Mr. Darcy's Undoing: A Pride and Prejudice Variation in Austen Variations

May 04, 2015 Sheila Majczan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Having read all the other reviews I read such different opinions. But we are all entitled to our own. I purchased and read this book as Without Reserve. I love all of Abigail Reynolds's books and I think this one may be one of my favorites, if not number 1. I have read it many times in part or in whole. I can take or leave sex scenes but am not offended by such nor do I read Abigail's as porn. I have posted several other reviews in which I do describe the stories as smut or porn, but Abigail bui Having read all the other reviews I read such different opinions. But we are all entitled to our own. I purchased and read this book as Without Reserve. I love all of Abigail Reynolds's books and I think this one may be one of my favorites, if not number 1. I have read it many times in part or in whole. I can take or leave sex scenes but am not offended by such nor do I read Abigail's as porn. I have posted several other reviews in which I do describe the stories as smut or porn, but Abigail builds the sexual tension and the relationship between two people with the bedroom scenes as natural results of such. I LOVE the angst, the anxiety, the confusion, etc. described and built upon in this tale. My reasoning for finding the bedroom scenes, etc. as a natural progression come from the thoughts in Darcy's head, "He determined that his best strategy lay in wearing down her resistance, and realized one of his strongest weapons lay in the pleasure he could give her by touching her...He could not change her mind, but perhaps with enough time and enough familiarity with him, she would change it for herself...Having determined there was no reason to deny himself, especially since he had every intention of marrying her, he seized every opportunity to steal kisses from her, and when this was not possible, at least to find a way to unobtrusively touch the back of her hand." The conversations and their journey to accepting where they are and how they feel about each other portray two very independent and passionate people, which is what Jane Austen gave us and Abigail builds on in modern times.

Darcy, in going back to Meryton to once again court Elizabeth and finding her engaged decides to stay b/c of social conventions (He can't just run off after only being there for a day or two) and also to assess the relationship between Elizabeth and James Covington; are they in love? He detected no such feelings on display. The scenes with the tigers and unicorns, the poetry, are so romantic! And then apologizing - what for? He then kisses her!!!! And that kiss stirs the embers in Elizabeth's heart. Now she knows what chemistry can mean. I loved the scene after the wedding rehearsal for Jane's wedding during which Darcy discovers Elizabeth is not "Mrs. Covington". Oh how my heart warmed.

It is so endearing to read their discourse. First one, then the other explaining why they can't feel guilty or why they must or must not marry, etc. kept me turning pages every time I read this book. I really appreciate Ms. Reynolds' ability in this department. She develops the thoughts in depth and takes us on such a love trip. Thank you. ...more

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Mar 24, 2015 Sheila Majczan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I bought this in paperback but that format is not showing up.

Having read all the other reviews I read such different opinions. But we are all entitled to our own. I purchased and read this book as Without Reserve. I love all of Abigail Reynolds's books and I think this one may be one of my favorites, if not number 1. I have read it many times in part or in whole. I can take or leave sex scenes but am not offended by such nor do I read Abigail's as porn. I have posted several other reviews in whi I bought this in paperback but that format is not showing up.

Having read all the other reviews I read such different opinions. But we are all entitled to our own. I purchased and read this book as Without Reserve. I love all of Abigail Reynolds's books and I think this one may be one of my favorites, if not number 1. I have read it many times in part or in whole. I can take or leave sex scenes but am not offended by such nor do I read Abigail's as porn. I have posted several other reviews in which I do describe the stories as smut or porn, but Abigail builds the sexual tension and the relationship between two people with the bedroom scenes as natural results of such. I LOVE the angst, the anxiety, the confusion, etc. described and built upon in this tale. My reasoning for finding the bedroom scenes, etc. as a natural progression come from the thoughts in Darcy's head, "He determined that his best strategy lay in wearing down her resistance, and realized one of his strongest weapons lay in the pleasure he could give her by touching her...He could not change her mind, but perhaps with enough time and enough familiarity with him, she would change it for herself...Having determined there was no reason to deny himself, especially since he had every intention of marrying her, he seized every opportunity to steal kisses from her, and when this was not possible, at least to find a way to unobtrusively touch the back of her hand." The conversations and their journey to accepting where they are and how they feel about each other portray two very independent and passionate people, which is what Jane Austen gave us and Abigail builds on in modern times.

