She was unlike anyone he'd ever met—equal parts intelligence, beauty, wit, and compassion—and he was drawn to her. It was as simple—and as complicated—as that.
Attorney Will Darcy is a rising star in his family's legal empire. He's set his sights on a partnership at The Darcy Group, earning him a place at his father's side, and no distractions—not even love—will alter his course.
Elizabeth Bennet is a successful artist living in a dune shack at the tip of Cape Cod, the place she's called home for most of her life. She values her independence, and has no desire to change her ways—not for anyone.
But the best-laid plans are thrown into turmoil when Elizabeth stands to lose the only home she's ever loved. When she reaches out for legal assistance, Will is dismayed to learn he'll be the one to handle her case—one that seems impossible to win.
Despite early misunderstandings, Will realizes his first impressions of Elizabeth are unjustified—indeed, she's captivating. And once she gets beyond Will's arrogance and verbal missteps, Elizabeth discovers a man of character and compassion—who also happens to be quite charming.
Elizabeth and Will are drawn to one another and find themselves in an ethical and emotional dilemma, caught between duty and desire. But what will happen if their hearts refuse to follow the rules?
***
This novel is a contemporary reimagining of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It contains adult content and is meant for mature readers who do not mind scenes of an intimate nature.
Cat Andrews has always been an avid reader, but didn’t discover Jane Austen until her love of a certain British actor led her to the BBC’s 1995 production of Pride and Prejudice. Her discovery of Jane Austen Fan Fiction opened up a whole new world, and she was inspired to begin a cautious but earnest foray into the world of writing.
In real life, Cat has spent thirty-eight years working in healthcare. She enjoys life on the shores of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and more often than not, you can find her at the beach with a book in her hand and her toes in the sand.
Another winner from the talented pen of Cat Andrews. She has a gift for painting pictures with her words that perfectly capture the places and people in her stories. I have never been to Massachusetts but her stories let me visit and see the beauty of the place. It makes me want to go see it in person. Her characters feel like real people not flat people from a magazine. You become emotionally invested in the story and don’t want to put the book down until the last page has been devoured in one sitting. I enjoyed it and will eagerly await her next creation.
I highly recommend this story. I have read all of this author's variations and enjoyed all of them. However, as the author notes at the end of her story description, this story is for mature audiences.
Set at the tip of Cape Cod, near Provincetown, the history of that area comes into play with the author giving us some background before the story begins. The dune shacks house many artisans, of whom Elizabeth is one. She and her family occupied the one named Benny's at one point. Her family is now broken apart and their story of reconciliation is one thread. Note, however, that Jane is Elizabeth's only sibling. There is a Lydia in the story but she is a fellow occupant of one of the Dune shacks.
Darcy is on an upward track with his father's firm, The Darcy Group, and does not exactly welcome an assignment to represent the Dune shack residents (pro bono) when the local officials (TMA in this story) announce a change to their lease agreements which will open the leases to the highest bidders. Since the Dune shacks are only occupiable during fair weather, that means summer tourists, mostly, would bid for those new leases besides the present leasees. Charles Bingley is also assigned to partner with Will Darcy in representing the group.
So as the tale progresses Darcy finds himself interacting a great deal with Elizabeth who has taken on the role of spokesperson for her fellow artisans. That relationship does not begin smoothly. Darcy sees the task as doomed from the beginning. He stirs the pot by antagonizing Elizabeth with her verbal prodding as to why the group is set on this course. Eventually as he interviews others and gets to know Elizabeth he changes his attitude and with that his relationship with Elizabeth begins to also change.
Both Elizabeth and Will know that at the end of this legal battle he will return to his father's firm, in Boston, while Elizabeth plans to stay in that area...win or lose.
I especially enjoyed the details of Will's and Elizabeth's relationship. We get to read both viewpoints. There are other relationships, old and new, which are part of the story. Of note is that Darcy fears his father's reaction to Will recusing himself from the case due to his relationship with Elizabeth. This might affect his upward climb to partnership in The Darcy Group.
