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

Apr 26, 2018 Debbie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: jaff, kindle-unlimited

This is an absolutely lovely sequel to Pride and Prejudice centering on the characters of Mary Bennet and Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. The writing is excellent, as I've come to expect from Ms. Kincaid. The novella-length story is sweet and believable. It is, above all, a study of two people who are not exactly as they appear.

We all know the Mary as presented by Jane Austen. She's the forgotten Bennet sister, the plain one, the dull one, the one who quotes from Fordyce Sermons, the one who puts h This is an absolutely lovely sequel to Pride and Prejudice centering on the characters of Mary Bennet and Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. The writing is excellent, as I've come to expect from Ms. Kincaid. The novella-length story is sweet and believable. It is, above all, a study of two people who are not exactly as they appear.

We all know the Mary as presented by Jane Austen. She's the forgotten Bennet sister, the plain one, the dull one, the one who quotes from Fordyce Sermons, the one who puts herself forward to exhibit on the pianoforte too long at the Netherfield ball. In this book, we learn she has a few secrets and that there's much more to her than her family realizes. She's been neither complimented nor encouraged at home. What might she hide for fear of being chastised or belittled?

Austen's Colonel Fitzwilliam is an engaging gentleman, a loyal, trusted cousin to the Darcys, the second son of an earl requiring a wife with a large dowry. But, considering the horrific war waged with France during this era and Fitzwilliam's rank, likely he's had front line experience. What might he be thinking and feeling underneath his charming demeanor?

Ms. Kincaid does a wonderful job re-introducing these previously minor characters, giving them additional depth, and then bringing them together. They meet at Longbourn during the joint wedding breakfast for the newly married Bingleys and Darcys. Kitty, still enamored of a man in a red coat, relentlessly pursues Fitzwilliam, while he's desperate to avoid her company. Mary, as usual, is ignored by everyone around her so no one notices when she slips away to be alone. When they encounter each other, they have a meaningful conversation that influences them both from that time forward.

*Rant Warning*
I have a "hot button" which many authors punch and, unfortunately, it happens here, too: At one point, Fitzwilliam says, "...I brood like the hero in a popular novel... ." I HATE this kind of statement with a fierce, fiery hate.

I read because I adore the sensation of being immersed into a reality different from my own. When part of the description of a plot event includes words to the effect of "It's like something out of a novel," it yoinks me right out of my happy place by reminding me that I am, indeed, sitting here reading a novel.

If you're an author and you're reading this, please resist the temptation to write anything remotely like it. Don't remind your readers that they're reading. It is not clever. It is not original. Please! Just. Don't. Do. It.
*Rant Complete*

Other than that, I loved everything about this story and highly recommend it. ...more

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Jun 06, 2016 J. W. Garrett rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: jaff-pride-and-prejudice, era-6-regency-1811-1820, 2016, loaned, trope-fall-injured

Misunderstood becomes understood:

This is a short novella that can be read in one sitting, or two if you have to eat or sleep. It is the story of how Mary, the middle misunderstood Bennet daughter, has an interesting and delightful encounter with Colonel Fitzwilliam at the wedding of her two sisters.

Mary has a unique placement in her family of five daughters. Her two older sisters are in possession of beauty and wit and her two younger sisters are known for their vivacious and lively personaliti Misunderstood becomes understood:

This is a short novella that can be read in one sitting, or two if you have to eat or sleep. It is the story of how Mary, the middle misunderstood Bennet daughter, has an interesting and delightful encounter with Colonel Fitzwilliam at the wedding of her two sisters.

Mary has a unique placement in her family of five daughters. Her two older sisters are in possession of beauty and wit and her two younger sisters are known for their vivacious and lively personalities. Elizabeth is her father’s favorite while Lydia is her mother’s. Lydia has already left the family and moved to the north after her scandalous marriage.

On this joyous day two more daughters have left the name of Bennet behind them. Jane married Charles Bingley, and Elizabeth, stunning surprise of all, married Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley. Mrs. Bennet was beside herself. Mary was hiding in the garden, having escaped the chaos caused by her younger sister Kitty’s exuberance. Her solitude was broken by the unexpected approach of Colonel Fitzwilliam. It seemed Mr. Darcy’s cousin was escaping the attentions of the younger girls chasing red coats.

I enjoyed this story; it was quick and gave us a rare insight into the mind of this misunderstood young woman. I think the author wanted to distance us from the picture most JAFF authors portray of Mary hiding behind a book of sermons. This Mary was intelligent, knowledgeable regarding current events and had a strong and strategic mind, and I liked her interactions with our dear Colonel. Their connection was plausible and they seemed to enjoy their lively conversations while hiding in the back garden.

