When Mary Met the Colonel: A Pride and Prejudice Novella in Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2016

Feb 09, 2016 Erika rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: jane-austen

I love a good Mary Bennet romance!!!

There are several points in which I can sympathize with Mary...I too am a middle child, though am sandwiched between two brothers; growing up I was the quiet, shy one, the one that was always over-looked; and the one girl in a group of girls who doesn't have a guy fawning over her. So when a book comes along and has an amazing guy taking interest in Mary, I sit up and take notice. I think she is just misunderstood and ignored with so much potential if someone ...more

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Feb 09, 2016 Maria rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: austen-related, austenesque-lovers-challenge-2016

The third Bennet sister is not as lively nor beautiful as the others. Nobody really pays attention to what she says or does, but one man will treat her differently and will show her what falling in love really means. Join Mary in this emotional journey towards love, beautifully penned by Victoria Kincaid.

Absolutely delightful! I had never read a story about Mary Bennet and I am glad that I picked this one up. Ms. Kincaid did a wonderful job at depicting a lovely, amiable and realistic heroine. W ...more

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Feb 11, 2016 Anji rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, z-2016-austenesque-challenge, beta-proofread, austenesque-regency, austenesque-pride-and-prejudice, austenesque-minor-character

WHEN MARY MET THE COLONEL

The story starts at the wedding breakfast of Darcy and Elizabeth. As the title suggests, it's centred around and after the first meeting of Mary Bennet and Colonel Fitzwilliam.

This is a funny and tender story about the relationship between the eponymous hero and heroine. The way Victoria Kincaid describes the Colonel's reaction to Kitty Bennet's and Maria Lucas' chasing of any man in a red coat should definitely bring a smile to anyone's face.

Following the wedding, it ...more

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Mar 03, 2016 Sophia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance-english-welsh, jane-austen-austenesque, miltary-romance-contemp-fut-hist

I was thrilled to win a copy of this delightful, sweet novella written by an author I have been meaning to try for some time. It is always a source of enjoyment when I come across a Pride & Prejudice sequel that tells the story of some of my favorite secondary characters. Bonus when I get two.

The story develops quickly because it's novella length, but its not hard to imagine since a lover of P&P is already familiar with the circumstances, setting, and characters leading into this sequel that be I was thrilled to win a copy of this delightful, sweet novella written by an author I have been meaning to try for some time. It is always a source of enjoyment when I come across a Pride & Prejudice sequel that tells the story of some of my favorite secondary characters. Bonus when I get two.

The story develops quickly because it's novella length, but its not hard to imagine since a lover of P&P is already familiar with the circumstances, setting, and characters leading into this sequel that begins the day of the Darcys and Bingleys' double wedding.

For Colonel Fitzwilliam, Darcy's wedding is bittersweet. He is of course happy for his cousin and best friend to find love and happiness with Elizabeth Bennet, but he is envious, too. Richard is a second son so cannot marry where he will. But it is not only that, he is weary from the frivolous ladies and girls who chase him for his dashing uniform and not the man inside it. And here comes Kitty Bennet and Maria Lucas now.

Escaping the two flirty girls, the colonel finds himself in an isolated and hidden part of the Longbourn garden confronted by the refreshing and quiet young lady hiding herself away. Mary Bennet is a delightful surprise. Her shy and earnest demeanor and her gentle beauty call to him. If only...

Mary doesn't know whether Colonel Fitzwilliam is trifling with her or is just being kind with his gallant words about her intelligence and beauty. His notice and interest in itself is already a source of shock. Mary is the least likely Bennet sister to draw a gentleman's notice, but somehow she does. Sadly, this gentleman is due back to the Peninsula and war plus he must marry for wealth and she has nothing.

But then circumstances are changed, Fitzwilliam is home, but now Miss Mary Bennet has a worthy suitor. Will he concede the field or fight for what will make them both happy?

As I said, this was a quick and sweet story. There is conflict and barriers to the romance which came suddenly- though I didn't mind this much. I enjoyed seeing Mary, the serious middle sister get her chance to bloom and Colonel Fitzwilliam is most definitely a dashing hero for her. I do wish it could have been longer, but I was well-pleased with this one. It would make a nice cozy afternoon's read.

