Mr. Darcy's Journey: A Pride & Prejudice Variation in Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2016

Jun 11, 2016 Sheila Majczan rated it really liked it

Elizabeth wants to get out of Meryton. The local gossips are painting her as a woman jilted and she has run out of patience. With her father’s agreement and a maid servant as a chaperone she is to take the stage to London. But when riding to town in a carriage makes Nelly sick, Elizabeth flaunts customs and decides that since there are several other women on the stage she will forge on. As the women get off at subsequent stops, as a cleric makes advances and then rain and ice force the stage to Elizabeth wants to get out of Meryton. The local gossips are painting her as a woman jilted and she has run out of patience. With her father’s agreement and a maid servant as a chaperone she is to take the stage to London. But when riding to town in a carriage makes Nelly sick, Elizabeth flaunts customs and decides that since there are several other women on the stage she will forge on. As the women get off at subsequent stops, as a cleric makes advances and then rain and ice force the stage to make an overnight stop, Elizabeth is offered help by a handsome young man, Mr. Hopewell. Should she trust him?

But it is a small world. When Elizabeth is invited to visit the Collinses in Kent, not only does Darcy turn up at his Aunt Catherine’s but so also does Mr. Hopewell, who is introduced as Sir Anthony Duxbury. Things become tangled quickly.

Prior to the trip to Kent, Darcy had been biding time in London as an escort for Frederica, a jilted and angry cousin. His aunt, Lady Matlock, won’t allow any of Frederica’s three brothers to accompany her to society functions as their tempers cannot be trusted if they were to run into the man who courted and then walked away from their sister. Darcy has a much calmer temper PLUS all Frederica’s old friends will flock to her side for an introduction to Darcy.

Yes, Darcy makes a journey to attempt to save the lives of several old university friends jailed as Luddite agitators and due to hang. Although the trip was to be two men off to the rescue, first one, then another person either invites themselves along or is dragged along by persuasion. The trip makes for some interesting conversations as well as revelations.

In this tale we read of the manipulative powers of a strong and insightful woman and it is not just one woman who is a force to be reckoned with, as a certain French woman crosses paths with Elizabeth while at Rosings, Frederica confronts her old flame and tells him what is now going to happen, and Elizabeth, who has never been afraid to state her mind or travel her own path, learns even further how to make things happen. But it is a learning process; danger shadows the parties, injuries occur and rescuing is needed.

Much of this story (as we read in the book description) is a tale of how the Luddite rebellion might have affected ODC. The details taken from history by the author make for a very interesting and enlightening read. A crop failure, men losing jobs to machines, hanging for breaking those machines and riots in the streets are realities. Lady Matlock offers some succor. Lord Matlock’s lecture to Anthony tells even us of a modern age the wisdom of working from the inside of politics to gain rational and permanent changes.

My quibble with this book is that I felt the romance for Darcy and Elizabeth was lost among much of the action. There were a few sizzling moments i.e., when Elizabeth is to act the “doxie”, but other moments not expanded upon, which could have added to that flare of feelings and emotions were ignored by the author…but that’s just my opinion.

There are other romances related, and an epilogue which presents another “little” woman flexing her muscles. Women’s roles and rights, anyone? ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Mar 13, 2017 Eliza Baum rated it it was amazing

Shelves: library-kindle, austen-and-austenesque, library-audible, austenesque-challenge-2017, austenesque-challenge-2019

Another winner from Abigail Reynolds! There was less angst than some of her others, and a healthy dose of adventure to replace it, which I absolutely adored. I'm always a sucker for having an involved Fitzwilliam family, and every member portrayed here was delightful. I loved the way their travels played out, the ways that Darcy and Elizabeth became closer almost by accident(view spoiler), and all ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

May 18, 2020 Ceri rated it really liked it

Shelves: austen-variation, austen-inspired, austenesque-no-sex-scenes, 2016-austeneseque-challenge

One of my favourite things about reading historical novels is the chance to pick up some knowledge of history in a more interesting manner. This latest story by Abigail Reynolds looks at what may have happened if Mr Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet had somehow got caught up with the Luddite uprisings in the North of England, which happened at the same time that ‘Pride and Prejudice’ was set. In very basic terms, there was rioting and breaking of the looms – the machinery that had begun to replace One of my favourite things about reading historical novels is the chance to pick up some knowledge of history in a more interesting manner. This latest story by Abigail Reynolds looks at what may have happened if Mr Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet had somehow got caught up with the Luddite uprisings in the North of England, which happened at the same time that ‘Pride and Prejudice’ was set. In very basic terms, there was rioting and breaking of the looms – the machinery that had begun to replace jobs in the fabric mills. I assumed that this variation would somehow spring from the Gardiners’ trip to the North, but considering that the uprising had begun to take root by the summer of 1812 it might be unlikely that they would make the trip. Instead, this deviates at an earlier point in the story. Firstly, Elizabeth makes a longer stay with Jane at the Gardiners’ and makes the trip alone rather than in the company of Sir William Lucas and his daughter Maria, which leads to some adventure, and then to Rosings.

