Forced to Marry Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Mary Weston

Darcy had no idea when he attended the Netherfield ball that he would end the night an engaged man. Elizabeth only wanted to escape the attentions of her odious cousin, Mr. Collins. When she is discovered in the garden with Darcy, her gown ripped, her family assumes he compromised her. Darcy and Elizabeth are forced into marriage.

Mr. Darcy is the last man in the world Elizabeth wishes to marry. Darcy promises that their marriage will be in name only. But after arriving at Pemberley as husband and wife, their love and desire for each other is tested and revealed.

173 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 11, 2016

Reviews

[Barb · Rating 2 out of 5]

As other reviewers have mentioned, this is an interesting premise, although not unique. Elizabeth and Darcy are caught in an innocent situation that appears compromising, so must marry. Both are reluctant, but find themselves falling in love with each other. After they are forced to marry they are faced with danger from Wickham which draws them together. Pretty straightforward and a story that offers a lot of interesting situations and good conversations.

However, the author has a very annoying habit of creating references to what appears to be a back story, but then never delivers on that story. In addition, many of the characters act so out of character that you are left questioning what is occurring. The story and characters vary from the original Pride and Prejudice, which is fine, but we are often left wondering why and how the changes came about.

For example, at the very beginning of the story the author tells us that at the Netherfield ball the room is tense and feels like the attendees are split into two factions. In a conversation between Elizabeth and Charlotte we hear "This is the most dreadful ball I have ever attended. I've never seen a group of such dismal faces." "I know. It's rather like the air before a thunderstorm. The clouds are gathering and the air is still and sticky and one is just waiting for the storm to break and the air to clear." "What do you think the storm will be? A duel, perhaps?" This is pretty powerful imagery and you wonder what occurred to bring about this great deal of tension. In the original P&P the Netherfield ball is very much enjoyed by all those attending, with the exception of the tension between Elizabeth and Darcy. But, at this version, there is tension that affects every single person attending. Well, that is pretty intriguing. What happened prior to the ball to bring about this kind of tension? Why is everyone at the ball so miserable? What has caused this sense of dread that is expressed in this conversation? Wow, I could hardly wait to find out. But, nothing comes of this. I don't know what the author intended here. Why did she create this situation for the Netherfield ball without any explanation?

Then we have the compromise. The situation is innocent enough - Elizabeth catches her dress on a branch and it tears. Darcy recommends using her broach to pin it together. When Elizabeth struggles with the latch, Darcy helps her. His hand inadvertently touches her breast and this is observed by the Hursts. Now we have a strong series of people acting out of character with no explanation.

Darcy stops Elizabeth over and over as she tries to explain why the situation is innocent. I don't get it. Why does he do this? There is no explanation. The Hursts insist Darcy must marry Elizabeth due to this compromise. What? Don't they want Darcy for Miss Bingley? Miss Bingley believes Darcy has tried to seduce Elizabeth. What? Shouldn't she be defending him so she can keep him for herself? And, Elizabeth knows the situation is dire when told Mrs. Hurst told Miss Bingley about the compromise, because Miss Bingley is a gossip. She would rather gossip than save Mr. Darcy for herself?

It keeps going. Why is Lady Catherine present the next day when Darcy meets with Mr. Bennet? And, she is there to insist Darcy and Elizabeth marry. Isn't this contrary to everything we have ever known about her desire for him to marry Anne? Anne isn't even mentioned. Why is Lady Catherine so different in this variation? Why does Darcy just meekly allow her presence as a representative of his family and his interests? There is no explanation.

Other things are just tossed in as if they matter, but then they don't. Why is Wickham so insistent that Elizabeth is his? In the original P&P Elizabeth is looking forward to dancing with Wickham and feels herself halfway to falling in love with him. In this version, there is no mention of Wickham until after the ball, and Elizabeth feels fear around him. Why? What happened? No explanation.

After the betrothal is all arranged and Darcy is alone to consider what has occurred, he has this thought: "And now he was about to again undertake marriage with a woman who did not want him. Except, this time he planned to stay as far away from his wife as possible." Whoa! Looks like Darcy has been married previously and had a very bad time of it. This is a new twist! Only, it isn't. This line of thinking goes nowhere, apparently, and we are left wondering if we missed something.

