The Rogue's Widow in Austen Variations

Mar 06, 2020 wosedwew rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2023, book-reviews, 2021, 2025, owned-books, 2020

There is a very old story about a mule-driver training a new addition to his team. His first action is to get a tree branch and hit the mule right between the eyes. An observer is appalled at the cruelty and questions the mule-driver. The answer: “first you have to get the mule’s attention."

I cannot agree with this method of mule training.

But I wonder if Nicole Clarkston might.

In the opening chapter of this book, the author hit me between the eyes and kept my attention to the end of the story.

I ...more

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Mar 06, 2020 Sheila Majczan rated it it was amazing

I have loved all this author's stories. She is right up there in my favorite authors list. She provides angst in most, which I devour! This story has such. I received an ARC of this book with no strings attached.

We are immediately drawn in and this event is in the opening: marry a man condemned so as to change what is left in the wake of his death. (One of my favorite stories Shanna is based on this type of manipulation.) Sometimes it is for the man's "benefit" and sometimes it is his widow who I have loved all this author's stories. She is right up there in my favorite authors list. She provides angst in most, which I devour! This story has such. I received an ARC of this book with no strings attached.

We are immediately drawn in and this event is in the opening: marry a man condemned so as to change what is left in the wake of his death. (One of my favorite stories Shanna is based on this type of manipulation.) Sometimes it is for the man's "benefit" and sometimes it is his widow who wants to change her life's circumstances. As the title tells you...yes, Elizabeth becomes a widow. But, oh, the horror for us, the readers, she is now "Mrs. Wickham". Did not you know George has a brother? The only one Bernard Wickham hates more than Fitzwilliam Darcy is his brother, George, or so Darcy says.

The author's blurb and the other reviews give the prospective readers excellent summaries of this tale. This Darcy is very much a man in charge and he has it all planned out: not just this first event but then also what will happen next. Too bad people and his own senses do not quite cooperate.

Elizabeth's family is in dire circumstances following the death of Mr. Bennet: very close to the hedgerow that Mrs. Bennet bewailed. Jane has already taken a position and Elizabeth is interviewing for one. You will laugh as Darcy ramrods his plan and dictates to ODG. She is barely able to make him pause and explain what? who? why? as he stages the wedding. Yes, she will be a companion for his sister but this first.

And as the Bennet females find a home, together, neighbors and acquaintances crop up to disrupt Darcy's well laid plans. As he maps out Elizabeth's and his friend's future he discounts how charming he finds the lady. Can he ignore the electricity between them? Can he really expect Elizabeth just to take his word for it about that other brother? And then there are Georgiana's reactions upon Wickham being mentioned in her presence.

This is a story I will reread. I highly recommend it to all JAFF lovers. ...more

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Mar 23, 2020 Dung rated it really liked it

Shelves: austen-inspried

4.5⭐️ What a unique premise and wonderful story written from one of my favorite JAFF authors.

I love the last few paragraphs of the story. Definitely swoon worthy and a bit hot and heavy. (Clean- no mature content)

Would have love a bit more background and history of the Wickham brothers growing up and their resentment of each other and also the situation with Anne DeBough and Colonel Fitzwilliam/Darcy situation.

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Mar 09, 2020 Dawn rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-austen

This was a very new and interesting variation that was fun to explore. Elizabeth, in reduced circumstances due to her father's death, accepts an employment offer to be Miss Darcy's companion.
She finds out right away that there is a little caveat she did not anticipate and that was that she marry a man who is in prison and also near death to prevent the disreputable brother from inheriting the family estate. Pride and Prejudice fans will have no trouble figuring out who this dastardly villain t ...more

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Mar 27, 2020 Michelle David rated it really liked it

Absolutely lovely

Another wonderful variation inspired by Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice by Nicole Clarkston. I thoroughly enjoyed it as always. ...more

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Feb 06, 2023 Craftyhj rated it really liked it

Shelves: maybe, zz2023jaff

3.75*

An interesting plot, generally well presented. some suspension of belief is needed to assume Elizabeth would agree to the initial premise but, it is fiction so why not?

The plot moves on at a steady pace and is well done although Darcy is rather perverse at times.

There are a few errors in choice of language but these do not impact on the reading enjoyment.

The new cover is disappointing - a definite step backwards from the original cover. It makes no sense to put an auburn haired woman on the ...more

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