Mr Darcy doesn’t just come to Rosings with Colonel Fitzwilliam here; instead he is also accompanied by the Colonel’s mother and sister, Lady Frederica. At the request of his Aunt Matlock, Darcy has been making a show of paying attention to Lady Frederica, as she has been practically jilted, and the Ton is being none too kind to her. Lady Frederica is not treated well (or fed well, for that matter!) by Lady Catherine, who sees her as a rival to Anne for Darcy’s hand. So, Lady Frederica spends a good deal of time at the parsonage, where she takes a fancy to Elizabeth.

At Lady Frederica’s urging, Elizabeth accompanies the Fitzwilliam family party, including Darcy, to the North, where two of Darcy’s old friends are in serious trouble. It is considered treasonous to speak up for the rights of ordinary men and this what these ‘radicals’ have been doing. However, the danger of the situation has been underestimated by the party. Elizabeth, Darcy and the Fitzwilliam family, now further expanded to include another Fitzwilliam son, Jasper, find themselves caught up in the violence.

The Fitzwilliam family are certainly a bunch of characters – Colonel Fitzwilliam and his brother are both fond of a fight, and their sister has certainly not been brought up to be meek and mild. Their mama is a very managing female who nearly always manages to get her own way. The whole family is talkative and don’t see a need for privacy in their conversations:

‘It had been a most uncomfortable half an hour, having to pretend the various confessions of treason, slapping, confrontations, challenges, betrothal demand and family crises occurring were typical drawing room conversations.’

This was a very fun adventure and I was never quite sure what was coming next. It was interesting to see some of the scenes that towns such as Sheffield might have experienced when the Luddites revolted, and to imagine the steps that people who believed in the rights of their fellow men might have taken to rectify matters. Though this subject matter could be quite heavy, the story is not, it’s quite humorous. The Fitzwilliam family are such big personalities that they quite take over the story and the Darcy and Elizabeth storyline is a little pushed to the side at times, so it’s not highly romantic like some of this author’s other stories, though there are some lovely romantic touches sprinkled here and there, and the couple both have a way to go in understanding the other and learning to see things from the other’s point of view.

There are no sex scenes in this story, and although some of the characters are the victims of violence, it’s all off-page, so there are no distressing scenes. I’d certainly recommend this book as I very much enjoyed it. This is a 4 star read for me.

*My thanks to the author, who provided me with an e-ARC of 'Mr Darcy's Journey' for my honest review. ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

May 28, 2016 Claudine DiMuzio / Just Jane 1813 rated it really liked it

Shelves: just-jane-1813-historical-fiction

How will their travels to Northern England possibly compromise Darcy and Elizabeth’s future?

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Source: I received an ARC of this story from the author for a fair and honest review.

When I started reading JAFF, I had no clue about how to navigate my way through learning all of the authors and titles within this subgenre. Hence, I spent an exhaustive amount of hours combing through websites and on Amazon, reading everything I could find in an attempt to gain some sort of basi How will their travels to Northern England possibly compromise Darcy and Elizabeth’s future?

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Source: I received an ARC of this story from the author for a fair and honest review.

When I started reading JAFF, I had no clue about how to navigate my way through learning all of the authors and titles within this subgenre. Hence, I spent an exhaustive amount of hours combing through websites and on Amazon, reading everything I could find in an attempt to gain some sort of basic understanding about how to locate well-written and widely-praised titles.

The one name that seemed to be everywhere that I searched for these stories was Abigail Reynolds. Initially, I thought everything in JAFF was somehow related to her because nearly every Google search I did would somehow bring me to a list of her books. Add to that the fact that some of her books have been republished under different titles, and I was just utterly confused! This made me determined to learn who Abigail Reynolds was and uncover a complete list of her books.

Naturally, there are good reasons that she has played a prominent role in the JAFF community for several years. Throughout her writing career, she has penned numerous JAFF books, most set during the Regency era and some even set during modern times. She has taken our dear couple through more twists and turns than most JAFF authors and the fact that she’s still writing such fast-paced and engaging stories really speaks to her staying power!

“Mr. Darcy’s Journey,” her latest release, is poised to become as well-received by JAFF readers as any of her most popular stories. Filled with suspense, some emotionally charged moments of sexual tension and a story set against an interesting historical backdrop, this story takes our dear couple on quite a unique journey.

