Mr. Darcy's Bargain: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary in Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2016

Nov 15, 2016 Debbie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jaff

4.5 rounded up to 5 stars

Having read all of Ms. Jeffer's previous P&P variations, I must say this is very different from all the others. It's more like a chess match, with moves and counter-moves to drive the story. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Mr. Bennet team up to thwart Mr. Wickham's scheme to cheat pretty much all of Meryton in a kind of Ponzi-like investment scam. Perhaps a closer comparison than chess would be Mission: Impossible or the 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars

Having read all of Ms. Jeffer's previous P&P variations, I must say this is very different from all the others. It's more like a chess match, with moves and counter-moves to drive the story. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Mr. Bennet team up to thwart Mr. Wickham's scheme to cheat pretty much all of Meryton in a kind of Ponzi-like investment scam. Perhaps a closer comparison than chess would be Mission: Impossible or the current TV show Leverage. Even though you may be tempted to skim through some of the long explanatory passages, you run the risk of missing pertinent information if you do, so take your time and savor it all.

Although the main impetus for the plot is gathering evidence to trap Wickham, there's plenty of romance between Darcy and Elizabeth. This book begins after the marriage proposal at Hunsford. Darcy subsequently wrote his letter but, in this variation, he never actually delivered it to her. Considering that Wickham has proven himself to be an untrustworthy cad, Elizabeth now has only warm feelings for Mr. Darcy but assumes he must despise her because of her rude rejection of his proposal. When her father collapses upon discovering how heavy his financial losses are from his investments with Wickham, Elizabeth comes to London with her uncle and calls on Darcy to throw herself on his mercy, knowing that he's their best hope of finding a solution.

The "bargain" agreed to is that she will marry him if he assists her family and Meryton neighbors to avoid financial ruin. Naturally, Darcy would do anything for her even without her promise to marry him, but he uses it as a bargaining chip, and Elizabeth certainly doesn't mind since she's already figured out that she loves him. (Naturally, since this is a P&P variation, neither one has a clue as to what the other is thinking or feeling!)

The two work together as a formidable team (with several sweet interludes of banter and yearning touches and embraces, etc) and, along with the others, gradually acquire the information they need. Unfortunately, Wickham recognizes that someone is on his trail and he throws up a seemingly insurmountable roadblock.

There's a lot going on here, and at times it's difficult to follow, with all the various characters who are discussed or active in the story. Mr. Parker, Mr. Denny, Mr. Cowan, Colonel Forster, Mr. Webster, Mr. Kiernaugh, Major General Townville, Viscount Stafford... There are more names I could add. Sometimes there's just too much to process. The various dead ends that are followed help to build the suspense, but limiting the storyline to the leads that bear fruit would make it less confusing at times. (I must admit that I often felt the same way watching Mission: Impossible, so maybe others won't find it to be an issue!)

There are also some questions remaining unanswered for the reader, which is uncharacteristic of Ms. Jeffers. I was able to make some educated guesses based on what's in the story but, without confirmation, I'm left wondering whether I'm correct or not.

Lady Catherine is in her usual busybody mode and makes a brief but memorable appearance. Mr. Bingley starts out fine but, by the end, I was happy to see him confronted about what a wishy-washy idiot he is; he doesn't deserve a sweet lady like Jane, IMO. Lydia will make you just want to reach into your book and smack her upside the head. (Thankfully, Mrs. Gardiner will do it for you.)

It all leads to a most satisfactory HEA, of course. Just hang on for a wild ride throughout this adventure-romance.
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Nov 14, 2016 J. W. Garrett rated it it was amazing

Shelves: era-6-regency-1811-1820, jaff-pride-and-prejudice, 2016

Let’s make a deal…or…How to catch a thief?

Our story opens ten months after Hunsford. We have a bitter and contrite Darcy still stinging from Elizabeth’s refusal and rebuke. And, he is still in possession of the letter he wrote to her right after her refusal. He attempted to get the letter to her but did not see her before he left Kent. He has kept it hidden and locked in his desk drawer all this time; unable to destroy it, unable to open it and reread it for fear of what he had written. Imagine ...more

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Dec 30, 2016 Mary rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016-books

Dear Reader,

We all know Wickham to be a charming, clever and charismatic individual,one who is silver tongued,witty,handsome and all persuasive.

But what,dear Reader,do you think would occur if his finely tuned persuasions worked their magic on the fine upstanding citizens of Meryton?

If Wickham successfully duped Mr Bennet, Sir William Lucas and their neighbours into investing their hard earned cash in a money making scheme that promised returns aplenty and profits too numerous to count?

Who wo ...more

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Nov 26, 2016 Talia rated it it was amazing

Regina Jeffers is a master storyteller and this one does not fail. I had to let my imagination open up a bit to entirely to love this one but in the end it came through.

Second reading: Oh, loved it. :)

Reread: I went with it and Regina did not fail me! Loved it.

Reread: One of my faves. Has Lord Stafford shown up in any other books? I would love a story featuring him.

Reread: Still would love a Lord Stafford romance!!

