.
Although he was also a total wuss here and didn't deserve Jane, but his "biggest fault" is Darcy's fault for making Bingley believe he wasn't marrying Elizabeth.
It was very illogical, poorly thought through. First Elizabeth is thinking she's going to Pemberley, out of nowhere she's in London with no plan to go to Pemberley.
Darcy somehow realizes he's cruel to Elizabeth and should give her more money BEFORE he knows she & Wickham aren't working together. He was also agreeing to giving her too much, and the usage of hyperbolas IS NOT welcome when discussing legal financial settlements. ("I am giving her 50 pounds per annum, I know I could give her 100 times that" - so, 5000 per annum? Half of your yearly income? Right).
The plot changed rapidly, Darcy does 180 and he's never likable.
The villains are cartoonish. I just hate when they suffer from deafness and are not smart enough to pay attention to what is said and how people react to it.
I loved the idea that Elizabeth is a niece to Mr Bennet and her mother is of the Spanish royalty, but the way it was uncovered and talked about was meh.
Darcy's family is determined to like her even before they know her connections and wealth is more than worthy of their family.
"And let it be known, I loved her BEFORE I knew about it". I knew Darcy was telling the truth, but the way it was inserted in the text I was doing
The "I'm not even going to give you money for clothes" trope is also retarded, because
1. It reflects very poorly on the husband, esp someone as rich and proud as Darcy
2. A lot of the shops then had accounts set up, the man could just pre-approve all purchases made by his wife in one specific establishment, he'd either pay in advance or had a money request sent to him by that establishment quarterly. That's why debt-accumulators like Wickham were owning not only to gamblers, but to the shop-keepers as well.
It was actually difficult to curb an overspending wife because it was husband's legal responsibility to cover any financial debts of the wife. The husband couldn't simply "not give her any money", he had to go to all shopkeepers and make sure they knew they shouldn't allow her to spend anything, and that was still not enough cuz there were many other ways she could spend money she didn't have.
Well, Darcy following through "cuz of his honor" and marrying someone bc of compromise is not a realistic trope, either. AT MOST you could say he only feels bad bc Elizabeth has sisters, but Darcy also thinks 3 out of 4 sisters are stupid and this book particularly says how two of them would probably get "compromised by the end of the year anyway". The most realistic application of that trope would be if Darcy would jump at a chance to marry her even if she was unwilling, but that would go against "angry darcy" that a lot of authors want to create in the beginning. But whatever, trope is a trope, I get it, sometimes you want to engage in a fantasy
Oh, and when Elizabeth tells Darcy's family the conditions of entailments, she says "the laws are so and so, hence Mr Collins is inheritor", Darcy's family rightfully noticed that the conditions made it sound like Jane's firstborn was to inherit (that what it sounded like to me, as well), and that doesn't get explored (unless I missed it, I was kinda skipping through the last 15%)
I also do not get this type of smut. If you write smut (detailed sex scenes), I'm not going to read it. I am confused by these sort of works that do not have the sex scenes (it fades to black), here there aren't even make out scenes, yet certain descriptions are very yuck and unnecessary.
I prefer to skip (or at most, diagonally read) smut, but this weird 'middle' is harder to deal with.
There was one scene which was bad and I'm not sure about last 15% cuz I mostly skipped the entire end of the book).
Bingley was done dirty. I agree that in the original there's a fault for not being his own man and listening to Darcy's advice instead of trusting his own observations, However here a gentleman who reeks of trade with sisters who all want to climb up to gentility more firmly is accused of NOT wanting to marry a sister to a Fallen Woman. That's a solid excuse!
He doesn't have his facts straight, when he abandoned Jane, he thought Bennet sisters were going down. He had reputation of his own sisters to think about! That's a good brother behaviour.
Although he was also a total wuss here and didn't deserve Jane, but his "biggest fault" is Darcy's fault for making Bingley believe he wasn't marrying Elizabeth.
