An Affectionate Heart: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Heather Moll

Are love and affection enough to overcome the pain of grief and anger?

In the spring of 1812, Elizabeth and Lydia are the only Bennet daughters still unmarried after the death of their father. Elizabeth's health and spirits worsen as she moves among relations as an unwanted, dependent sister. She returns to Mary and Mr Collins at Longbourn to learn that the neighbourhood gossip centres on the reclusive Mr Darcy.

Darcy and his sister live an isolated life in a small rented lodge near Netherfield after the events at Ramsgate. As Georgiana's health is failing, Darcy has his own regrets to bear. He tries to keep them secluded, but a young woman arrives who is determined to befriend his lonely, ill sister.

When Elizabeth receives disastrous news, she makes a daring plan to find happiness for herself while she still can. Misunderstandings and secrets abound for them both but in the end, Darcy and Elizabeth will find greater strength together than they ever had apart.

◆◆◆
This variation blends Austen's Pride and Prejudice with elements of Montgomery's The Blue Castle.
Content note: secondary character's miscarriage off page, secondary character death

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Historical Romance, Regency, Fiction, Historical, Historical Fiction

372 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2022

Reviews

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as an unpublished story and loved it. I received an ARC and am writing a review of my own free will. There are several excellent reviews already posted.

This story does have a melancholy tone for much of the book. This Elizabeth is forced to remain silent in the face of pain, insults and put-downs: some of the last from her sister, Mary, (now Mrs. Collins & mistress of Longbourn) and others from Mrs. Cuthbert, Jane's mother-in-law. Kitty is also married but only mentioned in this story. Mrs. Bennet and Lydia live with Mary but talk often of joining Jane for a season when Lydia plans to find someone to marry. Mr. Bennet died of a painful heart condition two years earlier.

Elizabeth is shuffled between Mary's and Jane's household. She now suffers chest pains and after consulting with Mr. Jones, reads from a "stolen letter" that "she" is not expected to live. She often thinks of how short her life will be and some of her actions in this tale are based on that life expectancy.

Darcy moves into Netherfield "Lodge" (the gatehouse) with Georgiana, who is never seen in public. Rumors about her relationship with him vary from "mistress" to "sister". There is much secrecy about her condition and her history, even as Elizabeth makes overtures to befriend her. Their friendship blossoms and Elizabeth becomes a main support for Georgiana.

Darcy is grateful for Elizabeth's part. However, he has more than one secret of his own which he keeps from the community as well as from Elizabeth. As their friendship changes from co-supporters of Georgiana to a warm friendship (and somewhat more) Darcy finds himself not knowing how to inform Elizabeth about his final secret. As Elizabeth expects to die and has forbidden Darcy to speak of such, he finds that rule a hamper to his honesty.

As a reader you can understand both positions and might shake your head at the dilemma. There are some sad events in this story: one is more looking back at an event and the guilt associated with it on Darcy's part.

I highly recommend this story. There are some MA scenes but one could skip over those. The rest of the story is so compelling that I would urge you to read this despite those scenes. Yes, there is angst, galore!

[Ree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional Read
This novel has a very different beginning from most Pride and Prejudice variations. Mr. Bennet has died of a bad heart. At 21, Elizabeth has an occasional visit with the Gardiners but primarily splits her time living with Jane and her family in London and, Mr. and Mrs. Collins (Mary) at Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet and 16 year-old Lydia also live with them. Kitty is also married and lives away from Meryton. Bingley never leases Netherfield and has only minor mentions in this story.

The Collinses are horrible, especially Mary, who resents anyone who doesn’t acknowledge her elevated status as Mistress of Longbourn. Because Elizabeth is so dependent on them for shelter, she feels she must hold back from expressing her more impertinent opinions. Even though Mary is mean, Ms. Moll wrote a unique portrayal of her here. She’s a Mary you can love to hate in my opinion. Well done.

Darcy has come to Hertfordshire with a very ill Georgiana—and to protect a secret. He has leased the Netherfield gatehouse and hides his wealth and true identity. The reclusive Darcys are the subject of gossip in Meryton. Elizabeth will befriend them eventually, seeking company away from the misery of Longbourn and wishing to aid Georgiana.

Since Mr Bennet’s death, Elizabeth has issues with her heart. When she reads a letter from the apothecary not meant for her eyes, she comes to believe her condition is terminal. This will lead to actions that will change the circumstances of her expectedly short life.

In this very well-written and emotional story, there are misunderstandings, secrets, grief, friendships and love, and while there is sadness in the story, there is a very happy ending. The tender moments of friendship between Georgiana and Elizabeth, and between ODC as they grieve touched my heart. They will both come to discover each has an affectionate heart.

I’ve loved all of Heather Moll’s books and this one, with a little inspiration from L.M. Montgomery’s The Blue Castle, is no exception. I definitely recommend it.

Mature content.

I received an advance copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

I also purchased the published version for my Kindle library.

September 23, 2022 - Audible review

Having first read this book when it was released on Kindle, I was very excited upon learning the audiobook was to become a reality and couldn’t wait to download it. A better narrator and performer could not have been chosen as, in my opinion, Stevie Zimmerman is the absolute Queen of narrators in the JAFF genre. She presents the very best and worst of the characters accordingly. In this book, which I felt was a very emotional story, she brings the characters Ms. Moll wrote even more to life and expresses the emotions of our beloved characters in a very real and outstanding way, as she always does. She delivers an exceptional performance and narration for an extraordinary and unforgettable book.

[Carole (in Canada) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 4.5*

"A household headed by a brother-in-law is the least congenial for a poor unmarried sister!" (quote from the book)

I love outside-the-box variations and when I saw the cover and read the premise of this one, I knew I had to own and read it! Having never read 'Blue Castle' by L.M. Montgomery where some of the inspiration was from, I went in only knowing Jane Austen's 'Pride & Prejudice'.

"To be poor and dependent was more of a galling bitterness than to be unloved by a man." (quote from the book)

This is an intense, emotional and character driven story. Elizabeth Bennet at twenty-one is dependent on her brother-in-laws and shuffled between Jane's family in London and Mary's at Longbourn. She is constantly belittled but needs to keep the peace. This constant barrage has worn her down, and she finds herself struggling mentally and physically.

