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The Cousins #3

Colonel Fitzwilliam's Challenge: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

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A sweet romance inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. Though part of a series, this is a stand alone novel.

Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, a hopeful romantic, cannot afford to marry for love. When he is offered a new assignment with the promise of a promotion, he eagerly accepts— only to find himself immersed in a world of intrigue and lies.

Adélaïde Mauvier is a successful dressmaker on the verge of attaining everything she thought she wanted. When she is thrown into Colonel Fitzwilliam’s company, she begins to think there might be more to life than her ambitions.

As the colonel gets closer to the truth, he finds out that people are not always what you believe them to be. Will he fall in love while catching a traitor? Or worse… will he fall in love with a spy?

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 27, 2015

99 people are currently reading
123 people want to read

About the author

Jennifer Joy

45 books206 followers
When Jennifer isn’t busy dreaming up new adventures for her favorite characters, she is reading, baking, or chasing her twins around the park.

She believes in happy endings, sweet romance, and plenty of intrigue. She writes what she most enjoys reading, so expect lighthearted stories with happy endings and a few laughs.

Born on the beautiful Oregon coast, she traveled all around the world until she finally settled in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador with her husband and two kids.

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5 stars
89 (36%)
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99 (40%)
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41 (16%)
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Debbie.
1,671 reviews75 followers
December 26, 2021
This is such a good mystery! I love when a book surprises me, and this one certainly did. There isn’t much of Pride and Prejudice in this except for Colonel Fitzwilliam with only brief appearances by his cousins Anne and the Darcys.

After Anne de Bourgh's marriage, Colonel Fitzwilliam receives a challenge to find evidence against Adelaide Mauvier, Anne's sister-in-law, who is suspected of being a French spy. He doesn't believe it's true and is actually very attracted to Adelaide, but he accepts the assignment from Lieutenant General John Dovedale, planning to clear her name and claim the promotion promised to him.

As the investigation proceeds, the mystery builds. Two people break into Miss Mauvier's shop, and later it is set on fire. Fitzwilliam's inquiries lead him to understand the method used to pass messages between the spy and France, but the spy's identity continues to be unclear. There are a number of people in the book who are likely suspects, but not all of the mischief going on has to do with spies and smuggling.

The attraction between Adelaide and Colonel Fitzwilliam is nicely established with echoes of Darcy and Elizabeth at the Meryton assembly, only the setting here is Anne de Bourgh’s wedding. The good colonel definitely starts off on the wrong foot! I found the mystery very satisfying with clues that add up correctly and an appropriate amount of red herrings. I do think that the confessions come way too easily, but it’s my only complaint in an otherwise very enjoyable mystery/romance.
Profile Image for Sheila Majczan.
2,653 reviews198 followers
August 21, 2023
This is a story for which you might say, "Wait for it, wait for it." I began reading this before the holidays but then put it down as so many books with Christmas themes were released and brought to my attention. So I began reading it from the beginning a second time after the New Year as I resolved to finish reading the 4 or so books I had left dangling. The story builds slowly and for me my interest became piqued in the second half.

This tale is more one of intrigue and espionage than romance in my opinion. (It reminded me of Stanley Hurd's book about the Colonel.) The romantic pairing is no mystery but even though the Colonel, like his cousin, Darcy, manages to insult the very one he is attracted to, he realizes immediately what he has done and apologizes to her. Now to completely understand the relationship of Colonel Fitzwilliam and Adélaïde Mauvier you will have to have read the previous novel in this series, however I recommend that you read both in this Cousins series.

The Colonel cannot marry without money so with an attachment forming when an old neighbor but now superior officer offers him a chance for advancement he jumps at the opportunity. Readers with a sharp mind just might pick up clues as to certain aspects of persons’ character in this story. Adélaïde has a successful dress shop and her employees are also her family. Do they view her in the same light? Then there is that woman who should be her competition offering her a chance to set up shop on Bond Street. Why would she want a rival immediately across the street? And Mr. Thorpe, the doctor: what do we really know of his background? He certainly shows up at unexpected moments.