It was very illogical, poorly thought through. First Elizabeth is thinking she's going to Pemberley, out of nowhere she's in London with no plan to go to Pemberley.
Darcy somehow realizes he's cruel to Elizabeth and should give her more money BEFORE he knows she & Wickham aren't working together. He was also agreeing to giving her too much, and the usage of hyperbolas IS NOT welcome when discussing legal financial settlements. ("I am giving her 50 pounds per annum, I know I could give her 100 times that" - so, 5000 per annum? Half of your yearly income? Right).
The plot changed rapidly, Darcy does 180 and he's never likable.
The villains are cartoonish. I just hate when they suffer from deafness and are not smart enough to pay attention to what is said and how people react to it.
I loved the idea that Elizabeth is a niece to Mr Bennet and her mother is of the Spanish royalty, but the way it was uncovered and talked about was meh.
Darcy's family is determined to like her even before they know her connections and wealth is more than worthy of their family.
"And let it be known, I loved her BEFORE I knew about it". I knew Darcy was telling the truth, but the way it was inserted in the text I was doing
The "I'm not even going to give you money for clothes" trope is also retarded, because
1. It reflects very poorly on the husband, esp someone as rich and proud as Darcy
2. A lot of the shops then had accounts set up, the man could just pre-approve all purchases made by his wife in one specific establishment, he'd either pay in advance or had a money request sent to him by that establishment quarterly. That's why debt-accumulators like Wickham were owning not only to gamblers, but to the shop-keepers as well.
It was actually difficult to curb an overspending wife because it was husband's legal responsibility to cover any financial debts of the wife. The husband couldn't simply "not give her any money", he had to go to all shopkeepers and make sure they knew they shouldn't allow her to spend anything, and that was still not enough cuz there were many other ways she could spend money she didn't have.
Oh, and when Elizabeth tells Darcy's family the conditions of entailments, she says "the laws are so and so, hence Mr Collins is inheritor", Darcy's family rightfully noticed that the conditions made it sound like Jane's firstborn was to inherit (that what it sounded like to me, as well), and that doesn't get explored (unless I missed it, I was kinda skipping through the last 15%)
I also do not get this type of smut. If you write smut (detailed sex scenes), I'm not going to read it. I am confused by these sort of works that do not have the sex scenes (it fades to black), here there aren't even make out scenes, yet certain descriptions are very yuck and unnecessary.
I prefer to skip (or at most, diagonally read) smut, but this weird 'middle' is harder to deal with.
There was one scene which was bad and I'm not sure about last 15% cuz I mostly skipped the entire end of the book).
April 8, 2025
In this Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF), Elizabeth is orphaned young and taken in by the Bennets (who are her aunt/uncle). Unlike canon, she is secretly rich and well-connected. The story starts early in the P&P timeline; at the Netherfield ball, she and Darcy are found compromised and must marry. He is furious, as he believes she's the accomplice to a Wickham plot. Thus, he's a total jerk and forces Mr Bennet to accept a terrible marriage settlement. Afterwards, Lizzie goes full aggressive compliance on him, he learns he was wrong about the compromise, then courts and seeks forgiveness for the rest of the book.
This was my second Sue Barr book after "The Wager," and so I've noticed a few hit or miss trends in her writing. She does not think Elizabeth should be a Bennet, or else should not be the daughter of Mr and Mrs Bennet - I guess she's too much of a "not like other girls" type to be blood related to her shameless younger sisters. This is mostly so Elizabeth can be a secret heiress and have less dependence on Darcy. I think this is usually hard to pull off because it requires a lot of sketching lineage and stuff; Barr does this well, though it's not my favorite type of addition because it sets the stage for a lot of stuff I don't care for. For instance, the "Elizabeth has different parentage" plot-line leads to the addition of a bunch of peripheral characters by expanding upon the Bennets' ancestry in a way I find clunky and often unnecessary. Sometimes, this leads to ridiculous details, like in this book where Elizabeth is secretly a Spanish royal...and thus everyone should respect her. She also expands a lot on the Fitzwilliam family tree. Beyond this, Barr hates the Bingleys--Caroline is a shameless, extremely vocal bitch who will malign the Bennets to anyone with ears, whether a pastry chef or the Prince Regent himself (if only she could meet him), while Bingley is a spineless little boy. Bennets and Bingleys don't mix in the world of Sue Barr.