Austenesque lovers who enjoy sequels particularly giving secondary characters the lead should give this one a try. ...more

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Nov 11, 2019 Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) rated it really liked it

Shelves: jane-austen, pride-and-prejudice

An Unexpected Encounter Blossoms Into a Beautiful Relationship

Even though she has a sober disposition, a penchant for sermonizing, and can be a little vain about her accomplishments, I have always had a soft spot for Mary Bennet. Maybe it is because I feel sympathy for her loneliness and her family’s neglect. Or maybe it is because like Mary, I am fond of reading and playing the piano. Or maybe it is because I love it when an unlikely and unexpected heroine finds her happiness! For all these rea An Unexpected Encounter Blossoms Into a Beautiful Relationship

Even though she has a sober disposition, a penchant for sermonizing, and can be a little vain about her accomplishments, I have always had a soft spot for Mary Bennet. Maybe it is because I feel sympathy for her loneliness and her family’s neglect. Or maybe it is because like Mary, I am fond of reading and playing the piano. Or maybe it is because I love it when an unlikely and unexpected heroine finds her happiness! For all these reasons combined I am always eager to read more about her character’s journey, and I happily seek out any Austenesque stories this feature the prudent and practical Bennet daughter.

In this delightful novella by Victoria Kincaid, Mary is seeking refuge in the gardens during her sisters’ wedding breakfast. She is perhaps a little despondent because she will greatly miss her sisters and, despite her hopes, believes that she and Kitty will not grow closer during their absence. Also seeking refuge in the gardens is Colonel Fitzwilliam. Our genial and easy-going Colonel has had his fair share of lively young ladies admiring his regimentals and blissfully happy couples that are so deeply in love. He escapes to the gardens and it is there he comes across Mary Bennet with whom he spends some time conversing. And what he discovers about her is surprising…

While both Mary and the Colonel feel a new connection with each other, they both know that this friendship cannot become anything more. Especially as the Colonel needs to marry an heiress and is about to return to war…

What I loved most about this story was Ms. Kincaid’s portrayals of Mary and Colonel Fitzwilliam (Fitz). I love that both spoke to each other with such unreserved frankness, and I enjoyed how they were both romantic idealists in nature but govern themselves to think and act rationally. It was wonderful to learn that Mary has some atypical interests (aside from Fordyce’s Sermons), and I greatly admired her bold actions and initiative (especially when she broke some rules of priority). In addition, I loved witnessing Fitz’s romantic yearnings and his earnest way of speaking to Mary. Seeing him become impassioned and encourage Mary to think better of herself was very swoon-worthy!

I loved the journey Ms. Kincaid took us on with Mary and the Colonel, and I happily found myself endeared by and believing in their romance. I did sometimes wish for a few scene more, or that some of the events developed a bit more gradually. But overall, I adored this unique, heartwarming, and sincere Pride and Prejudice novella.

Austenesque Reviews ...more

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Feb 09, 2016 Tina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book is about the most overlooked of the Bennet sisters, Mary. In this novella the Colonel just happens to meet Mary while she is in Longbourn's garden during Elizabeth's wedding to Darcy. They have a lively conversation about the war and hey they both start to like each other. But the Colonel knows he has to marry an heiress and decides to leave Mary alone. But after he returns home from the war injured she joins the Darcy's at Woodley Park where he is recuperating and their feelings devel ...more

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Feb 09, 2016 Nicole Barton Sasser rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-austenesque-lovers-challenge, kindle, novellas-and-short-stories, p-and-p, jaff, review-on-amazon

Sweet novella of the overlooked Bennet sister.

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Jun 25, 2018 Dung rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: austen-inspried

I enjoyed this novella. There were parts were it felt rushed, especially the second half. Would of loved more page time to develop some of the plots.

In addition, there we’re instances that were pushing boundaries for that time period.

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Feb 14, 2016 Ceri rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: austen-sequel, austen-inspired, austen-inspired-not-yet-read, austenesque-no-sex-scenes, sweet-romance, austenesque-minor-character, 2016-austeneseque-challenge

This review was first posted on 'Babblings of a Bookworm': http://babblingsofabookworm.blogspot....

Many years ago, when I first read 'Pride & Prejudice' I really identified with Elizabeth. Although she is more outgoing than me, I felt a kinship with her due to her sense of humour and philosophical attitude, as well as her hasty temper, but like many introverted bookworm types, I also have some level of kinship with Mary. She is definitely an interesting secondary character, and one who has had q ...more

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Feb 13, 2016 Eliza Baum rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: austen-and-austenesque, library-kindle, austenesque-challenge-2016

This was cute and rather fluffy. I'm not sure what I was expecting, given the length, but I do wish there had been space to let the courtship develop slower. The bits that we get to witness are very nice but just too few. It would have been far more satisfying if they'd fought through more obstacles. I do like the idea of Mary with Colonel Fitzwilliam, though, and I'm a sucker for (view spoiler) More like 3.5 stars, but worth the rounding ...more

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