Rewinding Time: A Pride & Prejudice Variation is a novel in which Darcy and Elizabeth separately (and unbeknownst to each other) find themselves in possession of a potion that enables them to travel back one hour in time. The potion enables Darcy and Elizabeth to go back and change their mistakes, sometimes only to make new and different ones, and occasionally with farcical results. You will enjoy reading multiple variations of some of your favorite scenes from Pride & Prejudice, much more than Darcy or Elizabeth will enjoy experiencing them…
How many times have you wished for a way to turn back time and fix a mistake or take back something you shouldn't have said...?
Elizabeth helps save the life of an apothecary and Darcy at another time and place does as well. Their reward? A little vial of formula that miraculously turns back time for an hour.
While ODC get do-overs and through trial and error pave a way to their HEA, Wickham gets his hands on the last vial and there is no way that ends well.
There are many ways this could potentially get complicated- keeping track of all the take backs. Especially when several of the characters take back the same hour a number of times. However, the author lays everything out very clearly and in detail.
It is an interesting concept and one I am sure our beloved Darcy would have wished for following the original Hunsford crash and burn!
Trigger warning: at 2 points our main males characters think of the nefarious way this potion can be misused. One decides he will never, but the other (guess who) has no problem contemplating all the ways it can be used to exploit others, specifically women.
I received an advance copy from the author for my honest review.
Fate brings Darcy and Elizabeth both in possession of a potion. Unbeknownst to the other both are able to go back an hour in time to change the past by going through the situation anew and change their actions. After their first encounter at the Meryton Assembly both use it, changing Darcy's insult and Elizabeth's reception of it into a more promising beginning of their relationship. They encounter each other often, giving them the chance to know and understand each other better and, thanks to the potion, change some events that further their misunderstandings and dislike in the original story. Will Darcy and Elizabeth, with the help of the potion, be able to change their fate in a way that leads them together and to mutual happiness? Or will they nevertheless continue to misunderstand each other?
The story of the author Jeff Bigler is an enjoyable read and very well written.
I really like the thought that Elizabeth and Darcy, with the help of a potion, are able to go back in time and change their fate for the better. I like that their fate is now not defined by their impulsive behaviour/their lack of action but that they are able to think over it and act in a rational way and behave better. This leads to a better understanding between them and thus they are able to comprehend the other better and explain why they had done/said things the way they have done/said it. With this their encounters are more agreeable and they reach an understanding earlier. And with the help of the potion they are also able to prevent some dreadful events (as for that you definitely need to read for yourself).
The book is in some parts also rather witty. I like Mr Bennet's comments and Elizabeth's encounter with Lady Catherine led me to laugh out loud several times, even when the end of the first encounter was quite unexpected.
If you like a story where Darcy and Elizabeth are, with the help of a potion, able to correct their statements and behaviour and with this have a better understanding of each other, you should definitely read this book.
I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of the book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What a fabulous new variation. Rewinding time poses the question "What would you change if you could go back one hour?" As a result we get to see some of Pride and Prejudices most frustrating moments revisited.
If you had an extra hour would you use it for good or evil? This sweet and clean novel gives us both sides of the coin. Obviously our favourite couple both use their hours for positive outcomes - faults of understanding are dealt with and Lizzy and Darcy get to see each other with clear minds.
But there is also someone using their hours for more nefarious purposes. Will they receive their comeuppance? Time will, actually, tell!
Lizzy and Mr Darcy each, independently, find themselves the owner of a vial of Mr Connors Time potion. A sip can allow the imbiber to travel backwards 1 hour. Imagine Mr Darcy being able to undo the terrible proposal at Hunsford. Imagine Lizzy being able to speak her mind to Mr Collins or Lady Catherine!
How very different the journey to the altar could be!
And I also very much appreciated that the author addressed the possible moral pitfalls of using the time potion following a kiss before marriage.
At first I worried I would feel a little like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day and feel bored of repetition but every time I cringed inwardly at the original Austen events I was excited to travel back with ODC to see a different outcome.
There is a thrilling climax to this novel featuring the potential Lydia/Wickham elopement that had me on the edge of my seat.
I found myself satisfied with all outcomes except for one - I would have liked to have seen Caroline receive her set down following her behaviour.
A five star read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I’ve been wanting to read Rewinding Time since I met Jeff Bigler and the book was still a work in progress. The premise sounded very interesting, and I mentally added it to my never ending TBR. This book brings a fresh and innovative twist to Pride & Prejudice because in it both Darcy and Elizabeth find themselves in possession of a potion that allows them to travel back one hour in time. Due to this they are able to amend small mistakes they’ve made, mainly by changing the way they said certain things to other people, but it is not until the end of the book they use the potion to actually alter the story, so the book follows canon very closely.
Even though I’ve read a few books in which characters travelled back in time, I found this premise quite unique and was immediately engrossed in it, especially because the apothecary is a very likable character and his interactions with both Darcy and Elizabeth are very beguiling, namely during the situations that make him offer them the potions.
