Colonel Fitzwilliam Takes Charge: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

by Shana Granderson

In this the 8th book in the Take Charge Series , it is the much loved character of Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam who takes charge. Along with the characters we love (some we love to hate) there are a few who I have introduced in previous books of mine. This is a full length novel of +/- 110,000 words.

We know Richard as a decisive military leader, but what style will he use when he points others in the direction he needs to?

Richard is severely injured in a battle during the Napoleonic Wars on the Peninsula which effectively ends his military career. Hence he is in London when Darcy is invited to join Bingley in Hertfordshire at his leased estate, Netherfield Park. He is familiar with several of the Bennets having met them 4 years previously in London.

How will he tolerate Miss Bingley? Will he be at the assembly when his cousin utters the infamous slight of our dear Lizzy? Will he be attracted to one of the Bennet sisters, and if so to which one?

How will, if they do at all, Lady Catherine, Wickham, and Collins play into the tale? Will Kitty and Lydia be their silly canon selves, and if so, how will the Colonel influence them?

I invite you to join me while Richard has his chance to take charge in his own distinctive way.

Genres: Fan Fiction, Romance, Regency

377 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 14, 2023

About the author

I have three children and after a disastrous first marriage I found my soul mate who I thought that was lost to me over 25 years ago. I recently married the love of my life. I live with my soul mate in Australasia and have three pets, two cats, Darcy and Bingley and a golden lab, Honey.

Like many high school students, Pride and Prejudice was assigned to me in an English literature class. It was not my favourite book, but I read it as I had to. I forgot about the book until in my 30’s when I saw and fell in love with the 1995 Pride and Prejudice version made for TV in England, and purchased a copy of the DVD that is now much played.

The tipping point was the 2005 big screen adaption of P&P. Not long after seeing it I found and read the complete works of Jane Austen on Amazon, starting with Pride and Prejudice. The latter book is by far my favourite. After I read it three of four times over, I wistfully said to myself: ‘it is a great pity that Miss Austen never wrote a sequel to her seminal novel.' One day I was searching Kindle books and for the fun of it I entered “Pride and Prejudice Sequel’ into the search not expecting any results.

The rest is history. I discovered the JAFF community and books. I became a veracious reader of JAFF books and once I had devoured all of the sequels and continuations that I could find, I read my first variation. I had been resisting variations wrongly thinking that I would not enjoy them as much as the sequels. Boy, was I ever wrong! Today I am the proud owner of well over 1,000 JAFF novels that I have purchased on Amazon. 'A Change of Fortunes' is my first book that I wrote. There are a number of others on the way.

Reviews

[J. W. Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You just can’t let life happen to you; you have to make life happen.” –Idowu Koyenikan, Wealth for All: Living a Life of Success at the Edge of Your Ability

SPOILER ALERT: This review may contain *** SPOILERS ***

>>Rating: Mature: seriously: death, destruction, murder, attempted murder… you know, the usual.
>>Angst Level: a bit stressful
>>Source: I borrowed this from KU on 10-14-23 and volunteered to leave a review of my thoughts and opinions. The errors are my own and not written by artificial means.

You’ve heard the old expression ‘It takes a village.’ Usually, that pertains to raising children. However, in this story, it takes Colonel Fitzwilliam to rescue various characters from their own worst self. Fitzwilliam Darcy cannot seem to enter social situations without sticking his number 15 Hessian into his mouth. Caroline Bingley cannot see where she is walking due to her nose being stuck up in the air. Charles Bingley is on a crash course with himself due to his inability to control his sister and her overspending. Mr. Bennet is his own, as well as his family’s, worst enemy and avoids everyone and everything while he hides out with his books and port. Mrs. Bennet is a screeching banshee trying to get her daughters married at all costs and to any male that dares walk within her proximity. And finally, Miss Lydia Bennet is determined to ruin herself and all her family with her childish and wanton behavior. What’s a Colonel to do? Why, take charge, of course.

Take Charge Series: can be read in any order.

Book 1: Charlotte Lucas Takes Charge
Book 2: Lady Catherine Takes Charge
Book 3: Miss Darcy Takes Charge
Book 4: Mr. Bingley Takes Charge
Book 5: Anne de Bourgh Takes Charge
Book 6: Jane Bennet Takes Charge
Book 7: Mary Bennet Takes Charge
Book 8: Colonel Fitzwilliam Takes Charge

[James S · Rating 4 out of 5]

unofficial head of his family generation

Except for a couple plot points which didn’t feel correct, this is a lovely story of the impact Colonel Fitzwilliam has on the Fitzwilliam family. The Darcy family and the Bennet family. For the most part I enjoyed the story a lot.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this Pride and Prejudice variation Colonel Fitzwilliam decides to take charge because of the behaviour of various people including the Bennets. How will this affect all their futures.
A delightful and entertaining well-written story with its cast of likeable and varied characters, and I loved all the pairings. Another re-read due to the lack of Colonel and Mary stories.