Darcy, in going back to Meryton to once again court Elizabeth and finding her engaged decides to stay b/c of social conventions (He can't just run off after only being there for a day or two) and also to assess the relationship between Elizabeth and James Covington; are they in love? He detected no such feelings on display. The scenes with the tigers and unicorns, the poetry, are so romantic! And then apologizing - what for? He then kisses her!!!! And that kiss stirs the embers in Elizabeth's heart. Now she knows what chemistry can mean. I loved the scene after the wedding rehearsal for Jane's wedding during which Darcy discovers Elizabeth is not "Mrs. Covington". Oh how my heart warmed.

It is so endearing to read their discourse. First one, then the other explaining why they can't feel guilty or why they must or must not marry, etc. kept me turning pages every time I read this book. I really appreciate Ms. Reynolds' ability in this department. She develops the thoughts in depth and takes us on such a love trip. Thank you. ...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Anna added it

Shelves: austenesque

Review originally posted on Diary of an Eccentric

Mr. Darcy’s Undoing (previously published as Without Reserve) is another retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in which Abigail Reynolds asks readers to imagine “what if?” — in this case, what if Mr. Darcy had a rival for Elizabeth Bennet’s affections? Reynolds opens the novel after Darcy’s disastrous proposal at Kent. By the time Darcy convinces Bingley to return to Netherfield and rekindle his romance with Elizabeth’s sister, Jane, Eliz Review originally posted on Diary of an Eccentric

Mr. Darcy’s Undoing (previously published as Without Reserve) is another retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in which Abigail Reynolds asks readers to imagine “what if?” — in this case, what if Mr. Darcy had a rival for Elizabeth Bennet’s affections? Reynolds opens the novel after Darcy’s disastrous proposal at Kent. By the time Darcy convinces Bingley to return to Netherfield and rekindle his romance with Elizabeth’s sister, Jane, Elizabeth has already accepted a marriage proposal from James Covington.

Darcy had followed Bingley in the hopes of winning Elizabeth’s love, and he is shocked and dismayed upon learning of her engagement. That doesn’t stop him from hanging around, though he tells himself that if he knows for sure that Elizabeth is in love with Covington, then he must let her go. Meanwhile, Elizabeth feels an attraction to Darcy and must force herself to consider all the reasons why her marriage to Covington makes sense for her and her family. Besides, there’s nothing she can do about the situation now — not without ruining her reputation and her family’s standing in the community, especially considering the damage already caused by Lydia after she runs away with Wickham.

In Mr. Darcy’s Undoing, Reynolds gives readers what they have come to expect from her Pride and Prejudice variations — different twists and turns as Elizabeth and Darcy navigate the same misunderstandings and plenty of heat as they skirt the bounds of propriety and often cross the line as they find they cannot keep their hands off each other. Although Reynolds briefly brings in the wit and playfulness of Mr. Bennet, most of Austen’s secondary characters sit on the sidelines in Mr. Darcy’s Undoing. Elizabeth and Darcy, their bantering, and their serious discussions about their relationship are the focus of the novel, and while I missed the tension typically supplied by Wickham, Caroline Bingley, and Lady Catherine, I enjoyed Reynolds’ take on a scandalized Elizabeth and a more emotional and seductive Darcy. There also was some amusement to be had with Darcy’s jealousy and pain, as he goes so far as to chaperone Elizabeth and her betrothed.

I am always amazed at how many ways Reynolds can re-tell the same story. She manages to keep the story fresh, throwing new obstacles in Elizabeth and Darcy’s path to happiness and making it so that readers almost wonder whether the two will live happily ever after. While Mr. Darcy’s Undoing isn’t my favorite of Reynolds’ variations, it was a page-turner that I would recommend to readers who want a spicier Pride and Prejudice retelling. ...more

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Sep 10, 2014 Staciel rated it liked it

Shelves: jane-austen-inspired

With many Jane Austen variations a reader must ask themselves: How much passion and/or sex am I willing to believe that Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy engage in prior to wedded bliss.

In the case of this book, you would want to be able to 'buy' into the fact that they would be willing to round the bases, so to speak..

As I have said before, I am definitely not a prudish women, and do read many books that have as much or more 'passion' in them, and I don't blink and eye..

But, my question here would ...more

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