Elizabeth Bennet is an artist and lives in a dune shack at Cape Cod. For many decades she and her relatives were the only inhabitants, due to a special agreement the town has with her and other artists. Now she and the other artists are about to lose their homes because the town plans to rent them to tourists to create a greater income. Therefore Elizabeth, as the spokesman of the artists, seeks legal advice. Will Darcy is a lawyer in his father's legal empire. His goal is to get a partnership and therefore he works hard without distraction. He is greatly annoyed when his father sends him and his friend and colleague Charles Bingley to Cape Cod to represent the artists in their fight against the town - in his eyes a hopeless case and a waste of his precious time. When he finally comes to know the dune shack and the artists, especially Elizabeth, better he discovers that there may indeed be something worth fighting for. Will their fight for the dune shacks be successful? Or will this all become uninteresting in the greater battle of love and attraction between him and Elizabeth? And how will they even be able to live their love when Will is Elizabeth's lawyer?
This contemporary story was very well written by the author Cat Andrews. It's situated in present days in the USA with the main characters of Pride and prejudice. Besides the beautiful love story of Will (Darcy) and Elizabeth the author is able to draw such a beautiful picture of Cape Cod that I dearly wish to take a holiday there. If you need to feel on holiday while reading, this book is able to give you this feeling ❤️. The book was quite thrilling, not because it happens so much, but because you want to know what is happening next in the legal case or in the love story of Will and Elizabeth.
The forbidden love between the lawyer Will and his client Elizabeth was beautifully described. I like the chemistry between the two. One could really see the sparks fly when they finally admit their attraction and later their love. But naturally, as you may guess as it is a forbidden love, their story has its ups and downs. I like the way they come to know each other and help each other to overcome and better deal with past injuries. They are good for one another because they can give each other comfort and, also because of this, they have such a beautiful love story.
I like that the author was able to put the characters of Pride and prejudice in modern times without letting them lose their main character traits. You are easily able to recognise them. Will is as usual very prideful, but with a great sense of honour and always willing to selflessly help Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a bit impertinent and very independent, but she is able to change when she recognizes her errors.
As always, Wickham has the role as a villain, and be assured, he is definitely capable of fitting into that role in the modern setting of a legal battle between the artists and the town they are living in.
If you like to know how Will and Elizabeth can love each other despite him being her lawyer in her legal battle to preserve her dune shack, you should definitely read this excellent book.
I highly recommend it.
The book contains scenes for a mature audience.
I received a free copy of the book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Terribly wordy, but saved by the moving and realistic descriptions of what the characters feel and think. I must have read only half of the book, reading an average of one sentence out of two. I think this book should be trimmed by half. The author should focus on specific scenes, and shorten some other less important, rather than describe everything at the same slow rhythm. Still, there was something very enjoyable about reading this book. The plot is interesting, it’s not cheesy.
Really enjoyed this modern variation. Darcy and Bingley are attorneys. Elizabeth is an artist. A historic art colony is threatened by "progress" and it's up to D and B to save the tenant artists homes. Some great history facts add a nice touch, I'm A sucker for that in a story. Oh and the love story is passionate. Tastefully done. This is a tale I'll come back to again and again.
If you like Modern set variations of Pride and Prejudice, you will adore this latest story from Cat Andrews. Set in Providencetown, Massachusetts, this story has Elizabeth, a free spirited artist and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a big attorney from Boston joining forces to save the dune shacks from being taken over by the town and the sleazebag George Wickham. Just as Elizabeth and Darcy are set to fight the town, Darcy and Elizabeth develop feelings for each other. How will this all resolve is anyone’s guess, but somehow everything works out, but not without a few bumps in the road. If you don’t mind a little spice in your Pride and Prejudice, this story is a must read!
Very satisfying falling in love story for ODC. Modern variations are not my favourite, but this author delivers well written original storylines that are worth the jump from regency. I wasn't a fan of the redesign of key characters in this variation, but was still able to enjoy the story. Modern Mr Darcy still plenty swoony.
I was SO excited to get my hands on this latest modern P&P retelling from Cat Andrews, and it did not disappoint! This Elizabeth and Darcy felt fresh and new to me after many years of reading these adaptations, while at the same time hitting all the right notes when it comes to taking inspiration from cannon. Provincetown and Boston come alive on these pages, and even though I know Cat wouldn’t torture us with less than a beautiful HEA for our favorite couple, I was still wondering how she could possibly make this storyline work out in the end! This latest work is a real testament to her growth as an author.
