Book picks similar to
Letter from Ramsgate by Suzan Lauder


jaff
pride-and-prejudice
austenesque
romance

The Goodness of Men


Anngela Schroeder - 2017
    “You never will be able to make both of them good…Take your choice, but you must be satisfied with only one. There is but such a quantity of merit between them; just enough to make one good sort of man…” -Pride and Prejudice  From her youngest days, Elizabeth Bennet’s ability to accurately judge the character of others has been recognized and noted by those around her in such a consistent manner as to lead her to believe it herself. The misfortune of meeting Mr. Darcy, a wealthy landowner from the north, only solidifies this belief. The memory of his disapproval of her family, proves his character is lacking and sadly unlike his childhood friend’s, the charming and affable Mr. Wickham, who is esteemed by all he meets. Although her opinion once lost is not lost forever, the effort to regain her favor is great. With Elizabeth’s youngest sister fortunate to be in company with Mr. Wickham in Brighton since the spring, and her own travels to Kent cancelled, she must await the pleasures of a summer holiday to the North with her aunt and uncle Gardiner. However, it is there that she is once again thrust into Mr. Darcy’s presence and must determine if he is truly the architect of the many wrongs she has laid at his door. Fitzwilliam Darcy cannot exorcise Elizabeth Bennet from his thoughts. A chance meeting at the estate of his friend reignites all the flames he has attempted to suppress since their last meeting. Believing in her partiality, he is stunned to overhear her true estimation of him and is determined to change her opinion. Battling with memories and secrets from his past, Darcy must fight against his natural reserve to win the heart of the woman he loves. Will the unexpected appearance of a stranger encourage Elizabeth’s change of heart? Might an episode from Mr. Darcy's past force Elizabeth to see the man within? Can one man have all the goodness and the other only the appearance of it?  Join us for another sweet "Pride and Prejudice" reimagining, suitable for ages teen and up.

Progression Vol. 1: A Continuation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice


Jodi L. Covey - 2016
    and Mrs. Darcy are beginning their married life and could not be happier. Life, however, must progress, and with progression comes obstacles. No Happily Ever After is ever met with ease, if even such a thing exists. Told from the viewpoint of several of Jane Austen's beloved characters is a story about the start of a marriage from wedding day, the devotion of an unconventional couple equal in mind (and obstinacy), the maturing of a shy debutante, the evolving of a gallant soldier, the ambition of an envious upstart, and the trials of a simple clergyman's wife. Along with the reappearance of familiar characters both adored and despised, new characters are introduced, and new problems arise---and all within the first eight months! After inadvertently committing yet another social faux pas, Darcy must now prove to Society and his noble relations what he had managed to prove to Elizabeth: That he is a better man for knowing her and that his wife was, indeed, "worth the earning." The new Mrs. Darcy, meanwhile, must ingratiate herself to the Society who should rather spurn or pre-judge her. Georgiana Darcy must emerge from her shell to be presented in the year following the traumatic experience that nearly ruined her. Colonel Fitzwilliam must step outside his comfort zone, rebel against his father's wishes and proceed down a path more self-fulfilling, but less safe. Charlotte Collins must bear daily the directness of an embittered Lady Catherine de Bourgh and the growing isolation of her "sickly" daughter, Anne---not to mention the inanity of a ridiculous husband she barely respects... And Caroline Bingley must show herself superior to the despised Eliza Bennet Darcy by ensnaring a suitor to rival Mr. Darcy. Be careful what you wish for... "Progression" is about family, as well as love, passion, fear, courage, integrity, single-minded resolve, and other human qualities that can either make or mar one's future happiness. This is the first volume of two.