[Tlotem · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5*

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bland

Another dull installment in the “Takes Charge” series. I should have learned from reading earlier works but thought I’d give this one a chance. Alas, it’s no better. This time it’s Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam who gets to play the paragon who takes his clueless, bumbling boor of a cousin Darcy to task for his intolerable behavior. I like Richard but not at the expense of Darcy’s character. No, not my cup of tea.

These are small things but the insistence on using shortened Nicknames—Anna, Rich, Andy, etc—got on my nerves really quickly, as well as the overuse of ‘mayhap.’ Could have overlooked this though if the story were not so boring and the characters so predictable.

[Lisa E · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unrealistic

Richard is a busy body with the entire world on his shoulders. Is he playing God? If he was unhappy with whom Darcy hired, why did he not then investigate the references? As co-guardian, I would think he had the right to do so. Instead, in a Bennet-like move, he decides to wait and see what happens. Why take the chance of something happening to his ward? Ridiculous.

How did he know a) what kind of entail the Bennets were living under, b) how to break an entail? He was a soldier, not a solicitor.

And why would Richard think to tell Bingley Caroline should be made to pay for all the destruction before hearing what Bingley intended to do? That's just butting into someone else's business. I can see thinking that is what should happen but deciding to say something before you know how the other person will handle it is just annoying.

The romances are all forced. The entire book is. Maybe like a fairy tale, everything works out just right as if by magic. Not my favorite writing.

[Carol Perrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colonel Fitzwilliam Takes Charge: (Take Charge Series)

Final book of the series, and what a book it was. The colonel couldn’t white wash anything if he tried. His truths rang out straight from his mouth, and be damned if you were the recipient of those heated words. It didn’t matter who or what you were. If it as needed, you got it. William, both Bennet parents, and then there was Lydia. She was left to rethink her decisions in life when he bluntly told her what she was in no flattering fashion. Both parents had to take a good look at themselves and what they had become. Talk about a turnaround for the future. William was brought to his senses before he could any deeper in a hole he himself dug and realized that he loved Lizzy. He remembered what his mother and father both said about his duty and it was not wealth and connections, but love and admiration required for his future life. He continued to set Caroline Bingley in her place as the lowest of the females present in the area until her last gaffe resulted in a one way trip to her aunt in Scarborough which in the long run was the remaking of her. He took Bingley aside and warned him Jane Bennet was already spoken for which causes Bingley to reflect on not the looks, but character of the person. This led him to see Charlotte for the gem that she was. When he discovers the nefarious plot of Wickham and Georgiana’s companion, Mrs. Younge, who hadn’t impressed the colonel from the beginning, William had to fess up to another screw up he caused from his attitude of “knowing best” in all things. Wickham is exposed, murder and attempted murder unwittingly revealed, tried, convicted, and hung for his effort to gain 60.000£ from Darcy before killing him. God is truly good when a plan comes together. ODCs all marry and begin their journeys to their HEA. The reconnection of the Bennet parents bring forth the very long awaited heir to Longbourn, but really was not longer needed since the husbands of the three eldest daughters of Longbourn dealt with his sorry backside when he invited himself to Longbourn to pick his future wife as if he deserved to be recognized at all by anyone in that shire. Sent away with a flea in his ear, entail broken, he was warned never to return to any property owned by the Bennets. What of Lady Catherine? Seriously displeased to be sure. Sent to one of the far flung corners of Rosigns when Anne takes over her inheritance which she signs over to Mary and Richard Fitzwilliam, she’s left with nothing but what is left of her dowry. After plotting to try to have Richard killed because he was set to inherit Rosigns on Anne’s death, she is disowned and forgotten about by her all family members. All’s well that ends well. All the family members marry, children by the multiples arrive to the deserving family, deaths do occur, but our loving couples continue on much to the outspoken determination of one colonel.

[Marina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the concept of the story well enough, but its execution leaves much to be desired. It's really weird: the text goes "X did this, Y did that, then Y did another thing" - like a blow-by-blow report on something. There is little enough of plot, and the storyline, such as it is is terrible bland. Colonel Fitzwilliam does, indeed, take charge, but the way he goes about it is awful - he really butts in in everyone's business and goes about it very rudely. Yes, yes, we've all wanted to give a piece of our minds to Caroline Bingley and Lydia Bennet and put them in their respective places. Still, the Colonel berates these women on several occasions and goes on and on about how they do not act as befits gentlewomen. Well, let me tell you, sir: your actions in this situation are not those of a gentleman either - a true gentleman would never treat a woman so, even when a sharp response is warranted.
Well, anyway, everyone's behavior is abominable, even that of the "good" guys. Wickham is even more evil than usual, Mr. Collins (that poor man! his only fault is that he is the heir! give him a break - he cannot help it!) is turned into a disgusting lump of human-shaped lard, Lydia (poor thing) is apparently a brain-dead nymphomaniac who has been lusting after officers since age 11 or so. The three eldest Miss Bennets are perfect from an early age.
So, this is a behemoth of a fanfiction, badly written and dull.
2 stars for trying.

