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The Caroline Complication: a Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet Variation
Convinced that he isn't destined to fall in love, Fitzwilliam Darcy proposes to Caroline Bingley and plans to live a proper, if loveless, life. However, when his friend Charles Bingley moves to an estate in Hertfordshire, Darcy meets a witty young lady that he can't get out of his mind. Which will win - love or duty?
102 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 17, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 21, 2017
This is a strange, rapid, hasty P&P variation. Things happen out of order and seemingly randomly. The story is so short that much of the action defies belief.
Beginning as P&P does and then moving to the assembly we are shocked to learn that Mr. Darcy is engaged to Miss Bingley. And yet he manages to insult Lizzy though I find the insult really silly. Darcy tells Miss Bingley she is the best dressed woman there; isn't that something one would say to their fiance? But Lizzy is determined to hate Darcy. Now Darcy is ENGAGED so he really shouldn't be on her radar at all.
As the book is short the author could have chosen to select a segment of P&P but instead she opted for a time warp and to pretty much shove it all in. So not long after the Assembly Mr. Bingley has his ball, then the next day Jane is invited by the sisters Bingley to dine. Lizzy walks to Netherfield, we learn that Darcy proposed to Miss Bingley because Georgiana likes her (WTF), Jane gets better goes home, then Collins arrives, Wickham arrives and flirts with Lizzy, Collins is turned to Mary, proposes, is accepted and Mr. Bingley throws another ball for Mary's engagement, Caro is in London (so who is his hostess?), Wickham is AWOL, Lizzy fights with Darcy, Mary & Collins wed and Bingley hosts the wedding breakfast [that is nice of him but since he is unrelated to Mary or Collins it is also highly inappropriate], Lizzy & Darcy fight about Wickham. . Then the residents of Netherfield decamp to London, the Gardiners come Lizzy & her aunt discuss Wickham and Darcy. Jane goes to London, Lizzy goes to Hunsford, sees Darcy learns that Darcy separated Jane and Bingley, Darcy confesses his love [I find this completely out of character, Darcy is nothing if not proper and mannered, if he was engaged to Miss Bingley he would never approach Lizzy or any other woman]. But he does then leaves. Lizzy returns to Longbourn and learns she is to leave the next week for Derbyshire with the Gardiners. They get to Pemberley and Darcy is there. She meets Georgiana, he confesses his love for her [again utterly out of character and manners; an engaged man addressing another woman would be a rake] She leaves and returns to Longbourn, Bingley comes back and proposes to Jane (literally the same day first meeting), Lydia writes a letter saying she still hopes to be the first married [this is a neat trick since Mary has been married for months], Darcy gives Caro a set down regarding manners, Bingley throws another ball, Caroline disappears. Now the story gets very silly Caro is returned to Netherfield now wed and Darcy is free to marry Lizzy so he immediately proposes. Sorry 3 dances, a couple of walks and several fights to not a courtship make. I can't fathom why Lizzy would fall in love with Darcy or why Darcy would fall in love with Lizzy. Plus you would think he would heed the adage "Once bitten, twice shy" and not jump in with two feet. But then this wouldn't be a rushed P&P Variation so he & Lizzy wed with Jane and Bingley and they all live HEA.
My style of the review, run on sentences, is meant to mimic the way I felt when I was reading it. For a book with Caroline in the title she is barely involved.
Beginning as P&P does and then moving to the assembly we are shocked to learn that Mr. Darcy is engaged to Miss Bingley. And yet he manages to insult Lizzy though I find the insult really silly. Darcy tells Miss Bingley she is the best dressed woman there; isn't that something one would say to their fiance? But Lizzy is determined to hate Darcy. Now Darcy is ENGAGED so he really shouldn't be on her radar at all.