An Unwelcome Guest at the Netherfield Ball


E. Bradshaw - 2016
    The reader later discovers the truth of this situation; that Mr Wickham was keen to avoid Mr Darcy that night – for it was entirely possible that he could have faced (entirely justifiable) retribution from Mr Darcy if he had attended. The reader – and Elizabeth – are unaware at that point in the novel of Mr Wickham’s true, deceitful nature – and, of course, no one in wider society is aware of Mr Wickham’s scandalous behaviour concerning Mr Darcy’s younger sister. However, in this alternative narrative, the reader is shown how events could have varied in Pride and Prejudice if Mr Wickham had thrown caution to the wind and had instead attended the ball on that fateful evening. In this re-telling of the famous story, events start on the evening of the much anticipated Netherfield ball, and Elizabeth quietly frets to herself over the potential for her family to create a public scene. She knows very well that Mr Bingley’s conceited sisters hold her family in contempt, just as she is very aware of Mr Darcy’s obvious disapproval. She dreads the prospect of enduring her promised dances with Mr Collins, and is appalled at her mothers’ blatant matchmaking efforts. However, with the one pivotal change – of Mr Wickham being unexpectedly present at the ball – Elizabeth’s night, and her prospects for an enjoyable evening, change completely. And as a consequence of his attendance at the ball, the events of the novel begin to differ from there onwards as well. The neighbourhood of Meryton is entirely scandalised when Elizabeth takes a dance with the gallant Mr Wickham – and Mr Darcy is beside himself with rage to see the woman he secretly admires dancing so merrily with his arch enemy. ‘Elizabeth looked up at Mr Wickham’s face as he spoke, and realised, as she followed the direction of his pointed gaze, that he had locked eyes with Mr Darcy across the space of the crowded ballroom. She had not noticed before that Mr Darcy was observing them; though it was clear that Mr Wickham had known exactly where Mr Darcy was within the room – as well as having been entirely aware that Mr Darcy had been watching the two of them. The air seemed to spark between the two men, and Elizabeth could not fail to notice the palpable tension which flowed in waves between them. She saw the scornful sneer that Mr Wickham shot towards his enemy – and Mr Darcy bristling in return.’ In fact, Mr Darcy is so unsettled by the sight of Elizabeth dancing with his enemy, and so jealous, that he acts immediately to separate them. Unfortunately for Elizabeth, this is only the first of a series of humiliating experiences that she is to face that evening – and the consequences of Mr Darcy’s actions are to cause a scandal which will unavoidably change her future.

Agony and Hope


L.L. Diamond - 2021
    What will become of him when Georgiana is wed, and he is left by himself? He cannot give away a heart not his own. Must he remain in this mournful existence, anticipating the nights to come, where in his dreams, he can finally be with Elizabeth, a spectre of his once living, breathing beloved. When a surprise visitor brings unexpected news, his hope is breathed back to life. Will he finally obtain his deepest desires? Will Fitzwilliam Darcy be able to leave behind the agony of the past and hope for the future he once thought impossible?Due to circumstances beyond her control, Elizabeth Bennet’s family is irrevocably altered. Her father is dead, Lydia is missing, and her mother and remaining sisters are to be relegated to a life of poverty. Fitzwilliam Darcy’s behaviour at Pemberley indicates he still loves her, but too much has happened. She can never hope for him to once again make the offer of his hand. Elizabeth’s sole option is to abandon the life she once led and start anew. But what happens when her path once again crosses with the love she thought lost to her? Will Elizabeth choose to protect him with the one option available to her or will she put aside the agony of the past and choose hope?

Oxford Cottage: A Pride and Prejudice Variation


Leenie Brown - 2015
    At the gentleman's insistence, Darcy and his friend seek refuge from the rain at a nearby cottage. The young woman who greets them captivates Darcy with both her beauty and character. Elizabeth Bennet possesses a quick mind and a determined spirit. She is resolved to complete the challenge her father has set before her at Oxford Cottage. However, she does not expect to be met by a handsome stranger and fall in love, nor does she expect to find herself thrust into a situation where her quick thinking may be all that can keep both herself and her young companion safe. Oxford Cottage is Leenie Brown's debut Pride and Prejudice variation novel.  If you like sweet Austen-inspired romances with surprising matchmakers, villainous foes, intelligent heroines, and thrilling adventures, then you will love this story of love that was destined to be. So, put the kettle on, grab your copy of Oxford Cottage, and join Darcy as he wanders down a forest path that ends in sweet romance. A new edition of this book was uploaded on March 17, 2016. This new edition contains two bonus short stories, Though the Universe Conspires and A Music Room Meeting.