This book is one of those perfect Lizzy, shitty Darcy variations where he messes up and has to grovel the majority of the book. All of the obstacles to an excellent match for Lizzie are gone, while Darcy does his best audition for "arrogant presumptuous fool of the year" for the first third. The only author I've seen more guilty of character assassinating Darcy is Amy D'Orazio whose books Barr's remind me of. For instance, she adds little details like Darcy thinking, "If Elizabeth doesn't warm to me, I'll find a mistress. I'm no saint and so so horny. I was so sad when my last mistress cheated on me." I don't understand the reasoning or appeal in romance of the male lead saying stuff like "I love my wife, can't take my eyes off of her, can't stop thinking about her. But if she doesn't have sex with me, I'll cheat on her behind her back." That is just so romantic to me. The romantic hero thinking about cheating on ice queen female lead is just so great. Neither is a necessary detail and just prods the reader to hate Darcy more when he's already established as a major asshole. It makes you wonder if, even after they fall in love reciprocally, he will cheat on her if they fight and don't bang for a while. As such, this Darcy is not a satisfying romantic lead in this book. Strike one.
On the other side of this, I think making Elizabeth rich always makes the novel an exercise in tired verbal comeuppance and irresponsible wealth-as-absolute-power character dynamics. For instance, a lot of pages are spent investigating, learning, concealing that the gentleman's daughter is not a gentleman's daughter but actually a super rich, super connected, relative of royalty and gentleman's niece (established early, not a spoiler). This, in turn, leads to scenes of public (metaphorical) bitch-slapping that go like this: "You thought I was just poor Miss Elizabeth Bennet, Caroline, but no, you dumb bitch, I am actually amazing and you are a fool beneath my notice. I know all the fancy dames about Town while you are the woman with no real connections! Flush red in anger and begone from this tea shop, you worm!" I find these kinds of simple reversal confrontation scenes to be cliche, boring, and unsatisfying. If I wanted stuff like this, I would watch a soap opera/k-drama. Strike two.
It's a strain on my Regency expectations to have public insult fights with women calling other women "whores" and "harlots," or men making love professions while among their extended family in order to anger and disappoint another character who comes in yelling insults. "The cut direct" exists in Regency as one of the worst things to do socially and, significantly, this extreme insult expresses anger in a subtle and understated way--emotions are private in Regency and displaying them outside of the rules of politeness is a big deal. A scream fight in an upper class parlor with a character yelling "whore" in 1811 Regency England amongst close family is just too much a strain on credulity. During Lady Catherine's famous confrontation of Elizabeth, she does not start yelling "headstrong" and whatnot in front of Mrs Bennet and Lizzie's sisters, but brings her into the prettyish wilderness outside Longbourn before berating her. Lady Catherine, arguably the most unhinged character in P&P, still observes decorum, albeit in a very condescending way, even at the peak of her anger. Not in this book; here, she is sloppier and more aggressive than characters on the Bachelor. This book thinks Regency arguments are boisterous like those at Thanksgiving dinner.
Even though I didn't like the rich Elizabeth starting point, I think it was salvageable early on because of an interesting premature marriage plot point. However, rather than unfolding organically, Barr has I think that was a major missed opportunity and wasted conflict. Strike three.