"How could a man who had won his young wife with a few lines of poetry turn out to be such a dull creature?" (quote from the book)

Jane was married at fifteen to Mr. Cuthbert and lives with him, their four boys and her domineering mother-in-law who wont stop harping on Elizabeth and her unmarried state. Mary married Mr. Collins at seventeen because she was the oldest present when Mr. Collins arrived to take over Longbourn after the untimely death of Mr. Bennet. As you can imagine, they are small-minded, parsimonious and pedantic. Mary has revealed a cruel streak due to her jealousies and lack of confidence. She is the 'Mistress of Longbourn' and woe betide anyone who tries to overlook that. I so wanted to tear a strip off of both of them.

"Good heavens, these two are fools without an original thought in their heads." (quote from the book)

Upon Elizabeth's return to Longbourn after her visit to Jane is over, she learns that Netherfield Lodge has been let by a man who few know nothing about. Some say he is keeping his mistress at the lodge and others his sister. Gossip prefers the former. Mr. and Mrs. Collins have decreed that she stay away from the man...now that was like waving a red flag in front of a bull!

"An argument of a thousand words took place in a silence of two seconds." (quote from the book)

Elizabeth's first impression of Mr. Darcy is just as poor as in canon. However, Elizabeth learns that his sister is ill and decides to make herself known to her. Besides, she needs to relieve the boredom and loneliness that is her life and maybe make a new friend. Mrs. Bennet and Lydia still reside at Longbourn, but all they talk of is when Lydia will marry once she visits with Jane in the autumn. Despite their self-absorption, they too are dependent, and I could not fully fault them.

"Darcy could understand her wanting something to control, of having the power of choice over her own life." (quote from the book)

I was completely swept up in this heartbreaking story of Georgiana and her poor health, the shocking news Elizabeth discovers of her own, and the sparring between her and Mr. Darcy that added such intensity to this tale. His love and devotion to his sister shines a different light on him. But he harbours secrets that only adds a deeper layer of pain and guilt to his conscious. My tears fell many times as my emotions mirrored those of Elizabeth, Darcy and Georgiana. I wanted to comfort to them.

"In the past weeks, he had unwittingly kindled a flame in her heart for something more than companionship and respect." (quote from the book)

As emotionally intense as this story is, there is a beacon of light that carries you through. There are satisfying resolutions that show love can heal even the weakest heart. The only quibble I had was that it took a touch longer for the two of them to finally reach their understanding, but at least the story didn't completely end when they did. Yes, I do like an epilogue, but this ended in a very satisfying way for me.)

I highly recommend this 'outside-the-box' rendering of our beloved couple. (Mature Content)

[J. W. Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Grief does not change you […]. It reveals you.” –John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

SPOILER ALERT: This review may contain *** SPOILERS ***

>>Rating: mature: mild cursing, after 88% descriptions of lovemaking between a married couple.
>>Angst Level: high and intense at times: I suggest: taking medication, drinking calming tea or a shot of a little something, calling for your salts, and having a fainting couch nearby: just saying
>>Source: borrowed KU [5-26-22] with no expectations of a review. The views and opinions are my own
>>Trope: Alternate Universe: Mr. Bennet died, MOC [marriage of convenience], death of other characters
>>Tissue Alert: Good Gosh… this was a snot fest, have a box handy, a large box
>>Timeline: consequences after Ramsgate. Bingley doesn’t lease Netherfield. Jane married another. Mary married Collins and was mistress of Longbourn
>>Themes: misinformation, justice vs vengeance, forgiveness, mercy, enduring the hard times, an abiding love.

I cannot do this book justice in a review. There are many wonderful reviews out there that should be read for the outline. This story has absolutely crushed me. Heather Moll should be ashamed of herself for what she has done to me. [Snicker] Whew! I am a wreck. I drank all my cooking sherry and cooking wines, my fan is a floppy broken mess, and I am a quivering wreck with no nerves left to speak of. Mrs. Bennet should be so lucky. Talk about your snot fest. I’ve cried my eyes out. Dang! This was good.

Bennet had died, Mary married Collins and was now mistress of Longbourn and she gloried in it. This prideful, self-righteous, pedant lorded over her mother and unmarried sisters. Poor Jane, married at 15-years of age, was now in a marriage dominated by her husband’s rude controlling mother. Her husband was a workaholic stock trader/broker [my modern term] devoted to his trading prowess and was keeping his wife barefoot and pregnant, as my grandma used to say. Oh, joy. Kitty met a sailor friend of Jane’s husband and she was now married. That left Elizabeth and Lydia unmarried and still at home and under the control of sister Mary and her officious husband. Lydia was too young to be of use to anyone so it was left to Elizabeth to rotate between London and Longbourn. She was made useful doing those things no one else wanted to do. Uncle and Aunt Gardiner were in the Canadas on business. Elizabeth felt totally alone.

“LOVE is made up of a strong affection and patience whiles LUST is made up of a strong affection and impatience. Affection is common to them, but patience is not common.” –Israelmore Ayivor

Elizabeth then met the new people at the Netherfield Lodge and her life changed forever. Oh-My-Goodness. This was too much. I’ve put this book down half a dozen times to calm my nerves. I’m in my own period of mourning, then my dear friend recently lost her spouse, and I attended that gut-wrenching funeral. It was all too much. Once I managed to bring myself under good regulation, I was able to pick this book back up and finish it. Whew!

“I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.” –J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

The ending took a while to wrap up. Maybe it could have been trimmed a bit to lessen the grief and introspection. I missed having an epilogue. I liked what Darcy did with Wickham. That SBRB [scum-bag-rat-bastard] deserved his punishment. I was still amazed that the wretch didn’t get it. That type of rake/scoundrel never gets it. It is beyond their comprehension that they are NOT entitled to anything. Mercy is given when it is not deserved. Darcy will sleep better because he took Elizabeth’s advice. I can only hope I can sleep better. I may never sleep again. Thank you very much, Heather Moll. I highly recommend this high angst story for a truly different side to the Darcy and Elizabeth love story. It was amazing. Please take what I said with a grain of salt. I adored this Darcy and Elizabeth.

