Mr. Darcy’s Matchmaker

A Pride and Prejudice Variation

By: Summer Hanford

Narrated by: Ruth Urquhart

When the woman he loves refuses him, Darcy will get help winning her back . . . whether he wants it or not.

Fitzwilliam Darcy is a great many things. Wealthy. Handsome. Respectable. But what he is not, is skilled at charming Elizabeth Bennet. When she refuses his offer of marriage and breaks his heart, an organ she doesn't believe he possesses, he has no notion of how to win her back.

Fortunately for him, his scheming relation, Miss Anne de Bourgh, is more than willing to help. It doesn't matter to Anne that Darcy doesn't want her assistance. She learned from the best, namely her mother, that people don't know what's good for them until you tell them.

Mr. Darcy's Matchmaker is a sweet, lighthearted Pride & Prejudice Variation. Listen on to discover if Miss de Bourgh can help Mr. Darcy win the woman he loves, and how much trouble she'll cause trying.

©2023 Summer Hanford (P)2024 Tantor

Anne and Kitty are the heroines of the story

The story of E & D are similar to others, arrogant Darcy and apologetic but stubborn Elizabeth. Same with Jane and Bingley, nothing new. That’s not bad, but was expecting a little bit more from them. The real surprise in the story was the straightforward Anne and Honest Kitty. Their personalities really helped the story lightness, it made me smile every time they appeared. Overall is a good story that could have been longer, to give the characters time to evolve. And really was expecting the men reactions at the end.
The narration was adequate but could be improved to make the younger women sound less severe.

Anne de Bourgh takes the lead.

The excellent narration and performance by Ruth Urquhart is energetic and lively, infusing the character portrayals with personality.

From childhood, Anne and Darcy are destined by their parents to marry, but even at a very young age when she was still chasing frogs, Anne is determined she will never marry her cousin. We are given a multi-year look into the early lives of these two, and then we’re at Hunsford with Darcy facing his rejection by Elizabeth.

Anne wants Darcy to be happy—with Elizabeth. So, she hatches a plan that touches on a little reverse psychology to have Elizabeth help her (Anne) and Darcy find a match. She must convince her mother, Lady Catherine, to allow Elizabeth to accompany them to London for the Season.

Darcy is a quite stiff in this variation. I can’t say it’s my favourite portrayal, but it all works out in the end, of course. My favourite part of this novel was Colonel Fitzwilliam and Kitty. Lady Catherine and Mrs. Bennet are quite extreme in this book, making things very difficult for the others around them.

Wickham must also have his way—until he doesn’t.

Happy to recommend this audiobook.

Anne & her Cousins Find Romance

This is a P&P Variation where Anne plays the lead, or, at least, shares it with Elizabeth. And Kitty has a larger role as well. And, Jane is in the picture, too. So, four romantic couples. I very much enjoyed Anne’s enlarged role as well as Kitty’s. Lady Catherine was over-the-top, but it was fun to see her face-off with Mrs Bennet. And there are Caroline Bingley and Wickham for obstacles. The book starts when Anne, Richard and Darcy are children. I liked the author’s portrayal of Anne & Darcy and the way they disagree about their future betrothal, especially her rendering of Darcy at 7 as a stodgy little boy. Very Cute. I think the narrator did a very good job with the characters. I know I will be listening to this one again.

Fun story

This was Another story from Summer Hanford I have read. I liked it very much. Mrs Bennet was a lot of fun when she met Lady Catherine. Enjoy.

P & P variation to lull u asleep

I haven’t decided if the story was just boring or if the narrator just wanted to put me to sleep. The romantic addition of Anne to the mix was a nice gesture along with Miss Kitty and Richard, but I would chose a different book had I known this one’s many failings in my opinion.