When Darcy and Elizabeth reach Pemberley, Lady Matlock visits. She appears to already know Elizabeth! Interesting idea. But, we never find out more about this. It leads nowhere.

So, at some point the headache I was getting from these strange story line starts and stops makes the book difficult to read. Luckily for me another reviewer has chosen to fill their review with all the spoilers necessary to tell the rest of the story. I now can abandon the book without guilt. Not recommended.

[Carol Perrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forced to Marry Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

What a title! Like few would mind this hardship, especially if he looked like Colin Firth. Amazing what simple offer to help Elizabeth turned into a fiasco. Really amazing was the fact that the Hursts were out walking when they happened to run into Darcy helping to pin Elizabeth's ripped dress torn by a tree limb. Darcy being the gentleman he was offered to marry Elizabeth, because he wouldn't hurt Bingley's chance with Jane, but he knew he was fighting keeping his happiness well under control. Darcy did seem to mind until he found that she didn't like him much less love him. Lady Catherine de Bourgh insisted that they marry within the week. Not many screams from Caroline either which in itself was amazing.
Before marrying, Wickham tries to convince Elizabeth not to marry Darcy, but she dislike Wickham more than Darcy. When threatens Elizabeth, Darcy tells her to not walk anywhere without someone. Wickham always wanting to hurt Darcy, has two big goons attack him thinking Elizabeth had sent for him. Wickham's evil schemes didn't pan out like he hoped, and Darcy and Elizabeth married on time. Still misunderstandings kept them both apart many weeks after their wedding. Georgiana and Elizabeth want to ride to the old tower and Darcy goes with them. Elizabeth and Darcy are locked in the tower, key missing. Thinking Georgiana did this they were at least talking, but everything Darcy said Elizabeth took it the opposite way it was intended. Darcy loves her, but is afraid of hurting her with his ardour. When they finally were able to leave the tower, coming down someone pushes Elizabeth down the steps. Fearing for her life, Darcy is beside himself. After talking to Lady Matlock, Elizabeth realizes she needs to further their marriage on. She tries to seduce him during the picnic. While Darcy and Elizabeth are out riding, a shot fires close to them. Darcy is mad at himself because he forgot hunting season had started. Before they could turn around, another shot nearly took them both. Knowing Wickham was at the ball, immediately he knew Wickham was behind Elizabeth's fall and the shootings. While the ladies were in the drawing room, Mrs. Annesley returns to tell them that Georgiana was abducted by Wickham. Darcy was out with the steward, Colonel Fitzwilliam hadn't arrived as yet, only Mr. Bingley was with the ladies. Elizabeth was ready to ride out, but Colonel Fitzwilliam stopped her telling her he'd go after them. We all know that Elizabeth doesn't take orders, so Colonel Fitzwilliam took her along. Finding Wickham at the second inn, Elizabeth trades places with Georgiana. He plans to ruin Darcy's life for all of his own hardships were Darcy's fault. Elizabeth's cat, Ash, has stolen a ride in the carriage. Wickham's plans go awry when Ash launches on Wickham's back. Wickham's allergy to cats causes his eyes to swell up until they were swollen closed. He was easily arrested. Elizabeth and Darcy spent at night taking turns seducing each other. HEA

[JMarcy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea for this plot was fairly good, and at first I found myself enjoying the story, but then I began to feel like I had missed whole chunks of the story. Why was Lady Catherine present the morning after the ball, what was splitting everyone in attendance at the ball into seemingly separate factions, why did Lizzie seem to know Lady Matlock, and most disturbingly to me, why right after the "proposal" did Darcy thoughts state "now he was about to again undertake marriage with a woman who did not want him" ?!!!? I held on to the hopes there would be clarification further into the book, but it just kept feeling like I only had parts of the manuscript.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needs tons of revisions and added details. I am rating it a 2.5 star!!!

I really don't know what to say in this review!!! Except after reading other reviews, I am astonished how varying the interest this book has on everyone. I guess all I can do it recommend you to read Barb's review because she sums up my feeling exactly. I only rounded up to a 3 star because of my ingrained tendency of anything 2.5 and over is rounded up, and because the premise was a good idea, just poorly executed. It was as if the author published a rough draft!!!! I encourage Mary Weston to pull the book, make TONS of revisions and add in details that were left out, then republish. Otherwise I DO NOT recommend this book to others.