“The darker the night, the brighter the stars,
The deeper the grief, the closer is God!”
–Apollon Maykov

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

And he said, "Someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dying."

Like tomorrow was a gift
And you've got eternity
To think about what you'd do with it,
What did you do with it,
What can I do with it,
What would I do with it.





Absolutely fabulous P & P alternative universe

We go wildly off canon with Jane married to that man who wrote her poetry at 15

Mr Bennet long cold in his grave
Mary (who is a total cooze) married to a Mr Collins who never took his position as a rector

And a mysterious man and his sister (or rumored mistress ) who are living at the Netherfield gate house

An ailing Lizzy Bennet who is scorned as a spinster at the ripe old age of 21 and who shuffles between family members disdained by many

There are a lot of awful, nasty people in this story
There are also some mainly missing the Bingleys barely make an appearance and the Gardiners are out of the country

Warning: the is a lot of verbal and emotional abuse and the death of a beloved character

Definitely for the mature reader there are two steamy love scene’s between a married couple

[wosedwew · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you take to heart every negative thing people say about you, you will die of a “heart attack”. There are some things you should ignore. ~ Author Unknown

“An Affectionate Heart” begins with an unhappy Elizabeth Bennet. Mr. Bennet has died, leaving Mr. Collins in charge at Longbourn. The former Mary Bennet is Mrs. Collins and is determined to run her own household despite her Mother’s residence. Jane married Robert Cuthbert when she was fifteen. She lives in London with her husband, his widowed mother, and their sons. Kitty married at seventeen. Lydia is sixteen and still unmarried.

Elizabeth, at twenty, divides her time between Longbourn and London, staying with Jane’s family. Neither house welcomes her. Jane is kind, her husband solely involved in his business ventures, and her mother-in-law in charge. Mary and her husband consider Elizabeth a spinster and a leech.

Quote from the book: When her thoughts passed over facing Mrs. Cuthbert at breakfast, returning to Mr. Collins’s home and suffering his and Mary’s pedantic speeches, listening to her mother’s laments over her eldest unmarried daughter’s prospects, the feeling of everything in her life being dull and insipid, the sensation of weariness with her constant removal from one set of people to another, Elizabeth felt another pain in her chest, localised around her heart.

Mr. Bennet had died from heart trouble, suffering intense pains until the end. Elizabeth feels chest tightness and believes she will die as her father did. Her imminent death becomes a fact of life for her.

She smiled and there it was again, that aching pressure in his chest. Love, or a heart attack. Kind of the same thing. ~ Kristan Higgins

At Longbourn, gossip centers around a reclusive new neighbor living at the Netherfield gatehouse. Darcy is the man’s name; other than that, few facts are known so supposition rules the village. With only a few servants and no carriage, he cannot have more than a few hundred pounds a year. He is living with a young woman he has been seen embracing! Some claim the woman is his sister; others are convinced she is his mistress! A woman who has lost her virtue — living right there in Meryton!

Quote from the book: Mrs. Bennet leant forward and dropped her voice. “Sir William said he heard from his housekeeper, whose sister helps with the washing at Netherfield Lodge once a week, that she is an invalid, and that is why she is not seen in the neighbourhood.”

Collins is the most judgmental person in the village; instructing all in his household to shun the neighbors. Mr. Darcy is included in an invitation to Lucas Lodge and becomes acquainted with the Bennets. Elizabeth visits Netherfield Lodge to form a friendship with his sister, Georgiana. She learns the truth about Georgiana’s illness.

Quote from the book: Could he say the words aloud? He had been lying to himself for so long it had begun to feel natural. He was not in denial; he just felt crushing despair. “My sister is wasting away before my eyes. Georgiana will die. No one can say whether she will last for two months or two years, but she is in constant pain, she will never recover, and any attempt to move her will hasten her death.”

Elizabeth makes a suggestion designed to help both the young women. The idea is accepted and implemented, although Elizabeth does not know the truth about the Darcys’ financial situation. Lies of omission become harder to explain.

And my heart hurt. Bad. Every beat sent an ache rocketing through my body. I was having a heart attack. Or more likely, my heart had just broken. ~ Darynda Jones

I read this story years ago when it was posted online. It is a unique story of loss and love; grief, vengeance, and acceptance. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys JAFF.

When you have a good heart,
You help too much.
You trust too much.
You give too much.
You love too much.
And it always seems you hurt the most.
~ Author Unknown

The author gave me an early copy of this book, with no promise of a review.

[Sam H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

After seeing the beautiful cover, I felt compelled to acquire the paperback version.
I am so glad I did, as this will be a reread for sure. Couldn't put it down. Not a high action story, but the emotional drama grabbed and captivated me.

Throughout most of the story there a melancholy undertone. The setting is 2 years after Mr. Bennet's death and Elizabeth's own disposition as a result. She is shunted back and forth between Longbourn where Mary is mistress being married to Collins and London, where Jane is married to a Financial trader since 15, and already has a brood of boys. Kitty is also married. Only Mrs Bennet and Lydia are left at home with the Collins and Elizabeth.

On her return to Longbourn we learn more of why she is so affected, from the treatment and words of her family (shudder). When she sees an opportunity to befriend a sick young woman she grabs it, despite the stern and uncivil older brother. The friendship blossoms and Elizabeth continues to visit with grudging familial permission. When Elizabeth learns fatal news about herself, she decides to take her fate in to her own hands.

The continuing relationships between Elizabeth, Georgiana and Darcy unfold ever so lyrically under the umbrella of death's pain. This author did a fantastic job combining the saddest aspects of life with the most vulnerable emotions of humanity. I loved reading of ODC so slowly learning to care for one another through the process of offering comfort and consolation.

This is an altered Elizabeth, she is muted now compared to how lively she was before her father died. Darcy doesn't know the real her.
Darcy is also a different man. He is weighed down by guilt, anger and loss. His pride is there, but not as obviously manifested as in canon.
I feel these dynamics in their characters is what makes the situation they find themselves in and it's conclusion, work so well.