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Nov 15, 2016 Sheila Majczan rated it it was amazing

This was a tense drama with two plans of action drawing and keeping my attentions. Like a tennis match my attention was on edge as the evil known as Wickham was able to involve the entire community of Meryton and its surrounds in a plot depriving citizens of hard earned and saved revenue. And then I was heart torn in reading of Darcy's bargain...just when we think he has his life's desire, the lady, knowing where her own love was pledged places his honor and respectability above their joining.

Wh ...more

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Dec 03, 2016 Claudine DiMuzio / Just Jane 1813 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: just-jane-1813-pride-prejudice-va

Can a bargain between two headstrong people evolve into a lifetime of happiness?

When Elizabeth Bennet (who never received the letter Darcy wrote to her in Kent) and her Uncle Gardiner show up in London, ten months after Darcy’s failed marriage proposal, asking him for his help, can Elizabeth really expect the gentleman to assist her during her time of need? Once Darcy learns the particulars of her family’s troubles and realizes that there are many people in Meryton affected by her family’s woes, Can a bargain between two headstrong people evolve into a lifetime of happiness?

When Elizabeth Bennet (who never received the letter Darcy wrote to her in Kent) and her Uncle Gardiner show up in London, ten months after Darcy’s failed marriage proposal, asking him for his help, can Elizabeth really expect the gentleman to assist her during her time of need? Once Darcy learns the particulars of her family’s troubles and realizes that there are many people in Meryton affected by her family’s woes, Darcy must decide what’s in it for himself as he plots to best George Wickham against his vicious schemes towards the residents of Meryton. But are Elizabeth and Darcy truly both willing to enter a marriage of “convenience” just to save Bennet’s neighbors from financial ruin? Once Darcy and Elizabeth decide upon the terms of their “bargain,” they set to work together to unravel Wickham’s schemes.

Mr. Darcy’s Bargain is a fast-paced, adventure-filled story that contains a nice mix of romance and intrigue as many of our favorite characters become personally invested in beating Wickham at his nefarious plots. Once Darcy and Mr. Gardiner take the time to survey the situation, plans are set into motion to fool Wickham and recover the thousands of pounds that are at stake between the residents of Meryton. Foolish Mr. Bennet! After placing his own family and friends into a perilous situation, he now has no other recourse but to work in conjunction with Mr. Darcy in an attempt to help him save his reputation in Meryton after his carelessness allowed him to fall for Wickham’s plots. As Elizabeth becomes an intimate part of their operation, Mr. Bennet and Darcy grow weary about allowing her to remain involved in their plans; however, it’s unclear to both of them how they can be successful without Elizabeth’s timely interventions.

Yet, even with the support of friends and family, including Colonel Fitzwilliam and Charles Bingley, things don’t fall neatly into place the way that Darcy and Elizabeth had initially hoped for, and with each one doubting the other’s true intentions, misunderstandings and arguments become all too frequent between the two of them. As tenuously as their bargain began, the nature of their relationship follows a similar course and becomes filled with uncertainty for a happy future together. As both of them seem to grow more stubborn about their true feelings, events unfold that cause them to grow even further apart. Was there ever any real hope that their bargain would bring happiness to either one of them?

Regina Jeffers knows how to write a variation that pulls readers quickly into her plot and makes them cheer for our dear couple from the very first chapter. I loved the clever schemes that Ms. Jeffers put together throughout this story and the wild twists and turns that she throws in along the way that makes the characters work even harder to find solutions to their dilemmas. The story moved at a pretty even pace throughout the book and maintained a moderate amount of angst for the majority of the story.

My only quibble about this story was that there were a few loose ends that I didn’t feel were wrapped up by the end of the book in the manner that I would have liked to see them resolved. I had some questions pertaining to some of the supporting characters and I had wished I would have learned a bit more about their situations by the end of this story.

All in all, Mr. Darcy’s Bargain is an entertaining tale of precarious beginnings, nefarious schemes, and a hard-earned happily-ever-after!

I’d like to thank Ms. Jeffers for providing me with the opportunity to read an eARC of this story for a fair and honest review. ...more

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Dec 28, 2016 Tamra rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jane-austen-fan-fiction

I read it in a day! Who needs sleep when there's such an enjoyable read. Just enough angst without it being over the top cheesy. Loved Mrs. Gardner in this version, especially how she kept Mrs. Bennett in line during the scheme against Wickham. She forgot about keeping Lydia in line and of course Lydia didn't disappoint in her part. Loved the ending and Mr. Bennet's role in bringing Lizzie her HEA! ...more

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Dec 06, 2016 Eliza Baum rated it it was amazing

Shelves: library-kindle, austen-and-austenesque, austenesque-challenge-2016, austenesque-challenge-2017

Re-read 10/6/17

Oddly, I didn't like this book as much the second time around. The language felt overly stiff, and Darcy and Elizabeth alternated being overly sappy and being morons.

Maybe I just wasn't in the mood. Hrm.

Original read 12/6/16

This book was lovely! I've read a few others where crimes were investigated or there was intrigue of some sort, but the twist here is that things were being investigated stealthily before the authorities ever got involved. I really enjoyed seeing Elizabeth, Dar ...more

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