This fumble is made even worse given how Barr includes totally extraneous, sensationalist conflict later on with Lady Catherine, which underlines an interrelated problem: every improvement in their relationship has to be mediated by someone else or done so indirectly through external conflict. Elizabeth and Darcy can't just talk, but have to be spurred on by outside stuff (like the marriage contract, visiting her family, Catherine or Caroline being terrible, etc). Thus, rather than winding down organically in the latter half, more and more silly conflicts get centered, leading to more outside events directing their relationship rather than them just talking through things and coming to a better understanding. When the last Lady Catherine conflict came up, I almost dropped the book right there.
Lastly, on a larger level, this book - like a lot of JAFF - solves one of the major problems between ODC immediately, without anything to round out the complexity of the main characters' choices and flaws. In OG P&P, Darcy's choice to propose to Elizabeth despite her inferior connections is insulting but true, at least on some level; he could have a more eligible wife by traditional standards but loves her and nobody else would do for him after he gets to know her. However, in this case, he does not go through that process and at the end of the day has his cake (Elizabeth) and eats it too (she is more eligible than any other woman he's ever spoken to) after behaving like a total bastard and stumbling through their early relationship. Elizabeth here has no flaws, does not contribute to any conflict, is more clever than everyone, super rich and connected, and has every pro from P&P besides. To me, this is more an insert story about wealth, lineage, and connections than it is about the drama and steps of romance. This is emphasized by how literally no part of their relationship is private: proposal? nope, compromise; development of relationship? nope, their family is constantly around them and in the middle of their fights and communication; their first time sleeping together? Colonel Fitzwilliam busts in to find them together the morning after. Literally nothing is private in this book. Why? Because romance is not its core; it's the social world of being rich and how their relationship fits into that. Honestly, it's a good thing most of the sex is not described, or else we would've gotten a whole conflict about a servant who walked in on them and gossiped about how well they fit together, literally, just so Elizabeth could scare the servants into shape with her prestigious background as a Spanish royal.
As a result, I didn't find much romantic or engaging about their relationship at all. The most I thought about the relationship was "wow, what a power couple" and "cool, Elizabeth is independent and has even more power over Darcy this time around." But by doing all this, Darcy loses his fantasy appeal and P&P loses a lot of the every-woman Elizabeth insert that makes it so good.
This book is well-written and has good dialogue, with the exception of a few overdone bits. The characters are recognizable but often extremes, while the plot execution is only slightly above average. I can see why people would like this kind of book, but I was thrown out of it too often with things I thought were implausible, ridiculous, or disappointing given the setup. The book itself was a 7/10, but my enjoyment was like a 4/10.
This was my second Sue Barr book after "The Wager," and so I've noticed a few hit or miss trends in her writing. She does not think Elizabeth should be a Bennet, or else should not be the daughter of Mr and Mrs Bennet - I guess she's too much of a "not like other girls" type to be blood related to her shameless younger sisters. This is mostly so Elizabeth can be a secret heiress and have less dependence on Darcy. I think this is usually hard to pull off because it requires a lot of sketching lineage and stuff; Barr does this well, though it's not my favorite type of addition because it sets the stage for a lot of stuff I don't care for. For instance, the "Elizabeth has different parentage" plot-line leads to the addition of a bunch of peripheral characters by expanding upon the Bennets' ancestry in a way I find clunky and often unnecessary. Sometimes, this leads to ridiculous details, like in this book where Elizabeth is secretly a Spanish royal...and thus everyone should respect her. She also expands a lot on the Fitzwilliam family tree. Beyond this, Barr hates the Bingleys--Caroline is a shameless, extremely vocal bitch who will malign the Bennets to anyone with ears, whether a pastry chef or the Prince Regent himself (if only she could meet him), while Bingley is a spineless little boy. Bennets and Bingleys don't mix in the world of Sue Barr.
