Actions & Consequences - A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Lorena DiChiara

Darcy left Hertfordshire for London to forget Elizabeth Bennet. A few months later, he became engaged to a lady from high society. Then, he met Elizabeth at Rosings Park.
This is a story about love, betrayal, family, adultery, bad decisions, and their consequences.

Notes: If you are looking for a story with a 'perfect' Mr. Darcy, this story is not for you. This is a dark and controversial story.

147 pages, ebook

Published August 9, 2023

Reviews

[Susan]

In this Pride and Prejudice variation Lady Victoria arranged a compromise of Darcy and they are unhappily married. When Bennet dies the family moves to Lambton. Then we have the pairing of Mary and a Curate. So I lost interest and gave up.

[MichelleH H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story arc for all the characters.

I really enjoyed this book. Some of the main characters went through some rough times in the beginning and others all the way through. I thought this was realistic in many respects.

Darcy had a different and more difficult road to travel in his character growth. He made some bad mistakes, which we watch him cringing and crying , for his actions caused shocking sadness for two women in different ways.

In this story Elizabeth is an authoress and trying to maintain anonymity, as it was considered not proper for a gentle lady of status to write for an income. It was hysterically ironic in my opinion but so it was.
I missed something here, DiChiara our author neglected to give us any details of what Elizabeth wrote about in her stories that were so popular.

The story takes place for the most part after Mr Bennet’s death. Mrs. Bennet doesn’t want to stay in Meryton and watch Charlotte not only take her place as Longbourn’s mistress but also a leader of society as the wife of one of the largest estate owners in Meryton. The Gardiners suggest Lambton because they have family and friends there that would welcome them. The two oldest sisters go to live with the Gardiners in London. Jane accepts an offer of marriage to a business associate of Mr Gardiner.

After Darcy is widowed from his first wife he holds a lot of guilt and makes efforts to change his treatment of other people. Elizabeth’s being an author brings her in contact with Georgiana. And then Darcy again. She’s holding the secret of their last horrible encounter. But she’s also attracted to him.

Proximity to the Darcys in Derbyshire brings some contact between Mary and the Darcys when she is courted by and marries the rector of Kympton. Now there are multiple occasions for Elizabeth to meet or hear about Darcy in good ways.

Before I go about spoiling the whole story I will say that I really liked the story and would reread it sometime in the future. I recommend this to JAFF readers, with the knowledge that this story needed an editor for both grammar and Regency facts. This was the first book I have read from the author and will look for more.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The number of stars I am giving this book are not based on the story, as I found it interesting and entertaining. However, this book really needs to be edited and corrected as there are a number of typos and several other types of errors.

[Cynthia Matz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Major editorial and grammar mistakes. A very flat read.

[Mustang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to rate but good overall

A solid 3 star, parts were higher. Overall it is a nice story and a quick read but lots going on. Darcy had a time of it especially when he didn’t listen to very good advice from Col F and Darcy paid for it in more than one way. I was amazed that Mrs Bennet was less nervous after Mr Bennet died but she did settle down quickly when she realized that she could easily live with what she had available. With her and the younger girls move to Lampton you knew there would be some interaction between the other residents. Mrs Potter was a nice fit for the story, wish her character was more fleshed out. Darcy at least finally learned his lessons and Elizabeth finally saw the good in him. Will I read again? I’m not sure but maybe.

[J.C. Plummer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this author and her fearless approach to P&P variations. This was one of her earlier releases, and at this time, it’s no longer available at Amazon.

The story was very engaging, and Darcy had a lot to learn during the course of the story.

The author’s first language is not English, and this was a translation. The editing and language usage is very rough, although the punctuation was reasonably good. There are wrong words and wrong pronouns, and yet … I couldn’t put it down. I’m glad I bought a copy before she took it down.

Her more recent stories are much improved.

5-stars for the story, 2-stars for the mechanics, so 3.5-stars rounded up because the story is more important to me than the mechanics.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Low anguish cute interesting emotional

A cute and clean story with low anguish on the emotional roller coaster we call life. Mr B dies the and family goes in different directions. Darcy and Elizabeth live separate lives, Darcy learns hard lessons and Elizabeth grows and helps her family. Unfortunately, D & E it takes years of heart aches, wrong choices, and lots of changes for them to work out. If you don't like D & E with others, this isn't for you.
Highly recommended for anyone to read

[Gisele Morin-Labatut · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written - acquittances, really, instead of acquaintances?. The telling of the story has no literary merit and no amount of editing can correct that.

I flipped through and decided I could be bothered.

Pity... the idea was rather original.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sounds grim.
I’ve had problems with this author’s lack of editing in the past and it seems it is still a problem.