As the book is short the author could have chosen to select a segment of P&P but instead she opted for a time warp and to pretty much shove it all in. So not long after the Assembly Mr. Bingley has his ball, then the next day Jane is invited by the sisters Bingley to dine. Lizzy walks to Netherfield, we learn that Darcy proposed to Miss Bingley because Georgiana likes her (WTF), Jane gets better goes home, then Collins arrives, Wickham arrives and flirts with Lizzy, Collins is turned to Mary, proposes, is accepted and Mr. Bingley throws another ball for Mary's engagement, Caro is in London (so who is his hostess?), Wickham is AWOL, Lizzy fights with Darcy, Mary & Collins wed and Bingley hosts the wedding breakfast [that is nice of him but since he is unrelated to Mary or Collins it is also highly inappropriate], Lizzy & Darcy fight about Wickham. . Then the residents of Netherfield decamp to London, the Gardiners come Lizzy & her aunt discuss Wickham and Darcy. Jane goes to London, Lizzy goes to Hunsford, sees Darcy learns that Darcy separated Jane and Bingley, Darcy confesses his love [I find this completely out of character, Darcy is nothing if not proper and mannered, if he was engaged to Miss Bingley he would never approach Lizzy or any other woman]. But he does then leaves. Lizzy returns to Longbourn and learns she is to leave the next week for Derbyshire with the Gardiners. They get to Pemberley and Darcy is there. She meets Georgiana, he confesses his love for her [again utterly out of character and manners; an engaged man addressing another woman would be a rake] She leaves and returns to Longbourn, Bingley comes back and proposes to Jane (literally the same day first meeting), Lydia writes a letter saying she still hopes to be the first married [this is a neat trick since Mary has been married for months], Darcy gives Caro a set down regarding manners, Bingley throws another ball, Caroline disappears. Now the story gets very silly Caro is returned to Netherfield now wed and Darcy is free to marry Lizzy so he immediately proposes. Sorry 3 dances, a couple of walks and several fights to not a courtship make. I can't fathom why Lizzy would fall in love with Darcy or why Darcy would fall in love with Lizzy. Plus you would think he would heed the adage "Once bitten, twice shy" and not jump in with two feet. But then this wouldn't be a rushed P&P Variation so he & Lizzy wed with Jane and Bingley and they all live HEA.
My style of the review, run on sentences, is meant to mimic the way I felt when I was reading it. For a book with Caroline in the title she is barely involved.
July 10, 2017
This short novella follows much of canon but for one small problem...when Netherfield is leased at last it is rumored that a friend to the man leasing is engaged to the sister of that man. Did I say small problem?
The Bingley of this story is much more inclined to give a ball or a wedding breakfast but again, he is easily persuaded to believe Jane Bennet is only doing as her mother commands; that is to accept the attentions of a wealthy and amiable man. Elizabeth is very well pleased for Jane and little inclined to care one way or another about Bingley's friend. At times she even thinks to herself that Caroline's behavior is just punishment to her fiancé and if Darcy is chagrined by such "He was the one who proposed to her".
The militia comes to town, Elizabeth finds Wickham attractive and, of course, believes his lies about Darcy. But when Wickham does not show up at the Netherfield Ball and it is learned he has left for London, the townsfolk begin to have second thoughts about his behavior. He left without any explanation?...to his friends and colleagues?
Collins marries but there is a change here. Elizabeth goes to visit the couple in Kent and Darcy has his foot in his mouth. Oh, he does not propose but when Elizabeth throws all her accusations in his face and says how she knows he holds her in disdain and is always staring at her to find fault...he blurts out how his feeling are just the opposite!
Where to go from there? Darcy is an honorable man. Elizabeth is not one to have any relationship other than marriage. And with his disclosures she begins to rethink her opinions.
This story is a sweet remolding of canon with a more happy ending than one might imagine on learning from the onset that Mr. Darcy is engaged to Caroline Bingley.
The Bingley of this story is much more inclined to give a ball or a wedding breakfast but again, he is easily persuaded to believe Jane Bennet is only doing as her mother commands; that is to accept the attentions of a wealthy and amiable man. Elizabeth is very well pleased for Jane and little inclined to care one way or another about Bingley's friend. At times she even thinks to herself that Caroline's behavior is just punishment to her fiancé and if Darcy is chagrined by such "He was the one who proposed to her".