If you don't mind scenes that will make you cry, this is a must read.

[Suzan Lauder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not perfect, but since I kept a few notes of the author's lovely prose, I couldn't very well knock off part of a star for fewer than average technical glitches, could I? Besides, I cried!

Technical review:
- Plot is well thought out and complete with no tangents or holes and contains special twists that throw the reader for a loop. Unique premise.
- Pacing is regular throughout, with no slow spots. Heavier on the narrative than dialogue.
- Angst (dramatic tension) is moderate throughout, with a few high spots.
- Large blocks of telling with some filter words in a mostly showing book.
- Third person alternating, deep point of view done well.
- Good Regency language, with no exceptionally difficult words. Four non-Regency words or phrases, six contractions, four Americanisms, two homophones, a misused phrase, and an overused word. Some exceptionally memorable prose.
- Periods should have been used with Mr. and Mrs. since they were used in the Regency, otherwise, no punctuation problems.
- On numerous occasions, the author stated that there was no punishment for seducing a young girl. This is wrong. Statutory rape was age 15 in 1810 (two years' jail time), and seducing a lady for purposes of marrying her for her dowry was punishable by two to five years' jail time. (Thomas Edlyne Tomlins, The Law Dictionary...) This would have applied to Mrs. Younge as well. People in the Regency would be well aware of this law, and therefore this would comprise some of E's shock at Wickham's perfidy in canon. This information has been widely disseminated by me in two of my novels and on social media since 2019. However, if you can misinterpret how the food is set on the table, maybe you didn't read the end notes. Twice.
- Scene setting was good for a book of this type, showing the situations by using the senses to enhance the story, though the visual was leaned upon the most. The Regency research done was exceptional. Details helped the feeling of being there, and as noted before, the language of that detail overtook the very few exceptions to proper Regency wording. E.g., literature, gaol setup, medicines.
- The romance development was realistic and tugged at the heartstrings. I had teary moments at 60%, 65%, and 85%, much more than your typical excellent JAFF book. Causing me to have tears immediately puts a book among my faves. Some might criticize the protagonists' forgiveness as too easy, but those people do this in the case of every book. I personally think that part was balanced to the depth of the sins.
- The cover is very good, reaching out to the passing reader and saying "buy me" for its unique look, colour balance, and overall balance. Its size is perfect for the Amazon thumbnail. The pictures also tell some of the story of the novel. I admire the work that went into making this perfect.

The book is in my coveted "loved it" folder, where only the best of the five-star books go. To gush too much on the story would be to reveal spoilers that I didn't know when I read it, and my expectations were in acceptance of sadness, the author is such a good writer. No wonder this book keeps turning up on the "Best of" lists! Congratulations, Heather Moll. Keep 'em coming!

Disclaimer: I'm a JAFF author, and some might claim this review is a conflict of interest. However, I was a reader first, and my reviews are honest and impartial. I write them for the benefit of both the reader and the author.

[Michelle David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and poignant

I don’t want to say too much and spoil the book for anyone but it’s a must read. It’s way off canon but a beautiful and poignant story that’s going to get you so emotional your chest will hurt and you will need your best handkerchiefs at hand. Another wonderful addition to her body of work and I hope she keeps writing for a long time to come.

[Rita Deodato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Published at:
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...

An Affectionate Heart by Heather Moll is one of the most powerful austenesque books I’ve read.

In this story, Elizabeth and Lydia are the only Bennet daughters still unmarried after the death of their father, and despite the rumors circulating in Meryton, Elizabeth decides to show the mysterious Mr. Darcy and the young lady living with him some kindness. Her actions will trigger an interesting relationship between the 3 characters and allow a beautiful, yet heart wrenching story to develop.

The plot in this book deviates immensely from the original P&P storyline, and I have to admit that it was hard believing in some of the secondary characters attitudes. It didn’t make much sense for Elizabeth to be treated as a spinster when she was only 21, and it wasn’t plausible for Mary and Mr. Collins to treat Elizabeth so cruelly and in such a blunt manner in front of everyone, but the book is incredibly well written and engrossing since the initial pages, so I was able to forget about these details, and focus on the emotions that were being transmitted in the book’s pages. Once you suspend your disbelief in these details, An Affectionate Heart becomes an emotional and intense book filled with tension-built scenes that shake the reader to the core.

I loved the cozy setting of the book, and the proximity it brought to the characters. I loved the depth the author gave each main character, and the raw emotions that poured out of the book. I loved the pace and the fact that the characters were given time to grieve, recover, hope, and love. Nothing felt rushed, nor repetitive as the author took the time to explore the characters feelings in a believable manner. I loved the slow yet intense romance that Elizabeth and Darcy lived in this story. Their bond was unique and something other people (except the reader, of course) will never understand. The strenght of their connection in this book is what all austenesque books should aim to have. I loved Col. Fitzwilliam’s knowledgeable approach, and I loved Lydia and Mrs. Bennet’s kindness in the middle of a terrible situation. In fact, Lydia’s visit to Mr. Darcy was one of the most powerful scenes I’ve ever seen, and it literally made me cry. I don’t cry often with books, so this just proves the writer’s ability to transport me into the story and feel exactly what Darcy was feeling.

Even though I did have a quibble with how Elizabeth was treated, not because I don’t like to witness that, but because it was not very believable, this book left such a mark in me because of the intense feelings it created, that I have to give it 5 stars.

Some books are merely enjoyable and allow the reader to have a good time, but often get erased from our memory or mixed up with previous stories; other books are memorable, and you’ll remember them years after having read them. An Affectionate Heart falls into the second category.

Summing up, An Affectionate Heart is a powerful, intense, and well written book that is not easily forgotten. The reader is transported into the story and cannot help to feel the raw emotions that the characters are feeling. It has character development, depth, and it is a tale that approaches the many different shapes of love, grief, hope and respect. I highly recommend this book to all readers and consider it a must read for austenesque fans.

[Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What If Fatal Illnesses Brought Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Together?

