Mr Bennet's Dutiful Daughter in Austen Variations

Nov 05, 2016 Sheila Majczan rated it it was amazing

I have read and loved all of Joana's books (5 stars from me) but this one is, in my opinion, the best of the lot.

I listened to this story on Audible while on my daily walks during August & September 2018. Loved it all over again.

As the book description tells we begins with Elizabeth in Kent and walking with the Colonel while he is just beginning to relate to her how Darcy “takes prodigious care of his friends” when the man himself rides up, dismounts and sends his cousin back to Rosings to prepa I have read and loved all of Joana's books (5 stars from me) but this one is, in my opinion, the best of the lot.

I listened to this story on Audible while on my daily walks during August & September 2018. Loved it all over again.

As the book description tells we begins with Elizabeth in Kent and walking with the Colonel while he is just beginning to relate to her how Darcy “takes prodigious care of his friends” when the man himself rides up, dismounts and sends his cousin back to Rosings to prepare to leave. Then, alone with Elizabeth Darcy tells her that Rosings received news from Longbourn of Mr. Bennet having an attack, thought to be apoplexy, and that he is in a bad way. How the news was received is an oddity and rather shameful but reading on…Darcy then proposes and it is not at this point “The Hunsford Proposal”. In doing so he states outright that if they marry as soon as possible he will be in a position to not only intervene with Collins’ manner of taking over the Longbourn estate if the worse happens but he can also make sure she is in a position of security. Furthermore, he and the Colonel will accompany her home in his coach so she may arrive home in the fastest mode possible.

Elizabeth in her distress, does not give him an immediate answer but during the journey home the Colonel at one point takes to his horse and Darcy again takes up the offer. So here we read, as you surmised I am sure, of Elizabeth knowing that there is no other way to provide for her own or her family’s future. But she is also thinking of the Jane and Bingley matter and how he treated Wickham. She does not bring those into the conversation. Elizabeth does inform him that she was NOT expecting his addresses. And then we hear of “the unequal match, reprehensible connections and rational objections” from his lips. He also tells of his admiration, etc. and, a boon, how he has sent ahead to have his London physician see to Mr. Bennet.

Elizabeth decides that she must (for her family/a sacrifice on her part) give up the idea of marrying for love…although he did say he loved her…and secure the needed remedy for the possibility that Mr. Bennet will not recover.

This story has so many emotions whirling around. In the early part of the story Darcy is so romantic, so attentive, even as he blunders in snubbing those dear to Elizabeth. She loves those kindnesses, unasked for but anticipated as needs on his part but she also has objections to his taking control and his coldness to those dear to her, especially the Gardiners. Even as he selects the day for the marriage he forges ahead and earns a reprimand from her. But Darcy has ignored or is in denial…that she was not expecting his proposal and as they grow closer he is totally wrapped up in enjoying the relationship. HOWEVER…it all comes around and stings him…complacency in not being open, in not sharing those matters hinted at and the bottom drops out BIG TIME. Elizabeth did not know the man she was accepting. Revelations may shatter any chance for happiness.

I don’t want to say anything further about just what does occur. However the author gives us a reaction I have never read of in any other story. I could not put the book down as I was truly aghast at Darcy’s stance and reading of no compromise, no discussion…no, I can’t go there. You must, dear fellow readers, you must read this story. I will be reading it again soon as I was speed reading to see how it all worked out but for a while I wasn’t absolutely sure how that ending was going to come about.

Charles Bingley was my hero - backbone made of steel when the stakes are down…really! Colonel Fitzwilliam was also again very insightful as to how things really stood. He brought some smiles. Mrs. Reynolds (with thoughts from Mr. Howard) has a post script of her observations in the epilogue, which tells of just a few additional events.