If you have never read a Cat Andrews story before, you should know that her stories depict modern adult couples in adult relationships, so if you prefer only closed-door stories this may not be the story for you. I will say, however, that those scenes are very tastefully done—and could easily be skipped over—if you are excited by the premise of a modern Darcy finding his love in a free-spirited artist and surfer girl Elizabeth! Her characters experience real life struggles, and overcome true obstacles to be together. Well structured, with good pacing and excellent editing, Against Every Objection is a truly unique tale, and one I will revisit often. I loved it so much I’ve now ordered copies as gifts for my JAFF loving friends!
I'm about halfway through this story and I'm absolutely hooked. I'm not to keen on Jane and I'm convinced that she is working with Wickham. Jane returns to Ptown to reconnect with her father and sister. Then she drops a bombshell on Elizabeth, while Elizabeth is trying to bring a lawsuit against the town. Jane begins a romance with Charles and makes herself unavailable to Elizabeth and their father despite her claim of wanting to reconnect with them. So Jane is either a selfish jerk or she's in league with Wickham...
I'm absolutely loving this story! I can't wait to find out how things wrap up.
Ok...so Jane wasn't in cahoots with Wickham. My bad. 😜
This novel was just fantastic..the setting, the history, the characters (old & new), everything came together in one enjoyable package!
I love all of Cat Andrews’ variations and this one doesn’t disappoint. She does a wonderful job of bringing the tale of P&P into a modern time while remaining true to the essence of the original.
I have read all of this author's work and have come to rely on her for the best quality in modern Austen variations. This new book fully lives up to my expectations, and indeed exceeds them. The quality of writing and use of language is first rate, treating the reader to multi-dimensional word pictures.
Modern variations need characters who are believable in the 21st century whist also honouring these beloved characters from Austen's original. It is clear the author loves her characters and treats them with the very greatest care. It is such a pleasure to see the characters I know so well set in modern surroundings whilst still retaining the facets of their nature which makes them dear to me.
I heartily recommend this book to those who are familiar with the authors work or who are encountering it for the first time.
I received an advance copy and am leaving an unbiased review.
3 stars and I am being generous. The legal aspects of the case (the lawyers’ arguments, the mechanics of legal consultation, attorney’s work, and legal argumentation) didn’t make any sense! The argument for the tenants to keep the shacks was based on an artist nepo-baby crying she should get to keep her low rent home because of “History!” (horrible argumentation and legal presentation of the entire case that serves aa main plot device to the story)
As an example of the story’s flaws and nonsensical whimsy that doesn’t make any sense but we are supposed to swallop up unquestioned: William’s mom is supposed to be Brazilian Portuguese, speak fluent Portuguese and cook homemade feijoada while always singing and dancing… but he was named Fitzwilliam because of his mother’s family name, and his maternal grandfather was one Angus Fitzwilliam who owned a shipping company! Isn’t that strange??
The portrayal of William and Elizabeth as characters made them look small, unrealistic, and unpolished. Too much angst and psychological baggage on both sides to start with, with very little growth on Elizabeth’s part. She is not emotionally ready to have adult relationships, and William is just a gluton for punishment with her. Not a lovestory in my opinion.
Elizabeth and her father are artists on Cape Cod, and Elizabeth resides part of the year in a shack on the ocean, part of an artist's community of shacks. The town wants to evict the artists in favor of getting new tenants that will pay a lot more for rent, thus making more money for the town. Wickham is in charge of the push to evict artists, and the artists hire the Darcy firm of lawyers to defend their historic shacks, since the firm agrees to do it pro bono. Darcy and Bingley come to Cape Cod from Boston to work the case. Elizabeth is a spokesperson for the artist group, thus throwing her and Darcy together a lot. As per usual, it's a rough beginning for ODC.
Cat Andrews is a wonderful author, and an automatic purchase for me. This story is very well done, and features a swoon worthy Darcy. In this version, however, Elizabeth's character is very deeply damaged, in a psychological way, and I didn't like the way everyone had to walk on eggshells around her for fear of saying the wrong thing and setting off her temper. She seemed way too self absorbed and selfish for my liking, and I couldn't admire her. For me, that's a serious lack.
The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it with reservations.
I like this variation a lot. I like the culture of the Provincetown artist shacks, I like all the characters, I really like the story/dynamics of the Bennet family. The book perfectly blends the romance, the culture of the artists, and the case to protect said culture. All the aspects were balanced, and no one part overpowered the others in terms of storytelling (unlike Pride, where the discussion about gentrification left not much room for the romance).