[lori huff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining

This author is an automatic purchase for me. Our beloved Colonel Fitzwilliam is the star here, and his forthright and blunt words change the lives of many for the better. The Bennetts, the Bingleys, the Darcys, and some others all benefit from his interference. That's the joy of reading Shana Granderson's books, that the characters are much more forthright than in the usual Regency era fare, and the villains always get the most spectacular setdowns and comeuppances.


The book is very well written and well edited. I deducted a couple of stars for a couple of reasons. After having read many of Shana Granderson's creations, the stories are starting to be rather formulaic and predictable. The romances always follow a set pattern, with the same descriptors used to indicate which stage of development is attained. Another star was deducted for the almost cruel tactics used by the good Colonel to deal with the always annoying Caroline Bingley. I almost pitied her for the constant browbeating she was given. I was also uncomfortable with the constant reminders given to her of her roots in trade. Kind of hypocritical when the Colonel claimed to value character over social class and connections.

However, these books are always great fun to read. I recommend it highly for a satisfying and enjoyable way to pass some time.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Colonel Mary Sue Fitzwilliam

I think I like the concept of this series more than the execution. It’s an interesting idea that one character acting differently can significantly change the plot of P&P. Unfortunately, this entry in the series was just mediocre.

None of the characters have distinct personalities. Everyone is just pleasantly bland. Colonel Fitzwilliam is a textbook Mary Sue. He can do no wrong and has no flaws or quirks which would have made his character more interesting. He mostly fixes things by speaking bluntly to various characters. One discussion and everything is fixed! The other characters praise him endlessly for opening their eyes to their faults for the rest of the story. He talks with Mrs. Bennet and suddenly she transforms overnight into a perfectly behaved gentlewoman with no guidance from anyone. Lydia also has a miraculous transformation after a governess talks to her for two hours. It was all a little too pat for me.

The editing also needed a second look. There were some typos. Anne’s solicitor is referred to twice as Mr. Spencer and then twice as Mr. Specter. A good editor would have caught that.

It wasn’t dreadful, but other books in the series are better.

[Terri M · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this next book in the “Take Charge” series it’s Colonel Fitzwilliam’s turn to make life better for all our beloved characters. I think Shana Granderson did a really good job in considering the Colonel’s military background and how that might play out when he decides improvements are needed in someone’s character. Needless to say his style of intervention is very blunt and he takes no prisoners.

He has a lot of characters who definitely need a change of heart, most especially Darcy who has allowed the teachings of his parents to become mightily corrupted over the years until he has become nearly as haughty as Lady Catherine de Bourgh. The Colonel is very busy as he reshapes the lives of Darcy, Bingley, Caroline, Mary Bennet, Kitty, Lydia, Mr and Mrs Bennet and Mrs Younge. Phew! His efforts also are of benefit to those whose lives are affected by those he has helped to a better understanding.

I really enjoy these books and seeing how some timely interventions can make such a difference in the original story. I’m not sure how it would look, but I’d love to see both Darcy and Elizabeth take charge at some time in the future.

[AllAboutThoseBooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good Premise, Poor Execution

I honestly don't know how this author's beta readers could have allowed her to publish this. If is the most sterling sample of how boring a book can be when you talk the reader everything instead if letting if be evident in the action and dialogue.

The author tells the reader how a character feels and/or their motivations. so and so did such and such because they felt guilty or greedy or compassionate--you don't have to figure it out. She just tells you. In case we have the reading comprehension of a third reader.

There is also an astonishing amount of minutiae. If there's a weed on the path and the character notices it, we'll be told, although the mention serves no purpose at that time or later. If a conversation occurs and there is a reference to it later, we'll be told that both interlocutors have reached back into their memories to recall it. It is jaw dropping in its surety that the reader can't remember or infer anything.

I will not be buying this author's work again.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have really liked other stories in the Take Charge series, but this one fell a little flat.