Starting with a Twelfth Night ball at the home of the Lucas family, Elizabeth suffers a significant disappointment when she is slighted by a suitor that she had found herself developing romantic feelings towards. In an effort to comfort her forlorn sister Jane in London and to escape the gossips of Meryton, she soon finds herself in London. Meanwhile, Darcy is also in London helping his cousin Frederica restore her reputation after she’s been publicly jilted by a former suitor. After a visit to a circulating library finds Elizabeth once again in the company of Mr. Darcy, she attempts to make sense of his actions in an effort to forgive the man who may have contributed to her sister’s latest struggles of depression?

A short time later, Darcy and Elizabeth meet up again at Rosings; she is there to visit her friend Charlotte Collins and Darcy is there during a visit with the Fitzwilliam family. Throughout this visit, Elizabeth is becoming acquainted with the Fitzwilliam family, when a strange turn of events reveal that the man who has appeared at Rosings claiming to be a friend of Darcy’s is also connected to Elizabeth and Frederica. Before long, Elizabeth is on her way to Northern England to support Frederica as the Fitzwilliam clan travels together to help Darcy’s friend through a dangerous situation. How will Elizabeth endure spending all of this time in Mr. Darcy’s presence when he continues to insult her family and acts like the self-absorbed man that she dislikes so much?

“Mr. Darcy’s Journey” is a JAFF story set within the historical background of the Luddite uprisings throughout Northern England. The challenges faced by the men and women of different stations during this time are sketched throughout the story, demonstrating how even still today, progress is not typically something that occurs because of one person. It really takes the collective efforts of many people pushing forward with small, thoughtful efforts to bring about important changes in laws and in the norms of a well-established culture. I enjoyed reading about how these events could have shaped Darcy and Elizabeth’s lives, especially with Elizabeth having an uncle in trade during this time, along with how these events would possibly affect the lives of the landed gentry.

Mrs. Reynold’s writing is engaging and creates quite an adventure for her characters. There’s action, a bit of mystery and suspense, combined with a few romantic relationships brewing throughout the story. Since Darcy and Elizabeth are in each other’s company throughout their travels, they are able to examine one another in a different light, allowing them to open themselves up to new possibilities. When they are “forced” to get a bit closer than usual with each, new and confusing feelings emerge, leading them both to wonder if perhaps there is more to their relationship than what meets their eyes. Add to this a bit of calamity and chaos, and you have a book that readers will find themselves gladly absorbed in for several hours.

The Fitzwilliam clan plays a prominent role in this story and are crucial to the twists and turns of the events in this story. While they were often entertaining in their interactions, I did find myself questioning whether or not such a distinguished family would act the way that they did towards one another and if they would really engage in some of the actions they took part of within this story. There were places in the story where they came across as a bit too casual for my liking, and even though from canon we can’t assume a lot about them, I often imagine them as a rather proper and traditional type of noble family.

I expect that JAFF readers will receive Mrs. Reynold’s latest story with all of the enthusiasm and praise that she has earned from them throughout her career. In “Mr. Darcy’s Journey” she has given her readers another reason to admire her storytelling abilities while writing a story set within the important historical events that were unfolding as Ms. Austen was publishing “Pride and Prejudice.” Readers will enjoy her notes at the end of the book, which provides new questions to ponder about how the timing of the publication of “Pride and Prejudice” and the events taking place in Northern England may have caused Austen to revise her story in quite a new direction. I will always think of this story when I read about Elizabeth’s infamous journey to Derbyshire. ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Sep 18, 2016 Nicole Barton Sasser rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-austenesque-lovers-challenge, author-abigail-reynolds, kindle, p-and-p, physical-library, jaff

Status: Read September 16-18, 2016

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Library Notes:

Mr. Darcy's Journey: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
by Abigail Reynolds
Paperback, First Edition, 443 pages
Published June 9, 2016 by White Soup Press
ISBN13: 978-0692730904 / ISBN: 0692730907

On the Road with Mr. Darcy...

Mr. Darcy is at his wits' end. Elizabeth Bennet, the woman he can't live without, overhears him insulting her family. Now she won't even listen to his apologies. Then his old friend Sir Anthony Duxbury tells him two of th ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

May 27, 2016 Tina rated it really liked it

This is another great book from Ms. Reynolds.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars out of 5

4 likes · Like · see review

May 28, 2016 Charlene rated it it was amazing

Rebellious journey

Awesome! Ms Reynolds has done it again! Unbelievable story, I don't know how she does it!

Well the tangled web in which Elizabeth and Darcy are caught up in involves the rebellious Luddite movement.

Though the story starts out innocently enough, Lizzy is jilted by Wickham and everyone is gossiping about it. So when Jane who is in London falls very ill, Lizzy leaves to help care for her at the Gardiners. While in London she runs into Darcy and his sister at the lending library. T ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

May 28, 2016 Teresita rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jaff

A fast paced adventure full of surprises!! In this story Elizabeth is kept on her toes with one after another crisis and adventure! I really loved how she learns to appreciate a different view of Darcy through his actions and his family.