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Source: Gift from Author

TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation

THE PREMISE: Elizabeth Bennet suffers indignities and malignities as an unmarried daughter that is a burden to her family. Her freedoms and pleasures are in severe deficit at Longbourn, but Elizabeth fills her days with purpose and companionship when she meets an ailing neighbor. Georgiana Darcy and her supposedly disreputable brother keep to themselves at Netherfield Lodge while Georgiana convalesces, and an unique relationship begins to develop between all three…

MY THOUGHTS:

The premise, title, and cover all point to this being an emotionally-gripping read, and I am here for it! I love the unpredictability and newness with exploring an outside of canon story, and this premise has quite a few interesting deviations, such as the Darcys living a quiet life at Netherfield without the Bingleys, Mary marrying Mr. Collins, the Gardiners being in Canada, and Elizabeth receiving some life-changing news.

Not only did Heather Moll dream up an inventive and compelling premise with this emotionally-charged Pride and Prejudice variation, she executed it masterfully – both with the construction of the story and with conveying of the characters’ emotional journeys. The story opens with intriguingly new, yet plausible dynamics; the plot unfolds effortlessly vacillating between tension, tenderness, and tragedy; relationships and conflicts develop gradually with keen and introspective depth; and the conclusion delivers on all expectations in the most gratifying of ways. I was excessively impressed and pleased.

And now let me say a word about the emotions in this story. Friends, I was deeply and emotionally-invested in this tale. Through the evocative prose and internal thoughts of these characters, I felt so attuned to the myriad of feelings and mindsets experienced. The despair, the helplessness, the guilt and regret were all so tangible. But so were the determination, the acceptance, the kind admiration, and the unspoken love. It is not every author that can effectively convey such a diverse grouping of emotions with such deft skill and nuance. These emotions stirred and consumed the reader, and I loved feeling such strong connections and intrinsic understanding with these characters. And I love that the most surprising of Austen characters brought me to tears by their small yet meaningful actions of care.

Lastly, I loved witnessing the unique challenges these characters faced – whether it be impending death, building your own happiness, or living with guilt and regret. There was much to admire in how these characters dealt with these life obstacles. And Heather Moll beautifully tempered any melancholy and anguish these characters endured, with rich rewards of healing, growth, and romance. And the romance is just all the things. It is. All. The. Things. (NOTE: 1-2 scenes in the last few chapters are suitable for Mature Audiences only.)

An Affectionate Heart is an exquisite and heart-wrenching Pride and Prejudice variation filled with inventive deviations and emotional depth. Readers who love sensitive and stirring tales about Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth will find much to adore and appreciate with this one! I most enthusiastically recommend!

Austenesque Reviews

[Lady Jl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be prepared for an emotional read.

This book was an emotional read for me. The pain and suffering of not only Elizabeth but that of Georgiana and Darcy was real. Elizabeth’s home life was truly awful. Who would bear that and keep silent, I know I could not.
Jane’s marriage was awful, Mary’s marriage to Mr. Collins made her more unbearable. The Darcy’s misery was just as overwhelming. Elizabeth’s strength of character makes the whole story come to life, while cheering for her to have a better life. I recommend this book with a box of tissues at hand.
I would have liked to know what happened with Lydia and the rest of the family.

[James S · Rating 5 out of 5]

very emotional story

Very emotional story. Things have gone poorly for the Bennets and the sisters futures are so-so at best. This is there story.

Lots of time with Lizzy and her story. Darcy has had more turmoil than we find in Pride and Prejudice. If anything, I find Darcy’s portrayal not emotional enough. Darcy and his uncle the Earl are very powerful men and no one really seems willing to deal with Wickham. If the justice system cannot avenge the monster Wickham is I would have thought one or both would revenged Georgiana.

[Gill M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review also posted on my blog

https://myjaffobsession.blogspot.com/...

The Longbourn estate is entailed away from the female line. The Bennet family have five daughters and no sons. So when Mr Bennet dies, his cousin Mr Collins inherits.

The Bennet sisters were pushed out into Society at an early age. The eldest, Jane married at fifteen, with Mary and Kitty marrying at seventeen.

To her mother’s eternal relief, Mary became Mrs Collins, thereby ensuring the security of the family remaining at Longbourn.

Unfortunately, Mr Collins is an obnoxious fool and Mary delights in reminding her sisters of her superior status, as Mistress of Longbourn.

Elizabeth Bennet had been her father’s favourite. Now she was an unwanted, dependent sister. Treated as a poor relation, she is shuffled from one household to the next. Worse, she has been written off as a spinster despite being only twenty.

Fitzwilliam Darcy is living in obscurity to protect his younger sister Georgiana. The consequences of an almost elopement with a fortune hunting rake, have broken Georgiana’s already fragile health.

Darcy rarely joins local Society and Georgiana is too sick. Unfortunately, the local gossips fill the vacuum with malicious speculation. Mr and Mrs Collins, being judgemental and heartless, declare the Darcys sinful and notorious.

Elizabeth returns to Longbourn to face a claustrophobic life with her controlling and condescending family. She is downtrodden and disparaged.

Desperate for some distraction from her troubles, Elizabeth makes friends with Georgiana. Mr Darcy is intially suspicious of her motives, but begins to appreciate the comfort and care she brings to Georgiana.

Life-changing news prompts Elizabeth to escape Longbourn and devote herself to Georgiana’s care. However, overcoming the obstacles of propriety requires a daring plan. A plan to combine forces with Mr Darcy!

This is a great story, but there is serious angst. I recommend a full box of tissues.

It was really hard to see Elizabeth so downtrodden and disparaged. Just the description of her controlling relations made me feel claustrophobic.

Darcy is lovely to Georgiana, but the strain of coping without family or friends for support is visible.

Watching Elizabeth and Darcy learn to love each other but thinking it unrequited made me cry.

A special bonus was having Darcy give a well deserved set down to the Collinses!

I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable book. I thought the execution of The Blue Castle premise was well done and made sense. The first half of the book was especially engaging and touching.

