Book picks similar to
A Lesson Hard Learned by Wendi Sotis


jaff
pride-and-prejudice
austenesque
p-p-variations

Wish Upon a Star


Ola Wegner - 2017
    What if Darcy and Elizabeth had come to understanding in very different circumstances and a bit later than in the novel? --------------------------------- Elizabeth walked back to the desk. Mr Darcy was writing busily, a frown of concentration gracing his forehead. “Yes, Miss Bennet?” he asked, interrupting his work to look up at her. “Have you changed your mind about keeping my company?” “The door is closed.” “Closed,” he repeated. She nodded. “Yes. I cannot open it.” “It must have gotten stuck.” “Well, I have no strength to push it open.” Darcy stood up, walked around the desk and straight to the door. After a moment it turned out that he was as unsuccessful at opening the solid oak door as she was. “What is the meaning of this?” Elizabeth asked. “It appears that someone must have locked the door from the outside.” Her eyes widened. “Locked it?” “Yes, I cannot explain it otherwise.” “Why would someone do such a thing?” “Yes, why would someone do such a thing…why indeed?” Darcy asked, his expression both bewildered and dazed. “What shall we do now?” she wanted to know, expecting him to find a solution to their dilemma. “We should wait,” he answered quickly. “Wait?” “If someone locked it by accident, this person must open it in due time,” Darcy stated. Elizabeth was not convinced with his reasoning. “Perhaps,” she said, the tone of her voice doubtful. She stepped to the door and pulled at the handle. She did not know why she did it. The door was closed, after all. “Should we not cry for help?” she suggested. “Or look for the key? Mr Bingley might keep a spare key in one of the drawers of the desk.” “Are you in any danger, Miss Bennet?” he asked. “Do you not trust me?” “No, of course not. I mean, I do trust you, sir. Nevertheless, it is all rather strange, will you not agree with me?” “I am confident that it is nothing more than a simple misunderstanding. As for the key, I have never seen one.” “Could it be a servant? The person who locked the door?” “Quite possibly.” Elizabeth felt that her confusion was growing. “I do not understand,” she whispered.

Love Never Fails


Jennifer Joy - 2016
    love never fails. After her father dies, Elizabeth Bennet refuses to marry the heir of her family’s estate, leaving her, her mother, and her sisters without means and without a home— and it is all Elizabeth’s fault. What are five single women with no prospects to do? A string of emotional decisions lead her from her beloved Hertfordshire to London, where she becomes a lady’s companion to a scheming woman with too much time and money and too few scruples. Fitzwilliam Darcy is full of remorse. Humbled from his arrogance, he sets out to prove that he is a man of honor by earning the respect of the one most affected by his indifference— Miss Elizabeth Bennet. From the offering of a handkerchief to a hot air balloon ride, he will do what he must to become the man she believes him to be. However, even the best intentions often go awry… especially when Charles Bingley’s aunt, Lady Lavinia Rutledge, is involved. Can Darcy and Elizabeth see past their guilt and regret to recognize the love they long for? *This is a sweet romance based on Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice.

Mr. Darcy's Daughter: A Pride & Prejudice Variation


Melissa Halcomb - 2021
    For three years, it has hung like a dead weight about his neck, yet his first priority has been and must continue to be his young daughter. He married once for duty, he will only marry again for love. Is there a lady out there who will love him for the man he is underneath his vast wealth and lofty connections and, more importantly, who will love his precious daughter as dearly as he does? Will those with their own agenda to push allow him to follow his heart?A rocky first encounter with the handsome friend of her new neighbour leaves Elizabeth reeling. Meeting his adorable daughter will change her life forever. Loving the sweet little girl is easy, but what about the tall, brooding man she calls Papa? What will Elizabeth do when faced with those who deem her unworthy of the master of Pemberley?Mr. Darcy's Daughter is a sweet full length novel of +82,000 words. This is Melissa's debut novel.