To Refuse Such a Man


P.O. Dixon - 2015
    Darcy expected was to meet the woman whose nearness caused him to entertain ideas of what it would be like to know her as his wife." Author's Note The first chapters of this titillating Pride and Prejudice 'what-if' story recapture some of those essentials from canon during Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s stay at Netherfield Park, largely from Mr. Darcy’s perspective. The life-changing repercussions of what happened during that time begin to unfold at the conclusion of the Netherfield ball. Intrigued? If yes, read more. Miss Elizabeth Bennet must decide whether to accept or refuse a proposal from the last man in the world whom she could be prevailed on to marry. At least two unhappy alternatives are also before her: certain scandal and her mother's disapprobation. Is there a path to happily ever after in wake of an alliance born out of such circumstances?

Whispered Kisses: A Pride & Prejudice Novella Variation


Sarah Johnson - 2015
    Elizabeth Bennet is a romantic at heart—a dreamer and a writer. While in London, she begins receiving flowers anonymously. Her romantic sensibilities are heightened, leading her mind to create an image of who the giver could be. She soon returns to her home in Hertfordshire with only her memories and thoughts as her constant companions. Months go by without anything, and then, with the news of a visitor to the neighborhood, she once again receives a posy of flowers just before the neighborhood Assembly. Will her romantic dreams of the gentleman’s character tell a true tale or just leave her heart reeling for a love only possible in her fantasies?

An Encounter at Pemberley: A Pride And Prejudice Variation


Isabelle Mayfair - 2016
    She had hoped never to meet him again after rejecting his proposal months before. But assured that he is not home, Elizabeth decides to take the opportunity to explore Pemberley Woods while her aunt and uncle are out. There, alone in the woods, she is the victim of an accident. Mr Darcy discovers her lying unconscious and must think quickly to get her to shelter before a storm begins. He takes her to his hunting lodge to tend to her injuries, realising he will have compromised her reputation and be obliged to marry her if word gets out. But Elizabeth is suffering from amnesia as a result of her accident and is intrigued by the kind, generous man who tends to her. Is this Mr Darcy's last chance to show her the man he can be? And as for Elizabeth, she is astonished to discover that the warm, caring man she's starting to fall in love with was someone she disliked intensely before her accident. But just why was her dislike for him so strong? When word gets out of them spending the night together, Lizzy's reputation is compromised and the only way out is to agree to marry Mr Darcy. But can she accept him for the man he is now? And can she truly love a man she cannot remember?

The Trouble With Horses


Elizabeth Ann West - 2014
    Finding a gentleman in the ravine of a creek bed, she scares off snakes and raises the alarm to end up with the man situated at Longbourn for his recovery. Enamored with his dark curls and handsome face, her life appears to be following the fairy tale story line of a novel, that is until the proud, disdainful Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley wakes up.

A More Gentlemanlike Manner: A Pride and Prejudice Variation


Sophia King - 2017
    He is desperate to forget his failed marriage proposal to Elizabeth Bennet and desires nothing more than to banish both the lady and his humiliation from his mind once and for all. A storm breaks and he decides to stop at a small cottage on his land until the morning. But as he approaches shelter, a tree branch snaps loose in the storm, and renders him unconscious. Miss Elizabeth Bennet is cursing her luck that a storm should break out on the very day she decided to explore Pemberley Woods. She had relished the chance to be alone on her tour of Derbyshire with her aunt and uncle, but now she is trapped in the middle of nowhere, and the weather is growing worse. She hears a horse, and runs in the direction of the sound to find the unconscious form of very man she least wishes to encounter. She is forced to drag him into the cottage, where they spend the night alone together. Unfortunately, when he awakens, Mr Darcy has no idea who he is, and has no memory of anything that happened before his accident. They return to Pemberley where Mr and Miss Bingley have been searching frantically for Mr Darcy. Miss Bingley is not too pleased that Mr Darcy has now compromised Elizabeth’s reputation, and will be obliged to marry her when his memory recovers. But the lady realises his lack of memory could also be the opportunity she herself has been hoping for. Can Mr Darcy recover his memory before he is manipulated by those around him who would seek to take advantage of his vulnerable state? And why is the pretty and lively Miss Elizabeth so reluctant to share memories of their former encounters together? Elizabeth is intrigued by the new side to Darcy she sees, and believes this is a man she could love. But is it just a result of his accident, or has he really changed? And as her feelings for him grows, she wonders if it’s possible he will still love her when his memory returns? Or will he resent her as the lady who rejected him and his previous marriage proposal?