This book has a nice and slow build up in the development of feelings and the budding romance of Darcy and Elizabeth that was really sweet. I thought there was great chemistry and it felt believable to me. Dear, sweet Georgiana. Her story was heartbreaking, but it touched me deeply and I connected and grieved at her tragedy and I loved her and Elizabeth's relationship. She offered the love, friendship and acceptance that Georgiana deserved and needed.

I had mixed feelings on Mary. This Mary was a bit over the top. I felt like the author did a good job of capturing the essence of the character Jane Austen created, but then she took those things and put them on steroids until they became so exaggerated it was almost cartoonish. As silly and misguided as Mary is, I would never really imagine her to be intentionally cruel and spiteful and that time period would never permit her to be so overt about it, but then, it was that behavior that was necessary to develop the plot of Elizabeth's heart paroxysms. I actually liked Mrs. Bennet and Lydia in this. They may not have been refined or elegant, but they had kind intentions and were likable while still being recognizable.

My biggest problem is that it was too long and drawn out. When Georgiana died and it was only at 50%, I started to worry at there being so much story left. The story really started dragging quite a bit through the second half. Too much of characters worrying instead of taking action that it began to be a bit tedious. I would probably give the first half of the book 4.5-5 stars, but the second half was just too slow. The story was still good, but that 50% of the book could have been cut in half and still covered and resolved everything. I would give the second half probably a 3 or 3.5 since it was so drawn out. To average out, I will give it a 4.

Overall, I thought this book was clever and well written and I really enjoyed it! It could have used some content editing, but there was so much to enjoy that I have no regrets!

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one took me a looooooooong time to finish. I found the beginning tedious . . . the people who surround EB are shallow and cruel and she is broken and weary and we must experience example after example of their viciousness. It was hard for me to turn back to reading when it was so bleak. Even her friendship with a new neighbor was boring until things progressed to the point of her joining the household. After that the pace picked up and things progressed to the point where I couldn't put the book down. EB is a bit PollyAnna in her desire to be of assistance in what she believes the end of her life, but her spirit revives to something like what it once was and we cheer her on from the sidelines.
I've given the book three stars - it's perfectly fine once I got passed the first third, but that third is the one I will remember the most for how it made me feel a reluctance to pick the book up again. I love angst and conflict in a book, but really it was more as if such a pall was cast over our Elizabeth as to render her so pathetic that we think she is beyond all hope. I expected her to end up selling matches on the streets of London . . . thankfully things progress beyond that!

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️‍🩹 An Affectionate Heart ❤️‍🩹
A Pride and Prejudice Variation
✒️ Heather Moll
https://www.facebook.com/HeatherMollA...
Release Date 04/01/2022
Publisher Excessively Diverted Press
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09T4WYS5Z/...

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯

Are love and affection enough to overcome the pain of grief and anger?

In the spring of 1812, Elizabeth and Lydia are the only Bennet daughters still unmarried after the death of their father. Elizabeth's health and spirits worsen as she moves among relations as an unwanted, dependent sister. She returns to Mary and Mr Collins at Longbourn to learn that the neighbourhood gossip centres on the reclusive Mr Darcy.

Darcy and his sister live an isolated life in a small rented lodge near Netherfield after the events at Ramsgate. As Georgiana's health is failing, Darcy has his own regrets to bear. He tries to keep them secluded, but a young woman arrives who is determined to befriend his lonely, ill sister.

When Elizabeth receives disastrous news, she makes a daring plan to find happiness for herself while she still can. Misunderstandings and secrets abound for them both but in the end, Darcy and Elizabeth will find greater strength together than they ever had apart.

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

Will they be forever contented with only the bargain they made for the safety of their common interest ….

When I am sick, I never made friend with the humid Corsican weather, I usually reverse to read a favorite book or settle for a tale I will know from the beginning to bring out the right comforting sentiments.
And as the upcoming release date for this one is not so far away, I was happy to discover this version of the infamous Austen’s masterpiece.
My only regret is my foggy brain will not be able to give the right Justice to this book.

Even more when I checked before my read the few informations I found about this book.
I did not know Montgomery’s The Blue Castle, so I googled it and found I have read McCullough’s retelling, The Ladies of Missalonghi in my early twenties without knowing of its inspiration.
A book I still remember decades later, quite a feat.
So it was with this kind of contentment of a good moment in front of me that I settled on the couch with this new read.

This is a longer book than I expected, even more for my foggy brain, but I devoured it and loved it. It has everything to be a read to remember like its distinguished parent.

And even when knowing where the plot would lead the tormented heroes, I wondered how the author would bring them together, and how everything would unfold.
Elizabeth is a mere shadow of her witty full quips self, she struggles swung from one sibling’s home to another, always reminded she is the poor useless kin, belittled for simply breathing and existing simply because she “failed” to marry.
Darcy is a man tortured by his guilt and his need to exert revenge for his sister’s ill treatment. And while still a devoted brother, he is eaten in the inside by his secrets, as Lizzie is by her abusive family.
When they first meet is still under the omens of each finding the other’s disagreeable for the forsaken future, but united in their love for Darcy’s sister, Georgiana, they set a pace.
Darcy is still the proud man he is well known to be, passing judgement (with some reasons) on Elizabeth’s relatives, but able also to make the difference between those faulty of meanness and others of carelessness without intention of hurting. Elizabeth is ore subdued but her fast mind is never far, even when she is obligated by her circumstances to restrain herself from retorting.
Still, when together, they can be themselves, sharing their pain, expressing their sorrows.

But when secrets are revealed and conditions change, will the burgeoning sentiments between them shatter or be strong enough to weather these new developments.
I love how every detail was brought together to paint this elaborated revisit of two great stories all the while being fair to the heroes and giving them the closure they both needed before the beginning of the rest of their life.
An epilogue would have been most welcome, but it is only me and my love for an insight of the future beyond the famous They lived happily ever after.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 sweet onscreen lovemaking scenes.

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[Barbara K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread April 25, 2025

I knew after the first reading (see below) that I would reread this. I didn't expect it to be two years later, but here I am, having just finished it again. It's a touching and tragic story, quite different from the original P&P but well worth reading.

