A Short Period of Exquisite Felicity: A Pride and Prejudice Variation in Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2017

Mar 02, 2018 Nissa | Of Pens and Pages Book Blog rated it really liked it

Shelves: regency-era, pride-and-prejudice, 2018-reads, arc, historical-romance, third-pov, second-chance

Fun fact: Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion are two of my favorite romance novels ever. So to read a Persuasion-esque situation in a Pride and Prejudice variation is an incredibly happy day for me. A Short Period of Exquisite Felicity delivers angst, heartbreak, and a well-deserved happily ever after mixed with a healthy dose of mystery.

Things diverge from the canon after Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy meet at Pemberley. In A Short Period of Exquisite Felicity, E and D come to an understanding so ...more

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Feb 15, 2018 Sheila Majczan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I first read this story as an unpublished book.

In the book description above the author tells us that she “wondered what might have happened if Darcy had found himself in the shoes of Frederick Wentworth...jilted by the woman he loved but still worse, at the behest of a man who has already taken so much from him. Can he/will he forgive her?”

But in this variation, the author wanders far a field in assigning roles and behaviors to those we think we know...even those we may have fond attachments to I first read this story as an unpublished book.

In the book description above the author tells us that she “wondered what might have happened if Darcy had found himself in the shoes of Frederick Wentworth...jilted by the woman he loved but still worse, at the behest of a man who has already taken so much from him. Can he/will he forgive her?”

But in this variation, the author wanders far a field in assigning roles and behaviors to those we think we know...even those we may have fond attachments to in canon or in other variations. Who might you think she means when she says, “a man who has already taken so much from him”? Ah, yes, the first 10 or so pages give us that premise. So much of this story is going to turn you around in your preconceived ideas (as per canon) and totally shaking up the world of JAFF. I have my favorite characters and here I cannot mention names as it would give you hints as to how Dear Amy has taken the path least traveled in portraying supporting characters here.

We begin with Elizabeth and Darcy already engaged but how they came to that relationship is presented differently as we glance back, and they are keeping it a secret as Darcy has not yet spoken to Mr. Bennet. (Two people outside of ODC learn of this and they react to later events with “fangs and claws” exposed to protect this man they love, who has given so much to each of them.)

When Darcy came to the inn in Lambton on the morning Elizabeth received the two letters from Jane…Elizabeth has not yet read the letters and so knows not of Lydia’s elopement. Thus Darcy does not know of that either as he leaves after proposing. Uncle Gardiner handles the confrontation with Wickham (as Mr. Bennet is very ill and later dies) and seems to have it all in hand…then Wickham finds out about Darcy’s relationship with Elizabeth and so it all changes. Wickham now has demands and it is not money – it is how can he best use that news to destroy Darcy’s world…to bring him everlasting pain? And he is successful!

Now the main premise comes to bear as we read the rest of the story. ODC has had 9 short days of happiness in August but a year later we read of how they are both finally in one another’s presence again – against their will, against their wishes! So many misunderstandings. Gossiping – whisper down the lane…despite promises not to tell. A reputation in shreds. A “cut” in public! Don’t look but something else has gone down!

Can’t this couple ever find time to really have a sit down and talk with openness? Each comes to the conclusion sooner or later, that they cannot trust the other, and as they have never spoken since the Lambton proposal, there is so much taken in the wrong way, so many assumptions…if it were not for bad luck I’d have no luck at all - so it seems with both Darcy and Elizabeth and then at the end: the worst kind of betrayal. "(What they do) (They smile in your face) All the time they want to take your place. The back stabbers (back stabbers) (They smile in your face) All the time they ..."

This story is a tale of various events mixing together with ironic results.

Jane and Bingley bring a number of single people together at Netherfield about a year after the aforementioned events and like a dance, people are squaring up, stepping forth and backwards, looking for the best partners and looking to know backgrounds, connections and worth. Elizabeth has been living with an aunt as she “was very ill or so the family says” and has missed the wedding and then the christening of the Bingley’s firstborn…as has Darcy. Caroline and Elizabeth are now to live with their “brother and sister”. Can you imagine Elizabeth and Caroline as sisters? Watch/read as Bingley takes very seriously his role as guardian to both!

I could not put the story down and I did have tears at times. Amy writes quite a whooper of a good story.