This book is one of those perfect Lizzy, shitty Darcy variations where he messes up and has to grovel the majority of the book. All of the obstacles to an excellent match for Lizzie are gone, while Darcy does his best audition for "arrogant presumptuous fool of the year" for the first third. The only author I've seen more guilty of character assassinating Darcy is Amy D'Orazio whose books Barr's remind me of. For instance, she adds little details like Darcy thinking, "If Elizabeth doesn't warm to me, I'll find a mistress. I'm no saint and so so horny. I was so sad when my last mistress cheated on me." I don't understand the reasoning or appeal in romance of the male lead saying stuff like "I love my wife, can't take my eyes off of her, can't stop thinking about her. But if she doesn't have sex with me, I'll cheat on her behind her back." That is just so romantic to me. The romantic hero thinking about cheating on ice queen female lead is just so great. Neither is a necessary detail and just prods the reader to hate Darcy more when he's already established as a major asshole. It makes you wonder if, even after they fall in love reciprocally, he will cheat on her if they fight and don't bang for a while. As such, this Darcy is not a satisfying romantic lead in this book. Strike one.
On the other side of this, I think making Elizabeth rich always makes the novel an exercise in tired verbal comeuppance and irresponsible wealth-as-absolute-power character dynamics. For instance, a lot of pages are spent investigating, learning, concealing that the gentleman's daughter is not a gentleman's daughter but actually a super rich, super connected, relative of royalty and gentleman's niece (established early, not a spoiler). This, in turn, leads to scenes of public (metaphorical) bitch-slapping that go like this: "You thought I was just poor Miss Elizabeth Bennet, Caroline, but no, you dumb bitch, I am actually amazing and you are a fool beneath my notice. I know all the fancy dames about Town while you are the woman with no real connections! Flush red in anger and begone from this tea shop, you worm!" I find these kinds of simple reversal confrontation scenes to be cliche, boring, and unsatisfying. If I wanted stuff like this, I would watch a soap opera/k-drama. Strike two.
It's a strain on my Regency expectations to have public insult fights with women calling other women "whores" and "harlots," or men making love professions while among their extended family in order to anger and disappoint another character who comes in yelling insults. "The cut direct" exists in Regency as one of the worst things to do socially and, significantly, this extreme insult expresses anger in a subtle and understated way--emotions are private in Regency and displaying them outside of the rules of politeness is a big deal. A scream fight in an upper class parlor with a character yelling "whore" in 1811 Regency England amongst close family is just too much a strain on credulity. During Lady Catherine's famous confrontation of Elizabeth, she does not start yelling "headstrong" and whatnot in front of Mrs Bennet and Lizzie's sisters, but brings her into the prettyish wilderness outside Longbourn before berating her. Lady Catherine, arguably the most unhinged character in P&P, still observes decorum, albeit in a very condescending way, even at the peak of her anger. Not in this book; here, she is sloppier and more aggressive than characters on the Bachelor. This book thinks Regency arguments are boisterous like those at Thanksgiving dinner.
Even though I didn't like the rich Elizabeth starting point, I think it was salvageable early on because of an interesting premature marriage plot point. However, rather than unfolding organically, Barr has I think that was a major missed opportunity and wasted conflict. Strike three.
This fumble is made even worse given how Barr includes totally extraneous, sensationalist conflict later on with Lady Catherine, which underlines an interrelated problem: every improvement in their relationship has to be mediated by someone else or done so indirectly through external conflict. Elizabeth and Darcy can't just talk, but have to be spurred on by outside stuff (like the marriage contract, visiting her family, Catherine or Caroline being terrible, etc). Thus, rather than winding down organically in the latter half, more and more silly conflicts get centered, leading to more outside events directing their relationship rather than them just talking through things and coming to a better understanding. When the last Lady Catherine conflict came up, I almost dropped the book right there.