Review May 6, 2023

This is one of those novels that I thought about immediately rereading as soon as I finished it. It's a fresh take on Pride and Prejudice that mostly takes place in Meryton. There are so many passages I wanted to linger over, yet I also wanted to find out what happened next, so I frequently moved along too quickly to savor everything I wished to. There is tragedy and loss, but there is also romance, light teasing and banter, long walks, secrets, misunderstandings, and oh, so much that appeals to me about this novel.

This P&P variation involves lots of changes to the original story, the most important of which is that Mr. Darcy comes to Hertfordshire not with the Bingleys but with his sister, and they're leasing Netherfield Lodge, an old gatehouse, not the great house at Netherfield Park. Another important difference is that Mr. Bennet has died of a heart attack, and Mr. Collins and Mary Bennet are now married and preside over Longbourn, and not at all generously. Nearly all of Elizabeth's sisters are married, but she is left moving between one relative's household and another. Because her uncle and aunt Gardiner are on a long trip to the Canadas for business reasons, she's stuck moving between households where the company puts her under a great deal of discomfort regarding her status as a poor spinster relation, in spite of her being only twenty-one. At Jane's home in London, it's Jane's mother-in-law Mrs. Cuthbert who is a mean-spirited, constant irritation, doing everything she can to make Elizabeth feel shame and distress over her reduced status.

When Lizzy has to return to Longbourn, things are even worse.

[Talia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this one got me.

Reread: This book is so good.

Reread: Love

[lori huff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Difficult to get into

This is one of those variations wherein so much is altered that it seems that only names and locations are borrowed from the original P&P. Mr Bennett is dead. Mary is Mrs Collins, and the new mistress of Longbourn. Jane married at fifteen, and lives in London. Kitty is married to a navy captain. Lydia and Mrs Bennett live with the Collinses, while Elizabeth shuttles between Jane's home, the Gardiners, and Longbourn. The Collinses are both horrible, and take every opportunity to make Elizabeth feel inferior and unwelcome, as does Jane's mother-in-law. This results in severe heart pains for Elizabeth, and she fears that she's destined to die the same way as her father, that is dropping dead of a heart attack.

Meanwhile, Wickham seduced Georgiana in Ramsgate and got her pregnant, worsening her already consumptive condition. Darcy is hiding her out at the Netherfield Lodge, and has told his family and friends that he's taken her to Madeira for her lungs. Georgiana loses the baby, and then is in a rapid decline from her consumption. This is when Elizabeth visits her and they strike up a friendship.

All of these awful things happen right at the beginning of the story, and things just get steadily worse until about halfway through the book. There is so much unrelieved suffering and sadness for the entire first half that I was almost ready to just give up. Time after time after time, the author pounds it into our heads that things were just entirely terrible for Elizabeth, Georgiana, and Darcy. Darcy, in his anguish for Georgiana's suffering, is an awful person, not likeable at all. I felt that this period of morbid darkness was way too long, and could easily have been shortened without losing any integrity.

After that halfway point there are some glimmers of hope, thank goodness. However, Darcy continues to act strangely and out of character. There are some pretty ludicrous plot points, such as Elizabeth's absolute certainty of her fate based on a letter that doesn't even have her name on it, and her decision to approach Darcy with a shocking proposal. The characters in this story don't at all resemble their counterparts in the original P&P. I know it's a variation, but why not just create your own names if you don't intend to retain any resemblance?

The book does eventually redeem itself with some nice romance, and some satisfying comeuppances for the villains. The book is well written and well edited. Be prepared to slog through quite a bit of depressing material before you get to anything enjoyable. I recommend it with reservations.

[Buturot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Characters of P & P are present but truly most of the story deviated from the original. Jane, Mary and Kitty were married (Spoiler: sorry to Bingley -Jane fans). Mr. Darcy and Lizzy were greatly at odds with each other and the affection appears to have developed after sometime.

I love how Ms Moll changed this classic into a unique story where the characters essence were the same. There were lots of affectionate hearts in my opinion. Lots of emotionally-stimulating moments, both heart-wrenching and heart-warming. Thus prepare to suffer a little bit of "heartache" like our dear Lizzy. Lots of suprises especially the 2 new antagonists. Even Ms Bennet and Lydia will surprise you.

Highly recommend to read. (Spoiler there are lovescenes towards the end)

I have received an ARC and am voluntarly leaving a review.

[Julianna Crockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is seriously so good. Like, I can’t tell you how good.

As soon as I saw that this was inspired by L. M. Montgomery Blue Castle Island, I knew I had to read it. I adore that book, and this did not disappoint my expectations. I read through it in a little over a day.

If you love an enemies to friends to lovers, forced marriage/marriage of convenience, you’ll love this.

There are scenes you have to skip, but just a couple.

[Pemberley Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how eloquently the storyline illustrates the indignity of being a dependent woman during the regency era—what a perfect set of circumstances to bring out the worst in Mary's character. I think the author did a great job adapting the principal players to the circumstances while still keeping them in character enough to recognize them beyond their names. The plot is unique and engaging. I'll definitely reread this at some point.

[Mrs H · Rating 5 out of 5]

So satisfying

Ms Moll writes so very well. Highly recommended unusual twist on the 'marriage of convenience' trope. Excellent sketching of the characters of both Elizabeth and Darcy, and highly satisfying come-uppance for all the nasties. Only Jane's situation left me with any regret...

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this tale, Jane married the man who wrote her some poetry when she was fifteen which sets into events that Mary and Kitty married got married too. Mr. Bennet dies from a heart attack two years before this story takes place so Mr. Collins took possession of Longbourn earlier than in canon. Mary is just plain mean in this book to everybody. She has had an over-inflated ego since she married Collins. Lizzy is suffering from having anxiety attacks whenever she has an altercation with her family which makes her believe she is dying especially after she steals part of a private letter between the apothecary and his apprentice. Georgiana is dying from consumption and she and Darcy are in Meryton hiding from society which thinks they are in Madeira.