Pros:
-Really liked the changes to the Bennet family and the way their futures played out, wish more P&P variances took this road
-Who everyone ends up with was very good, if unexpected

Cons:
-I hated Darcy until like 3/4 of the way through
-Darcy and Elizabeth didnt have enough interaction/conversations to justify going from zero to sixty in no time at all, especially given Darcys character for most the book
-Wickham and Collins were both annoying and could have even been left out with achieving the same story (almost)

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Colonel causes change

The Colonel, after being injured in battle, accompanies Darcy to Meryton. Previous to this, the Colonel's brother had begun courting Jane unbeknownst to Darcy.

The Colonel repeatedly points out to Darcy his arrogant and prideful behavior. He and his brother make a breakthrough but it us after the Meryton assembly. He calls Bingley's attention to how he is enabling his sister's behavior. He points out to Mrs. Bennet the problems with her youngest daughter's. He forces Mr. Bennet to see what us happening around him. All these combine into an interesting storyline that builds on itself to a happy ending.

There is some angst but not much. Wickham and Miss Bingley are taken care of quickly. A very good read.

[Allison Ripley-Duggan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!

This is book 8 in the ‘Take-Charge’ series. I have now read all 8 books and have enjoyed the twist this author takes in Austen’s P&P storyline. I have loved every book in this series. Personally I found this one slower to get going, but then, fabulous as usual. Thank you

Take Charge Series: [can be read in any order] Book 1: Charlotte Lucas Takes Charge Book 2: Lady Catherine Takes Charge Book 3: Miss Darcy Takes Charge Book 4: Mr. Bingley Takes Charge Book 5: Anne de Bourgh Takes Charge Book 6: Jane Bennet Takes Charge Book 7: Mary Bennet Takes Charge Book 8: Colonel Fitzwilliam Takes Charge

[Sharla · Rating 2 out of 5]

okay but …

The writing was decent and I enjoyed some of the unique angles. But ultimately it was predictable, and characters were very one dimensional. Also there was hardly any time devoted to Darcy and Elizabeth’s love story. After the other two main couples got to their engagements it’s like D&E were a rushed after thought. Nothing Darcy did made me think Elizabeth would actually grow to care for him. He was made to be very unlikeable over and over just to make us hear how sensible his Fitzwilliam cousins were by comparison. Anyways. It certainly wasn’t one I would recommend but there’s a lot worse out there.

[Mariska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond Delightful!!

A truly compelling and complex story that is never boring. I absolutely love the harsh truths that the Colonel is unafraid to speak to each and every person who needs it. A romantic and realistic man who does not shy away from taking charge. Where can I find a real life man like him?

[Marci · Rating 2 out of 5]

started strong then fell down the rabbit hole

This story started off strong and I thought I would enjoy but then it spiraled downward with all due speed. The language went downhill. The repeated use of mayhap became annoying. The writer should have used a beta reader and an editor. Everything became over the top with the characters. Not a good read. Skip it.

[Wendy Wasiunec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmm

What I liked was that Colonel Fitzwilliam got his own story in the Take Charge series. What I didn't like was that Darcy was portrayed as such a such a spoiled man, and ODC was pretty much the last to have their HEA. It didn't feel like our dear couple was connected as much as they should of been.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will hear the truth from me.

I had not commented on a story in a while but this one I had to! I love the stories that are written about the colonel. In this story he is one of a kind. He is admired, hated, funny, confident, he is unpretentious which makes him such a better man! If you like this man, read this book, you will not be disappointed.

[Jean Stillman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, because I liked the Colonel. However, I did not love the book. My reason for my average review is that parts of the book just seemed to drag on and on, for me. I literally became bored with the book. I haven't felt that way with other books by this author. I was disappointed.

[diane cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a reader not a writer.

I enjoyed this book very much. This was the best so far of the group. This was so different from the other I readed. I couldn't stop reading it and finished it in two days. I hope there will be more of this group. Thank you d.Cooper

[Ss8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard is my third favorite character behind ODC . I enjoyed his involvement so prominently. This book is about being in their world and a pleasant read with low angst. Perhaps this author would write an intriguing mystery for the p and p characters…

[Bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still interesting but didn’t land quite the same way for me as some of the others in the series. It is interesting though to see outcomes repeat, but with a very different journey of how it got there.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love this series, every single book is awesome. Thoroughly recommend the take charge series to everyone. I hope there are more to come!

[Mel Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colonel takes charge

I have loved every book in this series. Personally I found this one slower to get going... but then...fabulous as usual
Thank you

[PJ Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Retelling

This is the third take charge novel I've read and I have enjoyed them all. Truly amazing was of taking Pride and Prejudice and putting other spins.

[Yas · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded to 3
Quite dull.

[Linda K Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hear, hear

Hear, hear to a toast honoring Richard for taking charge. Very good!
Love, angst, tears, laughter and our hea.
Really enjoyed this story.

[Michelle David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely

Another absolutely delightful and rather amusing variation inspired by Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Shana Granderson. I enjoyed it