Responsibility and Resentment

A Pride and Prejudice Variation

De: Melissa Anne

Narrado por: Stevie Zimmerman

A conversation that changes everything...

What if Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy spoke honestly to each other in Kent and clarified any misconceptions prior to his making his proposal? What would happen if Mr. Bennet made an ill-fated attempt to resolve the issue of the entail only to create a much bigger problem for his family and Mrs. Bennet were even more of a shrew than in canon? What if Mr. Bennet had a secret reason to encourage the couple to marry quickly and before returning home? Will they ever be able to overcome the resentment that results from Mr. Bennet's manipulations or from Mrs. Bennet's subsequent behaviors?

Join our dear couple as they find happiness together sooner than in canon but still have to fight against outside influences that seek to destroy it before and after their wedding. A story where responsibility is accepted by some and shirked by others, leading to resentment that requires effort to overcome. Will it be enough?

©2023 Melissa Anne (P)2023 Melissa Anne

Family matters

I liked the relationship depicted in this story between Darcy and Elizabeth. It remains true throughout the trials they go through with Elizabeth’s parents.

The kinds of issues that affect families today are explored in a P&P variation. The big issues here are Mr Bennet making a disastrous mistake in trying to gamble in order to make money for his family but ends up asking Darcy to bail him out because he’s rich and asks for Lizzy’s hand. Mr B. balks at the deal Darcy gives him on the money to repay the loan sharks. A loan not a handout. He tries to sneak around the stipulations attached to the loan but it takes a series threat to get him on the straight and narrow. He’s a bit quicker than Mrs B. realizing he’s been a bad parent. And he makes a turnaround, which is nice to see.

The biggest issue is Lizzy’s relationship with her mother. Mrs Bennet will never understand how her least favorite daughter managed to marry so far above her sisters, makes no secret of the fact she doesn’t think she deserves it-in her hearing- saying outrageous nonsense in the most hurtful way. Then later doesn’t even remember saying those things.

While the Darcys help the rest of Elizabeth’s sisters in various ways all of this is resented. Yet Mrs B. Doesn’t get what she’s done that has caused her not to be invited to Pemberley. Even though her sisters report Mrs B is taking on more duties as the mistress and enjoying them Elizabeth has stated that unless she gets a personal apology from her she won’t let her mother visit them in London or at Pemberley and doesn’t want to see her anywhere.

IMHO this part of the plot goes on for far too long, with the wording being repeated again and again. The story needed to be tightened up. These Mother Daughter relationships are quite recognizable to all of us, some more personally than others. They are as old as time and drag through our lives for decades and sometimes the rest of or lives. The conclusion or Elizabeth’s realization at the end was finally the mature action I was hoping to get from her, just wishing it had happened quicker along the path.

Darcys vs Bennets

This was a very good read. On her visit to Hunsford Darcy and Elizabeth discuss their differences and discover they are both in love. Lady Catherine is seriously displeased and makes an attempt to ruin Elizabeth but Darcy foils her machinations and takes Elizabeth to safety in London. They quickly obtain Mr Bennet’s permission to wed but soon discover he has an ulterior motive.

Elizabeth is disappointed in her parents’ behavior but teaming up with Darcy as his wife they are able to effect much needed changes in the Bennets, although not without a lot of conflict.

The great Stevie Zimmerman brings this story to life making it a wonderful listen.

Enjoyed this variation & Elizabeth / Darcy

Overall, I enjoyed this book.
I like that Elizabeth & Darcy are together in a relationship and then married early in the story.
i found the Bennett parents over the top ans way more offensive than usual.
I saw that other reviews commented about narration. I did notice that at some point in the book, there is a lot more narration and less dialog, but it seems the book narrates past the pieces that are not as important. There is still a lot of dialog throughout the book. I did enjoy how Elizabeth and Darcy stayed strong in this book regardless of all the people, especially the Bennett parents working against them.

Good story, felt a little long

This is a fairly new author to me. I liked the story but it felt a little to long. That being said I will listen to it again. In this story Darcy & Elizabeth talk before his bad proposal so that canon event was avoided. Some spoilers: Because of their talk and clearing the air some other non-canon things came out including that Darcy & Bingley have pretty much cut ties. Elizabeth is able to process through her misconceptions and Darcy is able to deal with his pride too. Now enter Lady C who suspects that D&E are an item and she conspires with Collins to get rid of Elizabeth. Darcy & Col F suspect something and thankfully place a plan in action to protect her. When in London Elizabeth gets to know Col F's parents and they love her and can't wait for her to be part of their family. Mr B gives his blessing & tells them to marry quickly & stay away from Longbourn; the reason for this was a surprise and what changes / ripple effect this has on everyone. I love that D&E are fully committed to each other & their marriage and it is sweet to see their love story. Stevie Zimmerman again does her magic bringing her narration skills to this story.

Great long story.

This book was well written and it starts at Hunsford before the proposal. Mrs Bennet is very harsh on Elizabeth and that goes as a red line throughout the book. Great Jaff

Rather shallow

Excellent narrator, but story is a bit shallow. IMO, starts out well but later in the story it skips ahead brushing past monumental events in the lives of the characters. It transitioned into a narrative with much less dialogue. Not sure what exactly the story is about. That the Bennet parents are horrid, Lady Katherine is horrible, Mr. Collins is beyond disgusting. Once that is established their story is pretty much over until it becomes a labor and delivery birthing thing with TMI. I can only imagine may be an indulgence by the author. Many other plot lines started are not explored or expanded until the epilogue. Darcy is the only hero, everyone else is a fail. I look forward to finding a book that doesn’t make Elizabeth a shrew and Mrs. Bennet has already shuffled off.

All about relationships

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is more about relationships and less about Horrible villains trying to get to Darcy and Elizabeth. I also liked that Elizabeth and Darcy held the Bennetts to account for their actions.

Good, but needs a heavy edit.

This book started off really strong, I loved the relationship build between ODC, it showed depth and honesty and understanding. I enjoyed the fact that they stayed strong in dealing with the Bennetts, both parents and sisters. I like the stories where the characters show emotional and intellectual growth and understanding, and this one has a lot of that in all the Bennett girls and the Darcys. I loved Darcy's side of the family in this story also, the Fitzwilliams were a real treasure to the Darcys. The Gardiners - amazing as usual, Collins and Lady Cathering got what they deserved. The Bingley's were awful and also got what they deserved.

By about half way thru the book the story became a bit tedious. A huge amount of time is focused on listening to the same conversations over and over, EBD and her sisters, the Darcys, the Bennetts, we had to listen to them all repeat the same sentiments several times throughout the book. And yes, that is how real life happens, but I don't necessarily want to listen to it in a book. I felt like the second half of the book skirted over all the happenings in the characters lives and all the rest of the dialogue focused on Elizabeth's trouble with her parents. The second half of the book lasks the charm and wit that the book started with.

Overall - this book ok, I'm not sure I'd fully recommend it.

Well, there’s a first time for everything

I’ve often, in fact very often, said that I’ve never listened to a Stevie Zimmerman JAFF that I didn’t love. Well….while her narration was terrific, this story fell flat for me. It just didn’t keep my interest and I’ve struggled to finish it. In fact, I left it, listening to other books, with 3 hours left to hear. I won’t delete it from my library yet as I may try it again, maybe on a day when I need a nap. (Oops!🤣)

Elizabeth whines

Although Elizabeth has a legitimate complaint in this story she holds a grudge and whines about it for so much of the book that it should be entitled Elizabeth Whines.