Lord and Lady Matlock and Aunt Beatrice make their presence known while Richard attempts to secure a future and a wife. There are several surprises for the reader along the way. The Colonel has always been a favorite of mine and I was happy to read of his Happily Ever After in this lovely read.
Profile Image for Susan.
7,055 reviews67 followers
August 22, 2018
In this Pride and Prejudice variation, as Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam cannot afford to marry for love without a dowry he accepts an assignment which promises him promotion and better pay. Unfortunately the person he needs to prove is a traitor is the French lady of his thoughts.
A well-written, delightful romance with its share of intrigue.
Profile Image for Rita Deodato.
270 reviews13 followers
December 14, 2015
Review published at From Pemberley to Milton:

https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...

I am undoubtedly a Darcy girl. Always have been and always will be. He is the most perfect man (or fictional character, as you’d like) that will ever exist. Well…Mr. Thornton is a worthy competitor and Wentworth touches my heart, but it has been Darcy for a long time, so it’s hard to take him out of the podium.

For that reason a novel who’s main character is Col. Richard Fitzwilliam would not call my immediate attention if it hadn’t been written by someone as Jennifer Joy. I have said many times that I love Jennifer Joy’s writing, and her Cousins Series really got my attention, so despite being a Darcy girl, I read this book with an open heart, and guess what? Only a few pages read and I already wanted to get inside the book and give some affection and love to our dear Colonel.

It was refreshing to read something with a different male character, especially because the Colonel was adorable in this book. It was interesting to see that even though the Colonel is a much more sociable character than Darcy, he also has difficulties in communicating with the lady who capture his heart. Maybe all man, with their own specificities, have difficulties in this area :)

As I continued reading I understood Col. Fitzwilliam’s Challenge was not like Jennifer Joy’s previous books as it is not just a romance story, it is a book full of suspense, mystery and intrigue.

In this book, Col. Fitzwilliam is offered an assignment that will bring him, not only an internal struggle between what have always been his principles and what his heart is telling him, but also a struggle against enemies of the crown that will not make it easier for him.

I kept suspecting some characters along the book, and even if I was partially right, there was a huge surprise for me in the end. While my suspicions kept telling me someone was a villain, that person was actually the one who would solve everything and save the Colonel. I won’t say much more, because part of the fun in reading this book is guessing who the spy is, but I would truly like to know if other readers deciphered everything or if they were misguided as I was.

I enjoyed some of the new characters that were introduced to us, namely Adélaïde Mauvier. I liked her immediately and her life story captured my attention. I like strong female characters and was happy that Jennifer Joy decided to create such a person for Col. Fitzwilliam.

I was only sorry the story advanced so fast as the characters feelings and turn of events felt a bit rushed for me. I would like to have spent more time with Col. Fitzwilliam and Adélaïde Mauvier and to have seen more interactions between them that would allow us to see their feelings grow and mature. But I think that wanting to spend more time with a book is a good sign, so I have to say that Jennifer Joy did it again! In a very different way, as this book was not so characterised by the romance and depth of feelings as the previous, but more of mystery and suspense, but she wrote another book definitely worth Reading :) We can see Jennifer’s writing is diversifying, so I’m eagerly waiting for her next novel.
Profile Image for Katherine.
453 reviews38 followers
March 5, 2016
Colonel Fitzwilliam would love to find love like his cousin Darcy has but he hasn't earned enough money to support a wife so when asked to spy on a french woman related to his cousin Anne by marriage for a hefty promotion he rejoices at the prospect. But he never expected to fall in love with Adelaide and she appears to be a traitor. Will the a Colonel prove her innocence before it's too late? Will she resent him when she Finds out the truth? Who is the traitor? I loved the authors portrayal of Colonel Fitzwilliam and I loved Adelaides character! I hadn't read the other novels in this sequence/trilogy but thorough enjoyed it on its own merit!
1,021 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2017
Apparently, I'm in the minority here. I didn't particularly care for the characters in this book. I felt NO chemistry between Richard and Adelaide. And some of the incorrect words (maybe they were just typos, because they were real words, but did no one notice?!?!) Learn the difference between compliment and complement. It's champagne 'flute' not 'fluke' - this one cracked me up. It's "you tried to 'implicate' me" not 'imply' me. Just sayin'.
1,146 reviews29 followers
March 22, 2023
Entertaining

Unfortunately, it's been a while since I read the previous 2 books in this series, so I feel like I was missing some vital information. It would probably be best to read the series back to back, because certain references in this one were kind of meaningless. Darcy and Elizabeth are already married, as is Anne DeBourgh. At Anne's wedding, Colonel Fitzwilliam meets the sister of Anne's new husband, a French woman named Adelaide Mauvier, who is a seamstress with ambitions. He rides with her in a carriage after the event, inadvertently insults her French heritage, and just like that he's smitten with her. By the time the carriage ride ends, she figures out that he's not such a bad guy, and "voila!" she's in love. Talk about love at first sight!

Richard becomes involved in some shady undercover work for the army, trying to discover who is leaking vital information to the French, and Adelaide is suspected. There's a lot of intrigue and betrayal, but truth and honor win out in the end. The clues leading to the bad guys are pretty obvious, so the outcome was kind of predictable. The acceptance of the seamstress for their second son of an earl by Lord and Lady Matlock seemed far-fetched to me, and there wasn't really very much chance for the development of a relationship between the Colonel and Adelaide, so the romance was missing. Colonel Fitzwilliam is one of my favorite characters, so I wish there had been more interactions between the two.

However, the book is well written and well edited. I recommend it for a pleasant way to pass some time.
Profile Image for Allison Ripley-Duggan.
1,655 reviews13 followers
June 7, 2025
I loved it!

It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. This is a Pride and Prejudice variation. You will see the most beloved characters in a whole new way. This is the third book in a trilogy, The Darcy Cousins Series. If you like falling in love with your favorite heroes and heroines as they fall for each other, then you'll love this sweet romance. The perfect story to satisfy your craving for a clean, sweet Regency romance, with a page-turning mystery.

He was given a special assignment, and he didn't count on falling for her. Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, a hopeful romantic, cannot afford to marry for love. When he is offered a new assignment with the promise of a promotion, he eagerly accepts, only to find himself immersed in a world of intrigue and lies. Adélaïde Mauvier is a successful dressmaker on the verge of attaining everything she thought she wanted. When she is thrown into Colonel Fitzwilliam’s company, she begins to think there might be more to life than her ambitions. As the colonel gets closer to the truth, he finds out that people are not always what you believe them to be. Will he fall in love while catching a traitor, or worse, will he fall in love with a spy? So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
Profile Image for Allison Griswold .
87 reviews26 followers
September 11, 2019
This was a very enjoyable series. I highly recommend it. This book had, unlike the others, an element of mystery, so if you like period romances with some mystery this might be your favorite of the series. My favorite is still the first book, even with it's small inconsistencies. However, I appreciate all three books as a series as you get to know the characters you are introduced to better in each one.
Profile Image for Bettye McKee.
2,179 reviews152 followers
April 25, 2018
Richard tries his hand at spying

While attending the wedding of his cousin Anne, Richard meets Adelaide Mauvier who is attending with his Aunt Beatrice de Bourgh. Adelaide is a dressmaker with her own shop. Richard is assigned to investigate Adelaide, who is suspected of being a spy and hiding secret messages in dresses.