This book was a gift from a friend. ...more

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Nov 23, 2016 Anna added it

Shelves: austenesque

Joana Starnes’ latest novel, Mr. Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter, is a variation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice that takes readers on an emotional journey, imagining what might have happened had Mr. Darcy interrupted Elizabeth Bennet and Colonel Fitzwilliam’s stroll at Rosings Park before the colonel tells her about Mr. Darcy’s interference in her sister’s relationship with Mr. Bingley. In Starnes’ tale, Darcy brings Elizabeth news that her father has fallen ill, and he acknowledges that while h Joana Starnes’ latest novel, Mr. Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter, is a variation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice that takes readers on an emotional journey, imagining what might have happened had Mr. Darcy interrupted Elizabeth Bennet and Colonel Fitzwilliam’s stroll at Rosings Park before the colonel tells her about Mr. Darcy’s interference in her sister’s relationship with Mr. Bingley. In Starnes’ tale, Darcy brings Elizabeth news that her father has fallen ill, and he acknowledges that while his timing is bad, he loves her and wishes to marry her. Making this disclosure immediately is meant to bring a bit of calm to the chaos, with Mr. Collins seeking to swoop in and take over Longbourn before Mr. Bennet is even gone. Knowing that marrying Mr. Darcy will provide security for her mother and sisters in the event of Mr. Bennet’s death, Elizabeth agrees, taking some comfort in the fact that Mr. Darcy is indeed a much better man than she’d originally believed.

Elizabeth has a hard time coming to terms with the extent of Mr. Darcy’s feelings for her, but she doesn’t have the heart to tell him that she doesn’t return those feelings. Still, she approaches their marriage with courage and kindness, but eventually the reality of their situation — namely the differences in their backgrounds — can no longer be ignored. Her family’s impropriety and connections in trade and his family’s outrage over the rushed and ill-suited match put a damper on their relationship, and misunderstandings conspire to separate them for good, just when Elizabeth believes they have found real happiness.

Mr. Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter is a beautifully written novel, with just the right amount of angst to move me to the brink of tears without making me put the book down in despair. Starnes has a knack for putting Elizabeth and Darcy in impossible situations, delving deep into their souls, and keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they wonder how a happily ever after will be achieved. I loved the pacing of the novel, and Starnes does a wonderful job evolving their relationship through many ups and downs as they navigate the challenges posed by their families and themselves.

I’ve loved all of the novels by Starnes I’ve read so far (The Subsequent Proposal, The Unthinkable Triangle, and Miss Darcy’s Companion — all 5-star reads!), and her stories and her writing get better with each book. Starnes has easily become one of my favorite authors, and I can’t wait to see what torturous situation she puts Darcy and Elizabeth into next!

Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric

I received a free copy of this book for review. ...more

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Nov 07, 2016 Anji rated it it was amazing

Shelves: austenesque-regency, austenesque-pride-and-prejudice, e-book, z-2016-austenesque-challenge, z-2017-austenesque-challenge

Wow....just....wow!!! Some people will know that I've already used that phrase in connection with this book. That hasn't changed in the slightest. I've read all of Joana Starnes' works and have loved them all. My previous favourite was The Falmouth Connection (the garden scene...sigh!) but I think it's now been superceded by this one.

Setting the scene: the variation starts as Elizabeth is walking in the grounds of Rosings Park and meets Colonel Fitzwilliam. He's just about to divulge the fact t Wow....just....wow!!! Some people will know that I've already used that phrase in connection with this book. That hasn't changed in the slightest. I've read all of Joana Starnes' works and have loved them all. My previous favourite was The Falmouth Connection (the garden scene...sigh!) but I think it's now been superceded by this one.

Setting the scene: the variation starts as Elizabeth is walking in the grounds of Rosings Park and meets Colonel Fitzwilliam. He's just about to divulge the fact that Darcy interfered in Bingley's fledgling relationship with Jane, when Darcy comes galloping up on horseback. Back at Longbourn, Mr. Bennet is seriously, possibly fatally ill and she has to return home immediately. As the Colonel disappears to make travel arrangements, Darcy makes the proposal he was planning for later that day. He knows that the Bennet family will be "out in the hedgerows" should Mr. Bennet die and that would also delay any possible wedding. Elizabeth accepts without having to think about it too much. Darcy doesn't make the Hunsford proposal we know so well, so he doesn't get the refusal that drives him to write the letter that starts to improve Elizabeth's opinion of him. She still thinks well of Wickham! So how do these two totally different people, who hardly know each other, get on as a married couple and reach their HEA?