Word of advice, don't start reading this story if you may have to put it down to do something else... just saying... ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 03, 2016 Dung rated it really liked it

Shelves: austen-inspried

Love the Fitzwilliam clan and some of the new characters, especially her honorary brother.

3 likes · Like · see review

Jun 26, 2019 Kim rated it liked it

Shelves: austen-related, pride-and-prejudice, austenesque-tbr-challenge2019

This book had its moments but overall it’s a slightly more serious and darker P&P variation. It’s not my favorite by this author. D&E’s Time together is enjoyable to read with the patented misunderstandings that I’ve come to expect. But the horse ride together has been done before (by this author if I remember correctly). I liked the new Fitzwilliam siblings but feel like Lady Matlock was a bit heavy handed at the end. I would have preferred to have seen D&E come to their own agreement. The epil ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 25, 2016 Jessica rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, austenesque, i-ll-read-this-again-and-again, in-love-with-a-fictional-character, read-in-2016

4.5 stars
I don’t want to give any spoilers so I’m just going to say that, as someone who has read every one of Ms. Reynolds’ Austen Variations, Mr. Darcy’s Journey definitely had a different feel to it. The political elements of the story weren’t what I would have expected had I not read the teasers beforehand and I can see how they might take a reader by surprise. But please, don’t take that as a negative by any means–on the contrary it’s refreshing. I’ve read hundreds (really hundreds and hund ...more

Like · see review

Apr 19, 2019 SOS rated it it was amazing

Shelves: women, ebook, fiction, chick-lit, easy-reading, regency, relationships-marital, relationships, relationships-romantic, historical

4 1/2 stars

Abigail Reynolds is the unquestioned queen of Jane Austen sequels and variations. Her books never disappoint, and Mr. Darcy’s Journey certainly didn’t disappoint me. While there is a physical journey involved in this book, I believe the title refers to the internal journey Darcy, and Elizabeth Bennet, travel through the book as they realize their true feelings about each other.

To start with, Elizabeth enjoys a visit with her friend, Charlotte, at Hunsford. While she’s there, Lady Cath 4 1/2 stars

Abigail Reynolds is the unquestioned queen of Jane Austen sequels and variations. Her books never disappoint, and Mr. Darcy’s Journey certainly didn’t disappoint me. While there is a physical journey involved in this book, I believe the title refers to the internal journey Darcy, and Elizabeth Bennet, travel through the book as they realize their true feelings about each other.

To start with, Elizabeth enjoys a visit with her friend, Charlotte, at Hunsford. While she’s there, Lady Catherine’s nephews, niece, and sister-in-law arrive at the specific command of Lord Matlock, who remains in London. In order to escape Lady Catherine’s haranguing, the younger members of the party make frequent visits to spend time in reasonable conversation with Elizabeth and Charlotte. During these calls, Elizabeth and Frederica become fast friends.

In this Pride and Prejudice variation, we’re drawn into the world as the Luddite Rebellion gets underway. On this journey, Elizabeth joins the party at the urging of Frederica. Along with the ladies, we travel with Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, his sister Lady Frederica Fitzwilliam, and his mother, Lady Matlock. We also meet Sir Anthony Duxbury, who early in the story champions Elizabeth in order to protect her. He’s a radical and, under an alias, is involved in the movement to bring full rights to the workers. It’s a dangerous position to take, and he uses the alias to protect his family. This group of family and friends will find themselves living in the midst of riots and food shortages. Lady Matlock goes out of her way to smooth the waters, but there’s only so much she can do. It’s soon discovered that two school friends of the gentlemen are being held in jail for treason

It’s a delight to read and learn about the background of the rebellion, and to watch how this brave band of outsiders find themselves involved. You won’t want for derring-do and will enjoy not only the action, but the developing romance that develops between . . . more than one set of characters. As always, there are heroics, physical altercations, romance, thrills, and more. While Darcy and Elizabeth reside at the heart of the story, this tale offers so much more. To me, that makes it much more readable than just a gooey romance. I doubt you’ll be disappointed ...more

Like · see review

Oct 12, 2016 Deborah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ja-read, 2016-austenesque-reading-challenge

A definite must read for any lover of JAFF. After meeting in Kent Darcy must go north to the sscene of the mill riots to help friends falsely accused of felony criminal acts. His aunt, Lady Fitzwilliam, the Earl f Matlock's wife and their daughter go along on the journey bringing Elizabeth as her companion. Can Darcy keep Elizabeth safe and can our dear couple overcome their differences to reach a happily ever after? I could not put this book down. ...more

Like · see review