Mr. Darcy's Bargain: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary


Regina Jeffers - 2016
     When ELIZABETH BENNET appears on his doorstep some ten months after her refusal of his hand in marriage, FITZWILLIAM DARCY uses the opportunity to "bargain" for her acceptance of a renewal of his proposal in exchange for his assistance in bringing Mr. George Wickham to justice. In Darcy's absence from Hertfordshire, Wickham has executed a scam to defraud the citizens of Meryton, including her father, of their hard-earned funds. All have invested in Wickham's Ten Percent Annuity scheme. Her family and friends are in dire circumstances, and more importantly, Mr. Bennet's heart has taken an ill turn. Elizabeth will risk everything to bring her father to health again and to save her friends from destitution; yet, is she willing to risk her heart? She places her trust in Darcy's ability to thwart Wickham's manipulations, but she is not aware that Darcy wishes more than her acquiescence. He desires her love. Neither considers what will happen if he does not succeed in bringing Mr. Wickham before a magistrate. Will his failure bring an end to their “bargain”? Or will true love prevail?

A Little Whimsical in His Civilities


J. Marie Croft - 2016
    Marie Croft’s humorous novella, A Little Whimsical in His Civilities spans one moonlit, autumnal night upon the gentleman’s return to Hertfordshire in pursuit of Elizabeth Bennet. “We take the turning which places us on Meryton’s main road, and—oh, gad! There it is—the base-court building which passes for an assembly hall in this godforsaken place. For me, the venue shall be either a heaven or a hell tonight. My palms grow clammy, my gut churns, and I regret that second helping of onion-laden vegetable pie forced on me before we left.” Accompany Darcy as he, intent on reversing the disastrous first impression he made there, braves another Meryton assembly and seeks to win his heart’s desire.

Yes, Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Novella


J. Dawn King - 2016
    Her father has decided she will be the one to secure her family’s future through a marriage of convenience to his heir. Disappointment and sadness weigh her soul when she travels with her aunt and uncle—a consolation before she submits to duty. When she sees the reflection of her heartbreak in the face of an unknown young lady, Elizabeth reaches out to the girl, extending a hopeful outlook she herself has been denied.Mr. Darcy regrets missing the opportunity to know the pretty stranger who helped his grieving, younger sister rise above her sadness. Hope keeps him seeking her face in every crowd. As time passes it seems the woman he admires might be an ephemeral dream born of his heart’s desire. Darcy finally finds her when he is forced to visit his friend, Mr. Bingley, but is she already taken? Can he restore hope to this woman he barely knows? Will she let him?

A Will of Iron: A Pride and Prejudice Variation


Linda Beutler - 2015
    Their return finds Rosings swathed in mourning. In death, Anne is revealed as having lived a rich life of the mind, and she plotted rather constantly to escape her loathsome mother, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Anne’s journal—spirited into the hands of Elizabeth and Charlotte Collins—holds her candid observations on life and her family. It also exposes her final, and sadly fatal, means of outwitting her mother. Anne’s Last Will and Testament, with its peculiar bequests, sends Lady Catherine into a tailspin and throws into turmoil every relationship amongst the Bennets, Darcys, Fitzwilliams, Collinses, and even the Bingleys! Was Anne de bourgh a shrewder judge of character than Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy combined?Includes mature content.

Desperate Hearts: A Pride and Prejudice Variation


Anna Kate Suton - 2016
    Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet find true love in a story that starts off with our dear couple happy and hopeful. Until, that is, two villains – each for their own reason – launch a plot to separate them. Darcy is broken-hearted and sure he has lost Elizabeth, but things are not always as they seem. It is up to Darcy’s loyal cousins to unravel the mystery and reunite our dear couple. As they do, a long-hidden family secret is revealed to explain why Elizabeth is her mother’s least-favoured child. This story is a clean read and suitable for any age. Please note that this is a novella, not a full-length novel. # # # #