An Endeavour to Be Worthy

The Montford Cousins, Book 1

By: L.L. Diamond

Narrated by: Deborah Balm

After a long separation, Elizabeth Bennet is off to spend Christmas in London with her grandparents, Lord and Lady Richmond, and her cousins Nicholas and Amelia. While her grandmother is determined to see her spoiled with new gowns and the like, Elizabeth would prefer to play chess and shop for books with Nicholas and her grandfather and visit with her grandmother and Amelia.

At Lady Vranes’s private art exhibition, Elizabeth happens upon the one person she hoped she would never see again, Mr. Darcy. Not only that, but her grandparents and cousins are well acquainted with him, his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and his young sister, Georgiana. How is she to behave around a man who finds her merely tolerable and made his disdain for her evident during his time at Netherfield? Moreover, what is she to do when he calls at Richmond House as a good friend of the family?

Fitzwilliam Darcy is a man torn. He has just realized that the Elizabeth Bennet he thought so unsuitable in Hertfordshire is, in fact, eminently suitable to be Mrs. Darcy, and boasts of connexions that even his uncle Lord Fitzwilliam cannot fault. The only problem seems to be his behavior in Meryton. Now, he must seek her forgiveness and attempt to court the only lady who has ever tempted him beyond reason. Will he be the gentleman who wins her heart? In the end, she will make her choice, all he can do is endeavour to be worthy.

Contains scenes with adult content.

©2022 L.L. Diamond (P)2023 L.L. Diamond

Enjoyable

I enjoyed listening to this book. It brings me back to the soft romance novels I used to read when I was really young and just starting to delve into romance.

Great story.

I read it as a book last year and now listened to it. Great time spent. I like the Monkfords. Great Jaff.

Alternate Pride and Prejudice

This story is based on the characters in Pride and Prejudice but the histories and circumstances for Elizabeth and Jane have changed, allowing Darcy to more easily accept Elizabeth as a prospect for a wife and furthering her opinion that he is the most vexing man. The story is well written and I love the way Lizzie and Jane's lives have changed. there are some adult scenes at the end of the book once the Darcys are married.

Another great book from LL Diamond!

Enjoyable low angst version with lots of Darcy and Elizabeth interaction. would recommend. I plan on listening to the next in the series.

good

Loved it !! this story. the narrator is so fantastic it's like your really there!! good overall

I liked the focus mostly on ODC

That Jane and Lizzy had a different mother than the pushing, embarrassing, favorite playing, nerves getting no respect Mrs Bennet we know from canon gives us the chance to escape Longbourn and experience a kinder and richer environment for our favorites Bennet girls when they go to live with their maternal noble grandparents, and their cousins.

Coincidentally, the Darcys are family friends of the grandparents so Mr Darcy and Georgiana are spending much of their time at the Montforts once Darcy discovers Elizabeth there and her connections.

There isn’t a lot of drama or angst besides ODC making amends for past mistakes and overcoming their own fears regarding the other’s feelings.

Elizabeth has to have a show down with her father and stepmother, only one of whom feels any conviction regarding the conversation and makes changes.

Bingley plays a sad role in this story and what happens to him in the end is beyond sad.

It may not be perfect but we’re introduced to some lovely new characters I will look forward to visiting with again. I loved the Grandfather and the teasing cousin. And the romance between Darcy and Elizabeth is given lots of page time which I appreciate.

Connections and Cousins

I definitely enjoyed this new-to-me narrator, Deborah Balm. Her narration and performance is very very good. Her cadence and pace is excellent. Highly recommend the audiobook.

Book Review:
This is the first book of a planned series by the author—The Montford Cousins. In Book 1, we learn that Jane and Elizabeth are daughters of the first Mrs Bennet, Sophie, who was daughter to the Earl and Countess of Richmond (Montford). Elizabeth and Jane have been raised by Mr Bennet and the second Mrs Bennet, who has never shown much kindness to Elizabeth. Mr Bennet has really never stopped grieving for his first wife and is as indolent as ever.

Elizabeth has just arrived in London to stay with her grandparents for the season. Jane is currently with the Gardiners. They have two Montford adult cousins who appear in this book—Amelia and Nicholas, now the Viscount Hatton. Their parents were killed in a carriage accident, and they also reside with their grandparents.

Since Darcy’s parents were friends of the Earl and Countess, he is well-known to them and they consider him part of their family. Elizabeth and Darcy cross paths almost immediately upon Elizabeth’s arrival to town and they manage to quickly forgive one another for past bad impressions. A little shoving by the various Montford relations doesn’t hurt.

Elizabeth likes this different away-from-Meryton Darcy—as do I—but still has to understand these new feelings she has for him. Darcy knows he must “endeavour to be worthy” of her and convince her his feelings for her existed before he knew of her connections. There is a lot of page time for the couple. The good dialogue among all the characters flows well throughout the book and makes this a fast moving story—not an over abundance of narrative, which I always prefer. There is a major surprise in this book, at least it was for me. I think I’m still recovering from the shock of it! Ms Diamond often provides a surprise or two—recall Uncle Gardiner in An Unwavering Trust, and Colonel Fitzwilliam in Undoing, as perfect examples.

The non-canon Montford family characters are all very likeable and are lovingly portrayed. I greatly anticipate any future books in the series which I can only guess will feature the cousins’ individual stories in greater detail—and Jane too, I hope.

This is another great read from L.L. (Leslie) Diamond. Highly recommend.

Mature content.

What Did You Say?

Performance: The narrator has great potential. She gives just the right inflection to bring a scene or conversation to life. Her portrayal of female voices is terrific. However, her male voices are inconsistent. Unfortunately, every time a character whispered, the narrator whispered. Since my speaker doesn't automatically adjust its output volume, those whispers were so low that I could not hear what was said.

Story: The story was excellent. It was low angst with a few new character twists. Well-written and fun, this is another book worth reading or listening to by L.L.Diamond.

Overall: I removed a star because of the whispers I couldn't hear and the inconsistent male voices.

Great fun

I loved meeting new characters and seeing much less of Caroline Bingley than expected. Caroline had some justice dealt to her as well. The adult content was pure fun, some of it perhaps unrealistic for an early 19th century couple in the higher social circles, but who knows? Delightful!

Montfords may tease but they stick together

Loved this story!! Lizzy and Jane are the daughters of Mr. Bennet and the former Miss Sophie Montford - daughter of the Earl of Richmond, Hugh Montford. Their mother passed along with their baby brother when Lizzy and Jane were little and Mr. Bennet married Mrs Bennet when Lizzy was around 4. Lizzy and Jane are in town spending the festive season in town at the start of this story (picking up not long after the Netherfield Ball).

Lizzy’s grandparents take wonderful care of Jane and Elizabeth along with their cousins Amelia Montford and Nicholas Montford, Viscount Hatton - the Earl’s heir. The family interactions are wonderful! Lots of teasing but so supportive of one another. Lizzy meets Mr. Darcy again as he is a close friend of the family while Bingley attempts to pursue Jane - although certain things about Bingley have become apparent.

Of course Lizzy and Darcy resolve their differences and fall in love - there are a few times where ODC comes dangerously close to anticipating their vows so warning there is some spice/steam.

Overall fantastic and so glad I already have Book 2!!