Austen Diaries

Title and Author: Only Mr Darcy Will Do  by Kara Louise Type:  P&P Alternate Path  Perspective: Elizabeth Romance Level: Kissing Recommended: yes, 4 stars  Access: Free for Overdrive through my Library Summary: This alternate path picks up the year following the Rosings proposal. Mr Bennett has died and Elizabeth takes a job as a governess with the Willstone family. The family is kind to her and she is relatively happy. However, the family is acquainted with the Darcy family so she is thrown back together with Mr. Darcy. An invitation to Pemberley for the family brings Elizabeth in daily connection with Mr. Darcy. He is determined to treat her well despite the lowering of her status. This is an alternate path, but stays very true to the original characters. Overall I really liked this one.  Pros: * It was nice to see Elizabeth's slow change and insecurity about Darcy.  * I liked Georgiana in this one as well as the addition of Mr. Hamilton, D...

Title and Author: So Far Away by P.O. Dixon Type: Pride and Prejudice Variation Perspective: Darcy and Elizabeth Romance Level: Austen-esque Recommended: no, 2.5 stars (the first in the series was best) Summary: This is part 2 after Lady Elizabeth . When she finds out the truth of her past, she knows she must return to Longbourne to her "true" family, but knows she can never leave her other family, her brother, Avery-now the Duke of Dunsmore, and mother, Lady Sophia-behind. But life at Longbourne is not idyllic. Her sisters are not well bred or intelligent and no one seems to mind. Mr. Darcy promises he will wait for her ,but he didn't imagine the accidents and conniving people that would keep him away from her. A lie almost keeps him away for good. Pros The relationship between Lady Sophia, Avery and Elizabeth is sweet. I liked Elizabeth taking her father to task for the behavior of her sisters. One wishes she would/could in the original. The relationship between Jane an...

Title and Author: Trapped at Rosings by Emily Russell Type: P&P Alternate Path Perspective: Darcy and Elizabeth Romance Level: Austen level Recommended: 3.5 stars Access: free for Amazon Kindle Unlimited Summary: In this alternate path, Lady Catherine has an agenda and is willing to go to any lengths to get it, including paying a thug to lock Darcy and Anne in a cottage together. But things go awry when Darcy and Elizabeth are locked in together instead. They must marry of course, but only after Elizabeth declares she knows how distasteful they both find it. What is a love struck Darcy to do? Things I Liked: * All the villains get what is coming to them in creative ways. * Although there is some drama involved, the first 75% is charming. * Anne gets her happily ever after (as do Jane, Bingley, and Colonel Fitzwilliam). * Mr Collins shows some spine to Lady Catherine in this one and it's great! Things I Didn't Like: * The last 25% goes off into a strange reality that has El...

Title and Author: Quitting the Sphere  by Jann Rowland Type: Pride and Prejudice Variation Perspective: Darcy and Elizabeth Romance Level: Austen-esque Recommended: yes, 3 stars (the first in the series was best) Access: Free for Kindle Unlimited Summary: Following the events in the book Upstart Pretensions (third in the No Cause to Repine tetralogy), Elizabeth is not kidnapped but merely startled by Wickham and Wickham acts again, causing his own downfall. Mr and Mrs Bennett decide to send Lydia and Kitty away to school for polishing and reform. Elizabeth and Darcy finally decide to be married at Rosings by Mr. Collins especially after he helps resolve a tricky situation. Lady Catherine and other family help Elizabeth have a successful entry into the London scene at the end of the book.    Pros: * Wickham gets what is coming to him with relatively little damage to anyone else.  * Lady Catherine and Mrs. Bennett have become friends. It feels unlikely, but it is a fun...

Title and Author: Upstart Pretensions by Jann Rowland Type: Pride and Prejudice Variation Perspective: Darcy and Elizabeth Romance Level: Austen-esque Recommended: yes, 2 stars (the first in the series was best) Access: Free for Kindle Unlimited Summary: Following the events in the book Scandalous Falsehoods (second in the No Cause to Repine tetralogy), Elizabeth leaves home because of the rumors in Meryton, joining a supportive Lady Catherine and Anne de Bough. Darcy, of course, follows, staying with the Mr. Collins. After Elizabeth settles in, the couple finally becomes engaged. But when his uncle is still unsupportive, Darcy is forced to truly make things official, traveling to Hertfordshire to speak with Elizabeth's father. There he discovers the source of the rumors. Pros: * The friendship between Anne and Elizabeth is delightful. * It is fun to have Lady Catherine in Elizabeth's corner. * It is nice to see a less ridiculous Mr Collins. Cons: * This is slow and the plot i...