From here on in we're taken on quite the roller coaster ride by Ms. Starnes. Without that crucial happening at Hunsford from canon, both of them still have to grow (a lot) to become the people they need to be. Darcy in particular, although he's deeply in love, can be really quite unpleasant at times, especially regarding Elizabeth's family and connections. Obviously she doesn't take it well. He's also unaware at this time quite how unequal their respective affections are. How he finds out is just one downhill rush of the aforesaid roller coaster. There are interesting confrontations between various parties during the course of this tale. One in particular had me cheering for an unexpected show of backbone by......ah, but that would be telling. Spoilers!

I won't say any more as I really don't want to give away any details of this wonderful variation. There are some intense romantic scenes and we do go into Darcy and Elizabeth's bedroom but it's told with exquisite taste there's nothing terribly explicit. It's a high angst story admittedly but I loved it from start to finish and the epilogue is a total joy. ...more

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Oct 31, 2018 Dung rated it it was amazing

Shelves: austen-inspried, books-owned-kindle-ibook

Joana Starnes does it again! What an angst filled story that just pulls you in. You can feel the emotions coming off the pages from gut wrenching moments to moments that make you sigh.

The other reviews do a great job summarizing the story. I highly recommend it to any JAFF lovers.

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Nov 11, 2016 Barb rated it it was amazing

Shelves: austen-fan-fiction-read, books-i-own-e-book

What I enjoyed most about this story was how the author allows you into the emotions of both Darcy and Elizabeth. You feel every bit of the angst in the story. You experience Elizabeth's changing feeling for Darcy every teeny tiny step of the way. It does not come as a surprise when she says "I love you" for the first time. And, there is definitely enough foreshadowing to allow you to know that when things blow up between them, that it is going to be really big. Elizabeth is uneasy all along abo ...more

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Feb 07, 2017 Nicole Clarkston rated it it was amazing

Gorgeous! It took me far too long to read this one, but what a tantalizing, heartbreaking, sigh-inducing treat. Mr Bingley. MR BINGLEY!!! That was AWESOME. Home run, Joana!

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Nov 20, 2016 Nicole Barton Sasser rated it really liked it

Shelves: p-and-p, kindle, jaff, 2016-austenesque-lovers-challenge

Status: Read November 19-20, 2016

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Library Notes:

Mr Bennet's Dutiful Daughter
by Joana Starnes
Kindle Edition, First Edition, 342 pages
Published November 3, 2016
ASIN: B01MXFVZZ5

When Colonel Fitzwilliam’s disclosures are interrupted by the bearer of distressing news from Longbourn, Miss Elizabeth Bennet is compelled to accept an offer she would have otherwise dismissed out of hand. An offer of marriage from the all-too-proud Mr Darcy.

Yet how is she to live with a husband she hardly kno ...more

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Mar 17, 2017 Laura rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, historical, austen, jaff-trope-marriage-before-love, regency

Very enjoyable, great characterisation while neither character is portrayed as faultless or perfect. Lovely build up of the romance and great version of the Lizzy-marries-Darcy-before-she-really-knows-him trope.

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Mar 18, 2019 Michelle David rated it liked it

Lovely

An interesting variation of Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice. Veers drastically from usual storyline and there are obstacles to overcome but it was good

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Apr 12, 2022 Katie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-romance, audiobooks

My first time listening to an audiobook narrated by Stevie Zimmerman, and now I know why she's so beloved in the genre. What an incomparable talent! The distinct voices of each character were a delight. The story had angst aplenty, but oh, what a beautiful love story. ...more

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Dec 18, 2018 M rated it really liked it

Shelves: audible-reads

Well written & engaging. The characters felt accurate. I enjoyed the insight into Mrs Bennet & her thoughts in her marriage. I also liked the more protective Bingley.

It was a little more angsty towards the end than I would have liked, but that is a matter of personal taste.

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