I look forward to reading more variations by this author. It’s pretty sad to me that they’re on hiatus.
Against Every Objection by Cat Andrews is yet another wonderful modern by one of my favorite authors. Will Darcy is an ambitious attorney taking on a tough pro bono assignment representing a group of artists that live part of the year in leased shacks located in the dunes of Provincetown, Massachusetts. Elizabeth Bennet is an artist and casual surfer that lives in one of the shacks and was voted a leader by the other tenants in representing their cause. Will makes a poor first impression and Elizabeth lets him know it. Sparks fly between these “opposites”, but it would be unprofessional and unethical for Darcy to get involved with a client.
I loved several things in this book. First, there were several steamy scenes, which are a hallmark of this author. They work well in the story, and are never gratuitous or vulgar. Second, Cat Andrews is fantastic in describing locations. The dune shacks really exist, and when I looked them up after I finished the book, the pictures online matched what I imagined from her descriptions. Third, Elizabeth seems to be making a decent living as an artist. She does not need any help from Darcy as it relates to her career or finances. Finally, we learn early in the book that Elizabeth is not fooled by Wickham. There is more, but listing them would require spoilers.
If you enjoy moderns, or wish to take a break from the slew of regencies out there, I highly recommend Against Every Objection.
I received an ARC of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.
I am a big fan of Cat Andrews’ books. She has such a talented way to transfer Jane Austen’s beloved Pride and Prejudice into a modern world. And “Against Every Objection” is one more example of that.
In this story, Elizabeth is a free spirit artist living in Provincetown and Darcy is a lawyer from Boston. Their worlds collide when he becomes the lawyer of a group of artists in P-town and Elizabeth is the spokesperson of that group. I won’t give more spoilers, but I just want to say that it is a wonderful journey these two lovely characters embark upon.
The writing is superb, the author takes us into the characters’ minds and hearts, and you feel that you are just there with them, experiencing their feelings, disappointments, sorrows, happiness, etc. Another great thing about all her stories is also how much research she puts into them. She takes us to this wonderful places, with real descriptions of sights, restaurants, museums, etc, and the reader feels even more immerse in the story. During the reading, I always find myself googling these places and I can’t help but want to visit them all.
Our dear couple’s love story is of course, the most important thing is the book, but there is also a lot of other characters with their own stories, family dynamics, etc. And of course, a wonderful happy ending that leaves with a smile in our faces as the book ends. I am already looking forward to her next book!
I received an ARC of this book and am willingly leaving a review.
I did not read any modern pride and prejudice variations until Cat Andrews herself recommended her books to me. I now read and reread her work because it is just that good. Her editing is always exceptional and her style is easy to read. I power read this page turner and was very disappointed that I came to the page that said THE END. This Darcy is easy to cheer for even though he again put his foot in his mouth early on and was overheard by Elizabeth. The true history inserted everywhere with the story keeps it fresh and unique. I liked that the original characters were present in the story some only by courtesy mention such a as Caroline Bingley. That was one element I was glad was not prominent side story. The sexy scenes are real and necessarily described but not smutty. The story sticks very close to our favorite couple so if you have ever read a story that strayed to far this one keeps you right there. I hope there will be a book 2 as I am not ready to end the story.
This modern novel is entertaining. Elizabeth is an artist who lives in a dune shack. Her goal is to be able to continue to live in this dune shack. Will is a successful attorney who works for The Darcy Group. His goal is to become a partner.
Elizabeth meets Will, as her attorney, when she asks The Darcy Group to defend the artist group living in the dunes against the town. This is a pro bono case. These two personalities collide. She expects his help. He thinks this is a lost cause.
They are attracted to each other. But can only be friends due to legal rules. There will be a happily ever after for our dear couple. Many things must happen before they come together.
You can read this story in a couple of afternoons with several cups of tea. I highly recommend this book. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Elizabeth Bennet is an artist living in a historical village of beach cottages that are at risk of being taken over by the city. She finds a powerful law firm to take on the case pro bono, which brings Will Darcy to town. The two follow the usual plot line with a few other site plot lines and usual names but unusual characters thrown it on their way to happily ever after.
While not traditional, the added story lines made the full book more robust. It has lots of romance, discovery, great decorating and for one has made me want to urgently visit this part of the country again!