I have now read this as a published book and again am breathless with all the emotions this story has had me experience. I could not put it down even the second time around. ...more

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Jan 01, 2017 Les rated it it was amazing

Shelves: austenesque, webonly, austenesque2017

Wow!! DAMN !! This is a unique, brilliant, inventive P&P What if that truly takes a unique look at the story

What if: Darcy Proposed at Pemberley and Lizzy accepted his hand? And the Gardiners and Lizzy learned of Lydia's folly but left Lambton without informing Darcy. And then Mr. Gardiner and his agents locate the couple without Darcy's help. and Lydia is suffering from more than a loss of reputation but a long passed loss of virtue so she MUST marry. and then Wickham demands that Lizzy must ma ...more

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Mar 09, 2018 Jan Ashton rated it it was amazing

Would that more books I read were so beautifully written, so intricately plotted, and so exquisitely detailed in characterization. This is a brilliantly conceived story, more than just a P&P variation, and does honor to the literary legacy of Jane Austen. As with JA, SPEF goes beyond a mere love story, but shows how two people are formed for and by each other. Wonderful pacing, and truly exquisite angst and poignancy (along with some great and witty repartee). Lovely work by one of my favorite a ...more

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May 10, 2018 Christina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: austenesque, historical-romance

I have been re-reading a lot of past favorites on my kindle in the Jane Austen fanfiction genre because the last few buys were "good, just not great". I read all day in my day job and so I expect much from my pleasure reading. When I heard a favorite Austenesque author, A D'Orazio, was releasing this new novel, I was primed to buy. Last night my plan was to read until I got tired and finish it tonight (because it is about 300+ pages.) Well... "A Short Period of Exquisite Felicity" is my very fav ...more

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Feb 23, 2018 Ceri added it

Review to follow on Monday 26 Feb, when the blog tour stops by at Babblings of a Bookworm :)

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Jun 30, 2019 Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: jane-austen, pride-and-prejudice

What If Elizabeth Jilted Mr. Darcy?

TYPE OF AUSTENESQUE NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation

TIME FRAME: Begins 1 year after Elizabeth visits Pemberley

SYNOPSIS:

Darcy and Elizabeth were blissfully engaged for nine days when Elizabeth sends a letter regretfully terminating their engagement. Now the two are about to re-encounter each other for the first time while attending house part at Netherfield, and they both are prepared to suffer torture of the acutest kind! Poor Mr. Darcy is torn between angu ...more

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Oct 29, 2017 Dung rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: austen-inspried

4.5⭐️ Wow, just can't get enough of this author's writing. She is truly talented and has such creative premises and plots. You're always in for a treat.

I'll leave the traditional review to the other readers. All I have to say is there are so many obstacles for your dear couple D&E to overcome before they get to their HEA. In addition to that there are many twists and turns that will have you shocked to the very end.

I'm a bit bummed that the Gardiners didn't have a bigger role in this story tho ...more

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Jan 04, 2017 Madenna U rated it really liked it

Shelves: where-unlimited, genre-jaff, rate-loved-it

Update April 2018: I just read this story again as the published work and enjoyed it as much. I wanted to slap Darcy so hard and say wake up!!!

*****
What an amazing story with so many twists and turns. Elizabeth chooses to save her family by ending her engagement with Darcy. How they handle it, how they find each other not just physically but emotionally.

There were two parts that stood out the most to me - Darcy's conversation with Wickham and Elizabeth and Darcy's chat where they lay all their ' ...more

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Feb 13, 2018 Claudine DiMuzio / Just Jane 1813 rated it it was amazing

I can't get enough of A. D'Orazio's stories! Just when you think that maybe she can't keep writing such original and compelling JAFF stories, readers are treated once again to another gem by her!

This story was just completed on A Happy Assembly and it's bound to become another favorite amongst her readers.

The basic premise is based on what would have happened if Darcy and Elizabeth had a brief, yet exquisitely happy engagement based on nothing but the truest felicity between them, only to have E ...more

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Oct 26, 2018 Charlene rated it it was amazing

Couldn’t put it down. Lots of angst and obstacles. Plus even though I’m a Col Fitz fan, I didn’t mind this take on his character. All I can say is wow. Really enjoyed this.

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