7
517 reviews4 followers
August 26, 2019
This Another Winner

This is the third of a series that I really enjoyed as well as being a great mystery. Look forward to reading more Jennifer Joy. Have always enjoyed the character Colonel Fitzwilliam liked having the book about him.
Profile Image for Brooke.
646 reviews29 followers
March 4, 2021
Fun read featuring one of the most minor Austen characters. It is, of course, a romance, but there is an equally weighted spy plot and a lot about Adelaide's dress-making business. I'm currently watching "Bridgerton," and all the dress-shop scenes made me think of this novel.
Profile Image for Amy.
Author 2 books30 followers
January 21, 2018
Enjoyable read!

A darling imagining of Colonel Darcy with some good twists and turns. Yes, I'll definitely read more in the series.
3 reviews
November 19, 2018
Okay book!

I think this book was an okay read. From the first book I thought the Colonel’s story would have Georgiana as the love interest. Otherwise it was okay.
1,166 reviews
August 29, 2019
I liked the characters, the intrigue, and the romance. It was a good quick read.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
494 reviews1 follower
March 31, 2021
I love Jennifer Joy’s creative take on Pride & Prejudice!
In this variation we focus on Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mr. Darcy’s cousin. He has been tasked by his superior officer to find the spy that is sending war information to the French. The lead he is given as the possible spy is a feisty French woman, who owns her own dressmaking shop, named Adélaïde. The Colonel must find out everything he can about Adélaïde to decide if she could be the spy.
I really enjoy P&P variations. This was no exception! Thanks Ms. Joy!
1 review
Read
September 11, 2023
I have now read the three books. I loved them! I normally read historical fiction, not love stories. These books are intriguing, fast paced and definitely a great read!!
Profile Image for L S Hardy.
200 reviews1 follower
March 6, 2017
Cousins accounted for

This third book in the Cousins series follows the adventures of Richard to a satisfactory conclusion and nicely ties up the various relationships with the addition of another family link by marriage. Next the author could deal with Elizabeth's younger sisters. After all, we still have Mary and Kitty unaccounted for by this author.
2,449 reviews44 followers
March 29, 2023
Update: I just finished the audiobook (free on YouTube) and really enjoyed it. Stevie Zimmerman is a great narrator. Her narration enhanced the story.
This series was one of my earliest introductions to Austen fan-fiction and I've been hooked ever since. This book has more intrigue/mystery in it than the others, along with the romance. I think it best to read the books in order to get all the interesting background of the characters that we don't already know from canon but it does stand alone too.
Loved it.

*****

Third book in the cousins series, this one telling the Colonel's story.
I liked that while the first book did "rewrite" P&P, the second and third just took a minor character from P&P and told a completely different story. That was fun for me. I liked all three books.
This one had some surprises for me and I wasn't sure who the bad guy was until close to the end. There were a few people I didn't trust so any one of them could have been the bad guy.
And it was clean.

No sex or language
Some violence
Profile Image for Barbara K..
741 reviews21 followers
December 26, 2021
This Pride and Prejudice sequel is the third in a series, the first being a P&P variation. I accidentally read this one out of order, because of a glitch that made the first in the series keep vanishing from my Kindle, combined with my own neglect in noticing which in the series I was beginning with. But reading it out of order didn't seem to matter at all.

This is an interesting story in which Colonel Fitzwilliam, who is hankering to marry now that his cousins Darcy and Anne have done so and seem so happy, unthinkingly insults the woman he's attracted to. So they get off to a rough, and somewhat P&P-ish start, with her disliking him. Then he's assigned to investigate her as a possible spy. All this while he knows she has no fortune, so he can't afford to marry her. Yet he is drawn to her and thrown into her company. He finds himself falling in love.

The story is entertaining, and kept me reading to the end. It's a nice twist as far as P&P sequels go.
191 reviews
April 27, 2017
Energetic

Just finish this wonderfully written series. All three books are excellent but this is my favorite. So much ups and downs . thank you Mrs Joy . I'm looking toward reading other creations of yours
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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