Through Pemberley Woods: A Pride and Prejudice Variation


Emily Russell - 2018
    It is a welcome chance to escape her mother’s attempts at finding her a husband. The town of Lambton also has the added attraction of being surrounded by Pemberley Woods which Elizabeth is eager to explore while their reserved owner, Mr Darcy is away in London. While exploring the woods, Elizabeth is ordered to leave the estate by a man she believes to be the gamekeeper. Elizabeth is offended by his high-handed manner and even more embarrassed when she discovers the man is none other than Mr Darcy himself, home from London earlier than expected due to recent thefts on his lands. Elizabeth resolves to forget Mr Darcy and soon forms a friendship with her hosts' attractive son, Captain Waters, who is home from the Navy. On Market Day in Lambton, she also forms a bond with a young lady. Elizabeth is troubled to discover the girl is none other than Georgiana Darcy, the sister of the arrogant Mr Darcy. However, she is determined Georgiana's unpleasant brother should not stand in the way of their new friendship. Fitzwilliam Darcy is angry that a thief has been harassing his tenants. He is determined to find the culprit and bring him to justice, but his search is distracted when a young woman with bright eyes leaps into his path. Fascinated by her, but worried for her safety, Darcy orders her from his woods with more force than he intended. However, he cannot stop thinking about her, and it is a relief to know their paths will not cross again. Until his shy sister, Georgiana, makes a new friend; none other than the bewitching and perplexing Miss Bennet. As Elizabeth spends more time with the Darcys, she slowly comes to understand there is more to Darcy than the aloof, arrogant man he seemed. Darcy for his part is plagued by his jealousy of Captain Waters and his fears that the rumours of his impending engagement to Miss Bennet might be true. Trouble comes when Georgiana’s manipulative companion, Mrs Younge, is determined to take Georgiana away to Ramsgate despite Georgiana’s reluctance. When Georgiana resolves to stay in Derbyshire with her brother and her new friend, Mrs Younge must amend her plan and invites a former friend of the Darcys to Derbyshire whom Darcy hoped never to see again. Darcy and Elizabeth fight their growing attraction for one another and Mrs Waters' vocal determination to have Elizabeth as a daughter-in-law throws more confusion into the mix. Will they finally face the truth of what they both want, or will the wishes and interferences of others prevail? When Darcy’s old enemy, George Wickham returns to Derbyshire, his presence threatens to destroy Georgiana's life, and Darcy and Elizabeth must do all they can to save her. And Elizabeth comes to the painful realisation that even friends are not always what they seem.

Conversations with Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Novella


Mary Lydon Simonsen - 2017
    At the Meryton assembly, Fitzwilliam Darcy was rude, and Elizabeth Bennet was offended. But what if, through a series of conversations, Darcy and Lizzy come to recognize the virtues that lay hidden beneath his pride and her prejudice? Even though the lovers walk a smoother path, there are obstacles, including other suitors for Lizzy and societal hurdles for Mr. Darcy. Conversations with Mr. Darcy, a novella, is a gentle “what if” Pride and Prejudice re-imagining where Darcy finds courage and inspiration in a long-ago love story from his own family. Novella length - approximately 30,000 words

At Darcy House: A Pride and Prejudice Variation


Jane Grix - 2016
    Elizabeth Bennet is the goddaughter of Fitzwilliam Darcy’s father, and when her own father dies, she moves in with the Gardiners. Although Darcy and Elizabeth both live in London now, Cheapside is worlds away from Cavendish Square, just as those in Trade are worlds away from those in Society. Darcy finds Elizabeth intriguing but her inferior connections make her ineligible to become the Mistress of Pemberley. And Elizabeth would never want be married to such a proud, disagreeable man. But love has a way of changing everything. At Darcy House is a Pride and Prejudice Variation, based on Jane Austen’s most romantic couple. Read to see if love can overcome Darcy’s pride and Elizabeth’s prejudice.

The Banished Uncle: A Pride and Prejudice Variation


Laraba Kendig - 2020
    George Wickham plots, and gentlemen and ladies fall in love.It is Christmas, 1811, and the Bennets of Longbourn are startled by the sudden arrival of Mr. Aaron Gardiner, Mrs. Bennet’s older brother who was banished to India more than two decades ago. Aaron is a wise man with a deep understanding of human nature, and his insights into the characters of George Wickham and Charles Bingley prove of great value to Elizabeth and Jane Bennet.When the rest of Aaron’s family arrives from India, the Bennets find themselves embarking on new and exciting adventures. Philip, Aaron’s stepson, has unexpectedly come into an earldom, and Jane and Elizabeth choose to assist their new cousin in learning to manage his vast estate in Kent.Mr. Darcy is thoroughly startled when he discovers that the lovely Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn is connected by marriage to the new Earl of Chartham. When his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and her daughter Anne, begin acting in startling ways, his unassailable confidence in his own sagacity is chipped away, resulting in a new humility.George Wickham plots the ruin of a Bennet daughter, gentlemen and ladies fall in love, and Elizabeth and Darcy eventually attain their happily ever after.

A Fair Prospect


Cassandra Grafton - 2013
    The lady, meanwhile, is battling the unprecedented feelings stirred by having endured an innocent but intimate encounter with the gentleman in the aftermath of his proposal. Soon on her way to Town herself for an unanticipated stay, she is comforted by the presence of an old family friend, one Nicholas Harington – the son of a wealthy family whose position in society rivals that of the Darcys of Pemberley.Circumstance soon throws Darcy back into Elizabeth’s company, much to their mutual consternation, and also introduces him to Harington who has emerged as a potential suitor for Elizabeth.With his friend, Bingley, now in hot pursuit of Elizabeth’s sister, Darcy finds his best endeavours to relieve the lady of his unwelcome presence come to naught. As the encounters continue, they seem to be developing a better appreciation of each other, but is there any future for them in the face of their previous misunderstandings, and what of Harington, the man who is deemed by all a fair prospect for Elizabeth’s hand?

Second Impressions


Amy George - 2016
    After Elizabeth discovers Darcy is engaged to another woman, she flees to Boston to seek solace with her cousin, the brash and worldly Emeline Poston. When she returns to England after years abroad. Elizabeth must face the man who shattered her heart. Does she have the courage to seek out the man with whom she fell in love -- whatever the cost? Fitzwilliam Darcy has spent his days regretting what might have been and his nights are tormented by decisions he has made. His life in tatters, he can barely face the once-respectable man in his mirror or the baby girl in Pemberley's nursery. Now that Elizabeth has returned, will he atone for his mistakes and win her heart for good. This alternate path reimagining of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice is recommended for adult readers.

A Matter of Honor: A Pride & Prejudice Variation


Abigail Reynolds - 2019
    He must marry her. It is a matter of honor. All he has to do is find her and propose. Surely that will be simple enough. But Elizabeth does not want to be found, especially not by Darcy. From the moment he entered her life, he has caused disaster after disaster. Now he has followed her all the way to Scotland, foolishly certain it is within his power to fix all her problems. But far more is at stake than Darcy knows, and Elizabeth is out of options. Darcy’s quest for Elizabeth takes him from backstage at Edinburgh’s Theatre Royal to the wilds of the Scottish Highlands, where Highlanders prove both friend and enemy. And now his search risks exposing long-hidden secrets that threaten his happiness and her future. On the run and in danger, Elizabeth is forced to make impossible choices to protect those whom she loves – including Darcy. Her growing attraction to him is at war with her need for caution, and the stakes are impossibly high. Can she trust him to continue to fight for her protection when he knows the whole truth? And if he does, will it be for love… or will it be merely a matter of honor? Join bestselling author Abigail Reynolds as she transports the reader to the Scottish lochs and mountains in this sweeping Regency drama based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice!

Becoming Elizabeth: A Pride and Prejudice Variation


Ivy May Stuart - 2016
    “I had never thought it before, but it occurred to me today that Thomas Bennet has not been a very good husband. He has reduced Fanny into something very close to a joke in that house.” Lizzie Bennet, a reigning belle in the district of Meryton and ‘the smartest person in her father’s house’ fears marriage. She is afraid of being controlled and can’t imagine anything worse than becoming like her mother: an object of derision to her husband and family. Family circumstances dictate that the Bennet girls must marry; but can Lizzie find the maturity to overcome her fears and begin the changes that will lead towards her becoming Elizabeth? Fitzwilliam Darcy has his problems too. Wealth, status and family expectations have moulded his public behaviour. But behind his proud, cynical exterior lies an intelligent, passionate man, longing for an equally intelligent and passionate partner in life. Circumstances have brought them together, but can two such strong personalities find each other through the welter of conflicting forces that hold them apart?

Mr. Darcy Forgets


Becky Riker - 2013
    Darcy takes a fall from his horse. Awakening, the last thing he remembers is fleeing Hunsford after being rejected. How will his wife and his friends help him regain that which he has lost?

Fine Eyes and Pert Opinions: A Pride and Prejudice Variation


Maria Grace - 2019
     As guardian to his younger sister, he wants her to become a properly accomplished woman--she is coming out soon, after all. But Georgiana steadfastly refuses despite the encouragement of Elizabeth Bennet, long time Darcy family friend. Darcy invites a few guests to Pemberley in the hopes of encouraging Georgiana's improvement with a taste of society. Unexpected additions to the party prove dangerously distracting, leaving the Darcy family on the brink of disaster. Elizabeth holds the key to their restoration, but she has fled Pemberley, unable to tolerate another day in the Darcys' company. Will Darcy relinquish his pride and prejudice to seek out a woman below his notice before his family is irreparably ruined?

Bitterness of Spirit: A Pride and Prejudice Variation


Lory Lilian - 2018
    On the path towards happiness, they overcome well-known obstacles, as well as new ones, face opponents in classic battles, and defeat others in unique ways. Even more, an original character—seemingly lost to the world for nearly a lifetime—emerges from an obscure past to connect their lives and families in a way no one could imagine. Will Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship disintegrate or evolve under such challenging circumstances? "Bitterness of Spirit" is recommended for a general audience except for the last chapter, which is intended for mature readers. It may be omitted based on the reader’s preference.

Meant to Be: A Pride and Prejudice Variation


Andreea Catana - 2017
    Bingley rented Netherfield nine months later than in the original? What if Elizabeth Bennet met Mr. Darcy first at Rosings while she is staying with her friend Charlotte Collins and he is visiting his aunt, Lady Catherine? What if Elizabeth is as attracted by Darcy’s fine eyes as much as he is by hers? When their mutual attraction is tainted by pride, prejudice, misunderstandings, and false accusation, how will they reconcile their feelings when they meet again in Hertfordshire? Follow this Regency Pride and Prejudice variation that takes you into a different—yet much the same—journey through the beloved story of Elizabeth and her Mr. Darcy.