Betrothals & Betrayals

A Pride and Prejudice Variation

By: Cinnamon Worth

Narrated by: Megan Green

A Pride and Prejudice variation set primarily in Derbyshire, this Regency-era romance explores how the destiny of Jane Austen’s characters will be fulfilled even when all of the odds are stacked against them.

After a mysterious accident leads to their father’s death, the future for the Bennet girls seems bleak. Elizabeth Bennet finds work in Ramsgate, and one blustery morning, chance brings her together with Georgiana Darcy, a young, wealthy, orphaned girl. When Elizabeth saves her new friend from ruin, she sets off a course of events that alters not only her own life, but the lives of those she cherishes.

Fitzwilliam Darcy was looking for a wife, not love. He had everything he needed to be happy. A wife would provide him with an heir, and if he was lucky, she would not interfere too greatly in his life. Then, fate put Elizabeth Bennet in his path - destroying his tranquility. Now, in addition to trying to find a bride, he must deal with a stubborn, impertinent troublemaker who doesn’t seem to understand her place.

Will Elizabeth destroy his chance at happiness, or will she be the making of it?

©2018 Genevieve Frederick (P)2019 Genevieve Frederick

Not Your Typical Pride and Prejudice Retelling

I love "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen. I also love retellings and spins offs of Austen's work, but often find authours do not make their stories unique enough that instead of focusing, I end up letting my mind wander and do not pay the best attention while listening/reading.

"Betrothals and Betrayals" by Cinnamon Worth is an amazing, funny, unique, totally different, and shocking telling of Austen's "Pride and Prejudice".

From the first to last chapter I kept noticing huge differences in the story line. It doesn't even start from your typical start point. It captured me from the first chapter until the very last. It keeps the integrity of the characters with a varying story line. For instance, Mr. Bennett has died. You find out more about this and when you do, your jaw will drop like mine did. Elizabeth and Georgiana meet while they are both out walking for various reasons. There are amazing scenes that happen between Darcy and Elizabeth in the library or at a special tree. This book has lots of funny humour just like Austen's novels do.

I don't think I have ever read such a unique retelling of Jane Austen's work and that is what I loved about this book. I have already shared it with others and I cannot wait to return to it in the future.

Megan Green also does a great job with the narrations. She has a unique and pleasant voice and I love the speed she performs at.

I received this audiobook at my request and I provided this voluntary review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Good story

I enjoyed listening to this story. It was witty and full of small surprises that made me laugh. A bit of a mystery but not much angst. Highly recommend this book to a Jane Austen fan fiction lover.

change in circumstance

Elizabeth met/saved Ms Darcy while she was working as a companion. Later on, she had a change in employment , this is when she met Mr. Darcy. At that time, Mr Darcy had no wish to marry except to have an heir. This too changed when he met Elizabeth.

This is another entertaining story from this author. The author drew out the events, the struggles and love Elizabeth's impertinence.

Highly entertained . Recommend reading this variation.

My Apologies to Ms. Austen

I read Pride and Prejudice for the first time right before reading this book. I personally didn't feel that it was fair to read a variation on something that I had never read to begin with. So, I came to this book fresh off of Pride and Prejudice and a little worried that it was going to be more of the same. I was gladly wrong.

This book was wonderful, and it is obvious that while it was written to take place in the same era as P&P, it was not written during the same era as P&P. This story is very witty and creates a small twist on the original story and moves out from there. It is much faster paced than P&P which I believe is a difference in the writing styles of the time frame in which they are written. I enjoyed this book so much more than P&P and I would gladly read more variations from Ms. Worth and Ms. Springsteen.

I was provided with a free copy of this audio book for my honest review. The views expressed here are entirely my own.

really good

to me this was pretty good listen and I would listen to this one again

nice read

I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. I totally enjoyed reading this book. It’s well written and the characters were fantastic. I would suggest this book to my friends that like this sort of genera. this was a good book.

Familiar yet new

Fitzwilliam Darcy knows he must marry and has a short list of suitable ladies to propose to. Passionate love isn't a huge concern, as he aims for a marriage that could be comfortable and sturdy instead. He doesn't want to take a gamble on feelings when he could have the stability of facts. But none of choices work out, leaving him more annoyed than heartbroken. And when he returns to Pemberley to "woo" the brother of a potential bride, he's faced with his biggest challenge yet, the formidable Elizabeth Bennet.

Elizabeth Bennet has resigned herself to spinsterhood, unwilling to live on the charity of her relations. She decides to spend her life as a companion or governess, giving up on love and the idea of a family of her own for the stability of a wage. One cold day she meets Georgiana Darcy, a young heiress with a heavy weight on her shoulders. Soon, their complicated relationship brings Elizabeth towards the future she never thought she could have.

Darcy and Elizabeth enter into a timeless tango. Both are strong-willed and have a very specific idea of what love is and how they want to spend their lives. At first, they want nothing more than to be rid of each other, but we all know how the story goes! 

I don't want to spoil anything, since there are plot points that are different than the original work. But some of the storylines seemed to just end or disappear with no warning or explanation. You're left wondering what happened to one character while trying to unravel the twisting lives of those in England's high society. It's nothing too major, but I would have liked some clarification in regards to some things.

Books like these are where Megan Green shines! She was born in the south of England, giving her the perfect voice for a classic work. Sometimes narrators take on projects with accents they're not familiar with, leaving you with a botched attempt at a western twang or an Australian one that makes you cringe. But Green uses her natural accent to create well-rounded voice for everyone in Austen's world.

Overall, I enjoyed my first Austen adaptation. It was interesting and comfortable, like revisiting an old story, but with enough twists to keep you focused. I think any Austen fan would find this book a lovely treat to listen to on a warm spring

Wonderful story!

In the very beginning of the story I had a difficult time keeping the characters straight. Once I was able to get into the story more it became clear where the characters fit in.

The best part of the book is the part when Mr. Darcy & Elizabeth Bennett have first met. I also liked the inclunded twist about her father passing away. A love story with a bit of mystery as well.

The narrator added to the overall entertainment of the story.

Charming

This was an interesting alternative to Pride and Prejudice, using the same characters in an alternative outcomes. It had its own charm. Of course it’s not the original m, and many die hard fans can’t stand anything being changed. But it’s nice to try different variations. Cute story.

Great variation

I've read four different variations and I love them all because can you mess up mr. Darcy story I don't think so. I did like it very much.