Lastly, on a larger level, this book - like a lot of JAFF - solves one of the major problems between ODC immediately, without anything to round out the complexity of the main characters' choices and flaws. In OG P&P, Darcy's choice to propose to Elizabeth despite her inferior connections is insulting but true, at least on some level; he could have a more eligible wife by traditional standards but loves her and nobody else would do for him after he gets to know her. However, in this case, he does not go through that process and at the end of the day has his cake (Elizabeth) and eats it too (she is more eligible than any other woman he's ever spoken to) after behaving like a total bastard and stumbling through their early relationship. Elizabeth here has no flaws, does not contribute to any conflict, is more clever than everyone, super rich and connected, and has every pro from P&P besides. To me, this is more an insert story about wealth, lineage, and connections than it is about the drama and steps of romance. This is emphasized by how literally no part of their relationship is private: proposal? nope, compromise; development of relationship? nope, their family is constantly around them and in the middle of their fights and communication; their first time sleeping together? Colonel Fitzwilliam busts in to find them together the morning after. Literally nothing is private in this book. Why? Because romance is not its core; it's the social world of being rich and how their relationship fits into that. Honestly, it's a good thing most of the sex is not described, or else we would've gotten a whole conflict about a servant who walked in on them and gossiped about how well they fit together, literally, just so Elizabeth could scare the servants into shape with her prestigious background as a Spanish royal.
As a result, I didn't find much romantic or engaging about their relationship at all. The most I thought about the relationship was "wow, what a power couple" and "cool, Elizabeth is independent and has even more power over Darcy this time around." But by doing all this, Darcy loses his fantasy appeal and P&P loses a lot of the every-woman Elizabeth insert that makes it so good.
This book is well-written and has good dialogue, with the exception of a few overdone bits. The characters are recognizable but often extremes, while the plot execution is only slightly above average. I can see why people would like this kind of book, but I was thrown out of it too often with things I thought were implausible, ridiculous, or disappointing given the setup. The book itself was a 7/10, but my enjoyment was like a 4/10.
July 5, 2024
This is the best version of the Bennets aren't Lizzy's parents/forced marriage/Darcy is an ass tropes I have read so far.
Elizabeth Bennet's parents are Thomas Bennet's younger brother and the daughter of a Spanish count. She has lived at Longbourn since she was 4, and she is treated the same as their daughters. Thomas is a good guardian of his children and of the estate. The fact the Lizzy is an heiress is hidden from everyone except Lizzy, Thomas, and the Gardiners.
There is a compromise at the Netherfield ball, and Darcy immediately assumes that Lizzy and Wickham planned the compromise despite the fact that Wickham was not even present, Lizzy never asked Darcy to accompany her, and Caroline Bingley called attention to a small tear in Lizzy's dress that could have been hidden. These facts are evident to both Colonel Fitzwilliam and the Earl of Matlock when they speak, separately, to Darcy.
Which leads to Darcy being an ass. He might as well purchase a set of donkey ears. Darcy is so angered by the compromise that he writes the most insulting marriage settlement possible. Lizzy will recieve very little pin money, and upon Darcy's death will be homeless and without access to any minor children. He also forbids contact with her family and allows her to bring one trunk of possessions from Longbourn. He shows a complete lack of respect in how he introduces her to the servants.
He soon regrets the financial restraints. My favorite scene in the book is when he gives her a pouch of money to purchase new clothes and she carefully counts out the 50 pounds allowed for her yearly pin money, refusing to take any additional funds. She of course gets around every restriction.
Darcy does come to his senses. He rewrites the marriage contract and invites contact with her family.
When I first started reading, I hoped Darcy was denied a HEA and that Lizzy found a fulfilling life despite a marriage in name only and no children, with Georgiana's child inheriting Pemberly. In the end, I feel the planned kidnapping scenario led to a believable way for Lizzy to end up in Darcy's bed. She wasn't seeking intimacy, but felt safer in his bed than isolated in her own bed chamber. The way their relationship progresses from this point makes more sense than in other variations of this theme.