Neither held any expectations and they parted as friends. The Colonel returned to the campaign on the Peninsula and Mary continued her daily life at Longbourn, until the day she learned of his injuries. The author did a good job describing the Colonel’s battlefield experience as she pulled historical facts from the time regarding British military actions and strategies of the conflict. When our dear Colonel was injured, you could feel his resolve as he thought he was going to die. It was heartbreaking to feel his despair as the last thing he saw before things went black was a pair of dark eyes.

I am not going to list all the details of his recovery, that will spoil the reveal. However, I think the author missed an opportunity here to advance or reward our dear Colonel due to his heroic actions in the line of duty. He helped, at the near cost of his life, prevent a French troop advancement by closing the British defensive line.

Also, I felt there was a shift in the story at this point and then the story sort of went downhill. It felt rushed as we jumped from one place to another. And we had a continuity problem…a movie term where they try to make the details of each scene flow smoothly. Ex. Mary untied the sling holding the Colonel’s broken leg in place, she didn’t retie it when she left. A maid, footmen, or his relatives would notice that someone had to have been in his room. Speaking of propriety, yeah, it was out the window on so many levels.

Then we have the introduction of another suitor for Mary. How could Mrs. Bennet allow three of her daughters to marry without having tried to secure him in her matchmaking schemes. I think the author chose too high in society [a peer] for this new guy. Mr. Bennet had always been known in JAFF as the landed gentleman in Hertfordshire. Sir William Lucas was the mayor and had been knighted, and then the wealthy Mr. Bingley leased Netherfield. This new guy conflicts with Meryton/Hertfordshire society.

I know the author wanted to give the Colonel competition and to show him and his family that she was valued by another peer. However, it just didn’t feel right IMO [in my opinion].

Our HEA happened so quickly that we didn’t even get to enjoy it. Suddenly all obstacles were done away with and the road was clear for our dear couple’s happiness. It felt rushed and lacking somehow. Other than that, I enjoyed this look into the mind and feelings of Mary Bennet. I’ve always liked the Colonel.

***SPOILER***Perhaps the author could have rewarded our dear Colonel with the estate near Pemberley for his bravery in defense of his country and services to the crown. Just saying. ...more

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Jun 15, 2016 Rita Deodato rated it it was amazing

https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...

When Mary Met the Colonel is the perfect novella to read between some Darcy and Elizabeth centered books. It is romantic, interesting and loving. The characters are different from the ones we are used to of course, but their love doesn’t pale in comparison, it is as strong as the one we usually see in Darcy and Elizabeth.

Victoria Kincaid created the perfect love story for Mary Bennett and showed us that maybe she is not at all what we think she is. We know https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...

When Mary Met the Colonel is the perfect novella to read between some Darcy and Elizabeth centered books. It is romantic, interesting and loving. The characters are different from the ones we are used to of course, but their love doesn’t pale in comparison, it is as strong as the one we usually see in Darcy and Elizabeth.

Victoria Kincaid created the perfect love story for Mary Bennett and showed us that maybe she is not at all what we think she is. We know her to be plain and boring, but did we ever truly paid attention to her? Did we ever see any character interact with her in a meaningful conversation? Maybe all it took to see the real Mary was to pay attention! And that was exactly what Col. Fitzwilliam did:)

We all assume Mary is only concerned about Fordyce’s sermons but, in this novella, it is revealed she has more in common with Col. Fitzwilliam than we might think, and maybe there is a reason why she quotes Fordyce so often:)

For me, one of Victoria Kincaid’s greatest achievements in this book was the development of Mary’s character and making her the perfect bride for Col. Fitzwilliam. At first sight, they have very different interests, and it is not quite obvious how they could be a truly matched couple, but the author mastered this adversity in a perfect way.

I enjoyed seeing Colonel Fitzwilliam show Mary that she mattered, that she was not inferior to her sisters, only different, with different qualities. I liked how he was able to make her change, to give her the confidence she needed to become more invested in improving her appearance and her company.

I liked that she was not like Elizabeth. I have often seen Col. Fitzwilliam be paired with ladies who are similar to Elizabeth, and for me it was refreshing to see characters who were very different from Darcy and Elizabeth because, truth is, they should be. It is true Darcy and Elizabeth are the most important characters in Pride and Prejudice, but there is so much more to it. There are so many characters who are interesting because they are different.

I also liked seeing Mary’s devotion for the Colonel and her interest in his stories and his personality. To her Col. Fitzwilliam is not just a dashing red coat who is amiable at all times, he is more than that, and he deserves to be known and loved for who is underneath the regimentals.

It gave me an enormous pleasure to read this novella and to be in the company of these wonderful characters. I have enjoyed many of Victoria Kinkaid’s books, but none gave such a feeling of freedom and happiness as this novella.
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