The militia comes to town, Elizabeth finds Wickham attractive and, of course, believes his lies about Darcy. But when Wickham does not show up at the Netherfield Ball and it is learned he has left for London, the townsfolk begin to have second thoughts about his behavior. He left without any explanation?...to his friends and colleagues?
Collins marries but there is a change here. Elizabeth goes to visit the couple in Kent and Darcy has his foot in his mouth. Oh, he does not propose but when Elizabeth throws all her accusations in his face and says how she knows he holds her in disdain and is always staring at her to find fault...he blurts out how his feeling are just the opposite!
Where to go from there? Darcy is an honorable man. Elizabeth is not one to have any relationship other than marriage. And with his disclosures she begins to rethink her opinions.
This story is a sweet remolding of canon with a more happy ending than one might imagine on learning from the onset that Mr. Darcy is engaged to Caroline Bingley.
July 11, 2017
Sometimes you know a relationship won't work but you enter it anyway, because it would be so cool if it did. ~Robert Brault
Prepare for a shock – this book is about Darcy’s betrothal … to Caroline Bingley!
Certainly Darcy doesn’t see his relationship with Caroline as “cool” but he has hopes to be moderately happy and moderately happy is all he hopes for from marriage.
He knows he will NEVER fall in love. Caroline appears to be someone who is a friend to Georgiana and he is willing to marry to ensure his sister’s happiness if not his own.
You can be happy with someone who likes you despite your faults — until you meet someone who likes your faults. – Robert Brault
And indeed, Darcy wasn’t unhappy with Caroline who likes him (uh, likes Pemberley, which of course, is faultless) UNTIL he meets Elizabeth who likes HIM and if she doesn’t exactly like his faults, she at least understands them.
The story progresses as in Canon except D/E fall in love much earlier.
I especially liked a scene where Darcy chastises Caroline for her rudeness to Elizabeth and Jane. He makes it clear that although her brother tolerates her jealous behavior, her husband will not. Very satisfying.
Caroline’s motivation for ending the betrothal – (that’s not really a spoiler, is it? Did anyone actually think they would marry?) - seemed not well-explained. Caroline seems to be giving up everything she has always valued and we don’t really see why she values her ultimate choice.
I also thought Darcy’s motivation for choosing Caroline could have been enhanced -- maybe a pre-engagement scene; maybe a small exploration of the Caroline/Georgiana friendship. Just could have been a little stronger.
And I confess – hearing the engaged couple use endearments was unsettling. Don’t read this unless you have a strong stomach!
The climax event seemed rather abrupt. A little foreshadowing would have helped here. A few hints that something wasn’t quite right with Caroline.
I appreciated the absence of typos, grammar errors, homonym errors, punctuation errors, etc. that fill so many of these stories.
This is an enjoyable romance -- a very good effort from a first-time-published author who sent me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Sometimes you have to get to know someone really well to realize you're really strangers. ~Mary Tyler Moore
Prepare for a shock – this book is about Darcy’s betrothal … to Caroline Bingley!
Certainly Darcy doesn’t see his relationship with Caroline as “cool” but he has hopes to be moderately happy and moderately happy is all he hopes for from marriage.
He knows he will NEVER fall in love. Caroline appears to be someone who is a friend to Georgiana and he is willing to marry to ensure his sister’s happiness if not his own.
You can be happy with someone who likes you despite your faults — until you meet someone who likes your faults. – Robert Brault
And indeed, Darcy wasn’t unhappy with Caroline who likes him (uh, likes Pemberley, which of course, is faultless) UNTIL he meets Elizabeth who likes HIM and if she doesn’t exactly like his faults, she at least understands them.
The story progresses as in Canon except D/E fall in love much earlier.
I especially liked a scene where Darcy chastises Caroline for her rudeness to Elizabeth and Jane. He makes it clear that although her brother tolerates her jealous behavior, her husband will not. Very satisfying.