Elizabeth Bennet's parents are Thomas Bennet's younger brother and the daughter of a Spanish count. She has lived at Longbourn since she was 4, and she is treated the same as their daughters. Thomas is a good guardian of his children and of the estate. The fact the Lizzy is an heiress is hidden from everyone except Lizzy, Thomas, and the Gardiners.
There is a compromise at the Netherfield ball, and Darcy immediately assumes that Lizzy and Wickham planned the compromise despite the fact that Wickham was not even present, Lizzy never asked Darcy to accompany her, and Caroline Bingley called attention to a small tear in Lizzy's dress that could have been hidden. These facts are evident to both Colonel Fitzwilliam and the Earl of Matlock when they speak, separately, to Darcy.
Which leads to Darcy being an ass. He might as well purchase a set of donkey ears. Darcy is so angered by the compromise that he writes the most insulting marriage settlement possible. Lizzy will recieve very little pin money, and upon Darcy's death will be homeless and without access to any minor children. He also forbids contact with her family and allows her to bring one trunk of possessions from Longbourn. He shows a complete lack of respect in how he introduces her to the servants.
He soon regrets the financial restraints. My favorite scene in the book is when he gives her a pouch of money to purchase new clothes and she carefully counts out the 50 pounds allowed for her yearly pin money, refusing to take any additional funds. She of course gets around every restriction.
Darcy does come to his senses. He rewrites the marriage contract and invites contact with her family.
When I first started reading, I hoped Darcy was denied a HEA and that Lizzy found a fulfilling life despite a marriage in name only and no children, with Georgiana's child inheriting Pemberly. In the end, I feel the planned kidnapping scenario led to a believable way for Lizzy to end up in Darcy's bed. She wasn't seeking intimacy, but felt safer in his bed than isolated in her own bed chamber. The way their relationship progresses from this point makes more sense than in other variations of this theme.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2025
Lizzy is Mr. Bennet's niece. Her father was the younger brother/naval captain and her mother was a descendant of the Spanish King. This meant that she was independently wealthy and owner of Netherfield. Since Mr. Bennet knew Longbourn was entailed, he used Lizzy's accounts to funnel the extra money into artwork or accounts for the girls' doweries/inheritance.
Of course, no one knew this and assumed Longbourn and the ladies had no money. At the Netherfield ball, Lizzy trips and her dress is caught on Darcy's button. He assumes she planned the compromise with Wickham and turns hateful. Creates a marriage contract that is insulting and attempts to keep Lizzy from her family. She, however, outwits him.
Colonel Fitzwilliam falls in love with Jane, and everyone realizes that Bingley had no backbone. Lady Catherine of course causes issues. Mainly plots to kidnap/disgrace and/or kill Lizzy. This does create the opening for Lizzy and Darcy to finally become closer. As a 'royal' Lizzy charms the queen and has the honor of the Prince coming to her presentation ball. Caroline is so hateful that she ends up disgracing herself in front of the prince and Lady Fitzwilliam
*Would have given 5 stars but the writing was lacking at times, particularly with pacing. Time jumps were confusing (sometimes jumping ahead and then backwards)
Of course, no one knew this and assumed Longbourn and the ladies had no money. At the Netherfield ball, Lizzy trips and her dress is caught on Darcy's button. He assumes she planned the compromise with Wickham and turns hateful. Creates a marriage contract that is insulting and attempts to keep Lizzy from her family. She, however, outwits him.
Colonel Fitzwilliam falls in love with Jane, and everyone realizes that Bingley had no backbone. Lady Catherine of course causes issues. Mainly plots to kidnap/disgrace and/or kill Lizzy. This does create the opening for Lizzy and Darcy to finally become closer. As a 'royal' Lizzy charms the queen and has the honor of the Prince coming to her presentation ball. Caroline is so hateful that she ends up disgracing herself in front of the prince and Lady Fitzwilliam
*Would have given 5 stars but the writing was lacking at times, particularly with pacing. Time jumps were confusing (sometimes jumping ahead and then backwards)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2024
Premise: At the Netherfield ball, Elizabeth trips and gets her lace caught on Darcy's button. Compromise! Darcy assumes (like a dick) that she planned it with Wickham and while he agrees to marry her, he drafts a terrible settlement (like a dick) intending to ensure she can't give his money to Wickham. Only... there's something about Elizabeth that Darcy doesn't know: this is an Elizabeth is Not A Bennet (well, she's Mr Bennet's niece) story.