The writing style in Rewinding Time is very simple and direct, favoring a straightforward approach to storytelling, and for that reason it is very easy to read this book, even if at times I would rather infer what characters were thinking instead of being told all their thoughts concerning every situation. Leaving little room for interpretation or deeper engagement with the subtext made the characters feel a little bland at times, and even though this may be particularly valuable for readers who prefer a more guided reading experience, I would have preferred it otherwise.
Although I enjoyed the creativity of this story, I did have a quibble with the head-hopping as the book had perspectives and thoughts of many different characters being exposed, sometimes even within the same chapter. This disrupted the flow of the story and made it challenging for me to fully engage with the characters.
In summary, Rewinding Time is an innovative variation of Pride & Prejudice that offers a unique twist with its time-travel element. Jeff Bigler’s writing style is straightforward, easy to follow and make the book a quick read that I am sure many readers will appreciate. I value the work the author did in his debut novel and am looking forward to what he may bring to us in the future.
Groundhog Hour. An apothecary separately gives both Darcy and Elizabeth a potion, in gratitude for their help in unrelated situations. This allows them to go back in time for only an hour, for a second chance at handling a situation that could have gone better. Elizabeth is a very prickly character in this variation, at least in the beginning. Her use of the potion sometimes proves to be unhelpful.
The book itself is written in the style of a children's fairy tale, in very simplistic language (except for the Austen quotes). My main issue with this variation is the fact that the author uses many long passages lifted verbatim from Pride & Prejudice, even repeating entire passages on following pages. Many times, there is only a sentence or two of the author's own words in between quotes.
There's a shocking scene where Bingley breaks Darcy's jaw. That's so far out of character for Bingley that I almost gave up on the book. In another scene, a father promises a lashing to his young son who almost drowned. As if the terror of a near drowning weren't enough to teach him a lesson. This was casually presented as if beating the child were a natural consequence of an accident. I fully expected Darcy to react, but he said nothing.
Groundhog hour is a fun plot idea. The potion is even used as a way of dealing with Wickham. I enjoyed parts of it.
I loved this book. The premise is different than the 'Groundhog Day' scenario seen in most time shift books. The time shifts here are only one hour. Rather than occurring due to an unknown force, each time shift is triggered by an individual, who alone retains the memory from the original hour. In this background, we read much of the story of Pride and Prejudice, with some changes to canon. A great book. I look forward to reading more by this author.
I greatly enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author. I think it contains some of the best marital advice, as well, which I plan to use whenever possible. I’ll leave that advice to be discovered by the reader.
A lighthearted and imaginative tale in which Darcy and Elizabeth each, but separately, meet an elderly apothecary, Mr Connors, who has created a tonic that sends you back in time one hour. Because each of them has saved his life in some way, Mr Connors gifts them each with a bottle of the tonic. The usual P&P story ensues with the insult at the Meryton assembly, and so on. However, whenever awkward situations arise for one or both of them, they use the tonic in order to have a "do-over." Although ODC have no idea that the other also has the tonic, it helps smooth the way somewhat to a less acrimonious relationship.
The story is written in a somewhat tongue-in-cheek tone, and you must, of course, suspend belief in order to accept the notion of the tonic. Take this for what it is, and go with the flow, and it's amusing and original. The romance is lovely and less contentious. I deducted a star, and almost deducted two, because about one quarter of the book is taken verbatim from the original P&P. I love JAFF variations, and expect some usage of Jane Austen's wording or prose. However, when reading a new and original work, I much prefer the author create his own story. Using Austen's own words to this extent is, I believe, laziness. I started skimming in places where I already knew what was coming, and that's not a good thing.
The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it for a light and interesting variation with just enough drama to make it engaging.
I liked this book very much! I start by saying the blurb was among the most creative I have ever seen in JAFF universe. Being able to return in time?! Wooow! Who would not want that?! The potion proved incredibly useful to our dear heroes (to Mr. Darcy for his unforgettable mistake at the Meryton Assembly especially :))).). But it also proved to be really dangerous if it gets in evil hands... Mr. Darcy's and Elizabeth's journey to happiness was pretty long and with some obstacles, but in the end I got the HEA i was looking forward to! First thing liked very much about this book is that it included a little bit of magic. I love P&P Variations with little supernatural!! Second thing I loved is the epilogue! A great book with a wonderfully written and well thought epilogue is something you just cannot unlove! It practically is the cherry on top of the entire work, the entire effort put to write the book. Even though the main fact is that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth can go back in time, the story does not repeat itself in a way that makes you get bored or annoyed. I'd say this is one of the greatest achievements of the writer. I highly recommend this book for its pretty original blurb, for the well way it was written and for the beautifully built relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. I received a copy fron the author and am willing wirting this review!