I enjoyed this book but I thought Darcy was a major asshole especially when Georgiana was dying. I get that he was under stress from that and trying to track down Wickham but that's no excuse to be a dick to your new wife. There was a mention of the Bingleys but they never actually show up in the book. If you love drama and angst this is the book for you.

*I received an advanced copy of the book from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Katja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as an unpublished WIP and enjoyed the angst and the Blue Castle vibes (one of my favorite LMM books).

[Critical Sandwich · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the P&P variations that definitely could've been its own novel with the names changed, and that's one of the few positive things I can say about it.

The plot and the emotional stakes were overall enjoyable, which is why I rate this book as 2.5 stars despite disliking so much about it.
Elizabeth being financially abused and made to feel like an old maid at her decrepit age of not-yet-one-and-twenty - loved it. Maybe it's a bit too overblown and satirized, yet I enjoyed the conflict that older Mrs Cuthbeart (Jane's mother in law), and the new Mrs Collins (nee Mary Bennet) brought. The first woman was a typical 'girls are worthless' senseless matriarch, for the second the author played up Mary's pedantry, self-righteousness and pride, as well as jealousy over prettier and livelier sisters - Mary might've suffered from cartoony villain-ry, but I also thought it was a believable path for her to have taken.

Lydia and Mrs Bennet were a highlight of the novel. And their path, just like Mary's, was believable. Mrs Bennet was a fine hostess who knew how to keep a good table. She and Mr Bennet exceeded their income, and as they saved nothing for their daughters, the question that readers often have when reading Pride&Prejudice is "what do they spend money on?". Well, besides dresses, ribbons, books and sheet music, it was probably being good hosts to their neighbors.
The Bennet matriarch might've been tone death and wasn't acting appropriate many times, but she must've known how to be a good neighbor and knew the proprieties of helping neighbors in their troubles and mourning periods.
She spends the novel lamenting over Mary's poor manners when it came to being a Mistress of Longbourn, and at times forgetting her place as a mere mother to the Mistress.
Lydia was forced to grow up under the thumb of the awful Collinses, and from the example of Jane, knew she had to pay attention to wealth when marrying. She was still inappropriate and self-sentered, but she also adhered to certain proprieties, and wanted to leave Longbourn as much as Elizabeth, and, just like Lizzy, saw marriage as the only way to do that.

What wasn't believable was how the men with 2k a year seemed to just lie around, waiting for Bennet girls to take one of them. Despite what this book tried to say, 500 pounds a year WASN'T genteel poverty. <100 pounds per year was (and people could still keep a servant girl or two on that income). If Mr Bennet died and all girls remained unwed, the 250p a year would've comfortable for their family of 5 girls and the mother. Yes, no carriage, but they'd have a comfortable home, a cook and a servant. They'd just not entertain guests beyond morning tea visits and not have new dresses and ribbons whenever they wished. (Of course, some of the girls ought to have married, and each was to take 50 pounds a year with her, so the remaining Bennets would've fallen into genteel poverty with 1 servant girl).

There were also a lot of inconsistencies when it came to income. First Mr Darcy is rumored to have 500 or so, then Elizabeth is surprised he had as much as 400, (and btw, Elizabeth bringing 50 a year WAS good for a man of 400-500, it wasn't amazing, but it was only slightly lower than expected). All the talk of money was cringe to me because of how wrong and inconsistent it was.

The "heart" issue was an interesting plot device, however it also made the novel predictable from the first page. When I first saw this on a page in an instance where Elizabeth was verbally abused, I thought "wow, this is how I feel like when I'm trying hard not to cry", so it was confusing that it was treated like a big heart problem. And in the end it turned out, Elizabeth had chest pains only when she was verbally abused & felt hopeless, and removed from bad influence of her family, she was fine. Even the stolen page and the following death of Mrs "loud and doesn't listen to the doctor" weren't surprising.
The thing that WAS surprising was how Elizabeth genuinely thought she was going to die when she felt fine after being removed from her home.
So, in short, the stakes weren't believable

Georgiana and Mr Darcy coming to live in Hertfordshire was contrived. The girl had poor lungs, and Mr Darcy thought the best place for her was in the middle of nowhere close to London? They could've stayed by the sea, not necessarily in Ramsgate or Bath, but somewhere in the vicinity or just along the coast.
So, in short, what brought the characters together wasn't believable

The language used was modern at times and took me out of the story. There were a lot of plot holes and inconsistencies.

The romance tried to be slow burn in a sense that the first kiss didn't happen until 75% but I think there's no point in slow burn if after the first kiss the characters immediately jump to bed (and only the worry over Elizabeth's health prevented them from going further). The romance was also more explicit than I expected, and even trying to scroll through the sex scenes, my eye fell on some descriptions I'd rather not have seen.

[Teresita · Rating 5 out of 5]

So different

Sweet but very sad in some chapters; I'm not sure if I could have ever imagined this happening to Elizabeth, but the story is engaging and well written.

[Melissa]

DNF at 18%. I will come back to this one.

[Lady Mercury · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was now my third or fourth reading, and still a favorite.
It remains so. Definitely! It rather gets better with every listen. I would rate more than 5 Stars if I could.

Elizabeth is living with Jane Cuthbert née Bennet for 6 months and the other 6 months she lives at Longbourn since Mr Bennet died, but at both places our heroine is definitely not happy and gets insulted and her relations even letting her know she is for sure unwanted.

One might think that is the only problem with Elizabeth but unfortunately it isn't, since Mr Bennet died 2 years ago of a heart condition, she herself suffers chest pains. When she finally consults Mr Jones (the apothecary) and afterwards reads a letter not meant for her, she thinks she would die soon.

As she is already dear friends with Georgiana (Poor girl is very ill), Elizabeth learns a little bit more about their situation. The book is Marriage of convenience, to tell you no further spoilers.

Darcy too suffers, but by guilt and anger. It eventually will get explained sooner rather than later.

I love how their love story and the characters developed throughout the whole book. Though sometimes I wanted to facepalm me because of Elizabeth, even if it's important for the plot.

Okay, I listened to the audiobook and it was as always brilliantly narrated by Stevie Zimmerman. Such a perfect job.