[Christine Rice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not quite sure what to say

The positives: not many spelling or grammatical errors.

The negatives: disjointed. Did not flow well.
Elizabeth and Lady Matlock appear to already know each other the first time they meet?
Richard was in Meryton when Darcy and Elizabeth become engaged, but "hears" of the wedding several weeks later?

Several more errors in continuity. The idea was good, but it could have used some better development.

[Verity Hopkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hit and miss

Whilst the premise is good and the writing acceptable, I feel like I read an excerpt from a forthcoming book. There appeared to be chunks of the story missing, people appear and events happen out if nowhere for which no explanation is given. I thought it was very disjointed.

[Madenna U · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mishap at the Netherfield ball has Elizabeth & Darcy forced together from the beginning. The story has a mystery as characters are targeted resulting in injury which helps point out how much they care for each other. Also, everyone else seems to see their love but themselves. My favorite part is the role of the cat! This story was a very enjoyable read.

[Sadia Narvaez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Confusing and out of character.

There needs to be an extra chapter before the first to explain what is going on. Like, how did Lady Catherine get there so quickly?

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh, my! The writing itself in this story is actually pretty good, but the story itself is confusing, to put it mildly. Darcy seems to be perceived, not as haughty and arrogant, but as a dangerous man by nearly everyone. There's a statement that clearly indicates he's been married (or perhaps betrothed?) previously with some kind of horrific outcome, but no further explanation is provided. And for a man who does not want to marry Elizabeth, Darcy seems strangely reluctant to explain the innocent circumstances when the Hursts believe they have caught him groping her breast.

Those are only the tip of the iceberg in this muddle of a plot. The people populating this book behave wildly out of character, starting with the Hursts, who are sincerely concerned about Elizabeth and assume the worst of Darcy. Lady Catherine never mentions her daughter. (Is Anne dead? Did she never even exist?) Mr. Bennet and Darcy appear to conspire to convince Lady C. that this is a love match in order to get her approval. Miss Bingley is described as a gossip and that there's no hiding the story once she knows. It doesn't appear that she's interested in marrying Darcy herself. This just covers the early chapters, but other bizarre inconsistencies turn up throughout the book.

The main storyline, as far as I can tell, is the sexual tension between this man and his wife. He has decided he wants to put as much distance as possible between them yet he can't bring himself to actually leave her. She is so innocent and naive that she doesn't understand her body's arousal when she's near him and interprets it as being agitated or upset. Wickham flits in and out of the story in impossible circumstances (how does the son of a steward and/or a junior militia officer get these invitations among such illustrious company?), creating mayhem whenever he appears and providing the turning point for the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth.

The basic premise is not unique, and the surrounding plot is filled with holes.

[Les · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an odd book. When Darcy seems to comprise Lizzy at the Netherfield ball they marry and Darcy arbitrarily decides that he won't consummate his marriage. Then there are a bunch of dramatic sequences that seem rather unrelated and jump from one to another without necessary reasoning.

[Allison · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was a little strange. Occasionally I got the feeling that several sentences or paragraphs or even pages had been accidentally deleted during the editing process. There were definitely coherency issues throughout. Also the personalities of many of the characters seemed off. This was just odd.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing leads to another in this book and thankfully for the best in the end.

[Sandra Gebhard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disjointed and overall frustrating

There were a number of abrupt shifts in the story that left you feeling like you'd skipped a few pages or something. Where was Elizabeth's backbone? Both she & Darcy behaved like a couple of insecure teenagers. There's like half a sex scene. I couldn't decide if the author was going for a PG-13 or an "R" type scene because it was more than the former but less than the latter.

[Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written. There were no breaks or transitions between events. It felt like the author had not even read Pride and Prejudice. A lot of characters did not even remotely resemble the original character and there were no explanations for changes to events or characters personalities. This might be the strangest variation I have read.

[Anna Marie Ordonez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but confusing

Although, I liked it, I felt I had started somewhere in the middle. Darcy thought Lizzy hated him, Bingley and Jane were already courting. There was no introduction or backstory to give the reader some background.