The plot was well written, absorbing and had me as a reader sighing, shaking my head, and exclaiming throughout the plot. The relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth went much more smoothly with the “time displacing potion” which is the whole turning point of the story. An apothecary has made a magical or timeless potion which makes both protagonists able to erase their blunders and avoid their more serious mistakes. Though I will admit to thinking Jeff had made the Hunsford proposal ten time worse than anyone ever had, but afterwards the plot flew - and of course, the Wickham trouble nearly costs too much. The characters learn to treasure each other and all their personalities and their differences. The plot was enjoyable and interesting, - and I will definitely recommend this excellent book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
In this JAFF, a potion that allows both Elizabeth and Darcy (unbeknownst to each other) to travel back one hour in time allows them to do just that -- "do-over" social interactions that didn't go so well, and also, sometimes to allow them to speak their own minds in ways that they might not otherwise have done (knowing that they can just "re-do" that hour), sometimes with better-than-expected results. We can see them growing as individuals, and also as a couple. They have to wrestle with some interesting moral questions about the use of this potion, but ultimately they use it much more for good than for ill, unlike another character who also gets their hands on a bottle of this time-travelling potion...
3.5 raised to 4 stars Can rewinding time permit you to fix errors? Oh to have Darcy & Elizabeth fix their errors as they happen..... this story explores that possibility. It was fun to watch the replays (sometimes for several attempts) to get things right or at least better. There were some hysterical scenes that I would have loved to see what would have happened (maybe the author can do bonus scenes to share later just for the fun of it). Oh the Huntsford time was one to sit back & see it unfold. Wickham's part felt a little pushed but at least it all worked out in the end. Will I read it again, yep.
DNF. I stopped at 39%. The premise was interesting, but the story dragged. The MC also had really long inner monologues, sometimes by themselves, sometimes in the midst of a conversation. They constantly thought through the whole going back in time seeming to say exactly what they would change. Then the next chapter happened how they thought. Because they repeated events, there was a lot of repetition of dialogue. It was tedious and monotonous, and just so dang slow. Elizabeth and Darcy were bland characters.
I am absolutely in love with this book! The concept is truly brilliant, and it's execution is flawless. I especially love that instead of anyone reliving an entire day, only a single hour is granted with each use. The lessons learned, and various things done with every use of the potion are each unique and edifying to us readers. This is an easy 5 stars.
I've decided on 4 stars for this book as the idea is an intriguing one. After a while though i was tired of reading the thoughts of Darcy and Lizzy which tends to render the story more simplistic. I really enjoyed Caroline B's comeuppance and Wickham's result. However 4 stars is also to encourage Mr Bigler to continue writing and treating us to more original ideas.
This is one of the best Pride and Prejudice variations I have read. All of the characters act much as they do in the original, with the good and bad aspects of some characters slightly exaggerated but not by much.
There were a few points towards the end that seemed illogical-mostly, the absence of servants to aid Lizzy in a situation with one of her sisters.
I enjoyed the time traveling Darcy and Elizabeth's story. I am glad that they ended up together in the end and that the time travel was enjoyable. Great story. I enjoyed it.
Cute and funny, with a lot of heart! This is a sweet book that imagines what could happen if Darcy and Elizabeth had a magic potion that would let them go back in time one hour. Perfect for Groundhog Day, or any time you just need a fell-good boost!
This was an enjoyable read. There are a few awkward passages in the book that prevent a 5 star. Overall i enjoyed the premise and the actions by ODC though and would recommend this as a worthy read.
A fun read, with a bit of magic and some humor as ODC turn back time to correct errors made and fix things such as disparaging comments at the Assembly. I won't add spoilers. Read tlrhis book. It will make you smile, and even chuckle
I thoroughly enjoyed this take on the story, and the idea was beautifully developed, in my opinion. I would recommend it to anybody who enjoys magical takes of Miss Austen stories.
I got a kick out of Darcy and Elizabeth’s ability to correct their errors, but there were many more surprises along the way — especially at the end! Whew!
I’m looking forward to seeing more JAFF works from Mr. Bigler!
This story has a unique premise which allows Darcy and Elizabeth to go back in time to re-do certain scenes from the original, to correct some of the misunderstandings. The story was well written and I enjoyed reading it.
A fun read abounding with second and even third chances. Things get a bit wild when three people attempt to alter the same incident in time. Mr. Bigler, you should market that potion!
The author sets us up as to what the main premise will be. Both Darcy and Elizabeth (and Wickham) obtain a vial of potion allowing them to turn back time. Only they know what has happened in that missing hour.
This story follows canon closely with the incidents of time reversal being the main differences. The author does use MANY of Jane Austen's own words.
As a big fan of Outlander and its time traveling premise it was interesting to read how each thought through what would happen if they went back in time. One such event even saved a life while another saved Lydia from disgrace.
Delightful story. Who wouldn’t want to be able to go back and have do overs to undo something that needed to be undone. But to have ODC be able to do this over the course of their relationship was well spent going back correcting their mistakes. Both Elizabeth and Darcy benefited from their bottles of the elixir created by Mr. Connors.
This was a fun and quick story to read. The time-travel potion made for quite a different taking on out well loved story. It made E&D get to know each other in a different way. The ending had lots of action and really needed the potion several times! I recommend reading this story to all who want a fun and easy story about ODC!