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

Different storyline

I enjoyed this different storyline. I was sorry for Charlotte's situation being married to Collins, who was mental. Charlotte's treatment of Elizabeth when she visited was spiteful and cruel. The author wrote the story of how Elizabeth meet Darcy was beautiful. This book has so many different stories within. Must read

A gripping story

Mr. Collins despises Elizabeth for spurning his proposal and takes out his venom on his new wife, Charlotte, aided by the cruel desire of Lady Catherine de Bourgh to control and manipulate everyone within reach. When Elizabeth comes to stay at the Hunsford parsonage, Mr. Collins seeks revenge by making her miserable. Charlotte shockingly betrays her old friend Elizabeth. Although it's disturbing to see a bad Charlotte, the character's behavior is believable. Darcy arrives in Hunsford, where he and Elizabeth slowly begin to appreciate each other. The unobtrusive narration deftly moves the story along. If you like seeing fresh takes on the familiar characters in the story and don't mind some angst, this variation is for you.

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.

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.