What I liked: This is fast paced and frothy fun. Takes what could be a dark premise and flips it on its head by making Elizabeth always several moves ahead of Darcy.
Characterization: Darcy's more of a dick at first. Elizabeth has many hidden depths. Lady Catherine is straight-up evil.
Smut level: Medium. Some passionate kisses and open door sex.
Any non-canon parings:
Issues: I did wonder why Elizabeth went along with the forced marriage. She absolutely could've begged off and made it better for the Bennets with loads and loads of money. Or made it seem like Darcy was the fortune hunter attempting a compromise.
What I liked: This is fast paced and frothy fun. Takes what could be a dark premise and flips it on its head by making Elizabeth always several moves ahead of Darcy.
Characterization: Darcy's more of a dick at first. Elizabeth has many hidden depths. Lady Catherine is straight-up evil.
Smut level: Medium. Some passionate kisses and open door sex.
Any non-canon parings:
Issues: I did wonder why Elizabeth went along with the forced marriage. She absolutely could've begged off and made it better for the Bennets with loads and loads of money. Or made it seem like Darcy was the fortune hunter attempting a compromise.
January 25, 2025
I thought the first 40% of the book was very engaging. I loved the idea of E secretly being an heiress with royal connections. There were fun and witty moments, as well. I was disappointed with the remaining 60%. Darcy was an absolute brute, and unfortunately, he doesn’t suffer for it. I couldn’t believe this E would fall in love with this incredibly unlikeable (shallow) Darcy. This was my biggest issue with the story. I also found the final chapters to be quite cheesy and overdoing the “Elizabeth Darcy is perfect” bit.
Where does the story shine? Colonel Fitzwilliam provides all the reason and reflection you would hope to find in Darcy. The Bennets are tame. Jane doesn’t end up with the snotty Bingley. Wickham is removed from Meryton, so no Lydia elopement. Caroline makes a fool of herself, though rather excessively if I dare say.
Where does the story shine? Colonel Fitzwilliam provides all the reason and reflection you would hope to find in Darcy. The Bennets are tame. Jane doesn’t end up with the snotty Bingley. Wickham is removed from Meryton, so no Lydia elopement. Caroline makes a fool of herself, though rather excessively if I dare say.
May 28, 2023
I kept reading
I enjoyed this P&P V. It had good humor that was not just slap stick-you had to read between the lines sometimes.
The city conflict was mostly with ladyCDB. And Darcy was his worst enemy. Elizabeth Jane and The Colonel were perfect. Too Perfect poor Darcy.
However the story line had me hooked in the different/ variation of how a twist can change everyone.
The 4 stars are due to the rapid tie up of each conflict and some unrealistic parts like Caroline not recognizing an English prince or Darcy being so cruel Or Bennet sighing that agreement and others.
I recommend the story because it had me laughing and crying. I enjoyed and loved this Elizabeth and Jane.
I enjoyed this P&P V. It had good humor that was not just slap stick-you had to read between the lines sometimes.
The city conflict was mostly with ladyCDB. And Darcy was his worst enemy. Elizabeth Jane and The Colonel were perfect. Too Perfect poor Darcy.
However the story line had me hooked in the different/ variation of how a twist can change everyone.
The 4 stars are due to the rapid tie up of each conflict and some unrealistic parts like Caroline not recognizing an English prince or Darcy being so cruel Or Bennet sighing that agreement and others.
I recommend the story because it had me laughing and crying. I enjoyed and loved this Elizabeth and Jane.
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