Caroline’s motivation for ending the betrothal – (that’s not really a spoiler, is it? Did anyone actually think they would marry?) - seemed not well-explained. Caroline seems to be giving up everything she has always valued and we don’t really see why she values her ultimate choice.
I also thought Darcy’s motivation for choosing Caroline could have been enhanced -- maybe a pre-engagement scene; maybe a small exploration of the Caroline/Georgiana friendship. Just could have been a little stronger.
And I confess – hearing the engaged couple use endearments was unsettling. Don’t read this unless you have a strong stomach!
The climax event seemed rather abrupt. A little foreshadowing would have helped here. A few hints that something wasn’t quite right with Caroline.
I appreciated the absence of typos, grammar errors, homonym errors, punctuation errors, etc. that fill so many of these stories.
This is an enjoyable romance -- a very good effort from a first-time-published author who sent me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Sometimes you have to get to know someone really well to realize you're really strangers. ~Mary Tyler Moore
September 13, 2018
This plot just makes no sense. I read it on FFiction so I didn't pay for a published book. So many plot issues, where to begin. Read Leslie's review on GR. I agree with her. The resolution just makes no sense. The cahracters were inconsistent, whimsical and just odd. I originally abandonded then finished it just to see how they got out of the situation. Strange ending. Can't recommend.
August 16, 2020
The Caroline Complications.I
This was a lovely story and interesting plot. The Author made the wording in a more modern way but was done in a very clever way. Kind of like when you read a difficult text and a Teacher explains it to you! She kept to the Spirit of Jane Austen's writings, and the time period, however. It starts out with Darcy engaged to the awful Caroline Bingley, but we find out it's mainly because he didn't believe he would find True Love and Georgina wanted a sister. The plot thickens when he meets Our Lizzie!! You have to read the rest, to find out how it's resolved! Really enjoyable read, not long; but everything wrapped up nicely. A next story about their future would be fun.
This was a lovely story and interesting plot. The Author made the wording in a more modern way but was done in a very clever way. Kind of like when you read a difficult text and a Teacher explains it to you! She kept to the Spirit of Jane Austen's writings, and the time period, however. It starts out with Darcy engaged to the awful Caroline Bingley, but we find out it's mainly because he didn't believe he would find True Love and Georgina wanted a sister. The plot thickens when he meets Our Lizzie!! You have to read the rest, to find out how it's resolved! Really enjoyable read, not long; but everything wrapped up nicely. A next story about their future would be fun.
March 13, 2017
When Mr Darcy arrives at Netherfield he is already engaged to Caroline Bingley. He is content in his situation until he meets Elizabeth Bennet. How can this couple ever have an happy ending without ruining their reputations.
I enjoyed the story and the characters are so familiar. Though I would have liked to have read more about Darcy and Caroline, how their relationship had progressed up to their engagement, and how they reacted too each other while at Netherfield.
Was there any part of the story I didn't like - yes - Collins and Mary to me is a big no.
I received an ARC copy for an unbiased review.
I enjoyed the story and the characters are so familiar. Though I would have liked to have read more about Darcy and Caroline, how their relationship had progressed up to their engagement, and how they reacted too each other while at Netherfield.
Was there any part of the story I didn't like - yes - Collins and Mary to me is a big no.
I received an ARC copy for an unbiased review.
May 9, 2017
A nice enough read, but...
For dedicated JAFFs this variation would probably soothe their need to read another. But I found both the narrative and the prose simplistic and uninteresting. I prefer when a variation both builds on, and adds newness to, a classic story. In my opinion this does neither.
For dedicated JAFFs this variation would probably soothe their need to read another. But I found both the narrative and the prose simplistic and uninteresting. I prefer when a variation both builds on, and adds newness to, a classic story. In my opinion this does neither.
August 8, 2017
I loved the way everything turned out perfectly in the end (except for Caroline, of course) and how Mary got married and Lydia didn't, etc.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews