Against Every Expectation: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

De: Paige Badgett

Narrado por: Sarah Groarke

Amid the groves of Rosings Park, with Elizabeth by his side, Darcy had begun to hope for something different for his future than he had previously allowed himself to believe was possible—a partnership, a love match….

Elizabeth Bennet travels to Kent to escape her mother’s histrionics, hopeful to find respite in visiting her oldest friend, Charlotte Collins. Instead of the reprieve she desired, she finds herself trapped and miserable—a direct reflection of Mr. Collins’ peculiar sense of hospitality, justice, and duty. The tension in the parsonage is significant, and her friend is much changed. Elizabeth’s only relief is derived from her morning rambles, where she finds great solace in the strangest of places—walking with Mr. Darcy. His steadiness, kindness, and dependability greatly oppose her previous perceptions of the man, and yet she cannot help but continue to compare his character in Kent with the man she had supposed him to be during their previous acquaintance in Hertfordshire. Could it be that he was now showing his truest self to her?

Just when it seems felicity is near, however, insidious jealousy arises and the betrayal of one close to the two couples threatens their nascent happiness. Elizabeth is pulled away too soon, and Darcy is left to wonder if she ever had feelings for him at all. Can the truth be untangled in time for their course of love to reach its completion?

©2022 Paige Badgett (P)2022 Quills & Quartos Publishing

Enjoyable

Loved this tale. Collins was a nasty piece of work. The courting of Darcy and Elizabeth was sweet. Really appreciated the narrative. Great pacing.

Scary Mr Collins but Charlotte is, perhaps, Worse

Whoa - this was some story!! And a completely Original Variation of all that I have listened to. The Collins couple were Creepy in the extreme. I really felt for Lizzy and had to keep listening to know what would happen next. Darcy was Very Good. The scenes between him and Elizabeth were done very very well. The author and narrator were both new to me,, but will look for more from both.

good story, not amazing, but worth a listen

I liked this story, it is definitely unique, in all the PP variations I've listened to this is the first time for this particular scenario. I didn't love the idea of Charlotte being so nasty, just me! and Mr Collins - WOW he's horrible! There were lots of sweet moments between ODC and lovely sisterly moments. I really like Lydia in this version, she was true to character but also sensible at the same time. I HATED Mr Bennet in this one also, not true to character at all. LOVED Ann, this is one of a handful of PPV's that has really done an outstanding portrayal of Ann.

I think the writing could have been a bit more embellished and expanded upon. There were several moments in the book that I thought, that's all?? why couldn't the author have developed those moments in the story more fully? There were a few too many abrupt story changes. Just my opinion. I think this was a bit more apparent because of the narrator also, While she did a ok job, her reading style is flat and she has a really terrible way of transitioning from scene to scene. It was as if she ended one scene and started the next all in the same sentence. It was really annoying. One second you are in Elizabeth's head, the next you are in Charlottes without even a pause or a breath between.

Charlottes marriage changes her

Charlottes marriage to mr collins is truly awful and her misery changes her and she betrays Elizabeth. This is not a happy go lucky story. Charlottes misery is real Elizabeth and Darcy find love during their visit to hunsford. Lady Catherine demands and edict’s are behind charlottes misery and causes Darcy more trouble.
The ending was bittersweet.

Didn't love the abuse

I'm a bit conflicted about the abuse Collins doles out on his wife and cousins. I get how it fit into the plot and that it was the author's choice to write the characters as she does but this is what I wanted to see. If Collins is going to be an abusive husband and also toward his guests I wanted to see Charlotte try to stand up for herself and others. Even if she is unsuccessful I wanted her to have a backbone. But I get that abuse isn't that easy to deal with. I also wanted Lady Catherine to find out how he behaves and give him what for. She is probably the only one that could make him change. But that would also be a different book so I had to deal with the abuse situation as was written. I can only imagine that Charlotte was so mentally beaten down that she could no longer cope in a rational manner and could only take the path of least resistance. Unfortunately that meant hurting other people.

I liked that Elizabeth started to love Darcy before she knew what had happened to make him dislike Wickham, and that she recognized that Bingley's actions were his own and not just because others persuaded him to their will. This is another area where my preferences split from the author's storyline though. If Bingley and Jane are not going to end up together, then I'd rather it be by Jane's choice and not because Bingley lost interest. And I kinda wish we'd seen more of the person she does end up with just so I could like him and feel like it was the best happily-ever-after.

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narration was well done.